This is Chapter Eleven of twelve, where we are nearing the finish to our exploration of the Williams and Harris family lines. Here we introduce another family from Wales, the Roberts family, who were friends with the Harris family in Wales.
but now with the addition of the Roberts family line.
Genealogy Gold!
Well, that exciting subtitle might let you believe that we discovered something that made our lives easier. That is partially true, but not the whole truth. Let us explain…
We found two obituaries for the main ancestors within this family line: Esau Roberts, and Sara (Harris) Roberts. Both were very long, rather detailed, and not in complete agreement about all of the facts. We spent much time (as genealogy writers do) mucking about in the dustbins of history to figure out what was likely true and what was just not quite true. So, here we are —
Mrs. Sarah [Harris] Roberts died at a somewhat young age and her very long obituary was published in the Y Cenhadwr Americanaidd (The American Messenger), newspaper, Autumn 1861 issue. We learned that they wrote her birthdate as “January 1, 1819.” ( A New Years Day baby!) Actually, her birthday was April 1, 1819 (Ok, an April Fools Day baby! Even better.)
Mynyddyslwyn, Beulah Chapel (Baptist) Registry, in Monmouthshire, Wales.
We believe that Esau Roberts (her future husband) was born in the same year, 1817. His baptismal record indicates a couple of things to examine: his record says 1816 in the upper corner of the page but it is also notes very clearly in the margins of the actual document, that it was the last entry for 1817. We went with 1817 for his birth year, even though future records are all over the map.
in Lianhilleth, Monmouthshire.
Comment: Try to understand that for our ancestors, who lived in a preliterate world, knowing your exact age was just not an important fact. Most people signed their names with an X, and counted grocery items on their fingers. A birth date, was an idea, not a fact. Specifically, their mental map was different. It was not like today where you need to produce: an identity card, a social security number, bank card, proof of citizenship, and your blood type just to purchase something like bottle of wine!
for Esau Roberts and Sara Harris.
“They joined in marriage [on] October 11, 1839.” It was not October, it was November 19, 1839. Additionally, “…that year they both left under conviction for their condition, they dedicated themselves to the Lord and went with each other for fellowship in the old church of Penmain, where they were received into communion by Rev. Joshua Thomas, and there they practiced their profession until the year 1838, when they decided to come to America.” That being said, they decided to immigrate to America in 1848, ten years later. (1)
The Old Church of Penmain
From Wikipedia, this is the history of where we believe that they actually resided before immigrating to America — “In 1845, the district of Penmain became an ecclesiastical parish, formed out of the parish of Mynyddislwyn, and in 1855 the Church of St. David was built, having seating for 300 worshippers. Its registers started from 1866.
(Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons via The National Library of Wales).
[Prior to that] In 1618, King James issued the Book of Sports, which relaxed the previous attitudes to Sunday amusements, and set out which times were to be allowed on the Sabbath for these amusements. There was much opposition to this by the clergy, and it continued up to the English Civil War. Afterwards, in 1660, when Charles II came to the throne, he re-introduced it. Many clergymen refused to obey, including Henry Walter, who was dismissed from his position in the Church. He then set up the Independent Chapel at Penmain, although the Nonconformist chapel building was not completed until 1691. Services were held in Welsh. It was rebuilt in 1828, renovated in 1888, and is the second oldest existing Independent Chapel in Wales.” (Wikipedia)
So we can see, that this was a location with a long venerable history. (2)
On the Caleb Grimshaw Ship Manifest
In the late 1840s, many ships were sailing between Great Britain and the New York Harbor area, transporting immigrants who were fleeing the devastation of the “An Gorta Mór or The Great Hunger” in Ireland. But there were many people also traveling from Wales, to work in the coal fields of Ohio and Appalachia.
The long obituary of both Sarah (Harris) Roberts, as published in the Y Cenhadwr Americanaidd (The American Messenger), newspaper, Autumn 1861 issue, states; “On the 7th of April, 1848, they started from there to New York, and they arrived in New York on May 25.” We found them, but it was a bit startling (and also delightful for us) because they were on the Caleb Grimshaw packet ship. This Is the exact same ship voyage and passenger manifest under which the Evan Harris family had traveled. (In fact, the two families are listed near each other on the same page of the manifest. (Please see Chapter Nine on the Harris family, and also for the dramatic history of the Caleb Grimshaw ship).
with the arrival date in New York of May 27, 1848.
