Place:Roblin's Mills Cemetery, Sophiasburgh, Prince Edward, Ontario, Canada

Roblin's Mills Cemetery is a small, inactive, community cemetery in Sophiasburgh township, Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada. It contains at least a 14 burials. As of 2014, it appears to be inaccessible from public roads. It should not be confused with cemeteries in Roblin Mills in the adjacent Ameliasburgh township.

Location

Latitude and longitude is approximate as cemetery is not visible on satellite imagery.

Alexander Campbell Osborne, whose sister Mary was buried in the cemetery in 1858, recollected in 1924: " the little cemetery is just on the line between the two farms, at the foot of the Ravine, near the Bay. ... The only approach to the little cemetery from the east was under the flume of the saw mill, then over the brook and up the hillside. On numerous occasions it has been my melancholy privilege to witness funeral processions bearing their precious burden with trembling footsteps, carefully choose boulders in crossing the stream, and then make their way up the hillside to the cemetery. Originally a private burial plot, the first to occupy a place in this primitive hillside cemetery was Widow Roblin, with her sons, grandsons and numerous family relatives, each grave marked by a suitable monument. In time, however, it became a general burial place for the neighbourhood, and many of the early inhabitants in a widely extended area found a final resting-place in this sequestered and romantic abode of the dead. I visited the familiar scene in 1914, ... Where once were witnessed scenes of industry and commercial prosperity, nothing remains to awaken the memory but "beetling cliffs, a hillside cemetery, and a purling brook.""

C & L Wannamaker (1982): "This burying ground is at the foot of the hill near bay shore on west side of ravine. There was a public warf here and to bury one down road to mill and carried body across the mill dam to cemetry. was once three mills on this creek one at bottom one in middle and flour mill at the top with road from Picton passing through the The old STONE ROBLIN HOUSE and here about was known as GREEN POINT" (C & L Wannamaker in OGS transcription).

Documentation and transcriptions

No original burial register has been located. As a community cemetery, it is unlikely there was one.

The visible stones were transcribed about 1982 by C. Loral Wannamaker and published by the Ontario Genealogical Society in a volume of Prince Edward County transcriptions ^[1]

Cem Search: "The Roblins Mills Cemetery (which is no longer in use) is located in Prince Edward County in Sophiasburgh township on C1 SW of Green Point L34." L. King transcribed 12 records.

Reconstructed chronology of interments

(Burial would have been within a couple of days of death, with exceptions in winter).

1. 1827, Thomas W. Portt (1797-1827)
2. 1835, Caleb Roblin (1810-1835)
3. 1837, Emely Roblin Wood died 18X7 (Wannamaker recorded "Emely dau of Philip Roblin wife of Henry Wood. d.1857? aged 22 y"). Either daughter of Philip Sr. and born 1815 (died 1837) or daughter of Philip Jr. and born after 1851 (maybe born 1855 died 1877). However, not recorded in the Ontario Deaths, there is no Emily Roblin marriage to Henry Wood in Ontario Marriages and given the ease of confusing 3 and 5, it seems likely to be 1837 death.
4. 1841, Cornelius Palmer (1757-1841)
5. 1846, Sarah Morrison (1827-1846)
6. 1848, Philip Roblin (1773-1848)
7. 1848, George W. Portt (1825-1848), son of Thomas
8. 12 Oct 1849, Jesse Potter (03 May 1773-12 Oct 1849) "over the fence on Potter farm to the west" (OGS transcriber C.L.R.W.)
9. 1850, Prudence Platt Roblin (1771-1850), wife of Phillip
10. 12 June 1858, Mary Ann Osborne (1838-1858)
11. 1862, Sarah Palmer (1775-1862), wife of Cornelius
12. 23 July 1875, Mary Portt (1803-1875) wife of Thomas Portt, mother of George

• undated field stones "J.J." and "H.R."

Probable burials for which no primary evidence has yet been found

History

Sophiasburgh and The Roblin Families, extracted from Pioneer Sketches and Family Reminiscences

[Ed. Note: This typescript in the Osborne file, Burleigh fonds, Queens University, appears to be the manuscript of Alexander Campbell Osborne's article in Ontario Historical Society Papers and Records, vol XXI. pp 213-, (1924)].

...

