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iv) Amanda A.7 Roberts. Her married name was Hagan. She Person Source. She Info from: Judy Crabb Roberts-Oxford, Fla.- J2ROBERTS@aol.com. She was born on 6 Nov 1843 at Lowndes, Georgia. She married John William Hagan, son of John Fletcher Hagin and Elizabeth Dayton, in 1858. She died in 1872. v) Thomas Jefferson7 Roberts Info from: Judy Crabb Roberts-Oxford, Fla.- J2ROBERTS@aol.com. He was born on 13 Jul 1845 at Lowndes, Georgia. He died in Sep 1863 at Civil War, Battle of Chicamauga, at age 18. He died in Sep 1863 at The Battle of Chicamauga at age 18. (e) Bryant J.6 Roberts Info from: Judy Crabb Roberts-Oxford, Fla.- J2ROBERTS@aol.com *Served in the Indian War of 1836-1838 Private in Captain Levi J. Knight's militia *Mr. Roberts lived on the large plantation settled by his father which afforded comfortable ci rcumstances. *RESOURCES: Page 244, Vol. 2, Huxford *Bryant J. 'B.J.' Roberts was born June 4, 1809; in Wayne Co., GA. He married Wealthy A. Math is, Jan. 26, 1832; she was born in 1913, Bullock Co., GA., the daughter of James Mathis and R hoda Monk. When old John Roberts, Bryant's father, decided to move to FL. in 1850, Bryant bo ught his fathers large plantation. He also served in Capt. Levi Knight's GA Militia. Bryan t was well known and lived in comfortable circumstances. Bryant J. Roberts died July 8, 1888 , just a few days after his wife died on June 19, 1888. Both are buried at 'Cat Creek' Cemet ery just north of Valdosta, GA. *MORE: Burial-Cat Creek Primative Baptist Church Cemetery, Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia. He Person Source. He was buried at Cat Creek Primitive Baptist, Valdosta, Lowdens, Ga. He was born on 4 Jun 1809 at Wayne Co, Ga. He married Wealthy A. Mathis on 26 Jan 1832 at Lowndes, Georgia. He died on 8 Jul 1888 at Lowndes County, Georgia, at age 79. i) John J.7 Roberts Info from: Judy Crabb Roberts-Oxford, Fla.- J2ROBERTS@aol.com. He was buried at Cat Creek Primative Baptist Church Cemetery, Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia. He was born on 17 Nov 1832 at Lowndes, Georgia. He died on 10 May 1907 at age 74. ii) James W.7 Roberts Info from: Judy Crabb Roberts-Oxford, Fla.- J2ROBERTS@aol.com. He was born on 11 Mar 1834 at Lowndes, Georgia. He died on 6 Jun 1900 at age 66. iii) Mary Ann7 Roberts Info from: Judy Crabb Roberts-Oxford, Fla.- J2ROBERTS@aol.com. She was born in 1836 at Lowndes, Georgia. iv) Stephen N.7 Roberts Info from: Judy Crabb Roberts-Oxford, Fla.- J2ROBERTS@aol.com Never married. *MORE: 8-6-1861 Enlisted in Company 'G', 29th Georgia Infantry Regiment C.S.A. Died 1-6-1863 while serving in the Confederate Army. He was buried at Owen Smith Cemetery, Lowndes County, Georgia. He was born on 26 Nov 1837 at Lowndes, Georgia. He died on 6 Jan 1863 at CS Army at age 25. v) Jemima7 Roberts Info from: Judy Crabb Roberts-Oxford, Fla.- J2ROBERTS@aol.com. She was born on 15 Sep 1839 at Lowndes, Georgia. She died on 16 Jul 1913 at age 73. vi) Rachel7 Roberts Info from: Judy Crabb Roberts-Oxford, Fla.- J2ROBERTS@aol.com. She was born in 1841 at Lowndes, Georgia. vii) Nancy7 Roberts Info from: Judy Crabb Roberts-Oxford, Fla.- J2ROBERTS@aol.com. She was born in 1843 at Lowndes, Georgia. viii) Warren H.7 Roberts Info from: Judy Crabb Roberts-Oxford, Fla.- J2ROBERTS@aol.com. He was born on 30 Jan 1846 at Lowndes, Georgia. He died on 6 May 1908 at Lowndes, Georgia, at age 62. ix) William K.7 Roberts Info from: Judy Crabb Roberts-Oxford, Fla.- J2ROBERTS@aol.com. He was born in 1847 at Lowndes, Georgia. x) Leonard L.7 Roberts Info from: Judy Crabb Roberts-Oxford, Fla.- J2ROBERTS@aol.com. He was born on 31 Aug 1849 at Lowndes, Georgia. He died on 15 Aug 1919 at age 69. xi) Elizabeth7 Roberts Info from: Judy Crabb Roberts-Oxford, Fla.- J2ROBERTS@aol.com. She was born on 18 May 1851 at Lowndes, Georgia. xii) Martha7 Roberts Info from: Judy Crabb Roberts-Oxford, Fla.- J2ROBERTS@aol.com. She was born in 1854 at Lowndes, Georgia. (f) Nathan6 Roberts Person Source. He was born in 1811 at Wayne Co. Ga. He died on 2 Sep 1874. (g) George Washington6 Roberts Info from: Judy Crabb Roberts-Oxford, Fla.