Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 1.djvu/351

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BURGESSES AND OTHER PROMINENT PERSONS


315


Hanover county and represented that county in the liouse of burgesses in 1752- 1755 and I756-175<^- He married Molly, daughter of Colonel 'iliomas Waring, of "Goldsberry." Essex county, \'irginia. He died before September Ji, 175^).

Robinson, John, son of John Robinson, president of the council, was born Febru-

  • iry 3, 1704. He studied at William and

Mary College, and after graduation was probably for many years the most influential man in Virginia. He resided in King and Queen county upon the Mattaponi river where his residence was known as "Mt. Pleasant." He was a member of the house of burgesses for King and Queen county from 1736 to 1765 and speaker of the house from 1738 to 1765, and treasurer during the same period. As a presiding ofificer he was compared to Richard Onslow, speaker of the house of commons. As treasurer he ably administered the financial affairs of the col- ony, but was too free in lending out the colony's money. On his death in 1765, it was found that he owed the public £100,761 7s. 5d. It seems certain, however, that he ex- pected to return this sum from the payments of the creditors or from his own estate. In the end this was indeed done, and the public suffered no loss. He died May 11, 1766. He married three times (first) Mary Storey, (second) Lucy Moore and (third) Susanna Chilton, daughter of Colonel John Chilton. of Williamsburg. His only known de- scendants are those by his daughter Susan cf the last marriage, who married Robert >."elson, of "Malvern Hill."

Robinson, Mrs. Mary, daughter of Wil- liam Ramsev, of London, grocer, and niece


of Sir Thomas Ramsey, lord mayor of Lon- don, married (first) John Wanton, of Lon- don, gentleman, and (second) John Robin- son, chief searcher of the customs in Lon- ('on. Through her will dated February 13, i()ij. and proved September 26, 1618, she gave money to many friends and charities. Among her benefactions was one of £200 to found a church in Smythe's Hundred in Vir- ginia. Snuythe's Hundred (afterward Southampton Hundred) was a great tract of land extending from Weyanoke on James river to the Chickahominy river. In 1619 a person unknown gave to the X'irginia Company a communion service for this church. This cup and paten bearing the date of 1617-1618 are now in the custody of St. John's Church, Hampton. They are the cJdest pieces of church silver which have come down from the colonial period in the United States.

Robinson, Peter, son of Christopher Rob- inson, brother of Commissary William Rob- inson lived in King William county, was born ]\Iarch i, 1718, studied at Oriel Col- lege, Oxford, was a member of the house of burgesses for King William from 1758 to 1761. His wife was Sarah Lister, whom he married in 1750. He died in 1765, leaving issue Christopher, Peter. Judith, Lucy, Sarah which last married Benjamin Gry- mes, of Orange.

Robinson, Colonel Tully, son of Captain William Robinson, a magistrate of Lower Norfolk county. He was born August 31, 1658, was magistrate and colonel of militia in Accomac county and died November 12, 1683. His tombstone describes him as loyal to his prince, and a firm believer in the