Gazlay Family History
 

Family HistoryFamily History - Leah Elizabeth Anderson


Key:1.“+” before a child’s name indicates the child has their own entry in the next generation.
 2.“born xxxx” indicates the child is under 18 years of age so the birth date is not shown.
This family history features Leah Elizabeth Anderson and 21 of her descendants down to the sixth generation.


First Generation
1. Leah Elizabeth Anderson,1 born ____, the daughter of William Hampton Anderson and Rosanna Jane Machen Leah married, ca. 1863, James Monroe McNamee2 (born 9 April 1838 in Lee County, Alabama, the son of Thomas McNamee and Mary Curran;1, 2 James died 1 January 1902 in Opelika, Lee County, Alabama2).

James was the son of Thomas and Mary (Curran) McNamee, of Inniskillen, Fennimaugh County, Ireland, who immigrated to Quebec, 1830, removed to New York City, thence to Dahlonega, Georgia, about 1833, and to Lafayette, Alabama, about 1843. His education was obtained in the log-house schools of Opelika and Lafayette and his business training was acquired in commercial pursuits. He was a jeweler, as listed in the 1860 census, until about 1870, when he was made president of the Bank of Opelika. He was a private in Co. I, 37th Alabama infantry regiment, C. S. Army. He was a democrat; Mason; Knight of Honor; and a Methodist.2


Children of Leah Elizabeth Anderson and James Monroe McNamee:

+2i. Mary Ross McNamee, born ca. 1864. Married Daniel Bullard Williams.
+3ii. William Thomas McNamee, born ca. 1866. Married Maude Russell.
+4iii. Anna Kathleen ‘Katie’ McNamee, born May 1868; died 4 July 1959 in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama. Married James Wilson Roby.

  1. U.S. Federal Census, 1860, Alabama, Chamber County, LaFayette, Page No. 11.
  2. “McNamee, James Monroe.” History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography, by Thomas McAdory Owen, L.L.D. Chicago, The S. J. Clark Publishing Company, 1921. Volume 4, Page 1135. Available at Google Books.
Second Generation
2. Mary Ross McNamee2 (Leah1), born ca. 1864.1 Mary married Daniel Bullard Williams1 (born ____, parents not determined).

3. William Thomas McNamee2 (Leah1), born ca. 1866.1 William married Maude Russell1 (born ____, parents not determined).

4. Anna Kathleen ‘Katie’ McNamee2 (Leah1), born May 1868;2, 3 died 4 July 1959 in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama.2 Katie married, 13 January 1887 in LaGrange, Troup County, Georgia, James Wilson Roby7, 8, 9 (born ca. 1867 in Alabama, the son of Zeperiah D. Roby and Harriet E. ‘Hattie’ Churchill;4, 5 James died 8 September 1898 in Orange, Texas6).

James is listed as J. W. in the 1870 census, Jimmie in the 1880 census, and Wilson in his son’s death record.

Several versions of family stories relate that James was shot and killed in a gunfight. An article in Las Sabinas, the quarterly periodical of the Orange County Historical Society (Texas) provides a glimpse of the true story: “From miscellanious [sic] boxed records Orange County Clerk’s office: On Sept. 8, 1898, R.W.J. Smith killed J.W. Roby with a shotgun blast in front of his river boat shanty on the Sabine River. Smith was convicted and sentenced to hang on Aug. 18, 1899 but Smith was granted a new trial in which he was ruled insane on Oct. 25, 1899.”6

An article in The Galveston Daily News [see Sources] gives a more complete account of the events leading up to the murder of J. W. Roby.10


Child of Anna Kathleen ‘Katie’ McNamee and James Wilson Roby:

+5i. Wilson Roby, born 14 December 1887 in Opelika, Lee County, Alabama; died 2 December 1961 in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama. Married Ida Jane McGregor.

