Samuel Davis Roberts, Sr

A light from our house is gone, A voice we loved is stilled, A place is vacant in our hearts, That never can be filled.

From the Temple Weekly Times November 6. 1896, page 4, column 2/

MURDERED AND ROBBED Mr. Samuel Roberts, an old man aged 70 [64]was murdered and robbed a mile west of Bartlett, Williamson County, Texas, on the night of October 28. Mr. Roberts had spent the day in Bartlett and at different times and places had displayed a roll of money. About dark, when ready to go home, his horse could not be found, and he started afoot for home, about five miles. His horse went home and this excited the family. His son started for Bartlett in search of him, and when about one mile from town he found the dead body of his father beside the road, with his skull crushed, his pockets turned inside out and his money gone. The club with which the deed had been committed was lying by the body. No clue.

Excerpt taken from the Williamson County Sun, Georgetown, Williamson County, Texas, Thursday, Novemember 5 1896:

Yesternight week Mr. Samuel Roberts, a farmer who lived five miles west of Bartlett was Murdered and robbed about a mile and a half from that town. During the day he made a display of his money (some $55) and that led to his death. About nightfall, finding his horse had broken away, he started home, and on the way was clubbed to death with a stake. His horse going home without him alarmed his family, and his son started out to look for him, finding his dead body on the road. Mr Roberts had lived in the neighborhood 13 years coming from Alabama. He was a Mason and was buried by that fraternity. He left a large family of children, grand children, and great grand children. His age about 60 [64]. The town of Bartlett has offered a reward of $250, for the arrest of the murderer.

Samuel Roberts family moved to Alabama about 1856-1857 and on to Texas in 1882.

July 16, 1861 at Manassas, Virginia, Samuel Roberts enlisted as a private in Company E, 8th Regiment, Georgia Infantry. Confederate States Army (Anderson's Brigade).(source: Confederate statement of service-copy from doris Nell Cartier). Samuel was wounded (thumb blown off, right hand) at Spottsylvania on May 9 1864. W W Ware was his commanding officer. The company roll for September and October, 1864 shows him absent, sick with90 days leave on account of severe wounts to right hand received May 12. 1864 at Spottsylvania by mini ball (Seven Day War). No later record of his has been found. (Source: index car of confederate record, series I vol 36, part 1 p. 1060)

Samuel Roberts, Sr. and Minerva resided in Alabama until 1886 when they moved to Texas and settled a few miles west of Bartlett, Williamson County, TX. He was a farmer and ran a livery stable with his son Forney.

Note: There is debate in the family as to whether his middle name is David or Davis.* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Nov 1 2020, 20:09:32 UTC

A light from our house is gone, A voice we loved is stilled, A place is vacant in our hearts, That never can be filled.

From the Temple Weekly Times November 6. 1896, page 4, column 2/

MURDERED AND ROBBED Mr. Samuel Roberts, an old man aged 70 [64]was murdered and robbed a mile west of Bartlett, Williamson County, Texas, on the night of October 28. Mr. Roberts had spent the day in Bartlett and at different times and places had displayed a roll of money. About dark, when ready to go home, his horse could not be found, and he started afoot for home, about five miles. His horse went home and this excited the family. His son started for Bartlett in search of him, and when about one mile from town he found the dead body of his father beside the road, with his skull crushed, his pockets turned inside out and his money gone. The club with which the deed had been committed was lying by the body. No clue.

Excerpt taken from the Williamson County Sun, Georgetown, Williamson County, Texas, Thursday, Novemember 5 1896:

Yesternight week Mr. Samuel Roberts, a farmer who lived five miles west of Bartlett was Murdered and robbed about a mile and a half from that town. During the day he made a display of his money (some $55) and that led to his death. About nightfall, finding his horse had broken away, he started home, and on the way was clubbed to death with a stake. His horse going home without him alarmed his family, and his son started out to look for him, finding his dead body on the road. Mr Roberts had lived in the neighborhood 13 years coming from Alabama. He was a Mason and was buried by that fraternity. He left a large family of children, grand children, and great grand children. His age about 60 [64]. The town of Bartlett has offered a reward of $250, for the arrest of the murderer.

Samuel Roberts family moved to Alabama about 1856-1857 and on to Texas in 1882.

July 16, 1861 at Manassas, Virginia, Samuel Roberts enlisted as a private in Company E, 8th Regiment, Georgia Infantry. Confederate States Army (Anderson's Brigade).(source: Confederate statement of service-copy from doris Nell Cartier). Samuel was wounded (thumb blown off, right hand) at Spottsylvania on May 9 1864. W W Ware was his commanding officer. The company roll for September and October, 1864 shows him absent, sick with90 days leave on account of severe wounts to right hand received May 12. 1864 at Spottsylvania by mini ball (Seven Day War). No later record of his has been found. (Source: index car of confederate record, series I vol 36, part 1 p. 1060)

Samuel Roberts, Sr. and Minerva resided in Alabama until 1886 when they moved to Texas and settled a few miles west of Bartlett, Williamson County, TX. He was a farmer and ran a livery stable with his son Forney.

Note: There is debate in the family as to whether his middle name is David or Davis.* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Nov 1 2020, 20:15:20 UTC