from Gary D. Robins BEGIN Joseph Robins Last Will and Testament 18 November 1754, Rowan Co., NC (Original Will, Secretary of State Records, North Carolina State Archives) In the Name of God Amen I Joseph Robins of Rowan County in the Province of North Carolina being at this time very Sick and week in body but thanks be to Almighty God of Sound Sence and Memory and knowing it is ordained for all men to Die, I have thought fitt to make my last Will and Testament Which I do in Manner and form following. - First and Principally I recomend my Soul unto the hands of Almighty God who gave it me hoping that through the Meritorious Death and Passion of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ I Shall receive a Glorious Resurrection. And as to my Worldy Estate that it hath pleased God to Indowe me with I give and bequeath in Manner and form following Imprimiss I give to my son Joseph Robin and his heirs and assigns for ever the plantation called the old place with four hundred acres of Land Round it, I also give to my Said Son Joseph Six Cowes One bay horse and One bay Mair Item I give to my Son William Robins and his heirs for ever Two hundred and Sisty Six acres with the plantation theron where I now live, I also Give to my Said Son William four Cowes and Two Heiphirs and my Stalion Colt and a young Mair Item I Give to my Son John Robins and his heirs for ever One hundred and Twenty Six acres of Land that I purchased of John Brethong, Also I Give to my Said Son John Two Cowes and a Gray Mair Item I Give to my Daughter Elenor Robins one feather bed and furniture and Two Cowes and Calves Item I Give to my Loving Wife Elenor my paceing Mair and all the rest of my Effects of what Nature or quality not before Given away I lend to my loving Wife Elenor during her Natural Life, And lastly I Do hereby appoint my Said Loving Wife and my bother[sic] in Law John Nation Executors of this my Last Will and Testament And I Do here by Revoke and Dissannul all other Will or [-?-] by me at any time Hereto made And I Do hereby Acknowledge this to be my Last will and Testament In Testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal this Eighteenth day of November Anno Domeny One thousand Seven Hundred and fifty four - Signed Sealed and Published in the Joseph Robins Preesence of AJ Smith Ch Nation [his] Richard R Robins [mark] Recorded in Court April 1756 Recorded in the Secretarys Office in Book No. 9 folio 134 [Transcribed by John L. German, C.G. on 21 August 1999.] (Note: This is Joseph Robins Jr, son of Joseph Robins and Hannah (Anna) Pack. GDR) END email exchange ... BEGIN 1a. Richard Robbins and Anne Race married 8 Aug 1728 Monmonth NJ Posted by: "Jerry Scott" jerryscott572@sbcglobal.net Date: Tue Jul 9, 2013 7:53 am ((PDT)) Looking for information on this Richard [Robins] and Anne Race who married in Monmouth NJ. Other marriage records in the same time line was Leah Clayton to Joseph Robbins dau of Moses son of Daniel 29 Mar 1732 Monmouth, NJ Sarah Robbins to Cornelius Everingham Aug 8 1728 possible dau of Nathaniel son of Daniel Zachariah Robbins m/ Mary Clayton abt 1730 son of Moses son of Daniel Mary not in father's Will research of others These Clayton sisters were the daughters of Zebulen Clayton who sold land to Joseph Robbins and witness to his Will in 1709 when Joseph died A few year later is when John Nation and wife Bethiah Robbins with Joseph Robbins brother to Bethiah migrated to Virginia all in Rowan Co NC by 1753, Could this be Richard in Rowan, NC ? I'm thinking that Richard was possible the father to Mathias, Jonathan, and Nancy Ann Robbins his younger children all born before 1750. from records its seems that William and Elisha were his oldest sons b/ 1731-33 If anyone has any records from Rowan Co NC from 1753 to 1770 might be helpful in sorting out these Rowan Co Robbins, Thanks, Jerry Will of 1742 Ang. 23 Cleayton Zebulon of Upper Freehold township yeoman will of Wife Mary Children Thomas John Margaret and Leah Robins wife of Joseph Robins Granddaughter not named daughter of son Zebulon Clayton deceased Executors wife and son Thomas Witnesses Thomas Cox James McKeand Thomas David and Robert Laurence Thomas Cox witness Executors Quakers Proved May 24 1744 Lib 6 p 28 1744 April 16 Inventory of the estate 160.14 0 incl a negro woman and girl made by Jacob Robins and Benjamin Lawrence CALENDAR OF WILLS I73O I75O 99 Posted by: "Sara Hoffman" july37@cox.net turkeypt2 Date: Tue Jul 9, 2013 9:07 am ((PDT)) Jerry, John German had a theory about Richard Robins who married Ann Race in Burlington Co. in 1729. He speculated the same Richard Robins who witnessed the 1756 will of Joseph Robins, Jr. in NC could have been the same Richard Robins h/o of Ann. This Richard Robins lived in the village of