Olive Branch Roberts (abt. 1745 - abt. 1804)

Born about 1745 in Goochland, Virginia [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Woodson) Roberts — married about 1766 in Cumberland, Virginia

Descendants

Died about 1804 at about age 59 in Georgia, United States [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Doris Smith [send private message]

Biography

Private Olive Roberts served with Salisbury District Brigade, North Carolina Militia during the American Revolution.

Olive Roberts is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A209522.

His father in-law Sanbourne Woodson's will was recorded in Cumberland Co. VA 28 June 1756. We recently submitted to the Jamestowne Society our detailed paperwork proving the marriage of Olive Roberts to Sarah Woodson, daughter of Sanbourne Woodson and Charity LNU. On 10/19/2022 we received our formal acceptance to the Society and our member number is 11031. The society offers, for $35.00, a copy of our approved lineage paperwork for QA John Woodson A9103. The Jamestowne Linage Paper Project will soon be updated to include Sarah Woodson's marriage to Olive Roberts https://www.jamestowne.org/lineage-paper-project.html, as they were living in c.1770-1783. Our paperwork includes Olive and Sarah's son John Roberts, his 1st wife Nancy Cockerham, and John and Nancy's son John Pleasant and his 4th wife Mary Ann Barnes. You can use our paperwork to connect your descendants of Olive and Sarah (Woodson) Roberts. We are very excited to finally be able to join and look forward to seeing other descendants of Olive and Sarah (Woodson) Roberts join the Jamestowne Society https://www.jamestowne.org/

Olive Branch Roberts: Y-DNA testing has definitely connected him to the Immigrant Morris Roberts (see discussion) . He is the son of John Roberts & Susannah Branch. There are 2 1754 Chesterfield Deeds involving John Roberts and both witnessed by Olive Branch. There is a 1760 Chesterfield Court case involving the then underage Olive and John Roberts and there is a 1764 Cumberland Co. promissory note signed by Olive Roberts of Cumberland Co. and John Roberts of Chesterfield Co. (this is after the 1761 move of much confused with John and Jane Roberts of Chesterfield Co. to Halifax Co.). Olive Roberts was married to Sarah Woodson, who was born in Goochland County. No marriage record has been found to date, but in 1770, Olive brought two case to court in Cumberland County, one for twenty five pounds against John Burch, it was dismissed because John Burch no longer lived in Cumberland Co. VA. Olive then brought a 2nd case within months, this time naming John Burch and his wife Charity (the Executrix of the will) and the 2 bondsmen for the will, both named John Woodson. The 2nd case was dismissed for failure to prosecute. The Woodson names (both surname & first names) are evident within the line. There are also records for a Pleasant Roberts, born 1807 Virginia and another born 1792, and the fact that Olive's son carries the name Pleasant Branch, would indicate a relationship between families. The other name of significance is Branch, which is often repeated, and it is apparently his mother's maiden name. The book My Life Story, by great grandson J. R. Phillips refers to Olive Branch Roberts and many genealogies insists his name was Olive Branch Roberts because there is an Olive Branch Roberts, Jr & III. His date of death is not recorded in the transcribed copy of Pleasant Roberts family Bible, but he is listed as the husband of Sarah Roberts. Some genealogies indicate his burial was at the Axom-Anthony-Roberts Cemetery in Surry, NC, but there are only 11 legible gravestones in that location with only one that is a Roberts. The others are Layne, Bray, and Setliff markers and the one that is Roberts is a Civil War veteran. There are also many unmarked stones without names. It is more likely that he died in Georgia where he was living in 1793 and 1801. What is known: the 1807 Georgia Land Lottery records indicate that the "orphans of Olive Roberts" and "Sally Roberts, widow" were drawers in Elbert County, Georgia and that indicates that Olive Roberts died before 1807 and did not die in 1827 as recorded in the family Bible. Another indicator is a deed record for the sale of property once owned by Olive Roberts in Surry, North Carolina; it was sold by his son, Woodson Roberts, of Franklin, Georgia on 17 December 1804. Pleasant and John Roberts are also Grantors on the deed, Mary Roberts, wife of Pleasant, is a witness.

Discussion

The pedigree of Olive Branch Roberts has been somewhat answered, Wade Roberts tested his Y-DNA back in 2007 and the testing shows a connection to Morris Roberts, immigrant from Wales. Wade's daughter used Wade's extensive research to prove Olive Branch Roberts Revolutionary War Service, and has proven her connection to him thru his son Pleasant Branch Roberts. To date, she is the only member of the DAR with proven lineage. Lot's of people have tried to connect Olive Branch to the Morris Roberts line, but the problem was always Morris had immigrated to Philadelphia and it was considered a stretch to for a connection to someone in NC. But research has shown that 4 of Morris Roberts sons received a 400 hundred acre land grant in Henrico Co. VA 1745^[1] Morris, Step, John and Joshua. The son John married Susannah LNU (it may be Branch) and they lived in the Parish of Dale, Henrico Co. VA near Olive Branch.

Court & Deed Records

7 Nov 1760 Chesterfield County VA Order Book 3 page 93 Olive Roberts per John Roberts his next Friend vs Charles Cheatham The Parties being heard, It is considered by the Court that Plaintiff recover against the said Defendant four pounds his Debt in the Petition mentioned and his Costs^[2]

20 Nov 1764 Olive Robearts of Cumberland County & John Robearts of Chesterfield County Promissory Note^[3] We Olive Robearts of Cumberland County & John Robearts of Chesterfield County do promise to pay to William Howard or his assigns the sum of 13 pounds Current Money of Virginia on or before the first day of September Next ensuring for the Value received of him To which payment well and truly to made we do bind ourselves our Heirs Executors & Administrators in the penal sum of Twenty Six pounds In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals This Twentyeth day of November Anno Dom one thousand seven hundred and sixty four This date 1764 was three years after the much confused with John & Jean/Jane Roberts, also of the Parish of Dale Chesterfield Co. had moved to Halifax Co.

