Benjamin Thomas Roberts

Notes:

FindAGrave indicates he was a son of Noel Gil Roberts (1813-1864) and Maria Thomas Roberts (b. 1816-), and grandson of Elisha Roberts

Henson and Parmelee have a photo of Benjamin Thomas Roberts in uniform, and note that he served alongside his future brother-in-laws, Leonidas and Americus Cartwright during the Civil War. On May 25, 1861, Lon, Meck "and twenty other volunteers rode to Shelby County, where Captain Short lived, to enlist...Short's company left in June to rendezvous near Dallas, where along with other East Texas units, they were sworn into Col. Elkana Greer's mounted regiment....(and) eventually were designated as the Third Texas Cavalry, and Short's company became Company E." (Henson & Parmelee, THE CARTWRIGHTS OF SAN AUGUSTINE, p. 200, p. 202) Upon reorganization of the regiment on May 8, 1862, Ben T. Roberts became second sergeant of Company E. (ibid, p. 215) He was taken prisoner at Iuka, and paroled, but had to remain in Iuka to care for wounded Confederatte prisoners. (ibid, p. 218).



(Research):

Census Listings:

1870 Census
Texas, San Augustine County, PO San Augustine
Enumerated 5 Aug 1870
Page 90
40-40
Roberts, B T 33 M W Farmer 10,000 8,000 Tx
Roberts, Anna W 26 F W Keeps House Tx
Roberts, Mathew 5/12 M W Tx Jany
Roberts, Felix G 21 M W Merchant Tx
Roberts, Maggie 17 F W At Home Tx
Kirkley, E 20 F B House Servant Ala

1880 Census
Texas, San Augustine County, San Augustine
Page 2 SD 1 EDF 80
Enumerated 7 Jun 1880
20-20
Roberts, B. T. W M 43 Farmer Tx Mi NC
Roberts, Anna C W F 35 Wf Keeping House Tx Tx/Tn?
Roberts, Mathew W M 10 Son At School Tx Tx Tx
Roberts, Amanda W F 9 Dtr At School Tx Tx Tx
Roberts, Anna W F 7 Dtr At School Tx Tx Tx
Roberts, Benjamine W M 6 Son At School Tx Tx Tx
Roberts, Felix M W M 4 Son At Home Tx Tx Tx
Roberts, Claud W M 3 Son At Home Tx Tx Tx
Roberts, Mary W F 1 Dtr At Home Tx Tx Tx
Smith, Chas B W 21 Laborer Tx Tx Tx

Benjamin married Anna Wigglesworth Cartwright on 10 Jan 1869 in San Augustine County, Texas. Anna (daughter of Matthew Cartwright and Amanda "Mandy" Holman) was born on 6 Apr 1844 in San Augustine County, Texas; died on 27 May 1903 in Kaufman County, Texas; was buried in Oakland Memorial Park Cemetery, Terrell, Kaufman County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:

Anna and her sister Mary had commenced writing letters to "care-worn soldiers" other than their brothers. One of these soldiers was Benjamin T. Roberts, seven years older than Anna and a neighbor since childhood, whom had asked her to begin a "friendly correspondence." Although she "never corresponded with young gentelmen before the war...(and) said I never would, She decided it was a 'duty imcumbent of the fair sex' to contribute to the soldier's happiness." (Henson and Cartwright, p. 227) in October 1868, Anna finally gave in to Ben Roberts's ardent courtship and set the wedding for January 1869. Using money from her father's wedding gift, Anna bought the 1830 Ezekiel Cullen house in December 1869, registering the transaction in her own name, an unusual practice for married women at that time. (ibid, p. 267). As a young girl, Anna had displayed more independence of mind than many of her friends, even her mother deplored her occasional "contrariness." After her husband died in 1887, Anna applied to the court and was immediately appointed administrator. Although there was not a prenuptial agreement on file, Anna had kept her property seperate from Ben's. (ibid, p. 299). Her youngest brother, Matthew, offered to build a house for Anna on Griffith Avenue in Terrell, and she agreed to make a fresh start in an area that offered business opportunities for her sons. Within eighteen months of the move, she and her eldest son Matthew had opened a real estate and loan office with the aid of her brother Matthew, and they soon opened an insurance agency to augment their income. (ibid, pp. 300-301). Anna later also had her husband's body reinterred in Terrell, Texas.

1. Matthew Cartwright Roberts was born on 18 Jan 1870 in San Augustine County, Texas; died on 7 Apr 1931 in Terrell, Kaufman County, Texas; was buried in Oakland Memorial Park Cemetery, Terrell, Kaufman County, Texas.
2. Amanda "Manda" Holman Roberts was born on 17 Jan 1871 in San Augustine County, Texas; died on 2 Dec 1949 in Houston, Harris County, Texas; was buried in Forest Park (Forest Park Lawndale) Cemetery, Houston, Harris County, Texas.
3. Annie W. Roberts was born on 8 Nov 1872 in San Augustine County, Texas; died on 26 Nov 1963 in El Paso, El Paso County, Texas; was buried in Concordia Cemetery, El Paso, El Paso County, Texas.
4. Benjamin Shadrach Roberts was born on 2 May 1874 in San Augustine County, Texas; died on 12 May 1966 in Terrell, Kaufman County, Texas; was buried in Oakland Memorial Park Cemetery, Terrell, Kaufman County, Texas.
5. Felix M. Roberts was born about 1876 in San Augustine County, Texas; died about 1900.
6. Claude C. Roberts was born on 4 Jul 1877 in San Augustine County, Texas; died on 1 Feb 1924 in Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas.
7. Mary C. Roberts was born on 19 Aug 1878 in San Augustine County, Texas; died on 21 Dec 1936 in Terrell, Kaufman County, Texas.