POSSIBLE ORIGIN OF ROBINSON NAME ====================================================================== - PREFACE - The following material was sent to me by Mrs. E. Viola Robinson in the late 1970's. Much of the original research was done by Rev. Causton H. Robinson, a man whom I visited in 1978. In the course of our several hour discussion on this line I discovered he was quite knowledgeable of the Gunn clan. So much so that he wrote a book on his lineage, tracing each segment carefully and fully. He had spent many years seeking records but I must make this point clear, I have not double-checked his sources so with this caveat in mind please feel free to make use of the below material. Also, in keeping with the purpose of the Robertson listings, keep in mind that this 1600's Robinson line gradually converted to the Robertson spelling over many decades. For that reason I cannot emphasize enough - do not depend on your present form of surname spelling from not having been spelled as ROBERSON, ROBERTSON, ROBINSON, ROBISON, and ROBSON. County Clerks often spelled surnames according to how the name was pronounced or on past experience. Angus "Scotty" Robinson ====================================================================== OF VIKINGS WE CAME SOURCE: "THIS ROBINSON LINE", by Mrs. E. Viola Robinson. Abstracted from material obtained from Mr. Causton H. Robinson, 19 January 1979. From the Norse Jarls of Orkney and Earls of Caithness descended two distinct lines, the Sinclairs of Caithness and the Gunns of Kilearnan. Late in the l2th century Clan Gunn derived their name from Norse Orcadian ancestor Gunni, whose wife Ragnhild inherited great estates on the Scot mainland in Caithness from her brother Harold, a Jarl of Orkney and Caithness Earl. Her father descended from Maddon and her grandfather alias Saint Regnwald (St. Ronald), Jarl of Orkney, who built Kirkwall Cathedral in 1138. His bones still sanctify the building. Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, was a base from which mine laying against German submarines was accomplished in World War I; Scapa Flow, the harbour where German ships were interned after surrender in 1918. It was another ancestor of the Clann Gunn, Einar, Jarl of Orkney from 894, who taught the Orcadians to burn peat for heating, and he was a half brother of Rolf (Rollo) of Normandy. AND THE NAME BECAME ROBINSON From the Norse-Orcadian Gunni descended the l5th century GEORGE GUNN, the Royal Deputy called "The Crowner". He owned his castle at Halberry in Clyth, north of Lybster, on a peninsula extending out to sea with a moat cut in the rock over which was his drawbridge. Scot history tell us that George Gunn lived in splendid style in his castle at Clyth, and records him as one of the great men of that time in the country. Eventually the clan home was in the heather-covered highlands of Caithness in the parish of Kildoan, where he forcibly held Dirlot Castle high on a rocky craig near the River Thurzo. The clan burial place was in St. Magnus' Chapel, a few miles from Dirlot Castle. Among Clan Chief George Gunn's sons were: John Kean, Rob/Robin, Will and Henry, whose sons took the Scot prefix "Mc" or suffix "son" and their sons became Johnson, McKean, Robinson, Willson, McHenry, etc. These given names descended through five centuries of Robinsons in England and America, and the name of Robinson has ever been spelled the same from its beginning in this line. Since the early 1480's the Gunn chiefs had been in conflict with the clans of Keith and Mackey in the northern part of Scotland. The Gunns were defeated in 1464 in Strathmore near Dirlot. The clan chiefs had been locked in conflict over land-claims for many years. In about 1468 George Gunn attempted negotiations for a peaceful settlement. Agreement with Keiths was made for a meeting of 12 members of each clan. But 24 Keiths came, two on each horse, and George Gunn and four of his sons, who had taken refuge in the chapel, were massacred that day. Though the Clan Gunn was successful in later battles, there seems to have been a division of the family after George Gunn's death. His grandson evidently migrated from the area, for next we find some of the Robinson's in Glasgow, and later still in a migration to northeastern England. Thc Clan Gunn has been introduced here primarily for background interest and as the originator - the far-away sire of the Robinson line, forebear of Christopher Robinson, the 1664 emigrant from England to Virginia. In the progression of Robinson generations the reader will recognize similarity in leadership and many other strong characteristics in merchants, planters, military men, lawyers, government makers, etc., in generation after generation of Christopher Robinson and his desccndants. George Gunn was slain in 1468, but his seed descended through several generations in Scotland. Again it was time for expansion - a going out - and the Robinson branch of the clan moved southward. Strong clan characteristics deeply imbedded for many generations from the Vikings through Orkney, Caithness, Gunn and Sutherland families were not left behind when feuds, famine, civil war and ambition drove the descendants of George Gunn across Hadrian's wall, between Solway Firth and the River Tyne, into northern England. The great wall built 20 feet high and road width in 121 A.D. across the narrow neck of the island to keep back the savage Celts and Scots of the north (long before the Viking invasions) gave passage by the late fifteenth century to the early Robinsons who settled at Crostwick and later at Cleasby near Darlington, Yorkshire, England. Their early Norse, and later Scot Clan heritage of hardy strength, took paths in the new area of ambition, education, political activity, church, and general development into forceful and worthwhile citizens. There, as in Scotland, heads of families gathered their kin about them, and it was into such environment at Crostwick and later at Cleasby, near Darlington, in Yorkshire, that several generations before him, ancestors of Christopher Robinson settled and established the Robinson family in England. THE BIRTH OF CHRISTOPHER ROBINSON It was at Cleasby that Christopher Robinson, the third son of his parents John Robinson and Elizabeth Potter Robinson, was born in 1645. Under the leadership of Oliver Cromwell, aided by the Scot's, the year 1645 also saw the overthrow of Charles I. England was in civil war. Though it is not believed John Robinson was a man of wealth he himself was an educated man and sent his sons to a university in Scotland. Their children were tutored early at home and given the best possible education available at that time. The two first-born sons both died young; the older, John, died at the age of nine. Thomas died at a university in Scotland at the age of 12. Christopher was educated in business and law, and emigrated to Virginia at an early age. John Robinson, the forth son born in 1658 was given the name of his brother who had died. This was customary in the early families and will be noted in several later generations. This John Robinson showed more aptitude for formal education. NOTE: This ended the pages sent by Mr. C. H. Robinson. --------------------------------------- SOURCE OF THIS DATA: Letter sent by Mr. Causton H. Robinson on 18 November 1978. 1. References in papers on file, pension claims W5747 HA-J/AWF based on service in Revolutionary War, Washington, D.C. 1969 CHR John Robinson and Jeriah Robinson, Baldwin Co., GA. John Robinson married Jeriah on 27 March 1788. John Robinson was born 6 May 1756. Jeriah was born 19 August 1769. Their children: Solomon b. 1 April 1789; John b. 4 August 1792; Sally b. 3 August 1794; Luke b. 28 March 1787; William b. 9 February 1798 and Mariah b. 3 April 1801. Taken from their family Bible. 2. Reference: Virginia Wills before 1799. Clemens. John Robinson, Rockbridge Co., VA., 7 April 1789. Sarah (wife); Children: John; David; Mary; Rebecca; Sarah; Jean; Hannah and Isabelle Kerr (daughter?) and grandson, David Edmison. 3. Charley Huck m. Lydia Robinson 18 April 1810, Randolph (now Jasper) Co., GA. This is daughter of John Robinson, my great-great- great-grand father. CHR 4. John Crumley, 1776-1814, Ncwberry, N.C. (grandmothers line) CHR 5. Jesse Robinson, youngest son of John Robinson (my gr-gr-gr-grand father). Lampassas Co., Texas (Bell and Travis) 1856. CHR 6. Cornelius Robinson (son of Charles) Anson Co., N.C., He acquired land in Heverly Manors (Stuanton) Augusta Co., VA, Ref. Chalkleys Vol. III, pp. 346, 416-18. Date: 10 March 1757. 