Another One Bites the Dust

Posted on 21 June 2022 by SR

This is about our gg-grandmother, Mary Mezick who married Edward Catlin in 1847 (Maryland, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1655-1 850). Their daughter was Caroline Catlin who married J.W.T. Robertson. Who were Mary’s parents?

Covington Mezick, NOT

Many people on Ancestry whom I assume are distant relatives say her father was Covington Mezick. This might be on the basis of his will, dated 1828 and probated in March of that year, in which he names a daughter, Eliza Mary Ann. However, a transcription of Mary Catlin’s gravestone in the Hearn-Catlin cemetery puts her birth date as 31 August 1831. Granted this might have been hard to read, and I haven’t seen it myself. But she is 18 years old on the 1850 census list which appears to confirm the 1831 date. So that puts Covington out of the picture.

Grandfather Turner

A deed dated 20 March 1858 between William R. Jackson and “Edward W. Catlin and wife” records a transfer of property. The Catlins are selling 2 tracts of land, Turnstile and Mt. Hope, “being a piece of land devised to the said Mary A. Catlin wife of Edward W. Catlin by the last will and testment of her grandfather John Turner . . .” (Somerset County Circuit Court (Land Records) LW 5, p. 0531, MSA_CE103_5; available on the Maryland State Land Records site).

The will of John Turner dated 4 Dec. 1839 and probated 28 April 1840 (Maryland Probate Estate and Guardianship Files, 1796-1940) lists his wife, Polly Turner; his 4 children — “Mary Harris, wife of William Harris,” John Turner Junior, Naaman Turner, and Rebecca Turner; and finally his 3 grandchildren — John Mezick, Mary Mezick, and Purnell Harris.

This is how we’ve assembled a tree that shows John Turner and his wife Polly who may have been a Barkley, his 2 sons, and 2 daughters.

Because his daughter Rebecca has not changed her last name, we assume she is not married at the time of his 1840 will. So his other daughter, Mary, must have been married twice, for him to have grandchildren with 2 different names, Mezick and Harris.

Littleton Mezick

We conclude that Mary Turner married first, Littleton Mezick, in 1828 according to Somerset County Marriage Licenses 1796-1832. He must have passed away, although we have no record of that. The last dated document we have for Littleton Mezick is a bond from 1834, (Somerset County Court (Land Records) GH 7, p. 0245, MSA_CE102_61, available on the Maryland State Land Records site.)

Everything You Know Is Wrong

Posted on 11 June 2022 by SR

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.

Laura Francis (Frank) Robertson and William H. Harris

Posted on 21 March 2021 by SR

(1852 – 1912) and (1840 – 1910), respectively

Laura F. (Frank) Robertson was the first daughter of George Washington Henry Robertson and Leah M. Wainwright – our great, great grandparents.

She makes her first “official” appearance in the 1860 census, living with a large and varied household. (The census taker might have recorded her as “Louisa” – it’s hard to decipher the writing. But it is definitely our Laura, or Frank, as she called herself).

Father and mother, George W.H. and Leah were there, along with siblings George Henry (14 years), William E. (12), James W. T. (10), Charlotte T. (age 6) and a 1-month-old infant, later named Martha. Laura was 8 at this time.

Also in the household were William Sermon (60) and James Conway (18) listed as laborers, and Mary T. Winwright, Leah’s daughter by her first marriage. Mary is 17 years old and listed as a “house girl.”

The wedding date we have for Laura and William H. Harris, Jr. is 18 May 1869. But the 1870 census shows Laura Robinson [sic] living at her home with Mom and Dad and two sisters, Charlotte and Martha. William Harris is living there, too, and is listed as a farm laborer. Laura is 19; William is 26. Laura’s last name is still listed as Robertson.

William H. Harris, born 8 Nov 1840, is the son of William Harris and Mary L. Mezick.

Whenever they did get married, by the 1880 census “Frank” and William were living on their own in Tyaskin, MD. They have one child, Minnie Leah (or Leah Minnie, depending on what document you are looking at), age 8 years. Also part of the household are Alvina Dodson (servant) and Mary J. Williams (aunt).