- J2ROBERTS@aol.com *RESOURCES: Page 277, Vol. 3, Huxford *From 'The Lewis Roberts Family History and Some Alled Families' p. 9, by Lowell E. Addison *George Washington Roberts, was born April 23, 1812 in Wayne Co., GA., the 6th child of John a nd Phoebe Roberts. He went along with his parents to Lowndes Co., GA. Married Mary A. 'Poll ie' Mathis, she was born in Bullock Co. in 1815, the daughter of James and Rhoda Monk Mathis . George W. Roberts also served as a 2nd Lieut. in Capt. Levi Knights Militia Co. in the Ind ian wars. *In the mid 1840's, he moved his family, along with his brothers, John J., Lewis L., and Nath an to Columbia Co., FL., and settled in the area that is now Baker Co. Late in his life he m oved back across the state line into GA., near old Fort Moniac. His wife died about 1883, an d George died about 1895, and both are in a cemter near their home. Their graves were not ma rked with a stone, and have been lost. *THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday, March 24, 1977, Page Two THE WAY IT WAS - Gene Barber Still More Odds 'n Ends from County's Past *While researching for the book Baker County, Florida-An Historical Narrative, all kinds of go od stuff was discovered. Many items too small to dwell on at length but too good to let slid e by make up this week's column. *Baker County has always been politics-oriented. Three of our history's outstanding politicia ns were George Washington Roberts, Max M. Brown, and William Daniel Mann. *George W. Roberts, originally from Lowndes County, Georgia, became an early citizen of Bake r County. During the Civil War he moved to the Raulerson's Ferry (Baxter) section living a t different times on each side of the St. Mary's River. He was elected as County Commissione r in November of 1863. For reasons known only to himself, he refused to serve and moved perm anently into the Georgia Bend. *THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday April 28, 1977, Page Two THE WAY IT WAS - Gene Barber The Baxter Rebellion Part One *Most of known principals but not all of the participants of the following described event hav e passed on. For those who suffered through this, the darkest blot on Baker County history , and are yet with us, be assured this writing is not intended to open old wounds but only fo r the sake of history. And, a knowledge of history prevents making the same mistakes again. *Early on Sunday morning, September 16th, 1904, most of the residents of Baxter and Moniac gat hered at the Baxter station (about a half mile west of the present State Highway 127) for a n excursion to St. Augustine. None of the amiable crowd could know that before they would ne rvously enter their homes again that night they would be witnesses to the bloodiest, most unr eal experience of their lives. *Sancking baskets, ball paraphernalia, and extra nickels for fizzy Coke dopes were brought alo ng for the added enjoyment in Florida's sun and fun capital. Mr. and Mrs. Charly Hodges an d infant son and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Williams boarded together. They had been invited by a St . Augustine merchant friend to spend the day on his yacht. The wild and happily young Altma n boys, Hillary and Charly, intended to have a good time that day and brought along a flask o f 'good-time-insurance-juice'. Several blacks including the Messers, Jim Riley, Jesse Campbe ll, Jim Plummer and a family named Eddy had donned their Sunday best and waited eagerly on th e platform. *All were employees of 'Turpentines' Duncan a native of Tennessee and recently from Macon, Geo rgia. Although his manner of dealing with his employees and the locals had not found favor w ith the Baker and Charlton fold, his gift of an excursion was generally conceded to be the ac t of a gentleman. *Mr. Duncan, a big-framed and extroverted man, had bought up a vast acreage in the area at abo ut the turn of the century. He had earlier brought his wife and infant, two teenage sons, an d two married sons and their wives down from Macon. On the big excursion day all his famil y except his wife and baby joined him on the train. Mrs. Duncan, Senior, remained home becau se the baby was not well and she sent to Fargo for a doctor. *Sixty years