7. Col. William Robinson died 20 September 1742 "The Journal." 8. R. M. Robinson, Company "E", l2th Georgia died 8 October 1862 and W. Robinson, Company "D", 26th Georgia died 31 Oetober 1862. Both are buried in the Stonewall Jackson Cemetery, Winchester, VA. 9. Henry W. Robinson, Company "R", 42nd Infantry, Newton Co., GA. He enlisted 4 March 1862 in Lawrenceville (Gwinett Co.), GA and died 12 April 1862 in Vicksburg, Miss. (Battle of Vicksburg). l0. James Robinson, Company "R", 42nd Infantry, Sergeant, promoted 2nd Lt., 14 October 1862 -- Resigned 20 August 1864 -- Roster dated 5 Dec. 1864 near Nashville, Tennessee. Reason for resignings "I prefer to serve in the ranks." He was wounded at Vicksburg, Miss. 28-30 December 1862. 11. John Robinson (Virginia soldier 1776) m. Priscilla. Childrens Jane and Jenny. John d. c. 1822-23 Henrico Co., Va., wife d. 3 Novcaber 1834. 12. Reference: 18V196 (Virginia Historical and Genealogical Magazine). Christopher Robinson. As an extant Henrico Co., Va., records began in 1677, any earlier records are not recorded. But on 19 October 1677, Christopher Robinson, son and heir of Christopher Robinson of Bristol Parish, deceased (He died 1663), sold to Mr. Richard Kennon of Bermuda Hurldred, a tract of land called the "Neck" bounded by the land formerly sold to said Kennon, the lands of Nicholas Dixon, John Worsham, and on Appomattox and Swift Creek. 13. Reference: 18V196. Same volume as cited in paragraph 12 above: Deed Francis Burrell to Henry Randolph of John Wilson, who are bound to Henrico County, Va., court for said Burrell as administrator of Christopher Robinson assigning all his goods, chattels, etc., according to an inventory taken this day by Mr. Thomas Bates, Mr. John Gilliam, Mr. John Sturdevant and Mr. Bartholmew Chandler dated 31 August 1663. Witness: William Walthall, Bat Chanely (Bartholmew Chandler??). The original document bears seal as described. (Note: The Seal of the Family Coat of Arms which you will see on the book "Robinson Families." NOTE: I doubt very much that Francis Burrell married Frances Burrell, Christopher Robinson's widow. It is more likely that he was ether her brother or father. The Burrell's came to Virginia from Holland. See Nugents, Cavaliers and Pioneers. There was a Francis Burrell in Virginia, but he did not administer Christopher R's. will. As per Ltr. from Causton H. Robinson, 15 November 1978. 14. Be nice to obtain these wills: Francis Robinson married Lucretia Turner, 2S March 1769, Amelia Va. died 1778, WB 2, page 461, dt'd 23 January 1778. Children: William and Mary. Wills: Northumberland Co., VA: John 1700; Samuel 1721; Anthony 1724; Benjamin 1725; Nicholas 1727 and Jesse 1766. 15. Christopher Robinson. Reference: 28V389. Will of Thomas Wrothe (Roth?) of Engield Co., Middlesex, England, Knight, 5 October 1573, proved 16 April 1575 by Master Christopher Robinson, Public Notary, Proctor to the executors named in the svill. NOTE: I wonder if he could be Christophers father? CHR ------------------------------ Part of same Ietter but of another information series. ABSTRACTS AND REFERENCES TO WILLS - Elizabeth City Co., VA., 1610-1680 Deborah Robertson. 7 February 1748. Will Book 173?-1749, page 309. William Robinson. Will dtd 18 Feb. 1752, recorded 7 Apri1 1752. Rebecca and Mary (sisters) executors. Henry Robinson. Will dtd 30 December 1758, recorded 6 Feb. 1759. WB 1758-1764, page 31. Legatee, son Henry (under 21), Aunt Jane Lewis who was wife of John Lewis. Reversion to Uncle William Poole, Sr. *Note: Our Robinson line is linked to the Lewis's of this period in both Virginia and N.C. CHR James Robinson. Will dtd 17 Ianuary 1737, WB 1737-1749, page 22. No data given in this extract. Do not know why. Mary Robinson. Will dtd 1 February 1726, recorded 21 June 1726, WB 1704-173e, page 162. Administratrix was Jane Robinson who married Joseph Bannister. *See marriages, I believe I remember seeing this couple listed, probably Augusta Co., Va. or vicinity. CHR Jacob Gostner. Will dtd 13 April 1799, Lincoln Co., N.C. mentions Grandson, James Robinson. Witness: David Robinson. Moses Handley. Will dtd 16 May 1781, Lincoln Co., N.C., Wife, Margaret., John Robinson, witness. *Possibly Margaret was a Robinson. CHR John Robertson. d. 19 Dec. 1747; brother James deceased, sister: Rebecca Rolfe; Iames, son of brother James; son: Henry (under 21); dau-in-law: Jane Robinson; sister: Jane Robinson; Kinsman: William Robinson. Note: Another case of Robinson/Robertson mixed spelling! CHR William Robinson. Umarried. Emigrated from County Wicklow, Ireland to Pennsylvania. *More on him somewhere, believe he was a Quaker (We had several in the Pennsylvania line.) CHR Miscellaneous data: Some interesting items: Nicholas Robinsan, age 30, b. 1605; wife: Elizabeth, age 32, b. 1607; dau.: Katherine, age 12, b. 1623; dau.: Mary, age 7, b. 1628; sons John, age 5, b. 1630 and dau: Sarah, age 1 1/2, b. 1633. Arrived boston, Mass. in 1635 aboard "Blessing", sailed in June, arrived July in Boston. John Lieicester, Master. *We know that some of our line initially landed in New England.....Could this be a brother of Christopher; who came to Va in 1624? Do not know, but would help to know where he was from. He sailed from Gravesend, England. CHR The Mayflower (yep, the same, but with different date) sailed from Gravesend, England, Wm. Pierce, Master: with 35 passengers, most from Leyden, Holland destined for Plymouth, Mass.. She arrived 15 May 1729. The following passengers are of extreme interest: Mrs. Bridgett (White) Robinson (wife of Rev. John Robinson, Pastor of the Pilgrims, Leyden, Holland, and children: Isaac, Mercy, Fear, James and John. Some reports did not list James. *Family tradition has it that we were descended from this John Robinson, and there is some truth, but I believe that he was a brother to Christopher, the progenitor of our line in Virginia .. Remember his mife was Frances Burrell (Dutch) and her family is found arriving in Virginia from Holland in the 1660's (Nugents, Cavaliers and Pioneers) CHR. "Christian of London", John White, Master, sailed from London in March, arrived in Boston in June 1635. Passengers: Robert Robinson, age 41, he being born 1594. *Robert Robinson of the 1600's is of our line. CHR 1. William Robertson, Jr., Member, Colonial Council of Virginia; married Elizabeth Bolling (Thomas). Children: Wyndham Robertson, Governor of Virginia (later); Thomas Bolling Robertson settled in Lousiana, was Governor of La. in 1820. William Robertson, Jr., father was: William Robertson, Sr. b. ca. 1725, a blood relation of Alexander Robertson, barons of Struan, Scotland. Alexander was the Baron of Bradwardine. William, Sr. came to Virginia early in the l8th century and William, Jr. was born in 1750 in Virginia. CHR 2. First Court for Norfolk Co., VA: Col. Lemuel Mas, April 1691 Capt. John Hatton Lt. Col. Anthony Lawson Maj. John Nichols Maj. James Wilson Capt. William Robinson 3. Jacob Robinson, m. Maria Fleece on 28 July 1835 - where? 4. Francis Franklin Dunlap, Chaplain - land office military warrant No. 8445 issued 16 June 1837 to Christopher F. Robinson, heir of Deborah Dunlap, sister and sole heir of Francis Dunlap, deceased. Children: Christopher F., Benjamin F., Deborah, who married Holland Walker, William Robinson who died leaving one child: John Robinson, infant, June 1839. Christopher Robinson already deceased June 1839. George Robinson, Albemarle Parish Register. Married Mary, and daughter Mary, who married Edward Powell and they had dau.: Elizabeth. Sorry-no dates. CHR CHRISTOPHER ROBINSON OF VIRGINIA AND HIS KNOWN LINEAGE The book, "ROBINSON FAMILIES, 1358-1975", authored by Mr. Causton H. Robinson, gives many reference sources from which the data shown in the book was obtained. below is the lineage as provided by Mr. Robinson, Decatur, Alabama. Generation # 1 Children of Generation # 1 Christopher Robinson Cornelius, Edward, Henry, and b. ? County Durham, England Christopher. d. 1663 m. Frances Burrell Lived Charles City, VA. Arrived Virginia 18 Nov. 1642 Generation # 2 Children of Generation # 2 Cornelius Robinson Cornelius, Jonathan, Charles, John b. ? and Thomas. d. Alive in 1652 m. Unk. Lived Northumberland Co., VA. Generation # 3 Children of Generation # 3 Jonathan Robinson John, William, Jonathan, Christopher b. circa 1698 Charles and Benjamin. d. ? m. ? Lived Brunswick Co., VA. Generation # 4 Children of Generation # 4 John Robinson James, Elijah, Mark, John, James b. circa 