Biography of William (1) Robinson
§ Father of Capt. William (2) Robinson
§ Husband to Elizabeth of Shadwell (2) Robinson
World View of the PeriodIn the opening years of the 17th Century the Robinsons began hearing about a place called America, a place where the King said England should be planting colonies.
Why do you suppose the King said that? What was going on in the world that made Englishmen think about leaving home and crossing thousands of miles of ocean to go live in a wilderness called America?
First of all, Englishmen at that time felt their country needed to catch up. Compared to Spain and France, England was small and poor. For a hundred years Spanish priests and generals had been discovering great quantities of gold and silver in Mexico and South America, and shipping it home to the treasury in Madrid. Long before Jamestown was settled, French explorers colonized the St. Lawrence River valley in Canada. They established a rich trade with the native Americans in beaver skins. The French shipped the skins home and made into hats which every body in Europe wanted to buy. English sea captains helped their country by catching Spanish ships at sea and stealing their loads of gold and silver. The King of Spain got so mad he build a great navy and sent an army to invade England. But the English navy defeated and sank many of the bigger, slower Spanish ships and a mighty storm sank many more. This English victory over the Spanish Armada in 1588 made Englishmen feel safer about venturing to far away America.
About the time these first Englishmen were coming to Jamestown, history-making events were occurring back home A bible in English - The King James Bible- was published in 1611. These were the years when a man named William Shakespeare was writing plays for London’s Globe Theater. One of the last plays Shakespeare wrote was in 1612, “The Tempest.” With Englishmen talking about the New World, Shakespeare set this play in the West Indies Islands where many European countries were racing to plant colonies.
Major military events during the first generation of Robinsons in Virginia included the Thirty Years War between Catholics and Prostestants, fought mostly in Germany. England had its own bloody Civil War. After Queen Elizabeth 1st died in 1603, the Stuarts came to the throne. While most Englishmen were Prostestants, but the Stuarts preferred the church of Rome. By 1642 the many conflicts between King Charles I and the English Parliament broke out into open war that would go on for 10 years. Parliament prevailed and cut off King Charles’ head. England would be ruled by its most successful general, Oliver Cromwell for a while. We think some members of our family went to live in Holland at this time. They rented rooms at an Inn in Rotterdam that catered to English refugees. The Innkeeper was named John Custis.
Other history-making events occurred during the last years of the first generation of Robinsons in Virginia including:
§ In 1650 tea was drunk in England for the first time.
§ In 1654 Louis XIV was crowned King of France. Under him France would become the world’s super power.
§ Four years after King Louis died, Oliver Cromwell died in London. King Charles II returned to England and took the throne, much to the joy of Elizabeth (of Shadwell) Robinson.
Robinson View of the PeriodAccording to the records of St. Helens Church, Bishopgate, London William Robinson was presented by his parents, William R. Robinson and Katherine Watkin Robinson, for baptism 19 December 1611 at St. Helens Church. He was the fifth child of his parents in a family that by 1622 numbered 10 children. William had two older brothers: Henry, christened in 1605; and John, christened in 1610. There were also two older sisters: Anne in 1606 and Katherine in 1609.
William married a suburban London girl, Elizabeth (of Shadwell) about 1632. His father was a well to do London merchant who had his own crest registered in the College of Heralds and possessed a family burial vault in St. Helens Church where he, his wife, and several children were buried. William R. Robinson is believed to have died about 1634. Under the custom of the time, Henry, the oldest son, would have inherited the family merchant business. The International Genealogical Index (IGI) says that Henry lived for 77 years and was buried November 18, 1682 in William R.'s vault at St Helens Church. William (1) Robinson is believed to have immigrated at about age 24 to Virginia in 1635 as a headwright for London merchant Johnson, who patented land in Elizabeth City County under William (1)’s name. William’s older brother, John, may have acquired land as early as 1624 in the same county. Upon the outbreak of Civil War In England in 1642, William (1) probably returned to England where his wife and children may have been living with his mother under the protection of his older brother Henry and his cousin Thomas who had continued the family merchant business following the death of his father William R. Robinson. It is believed the Robinsons sided with King Charles in the war between Crown and Parliament. When Charles the First's army was defeated at Mortson Moor (1644) and at Nasby (1645), many supporters of the Crown fled to Holland including William (1), his wife, and two children.
