Major Robert Lusk was the son of John Lusk and Martha Davidson of South Carolina. Robert married twice his first wife was Elizabeth Mayes, they married in 1814 in South Carolina. She died in S. C. 5 Sept 1839. In 1842 he married Esther Susan Lewis in Gowdeysville South Carolina. He came to Mississippi in the 1840's. bringing his wodowed mother Martha, and wife Esther. His wife Esther Susan Lewis remaried after Roberts death and then died of Yellow Fever in Water Valley Mississippi 22 Dec 1868.
When Robert arrived in Mississippi he acquired a plantation of over 1000 acres in Yalobusha County in Township Eleven, Range Four West on O'Tuckalofa Creek, Approximately 1 mile southwest of Water Valley. In December of 1846, he moved to that location, bringing his wife and widowed mother. In 1850, Robert was the owner of 27 Slaves. They moved their church membership from the Salem Church in SC, where Robert was an Elder., to O'Tuckaloffa congregation, Chickasaw Presbytery of the Old School Presbyterian Church, now Water Valley Presbyterian Church. Robert Lusk was elected Elder in the latter church 21 March 1847, an office he held for his lifetime.

Robert Lusk was a prominent citizen, a devoted and generous member of his church, and a patriotic American. He died at his home. 1 July 1855, and is buried in Water Valley (Oak Hill) Cemetery, his mother and second wife surviving. His mother moved after his death to the home of Niece Betsy, Mrs. William H. Steen, near Paris, MS.,and died there 4 July 1860. His widow, Esther Susan Lewis Lusk remarried 19 June 1856 to Albert Gallatin Basford of the College Hill, Miss., family. Mrs. Martha Lusk's will is recorded in Lafayette County, her Estate distributed among her nieces and nephew, children of Thomas and Susan (Davidson) Lusk.
Roberts mother Martha Davidson, had a sister Susannah. These sisters married Lusk brothers. After her son Robert died, Martha lived with Susannah's daughter Elizabeth Steen. She is buried next to Elizabeth in Paris cemetery, Mississippi.