Job Roberts was a pioneer agriculturist, who developed scientific approach to fertilizing plants, crop experiments and improved farm machinery.
Background
Job Roberts was born on March. 23, 1756 in Pennsylvania. He was the third son and ninth child of John Roberts and Jane Hank, and a great-grandson of Robert Cadwalader who emigrated from Wales some time prior to 1698.
Cadwalader's children adopted the surname Robert, which was later again changed to Roberts.
According to tradition, the family joined the Society of Friends shortly after their arrival, for Roberts' grandfather married according to the order of the Friends in 1706, and for generations his descendants have been members of Gwynedd Meeting.
Career
He records intensive methods of cultivation which resulted in bumper wheat crops of sixty bushels to the acre.
His experiments with plaster of Paris and with gypsum as fertilizers began in 1785.
In 1792 he built an improved harrow and devised a new roller.
In 1797 he attached a water-wheel to a dairy churn making it possible to produce with it 150 pounds of butter a week.
In 1815 he invented a machine for planting corn at even distances in hills.
He introduced into Pennsylvania Merino sheep; and he was interested, as were the other scientific farmers of his age, in cultivating the mulberry for silk culture.
He substituted green fodder for his cattle in place of grazing, and built a barn "which was enormously large, according to usual standards, but which he soon had full of crops. "
Despite the obvious utility of his experiments and activities, his neighbors and chroniclers seem to have been most impressed by the fact that in 1780 "he built himself a carriage, the first to be seen in the county, in which for the next twenty-five years, he drove himself to Gwynedd Meeting. "
Achievements
His neighbors and chroniclers seem to have been most impressed by the fact that in 1780 "he built himself a carriage, the first to be seen in the county, in which for the next twenty-five years, he drove himself to Gwynedd Meeting. "
Religion
His interest in scientific agriculture is said to have been inspired by the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture which was founded in 1785.
Membership
member of Gwynedd Meeting
Connections
Job Roberts married first Mary Naylor, on May 22, 1781, by whom he had two daughters. His second wife, to whom he was married on October 12, 1820, was Sarah (Williams) Thomas, daughter of Joseph Williams.
Wife:
Sarah
Job Roberts's second wife, to whom he was married on October. 12, 1820, was Sarah (Williams) Thomas, daughter of Joseph Williams.
Wife:
Mary
Job Roberts married first Mary Naylor, on May 22, 1781, by whom he had two daughters.
