From "Edgmont - The Story of a Township" by Jane Levis Carter in 1976 (quoted from the Internet): BEGIN [a discussion on The President Tavern, established in 1806 at the intersection of West Chester and Providence Rd, in Edgmont] Two years later Joseph Robins, the township's Jack of all trades or possibly a son of the same name, became host. [a list of tradesmen in the year 1897 (this should probably be 1797 - MEL)] For this year the many-charactered Joseph Robins is listed as without occupation. The man with the greatest number of females listed in his home in 1790 was Joseph Robbins. He had 11, twice as many as any other man in the [Edgmont] twp. Robbins was alternately, and sometimes concurrently, soldier, farmer, tailor, short-time storekeeper in probably the now Gradyville area, and innkeeper. He seems to have always leased his land and was assessed in 1774 with 170 acres, 2 horses, 4 cattle, 6 sheep. By 1787 his holdings were reduced. It is known Joseph Robbins lived for a time in the NW part of the twp. He may also have lived and run a store. On the foundation of a double house now occupied by the James Frame and Marsden Davis families in Gradyville. A datestone of 1797 in one of the foundations quoins confirms early construction. Robbins had married Jane, dau of Abraham Hoopes, near now Sycamore Mills. When Abraham died in 1798 he left her 65 lb and his Bed and Close. Jane and Joseph Robbins signed the marriage certificate of John and Susanna Smedly, indicating they must have been Friends in good standing. [info on grandson] Grandfather Robins lived to age of 98 years. Joseph Robbins must have been a king of Jack-be-nimble, Jack-be-quick character in a largely female household. Either he or a son by the same name fought in the Revolution. END From "Pennsylvania Wills, 1682-1834" (FTM CD #209) by Family Line Publications in 1998: BEGIN Pennsylvania Wills, 1682-1834=Delaware County, Pa. HOOPES, ABRAHAM, yeoman, Elder of Edgemont. December 12, 1792 - October 10, 1795. Legacies to sons Benjamin and George Hoopes, to son John and his sons: Abraham and Daniel Hoopes, to son Jacob, daughter Abigail wife of William Regester and then to her children by present husband, daughter Jane wife of Joseph Robins, sons Abraham and Isaac Hoopes grandson Abraham Williamson, granddaughters Phebe Hunt, Lydia Yarnall and Mary Robins. Exrs: Son in law Joseph Robins and grandson Daniel Hoopes. Wits: Francis Wiseley, John Megowin and Edward Churchman. #89B. END Names of Persons for whom Marriage Licenses were Issued in Province of Pennsylvania Previous to 1790. Pennsylvania Archives, Second Series, Volume II, Edited by John B. Linn & Wm. H. Egle, MD., 1890 BEGIN Robins, Joseph and Jane Hoops Oct. 15, 1768 END Posted by: "Tracey Marcelo" tracey.marcelo@gmail.com marcelofamilytx Date: Wed Dec 20, 2017 3:06 pm ((PST)) BEGIN In looking over my notes about Robbins in Allegheny Co. PA, I found something kind of curious. There is a Joseph Robins who appears to have died intestate in St. Clair twp. Allegheny Co. PA in 1818. The administrators were: Seth Hoops and Richard Robins. I didn't find a Joseph Robins in the Allegheny Co. census records between 1790 and 1810...but in looking for Seth Hoops, I found both a Joseph Robins and a Seth Hoops in Edgmont, Delaware Co. PA in 1790 and 1800. On today's map, it's about 85 miles between St. Clair twp. and Edgmont. The Joseph in 1800 is 45 & up. So he would have been born before 1755. Very curious!! It seems like the inventory and the account records for this Joseph could be helpful. I'll attempt to attach the index for his records here. I'm not sure if it will come through. The census details are: 1790: Name:    Joseph Robins Home in 1790 (City, County, State):    Edgmont, Delaware, Pennsylvania Free White Persons - Males - Under 16:    1 Free White Persons - Males - 16 and over:    3 Free White Persons - Females:    11 Number of Household Members:    15 1800: Name:    Joseph Robins Home in 1800 (City, County, State):    Edgemont, Delaware, Pennsylvania Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25:    1 Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over:    1 Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15:    3 Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25:    2 Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over:    1 Number of Household Members Under 16:    3 Number of Household Members Over 25:    2 Number of Household Members:    8 It appears this same Joseph Robins appears in Edgmont tax lists too. 1779, 1783, 1793... (Edgmont was in Chester Co. in 1779 and 1783.) Anyway. It would be interesting to find out more about this Joseph and the Richard Robbins administrator with Seth Hoops. END Posted by: "Chris Schopfer" Date: