Friday, September 28, 2007

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.

Saturday, September 8, 2007

Family Focus: Andrew McRobie

So I've been doing so much research these past few weeks, I wasn't even sure how to go about presenting it. First things first, I've found an awesome site that provides vital records for most West Virginian counties. Through this, I've managed to find birth registers, marriage registers, and death certificates (all scanned originals). The site is: http://www.wvculture.org. It's been an amazing wealth of information.


So I've decided to slowly focus on one person and their family at a time. Starting with John William's line, this post will be about his oldest son Andrew.

Andrew's mother was John William's first wife. Her name is still unknown. He was born in 1816 in Maryland. She died sometime before 1823. It is unknown if she had other children after Andrew, although the 7 year gap makes it plausible.

Finding records for Andrew has proven to be a little difficult so some of these records are pure speculation.

1. There is an Andrew McRoby that appears on the 1840 Census. Since the names of members of households weren't listed in 1840, we can't be 100% positive, but I'm wagering an educated guess that this is John's Andrew and not Elisha's Andrew.
2. Andrew is counted twice on the 1860 census.
3. Andrew served in the 3rd West Virginia Cavalry in the Civil War.
4. I also found a record (noted in a previous post) for an Andrew McRoby buried in Arlington National Cemetery that served in the West Virginia Cavalry and died during the Civil War.

PLEASE NOTE: I have no confirmation that the Andrew buried in Arlington National Cemetery is the same as John's Andrew. In fact, it does contradict some previous research, but still I feel it shouldn't be ruled out. Andrew does not appear on any censuses after 1860 (including the Veteran's schedules). It is a plausible explanation, albeit, not a confirmed one.

Andrew had five children with an unknown wife:
Archibald (born in 1839)
Daniel (born in 1843)
Jane* (born in 1845)
Issac (born in 1847)
William (born in 1849)

*Jane is not found on any census records but is listed in Wilma Sander's McRobie Genealogy and "The Burbach-Poorbaugh-Purbaugh Family in America 1771-1974" as the daughter of Andrew. So far I have not seen a record, nor talked to anyone, that would contradict these sources.

If anyone would like specific sourcing information and/or would like to see any documents, I am glad to share whatever I have. Just shoot me and email. Also, I'd like to make clear that this research is in no way infallible. If anyone has information to contradict it, I'm open to all possibilities.

Happy hunting!

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Births, Deaths, Military Service

Here's just what I've organized so far:


Births
1. Malinda Jane [McRobie] Kight - 20 Apr 1829 (see Gravestone transcription).

2. Henry Thomas Kight - 12 Nov 1828 (see Gravestone transcription).

3. Abraham Archibald McRobie - 26 Feb 1836 (see Death Certificate transcription).


Deaths
1. John William McRobie - 19 Feb 1877 in Swanton, Garrett County, MD (see pension application transcription under Military Service).

2. Malinda Jane [McRobie] Kight - 30 Apr 1896
Kight Cemetery Transcription, online transcription. Mineral County West Virginia Genealogy. http://www.rootsweb.com/~wvminera/mineral.htm (accessed 25 Aug 2007).
Name: Malinda J. Kight
4/20/1829-4/30/1896
Buried w/ Henry Kight
67 yrs 10 days old

3. Henry Thomas Kight - 25 Aug 1910
Kight Cemetery Transcription, online transcription. Mineral County West Virginia Genealogy. http://www.rootsweb.com/~wvminera/mineral.htm (accessed 25 Aug 2007).
Name: Henry Kight
11/12/1828-8/25/1910
Buried w/ Malinda J. Kight
81 yrs, 9 mos, 13 days old.