later, Mrs. Mattie Knabb Hodges recalled that when her small party returned to th e depot in St. Augustine for the return trip home they found most of their traveling companio ns drunk and noisy and the Negroes especially boisterous and pugnacious. For reasons never d reamed, Mr. Duncan pushed his black employees ahead of the whites to board the train. With m ost of the whites behind him grumbling, Duncan seemed to have troubles with the ticket agent , turnstile keeper and conductor. *At the railroad officer's insistence Duncan confiscated all pistols from the whites (to tot e a pistol in 1904 was a common as carrying a pocketwatch.) The blacks, emboldened by thei r boss' attitude and actions, began to taunt the whites, and the whites fingered their long b laded knives hoping for an opportunity to use them. *The Macon Baseball Club, having played in St. Augustine that day, traveled on the same retur n train. The cars were crowded; the boys liquored up, and the atmosphere inflamable. *In 1904 almost everything and everybody was segregated. The blacks had their own rail car an d on the small trains of the Georgia Southern and Florida Railroad the passenger blacks and t he segregated white smokers shared the car. *Chary Hodges recalled that boozed-up spirits were running high in the black-smoker car and te nsion mounted each time another white entered or passed through. Manager Smith of the Maco n Ball Club claimed that Charly and Hillary Altman were alternately threatening to cut each o thers throat and drinking from the same bottle. *The Altman boys allegedly began to 'give a rough time' to Jim Plummer, a Negro hand of Mr. Du ncan. Plummer left the car in fright and his friend Jim Riley hollered, 'you run from that m an?' One of the Altmans, it was said, grabbed Riley and slashed his throat, almost decapitat ing him. *One of the young Duncan men, Jackson, attempted to come to the aid of his black hands. Mik e Rowe and Ivy Harvey supposedly took up the Altman battle and in but a moment Jackson Duncan 's dead body, its heart hanging out, lay bleeding in the aisle. *The conductor closed off the bloody car and refused to stop as per Duncan's instructions exce pt to halt briefly at Cutler-St. George to wire for help and instructions. The vilence mount ed, becoming an orgy of blood as by-stander blacks and some members of the Macon team were in discrimately slashed. *Jackson's brother Marshall was then badly cut up and tossed off the train. Duncan, Sr., thin king the Altmans and Harvey had hidden in the restroom shot several times through the door . They, however, had jumped off the train at St. George and hiding beneath a car rode the ro ds in to Baxter. One of their buddies, Mike Rowe had fallen off and a section foreman's rai l buggy was borrowed to go back and pick him up. *By the time the train arrived in Baxter at eleven that night, an undetermined number had bee n killed and wounded. The blacks scattered as soon as, or sooner than, the train stopped. A ny white man who believed that he might be implicated also disappeared. The womenfolk and ch ildren were cautioned to not look in the direction of the murder car as the men hustled the m off into the dark. *One lady said many years later, 'I am a woman and I can't help being curious. I looked an d I have many times wished to God I had listened to my husband. When the door was slid ope n the blood flowed out. I looked in and could not see one inch that was not covered with blo od'. Another stated, 'they stacked them (bodies of the dead and dying) like cordwood'. *No body slept that night. The women and children were barricaded in their homes or secrete d under their houses by the men as they were out tending to the dead and wounded. One woma n later confided that her husband had nailed her and her baby inside their house and that sh e had often shuddered in later years at the consequences had anybody set fire to their home . Shots were fired all night long and it was a long night. *In response to threats by several locals to 'get rid of all them damned Duncans, a number o f other natives went to the Duncan home to protect Mrs. Duncan and her infant. A member of t he barricading group later stated, 'I