From "The Exile of Daniel Robins to America in 1652" by Sara Robbins Hoffman in 1992: transcription of Misc->82.5.jpg BEGIN ... The following quote is from the Bible record of Elijah Robins, [30.16] great-great-grandson of Daniel Robins. ... Moses Robins (born ye 27th of March 1679) son of Daniel (and Hope his wife) married Mary Stickles and has Sons and Daughters. To Wit - Zachariah, Moses, Joseph, Rachel, Elizabeth, Meribah, Leah, Deborah. Moses Died and lays Buried at his own Burying Ground not far from Friends Meeting House in Monmouth, called Robin's. Departed this life First Day of the 6th Month 1744, Aged about sixty years." END from the NJ Archives in Trenton, NJ BEGIN Index to Marriage Records, 1666-1799 *Groom* *GroomResidence* *Bride* *BrideResidence* *Date* *Page* Wood, Benjamin Monmouth Robins, Leah Monmouth 31 Aug 1741 1727-1734 (Licenses) : Page/Item 68 END NEW JERSEY STATE ARCHIVES RECORDS SECRETARY OF STATE'S DEEDS FROM 1660's BEGIN ROBINS Bk Pg Date Location Joseph, Jr fr Robins, Moses G-3 303 10/29/1731 Upper Freehold, Monmouth Moses, Jr et ux to Robins, Joseph, Jr G-3 303 10/29/1731 Upper Freehold, Monmouth END from https://wwwnet-dos.state.nj.us/DOS_ArchivesDBPortal/NJProprietors.aspx BEGIN TO: Joseph Robins, Jr. FROM: Moses Robins, Jr. (ux) CONVEYANCE. Upper Freehold, Monmouth County. OTHERS NAMED: LOCATIONS: East Jersey; Monmouth; Upper Freehold Township 29 Oct 1731 G-3 (EJ) : Folio 303 (SSTSE023) TO: FROM: RECORD OF A HIGHWAY. Along Buckhold Brook; At the bank of a mill brook; By a road to Burlington; Freehold Township; Middletown Township; Shrewsbury Township; Monmouth County. This being a record of alterations for several highways from the Commissioners Gideon Crawford, James Grover, John Throckmorton, Samuel Ogborn, Peter Parker, Thomas Woodward, Thomas Cortis, William Murfin, Samuel Wilson, Mathew Watson, Nathaniel Stevenson. OTHERS NAMED: Thomas Cortis (Commissioner) (Signatory); James Cox (Owner of adjoining land); Gideon Crawford (Commissioner) (Signatory); James Grover (Commissioner) (Signatory); James Grover (Owner of adjoining land); [Unrecorded] Imlay (Owner of adjoining land); David Johnston (Owner of adjoining land); Joseph Kinnan (Owner of adjoining land); Elisha Lawrence (Owner of adjoining land); Richard Lawrence (Commissioner) (Signatory); William Murfin (Commissioner) (Signatory); Samuel Ogborn (Commissioner) (Signatory); Peter Parker (Commissioner) (Signatory); Moses Robins (Owner of adjoining land); [Unrecorded] Salter (Owner of adjoining mill); Nathaniel Stevenson (Commissioner) (Signatory); John Throckmorton (Commissioner) (Signatory); Mathew Watson (Commissioner) (Signatory); William Wilkins (Owner of adjoining land); Samuel Wilson (Commissioner) (Signatory); Thomas Woodward (Commissioner) (Signatory) LOCATIONS: East Jersey; Burlington; Monmouth; Freehold Township; Middletown Township; Shrewsbury Township; Buckhold Creek; Hollow or Hollows; Woods and Woodland; Mill Brook; Mills; Mill Lots; Roads, Streets, Highways, Paths 18 Jan 1722/1723 Monmouth Co Deeds Volume G : Folio 108-109 (CMNCL001) Available at NJ Archives on microfilm for in-person research only. For original records Contact Monmouth County Clerk END "Historical and Genealogical Miscellany Early Settlers of New Jersey and their Descendants" John E. Stillwell, M.D. Vol. IV 1916 BEGIN 1732, Dec. 16. Ebenezer Saltar, of Upper Freehold, Monmouth County, N. J., yeoman, for £900, conveyed to Edward Taylor, Jr., and John Taylor, yeomen, sons of Edward Taylor, of Shrewsbury, N.J. land that he, Saltar, had obtained by deed of sale from the Commissioners of the Loan Office, for the County of Monmouth: Situated in Upper Freehold containing two hundred acres, and land that he, Saltar, had bought from Elisha Lawrence, of Upper Freehold, Apr. 3, 1732, which adjoined the preceding tract, containing one hun- dred and eighty and a half acres ; bounded by land of Richard Saltar, being the Easterly corner of that tract he purchased of his father, Richard Saltar, Senr, with