  1. U.S. Federal Census, 1880, Alabama, Lee County, Opelika, Enumeration District 89, Page No. 45.
  2. Alabama Statewide Deaths 1908-1974. Available at Family Search (website) Record Search.
  3. U.S. Federal Census, 1900, Alabama, Lee County, Opelika City, Enumeration District 34, Sheet No. 16.
  4. U.S. Federal Census, 1870, Alabama, Lee County, Salem, Page 40.
  5. U.S. Federal Census, 1880, Alabama, Macon County, Tuskegee, Enumeration District 119, Page No. 5.
  6. Las Sabinas, the official publication of the Orange County Historical Society (Texas), April 1991, Volume 17, Issue 2. Information provided by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, Reference/Documents Staff, in an email to Lee Gazlay. The Orange County Clerk’s office confirmed in separate emails that their records include the entire transcript of the trial of R.W.J. Smith in several boxes.
  7. Georgia Marriages, 1851-1900. Name: James W. Roby. Spouse: Anna K. McNamee. Marriage Date: 13 January 1887. County: Troup. Available at Ancestry.com.
  8. Marriage Announcement, The Jacksonville Republican, Jacksonville, Calhoun County, Alabama, Saturday, January 29, 1887. Available at USGenWeb.com. The entry reads, “Mr. J. Roby and Miss Kate McNamee of Opelika eloped to LaGrange, Ga. And got married last Wednesday.” [The marriage was actually over two weeks previous, on 13 January 1887.]
  9. “McNamee, James Monroe.” History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography, by Thomas McAdory Owen, L.L.D. Chicago, The S. J. Clark Publishing Company, 1921. Volume 4, Page 1135. Available at Google Books.
  10. The Galveston Daily News, Wednesday, August 16, 1899.
Third Generation
5. Wilson Roby3 (Anna ‘Katie’,2 Leah1), born 14 December 1887 in Opelika, Lee County, Alabama;1, 2, 3 died 2 December 1961 in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama.4, 5 Wilson married, 28 January 1920 in New Jersey, Ida Jane McGregor9 (born 23 August 1895 in New Jersey, the daughter of David McGregor and Nellie Birrell Patterson;6, 7, 8 Ida died November 1983 in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama6).

Children of Wilson Roby and Ida Jane McGregor:

+6i. Wilson Roby, Jr., born 4 January 1926 in Charlotte, Mecklenburg, North Carolina; died 24 September 1984 in Cumberland County, North Carolina. Married Billie Jean Lester.
+7ii. David McGregor Roby, born 17 October 1927; died 16 April 2005 in Flowery Branch, Georgia. Married (1) Mary Jane Crossland Married (2) Virginia ‘Ginny’ Worden.

  1. Draft Registration Card, World War I, Wilson Roby, Card No. 25. This source indicates his birth date as 14 December 1888, whereas the 1900 census indicates his birth as December 1887. The census record is considered more accurate as it is the earlier record and the date was probably reported by his mother.
  2. U.S. Federal Census, 1900, Alabama, Lee County, Opelika City, Enumeration District 34, Sheet No. 16.
  3. U.S. Federal Census, 1920, New Jersey, Essex County, Orange, Enumeration District 299, Sheet No. 7B, family of John Mailler (28, New Jersey, machinist, Edison); wife Margaret Mailler (26, New Jersey); daughter Helen Mailler (3, New Jersey); son Jack Mailer (1, New Jersey); border Wilson Roby (30, New Jersey, clerk, grocery store). They are living next door to Margaret’s parents.
  4. Email from Ron Roby to Lee Gazlay 8 March 2007
  5. Alabama Statewide Deaths 1908-1974. Available at Family Search (website) Record Search.
  6. Social Security Death Index (SSDI), Rootsweb (website). Ida Roby, no. 418-86-7722
  7. New Jersey State Census, 1915, Middlesex County, Perth Amboy, ED 1, Page A-11, David MacGregor, 50, Sept. 1864, Scotland, engineer; Nellie MacGregor, 46, Mar. 1868, Scotland, housewife; Ida MacGregor, 20, Aug. 1895, New Jersey, milliner; William MacGregor, 17, July 1897, scholar, high school; Grace MacGregor, 13, Apr. 1902, New Jersey, scholar, grammar school; George Patterson, 74, Aug. 1840, Scotland, retired.
  8. U.S. Federal Census, 1920, New Jersey, Essex County, Orange, Enumeration District 299, Sheet No. 7B, family of David McGregor (54, New Jersey [sic, Scotland], finisher, hat works); wife Nellie McGregor (51, New Jersey [sic, Scotland]); daughter Jennie McGregor (24, New Jersey, clerical, office); son William McGregor (22, New Jersey, clerical, office). They are living next door to their daughter Margaret and her husband and family.
  9. New Jersey Marriage Index, by Reclaim the Records (available at: archives.org), Ida McGregor, married WR [i.e., Wilson Roby], 28 January 1920; location: 20.
Fourth Generation
6. Wilson Roby, Jr.4 (Wilson,3 Anna ‘Katie’,2 Leah1), born 4 January 1926 in Charlotte, Mecklenburg, North Carolina;1, 2 died 24 September 1984 in Cumberland County, North Carolina.1, 2 Wilson married, ca. 1948, Billie Jean Lester (born 28 September 1928 in DeFuniak Springs, Walton County, Florida, the daughter of William Cleveland Lester and Mary Jane Cook;3, 4 Billie died 3 September 2000 in Reno, Washoe County, Nevada3).

