Nathan Robertson served in the Revolutionary War in the First Company of the Lower Battalion of Montgomery County.
He enrolled in service in the Lower Battalion of Montgomery County, Maryland, in Class 7, 1st Company, William Bailey, Captain, as returned by Colonel John Murdock.
In 1787, after serving in the Revolutionary War, Nathan and his brother, Robert, moved their families to Bourbon County, Kentucky, a 700-mile journey over the old Wilderness Road, by way of Cumberland Gap which took them approximately two months. Nathan settled his family on a farm after arriving in Bourbon County.
Nathan was converted to Methodism by Bishop Francis Asbury. He continued his active interest in Methodism and religious worship as well as forming close friendships with well-known Methodist leaders. One of Nathan’s good friends was Daniel Boone, who gave him one of the famous Boone wolf traps.
In 1797, Nathan moved his family, now with nine children, to Clark County, Indiana, becoming one of the first settlers in the area. He settled three miles north of Charlestown, Indiana. He built his cabin near the mouth of a cave and he built a blockhouse (small fort), known as Robertson’s Station, on top of the cave as protection for his family and his neighbors against American Indians. During the wars of 1811 and 1812, Nathan and his family fled to this blockhouse for safety and remained there for several months. Nathan’s blockhouse was located 30 miles away from where the “Pigeon Roost” massacre occurred.
In 1807, Nathan and his sons built the Robertson Meeting House, later called the “Old Bethel Church” on their property. It was the first Methodist Church in Indiana. Old Bethel Church was used by its congregation for many years and many itinerate preachers used it as they traveled through the area. In 1953 the church was moved to the campus of DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana. The church was restored to its original condition by Charles M. Robertson, a great-grandson of Nathan Robertson, as well as DePauw University.
“Nathan Robertson’s creed, the theme song of his life can be summed up as SERVICE—GRATITUDE TO GOD and to mankind.”