NJHUNTER-L Archives

Archiver > NJHUNTER > 2002-07 > 1025557447


From: Marshall Lake <>
Subject: Re: [NJHUNTER] Who is the Colonel? ROBBINS et al
Date: Mon, 1 Jul 2002 17:04:07 -0400 (EDT)
In-Reply-To: <3D2060AD.1903AA6C@nrao.edu>


> I was surfing the web and found this bit that appears to have been in
> the Hunterdon County Democrat newspaper...
>
> January 1, 1884, Forty-Sixth Volume, No. 20
>
> Local Department
>
> Susan Hager, a colored woman of Bloomsbury, aged 84 years, is dead.
> "Aunt Suke" as she was familiarly called was a slave for about
> twenty-five yeers, being purchased by Colonel Robbins for the sum of
> $100, when she was five years old. At the time of her marriage her
> master gave her her freedom. "Aunt Suke" nursed all the children of
> the late Colonel of which Mrs. Smith, widow of Spencer C. Smith, was
> one, and is a resident of Bloomsbury. Since the death of her father
> and husband, Mrs. S. has always seen that "Aunt Suke" was well cared
> for and it was a great pleasure for the old lady to spend a few days
> with Mrs. Smith and her family. Colonel Robbins, Mrs. Smith's father,
> fought during the War of 1812, and had command of the forces at Sandy
> Hook where a British fleet attempted to land. A reef there is known
> as Robbins Reef, in honor of the brave officer. He died eighteen
> years ago at the ripe old age of 93 years.

Very interesting article. Can someone tell me where Sandy Hook is
located?

> Now I am itching to find out what was the full name and what were the
> dates for this Colonel ROBBINS for whom Robbins Reef was named. Does
> anyone have any input on this?

It seems that the surname was spelled ROBBINS in later generations and
ROBINS in earlier generations.

The ROBINS/ROBBINS clan is somewhat confusing.

There seemed to have been two Jonathan ROBINS who both lived in Hunterdon
Co in the middle to late 18th century. One went west to Indiana (?).
There's a Web site somewhere devoted to this Jonathan ROBINS and his
descendants. I don't have the Web site address handy.

The other Jonathan ROBINS settled in Alexandria Twp on land adjoining the
Old Hickory Tavern in 1751. He bought this land from the "Widow" MERRILL.
Based mostly upon educated guesswork this Jonathan was born circa 1720.
One source says this Jonathan came to NJ from New England to escape Quaker
persecution. Another source says that this Jonathan is descended from
Daniel ROBINS of Hunterdon Co. I haven't been able to substantiate either
claim. This Jonathan ROBINS was apparently known as "Colonel Sr". His
son, also Jonathan, was apparently known as "Colonel Jr". I wonder if
Jonathan Sr was a Colonel in the Rev War? (I don't think he would be as a
Quaker.) Children I have for Jonathan the first are Isaac, Jonathan, and
four unnamed daughters. Isaac is my gggg grandfather.

Jonathan ROBINS Jr married Mary HUFF, and they lived in Alexandria Twp.
The children I have for this couple are: Susanna (b 12 Dec 1787, mar
William RUPEL), Charles (b 15 Dec 1788), Sarah (b 2 Oct 1790, mar Asa
YOUNG), Isaac (b 12 Feb 1792), Jonathan (b 29 Dec 1793), Mary (27 Jan
1796, mar John HITESMAN), James (b 19 Jun 1799), Elizabeth, Jonas (b 22
Feb 1801), William (b 30 Nov 1802), Joseph (b 11 May 1805, and Abigail (2
Mar 1809, mar John GODOWN). (The marriage names came from a Division of
Land record for this Jonathan).

If everything is correct the only place Mrs. SMITH from the newspaper
article above fits in is as Elizabeth (for which I don't have any further
info). Too bad they didn't mention Mrs. SMITH's first name in the
article.

--
Marshall Lake -- -- http://melake.erols.com


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