Children of Wilson Roby, Jr. and Billie Jean Lester:

+8i. Cheryl Jean Roby, born 10 May 1949 in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama. Partnered with (1) (unidentified) Partnered with (2) (unidentified) Married (3) Grover Thomas Fikes III Married (4) Paul Nello Cervelli.
+9ii. Wilson Terrill ‘Terry’ Roby, born 3 February 1951 in Auburn, Lee County, Alabama. Married Tonia Archuletta.
+10iii. Ronald William Roby, born 13 April 1954 in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama. Married Dana Marie Durham.
+11iv. Kathy Jane Roby, born 26 November 1958. Married Bernis Adrian Simmons.

7. David McGregor Roby4 (Wilson,3 Anna ‘Katie’,2 Leah1), born 17 October 1927;5 died 16 April 2005 in Flowery Branch, Georgia.5 David married, first, 2 August 1953 in Meridian, Mississippi, Mary Jane Crossland (born 12 January 1923 in Miami, Dade County, Florida, parents not determined; Mary died ca. February 1970). David married, second, 10 June 1972 in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Virginia ‘Ginny’ Worden (born 12 May 1942 in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas, the daughter of Dr. Robert Worden and Virginia Hamilton). Their marriage ended in divorce in ca. 1984.

David served 23 years in the U.S. Navy and retired in 1973 as a Chief Warrant Officer (CWO4), aircraft machinery officer. His military service included tours in Japan, Southeast Asia and various ships. He and Ginny and their son lived in Wyoming for several years in the 1970s. David worked part-time for a resort complex and he lived in Gainesville, Georgia, for many years.


Child of David McGregor Roby and Virginia ‘Ginny’ Worden:

+12i. David McGregor Roby, Jr., born 5 June 1973. Married (1) Brandy L. Closs Married (2) Karen Leah Lay (née Hunter) Married (3) Alison Gale George (née Sciullo) .

  1. Social Security Death Index (SSDI), Rootsweb (website). Wilson Roby, no. 421-22-4417
  2. North Carolina Death Collection 1908-2004; Ancestry (website).
  3. Social Security Death Index (SSDI), Rootsweb (website). Billie J. Roby, no. 264-32-3907
  4. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), Social Security Applications, Billie Jean Lester, born: 28 September 1928 in De F Springs [DeFuniak Springs], Florida; father: William C. Lester; mother: Mary J. Cook.
  5. Social Security Death Index (SSDI), Rootsweb (website). David M. Roby, no. 421-22-4416
Fifth and Sixth Generations
8. Cheryl Jean Roby5 (Wilson,4 Wilson,3 Anna ‘Katie’,2 Leah1), born 10 May 1949 in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama.1 Cheryl partnered with, first, ca. 1966, (unidentified) (born ____, parents not determined). Cheryl partnered with, second, ca. 1969, (unidentified) (born ____, parents not determined). Cheryl married, third, ca. 1975, Grover Thomas Fikes III (born 8 September 1946, the son of Grover Thomas Fikes II and Mary McLain1). Their marriage ended in divorce in ca. 1981. Cheryl married, fourth, ca. 1990, Paul Nello Cervelli4 (born 8 October 1937 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, California, parents not determined;2 Paul died 2 July 2003 in Cotati, California2, 3).

