ROBINSON, Capt. NATHANIEL, from Attleboro, Mass., 1812; was an officer
of the revolution and held commissions, which are now in possession of his
granddaughter, Mrs. Amos W. Bromley, of lieutenant and captain, which were
signed respectively by John Hancock and Samuel Adams. The chief interest
that attaches to these papers is, the autographs of these distinguished
champions of American independence. Without much effort of the
imagination, we can reach back through the intervening ages, and grasp these
venerable statesmen by the hand. Capt. Robinson was a man of great humor
and wit, and was highly esteemed. He, in connection with his sons, was the
first to establish the spinning of cotton by machinery in the county. Four
sons and several daughters came with him: Jonathan, Nathaniel, William, David,
Mary and Hannah. He died in 1841, aged 89; his widow in 1845, aged 90;
Hannah in 1863, aged 76; Mary in 1841, aged 63; William in 1863, aged 76.
ROBINSON, JONATHAN, m. Laura Sykes, and settled near the
village. He was a great reader and of uncommon intelligence, and stood
high in the masonic fraternity. He died in 1862, aged 85; his widow
survives at the age of 82. His family are Laura, who married Amos W.
Bromley and Frank.
ROBINSON, NATHANIEL, Jr., was a man of great mechanical skill, and was
machinist for the cotton factory, over 30 years, constructing nearly all its
complicated machinery with his own hands. He married Betsey Brown, who
died in 1816, aged 28, leaving two children, William B. and Ezra H., of
Janesville, Wis. Next, he married Lydia Belden, who left three children:
Betsey, Sally and Louisa. Next, he married Rachel Haskins; her children
are, James N., Fayette S., George and Francis. Mr. Robinson died in 1864,
aged 81.
ROBINSON, WILLIAM B., m. Sally Woodward, and raised a family of
children. Clarissa m. Thomas C. Mosher, who died in 1862, aged 30; Charles, and
Chauncey H.
ROBINSON, JAMES N., m. Marietta, da. of Robert Clark, who died in
1860, aged 31. Next m. Lucy, da. of Lovell Leach.
ROBINSON, DAVID, m. Mary French, and settled at the village. They
raised a family of eleven children: George B. died in 1840, aged 36; David
W. m. Maria Clapp; Denzill F. m. Rhoda Bigelow, Chrystal Lake, Ill.; Thomas C.
m. Sophronia Barnard; Mary Ann; Nathaniel H., Chrystal Lake. Benjamin m. Desdia
Howe, Chrystal Lake; Julia C. m. Orla Loomis; Abbot m. Helen L., da. of Dr..
Samuel Potter; Eliza Jane m. Marshal Brown, and Henry M. m. Luthera Davis.
Mr. Robinson died in 1828, aged 47; his wife in 1828, aged 43.
ROBINSON, Capt. EPHRAIM, from Windham, Conn., 1785, settled on the
present homestead of Henry R. Hosford. He was among our most valuable and
enterprising citizens. His wife died in 1820, aged 62, leaving five children:
Ephraim, Samuel, George, Rosanna and Sophia. Ephraim, Jr., married Anna
Fitch, who died in 1825, aged 22; next Mrs. Hosford, who died in 1852, aged
50. Capt. Robinson next married Jemima, widow of Seely Brown and daughter
of Capt. Benoni Smith. He died in 1843, aged 83; his wife in 1834, aged
66. Ephraim, Jr., succeeded to the homestead and died in 1847, aged
47. He was in turn succeeded by his step-son,. Henry R. Hosford. who
married Melvina Smith.
ROBINSON, Richard, brother of Ephraim, settled on the height of land
west of his brother’s and raised a large family. We remember as his
sons: Ezra, Willis, Erastus and Otis, who was an antimasonic politician in
1830. Mr. Robinson died in 1838, aged 75; his wife in 1832.
ROBINSON, ABEL, another brother, settled: in the same
neighborhood. One of his daughters, Rhoda married Maj. Salmon Weeks, and
another married Arunah Hanks, Jr., and is the only one of the family remaining
in town.