1712, Ireland? Charles, Anne, and Sarah. d. ? (Note: Why two sons with same name?) m. Mary Gower Isle of Wight Co., VA Brunswick Co., VA Anson Co., NC Generation # 5 Children of Generation # 5 Gen. James Robertson Jonathan, James R., Peyton, Felix b. 29 June 1742 William B., Dr. Peyton?, John McN. d. 1 Sept. 1814 Deliah, Charlotte, and Lavina m. Charlotte Reeves Brunswick Co., VA Anson Co., NC Watuaga Settlement Nashville, Tennessee RFFERENCE SOURCE: Tennessee Cousins, authored by Worth S. Ray, pp. 679-684 GENERAL JAMES ROBERTSON, the founder of the Cumberland Settlement And of the great City of Nashville, was born in Brunswick Co., Virginia laune 28, 1742, the son of JONATHAN ROBERTSON and his wife, MARY GOWER. Exactly who MARY GOWER was, her actual parentage, etc., seems never to have been ascertained, except that she was undoubtedly of the same family as ABEL GOWER; and Dr. FELIX ROBRTSON "the first white child born in what is now Davidson County", made the statement that she was the daughter of ABEL GOWER. As there were several ABEL GOWER this leaves an unsolved puzzle for family historians. JOHN ROBERTSON and his wife MARY GOWER had the following children: 1. Gen. James Robertson (b. 1742) 2. Col. Elijah Robertson (1744-1797) 3. Mark Robertson (1745-1787) 4. John Robertson (d. 1780) 5. Charles Robertson (d. after 1805) 6. Anne Robertson (m. John Cockrill) 7. ---?--- Robertson (m. Cash) d. circa 1795 The above list is the one given in Col. Harllee's "Kinfolks". Mrs. Kitty Henley's account says he had ten children: Charles, James, Elijah, Mark, Jonathan, Julius, William, John Randolph, Anne and Sallie Robertson. JOHN ROBERTSON (m. Mary Gower) died at some time before 1776, because a historical note says that during the winter of that year GEN. JAMES ROBERTSON was in Wake County, N. Carolina on business and to receive from COL. MICHAEL ROGERS, guardian of his brother MARK ROBERTSON, the property to which he was entitled under the will of his father, JOHN ROBERTSON. GEN. JAMES ROBERTSON married CHARLOTTE REEVES, of/in Brunswick County, Virginia, and they had these children: 1. Jonathan Friar Robertson (1769-1814), m. Cidy Davis. 2. James Randolph Robertson (1??1-1793) killed by Indians. 3. Peyton Henderson Robertson (1775-1788) killed by Indians. 4. Dr. Felix Robertson (1781-1865) m. Lydia Waters of Maryland. 5. William Blount Robertson C1785-1837) m. Leodicia Erwin. 6. Dr. Peyton Robertson (b. 1787) m. Ellen Davis, dau. of John Davis. 7. John McNairy Robertson (1792-circa 1854) m. Lucy Scales. 8. Deliah Robertson m. John Bosley & lived in Canyon County. 9. Charlotte Reeves Robertson married Richard Claiborne Napier. They lived on Duck River in Hickman County. 10. Lavina Robertson married John Brown Craighead. COL. ELIJAH ROBERTSON, BROTHER OF GEN. JAMES ROBERTSON. Col. ELIJAH ROBERTSON was one of the brothers of Gen. JAMES ROBERTSON, and married SARAH MACLIN, said to have been the daughter of WILLIAM MACLIN who came to Tennessee and thc Wautauga Valley. It is probable that it was in that settlement that Col. ELIJAH ROBERTSON and SARAH MACLIN were married. ELIJAH ROBERTSON was an Indian fighter, probably had a knack for handling business propositions in the trading of lands. One account says that he did not remove to Cumberland settlement with his brother JAMES until 1783. His name appears frequently on the records of East Tennessee, and of Knox County as well up in the Jonesboro section. He was born about 1744, it is believed, being about two years the junior of Gen. JAMES ROBERTSON, his brother, both of whom were born in Brunswick County, Virginia. ELIJAH ROBERTSON died in Davidson Co., Tennessee in 1797, leaving a will in which he gives the names of his children who were then living and also in the will provided that BENNETT & ROBERT SEARCY shall assist his wife and JAMES ROBERTSON in dividing the estate among them. The children named were: 1. Sterling Robertson 2. Eldridge Robertson 3. James Robertson 4. Elizabeth Robertson 5. Patsy Robertson STERLING ROBERTSON, the eldest son was the STERLING CLACK ROBERTSON who was an empresario in Texas, and father of Gen. E.S.C ROBERTSON, of Texas. By the "Nashville Robertson's" of course is meant the family of GEN. JAMES ROBERTSON and his brothers, all sons of JOHN ROBERTSON and his wife, MARY GOWER. MARY GOWER is purely family tradition, however, because there seems to be no records of her identity, although she is without any doubt correct. Dr. FELIX ROBERTSON (son of GEN. JAMES ROBERTSON) and his sister, MRS. CRAIGHEAD, are both authority for statements that JOHN ROBERTSON, the ancestor had a brother CHRISTOPHER ROBERTSON, they think came to Virginia, but in regard to whom they know nothing further. Neither of them gives the slightest hint as to where they obtained knowledge of this CHARLES ROBERTSON. Mrs. LAVINIA (Robertson) CRAIGHEAD made this statement: "JOHN ROBERTSON and his brother CHARLES landed in Philadephia, from Ireland, JOHN went to Virginia and there married MARY GOWER, of an English Family." Dr. Felix Robertson says: CHARLES ROBERTSON, my Grandfather's brother, I expect, remained in or near Philadephia, but our family had no knowledge of him." These statements relating to the ancestor of the Robertson family, back of JOHN, are based purely on TRADITION & ERRONEOUS TRADITION, at that. Thc ROBERTSON'S did not come from Ireland at all, but their original ancestor was an ENGLISHMAN. CONFUSION IN THE SPELLING OF THE NAME, THE CAUSE. All the confusion in "tracing" the ancestry of the "Robertson" Family is clearly due to the way the name ROBERTSON is spelled on the old records. The historian, RAMSEY and others, including JUDGE SAMUEL C. WILLIAMS, have commented on this handicap. Considering all the variations, the writer concludes that until the family came to what is now TENNESSEE - and even after that time to some extent - there was absolutely NO FIXED RULE among the members of the family, about the proper way the name should be written or spelled. In other words, the manner in which the name is spelled on the old records, varies so much that the mere way in which it is spelled cannot be used as a guide to the identification of any particular set. Members of all branches of ROBERTSON and ROBINSON will be found spelled in both ways or style. Thus, there is no inconsistency in the assertion here indulged that the imigrant ancestor of the family spelled the name ROBINSON - and not ROBERTSON, and was therefore of the English family of that name, to which BISHIP ROBINSON, CHRISTOPHER ROBINSON and Speaker JOHN ROBINSON of Virginia, belonged. CRISTOPHER AND CORNELIUS ROBINSON IN VIRGINIA BY 1640. CHRISTOPHER ROBERTSON and one GEORGE CARTER have their names attached to a patent issued to JOHN EWENS, Jr., in Charles City County, Virginia, November l0, 1642, as headrights. This was three years before the CRISTOPHER ROBINSON, of Middlesex Co., Va. (father of Speaker JOHN ROBINSON) was born in England. So this CHRISTOPHER ROBINSON was an earlier "comer" to the Colony of Virginia than was the later CHRISTOPHER, whose family has been so often "written up" in the Virginia Genealogical annuals. GEORGE CARTER - his companion on the voyage, no doubt, from England, may have been and probably was a kinsman of JOHN CARTER who settled in Lancaster and Northumberland. Anyway, the writer believes this earlier CHRISTOPHER ROBINSON was the father of that person. CORNELIUS ROBINSON who settled in Northumberland County, Virginia, neighbor to the THOMAS and SAUNDERS families, and who in 1652 took the oath of allegiance to thc King. (See Va. Magazine of History & Biog'y, Vol. 49, page 33). Also see Nugent's Cavaliers and Pioneers, p. 139. The names of CHRISTOPHER and CORNELIUS ROBINSON were so spelled in the earlist records, but the spelling "ROBERTSON" is used by the third generation of the family, as often as original spelling, and canbe so identified on the records. EXCURSUS - THE SAUNDERS AND THOMAS FAMILY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY THE SAUNDERS FAMILY - The same one whose descendants settled in SUMNER COUNTY, Tennessee, were neighbors & associates of the CORNELIUS ROBINSON FAMILY, of Northumberland. EDWARD SAUNDERS came there from old England about the same time as the ROBINSONS came. The SAUNDERS, THOMAS & ROBINSON family lived not far from a place known as Fairfield, and the Rappahannock River, in Northuraberland County, near the line of Lancaster. EDWARDS SAUNDERS was a physician in 1662 to a Col. COLCOUGH, whose widow, after his death