MR. HUGH ROBERTS. MERION, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

The second party of Welsh from Merionethshire, members of the Penllyn Monthly Meeting, who were purchasers of land in the "Thomas and Jones Tract," to remove here, were:

Hugh Robert.
Cadwalader Morgan.
Edward Owen.
Hugh John.
William John.
Katherin Thomas.
Gainor Roberts.

This is the party generally known as "Hugh Roberts's party."

They came over in the ship Morning Star, of Chester, Thomas Hayes, master, sailing from Mosson (Mostyn), in September, 1683. After a voyage of two months, uneventful, excepting for several burials at sea, they arrived in the Delaware, and at Philadelphia, 16-20 November following.

Hugh Roberts, Hugh Robert, or "Hugh ap Robert, of Kiltalgarth, yeoman," headed the second party of settlers from Merionethshire bound for the Thomas and Jones tract. In his immediate party, were his mother, his wife, his sister, Gainor Roberts, five children, and four servants.

Hugh Roberts was a man of education, a pleasant writer, and an eminent minister among Friends, whom he joined in 1666, and many sketches of his ministerial life have appeared in Friends' publications.

But little is now known of his ancestry, excepting that he was the son of Robert ap Hugh, or "Robert Pugh, gent," of Llyndedwydd, a leased farm, near Bala, and the lake, in Penllyn, Merioneth, by his wife, Katherine Roberts, who, then being a widow, accompanied her son to Pensylvania, and was buried at the Merion Meeting, in 1699.

She was the daughter of William ap Owen, of Llanvawr parish, in Penllyn, where Hugh Roberts resided when he set out for America.

Hugh Roberts, being so prominent a Friends' minister, in North Wales, suffered annoyances, fines, and imprisonment. He brought a certificate of membership, for himself, wife, and family, from the Men's Meeting, Penllyn, Merioneth, dated 2. 5mo. 1683.

Some members of this Men's Meeting at this time were:

Robert Owen.
Hugh Griffith.
Evan Owen.
Edward Griffith.
Richard Price.
Morris Humphrey.
Cadwalader Ellis.
Thomas Prichard.
Evan Rees.
David Jones.
Rees Evan.
William Morgan.
Ellis David.
Griffith John.
Thomas Ellis.
Roger Robert.
Rowland Ellis.
Owen Humphrey.

Nearly all of these were signers of Mr. Roberts's certificate, in which he was described as of Llanvawr parish, Merioneth.

He soon became well known in America as a travelling public minister, and in 1688, and 1697-8, made missionaiy visits to North Wales. On this last trip, he kept an interesting journal of his travels, beginning on 15. 12mo. 1697, which took him to England and Wales by the way of Maryland and Virginia, which is still extant.

On his return here, he brought over a large party of people from Merioneth, and North Wales. But many died at sea. He arrived at Philadelphia 7. 5mo. 1698, and settled the surviving emigrants, some in Merion, and others at Gwynedd, of which settlement he is considered the founder.

Half of Hugh Roberts's original purchase from Thomas and Jones, by deed dated 28 February, 1681, recorded 16 April 1684, witnessed by Daniel Jones, Robert Owen, William Jones, Reece Evan, Thomas John, and William Apedd (ap Edward), was laid out for him before his first arrival, on the Schuylkill. This parcel of land, surveyed 306 acres, was along the side of the estate of the widow of his dear friend, John ap Thomas, and like hers, extended back to the lands of Thomas Lloyd, the Governor.

The Pensylvania land records of his day show that Hugh Roberts was a land speculator, as well as a minister, to the day of his death. But space permits only to transcribe a few of his land transactions, especially those connected with the the neighborhood of the Merion Meeting House.

In addition to his original purchase of 312 1/2 acres in Merion, he bought the Merion share, 76 1/2 acres (about the present Overbrook), of John Watkins, 23. 4mo. 1684. By deed of 1. 4mo. 1688, he bought from the Commissioners,200 acres, in Merion, for which he had warrant to survey, and 100 acres "liberty land." Of this 300 acre lot, 100 acres he had bought for, or did sell to the Widow Thomas, which sale was confirmed to her sons, Thomas and Cadwalader, 22. 12. 1702. By deed of 17. 6mo. 1694, he purchased hia brother-in-law's, William Edwards's, original purchase, 76 1/2 acres, adjoining his land, on the Schuylkill.

