|
|
Maj. William Robinson, Sr., of Coshocton Co., OH
Facts and Events
William Robinson was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia
__________________________
Records in Augusta County, VA
From Chalkley’s Augusta County Records:
- Vol. 2 - David Rees, Henry Bickel (Pickel), and Sarah, his wife, and Jacob Rees, adults; Nathan, Joel, Hanna and Jesse Rees, infants, by their brother Jacob Rees, heirs and devisees of their father, Jacob Rees, deceased, vs. William, Benjamin and Mackinney Robinson--O. S. 44; N. S. 15--From Harrison County. Bill filed in Harrison 21st August, 1797. At a very early period of adventures into the Western country Jacob (senior) came into the country now Harrison county, and on 31st July, 1775, purchased of William Williams a tract on Ten Mile Creek which Williams had bought of one John Jones, who purchased of John Simpson, the original improver, by bill of sale dated 8th January, 1774. Jacob Rees lived on the land two years and agreed upon a division line between him and William Robinson. When the Indians became active (Jacob being aged and infirm and his family numerous but young) Jacob removed to Frederick County, whence he came and remained there until 1784 or 1785. In spring or summer of 1789, Jacob died testate, will dated 3d April, 1789, and proved in Harrison County. Answer says William and Benjamin Robinson were brothers. Jacob Rees was so much an enemy of the Revolution that he refused to take the oath of fidelity. Benj. answers that he made an entry but found that a prior one had been made by one Thomas Bartlett, who conveyed to McKinney Robinson. Commission May 1798 to take deposition of William Williams, in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. Hanna Rees, relict of Jacob, relinquishes dower 19th June, 1798. Hanna Rees, relict, &c, deposes 2d July, 1798, at house of Col. Benj. Wilson in Harrison County, that, in 1773, Jacob Rees and Benj. Shinn, having purchased of William Robinson the tract on Ten Mile Creek moved there in fall of 1774, but got no farther than Redstone, in Penna.; but went there himself in spring of 1775 and in next fall moved his family there. A line was agreed between Rees and Robinson to which these were witnesses: Benj. Robinson, Joseph Wood and Vincent Hubbs. The Indians became very troublesome and Jacob moved to the house of Thomas Harteest (?) which the Indians attacked, killed five persons, took three and wounded four, among them (wounded) were Jacob and one of his little daughters, but afterwards when he recovered a little he stood to his post and defended the house. The next morning it was thought best to evacuate the house, and they all moved to Grundy's Blockhouse, the place whereon Col. Wilson now lives, on Simpson's Creek. Jacob lived in this country 18 months after this disaster prior to his removing his family. About 1781 he moved to Frederick. Samuel Shinn deposes at time and place as above. In 1773 his father, Benjamin Shinn, and Jacob Rees came into this country and accordingly Benjamin's family (including deponent) came out. Isaac Horner, a single man, also came with them. Isaac Shinn deposes as above, son of Benjamin. Benjamin Shinn died in 1790. Joshua Allen deposes as above. Jonathan Stout deposes as above. Watson Clarke deposes as above. Joseph Wood. Following deposed 18th August, 1798, at same place as above: Joshua Allen deposes Jacob Rees was a Quaker, and said the oath had never been tendered him. Aaron Smith deposes that Jacob's brothers in Berkeley County persuaded him to go to Berkeley for safety. Robert Bartlett. Col. David Scott deposes at house of Hugh McNeeley, in Morgantown, Monongalia County, 13th August, 1798, he employed James Anderson to make an improvement on 10 Mile Creek in the spring of 1773. Levi Shinn deposes that he was with William Robinson when he improved near mouth of 10 Mile Creek in 1772. Copy of will of Jacob Rees, dated 23d April, 1789. Wife Hannah; children not named. William Williams deposes 11th August, 1798, that he purchased the tract from John Jones in 1772 or 1773, planted a crop in 1774, the same year the settlement broke up and moved down to Prickett's settlement and built a fort. Wm. Robinson was in the fort with deponent for some time, also at Power's fort. (Note: William, Benjamin and McKinney Robinson were siblings)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Find A Grave.
Maj William Robinson
BIRTH 18 Apr 1743
Augusta County, Virginia, USA
DEATH 18 Oct 1815 (aged 72)
Conesville, Coshocton County, Ohio, USA
BURIAL
William Robinson Family Cemetery
Conesville, Coshocton County, Ohio, USA
Revolutionary War service: Adjt of 5th and 9th Regt under Col O. Towles (The Official Roster of the Soldiers of the American Revolution Buried in the State of Ohio)
and
As a merchant, provider of material assistance to the Patriot troops during the American Revolution.
First merchant west of the Allegheny Mountains and the first to introduce the sale of coffee in that section of Virginia
During Lord Dunmore's War, which began with the murder of Chief Logan's family, and which ended Nov 1774, the colonists of Virginia fought against Indians backed by the British, and Maj. Robinson experienced a unique and historic adventure. This is reported in many histories including Theodore Roosevelt's The Winning of the West,Vol. I, From the Alleghanies to the Mississippi, 1769-1776 (NY, 1906: G.P. Putnam & Sons), pp. 243-244 (name not written there but referenced in footnote).
1774: William and his family had been living in a fort for protection from Indian attacks. With the other men, William served in the fort militia unit. He may have earned the commission as major through training provided by his father who served in the Virginia Militia. One day, William and two friends were working with the flax crop outside the fort's walls. Captain John Logan, Chief of the Mingo Native American nation, and his warriors attacked them as they worked in the flax field near his home by the Monongahela River. The major was forced to run the gauntlet, then tied up three times to be burned at the stake but was removed each time as debate raged on about his merit. He was verbally defended by the Chief himself against a group of hostile chiefs. He was spared when Chief Logan, who had been leading a war of vengeance against the settlers, adopted him. While with the Indians, Maj. Robinson traveled through the beautiful Muskingum River valley of Ohio. On one occasion, he recorded a letter for the Chief to the man he thought, in error, had killed his family. The message was left in the cabin of a pioneer family Logan killed. The message has been compared often to the famous speech Chief Logan delivered at the end of Dunmore's War.
After about four months with Logan, Maj. Robinson escaped to return to his family in Clarksburg, Virginia (now West Virginia). It is interesting to note that his wife, Margaret See, had been a hostage of the Shawnee Indians after her first husband, father, and many others were killed in the Muddy Creek Massacre of July 16, 1763. In its aftermath, Margaret's mother and siblings were among the captives made to travel to the village of Chief Cornstalk and kept there until a hostage exchange was arranged. When William and Margaret moved to Ohio, Margaret's mother was with them, and a large group of family and friends accompanied or followed them. This included some of their married children with their spouses, children, and in-laws. Some of these pioneers are buried in the cemetery beside William, while others are interred in Bethany ME Cemetery, Robinson Cemetery, and possibly other locations.
He remembered the beautiful lands he had admired. In 1801, he acquired 4000 acres in this Northwest Territory location that would soon become Franklin Township, Coshocton County, Ohio, near the town of Conesville.
Prior to the move to Ohio, William had also served as Mayor of Clarksburg and as the third Sheriff of Harris County, VA (WV).
Inscription: 72y 6m; "An honest mans' the noble mark of God." Pope
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=54391892
|
|
