Edward Robinson

75

iain Frazier on 15th July 2024

Family connections for Edward (Robinson) are: An amendment added Oct 2025. ROBINSON Edward (Robinson) son of Edward (Robinson) & Ann (Lowcock) was born about 1755 probably in Fewston Yorkshire & became servant to Theatre Royal Manager Tate (Wilkinson). He was tried for petty larceny of silverware etc at York city Assizes on 25 7 1789, sentenced to be hanged commuted to Life, held probably at York Castle & hulk LION at Portsmouth & arrived in NSW as a convict on 9 7 1791 after a voyage of 6months on Fleet ship ADMIRAL BARRINGTON. He had a first relationship with Mary Ann (Harrison). On 9 12 1794 he was granted 30acres at Mulgrave Place Hawkesbury River & on 12 12 1794 he was issued his Conditional Pardon. He was Free by Servitude by 1798. On 15 9 1802 he was granted 100acres at Robinsons Lagoon-later named 'Bushells Lagoon' on which he reared sheep. In March 1806 he was made Special Constable for flood relief after severe floods in his area. On 28 9 1809 he leased 1.75acres in Sydney Town. On 18 10 1809 he & maybe daughter Elizabeth were granted 80acres at Upper Nelson.>>> [Some details taken from this Website] Mary Ann (Harrison) was born in 1774 & became a servant of Catherine (West) at Chelsea. She was living with her sister when tried for stealing haberdashery from Catherine (West) at Old Bailey, sentenced to 7years, held at Middlesex Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW as a convict on 9 7 1791 after a voyage of 6months on Fleet ship MARY ANN. She was Free by Servitude by 1798. She is recorded in 1806 as concubine of of E (Robinson) with 7children. She died as Mrs Ann (Robinson) on 24/6 2 1810 age36 at Sydney & was buried at Old Burial Ground St Phillips CofE Sydney, where her husband & 2sons in law are also interred; later moved to Devonshire St cemetery & then to Bunnerong Botany cemetery at Matraville in 1901. [Some details taken from this Website] Edward (Robinson) & Mary Ann (Harrison) produced 7children: mostly girls 1.Elizabeth (Robinson/Harrison) was born on 10 5 1795 at Toongabbie convict settlement & baptised on 6 7 1806 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. On 18 10 1809 she may have been granted 80acres at Upper Nelson with her father. She married at age16 George (Smith) emancipist magistrates clerk on 19 10 1813 at St Matthews CofE Windsor-Hawkesbury chapel & produced 7children. She was recorded in 1828 with her children as Innkeeper at Windsor. She died on 12 5 1859 age64-. ..George (Smith) was born about 1777/97 & became an accountant. He was a bookkeeper at Birmingham Warwickshire when he was tried for possessing blank forged bank notes at Warwick Assizes on 10 8 1805, sentenced to 14/7years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 12 7 1806 after a voyage of 6.5months on FORTUNE; he was 5'6" fair complexion light brown hair hazel eyes. He was moved to Hawkesbury district in 1808. His sentence expired on 10 8 1812. He was clerk for Bench of Magistrates there in 1813. He was issued his Certificate of Freedom on 3 1 1814. on 10 9 1818 he was to receive land grant. He was recorded in 1821 as a farmer, in 1822as a settler & i1824 & 1826 as a publican. He was recorded as a victualler when he died on 12 12 1826 age45/9 as emancipist & was buried at St Matthews CofE Windsor. ..[Some details taken from this Website] .. 2.Harriet (Robinson/Harrison) was born on 5 3 1797 & baptised on 7 8 1798 age17m w/Ann at St Johns CofE Parramatta. She married Abraham (Elias) on 6 10 1823 at St Matthews CofE Windsor. She died on 3 2 1877 age79. ..Abraham (Elias) was born about 1790 & became a tailor. He was tried at Devon Assizes on 5 8 1816, sentenced to 14years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 22 4 1817 after a voyage of 4months on SHIPLEY; he was 5'5" sallow complexion black hair hazel eyes. He was issued his Certificate of Freedom No.30/904 on 28 12 1830. ..[Some details taken from this Website] .. 3.Ann (Robinson/Harrison) was born on 6 4 1798 & baptised on 7 8 1798 w/Harriet at St Johns CofE Parramatta. She married firstly Ezekiel (Wood), a dealer, on 3 5 1819 at St Phillips CofE Sydney & produced 4children.>>> ..Ezekiel (Wood) was born about 1792 at Stafford Staffordshire & became a draper. He was tried for larceny at Lincoln Assizes Lincolnshire on 31 7 1813, sentenced to death commuted to Life, held on hulk PERSEUS from 2 6 1814 & arrived in NSW as a convict on 26 4 1815 after a voyage of 6months on INDEFATIGIBLE; he was 5'9.5" sallow complexion black hair dark eyes. He was sent to Parramatta. In 1816 he was working as assistant clerk at the Police Office. He was issued his Conditional Pardon on 4 6 1818 & was a dealer in 1819. In 1822 he is recorded Free by Servitude with his family as licenced victualler. He is recorded in 1825 as publican with his family. He was living at Phillip St Sydney when he died on 23/5 11 1826 age34/5 & was buried at Devonshire St Cemetery St Phillips CofE Sydney where his inlaws & wifes second husband are also interred; he was transferred to Bunnerong Botany cemetery Matraville in 1901. ..