_Thomas COOKE _______+
| (1626 - 1669) m 1648
_Ebenezer COOK ______|
| (1661 - 1711) |
| |_Thomasin [COOKE] ___
| (.... - 1670) m 1648
|
|--Job COOK
| (1710 - ....)
| _____________________
| |
|_Susannah [COOK] ____|
(.... - 1711) |
|_____________________
[2040]
[S18]
Thomas Cooke of Rhode Island
[2039]
[S18]
Thomas Cooke of Rhode Island
[11659]
[S18]
Thomas Cooke of Rhode Island
_____________________
|
_Johann Georg FRIEDERICH _|
| (.... - 1771) m 1713 |
| |_____________________
|
|
|--Anna Maria FREDERICK
| (.... - 1729)
| _Anthoni BOSCH ______
| |
|_Margaretha BOSCH ________|
(1689 - 1729) m 1713 |
|_____________________
[3837]
[S105]
Frederick Family Group Sheets from Sanda Faye Elf Wamsley, a Frederick cousin and researcher
[3835]
[S105]
Frederick Family Group Sheets from Sanda Faye Elf Wamsley, a Frederick cousin and researcher
[3836]
[S105]
Frederick Family Group Sheets from Sanda Faye Elf Wamsley, a Frederick cousin and researcher
[7488]
[S162]
Esquivel Family Group Sheets
_John ROBISON _______+
| (1805 - 1886) m 1827
_William ROBISON ____|
| (1842 - 1917) m 1867|
| |_Mary BAKER _________+
| (1806 - 1880) m 1827
|
|--Lillie May ROBISON
| (1873 - 1961)
| _Harrison HOWELL ____
| |
|_Cynthia Ann HOWELL _|
(1844 - 1931) m 1867|
|_Margaret MYERS _____
[11448]
[S44]
Books of Robison
_John ROBISON _______+
| (1805 - 1886) m 1827
_Pearson ROBISON ________|
| (1833 - 1912) m 1858 |
| |_Mary BAKER _________+
| (1806 - 1880) m 1827
|
|--Noah ROBISON
| (1871 - ....)
| _____________________
| |
|_Elizabeth Bell MCADAMS _|
(1842 - 1924) m 1858 |
|_____________________
_A. Scip ROBISON ____
| m 1697
_Michael ROBISON ____|
| (1714 - 1785) m 1733|
| |_Margrett PRYER _____+
| m 1697
|
|--William ROBISON
| (1735 - 1810)
| _____________________
| |
|_Margaret MCGUMMERY _|
(1716 - ....) m 1733|
|_____________________
[310]
1. Profile of William Robison by John Gessner. In the possession of David Warren Robison, May 2002.
William Robison
Before we can go very far with William Robison, the oldest son of Michael Robison of Little Britain Township, Lancaster County, PA., we must first consider some printed sources that deal with the area where our William lived.
Most of the books and articles dealing with the Scotch-Irish agree that a significant route of migration was from New Castle, Delaware and Philadelphia to southern Lancaster County thence north up into the area north of Harrisburg. The area of present Pennsylvania Counties of Perry, Juaniata and Dauphin abounded in Robisons.
The printed references that deal with this area are:
1) Robison, A Sketch of the Robison Family, by D.E. Robison @ 1880 - 20 or so pages. This work pertains to the Robisons of Juaniata County, Pa, living on the north side of the Tuscarora Mountain. It starts with an Alexander Robison born 1732; it mentions those who went to the Carolinas; it mentions some who went to Eire, Pa,; outlines those who lived in Milford Township, Juaniata County; and is the basic outline of a family that produced thousands of Robisons.
2) Family of Robinson - Included in Pennsylvania Genealogies - 1886 - by William Henry Engle, 15 pages. This well known and often quoted reference starts with a Thomas Robinson who came from Northern Ireland prior to 1730. He had six sons, two of which are carried forward. Thomas settled just northeast of present Harrisburg.
George Robinson (1727-1814) a grandson of Thomas, crossed over the Susquehanna, about 1755 and built Robinson's Fort. This fort was in heavy use in the Indian Wars of 1756. George served in the Revolution. He moved to Kentucky in 1797 with eight of his children and their families. This family became prominent in Kentucky - Senators, Governors, etc. Some left Kentucky and went north and settled south and west of Vincennes, Indiana.