4. Abraham Archibald McRobie - 31 Dec 1917
Transcription of Death Certificate:
County: Garrett County
Village or City: Deer Park
Name: Abraham A. McRobie
Sex: Male
Color: White
DOB: 26 Feb 1836
Age at Death: 81 yrs, 10 mos, 5 days
Occupation: Farmer
Birthplace: near Swanton, MD
Father's name: John McRobie
DOD: 31 Dec 1917
Cause of Death: [illeg] Nephritis
Place of Burial: Eagle Rock
Date of Burial: 3 Jan 1918
Undertaker: [illeg] Sharpless

5. Thomas R. McRobie
Garrett County Cemetery Records. FamilyHart's Garrett County, Maryland Genealogy Site. http://midatlantic.rootsweb.com/MD/garrett/cem.html (accessed 19 Aug 2007).
Bittinger Church Cemetery
Bittinger, Maryland
Name: Thomas R. McRobie
DOB: 1844
DOD: 1901


Military Service
1. John William McRobie - War of 1812
Transcription of Pension Application:
Soldier: John McCrobie
Widow: Delilah McCrobie
Service: Pt., Capt. P. Conner
Enlisted: 11 Aug 1814
Dismissed: 10 Oct 1814
Residence of Soldier: 1851, 1855, 1871, Allegany Co., MD
Residence of Widow: 1878, Swanton, Allegany Co., MD
Maiden Name of Widow: Delilah Murphy
Marriage of Soldier and Widow: Oct. 19 1829, Swanton, MD
Death of Soldier: 19 Feb 1877, Swanton, MD

2. Abraham Archibald McRobie - Union Army, American Civil War
National Park Service. U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2007. Original data: National Park Service, Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, online , acquired 2007. (accessed 15 Aug 2007).
Name: Abram A. McCrobie
Side: Union
Regiment State/Origin: Maryland
Regiment Name: 3 Potomac Home Brig., Md. Inf.
Regiment Name Expanded: 3rd Regiment, Maryland Infantry, Potomac Home Brigade
Company: D
Rank In: Private
Rank Out: Corporal
Alternate Name: Abraham A./McCrobie
Maryland Soldiers in the Civil War, Vol 1. [online database]. Ancestry.com http://www.ancestry.com (accessed 25 Aug 2007).
NAME.: McRobie, Abraham A.
RANK.: Corporal.
DATE OF ENLISTMENT OR MUSTER IN.: Dec. 7, 1861
DATE OF MUSTER OUT OR DISCHARGE.: May 29, 1865
REMARKS.: Veteran; taken prisoner. June 29, 1862, Moorefield, Va.
Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900. Civil War Pensions. National Archives. Pub No. T289, roll 201; digital image. Footnote.com http://www.footnote.com (accessed 15 Aug 2007).
Name: Abraham McRobie
State: Maryland
Arm of Service: P.H.B. Md. Inf.
Company/Regiment: D, 3
Date filed: 9 Apr 1901, 6 Mar 1907
Date of death: 12 Dec 1917
Place of death: Altamont, Maryland
*Date of death does not match death certificate.

3. Francis Marion McRobie (son of John William) - Union Army, American Civil War
Historical Data Systems, comp.. American Civil War Soldiers [database on-line] Ancestry.com http://www.ancestry.com (accessed 18 Aug 2007).
Name: Francis McRobie ,
Enlistment Date: 19 Dec 1861
Side Served: Union
State Served: Maryland
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 19 December 1861.
Enlisted in Company D, 3rd PHB Infantry Regiment Maryland on 19 Dec 1861.
Mustered Out Company D, 3rd PHB Infantry Regiment Maryland on 29 May 1865.
Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900. Civil War Pensions. National Archives. Pub No. T289, roll 201; digital image. Footnote.com http://www.footnote.com (accessed 15 Aug 2007).
Name: Francis McRobie
State: Maryland
Arm of Service: P.H.B. Md. Inf.
Company/Regiment: D,3
Filing Date: 23 Jul 1890
Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1934. Civil War Pensions. National Archives. Pub No. T288; digital image. Ancestry.com http://www.ancestry.com (accessed 25 Aug 2007).
Name: Francis McCrobie
Widow: Lucy McCrobie
Service: D-12 Md. Inf., D3 P.H.B. Md. Inf.
Filing Date: 23 Jul 1890, 2 May 1904