the mills, now called Imlay's Mills, and by the lands of Moses Robins, Robert Lawrence, James Cox, John Lawrence; and southeasterly by land formerly John Saltar's, deceased. The deed was signed by Ebenezer Saltar and Rebecca Saltar. END "History of Monmouth County, New Jersey" Franklin Ellis 1885 BEGIN The Village of Wrightsville is located on land which was part of the Baker tract and later belonged to the Lawrence family. The people who settled in the vicinity were mostly Friends who belonged to the Chesterfield Monthly Meeting, at Crosswicks. Meetings were held at the house of Daniel Robbins as early as 1736. A petition was made to the Chesterfield Monthly Meeting, Ninth Month, 2d day, 1738, the account of which, in the minutes, is as follows: "Moses Robins, on behalf of himself and Friends thereabouts, made application to this meeting to build a meeting-house near Robert Lawrence." This request was acted upon at the next Monthly Meeting as follows: "Tenth Month, 7th day, 1738, the Friends near Moses Robins, have liberty from this meeting to build a meeting-house according to their decree." The meeting subscribed eighteen pounds towards the building. The Burlington Monthly Meeting soon after subscribed twelve pounds for the same purpose. The house was built on the present site, and was known as "Robins Meeting." The following quotation is from the minutes: "Sixth Month 6th, 1776, Upper Freehold pre- parative meeting informs that Samuel Wright Hartshorne hath been active on military service and refuses to make satisfaction." This meeting-house, built in 1738, was used until 1816, when it was torn down and the present brick meeting-house erected on the same lot. Through the influence of Samuel Croft, the name was changed from Robins Meeting to East Branch. It was used regularly for many years, but is now used only by appointed meetings. END From: turkeypt2 [july37@cox.net] Sent: Tuesday, April 25, 2006 12:19 AM BEGIN The following deed was sent to me by Richard S. Hutchinson from a book he has in progress. Richard is the author of several books on Mid-Jersey history. He has written articles for the GSNJ magazine & served on this society's board. Two of his recent publications are East New Jersey Land Records 1747-1757 & 1757-1763. I highly recommend Richard's books for Monmouth Co & Middlesex Co researchers. His website is www.RichardSHutchinson.com. East Jersey Deeds, Book A3 - pg 180. 1 Dec 1725, Jonathan Parker of Middlesex Co., NJ, yeoman, sells to David Lyell, of Monmouth Co., NJ Esqr., for 64 pounds, 10 shilling, for a tr. of land in Middlesex Co., beg. where the line of David Lyell's great tr. crosses Bear Brook, then along sd. line several courses to the beg., being 100a. Wits.: Moses Robins, Geo. Rescarrick. Signed: Jonathan Parker. Ackn.: 11 Aug 1763, John William, a person well know to me and worthy of good credit, personally appeared bef. me, Robert Hunter Morris, and did declare that he knew Moses Robins and that he believes the name Moses Robins is the handwriting of old Moses Robins, late of Monmouth Co., who has been dead many years. On 11 Aug 1763, John Barclay, Esqr., Middlesex Co., appeared bef. and a person very well known to him and he was acquainted with his handwriting and believes the name so subscribed on the deed was the handwriting of the sd. George Rescarrick, his near relation, and who has been dead for many years. Examined & rec'd--- Smyth, Reg. Sara END From the Asbury Park Press, Neptune, New Jersey dated May 3, 2008: BEGIN Tranquil resting place a mess "Ye Olde Robbins Burial Place" has become a victim of neglect By Joseph Sapia - FREEHOLD BUREAU - May 3, 2008 UPPER FREEHOLD - On a Route 524 curve, just below some hilly woods in the state-owned Assunpink Wildlife Management Area, sits a gravestone-like monument. "Ye Olde Robbins Burial Place," reads the monument, also listing members of the Robbins-Sproule family that erected it in 1938. But the real story - the actual cemetery, used from the late 1600s to the early 