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EARLEY, Robert M

EARLEY, Robert M[1, 2]

Male 1802 - 1852  (49 years)


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  • Name EARLEY, Robert M 
    Birth May 1802  Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3, 4] 
    Gender Male 
    Residence 1830  Columbia, Bradford, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Census 1840  Rock Island, Illinois, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [5] 
    • Name RM Earley / Residence Date 1840 / Home in 1840 (City, County, State) Rock Island, Illinois / Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9 1 / Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29 1 / Free White Persons - Males - 30 thru 39 1 / Free White Persons - Females - Under 5 2 / Free White Persons / - Females - 5 thru 9 1 / Free White Persons - Females - 15 thru 19 1 / Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29 1 / Persons Employed in / Manufacture and Trade 2 / Free White Persons - Under 20 5 / Free White Persons - 20 thru 49 3 / Total Free White Persons 8 / Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves 8
    Occupation 3 Apr 1845  Pennsylvania House, Rock Island, Rock Island, IL USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [6] 
    • “Robert M. Early, landlord at the Pennsylvania House.”
    Occupation 1850  Tavern Keeper Find all individuals with events at this location  [7] 
    Census 24 Oct 1850  Rock Island Middle Ward, Rock Island, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location  [8] 
    • Robert M Early / Male / White / Age 50 / Birthplace Pennsylvania / Occupation Tavern Keeper -
    Obituary From the Rock Island Argus, 11 Feb 1852:

    DIED. At his residerce, in this city, on the 9th., inst., Mr. ROBERT M. EARLY, aged 49 years, and 9 months  [9] 
    Death 9 Feb 1852  Rock Island, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location  [10, 11] 
    Will 15 Mar 1852  Rock Island, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location  [12] 
    Notes 
    • Possibly born in Connecticut (stated on Henrietta Earley Byrne’s death certificate in 1910).

      Probate files are extensive. There are multiple claims from Bedford County, PA regarding debts owed by Robert M Earley. Additionally, further evidence he kept a tavern (a coffin maker claimed Earley owed him $14 for making coffins for two patrons who died in his tavern). Also, there appears one document of debt tied to both Robert M and Henry Earley. In 1857, a robbery-murder took place in Rock Island where a Henry Earley was the victim. Haven’t confirmed yet that this is one in the same, but there is a Henry (born ~1808) living with Robert, Lydia and family in Rock Island in the 1850 census.

      Robert appears to have skipped out on ~$2,500 in unpaid debt when he left Bedford, PA. His creditors at some point learned of his death (possibly late 1852, or early 1853), and tracked down his widow to try and collect. The principals mentioned, Thomas & Phiilip Baltzell, were marketing property during the 1830s (advertised in papers as ‘House & Stable), implying tavern/hotel/stable) in Pennsylvania.

      However, there also appears in the documents a “William B Trump”, and Baltimore newspapers of April, 1838 have items posted about a dissolution of the partnership of the Baltzell brothers & Wm Trump, which had been formed in 1835 following a dissolution of another Trump partnership. This partnership between Trump and the Baltzell’s involved dry goods, and at this point one must assume Earley struck a deal with this venture, possibly for starting or maintaining a dry goods business. He subsequently failed to honor this agreement.

      The Baltzell’s were tenacious in seeking out and litigating bad debt, and successfully won a judgment in 1850 against the estate of William Trump posthumously (Trump died in the 1840s). Regarding the Robert Earley’s death, the court *appears* to have ruled in favor of the Baltzells, though it’s not clear if and how the debt was collected from the estate.

      Items documented in the estate are basic things, including beds, linens, etc., and don’t add up to more than a few hundred dollars. [13]
    • From the Rock Island Weekly Argus, April 7th 1852:

      Estate of Robert M Earley dec’d

      Public notice is herby given that I shall attend before County court of Rock Island county at the May Term thereof, commencing on the first Monday of said month A.D. 1852, for the purpose of settling and adjusting all claims against the estate of R. M. Earley late of said County, deceased, when and where all claimants are required to present their demands for adjustment.

      All persons indebted to said estate, are also notified to make payment to the undersigned without delay. Dated this 16th of March, 1852. — Lydia Earley, Administrator. [10]
    Person ID I1284  Hugh Byrne and Nanette Asimov Lines
    Last Modified 16 Mar 2026 

    Father EARLEY, Unknown 
    Family ID F3299  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family YOST, Lydia,   b. 1805, Connecticut Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 20 Jul 1862, Edgington, Rock Island, IL USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 57 years) 
    Children 
     1. EARLY, Ann Eliza,   b. 1830, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location
     2. EARLEY, Polly B,   b. 1835, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location
     3. EARLEY, Henrietta,   b. 14 Apr 1838, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 13 Nov 1910, Jackson, Jackson, MI, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 72 years)
     4. EARLEY, Sarah Jane,   b. 1840, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location
     5. EARLEY, Robert M,   b. Abt 1848
     6. EARLEY, Susan,   b. Abt 1843, Iowa Find all individuals with events at this location
    Family ID F135  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 16 Mar 2026 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - May 1802 - Pennsylvania Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1830 - Columbia, Bradford, Pennsylvania Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 1840 - Rock Island, Illinois, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 24 Oct 1850 - Rock Island Middle Ward, Rock Island, Illinois Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 9 Feb 1852 - Rock Island, Illinois Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsWill - 15 Mar 1852 - Rock Island, Illinois Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend  : Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  • Sources 
    1. [S5] Ancestry.com, 1830 United States Federal Census, (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2004), Online publication - Ancestry.com. 1830 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2004.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifth Census of the United States, 1830. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1830.M19, 201 rolls. Columbia, Bradford, Pennsylvania, roll 145, page 14, image 30.

    2. [S8] Ancestry.com, 1850 United States Federal Census, (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005), Online publication - Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2005.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Seventh Census of the United States, 1850. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1850.M432, 1,009 rolls. Rock Island Middle Ward, Rock Island, Illinois, roll M432_126, page 219, image 72.

    3. [S10] Ancestry.com, 1870 United States Federal Census, (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2003), Online publication - Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2003.Original data -
    4. United States. Ninth Census of the United States, 1870. Washington, D.C. National Archives and Records Administration. M593, RG29, 1,761 rolls.
    5. Minnesota. Minnesota Census Schedules for 1870. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. T132, RG29, 13 rolls. South Newton, Cumberland, Pennsylvania, post office Carl.

    6. [S1739] Died / Robert M Early, DIED. At his residerce, in this city, on the 9th., instant, Mr. ROBERT M. EARLY, aged 49 years, and 9 months.

    7. [S1749] RM Earley in the 1840 Census.

    8. [S1740] Rock Island Argus History (Reynolds, etc).

    9. [S8] Ancestry.com, 1850 United States Federal Census, (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005).

    10. [S1750] Robert Early in the 1850 Census, Robert M Early / Male / White / Age 50 / Birthplace Pennsylvania / Occupation Tavern Keeper -.

    11. [S1739] Died / Robert M Early.

    12. [S739] .

    13. [S740] Info-Robert M Earley -Illinois, Wills and Probate Records, 1772-1999 -DetailRelatedSource-Site Menu Save-Illinois, Wills and Probate Records, 1772-1999 for Robert M Earley.

    14. [S740] Info-Robert M Earley -Illinois, Wills and Probate Records, 1772-1999 -DetailRelatedSource-Site Menu Save-Illinois, Wills and Probate Records, 1772-1999 for Robert M Earley, before me this 15th day of March 1852.

    15. [S1748] Archives of Maryland Online, BALTZELL VS. TRUMP.


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