Since Evan Harris and Sara (Harris) Roberts were siblings, this fact reinforces the idea that these two families knew each other in Monmouthshire, Wales. The ship manifest is just further support. Traveling together on this ship was certainly a planned event, since Sara was very pregnant at the time of the ship’s departure from Liverpool. She gave birth to her son John on the voyage.
Of note: Traveling with the Roberts family is a 15 year old young man named ‘W’, as he is listed with them on the Caleb Grimshaw ship manifest. He must have been a relative, but we are not sure of he was connected to Esau and Sara Roberts.
from the Liverpool Mercury, 1849. Oil painting of the Caleb Grimshaw by Samuel W. Walters,
circa 1848. Walters was considered to be Liverpool’s leading marine artist at the time.
(Both images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons).
We had trouble locating this Roberts family because the passenger manifest had named him Isiah Roberts. Observation: With a traditional Welsh name like E-s-a-u, the head of this family was probably used to having his biblical name misinterpreted by record-keepers in America — or perhaps not? (One gets the feeling that he laughed it off and kept on moving on…) His Welsh accent probably did not help them understand what name he was saying either.
We have encountered his name spelled many ways. Here are a few examples:
Esau, Esay, Essa, Easy, Asa, and Isiah.
Going on, now we can learn about their many children — who are in number, only a few more than the spelling variations which existed for their father Esau’s first name. (3)
On Two Continents and One Ocean
Sarah and Esau had children born over two continents, with one child even being born at sea (between continents!). Consequently, records are a bit scattered.
Birth and death dates for their children —
Sarah (Harris) Roberts obituary claims that she was the mother of 14 children. We have been able to locate 10 of them, and wonder if 14 was an accurate number for live births? To reconcile all of these children, we analyzed genealogy records, census data, and cemetery records. We feel that the two lists below are the most accurate representation we can present. Some of the children have left enough records that we have created footnotes for them.
Born In Wales
These children were born in Monmouthshire, Wales and immigrated to America with their parents in 1848.
- Mary Roberts, born circa 1841
- Eliza Roberts, circa 1843
- George Moses Roberts, born circa 1844-1917
- John Roberts, born at sea on the Caleb Grimshaw, circa 1847
Born in America
These children were born at various locations in Ohio, and Illinois:
- Anna (Roberts) Miles, 1849-1895
- Joseph A. Roberts, March 1850- March 1930,
Joseph carries the family line forward. - Benjamin Roberts, 1854-1915
- William Henry Roberts, 1858-1940
- Sarah M. (Roberts) Stitt, 1859-1936
- Hiram Roberts, 1860-1861
They moved quite a bit, which makes us wonder if they were following work locations? The logistics must have been difficult. (4)
Living Here, and Then There…
After they arrived in America, from the obituary of Sara (Harris) Roberts, “They came from there [New York] to Tallmadge. Ohio, [in Summit County] by the 7th September, where they lived seven months in the Independent church of Tallmadge, and loyal to his profession. [During this period, Esau became a naturalized US Citizen at the Summit County Court of Common Pleas in 1853].
(Images from the Atlas of Columbiana County, Ohio, 1870, via Family Search).
“They moved from there in the year 1855 to Salinesville, near Wellsville, Ohio. Where they were close with the English; then in 1857 they moved to a place near Danville, Illinois where they lived for about a year and eight months, when they came to the decision to come back to Ohio, and they came here to the Palmyra area in the year 1859.” (Y Cenhadwr Americanaidd)
In Wales, Esau had been a collier, which is the British term for a coal miner. When the arrived in America, it appears that he continued that profession for a few years. They likely moved south to Salineville in Columbiana County because there was coal mining work there.