By 1900, at the age of 16, Minnie Leah has married William Catlin and has moved out. Laura (age 47) and William (age 59) are there, and have another daughter who they named Laura Robertson. She is 11. Aunt Mary is still living with them, along with a servant – Fannie Conaway.

One document we have lists 2 more children for our couple: George and Edward. But there are no dates listed, and no census document mentions them. All we have at this point is speculation.

Laura F. (57) and William H. (69) are still together in 1910, and their second daughter, Laura R. at 31 resides with her parents as well.

Now they have a “niece-in-law,” Mildred J. Byrd (13) living with them, as well as a boarder, Clyde Truit (21). [Mildred is the daughter of Nora Robertson and William Byrd, both of whom passed away in 1898, when Mildred was one. Nora was the daughter of George Washington Henry Robertson and his second wife, Ellen Larmore, making her a half-sister of Frank albeit with a 22 year age difference.]

Daughter Laura R. marries Glenn Catlin on April 28, 1910. They got married in the Harris homestead, and the marriage is recorded in the Nanticoke Bivalve Church marriage record. [Glenn is a cousin of Caroline Catlin, our great-grandmother, making him also a cousin.]

William passes away on 29 Dec 1910 at the age of 70. Laura passes away 2 years later in 1912 – at the age of 60.

Laura and William are buried side by side in the Robertson Family Cemetery.

Martha Mae Robertson

Posted on 25 February 2021 by SR

(1909 – 1990)

Martha Mae (or May) was born on 29 December 1909 the third child of Winnie and Rosa (Phillips) Robertson. We have similar issues with her birthplace. The family is listed on the Mt. Vernon census form, but her death certificate lists her place of birth as Whitehaven.

1910 and 1920 census – Nothing much has changed. Mom and Dad and the three siblings – Brooks, Emil, and Martha May – are living together in Mt. Vernon. Winfield, her dad, is farming.

1930 census – Both brothers have moved out. Emil has married. Martha is 20 and the only sibling still living at home. (We haven’t found Brooks listed anywhere.)

In the 1940 census Martha is listed in the population schedule of the Glenn Dale Sanitorium in Prince George, MD. She is a registered nurse and dietician there, and we are assuming single, since she is using Robertson as her last name.

Glenn Dale Sanitorium was opened in 1934 when tuberculosis was a mysterious and almost always fatal disease. Washington DC was overrun with cases, so they transferred their overflow to Glenn Dale – situated in rural Maryland on 200 acres. Glenn Dale employed over 500 medical and non-medical personnel for 600 patients. (See Glenn Dale Hospital – An Abandoned Sanatorium near Washington DC.)

We have two puzzles surrounding Martha.

1 – Did she get married? We have no marriage certificate or indication that she did marry, but her death certificate lists her as “divorced.” There is some indication that she married a Lloyd Tallman, according to some family trees on Ancestry.

2 – Although she was employed at Glenn Dale in MD in 1940, she must have moved to New Jersey at some point after that. The Social Security Death Index has her last residence as 08015 Browns Mills, Burlington, NJ. But the North Carolina Death Index has her place of death as Henderson, NC. So, was she visiting North Carolina? Did she fall ill there? We have been unable to clarify the situation.

Martha died on 18 May 1990 and her body must have been transported back to her home state, Maryland. She is the last person to have been interred at the Robertson Cemetery.

Martha M. Robertson’s grave at the Robertson Cemetery

Brooks Robertson

Posted on 24 February 2021 by SR

(1899 – 1976)

Brooks Ross Robertson was born 22 May 1899. At this time, his family is listed as living in Mt. Vernon. When Brooks filled out his WWII draft card, he listed his birth place as Princess Anne, Maryland. Both of these are in Somerset County.

Significant dates and places

1918 – Registered for the draft

Brooks Ross Robertson – living in Princess Anne, Somerset County, MD

At the time of this registration, he is farming on his Dad’s farm and he lists his Mom, Rosa, as contact person. He is tall, slender and has blue eyes and dark hair.

1920 Census

Still living with Winnie and Rosa and siblings Emil and Martha May, in the Mt. Vernon District of Somerset County. But Brooks is now recorded as a carpenter for a shipyard – maybe the Whitehaven Shipyard.