that year, married as her 3rd husband, WILLIAM THOMAS. By 1681 a family named SAUNDERS had located in Nansemond County, Virginia. Also members of the THOMAS FAMILY. The wife of COL. COLCLOUGH, who married WILLIAM THOMAS, was ELIZABETH WEBB, whose parents had lived and did then live, in Nansemond or Isle of Wight County, Va. As bearing directly on the family of Cornelius Robinson, of Northumberland County (as will be later explained) the following items from the records of Nansemond County, Va. are of special interest In 1681, ELIZABETH THOMAS made deed to ROBERT SAUNDERS, of Nansemond County, Va. a part of a former patent to JOHN SAUNDERS of Isle of Wight County. - From SAUNDERS' "Early Settlers of Alabama" p. 340. On April 23, 1681, RICHARD THOMAS, JOHN SAUNDERS and JONATHAN ROBINSON were granted 1650 acres of land in the Isle of Wight County, Va. - Isle of Wt. Records 7, p 721. RICHARD THOMAS was the son of a JOHN THOMAS, and March 21, 1677, was granted lands on Chuckatuck in Nansemond County, Va. (JOHN THOMAS may have been the brother of WILLIAM THOMAS who married ELIZABETH WEBB.) (Northumberland) RICHARD THOMAS left in Isle of Wight County in l687, and he named one son, JOHN THOMAS. This JQHN THOMAS married a daughter of MICHAEL ROGERS, who died in Isle of Wight Co., Va. in 1710 and left property to his four THOMAS Grandchildren, ELIZABETH, MARY, JOHN and RICHARD THOMAS. These had 1st cousins named SAUNDERS. The MICHAEL ROGERS who died in Isle of Wight County, Virginia, in 1710 was perhaps the uncle of JOSEPH ROGERS, who moved to North Carolina and left a will in Northampton County, in that state, Feb. 18, 1752, and who named ten children, including a MICHAEL ROGERS, who was perhaps the Capt. MICHAEL ROGERS, whom GENERAL JAMES ROBERTSON went to see in Wake County (?) North Carolina in 1776-7, and who was the guardian of his brother MARK ROBERTSON, after the death of the father JOHN ROBERTSON who m. MARY GOWER). It is not so hard, with these excerpts from the records to see why CAPT. MICHAEL ROGERS was made the guardian of one of the JOHN ROBERTSON (ROBINSON) children. There was surely a close relationship between MICHAEL ROGERS and JOHN ROBINSON. SONS OF CORNELIUS ROBINSON, WHO LIVE IN NORTHUMBERLAMD COUNTY How old CORNELIUS ROBINSON, of Northumberland County, was in 1652 when he took the "oath" as stated in the Virginia Magazine, we can only surmise. He had children, perhaps who lived past 1700, born perhaps after 1650. They appear, from the records that nention them much later, to have been: 1. Cornelius Robinson 2. Jonathan Robinson 3. Charles Robinson 4. John Robinson 5. Thomas Robinson The above sons of CORNELIUS ROBINSON (spelled as often ROBERTSON as ROBINSON) of Northumberland County, Va. were born probably between the years 1658-1675. I don't believe that the oldest son, CORNELIUS ROBINSON of this list lived much beyond the year 1700. 5. THOMAS ROBINSON was living in 1795 but deceased by 1714. 2. JONATHAN ROBINSON, who patented lands with RICHARD THOMAS and JOHN SAUNDERS in 1681 was alive in 1703, but deceased by 1726, several years. CHARLES and JOHN ROBINSON may have been living as late as 1725, but no record has been found to prove this. SOME OF THE GRANDCHILDREN OF CORNELIUS ROBINSON OF NORTHUMBERLAND l. CORNELIUS ROBINSON, considering various statements that appear on the old records, probably married a TOWNSEND, and had the following children: l. Townsend Robinson 2. Charles Robinson 3. Cornelius Robinson 4. James Robinson 5. David Robinson These sons of CORNELIUS ROBINSON and grandsons of the first CORNELIUS located in Augusta Parish in Virginia, with VALENTINE SEVIER as one of their neighbors and had their lands processioned in 1746-7. (See Chalkey's Augusta Records Vol. 2, p. 435.) 2. JONATHAN ROBINSON patented 1650 acres of land on Kingsale Swamp in Newport Parish, Isle of Wight County, Virginia, with JOHN SAUNDERS and RICHARD THOMAS in 1681. The wife of JONATHAN ROBINSON aay have been of the SAUNDERS family, or else she was a THOMAS. They had children: 1. John Robinson 2. William Robinson 3. Jonathan Robinson 4. Christopher Robinson 5. Charles Robinson 6. Benjamin Robinson 3. CHARLES ROBINSON (Son of thc first CORNELIUS ROBINSON) probably had sons: 1. Charles Robinson 2. Christopher Robinson 3. Abraham Robinson 4. Nicholas Robinson 5. David Robinson 4. JOHN ROBINSON (Son of the first CORNELIUS ROBINSON) probably had: l. John Robertson, Jr. 2. Nathaniel Robertson 3. Francis Robinson 4. William Robinson 5. Henry Robinson 6. Charles Robertson 7. Mark Robertson The sons of #2. JONATHAN ROBINSON (son of the first CORNELIUS) moved to the PEE DEE, Little River and Catawba, in North Carolina, including the oldest son JOHN ROBINSON whose wife was MARY GOWER. The repeated statement that this JOHN ROBINSON moved from Brunswick County, Virginia, down into Wake County, North Carolina, was and is only relatively true. There was, as a matter of fact no such county in existence in North Carolina, when the ROBERTSON family left Virginia and went south. DR. FELIX ROBERTSON, of Nashville qualified the statement by saying they went "low down" in Wake County, at first, and then went further up on the Nuese River into upper parts of Wake County. The truth is JOHN ROBINSON (and he so spelled his name at that time) went to what is now Lincoln or Gaston Co., but was then a part of Anson County, and settled. While he was still living there, the territory became a part of Tryon County, and this man played an important role in the history of his county, that reflected credit even on his own illustrious son, COL. JAMES ROBERTSON, who was even then carrying on with his projects over the mountains in the Watauga Valley. On August 14, 1775, a little less than three months after the Mecklenberg Declaration had been signed in Charlotte by a courageous band of patriots, the Tryon Association met in what is now Lincoln County and signed the Tryon Declaration, of a similiar mould. JOHN WALKER, the father of the later FELIX WALKER, who married a daughter of CHARLES ROBINSON (first cousin of JOHN ROBINSON), was Chairman of the Tryon Association, and among these who affixed their signatures to the instrument was JOHN ROBINSON. Some one has written that this JOHN ROBINSON was so illiterate he could not sign his name. A photostatic copy of his signature to the Tryon Declaration may be seen on page 20 to 21 of Sherill's "Annuals of Lincoln County". He spelled the name JOHN ROBINSON in a bold, swinging hand. Of course, we already know the names of his children. JOHN ROBINSON and his wife MARY GOWER came to the CATAWBA RIVER Country, When it was a part of ANSON COUNTY. On July 15, 1767 he bought of JOHN ASHLEY, 40 acres of land on the PEE DEE River, so that he may have been living in what is now RICHMOND COUNTY somewhere near the mouth of the YADKIN. In fact, had perhaps just arrived there with his family from BRUNSWICK COUNTY. His elder son JAMES ROBRTSON was entered as one of the first students at Queen's Museum in Mecklenburg County, established about this time, though LIBERTY HALL ACADEMY was not chartered by the Assembly until about the time GEN. JAMES ROBERTSON first "went over the Mountains". RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COL. CHARLES ROBERTSON AND GEN. JAMES ROBERTSON The relationship existing, if any, between COL. CHARLES ROBERTSON of the Watuaga Settlement and GENERAL JAMES ROBERTSON, later of DAVIDSON COUNTY, Tennessee, has long been an unsolved mystery. If you will forget about the way the name "ought to be spelled" and the ERRONEOUS TRADITION which has so long existed that the ROBERTSON FAMILY was of Scotch-Irish extraction, and study what is set down in these notes it will no longer be a mystery. 