The first of Marjory’s Robinson / Robertson ancestors to come to the new world was her 9th great grandfather Christopher Robinson in 1642. As you would suspect from his name, Christopher’s ancestors were Scandinavian, migrating first to Scotland and then to England.
Soon after his arrival in Virginia, Christopher married Frances Marie Burrell, also a settler from England. The oldest of their four sons, Edward (Marjory’s 8th great grandfather) was born soon thereafter in 1645. The family remained largely on the middle peninsula of Virginia until Edward’s grandson Israel Robinson (1698-1758, Marjory’s 6th great grandfather) moved inland to Granville County, North Carolina, north of present-day Raleigh. Many of Israel’s descendants eventually moved west over the mountains becoming settlers in what is now the State of Tennessee.
During these many years, the family name was heard and written in various ways including Robinson, Robertson, and sometimes Robison or Robeson. They are the same family but, some being illiterate, relied on others to record their names.
Israel’s son Charles B. Robinson (1733-1798, Marjory’s 5th great grandfather) and Israel’s grandson James Robinson/Robertson (1742-1814, Marjory’s 1st cousin six times removed) are among the most known. Both were commissioners elected by the Watauga Association, the first representative government west of the Allegheny Mountains formed in 1772.
Charles and his son Julius Caesar Robinson fought with the Overmountain Men at Kings Mountain. Julius is also famous for his earlier role in the Battle of Point Pleasant. Later, Charles was a leader in the founding of the failed State of Franklin, being speaker of its senate.
James traveled even further west, establishing Fort Nashborough, the present-day City of Nashville. There, he signed the Cumberland Compact establishing a constitutional government for the settlers. James Robertson is often called the “Father of Middle Tennessee.”
Please enjoy the posts about this family and their accomplishments.
Soon after his arrival in Virginia, Christopher married Frances Marie Burrell, also a settler from England. The oldest of their four sons, Edward (Marjory’s 8th great grandfather) was born soon thereafter in 1645. The family remained largely on the middle peninsula of Virginia until Edward’s grandson Israel Robinson (1698-1758, Marjory’s 6th great grandfather) moved inland to Granville County, North Carolina, north of present-day Raleigh. Many of Israel’s descendants eventually moved west over the mountains becoming settlers in what is now the State of Tennessee.
During these many years, the family name was heard and written in various ways including Robinson, Robertson, and sometimes Robison or Robeson. They are the same family but, some being illiterate, relied on others to record their names.
Israel’s son Charles B. Robinson (1733-1798, Marjory’s 5th great grandfather) and Israel’s grandson James Robinson/Robertson (1742-1814, Marjory’s 1st cousin six times removed) are among the most known. Both were commissioners elected by the Watauga Association, the first representative government west of the Allegheny Mountains formed in 1772.
Charles and his son Julius Caesar Robinson fought with the Overmountain Men at Kings Mountain. Julius is also famous for his earlier role in the Battle of Point Pleasant. Later, Charles was a leader in the founding of the failed State of Franklin, being speaker of its senate.
James traveled even further west, establishing Fort Nashborough, the present-day City of Nashville. There, he signed the Cumberland Compact establishing a constitutional government for the settlers. James Robertson is often called the “Father of Middle Tennessee.”
Please enjoy the posts about this family and their accomplishments.
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