1900s - lies about 300 feet up a path on the nearby wooded hill. Surrounding the hill - about 300 feet above sea level, one of the highest points of Monmouth County - are lowlands of farmland and fields. "It's a beautiful site," said Ray Porutski, the state Department of Environmental Protection's regional superintendent of wildlife management areas. "You can imagine what it looked like 150 years ago. This was probably a meadow." Take away the occasional Route 524 traffic or passing airplane and it is likely one of the most tranquil places in the county to be put to rest. But the approximately 1-acre cemetery has been neglected over the years. Edward J. Raser's 2002 book, "New Jersey Graveyard and Gravestone Inscriptions Locators: Monmouth County," listed it in "critical" condition, the worst of three categories. Ironstone, the area's fieldstone, litters the cemetery in such a way that they were, apparently, grave-markers. Once-ornate iron fencing, now rusted, surrounds the grave of Elizabeth Robbins, who died in 1861. Most of the cemetery's rough-hewn wood fence posts show no sign of the fencing that was once there. "You see the old fence posts?" Porutski said. "That's really the boundary." Porutski's cemetery file included correspondence regarding the cemetery being neglected and community service proposals to rehabilitate it. Over the years, volunteers have cleaned the site, but Assunpink workers do not actively maintain it, Porutski said. The state inherited the cemetery decades ago not as a cemetery or historical site, but as part of the accumulation of approximately 6,300 acres to form these grounds for fishing, hunting and other outdoor pursuits. Porutski, based at Assunpink since 1984, said inquiries about the cemetery are rare. In the past, Ye Olde Robbins Burial Ground has been vandalized, he said. The cemetery dates to at least 1720 and up until 1914, according to Raser's book, which calls it the Robbins Burial Ground and notes it also had been called Covell Hill Burial Ground. The book said it had about 80 inscribed stones and 200 that were uninscribed. In 1991, Todd Hogrefe worked on a community service project at the cemetery to attain the Eagle rank in Millstone Township Boy Scout Troop 194. The original plan to restore the cemetery was changed to a more doable plotting of the layout and study of the graves. "We mapped all the graves," said Hogrefe, now 33, who was assisted by his father, Peter, a civil engineer. "In addition to that, wherever there were headstones with legible inscriptions, we made rubbings of the inscriptions. "I thought it was a privilege to work at that historic site," said Hogrefe, now living in Michigan, where he is the endangered species coordinator for that state's Department of Natural Resources. "My dad trained me how to use surveying equipment. It was a good time both of us had out there." The project had added meaning for Hogrefe, because his father died in 1995 of a heart attack at age 53. "I value the experience I had out there so much more," Hogrefe said. "It was one of the last times we had to work on a project together." At the cemetery today, limestone gravestones remaining intact are hard to read, their engravings worn away by the elements. Yet one can find graves with various surnames - Robbins (and Robins), Preston, DeBow, Steward, Giberson and Taylor. First names reflect a different era: Zachariah, Eliza and Enoch. The county Office of Veterans' Interment and Affairs lists four veterans buried there - three from the Civil War and the fourth with no information on the war. An area Boy Scout troop decorates the veterans' graves with American flags, said Russell Keimig, supervisor of the county veterans office. Last year, on his own, James V. D'Amore, 83, a veteran who lives nearby, placed a flag at the Route 524 marker, not realizing a visible cemetery existed a few hundred feet away. One of the graves belongs to Deborah Lincon (as it is spelled), a relative of President Abraham Lincoln. She died at 3 