Jonathan Knight ROBERTS

Submitted by Descendants:  Amy Katherine, John Albert, and John Edward ROBERTS

Jonathan Knight Roberts was born 15 November 1826 in Lowndes County, Georgia and was the son of Lewis and Mary (Knight) Roberts.  He moved with his parents circa 1844-1845 to Columbia County, Florida.  The family is listed in the 1850 Columbia County, Florida census.  On 27 October 1853 Jonathan married Mary Adeline Alford in Columbia County.  She was the daughter of Hansford and Jincy (Mann) Alford.  Jonathan K. and Mary Adeline (Alford) Roberts were the parents of thirteen children:

1)      Enoch Nathaniel (1856-1920) married Emily Greene

2)      Martha Ann (1858-1935) married William Eli Stafford

3)      Thomas Henry (1859-1951) married Georgia Lowe

4)      Mary Jane (1861-1955) married Elijah James Dobson

5)      Jonathan H. (1863-1966) never married

6)      William Parker (1865-1947) married Isabel Bryant

7)      Aaron James (1868-1959) married Claire Blanche Suares

8)      Osias Forest (1870-1965) married Myrtle Garrison

9)      Abel James (1872-1955) married Ella Gertrude Hill

10)  Leonard (1876-1897) married Elizabeth Mizell

11)  Lupine (1876-1897) married J.M. Higginbothom

12)  Shurod (1878-1962) Frances Cola Williams

13)  Cordelia “Delia” (1884-1965) married Harrison Wright

Jonathan Knight Roberts was a farmer by occupation.  In 1858 his family found themselves in the creation of a new Florida county called New River, which later became Bradford County.  At the time of the Civil War, Jonathan and his family were living near Lake Butler, Florida.  He enlisted in 1861 as a Private in Company E, 1st Florida Cavalry which later became Company E, 9th Florida Regiment.  He was wounded in the Battle of Cold Harbor on 4 Jun 1864.  His pension papers state he was wounded by the bursting of a bomb thrown by a mortar battery in the Yankee line.  Jonathan continued to receive a pension until his death, which occurred 16 August 1907 in Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida.  During his life he had lived in Columbia, Bradford, Volusia and Duval counties.  He is buried at Dunns Creek Cemetery in Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida.

After Jonathan’s death, Mary Adeline (Alford) Roberts received a widow’s pension until her death on 25 December 1920 at Olustee, Baker County, Florida.  She is buried at Swift Creek Cemetery located in Union County, Florida.

Jonathan Knight Roberts was first established as a Florida Pioneer in 2009