Robert Lyle Sr. (1698 - 1765)

Born 1698 in County Antrim, Ireland

Husband of Mary (Gilleland) McFarren — married 1747 in New Brunswick, Middlesex, New Jersey

Descendants

Died 9 Dec 1765 at about age 67 in Forks Township, Northampton, Pennsylvania

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Biography

Robert Lyle is the Clan Elder of this branch of the Lyles in the United States.

Parents: Father: John Lyle (1670 - 1740) Born: Kyle, Ayrshire, Scotland; died County Antrim, Ireland Mother: Mary Lyll (1670 - 1729) Born: Born and died in County Antrim, Ireland

An Irish Song

The following poem was written by Robert Lyle in Ireland during the spring of 1741. He was harrowing oats, and as he and the team would rest, he wrote down the verses as they occurred to him. This was written before he and his brother, John, came to America.

This is taken from ‘The Lyles of Western Pennsylvania', compiled by Paul Edwin Kaup, 1987 edition.

All you my friends and neighbors near, Which in Ireland doth remain, It fills my heart with grief and care To think I must leave you behind.

For I must sail on the ocean wide To some plantation lately found, For in this land I cannot abide- Oppression doth so much abound

Our landlords! They do still increase In wickedness and cruelty; They put the poor all in distress, And on the needy have no pity.

Likewise our tithers, both great and small, Take from us that which is not due, With catch-poll taxers and collectors, And all the rest of the accursed crew.

Ireland was once a blessed isle, Free from all beasts that were unclean; But, now, alas! It is defiled By such vermin as I have named.

Which makes us leave our native land, May some destruction on them be cast, For such oppression cannot stand; An alteration will come at last.

Some do us tell we have no call To go and leave our native land; But we fear some evil yet to come, To fly from which we have command

Like as Adam at God's command To replenish the earth with man, Therefore we, his posterity, Are obliged to do the same.

This has been done in Africa, In Europe and in Asia, And now I think it lies on us To replenish America.

Which in a wilderness remains, Without inhabitants therein; Where we expect for to erect A church therein to worship Him.

All you that doth not know my name And yet desire the same to find, I will in letters here describe, Which letters will begin the lines;

So that you may for our safety pray When we are on the roaring main- Both passengers and mariners- So here my lines I now begin:

Rather than we will in bondage be, Or under such taskmasters as these, By God's assistance we will withdraw' Europe we will no more come near; Rely we will on the Almighty To send us safely over the sea.

Like as to Israel, so may He Yield us relief in the wilderness; Leaving ourselves all in His care, Even these few lines conclude my name.

The time draws near when I must away, No longer here I can remain; No ease of mind I here can find, But will seek it across the briny main.

And that which adds unto my grief Is the many sins which here abound, Of which I think Pride is the chief; For which we have evidence all around.

So fare you well, my parents dear, Since it is so that we must part; Farewell my brethren and sisters, too, And you that young and tender art.

Farewell to all in general That are my consanguinity; To everyone, both old and young, That are of my affinity.

You County of Antrim, fare you well, My blessing ever dwell on you; For here I nevermore shall dwell; To Ireland's shore we'll bid adieu.

And sail away o'er the briny deep, To that far off land across the sea; And though friends may mourn for us and weep, We'll put our trust, Oh God, in Thee.

Robert was born about 1698 and passed away about 1765.^[1]

"Around 1730 a number of Scotch-Irish settled in a part of the town called Hunter's Settlement.^[2]

Martin's Creek was first settled by Robert Lyle in 1741, with James Martin arriving around 1747." ^[3]

Notes

The person "Robert Lyle" is reportedly in "The Lyles of Washington County, Pennsylvania" and later editions such as "The Lyles of Western Pennsylvania". But these references have not been examined directly.

Sources

1. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 28 August 2020), memorial page for Robart Lyle (1698–9 Dec 1765), Find A Grave: Memorial #11776516, citing Scotch-Irish Presbyterian Cemetery, Martins Creek, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, USA ; Maintained by Rich H. (contributor 46489213) .
2. ↑ Rutman, Nancy (The Morning Call;p Mar 23, 2007). "A rich history of Valley, its 'Scots-Irish' settlers".
3. ↑ Wikipedia:Martin's Creek, Pennsylvania

• The Lyles of Washington County, Pennsylvania: being an account of the origin, migrations and generations of the family (3 editions) White, Alvin Dinsmore (1894-1994); circa 1936, Enterprise Press, 340 pages

• The Lyles of Western Pennsylvania : being an account of the origin, migration, and generations of the family / compiled by Paul Edwin Kaup, with the assistance of numerous members of the clan. Kaup, Paul Edwin, 1929- c1987 Closson Press, 4th ed. xi, 482 p. : coat of arms, port. , index; 27 cm. isbn: 0-933227604. 1989 Addendum

Trees

• The following is a poor reference because even the most superficial access requires a subscription to a commercial service. It does not identify the curator of the tree nor the focal person. Ancestry Tree

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Lyle-119 created through the import of Hale Family Tree.ged on Oct 29, 2012 by Benjamin Hale.

See the Changes page for the details of edits by Benjamin and others.