[Some details taken from this Website; & another Ezekiel (Wood) found in Tasmania about the same time] .. [Noted another Ezekiel (Wood) was born about 1792 at Leek Staffordshire & became a labourer. He was tried at Newcastle Northumberland Assizes on 14 8 1814, sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW on 18 1 1816 after a voyage of 5months on FANNY. On 25 1 1816 he was sent to Derwent Tasmania on EMU. On 17 5 1816 he was charged with neglect of duty & sentenced to 4months labour with G Gang. He was Free on 25 8 1821. He died on 23 11 1826 age34.] .. >>>Ann (Robinson) married secondly Henry (Marr merchant his second marriage) emancipist on 24 11 1827 at St Phillips CofE Sydney & produced at least 3children. She is recorded in 1828 with her husband at Castlereagh St Sydney. She died on 30 9 1848 age50 & produced at least 7children-mainly girls. ..Henry (Marr) was born about 1770/8. He was tried as a pickpocket stealing leather pocket book, on 3 5 1798, of George (Warrington) at Old Bailey on 9 1 1799, sentenced to 7years, held at Middlesex Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW as a convict on 20 11 1800 after a voyage of 8months on ROYAL ADMIRAL. He was a dealer when he married firstly Elizabeth (Gore/Driver her fifth marriage-recorded as a returning emancipist) on 29/30 10 1810 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. He was a merchant in 1827 & Free by Servitude by 1827. He is recorded in 1828 Free by Servitude merchant with his wife at Castlereagh St Sydney with 1,300acres. He was also a publican. He died on 31 8 1835 age65/6 father of at least 3children & was buried at Devonshire St Cemetery St Phillips CofE Sydney where his inlaws & wifes first husband are also interred, leaving much property to some of his family. ..[Some details taken from this Website] .. [Noted a a James Andrew (Marr) is recorded as born to Robert Henry (Marr) & Margaret (???) on 18 2 1816 & baptised on 26 3 1826 age10 at St Johns CofE Launceston] .. 4.Mary (Robinson/Harrison) was born on 3 12 1800. She married Edward (Powell brother Elizabeth) mariner on 17 1 1820 at St Phillips CofE Sydney & produced 3children. She died on 28 3 1827 age66. ..Edward (Powell) was born on 21 9 1798. He was a mariner in 1820 & still a mariner in 1826. He died on 33 11 1887 age89. ..Details of Edward (Powell)s family are given in entry for Sarah (Dorset LADY JULIANA 1790) on this Website. .. 5.Maria (Robinson/Harrison) was born in 1803. She died on 5 1 1868 age about64. 6.Edward William (Robinson/Harrison) was born on 25 12 1805 & baptised on 6 7 1806 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. He was a wheelwright when he married Jane Mary (Beasley) on 4 6 1827 at St Matthews CofE Windsor. He was recorded in 1830 as a publican. He died on 7 7 1874 age68. ..Jane Mary (Beasley) was born on 28 9 1809 & baptised on 27 4 1810 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. She died on 1 1 1898 age88. ..Details of Jane Mary (Beasley)s family are given in entry for Charles (Beazley BARWELL 1798) on this Website. ..Edward William (Robinson) & Jane Mary (Beasley) produced at least 3children: ..1.Edward Charles (Robinson) was born on 29 8 1827 at Wilberforce & baptised on 30 9 1827 at St Johns CofE Wilberforce. ..2.Harriot (Robinson) was born on 14 10 1828 at Windsor & baptised on 5 8 1830 age21m w/Henry at St Matthews CofE Windsor. ..3.Henry (Robinson) was born on 19 6 1830 at Windsor & baptised on 5 8 1830 w/Harriot at St Matthews CofE Windsor. .. 6.John (Robinson/Harrison) .. .. >>>Edward (Robinson) managed the 'Sign of the York Roses' tavern from 1809 until 1815. He married secondly with permission Ann (Shorter her second relationship) on 1 3 1813 at St Matthews CofE Windsor-Hawkesbury chapel. In 1820 he was issued a licence for Halfway House hotel at Parramatta, where he died on 6/10 6 1820 age65/7 father of 7children & was buried at Devonshire St Cemetery St Phillips CofE Sydney where his wife & 2sons in law are also interred; he had an Absolute Pardon. Ann (Shorter) was born about 1774/80. She had a first relationship with someone & produced 1child. She was tried for fraud at Middlesex Sessions of the Peace on 8 12 1809, sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 29 9 1811 after a voyage of 5months on FRIENDS, she was assigned to Ellis (Bent) at Newcastle. She was returned to Sydney on 12 11 1812. She died on 25 8 1835 age61 mother of 1child & was buried at St Matthews CofE Windsor. [Some details taken from this Website] Reference: Craig James Smee 'Births and Baptisms Marriages and Defacto Relationships Deaths and Burials New South Wales 1788-1830' ..a complete listing from church & other records in the early colony.