2. CHARLES ROBINSON (the son of the second Cornelius, grandson of the first Cornelius, and the great Grd.son of CHRISTOPHER ROBINSON) lived for some years in Augusta County, Virginia, with brothers, TOWNSEND, CORNELIUS, JAMES and DAVID RQBINSON, and his sons: l. CORNELIUS ROBINSON 2. CHARLES ROBINSON, JR. 3. BENJAMIN ROBINSON 4. HUGH ROBINSON 5. JAMES ROBINSON. The father of these children was referred to as CHARLES ROBINSON, Sr., and he was a nephew of JONATHAN ROBINSON, of ISLE OF WIGHT OOUNTY, Va., and the first cousin of JOHN ROBINSON, who married MARY GOWER. It was his son CHARLES ROBINSON (or ROBERTSON) who was settled on the Watauga watith Gen. JAMES ROBERTSON, of whom he was a second cousin. COL. CHARLES ROBERTSON of the Watauga, had a brother, JAMES ROBERTSON, but he was not our GEN. JAMES ROBERTSON. This other JAMES ROBERTSON (bro. of COL. CHARLES) in March, 1753, bought two tracts of land adjoining ROBERT BREVARD, in what is now IREDELL COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, from ALEXANDER OSBOURNE and his wife, and this perhaps about marks the date that CHARLES ROBERTSON, Sr. and his family left Augusta County, Virginia, and settled in what was then ANSON COUNTY, North Carolina, where they were joined only a short time afterward by the sons of JONATHAN ROBINSON, from Brunswick County, Virginia, including the JOHN ROBINSON who married MARY GOWER. All the deeds and other written instruments on which these notes are based, will be found on record in ANSON COUNTY, North Carolina. THE ROBINSON'S OF AUGUSTA COUNTY, VA MOVE TO ANSON COUNTY, N. CAROLINA. The deed and will records of ANSON CO., NORTH CAROLINA, show that CHARLES ROBINSON, Sr. of Augusta County, Virginia had moved to ANSON COUNTY, by 1750. On June 25, 1750, Charles Robinson, Sr. bought 42 acres of land from his son, CHARLES ROBINSON, Jr. located on Little River. TOWNSEND ROBINSON (brother of CHARIES Sr., on June 11, 1750, bought from Nicholas Smith (Isle of Wight County, Virginia), 40 acres on PEE DEE RIVER. JAMES ROBINSON (brother of Charles Sr. or his son) bought 115 acres from JOHN McRAY (an old Constable in Augusta Co., Va.) on July 15, 1751. HUGH ROBINSON (son of Charles Sr.) had sold to SAMUEL YOUNG, March 6, 1758, 302 acres of land on the Cawtaba River. CORNELIUS ROBINSON (brother of CHARLES ROBINSON, Sr.) bought 360 acres on PEE DEE River in ANSON COUNTY, from WILLIAM TERRY, of Lunenburg County, Va. (formerly). CORNELIUS ROBINSON (Son of CHARLES ROBINSON Sr., and brother of CHARLES ROBINSON Jr.) (Col. Charles Robertson of Watauga later) sold to CHARLES ROBINSON Jr., on October 23, 1765 (the deed executed in Anson County, N.C.) a tract of 400 acres of land, part of a tract of 600 acres, formerly the property of CHARLES ROBINSON, Sr., and bequeathed to his son CORNELIUS ROBINSON by his last will and testament, located on the East Bank of Little River of the Great PEE DEE. Deed signed by CORNELIUS ROBINSON and his wife ELIZABETH, both signing their names. (I have a certified copy of the above deed. Ed.) There are dozens of other deeds by the members of the ROBINSON FAMILY still on record at Wadesboro in ANSON COUNTY. FROM AUGUSTA, VA., records: CORNELIUS ROBINSON, of ANSON CONNTY (N.C.) sells ADAM REIDER 400 acres, left him by the will of his father, CHARLES ROBINSON, (Sr.) on North River of Shenandoah in Va. March 18, 1757. (CHARLES ROBINSON, Sr. was deceased at the time). From RAMSEY'S ANNUALS: April 23, 1796, the Legislature appointed additional COMMISSIOMERS for the town of JONESBORO, Tennessee. Among them, JOHN TIPTON AND ADAMS REIDER. --------------------------------------- SOURCE: INDEX TO "HATHAWAY'S REGISTER" by Worth S. Ray. Published by Gen. Publishing Company, 1979. ROBERTSON FAMILY. From the old BRISTOL PARISH REGISTER in VIRGINIA we learn that one CORNELIUS CARGILL married ELIZABETH DANIEL and that their First child WILLIAM CARGILL was born on June 15, 1727, which gives us an approximate date of the marriage. On Oetober 11, 1733, that ininitable character, COL. WILLIAM BYRD wrote in his "Journey to the Land of Eden": "In a distance about two miles we reached the DAN (ri ver), which we forded with some difficulty into the fork, and then we passed through two good miles across the STAUNTON (river). COL. COCKE had been surveying lands in these parts and particularly that of MR. STITH'S COPPER MINE, and a tract on which CORNELIUS CARGILL has also a mine of good appearance. We thought best of CARGILL'S MINE." For the years 1751-2 in LUNENBURG COUNTY, VIRGINIA, a complete set of the tythe lists have been discovered, and they were taken by LYDDAL BACON, WILLIAMS CALDWELL and one certain CORNELIUS CARGILL. (Sunlight on the South Side, p. 178, by LANDON C. BELL). On the list for 1751 appear the names: John Robertson Mark Robertson Edward Robertson 4 tythes John Robertson Junr 1 On page 48 of Bell's Sunlight appears this statement with respect to such lists: "If a person returned his list of tythes with a certain number made up of his own name and certain slaves, there is a reasonable presumption that the tithables bearing his name may be his children, who where that year bctween the ages of SIXTEEN and TWENTY-ONE Years of age", And cites an example from the list of CORNELIUS CARGILL. So we are reasonably certain that JOHN ROBERTSON in 1751 had two sons, MARK and EDWARD over SIXTEEN, and one son, JOHN ROBERTSON Jr. probably married and with several children UNDER SIXTEEN at the time. Any children the elder JOHN had UNDER SIXTEEN are not listed. JOHN ROBERTSON (above) married a daughter of CORNELIUS CARGILL, who had a copper mine of "fine appearance" when COL. WILLIAM BYRD and his party went to visit him in 1733. The record said he married ELIZABETH DANIEL. She was probably his second wife as she could have hardly have been the mother of a daughter with three sons over sixteen in 1751-2. Two more sons, too young to be enumerated in the above list, because they were under sixteen, were CHARLES and CORNELIUS ROBERTSON. How many other children there may have been we have no way of telling, but of these we are quite sure. It is likely that DAVID ROBERTSON (who appears On the CARGILL list for 1752) may have been another. JOHN ROBERTSON, Jr. married MARY GOWER, of an o1d VIRGINIA FAMILY, and had JAMES, ELIIAH, MARK, JOHN, CHARLES, ANNE and another daughter who married WILLIAM CASH. CORNELIUS ROBERTSON (name of wife unknown ) most certainly had two Sons: CORNELIUS ROBERTSON, who married CLARISSA HILL, and CHARLES ROBERTSON (known as "BLACK CHARLES") of the WATAUGA VALLEY, in Tennessee. The U. S. Census of N. C. for 1750 shows CORNELIUS had two other sons & two daughters, but what became of them we do not know, unless perhaps they were the JOHN ROBERTSON & WILLIAM ROBERTSON who appear on the land records of LAURENS COUNTY, S. C. with a CORNELIUS CARGILL in 1834, they might have been. CORNELIUS ROBERTSON and JOHN ROBERSON, together with CHARLES (Black Charles" son of CORNELIUS) appear together on the U. S. CENSUS RECORDS for 1790 in MONTGOMERY COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, Charles at that time unmarried. In letters to DR. LYMAN C. DRAPER in 1854, DR. FELIX ROBERTSON, of NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE (Son of JAMES ROBERTSON) says that JOHN ROBERTSON who married MARY GOWER emigrated from Virginia to WAKE COUNTY, N. C.. MONTGOMERY COUNTY is directly South of RALEIGH (the state Capital and County Seat of Wake County) while the article in this record ( 1-632, 1-633 ) intimates that CORNELIUS married in ANSON COUNTY, which joins on the South. The Census record places both JOHN and CORNELIUS in the general vicinity of WAKE, though a little lower down. He further states that "Black Charles", he is quite sure, was NOT the son of his grandfather's brother CHARLES ROBERTSON, whom he thinks "lived in Philadelphia". He did NOT live in Philadelphia, unless he moved there from Montgomery County, N. C. after 1790. This brother CHAARLES ROBERTSON was simply swallowed up in the grand rush of migration that eminated among the members of this family after they began to leave NORTH CAROLINA for different destinations in the South. The late COLONEL WILLIAM CURRY HARLLEE, in his monumental work on the ROBERTSON FAMILY was extremely loath to depart from his well established traditions and insisted that the statements by DR. FELIX ROBERTSON to LYMAN C. DRAPER regarding the origin of the family were strictly true, and that "My grandfather JOHN was a native of IRELAND, and his father (not named) a native of SCOTLAND. This could have been true and I have no evidence to refute it, but that JOHN and his brother CHARLIES came direct to this country from IRELAND by way of PENNSYLVANIA, only two brothers, is, I think refuted by the LUNENBURG RECORDS I have noted, which shows that their FATHER was tithable in the county in Virginia, in 1751-2. It is also refuted by the MONTGOMERY COUNTY, N.C. Census for 175O. The descendants of JOHN ROBERTSON and his wife MARY GOWER, including GENERAL JAMES ROBERTSON, the oldest son, who founded the Cumberland Settlement (Nashville) in Tennessee, and whose grandson established large landed estates in Texas, is thoroughly covered in Col. Harllee's three volumes of "KINFOLKS", so the purpose of this sketch, in the main, is to throw some light on the