couldn't give a --- for Duncan and his bigger boys, bu t I wasn't going to see a woman and babies suffer for what the old --- had done.' *Shots were fired all through the night. The sounds were those of a full scale battle. Negr o houses were fired. The train from Fargo stopped far west of Baxter to unload the summone d doctor and then rushed through at top speed. Some men of the community met the doctor an d took him to the Duncan home where he tended Duncan Sr., first and then began several grueli ng hours of mending the butchered and shot. *The one deputy for the area, Rufe Thrift, was unable to do much more than stand off the mob f rom the Duncan home. A few of the menfolk remained with him as the sky began to lighten, bu t most had returned home to be with their families. Ivy Harvey and the Altmans had ridden ha rd to Taylor for reinforcements. By daybreak the threat seemed to have dissipated enough, s o thought most of the community, to take the remainder of the men home. *When the sun came up over the pines, Deputy Ruft Thrift stood alone. 'Of all the bad Thrifts , Rufe was the baddest', claimed a contemporary. Not many was willing to go against him. *The Duncan commissary stood approximately on the site of the present C.H. Yonn store. Insid e was the post office, of which W.H. Altman (brother of Charly and Hillary) was postmaster . Upstairs housed the dormitory for the Duncan white hands. Also inside was a waiting gunma n or gunmen. *Duncan 'cameto' and determined to terminate the situation permanently and to exact revenge o n the Altman-Harvey faction. He grabbed his shotgun and strode the short distance eastward t o his commissary. *The commissary was described as being a rather large squarish frame structure with a hip roof . A small porch graced the otherwise unadorned front. Side stairs led to the sleeping quart ers. Above it all flew the American flag. *From inside, a single shot dropped Duncan. At about the same time Ivy Harvey and several o f the Altman clan returned from Taylor. The huge mob approached with firearms blazing. Unkn own to either side, Deputy Thrift had earlier rushed to the commissary and secreted himself u pstairs. The Taylor area men spread low among the gallberries and moved in. Thrift, apparen tly believing his better chances were down on the ground, rushed out and started down the sta irs. *The crowd began to shoot, wounding him in the legs. He fell to the bottom of the stairs an d crawled under the commissary. The mob moved in cautiously and ,s eeing he was auarmed, bla sted away at close range. It was reported that there was not an unbroken bone in his body wh en it was dragged from beneath the building. *After killing Deputy Rufe Thrift, the gang discovered the corpse of Riley Dowling upstairs . The Dowlin gbody was carried away on a makeshift litter of guns and left on his porch by u nkown persons to be found by his wife later. His murderer was not determined and Duncan alle gedly said later, 'Good. I couldn't have looked the county over and found a man I'd rather i t be.' *When word of the mob actions reached the county seat, Sheriff U.C. Herndon deputized every ma n he could catch in Macclenny and along the route to Baxter. 'And catch 'em he had to', quot ed an observer. 'Wasn't nobody wanted to get mixed up in that fracas.' *In Baxter the Sheriff received no cooperation from the populace. All were either too deepl y involved or too frightened to make a statment. It is said that while the Sheriff was bus y in one place a gang would stop and rob a train on another stretch of tracks (no record ha s been found, to date, of train robbery). To cap it all off, a sniper took a shot at Sherif f Herndon during his investigation. *Florida's Secretary of State Crawford, in Gov. Jennings' absence mobilized the State Militi a and the trains rolled in with troops on Tuesday. The soldiers made camp and their campfire s were kept blazing all night. Some locals feared renewed riots because several of the Milit ia were close relatives of the rebellion's participants. Mr. Duncan protested the use of Sta te Militia rather than U.S. Regulars because the men stationed at Baxter would not, he claime d, shoot against their kin. *The