James Robertson, Jr. was the son of James Robertson, Sr. and unknown. His birth is said to be between 1716 and 1724 in Coleraine, County Londonderry (Derry) OR in neighboring County Antrim, both in current N. Ireland (previously called Ireland or Ulster). He came to colonial America with his father in 1737,* from Coleraine. On "18 Aug 1743" OR "1739" (below), he married Elizabeth Crawford in Augusta County, Virginia.

It looks like James Robertson, Sr. (died 1752) and Rebekah Royston Robertson (died 1784) of Albemarle Co., Virginia, were not his parents (as multiple sources state). Seek data.

James had a sister Jean Robertson, who married Silas Hart in 1749. They would raise James and Elizabeth's orphaned children.

In the List of Baptisms by Rev. John Craig, Published by L.B. Hatke, P.O. Box 655, Staunton, Virginia; Augusta Co., Virginia, 1740 - 1749, typed; It lists children born to the following ROBERTSON fathers: James, George, John and Matthew. Children of JAMES Robertson were baptized (not born) on recorded dates (duplicate p 11 & 12 are the index at the end):

Jean: 22 Feb 1741, p11 index (p 2 says John was father)

Sarah (or Marah) 8 Mar 1741 at Rockfish, SSR, p 2 & 11

Ann: 20 June 1742, p 6 & 11

Margaret: 23 Jun 1743, at Rockfish Meeting House, p 8 & 11

George: 24 Apr 1744, p 10 & 11

Elizabeth: 26 Feb 1745-46, p 13 & 11

Alexander 10 Jan 1747-48, p 19 & 11

Margaret: 8 Jun 1749, p 23 & 12

David 9 July 1749, p 12 (p 23 also says son of Jas Robison)

Robertson children born in Augusta Co., Virginia:

Jean/Jane, bef 22 Feb 1741 (John Blair)

Sarah #1, bef 8 Mar 1741 -

Ann, 20 May 1742 (Zachariah Johnston), below

Margaret #1, bef 23 Jun 1742

George, bef 24 Apr 1744 (Jane)

Elizabeth, bef 26 Feb 1746 ("Nov 1767" m Jno Shanklin)

Alexander, 22 Nov 1748 (Margaret Robinson), below **

Margaret #2, bef 8 Jun 1749

David, bef 9 Jul 1749

Rebecca, 1751 (Wm Dunlap), below

Sarah Jane #2, abt 1755 (William A Hogshead/Hogsett) - abt 1812 in Augusta Co.

In 1737, James Robertson, Sr. came with his son James, from Coleraine, N. Ireland and settled in Augusta Co., Virginia. James, (Jr.) died in the fall of 1754 (WB 2, p 72, dated 11 Sep 1754, proven 20 Nov 1754). He left his 274 acres of land to his sons George and Alexander. His wife Elizabeth became his executrix when Matt Robertson and John Poage refused. James, Sr. was deeded land on Lewis Creek from John Lewis on 18 Feb 1743. It was about 1 to 3 miles from Staunton. (Joseph A. Waddell's Annals of Augusta Co., Virginia; 1886, Wm. Ellis Jones, Bok and Job Printer, Richmond, 1886-88, Supplement, page 420-421.) More on sons Alexander & George who removed to Kentucky. James Sr.'s will is in Albemarle County, Virginia. He stated his wife was pregnant at the time (believed to be daughter Sarah).

On 24 July 1740, a James "Robinson," purchased 395 acres in the Beverley Manor in then Orange Co., Virginia (now Augusta Co.). Also Wm Johnston did likewise in 1741 (daughter Ann's father in law). It specifically mentions the misspellings used, including Robinson for Robertson, etc., which were interchangeable, per the 20 May 1873 issue of the Staunton Spectator. So maybe this James did cross the pond, to Virginia. Plus there was a Wm Robinson with 403 acres in 25 Sep 1741.

Another version is Pages 135-40. 23-24 July 1740. William Beverley, Esqr., of Essex County to James Robertsone of Orange County. Lease and release; for ₤12 current money. 395 acres... corner to Patrick Campbell... line of the pattent of Beverley Mannor... (signed) W. Beverley. Wit: John Willson, James Cathey, Moses Thomson. 24 July 1740. Acknowledged by Wm. Beverley, Gent. (Relinquishment of dower as above, Beverley to Page). John Frederick Dorman's Orange County, Virginia Deed Books, p. 43.

Deed Book I, p. 65, 18 Feb 1743: acknowledged in Orange Co. 23 Feb 1 743. John and Margaret Lewis to James Robertson, 274 acres, Beverley Manor, on Lewis Creek; lines and corners: Daniel Deniston, James Trimble, ( Rev.) John Craig. Dower of Margaret Lewis released in Augusta Co. 15 Apr 1746. John Frederick Dorman's Orange County, Virginia, Deed Books 1 and 2, 1735-1738 Judgments 1735, 1961.