However, before coal was mined, the area was famous for its salt — an early industry driven by the local brine springs. “…Salt has always played a special role in Salineville’s history, hence the name… Most of the salt mining was not done by sending men down into mines but rather with salt wells that used pressurized water to bring salt to surface. From there the water was boiled off and the salt was transported to the Ohio River where it was then exported around the across the country.” (The Review)
The family only stayed in Salineville for about two years, and then they moved to Illinois for another two years, but after that, they returned to Ohio. (5)
Palmyra
The next time we encounter a record about this family, they are back in Ohio according to the 1860 US Census. It looks as if prosperity has finally arrived on their doorstep (!), and that Esau has decided to be a farmer. He reports the following for the July 1860 Agricultural Schedule:
- 96 acres of land
- $3,400 Cash value of the farm
- $100 value of farming equipment
- 3 horses
- 9 milking cows
- 3 other cattle
- 65 sheep
- 100 bushels of ‘Indian’ corn (field corn)
- 100 bushels of oats
So, where did all of this prosperity come from (so quickly) for a man who was a coal miner most of his life? When did he develop the desire to be a farmer?
We are not sure what happened, but at this same time, Sara’s two brothers (Evan and William H.) who lived in nearby Tallmadge, were making quite a bit of money from their work with coal mining leases. Perhaps they decided to help out their sister and her husband and their very large family. Being settled in the area, with other family members around, provided some comfort and stability.
Combination Atlas Map of Portage County, Ohio, by L.H. Everts, 1874.
(Image courtesy of David Rumsey Map Collection).
by L.H. Everts, 1874. (Image courtesy of David Rumsey Map Collection).
“The wish of Mrs. Roberts was to live in Palmyra since she first saw the area. They bought a farm here, and she lived here for nearly two years, and on the 22nd of April last they buried their little son, of 1 year and 18 days old — his disease — was (croup). The funeral was officiated by our parish minister Mr. Lloyd.” (Y Cenhadwr Americanaidd)
The child who died was their youngest son Hiram Roberts. “And after about seven weeks after the death of their son, Mrs. Roberts is very sick. The doctor was immediately sought, but despite all the ill devices our dear sister, and another doctor was requested, but despite getting help from a doctor, through everything all comfort failed, he could not work his way, and signs of death were to be found…” (Y Cenhadwr Americanaidd)
Sara (Harris) Roberts passed away on June 25, 1861, from causes that are not indicated in the records. She was 44 years old. In the footnotes, we have included her actual obituary originally published in the Welsh language. We have also translated the document into English.
From an 1857 London book titled, Poems by Alfred Tennyson.
(Image courtesy of The Victorian Web).
Her death must have been devastating for Esau. These dark clouds in his life were about to get even darker because 1861 was also the beginning of the American Civil War. “The American Civil War (1861–1865) is the deadliest war in U.S. history, with an estimated 620,000 to 750,000 soldiers dying. This death toll exceeds the combined fatalities of Americans in World War I and World War II, representing a higher loss of life than all other American wars combined until roughly the Vietnam War.” (American Battlefield Trust)
When looking at the patterns in his life, and considering that his wife had just suddenly died, one gets the impression that he decided to just withdraw into himself. This is reinforced from reading the comments about him in his obituary, such as “He buried his wife, July, in 1861, which greatly affected his mind, and in poor health for some years after that… [and], He saw a lot of success and failure. He collected a lot of money through his zeal, and he lost a lot of money because of commercial misfortunes, and his willingness to put too much trust in men. He seems to be a man without a bad mind, and believes the best about people and things, or is thus caught unawares to himself.”
He changed his life away from the farmer’s life he had adopted, and retreated into what he knew earlier in life. (6)
Esau’s Life After Sara’s Death
The borders where Columbiana County and Carroll County meet, contains the Amsterdam / Salineville coalfield, where there is a cluster of several mines. Esau could have worked at any of these locations when he was younger, but as he aged, he likely stayed near the Salineville coal mines. Among the mine names from that era are the following:
- Salineville: The Cedar Hill Mine
- Bergholz: The Eagle Mine, and the Lewis Mine
- Amsterdam: The O.P. Mine, the Amsterdam Mine, the Wolf Run Mine, and the Jessie Mine
In The 1870 and 1880 Censuses, we see that Esau had returned to the part of Ohio where he lived before his wife Sara passed away. In 1870, he is found in Fox township, Carroll County, working again (at age 53), as a coal miner. Ten years later in 1880, the Census notes that “He is noted as a retired coal dealer.” We observed that his age is correctly recorded as his being 63.
of the U.S. Department of Commerce on January 10, 1921.
(Image courtesy of The United States Census Bureau).
