John R. & Mary Ann Roberts
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We do not know what ages our grandparents were when they immigrated to America, settling in Sharon, Pennsylvania from ABYRDARE WALES. It was a rough 3 week voyage across the Atlantic. Nor do we know where they lived at the time of their marriage - was it Sharon, Pennsylvania or Shawnee, Ohio? Grandpa had only one brother, Thomas, who remained in the Sharon, PA. area. Thomas, along with son Gomer and daughter Gwen, visited Shawnee and Murray City frequently. Grandma’s sisters and brothers resided in Ohio - some settling around Marion, Ohio. The family recalled visits from Aunt Rachel and Uncle John Jenkins, their children, William John, Raye, David and Gwendolyn. They lived in Springfield, Ohio. Another sister, Margaret, was married to John Davis and had three children, Johnnie, David and Mary.
The children recalled also that when Grandma and Grandpa wanted to communicate privately they spoke the Welsh language. As far as we know, none of the children ever learned the language. However, Margaret Shuttleworth Syprett was taught to count in Welsh by Grandma, when Margaret was a very little girl.
Grandpa owned and operated a saloon in Shawnee until about 1900. Murray City became a booming mining town with many business opportunities, so the Roberts family moved to Murray City to establish the MIDWAY LIVERY STABLE on Main street. Grandpa then built and operated the JOHN R. ROBERTS SALOON. He was assisted in these businesses by his sons and sons-in-law. The family lived above the saloon where Grandma, with the assistance of their daughters, ran a boarding house. They catered to traveling salesmen, troupes of actors who might be performing at the local Opera House, etc.
Two cousins, Thelma and Eugenia remember the Thanksgiving Day weekends were “ far more festive than Christmas.” The large dining room table was always ‘set’ the night before with white linens. The table sagged in the middle because there were so many extension leaves to accommodate the entire family, who would enjoy a delicious dinner. The men and children were seated and served first by the wives and daughters old enough to help. Aunt Rachel and Uncle John Jenkins and family always came from Springfield. In fact, every family member came to help with work to be done in preparation for the oncoming winter. Two hogs were butchered, sausage ground, hams readied for smoking, fat rendered for lard, soap and tallow - a job for everyone, young and old. Grandma always made “faggots”, a real favorite of Welsh people. It was a mixture of ground liver with onions and spices, wrapped in the membrane or lining of the stomach of the hogs, then cooked in a sauce of who knows what. “Goat” and “Pomp” Roberts told us it was delectable.
About 1904, a niece of Grandma’s, Gwen Davis died leaving three children. Their father approached the Roberts’ asking that they take the children into their home. Grandma, then 52 and having raised 13 of her own children was willing but Grandpa said, “only one”. Thus, David Davis was adopted by the Roberts family and became a true, honest to goodness family member. Everyone loved “Tim” as he was called. Six years later when their own daughter Rachel Roberts Jaynes died leaving three children, they again opened their hearts and home and Tom, aged 14 and Thelma, aged 9 came to live with the Roberts’. The infant daughter, Kathryn was reared by a paternal aunt in Shawnee.
In 1911 the first Roberts Reunion was held in Murray City and all the families were in attendance. Thelma recalls the excitement they all felt when their family (Uncle Will Jaynes, Aunt Rachel, Thelma and Tom) along with Uncle T, Aunt Lydia and their children Lillian and John, Aunt “Bay” and Uncle Bill Griffith with “Duke” John, Sam and baby David engaged a team of horses and a large wagon with two long benches to transport the three families from Shawnee to Murray City for the reunion.
In 1918 with Thanksgiving approaching, Aunt Rachel and Uncle John were unable to travel to Murray City as was the custom, so Grandma and Grandpa went to Springfield for the holiday. Grandpa came home suffering with a bad cold which developed into pneumonia and he died on December 8, 1918. Grandma had no desire to live after Grandpa’s death. Aunt Gwen and Uncle Harry Shuttleworth bought the family home and grandma made her home with them. She suffered several strokes and died on December 29, 1920.
(Written by the Roberts granddaughters, copyright 1989)
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John R. Roberts Saloon, Murray City, OH
The Midway Livery & Feed Stable,
Murray City - 1907 - after a flood
Standing left to right: Charlie Castell, John R. Roberts, Alvi Trimmer, Art Roberts, "Lightning" Marshall, "Thunder" Marshall, Nate Marshall, Harry Shuttleworth & Ted Shuttleworth in the hay loft.
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Photos Copyright Sandie Cummins 2007/08