troops kept an uneasy peace while Sheriff Herndon conducted his investigation and made ar rests. Jails in the three Florida Counties of Baker, Columbia, and Duval were filled accordi ng to locals (records were found only of the Folkston, Jacksonville, and Macclenny jails bein g used). *In protest against the military, someone shot the American flag from atop the post office-com missary. *Georgia opened her boundary and permitted Sheriff Herndon, with National Guard support, to en ter the Bend and capture 21 of the Altman-Dowling faction. The prisoners, under military gua rd, were taken by train to Jacksonville for security. From the Bay Street station they wer e marched to the Duval County jail under additional army guard. *The Hon. James P. Taliaferro of the U.S. Senate and C.F. Barber of the State Senate immediate ly launched a bail campaign for the men. Sen. Taliaferro was vacationing in Canada at the ti me and his correspondence with Sen. Barber provided much of the information for this Baxter s eries. Also found among Sen. Barber's letters and papers were several receipts for bails pay ments, lawyers fees, and families subsistence (none ever repaid). *Sen. Barber was joined by the influential Sanderson merchanct and legislator William D. Man n on a trip through the Taylor, Baxter, and Georgia Bend area advising against panic and coop eration. *'Now, don't be witnessing against your neighbor just to get even' they reasoned. 'Stay quie t and know nothing. The State will have no case against anybody if you all will just stay qu iet.' *And, stay quiet they did. Sheriff Herndon was heard to remark as he rounded up his suspects , 'this ain't going to do nobody no good. They won't get anything out of them.' *Charles and Hillary Altman and Ivy Harvey were tried at Folkston for the murder of Jack Dunca n. The Altmans kinfolks galore in Charlton County and they joined the Baker County clan in s urrounding the courthouse on the day of the trial. All were armed and one nervous townsperso n and county official was overheard to say, 'if them Altmans want to burn down the courthouse , I'll not only let 'em, I'll help 'em strick the match.' *The trial was soon over and the boys were acquitted. A second trial for the murder of Jim Ri ley was of an even shorter duration and all returned to Macclenny for the hearings for the mu rders on the Florida side. *The Baker County courthouse was a handsome frame structure that stood near the site of the pr esent Baker County Free Public Library (built as the new courthouse four years after the hear ings). It was ringed by the Militia and hundres of curious natives and out-of-towners. Nobo dy doubted for a moment that the relatives of the men being tried would make good their threa ts to burn the courthouse and shoot up the town if the men were convicted. *The tight-lipped attitudes of the witnesses frustrated the proceedings of justice resulting i n delays and re-schedulings. The new Governor, N.B. Broward, it was rumored, owed much of hi s independent democrat victory to certain strings skillfully pulled by Baker County politicia ns. Gov. Broward also had blood and in-law ties within the County. Perhaps, in the light o f those facts, it can be understood why he chose to help bog down the Baxter Rebellion in jud icial loopholes and governmental red tape until it became a forgotten subject in Tallahassee. *After the hearings some of the principals left the county, never to return. Some died or dis appeared soon after. A very few remained, refusing to discuss the events until they were i n advanced age. *The wounds remainded fresh with some for seventy years or more. It is strange that those wh o had suffered the most seemed to forgive and forget first. The men did the killing but it w as the women who had to bury their men alone (others were fearful to assist). *Mr. Duncan Sr. did not show up for the hearings and supposedly ended up near Madison. A Mr . Lewis came to Macclenny from that area a generation later to set up a sawmill operation. D uncan strongly advised him not to go to Baker County. 