Alfred Robinson JP (1825 - 1901)

Born 1825 in Overbury, Worcestershire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Emma Allen (Taylor) Robinson — married 21 Apr 1855 in Reading, Berkshire, England

Descendants

Biography

A letter of 12 February 1975 from Audrey Louise Robinson to Peggy Laughton has that Alfred was born at "Silver Rill", the house in the picture, in Overbury, which could not have been the 2 & 3 story 'Silver Rill House' converted from a Mill by his father, Edward Robinson, and shown only partly in a photo in his profile. The location is given as Overbury, Worcestershire, England in the 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871 and 1901 England Census'^[1][2]. Overbury is a village and civil parish in Worcestershire, England, midway between Evesham and Tewkesbury, south of Bredon Hill^[3].

At the time of the 1841 England Census, Alfred Robinson was aged 16, son of Edward Robinson (48), a Paper Maker and Maria Robinson (nee Smith) (45), living with his brother Philip (10) in the village of Overbury^[4].

In 1848, Alfred Robinson joined his brother Elisha Smith Robinson in the E.S.& A. Robinson Co., which the latter had founded in 1848 as a British paper, printing and packaging company in Bristol^[5]

In the 1851 U.K. Census Sample, Alfred gave his age as 27 and occupation as Commercial Traveller, while a Visitor at Parade, Okehampton, Devonshire, England. It was an inn/farm (329 acres, 10 staff etc) with other guests [Source: AWL]

On 23 April 1855, the business partnership between Elisha Smith Robinson, Alfred Robinson, and Crescens Robinson, and John Wood Todd, under the firm of Robinson and Todd, as Wholesale Stationers, at No.97, Upper Thames Street, in the Parish of St Martin Vintry, in the City of London, was dissolved by mutual consent. [Source: London Gazette of 23 April 1855.]

Alfred's marriage to Emma Allen Taylor was registered in the April quarter of 1855 in Reading, Berkshire, England. They went to Bristol after the wedding and at first lived in Redcliffe Place. [Source: Western Daily Press of June 4 1934]. The Reading Mercury of 26 May 1855 has the actual date as 24 May and "at the Congregational Chapel, Castle Street, Reading by the Rev J W Todd, of Sydenham, assisted by the Rev Spedding Curwen, Alfred Robinson, Esq of Redcliffe Parade, Bristol, to Emma Allen, eldest daughter of Mr Thomas Ariel Taylor, of the Canal House, Reading".

In the 1861 England Census, Alfred Robinson (misinterpreted by the Ancestry compiler as 'Whinson'), aged 36, was a Paper Dealer, residing at 7 Redcliffe Place, Bristol, Gloucestershire, with sons James (4) and Charles (9), with 24 yrs old Clara Taylor, and 2 Domestic Servants. On the Census night, Emma (26), Alfred's wife, and Annie Louise (3) were staying with Crescens Robinson (32), a Wholesale Stationer, and his family at their residence, 'Overbury Villa', Norwood, Lambeth St Mary, Surrey. In the same year of 1861, Alfred Robinson acquired "Beechwood" in Fishponds Rd, Fishponds, Bristol (see below).

In 1866, E.S. & A. Robinson Co. was merged with John Dickinson Stationery to form the Dickinson Robinson Group (DRG), creating one of the world's largest stationery and packaging companies (Darwin, 1945, p.1).

In the 1871 England Census, Alfred Robinson, aged 45, a Wholesale Stationer, was living with his family at Fishponds, Gloucestershire. The family comprised his wife Emma (37), sons James S (14), Charles A (10), Aleck (6) and Herbert (4), and daughter Eva M (2), with 3 Domestic Servants. Their residence was presumably "Beechwood", which Alfred had purchased in 1861, and had originally been named "Upper Fishponds House" that was a school immediately prior to it's acquisition by Alfred. It remained in the Robinson family until the death of his widow, aged 100, in 1934^[6].