8

Dinnie Lyn on 23rd May 2020

Further research (and DNA) shows Edward Robinson may have been born 1755 Fewston, Yorkshire to parents Edward Robinson and Ann Lowcock. Previous notes re his being 27 I think now is incorrect - especially regarding his burial record in 1820 putting his age at 65.

8

Dinnie Lyn on 8th August 2019

An update on date of birth. As per death record c1753 may be correct. Five DNA kits, all direct male descendants, of Edward Robinson, have small DNA matches to an Edward Robinson born 1755 Fewston, Yorkshire (Swinsty Hall) - father Edward Robinson and mother Ann Lowcock.

54

Phil Hands on 19th July 2017

Edward was a servant to Tate Wilkinson who opperated the Theatre Royal in York, living in lodgings at the rear of the Theatre in what was called 'Mint Yard' From all accounts Edward was a habitual thief, visiting various taverns in and around York, and making off with the silverware, and on one occasion, a number of books. On 25th July 1789 at York Assizes he was charged with 14 counts of stealing, he pleaded not guilty to the charges but was convicted on all counts except one. He was sentenced to be hung but this was later commuted to transportation for life. In January 1790 he was transfered to the Prison Hulk 'The Lion' which was moored in Portsmouth Harbour. Left England on 27th March 1791. Ship:- the 'Admiral Barrington' sailed with 300 male convicts on board of which 36 died during the voyage. Arrived on 16th October 1791. He received a pardon on 12th December 1794, he was granted 30 acres of land on the river at Hawkesbury and in 1802 was granted a further 100 acres at Robinsons Lagoon nearby. During Edward's first years in the Colony he met up with another convict, Mary Harrison ('Mary Ann' 1791), and it appears that they were together in the new convict settlement at Toongabbie. Although Mary and Edward were apparently not married, they had 7 children. All birth records indicate the father as "unknown", and each child bore the surname of Harrison, after the mother, however, all records after this indicate the surname as being Robinson, after the father. He was granted 30 acres of land on the river at Hawkesbury in the District of Mulgrave Place on 9 December 1794 rent being 1/- per annum, commencing after 10 years. On 15 September 1802 Edward was granted a further 100 acres at a lagoon nearby, renting at 2/- per annum, commencing after 5 years, which was called Robinson's Lagoon. The name later changed to Bushell's Lagoon, as it is still called, just of Putty Road between Freemans Reach and Wilberforce. By 1805, he had a flock of around "200 big framed mutton producers", and told Governor KING he would like to experiment with merino sheep. On 28th September 1809 he received a further grant to lease 1 & 3/4 acres 25 rods in Sydney Town at 1 pound per annum for 21 years, commencing on that date. Edward also owned a tavern, 'Sign of the York Roses' for which he was granted beer and spirits licences from 1809 through to 1815. On 18th October 1809 Edward was also granted 80 acres at Upper Nelson. This grant was also in the name of Elizabeth Robinson. Edward was known in the Hawkesbury Settlement as a successful farmer and was a first Trustee of Phillip Common and in 1806 was made a Special Constable for flood relief following the Hawkesbury flood of March 1806. Mary died at the age of 36, on 24th February 1810. She was buried two days later in the Old Burial Ground, George Street, Sydney, but was later moved to the Robinson vault at the Devonshire Street Cemetery. This cemetery was later moved to Botany when Central Railway was built in 1901. On 1st March 1813 Edward married convict Ann Shorter ('Friends' 1811) at Windsor, they had no children. In 1820 Edward was issued a hotel licence for premises on the Parramatta Road, unfortunately at this time he was in poor health, he died on 6th June that year at his hotel, Halfway House, Parramatta, he was buried in family vaulkt at the Devonshire St. Cemetery. The vault was later moved to Botany.

221

D Wong on 31st July 2016

Edward ROBINSON was a servant to the local theatre owner. Edward was a compulsive petty thief, he had been convicted of 14 counts of stealing and was sentenced to be hanged. He arrived aboard the Admiral Barrington 1791. 12/12/1794: CP. He partnered convict, Mary (Ann) Harrison (Mary Ann 1791), and had the first of 7 children at the Toongabbie Convict Settlement in 1795. Mary Ann Harrison died 24/2/1810 in Sydney. Edward then married convict Ann Shorter (Friends 1811) - no children. Edward became a property owner at Windsor grazing sheep. He was a Hawkesbury Pioneer. As well as land, he also became a hotel owner in Sydney and Parramatta. 6/6/1820: Edward died after illness, at his hotel, Halfway House, Parramatta, aged 67. (Convicts often lied about their age in order to get a lighter sentence, or indeed, did not know their birth year at all, so Edward could easily have been born in 1762.)

8

Dinnie Lyn on 30th July 2016

Although birth year commonly stated as c1753 Edward Robinson's birth year is more likely to be c1762. Refer to Lion Hulk record at UK National Archives - states age as 27 years.