'Them people there,' he said, 'are cra zy.' *Mr. Lewis answered, 'maybe, just maybe, it's how you treat 'em and approach 'em that'll mak e the difference.' *MORE: Fort Moniac, Georgia. He Person Source. He was born on 23 Apr 1812 at Wayne County, Georgia. He married Mary A. Mathis in 1830 at Georgia. He married an unknown person in 1840 at Lowndes, Georgia, USA. He died on 10 Jan 1885 at Echlas, Ga, at age 72. i) Emily7 Roberts Info from: Judy Crabb Roberts-Oxford, Fla.- J2ROBERTS@aol.com. She was born in 1832 at Lowndes, Georgia. ii) Phoebe7 Roberts Info from: Judy Crabb Roberts-Oxford, Fla.- J2ROBERTS@aol.com. She was born in 1834 at Lowndes, Georgia. iii) Rhoda7 Roberts Info from: Judy Crabb Roberts-Oxford, Fla.- J2ROBERTS@aol.com *MORE: Baker, Florida Burial- South Prog. Cemetery, Baker Co., Fla. She was buried at South Prog. Cemetery, Baker County, Florida. She was born in 1836 at Lowndes, Georgia. She died on 16 May 1913. iv) Elizabeth7 Roberts Info from: Judy Crabb Roberts-Oxford, Fla.- J2ROBERTS@aol.com. She was born in 1838 at Lowndes, Georgia. v) Aaron7 Roberts died at CS Army. He Info from: Judy Crabb Roberts-Oxford, Fla.- J2ROBERTS@aol.com Never married. He was born in 1840 at Lowndes, Georgia. vi) Harriet7 Roberts died young. She Info from: Judy Crabb Roberts-Oxford, Fla.- J2ROBERTS@aol.com. She was born in 1842 at Lowndes, Georgia. vii) James7 Roberts Info from: Judy Crabb Roberts-Oxford, Fla.- J2ROBERTS@aol.com Never married. He died at CS Army. He was buried at Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia. He was born in 1844 at Baker, Florida. viii) Adonarim Vann7 Roberts Info from: Judy Crabb Roberts-Oxford, Fla.- J2ROBERTS@aol.com. He was born in 1847 at Union County, Florida. ix) Dora Ann7 Roberts died young. She Info from: Judy Crabb Roberts-Oxford, Fla.- J2ROBERTS@aol.com. She was born in 1849 at Union County, Florida. x) John G.7 Roberts Info from: Judy Crabb Roberts-Oxford, Fla.- J2ROBERTS@aol.com. He was buried at Swift Creek Cemetery, Lake Butler, Florida. He was born on 24 Apr 1851 at Union County, Florida. He died on 21 Nov 1920 at Union County, Florida, at age 69. xi) Jefferson Enoch7 Roberts Info from: Judy Crabb Roberts-Oxford, Fla.- J2ROBERTS@aol.com. He was buried at Boones Creek Cemetery, Charlton, Georgia. He was born in 1854 at Camden County, Georgia. He died in Nov 1945 at Charlton County, Georgia. (h) Stephen6 Roberts was buried at Mt. Zion Cemetery, Lake Butler, Fl. He was buried at Swift Creek Cemetery, Lake Butler, Florida. He Info from: Judy Crabb Roberts-Oxford, Fla.- J2ROBERTS@aol.com *From: 'The Lewis Roberts Family History and Some Allied Families', p. 9 by Lowell E. Addison *'Stephen Roberts was born Feb. 6, 1814 in Wayne County, Georgia. He moved, along with his fa ther old John Roberts to Lowndes Co., GA. He was married there to Mary Ann Boyd. She was bo rn July 1, 1822 in Georgia. She was known far and wide for her beauty. Stephen and his fami ly moved, along with his father and mother, John and Phoebe Roberts, to Columbia Co., Fl., i n 1850. He and his father settle in, or near Lulu, but in later years he moved into the are a that is now Baker Co. After the death of his father, John Roberts, he became administrato r of his estate. *Stephen Roberts was a rough, tough man and earned the nickname 'Tiger Bill.' He died Jan. 10 , 1894 at the age of 80. It is said that an unknown assailant shot him to death, as he sat i n his buggy, on the south side of Ocean Pond in Baker Co. His wife, Mary, died Nov. 12, 1886 . Both are buried at Swift Creek Cemetery. *From: 'Families Remembered' by John Albert Burnett Lived in Baker County, Florida * THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday, October 13, 1977, Page Two THE WAY IT WAS -Gene Barber The Will of 'Tiger Bill' Roberts *Baker County has been the home of quite a few rough and tough characters, but few have earne d the likes of the nickname worn by Stephen Roberts-'Tiger Bill'. The tales about him are ma ny and varied but all seem to agree on his ferocity. It was reported that he beat a man to d eath for no other reason than the man refused to speak to him respectfully. *Born in either Liberty or McIntosh County, Georgia, to John and Phoeve O'Steen Roberts, he ca me to the Baker County area (Olustee-Swift Creek) in 1839. His wife Mary Ann Boyd, known