The aforesaid 100 acres of "liberty lands," were in right of the Richard Thomas purchase from Penn, and lay on Indian creek and the Mill Creek, (now Cobb's Creek). When Penn was here he sold to Hugh 200 acres of liberty land, on the west side of the Schuylkill river, for which he was to pay £150. He gave Penn £60 cash in hand. On 26. llmo. 1701, he asked for further time, as he could not raise the balance due. The Commissioners ordered him to furnish good bond, and they would give him an extension till 29. 7mo. next. Hugh Roberts also bought of Peter Young 500 acres, and of Francis Cook 400 acres, that is 900 acres of the original tract of John and Wynne ("Company No. 4"). This purchase lay in Blockley and Merion townships, and in other places. Of his Merion lands, he sold 295 acres to Cadwalader Ellis, and 335 acres were confirmed to his executors, by a patent, dated 26 March, 1706.

Of his Blockley purchase above, 200 acres became the seat called "Chestnut Hill," along the old Lancaster road, which his youngest son, Edward Roberts, inherited. Part of this tract is now included in Fairmount Park. In 1721, a portion, that including what is known now as "George's Hill," in the West Park, was purchased (300 acres altogether) from said Edward by Edward George (son of Richard and Jane George, who came from Llangerig, in Montgomeryshire, about 1707-8), whose descendants, Jesse and Rebecca George, gave it to the city forever for a park.

Mr. Roberts also had 300 acres in Radnor in 1717.

Hugh Roberts had at one time altogether 1349 3/4 acres in Merion, and tracts of land in the townships of Duffryn Mawr, and Goshen, on Ridley Creek, some of which he disposed of to Cadwalader Ellis.

Hugh Roberts, it has been said, died at the house of John Redman, in Long Island, New York, when on a visit, in 6mo. 1702, and his remains were brought over from Long Island and buried at the Merion Meeting House, on the 20th. August, "after a large meeting was held."

But a letter from Judge Isaac Norris, to Jonathan Dickinson, dated 11. 6mo. 1702 ("Penn-Logan Correspondence"), says: — "Dear Hugh Roberts is, we think, very near his end. I was to see him on First-day, and then took a solemn and tender farewell, his soul being resigned, earnestly desiring and expecting his change; as in his life he was a preacher of Love, so now, in his latest moment does he continue to be so."

Therefore, it is most probable that he died at home, in Merion. The entry on the Merion Meeting minutes is "Hugh Roberts departed this Life 6mo. 18. 1702."

His will, signed 20. 5mo. 1702, was proved at Philadelphia, 7 December, 1702. He names his children, and distributed about 1200 acres in Merion, and 1100 acres in Goshen township, a meadow called "Clean John," etc. He bequeathed £5 to the Merion Meeting. He mentioned his servants, namely, two men, Morris Robert, and John Robert, and boys, Griffith and Morris. He named as trustees, John Roberts (of "Pencoid"), Cadwalader Morgan, Griffith John, and Griffith Owen.
Witnesses: — Samuel Bowne, Griffith Owen, and Samuel Jennings.

Hugh Roberts was twice married. He m. first, Jane, daughter of Owen ap Evan Robert Lewis, of Fron Goch, in Merioneth. She was a sister of Robert Owen, of Merion. She came to Merion with him, and brought the certificate above mentioned, and died 1. 7mo. 1686, and was buried at Merion Meeting House. He m. secondly, 31. 5mo. 1689, at the Llwyn-y-Braner Meeting, in Penllyn, Merionethshire, when on a visit, Elizabeth vch. John, or Elizabeth Jones.

His six children, all by his first wife, Jane Owen, who was of Royal Descent, assumed the surname "Roberts-"

Welsh Settlement of Pennsylvania.