Mapletown between Princeton & Kingston in 1735-1741 at the time arrest warrants were out for him. In theory, if he was Richard Robins of NC, the warrants may have caused him to flee south & connect with his family. Joseph Robins Jr. had a similar situation as we all know the story how he escaped & fled south after his arrest in NJ. The time frame fits for this Richard of NJ to be the same man in NC but proving it with documents is another matter. Research was done in NJ & NC & nothing to link this Richard in NJ to the one in NC was discovered. Posted by: "Jerry Scott" jerryscott572@sbcglobal.net Date: Tue Jul 9, 2013 12:08 pm ((PDT)) Do you know why they were charged and what they did to be arrested I think John German was correct that Richard was the unborn son of Joseph and brother to Joseph, Jr and sister to Bethiah Robbins Nation Family records has Nancy Ann Robbins born in Frederick Co Va 1747 about the time Richard was there in Count records 1745 Plus William Swaim brother married Elizabeth Vickery daughter of Marmarduke Vickery per Bible records. Then John Swaim Daughter Massah married Daniel Robbins son of William Robbins and Frances Nation Posted by: "Sara Hoffman" july37@cox.net turkeypt2 Date: Tue Jul 9, 2013 1:12 pm ((PDT)) Joseph Robins Jr. escaped from the Monmouth County jail in August of 1729. There has been a lot of speculation about the nature of his crime but to my knowledge there is no record. I'm guessing he may have been in debtors prison. It wasn't uncommon for men flee from NJ to other places to avoid arrest & imprisonment for their debts. I may be wrong about this & possibly someone else here may know for sure but I think Richard Robins warrants were for debt. Posted by: "JERRY SCOTT" jerryscott572@sbcglobal.net Date: Tue Jul 9, 2013 2:57 pm ((PDT)) Found this on line. Whereas Joseph ROBINS of the County of Mon- mouth, Yeoman, being in Custody of William NICH- ALLS, Esq: High Sheriff of the said County, did on Tuesday the 19th of this Instant in the Night, break the Goal of the said County, and an Escape from the said Sheriff did make: The said Sheriff doth hereby promise Ten Pounds for a Reward, besides reasona- ble Charges, to any Person or Persons that shall take up, and so secure the said Joseph ROBINS, that he may have him again, he being a tall slender Man, thin faced, bottle-nosed, light lank Hair, and about thirty Years of Age. Freehold in Monmouth- William NICHOLS. County, Aug. 23, 1729. --- The Pennsylvania Gazette, The 4th of the 7th Month 1729. Posted by: "Sara Hoffman" july37@cox.net turkeypt2 Date: Tue Jul 9, 2013 3:35 pm ((PDT)) Thank you for posting the transcription of the article regarding Joseph Robins, Jr. This is the only known record at this time for Joseph Robins, Jr's arrest & imprisonment. END from http://davenation.com/gene/jnation.html ... BEGIN 1. John 'servant boy' Nation (1695-1772) Several long years ago I found the following document that had been published in the Geneseo Methodist Church ------ yrs. Celebration booklet. My sisterin-law, Inez Nation Matthews, had compiled it upon request. When I first started to work on the Nation family history I had planned to find just the dates to complete this document. As you can plainly see the so-called list has grown like Topsy. I have enjoyed the many contacts my husband, Harold, and I made when we visited relatives in Toddville, Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Cedar Falls, LaPorte City, Vinton, also the many letters from relatives who are on the quest for family history, and the many phone calls to other Nation families. I want to thank my son David and daughter Cathy for their understanding and help while compiling this. Dave has searched in Annapolis, Washington D.C., Des Moines, Ia., Baltimore, Md., Hagerstown, Md., and N. Carolina. His files are very neat and complete. I was especially fortunate in the wealth of material sent me on the early Nations by Wilda Sweegard of Greeley, Colo. and Nancy Davidson, Des Moines, Iowa. An unauthenticated report says that John Nation was the son of John and Frances Parson Nation who were married on 28 March 1697 at North Petherton, Somerset County England. He had a brother, William Nation, born 7 December 1700, and a sister Eleanor Nation. There is a tradition that the first Nation to come to the U. S. Was a boy who was kidnapped in England and brought to the U. S., where he was sold as a slave. "1710-11, March 24. Beakes, William, of Nottingham, Burlington County, yeoman; Will of, wife Ruth, Children --- Edmond (by a former wife, as Ruth is called Edmond's Mother-in-law) Stacy, Nathan. Sarah; the last three under age. Real and personal estate, including servant boy John Nation. Executors --- the wife and son Edmond. Witnesses --- William Beakes, John Conor, Mahlon -Stacy. Proved april 27, 1711. Liber 1, p313. 