The 1890 Census was lost in a fire in the 1920s, so for the last full decade of his life, we do not know where he is. The United States Census Bureau writes about this tragedy, “A January 10, 1921 fire at the U.S. Department of Commerce building in Washington, DC, destroyed the majority of the population schedules from the 1890 Census. The fire left an enormous gap in many families’ genealogical record. Although alternative records may provide some information, the loss of the 1890 Census schedules remains an insurmountable obstacle for many researchers attempting to trace families between the 1880 and 1900 censuses.” (Census.gov) Between the fire, the water used to put the fire out, and the subsequent degradation of what was left through mold, mildew and decay… much was utterly lost.
Esau passed away in June 1891, just over 30 years after his wife Sarah had passed away. He was about 74 years old when he finally set down his coal shovel. Like his wife, there was a very long obituary published about his life. His is in the Welsh language newspaper Y Drych, in the February 2, 1892 issue. In the footnotes, we have included his actual obituary originally published in the Welsh language. We have also translated the document into English.
(Image courtesy of Ebay, via The Lisbon Historical Society).
The Find A Grave file for Esau closes with this comment, “The old pilgrim Henry Roberts, who is so well known in this part of the State, is the brother of Esau Roberts, and the oldest of the tealu that remains. He is also in the push of age, but his gait is straight and lively. – Friend.”
The old Welsh word tealu, translates as the English word for — family.
Upcoming is our last chapter in the Williams / Harris Line, in which we learn about the life of Esau’s son Joseph A. Roberts, and his wife Augusta Young.
Following are the footnotes for the Primary Source Materials,
Notes, and Observations
Genealogy Gold!
(1) — three records
Y Cenhadwr Americanaidd (The American Messenger)
Autumn 1861
https://viewer.library.wales/2834819#?xywh=-3911,-1023,10309,5902
Book pages: 384-385, Digital pages: 24-25/40, (see the note following)
Note: The link above is the Permalink for the publication. To get to the file “A Brief Memory of Mrs. Sarah Roberts” you must enter 24 of 40 into the upper data field. This obituary covers two pages, 24 and 25.
Sara Harris
in the England & Wales, Non-Conformist and Non-Parochial Registers, 1567-1936
Rg4: Registers of Births, Marriages and Deaths > Monmouthshire > Independent > Piece 1246: Penmain (Independent), 1787-1833
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2972/records/168121?tid=11298446&pid=182338476831&ssrc=pt
Digital page: 90/159, Left page.
Note 1: For her April 1, 1817 birth date and baptism record.
Note 2: Even though her FindaGrave file lists an 1819 birthdate, her birth / baptism record from Wales is 1817.
Esau Roberts
in the Monmouthshire, Wales, Anglican Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1551-1994
Llandenny > Mixed > 1710-1919
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/62107/records/215961?tid=&pid=&queryId=20a43592-6a87-4e7d-951e-989f80bb91e4&_phsrc=Lml27&_phstart=successSource
Book page: 4, Digital page: 212/1070, Left page, Entry No. 31, 7th of 8 entries.
Note 1: His actual baptism date is December 28, 1817. It appears that he was the very last entry for the year 1817. > Lianhilleth, Monmouthshire
Note 2: His parents names are Joseph and Anne.
Note 3: His father is also a collier, (a coal miner).
The Old Church of Penmain
(2) — five records
Sarah Harris
in the Monmouthshire, Wales, Anglican Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1551-1994
Mynyddislwyn > Marriages and Banns > 1777-1906
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/62107/records/549329?tid=&pid=&queryId=a8dd07e6-6d4b-4589-96e2-e3189a00161e&_phsrc=ZcF21&_phstart=successSource
Book page: 46, Digital page: 279/933, Upper entry.
Note 1: The actual marriage date is November 19, 1839.
Note 2: We can see that his father’s name is Joseph, and her father’s name is Henry Harries.
Penmaen, Caerphilly
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penmaen,_Caerphilly
Note: For the text.
A View of Penmaen Church
by John Norton, circa 1855
File:S. w. view of Penmaen Church, Monmouthshire.jpeg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:S._w._view_of_Penmaen_Church,_Monmouthshire.jpeg
Note: For the church image.
Essa Roberts
in the 1841 Wales Census
Monmouthshire > Mynyddyslwyn > ALL > District 5
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8979/records/8358032?tid=&pid=&queryId=3478cf31-8920-4554-b4ce-375451305f30&_phsrc=wFr2&_phstart=successSource
Book page: 6, Digital page: 3 /9, Right page, middle.