years old in 1720, according to the Raser book. "Over the years, there had, apparently, been reports of locals hearing mournful sobs emanating from the graveyard, especially during the month of May when little Debbie (Lincon) died," according to an article posted on the Weird New Jersey Web site. "There were, also, tales about ghostly horse-drawn funeral processions entering the graveyard on cool spring nights." Late on a recent afternoon, however, the site was not eerie. It was tranquil. Tall hardwood trees rubbed crowns in the wind, creating a comforting music in the woods. A light rain tapped oak leaves littering the forest floor. With the sun setting over the western lowlands, the souls on the hill rested. Joe Sapia: (732) 308-7754; (800) 822-9770, ext. 1-7754; JSapia@app.com END From William Collins 16 Dec 2012: BEGIN This has probably been posted before, but here are some notes I have on Ye Olde The Robins Burying Ground The Robins Family Burying ground of which frequent mention is made in this record, is located about five miles east of Allentown, and near the easterly line of Upper Freehold Tonship.  It occupies the top of a hill on the northerly side of the Shrewsbury road, and has an elevation of 295 feet.  It contains one acre of land and is near the southeasterly line of the 500 acres which Daniel Robins [Sr.] bought of John Reid in 1695.  It was a place of interment at least as early as 1720, which is the date on the oldest stone now in evidence.  A more particular account of this ancient grave yard is contained in Book 2, page 101, Hutchison Manuscript Book A 254. The old graveyard on Covell's Hill, about two miles west of Clarksburg, near and to the north of the Allentown road, has until recently been a neglected place.  Nobody in this neighborhood seemed to know anything about the history or the owner-ship. Recently the West twins, James and C.Palmer, have at considerable expense cleared the entire plot of briars and weeds, and have erected a substantial and pleasing granite memorial at the entance from the road. The burying ground is located on the farm formerly belonging to Moses Robins, son of Daniel Robins, the first settler.  The plan was not systematically laid out.  The early graves were roughly aligned, without space being left between successive rows, and were simply marked with pieces of field stone. In 1762, Daniel Robins, son of Zacharias Robins and grandson of Moses Robins, deeded an acre of ground covering the graveyard to some members of the Robins family, who formed a self perpetualating set of Trustees, and from hence is derived the name "The Robins Burial Place" The grave that has been given the most publicity is that of Deborah, duaghter of Mordecia Lincoln. In later years the graves have been carefully aligned and marked with marble slabs with inscriptions.  One stone with the initials 'M.H.' is possible [sic] for Moses Robins.  The headstone although badly weatherworn is still readable.  This is a refernce point in the original deed of trust.  In the section where the De Bows are buried, we find the graves of great-grandfather De Bow and his wife Abigail (Robins); their children viz: Thomas, Lawrence, Sarah, John and his wife Lydia (Wolcott); Here also are the graves of John Robins and his wife Ann I. Until recently I did not know that John Robins was an Uncle of great grandmother De Bow, although their graves were near each other. Samuel Stewart and his wife are buried near.  I think Sarah wa an Inins, [Ivins?] and a first cousin of Grandmother Gravatt. Many more of the Robins are buried at Covell's Hill, but as far as I can recall, no others are closely related to us. I believe the above to be written by Consuelo Furman, Grand Central P.O. Box 162, New York, 17, NY on Oct 1 1952 Bill Collins Summerville, SC genedigger@yahoo.com END A follow-up to the above from 29 Dec 2012: BEGIN Ye Olde Robbins Burial Ground Notes Here is some information I gathered (summarized) about the Robbins Burial Ground. Bottom line is that I still don't have solid documentation of a transfer of the cemetery to State of New Jersey. The Department of Environment for the State of New Jersey should have documentation of the land transfer in their records. I did contact them back in 2007, but never heard back whether they had documentation or not. Path forward should include the following: 1. Establish contact with DEP again and see if they have any documentation. 