Wed Jul 12, 2006 11:34 am (PDT) BEGIN The following is my annotated transcription of a two-page type-written document recently shared with me by a cousin who inherited some estate items from my Robbins line, which ended with Abigail (Robbins) DeBow (descended from Joseph Jr-Joseph-Moses-Daniel). The document has some information I don't recall seeing elsewhere, and refers to various Robins personalities and real estate, as well as the burial ground and a Quaker "Robins Meeting", so I'm sharing it in its entirety. I believe the author was Mount Debas Gravatt (d. 1959), great-grandson of Thomas and Abigail DeBow via their daughter Jane (DeBow) Gravatt. I personally found the document useful since I have no proof that Abigail Robins' mother was Jane Hoopes, (b. Edgmont PA and married in Philadelphia) and thus that her father was Joseph Robins Jr. I was troubled not only by the lack of documentation, but also because it seemed odd that Joseph Jr. would leave NJ, marry in PA, and then return to NJ. In addition to declaring that Joseph Jr.'s wife was Jane Hoopes, this document notes that one of his Joseph Jr.'s brothers died in Chester County, PA and named Joseph Jr. co-executor, which suggests that the family did indeed have a substantial PA connection. Anyway, here goes; my notes are in square brackets: THE ROBINS OF COVELL/COVELL'S HILL My knowledge of our branch of the Robins family has been recently greatly extended by a copy of the record in the Bible of John Robbins [1751-1837, son of Joseph Robins Sr. and Leah Clayton], an uncle of great-grandfather [Thomas B.] DeBow. My object in writing these notes is to give some additional information regarding our forebears, and the locations of their homes. Daniel Robins was the first settler by that name in New Jersey. He located in Woodbridge Township which comprised a large part of the present Middlesex County. Volume XXI N.J. Archives which records the early patents as taken from those at Perth Amboy, shows that he owned at times several town lots and other real estate in Woodbridge. He held various public offices and was a citizen of prominence. At this point it is well to describe how the lands in the Colony were opened for settlement. As we all know, after the English took possession from the Dutch of New York, which then included New Jersey, the ownership of the land in the eastern half of New Jersey passed from the Duke of York to Philipp Carteret. This did not apply as I understand, to land already settled. Carteret conveyed his rights to twenty four parties, each having an equal share. These became know as the Board of Proprietors, they were for a time the governing body of the Colony. From time to time the shareholders were each given the privilege of making claims for a specified area of land. Some of the shareholders sold their rights entirely, or in fractional portions. Others made their claims promptly, and many of these were for large acreage. As a near-by example we find that William Dockwra (written Dockerty in old papers) obtained a patent for 3000 acres. The south line of this tract ran from the Eldridge Stillhouse farm to Jacob Preston's. Grandfather [probably Ezekiel] Mount's farm was part of this tract. Dockwra had a patent for another tract which lay north of Rocky Brook, the outlet of Perineville Pond. The Richard Mount 1000 acre property was part of this tract. We are interested in the rights of the Proprietors. Grandfather [sic-may have meant great-grandfather] DeBow owned a part of a share, as did his father. They acquired considerable property by their rights. The head office of the Proprietors was at Perth Amboy, where their meetings were held and records kept. Daniel Robins evidently knew of the big deals going on in real estate. In 1695 he bought 500 acres lying south of Chestnut Brook which had been patented five years earlier. The eastern corner of this tract was near the Eldridge Stillhouse. The Tract extended westerly, mostly on the north side of the Allentown road for about a mile and a half, and along both sides of the road from Stone Tavern to eight square school house and Sharon, from the first fork, for less than a mile, I judge. My copy was taken from one owned by James Schooley, a real estate agent in Allentown, who has a valuable collection of maps of early surveys. After Daniel in our line, is his son Moses. He bought a part of the original tract from his father and lived on or near the farm south of the burial ground, in our time belonging to Amos Tantum. Following Moses in our ancestry is Joseph who died in 1780. He evidently is the one referred to in a miscellaneous item Hornor's "Monmouth of Ours" which states that Joseph Robins, near Allentown was struck in the head with the forefeet of a