Saturday, June 27, 2009

Surname Saturday: ROBBINS



My maiden name is ROBBINS, and I have been able to trace this line definitely back seven generations (not counting my own) to two 5th-great-grandfathers, both of whom were ROBBINSes. My 4th great-grandparents were Joseph Josiah ROBBINS (1820 - 1905) and Marinda ROBBINS (1824 - 1912), and whether or not they were related to each other is not known to me. Joseph was the son of George ROBBINS of Otsego County, New York (some records indicate he was born in New Jersey, Massachusetts, or Connecticut) and Marinda was the daughter of convicted murderer Uzza ROBBINS (b. c. 1792 in Vermont or New York) of New York and Pennsylvania, who was hung in 1850 for his crime.


Stories and History:

The ROBBINS Family History on my website.

Ahnentafel #128: I have seen information that gives the possibility that my George ROBBINS may be the George Washington ROBBINS of Connecticut who married Abigail HICKS and died in Chautauqua County, New York by 1854, but I have not yet found evidence to satisfy me.

Ahnentafel #130: Uzza ROBBINS' story of his crimes (he murdered his second wife and attempted to murder his step-daughter; later it was determined he murdered his son in another incident) and his beheading after his execution (the first in McKean County, Pennsylvania) and three disinterments are fascinating and can be read here.

#64: Joseph Josiah ROBBINS was a Civil War veteran and his story was written in the history of Oceana County, Michigan. It can be read here. Three of his sons were named a variation of Ben!

#32: Joseph and Marinda ROBBINS' oldest son Charles H. ROBBINS (1844 - 1934) was my ancestor. He also was a Civil War veteran who fought in many of the famous battles, and I have told his story here.

#16: Charles' son Angelo Merrick ROBBINS (1874 - 1923) was a schoolteacher who died young due to a ruptured appendix. You can read his story here.

#8: Angelo's son, William Bryan ROBBINS (1896 - 1972), served during WWI in North Russia as a Polar Bear. Read more here. I've also written extensively about his experiences in North Russia on this blog.

#4: My beloved paternal grandfather, Robert Lewis ROBBINS (1920 - 2003), was a WWII veteran, and you can read all about him here. I remember how well he could ride a unicycle!


More about the ROBBINS family:

1. Online database (I update this at least once a month): ROBBINS ancestors and relatives (no info on living persons available)

2. Some ROBBINS obituaries

3. Posts about ROBBINS ancestors and relatives on this blog

4. Some scanned ROBBINS documents

5. Some scanned ROBBINS photos

6. My ROBBINS Virtual Cemetery on Find A Grave


The ROBBINS immigration trail:

George ROBBINS' line: Otsego Co., NY > Chautauqua Co., NY?

Uzza ROBBINS' line: Broome Co., NY > Susquehanna Co., PA > Potter Co., PA > McKean Co., PA

Joseph ROBBINS and descendants to myself: Otsego Co., NY > Chautauqua Co., NY > Tioga Co., PA > McKean Co., PA > Oceana Co., MI > Cottonwood Co., MN > Oceana Co., MI > Newaygo Co., MI > Muskegon Co., MI > Ottawa Co., MI > AK > Stevens Co., WA > Spokane Co., WA

6 comments:

familytwigs said...

I have a Charity Robins/Robbins, my gr-gr-grandmother born in NJ, parents most likely Jonas and Sarah Case Robins/Robbins. You have one in NJ. Perhaps I'll find a connection! Charity married in KY to David Willcutt/Willcut/Wilcut. I had been told she was from NC and spent many years searching there to no avail. Now I am starting over in New Jersey! At least I have found some record of her and her family there.
Nice to read about your Robbins family.

Earline Hines Bradt said...

I also have Robbins ancestors. Caleb and Catherine Robbins (3rd grgrandparents), mid-1800's Welland, Ontario, daughter Mary Elizabeth Robbins married Allan C. Doan in Welland (2nd grgrandparents), relocated to Essex, Ontario. I haven't found where Caleb's family came from, possibly PA. or N.J.

Nancy said...

Hi Miriam
I tried posting a response but it gave me the error message.
I like your web site and your blog.

My Adolphus Ames also lived in Liberty Township prior to Civil War. Joseph Ames his brother stayed in Liberty Township until after the Civil War. Roxania Ames married Joel Rice who stayed in Liberty Twp prior to moving to Iowa. Trying to prove Roxania is sister to Adolphus Ames.

I have a couple of questions for you. Have you done much on the history of Mc Kean County and Liberty Twp?
or Potter Twp?
I have called and wrote by email and snail mail and included a SASE to the Smethport Library, Local Genealogy society, Methodist archives in Coudesport, PA and no one replies.
I did talk to Meitzler and the husband of the librarian in Smethport about migration trails for people leaving Mc Kean Co in 1850. Both told me that People migrated by wagon to Lake Erie and then by boat to Michigan and then on to Wisconsin as no trains in Smethport area at that time.
Any ideas on the migration trails?
I think my Great great grandmother Sarah Julia Ames and one son died on the migration trail to Dane County Wisconsin.(interpretation from reading the probate of Adolphus Ames) but I haven't found any death records. Most likely too early for vital records.
Thanks for listening or reading my ramblings.
Oh I read Seaver's genealogy post and did post an 8 and 16 Great and Great-Great grandparents on my blog. Got one response so far but on Fermazin family.
Thanks again for listening. Any tidbits helpful for blogging. I'm new at this and learning and trying.
Nancy

Robbinsfamilyguy said...

I am looking for John Robbins who married Elizabeth ? They would be my 4th great grandparents. Their son is James W. Robbins, born in PA. 20 March 1825. James married Lusetta Dotts 12 May, 1855 Linn County, Iowa. I would really like information on John and Elizbeth and Lusetta Dotts.

Anonymous said...

Caleb's father was Nathaniel of Halton Ontario, his father was Timothy of Trafalgar Ontario. Timothy emigrated from Massachusetts early 1800

Anonymous said...

Caleb's parents were from the Oakville area but originally Massachusetts