Wanted for Murder

Sarah Wiemer McRobie

Sarah Weimer McRobie (1830-1918), my daughter-in-law Melissa Murphy Oliver’s 1^st cousin 5 times removed, married Samuel Asbury McRobie (1860-1899) on January 7, 1860, in Garrett County, Maryland. Samuel was one of seven children; Sarah was one of thirteen children. Together they had six children—only three lived to adulthood. Though Sarah was originally from Somerset County, Pennsylvania, she and Samuel, after their marriage, spent the rest of their lives in Maryland.

Fast forward to the Civil War. Samuel enlisted on December 12, 1861, in Oakland, Garrett County, Maryland, as a private in Co. O, 6^th Regiment, West Virginia Infantry. He served for the duration of the war and was discharged at the end of his enlistment, December 19, 1864. According to the U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865, Samuel was 22 years of age, 6’2” tall, and had fair complexion, grey eyes, and brown hair at the time of his enlistment. Though Company O and others were moved from one location to another as circumstances warranted, the 6^th Regiment primarily remained in West Virginia serving as railroad guards and patrolling the railroad lines for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. As is to be expected, various detachments of the 6^th Regiment, including Company O, found themselves in a variety of skirmishes and battles. However, the action was not just limited to West Virginia; they found themselves, as railroad guards, involved in action also in Pennsylvania and Maryland. 1

Google image

Keep in mind that during the Civil War both Maryland and West Virginia were south of the Mason-Dixon Line.  Culturally, this line is a demarcation between the North and the South. However, “true” Southerners, do not identify Maryland as a Southern state. So, how does this affect Samuel’s story?

Company O’s main encampment was in Kingwood, West Virginia, not too far from Oakland, Maryland, where Samuel’s wife and family lived. According to available records, Samuel requested a furlough to visit his wife; his request was granted. During the Civil War, it was not unusual for soldiers to not know whether they had actually killed someone; but Samuel McRobie knew differently. Also, it was not unusual for soldiers from both sides of the Civil War to live in the same town. 

Kingwood, WV on left, the State boundary, Oakland, MD on right

While visiting his family, McRobie was “walking down the street and happened to see a Confederate soldier who approached him and a fight pursued.” During the fight between the two soldiers, Samuel began to fear for his life. Apparently, they were in front of a general store as he “removed an ax handle from a small wooden barrel display” and hit the other solder which resulted in killing his opponent. After the fight, Samuel returned to his unit as he had originally planned. However, the sheriff of Oakland was hot on his heels with an arrest warrant for murder.  According to records, when the sheriff came to arrest him., his commanding officer would not turn him over to the sheriff, stating “That is what a Union Soldier would do, Kill Rebs.” Additionally, the sheriff was told that if by any chance the Confederate States succeeded in winning the war, then Private McRobie would be available to arrested.  Obviously, the warrant was never served, and Samuel remained a free man for the rest of his life. 2

Samuel lived out his remaining years on his farm, which today is located beneath the Deep Creek Lake, a resort area near Oakland, Maryland.

Posted on findagrave.com by grampire

Deep Creek Lake - Google image

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Footnotes: 1.  "Sixth Regiment West Virginia Volunteers United States of America." Harrison County Genealogical Society, http://www.wvhcgs.com.sixthwv.htm
2.  Wilt, R. "A House Divided." Harrison County Genealogical Society, http://www.wvhcgs.com/housedivided.htm