Note 1: Essa 20, Sara 20, Mary 8 months.
Note 2: This Census was conducted in June 6, 1841, therefore, daughter Mary was born in September 1840.
Note 3: His profession is as a collier (a coal miner).
On the Caleb Grimshaw Ship Manifest
(3) — five records
Isiah Robert
in the New York, U.S., Irish Immigrant Arrival Records, 1846-1851
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/5969/records/512126?tid=&pid=&queryId=c14b932a-3a3b-4b44-b74f-43453e5d89fb&_phsrc=vDv43&_phstart=successSource
Note: For the passenger ship record.
New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1920
Path: Follow these links to arrive at the Caleb Grimshaw passenger manifest for May 27, 1848:
> https://www.familysearch.org/en/search/image/index?owc=http://platform.prod.us-east-1.prod.fslocal.org/records/collections/1849782/waypoints
>> NARA Roll Number – Content, 0072 – 9 May 1848-31 May 1848
>>> https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939V-5K6B-8?wc=MX62-DZS:165749401&cc=1849782&cc=1849782&lang=en&i=525
Digital page: 526/838, Film # 004678332,
Note 1: There are 7 people listed at the bottom of the page, by their first initial and then the Roberts surname.
Note 2: Esau Roberts is listed under the name Isiah Robert along with his family.
Note 3: This is the same ship the Evan Harris family traveled on, and they are listed on the same page of the passenger manifest.
Willm. Robert
in the New York, U.S., Irish Immigrant Arrival Records, 1846-1851
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/5969/records/512133?tid=&pid=&queryId=962cf719-1047-4b48-83a5-5c11de55bc64&_phsrc=upI15&_phstart=successSource
Note: This is the file for the 15 year old young man who was traveling with the Esau and Sara Roberts family on the Caleb Grimshaw and is listed with them on the ship manifest. He must have been a relative, but we are not sure of he was connected to Esau and Sara Roberts.
Caleb Grimshaw
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caleb_Grimshaw#:~:text=4%20References-,Construction,May%201848%20and%20August%201849.
Note: For the Liverpool Mercury sailing notice and oil painting portrait of the ship.
On Two Continents and One Ocean
(4) — seven records
Mary Roberts
The 1841 Wales Census was conducted in June 6, 1841, when Mary was reported as being 8 months old. Therefore, she was born in September 1840.
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8979/records/8358032?tid=&pid=&queryId=3478cf31-8920-4554-b4ce-375451305f30&_phsrc=wFr2&_phstart=successSource
Pvt George Moses Roberts
in the U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/60525/records/14346230
Note: George’s dates are August 10, 1844 to October 7, 1917.
Anna Roberts Miles
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/80507437/anna-miles
Note: Anna’s dates are 1849 to December 4, 1895.
Benjamin Roberts
in the West Virginia, U.S., Deaths Index, 1853-1973
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2568/records/2433079?tid=&pid=&queryId=db2c1a03-880f-400e-bebe-cb200b3fe816&_phsrc=dRA9&_phstart=successSource
Note: Benjamin’s dates are September 16, 1853 to August 3, 1915.
William H Roberts
in the 1910 United States Federal Census
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7884/records/21539401
Note: For his birth year of 1858.
and
Wm Henry Roberts
in the Ohio, U.S., Death Records, 1908-1932, 1938-2022
Note: For his death date of August 25, 1940. Therefore, William’s dates are 1858 to August 25, 1940.
Sarah M Stitt
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/78161907/sarah_m-stitt
Note: Sarah’s dates are 1859 to September 28, 1936.
Hiram Roberts
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/89972944/hiram-roberts
Note: Hiram’s dates are April 5, 1860 to April 21, 1861
Living Here, and Then There…
(5) — five records
Asa [Esau] Roberts
in the 1850 United States FederalCensus
Ohio > Summit > Tallmadge
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8054/records/19600952?tid=&pid=&queryId=591d7f74-4498-4108-a115-cbca010a5633&_phsrc=CZn1&_phstart=successSource
Digital page: 22/60, Lines 36 through 42
Note: ‘Asa’34, Sarah 20*, Mary 9, Eliza 7, Moses 5, John 4, Ann 7/12.
