Robinson

The earliest record of the Robinson Family (AKA as Robertson and Roberson) in this area is from the mid-1800’s. It is not clear when our ancestors arrived because they were not named in census records until after 1865. Our earliest recorded ancestors were Jupiter and Nelly Robertson. Census records indicate that they were both born in South Carolina around 1820 and 1825, respectively. However, family folklore says that Jupiter was actually born in Africa. 

In 1870, Jupiter and Nelly lived in Jefferson, Alabama and had four children in the home, Katie, Dina, Lizzie and Jennie. In 1880, their son Alex Robertson and their daughter, Katie (Thom) Collier lived next door with their families. Alex Robertson is said to have had at least nine children. He was married first to Eugenia; they had daughters Ellen and Virginia (Jennie) and stepson Beldon Johnson. He later had seven children with Viney (Bright) Henry, Will, Ronnie, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Johnnie and Winnie. 

There are at least four instances where Robertson ancestors married Aldridge ancestors, thereby creating the relationship between those two families and at least two instances where Robertson ancestors married Pauley ancestors, thereby creating that family connection.

Jesse Pauely, Sr. was born in about 1853 to J. C. (Jack) and Phyllis Pauley, in South Carolina. Jessie and his family moved to Marengo County, Alabama in about 1875. The family moved to an area then called Sand Hills, which is referred to in the U.S. Census records as the “Hills” district, and later named and incorporated as Myrtlewood, AL. The Pauleys were listed as homeowners in South Carolina, Jack Pauley was a carpenter. It is not clear why they chose to relocate to this rural farm town in Alabama at that time. However, its been told that he relocated with four other families. Perhaps to a promise of greater opportunities. The Pauleys were instrumental in the founding of Jerusalem Baptist Church which was erected by Rev. Jonas Rogers, in 1872. Jack's son Jesse and Rachel (Gulley) Pauley were married there in 1879. Rachel was from Sumpter County, Alabama, born to parents listed as being born in South Carolina. 

Jesse and Rachel are said to have had 12 children, Richard, Louise, Betty Ann, Pettis, Bennie, Charles, Ollie T, Anna Pearl, and Jesse, Jr. A son, Garfield, lived for some time before then and preceded them in death. Jesse Pauley had a daughter Elizabeth and Rachel Gulley had a son, Johnny Burden, from previous relationships. Rachel Pauley died in 1918 leaving one child, Jesse, Jr., in the home. Jesse Sr. died in 1928.

The earliest records of the Aldridge Family in this area are from the early 1800’s. Our earliest recorded ancestors were Oliver and Amanda (White) Aldridge. Although they were not named on the census records until after 1865, it is indicated that Oliver was born in North Carolina around 1825 and Amanda was born in Alabama around 1933. In 1870, Oliver and Amanda lived in Jefferson, they had six children, Sam, Dick, Harriet, Emma, Street and Agnes. They later had two more children, Maggie and Mary. 

By 1900, Amanda was a widow and living in Choctaw County with her daughter Maggie. She is believed to have died and was buried in Jefferson (Marengo County) sometime before 1910. Her daughter Maggie Curtis later moved to Mobile where she and her son Street lived until their deaths, along with other members of the Aldridge family,

Many descendants of Oliver and Amanda Aldridge lived in Marengo County, for the most part, in Jefferson and Linden until the late 1960’s; and several families still remain in those areas. Their granddaughter, Elizabeth (Lizzie) Chess Johnson lived in Demopolis until her death in 1985. She was an active participant in the first RPA reunion that was held in Demopolis in 1978.