Generation Three |
5. JOSEPH3 ROBINSON (John2, Joseph1); He is listed in the 1850 federal census for Fayette County, Kentucky, age 39, living in the household of John Robinson. Joseph Robinson was a member of the Boone’s Creek Baptist Church at Athens and is so noted in the church records as participating in the church business. Joseph was named in his father’s will as an executor along with his brother Elijah. Joseph and Elijah Robinson took an oath as executors in October 1850 and posted bond of $36,000 with Robert Marshall, Henry Foster, John Prather, and J. C. Berry providing security.62 Joseph Robinson also was the executor for his brother-in-law Reuben Bryant, who died in 1852, and as his executor, appeared in court in 1853 to settle the accounts of Reuben Bryant as guardian of Mary Susan Lafoe.63
Joseph Robinson moved to Lincoln County, Kentucky, probably in late 1852. He is found in the 1860 federal census, living there as head of household, age 53, with his brother Elijah, age 42, his sister Elizabeth Bryant, age 35 (the widow of Reuben A. Bryant), and her two children, Annie M. Bryant, age 15 and J. H. E. Bryant (John H. E.), age 11, and a boarder, Jacob Roby, a teacher. The 1860 census lists Joseph with real estate valued at $12,000, and personal estate valued at $3,500. Joseph (age 63) is listed in the 1870 federal census for Lincoln County, Kentucky, living in the household of his brother Elijah, who apparently had married and had a family. Joseph Robinson (age 74) is found in the 1880 federal census for Jackson County, Missouri, page 271C, Westport Township, living with his brother Elijah Robinson and Elijah’s family. I have no personal records for Joseph Robinson and do not know when he died. He probably never married.
6. BOSWELL3 ROBINSON (John2, Joseph1);
He was born 8 September 1808, Clark County, Kentucky, and died 23
January 1863,64 Daviess County, Kentucky. Boswell was married
19 November 1830 by William Roth, Minister of the Gospel, Fayette
County, Kentucky, to HELENA BARKER.65 Helena Barker was born
17 March 1812, Fayette County, Kentucky, the daughter of Joseph Barker
and Nancy Jones,66 and died 26 January 1863, Daviess County,
Kentucky.
The Daviess County, Kentucky, marriage record of Boswell and Helena’s son Joseph Thomas Robinson states he was born (1833) in Franklin County, Kentucky. This may be in error; I know of no other records that place Boswell in Franklin County. The Owen County, Kentucky, tax records indicate they were in that county by 1834, living there until at least 1846 on Cedar Creek. The death certificate of daughter Sarah Hannah (Robinson) Ware states she was born in Owen County (1842). Tax records of Owen County for 1841, report Boswell with one slave, five horses and mares, six cattle, and two children ages seven to 17, and an estate valued at $1,225. Owen County tax records for 1846 show Boswell with 125 acres on Cedar Creek, five children aged 5 to 16, and a total estate value of $1,500.
“A History of the Baptist Church at the Stamping Ground, Ky, 1795 –,” by J. W. Singer, Church Clerk (1952), Revised 1970, lists “Boswell Robinson By letter, July 1836. Dis. to a new church, Feb. 1839” and “Helena, wife of Boswell. Same dates.”67 I do not know the location of this church. In Fayette County, Boswell was a member of the Boone’s Creek Baptist Church at Athens. Records of this church for the second Saturday in December of 1827 show that “on the Lord’s Day brethren Bosel (Boswell) Robinson, George Boone, James Taggot and Caroline Emery, were received by a declaration of faith for baptism and accordingly were immersed by Bishop G. G. Boone.” Boone’s Creek Church records also show Boswell requested a letter of dismissal, which was granted in late October of 1833. Though my photocopy is missing the date of this entry, it was made probably in early November of that year as the entry immediately following was for the second Saturday in November of 1833.
Boswell and Helena had moved to Daviess County, Kentucky, by 22 July 1850, the date the federal census was taken that year for District Number 1. In Daviess County they were charter members of Zion Baptist Church near Owensboro, Kentucky, founded 13 November 1859 by I. R. Allen, John G. Howard and J. P. Ellis. Charter members were Jeremiah Yewell; John Yewell; Helena Robinson; Sofronia Stone; Albina Montgomery; Franklin Yewell; Mary E. Yewell; Nancy J. Robinson; Laura O. May; James Yewell; Boswell Robinson; James Stone; and Sarah H. Ware. This church, which no longer exists, was located on the Old Hartford Road (old US 231) about two miles south of Owensboro, Kentucky.68 The Old Hartford Road divides Elmwood and Rosehill Cemeteries.