*The mother is mis-labeled? She should be about 33 years old at this point.
Observation: All the people in this census, including this family, are listed as being from England. For some reason, no one is listed as being from Wales. Was this a problem with the enumerator, or were the census-takers guided to write England, or United Kingdom if someone was from Wales?
Easy [Esau] Roberts
in the Ohio, U.S., County Naturalization Records, 1800-1977
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/60096/records/89211
Note: In the Court of Common Pleas, Summit, Ohio
Salineville, Ohio
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salineville,_Ohio
Atlas of Columbiana County, Ohio, 1870
by DJ Lake and Jean Sansenbaugher Morris
https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/619005-atlas-of-columbiana-county-ohio-1870-1902?offset=503981
Note 1: Salineville is located within Washington township. That map is plate 49, Digital page 45 of 266.
Note 2: The Salineville map is plate 53, which follows on Digital pages 46 -47 of 266.
The Review
https://www.reviewonline.com/news/community-news/2013/07/salt-festival-begins-today/
Note: For the text about the salt mining history in Salineville, Ohio.
Palmyra
(6) — nine records
David Rumsey Map Collection
Palmyra Township, Portage County, Ohio
from the Combination Atlas Map of Portage County, Ohio
by L.H. Everts, 1874
https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~230086~5508390:Palmyra-Township%2C-Portage-County%2C-O?sort=pub_list_no_initialsort%2Cpub_date%2Cpub_list_no%2Cseries_no&mi=3&trs=7&qvq=q:Palmyra%20Township;sort:pub_list_no_initialsort%2Cpub_date%2Cpub_list_no%2Cseries_no;lc:RUMSEY~8~1
Book page: 126, Digital page: Follow the link above.
Note: For the 1874 Palmyra township map, the Atlas frontispiece, and the Portage County map.
Easy [Esau] Roberts
in the U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880
Ohio > Agriculture > 1860 > Portage > Palmyra
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1276/records/5895680?tid=&pid=&queryId=4b9cbced-d8c7-4659-96b7-9354811f43a7&_phsrc=nJE6&_phstart=successSource
Digital page: 1/6, Line 25.
Esay [Esau] Roberts
in the 1860 United States Federal Census
Ohio > Portage > Palmyra
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7667/records/41939084?tid=&pid=&queryId=1b5f435d-cb53-481c-ba89-b0848e8e4693&_phsrc=nJE3&_phstart=successSource
Book page: Digital page, Lines through
Book page: 19, Digital page, 19/28 Lines 2 through 11.
Note: Esau 42, Sarah 17*, Eliza 17, Morris** 15, John 13, Ann 10, Joseph 9, Benjamin 6, Henry*** 5, Sarah M. 2, Hiram 3/12.
*The mother is mis-labeled? She should be about 43 years old at this point.
**This is George Morris Roberts.
*** This is William Henry Roberts.
Sarah Roberts
in the U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/60525/records/22712016
and
Sarah Harris Roberts
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/43457288/sarah-roberts
Note 1: Her dates are 1819* to June 25, 1861.
Note 2: *Her actual birthdate is 1817 as per her birth record.
Note 3: About Alice Holland…
Y Cenhadwr Americanaidd (The American Messenger)
Autumn 1861
https://viewer.library.wales/2834819#?xywh=-3911,-1023,10309,5902
Book pages: 384-385, Digital pages: 24-25/40, (see the note following)
Note: The link above is the Permalink for the publication. To get to the file “A Brief Memory of Mrs. Sarah Roberts” you must enter 24 of 40 into the upper data field. This obituary covers two pages, 24 and 25.
Here is her obituary translated into English, but please remember that there are many factual errors (in the original below) which we have corrected (in this narrative).
__________________________________
A Brief Memory of Mrs. Sarah Roberts
It was Mrs. Sarah Roberts daughter of Henry and Ann Harris. Her father is known as the boy Harry Evan Harry, but she was the sister of Mr. Wm. Harris, owner of a colliery in Tallmadge, Ohio. She was born January 1, 1819, in a place called Nant Coi, near Cross Penmain, Mynyddislwyn, Monmouthshire.
