Robert Childers (Sr) was born in Monongalia Co., (W.) Virginia about 1780, a most son of William and Martha Rebecca (Lowther) Childers. The area where he was born became part of Harrison Co., (W.) Virginia, when this new county was formed in May 1784. Robert was raised & grew up in Harrison Co., (W.) Virginia.

Robert was first married to Miss May (Talbert) in Harrison Co., (W.) Virginia, on January 23, 1806, and she was the mother of his children. They lived in Harrison & Wood Counties, (W.) Virginia.

Census:

Aug 1810 • Harrison Co., (W.) Virginia

"Robert Childers" [Free White Male, age 26-44]

Census:

Aug 1820 • Wood Co., (W.) Virginia

"Robert Childers" (Free White Male, age 26-44)

Census:

1840 • Harrison Co., (W.) Virginia

"Robt Childers" (Free White Male, age 60-69)

Doddridge Co., (W) VA, Land Deed:

Feb 21, 1845 • Doddridge Co., (W.) Virginia

Robert Childers (Sr) & other heirs TO Arnold Childers, 122 acres Middle House Fork of Middle Island Creek, 02-21-1845 [Doddridge Co., WV, Deed Book 1, pgs. 32-33]

Robert married secondly to a widow, Mrs. Mary (Pigott) Shinn in Doddridge Co., (W.) Va., on March 9, 1847.

Census:

Aug 1850 • Doddridge Co., (W.) Virginia/ District 13

"Robert Childers" (age 70, M, B-VA, Farmer) (in household w/ his 2nd wife, Mary Childers-54, & three 'Shinn' step-children)

After the death of his 2nd wife in the early 1850's, Robert remarried to #3) Mrs. Sarah (Tasher) Wilson in Harrison Co., (W.) Virginia, on December 24, 1854. Robert is listed as the son of William & Martha Childers on this marriage record, & Mrs. Sarah Wilson (age 52, B-MD, res- Harrison Co., VA) is listed as a daughter of Richard & Margaret Tasher.

Our family tradition tells us that Robert Childers & wife moved and forgot a butter churn at their old farm. Supposedly, Robert went back to get the churn and was never seen again.

Family tradition also told us that Robert was the son of a daughter (Elizabeth) of William Childers and the Indian Tecumseh, however when I had my "Y" chromosome DNA tested it proved that my paternal line had no Indian DNA mixed in with it so I now believe that Robert was a son of William and Martha Lowther Childers, instead of a grandson. The DNA testing tell me that our first four generations in this country were Abraham Childers I(1622 - 1679) Abraham Childers II(1655 - 1693) Abraham Childers III (1677 - abt 1763) and John Childers (abt 1713). I believe that William (Robert's Father) was the son of that John Childers. According to the DNA study John Childers had a mutation in his DNA that is only found in our line of the tree.