Bill’s Family - Person Sheet
Bill’s Family - Person Sheet
NameRobert Rosbrugh 
58, 6G Grandfather, R216, 2316, M
58, 6G Grandfather, R216, 2316, MBirthabt 1701, England
Death21 Jan 1783 Age: 82
FlagsLived in UK, Lived in US
Misc. Notes
How soon after the death of this Mary Graham Rev. James McCrea again married I do not know, but, from circumstances, I judge it was not later than 1755. He chose for his second wife Catherine Rosbrugh, a young lady of his congregation, the daughter of Robert Rosbrugh and Mary (???). By her there were five more children, all of whom grew up, viz.: Robert, Philip, Gilbert, Creighton and Catherine, making twelve McCrea children in all. of these children Robert and Creighton joined the English forces, while Philip served on the American side.
As Robert Rosburgh, the father of Catherine, was a large landholder in Bedminster, and his two daughters were married into the prominent McCrea, Henry and McDonald families, and as, with his death, the surname drops out of our local history, it may be well to utilize some space here to state what has been learned of him. He, and it is said, his wife, Mary (???), arrived from England, with many other English immigrants who came to New Jersey between 1720 and 1740. We know, from his age at death, that he was born about 1701. I suspect, but cannot prove, that Rev. John Rosbrugh, one of the clerical martyrs of the Revolution, who was killed brutally by Hessians near Pennington, directly after the Battle of Trenton (Jan., 1777), was a relative. This Rev. John was b. in 1714, came to America about 1720, and is only certainly known to have had a brother William. (See "Rosbrugh: A Tale of the Revolution," by Clyde, Easton, 1880).
Robert's name first appears in Somerset in connection with the organization of Lamington church in 1739. On Mar. 23, 1743, he purchased of James Alexander and Daniel Donaldson Dunster 307 1/2 acres of land in Bedminster, adjoining the "Alamatunk river," lands of Matthias Lane, Sr., Garret Lane, James Henry and others. (So stated in Book B, p. 906 of Somerset Deeds; original record not found). We judge this land was located between Lamington and present Larger Cross Roads. On Mar. 10, 1769-70 he purchased of Jacob Lings 100 acres of land, it being one-half of the Rev. James McCrea farm (referred to again, infra). On April 18, 1775, he purchased of Nathaniel Marston, of New York City, 321 acres of land in Bedminster adjoining the Lamington river, and probably near Lamington church. (Recorded Aug. 8, 1801; Somerset Deeds, Book B, p. 521).
Robert Rosbrugh had two wives, Mary (???) (mother of Catherine named above), who died February 5, 1768, in her 75th year, and is buried in Lamington churchyard, and Margaret (???), who is believed to have been a Margaret Machett (widow of Peter Machett, and daughter of John Chambers, of Trenton). Margaret Rosbrugh had several children, including a "Lydia McCrea," as per her will of 1789, probat. Feb. 1, 1791 (Trenton Wills, Book 32, p. 308). As no such daughter is mentioned in Robert Rosbrugh's will, it is to be supposed she was the daughter of Peter and Margaret Machett who were m. in 1739. It is also possible this "Lydia McCrea" was the wife of one of Rev. James McCrea's sons, but this we do not know.
Robert Rosbrugh d. Jan. 21, 1783, in the 82nd year of his age, and is buried in the Lamington churchyard, with these rather unusual lines on his tombstone:
"A soul prepared needs no delays,
The summons comes, the saint obeys.
Swift was his flight and short the road;
He closed his eyes and saw his God.
The flesh rests here till Jesus come
and claims the treasure from the tomb."
