The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-04-12
HOUSE OF RoBINSONS.

|
An association born of the desire 70
| trace relationship and hallow the mem
| DRY Of an honored ancestry, is the Rob-
inson Family Genealogical and Historical
Association.
| Since its foundation is has collected,
compiled and published much interesting
| data.
Among the first of the name in this
country were William Robinson, who set
tied in Dorchester, Mass, and George
who established himself in the same state
at Rehoboth. Isaac and Abraham settled
also In Massachusetts,. at Barnstable and
Gloucester respectively. Biblical name
flourish in this family. Besides Abraha
and Isaac there were Noah and Jonathan.
William and Margaret Robinson, who
came from Canterbury. England. in 1857.
settled in Dorchester. Mass. Their chill
dren were distinguished by the names In
crease Prudence and Waiting. There
was also a son called Samuel whe must
have considered himself sighted that so
ordinary a name was bestowed upon him
Increase Robinson was allied to the
family OF John Eliot. the apostle to the
Indians through his marriage TO Sarah
Penniman, daughter of James and Lydia
Penniman, Lydia being sister to John
Eliot
Inferred In Wakefield Cemetery, Rhode
island ARE the remains of Dowland Rob
inson, with the following inscription upon
the tombstone:
Rowland Robinson, born in Cumber-
land, England 1854; came TO America,
Sc iaA of lob w
Allen. Died 17i6.
The gambrel-roofed house. built by
Rowland Robinson at Narragansett. still
standing. is a good example of hand
some colonial mansion Originally the
house including Negro quarters, was 100
feet in length. The present structure
mea sures "a feet front. The rooms are
panelled and finished in the best archi-
tectural style of the early days.
Most of the fireplaces have old Chinese
tiles The dining-room is of spacious
dimensions. being about 20 feet square.
The kitchen and parlor family num-
bered about seventy persons. One chan
Der was occupied by General Lafayette.
when a guest Of the family. and has ever
since been designated as the Lafayette
room.
There is still another room in the house
with a history. This is Unfortunate
Hannah's chamber 1t was occupied by
the beautiful daughter OF Mr.. George
Robinson, Hannah. who had an unfortu-
nate love affair II was the usual story
of a fathers consent withheld. and an
elopement an unhappy marriage. and tho
early death Of the heroine.
Iobp h0uae also Ia
historical associations Count de Rocham-
beau stayed there as a guest for some
time accompanied by his officers. Mary
the daughter of the house. It is recorded,
was sent away 70 avoid any entangling
love affair with the Frenchman.
John Robinson was an advocate of abo-
lition. and in him the wronsed and OPP
pressed found a friend Although Mr..
Robinson imported slaves. he never sold
any. and always treated them with the
greatest kindness.
One woman slave. Abigail. who wished
to return TO Africa for her son. was sent
out by Mr. Robinson. so completely fur
nished with everything necessary for her
comfort on the voyage that she even car
ried silver teaspoons.
When the negro quarters were removed
from the main house from underneath
the kitchen floor sixty oxcart loads OF
beach sand were taken. This had been
used 10 sand the floor for dancing, whom
the servants were having their jollifica-
tons. During the years il had sittci
through the floor
old Narragansett pier was constructed
by John Robinson.
~ arafr
for men. particularly. were gay. even
gsudy. Rowland Robinson. who is de-
scribed as a perfect beau-ideal in per-
son. presence and costume-a fine old
country gentleman. generally vorH.
when in fuli-dre.s. a dark black velvet
or brown broadcloth coat; light yellow
plush waistcoat with deep pockets: vio-
let coiored velvet breeches and fine
cambria shirt. runled and plested al the
bosom and wrists Silver buckles adorned
his shoes. and he carried q headed
cane
Among other families who owned large
estntes in Rhode Island were the Hsz-
ards who intermarried with the Robin
sons. the wTlets. the Bsbcocks. ard the
sta,ntons. Besides broad acres. they hsd
nne libraries being cultured people
Where the father OF family left no viii.
the eldest son. as in England, inherited
the estate. Commodore Oliver Hazard
Perry was a member OF the Hazard fam
ny. OF Rhode Island. Another distin-
guished man wss George Robinson. at
one time governor Of Massachusetts,
No far from Nsrrsssnsett Pier is Gu
rious tower called Hazards Folly. II
was built about fifty years ago by
member OF the Hazard family. bschc-
lor. who certainly had good opinion
OF women. for II is g memorial 70 lis
, mother and grsndmo;hsrs- Upon the
/ summit Of the tower. at the four cor
ners are their names. with appropriate
| inscriptions - Hazard, Robinson, Peace