Sarah Morris Headen (1763 - 1838)

Born 1763 in Loudoun County, Virginia

Ancestors

Wife of James Robertson — married 4 Jun 1782 in Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA

Descendants

Died 7 Jan 1838 at about age 75 in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, USA

Biography

Sarah Headen, daughter of William Headen and Jane Beavers

BIRTH AND DEATH:

Birth Date: about 1763, per gravestone says "aged 75 years"

... possibly born 17 Jul 1763, per undocumented source ^{[citation needed]}

... born sometime between 1756-1774, per census in 1800, age 26/44

... born sometime between 1766-1784, per census in 1810, age 26/44

... born sometime on/before 1775, per census in 1820, age 45+

... born sometime between 1761-1770, per census in 1830, age 60-69

Birth Place: Loudoun County, Virginia, based on the following

... Sarah's gravestone is inscribed with "a native of Vir."

... Sarah's brother William has pension application; saying born 1760 Loudoun Co., VA

... Sarah's father has a 1765 deed with family members in Loudoun Co., VA

Death Date: 7 Jan 1838, per gravestone

Death Place: assume Tuscaloosa Co., AL, based on burial location

EVIDENCE of PARENTS & SIBLINGS:

Sarah's husband is named in the 1807 WILL of Sarah's father William

... The will includes William's wife Jane, his sons and son-in-laws.

... His will says son-in-law James Robertson.

Sarah's husband is named in the 1819 WILL of Sarah's brother George

... The will includes several of Sarah's brothers, brother-in-laws, nephews

Sarah and her sister Jane, married Robertson brothers, James & David

MARRIAGE:

Husband: James Robertson

Husband's gravestone epitaph says "lived fifty-six years with his worthy partner".

Since they both died in 1838, that calculates to a 1782 marriage year.

Clearly married on/before 1784, based on oldest child on 1800 census.

Possibly married 4 Jun 1782, per undocumented source.

-IF- they married in South Carolina, it was probably in 96 District, SC.

SC BORDER CHANGES:

Oconee County was established on 1868 from Pickens County

Pickens County was established on 1826 from Pendleton District

Pendleton District/County was established on 1789 from 96th District

Sources

BURIAL:

Find A Grave: Memorial #27235398 (gravestone pictured)

Inscription: Sarah Morris, wife of Maj. James Robertson

Inscription: a native of Vir., died Jan. 7, 1838, aged 75 years

Burial: Robertson Cemetery, Coker, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama

Note: Sarah's gravestone is next to her husband James

1780: Sarah & James should be living in Pendleton, South Carolina

"James Turner, Sr., was a brother-in-law to Horse Shoe Robinson, the hero of Mr. Kenedy's famous novel of the same name. ... Some time after the close of the Revolution James Turner, accompanied by his little son Samuel, visited Horse Shoe Robinson, who resided in what was then Pendleton District, S. C."

[History of Spartanburg County, published in 1900, page 407]

Note: Sarah's sister Margaret is the wife of James Turner.

1800: Sarah & James should be living in Pendleton, South Carolina

"The home of James Robertson in South Carolina, where he lived for a third of a century, is still standing. It is in Oconee County [previously Pendleton Co.] a few miles from Westminster. It is now owned by a Mr. Cox and travelers frequently visit the place, drawn thither by the fame of 'Horseshoe Robinson.'" Mrs. P. H. Mell in Transactions of the Alabama Historical Society, Vol. iv, pp. 560-564.

1810 census: Pendleton, South Carolina

Name: Jas Robertson

1 - Males - 26 thru 44 ... [too young to be James "Horseshoe" Robertson]

1 - Females - 26 thru 44

1 - Males - 10 thru 15

1 - Females - 10 thru 15

1 - Males - Under 10

3 - Females - Under 10

Number of Household Members: 8

1820 census: Pendleton, South Carolina

Name: James Robertson

1 - Males - 45 and over ... [James]

1 - Females - 45 and over ... [Sarah]

2 - Males - 16 thru 25

1 - Females - 16 thru 25

1 - Males - 10 thru 15

Total Free White Persons: 6

Total Slaves: 10

Note: living next to brother-in-law David Robertson (husband of Jane Headen)

Note: Sarah's sister Elizabeth (wife of William Shed) also living in Pendleton SC

1830 census: Tuscaloosa, Alabama

1 - Males - 70 thru 79 ... [James]

1 - Females - 60 thru 69 ... [Sarah]

Total Free White Persons: 2

Total Slaves: 14

Note: same page as William Robertson age 30/39 w/wife & children