William Robinson (1709 - 1792)

Born 25 Mar 1709 in Urbanna, Middlesex, Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Agatha (Beverley) Robinson — married 17 Feb 1736 in Spotsylvania, Virginia

Husband of Agnes (Smith) Robinson — married 27 Jan 1757 in Orange County, Virginia

Descendants

Died 5 May 1792 at age 83 in Saint Georges Parish, Spotsylvania, Virginia, United States

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Biography

William Robinson is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A097787.

William Robinson is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor.
NSSAR Ancestor #: 280694
Rank: Colonel and Patriotic Service

William Robinson performed Patriotic Service in Virginia in the American Revolution.

William’s Parents and Family

William was born 25 Mar 1709 in the family plantation Hewick in Middlesex County, VA. He was the fourth child and third son of the Honorable John Robinson (1683-1749), one of the early governors of VA, and Catherine Beverley (1686-1726), daughter of Robert Beverley, a prominent lawyer and vestryman of Christ Church Parish, clerk of the House of Burgesses, and commander of the King’s forces during Bacon’s Rebellion. Both William’s maternal and paternal lineages were filled with role models with whom he could identify and later emulate.

William grew up in a large family of eight children. His seven siblings included: John, Christopher, Mary, Robert, Catherine, Henry, and his brother Beverley. All his brothers were active in community affairs and public service. His brother Beverley, however, chose to remain loyal to the English crown when the Revolution rolled around. Beverley was an officer in the British forces and went to Canada after the war where he continued to be active in political and public life.

Christening: 25 MAY 1709. Christ Church, Middlesex, Colony of Virginia, British Colonial America.

First Marriage

Marriage bond between William Robinson and Agatha Beverley on February 17, 1736 in Spotsylvania.^[1]

In 1735 or 1736 when he was about 25 or 26 years old, William married Agatha Beverley (1716-c1756), his first cousin. Agatha was the daughter of Captain Harry Beverley (1669-1730) who was known not only for his public service but also for his adventures fighting pirates. Agatha’s mother was Elizabeth Smith, the wealthy heiress of Maj. Gen. Robert Smith (1605-c. 1687) and his wife Elizabeth Wormeley Smith (1616-aft. 1683). The young couple began their married life at about the top of VA society. William and his family eventually ended up at Newlands plantation, but I was not able to discover the date or way he acquired this land nor was I able to discover which wife first helped him to establish this home. If Newlands was like other plantations of the time, William probably was a tobacco planter, but I have no evidence of this. (William supposedly died at Newlands.)

Some sources say that William and Agatha had eight or nine children, but dates and repetition of names in his first and second marriages make a smaller number more likely. The couples’ children listed below have various dates of birth and death, depending upon the source. Thus, verify any of the dates below with other sources whenever possible. They are definitely “iffy.”

1. Agatha Robinson b. 1737 d. 1812. She married Captain William Sims (1730-1799). Sims was a member of Hogg’s Rangers during the French and Indian War. William and Agatha had 10 children. 2. John Robinson b. between 1737-1738 in Spotsylvania Co., VA, d. 1798. John was an officer in the colonial militia, Speaker of the House of Burgesses, and Treasurer of VA. John married Lucy Smith. The couple had 9 children 3. Henry Robinson, b. c1740 d. 3 Oct 1771. Henry married Elizabeth Pierce. They had one known child. 4. Catherine Robinson b. 20 Jul 1742 in Spotsylvania Co., VA, d. 1789 in Spotsylvania Co., VA. Catherine married twice. One marriage was to her cousin, Beverley Winslow (1734-1793), 1st Lieutenant of Spotsylvania County Militiain 1756, Sheriff in 1764, and County Lieutenant in 1781. The other marriage was to Robert Throckmorton (?-?) 5. Samuel Robinson b.1748 – d. ? Samuel married Unknown Weavil 6. Benjamin Robinson b.1752- d. 1825. Benjamin married Catherine Parker on 18 Feb 1783. They had 11 children

Second Marriage

When Agatha died around 1756, William married again. This time his wife was Agnes/Agness Smith (1725-c1792). They were wed 27 Jan 1757 in Spotsylvania County. They had 4 children (or more or fewer, depending upon the source.)

1. Agnes Robinson b. 28 Oct 1781- d.1802 Married Edmund Stephens 31 Dec 1796 Orange, Virginia 2. Lucy Robinson b. 1763- d.? Lucy married James Nelson on 3 May 1788. They had four children 3. Francis Robinson b. 2 Mar 1765- d. 31 Dec 1840. Frances married Mary “Polly” Terrill (6 Feb 1771-d. c1840) on 28 Feb 1788. Polly was the daughter of William Terrill. Francis served as a private during the Revolutionary War. He and Polly had 3 known children. He and his family moved to Harrison County, Kentucky. 4. Elizabeth Robinson b. 3 Nov 1770-d. 16 Oct 1830 Elizabeth married William Nelson son of William, Sr. and Elizabeth Haydon Nelson. They had 10 children. William Nelson, Jr. and Lucy’s husband James Nelson may have been related.