1940 Census

Brooks has moved to Chester City, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. He is a roomer at a public hotel and works as an electrician. This information is further clarified on his WWII draft card. Brooks is living at 218 East 4th Street in Chester City. He is working for Belmont Iron Works in Eddystone PA. He lists “someone who will always know your address” as Mrs. Ella Eshleman. No idea who this is!

Brooks Robertson’s grave at the Robertson Cemetery

We lose sight of Brooks, until his death in December, 1976 in Chester, PA at the age of 77.

Winnie Robertson and Rosa Phillips

Posted on 24 February 2021 by SR

Winfield J. Robertson

(1865 – 1945)

Winfield J. Robertson was the son of George Henry Robertson (our great uncle) and Martha Larmore. Winfield was born on 5 January 1865, we assume, in Tyaskin, MD, because that is where his Mom and Dad were living at the time.

The 1870 census has George and Martha and 4-year-old Winnie living on the farm with a farm laborer, George Moore, and a domestic servant, Anna Larmore – all in the same household. It’s unclear if the Anna Larmore is a relative of Martha. George is farming; Martha is keeping house.

By the 1880 census, Martha has passed away (1875). George’s second wife, Charlotte (Lottie) Ellen White, is living with the family which now consists of George Henry, Winfield (15) and Walter L. (10). (George and Martha’s third child, Addie White, who was born 25 Nov. 1872, must have died young, because she does not appear in this census.) Edith Addie (1 year) is George and Lottie’s first child, born in 1879. George and Lottie go on to have 8 more children.

Winfield marries Rosa Elizabeth Phillips in 1897, so that in the 1900 census he is the head of household, Rosa is a wife and mother, and Brooks, their firstborn son, is 1 year old. Winfield is listed as a sailor.

The census documents that list the Winfield Robertson family consistently identify them as living on Bobtown Road in the Mt. Vernon area of Somerset County. This address puts them near the south bank terminus of the Whitehaven Ferry, just across the Wicomico River from Tyaskin.

1) Robertson Cemetery; 2) Whitehaven Ferry; 3) Bobtown Road

In 1910 and 1920 the family is pretty much stable — Winnie, Rosa, and their three children, Brooks, Emil, and Martha May. In both of these censuses, Winfield is listed as a farmer, but it is interesting that his obituary says he is a shipbuilder and the former owner of the Whitehaven Shipyard.

Whitehaven Shipyard – Building and repairing watercraft had long been a key industry on the Eastern Shore and in Whitehaven specifically. We discovered an online article by the Whitehaven Heritage Association detailing the history of this industry in the area. It seems that as far back as 1879, George H., George W., and James W.T. Robertson purchased the land on which the Whitehaven shipyard stood. By World War I, the Whitehaven Shipbuilding Company was doing a great business building tugboats and barges for the Emergency Fleet Corporation. Mentioned as a 50% owner of the company at this time is Hilton Robinson (aka Robertson – son of George H. and Lottie).

How much time Winnie spent farming, building ships, or being a “waterman” we have not been able to determine. We are thinking that all of these family members – father George W.H., sons George Henry, James W.T., their brothers and sons, sisters and daughters – farmed the land, harvested oysters, built and maintained watercraft, ran a lumber mill, whatever it took to provide for large families in a challenging environment. But still had time to go to church and be involved in the prohibitionist movement.

Winnie, Rosa and Martha May are living together in 1930. Emil has married and both he and Brooks have moved out. (Emil dies in 1932 at age 28 in a trucking accident. He is buried in Pusey Cemetery in Worcester County, Maryland.)

After Rosa passed away, and by 1940, Winnie, 73, has moved in with his brother, Raymond Talmadge Robertson.

Winfield J. died on 11 January 1945 at the age of 80. His obituary appears in the Salisbury Sunday Advertiser, 13 January. It said he died after a short illness.

Rosa Elizabeth Phillips

(1873 – 1936)

As with most women at this time, it is difficult to find information about Rosa, apart from her life as a wife and mother. Rosa is the eldest daughter of William Ross Phillips and Emily Catherine Phillips of Tyaskin, MD. William

In the 1880 census she is 6 years old and living with her family, Mom and Dad (William and Emily) and 3 siblings: A. Harlan (H. Hartley), Minnie, and Erie (Arie Magdalen). They are living in the Tyaskin area of Wicomico County. William is a farmer.

