Submitted by
Georgianne (ROBERTS) ELLIS born 18 Aug
1865 in TN, daughter of Ben H. ROBERTS (1842 – circa 1901) and Sallie Lerzne
Matilda (GRIFFIN) Roberts. Her daughter Artie and other family members
recalled her being buried in Blevins Cemetery. Aunt Artie (ELLIS) Cohen,
her niece Geneva (ELLIS) Lewis, nor I could not locate the grave.
Ben H. (Henry) ROBERTS, son of Ben
Roberts Jr. (circa 1808 - ) and Mary HILL (circa 1806 - ),
was born 16 Apr 1842 in Virginia. He, his father, and grandfather
migrated to TN, where 25 Jul 1864, Ben married Sallie Lurzine Matilda GRIFFIN
(24 NOV 1848 - 5 Jun 1929). The family
passed through several states before arriving in TX in the late 1890s. Ben is
not identified in the 1900 Census of TX.
Oral history indicates Ben H.
ROBERTS had left his family in TX and traveled to OK before 1900. The
story is that he hanged himself in the woodshed of the "Lady" he was
living with at the time. His granddaughter told me the sons had his body
shipped by to Texas for burial in Blevins Cemetery. The only record I found of
a Ben H. Roberts in TX was a tax payment for one horse.
Sally and some of the children
moved to Collin County. There are still a number of descendents still
living in or near Falls County. I think
the only one I met was "Buddy" Roberts, who had a car dealership in
Waco. I think he died about 5 years ago. I know some of the Roberts descendents are living in the
area. I met M. L. "Buddy" Roberts, son of Luther Roberts,
grandson of Martin B. Roberts & Mrs. Mary Blagg nee? at his used car lot in
Waco several years ago.
My great aunt remembered when her
mother died. Her description of the sounds of her mother's breathing lea me to
believe she had a lung disorder.
While I don't with any certainty
that Georgianne and Ben are buried in the Blevins Cemetery, the oral family
history strongly suggest they are. Given the family economic status, I
seriously doubt they could have afforded more than a field stone to mark the
graves. Joshua ELLIS was a share
cropper. Joshua Thomas with his sister,
Sarah Clementine ELLIS are buried east of Waco in the in Robertson,
Cemetery. Sarah Clementine ELLIS never
married.
Joshua Thomas ELLIS, born 18 Feb 1844 in
Cherokee County GA, migrated with his family to AR in the late 1850's with his
parents. His parents originally settled on the Washington/Benton County
line. I am told that the soil in that area was poor and the property was
sold and the family moved into Madison County.
He and two of his three brothers served in the Confederate Army.
He first married Mary Palestine Phillips (daughter of Capt. Samuel Grover &
Lela Elizabeth (Johnson) PHILLIPS). Capt. Phillips was Joshua T's commending
officer during the Civil War.
Mary Palestine died in AR between
1880 & 1884, leaving her husband with five children.
Joshua Thomas married Georgianne ROBERTS
1844. He moved to McLennan County some time after Georgianne's death.
At least two of Georgianne's
brothers, Walter & Claude and her Mother moved to Collin County, TX and are
buried there.
Their first child (my grandfather)
Edward Marshall ELLIS is believed to have been born 20 Jan 1885. The family did
not read or write and no record has been located to document birth dates of
Joshua and Georgianne's children: Edward Marshall 1885 (AR)- 3 Oct 1947 in Waco
burial Rosemond Cemetery.
• Tom, b. 11 Sep 1886 (AR) – d. 1865 in
Collin County TX, burial near his Uncle Claude Roberts and his grandmother,
Sallie Lurzine Matilda (Griffin) Roberts in Melissa, TX
• Leonard Lee, b. 4 Mar 1887 AR d.
Dec 1970 Fort Worth, Tarrant County, TX
• Ora Mae (Mrs. M. F. Murphy), b. 20 Jan
1888 AR d. 6 Sep 1984 San Antonio, Bexar County, TX
• George Harl b. 11 May 1890 d. Feb 1967
Sherman, Grayson County, TX
• Artie Delena (Mrs. Wm H. Cohen,
divorced), b. 16 Sep 1893 AR d. 30 Sep 1979 Houston, Harris County, TX
• Claud Duval b. 27 Mar 1900 TX d. 1977 -
probably Nueces County TX