Pages 326-30. 22-23 June 1743. James Robinson of Orange Co., farmer, to Anthony Black of same, farmer. Lease and release; for ₤10 current money, 134 acres, part of a larger tract in the Beverley Manner, corner to John Holms land, crossing the south river of Shanado, line of the said Maner. It was signed by James Robinson. Wit: James Black, Wm. Robinson, James Gill, James Patton. Dated 23 Jul 1743. Acknowledged by James Robinson. John Frederick Dorman's Orange County Virginia Deed Book 7, p. 58.

"Robinson" was found substituted for "Robertson" a few times, in early records. From "Chalkley's Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish in Virginia" Abstracts of Wills of Augusta Co., Virginia, Augusta Co. Court, Will Book #3; Page 10, 18th Feb 1761. Page 109. "Zachariah Johnston's wife was Ann Robinson (sic), sister of Alex. and James Robinson(sic); Jane Robinson (sic), Ann's sister, married John Blair. Both James and Alex. went to Kentucky, Jessamine County? from Geo. Armentrout." (John Blair, the son of Alexander Blair (abt 1707 - before 4 Aug 1791 in Augusta Co., Virginia) and Jane Preston Scott (abt 1710 - ? In Augusta Co., Virginia), was born abt 1729 in Ireland, and died before 26 Dec 1808, in Augusta Co., Virginia. He married Jane Robertson in Augusta Co., Virginia. She was born abt 1745 and died 1808, in Augusta Co., Virginia.)

James wrote his will on 11 Sep 1751, and it was probated in Augusta Co., Virginia on 20 Nov 1754, thus it is believed he died in the fall of 1754.

In A Guide to the Zachariah Johnston Papers (at the Library of Virginia) includes (A) an 11 Sep 1800 letter from Ann's sister Rebeckah Robertson Dunlap ("Mrs. Wm Dunlap, born 1744, son of Jno Dunlap the Professor of Greek at the University of Glasgow"), from Shelby County, Kentucky, to sister, Mrs. Ann Jonson (sic). (B) a Feb 1802 letter from Elisabeth Shanklin to sister, Ann Johnston, near Lexington. Rebecca Robertson Dunlap (FaG #99754991), 1751 - 1848, is buried in Lexington, Kentucky with her husband Wm Dunlap, 1744 - 1816. Note: the "Prof. of Greek at the Univ. of Glasgow," taken from Rev. J A Mc Hanna's book, The House of Dunlap, is very much in question. Suspect that, he was following another line that went to NC.

In The Scotch-Irish in America, Proceedings and Addresses of the Seventh Congress at Lexington, Virginia., Jun 20-23, 1895, Published by the order of Scotch-Irish Society of America, Nashville, Tennessee, 1895, p 328 adds: Ann Robertson the wife of Zachariah Johnston is the niece of Wm Robertson, the historian of Scotland and aunt to Geo. W. Robertson, the Chief Justice of Kentucky. William died in 1793 in Edinburgh, Scotland (see FaG #54429758) but the exact connection has not been found. He wrote several books on Scotland, Charles V., America, etc. (See below and how was John Henry related?). Also page 315 mentions James daughter Rebecca Robertson, born 1751, died 1849, a daughtet of James Robertson, near Staunton, Virginia, who about 1737 came from Coleraine, North Ireland, to Augusta County, Virginia. William Dunlap and wife came to Kentucky in 1784....

His Children:

"In 1772 WILLIAM Dunlap was united in marriage with Rebecca Robertson, who was born in Augusta County, Va., July 23, 1751, the daughter of James and Elizabeth (Crawford) Robertson. Her father came to America from the North of Ireland about 1735, settled about one mile from Staunton, Va., where Rebecca, his sixth child, was born." Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois & History of Morgan County, Munsell Publishing Company, Publishers, 1906.

Kentucky state representative, George Robertson (1790-1874) was the son of ALEXANDER Robertson and grandson or James Robertson. According to George's autobiography, An Outline of the Life of George Robertson, Lexington, Kentucky, 1876, p 14. George describes his grandfather James Robertson as "Tall and spare, but of large frame." He had blue eyes and fair skin. He married the handsome Elizabeth Crawford in Augusta County. He wrote about his aunt, Rebecca Robertson Dunlap: "Rebecca Dunlap, mother of Rev. James Dunlap, the oldest citizen of Fayette, died at the residence of her son, Col. John R. Dunlap, near Lexington, Kentucky, on the morning of the 7th of November, 1849, in the 99th year of her age..." Also, "... Her father, James Robertson, about the year 1735, came to America from the north of Ireland, and in 1739 married Elizabeth Crawford, and settled about one mile from Stanton (sic), then in the backwoods of Virginia, where Rebecca, his sixth child, and the last survivor of his family, was born and reared, and where he died in her infancy about the year 1758. He was a plain upright man, of spotless character and exemplary piety, living and dying a steadfast Presbyterian. She also, at an early day after her settlement in Kentucky, became a member of the Presbyterian church at Walnut Hill."

