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I (Marty Grant) am a 5th Great grand nephew of Owen Roberts.
Owen Roberts was born ca 1790/1794 in Wayne Co, NC, somewhere in the Walnut Creek vicinity. He is a proven son of John Roberts and Nancy (---) of Wayne Co, NC. I don't know who Owen might have been named after. Recently Jim Roberts reminded me about Owen Roberts of Charleston, SC who was a Revolutionary War Soldier. That Owen could be related, and possibly whom our Owen was named for. Otherwise, I don't know.
Owen Roberts was apparently home with his parents for the 1800 census.
John Roberts died sometime prior to February 1803, for on that date Henry Roberts and Isaac Roberts were named administrators.
In July 1803, John Roberts' heirs petition the New Bern District Court (which was the State court covering several counties, including Wayne) for a division of the estate of John Roberts. Owen Roberts was named in this record. The following is an almost complete transcript of that record:
Isaac Roberts, Stephen Grant and his wife Patience, Anne Roberts, Owen Roberts, Bright Roberts, Polly Roberts, (the latter 4 minors) by their next friend Isaac Roberts, complain that John Roberts of Wayne County, died intestate owning 1000 or 1500 acres in Wayne County, 600 acres in Lenoir County, 600 in Johnston County, and 975 acres in Duplin County. that he left a widow Nancy Roberts and 9 children: Charite Roberts married to Spyers Ham, Henry Roberts, John Roberts & the above said petitioners. The petitioners state that after Charite Roberts married Spyers Ham, John Roberts gave a deed to Spyers Ham for 110 3/4 acres in Wayne County on Ready Swamp on the prong of Stony Creek, William Ham the father of Spyers paying to said John Roberts 75L. that said John Roberts gave to his son Henry Roberts, 200 acres joining the same, and to his son John Roberts 975 acres in Duplin County, but no allotment to the rest of his children. the widow had received dower of 509 acres in Wayne Co. Petition for division. Commissioners: Richard Croom, Benjamin Smith (Taylor), John Gaylord, William Smith, Barney McKinney. 1 Oct 1803 Division of the lands of John Roberts, decd. Isaac Roberts drew the Hall & Johnston land of x00 acres. Anne Roberts drew the Trent land in Lenoir County of 670 acres. Patience Grant drew 422 acres. Owen Roberts drew 66 acres and the Walnut Pocoson called the Jernigan land of 200 acres. Bright Roberts drew 200 acres. Mary Roberts drew 227 acres. Plat shown.
The above record shows that Owen Roberts inherited 266 acres of John Roberts' property.
On 23 Nov 1803 Henry Roberts was named as guardian for Ann Roberts, Owen Roberts, Bright Roberts and Polly Roberts, minor orphans. (Wayne Co, NC Loose Estates - John Roberts)
Another document dated 10 Sep 1805 shows the estate of John Roberts being divided into 9 shares, 1 each to: Spyus Ham, Henry Roberts, Isaac Roberts, Stephen Grant, Jesse Harper, Owen Roberts, Bright Roberts, Polly Roberts, and the widow.
Owen Roberts was not listed on the 1810 census, nor did his brother Henry Roberts seem to have him in his household. However, their brother John Roberts (Jr) did have three extra people with him, who are a perfect fit in age to be Owen Roberts, Bright Roberts and Mary Roberts.
In February 1810, in the Estates records of Wayne County, Henry Roberts was listed as Guardian of several orphans, including Bright Roberts, Owen Roberts, James Carraway and Miss Nancy Carraway and Polly Roberts. The three Roberts were Henry's own siblings, and the two Carraway's were siblings of Henry's wife. (Wayne Co, NC Estates Book 1 pages 236 and 237)
This 1810 record shows Owen was still under 21, so born ca 1789/1803. In 1815 Owen sold property on his own, so he probably had just turned 21, so he was likely born ca 1794.
On 9 Jan 1811 Stephen Grant (Owen's brother-in-law) sold 76 acres to Owen Roberts. The land was on the south side of Walnut Pocoson. Witnesses were William Smith and Lewis Lane. (Wayne Co, NC Deed Book 9 page 314).
On 18 Jan 1811 Owen Roberts and John Roberts (his brother) witnessed a deed between their brother Bright Roberts to their brother-in-law Burwell Boyett for Bright's 223 acres inherited from their father John Roberts. (Wayne Co, NC Deed Book 9 page 384).
On 19 Jul 1811 Owen Roberts (and Stephen Thompson) witnessed a deed between Stephen and Patience Grant (Owen's sister) to Isaac Roberts (Owen's brother) for 444 acres, being the 422 acres Patience inherited from John Roberts, plus another 22 acres. All on west side of Walnut Creek. (Wayne Co, NC Deed Book 9 page 371).
Owen Roberts was mentioned in a Petition dated circa 1814 (in his father's estate file) regarding issues related to a property conflict. This document didn't give Owen's place of residence.
Owen Roberts was listed on an 1815 tax list in Moore Co, NC. He was listed with 287 acres, valued at $600.
On 6 Jun 1815 Owen Roberts "of Wayne" Co, NC sold 326 acres of land to Joel Altman. The land was on Walnut Pocoson. Witnesses were Britton Hood and Burwell Boyett (Owen's brother-in-law). The acreage doesn't quite add up, but this seems to be the land Owen inherited from his father John Roberts as well as the land Stephen Grant sold him. (Wayne Co, NC Deed Book 10 page 218).
The above two records in 1815 were the last I've located for Owen Roberts. Since he was found in both Wayne and Moore Co, NC in 1815, he may have moved to Moore during that same year.
He did not appear on the 1820 census in Moore Co, NC or anywhere else in NC.
For the 1830 census, I found an Owen Roberts in Franklin Co, OH and another in Hamilton Co, OH. I don't know if either are this same person or not.
For the 1840 census, I found an Owen Roberts in Robeson Co, NC, and one in Franklin Co, OH and another in Hancock Co, OH. The one in Robeson Co, NC is not the same one as ours, I've checked him out.
So far, I've found no evidence regarding a marriage or children for Owen Roberts.
Persons researching this family (click here for data on how to get on or off of this list):
1. Owen1 Roberts , born 1790/94 in Wayne Co, NC; died after 1815, son of John Roberts and Nancy .
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