Judith Mills (Tanner) Robertson (abt. 1710 - aft. 1784)

Born about 1710 in Henrico County, Virginia

Ancestors

Wife of Jeffrey Robertson II — married about 1735 in Henrico County, Virginia

Descendants

Died after 16 Dec 1784 after about age 74 in Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Jim McGuire [send private message], Ellen Jennings [send private message], and George Speed [send private message]

Biography

Judith Tanner was probably born c1710 in Henrico County, Virginia.

Judith had at least one son, Henry Mills, born before she married Jeffrey Robertson c1735. That much is confirmed in the 1784 will of Jeffrey Robertson. Older historical accounts, now copied into literally thousands of public trees, make the claim that Judith married John Mills first, and that he died young. However, no trace of a John Mills has been located in the Henrico Co. vicinity prior to 1735.

Judith was still living when Jeffrey wrote his will in 1784. She would have been about 74 years old at the time. Some have reported her death in 1785 but evidence is lacking. There are no recorded probate records for her in Chesterfield Co.

Research Notes

Historical tradition suggests Judith's father was the Edward Tanner who died c1769 in Amelia County, Virginia, but this is far from proven. In fact, some of the details of that Edward's life (there were other Edward's) argue against his involvement with Judith. If the estimated birth date for Judith, c1710, is accurate, she was born about 8 years BEFORE Edward Tanner married (his c1718 marriage date is also an estimate). And Edward's will (Amelia County WB 2X, p. 323, dated 12 December 1769 and proven 26 July 1770) mentions several children, but no Judith. One might make the case that Edward Tanner had a earlier wife, explaining Judith's birth date, or that Judith was already nearly 60 years old in 1769 and didn't need any assistance from her father. One may also make the case that she wasn't a Tanner at all.

The only theoretical linkage between the Tanner's and Robertson's would be the fact that the two families were close neighbors in the years prior to 1735. Both families were probably living in the part of Henrico Co. near Farrar's Island at that time. So there would certainly be an opportunity for Jeffrey and Judith to have met there.

In a perfect world, the complete absence of any hard evidence substantiating Judith's origins probably justifies removing her profile connection to Edward Tanner. But since well over 3000 public trees make the same argument for her origins, her parents have been designated as "uncertain" for the purposes of this profile. Maybe future research can answer the many questions.

Sources

• Cumberland County, Virginia Deed Book 5, p. 145; 22 February 1773, Jeffrey Robertson and Judith his wife of Chesterfield Co. to Robert Scruggs of Cumberland Co., 100 acres on Muddy Creek, being ½ the land adjoining John Pleasants to the north and west, Jehu Meador to the west and Robert Scruggs to the east. Judith relinquished dower 24 October 1774. No wit.

• Chesterfield County, Virginia Will Book 3, p. 519; 16 December 1784, Will of Jeffrey Robertson (Jr.)....First, I lend unto my beloved wife Judith Robertson my whole Estate both real and personal during the term of her natural life and after her decease to be divided as followeth...., Item I give and bequeath unto my wife’s son Henry Mills one negro man named Dick to him and his heirs forever...

Acknowledgement

• WikiTree profile Tanner-913 created through the import of Frutiger_Higginbotham Family T.ged on Aug 25, 2012 by Brian Frutiger.