I'm on YOUR side - Eliphalet Robert

This was apparently the answer given by my 5th great-grandfather no matter who was asking the question. When my son was studying the Revolutionary War in 6th grade, I showed him a list of all the ancestors he had who fought in the War. (You can be sure that one of these days, I'll get around to putting that list in a blog post.) Anyway, as he looked at the list, he asked if all of them were Patriots or had some of them been Tories.  After I proclaimed them all Patriots, I found this record just a few short weeks later in the book "The Robertses of New England," by Thomas A. Jacobsen.

Eliphalet Roberts (15 Apr 1750 - 27 Sept 1843) was one of the first settlers of Strafford, Vermont, having a 100 acre farm there as early as 1774.  He was also the father of at least 16 children. Yes, I said at least 16. The above-mentioned book suggests may he had 22 children in all, but I have names for only 16.[1]  Anyway, Eliphalet enlisted in the Revolutionary cause in early 1777 and served at Ticonderoga.[2]  The following petition signed by fourteen citizens of Strafford tells what happened next:

                "Strafford April ye29, 1778
   These may certify Any Gentlemen to whom it may concern that Eliphalet Roberts is an inhabitant of this town and that he did in July last desert his Countreys Cause and fled to the Enemy and their remaind til the Surrender of General Burgoin and Quick after that he returned to this town and Appeared to be very sorry for his Conduct made all the Recantations that could be thought proper He promises to be friendly for the future and to be subject to our laws since he came home appears to be Agreable to his Confession and promises He has a large family of small children and if he should be stript of what little improvements he has theirs some danger of his famelyes being some charge to the State Therefore if the Honorable Counsil in their wisdom should see fit sofar to Restore him as to allow him the use of his land upon his good behavour for the future it would be lokt upon as an act of generosity and be well accepted by the town in general."[3]

So... Patriot --> Loyalist --> Patriot again and with apologies this time. It sounds to me like Grandpa Roberts was on the side of whomever he judged to be the most advantageous to himself and his family. Can't say that I really blame him.

[1} By the way, the children listed in the book are incorrect.  The author lists 17 of the supposed 22 chidlren, but one of the 17 is actually his granddaughter, not his daughter.
[2]  Miles, pp. 77-8; Holbrook, Jay Mack.  Vermont's First Settlers.  Oxford, Mass.: Holbrook Research Institute, 1982, p. 71.
[3]  Document at the Vermont Historical Society.