Family Focus: Thomas R McRobie

Thomas R McROBIE (John William) was born in 1844 in Maryland. He died 22 May 1901 in Maryland. He was buried in Bittinger Church Cemetery in Bittinger, Garrett County, Maryland.

Thomas lived in Allegany County, Maryland. He fought for the Union Army in the American Civil War. He enlisted at the rank of Private on 19 Dec 1861 in the 3rd Potomac Home Brigade, Maryland Infantry, Company D. He mustered out at the rand of Sergeant on 19 Dec 1864.

Sources for Thomas:
1. 1850 Census
2. 1880 Census
3. 1900 Census
4. Ancestry.com U.S. Civil War Soldiers
5. Civil War Pension
6. Garrett County Cemetery Records

Thomas married Elizabeth BEYER on 27 Jan 1866 in Cumberland, Allegany County, Maryland. She was born around 1848. She died in 1926 in Maryland. She is buried with her husband in Bittinger Church Cemetery in Bittinger, Garrett County, Maryland.

Elizabeth lived in Allegany County, Maryland.

Sources for Elizabeth:
1. Maryland State Record of Marriages: Allegany County
2. Marriage Licenses of Allegany County, Maryland
3. 1880 Census
4. 1900 Census
5. 1910 Census

Thomas and Elizabeth adopted Ruth McRobie.


As far as I know, Ruth wasn't a McRobie by birth. If anyone has any idea who Ruth's real parents on I'd love to know. I also did not find record of Thomas and Elizabeth having any biological children.

Family Focus: Hester Alice McRobie Mason

Hester Alice McROBIE (John William) was born in June of 1842 in Maryland. She died on 31 Jan 1911.

Hester lived in Allegany County, Maryland until about 1900. After 1900 Hester lived in Portland, Preston County, West Virginia.

Sources for Hester:
1. 1850 Census
2. 1870 Census
3. 1880 Census
4. 1900 Census
5. 1910 Census

Hester married Joshua James MASON on 17 Jan 1861 in Allegany County, Maryland. Joshua was born on 5 May 1822 in Maryland. He died on 22 Jun 1906.

Joshua lived in Allegany County, Maryland. He was a Farm Laborer.

Sources for Joshua:
1. Entry in "Marriage Licenses of Allegany County"
2. 1870 Census
3. 1880 Census
4. 1900 Census

Hester and Joshua had the following children:
Mary Ellen MASON was born in 12 Nov 1861 in Maryland. She died 9 Nov 1930 in Terra Alta, Preston County, West Virginia. Mary never married or had children.
Nancy MASON was born in 1863 in Maryland.
John MASON was born in 23 Sep 1864 in Maryland.
Abraham Lincoln MASON was born in 1866 in Maryland.
Francis Thomas MASON was born in 1868 in Maryland.
Martha Jane MASON was born in 1870 in Maryland.
Laura Belle MASON was born in 1872 in Maryland.
Edward Ruthvin MASON was born in 1874 in Maryland.
Delilah MASON was born in 1877 in Maryland.
Sarah Anna MASON was born in 28 Jun 1879 in Maryland.
Lucretia Margaret MASON was born in 1881 in Maryland.

The Mason children have been a little tricky to track down. If anyone has any information on Nancy, Francis, Martha, Laura, Delilah, Sarah, or Lucretia, I'd love to see it!

Family Focus: Abraham Archibald McRobie

Abraham Archibald McROBIE (John William) was born on 26 Feb 1836 in Maryland. He died 31 Dec 1917 in Altamont, Garrett County, Maryland. It is thought he is buried in the McRobie Cemetery on Green Glade Road in Swanton, Garrett County, Maryland.

Abraham lived in Allegany County, Maryland. He worked as a farmer. He also fought for the Union Army in the American Civil War. Abraham was mustered in at the rank of Private in the 3rd Regiment, Maryland, Infantry, Potomac Home Brigade, Company D, on 7 Dec 1861. He mustered out at the rank of Corporal on 29 May 1865. Abraham was taken prisoner on 29 Jun 1862 when the 3rd PHB engaged Confederate forces in Moorefield, Virginia (now West Virginia).