Child of Cheryl Jean Roby and (unidentified):

 13i. Vickie Roby, born 3 February 1967 in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama.4

Child of Cheryl Jean Roby and (unidentified):

 14i. Allyson L. Roby, born 10 June 1970 in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama.4

Children of Cheryl Jean Roby and Grover Thomas Fikes III:

 15i. Bryan Rhuel Fikes, born 22 February 1976 in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama.1, 4
 16ii. Christine Alane Fikes, born 8 July 1977 in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama.1, 4

9. Wilson Terrill ‘Terry’ Roby5 (Wilson,4 Wilson,3 Anna ‘Katie’,2 Leah1), born 3 February 1951 in Auburn, Lee County, Alabama. Terry married, 15 February 1980 in Salt Lake City, Utah, Tonia Archuletta (born 8 June 1954 in Salt Lake City, Utah, the daughter of Antonio McGill Archuletta and Velda Mae ‘Vicki’ Bascom1).

10. Ronald William Roby5 (Wilson,4 Wilson,3 Anna ‘Katie’,2 Leah1), born 13 April 1954 in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama.5 Ronald married, 5 January 1980 in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, Dana Marie Durham5 (born 25 August 1955 in Port Arthur, Texas, the daughter of Marion Richard ‘Tex’ Durham and Louise Marie Esch5).

Children of Ronald William Roby and Dana Marie Durham:

 17i. William Austin Roby, born 14 August 1984 in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama.5
 18ii. Ashley Marie Roby, born 14 February 1986.5
 19iii. Arin Richard Roby, born 25 February 1988.5

11. Kathy Jane Roby5 (Wilson,4 Wilson,3 Anna ‘Katie’,2 Leah1), born 26 November 1958.1 Kathy married Bernis Adrian Simmons (born 15 December 1951, parents not determined1).

12. David McGregor Roby, Jr.5 (David,4 Wilson,3 Anna ‘Katie’,2 Leah1), born 5 June 1973. David married, first, 28 June 1991, Brandy L. Closs6 (born 14 November 1973 in Marietta, Cobb County, Georgia, the daughter of John Closs and Cheryl Lynn Ramkey6). David married, second, 30 January 1997, Karen Leah Lay (née Hunter) 7 (born 22 July 1973, parents not determined7). Their marriage ended in divorce on 28 February 2006 in New London, New London County, Connecticut.8 David married, third, Alison Gale George (née Sciullo) 7 (born 13 December 1966, parents not determined7).

Child of David McGregor Roby, Jr. and Brandy L. Closs:

 20i. Spencer McGregor Roby, born 31 January 1992.

Children of David McGregor Roby, Jr. and Karen Leah Lay (née Hunter) :

 21i. Madison Rene Roby, born 3 June 1999.7
 22ii. Hannah Kinsey Roby, born 8 June 2001.7

  1. This is publicly viewable information found in various public information repositories, people finding websites, and/or social media.
  2. Social Security Death Index (SSDI), Rootsweb (website). Paul N. Cervelli, no. 554-46-4826
  3. Obituary, Marin Independent Journal, 2 July 2003.
  4. Information provided from personal knowledge by Cheryl Jean Roby
  5. Email from Ron Roby to Lee Gazlay 8 March 2007
  6. Email from Spencer Roby to Lee Gazlay 12 March 2007.
  7. Email from Dave Roby to Lee Gazlay, 29 May 2012.
  8. Connecticut, Judicial Branch, Civil/Family Case (website).