From early research on this line, it was thought that the Robinsons became friends of John (1) Custis and his wife Joanne while in Holland and became related by marriage with the wedding of Elizabeth Robinson and John (2) Custis. However, contrary records and research now cast doubt as to where the families may have met. Josephine Chamberlain, formally of Escondido, CA as of April 1982, ventured that Elizabeth Robinson “who was first married to Robert Eyre, and a widow, married John Custis II.” Additional material supports this new conclusion that Elizabeth (1) Robinson Eyre married John Custis in Lower Norfolk County. However, Eastern Shore biographers have documented that both the Cutis and Robinson families were “Royalist leaders of Accomack and Northampton…[and] were Cavaliers, not only by sympathy, but by blood.” So, the possibility may remain that the families knew each other in Holland before arriving in Virginia.
When King Charles was executed in January 1649, William (1) probably abandoned all thought of returning to London and the merchant business and began making plans to take his growing family to Virginia. It is believed he was encouraged in this when Capt. Argoll Yardley brought a load of tobacco to sell at Rotterdam in 1649 and before returning to Virginia courted and married Ann Custis, daughter of John (1) Custis, and sold 600 acres of land in Northampton County, Virginia to William (1)'s son-in-law, John (2) Custis.
William (1) and his family were in Lower Norfolk County where he was granted 500 acres on the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River in March 1652. William (1) and Capt. William (2) were also named in a grant of 400 acres on the Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River to one George Kemp. Again in 1652 William (1) was chosen Constable for the Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River. Additional land was acquired in 1653. His brand for cattle and hogs was registered at this time. He was awarded 100 pounds of tobacco in a legal action against Samuel Rutland. In 1654 William (1) signed a petition requesting a minister for the church in Lower Norfolk County. William (1) is believed to have died about 1655/56 since no further records about him have been found after that time.
The land records for William (1) Robinson are as follows:
§ 500 acres on the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River near Pussell Point.
§ 200 acres assigned to George Kemp in Lynnhaven Parish presumably for transporting several Robinsons including William Robinson, Sr., William Robinson, Jr., and Susanna or Sarah Robinson to the Americas.During his lifetime in Lower Norfolk County, one of William (1) Robinson’s contemporaries and neighbors was William Moseley. Not much is known about their relationship but it is well documented that the Robinsons and Moseleys conducted significant business together for 150 years. In 1650 William Moseley built his family home on a 500-acre plantation on the Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River of Lower Norfolk County named Rolleston, which served as the home for the Moseleys for 200 years.
William (1) Robinson was also significantly involved in judicial affairs including the following:
§ John Laine arrested at suit of William Robinson for failure to appear.
§ William Robinson, cooper, was ordered to pay sum of tobacco owed to Simon Overzee.
§ Matter between John Custis and William Robinson.
§ John Rice Chirurgeon arrested William Robinson but did not appear against him.
§ Edward Wilder ordered to pay William Robinson, cooper, a debt of corn.
§ In a business deal gone badly, the court ordered Edward Hall and William Robinson to complete an inventory of casks as are left and a division of the profits should take place.
§ William Rutland was ordered to pay William Robinson in a civil suit 100 pounds of tobacco from his next crop apparently for living expenses.
§ William (1) served as a juror.
§ Finally, on a petition of Mary Burrows, as administrator of her late husband’s estate, she asked the court to order, “William Robinson be put in his place.”William (1) was also the beneficiary of several wills including:
§ Edward Hodge a Virginia Merchant provided a legacy for William Robinson in his will dated June 10, 1649.
