Roberts Roots & Branches

early 1886:             Roberts family begins to arrive in Pennsylvania 1888:                      Family documented still living in Pennsylvania 1889:                      Family documented still living in Pennsylvania mid 1890:               Family documented in Almy, Wyoming (This is an example of how a timeline can be used as a valuable research tool.)

The website The Pennsylvania General Assembly gives a summary of the coal industry in the state of Pennsylvania:   "Anthracite coal was the main fuel used to smelt iron until the 1880s, when the manufacture of coke from bituminous coal was developed to a degree that it replaced anthracite. Coke was used both to smelt iron and to make steel from iron. But production of anthracite continued to increase because it was used for heating and other purposes. The bituminous and coke industries were responsible for the late 19th century industrial growth of western Pennsylvania; the iron ore deposits there would not alone have merited such growth. World War I caused two years (1917-1918) of the largest production of both types of coal the state has ever seen. In the 1920s a new coke-making process produced valuable by-products, making the old beehive coke ovens obsolete. The new coke plants were built, in many cases, outside of Pennsylvania. A declining market for coal in th...

. . .automobile service station opened  in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in1913. source: http://www.50states.com/facts/penn.htm#.UgQCI6ywVJk

Wilkes-Barre 1889 (source ) I have heard Wilkes-Barre pronounced two ways.   I have also gotten very strange looks when I have pronounced it a certain way.   Imagine my surprise when I came across this article entitled:   “So, how do you pronounce Wilkes-Barre?”   According to the article there are two accepted ways to say the town’s name:   "Wilkes-BERRY" and "Wilkes-BEAR". Wilkes-Barre is named in honor of John Wilkes and Isaac Barre, British Parliament members. Wilkes-Barre was first named in 1769 by Major John Durkee. Wilkes-Barre is *supposedly the town where Hugh Roberts(1) died.  *Supposedly because there are no records that prove this fact.   But there are no records that do NOT prove this fact.     So, now you know! source: http://www.wilkes-barre.pa.us/wbpro.php City of Wilkes-Barre web site   Other helpful web sites: Luzerne County Historical Society Pennsylvania Genealogy,...

Here are some helpful links to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission: Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission Records of the Department of Mines and Mineral Industries, 1899-1972 Unearthing Your Coal Miner Relatives at the Pennsylvania State Archives Genealogical Research at the Pennsylvania State Archives State Archives Newsletters Record of Marriages, 1885-1889 Go check out thse links and let me know what you find!  I haven't had time to thoroughly search through this site, so help me out and share what you find! (These links have also been added to the side of this blog under Pennsylvania.)

source Admission to statehood:  12 December 1787 One of the 13 original founding state of the United States Capital City:  Harrisburg Bird:  Ruffled Grouse Flower:  Moutain Laurel Tree:  Eastern Hemlock Motto:  Virtue, Liberty, and Independence Nickname:  Keystone State Song:  Pennsylvania Origin of name:  Named in honor of Admiral William Penn, father of the state's founder, William Penn. The Roberts famly first came to Pennsylvania to work in the coal mines.  It was here in Pennsylvania where Hugh(1), husband of Margaret(2) died and is believed to be buried.  It is also in Pennsyvania where Sarah Ann Roberts and Joseph Jones were married.  Sources:   50 states.com   http://www.50states.com/pennsylv.htm#.UgQCP6ywVJk Wikipedia.org   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania State of Pennsylvania   http://www.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/pa_gov/20387

This is 128 Parrish, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania .   In the 1889 Wilkes-Barre City Directory, this is the address   listed for Margaret Roberts (2) (widow of Hugh) and sons Hugh Thomas(12) and Isaac (12) (boarders).