(Note: In some sources all the children listed from the Smith/Robinson marriage are combined with the children of the Beverley/Robinson marriage and/or certain children or moved from one mother to the other or omitted entirely.)

Military Service and Public Life

Like most of his male relatives, William served in the militia. Unlike his brother Beverley who elected to stay loyal to the crown, William was a patriot. He was : "commissioned a Major of Militia 17 Sept., 1743." He was a "Colonel of Militia in the American Revolution, Adjutant of the 9th Virginia Regiment and later annexed to the 5th Virginia Regiment." (By the time the Revolution got underway, William was in his 60's--but--even George Washington was in his mid-40's at that time.^[2][3]

In addition to military service, William was for years Justice of the Peace of Spotsylvania Co. He alsoo was a liberal supporter of the Anglican Church and served as a vestryman for St. George's Parish in 1730. He was probably a vestryman other years as well. For instance on 5 Nov 1759 he was one of the vestrymen who signed a deed selling 499 acres of the Glebe land belonging to the church to Erasmus Withers Allen of St. George’s Parish, Spotsylvania Co. (Glebe land was acreage belonging to a parish church which the vestry could use in various ways to produce revenue to support the church and its endeavors.)

Death

Unfortunately, not much more information is available for William Robinson. He died at his home, Newlands, on 5 May 1792, and his will was probated the same year. Some of his children remained in VA, but others, like our ancestor Agatha, moved away. Agatha and her husband, Capt. William Sims, operated a mill on Priddy Creek. It is reputed to have been the first mill there. Their daughter Joanna Sims married James Ownby and moved to NC. Joanna and James’ son John married Mary Jane Koone, and this family moved on to the Greenbrier section of the Great Smokies.[1]

Research Notes

William Robinson, Gentleman, was commissioned as Major of Militia in Spotsylvania County, Virginia; he took the oath of office on 7 Sep 1743.^[4] To date, no records have been found for a Colonel William Robinson who served in the Revolution. He would have been 66 years old at the beginning of the war, and, while willing and able to provide support to the troops (as determined by DAR), it is highly unlikely that he performed active service with a regiment.

GEDCOM Import

Born 25 MAR 1709. Hewick Plantation, Urbanna, Middlesex, Colony of Virginia, British Colonial America.

Died 5 MAY 1792. Spotsylvania, Virginia, United States.

HE LIVED IN SPOTSYLVANIA CO., VA; WAS A VESTRYMAN IN 1738.

REF: Adj. VA 9th Militia; Ref; John S.Wurts - Magna Charta, Vol.6, p.1779,l78l,l783 REF: "This Robinson Line", E. Viola Long, Austin, TX, private printing (1971) REF: McGill's; "Beverley Family of Va, p. 933. REF: Orange Co., VA - Marriage in Old Fee Book REF: Parish Register of Chrust Church, Middlesex Co., VA 1653-1812, p. 73 REF: AFN:CS45-2G ver 4.13 WILL: Will Dated 8 May 1792 REF: CDXVII records state that the 2nd marr was to Agnes Smith on 27 Feb 1757.

REF: Adj. VA 9th Militia; Ref; John S.Wurts - Magna Charta, Vol.6, p.1779,l78l,l783 REF: "This Robinson Line", E. Viola Long, Austin, TX, private printing (1971) REF: McGill's; "Beverley Family of Va, p. 933. REF: Orange Co., VA - Marriage in Old Fee Book REF: Parish Register of Chrust Church, Middlesex Co., VA 1653-1812, p. 73 REF: AFN:CS45-2G ver 4.13 WILL: Will Dated 8 May 1792 REF: CDXVII records state that the 2nd marr was to Agnes Smith on 27 Feb 1757.

see

http:/huskey-ogle-family.tripod.com/ancestorarchivesid57.html accessed 62914. William Robinson. 25 Mar 1709 - 5 May 1792.

Our ancestor William Robinson was from an illustrious family. (To see articles on his father, the Hon. John Robinson; his grandfather, the Hon. Christopher Robinson; his grandfather-in-law, Major Robert Beverley, and his brother-in-law, Captain Henry Harry Beverley, click the link at the top of this page.) It would be almost impossible to study colonial Virginia history without running across the Robinsons and Beverleys.