In the 1881 England Census, Alfred Robinson, aged 55, a Wholesale Stationer, was living with his family at 'Beechwood House', Fishponds Rd, Stapleton, Gloucestershire, with wife Emma A (47), Annie L (23), Alexander (16), Eva M (12), Alfred B (9) and Oliver E (5), with 1 Visitor and 4 Domestic Servants^[7].

On 11 August 1883, Mr Alfred Robinson gave permission for the annual exhibition of the West Glos Farmers Club to hold their show in the grounds of 'Beechwood'. [In the 'Wiltshire and Gloucestershire Standard' from AWL]

On 17 November 1888, Alfred Robinson of Beechwood, Fishponds, was noted as a member of the Avon Salmon Fishery District Board of Conservators which meets periodically [and probably remained so until his death]. [Source: Gloucestershire Chronicle from AWL]

No 1891 England Census has been found for Alfred Robinson and his wife Emma. They were not at Beechwood, Fishponds, as their 2nd son Charles Ariel Robinson (30) and his wife (daughter-in-law) Georgina were there, with 4 Servants, one of whom, Jane Gamlin, had been there on the 1881 England Census. An Alfred Robinson and Mrs Robinson arrived in Liverpool, England on 8 November 1891 from Montréal, Québec, Canada on the ship 'Lake Superior', though it is not certain that they were of this family.

In the 1894 Directory for Gloucestershire 'Court', he is noted as a Justice of the Peace and of The Castle, Kemerton, Tewkesbury, and 'Beechwood House' Bristol, Gloucestershire. He had been recommended as a Commissioner of the Peace for Gloucestershire; ie to be appointed as a JP; by the Lord Lieutenant on 20 December 1886, which was confirmed on 25 December 1886. [Source: Gloucestershire Chronicle from AWL]

In the 1894 Directory for Bristol 'Commercial', E.S. & A. Robinson, wholesale stationers, printers and paper bag manufacturers , where at 1, 2 and 3 Redcliffe St; 1, 3 and 5 Victoria St, Thomas St and East St, Bedminster [Source: AWL].

On 11 August 1894, there was a sale of 3 cottages at Overbury, the properties bounded by land owned by Robert Martin and Alfred Robinson. [Source: Tewkesbury Register from AWL]

Alfred Robinson's Will dated 10 April 1897 at Fishponds, Bristol, Gloucestershire, shows that that he owned "Beechwood House" and "Kemerton Castle". The actual Will is 11 pages long and was witnessed by Edward W Williams of 3 Salters Hall Court Cannon Street, London and his Clerk E T Heritage on the above date.

The 1901 England Census of 2 April has Alfred Robinson (75) a Wholesale Stationer (retired), at "Beechwood" Fishponds, Bristol, Gloucestershire, with wife Emma A (66), daughter Eva M (32) and son Alfred B (29) also a Wholesale Stationer and 4 Domestic Servants.

Alfred Robinson passed away on 19 November 1901 at "Beechwood", Fishponds Rd, Bristol, Somerset, England^[8].

An obituary in the Gloucester Journal [sourced by AWL, with inserts in [ ] by AWL and CAL] of 23 November 1901, has, in part, the following comments: Alfred Robinson died at Beechwood in his 77th year [76th at the most]. Seven years ago he passed through a serious illness occasioned by a fall downstairs, two ribs being broken. A few years later he had a painful operation – entirely successful. Much has occurred in the present year to help in the breakdown of his constitution. His eldest daughter [ Annie Louisa Robinson ], who had married Dr E M Grace, died in the early part of the summer and not long after, whilst driving with a friend at his seat at Kemerton Castle, near Tewkesbury, his horse bolted; although not injured he was severely shaken. [Long piece about his career at the firm omitted]; the partnership having been dissolved some nine years ago [ ie when the business turned into a limited company]. Since then he played an important role in public life: acting commissioner for Income tax; magistrate on the licensing bench; religious affairs; whilst at Overbury he helped maintain and finance two local Baptist chapels as well as that at Fishponds. He has four sons and a daughter: Charles at present occupying the family seat at Kemerton; Bruce associated with the family firm at Redcliff St; Oliver engaged at the National Provincial Bank at Redland; Miss Eva Robinson who has been living at Beechwood with her parents. His eldest son Mr J (Capt) Robinson was drowned 20 years ago off the coast of Portugal, whilst Mr Alec Robinson his third son, at one time a partner in the firm died in 1893. The other daughter, as previously mentioned, died early in the summer. Mr Robinson leaves behind him a name honoured by all the members of the various branches of public life with which he has been associated.