4. Thomas R. McRobie
Historical Data Systems, comp.. American Civil War Soldiers [database on-line] Ancestry.com http://www.ancestry.com (accessed 18 Aug 2007).
Name: Thomas McRobie ,
Enlistment Date: 19 Dec 1861
Side Served: Union
State Served: Maryland
Service Record: Enlisted as a Sergeant on 19 December 1861.
Enlisted in Company D, 3rd PHB Infantry Regiment Maryland on 19 Dec 1861.
Mustered Out Company D, 3rd PHB Infantry Regiment Maryland on 19 Dec 1864.
Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900. Civil War Pensions. National Archives. Pub No. T289, roll 201; digital image. Footnote.com http://www.footnote.com (accessed 15 Aug 2007).
Name: Thomas R McRobie
State: Maryland
Arm of Service: P.H.B. Md. Inf.
Company/Regiment: D, 3
Date File: 19 Jul 1890


I also found records for Andrew McRobie. I don't know for sure which Andrew this is, but I'm assuming it is John William's son, and not Elisha Dewitt's, based on the date of death. This would also explain why John William's Andrew doesn't appear on the censuses after 1860. If anyone has any information to the contrary, I'd love to see it!

National Park Service. U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2007. Original data: National Park Service, Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, online , acquired 2007. (accessed 15 Aug 2007).
Name: Andrew McCroby
Side: Union
Regiment State/Origin: West Virginia
Regiment Name: 3 West Virginia Cavalry
Regiment Name Expanded: 3rd Regiment, West Virginia Cavalry
Company: E,B
Rank In: Private
Rank Out: Private
National Cemetery Administration. U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca.1775-2006 [database on-line]. Ancestry.com http://www.ancestry.com (accessed 25 Aug 2007).
Name: Andrew Mc Croby
Service Info.: PVT 2 W VA CAV
Death Date: 27 Nov 1863
Cemetery: Arlington National Cemetery
Cemetery Address: C/O Director Arlington, VA 22211
Buried At: Site 7520

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Clan Donnachaidh

So this post doesn't have much to do with our family tree, but I thought you all would find it interesting. I did a little digging about the McRobies in Scotland and came across this lovely little page about the Donnachaidh Clan.

Clan Donnachaidh

It's the story of the Robertsons, one of the oldest (if not the oldest family in Scotland). The name Donnachaidh is actually Gaelic for Duncan. Duncan is considered the first chief of what was to become the Robertson line.

This quote at the bottom caught my attention:
"Other surnames taken by clansmen include Reid, Stark, Duncan, Roy, Inches, McInroy, McRobie, Collier, Donachie, MacLagan."

I can't say for sure if the McRobies that were living in Aberdeen have any connection to the Robertsons, or their McRobies, but there's always a good chance.

The Donnachaidh Clan also has a website at: www.donnachaidh.com

If anyone would like to know without a doubt, there's a link on the page where you receive instructions on how to take a DNA test. The test is based on the Y chromosome (for reasons explained on the site), so tests can only be done on a male member of the family.

Thought that was a fun tidbit to share.

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Notes So Far

Time for another head count. I now have on my list 205 confirmed direct descendants of William McRobie. This is based solely on census and marriage records. I'm going to take a break from censuses for a little while and focus on trying to confirm dates (birth dates, marriage dates, death dates...) for as many people as I can. I'm also in the middle of compiling Civil War information including: soldiers, regiments, battles, deaths, pensions, etc. That should be up here soon as well.