Plus another source for son ALEXANDER Robertson is "Forebears of Don Lewis," in which George Robertson writes a personal account of his father, using many of the exact words in the former source (familysearch entry by unknown, 20 Jan 2015). Alexander died, intestate, of pneumonia on 15 Aug 1802 in the fine home he built in Kentucky. His wife settled his estate and in 1805, married Job Johnson of Garrard Co., Kentucky. She was widowed a 2nd time and resided with her daughter Martha, the widow of Col. Saml McKee. While on a visit to her daughter Charlotte's (wife of Ex-Gov. Letcher), she fractured her leg and died 13 Jun 1846. She was thus buried at the Frankfort cemetery.

I found data about his son, ALEXANDER Robertson, in Historical Sketches of Kentucky" by Lewis Collins, 1874, p 514: Chief Justine George Robert's father, Alexander Robertson, built the first fine frame house at Harlan's spring, the head of Cane Run, in Garrard County, Kentucky in about 1780. The same book, published in 1850 goes into detail on p 687-689. Alexander was born 22 Nov 1748 in Staunton, about a mile from Staunton, to James Robertson, Jr. James Sr. and Jr. both emigrated to our colonies, from Coleraine, N. Ireland, in about 1737. Alexander married Margaret Robinson (born 13 Apr 1755 in then Fincastle, later Botetourt Co., Virginia), in Bedford Co., Virginia on 18 Aug 1773 at the home of Col. Jno Howard. He was elected to the Virginia Federal Convention in June 1788, in Richmond. About 6 months later he was elected to the Virginia legislature. The following winter in Dec 1779, he would move his family to Gordon's Station, Kentucky. He was the first sheriff of Mercer Co., Kentucky in 1792 and he died in 1802. His wife Margaret died 13 Jun 1846, at son in law, Gov Robt P Letcher's home in Frankfort, Kentucky. "Alexander Robertson was a near relative of Wm Robertson, the celebrated historian, whose nephew, John Henry, was the father of Patrick Henry." Alexander's son Judge and U.S. Congressman, George Robertson is on Findagrave at 7668811. Robertson County, Kentucky was named after George. Note: Another source says Alexander Robertson of Mercer County, Kentucky, voted NO in the 1788 ratifying convention (along with Patrick Henry, etc.) in Virginia and his brother in law Zachariah Johnston, was also there, from Augusta Co, and voted YES.

James Robertson's will dated 11 Sep 1754, was probated on 20 Nov 1754, in Augusta County, Virginia, Will Book 2, p 72.

"Robertson of Long Meadow Run, Augusta Co, Virginia" compiled by professional genealogist and Augusta Co. resident, Katherine G. Bushman is at the Library of Virginia and probably a very good source. (Note: Robertson's son in law Zachariah Johnston's ancestral home was also on Long Meadow Road with wife Ann Robertson.

"A JAMES Kerr married Elizabeth Robertson, 1762. She was born in 1746, died in 1776; a daughter of James Kerr and Elizabeth Crawford; and this James Kerr's son James Kerr, married Patience Houston….." It seems there were two marriages of James Kerrs. One married in 1762, Elizabeth Robertson, and one James Kerr married in 1764, and his wife was Jane, and their children were: James, John, Alexander, Nathaniel, Betsy (Givens), Margaret (Ramsey), and Jane (Leard), and James Kerr went to Kentucky and his brother, Nathaniel, and sisters soon went to Kentucky, too, except Jane. James Kerr and wife, Patience, were in Kentucky, too, is reported." Brief History of Kerrs and Kin; 1730-1930, by Vincent Brown Kerr, Staunton, Virginia, 1930, p 6-7.

*Could this have been his father? In 1774, William and James Robertson and others (Walker, McClenahan, Fulton, Turk, McPheeters, Greenlee, Gamble) were at the battle of Point Pleasant, with Col Christian, Andrew and Charles Lewis. Article on the Great Valley of VIrginia, Old Augusta, #IV appeared in the Staunton Spectator (Virginia) dated 10 June 1873.

**Rev. Jno Craig's list of baptisms in Augusta Co., Virginia included "James Robertson a child baptized named Alexander, on 10 Jan 1747-1748."

His sibling Capt.William Robertson was born in County Antrim, 6 Feb 1720, died 17 Oct 1812 in Augusta County, Virginia.

Bio researched and written by LSP, all rights reserved