Charlotte (Reeves) Robertson (1751 - 1843)

Born 2 Jan 1751 in Northampton, North Carolina Colony

Ancestors

Wife of James Robertson — married 17 Jan 1768 in Wake County, North Carolina

Descendants

Died 11 Jun 1843 at age 92 in Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Tennessee Project WikiTree [send private message] and Lyn Sullivan [send private message]

Charlotte (Reeves) Robertson is a part of Tennessee history. Join: Tennessee Project Discuss: tennessee

Biography

So reads the inscription on Charlotte (Reeves) Robertson's table type stone at the Nashville City Cemetery. ^[1] The inscription gives us a pretty clear picture of the genealogical facts of her life. She was born, died and married James Robertson.

Parents: ^{[citation needed]}

Charlotte Reeves grew up in North Carolina, married James Robertson and began an incredible adventure, filled with hard work and danger.

Shortly after their marriage, the Robertson's moved to Watauga, located in what is now northeast Tennessee. Charlotte and the rest of the settlers, worked hard to make Watauga a viable place to live and raise families. The Indians in the area actively sought to destroy the settlements, laid siege to the fort and eventually were made peace with. Robertson was appointed as an Indian agent.^[2]

After the Revolution, the Robertsons again moved west. James had identified a spot (a salt lick on the Cumberland River) that looked like a good site for a settlement. The Cumberland River meanders quietly through the area, now Tennessee. The salt lick was located on a wide bend in the river. James led a group of men through the Cumberland Gap. Charlotte, the women and children traveled with John Donelson on flatboats via river.^[2]

It wasn't long before the Chickamauga Indians came into conflict with the settlers. In April 1781, the Indians made ready to attack the fort. Charlotte became aware of their action, left the safety of the fort, and went to warn the men. She was able to return to the fort, but on arriving realized the men were on the other side of the Indians, and would be unable to return to the fort. Charlotte "unleashed the hounds." As the dogs chased the indians, and during the ensuing confusion, the men were able to return to the fort. Charlotte is credited with saving Fort Nashborough and is known as the heroine of the "Battle of the Bluffs"^[2]

Charlotte continued her life as a frontier woman. James was frequently away on govenment business. When the Indian wars came to an end in 1795, Charlotte had survived indian attacks, born eleven children, and mourned the death of three of those children. She then accompanied James to the Chickasaw Territory, where he died in 1814. Charlotte Robertson, said "near the end of her life that she would not relive what she had experienced during the Indian wars in exchange for the entire world"^[3]

Sources

• Geni.com

1. ↑ Find A Grave Memorial# 5618132
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Bucy, Carole Stanford. "Charlotte Reeves Robertson." The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and culture
3. ↑ Clement, Paul. "Charlotte Robertson." Article for Cemetery. [dead link]