James in the Revolutionary War

We know from the Tennessee Findings Pt. 1 link that James Roberson, Jr. served in the Revolutionary War.  His pension application S1718 was confirmed and he was approved for a stipend of $40 per annum commencing 4 March 1831.

It was written, and has been much copied, that James Roberson, Sr. also served in the Revolutionary War.  Yet when checking the DAR patriot register he is included based solely on one activity, taking the Oath of Allegiance to the Commonwealth of Virginia (see Bedford Co. Virginia link).  There was obviously not enough evidence for the DAR to determine James was involved in any other actions.  Each of the points that have been written about are discussed here.

Regarding the attribution he was living in Albemarle County in 1756 and served with Capt. James Neville's company in fighting the French and Indians, this was not James Sr.  There was a James and Rebecca Royston Robertson and family in Albemarle County at that time.  Many have thought James of Bedford County was their son because of Rebecca's surname and the naming of Roysdon Roberson, as did I when first considering this Bedford County family.  I researched the Albemarle Robertson family quite a bit at an earlier time because I found that their son William and two of his sons, James and Matthew, went to the Harrodsburg, Kentucky area in December 1779 presumably along with the Alexander Robertson party.  I thought they might be my link to Stephen, but to no avail, and for good cause.  James and Rebecca did have a son James and he is the one who served in Neville's company.  But this Albemarle Robertson family is not related to the Bedford Roberson family based on DNA results identifying them in a different Robertson grouping.

Regarding statements that in 1758 James Sr. served in the company commanded by Capt. John Quarles in Bedford County, I have looked through various sources and have not found a James Roberson, or variation thereof, listed from Bedford County.  The following entries are taken from William Waller Hening's collection of the laws of Virginia.  During the French and Indian War, the House of Burgesses passed an act for the defense of the frontier of the colony on 14 September 1758.

As it relates to the claim that James Sr. was in the company of Captain Quarles, Second Virginia Regiment, commanded first by Col. Alexander Spotswood and afterwards by Col. Christian Febiger and that it is said this company was with Col. Febiger at the Battle of Bunker Hill, again I found no evidence of James Sr. being involved.  In "Campbell Chronicles and Family Sketches, Embracing the History of Campbell County, Virginia 1782-1926"; R. H. Early; J. P. Bell Co.; Lynchburg, VA; 1927, Chapter XIII, Warrants Obtained for Service section:

Now the Second Virginia Regiment was a Continental Army unit.  While the Battle of Bunker Hill was 17 June 1775, the Second Virginia Regiment was not authorized for formation until 17 July 1775 and was officially formed in October 1775 at Williamsburg.  Additionally Col. Christian Febiger did not assume command until 14 September 1778 (Col. Woolford 13 Feb 1776-21 Feb 1777, Col. Spotswood 21 Feb 1777-9 Oct 1777, Col. Febiger 14 Sep 1778-1 Jan 1783).  So this company most certainly did not participate at the Battle of Bunker Hill, and certainly not under Col. Febiger.

Lastly there was no Captain Quarles in the Second Virginia Regiment.  There was a Captain James Quarles in the 2nd Virginia State Militia under the command of Col. Gregory Smith.  The Second Virginia State Militia unit was folded into the 13th Virginia Regiment under Brig. Gen. Peter Muhlenberg.  The 13th Virginia Regiment was stationed at Fort Pitt and consisted of nine companies of troops from the far-western Virginia counties, known as the West Augusta Regiment.  The James Roberson/Robertson listed in this roster could possibly be the James Francis Robertson of Fincastle County who served in the 13th Virginia Regiment and died in Fort Pitt in 1778.  Or it is possible this could have been the James Robertson of Augusta County, and who later became a Justice in Montgomery County, Virginia after the war as was referenced in the Other Jameses link.

Another claim states that James was in Capt. John Morton's Company of Regulars, 4th, Va. Regiment (Vol. 17, pg, 307 Va. History Magazine).  The 4th Virginia Regiment was authorized on December 28, 1775 in the Continental Army, assigned on February 27, 1776 to the Southern Department, and organized on February 28, 1776 at Suffolk Court House to consist of 10 companies from Berkeley, Charlotte, Prince Edward, Sussex, Southampton, Nansemond, Brunswick, Isle of Wight, Surry and Princess Anne Counties.  According to "Records of the Revolutionary War ..." by W. T. R. Saffell, Counsellor, and Agent for Revolutionary Claims; Rudney & Russell, Publishers; New York; 1857, page 392, Captain John Morton was appointed a Captain of the 4th Regiment of the Virginia line February 19, 1776, and resigned March 12, 1777, receiving 4000 acres of land from the State for his service.  It is possible James volunteered in the neighboring county of Prince Edward (where Capt. Morton raised his company), but as seen above just listing a name of James Roberson, Robertson, Robinson on the roster does not make him our James Sr.  It was not sufficient to allow DAR to attribute this service to him, nor is it sufficient for us to do so.

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