MR. JOHN ROBERTS, PHILADELPHIA PHILADELPHIA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
The first of the Roberts family in Pennsylvania was John Roberts, son of Richard Roberts, of Towyn, in the Parish of Llanengan, in Llŷn Division, Caernarvonshire, North Wales, who was descended from Collwyn, Lord of Llŷn. John Roberts was born in the year 1648, and at the age of twenty nine he became a member of the Society of Friends.It appears that he lived for a time near Dolgelley, in Merionethshire, and it was probably his aquaintance with Quakers at that place which induced his removal to Pennsylvania in the year 1683.
Previous to his departure from Wales he purchased from Richard Davies of Welshpool, by Lease and Release dated 30-31 July, 1682, 150 acres of land to be laid out in the Province of Pennsylvania. In this deed he is described as "of the Parish of Llangian in the County of Caernarvon, gentleman."
John Roberts arrived in Pennsylvania, in company with other Cymric Friends, on the 16th of Ninth-month, 1683, bringing with him a certificate of removal from Penllyn Meeting, which is recorded in the books of Radnor, Merion and Haverford Meeting reading as follows :
Whereas John Roberts in ye county of Carnarvon hath declared his intention in order to his removal to Pennsylvania in America we thought it convenient to certify in his behalf that he is one that owned and received the truth for these 6 years past. Hath walked since blameless in his conversation and servicable in his place - also that he is free from all contracts of marriage and matrimony to a certain knowledge of good reputation amongst his neighbours acquaintance and relations where he lived.
The following is an account of John Roberts' descent given to the Men's meeting at Penllyn on the 18th of the 5th month 1683.
"A short account of John Roberts formerly of Llŷn, being son of Richard Roberts, and Grand-son of Robert Thomas Morris, who lived at Towyn, in the Parish of Llanengan, and County of Carnarvon; my mother being Margaret Evans, daughter of Richard Evans of the Parish of Llangian and county aforesaid.
Being convinced of God's everlasting Truth about the year 1677, not by man nor through man, but by the Revelation of Jesus Christ in my own heart, being about thirty miles from any Friends or Meeting, in that time when I was convinced, but coming into acquaintance with Friends near Dolgelley and near Bala in Merionethshire I frequented their meetings while I abode in those parts, but by the Providence of God, in the year 1683 I transported myself with many of my friends for Pennsylvania where I and they arrived, the 16th day day of the ninth month, One thousand six hundred and eighty-three, being then thirty-five years old; and settled myself in the place which afterwards I called Pencoid in the Township of Merion, which was afterwards called so by them, being the first settlers of it, having brought with me one servant man from my native land, and fixed my settling here I took wife Gaynor Roberts, daughter of Robert Pugh (or ap Hugh) from Llandedwydd near Bala in Merionethshire, her mother being Elizabeth William Owen, one of the first that was convinced of the Truth in that neighbourhood.
So leaving this accoubnt for our Offspring and others that desire to know from whence we came and who we descended from and when we came to settle unto this place where we now abide, being then a wilderness, but now by God's blessing upon our endeavours is become a fruitful field. To God's name be the Praise, Honor and Glory, who is worthy of it for ever and for ever more."
John Roberts brought a servant with him from Wales, and engaged others after his arrival. His first business was to clear his 150 acres which had been surveyed to him along the Schuylkill, just above the Blockley line. Here he built a fine old mansion, yet standing, and now the home of his descendant, George B. Roberts, Esq., of Bala.
He married, "at Friends Meeting House in Lower Merion," the 20th day of the First-month, 1684 ("being first marriage at said meeting-house"), Gainor Roberts, daughter of Robert ap Hugh (or Pugh), of Llandedwydd, near Bala, Merionethshire, Wales, and sister of Hugh Roberts Provincial Councillor, of Pennsylvania.
John Roberts became a very prominent man in the Colony. He held the office of Justice of the Peace, and was elected to the Provincial Assembly.
John Roberts died 6th June, 1724, and Gainor his wife, 20th February, 1722, aged 69 years. They were both buried at the Merion Meeting. He had accumulated a very considerable amount of property, which he left to his son and daughter. John and Gainor Roberts had issue :
1 Robert, born 15th Twelfth-month, 1685;
2 Elizabeth, born 21st First-month, 1692; died 9th September, 1746.
Extract from Merion in the Welsh Tract.
MR. JOHN ROBERTS, PHILADELPHIA PHILADELPHIA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
John Roberts, Malster, of Lynn, Caernarvonshire, Wales, born 1648, died at Merion, 4 Mo. 6, 1724. On List of Taxables 1693. A First Purchaser. Will proved Aug. 31, 1724.His wife was Gainor Robert, daughter of Robert Puth of Merionethshire. John Roberts was the son of Richard Robert, and the grandson of Robert Thomas Morris. He was a Justice of the Peace, and a Member of the Provincial Assembly.
The Children of John and Gainor were :
Robert, b. 12mo. 1685; Richard, b. 1687; and Elizabeth b. 1690.
Gainor Robert was the sister of Hugh Robert, or Roberts.
Robert Roberts, son of John and Gainor, married Sidney Rees, daughter of Rees Evan, in 1709.
John Roberts of Pencoyd mentions in his will, his only son, Robert; his daughter, Elizabeth; his grandsons, John, Alban, Rees and Phineas; his brother, Richard and Richard's daughter, Margaret; his sister Anne and her daughter Margaret. Leaves a bequest for the poor of Merion Meeting. (His brother Richard and sister Anne came with him to Pennsylvania.)