By 1900 she has married Winfield and they have had their first child. She goes on to have 2 more children, and lives until the age of 63. Rosa died 9 July 1936.

The grave of Rosa and Winfield Robertson at the Robertson Cemetery

Evan Carlyle Mezick

Posted on 16 February 2021 by SR

(1898 – 1960)

Evan Carlyle Mezick (Sr.) is the son of Luther Franklin Mezick and Carrie Roberta Robertson.

Carlyle’s [we assume that like many of the family, Evan Carlyle went by his middle name] dad, Luther was born in Tyaskin, MD on 11 Jan 1869. The 1900 census lists his occupation as oysterman, but by 1910 he is a gospel singer by profession, and travelled the country with his teen-age daughter, Audrey, proclaiming the gospel with religious, patriotic, and temperance-themed songs.

The Robertsons and this Mezick Family have many interesting connections.

Connection #1
Luther married Carrie Roberta Robertson on 24 June 1891 in Trinity Methodist Church, Tyaskin. Carrie is the eldest child of Esther Adeline and James W.T. Robertson, our great grandfather and his first wife.

Connection #2
Luther was very involved with the temperance and national prohibition movements, as were our great and great-great grandfathers (James W.T. and George Robertson).

Connection #3
Luther died on 27 March 1917 in Clara, MD. Carlton and Mattie Robertson, our grandparents, witnessed his will.

Connection #4
Luther was the son of Elizabeth Jane White and her second husband Isaac Francis Mezick. With her first husband, Thomas Hughes, Eliz. Jane White was Mattie’s grandmother.

Luther and Carrie had three children: Audrey (1893-1969), Herbert Luther (1900-1966) and Evan Carlyle.

Evan Carlyle was born 7 Jan 1898 in Clara, MD. He married Lillian Ruth Young on 5 June 1920. (She was born in Baltimore in 1901).

Lillian and Carlyle Mezick. Photo from Shari Handley

They had 8 children. The first child, a baby girl, was stillborn. The other children are:

Evan Carlyle Jr. (1925-1991)
Marvin Gerald (1926-2006)
Ronald Bryan (1928-1998)
Eugene Arlon (1930—1993)
Sharlene Ruth (1933-2014)
Burton Alan (1946 –2015)
and a daughter who is still living.

In the 1930 census Carlyle is listed as a radio salesman. In 1940 he is still a salesman, but his Selective Service Registration Card identifies his employer as the Balmar Corporation in Woodberry, Baltimore.

The Balmar Corporation was a foundry that specialized in parts for steam locomotives, but also, during the 1940s, helped with the war effort – parts for B-26s, and Liberty Ships. There is also an indication (Baltimore Sun November 24, 2017) that the company contributed to the Manhattan Project. What Carlyle did at the Balmar Corp is not clear.

Evan Carlyle died on 8 March 1960, at the age of 62. He is the only member of his immediate family that is buried at the Robertson Cemetery.

Evan Carlyle Mezick headstone at the Robertson Cemetery

[Note: His father and mother are buried at St. John’s United Methodist Church Cemetery in Fruitlands, Wicomico County. Lillian, his wife, died on 20 July 1976, at age 74, and is buried in the Oak Lawn Cemetery in Baltimore County.]

Eva Blanche Robertson Messick and Family

Posted on 13 November 2020 by SR

(1872 – 1932)

Eva Blanche Robertson was born in Wicomico County, Maryland on 28 April 1872, the second daughter of James W. T. Robertson and his first wife, Esther Adeline.

Eva’s first appearance in the census is 1880. Esther has died and JWT has married our great-grandmother, Caroline Lawson Catlin. Esther’s three children, Carrie, Eva, and Alice Talmage are living at home, along with Caroline’s kids, Carlton Edward and Esther Caroline. James WT is listed as a farmer and a merchant.

By 1900 it looks like Eva, age 28, has moved in with her uncle, John Rufus Robertson. John R (aka “Bud Rufo”) is Esther’s brother, and at this time John is married to Sarah E. Lankford. They have 5 children, ranging in age from 14 to 2. Also part of the household is Oscar, John’s brother. Eva is teaching public school, but I bet she helped out with the kids, too.

