Robinson Family letters

Thomas R. Robinson (1761-1851), son of Thomas and Sarah (Richardson) Robinson, moved from Rhode Island to Vergennes, Vt. and then to Ferrisburgh, to operate a farm called Rokeby, which remained in his family until 1962. He married Jemima Fish (1761-1846); their son was Rowland T. Robinson; their daughter Abigail (b. 1789) was the wife of Nathan C. Hoag (b. 1785) and mother of Rachel (Hoag) Jewell (b. 1811).

Rowland T. Robinson (1791-1879), son of Thomas R. Robinson, was a successful farmer and businessman, ardent Quaker and leader in the Vermont Anti-Slavery Society and other social movements. He made Rokeby a stop on the Underground Railroad to assist fugitive slaves to freedom. He married Rachel Gilpin (1799-1862), who was also interested in social issues and education. Their children were Thomas R.(1822-1854), George G. (1825-1894), Ann King (Robinson) Minturn (1827-1917), and Rowland E. (1833-1900). A close lifelong friend of Rowland T. and Rachel was Ann King, a former schoolmate, who shared their interests and was often a guest at Rokeby for extended periods.

Rowland E. Robinson (1833-1900), son of Rowland T. Robinson, was a naturalist, farmer, commercial artist, cartoonist, illustrator, and author of works portraying life in rural Vermont. He married Ann King Stevens (1841-1920), who helped him with his literary works after he became blind. Their children were Rachael (Robinson) Elmer (1878-1919), Rowland T. (1882-1951), and Mary (Robinson) Perkins (1884-1931). Rachael and Mary were both successful commercial artists.

Rowland T. Robinson (1882-1951) managed the Rokeby farm and orchard after the death of his father in 1900. He was elected town clerk of Ferrisburgh in 1916, a position held previously by his grandfather, his uncle George G. Robinson and his mother. He married Elizabeth Donoway, who assumed the position of town clerk after her husband's death and remained at Rokeby until her own death in 1961. In 1962, the Robinson family established Rokeby and its contents as a museum.

Thomas Byrd (1753-1827) came to Vergennes, Vt., in the early 1790's, and served as mayor, representative to the Vermont legislature, and justice for Vergennes and vicinity. His first wife was Suzannah Fish (d. 1812), whose sister, Jemima, was married to Thomas R. Robinson; their daughters were Mary (Byrd) Orcutt, a friend of the Robinson family and frequent guest at Rokeby, and Rachel Fish Byrd, who married Stephen Foster Stevens of East Montpelier. Byrd's second wife was Abigail Huntington; their son John Huntington Byrd (1816-after 1890) lived in Ohio and later in Leavenworth, Kansas, where he employed several of Stephen and Rachel Stevens' sons in his business.

Clark Stevens (1764-1853) fought in the American Revolution, and moved to East Montpelier, Vt., in 1792, where he joined the Society of Friends. He was one of the original signers of the Montpelier town charter in 1797. He ran a farm in East Montpelier and was known as a Quaker minister. He married Huldah Foster; their children were Paulina (Stevens) Davis (1795-1881), Mary (Stevens) Varney (1797-after 1857), Stephen Foster Stevens (1799-1858), and James (1804-1839).

Stephen F. Stevens (1799-1858) was born in East Montpelier, Vt. In the 1820's he lived in Monkton, Vt., where he was known as a cabinet maker, attended Quaker meetings and became friendly with Rowland T. Robinson, who introduced him to Rachel Fish Byrd. Stevens married Rachel in 1829, and they moved to East Montpelier in the 1830's, where he was known as a Quaker minister, successful businessman, farmer, and inventor of the "Stevens Platform Scale." In 1855 he was representative to the Vermont Legislature. His children were Mary (Stevens) Putman (1832-1912), Thomas Byrd Stevens (1833-1898), Timothy Dennis (1836-after 1909), William Byrd (1837-1864), Ann King Stevens (1841-1920), wife of Rowland E. Robinson, and James Byrd (1843-1908).

William B. Stevens (1837-1864), was born in East Montpelier, Vt., taught in the district school and attended the University of Vermont. In 1861 he was recruited by the Vermont Militia and served in the Civil War, for which he was voted out of the Society of Friends in 1862. He died in 1864 of wounds received in a battle in Virginia.