In Daviess County, Boswell and his family lived in Lower Town Precinct. His farm was located about two and one-half miles south of Owensboro (as it would have been in about 1860) and about one-half mile west of the Livermore Road (US 431). An 1876 atlas of Daviess County, Kentucky, shows the location of Boswell’s farm of 100 acres, noted as “B. Robinson heirs.”69 Boswell and Helena Robinson are buried on their farm according to my mother, Mabel H. Hunt, granddaughter of Sarah Hannah (Robinson) Ware, as told to me in relating how her mother, Birdie (Ware) Horrell used to drive there to visit the graves. A comparison of the 1876 atlas and a modern topographical map of the area strongly suggests the area of what was Boswell Robinson’s farm is now a housing development.
Sarah Hannah Ware, daughter of Boswell, often told a story of how a slave trader, looking for slaves to buy, talked with her father. As Sarah told the story, she begged him not to sell the slave away from her child “and he didn’t!”70 Boswell was not a big slave holder. In addition to the mention of two slaves in his will, the federal slave schedule for 1850 lists only the one slave for Boswell, a man named Ben, 25 years of age. The 1860 slave schedule also lists only Ben, now 35 years of age.
Boswell Robinson wrote his will 16 July 1856, and it was recorded 5 February 1863.71 He names his wife, Helena, and each of his children in his will, and appoints his sons John Dudley and James William as executors. Two slaves are mentioned, Harry and Lucy. On the second of March 1861, Boswell added a codicil to his will to ensure all his children received the same amount of his estate. Settlement records for Boswell’s estate, show for 25th of January 1863, $10.00 for coffin; $4.00 for trimmings; and $5.00 for hearse. The same amounts were billed for Helena on 29 January 1863. On 14 March 1863, Boswell Robinson’s executors, his sons James and John, paid in full the total funeral expenses for both Boswell and Helena in the amount of $49.76, which included $11.76 for “got at Coffeys.”72 Coffeys probably refers to a livery stable in Owensboro at that time.73 A note at the bottom of the statement states “Received of John and James Robinson, Exc., the sum of two dollars for washing cloth. This the 7th of March 1863.” Signed: Mildred McFarlin. Sarah H. Ware was a witness to the receipt. A settlement of accounts, dated 21 June 1866, shows there was $360.72 for distribution among the heirs. There being no widow, each heir received $36.07-2/20.74 The heirs did not sell Boswell’s farm until several years later.
Boswell Robinson Will
In the name of God amen
I Boswell Robinson of the County of Daviess & State of
Kentucky being of Sound mind [&] body & perfect memory, but
knowing of the uncertainty of life, do hereby make & ordain this as
my last will and testament, hereby revoking any former will made by me.
Item 1st I wish all my just debts & funeral expenses to be promptly
paid out of my estate. .
2nd I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Helenah Robinson the whole
of [my] estate of every kind, both real & personal, after the
payment of my debts, during her natural life, in so long as she remains
my widow. .
3d After the death of my wife, I wish the whole of [my] estate real
& personal, Sold on reasonable terms and the proceeds equally
divided amongst the following of my children or their descendants.
towit my Sons, John Dudley, Joseph Thomas, James William, Elijah Allen,
Benjamin Grant, and Henry Robert Robinson, and my daughters Sarah
Hannah, Nancy Jones, & Amanda Melvina Jane Robinson, Share and
Share alike. I however exclude from Sale under the above bequest the
Sale of my slaves, to be disposed as herein after provided. .
4th In the event the marriage of my said wife my, she is to have one
third part of my estate & the residue divided as above directed. .
5th In the event that my negro man Harry wishes to go to Liberia to
remain there my Executor is hereby directed to furnish him with one
hundred dollars & permit him to go at after any time after the
death of my Said wife. But should he wish to remain a Slave & live
in Kentucky then he is to be hired to Some member of my family from
year to year, and the proceeds of his hire be applied to the education
of my three youngest children to wit, Benjamin G. Henry R. & Amanda
Malvina Jane Robinson, until they are educated as my other children
have been. .
6th I wish my negro Girl named Lucy hired, as Henry is from year to
year to Some member of my family & the proceeds equally divided
amongst my nine children herein before named, that is after my wife’s
death or marriage, and until Some one of my children herein before
named is able [to] buy her at a fair and reasonable price then my
Executor is to sell her to such member of my family of children
aforesaid & divide the proceeds equally between them. .
7th I wish & devise that after my three youngest children are
educated out of the proceeds of Harry’s hire, that he be hired from
year to year to year until Some one of my children herein before named
is able to buy him at a fair & reasonable Sum, and then my Exer is
directed to Sell to Such child and divide his proceeds equally amongst
them. .