Records for Abraham:
1. 1850 Census
2. 1870 Census
3. 1880 Census
4. 1900 Census
5. 1910 Census
6. Entry in "The McCrobie/McRobie/McCroby Family 1761-1996" by Wilma Nuzum Sanders. Pg. 4, pg. 8.
7. Civil War Service from Ancestry.com
8. Civil War Service from National Park Service
9. Maryland Soldiers in the Civil War, Vol 1
10. Civil War Pension
11. Death Certificate
12. Entry in "Maryland's Garret County Graves" compiled by the Daughters of the American Revolution. Pg. 161.
13. Picture of Gravestone

Abraham married Nancy Catherine FRIEND on 26 May 1856. Nancy was born in 1840 in Mason County, Virginia. She died in 1916 in Altamont, Garrett County, Maryland. It is thought she is buried with her husband in the McRobie Cemetery on Green Glade Road, Swanton, Garrett County, Maryland.

Nancy lived in Mason County, Virginia, until about 1855. She lived in Allegany County, Maryland, after 1855.

Sources for Nancy:
1. Entry in Marriage Licenses of Allegany County
2. 1870 Census
3. 1880 Census
4. 1900 Census
5. 1910 Census
6. Entry in "The McCrobie/McRobie/McCroby Family 1761-1996" by Wilma Nuzum Sanders. Pg. 4, pg. 8.
7. Entry in "Maryland's Garret County Graves" compiled by the Daughters of the American Revolution. Pg. 161.

Abraham and Nancy had the following children:
Columbus Lafayette McROBIE was born 26 Aug 1857 in Maryland.
Harriett McROBIE was born in 1861 in Maryland.
Stella F. McROBIE was born in 1863 in Maryland.
Elizabeth J McROBIE was born in 1866 in Maryland.
Sarah Almeda McROBIE was born in 1868 in Maryland.
Mary Ellen McROBIE was born in 1868 in Maryland.
Thomas R McROBIE was born in 1871 in Maryland.
Alfred Elijah McROBIE was born in 1874 in Maryland.
Abraham Archibald McROBIE Jr. was born in 1877 in Maryland.


Abraham has been one of the easier ones to dig up. The one road block I've found, like most others, has been trying to find Nancy's parents. If anyone has any information on this, I'd love to see!

Family Focus: Malinda Jane McRobie Kight

Malinda Jane McROBIE was born in 20 Apr 1829 in Maryland. Malinda was the daughter of John William and his second wife. It's thought that his second wife died in childbirth or shortly after Malinda was born. Malinda is the only child to live to a late age out of John's second wife's children. She died on 30 Apr 1896. She is buried with her husband in the Kight Cemetery on Maplewood Farm in New Creek, Mineral County, West Virginia.

Malinda lived in Allegany County, Maryland until 1850 and in Preston County, West Virginia, after 1870.

Here are the records I have for Malinda:
1850 Census
1870 Census
1880 Census
Death Register
Cemetery Transcription


Malinda married Henry Thomas KIGHT III in 1850. Henry was born on 12 Nov 1828 in Maryland. He died on 25 Aug 1910 in Mineral County, West Virginia. He was the son of Henry Thomas KIGHT II and Sarah SHARPLESS. He is buried with his wife in Kight Cemetery on Maplewood Farm in New Creek, Mineral County, West Virginia.

Henry lived in Allegany County, Maryland, until about 1866. He lived in Preston County, West Virginia, after about 1866. He worked as a farmer.

Here are the records for Henry:
Marriage Record from Ancestry.com
1870 Census
1880 Census
1910 Census
Cemetery Transcription

Malinda and Henry had the following children:
Percilla Ann KIGHT was born 29 Jun 1851 in Maryland.
Ezra KIGHT was born 6 Nov 1852 in Maryland.
Sara Frances KIGHT was born in 1854 in Maryland.
Mary Ellen KIGHT was born in 1855 in Maryland.
John Cain KIGHT was born in 1857 in Maryland.
William Sharpless KIGHT was born in 1859 in Maryland.
Benjamin C KIGHT was born in 1860 in Maryland.
Rebecca Jane KIGHT was born in 1863 in Maryland.
Lydia Margaret KIGHT was born in 1864 in Maryland.
Henry Johnson KIGHT was born in 2 Oct 1866 in Maryland.
Jacob Rotruck KIGHT was born in 12 Apr 1868 in Virginia.
Victoria Florence KIGHT was born in 29 Mar 1870 in Virginia.
Sylvia Leanna KIGHT was born in 4 Jul 1872 in Claysville, Mineral County, West Virginia.
Bailey Carlton KIGHT was born 11 Jul 1874 in Mineral County, West Virginia.