Christopher Robinson (Virginia politician)

Christopher Robinson (1645 – April 1693) was a planter and a politician in the British colony of Virginia. Robinson held several public offices in Colonial Virginia and is the patriarch in America for one of the First Families of Virginia.

Early life

Robinson was born in Cleasby, Yorkshire, England in 1645. His parents were John Robinson (d. 1651) and Elizabeth Potter (d. 1688). Christopher was one of eight siblings. His younger brother was John Robinson, Bishop of London and a sister, Clara Robinson, who married Sir Edward Wood, Gentleman Usher to Queen Catherine. A pedigree was created by Christopher's brother, John Robinson, which traced the family back several generations where it becomes, "obscure".[1] This pedigree was later expanded and published in the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, a publication of the Virginia Historical Society.

Immigration

Robinson emigrated to Virginia about 1666 and settled at Urbanna, Middlesex County, Virginia, on land where the historic Hewick home stands today. The existing home was built and expanded by several generations of Robinsons.

Marriage and legacy

Robinson married first, Agatha Obert, daughter of Bertram Obert, and through this union increased his land holdings in Virginia. Agatha bore about seven children for Chistopher, including John Robinson, who was president of the Governor's Council, then acting governor when Governor Gooch returned to England, and Christopher Robinson, who inherited his father's estate and that of his uncle, John Robinson, Bishop of London. Agatha died January 25, 1686, by today's calendar, and her passing was recorded in the Register of Christ Church Parish in Middlesex County. Next, Christopher married Katherine Hone, the widow of Major Robert Beverley, on September 17, 1687, in Middlesex County. There seems to be some disagreement over whether Katherine was the daughter or the widow of Theophilus Hone. One of Robinson's grandsons was John Robinson, Speaker of the House of Burgesses. Another was Colonel Beverley Robinson, who commanded the Loyal American Regiment during the American War of Independence and was involved in the treason of Benedict Arnold. A great-granddaughter, Judith Robinson, married Carter Braxton, a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence. The Robinson family was split over the question of independence. Some fought for independence and others remained loyal to the King of England. After the Revolution, the Loyalist family members returned to England or migrated to Canada, where some of the family, among them Sir John Robinson, 1st Baronet, of Toronto, enjoyed some considerable success.

Career

Private secretary for Sir William Berkely, Governor of Virginia.[2]
1675-1688 Clerk of Middlesex County, Virginia.[3]
November 2, 1685 session of the House of Burgesses[4]
1686 Coroner of Middlesex County, Virginia.[2]
December 12, 1687 – Militia +++++ Colonel? +++++
April 19, 1688 session of the House of Burgesses[4]
1691 Member of the House of Burgesses[3]
April 1, 1692 session of the House of Burgesses[4]
October 26, 1691 – 1693 Virginia Governor's Council[3][4]
1692-1693 Secretary of State[3][4]
February 8, 1693 One of the first Trustees of The College of William & Mary.[5]

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References

Bruce, Philip Alexander; Stanard, William Glover (1908). "The Robinson Family of Middlesex, &c., Virginia" (PDF). The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography. 15: 445–449.
Robinson, Charles Walker (1904). Life of Sir John Beverly Robinson, Bart., C.B., D.C.L., Chief-justice of Upper Canada. William Blackwood and sons. pp. 3, 436–437.
Tyler, Lyon Gardiner (1915). Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography. Lewis historical publishing Company. pp. 63, 142.
Standard, William Glover; Stanard, Mary Newton (1902). The Colonial Virginia Register: A List of Governors, Councillors and Other Higher Officials, and Also of Members of the House of Burgesses, and the Revolutionary Conventions of the Colony of Virginia. J. Munsell's sons. pp. 21, 42, 85–87.
"Royal Charter [Of the William & Mary College]". The Special Collections Research Center (SCRC) in the Earl Gregg Swem Library at the College of William and Mary. Archived from the original on 1 September 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2014.

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[1] Bruce, Philip Alexander; Stanard, William Glover (1908). "The Robinson Family of Middlesex, &c., Virginia" (PDF). The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography. 15: 445–449.

[a-2] Robinson, Charles Walker (1904). Life of Sir John Beverly Robinson, Bart., C.B., D.C.L., Chief-justice of Upper Canada. William Blackwood and sons. pp. 3, 436–437.

[b-3] Tyler, Lyon Gardiner (1915). Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography. Lewis historical publishing Company. pp. 63, 142.

[c-4] Standard, William Glover; Stanard, Mary Newton (1902). The Colonial Virginia Register: A List of Governors, Councillors and Other Higher Officials, and Also of Members of the House of Burgesses, and the Revolutionary Conventions of the Colony of Virginia. J. Munsell's sons. pp. 21, 42, 85–87.

[5] "Royal Charter [Of the William & Mary College]". The Special Collections Research Center (SCRC) in the Earl Gregg Swem Library at the College of William and Mary. Archived from the original on 1 September 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2014.