He joined in marriage to Mr. Esay Roberts, son of Joseph and Ann Roberts, Oct. 11, 1839; and yes that year they both left under conviction for their condition, they dedicated themselves to the Lord and went with each other for fellowship in the old church of Penmain, where they were received into communion by Rev. Joshua Thomas, and and there they practiced their profession until the year 1818, why they decided to come to America.
On the 7th of April, 1848, they started from there to New York, and and they arrived in New York on May 25. They came from there to Tallmadge. Ohio, by the by the 7th September, where they lived seven months in the Independent church of Tallmadge, and loyal to his profession.
They moved from there in the year 1855 to Salineville, near Wellsville, Ohio. Where they were close with the English; then in 1857 they moved to a place near Danville, Illinois where they lived for about a year and eight months, when they came to the decision to come back to Ohio, and they came here to the Palmyra area in the year 1859.
The wish of Mrs. Roberts was to live in Palmyra since she first saw the area. They bought a farm here, and she lived here for nearly two years, and on the 22nd of April last they buried their little son, of 1 year and 18 days old — his disease — was (croup). The funeral was officiated by our parish minister Mr. Lloyd.
And after about seven weeks after the death of their son, Mrs. Roberts is very sick. The doctor was immediately sought, but despite all the ill devices our dear sister, and another doctor was requested, but despite getting help from a doctor, through everything all comfort failed, he could not work his way, and signs of death were to be found, and on the Sabbath day, June 23, everything showed that it was necessary to leave. She spoke a lot about religion through her affliction, and that Sunday night her husband asked her what she thought of Jesus Christ? He said with pride that Jesus was greater than the heavens, greater than the earth, and greater than the whole world, and that he was angry with his poor little soul. Then he broke out again, saying in Paul’s words, “Christ is my life.” A brother asked her what she thought about religion? He said that it was the dawn season of life, and that Christ was precious at that time; and about Monday morning, June 24, he remembered that old solemn verse, “I hear talk of death here’ & c., — Talk of death here today, yes, yes” — the tongue was too weak to reach the end of the verse. Eyes were darkening.
She often called for her beloved husband — she tried to comfort him and told him not to break his heart after her. Then she called her beloved children — she tried to advise them one by one, when she couldn’t find them. There was nothing but tears to be shed by everyone who was here but tears to be shed by everyone who was in the room — and the children kissing their dear mother in the midst of tears. Then she became unable to speak — the tongue was locked to the roof of her mouth. And Tuesday night, Jun. 25, the dear sister Mrs Roberts died at 41 years and 6 months old, leaving a spouse and 9 children to mourn her, along with many relatives, and the area. She was the mother of 14 children — 9 of whom were left alive. The father of the orphans will take care of her mourning. The funeral was officiated (in the absence of our beloved pastor) in the house by R. D. Davies (b..) at the graveside of Moses Williams, (M.C.;) in the chapel started by Shadrach James, and preached by D. M. Evans and D. Davies, Parisville.
With regard to the religious character of our dear sister she was humble, and faithful — she would be willing to come and meet grace as far as she could — but she always wanted to have the children with her — she would not have felt happy if the children were not with her for all the meetings. She showed great care for the souls of those under her care. She struggled day and night for her family; I believe that she prays a lot for her beloved children and her husband; but the last prayer has been offered, and the last advice has been given.
He always listened seriously under the word; she was often to be seen with tears on her cheeks, and signs to be found clearly that her soul was receiving edification; he wrote that he spoke to her many times, and hearing her recount the benefit and comfort she felt under the ministry of the word. She often says that she forgets the things of the earth when she hears talk of the things of the heavens. In the last friendship she had, I remember her saying her sweet experience and her tears on her cheeks, that she finds Jesus in everything and in everything, and everything else is nothing compared to Him. But she has now left the family on the floor, and gone home to the happy family in heaven, to be able to see Jesus as he is, and be eternally like him. Let the whole family be allowed to increase true religion here, so that they will have a right to heaven after leaving this life, and may the Father of the orphans take care of our dear brother together with his little orphans. Preached by Rev. J. Lloyd on the occasion after his return from Wales – the text given to him by our orphan brother was Phil. 1:21, “To me is Christ, and to die is gain.”
It is desired that the Reformer raise the above.
