Right Thomas William (RTW) Roberts Sr.
1816 – January 1862
“A devoted husband, father, farmer, and soldier whose sacrifice during the opening days of the Civil War became one of the defining moments
in Roberts family history.”
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Right Thomas William Roberts Sr. |
| Born | 1816 |
| Birthplace | Colleton District, South Carolina |
| Died | January 1862 |
| Place of Death | Colleton District, South Carolina |
| Burial | Historic Family Plot, Colleton County, South Carolina |
| Father | Wiley Roberts |
| Spouse | Adeline M. Carter, b. 1823 – d. Aug. 2, 1880 |
| Marriage Date | 1841 |
| Children | Cynthia Roberts, b. 1841 – d. Mary Temperance Adeline Roberts Ritter b. March 2, 1843–d. March 4, 1920 Charity A Roberts, b. 1846 – d. James Hesikiah Roberts, b. 1848 – d. 1940 Harriet E Roberts, b. 1850 Right Thomas William Roberts Jr., b. 1861 – d. Apr 5, 1940 |
| Occupation | Farmer, Homestead Owner |
| Military Service | Whippy Swamp Militia, Confederate Soldier |
| Known For | Family Leadership, Community Service, Wartime Sacrifice |
Early Life
Right Thomas William Roberts Sr. was born in 1816 in the Colleton District of South Carolina, the son of frontier patriarch Wiley Roberts. He grew up in a world far different from modern America—a landscape of dense forests, winding rivers, and isolated farming communities where hard work was essential to survival.
As a young man, Thomas learned the agricultural traditions and practical skills that had been passed down from his father. Life in the Lowcountry demanded resilience, self-sufficiency, and dedication to family, values that would define his entire life.
Marriage & Family
In 1841, Thomas married Adeline M. Carter, beginning a partnership that would last more than twenty years. Together they established a homestead, built a life through farming, and raised five children in the rural Lowcountry.
The Roberts home was rooted in hard work, faith, and family responsibility. As husband and wife, Thomas and Adeline worked side by side to create opportunities for their children and secure a future for the next generation.
Among their children was Right Thomas William Roberts Jr., who would later become one of the most influential figures in the family’s history.
Life in the Antebellum Lowcountry
Thomas spent most of his life farming in the years before the Civil War. He operated a successful homestead and became a respected member of the local community. During this period, the Colleton District remained largely rural, with agriculture serving as the foundation of daily life.
Neighbors depended on one another, churches served as community centers, and families often remained connected to the same land for generations. Thomas helped anchor the Roberts family within this environment, establishing a permanent presence that would endure long after his death.
A Respected Community Member
Historical records describe Thomas as an active participant in community life. He was known as a dependable citizen who contributed to the stability and growth of the region during a time of increasing political and economic uncertainty.
As national tensions intensified during the 1850s, many South Carolinians found themselves facing difficult questions about duty, loyalty, and the future of their state. Like many men of his generation, Thomas answered those questions through service.
Military Service and the Whippy Swamp Militia
Before the Civil War officially began, local defense organizations played an important role in protecting South Carolina communities. Thomas was a member of the historic Whippy Swamp Militia, a respected organization composed of local citizen-soldiers who gathered for training and preparedness exercises.
When South Carolina mobilized following secession, many members of these local militias entered formal military service. Thomas joined his neighbors in answering the call, becoming a Confederate soldier during the earliest days of the conflict.
He served during a difficult period when the defense of South Carolina’s rivers, marshes, and coastal supply routes was considered vital to the war effort.
The Ultimate Sacrifice
The opening months of the Civil War brought tremendous hardship. Disease, harsh conditions, and military demands took a heavy toll on soldiers throughout the South.
In January 1862, at only forty-six years of age, Right Thomas William Roberts Sr. passed away while serving during the early stages of the war. His death left behind a grieving widow and five children, including his infant son, RTW Roberts Jr., who was less than a year old.
His passing marked a turning point for the Roberts family. The burden of preserving the family homestead now fell upon Adeline and their children.
Adeline’s Courage
Although this chapter focuses on Thomas, his story cannot be told without recognizing the strength of his wife.
Following Thomas’s death, Adeline Carter Roberts faced the enormous challenge of raising five children alone during one of the most difficult periods in Southern history. She protected the family farm, managed scarce resources, and ensured that her children survived the hardships of the Civil War years.
Her determination preserved the opportunities that would later allow her youngest son to become one of Jasper County’s most successful citizens.
Historical Context
Thomas lived during a transformative era in American history:
- The War of 1812 aftermath
- Expansion of the South Carolina frontier
- The Antebellum Period
- South Carolina Secession
- The Opening of the Civil War
His lifetime bridged two very different Americas—one focused on frontier settlement and another consumed by national conflict.
Character & Legacy
Although few personal stories survive, the life of RTW Roberts Sr. reveals a man devoted to duty, family, and community.
He spent more than two decades building a home, raising children, and contributing to the growth of the Lowcountry. When called upon to serve, he answered without hesitation. His willingness to sacrifice for his family and community became a defining chapter in Roberts family history.
The values he embodied—responsibility, perseverance, and commitment—would continue to influence future generations long after his passing.
Legacy
Right Thomas William Roberts Sr. did not live to see the future he helped create. Yet his influence endured through his children, especially his youngest son, RTW Roberts Jr., who carried the Roberts family into the twentieth century.
Today, he is remembered as a husband, father, farmer, and soldier whose life reflected the strength and determination required to build and protect a family during one of the most challenging periods in American history.
His sacrifice became part of the foundation upon which generations of Roberts descendants would stand.
Timeline
1816 — Born in Colleton District, South Carolina
1841 — Married Adeline M. Carter
1841–1861 — Built a family homestead and raised five children
1850s — Established as a respected member of the local community
1860 — South Carolina seceded from the Union
1861 — Joined the wartime defense effort through military service
July 25, 1861 — Birth of son, RTW Roberts Jr.
January 1862 — Passed away at age 46 during the opening months of the Civil War
Burial — Historic Family Plot, Colleton County, South Carolina
“Duty to family. Duty to community. Duty to country.”
Though his years were few, Right Thomas William Roberts Sr. left behind a legacy measured not by wealth or titles, but by the family he built and the sacrifice he made. Through his descendants, his story continues more than 160 years after his passing.