Most of these judicial matters probably took place in the homes of individuals as no courthouse was established for Norfolk until 1661.There is some difference of opinion concerning whether or not William (1) is the patriarch of this family line. The basis for the three leading theories include:
1. The majority view identifies William (1) Robinson as the most probable husband to Elizabeth of Shadwell based upon research by Alice Lambert and Robert E. Robinson related to St. Helens Church in London, records. These document the birth of a William Robinson to William R. Robinson (a merchant) and his wife Katherine Watkin (christened on Dec 19, 1611), their 5th child. William R. Robinson was born in Rumbald Kirk Parish, Yorkshire, the third son of Rev. John Robinson and Ann Dent. His uncle, George Robinson of Cleasby, was the grandfather of Bishop of London John Robinson (1652-1723). This line would have made William (1) Robinson a cousin of Christopher Robinson, VA (a colony official in Jamestown, owner of Hewick in Middlesex Co, VA, and Bishop Robinson’s heir).
Further research is needed from the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, cited by Alice Lambert as well as other records. These sources, may assert that the Robinsons of Lower Norfolk and Princess Anne Counties were “of the same family” as the Robinsons of Middlesex County. Based on this claim and above research, William (1) is considered the most probable husband of Elizabeth (of Shadwell) and father to Capt. William (2) Robinson since his ancestry can support the claim that his descendants were related to the other famous Robinson family in Virginia from Middlesex County.
2. Benjamin Robinson is said to be the husband of Elizabeth of Shadwell and the father of Captain William (2) Robinson by Jennings Cropper Wise, author of Col. John Wise: His Ancestors & Descendants. Wise cites no source for naming Benjamin Robinson as father of Capt. William (2) Robinson. However, the Robinson-Wise family connection on Virginia’s Eastern Shore is significant. We speculate Wise made this assertion on the basis of Northampton County records which show Col. Tully (3) Robinson successfully challenged his aunt for the his right to the inheritance of Benjamin (1) Robinson’s estate. Later in his book, while writing about a Wise descendant of Col. Tully Robinson, he also makes the assertion that “Col. Tully Robinson’s father was Col. William Robinson, a Welshman, of Lower Norfolk County.” So, the credibility of this source is difficult to ascertain.
3. Joseph Robinson is named father of Capt. William (2) Robinson in genealogy data compiled by the Mears Collection at the Eastern Shore of Virginia Library. A request for source data on this citation has not been received and no records of Joseph Robinsons have been located to confirm.
Recently, information collected by Charles W. Robinson (a Christopher Robinson descendant), was analyzed and reviewed at the Rockefeller Library of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. These records seem to indicate Charles W. Robinson has conducted much the same research as current Robinson genealogists have undertaken-although Charles W. Robinson conducted his work about 80 years in advance of our own researchers. He examined records at St. Helen’s Parish in London related to William R. Robinson, traveled to Cleasby, looked into a possible connection with a William Robinson merchant who owned the Rokeby plantation near Cleasby, and conducted a detailed analysis of the family crests used by Bishop Robinson and William R. Robinson. While Charles Robinson apparently was not able to make any definitive connection between the different Robinson branches, his research concerning the crests provides the best possible link for future genealogists to continue examining. If, for example, the Robinson crest of William (1), Capt. William (2), Col. Tully (3), or any other Princess Anne County, Virginia Robinson matched either the William R. Robinson or the Bishop Robinson crests, then we might be able to definitively prove the linage of our ancestors in England.
1 NOTE Elizabeth of Shadwell, born in the Parish of Stepney. MiddlesexCounty,
England, about 1617. According to a memo to Phillip JeffersonRobinson on 23
March 1981 by Ancestry Research Associates the parish church ofStepney "is St.
Dunstan in the East," which would be east ofLondon towardCanterbury.
Elizabeth died about 1667. Will probated in Northampton CountyVirginia in
1668 and reads as follows:
(The text of this will was copied from "Northampton CountyDeeds, Wills & C No
7, 8, 1655 - 1668" page
26 by Alice Kilpatrick Lambert, genealogist of Fairfax, VA. Thecopy was
borrowed thru the State Archives of Virginia in Richmond. Somewriting is
indecipherable and its interpretation is indicated by ?)
