Roberts, William B.

Summary

Father: Willis Roberts
Mother: Martha Geer "Patsy"

Birth: 14 Jul 1814, Orange County, North Carolina
Birth Source: Census, Will of Willis Roberts and Gravestone

Death: 24 Mar 1897, Walton County, Georgia
Death Source: Gravestone in Rest Haven Cemetery

Spouse1: Emily C. Geer, 22 Dec 1842, Greene County, Georgia
Spouse2: Susan T. Aycock, 19 Dec 1878, Walton County, Georgia

Narrative

Children of William B. Roberts and Emily C. Geer:

1. Martha A. Roberts
2. William Roberts
3. Richard F. Roberts
4. Emily J. Roberts
5. David Pierce Roberts
6. Herschell Roberts
7. Joseph B. Roberts
8. Albert Sidney Roberts

From the deed records of Greene County, GA following the death of William Geer, father of Emily:

• January 15, 1845 (from Greene Co., GA Deed Book OO: pp. 216-7) - James M. Geer of Greene County to Wm. B. Roberts, for $385: tract whereon Mrs. Ann Geer lives, which was bequeathed to her by William Geer in his last will and testament, for her natural life, and after her death to sd. James M. Geer, beginning at the ford of the creek on the road that leads to Penfield to the mouth of Gum Springs, adjoining Wright. Signed James M. Geer; Witnesses: A. A. Tarpley and Robert L. McWhorter, J.P. Recorded 3 March 1845.
• January 15, 1845 (from Greene Co., GA Deed Book OO: p. 219) - Ann Geer of Greene County to Wm. B. Roberts, for $518: tract whereon she lives, which was bequeathed to her by William Geer in his last will and testament, for her natural life, and after her death to sd. James M. Geer, beginning a the ford of the creek on the road that leads to Penfield to the mouth of Gum Springs, adjoining Wright. Signed Ann (x) Geer; Witnesses: A. A. Tarpley and Robert L. McWhorter, J.P. Recorded 3 March 1845

William B. Roberts wrote the following letter to his brother-in-law John Barbee regarding the estate of his father, Willis Roberts and his concerns for his younger unmarried siblings who were still living at home at the time of Willis' death:


Dear Brother,
it is with as sad heart I take my pen to inform you that I Recd your letter informing me of the death of my last Earthly parent the mournful inteligence fell heavily on one Who has Ever cherished the most tender Regard for a kind and affectionate Father but we all must Die and the best of friends have to part and if we can be prepared it will be a happy Exchange for the affliction and cares of this world it is a great consolation to believe that our Father is Done with the suferings and is now happy in the presence of his Redeemer and all those happy Spirits that have gone before we should all make it our chief consern to be prepared to meet our Friends in that blessed World I feel a deep concern for Jane and Winefred they are in a helpless condition Willis cant make a suport for them all and I think it would be best for them to break up you Did not say anything about Debts of corse I k(n)ow nothing about the condition of the Estate or what the children Intend Doing if they Determine on staying thare and thare is any Debt you must sell such property as the can do best without and pay the Debts if they think it best to brake up

I want then to come to georgia they can get a home with me and Richard as long as we have a home I want some of you to write soon and let me know what they intend Doing and let me know all the perticulars of their Situation and then I will be better prepared to give them advice the ("that" crossed out) Will that was not signed of course cannot be Executed it is out of my power to go thare at present and it is also unnessessary for me to act it will be your Duty to carry out the Will as for whats left me if they Determine to Remain thare they can keep it until I call for it and Richards the same if they Don't want Richards mare sell her and keep the money an(d) use it if they need it if they wish to come to georgia Richard or myself as both will go thare and accompany them out here so you need not wait for me in the management of the Estate but Just carry out the Will acording to law We have a gloomy prospect out her(e) for living our corn crops are Ruined thare is a great many that wont make corn enough to bread them much less feed stock I shant make a third of a crop I am confident John you must write to me as soon as you get this and give me all the perticulars

my family are all Well at present and hoping these liens(lines) may find yourself and family and all the family conexion(s) well with my love to all I Remain your affictionate brother - W. B. Roberts

to John Barbee
(Postmark) Covington Ga. 29 JUL 1857

Mr John Barbee
Prattsburg
Orange County
N Carolina

Transcribed for Orange County NCGenWeb by Ben Franklin of Durham, NC (benz2@earthlink.net) 2 Dec 2009. This information is in the public domain.