20 Jul 1766 John Pleasants vs Olive Roberts plaintive recovers 8 pounds seven shillings and one farthing plus costs^[4]

23 Feb 1768 Robert Murry against Olive Roberts conditional judgement against def^[5]

29 Mar 1768 Robert Murry against Olive Roberts def fails to appear judgement against def^[6]

25 Apr 1768 Thomas Mann Randolph vs John Burch and Olive Roberts. This suit abates def Burch is no inhabitant of this County and Hughes Woodson become special bail for the def Roberts and an imparlance is granted to said Roberts^[7]

26 Jul 1768 Thomas Mann Randolph vs Olive Roberts debt^[8]

26 Jul 1768 Robert Murry against Olive Roberts jury awards damages^[9]

23 Aug 1768 Thomas Mann Randolph vs Olive Roberts debt^[10]

23 Apr 1770 Thomas Mann Randolph vs Olive Roberts def fails to pay judgements and fail to appear^[11]

23 April 1770 Olive Roberts vs John Burch his wife's stepfather abated the def being no inhabitant of this county^[12] Originally filed 31 March 1770 Cumberland Co VA Olive Roberts vs John Burch plea of trespass damages 25 pounds abated the def being no inhabitant of this county Trespass – Originated under English Common Law with the action of Trespass. Trespass was any wrongful conduct directly causing injury or financial loss. A Trespass gives the aggrieved party - and only the victim - the right to bring a civil lawsuit and collect damages as compensation for the interference and for any harm, financial or otherwise, suffered. As used in the Colony of Virginia during the 18th century, it was most often a suit for debt, theft or damage to property *Rys Isaac, The Transformation of Virginia 1740 - 1790 (Chapel Hill, NC, University Press) Olive Roberts is suing for Sarah Woodson's 25 pound inheritance^[13]

29 May 1770 John Almond order to pay Olive 50 pounds tobacco^[14]

26 Nov 1770 def Hugh Woodson receives judgement again pft Olive Roberts for court costs^[15]

23 Jun 1772 John Hobron to pay Olive Roberts 204 pounds tobacco for attendance and travel^[16]

23 Jun 1772 Wm Howard vs Olive Roberts plaintiff to recover cost fighting lunacy claim and case is put over to next court^[17]

23 Mar 1773, in a case that started 23 Jul 1770 Wm Howard vs Olive Roberts The plaintive, after being strung on for years, after Olive called him a lunatic in court, after Olive made the guy prove to the court he has capable of bringing a suit, . Olive kept stringing the guy along, until he finally gave up on getting his money and fails to show. Jury awards 5 shillings to Olive but Olive is then ordered to pay 475 pounds in tobacco to his witness^[18]

23 Aug 1773 The Sheriff and Attorney report Olive Roberts has absconded (ie fled) in the case of Jesse Thomas against the estate Olive Roberts and collects through the hands of Robert Brown^[19]

28 May 1799 Olive & Sarah Roberts sell 70 Acres to Woodson Roberts Test John Roberts^[20]

Sources

1. ↑ Library of Virginia, Virginia Colonial Land Grants[1]
2. ↑ Chesterfield County VA Order Book 3 page 93[2]
3. ↑ Library of Virginia Cumberland County Judgments, Box 21, Barcode 1147685, William Howard vs. Olive Roberts, dated 23 May 1773[3]
4. ↑ Cumberland County VA Court Records 1764–1766 page 273[4]
5. ↑ Cumberland County VA Court Records 1767–1770 page 90[5]
6. ↑ Cumberland County VA Court Records 1767–1770 page 131[6]
7. ↑ Cumberland Co VA Court Records 1767–1770 page 143[7]
8. ↑ Cumberland County VA Court Records 1767–1770 page 196[8]
9. ↑ Cumberland County VA Court Records 1767–1770 page 209[9]
10. ↑ Cumberland County VA Court Records 1767–1770 pages 238 239[10]
11. ↑ Cumberland County VA Court Records 1767–1770 pages 507 508[11]
12. ↑ Cumberland County VA Court Records 1767–1770 page 509[12]
13. ↑ This Document can be found in: Cumberland County Judgments, Box 17, Barcode 1147681 Library of Virginia[13]
14. ↑ Cumberland County VA Court Records 1770–1772 page 25[14]
15. ↑ Cumberland County VA Court Records 1770–1772 page 124[15]
16. ↑ Cumberland County VA Court Records 1770–1772 page 488[16]
17. ↑ Cumberland County VA Court Records 1770–1772 page 496[17]
18. ↑ Cumberland County VA Court Records 1772–1774 page 134[18]
19. ↑ Cumberland County VA Court Records 1772–1774 page 326[19]
20. ↑ Wilkes Co GA Deed Book RR page 251 Deeds and Mortgages, v. QQ-RR 1797-1805 Family History Library United States & Canada 2nd Floor Film 163608 8153378[20]

• source: Virginia Genealogies #2, 1600s-1800s Genealogies of Virginia Families, Volume V, Woodson Family, Page 549 Ancestry.com: FamilyArchiver Image. page 549