11 The above seems to fairly well establish the presence of a Uservant boy" owned by William Beakers in 1711 in New Jersey, by the name of John Nation. The dictionary defines Indentured servant - (1723) a person who binds himself by indentures to work for another for a specified time, esp. for payment of his travel expenses and maintenance. Indentured servants weren't allowed to marry: so the men were at least 30 or 35 before they married if they did at all. So therefore they had fewer children and were older. They often died at 45-50 so the wives married again. In some unknown way John Nation seems to have secured his freedom, for we find a John Nation in Frederick County, Virginia, thirty nine years later in 1750. In 1754 we find John Nation in Guilford County (then Rowan Co.) North Carolina where he administered the estate of his brother-in-law Joseph Robins. In 1758, the name of John Nation, with nine poles, appears on the tax rolls of Rowan County, NC. A copy of a will written by John Nation, Sr. on 15 December 1772 in Guilford County, NC. names his wife Bethiah, 3 sons and four daughters. The family later moved to South Carolina. But to go back John Nation, Sr. married Bethiah Robins, daughter of Joseph, Sr. and Ann (Pack) Robins. Bethiah was born in Manmouth Co. New Jersey. Her brother, Joseph Robins, Jr. married Eleanor Nation, John's sister. John Nation, Sr. died in 1774 in Guilford Co. NC. and named these seven children in his will: Joseph Nation married Eleanor Robins. John Nation, Jr. married Elizabeth Bethiah Robins Christopher Nation - married Elizabeth Swaim Elizabeth Nation - married Marmaduke Vickery Ann Nation - married John Bullar Bethia Nation - married Joseph Mathew Robbins Frances Nation - married William Robins The Nation and Robbins families had adjoining -farms in the 1750's in North Carolina and had intermarried with the Robins family. To further show this relationship Joseph Robins, Jr. and Eleanor Nation had two sons: Joseph Robins III - married Alice Robbins John Robins married Rachael Robbins. The two sisters were cousins of Joseph Mathew Robbins named in 6 above. The earliest reference, from the book Gone to Georgia, names Frederick County, Virginia as an early residence of the Nation family. From the microfilm Frederick Co., Va. order Book , Saturday, August 1 , 17--, "John Nation ... and evidence for Edward, defendant at the suit of William Fernley, plaintiff." Bethia Nation... (same reference) "to be paid 7 lbs. of tobacco for three days in Court." (as a witness) In this same Frederick County Court order book-, page 228 "10 September 1749, John Nation appointed overseer of the road from the run by his house to Kerseys Ferry and it is ordered that he keep the said road in good repair according to.the land records of Frederick Co., Va., microfilm F-7117 pt. 1, Grants within the Northern Neck of Virginia Book 6 page 326 states in part: "The Right Honourable Thomas Lord Fairfax ... of Great Britain, etc. proprietor of the Northern Neck of Virginia... I have given, granted, etc ... unto John Nation of the County of Frederick, a certain tract of waste and ungranted land in the said county on the drains of Opechon Creek or river ... 188 acres... (made) the first day of October 1749. Sig: FAIRFAX Documents in Rowan County, North Carolina: "Book--page 409, Rowan County NC. deeds--18 April 1761 ... between John Nation of Rowan County, N.C., planter, and Christopher Nation, planter .... John Nation for and in consideration of the natural love and affection which he hath and beareth unto the said Christopher Nation ... grants...174 acres by indenture, 28 May 1753 by Earl Granville and registered in Rowan County, NC. book IV, page 38. Sig: John Nation. Witnesses: Thos. Lamb, Jeremiah Reynolds. Recorded April 1761. From the same reference just given--Indentured, 20 April 1761 ... between John Nation of the County of Rowan, planter, and John Nation, Jr... for and in consideration of natural love, (etc.) grants 260 acres of Pole Cat and Deep Creek River. The same as granted to John Nation, Sr. 20 February 1759 by Earl Granvilles agents. Sig: John Nation. Witnesses: Cr S Nation, Benj M Beeson. Recorded april Court 1761. The following will found in Guilford County, NC. book A, page 277, file #0276, will of John Nation, was made 15 December 1772. The will was proved in May Court 1774. Will of John Nation, Senior In the Name of God Amen--this fifteen day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy two, I John Nation, Senior of Guilford County and province of North yeoman, Being but weekly of Body, But of sound and perfect mind and memory, thanks be to God for the same, But calling to mind the shortness and uncertainty