descendant relatives of CORNELIUS ROBERTSON about whom a "Correspondent in Atlanta, Georgia" wrote DR. HATHAWAY for publication in the last number of his REGISTER C 1-632, 1-633). The four sons of CORNELIUS ROBERTSON, of MONTGOMERY COUNTY, N.C. in l790, were CHARLES (then above 21 years of age ), CORNELIUS (II), WILLIAM and JOHN ROBERTSON. The name is spelled ROBERTSON on the Census, as ROBERTSON on the Laurens County (S.C.) records, and ROBERTSON by the descendants who came to TEXAS, with one exception. TOD ROBERTSON spelled the name ROBINSON, though the other KENTUCKY relatives spelled it ROBERTSON. All of the TENNESSEE family spelled the name ROBERTSON as did GENERAL JEROME B. ROBERTSON and his son GENERAL FELIX A. ROBERTSON. The name is also spelled ROBERTSON on LUNENBURG, VIRGINIA records so we are forced to the conclusion that the "correspondent in Atlanta, Georgia" was in error in spelling the name ROBINSON. In 1790 when the UNITED STATES CENSUS was taken in MONTGOMERY COUNTY, North Carolina CORNELIUS ROBERTSON (II) brother of "Black Charles" Robertson, of Tennessee, was perhaps a little under 21 years of age, though listed as "over sixteen", which indicated he was born about after 1770. He married CLARISSA HILL who was born in 1779, by 1793-4. Notes gathered by this compiler establishes the fact that that CORNELIUS ROBINSON emigrated from North Carolina to KENTUCKY where he lived for a time, and went from there to ALABAMA, where he was Captain of a Company who went against the Indians ometime during thc 1830's in a Battalion commanded by R.E.B. BAYLOR, who was also from KENTUCKY. Col. Baylor was both a Minister and a lawyer and came to Texas and settled at OLD INDEPENDENCE. He became one of the first members of the TEXAS SUPREME COURT after Statehood. The sons of CORNELIUS ROBERTSON also settled at INDEPENDENCE, and CLARISSA (HILL) ROBERTSON died and is buried there in the old cemetery, where this compiler copied her tombstone inscription about 1938, which recites that she died there, the relict of CORNELIUS ROBERTSON on FEBRUARY 5, 1864, aged 84 years and six months. This places her birth in 1779. Who was she? CLARISSA HILL (who married CORNELIUS ROBERTSON about 1793-4) was a daughter of one ABRAHAM HILL who married CHRISTIAN WALTON. This is a Good place to set out what is hnown of this HILL FAMILY line. HUMPHREY MARSHALL died in ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY, Virginia, in 1711, leaving a will in which no sons, but some daughters are mentioned in (BODDIE'S l7th CENTURY ISLE OF WIGHT, pp 232-233). THOMAS HILL and MARY WARSHALL were the parents of HENRY APPLEWHITE, ISAAC HILL, THOMAS HILL and ROBERT HILL. Perhaps others. The son THOMAS HILL was the father of HUMPHREY HILL of KING and QUEEN COUNTY, Virginia, Who left many descendants. ISAAC HILL was thc father of WILLIAM HILL who settled in LUNENBURG COUNTY, Virginia. He is said to have married JENNINGS. He was the father of MARY HILL who married CLEMENT READ and is the ancestor of ABNER and JOSEPH NASH, through their marriages. ROBERT HILL has been unplaced, as yet, but he aay have been the father, among others of SION HILL, whose father was ROBERT. HENRY APPLEWHITE HILL was the father of COL. BENJAMIN HILL, ABRAHAM HILL (m. JUDITH), WILLIAM HILL (m. JONES), ISAAC HILL (b. 1725) who settled in TENNESSEE, after living for a time in GFORGIA, and GREEN HILL (b. 1714) who married GRACE BENNETT, the daughter of WILLIAM BENNETT of NORTHHAMPTON OOUNTY, N.C.. ABRAHAM HILL (who married JUDITH) and who died in CHOWAN in 1760, was the father of ABRAHAM, HENRY, ISAAC and THEOPHELIUS HILL. ISAAC settled in GEORGIA; and HENRY married SARAH COTTON and had eight children; THEPHELUS HILL married TERESA THOMAS, daughter of JOHN THOMAS Sr., and ABRAHAM HILL married CHIRISTIAN WALTON. This last couple were the parents of CLARISSA HILL who became the wife of CORNELIUS ROBERTSON. CLARISSA HILL had eleven brothers and sisters, whose names are all listed in the "HILLS OF WILKES COUNTY, GA." It is possible that CORNELIUS ROBERTSON died in ALABAMA, and that his widow came to Texas to live among her children and numerous other relatives, including the APPLEWHITES and WALLACES. CORNELIUS ROBERTSON and his wife CLARISSA HILL, had among possible others, the following children: (1) GEN. JEROME B. ROBERTSON, who on the death of GEN. JOHN B. HOOD, was promoted to command the famous "HOOD'S BRIGADE" of Texas Troops. He was the father of GEN. FELIX ROBERTSON who died in WACO, TEXAS, only a few years ago, then the "last living General of the Confederacy". Son FELIX (the Great grandson of CORNELIUS ROBERTSON) was a JUDGE of the District Court in Dallas for many years, but is now deceased. HENRY BELL ROBERTSON, the youngest son of GEN. JEROME B. ROBERTSON, died Oct. 23, 1860. The wife of GEN. JEROME B. ROBERTSON was MARY E. CUMMINGS, who died in 1868 in INDEPENENCE, TEXAS. (2) HON. TOD ROBERTSON (second son) who married MARY CRITTENTON, of KENTUCKY. He was born in NORTH CAROLINA in 1813, and came to TEXAS and settled in BRAZORIA COUNTY in 1839. He served as a member of Congress of the Republic of Texas several terms before Texas became a state, and he is said to have become a JUDGE in CALIFORNIA. He had a number of children who are listed by the "Correspondent from Atlanta, GA" (1-633) in this record. One grandson, TOD ROBINSON (so spelled) is a prominent business man in AUSTIN, TEXAS. (3) MARY ROBERTSON, who became the wife of JOHN ALSTON DUDLEY for whom sec (1-633). (4-5?) GEORGE ROBERTSON and ANDREW ROBERTSON, who were among the very early settlers and members of STEPHEN F. AUSTIN'S "first three hundred" colonists to Texas, may have been sons of CORNELIUS, but there is no proof of this as fact. CORNELIUS ROBERTSON, father of GEN. JEROME B. ROBERTSON, and ELIJAH ROBERTSON, father of STERLING CLACK ROBERTSON, the Texas Empresario, were second cousins. In ante-bellam (Civil War) days they lived about 40 miles apart and the two families called each other "cousins" and were socially intimate, according to local tradition in Texas. ------------------------------------- REFERENCE SOURCE: HATHAWAY'S "North Carolina Historical & Genealogical Register, October 1900, Volume 1, No. 4, pp 632-633. QUERIES AND ANSWERS Cornelius Robinson and Elizabeth Robinson (whose maiden name was Pickett) and of the celebrated Pickett family of N. C., one of whom went early to Alabama, and I believe her father to have been William Picket of Anson Co., N. C., in fact both of Anson Co., N. C., had the following children, viz: (1). Tod Robinson who accompanied his lst cousin Col. William Raiford Pickett to Alabama where he located and become a large planter, etc., he had children (a) Maj. Wm. Dudley Robinson md. Mary Dudley, (b) Genl. Cornelius Robinson md. ---?--- ---?---, (c) Capt. Eli Robinson md Elizabeth Robinson, (d) Tod Robinson, Judge of the Court in California md. Miss Crittenden, niece of Gov. Crittenden of Kentucky, (e) Harriet Robinson md. Mr. Caldwell, issue Tod R. Caldwell, Governor of N. C., (I think), (f) Ann Robinson md. Mr. Wyatt, issue Tod Wyatt md. Sally Dudley. (2). Mary Robinson (who was not satisfied in N. Carolina away from her brother in Alabama, influenced her husband to break up and move to Alabama, where he became like his brother-in-law a large planter) md John Alston Dudley, issue (a) Sallie Dudley md. Tod Wyatt, (b) Mary Dudley md. Maj. William Robinson, (c) Martha Dudley md. James Napier Torrence (son of Samuel and Mary Torrence and grand-son of John and Jemima Torrence), issue, (1) William II Torrence md S. V. Henderson, (2) James W. Torrence md ---?--- ---?