Elijah ROBERTS, son of Elijah ROBERTS and Sally RICHARDS , was born 06 August 1848 in Tywardreath, Cornwall, England. He married Ann KNIBBS 18 July 1870 in Westfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA. He died 09 December 1893 in Unionville, Hartford County, Connecticut, USA. Ann KNIBBS, daughter of James KNIBBS and Ellen COLLIN , was born 06 May 1852 in Woodstock District, Oxfordshire, England. She died 03 December 1915 in Connecticut, USA.


Children of Elijah ROBERTS and Ann KNIBBS are:
1. Rena May ROBERTS, b. 14 February 1876
2. Walter Elijah ROBERTS, b. 18 July 1878
3. Lenora May ROBERTS, b. 26 May 1890
4. Howard Ernest ROBERTS, b. 21 August 1885 See Howard Ernest ROBERTS & Frances Theresa CARGILL OR Howard Ernest ROBERTS & Olive MILLER
5. Arthur James ROBERTS, b. 25 December 1887 See Arthur James ROBERTS & UNKNOWN
6. Minnie L ROBERTS, b. 1873 See William H BARROWS & Minnie L ROBERTS OR John Arthur HABERSHON & Minnie L ROBERTS

Other Marriages/Unions for Ann KNIBBS:
See Orville Albert ROOT & Ann KNIBBS


Notes for Elijah ROBERTS:

On 1 January, 1853, we see Elijah arriving in New York from Bristol on the ship "Chesterholine", with his mum, and sisters Celia Ann and Eliza Jane. Presumably, his dad had travelled to America earlier to find work and somewhere to live.


See the Ship's Passenger List showing the arrival of Sally and her children at New York.

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The 1880 US Census states that Elijah Roberts came to America from England. It doesn't say precisely where, but there is one Elijah ROBERTS being born at the right time, and that was in the 3rd quarter of 1848 in the District of St Austell, Cornwall, England.
Even more interesting, there is a marriage between an Elijah ROBERTS and a Sally RICHARDS in the same District of St Austell, Cornwall, England in the 3rd quarter of 1843.

The 1880 US Federal Census has an Elijah and Sally Roberts living at Farmington, Hartford County, Connecticut - so - it is a reasonable assumption that these are the parents of Elijah, and they emigrated as a family when Elijah Jr. was a young boy, probably in the 1850's? Maybe?

Whilst I accept this is by no means certain, I consider that the name Sally was fairly uncommon in those days, so I believe to find a Sally and Elijah Roberts in the same area of Cornwall, and then again in Hartford County Connecticut, AND associated with an Elijah Roberts of the right age must surely be more than coincidental.

My research traces Elijah and Sally Roberts back to the small village of Tywardreath, which was a small mining village on the southern coast of Cornwall. Sally's own parents can be seen living in the same village in 1841.
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We can see Elijah Roberts in 1870 living at Farmington with his parents and siblings:
Elijah Roberts 49 Farmer England
Sally Roberts 44 England
Elijah Roberts 22 Farm Labourer England
Enoch Roberts 11 Connecticut
William Roberts 8 Connecticut
Harriet Roberts 7 Connecticut
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West District School, Unionville, Hartford County, Connecticut.
This is a picture of the schoolhouse at West District, Unionville that was built by Elijah in 1871-2 as a replacement for the old stone school.
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Elijah Roberts was listed in the 1887-1888 City Directory as:
Roberts, Elijah j., Carpenter, h 6 Woodruff

So too is his brother Charles:
Roberts, Charles A., Horse Shoer, Plants pl, Pv, h West n Center
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Elijah and Annie can be seen in the 1880 US Federal Census living at Southington, Hartford County, Connecticut with a daughter Minnie. They also have William Stephens, aged 14 years living with them but I'm not sure who he was - maybe just a lodger.

Elijah ROBERTS Self M Male W 32 ENGLAND Carpenter ENGLAND ENGLAND
Annie ROBERTS Wife M Female W 28 ENGLAND Keeps House ENGLAND ENGLAND
Minnie L. ROBERTS Dau S Female W 7 CT ENGLAND ENGLA
William STEPHENS Other S Male W 14 CT ENGLAND ENGLA

We can also see who I believe are quite probably Elijah's parents and three of his siblings living at Farmington, Hartford County, Connecticut at the 1880 census:
Elijah ROBERTS Self M Male W 59 ENG Laborer ENG E
Sally ROBERTS Wife M Female W 54 ENG Keeping House ENG ENG
Mattie ROBERTS Dau S Female W 26 CT ENG ENG
Enoch ROBERTS Son S Male W 21 CT Laborer ENG E
Hattie ROBERTS Dau S Female W 17 CT ENG ENG

I believe 'Mattie' and 'Hattie' are probably Martha and Helen who are named in the document identified below concerning the estate of their sister Elizabeth Y Judd.

Also, Elijah's sister Cecelia, already widowed, living at Cheshire, New Haven, Connecticut at the 1880 Federal Census:
Cecilia PECK Self W Female W 36 ENG Keep House ENG E
Hiram J. PECK Son S Male W 20 CT Farm CT CT
Mary H. PECK Dau S Female W 15 CT Home CT ENG
Clayton E. PECK Son S Male W 5 CT CT ENG
Clinton C. PECK Son S Male W 5 CT CT ENG
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I understand from his great-granddaughter Shirley Walter, that Elija died when his son Howard Ernest was aged about 7 years. Apparently he fell from a roof in Unionville, Hartford County, Connecticut and died. Shirley visited his grave at Southington, Hartford County, Connecticut which confirmed his dates of birth and death.
Shirley's uncle Howard E Roberts tells us how it was that Elijah had that fateful accident in 1893. Story had it that he'd been working with some other men. They were finished for the day, and Elijah realized that he'd left his level on top of the chimney. It was December and there was snow on the roof. The other men tried to convince him not to go back up but he did, and that's when he fell off.