Robert's will of Jan. 20, 1783, probat. Feb. 23, 1783 (Trenton Wills, Book M, p. 136), only mentions two children, Catherine (McCrea) McDonald (as she then was) and Mary, wife of David Henry; also his own (second) wife, Margaret. The wife Margaret was to receive œ500, and the rest of the estate was to be equally divided between Catherine and Mary. As stated, no mention is made in this will of another daughter.1 The executors of the will of Robert Rosbrugh were his then two sons in-law, Major Richard McDonald and David Henry, but the latter could not serve, as he died only three days later than Robert Rosbrugh. It may also be of interest to note here that the general Rosbrugh family now spell the name Rosebrook, and it is probable that is the manner in which "Rosbrugh" was pronounced.
As Robert Rosburgh, the father of Catherine, was a large landholder in Bedminster, and his two daughters were married into the prominent McCrea, Henry and McDonald families, and as, with his death, the surname drops out of our local history, it may be well to utilize some space here to state what has been learned of him. He, and it is said, his wife, Mary (???), arrived from England, with many other English immigrants who came to New Jersey between 1720 and 1740. We know, from his age at death, that he was born about 1701. I suspect, but cannot prove, that Rev. John Rosbrugh, one of the clerical martyrs of the Revolution, who was killed brutally by Hessians near Pennington, directly after the Battle of Trenton (Jan., 1777), was a relative. This Rev. John was b. in 1714, came to America about 1720, and is only certainly known to have had a brother William. (See "Rosbrugh: A Tale of the Revolution," by Clyde, Easton, 1880).
Robert's name first appears in Somerset in connection with the organization of Lamington church in 1739. On Mar. 23, 1743, he purchased of James Alexander and Daniel Donaldson Dunster 307 1/2 acres of land in Bedminster, adjoining the "Alamatunk river," lands of Matthias Lane, Sr., Garret Lane, James Henry and others. (So stated in Book B, p. 906 of Somerset Deeds; original record not found). We judge this land was located between Lamington and present Larger Cross Roads. On Mar. 10, 1769-70 he purchased of Jacob Lings 100 acres of land, it being one-half of the Rev. James McCrea farm (referred to again, infra). On April 18, 1775, he purchased of Nathaniel Marston, of New York City, 321 acres of land in Bedminster adjoining the Lamington river, and probably near Lamington church. (Recorded Aug. 8, 1801; Somerset Deeds, Book B, p. 521).
Robert Rosbrugh had two wives, Mary (???) (mother of Catherine named above), who died February 5, 1768, in her 75th year, and is buried in Lamington churchyard, and Margaret (???), who is believed to have been a Margaret Machett (widow of Peter Machett, and daughter of John Chambers, of Trenton). Margaret Rosbrugh had several children, including a "Lydia McCrea," as per her will of 1789, probat. Feb. 1, 1791 (Trenton Wills, Book 32, p. 308). As no such daughter is mentioned in Robert Rosbrugh's will, it is to be supposed she was the daughter of Peter and Margaret Machett who were m. in 1739. It is also possible this "Lydia McCrea" was the wife of one of Rev. James McCrea's sons, but this we do not know.
Robert Rosbrugh d. Jan. 21, 1783, in the 82nd year of his age, and is buried in the Lamington churchyard, with these rather unusual lines on his tombstone:
"A soul prepared needs no delays,
The summons comes, the saint obeys.
Swift was his flight and short the road;
He closed his eyes and saw his God.
The flesh rests here till Jesus come
and claims the treasure from the tomb."
Robert's will of Jan. 20, 1783, probat. Feb. 23, 1783 (Trenton Wills, Book M, p. 136), only mentions two children, Catherine (McCrea) McDonald (as she then was) and Mary, wife of David Henry; also his own (second) wife, Margaret. The wife Margaret was to receive œ500, and the rest of the estate was to be equally divided between Catherine and Mary. As stated, no mention is made in this will of another daughter.1 The executors of the will of Robert Rosbrugh were his then two sons in-law, Major Richard McDonald and David Henry, but the latter could not serve, as he died only three days later than Robert Rosbrugh. It may also be of interest to note here that the general Rosbrugh family now spell the name Rosebrook, and it is probable that is the manner in which "Rosbrugh" was pronounced.