---, (3) Victoria Alston Torrence md J. W. Brevard, (4) John E. Torrence md. Kate Winter Clayton and had issue, (1) William Clayton Torrence died in infancy, (2) Wm. Wirt Clayton Torrence born 1884, (3) John Earle Torrence born 1888, (4) Maude Dudley Torrence born 1899 died 1894, (5) Paul Aumner Torrence born 1891, (6) Ratherine Torrence born 1893 died 1898, (d) Cornelia Dudley, (e) Amanda Dudley md Winter Gordon, (f) Gilford Dudley died aged 16 years, (g) Elizabeth Dudley md. Capt. Eli Robinson. The above is from a correspondent in Atlanta, Georgia. ----------------------------------- REFERENCE SOURCE: "Historical Southern Families", by Boddie, Vol. I, pp 36-43. Original information found in Newberry Library, Chicago, Illinois, 1978. James Kendrick, son of William and Sarah (Jones) Kendrick was born about 1733-4, probably in Isle of Wight Co., Va. He was probably the eldest son of this couple, being the child brought into the Colony of North Carolina with them about 1735. He and his brother John were old enough to be in the Granville Co. militia Oct. 8, 1754, in the Great Muster for the French and Indian War (N.C. Col. and State Rec., Vol. 22, p. 373). This shows they were over 16 years of age, but as their sister Mary was born in 1738, they were obviously born a few years earlier, James about 1733-4 and John about 1735-6. The tax-lists of Granville Co., N.C. shows James as a tithable in 1755 in William Kendrick's family, his brother Jahn having probably moved elsewhere at this time. James must have married during this same year, 1755, Susannah, daughter of Israel and Sarah Roberson of Granville Co., for John Kendrick, their eldest son, was appointed constable in his father's militia district in Chatham Co., N.C. at the November Court, 1777, showing that he was of age, and probably born in 1756, certainly not later than date. Israel Roberson (Robertson, Robinson, Robyson), the father of Susannah Kendrick, was born in Prince George Co., Va., about 1698-1700, as his oldest son, Matthew, was born in 1720, and Israel himself was not too old to serve as an Ensign in the Granville Co., N.C. militia in the General Muster Oct. 8, 1?54 (N.C. Colonial and State Records, Vol. 22, p. 372-3). He served in the same company, Capt. Richard Coleman's, as James and John Kendrick, and the list of militiamen shows also Israel's sons, Matthew (Sergeant), Israel, Jr., and John Robinson. Prince George Co., Va. records indicate practically conclusively that Israel Roberson and his brothers, John and Edward Roberson, were sons of Nicholas Roberson, of Bristol Parish, Prince George Co., thus connecting them with two of the founders of the first Baptist Church established in Virginia (cy. Ryland, "The Baptists of Virginia", pp. 2-5). Probably at the request of Matthew Marks, in 1714 the General Assembly of the General Baptists of England sent to Virginia the Rev. Robert Norden to become pastor of a Baptist congregation, and at the Prince George Co. Court June 14, 1715, Robert Norden, "An Anabaptist preacher", took the oath of allegiance, and Matthew Mark's home was authorized as a meeting house for the Baptists (O.B. 1714-20, p. 20). At the next court, July 12, 1715, "On the motion of Nicholas Robertson it's ordered that his house be recorded a publick meeting house for the sext of Anabaptists" (p.25). Matthew Marks had lived in Charles City Co., Va. (later Prince George) at least since June, 1691, when he was summoned before the court for not going church, indicating that he was probably already a Baptist and opposed to worshipping in Ihe Established Church (Charles City orders, 1687-95, p. 348). He was a comparatively wealthy man and was owner of 1500 acres in Prince George Co. in 1784 (VM 28, p. 344). He died in Prince George Co. in 1719. The will of Matthew Marks of Martins Brandon Parish, dated Aug. 15, 1719 and probated at Merchants Hope Oct. 13, 1719, leaves land to Edward, son of Edward Marks; to John Robyson; to Israel and Edward Robinson; to John Marks, son of Israel marks; to his daughter Mary Davenport; states that Robert Norden (the Baptist Minister mentioned above) is to have a room reserved for him in the house as long as he remains in Virginia and is to have the plantation until Edward Marks comes of age; and appoints Robert Norden and John Avery executors (D. & W. HM., 1713-28, p. 358). An account of the estate in 1720 shows that the daughter was the wife of George Davenport, and mentions a parcel of books "belonging to the Baptist ministcr, not belonging to Marks (p. 47m). It is unfortunate that the will mentions no relationships except the daughter, Mary Davenport. However, it seems practically certain that the Marks and Roberson legatees were grandsons. The legatee, Edward Narks, was the son of an Edward Marks who died prior to 1714, his widow Martha in that year being the wife of James Bell (O.B. 1714-28, p. 6). She was a sister of William Santain, whose Will, dated Dec. 31, 1716 and probated May 14, 1717, mentions his wife; Iames Bell and martha hfs wife ("my sister")i and her children, Edward Marks and James Bell (D. & W. Bk. 1713-28, p. 162). John Marks, the other Marks legatee, was the son of Israel Marks who died in 1718, and his wife Elizabeth, who was a daughter of Richard Pigeon, who also died in 1718 (D. & W. Bk. 1713-28, pp 258 & 288). Edward Marks, Sr. and Israel Marks were almost certainly sons of Matthew Marks. The names Israel and Edward Roberson among the legatees, the fact that Israel Roberson's eldest son was named Matthew, and the fact that the three Roberson brothers were left together 200 acres of land (the same as Edward Marks and the daughter Mary Davenport), indicate very strongly that their mother was a daughter of Matthew Marks, who had predeceased her father. That the three Roberson brothers were sons of Nicholas Robertson is, also, practically certain, for both John and Israel Roberson had sons named Nicholas, John Roberson witnesses a deed made by Nicholas Roberson in 1718, all four men lived in Bristol Parish, Prince George Co., and Nicholas Roberson is the only Roberson shown in the records who was of an age to have been their father. Nicholas Roberson first appears in the Charles City Co. records in 1687-8, when he recorded his mark for cattle (Charles City Orders, 1687-95, p. 109), indicating that he was of age, so born about 1665-7. On April 21, 1698, he and Nicholas Darrell were granted jointly 289 acres of land (Patent Hook 8, p. 55). We have indicated that his first wife was a daughter of Matthew Marks. His second wife was Jane Tillman, daughter of Roger and Susannah Tillman of Prince George Co. The will of Susannah Tillman, aged 69 years, was dated Nov. 19, 1716, and probated in Prince George Co. Mar. 12, 1?16-17 (D. & W. 1713-28, p. 1d4). It mentions sons Thomas Parham, George Tillman, and John Tillman; daughters Jane Robinson and Christian Abernathy; granddaughter Mary Bethel; and grandson Robert Abernathy. Susannah Tillman's son, Thomas Parham, in his will dated Feb. 15, 1716-17 and probated May 14, 1717, mentions as lagatees: Nicholas Robyson (100 acres of land), John Tillman, William Pettypool, Sr., sons Thomas and William Parham, daughters Amy Jones, Elizabeth Tucker, Phoebe, Susannah, and Jane, and wife Elizabeth (D. & W. 1713-28, p. 168). On May 12, 1718, Nicholas Robertson of Bristol Parish deeded the land left him by Thomas Parham to George Tillman, the land having originally been patented by Roger Tillman, father of George (same, p. 228), and Jane Robyson, wife of Nicholas, relinquished her dower in the land Nov. 14, 1721 (p. 501). The deed was witnessed by John Robyson and George Davenport (husband of Mary Marks). This is the last appearance of Nicholas Roberson in the records. Nicholas Roberson was probably the son of Edward Robinson and wife Ann of Charles City Co.. This Edward Robinson was administrator of Francis West in 1679 (Charles City Orders, 1677-79, pp. 359-398), and died late in 1689 or early in 1698, his wife Anne being appointed his administratrix (Charles City Records, 1689-98, p. 86; Orders 1687-95, p. 274). Edward Robinson was the son of Christopher Robinson of Bristol Parish, then in Henrico Co., Va., who first appears in the records in 1642 in a grant to John Ewens, Jr., in Charles City Co., (C. & P., p. 189), and on Feb. 23, 1652, was granted 600 acres of land in Henrico Co., Va. along with John Sturdevant (C. & P., p. 273). Christopher Robinson was dead by Aug. 31, 1663, when Francis Burrell gave bond for the administration of his estate (VM, 18, p. 196). On Oct. 19, 1677, Edward Robinson and Anne, his wife, he being son and heir of Christopher Robinson, decd., late of Brfstol Parish, Henrico Co., deeded the land he enherited to Nicholas Dyson and Richard Kennon (Henrico Co. D. & W. Bk. #1, p. 25). Another son of Christopher Robinson was Christopher, Jr., who on June 4, 1681, receipted his mother, Mrs. Frances Burrell, for his inheritance from his father (same, p. 179). Hcnry Robinson, who witnessed the deed from Edward mentioned above, was probably another son. Of the three brothers, John, Israel and Edward Roberson, mentioned in Matthew Mark's will, Edward was probably the youngest, born about 1700-02. He was of age March 14, 1722-23, when Israel Robinson, Sarah his wife, and Edward his brother, deeded away the land left jointly to Israel and Edward by Matthew Mark's (D. & W. 1713-28, p. 967). Edward Roberson had a survey