Robert "Robin" Pedigo\Peregoy Sr. ²⁶

  General Notes:

8. Robert "Robin" PEREGOY/PEDIGO b. Bfr 1728, Baltimore Co, MD, Ref #: 135, m. Abt 1754, Mary Phoebe ELKINS, b. Abt 1740, VA, Ref #: EL521*X, d. NFI, Henry Co, VA. Robert died 19 Jan 1822, Henry Co, VA, Buried; Pedigo Cem. On Own Property. Quoted from a write-up by John Paul Grady during his research of the Pedigo family history.
"Robert born abt. 1726/28 died 19 Jun 1922, his estate was sold 13 Feb. 1822. Family tradition has it that he ran away from his Maryland home at the age of 12, with his brother Edward, only 8 at the time, to escape the "oppressions of a tyrannical stepmother." If Providence Corbin was that stepmother, she was not married to Henry PEREGOY until 14 Jan. 1745. (The year may have been 1744, or 1746, on dates before 1752.) Robert would have been AT LEAST 18 at the time of this marriage, IF born by 1726. But "tradition" always tends to exaggerate extremes of youth and age. And Dr. Lewis Gravely PEDIGO, of Roanoke and great-grandson of the above 'Robin' was dealing out 'family tradition' in his letter of 17 Jan. 1924 to Mrs. G. E. Miley, of Richmond VA .Later, in his HISTORY of PATRICK and HENRY Cos. VA, prepared and finally published in 1933, in collaboration with a cousin, Virginia G. PEDIGO, our good doctor was not concentrating on his own family (unfortunately for us) and gave us little information on Robert, except that he lived in Franklin Co., VA rather than in Henry Co., as he had stated in his 1924 letter. The letter also located 'Pedigo's Corner' as a colonial landmark on Mulberry Creek, near Martinsville, VA., stating that Robert PEREGOY, or PEDIGO, as the name came to be spelled in that generation, settled on the north side of Smiths River, while Edward, his brother, settled on the south side.

The 1933 HISTORY indicates a mix-up of their respective wives, but local land records prove Hannah ELKIN to have been the wife of Edward on a 1809 Grantor Deed. Hannah's sister, Mary ELKIN, married the older brother, Robert. Both were listed in Henry Co., VA., in separate households (with '1 poll' each), in VA TAXPAYERS, 1782-1787, on a supplementary listing 'Other than those Published by U. S. Census Bureau.'"

(See Edward PEDIGO, For the story of Robert and Edward's departure from home)

"Robert made his home on the watershed of the Leathered Creeks. He lived in this locality during the period of the Revolution. He did not fight in the war. In fact, he was so strong in his convictions that he would not allow his horse or guns to be used in the Revolutionary Cause."

Robert Pedegoe and Edward Pedegore are listed in "Virginia Taxpayers" 1782-1787. by Augusta B. Fothergill & John Mark Naugle, Genealogical Publishing Co. Inc., Baltimore, MD 1974.

Children's names also listed in quit claim deeds recorded in 1823; Henry Co. Deed Book P.

DISCUSSION & NOTE === The DAR accepts & considers Robert a patriot since he supplied food, medicine and other supplies to the revolutionary cause. The stories he demanded payment could have been a misunderstanding of terminology at the time. Payment was made "on demand". This term is still in use on notes and loans. Robert did, however contribute supplies on two separate occasions, whether voluntarily or not, to the American cause. This is a matter of record due to the fact Robert presented two receipts for bacon to the Clerk's Office in Henry Co. VA. It seems the bacon had been commandeered by soldiers while on the march to the assistance of General Greene and again for the hospital at Henry courthouse, under Dr. William Read. Robert Took his receipts to the clerk's office and demanded payment for the bacon. "Robert Pedigo 25&3/4 pounds bacon while on the march to the assistance of General Greene."
"Robert Pedigoe is allowed for 47 lb. bacon for the hospital at Henry C'thouse under Doctor. Wm. Read."
The above 2 statements are found in "Henry County: from its Formation in 1776 to the end of the Eighteenth Century", et, sec. from the records of the clerks office, by C.B. Bryant, Martinsville, VA. Reprinted in "Virginia Magazine of History and Biography", April, 1902, Vol. IX, No. 4, pp. 418-419.


Robert is also found on the Personal Property Tax List, Henry Co., VA. 1782 through 1821.

October 1996 Note: Evelyn Pedigo Crouse, Rt. 2, Box 665, Marion, VA 24354-9675 (540-646-5041) has compiled an excellent volume "Years of Work" a genealogy of Robert Pedigo. This is a good companion for this work as it contains many more descendants of Robert that I have listed here. Copies are available by contacting Evelyn directly. It is over 700 pages with index. .

Robert married Mary Phoebe Elkins, daughter of Ralph Elkins III and Frances Ann Ashton, about 1760 in Halifax, VA. (Mary Phoebe Elkins was born in 1735 in VA and died in Henry Co., VA.)