New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1919-01-17
Colonel George Robbins Was
Soldiers Home Superintendent
FUNERAL TO Be TOMORROW
Catholic Church Holds SCni-AnnuaI
Mccting-Icc Dealers Arc DiSap-
Busy--Brief News Items.

Colonel George Robbins superin-
tendent of Fitchs Home for the Sol
dlers, died at his residence, yesterday.
Colonel Robbins was born in Plain
Vile, September 10, 1864. His father,
j, Robbins. and his mother, Dorothy
Williams Robbins, we're from Rocky
Hill and belonged to two old New
England families Colonel Robbins
enlisted in Company X, 18th Connec-
tlcut Volunteers Infantry, August II,
1862. He had been very anxious to
enlist for some time, but as he was
their Youngest child and not yet IS
years old, his father and mother were
unwilling to give their consent. His
brother, next older, was going to en-
list, and at last, after much 'persua-
sion, the father allowed. both sons to
join the army at the same time. His
company was soon called to the front
and was engaged in battle, September
II, only about a month after leaving
home. Colonel Robbins was taken
prisoner with nearly 500 others on
April 20, 1864 at Plymouth, n. C.
He suffered terrible hardships in An
Jacksonville for nearly a year. He was
paroled OH Decem Der 10. 1864 and dis
charged OH June 1, 1865. He was so
weak he was hardly a BILE to get home
and for months suffered from the eff
fects Of starvation in Andersonville
las he was not strong, he decided to
take business course and studied in
Hannum's Business college in Hart
ford. He held q clerical position in
New York City for a year or two.
In 1857 he married Lucy Jane Bots
ford and took a clerical position in
PIainville. From there he went to
Waterbury, where he spent the long
est part of his life. For numbe of
years he owned a china and glass
store, selling that to take up the in
surance and pension business. He
was very successful as a pension
agent He had so much sympathy for
soldiers and their widows and was SO
tireless in his efforts to esta blsh their
claims that he was able to help them
get their pensions where others would
have failed.
He was a member of Post 40 of the
G. A. r., and served as commander
of the post for four terms of two years
each. He organized the first Wom-
ans Relief Corps in the state-Wad-
hams Relief Corps, No. /, of Water
bury.
1AC Ndo oollAOl OF
the Department of Connecticut G. A.
r. and had been commander of the
Association Of the Prisoners of War.
He was a mem Der of the Second
Congregational church during his res
idence in Waterbury, and for more
than 20 years sang in it's choir. He
was a member Of the Order of Pa
triots and Founders of Connecticut
In 1910 he accepted the position of
superintendent of the Fitch's Home
for the Soldiers at Noroton Heights
In the same year his wife died.
He brought his church letter to the
Congregational church of Daren and
was a member of the Mems Bible
class
In Novem Der, 1911 he married Mrs
EliZabet Holmes, of Darien, who sur
wives him. Besides his wife he leaves
his two children, Catherine b Rob-
bins, of Waterbury, and Arthur w.
Robbins of Davenport Iowa, and one
grandson, Richard H. Robbins, also
of Davenport.
Funeral services will be held tome Or
row afternoon at 3 o'clock in the
chapel at the Soldiers Home, Noroton
Heights. Burial will be held Monday
forenoon in the family plot in Plain
Vile. /
Catholic Church Meeting.
The annual parish meeting Of the