Eva Blanche married Daniel Walter Messick on 25 November 1909. Daniel is the son of Mahlon S. Messick and Rita A. Downing. In the 1910 census, Daniel is listed as an oysterman and Eva is still teaching.

They married rather late in life, especially given the times; Daniel was 42; Eva was 37. Their first child, Daneva, was born and died in 1911. They did go on to have another child, a son, Myron Daniel, who was born 18 Nov. 1913, according to his gravestone at the Mariners Bethel United Methodist Church Cemetery.

The 1920 census lists Daniel as a painter, and Eva is the postmistress. Myron is 6 years old. They own their own house with no mortgage.

In 1930 they are living probably in the same house on Nanticoke Road. Daniel is 62 years old and is a house painter. Eva is 57 and no longer seems to be teaching. Myron is 16.

Eva Blanche passes away on 1 August 1932, age 60. She and her infant daughter, Daneva, are buried in the Robertson Family Cemetery.

Daniel dies in February 1948, at the age of 80, but we can find no record of him in the 1940 census. His obituary, speaks of a funeral service held in the Nanticoke Methodist Church, and burial in the Robertson Family Cemetery. We have no record or stone marking his burial, and he is not listed in Find-a-Grave at this cemetery, nor at the Wicomico Cemeteries Project page.

Ruby Pauline Robertson and Glenn Grice Mezick

Posted on 9 November 2020 by SR

(1885 – 1950) and (1885 – 1957), respectively

Ruby Pauline — Aunt Ruby, our great aunt — was born on 21 November 1885 in Wicomico County, Maryland. She was the second child of James W. T. and Mary Priscilla Robertson (JWT’s 3rd wife). If the 1900 census is accurate, Ruby Pauline grew up in a very full house, with Mom and Dad, 3 half-siblings (Alice, Carlton, and Esther, ages 25 – 20) and 4 siblings (Dula, Chester, Nellie, and Rachel, ages 15 through 7). James WT was a farmer and it must have been all hands on deck when farming and housekeeping duties called.

By the 1910 census, Ruby’s mother, Mary Priscilla has died (1901), and the only children left at home with Ruby and father JWT are Alice, Chester, Nellie, and Rachel. Ruby marries Glenn Grice Mezick on 25 March 1914 at the “house of the bride,” with JWT and both of Glenn’s parents present. (The marriage is recorded in the Trinity Church register.) Glenn is the son of Albert E. and Julia C. Mezick (listed as Messick in the 1900 Census). Guy and Geneva are his siblings. Also living with Glenn’s family in 1900 is Sarah E. Messick, listed as “a sister.” She is 38 years old.

The 1920 Census records Glenn and Ruby as husband and wife. They are both 34 years old. They are living on Quantico Road in Salisbury, and Glenn’s occupation is listed as farmer. By 1930, Glenn is working for the Post Office, as a rural carrier, and Ruby’s dad, James WT is living with them. He is 80 years old. Also living with them is someone named Hannah Collier. She is listed as a border, and is 28 years old. Ruby and Glenn did not have any children.

Glenn and Ruby appear in the 1940 Census and Glenn is still a mail carrier. They have another lodger, Carrie Mezick, who is probably Carrie Roberta, oldest daughter of JWT and his 1st wife, Esther Adeline. Carrie married Luther Fuller Mezick, who died in 1917.

Glenn Grice registered for the draft for both world wars. In 1942 he is described as 6 feet, 165 pounds, with brown eyes, grey hair, and a ruddy complexion. He and Ruby are living in Salisbury, MD and he works for the Post Office in Hebron. He is 57 years old at the time of this registration.

Ruby Pauline passed away on 20 March 1950 in Quantico, MD, at the age of 65.

Glenn, at age 65, gets married again, 5 months later, in August 1950, to Bessie Harris Fields of Quantico. She is 26 years old. We don’t know much about this marriage, but Glenn’s obituary says he is survived by a stepson named Fields, so we assume she was a widow at the time.

Glenn and Bessie are listed in the Salisbury City Directory for 1953 as living at 203 West Philadelphia (Street). Glenn dies on 26 August 1957. His wife, Bessie, reported his cause of death as pneumonia.