of land in 1772 in Prince George Co. which was cmnfirmed to him by patent in 1726 (D. & W. 1713-28, p. 762; Va. Patent Bt. 13, p. 68). He appears to have moved to North Carolina, where he petitioned for land in 1739 and again in 1745, in Edgecombe Co., (N.C. Colonial and State Records, IV, 348). After this there is no further rocord of him. John Roberson, the eldest brother, was probably born about 1695-98. Chamberlayne's "Vestry Book and Register of Bristol Parish", shows the births of John Robertson's six children by his wife Mary as follows: (1) Nathanael, b. June 21, 1723, bapt. Aug. 21, (p.357); (2) Abraham b. July 21, 1725 (p. 367); (3) Frances b. Mar 3, l726/7 (p. 358); (4) Mark b. June 23, 1729 (p. 358); (5) Edward b. Dec. 22, 1731, bapt. April 23, 1732 (p. 359); and (6) Robert b. June 18, 1734 (p. 360). John Robyson and Mary his wife on Feb. 6, 1719, deeded away the land that had been left him by Matthew Marks (D. & W. 1713-28, p. 384), and a survey of 250 acres was made for him in Prince George Co in 1722 (p. 762). During the years 1728-175Q1 he received land-grants in Prince George, Brunswick, and Lunenburg Co.s', Va. (Patent Bk. 13, pp. 122, 457; 15, p. 135; 17, p. 123; 29, p. 238). John Roberson, Mary his wife, and his sons John and Nicholas appear in a number of deeds in Brunswick Co., Va. and apparently lived in that county for several years. Bell's "$unlight on the Southside" shows that from 1748 to 1752 John Roberson and his sons, John, Nicholas, Abraham, Nathaniel, Mark, Edward and Robert, were all living in Lunenburg Co., and deeds to and from them show their residence there later in the 1750's. The son Abraham died there in 1762 (W. B. Bk. 2, p. 47). The son Nathaniel died in Mecklenburg Co., Va. in 1792, his will, dated June 14, 1792 and probated Oct., 1792, mentioning his wife Elizabeth, sons Benjamin, Mark and John, daughter Frances Robinson and her sons Elijah and Pleasant Robinson, daughter Keziah Johnson and her sons William and John Johnson, daughter Patty Robinson and her sons Charles and Leonard Robinson; and daughter Molly Paschall (Mecklenburg W. B. Bk. 3, p. 128). John Roberson, Sr., moved to Granville Co., N.C. sometime about 1760 and died there in 1774. His will, dated April 8, 1773 and probated in Granville Co. at the May Caurt, 1774, mentions his daughter Sarah Short, sons John and Nicholas, Mark Roberson's youngest child, granddaughter Ruth, daughter of Abraham Roberson, Robert Roberson, Iames Mitchell, Nathaniel Roberson, grand daughter Susannah Roberson, wife Mary; "my seven children", Sarah, Jdhn, Nicholas, Nathaniel, Frances, Mark and Robert, residuary legatees aftcr wife's death; Edward Robcrson, Miles Williams and Charles Eaton, executors. Israel Roberson, the father of Susannah, wife of James Kendrick, by his wife Sarah had the following children recorded in Chamberlayne's "Vestry Hook and Register of Bristol Parish, Va.":(1) Matthew b. Nov. 22, 1720, bapt. April 20, 1721 (p. 356); (2) John, b. May 8, 1723, bapt. Aug. 21 (p. 357); (3) Israel b. Nov. 14, 1725 (p. 357); (4) David b. Aug. 19, 1728 (p. 358); (5) Nicholas b. Sept. 12, 1731, bapt. Nov. 7 (p. 359); and (6) Charles b. July 24, 1733 (p. 36ff). In addition to the above 6 children, Israel Roberson's will shows he had two other children, Susannah Kendrick, and George Roberson. The will names the above 6 children in the exact order of their births, then names Susannah Kandrick, and finally, George, thus indicating that Susannah was the next youngest child, and George the youngest. This indicates that Susannah was born about 1T35-6, and George about 1737-39. I do not know why the birth of these last two children are not shown in the Bristol Parish Register, for Israel was still living there as late as 1739. It is possible that by the time of their birth, Israel had returned to the Baptist faith of his father and grandfather. Israel Roberson and David Williams were processioners in the parish in 1731 and 1735, and Israel and his brother John Roberson were processioners there in 1739 (Chamberlayne, pp. 55, 57, 77, 92 and 99). It is possible that a George Robinson, born Dec. 6, 1740, who is strangely recorded as son of Martha and Sarah Robinson, was really Israel's son, George. However, Israel's oldest son, Matthew, had a son George, so that it seems somewhat more likely that Martha above was a corruption of the name Matthew, and this (George was Matthew's eldest son. There is no positive evidence of the maiden name of Sarah, Israel Roberson's wife, though it is possible that she was a Williams and sister of David, Charles and George Williams, who where bringing children for baptism in Bristol Parish about the same time as the Robersons. Israel and Sarah had sons named David, Charles, and George, which were apparently not named Roberson family names, and may indicate that they were named for these Williams men, their uncles. We have alluded to the deed May 14, 1722-23, in which Israel left Roberson, Sarah his wife, and his brother Edward sold the land left them by Matthew Marks (Prince George Co., D. & W. bk., 1713-28, p. 967). Israel Roberson had other surveys for land in the county in 1722 and 1726 (same, pp. 761 and 1026). From 1726 to 1749 Israel Roberson had grants of land in Prince George, Brunswick, and Lunenburg Cos., Va. and his sons Matthew and David in Lunenburg Co. (Va. Patent Bks. 13, p. 41; 14, pp. 83 and 3g9; 29, pp. 21 and 29; and 31, p. 151). Israel, however, never seems like his brother John, to have lived in Brunswick or Lunenburg Co., though his sons Matthew and David livcd in Lunenburg, Va. for several years from 1748 to 1755 (Bell, "Sunlight on the Southside", pp. 73, 167, 188; Lunenburg D. B. # 3, p. 91 and 7, p. 128). Israel Roberson seems to have moved directly from Prince George Co., Va. to Edgecombe Co., N.C., where he was granted 600 acres of land Nov. 24, 1744 (N. C. Colonial & State Records, Vol. IV, p. 708). This was the section of Edgecombe which later fell into Granville Co., N.C. and all his sons later joined him in Granville. We have mentioned that Israel, Sr., was an Ensign, his son Matthew a Sergeant, and his sons Israel, Jr., Nicholas and John, privates in the Great Muster of Granville Co. Militia (Jct. 8, 1754 (same, Vol. 22, pp. 372-3). Israel Roberson owned large areas of land in Granville Co., N. C. and appears in numerous deeds there from 1749 to 1759 deeds of gift to his sons Matthew, Nicholas and Israel (D.B.A., p. 221; D.B. "B", pp. 352, 427, 469; D.B. "C", pp. 130, 176, 631, 634 and 635). The will of Israel Roberson, dated Dec. 4, 1758 and probated in Granville Co. Aug. 12, 1760 was not recorded in the books there, but his original will No. 59 in the Clerk's Office. "It makes bequests to the son MATTEW ROBERSON and MATTHEW'S daughter MARY; sons JOHN, ISRAEL AND DAVID ROBERSON, and DAVID'S son ISRAEL; son NICHOLAS and NICHOLAS' daughter ABBY; son CHARLES and CHARLES'S son JULIUS; daughter SUSANNAH HENDRICK; son GEORGE ROBERSON property after the death of "SARAH ROBERSON my beloved wife, the mother of GEORGE"; and appoints David and George Roberson executors. The son George Roberson died unmarried in 1761. His will, dated Aug. 22, 1761 and probated at the Nov. Court, 1761, mentions his mother Sarah Robertson: my brother Charles' son Julius; my sister Susannah Kendrick's son John Kendrick; my brother David's son Matthew; my brother Matthew's son George; my brother Nicholas' son Charles; my sister Susannah Kendrick; my brother Israel's son Joel and daughter Sarahi and appoints "my brother Matthew Roberson and mes Kendrick" executors. The only other son of Israel and Sarah Robertson who left a will was David, who moved to Tryon Co., N.C., and as "David Robertson" left a will dated July 8, 1771, now on file in the Clerk's office of Lincoln Co., N.C.. It mentions his wife, Frances Robertson; children Matthew, Molly, Israel, Isaac, Isham, James, David, Abner, Sally, John and Betty Robertson; brother Charles Robertson and the latter's youngest son, George. The brother Matthew Robertson was a witness. NOTE: Lolita, I have enclosed everything that I can find concerning the subject matter requested. I went back through four years of file folders concerning correpondence with Causton H. Robinson and abstracted everything I could on anything remotely connected to Israel Robinson or Robertson. I am sorry that I don't have an actual copy of thc WILL that you wanted. I could only find the one reference to this and that is almost immediately above - highlighted with yellow ink.