of this mortal State and that tis appointed once for all men one to die and after recommending my immortal part to God that gave it, resting in hopes of a glorious Resurrection & to live and reign with him for ever and ever, and willing my mortal part to the Dust from whence it was taken to buried in a Christian Like manner at the discretion of my Executors and as touching such worldly goods wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life with, I do dispose of the same in the manner and form following, that is to say my just debts and funeral charges to be paid-- Item - I do give and bequest unto my son Joseph Nation, his heirs and assigns the plantation and track of land whereon I now live and to enter, enjoy and possess the same and all the apprutenances thereunto belonging immediately after my decease to him particularly. Item - I do give and bequeath unto my Beloved Wife Bithiah & all my moveable estate of what kind soever without exception or distinction during her life or Widdow Hood, and in case my wife should see cause to alter her condition after my decease by marriage, then my will and pleasure is that my wife should be confined to her third of my estate. Nevertheless my will and pleasure is that in case of second marriage and she becomes thereby confined to her third, that she is empowered hereby to divide the overplus thereof between my two sons John and Joseph Nation and likewise it's my will and pleasure that my S (said) wife shall live on my plantation during her natural life or widdowhood as the case may be and if she remain my widdow, during her life at the end thereof it is my will further that my son John shall have a bed and furniture and chest and box and all the rest of my moveable estate to my son Joseph in perticular. Item - I give to and Bequeath unto the Rest of my children to wit: Christopher Nation and Elizabeth Vickery, anna Buller, Bithiah Robins and Frances Robins each and severally the sum of one shilling sterling and no more ---- Lastly - I do hereby nominate and appoint and constitute my Dear wife Bithiah and well beloved son Joseph my executors of this my last will and testiment hereby utterly revoking and disallowing all other former will or wills or testaments made or done whatsoever as fully as tho they had never been done. Rattifieing and confirming this and no other to be my Last Will and testiment, in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written. Signed, sealed, published and pronounced and declared by the said John Nation to be his last will and testament in the presence of us, the subscribers. Benjamine Beeson, Sen., Isaac Beeson, Juneor, Richard Beeson. His, John Nation Evi Qugt, J. ? The real estate mentioned in the will, consisting of at least 100 acres of land was left to Joseph Nation, who sold it to William Borden on the 18th day of May, 1774, for the sum of five shillings. (Index to Deeds 1771 1833 A.V. Guilford Co., NC. Book A) The deed was signed by Joseph Nation, Bethiah Nation, who was his mother, and by Eleanor Nation, who is presumed to be his wife, though no other information leads to this conclusion. END Posted by: "Jerry Scott" jerryscott572@sbcglobal.net Date: Mon Jul 1, 2013 9:17 am ((PDT)) BEGIN I see these as the sons of Joseph Robbins who died in 1754; Will witnessed by Richard Abstracts of The Minutes of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions Rowan NC 1763-1774 by Jo White Lynn John Robbins 302 acres 16 Feb 1763 Joseph Robbins 202 acres 16 Feb 1763 William Robbins 200 acres 14 Feb 1763 Deed from Joseph Robbins and wf Alice to Abram Woodward for 202 acres 2 April 1770 Deed From William Robbins and wf Elizabeth to Victor Thompson for 200 acres 7 Mar 1779 Deed John Robbins and wife to Wm Robbins for 202 acres 15-16 Feb 1768 proved by Wm Millican Deed from John Robbins and wife Rachel to Thomas Little for 100 acres 28 Sept 1766 proved by Wm Millican, Esqr. END Custom-House Boston, Sept. 6. Entred Inwards, Abra. W [ ]s[ ]n from Perth-Amboy. - The New-England Weekly Journal, Monday, September 8, 1729. No. CXXIX. BEGIN - The Pennsylvania Gazette, The 4th of the 7th Month 1729. Whereas Joseph Robins of the County of Monmouth, Yeoman, being in Custody of William Nicholls. Esq ; High Sheriff of the said County, did on Tuesday the 19th of this Instant in the Night, break the Goal of the said County, and an Escape from the said Sheriff did make : The said Sheriff doth hereby promise Ten Pounds for a Reward, besides reasonable Charges, to any Person or Persons that shall take up, and so secure the said Joseph Robins, that he may have him again, he being a tall slender Man, thin faced, bottle-nosed, light lank Hair, and about thirty Years of Age. Freehold, in Monmouth- William Nichols. County, Aug. 23, 1729. END