Both Ruby Pauline and Glenn Grice are buried at the Robertson Family Cemetery.

George Henry Robertson

Posted on 1 October 2020 by SR

(1845 – 1896)

George Henry Robertson was the eldest son of our great-great grandparents, George Washington Henry Robertson and Leah Wainwright. He was born on 22 January 1845, according to his gravestone. He died in 1896 and became the second interment in the Robertson Cemetery.

1850s

At 5 years of age, George makes his first appearance in the U.S. Census, living with his parents in Quantico, Somerset, Maryland. His 2 younger brothers are there also, William E., 3 years old, and our great grandfather James W., listed as 6/12 years – so an infant, having been born late November 1849. Mary T., Leah’s daughter by her first marriage, is there along with 2 males listed as “laborers.”

There are 2 other men living at the residence: William Sirman, 52 years old and John Q. Robinson, 21 years old. We believe this is John Quincy Robertson who turns up frequently in the deeds we have been looking at; we also believe him to be the husband of Margaret Ellen White, who was the daughter of Leah’s sister, Betsy Ann Wainwright.

1860s

The family is still pretty much intact in the 1860 census. Three more Robertson children have been born: Louisa F., Charlotte T. and an “infant” who would be our great aunt Martha Jane, born in May 1860. William Sermon, now age 60 is also still with them. George Henry is 14 years old.

George Henry marries Martha Larmore on 20 October 1863. George was 18, Martha was 21. Martha Adeline Denson Larmore, as she is fully named in her father’s will, is the daughter of Elihu Larmore and Sally Wainwright. Sally is another one of of Leah’s sisters. The 1870 census includes in the household George and Martha, a farm laborer (George W. Moore), a domestic servant (Anna Larmore) and their first child, “Windfield” (Winfield) Robertson. They are all living in Tyaskin, in the newly created Wicomico County.

1870s

They went on to have 2 more children, Walter born presumably after July of 1870 and Addie White, born 25 Nov. 1872, listed in the Quantico Methodist Church records at the MD State Archive.

We don’t have a specific date for Martha’s death, but by 1877, George has married again. Charlotte Ellen White — Lottie — was born in 1855 and was 22 years old at the time of her marriage to George Henry, who was 32. Their first child, Edith Addie, is born in 1879.

1880-1890s

Addie White, the daughter born in 1872, does not appear in the 1880 census enumeration, so she must have passed away. George and Lottie’s first child born in 1879 is named Edith Addie, perhaps in memory of the lost child.

George Henry dies 21 March 1896, age 51. He actually predeceases his father, George Washington Henry, by 10 months.

1900s

By the 1900 Census, Charlotte and the 7 kids (Lofton, Lottie Marie, George Harry, Hilton, Leonard, Raymond, and Mina), are living on the farm. Charlotte is head of the household and a farmer. Lofton is listed as a bookkeeper and might be working elsewhere. George, and Hilton are farm laborers – so they must be working the farm. Edith is 21 and not there at all, and the younger children (Leonard and Raymond) are at school. Mina is only 6 and hasn’t started school yet.

Winfield (eldest son of George H. and Martha), and Winfield’s wife Rosa Phillips are buried in the Robertson Family Cemetery, as are 2 of their children, Brooks and Martha May. Of George’s other children we know little. Hilton ran for congress in 1920 on what appears to be an anti-anti-alcohol platform. We might look into that later on.

We don’t know very much about our great uncle George Henry. He’s mentioned in his dad’s will along with our great grandfather, James WT,

I George W. Robertson of Wicomico County, Maryland, make + declare this to be my last will and testament + revoke all others.

First, Having heretofore made ample provision for, or arrangements with my sons Geo. H. Robertson and Jas. W.T. Robertson, I therefore do not give them anything by this my will.

George H. and his dad, George W. H. are buried beside each other. The inscription on George Henry’s tombstone reads:

My own, my all, farewell
I know God has taken thee to dwell
Prophetic hope dispell’d death’s frightful gloom
Celestial rays redeemed his dying sight
While beckoning angels smile beyond the tomb
And bid him welcome to their realms of light

Perfect Day

Robertson Family History

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