Welcome to Linda and David's Texas Ancestor Site:

Photo - 1983 San Marcos, Texas
David Gerald Roberts, age 36
Linda Benner Roberts, age 33
Bryan Jeffrey Roberts, age 10
(creator/designer of this site)

Linda Benner ROBERTS' first Texas ancestors, "Cornelius SMITH" and "William ROBERTS" arrived in Texas (Province of Tejas, State of Coahuila, Mexico) about 1823. Cornelius and William were both "Old Three Hundred" colonist in Stephen F. Austin's first colony. Linda's "BENNER" ancestors were original settlers of New Braunfels, Texas, arriving in the fall of 1844. Linda is a member of the Cornelius Smith Chapter of the "Daughters of the Republic of Texas."

David ROBERTS' first Texas ancestor, "John WALLING Jr", arrived in Texas (Mexico) with his family about 1833 and per his obit "served in the War of Independence and engaged in many a conflict with the Red Man during his frontier life." David's gg-grandfather, "Joshua M. ROBERTS", arrived in Texas about 1858. David and Linda are members of the "Brazoria County Historical Museum." David is a volunteer researcher for the Brazoria County Historical Museum and maintains their online cemetery database.

The inclusion of James Britton "BRIT" BAILEY at this site has more to do with David's passion for early Texas history than for genealogical purposes. You will not find a book on early Brazoria County history that does not mention BRIT. While researching Linda's ancestor, Cornelius SMITH, David discovered BRIT's son, Smith BAILEY, married Cornelius' daughter, Mary Polly SMITH. Cornelius and BRIT were next door neighbors in Brazoria County. BRIT had a son named Gaines BAILEY and Cornelius named a son Gaines Bailey SMITH. Cornelius' ancestors left a paper trail, BRIT's did not. Soon David was spending more time researching BRIT than Cornelius. The search for BRIT's life before Texas and the folklore surrounding him is an ongoing venture which began about 5 years ago. There is still much to learn about this colorful pioneer of early Texas history, and genealogically speaking, by marriage BRIT is kin.

David and his favorite research helper,
granddaughter, Kirsten Haley Roberts,
age 1 yr. 11 mo. (photo taken July 1999)

"Hope you enjoy this site (my toy), and perhaps
find a new cousin or relative here."
David Roberts - July 8, 2000