Mark Robertson (1755 - 1784)

Ancestors

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Biography

James Robertson son James Randolph Robertson age 12 was killed that same day, only Col. John Donelson was able to escape

Colonel Harlee's Notes on Mark Robertson

Mark Robertson is shown herein to have been the brother of Gen. James Robertson and others and was therefore son of their parents, John and Mary (Gower) Robertson.

It is estimated that he was born about 1745. He apparently became of age about 1776. [If he came of age in 1776, he was born about 1755, not 1745. TR] James Robertson went to Wake Co., N. C., "whither he had gone in the Winter of 1776-77 to adjust his unsettled business there and to receive from Col. Michael Rogers, as guardian of his brother Mark, the legacies and personal estates to which he was entitled under the will of their father." (Haywood's History of Tennessee, Ch. II.)

Also in that year Mark Robertson signed the "petition of the inhabitants of the Washington District including the River Wataugah, Nolachuckie, etc." to the provincial Council of North Carolina "that you may annex us to your province...."

Mark Robertson accompanied his brothers, James and John Robertson, when they removed, 1779-80, from the Watauga to the Cumberland (Draper MS. 6XX96) and also accompanied his brother, [1221] James Robertson, on his perilous trip soon afterwards into Illinois (Draper MS. 6XX65).

" Captain Mark Robertson, brother of General James Robertson and Col. Elijah Robertson . . joined his brother [1221] James on the Watauga and went with him to the settlement on the Bluffs of the Cumberland where he signed the memorable document known as the Cumberland compact on the 13th day of May 1780 at Nashboro (now Nashville)... Mark Robertson took a gallant part in the military activities of the western frontier. He married, says Miss Jane Thomas in 'Old Days in Nashville,' a Mrs. Hunt (Hunter. WCH) whose first husband was killed by Indians. Her second husband, Mark Robertson, was also killed by Indians. Dr. W. A. Provine, D.D., editor of Tennessee Historical Magazine, thinks the third husband of Mrs. Mark Robertson was Judge John McNairy." (Mrs. Bond's Kinship Book, p. 513).

Mrs. Bond then states that Mark Robertson's will mentions "his children Charity Robertson who married - - - Johnson, Mary Robertson, and Elizabeth Robertson." This is erroneous. His will mentions "my sister Ann Cockrill's three daughters, viz: Mary, Elizabeth, and Charity Johnson" and does not mention any children of Mark Robertson, thus creating the presumption that he then had none....

[Davidson County, Tennessee, County Court Minutes, 1783-1792, Book A, 27. July 1784. Mark Robertson gave bond and security of £250 to idemnify the county of a bastard child of which he stands the reputed father. TR]

"About the time Capt. John Hunter was killed, a little after, James Hunter, in a boat attempted to draw his gun towards him, muzzle, foremost, it went off & killed him. The news of the death of both brothers went to their parents in N. C. at the same time." (Draper MS. 315204: Dr. Draper's note made from conversation with "Mrs. Col. Elijah Robertson [married 1224] & son.")

State Records of North Carolina show under Roster of the Continental Line from N. C.: "Robeson, Mark, pt. McRee's Company, enlisted 28 Apl '81 for 12 mo. Left service 28 Apl 82 (Vol. XVI, p. 1149) Also under Army Accounts of the North Carolina Line: "Mark Robertson 32£ 10s" (Vol. XVII, p. 244) . Also that [1226] "Mark Roberson" and other inhabitants of Davidson Co., each received a grant of 640 acres of land for defense of Davidson Co., against Indian allies of the British during Revolutionary War (Vol. XIX, p. 572). Also that "Mark Robinson" was killed by Indians (Vol. XX, pp. 722 and 730).

"In the month of May, 1787...the Indians came to Richland Creek, and in the day-time killed [1226] Mark Robertson, near the place where Robertson's mill now (1823) stands, as he was returning home from the residence of [1221] Col. Robertson, his brother." (Haywood's History of Tennessee, Ch. VII).

His original will is filed in Davidson Co.,- Tenn., Clerk of County Court and is recorded in Will Book 1, p. 53.

The will, dated 12 Aug 1784, was proved 2 Jul 1787 when each of the executors named gave bond of 1000 pounds each.

