Where It All Began...

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My great grandpa, Glenn Robb, passed away in January of 2007. I remember his as a gentle man with a heart of gold. He always had a smile on his face, especially around us great grandkids. I wish I could remember more of him before his Parkinson's disease was severe, but I cherish the memories I have.

At his funeral, my great aunt Carol read an origin story of how the Robb family came to America. I have always had a heart for family and a love for history, and this story grabbed a hold of me like nothing I had ever felt before. This story is what started my passion for knowing each and every branch of my family tree, every origin story I could find, and everything in between. My passion and hard work in combination with a soon to be mother-in-law was all I needed to begin my journey. So here is my research of Captain James Robb, or as my family likes to now call him, "The Pirate Guy".

Captain James Robb was born in Newtonards, County Down, Northern Ireland in circa 1745. He married Margaret Barr in 1767, daughter of Lord David Barr. James became the master of a large sailing vessel, which he sailed all over the world. He made several trips between the Mother Country and the American Colonies. The colonies soon began to be costly for King George III. King George began to pass laws to regulate the commerce in the smallest detail. One of the items which was heavily taxed was sassafras. At this time, sassafras was used for most common illnesses. Many Irish men resented this tax and sold items without the heavy taxes. James was caught selling the untaxed roots in the British Isles and was sent to prison. James was enraged and vowed upon his release, he would move his family to the Americas. Lord David Barr helped his son-in-law get out of prison. Before the family set sail in 1773, David grabbed his 2 year old grandson, David Barr Robb, out of his parents' arms. He stayed in Ireland with his grandparents until 1776 when he was returned to his parents with a nurse as his travel companion. While on the water in 1773, another son, James II, was born.

The family first settled in Philadelphia and lived here during the Revolutionary War. James served as a private in the 1st battalion in York County, Pennsylvania. In 1786, the family moved to Kentucky around what is today Louisville. This area was called Mann's Lick. They farmed and mined salt. James later moved with his son David and James into the Indiana Territory near Severn Ferry in Gibson County, also called Yellow Springs. They were said to have been the second family to settle in Gibson County. James later lived with a son, John 'Thomas', in Posey County, Indiana. Here, the family operated a lumber yard. Some of this lumber was supplied to the Rappites to build New Harmony.

Captain James and Margaret were said to be persons of education and refinement. Captain James died in 1825 in Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky. He is possibly buried in the Henry Robb Cemetery, although this cemetery is located in the middle of a subdivision now. Margaret preceded him in death in 1807 in the Yellow Springs area in Gibson County, Indiana.

Captain James is my 7x great grandpa. Despite the time that has passed, this story lives on. At my great grandma's funeral, my grandpa brought one of the funeral directors to me and said, "His last name is Robb. Find out how we're related!" and walked off. I attempted to see if I knew this man's father or grandfather (I did not). He stated, "All I know is we came over here for selling herbs illegally!" It's amazing how many people out there that could be related, if only we do the research!

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