Here is the most recent descendant chart:
William_McRobie_Confirmed_Descendants.rtf

Here is the most recent gedcom:
William_McRobie_Descendants.ged

Some notes on these files:

Joseph McRobie is still not included, though I have talked to another researcher that has shown me evidence that he is actually John McRobie's and Mary Margaret Murphy's son. I am trying to collect a little more evidence, and hope to include this in the next round. Here is what she had to say:
" Joseph McRobie was the son of John (Josh) and Mary Margaret Murphy McRobie. This John was the son of Elisha McRobie. John (Josh) McRobie died Feb. 1858 and his wife died before 1860. John and Mary Margaret McRobie died in Allegany Co. WV. They had 8 children."

Jane McRobie is listed as a daughter of Andrew (son of John William). This information comes via another researcher that says to have found it in the Sanders book. There are no census records to confirm this.

All birthdates are approximate and based on census records. A lot of times ages will vary a few years from census to census as opposed to just adding 10 years. (i.e. A person will be listed as 26 on the 1860 census and 38 on the 1870 census.) I attribute this mostly to the enumerator mishearing, guessing, or being lazy. I have saved copies of all of the census records transcribed, if anyone would like to see them.

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Marriage Records until 1870

Some notes on the following marriage records:
1. These are all pulled from online databases. Some are transcriptions from books and others are compilations from Ancestry.com records. They should not be considered fact in anyway, but rather a guideline for further research.
2. Everything under the headline (bolded names) is pulled directly from the source. This should account for any date and spelling discrepancies.
3. I have made personal notes in italics. All the notes refer to the previous research showcased in this blog. All speculation is based only on what I've found so far, and not on unsourced information.
4. If anyone has any sourced information (i.e. Bible records, Church records, Marriage licenses, etc...) to confirm these, I would love to see them. It will be awhile before I can make the trip to Maryland myself. Please email me at GMcRobie@gmail.com

Here is the text file: McRobie_Marriages_Until_1870.rtf

Couples included in this file:
William McRobie & Sarah Paugh
John McRobie & Margaret Murphy
Andrew McRobie & Elizabeth Ann Murphy
Sarah McRobie & Martin King
Sarah McRobie & John Manly
Elisha Dewitt McRobie & Cerria Tasker
Melinda Jane McRobie & Henry Thomas Kight
Michael McRobie & Elizabeth Tasker
Elizabeth McRobie & John Miller Jr.
Elizabeth McRobie & Phillip H Paugh
Sarah McRobie & John Paugh
Abraham McRobie & Nancy Friend
Eleanora Silena McRobie & Samuel Kelly
Hannah McRobie & John Fry
William P. McRobie & Sarah Manley
Samuel Asbury McRobie & Sarah Weimer
Ellen McRobie & John Beckman
Hester McRobie & Joshua Mason
Lucy McRobie & William Tichenell
Susan Ann McRobie & Richard Tasker
Wade McRobie & Margaret Miller
Harriet McRobie & William E Coffman
Francis Marion McRobie & Lucy McRobie
Rhoda McRobie & John W. Harvey
Martha McRobie & Roland McRobie
Thomas R. McRobie & Elizabeth Beyer
Rachel McRobie & David Machin
Jane McRobie & Peter Bouers
Susan McRobie & Henry Bray
John J. McRobie & Susan Jane Paugh
Nancy McRobie & Claudious L. Nelder
William McRobie & Rachel Lewis

Information may include the following:
Names
Marriage dates
Marriage bann dates
Residences
Place of ceremony
Ages
Officiant

Friday, August 17, 2007

Unsolved Mysteries

So I've decided to make a post solely dedicated to the mysteries surrounding the McRobie family lineage. I'll continuously update this one post instead of creating a new one every time.


Mystery #1:
Who was William McRobie's [1] wife?

Mystery #2:
Who were John William McRobie's first two wives?

Mystery #3:
Who were Joseph McRobie's real parents?

Mystery #4:
Who was Elisha Dewitt McRobie's [1] first wife?

Mystery #5:
Who were Elisha Dewitt McRobie's [2] real parents?

Mystery #6:
Who were Nancy Catherine Friend's (wife of Abraham Archibald McRobie) parents?