3) A Modified Register Listing of those Robi(n)sons (and descendants) who passed through Lancaster county in Colonial Times. Schubert + Middleton - 1996 - 200 pages.
Starting with a George Robinson who died in 1498 of Edinburg, Scotland, it comes down to a James Robinson who was in Little Britain Township, Lancaster County in 1790. His two sons, twins, Joseph and James, born 1784, went north up the river to the present Montour County. This is a living production - computer produced.
4) Lenig Library, Perry Historians, Newport, Pa. Henry W. Lenig was the founder of the Historians. He worked for decades on the Perry County families including the Robinsons.
5) The Letters and Records of D. E. Robison of Crawford County, Ohio who completed extensive records of Perry County Robinsons.
None of these references mentions a Michael Robison of Little Britain Township, Lancaster County, PA.
Both Henry W. Lenig and D. E. Robison of Ohio struggled with a William Robison with a wife Sarah, and and oldest son, Michael. They could not connect him to any of the established families.
It is clear to me that this William with a wife, Sarah, and an oldest son, Michael, and a son, Joseph, is our ancestor. He is the father of our Joseph.
Lenig declares that our William arrived in what is now Perry County around 1756; that he was at Fort Robinson; and that he married Sarah Roseberry or Rosenberger, for whose family the hamlet of Roseburg is named.
Williams' dates are 1735-1810. He is bured in Bull Hill's Cemetery in the Raccoon Valley near Donnely's Mills.
Michael, William's oldest son declared that he was born in Perry County in 1760 so that goes with these facts.
In the 1770 tax [dupliste? hard to read] for Rye Township, Cumberland County, Pa. William Robison is listed for 200 acres, 15 cleared, 2 horses and 1 cow. In "Pennsylvania 1780" he is in the same place. His farm was included when Juaniata Township was formed from Rye in 1793. In 1820 Perry County was formed, and in 1859 Tuscarara Township was formed from Juniata Township. William's farm today lies in Tuscarara Township, Perry County in Racoon Valley.
In the 1790 census for Cumberland County, there is a district called "Eastern part of the county". This included Rye Township, the listing reads:
William Robinson 5 males over 16
3 males under 16
3 females
By 1800 that part of Rye Township had become Juaniata Township, and he is listed as:
William Robison 1 male 26-45
1 female under 10
1 female 26-45
He died in 1810 and was not in the 1810 census.
Lenig had stated that he had served as a Private in the Revolutionary War. The Division of Archives and Manuscripts in Harrisburg has cash records indicating that he served in 1780, in 1782 and in 1785. On the Master record for 1780 it speaks of him thus: "He is a man in years and very unfit likewise he is supervisor of the roads and is a call for his immediate attendance." It does not sound as if they wanted him.
Along these same lines one of the researchers from Perry Historians told me on the telephone that "William Robinson of Juaniata Township was a troublemaker; that he burned his neighbor's buildings, and did other illegal acts." The researcher promised to send me copies of the records, but he never did.
Our William wrote his will on April 26, 1810. It was filed and proven on August 2, 1810 indicating that he had died in July. We copy this work as follows:
Will and Testament
of
William Robinson
In the name of God amen I William Robinson of the Township of Juniata County of Cumberland and State of Pennsylvania being weak in body but of sound mind and understanding to make and pronounce this my Last Will and Testament in manner following (Visz) Principally and first of all I will my soul to God who gave it to me and my body unto the earth to be buried in a decent manner at discretion of my hereinafter named executor -
Item 2 I will devise and bequeath all of my plantation that I now live on and the appurtenances thereunto belonging unto my son George he maintaining my wife Sarah during her life with every thing necessary if she should survive me. It is also my will that my son George provide a sufficient maintenance for my daughter Nancy if she outlives me and a like maintenance for my daughter Hanna during the time she may remain unmarried.
Item 3rd I will devise and bequeath unto my daughter Nancy one walnut chest and one half of my pewter and feather bed and all bedding necessary for the same together with the sum of ten pounds and one half of my sheep. But in case she dies before me then her legacy is to be given to my daughter Hannah
Item 4th I will devise and bequeath unto my daughter Hannah one case of drawers one half of my pewter one feather bed and bedding one half of my sheep together with the sum of ten pounds.