"In the name of God this third day of december, Anno Dom ? 1667and in the
nyneteenth years of the raigne of our Sovereign Lord Charles theSecond by ye
Grace of God of England, Scotland, Ffranse and of Irelanddefender of ye fayth
C s I Elizabeth Robinson of Shadwell in the parish ofStuebonhoeth
(alias) Stepney in the County of Mid., ---- (this was end ofline in center
of book & unreadable, AKL) Widdow Going ? att DE ? Sont inperfect health yet
knowing ye f firalty C woakenoggr of all ffolk C ye scertaintyof death, but
not by me or how and when, do declare frome I make this my lastwill and
testament. In manner I forme following, (that is to say) firstI principally,
I comitt my soule heavenly -- in Christian Burial, att yetdirection of my
executer herein after named, imprimis, I do hereby give andbequeath unto my
loving Sonne William Robinson one stone Ring and unto his wifeone black
shi(?)ffr gowne and hayr cullored, (?) wttered (/) majhayard ---
Item, I give and bequeath unto my Loving Sonne John Robinson onebroadclo
pettescoatr and waytecoate two paire of sheets, a peuter winequart pott, and
little peuter tankard, one peuter dish and one porranger and twosausers, an---
Item, I give and bequeath unto my Loveinge Son Benjamin Robinsonone ffeatrh
Bed and Boulster, two pillowes, one Blankett, one Red Ringe andone
---tablecloth and six naplins marked ER--
Item, I give and bequeeth unto my Loveinge Grandson John Custisa red stone
Ring. All ye residue surplusage and remainder of my goodswhatsoever I do
herebygive and bequeath unto my Loveinge daughter Anna Robinsonand I do
hereby make and appoint my sayd Loveinge daughter Anna Robinsonye sole
executrix of this my last will and testament, hereby utterlyrenouncing ----
ye mark of
(signed) Elizabeth ER Robinson
her seale
Robert Loggins (?)
Samuel (?) Bellamy
Harrah Greenleefe
The last will and testament of Elizabeth Robinson deseased wasproved att a
Court held in Northton County in Virginia ye 29th day of June1668 by ye
corporall oathe of Jone Custis and Alisia Custis as on yet otherside is
inserted and allowed and ordered to be recorded. The Lastwill and
testament
(signed ? Will Mollangr, Court North ton.
We the Subscribers doe upon our Oath, declare that Mrs.Elizabeth Robinson
deseased upon her siske bed declared thatthee within specifiedwill, was her
one last Acte and Deede and that those goods bequeathed to herson William
Robinson's wife who was then dead should belong to her daughterAnna Robinson,
her executrix.
Witnessed our hand this 29 June 1668
JCustis
Alisia Custis
Sworne in open Court yet 29th of June 1669 tesste Will MollingerCt. Cur.,
Coun Northton
Recorded yet Seconf of July 1668 by me Will, Mellinge C andCurl: Coun North
ton." END OF TEXT
Note: J Custis, the witness above, was the husband of Elizabethof Shadwell's
daughter, Elizabeth, who
haddied shortly after giving birth to John Cusstis (3). AlisiaCustis, the
second witness, was the second wife of J Custis.
Note that between the writing of this will on 3 Dec 1667 and itsproving in
court on 29 June 1669, the wife of Elizabeth of Shadwell'soldest son, William
(2) Robinson E llizabeth Tully Robinson, died. That which shewas to have
received under the will was instead given in a sick bed wish toto ER's
daughter Anna.
1 NOTE Benjamin Robi fourth child and 3rd son of William (1) and Eliz.of Shadwell. B
about 1646, possibly in Rotterdam. D. Dec. 1712, NorthamptonCounty Virginia.
1 NOTE Ann (Anna) Robinson fifth child and 2nd daug- hter of Williamand lizaboth of
Shadwell. Believed to have been born after 1647. Named executorof mother's
will.