8th It is my especial will & desire that if any of my children
herein before named Shall attempt to break or set aside this my will
that such child or children shall forfeit the benefit of every
provision made by this will for them, and my estate divided amongst the
residue of such children herein before named, as shall decline any
attempt to disturb my will. .
9th To my daughter Mildred Ann Dabney I bequeath the Sum of five
dollars to be paid by my Executor & no more of my estate is devised
to her.
10th I hereby appoint my sons John D. and James W. Robinson Executors
of this my last Will & Testament.
In Testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand & Seal this 16th day
of July AD 1856.
Boswell Robinson SS
Signed Sealed & delivered
in the presence of
Wm B. Wall
Geo H. Yeaman
[This transcription of Boswell Robinson’s will (without the codicil) was made from a photocopy of the original will and not from the Court clerk’s entry in the Daviess County court records.]
And in further addition to my will dated July 16th 1856 attested by George H. Yeaman and W. B. Wall do in these presents, add and do alter that will as follows, as regards Mildred A. Dabney. She is to have and hold in her own right and [sic] equal proportion of my estate but all my daughters by my present wife Helena are to inherit and hold in their own title an[d] their heirs an equal interest free of their husband. In the ninth article of the previous will, let it be eraced so far as it pertains to Mildred Dabney.
5th the article in regard to my Negro man Harry I wish him Sold at my present wife’s death and the proceeds equally divided between my present heirs. attested this the twenty Second March 1861.
Boswell RobinsonSigned in our presants,
Jos. C. Dear
Moses Burks
State of Kentucky }
Daviess County Court } Sct
Special Term February 5th 1863
The within writing purporting to be the last Will and Testament and Codicil of Boswell Robinson deceased, was this day produced in Court and the Will duly proven by the oath of William B. Wall, a subscribing witness thereto, who also proved the attestation of George H. Yeaman the other subscribing witness and the Codicil hereto attached was duly proven by the oath of Jos. C. Dear and Moses Burks, the subscribing witnesses thereto Whereupon the same is ordered to record as and for the last will and Testament of said decedant & the same together with this certificate has been duly admitted to record.
Witness my hand this 5th day of February 1863.John O Brien Ck
By James M. Hughes Dc
Boswell Robinson’s will was recorded in Daviess County, Kentucky Will Book C, page 186.
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| + | 16 | i. | John4 Dudley Robinson; born 30 September 1831; died 23 May 1896; married (first) 23 July 1852 or 1853, Jane Moseley; married (second) 16 October 1863 (or 16 October 1865), Elizabeth Owen. |
| + | 17 | ii. | Joseph Thomas Robinson; born born 23 April 1833; died after 1881; married (first) 20 April 1854, Martha Grigsby; married (second) 21 June 1860, Harriet Greer. |
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18 | iii. | James William Robinson; born 11 January 1835; died 26 October 1914; married December 1856, Mary Jane Johnson. |
| + | 19 | iv. | Mildred Ann Robinson; born 30 September 1836; died after January 1920; married (first) 9 March 1854, Lafayette Dabney; married (second) 14 April 1886, William H. Love. |
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20 | v. | Mary Elizabeth Robinson; born 20 August 1838; died 20 November 1838 |
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21 | vi. | Rebecca Katherine Robinson; born 21 October 1839; died 21 December 1850. |
| + | 22 | vii. | Sarah Hannah Robinson; born 20 January 1842; died 26 October 1929; married 30 June 1859, Iverson Joseph Ware. |
| + | 23 | viii. | Nancy Jones Robinson; born 26 February 1844; died after 1880; married 11 June 1861, William E. Quire. |
| + | 24 | ix. | Elijah Allen Robinson; born 21 August 1846; died 25 February 1885; married Alice Ann Johnson; born 5 March 1855. |
| + | 25 | x. | Benjamin Grant Robinson; born 9 March 1849; died 4 January 1939; married Mary Eliza Knox. |
| + | 26 | xi. | Henry Robert Robinson; born 9 March 1852; died 7 October 1937; married Perlina Francis Organ. |
| + | 27 | xii. | Amanda Melvina Jane Robinson; born 2 January 1856; died 30 June 1922. |
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| Contents |
| Dedication |
| Preface |
| Acknowledgments |
| Maps |
| Photographs |
| Generation One |
| Generation Two |
| Generation Three |
| Generation Four |
| Generation Five |
| Virginia Origins |
| Documents |
| Census Information |
| End Notes |