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Robert Bruce Polk

Male Abt 1625 - Abt 1704  (~ 79 years)


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  • Name Robert Bruce Polk 
    Born Abt 1625  Co. Donegal, Northern Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died Abt 1704  prob Somerset Co., MD Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I4926  MyTree
    Last Modified 15 Aug 2009 

    Father II Robert Pollok,   b. Abt 1597, Northern Ireland, prob. Co. Derry Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Abt 1640, Northern Ireland, prob. Co. Derry Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 43 years) 
    Family ID F4647  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Magdalen Tasker,   b. Abt 1635, Cavanacor, Co., Ballindrait, Lifford, Donegal, Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 27 Mar 1727, Whitehall, Dames Quarter, Somerset Co, MD Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 92 years) 
    Married Abt 1671  Co. Donegal, Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. John Polk,   b. 1659, Donegal Co., Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1707, Somersert Co, MD Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 48 years)
    +2. William B. Polk,   b. 1664, Donegal Co., Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1739, Whitehall, Somerset Co, MD Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 75 years)
     3. Anne Polk,   b. 1669, Donegal Co., Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Somerset Co., MD Find all individuals with events at this location
    +4. Ephraim Polk,   b. 1671, Donegal Co., Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1739, Anne Arudel, MD Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 68 years)
    +5. Robert Polk, II,   b. 1672, Donegal Co., Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Sommerset Co., MD Find all individuals with events at this location
     6. David Polk,   b. 1673, Donegal Co., Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     7. Martha Polk,   b. 1679, Donegal Co., Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     8. Joseph Polk,   b. 1681, Donegal Co., Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
    Last Modified 17 Jul 2017 
    Family ID F4534  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • In Burke's Presidential Families of the United States, it is stated
      that "Sir John Pollok, of Renfrewshire, Scotland, m. Janet Mure, and
      was at the battle of Lecherbie 1593, leaving issue.;
      Robert Pollok, who received a grant of lands in Coleraine, Co. Derry,
      Ireland 1605/8, m, and had issue; Robert Pollok, of Coleraine, a
      Covenanter, b ca 1595/8, m, and d ca 1640, leaving issue; and Robert
      Pollok (or Polke) served as a Capt. in Col. Porter's Regt against King
      Charles I, later emigrated to Maryland and was granted land known as
      "Polke's Lott" and "Polke's Folly" by Lord Baltimore 7 March 1687, m.
      Magdalen (will dated 7 Apr 1726), widow of ? Porter, and dau of "
      Tasker, of Moneen, nr Strabane, co Tyropne, Ireland, and d in Somerset
      Co., MD (will pr 5 June 1704), leaving, with other issue, William
      Polk, of White Hall, MD, b prob in co Donegal ca 1664, m 1st Nancy,
      widow of ? Owen, and dau of ? Knox; and 2ndly, ? Gray, widow, and d
      (will pr 24 Feb 1739), leaving issue; William Polk, Jr, settled first
      in Hopewell Township, Cumberland Co., PA, then "west of the Yadkin
      River" in NC, b at White Hall ca 1700, m ca 1730, Margaret Taylor (who
      survived him), and d in NC ca 1753, leaving ... issue." Burkes states
      that the first three have not been proven but are probable.

      Known as Sir Robert Pollok.
      Received a grant of lands (1605-1608) in County Derry, in or near
      Colerlaine, in what is now Northern Ireland (ref: Burke's Presidents,
      1981, second edition, under "Lineage of President Polk".

      Progeniter of the Polk family is John Pollock, a gentleman of landed
      property near Glasgow. His son was Robert Pollock, who married
      Magdalen Tasker Porter, the daughter of Colonel Tasker, who was Robert
      Pollock's commander in Oliver Cromwell's Army. Robert Pollock in 1659
      emigrated from Ireland to Maryland accompanied by his wife and
      children. It is about this date that "Polk" was evolved from Pollock.