fa r and wide for her beauty in spike of mothering several children. *It is said that Tiger Bill's deeds caught up with him one day in 1899 on the south shore of O cean Pond. An unknown assailant allegedly dragged the aging pioneer from his buggy and sho t him to death with a 38 pistol. *Partly for his genealogy-searching descendants and partly for this historical interest, his w ill from Columbia County is reproduced (much thanks to Mrs. Chris Parker of Maxville for cont ributing it to this column.) * Will Book 'A', Page 213, Columbia County, Florida * In The name of God, Amen. I, Stephen Roberts, of Baker County, Florida, being of sound mind and memory and having in m y lifetime given to several of my children proper portions, I make this my Last Will and Test ament, that justice be done each of my heirs, hereby revoking all other wills by me made. *1st: I appoint my son Daniel L. Roberts, my sole Executor, to cary into effect the provision s of this Will and I authorize him to sell at private sale all such lands and property as ma y be neccessary to pay any just debts which may be owing by me at my death well as to affec t the proper distribution of my property and to make deeds to such purchasers of my land, wit hout the intervention of any Court & to set apart and deliver by deed to each heir and devise e, such portion of land and property as shall be due under the provisions of this Will afte r payment of the expenses of Administration. *2nd: I have already given and delivered to each of the following named children, such portio ns as I intended them to possess and direct that they do not take any further portion of my e state; vis: William P. Roberts, now deceased; Mary Thomas, wife of E.W. Thomas, Phoebe Clifto ns Heirs; Susan Wilson, wifeof Joseph Wilson; Benjamin S. Roberts; Stephen Milliard Roberts a nd John M. Roberts, and having thus provided for these children, my Will and wish is that the y and their descendants have no further portion of my property, either real, personal or mixe d. *3rd: Unto Martha Dyess, wife of George C. Dyess; Daniel L. Roberts, Eliza Henson, wife of R. J. Henson; Fannie Long, wife of N.B. Long; and R.B. Roberts, I give, devise and bequeath, sha re and share alike, all the property, real, personal & mixed of which I shall die seized an d possessed and in case of the death of the Devisees or either or them, then his or her porti on to his or her descendants. *This August 25th 1891 Stephen Roberts (Seal) *State of Florida, County of Columbia: The foregoing Will, written on two and a half pages was read to Stephen Roberts, the Testator , in our presence, and fully explained to him and he signed the same in our presence declarin g it to be his true Last Will and Testament and we, at his request, and in his presence and i n the presence of each other, then and there signed hereunder as subscribing witnesses theret o; at Lake City, Fla., Aug. 25, 1891, the Will being first dated, signed and sealed. *A.J. Henry, Lake City, Fla. Filed in Office, Jan. 13th, 1894 W.M. Ives, County Judge Recorded Jan. 14, 1894 *The Roberts Family *'Tiger Bill' Roberts, the subject of last week's column was a member of one of the area's fir st and largest clans. The extremes of the south, west, and north areas of Baker County and a djoining Charlton and Union Counties were the homes of the descendants of John Roberts of Sou th Carolina. *John Roberts was born in Charleston District in the spring of 1778, very likely the son of Re volutionary soldier Lewis Roberts. The elder Roberts served in the South Carolina Militia fr om 1779 to 1781. In the final years of the 18th century, Lewis moved from Edisto, South Caro lina to Wayne County, Georgia. The Hon. Folks Huxford's research shows Lewis Roberts to be t he coroner of Wayne County in 1811 and to have died in that county in 1823 (a Lewis Roberts i s also found on the 1820 Appling County census). *John Roberts and a brother, James, arrived in Georgia at the same time as Lewis and were livi ng in McIntosh County in 1798. In 1800-1803, John held office as Justice of the Peace in Li berty County and was a juror during Liberty's 1805 session of Inferior Court. The lst of hi s many moes with