In applying for membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution on the basis of my 4G-grandfather Cannon Wainwright (which connection was denied, BTW) we uncovered some surprises in the Robertson lineage. We (my sister, my cousins, me, and several people with trees on Ancestry) have for quite some time identified George Washington Henry Robertson’s father as a Samuel Robertson who lived in Somerset County, MD from 1770 to 1832.

This turns out to be incorrect. My source for this relationship was Samuel’s will which named his son George as executor. George would have been 10 years old at the time of Samuel’s death and although he might have been precocious, we doubt he was up to administering his deceased father’s affairs at the time. So thanks to the DAR genealogy researchers we have found the couple who were most likely George’s parents — Elias Robertson and Francis Willing.

Francis Willing and Elias Robertson were married 11 May 1819, as listed in Marriage Licenses of Somerset County, Maryland, 1796-1831, p 158/209.

Elias dies in 1832 and names in his will his wife Francis, and all his children: James [a son by his first wife Nelly Silvia], and then Samuel, George, Francis [a son], Mary, John Q., and Henry C, presumably in birth order. (Maryland Probate Estate and Guardianship Files, 1796-1940; Somerset JP4)

Francis dies in 1850. The account of her estate also lists her offspring by name: “her son Samuel Robertson, her son George W. Robertson . . .” and so on. This is recorded in the Maryland Register of Wills Records, 1629-1999, Administration accounts 1845-1851 vol 2; pp 262-263 of 287. George W. Robertson is named as executor.

Next, we have a deed that records the sale of a tract of land called Hickory Ridge in Somerset County. This deed lists all of Elias and Francis Robertson’s children including “George W. Robertson and Leah his wife” (Somerset County Circuit Court (Land Records) LW 2, pp. 32-34, MSA CE 103-2), thus connecting this particular George W. Robertson with Leah, our gg-grandmother.