John Harrison Roberts

Born: About 1827 on Mine Lick Creek in what is now Putnam County, Tennessee

Died: 19 Jul 1870 on Mine Lick Creek, Putnam County, Tennessee

No Photo Available

Company C, 1st Regiment, Tennessee Mounted Infantry, USA 

21 Oct 1863-13 Dec 1864

John was the son of Joseph Roberts and Rachel Carter.  He married Mary Ann "Pop" Ramsey daughter of James Randolph Ramsey and Sarah Elizabeth Choate.  They had seven children between 1848 and 1870.  Pop divorced John on 18 Oct 1869 for adultery with Vnia Oaks while pregnant with their seventh child.  John then married Amanda C. Martin daughter of Samuel Houston Martin and Rebecca Bryant.  John and Amanda had one child born in Dec 1870 five months after John's death.

John did not join the Union Army as early as his brothers.  Before he joined, he was said to be a member of the Mine Lick Gang.  This Gang was an unattached "home guard" that patroled from Mine Lick Creek down the river and up Second Creek.  Their mission was to protect the Union sympathizing families.  All the home guards on both sides were accused of misconduct.  Probably some truth on both sides.  Many scores were settled immediately following the war.  John was involved in at least two of those and was indicted twice for first degree murder.  He was never convicted of either but was, in the end, bushwacked and killed himself while plowing corn on Mine Lick Creek.

As for his service in Company C, there is no significant notations in his service record.  He was listed present on all monthly rolls.  I need to research the records of Company C, as being present, he would likely have participated in their endeavors.

Sometime after John's death, his widow, Pop, relocated to Kentucky with the minor children.  She died there in Kentucky sometime before 1880 leaving two minor children.  An older daughter, Mary, and her husband, went to Kentucky to retrieve the two orphans and raised them here in Tennessee as their own.