From an unknown newspaper at that time:

FATAL ACCIDENT SATURDAY AFTERNOON

Death From the Effects of a Fall

     E.J. Roberts of Plainville, a boss builder and contractor, fell from the scaffolding of a new house which he was building for John Taylor of South Burritt street Saturday afternoon and received injuries from the effect of which he died in half an hour. Mr. Roberts was standing upon a scafolding, nailing a corner board to the cornice when he slipped on a piece of ice and fell to the ground, a distance of twenty-five feet, striking on the top of his head. He was carried into Mr. Taylor's house near by and Dr. Stone was sent for, but medical aid was of no avail and the man died of concussion of the brain a few minutes after the doctor's arrival. The body was taken in charge by the Porter brothers and taken to their undertaking establishment on Main Street. Yesterday morning the body was taken to Plainville. The funeral will take place from his late home at Scott Swamp, Plainville, tomorrow at 12 o'clock. The burial will be in Southington, his native town.
     Roberts formerly worked for O. F. Curtiss, the contractor and builder of this city, but some time ago he started in business on his own account. He was 43 years old, leaves a wife and three children aged 6, 8 and 16 years.

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A document given to me by Shirley Walter, concerning the estate of Elijah's sister Elizabeth Y Judd, indicated that Elijah had the following siblings:
Elizabeth Y Roberts Judd - died in abt. 1927
Celia A Roberts Peck - died before 1927 - born about 1844
Mrs Martha L Turner
Mrs Helen Willard - died before 1927
Albert Roberts - died before 1927
Enoch Roberts
Charles Roberts - died before 1927
Mrs Henry Rice
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Our gratitude goes to the members and volunteers at Find A Grave web site for recording the details, in memory of Elija, his wife Anne, and children Rena, Walter, Lenora and Howard E, and daughter-in-law Frances.

Sources for Elijah ROBERTS:

  1. Personal Contact with Barbara Knibbs,
  2. 1880 US Federal Census,
  3. Personal Contact with Shirley Walter,
  4. FreeBMD,
  5. Obituary,

Notes for Ann KNIBBS:

Also known as: Annie or Anna

Ann's great-granddaughter Shirley Walter visited her grave at Southington, Hartford County, Connecticut which confirmed her dates of birth and death.
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A picture of Ann Knibbs taken, I would guess, when she was still married to Elijah Roberts.
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Another 5 generation photograph showing on the right, James Knibbs b. 1828 at Clifton, Oxfordshire, England. He emigrated to Connecticut in the 1850's with his oldest daughter Ann (shown at the left of the picture). Ann Married Elijah ROBERTS and the lady standing in the picture is their daughter Minnie ROBERTS. The younger lady is Minnie's daughter, Irene YOUNG, with her daughter Una and son Archie. I believe the photograph is taken in about 1810.

Sadly, I'm not 100% certain of the name of Irene's daughter as all I have to go on is the hand written note on the back of the photograph. It could be Tina, Lina or Una.
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In October 28, 1884, we see Ann and daughter Minnie arriving in New York aboard the ship "City of Rome", sailing from Liverpool, England. They were both listed as US citizens. Their previous destination was given as Oxford.
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From the Farmington Valley Herald, December 10th , 1915:
Death In Southington.
Mrs. Delmore Wetherby, was called to Southington Thursday night by the death of her sister Mrs. Anna Root. The funeral was held Sunday afternoon. Mrs. Root was a sister of James and William Knibbs of Watererbury, and of Benjamin Wesley and Edward of West District Far- mington.

Sources for Ann KNIBBS:

  1. Oxfordshire Parish Register - Deddington,
  2. GRO England & Wales, GRO England & Wales gives 2Qtr1852 
  3. Personal Contact with Barbara Knibbs,
  4. FreeBMD, gives June 1852 
  5. Personal Contact with Shirley Walter,
  6. Ancestry.com, England & Wales, Birth Index: 1837-1983 gave location 

Notes for Rena May ROBERTS:

Shirley Walter visited her grave at Southington, Hartford County, Connecticut which confirmed her dates of birth and death, and her middle Christian name "May".
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Our gratitude goes to the members and volunteers at Find A Grave web site for recording the details, in memory of Rena.

Sources for Rena May ROBERTS:

  1. Personal Contact with Barbara Knibbs,
  2. Personal Contact with Shirley Walter,

Notes for Walter Elijah ROBERTS:

Shirley Walter visited his grave at Southington, Hartford County, Connecticut which confirmed Walter's dates of birth and death as well as giving us his middle Christian name "Elijah".
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Our gratitude goes to the members and volunteers at Find A Grave web site for recording the details, in memory of Walter.

Sources for Walter Elijah ROBERTS:

  1. Personal Contact with Barbara Knibbs,
  2. Personal Contact with Shirley Walter,

Notes for Lenora May ROBERTS:

Also known as: Minnie

Our gratitude goes to the members and volunteers at Find A Grave web site for recording the details, in memory of Lenora.

Sources for Lenora May ROBERTS:

  1. Personal Contact with Barbara Knibbs,
  2. Personal Contact with Shirley Walter,