The will shows that Charles, James and Mark Robertson were brothers and had sister, Ann Cockrill, whose first husband was Johnson, also a "Sister Cash", who is elsewhere shown to have been wife of William Cash. ^[1]

Will for 1226 Mark Robertson Davidson County, Tennessee Will Book 1, 53, 54.

The Will of Mark Robertson / I MARK ROBERTSON of ye County of Davidson in the / State of North Carolina Do this Twelvt day of August in the year of our Lord 1784 / Do make this my last Will and Testament: That is to Say / ITEM – I give & devise to my Sister ANN COCKRILL Three Daughters / To Wit, MARY, ELIZABETH, & CHARITY JOHNSON Five Thousand Acres / of Land lying on ye Waters of Duck River Entered in my Own / Name in the Land Office at Hillsborough Which Land / Shall be Equally Divided Among the Three Sisters Affsd / ITEM – and 640 Acres of Land of a Military Claim Lying about / A Mile & Quarter Above ye Mouth of Wills Creek Entered in / JAMES ROBERTSON?s name, To my Brother CHARLES ROBERTSON / Devided & Bequeathed to him ye sd CHARLES – / ITEM – And 320 Acres of Land Lying on Little Harpeth it / Being that half of John Drakes hunters Claim; I bequeath to my / SISTER CASH – And all other Lands & Properties to Which / I Am now entitled to or Shall be, I give Devise & bequeath To my Wife MARY ROBERTSON – / I also do hereby Constitute & Appoint my Brother / JAMES ROBERTSON & MARY ROBERTSON my Wife my Exrs / of this My Last Will & Testament hereby Disannulling f. 2 [-----] / N.C. Davidson County – / Know all men by these Presents that We James Lucas & Anthony Carothers / [ ] both of Davidson County was held and firmly bound unto / Mark Robertson of sd County & State into the Last & full Sum / of One Thousand Pound Currencyof sd State Which payment / Well & Truly to be made. We bind ourselves our heirs Exetrs / and assigns Jointly and Severally firmly by these presents / To the sd Mark Robertson or his heirs. Given Under our / hands This 16 day of July 1787 / The conditions of this obligation is Such that of the / Above bond on James Lucas & Anthony Carothers or to the / of heirs do Pay or Cause to be paid to ye sd Mark Robertson / Or his heirs by the first day of March Ensuing Twenty Eight / Liberly Giving Cows & Twenty Eight Calves & if not / Partially paid at ye Time mentioned They are to Pay / The [-----] of ye sd Cows Untill they are paid then this / Obligation to be Void Otherwise to Remain in full force Given under / our hand the date Above Mentioned / To which Obligation as Above [-----] was Marked the / Names James Lucas & Anthony Carothers Seals Affixed Wth the Names [-----] Richman, Edward [Covigton?] & James [-----] / Lucas as Subscribing Witnesses thereto. The Latter of Which in / Court held for ye County of Davidson July 3d 1787 Made / Oath that the Said James Lucas & Anthony Carothers Sign / and Seal to ye Above Instrument of Writing

Mark Robertson

Know all men by these presents that We Eusebius Brickwell and / William Dobbins both of Davidson County & State of No. Carolina / [-----] and firmly bound Unto Mark Robertson his [-----] /[-----] his heirs Exetrs Admtrs as ye [-----] in the full Sum of / Eighteen hundred pounds Virginia Money Paid in Gold or Silver / In the Payment Well and Truly to be made and [-----] We [-----] / [-----] our heirs Extrs & Admtrs Jointly & Severally Firmly / by these Presents [-----] and Affx our Seals and Dated this 8 day / of [-----] 1785} The Consideration of this Obligation is Such / [-----] bound Eusebius Brickwell or William Dobbins as [-----] / [-----] Well & Truly pay to ye Afsd Mark Robertson / [-----] hundred pounds Virginia Money in Gold or Silver.^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ William Curry Harlee, Kinfolks: A Genealogical and Biographical Record, 3 vols. (New Orleans: Searcy & Pfaff, 1935-37), 3: 2553-2554.
2. ↑ Davidson County (Tennessee) County Clerk, Wills, 1784-1941, Wills, vol. 1-4, 1784-1816, FHL microfilm 200252.

• https://www.geni.com/projects/Robertson-Families-of-Virginia/18796

Acknowledgment