THOMAS RUBOTTOM--A WELSH IMMIGRANT
[AUTHOR'S UPDATE: Three daughters have now been identified: Hannah McSwain Rubottom b. ca 1768 married ca 1801 to Samuel Dowd b. 02-Jun-1775; Leah Rubottom b. ca 1775 d. 1820's married to Charles White b. ca 1770 d. 1847-50; and Sarah "Sally" Rubottom b. ca 1790 married 09-Dec-1819 David Robinson. Hannah and her husband remained in Chatham County, NC all of their lives. Leah and her husband left Chatham County in 1814 and moved to Tennessee. It is believed that Leah's sister Sarah "Sally" migrated to Tennessee with them.]
Thomas and his brothers-in-law were active in the Regulator Movement prior to the beginning of the Revolutionary War. 25 This organization had petitioned the Governor to have more say in governing their own affairs, but their requests were ignored and their movement suppressed. In the book Chatham County, 1771-1791, by Hadley, Horton, and Stowd, the authors indicated that Thomas Rubottom served in Captain Joab Brooks' Company in the Chatham County Militia in 1772. 26 Two additional sources state that Thomas Rubottom served in the Revolutionary War as a surgeon. 27 No confirming evidence has been located.
[AUTHOR'S UPDATE: In 1997 the author obtained a certified copy of a Revolutionary War Pay Voucher to Thomas Rubotom from the State of North Carolina. The following information is recorded on the certified form:
State of North Carolina, Department of Cultural Resources, Division of Archives and History
This verifies that the following information is recorded in a manuscript volume in the custody of the State Archives titled "Revolutionary Army Accounts" (Volume C, Page 128, Folio -- ):
Heading: The United State of America To the State of North Carolina Dr for Sundries furnish's and cash paid the Militia of North Carolina Virginia and South Carolina as allow'd by the Auditors of Hillsboro District as [per] Report 84.
Number: 4239
To whom issued: Thomas Rubottom
Number of voucher: 5870
Amount: 10 pounds, 5 shillings Specie
Other information: [Report number 84 is not dated. Report number 83 is dated July 1783 on page 88 and Report number 85 is dated 11th May 1784 on page 136.]
Raleigh, North Carolina
February 12, 1997
J.R. Lankford, Jr.
Chief, Archives and Records Section]
[AUTHOR'S UPDATE: The dates of Thomas and Phebe Dixon Rubottom's deaths are still unconfirmed. But, new evidence has been located indicating that Thomas probably preceeded Phebe in death and that Phebe, in fact, migrated to Indiana with her son Simon and his family. Letters written by Charles and Stephen White in 1814 and 1816 respectively both mention Phebe Rubottom. Both of these letters are transcribed below.
The first letter was written by Charles White around 1814 or 1815 from his new home in Tennessee. It was undoubtedly written prior to Simon Rubottom's journey to Indiana as the writer mentions Tomy and Poly White, who were in the Indiana migration. The letter is addressed to "Respected Mother in Law," who is assumed to be Phebe Rubottom. Instructions at the bottom of the letter tell Brother Stephen (White) to read the letter to various person, including Phebe Rubottom. Notice the mention of Samuel and Hanah Dowd, brother-in-law and sister of Leah Rubottom. The following is an exact transcription of the letter. (There is little punctuation, so the sentences appear to run together.)
Respected Mother in law I hant forgot you my famly is All very well Satisfied And I am beter Satisfied then I Expected to be one thing pleases me that I have A home And Land that will fetch 10 or 12 barrels of corn to the Acre And well watered And Helthy Country Leah Says that if She was in Chatham Again And had as much Mony as would have her Expences She would come hare Again she and All the family Stood the Jurny Cheerfully And is in very high Spirits At this time we want you to Send how your helth is
Charles White
Leah WhiteNB
Brother Stephen Read this or Send
To David Vestal Marry Vestal
And Children
Tomy White and his wife Poly
Pheba Rubottom
Samuel Dowd Hanah Dowd
Tomy Andrew Amy Andrews
Jack Andrews Nancy Andrews
[AUTHOR'S NOTE: A swirled is sketched across the page about 3/4ths of the way down from the top. Below it is written:]
_____ Thomas Andrews A considerable time has Elapsed since I have ssen your face or you mine. ____ well in health and so is my family Nine Children all fit and harty four sons and five Daughters. I have Plenty of Common __________ (possessions?) of this life I should Rejoice to see you and your children but the distance being Great will in all Probebility Impease? And Intervene during life you would ____ to ____ worth ____ to favour me with a Line? Which I would Receive friendly? Remember me to Jacob _____ and Peggy my ____ was near _____ _____ Your friend Jesse? White
The second letter was written in September 1816 by Stephen White, brother of Charles White. Apparently, Stephen White travelled to Indiana to visit friends and relatives. His letter is also transcribed exactly as written. Again, notice the mention of Simon Rubottom's mother.
Dear Wife and Children
P.S. I expect to return as soon as is consistant with my on ease and that my _____ be resigned as possible.Indiana State Orange County September 6th 1816
I arived at Simon Rubottoms the 20th day of my Journey where I am now writing I found Simon his wife mother Joseph and Mahaly not in a good State of health but are Mending Execpt (sic) his mother the complaint they labour under is a Remiting fever As to my own part I could boast of health were it not that I have been troubled with the cholic on the road which together with my mare being foundered has made my Journey tedious notwithstanding at this time I feell reasonably well and my mare is but little worsted having at all times as yet an excelent appetite.
Thomas and little John Joseph is in good health and Polley is tolerably well. I gave her a dose of Lees pills the night I got to her house and they opperated both as a puke and a purg and has been of great service I believe to her. She is quite cheerful and I hope will do well She has never been confined to her bed but able to do her work. I expect when I rest a few days to day eight or ten to take Thomas with me and go on to the Illinois which is perhaps 200 miles There has two men lately come from that country and has been at Brother Joseph and Susannah Browns. It will not be in my power to come through Tennessee State as Thomy and Polley are so Anxious I should come with them to Chatham. To go by brother Jesse home would be 200 miles out of my way but I am Sorry I cannot See them and know not how to help my self without disoblidging them I wish you to acquiant George Rubottom that I carried the money he commited to my charge Safe Sealed to his father which I thought to be 100 and 28 dollars but there is but 100 and 18 in the letter. This is a mistake between me and George in counting or his father must have droped it the night I gave him the letter. The neighbours are sickly in general hereabout especially new comers. Nathan Wells is dead. It is supposed he had the Epidemic. William Gowdy died with the consumption a day past and Danniel Dawsons daughter also Rachel Dix is married to George Farlow Abraham Holliday and Elizabeth Dix John Sniper and Nancy Crow also.
Excuse me for short writing. I am in haste but remain yours, most affectionately.
Stephen White
End of Author's Update.]
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