The Roberts family first appeared in Overton county Tennessee census records in 1840 as John Roberts. In 1850 the family is in Jackson county as John and Rebecca Roberts. These records indicate that John was born in Kentucky ca 1806 and Rebecca was also born in Kentucky ca 1815. The census records also indicate that both John and Rebecca's parents were born in North Carolina.
My grandfather, John Franklin Roberts, along with several other families migrated to north centeral Texas near Weatherford ca 1904. Later they moved to Post, Texas. My father then settled in Levelland, Texas in February, 1936 where I was born in November of 1936. There were many other families from that same area in Tennessee that moved to Texas. It appears that if these families were not related in Tennessee, they became related in Texas. They include Peaks, Phillips, Greenwood, Bartlett, other members of the Roberts family, and a few more.
The oldiest known of the Phillips family was Jesse Phillips, born in North Carlonia about 1780 and came to Overton County of Tennessee by 1830. Indications are that they settled near Algood, Tennessee and in the Spring Creek area about twelve miles north of Cookeville, Tennessee. Many of the family members are buried at Smith Chapel along with members of the Roberts family and others are buried at the Phillips Cemetery near Algood, Tennessee. Several family members moved to Weatherford, Texas sometime around 1900. Florence Paralee Bullington's family was there by 1890.
The Roberts Family Backwards
Brief trace from Garrett C. Roberts b. 1936 to John Roberts b. 1806 Click hereThe Roberts Family Forwards
Detailed trace from John Roberts b. 1806 to Garrett Roberts b. 1936 and many others along the way. Click hereThe Phillips Family Backwards
Brief trace from Grace Philips b. 1902 to Jesse Phillips b. 1780 Click hereThe Phillips Family Forwards
Detailed trace from Jesse Phillips b. 1780 to Grace Philips b. 1901 and many others along the way. Click here
Below is some information found on the origins of the name Roberts. We can't say for sure that we are descended from the Welsh Roberts, but I remeber my father telling me that he thought that we were. Also, in a recent converstaion with Nancy Oliver, a newly surfaced relative (granddaugher of Officer Roberts), she too remebered her brother saying that their hertiage was Welsh.
The origin of the name Roberts is Welsh and the Coat of Arms contains Black and silver a lion counterchanged. The Crest is A half lion holding a sword. The family motto is "Ewch ymlaen" which means "Go Forward". Apparently the Roberts took the motto literally and migrated to America.
Spelling variations include: Roberts, Robert, Robartes, Robarts, and others.
First found in in Denbighshire where they were seated from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Eleanor and Griffith Robarts settled in the Barbados in 1676; James Robarts settled in New Haven Conn. in 1822; James Robert settled in Maryland in 1666; John Robert settled in New England in 1675; Edward Roberts settled and others.