Martha ‘Patsy’ Roberts

Biography

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/239049389/martha-roberts

Martha Womack was born about 1722 in Bristol Parish, Henrico County (present-day Chesterfield County), Virginia, a daughter of Thomas Womack and Mary Farley.

She was known as "Patsy".

Martha Womack married Step Roberts about 1738 in Henrico County (present-day Chesterfield County), Virginia.

On 13 October 1741, "Martha Robards" was mentioned in the will of Thomas Owen (Owin) of Henrico County, Virginia. She was bequeathed a cow and a calf as well as life use of the lands which the testator left to his son Thomas Owen [Jr.]. No relationship between the testator and Martha Roberts was given in the will.

Mrs. Martha Roberts, her husband and children removed to Halifax County, Virginia about 1757.

On 12 March 1761, "Martha Robards" witnessed the will of Thomas Rickman in Halifax County, Virginia. The security was her son-in-law William Chandler.

On 19 March 1761, the will of Thomas Rickman of Halifax County, Virginia was proved in court by oath of Martha Roberts.

In 1775, Mrs. Martha Roberts, her husband and some of their children, including sons Step Roberts and Pleasant Roberts, removed to Amelia County, Virginia.

On 10 January 1799, Martha Roberts of Halifax County, Virginia sold the remaining 43 acres of the original 357-acre tract of "Step Roberts Deceas[e]d" which had been granted to him on 20 October 1783.

During her final years, Martha (Womack) Roberts probably formed a composite household together with her single daughter Martha Roberts ("Patty"; m. John Cox between 5 June 1809 and 1 October 1810) on the farm of her widowed daughter Judith (Roberts) Chandler.

Mrs. Martha Roberts died about 1800 in Halifax County, Virginia (between 10 January 1799 and 19 December 1801).

In 1801, the children of Mrs. Martha (Womack) Roberts filed suit in Charlotte County, Virginia against the estate of their maternal uncle William Womack (d. 30 January 1790). The original court document lists the plaintiffs as "children & representatives of Martha Robards deceased, who was Martha Womack". Between the original court filing in 1801 and its initial hearing in 1802, the word "deceased" was omitted following Martha's name.

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Step Roberts and Martha Womack were the parents of the following children.

1. Step Roberts, b. about 1739 (m. Phebe ______).
2. Frances Roberts, b. about 1741 (m. ______ Irby).
3. Judith Roberts, b. 12 July 1744 (m. William Chandler).
4. Pleasant Roberts, b. about 1748 (m. Elizabeth ______).
5. Joshua Roberts, b. about 1752.
6. William Roberts, b. about 1756.
7. Martha Roberts, b. about 1760 (m. John Cox).

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NOTES:

Two other "Martha Roberts" were present in contemporary records: (1) Martha ______, who married first Luke Smith and second Alexander Roberts; and (2) Martha Hatchett, daughter of William Hatchett, who married Francis Roberts.

While there has been some confusion as to the forename of the spouse of Martha Womack, land records, the suit of Robards versus Womack and general chronology show that Martha Womack could have been married to only Step Roberts (1714–1798) and not John Roberts (m. Susannah ______) or any other of that surname.