Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-05-15
tNNGIONS BOYHOOD HOME HONORS 25OTH ANNIVERSARY
WILLIAM AND NARY
ESTABLISE HE'D IN l693.
OLDEST IN VIRGINIA
Christopher Robinsons Name Appears as One of the
First Trustees and Founder of the College
Statesman Had Interesting Career -

d"rfniiy beautiful y long row Of
iombardy poplars. sixty on each side.
lined the Ian" which led to the house
weeping willow, now alive. but
huch SCARED By age. was planted in
the yard by Philip Grymes, who
brought the twiE from England
There is so much of romance,
politics and interesting personal
events connected with this old home
stead that one feels that it's annals
should DC recorded for imperishabIe
keeping.
1t was here that Christopher Rob
inson served his State and church. IL
was mere he married and reared a
family Of children who DISTINGUISHED
themselves In the history of the
colony 1t was here that his son,
'ohh robinson was born. who after
M''dS became president OF the coun-
en- This son married Katharine
he'erIeF. sister Of Beverley. the his
t"rian 1t was here that his son.
christopher. u, was born. VINO mar
rith daughter OF Chris,opbcr
or'nciey. II was here that Chris
TOPPER. Ill, was born. who married
daughter of Ralph Wormeley. Of
NoS"Eili. II was hero that judith
"huhtcr Of Christopher, H., was born
who married Carter Braxton. tho,
slGncr of the Declaration OF Inde.
bendeicc. II was here at Heyicl
mat the Rohinsons. Wormeleys. Rev
"ri"ys. BraNtons gathered to talk Of
the colony whose history was being
made by themselves.
Above all, its first master was a
man of such renown that he received
III succession every honor the colony
could A"stow. The records of Middle
sex courthouse name him as clerk OF
TN. county from 1915 to 1858. Honors
Oh Il hiShcr order followed, as he was
elected 10 the House OF Burgesses in
1851 ana IN the same year appointed
10 the council. AS further evil
nchce OF his efficiency and popularity.
ne King OF England made him Secrc-
tary OF state OF Virginia In 1892.
We nigh; continue this family his
tory and romance by telling of John.
grandson OF christopher. r., and
son OF john. OF the council, who be-
came Speaker OF the House of Bur
sesses His home was Pleasant Hill
on the York River. in King and
Queen. which county he represented
Tor thirty years from 17ss-176s.
Campbell in his History OF ylr-
sinia." says of him: "Mr. Robinson.
ainiahle. liberal and wealthy, bad
'ohS been at the head OF the arIs-
i"cracy and cHertcd an extraordinary
influence on political affairs"
cannot close this sketch OF Chris
TOPPER Robinson ana his home with
on; telling OF the ''inncr Imperative.
Whtch prompted this sketch. In the
hrst place. little has been written of
inns il'ustrious Nirginian and less OF
the old home, ''Ifewick." one OF tho
oldest landmarks in the state: and in
the second place. memories and asso-
cations OF my early childhood are
connected with this homestead I
lived near ii and heard the older folks
talk concerning it, When little
girl remember the visits OF WIlliam
L. wilson, college mate OF my
fathers who came a-woo!ng to
"Hcwirk" for the hand Of the lovely
daughter OF DR.. ~ j. Huntington. It
was here Sh" summercd in the homo
of her grandfather, Or. Richard AL
Zen Christian. owner by inheritance
-! the place. II was here that nv
rather. DR.. John Pollard. united this
happy couple in marriage for many
years of congeniai companionship.
Mr.. Wilson afterwards became POST
mastcr-Gcncral under Grover Cleve-
land. and later, until his. death.
president OF Washington and Lee
University