David M. Evans
Palmyra, September 9, 1861
__________________________________
American Battlefield Trust
Civil War Casualties
The Cost of War: Killed, Wounded, Captured, and Missing
https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/civil-war-casualties#:~:text=The%20Civil%20War%20was,casualties%20unprecedented%20in%20American%20history.
Note: For the statistics and text.
https://www.rookebooks.com/1857-poems-alfred-lord-tennyson-first-illustrated-edition
The Victorian Web
Deathbed engraving from The Lord of Burleigh
by John Everett Millais, circa 1857
https://www.victorianweb.org/art/illustration/millais/18.html
Note: This was used in an 1857 London book titled,
Poems by Alfred Tennyson, D.C.L., Poet Laureate.
Esau’s Life After Sara’s Death
(7) — eleven records
Amsterdam-Salineville Coalfield
https://www.coalcampusa.com/eastoh/amsterdam/amsterdam.htm
Note: For the mine location information.
David Rumsey Map Collection
Ohio. (Mitchell, Samuel Augustus), 1890
[Full title — County & township map of the states (sic) of Ohio and (sic).]
by Samuel Augustus Mitchell, (1890)
https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~30579~1140106:County-&-township-map-of-the-states
Note: For the grouping of northeastern and eastern Ohio counties: Summit, Portage, Columbiana, and Carroll County.
Esay [Esau] Roberts
in the 1870 United States Federal Census
Ohio > Carroll > Fox
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7163/records/39503557
Book page: 19, Digital page, 19/28 Lines 2 through 11.
Note 1: The location is Fox township, Carroll County, Ohio and he is again working as a miner — Esau 53, William H. 13, Sarah M. 11. We believe that Richard 30, could be a relative. Joseph 22 may also be another relative, but he is not his son. (His son Joseph is 20 years old and living in Paris township, Portage County).
Observation: As in 1850, all the people in this census, including this family, are listed as being from England. For some reason, no one is listed as being from Wales. Was this a problem with the enumerator, or were the census-takers guided to write England, or United Kingdom if someone was from Wales?
Note 3: Richard is likely a relative, we just have not learned how he connects to the family, but we discovered this —
Note 2:
Richard Roberts
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/135279983/richard-roberts
Richard died in the Atwater Mining Disaster in Portage County, Ohio, see: https://atwaterhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com/coal-mines/
Also, here is an article from the Atwater Historical Society link (just above), which records the disaster:
Esay [Esau] Roberts
in the 1880 United States Federal Census
Ohio > Carroll > Fox > 034
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6742/records/25102186?tid=&pid=&queryId=711124be-5614-4da4-b181-1a5dd56ffc35&_phsrc=nJE4&_phstart=successSource
Book page: 31, Digital page,31/31 Line 6.
Note: He is noted as a retired coal dealer.
Census.gov
The United States Census Bureau
History and the Census: 1890 Census Fire
https://www.census.gov/about/history/stories/monthly/2021/january-2021.html
Note: For the text about the 1921 fire and the photograph.
Esau Roberts
in the U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/60525/records/54645622?tid=&pid=&queryId=25484045-65d5-4857-94c3-d4545252d23a&_phsrc=CZn3&_phstart=successSource
Note 1: There is an extensive Welsh newspaper entry for Esau posted at this file. There are some errors in information.
Note 2: We believe that the person listed as a child of this couple, Alice Gray Holland, is a mistaken data entry.
and
Esau Roberts
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/89972947/esau-roberts?
Note: His dates are July 13, 1817 to December 13, 1891.
Monmouthshire, Wales > Ohio
for the February 2, 1892 issue. Notes: We compiled this specific piece of artwork from original sources for this chapter, and carefully managed a new and accurate translation of Esau’s obituary. The English translation is shown at right.
(Source: Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru, The National Library of Wales).
—–
We have attempted to correct any factual errors from Esau’s obituary within this narrative.
Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru
The National Library of Wales
Y Drych
(Welsh newspaper), February 4, 1892 issue
https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3540792/3540794
Newspaper page: 2, Right column, lower portion.
Note 1: The plain text version can be accessed through the manual links (which partition the articles) and are found on the lower portion of the webpage.
Ebay, via The Lisbon Historical Society
Vintage postcard of a Covered Bridge
in Columbiana County, Ohio, circa 1883.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/235364406307
Note: From the verso of the postcard…
Our Ancestors, Our Narratives 
