Robert Morgan Roberts

George Dallas Albert, ed., History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania; Philadelphia: L.H. Everts & Co., 1882, pp. 695-696

[excerpts]

Ligonier Township.

Methodist Episcopal Church.

In 1788, under Richard Whatcoat, presiding elder, Jacob Seaton and Lashley Matthews, the circuit-riders, established the Ligonier Methodist Episcopal Church, and had preaching, the first Methodist preaching in Ligonier Valley, and the second in the county. It was held at the house of Jacob Shaw, now in the territory of Cook township. Mr. Shaw was the class leader, and the class consisted of his wife, three daughters,--Charlotte, Jane, and Prudence,--and Betsey Gibbins. A few months afterwards Sarah, Elizabeth, and Esther Roberts, all noted singers, joined the class, which was the organization of this church, then as now called "Ligonier."

In 1789, Robert M. and Mary Roberts, parents of the distinguished Bishop Richford Roberts, joined the church in the month of May. The latter was born Aug. 21, 1778, in Frederick County, Md., became bishop in 1816, and died March 26, 1843. He came to Ligonier Valley when a little lad of seven or eight years with his parents. Thomas and John Roberts also joined the same year. In 1790 the place of holding preaching was changed from the house of Jacob Shaw to that of Robert M. Roberts, on the farm now owned, near Ligonier, by Benjamin Deeds. In May, 1792, Bishop Robert R. Roberts was converted. In 1797 two of the members, Stephen Riley and William Lindsey, removed to Venango County. In 1811 the place of preaching was changed from the house of John Roberts to that of Cornelius Riley, father of Rev. James Riley and grandfather of Rev. McKendree Riley.

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1790 PA Census: Westmoreland Co. Donegal Twp. p. 93, line 18

Series M637, roll 9

Robert ROBERTS

Free White Males age 16+, including heads of families: 2

[father Robert (1743, age 47); probably son Thomas (1764, age 26)]

Free White Males age <16: 2

[son Robert R. (1778, age 12); son Lewis (1780, age 10)]

Free White Females, including heads of families: 7

[mother Mary (1746, age 44); daughters Sarah (1767, age 23); Mary (1769, age 21); Elizabeth (1771, age 19); Esther (1776, age 14); Priscilla (1783, age 7); Nancy (1785, age 5); Sophia (1787, age 3)]

[Note: Females should total 8, including mother Mary - ed.]

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1800 PA Census: Mercer Co. township not stated, p. 458, line 3

Series M32, roll 39

Robert ROBERTS

Males: 1 (45+)

Females: 1 (10-16); 1 (26-45)

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Last Will and Testament of Robert Roberts

[cover letter]

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Crawford, ss:

I, Forest L. Knapp, Register of Wills in and for the County aforesaid, do hereby certify that the above and foregoing is a true and correct copy of the last will and testament of Robert Roberts, late of "on the Watters of Shenango", said County, deceased, and the probate thereof, as the same appears of record in my office in Will Book A, at page 3. Said will was admitted to probate on the 30th day of March A.D. 1838.

Witness my hand and official seal at Meadville, Pa., this 15th day of May, A.D. 1952

Forest L. Knapp, Register.

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In the name of God Amen. I Robert Roberts, Plantationer, on the Watters of Shenango, being weak of body, but thanks to the Lord, of a good and perfect memory, Revoking all others, appoint this to be my last will and testament. To my beloved son John I bequeath 5s lawful money, to my beloved son Thomas, I bequeath 5s lawful money, to my dear son Robert I bequeath five shillings, to my dear son Lewis I bequeath five shillings, to my dear daughter Sarah after what debts I am owing is paid, and funeral expenses cleared off, I leave my place and whatever I pocess, to my dear daughter Mary I leave five shillings, to my beloved daughter Elizabeth, I leave five shillings, to my dear daughter Esther I leave five shillings, to my dear daughter Precilla I leave five chillings, to my dear daughter Ann I give one cow, to my dear daughter Sophia I leave a cow, otherwise five pounds in trade to be paid when she is eighteen.

Robert Roberts. {Seal}

Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of the said testator, in presence of us, December the 6th 1800,

Thomas McClellan

Jacob Gurwell

Crawford County, ss:

Appeared personally before the subscriber one of the Justices of the Peace for said county, the within mentioned witnesses Thomas McClellan and Jacob Gurwell, and being duly sworn according to law declareth that the within is the last will and testament of the within mentioned Robert Roberts, deceased, for the intent that the same may be acknowledged according to law. Given under my hand and seal this 18th day of March, 1801.

John Brooks {Seal}

Crawford County, ss:

The twenty eighth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and one, there personally appeared Thomas McClelland and Jacob Gurwell the witnesses to the within written will, and being duly sworn according to law did severally depose and say that they were present, and did see and hear the testator within named, sign, seal, publish, pronounce and declare the within writing as and for his last will and testament, and that at the time of the doing thereof he was of sound mind, memory and understanding to the best of their Knowledge and as they veryly believe; and further that the names of Thomas McClelland and Jacob Gurwell are of their own hand writing, subscribed by them as witnesses thereto in the presence of each other, and in the presence and at the request of the said testator.

Coram me,

Wm. Moore, Reg'r

Compared by Me, Geo. LeFevre, Regr.

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[Many of the children of Robert Morgan Roberts are mentioned in the following article - ed.]

History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania, Chicago, Ill., Brown, Runk & Co., 1888, volume I, pp. 603-604

[Sugar Grove Township]

Salem Methodist Church is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, Methodist congregation in Mercer County. It grew out of the Roberts settlement, made in 1796, 1797 and 1798, nearly all of whose members were Methodists. The original house of worship, built of logs, 25x40, stood near or on the site of the present house at Leech's Corners. Just when it was erected is not known with certainty. It must have been as early, however, as 1807, that being the date fixed by the most reliable authority. The house continued to be used until about 1823, when its place was taken by a frame structure, about 35x45, with gallery. This second building continued to be used until about the opening of the late war, when the third and present frame, 46x60, was built. So far as could be ascertained the original membership of this congregation embraced the following: Robert R. Roberts and wife, John Caughey and wife Hattie, William McLean and wife, William Lindsey and wife Agnes [Elizabeth - ed.], John McGranahan and wife, William McGranahan and wife, Smith McGranahan and wife, John Riley and wife, Thomas Roberts and wife, James Stevenson and wife, Lewis Roberts and wife, John Rogers and wife, William Steward, Nancy Wilson, Thomas Dumars and wife, James Dumars and wife, Morris Dunlavy and wife, William Gurwell and wife, John Waters and wife, Probson Gibbons and wife. It will be seen that this nucleus of Methodism in the northern part of the county furnished the names of men and women who achieved not only a creditable local reputation, but a world-wide fame. Families are numerous who rejoice in the fact that their ancestors were connected with the old Salem (place of peace) settlement.

The names of the early preachers cannot be given. Roberts, McClelland, Gurwell and others supplied the pulpit of the home congregation. For a long time R.R. Roberts (afterward better known as Bishop Roberts) was the leader of the class at Salem. The watchful care which this duty imposed prepared him gradually for the more extensive labors he was subsequently called upon to perform.

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