Children

• Francis Robinson^[5]
• Benjamin Robinson
• Samuel Robinson
• Agnes Robinson

William Robinson, born 1709 VA, married Agatha Beverley, born 1716 VA, in 1737 in VA. ^{[6] [7]}

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/3143/images/vamarriagerecords-001634.553?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&_ga=2.238232578.382568743.1605001699-615140869.1597693231&pId=15117 Virginia, U.S., Marriage Records, 1700-1850 for William Robinson, Virginia Marriage Records p. 553] 1737, William Robinson and Agatha Beverley [W.R. was a brother of Speaker Robinson. Agatha B. a daughter of Robert B.]

In the North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 William Robinson 83 born about 1709 in Middlesex County and died in 1792 in Spotsylvania County, VA Spouse [second marriage]: Agnes Smith Child: Samuel Robinson. ^[8]

John Robinson married Lucy Smith on 24 Nov 1757 in Orange, Virginia. Other Robinson marriages on the same page were: James Robinson married Judy Embry on 16 Jan 1760; and William Robinson married Agnes Smith on 27 Jan 1757 [second marriage]. ^{[9] [10]}

Sources

1. ↑ Marriage Records of the City of Fredericksburg, and of Orange, Spotsylvania, and Stafford Counties, Virginia, 1722-1850, Volume 18; Compiled by: Therese A. Fisher; Publisher: Heritage Books, 1990 - History - 258 pages; Page 139; Quote: ROBINSON, William & Agatha Beverley; 17 Feb 1736 (SpB); From list of abbreviations SpB — Spotsylvania County Marriage Bond.
2. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 26 Sept 2023), "Record of William Robinson", Ancestor # A097787.
3. ↑ https://sarpatriots.sar.org/patriot/display/280694
4. ↑ Image Virginia Colonial Militia, 1651-1776, Vol. 2, Spotsylvania Order Books
5. ↑ Edmund West, comp.. Family Data Collection - Individual Records [database on-line]. Birth year: 1765; Birth city: Spotsylvania; Birth state: VA.
6. ↑ Number Pages: 1 Source number: 2079.000; Source type: Electronic Database; Number of Pages: 1; Submitter Code: PKS Yates Publishing. U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.
7. ↑ Ancestry.com. Virginia, U.S., Marriage Records, 1700-1850 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Bentley, Elizabeth Petty, indexer. Virginia Marriage Records: From the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, the William and Mary College Quarterly, and Tyler's Quarterly. Baltimore, MD: Genealogy Publishing Co., Inc., 1984.
8. ↑ Book Title: Lineage Book : NSDAR : Volume 143 : 1918-1919 Ancestry.com. North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016.
9. ↑ Ancestry.com. Virginia, Marriage Records, 1700-1850 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Bentley, Elizabeth Petty, indexer. Virginia Marriage Records: From the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, the William and Mary College Quarterly, and Tyler's Quarterly. Baltimore, MD: Genealogy Publishing Co., Inc., 1984.
10. ↑ Virginia, Orange County Marriage Records, 1757-1938; https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GGY3-X18?cc=1883379&wc=MXMW-1WL%3A176841401 Image 120 of 518

• Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 17 Feb. 2019), "Record of William Robinson", Ancestor # A097787.

• "Virginia Births and Christenings, 1584-1917," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VRR7-SQN : 10 February 2018), William Robinson, 25 Mar 1709; citing CHRISTCHURCH,MIDDLESEX,VIRGINIA, reference ; FHL microfilm 873,777.

• Virginia Births and Christenings, 1584-1917, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VRR4-5MC : 10 February 2018), Will Robinson in entry for Agnes Robinson, 28 Oct 1781; citing , reference ; FHL microfilm 975.5 V2D.

• "Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XR46-K7C : 11 February 2018), William Robinson and Agnes Smith, 27 Jan 1757; citing Orange, Virginia, reference P1 l4; FHL microfilm 33,031.

• Crozier, William Armstrong, ed. Virginia County Records Spotsylvania County 1721-1800. http://brittlebooks.library.illinois.edu/brittlebooks_open/Books2009-09/virghi0001vircou/virghi0001vircou.pdf. p 48..

• Robinson, William. Early Colonial Settlers of Southern Maryland and Virginia's Northern Neck Counties. Accessed January 06, 2019. https://www.colonial-settlers-md-va.us/getperson.php?personID=I39844&tree=Tree1.

BIRTH 1709

• Source: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "Pedigree Resource File," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:2:38T3-4WJ : accessed 2017-12-20), entry for William /Robinson/.

• Virginia, Spotsylvania County Records, 1721-1800 [database on-line]. Section: Will book E. 1772-1798

• Find A Grave: Memorial #249410715 William Robinson

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Robinson-5248 created through the import of mom_2012-08-01.ged on Aug 2, 2012 by John Stroud.