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Note: The Julian Calendar was still the official calendar at the time of Robert Cleveland's birth. The Gregorian Calendar was not officially adopted by England and the American Colonies until 1752 even though most of the people accepted it and began using it sooner. With the Julian Calendar using March 25 as the first day of the year and the Gregorian Calendar using January 1 as the first day of the year, most people wrote dates falling between January 1, and March 25 with both years. Robert Cleveland's date of birth falls within this range. The noted source {Roger Donald Riddle, "Yates Family History (cir 1996)."} gives Robert Cleveland's date of birth as January 5, 1744. It is customary to write this date as January 5, 1743/44.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Robert Cleveland was a Captain and a prominent Revolutionary War soldier. He was at Kings Mountain during the battle of Kings Mountain and was involved in the exploits with his brother Colonel Benjamin Cleveland.
Robert Cleveland's home was on Lewis Fork in Wilkes County North Carolina and is the oldest existing dwelling in that county.
Robert Cleveland was born in either Prince William or Orange County Virginia.
Robert Cleveland was one of the North Carolina electors on the Jefferson Ticket for President.
{Roger Donald Riddle, "Yates Family History (cir 1996)."}
Listed in the 1782 Wilkes County, North Carolina Tax List:
Robert Cleveland (Capt. Kees's List) 640 Acres 5 Negroes (Slaves) 3 Mules/Horses 13 Cattle Listed in the Wilkes County, North Carolina 1786 Tax List:
Cleveland, Robert No. Polls 4 No. Acres 478 Roster of North Carolina Soldiers in the American Revolution:
#160 Robert Cleveland, Capt. Militia at Kings Mtn. Oct. 1780 Marriage of some Virginia Residents: 1607-1800:
Cleveland, Robert, Capt. in Rev. War; B. 1744: Prince William Co.; D. 1812, Wilkes Co.; No. Car.; M. (1) Aley Mathis, Dar No. 72 048 Dar Patriot Index:
Cleveland, Robert; B. 1-8-1744; D. 2-26-1812; Capt. N. C. M. (1) Aley Mathis, (2) Sallie Johnson Robert Cleveland is listed in John Cleveland's will as listed
in Will Book 3 of Orange County Virginia, 1 November 1778 as
date of will and accepted into court records 26 November 1778
{Roger Donald Riddle, "Yates Family History (cir 1996)."}
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Capt. Robert Cleveland rescued his captured brother Col. Benjamin Cleveland in a surprise attack at Riddles's Knob in Wilkes County from the Tories. The Tories were led by a Captain William Riddle (Not believed to be related to our branch of the Riddle family) and two of his sons. The captured Col. Benjamin Cleveland was seated on a log, held at gun point with his own gun when his brother made his attack on the Tory camp. When gun fire began, Col. Benjamin Cleveland is reported to have tumbled off behind the log, lest his friends might accidently shoot him, and exclaiming at the top of his thundering voice, "HURRAH FOR BROTHER BOB! THAT'S RIGHT, GIVE'EM HELL!" Most of the Tories escaped including William Riddle and his wife, but Capt. Robert Cleveland's mission was successful, he had rescued his brother.
Just a short time later, Captain Riddle ventured to make a night raid into the Yadkin Valley which was reported to Col. Benjamin Cleveland. In a surprise attack Riddle and two of his associates were captured by Col. Benjamin Cleveland and his men. They soon hung from the notorious oak tree located in Wilkesboro that Col. Cleveland seemed to frequently use for such purposes. Mrs. Riddle was present and was allowed to watch as her husband and his men were hung.
{John Crouch, "Historical Sketches of Wilkes County", published in 1902.}
It is also reported that this account is told in two other books, "A History of Watauga County" and "History of Western North Carolina."
{Roger Donald Riddle, "Yates Family History (cir 1996)."}
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