The Roblin family came from New Jersey, two brothers, John and Stephen, bore arms in the British cause, and John received a wound in his knee which crippled him for life. Both brothers and their families, Owen Roblin Sr., and Jr., were with Major VanAlstine's party when they landed in Adolphustown the 16th of June, 1784. John died soon after from the wound in his knee. His widow and family moved to Sophiasburgh in 1817, where she purchased 100 acres which included "Princess Sophia's Ravine," and a prospective mill site for $35 and built her own log house, paying for the whole in weaving, which must have been a severe task, more particularly on one of those old-time primitive hand looms. Mrs. Maude Benson, the Canadian writer, designates her, "Grand Old Pioneer Mother." "Princess Sophia's Ravine" is a historic gorge in Sophiasburgh on the Long Reach, about eight miles east of Picton, commonly known as Roblin's Mills, but so named in distinction to another Roblin's Mills in Ameliasburgh, built later by Owen Roblin, of the same family. Following closely on Widow Roblin's advent to "Princess Sophia's Ravine," Jesse Potter, another New Jersey U.E. Loyalist, came to Sophiasburgh, settling on the lot next to the Widow Roblin's west of the Ravine. Meantime, settlement increasing, the nearest mills being at Napanee and Congers, vis., at the two ends of the Long Reach, the demand for bread stuffs became very urgent. In 1817 the enterprising Widow Roblin built a grist mill located about half way down the Ravine, an unpretentious log structure, with one run of stones. For a number of years the mill was patronized to its capacity, and filled a great want in the neighbourhood. The old mill was used latterly as a cooper's shop, and was still standing in 1843 [the author was born in the vicinity in 1835], but finally disappeared, and even the situation had been forgotten. Later, when the site was pointed out by myself, the only person living who could confirm the location was the late Jas. P. Roblin (father of Sir Rodmond P. Roblin [who became premier of Manitoba]), who died at the venerable age of ninety-two. On the death of Widow Roblin, she left this valuable property and desirable situation to her son, Philip Roblin, Sr., who inherited much of his mother's energy. After her death, Philip discarded the old log house and built a handsome frame residence. He also built the second grist mill, a more pretentious frame structure, with two run of stones, and adequate equipment, a few yards further down stream than the old log mill. This was the beginning of a rapidly increasing patronage which continued until Philip Sr. died, leaving five sons, Philip Jr., Owen Jr., Levi, John P., and Caleb, and three daughters, Phoebe, who married Mr. Rogers and settled in Whitby, Mary, who married Wm. Port, who died soon after [see interments, Emely who married Henry Wood must be the daughter of Philip Jr.], and Keziah, who married Squire George Drury in Sophiasburgh. Philip Jr., inherited the homestead and estate; John P. was elected M.P.P. and for years held a prominent position in the Upper Canada Legislature; Caleb was drowned while crossing the ice from Marshfront to the the Indian Reserve; Owen Roblin, Jr., built the mill in Ameliasburgh, long known as Seventh Town.

The power dam of the mills at "Princess Sophia's Ravine" was located entirely on the adjoining farm of Jesse Potter, the western corner of the dam approaching within four feet of Mr. Potter's barn and flooding a large area of his reserve woodlands. In consequence there were bitter contentions and annual lawsuits between Mr. Potter and Philip Roblin, Sr., which continued many years, but which proved futile, and Mr. Roblin succeeded in maintaining his mill privileges. Finally these rivalries ceased, when Philip Roblin, Sr., passed away at a ripe old age, and a large concourse of friends and neighbours saw his remains carried from the old red mansion to the little cemetery on the hillside, of which event I have a recollection as a witness. Jessee Potter soon followed, at the advanced age of eighty-three years, which event also I remember. Standing beside the coffin, I was just tall enough to see his stern and pallid features over the edge of the coffin.

The forever rivals are now quietly reposing side by side, each in his narrow bed, which was once his own property, not by design, but because the little cemetery is just on the line between he two farms, at the foot of the Ravine, near the Bay.

On the decease of Philip Roblin, Sr., Philip, Jr., his son, who died in 1899, inherited the estate and succeeded to the business. Soon after his father's death he built the third grist mill at the head of the Ravine, near the bridge where the road crosses, -- a fine, three storey [sic] modern structure, with over-shot water wheel, seventeen feet in daimeter, with three run of stones. He also erected a large storehouse just across the road, which was ultimately connected with the mill by an overhead gangway. He likewise added a complete saw mill equipment to the lower mill, operated by both steam and water power, and in various ways enlarged and increased it till the milling business here expanded to one of the most extensive in Canada. Large consignments of flour were for many years shipped regularly from these mills to foreign lands, until Roblin's Mills became for a time a leading commercial centre in the country, and a considerable lake depot, with storehouses, shops and docks for convenience of shipping.

Levi Roblin, one of the brother's previously mentioned, built a saw mill at the foot of the Ravine near the Bay, and likewise a private residence. The former was equipped with an old-fashioned upright saw, worked by a water wheel and crank, and which for many years did the principal share of custom sawing, and was the only saw mill in an extensive region. Its persistent measured beats were an object of interest to youthful eyes that watched its movements by the hour.

The only approach to the little cemetery from the east was under the flume of the saw mill, then over the brook and up the hillside. On numerous occasions it has been my melancholy privilege to witness funeral processions bearing their precious burden with trembling footsteps, carefully choose boulders in crossing the stream, and then make their way up the hillside to the cemetery. Originally a private burial plot, the first to occupy a place in this primitive hillside cemetery was Widow Roblin, with her sons, grandsons and numerous family relatives, each grave marked by a suitable monument. In time, however, it became a general burial place for the neighbourhood, and many of the early inhabitants in a widely extended area found a final resting-place in this sequestered and romantic abode of the dead.

I visited the familiar scene in 1914, and to my amazement the Ravine had become literally a desert. Where once stood three grist mills, two saw mills, two private residences, a merchant's shop, and extensive storehouse and dock, all have been dismantled and not a vestige remains. The fine mill at the head of the Ravine has entirely disappeared, -- not even a stone of the foundation remains; in fact none of the locations can be discerned except by those familiar with the former site. The dam is obliterated, and the ground devoted to grain crops. Where once were witnessed scenes of industry and commercial prosperity, nothing remains to awaken the memory but "beetling cliffs, a hillside cemetery, and a purling brook." One is forcibly reminded of Macaulay's New Zealander, seated on a broken arch of London Bridge, surveying the ruins of a city.

1. ↑ Source:Vader,_Amy._Roblin_Mills-Roblin_Family_Cemetery