Overseers : Robert Jones, Robert Evans, Thomas Jones. Mentions Owen Roberts.
Witnesses : Edward George, Gainor Jones, Thomas Jones.
John Roberts of Pencoyd was the son of Richard Roberts and Grandson of Robert Thomas Morris of Cowyns in the Parish of Llanengan, Co. Carnarvon.
The mother of John Roberts was Margaret Evans, daughter of Richard Evans of the Parish of Llangwrn (possibly Llangian KP), same County.
usgwarchives.
MR. JOHN ROBERTS, PHILADELPHIA PHILADELPHIA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
John Roberts of "Pencoyd," though not one of the original purchasers in Thomas and Jones tract, should be noticed here, with the other first settlers of this land, as he was the earliest of Welsh purchasers of the adjoining land, on the river, and became a noted man in the settlement.In the days of this John there were three, or more,men in the Welsh tract named "John Roberts," and to distinguish them from the subject of this sketch, their occupation or place of residence, was given with their names in early deeds, as later there was "John Roberts, Skuilkill," buried at Merion meeting 7. 28. 1747, and "John Roberts, millwright," buried here 11. 10. 1803.
John Roberts, of "Pencoyd," as he named his seat, and as it is still called, born about 1648, was the son of Richard Robert (ap Thomas Morris), of Cowyn (possibly Towyn KP), Llanengan Parish, in Carnarvonshire, and his wife, Margaret, daughter of Richard Evan, of the same parish. He was about 29 years of age when he became a Quaker, in 1677. John Roberts's account of himself, filed with the Merion Meeting :
"John Roberts, formerly of Llyn, being son of Richard Roberts and grandson of Robert Thomas Morris, who lived at Cowyn (possibly Towyn KP), in the Parish of Llanengan and County of Carnarvon; my mother being Margaret Evans, daughter of Richard Evans, of Llangian and county aforesaid.
"Being convinced of God's everlasting worht about the year one thousand six hundred and seventy seven, not by man nor through man, but by the Revelation of Jesus Christ, in my owne heart, being thirty miles from any Friends' Meeting in that time when I was convinced but coming into acquaintenance with Friends near Dolgelley and near Bala in Merionethshire, I frequented their Meetings while I abode in those parts, but by the Province of God in the year one thousand six hundred and eighty three, I transported myself with many of my Friends for Pennsylvania where I and they arrived the sixteenth day of the Ninth month one thousand six hundred and eighty three, being then thirty five years old, and settled myself in the place where afterwards I called Pencoid, in the Township of Merion, which was afterwards called by them being the first settlers of it, having brought with me one servant man from mu native land, and fixed my settling here.
I took to wife Gainor Roberts, daughter of Robert Pugh from Llwyndedwydd near Bala in Merionethshire, her Mother being Elizabeth Williams Owen one of the first that was convinced of the Truth in that neighbourhood. So leaving this account for our offspring and others that desire to know from whence we came and who we descend from and when we came to settle unto this place where we now abide being then a wilderness, but now by God's Blessing upon our endeavours is become a fruitful field.. To God's name be the Praise, Honour and Glory who is worthy od it for ever and ever more."
As apparently Mr. Roberts has a good home, and had not "suffered" much, it must be supposed that he only came over to Pennsylvania because his lady-love Gainor Roberts, did. Theirs was probably a long drawn-out courtship, as he was over 35, as he states, and she 30, when they came over together, with her brother.
He was living near Dolgelly, and near where Gainor lived, when he set out for America, taking with him only one indentured servant, and his certificate of membership from the Men's Meeting, in Penllyn, dated 18. 5mo. 1683, which described him as of Llyn, in Carnarvonshire. On the same date this meeting issued Certificates to many others bound for Pennsylvania, among them Cadwalader Morgan, and Hugh John Thomas, of Gwernfell, Robert David, of Tyn y Nant, Katherine Roberts, of Llaethgwm, widow, and Gaynor Roberts, of Kiltalgarth. All were signed by nearly the same men.
Both John and gainor were members in good standing of the Penllyn Monthly Meeting, as may be seen. It is presumed that John's brother Richard and sister Ann, who came in the Hugh Roberts party, both had issue.
John Roberts probably stayed close to Hugh Roberts and helped put up his house in Merion, in the winter of 1683-4, for in the early spring of 1683-4, he married Gainor Roberts. Theirs was the first wedding in the Merion Meeting.
"John Roberts the maltster," as he was known from his occupation, had brought from Richard Davies (Company No. 7), 150 acres by deed dated 30 July, 1682, and this right he had surveyed and laid out to him in "the city liberty£ on the Schuylkill, and next east of the land of Evan rees, in the Thomas and Jones tract. This land he named "Pencoyd," which it has ever since been so called.
He was from the first a prominent man among the Pennsylvania Welsh, and was a justice of the peace in the Welsh Tract, and a representative for it in the Assembly, and owned a very large landed estate. He died at his residence in Merion, which now forms a portion of the "Roberts mansion," on the City Line, on 6. 4mo. 1724, aged 76 years, and was buried with his wife Gainor, in the ground of the Merion Meeting. The record of their burials at the Merion Meeting being "Gainor Roberts, wife of John Roberts, maltster, 12. 23. 1721," and "John Roberts, maltster, 1724, 4mo."