Additional points noted by AWL in another obituary of the same date, in the Gloucestershire Echo, are: the coffin was borne on an open car from his residence, mourners and others following on foot to the Baptist Chapel; impressive service; lofty tributes; body deposited in a vault; mourners included Dr E M Grace, son-in-law, Howard Robinson of Cheltenham, Leonard Robinson of Awre, latter both nephews; wreath from Lady Robinson and family of Gloucester, Mrs Philip Robinson and family, villagers of Overbury, etc.

Alfred Robinson's Probate was granted on 15 January 1902 at Bristol, to Emma Allen Robinson, Widow, Alfred Roberts Robinson, Gentleman, Henry Addiscott, Stationer and Thomas King, Accountant. The Effects were £97,498 and 16 shillings, but resworn in November 1902 as of £97,471, 18 shillings and 6 pence.

Sources

1. ↑ Source: #S12 Page: Class: RG11; Piece: 2506; Folio: 121; Page: 8; GSU roll: 1341604 Object: @M323@
2. ↑ Source: #S42 Page: Class: HO107; Piece: 1202; Book: 16; Civil Parish: Overbury; County: Worcestershire; Enumeration District: 6; Folio: 10; Page: 14; Line: 10; GSU roll: 464211 Object: @M343@
3. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overbury
4. ↑ Source: #S42 Page: Class: HO107; Piece: 1202; Book: 16; Civil Parish: Overbury; County: Worcestershire; Enumeration District: 6; Folio: 10; Page: 14; Line: 10; GSU roll: 464211 Object: @M343@
5. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._S._%26_A._Robinson
6. ↑ https://www.bafhs.org.uk/bafhs-parishes/other-bafhs-parishes/73-fishponds
7. ↑ Source: #S12 Page: Class: RG11; Piece: 2506; Folio: 121; Page: 8; GSU roll: 1341604 Object: @M323@
8. ↑ Source: #S14 Object: @M137@

• Repository: R1 Name: Ancestry.com Address: E-Mail Address: Phone Number:
• Source: S42 Author: Ancestry.com Title: 1841 England Census Publication: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2010; Repository: #R1
• Residence and Occupation: Taylor, Ron, comp. 1851 United Kingdom Census Sample [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.
• Source: S7 Author: FreeBMD Title: England & Wales, FreeBMD Marriage Index, 1837-1915 Publication: Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2006; Repository: #R1
• Residence and Occupation: Ancestry.com. 1861 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Class: RG 9; Piece: 1712; Folio: 105; Page: 7; GSU roll: 542855.
• Business: Bernard Darwin, 1945, 'Robinsons of Bristol, 1844-1944'. Bristol, E. S. & A. Robinson. http://www.binson.co.uk/robinsons/robinsons.htm
• Residence and Occupation: Ancestry.com. 1871 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1871 England Census; Class: RG10; Piece: 2572; Folio: 50; Page: 34; GSU roll: 835270.
• Source: S12 Author: Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Title: 1881 England Census Publication: Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2004; Repository: #R1
• Residence: Ancestry.com. 1891 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891; Class: RG12; Piece: 1992; Folio: 59; Page: 25; GSU roll: 6097102.
• Arrivals: Ancestry.com. UK, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008. The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department and successors: Inwards Passenger Lists.; Class: BT26; Piece: 14.
• Residence and Occupation: Ancestry.com. 1901 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Class: RG13; Piece: 2396; Folio: 48; Page: 39.
• Source: S14 Author: Ancestry.com Title: England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966 Publication: Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2010; Repository: #R1