the state of Georgia was to Lowndes County (about 1829) where he became prom inent in politics as a member of the Whig party. *A staunch Baptist, he was frequently elected as a delegate to Georgia's Piedmont Baptist Asso ciation, (from 1819 to 1828). In 1834, Deacon John Roberts was a messenger from Union Churc h in Lowndes County to Providence Church in present Union County, Florida. His in-laws, th e Osteens and Weeks, were already living near Providence and he determined to make the move a lso. *After the 1838 fall crops were gathered, John Roberts, his wife, Phoebe 'Tibbie', (daughter o f John and Ada Weeks Osteen), seven of his eleven children, and his brother, James, travele d to Florida. Most of the better land in upper Alachua and Columbia Counties had been squatt ed, so Mr. Roberts settled the sandy land between Olustee and Swift Creek (just inside the pr esent Baker county line). *Mrs. Roberts united with Providence Church in February of 1839, but Mr. Roberts retained hi s membership at Union Church in Georgia. *The children, William, Reubin, Bryant, and Mary Jane, remained in Lowndes County. To Florid a came John (born 1799, married Sarah Sweat), Lewis (born 1802, married Mary Knight), Nathe n (born 1811, married Nancy Sweat), George (born 1812, married Mary Ann 'Polly' Mathis), Step hen 'Tiger Bill' (born 1814, married Mary Ann Boyd), Phoebe (born 1815, married Isaac Carlton ), and Enoch (born 1820). *No further informaton has been found on Enoch (his name has remained popular among all who ca rry Roberts blood), George finally moved back to Georgia, and all the rest livved and died i n the Swift Creek section. *George Roberts and Polly moved often within Baker County. Having served throughout the 2nd S eminole War with honor in the Lowndes County Militia, George chose not to enlist in the Confe derate ARmy (being almost 50 year old carried much weight in his decision). The conscriptin g authorities, however, had not reached the same decision and they began to press him. Whe n he could no longer dissuade them, he moved to the wilds near Moniac beyond their convenien t reach. *Once the war was well under way, he had married off two of his children to heirs of an influe ntial Confederate officer and new Baker County had been depleted of men to hold county office , Mr. Roberts returned and was elected County Commissioner in the fall of 1863. A few nigh t riders visited his home near South Prong Cemetery soon after the election and made threat s (one wonders why those gentlemen, who were so upset at someone not serving in the army, wer e free from that same honor and could ride th e countryside intimidating others). Before h e could assume office, Mr. Roberts crossed the St. Marys once again and settled permanently i n the Bend where he was respected as an exemplary citizen (he later served his adopted count y as State Representative). *Bearers of the Roberts name are few, if any, in Baker County today. Many other families, how ever, are favored with Roberts blood and characteristics handsome Latin features, short-fuse d tempers, shrewd business minds, and Gypsy-like roaming. *(This column wishes to make an apology regarding the 20 October article on the Roberts Family . After rereading the paragraphs on his not joing the Confederate Army it sounded as if we w ere sort of insulting Mr. George Roberts. We had hoped to show how his age and the wear an d tear of Seminole War service had influenced his decision. Mr. Roberts was a loyal and acti ve supporter of the Confederacy even though it has been said by those who knew him that he fe ared it was a doomed cause from the start. Two sons, Aaron and James, were members of the 26 th Georgia Volunteer Infantry and both are said to have paid the supreme sacrifice in service . Sons, Niram and Jeff, both married daughters of one of the area's first militia officers , James M. Burnsed). He Person Source. He was born on 6 Feb 1814 at Wayne Co, Ga. He married Mary Ann Boyd in 1838 at Lowndes, Georgia. He died on 10 Jan 1894 at Baker, Fl, at age 79. He died on 10 Jan 1894 at Lake Butler, Florida, at age 79. Download 0.7 Mb. Share with your friends:
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