colt, and killed when docking the animal. On Feb 27, 1776, one Joseph Robins deeded to his son Moses a tract that included wholly or in part the Sarah Ann Frake; the Hugh Riley; and Paul Morris (west of and adjoining the Riley property) farms. On April 22 1783 Moses sold the tract to Jacob Morris. It seemed to me that this Joseph was the one referred to above and he lived on the Hugh Riley farm. We now come in our line to Joseph Jr., son of Joseph. He married Jane Hoopes. Their daughter Abigail married great-grandfather DeBow. Joseph Jr., was one of a very large family. Richard died in Chester County, Pa., naming his brothers Joseph and Zebulon executors. I believe the latter lived in the Covell Hill section. The will was probated in 1816. One Zebulon Robins was one of the first trustees of the Robins Burial Place, but I am unable to show that he was the brother to Joseph Jr. I do not know where Joseph Jr. lived. His wife (a widow I suppose) occupied a small house on the south side of the Allentown road, near the Amos Tantum farm. According to an account told Gertie Hornor by grandmother Gravatt [probably Jane DeBow Gravatt], the latter went to visit her grandmother Robins [Jane (Hoopes) Robins], carrying a bowl which was to be returned. Grandmother accidentally dropped the bowl which broke, but having a two bit piece for pocket money she stopped at the Clarksburg store where she bought another bowl which Gertie now has. Grandmother's walk was five miles long. Joseph's sister Meribah married Samuel Emley, one of the founders of Emley's Hill M.E. church. I think that this Samuel Emley is the one who taught grandfather DeBow how to survey, and from whose records my father [Henry C. Gravatt] copied much of the material in his field book. Daniel and Thomas Smith are descendants of Samuel and Leah. I have considerable material in reference to another brother John, who owned at one time the Amos Tantum farm at Covell's Hill. He owned two large wood lots on the Back Bone Hill. One tract was divided into lots by grandfather DeBow. It was sold at auction by his executors at Willow Tree Tavern in 1839. Our wood lot was part of another tract. One John Robins lived near eight-square school house, but I am not sure whether he was the brother John. Elizabeth Sexton (Aunt Betsy Davis) lived, previously to her marriage, with John Robins. Grandmother Gravatt claimed relationship with Aunt Betsy, but I never learned in what way. The early Robins families were large. Several members settled in the vicinity of Allentown. Further information about the Robins family can be obtained from the History of Mercer County, Lewis Publishing Company, 1920. The West twins, who have done much to perpetuate the Robins part in local history, are descendants of Aaron, son of Daniel. I have not been able to show how the John B. Robins family related to the others. His signature shows that he used only one "b" in his name as did the others in earlier times. The Robins that came to this section were Quakers. An organization, a branch of the Crosswicks Friends, was formed in the mid-seventeen hundreds, and was know as the Robins Meeting. Isaac Hicks, the noted traveling Quaker, in his autobiography tells of visiting here. Shortly after 1800 the name East Branch was adopted, and in 1816, the present brick meeting house was built. 12/26/1940-M.D.G. Chris Schopfer END From: july37 [july37@cox.net] Sent: Wednesday, January 04, 2006 6:06 PM BEGIN I posted the Elijah Robins Bible record in the group's file. It gives the birthdate of Joseph Robins as Oct 1, 1743. This is the Joseph that married Jane Hoopes of Edgemont, PA. I don't know the death date or place of Joseph or Jane but they were living in Del. Co. Pa on 10/15/1768 when they applied for a marriage license at Phila, PA. They may have died in Del Co., PA or migrated with their children who went to western PA & Ohio. Some sources for this couple are found in the Hoopes Family Record, compiled by the Hoopes Family Organization, Houston, TX & "Genealogy of the Smedley Family, Settlers in Chester Co., PA." by Gilbert Cope pub 1901, Will of Abraham Hoopes of Edgemont, PA, Will of Richard Robins of Edgemont, PA (brother of Joseph) & others. Abigail Robins wife of Thomas DeBow is listed among the above genealogy sources as a child of Joseph & Jane. However, CR Hutchinson writes Abigail wife of Thomas DeBow was the daughter of Joseph Robins son of Zebulon Robins b. 1735. CRH seems to be incorrect on this connection for Abigail as he find he was on her death date. Maybe you or someone else has a thought on it. There is information in the group's messages # 147 & 148 where Carol G & Gary R have posted on Joseph Robins Rev War Vet & Meribah Salter Robins wife of a Joseph Robins. Sara END