Item 5th It is also my will that my wife Sarah shall have her bed and bedding and all the residue of my personal property that I am possessed of at my decease. I will it to be sold and my aforesaid daughters to be paid and the remainder to be paid in the following manner.
Item 6th I will devise and bequath unto my son John the sum of ten pounds unto my son William the sum of five pounds unto my son Joseph the sum of ten dollars and in like proportion if my property shall exceed the bequests.
Item 7th I will devise and bequeath unto my son Michael one obligation that I have paid unto Sarah Davis in full for his legacy to my estate.
Item 8th I will and bequeath unto my son Robert the sum of one dollar in full of his legacy.
Item 9th I will and bequeath unto my son James the sum of one dollar in full for his legacy and also the like sum of one dollar unto my daughter Mary Minshal in full for her legacy.
Lastly I nominate constitute and appoint my son George Robinson Executor of this my Last Will and Testament - Signed and Pronounced as the Last Will and Testament of the aforesaid testator hereby revoking all other wills and bequests by him heretofore made and acknowledging this to be his will. In testimony whereof he hath hereunto set his hand this 26th day of April 1810
his
William X Robinson
Mark
Signed and Acknowleged as the Last Will and Testament of William Robinson the above testator in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request hath hereunto subscribed witness
Wm Linn
Jer. Jordan
James Beatty
There follows an entry admitting the will and appointing George Robinson as Executor on August 2, 1810
George took his time settling the estate. He did not get it done until 1820 - ten years, no less. In this time the accounts reflect that the following events occured:
1) The daughter, Nancy, died, and Hannah got Nancy's share.
2) The son, Michael, bought a horse at the estate public sale; then refused to pay the $15.00; George as Executor sued Michael and Michael had to pay.
3) George as Executor filed a lawsuit claiming that he had cheated himself. After arbitration George won and got an addition of $116.00 more.
4) George as Executor, consulted and paid 3 or 4 lawyers.
5) George as Executor sued his brothers James and Robert, on notes and accounts. Robert lost and had to pay. James won and did not pay.
6) Joseph, our ancestor, caused no trouble. He paid his note to his father amounting to $24.00. Joseph received $76.00 as his share.
7) Andrew, a son according to Lenig and D. E. Robison is not mentioned in the Will, Inventory or Account.
The account as filed in the estate is long and detailed. It is not copied, but abstracted alone.
The identification of William's children is postponed while we discuss the Estate of James Robison, the son of William as mentioned in William's Will.
James Robison died in 1829. Lenig and D.E. Robison maintained that he left a will; the Court Index in Perry County indicates a Will, but these are errors - James left no will. He was not married, either.
William Linn of Racoon Valley was appointed Administrator. He was a witness to the Will of William Robison, father of James, and was no doubt the person who wrote that will.
The application for Linn's appointment was approved by Michael Robison and Robert Robison, brothers of James, Michael and Robert declared that they were then the only brothers of James living in Perry County. That means that our Joseph was not there. The inventory and records of the estate are incomplete. They do not help.
But, there is more. In 1832 Michael Robison, the oldest son of William and brother of James, deceased, and our Joseph, filed an Action in Petition in the Orphans Court of Perry County, Pa. as a part of the Estate of James Robison, deceased. An Action in Partition is an old English remedy whereby persons who own real estate in common can have the real estate divided among the owners. Because James had no will his farm passed to his numerous heirs.
The Action in Partition usually resulted in a sale of the real estate and then the resulting cash was divided among the owners.
When Michael filed the Partition action the Court ordered the sheriff to act. As was the custom the Sheriff took 12 men to the farm and let them view it. The viewers decided the farm could not be divided; that it must be sold; and they appraised the 186 acres with improvements for $1,263.91. Michael then claimed a right to buy the farm at the appraised price, and there being no opposition he did buy it and the Court gave him a year to pay the others. Michael filed an account in 1834 showing who got what.
Thus it is that we have an inventory of William's heirs (being the same as the heirs of James) in 1834, 24 years after William died. We will combine all we now know on each.
1) Michael Robison, the oldest son and named for his grandfather, was born 16 August 1760 in Perry County and died there 12 July 1840. He married Nancy Taylor on 15 March 1794. She died in 1834. In the published 1840 Census of Federal Pensioners, Michael is listed as a pensioned Rev. War Veteran living with a William Robison.
