First Generation


1. John Alexander ROBERTS was born about 1695 in England?.1 Don't know if he really came from England or Wales. DNA suggests he came from northern Wales - impossible to prove right now. He owned 350 ac near Rockfish River in 1742 at Rockfish River in Goochland Co, VA.2 He owned Survey of land - 225 ac in 1747 in Albemarle Co, VA.3 4 John lived near Rockfish in Albemarle Co, VA in 1760.5 6 He owned Survey - 200 ac on 6 April 1763 in Amherst Co, VA.7 8 9 10 11 He died about 1780 at the age of 85 in Amherst Co, VA. Richmond Times Dispatch,Richmond, VA
Sunday, 2 Apr 1916, p 12
ROBERTS:
 John Roberts, first earl of Radnor, and John Alexander Roberts, fourth earl of Truro, came to Virginia.  We find that John Alexander,in 1721, married in Caroline County, Va. By this marriage were eight children – Sarah Roberts, born November 5,1722, Henry, Elliott, Elizabeth, Morris, Francis, John and Drusillla.  In company with his children, he moved in 1746 to Albemarle County, Va., and patented lands on Rockfish River, about six miles from the James, and was justice of the peace, which office was then held for life, and was constituted the highest court in the colony, with appeal to the Governor and council.  Elliot Roberts married Elizabeth Phillips, of Amherst County, Va.  Issue: John M. Captain Zack, Henry and Mathew and seven others – names not found.  John M. first married Miss White,of Albemarle County, Va., by whom were Fountain, Jeremiah W and Captain John E., and Elizabeth.  By a second marriage to Miss Matilda Jane Harris, sister to the wives of Captain Zack Roberts and his brother, Henry Roberts, were:  Ann Tate, Matilda Jane, Milton, Emily and Henry M. Roberts.  Matilda Jane Roberts married William Addison Roberts.  He was born in 1811 in Appomattox County, died in Roanoke, November 13, 1889.  His wife died in 1862 .  Their children were:  Bettie Ann, John Milton and Ella Horsely Roberts.  Bettie Ann Roberts married Dr.William H Horton.  He died June 5, 1862,when their only child, William H Horton was just three weeks old.  He was born May 11, 1862.  His mother died July 9, 1890.  William Addison Roberts was a son of John Roberts whose brothers, Alexander and Joseph were half-brothers of Henry Dawson Roberts.  John Roberts, just mentioned, married Virginia Horsley.  His son John married Malinda Coleman.  Issue:  Price and Alice Roberts

Other assertions by researchers: rootsweb - 2010 - ID: 17429
John A Roberts had daughter Elizabeth and son Joseph; repetition of jp story still uncorroborated; source of Robarts family in Lanhydrock, Cornwall, England (some research seems to disprove this and the Earl of Radnor history)

Despite all the stories about J A Roberts, I have inquired of the University of Virginia and Albemarle County and no one has any record of John Alexander Roberts serving as a justice of the peace for that Albemarle County. The only reason I am including this fact is that so many researchers have accepted this information without question. It appears to be completely inaccurate and he was never a justice of the peace in Albemarle County.

John Alexander ROBERTS and Unknown UNKNOWN were married in 1721 in Caroline Co, VA.1,12 This is actually impossible because Caroline County wasn't formed until 1728. They1,12 lived in Amherst Co, VA in 1746.13 In actuality, John A Roberts and his sons bought land in Albemarle County in the central part of the original county. However, about 1761 they found themselves in Amherst County after it was formed from Albemarle County. And again, in 1808 Nelson was formed from the eastern half of the county and they all became known as Nelson County residents. Unknown UNKNOWN was born (date unknown).

John Alexander ROBERTS-1 and Unknown UNKNOWN-1442 had the following children:

+2

i.

Sarah ROBERTS-6.

+3

ii.

Elliott ROBERTS-8.

+4

iii.

Henry ROBERTS-7.

5

iv.

Elizabeth ROBERTS was born on 17 April 1729 in Caroline County, VA.14

+6

v.

Morris ROBERTS-1354.

7

vi.

Frances ROBERTS was born on 17 May 1734 in Caroline County, VA.15,16

+8

vii.

John ROBERTS-12.

9

viii.

Drusilla ROBERTS was born on 4 July 1739 in Caroline County, VA.15,17