      The following is the Will of Robert Polk, with spelling and
      capitalization exactly as shown in the original:
      "In the Name of God, Amen:
      This sixth day of May in the year of our lord, 1699, I Robert Polke of
      Somerset County in the Province of Maryland being of good health and
      Perfect memory at this present thank be to Almighty God for the same
      yet knowing the uncertainty of this present life and being desirous to
      settle my affairs doe make this my last will and Testament in manner
      and form following:
      First and principally I commend my soule to God who gave it to me,
      assuredly believing that I shall receive full and free pardon of all
      my sins and be saved by the pretious Death and Merritts of my Blessed
      Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ and my Body to the Earth from whence
      it was taken to be buried after a decent and Christian manner at the
      discretion of my Executor hereafter named and as touching such worldly
      estate as God in his mercy hath bestowed upon me. It is my will that
      it be disposed of as hereafter is expressed.
      2ndly I leave to my son Robert Polke a parcel of land called Lone
      Ridge being part of a tract of land called Forlone Hope, formerly
      belonging to Augustine Standforth but now conveyed to me the said land
      called Lone Ridge beginning at a marked pine standing in a slash next
      to my said Son's House and from thence running north east the number
      of poles specified in the pattent soe leaving to my son Robert what
      land belongs to the said pattent on the north east side of the said
      Slash to him the Said Robert Polke and his heirs forever.
      3rdly I leave to my said son David Polke the remainder of the above
      tract of land called Forlorne Hope as also one hundred acres of land
      called Polks Folly bounded as per Pattent will appear both said tracts
      of land to him the said David and his heirs forever.
      4thly I leave to my Beloved Wife Magdalen Polke my now dwelling house
      and plantation during her natural life as also a third of what goods
      and moveables I am possessed with or shall hereafter to the day of my
      death the said Goods and moveables to be at her dispossing at her
      decease. Another third of my Goods and moveables I leave to my
      daughter Martha be it little or much here and her heirs forever and as
      for the other third. It is my will it be equally divided between my
      sons David and Joseph, and if it should please God to Remove me before
      I purchase a seat of Land after my son Joseph, this my will: that my
      son David give unto my son Joseph four thousand pounds of Tobacco in
      the leu of the above said tracts of Land left to my son David and as
      for what Cattle I have given to my son Joseph they being in his proper
      Mark it's my will that he enjoy and possess the same he and his heirs
      forever for this boy Christopher must live with Magdalen Polke during
      her life time then.
      5thly I leave to my son James an Orphan Boy called Christopher Little
      to him the said James and his heirs during the time of his Indre.
      I leave unto my son Ephraim the choice of what stear I have or may
      have at the day of my death. I leave to my sons John and William Polke
      to each of them twelve pence. I constitute and appoint my son David
      Polke and my wife Magdalen Polke to be Executors of this my last will.

      Codicil--I constitute my sons Ephraim and James Polke to be Executors
      of this my last will and testament disannuling and making voide all
      former Will or Wills by me made either by word or written.

      In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and
      year above written this being altered the eighth day of August, 1703.

      Robert Polke
      X mark Seal

      Richard Knight, Mary 0. English, Richard Whittley,

      And I desire that Martha Poock may have liberty let her cattle run on
      the plantation until she gets plantation and as for Sarah Powers she
      must have a heifer at her freedom day.

      Signed, Sealed and delivered in the presence of us
      Robert Polk
      Richard Whittley
      Richard Knight
      Mary 0. English."

      On the back of said will was thus written: "Vizt:--Memorandum this 5th
      day June the within will was proved to the Act and Deed of the within
      named Robert Polke by the oaths of Richard Whittley, Richard Knight
      and Mary English before.
      Peter Dent. Depty Com'y.

      Test.
      R. McKendree Davis,
      Dept. Register Orphans Court
      Anne Arundel County
      State of Maryland

      Annapolis Wills T. B. 1701-3, folios 416-418