ROBERT EMERY, one of the most respected retired agriculturists of Amwell township, was born April 5, 1807, in Canonsburg, Washington Co., Pennsylvania. The first of his ancestors to land in America was the grandfather, Thomas Emery, a native of the Emerald Isle, who, with his family, immigrated to eastern Pennsylvania about 1771. He remained there several years, and finally removing to Washington county, made his permanent home near Canonsburg. The children born to this pioneer were as follows: Joshua, Walter, Phinney, Jeremiah, Mrs. Nancy Clark and Mrs. Martha Jamison. Joshua Emery, father of Robert, in early youth learned the shoemaker's trade, and locating in Canonsburg, Washington county, followed the business for several years, at the same time acting as riding constable for Washington county. About 1800 he opened a well-known tavern in Canonsburg. He was married to a daughter of John McGowen, and she bore him the following children: Boyd, Robert, Matthew, Mrs. Nancy Anthony, Mrs. Ann Hurst (afterward Mrs. Dr. Herriott), Mary (wife of Mr. Brown, of Valparaiso, Ind.), Phinney, Thomas, Gibbs and Mrs. Martha Pierce, of whom Robert, Ann, Mary and Martha are yet living. Robert Emery lived in Canonsburg, Washington Co., Penn., until 1835, when he removed to Strabane township, and in 1844 located on the present home of the family in Amwell township. In 1836 he was united in marriage with Lucinda Workman, who was born May 15, 1814, a daughter of Robert and Rebecca Workman. Mr. and Mrs. Emery have been blessed with the following children: Boyd, born July 17, 1837; Mary Jane, born August 3, 1839; Georgie Ann, born October 21, 1841 (now deceased); James K., born August 21, 1844, and William, born April 4, 1856 (now deceased). Boyd Emery, the eldest son of Robert and Lucinda (Workman) Emery, was married November 26, 1863, to Martha H. Thomas, and their children are William S., born August 19, 1864, died November 14, 1879; Harriet L., born November 30, 1867, wife of John C. McCoy, and James W., born February 2, 1870. Boyd Emery has been auditor of Amwell township fifteen consecutive years, and his services have been eminently satisfactory to all. He and his father own a nice farm situated two and a half miles from the borough of Washington, where they are very successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits. The family are all members of the Disciple (or Christian) Church, and are honest, upright people, serving their Creator in their daily lives, as well as by their profession of faith.

Text taken from page 596 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed June 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published June 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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