Michael and Nancy had nine children:
William
Sarah
Elizabeth married James Randalls
James
Claude
John
Mary married a Norris
Frederick
Robert
2) John Robison - John was apparently the second son. He was living when his father's estate was settled and received his share. When Michael filed the Partition Action it states:
"said John is since dead leaving:
William Robison
Sally Robison
Polly Robison
Fanny Robison
Ann Robison
Elizabeth Robison married to David Gibson
Each of these six children received $22.68 from Michael on the sale of the farm.
3) William Robison, called a soldier by Lenig, was living at the death of his father, William, in 1810. He was living in 1832 and in 1834 was paid $136.10-1/2 by Michael. This William did not live in Perry County. We do not know where he lived or if he had children.
4) James Robison, Lenig gives him dates of 1766-1829 and states that he is buried in Bull Hill Cemetery near his father.
In passing it is proper to note that one of the purchasers of the estate sale for James was a neighbor - John Baker. Was this the father of Mary Baker who married John Robison the son of Joseph?
James Bull and Thomas Marshall were the appraisers of James' estate. It contained a delinquent note for less than $20.0 from his brother, Joseph.
5) Andrew Robison, Lenig et al say: "who died in 1823 unmarried." As noted above, Andrew was not mentioned in his father, William's Will. Michael in his Partition Action in 1832 declares that Andrew is deceased, but that he left three children:
Andrew Robison
Sarah Robison
Mary Robison married to John McNaughton
This gets more confusing when Michael filed his account for buying the farm. He crossd out Andrew, the son of Andrew, and paid $68.05 to Mary and Sarah each.
6) Robert Robison, living in 1832 when the Partition was filed. Received $136.10-1/2 from Michael in 1834 on the settlement. Lenig says that he died in 1834. He was living in Perry County; but we do not know whether he had children or not.
7) George Robison, the Executor of the Will and principle beneficiary of the estate of his father, William Robison. Lenig states that George married Jane McKenzie of Racoon Valley. The 1832 Partition Action declares that George is dead; that he survived by four children, all minors; and that John Miler is the guardian of the children. The children were named as follows:
Sarah Ann Robison
George R. Robison
Jane Robison
Rosetta Robison
John Miller as Guardian received $34.02-1/2 for each of the children from the farm sale. Lenig notes further about the son, George R. Robison: "George Roseberry Robinson who was born in 1816, and married Elizabeth Devore who was also born in 1816. They had a son, George Devore Robinson, born in 1847, who married Alice S. Graham, who was reared by the grandparents of Harry W. Lenig of Newport, Pa. They had two daughters, the name of the first is unknown but the second was named Eva Robinson and died several years prior to 1976."
8) Joseph Robison, this is our Joseph. lenig et al knew nothing of him. We will save his details for the next section.
9) Mary Robison, called Mary Minshal in her father's Will. Married to Evan Minshal. In the 1832 Partition Action, it is stated that both Mary and her husband are deceased, and that they left seven children:
Lydia Minshal
Isaac Minshal
May Minshal
Nancy Minshal
Sally Minshal
James Minshal
Hannah Minshal married to William Thompson
Each of these children received $19.44 from the Partition sale. In the distribution the name is spelled Minshol.
10) Nancy Robison, She had died before her father or before his estate was settled. Her share of her father's estate went to her sister, Hannah. Nancy is not mentioned in the 1832 Partition. The Partition Action says there are nine shares.
11) Hannah Robison, Virginia Hench, a descendant says about 1790 to 1 April 1854. Lenig says 1784-1854. Married Henry Hench. Buried Bull Hill Cemetery. In the 1834 Distribution it says: "Henry Hench and Hannah his wife - $136.10-1/2"
[311]
[S19]
Robison Families of Ohio
[307]
[S19]
Robison Families of Ohio
[308]
[S19]
Robison Families of Ohio
[309]
[S19]
Robison Families of Ohio
[11225]
[S19]
Robison Families of Ohio
[5677]
[S88]
Vanderburgh Family Group Sheets from David Stielow
[5676]
[S88]
Vanderburgh Family Group Sheets from David Stielow
[12338]
[S88]
Vanderburgh Family Group Sheets from David Stielow