Robert Fleming : Short Biography

Robert Fleming was born about 1773 in or somewhere near Dublin, Ireland. His parents are said to have been William Fleming and Hannah Virginia "Jennie" Buchanan.  Around 1799 - 1800 Robert and a good friend, John Killen, boarded a ship headed for America.  Killen immigrated through New York and went to North Carolina. Robert eventually journeyed through York County, Pennsylvania, to Maryland, then into southwest Virginia and finally settled in southeastern Kentucky.

On 21 Sep 1809, in Washington County, Maryland, USA, he married Elizabeth "Betty" Stambaugh, whose family was from Pennsylvania, USA.  Robert and Elizabeth came to Lee County, Virginia, USA by 1810, and later settled in neighboring Floyd County, Kentucky, USA, by about 1815.  Robert Fleming served in the War of 1812 with the 16th Regiment Kentucky Militia from 10 Sep 1814 to 09 Mar 1815.  With county boundary changes, the part of Floyd County they were living in became part of Pike County, Kentucky, USA in 1823. 

  Robert and Elizabeth raised 7 known children:

1. John Jackson "Jack" FLEMING, husband of Mary MULLINS
2. Margaret "Peggy" FLEMING, wife of Alexander MULLINS
3. Phillip "Big Phil" FLEMING, husband of Hannah Minerva MULLINS
4. Lovina FLEMING, wife of William MULLINS and John Sanders MULLINS
5. Frederick Nelson "Fighting Fred" FLEMING, husband of Nancy Ann WRIGHT
6. William "Whiskey Bill" FLEMING, husband of Elizabeth MULLINS
7. Robert Jefferson "Big Jeff" FLEMING, husband of Leatha MULLINS and Margaret Ann ROSE

Robert was living with his son William "Whiskey Bill" Fleming and daughter-in-law Elizabeth Mullins-Fleming in 1850:

1850 Pike Co KY (HH # 278)
Wm. Flemming, 27, M, W, Farmer, $200, KY                            
Elizabeth Flemming, 24, F, W, KY                            
Tabitha Flemming, 07, F, W, KY
Diannah Flemming, 05, F, W, KY
Preston Flemming, 03, M, W, KY
Lucinda Flemming, 02, F, W, KY
John N Flemming, 1/12, M, W, KY
Robert Flemming, 77, M, Farmer, $900, Ireland

On 15 Dec 1852, only 13 days before his death, he prepared his will that is now recorded in Book A, Page 31, at the Clerk's office in Pike County, Kentucky.  He died on 27 Dec 1852 in Pike County, Kentucky, USA.

Will of Robert Fleming
Pike Co, Ky
Will Book A, Page 31
Executed January 1853

I give and bequeath to my wife, Elizabeth, the sum, of Two Dollars and Fifty Cents, to be paid to her within___months after my decease.  I also give to my dear son Frederick Fleming, the sum of Two Dollars and Fifty Cents to be paid out of my estate, John S. Mullins the sum of Two Dollars and Fifty Cents to be paid out of my estate after my just debts are all settled and paid.  The balance of my two (2) estates to be divided equal among my five other children to wit. John Fleming and Phillip Fleming, and William Fleming, and Jefferson Fleming and my daughter Margaret Mullins.  I also appoint William Fleming and Alexander Mullins my Executors to which I want my bisnes settled without any administration.

(S) Robert Fleming (his mark)

WITNESSES:  Samuel Willican
                        Samuel Keel
                        Thomas May

FAMILY LORE:

A grandson, George W. "Cooley George" Fleming, gave this statement in an interview dated 23 Jan 1926 for the book PIONEER RECOLLECTIONS:

"My father was a son of Robert and Elizabeth Stumbo Fleming, Robert being a son of William and Jennie Buchanan Fleming.  My paternal grandparents were married in Pennsylvania, afterwards moving to Powell's Valley near Big Stone Gap, Virginia.  Here they lived on a farm.  Robert was born in Ireland and on immigrating to America landed at New York. It took nine weeks and nine days to make the voyage. The last thing his mother gave him before sailing was a cup of buttermilk.  He served in the War of 1812, his son John Jackson [Fleming] being born while he was in service.  He died in Pike County, Kentucky.  I have seen him. The Stumbos were Dutch. I can remember my grandmother. She talked Dutch. It sounded like goose-talk to me."                                                                                                                                                                                                    (Pioneer Recollections, by Elihu Jasper & Hetty (Swindall) Sutherland, pgs. 138-139)

Another grandson, Preston Fleming, gave this statement in an interview dated 22 Dec 1928 for the book PIONEER RECOLLECTIONS:

"... I (Preston Fleming) was born July 23, 1857 at the mouth of Holly Creek. My parents were Phillip and Minerva (Mullins) Fleming. Father was born February 15, 1815 and died April 28, 1885, I believe that was the year he died. His father was Robert Fleming and his mother was Betty Stumbo, who was Pennsylvania Dutch. Grandfather Fleming came from Ireland, but I don't know what part of it he lived in, nor where he landed on this side. It took his ship nine weeks and nine days on the water to make the trip. He served in the war of 1812. He died in Pike County, Kentucky. I never saw him."                                                                                                                                                                 (Pioneer Recollections, by Elihu Jasper & Hetty (Swindall) Sutherland, pg. 142)

-- BIOGRAPHY written by Robert's 4th Gr-Granddaughter Tara Wallace Maggard, 01 Jun 2019.