2. Contact Allentown Historical Society and brain storm a plan for upkeep of cemetery - propose possible tie-in with Robbins House (State of NJ controls this). 3. Prepare a newspaper article that combines past history with current state of cemetery. 4. Possible book detailing history of Robbins Burial ground from the perspective of the burial ground as a constant contrasted with changes to surrounding area. Deed chronology - At least six deeds related to Robbins holding this land have been documented. The following summary is from Todd Hogrefe's survey of the burial ground (A Genealogical/Historic Survey of Ye Olde Robbins Burial Place, Upper Freehold, and NJ - Copy at the Allentown Library, Allentown, NJ). . Deborah Lincoln was buried May 15. 1720, the hill and the land around it was owned by her grandfather, Richard Salter. . 1-Between this date and December 12, 1762, this land passed into the hands of Daniel Robbins Jr. . 2-December 12, 1762, Daniel Robbins Jr. released his possession of the burial ground to Moses Robbins, Joseph Robbins. Daniel Robbins of Allentown, Nathan Robbins, Zebulon Robbins and Moses Robbins Jr . In 1786, the property surrounding the burial ground was bought from Lewis Robbins by Captain Samuel Covell, but the cemetery remained in the possession of the Robbins family. Burial ground came to be referred to as the Covell Hill burying ground because it was situated atop the hill surrounded by the land of Samuel Covell. . 3-Deed dated March 3, 1796, dismissed Zebulon Robbins of Upper Freehold Township. Monmouth County, and Nathan Robbins of Mansfield Township, Burlington County as trustees of Ye Olde Robbins Burial Place and granted the land to Davis Robbins, George Robbins, Antrim Robbins, Ephraim Robbins and Ezekiel Robbins of Allentown, Elijah Robbins and Isaac Robbins. . 4-September 16, 1847 George Robbins and Ephraim Robbins released deed to Elisha Robbins, Jacob F. Robbins, Timothy Robbins of Monmouth County and Nathan Robbins of Mercer County. . 5-Deed dated January 1, 1884, Nathan Robbins of Hamilton Township. Mercer County, being the only living trustee, forfeits his claim of the burying ground to Samuel M. Robbins of Hamilton Township and Barton B, Hutchinson of Trenton, Mercer County. . 6-Deed dated May 17, 1923, grantors of the burying ground were Aaron H. Robbins of Hamilton Township, and Barton B. Hutchinson of Trenton, Mercer County. Grantees were George B. Robbins and Charles Perry Hutchinson - the great-great grandson of Joseph Robbins. . The last funeral in the burying ground was that of Eliza Steward In 1914. . 1960's, the Green Acres program acquired the area around the cemetery for Assunpink Creek State Park. The acre of land containing the cemetery was turned over to the state Division of Fish, Game, and Wildlife for development as a recreation area. West Brothers . 1938 Sunday Times-Advertiser -Trenton, NJ - West brothers' caretakers for cemetery . 1938 - Erected monument at roadside below burial ground. Erected by James West and C. Palmer West Green Acres 1. Present Day Efforts a. Assunipink Wildlife Management Area - called office at the site in search of deed and was directed to contact headquarters in Trenton. b. Deed search with NJ i. Contacted Monmouth County Historical Society ii. Discussed deed with Ed Raser, author c. Contact with Hutchinson Descendants i. Email with Richard Hutchinson ii. Letter and documentation to Carolyn Houck iii. Letter and documentation to Charles Percy Hutchinson d. Tax Map i. Researched NJ tax maps - current map shows 1 acre area - no reference to it in tax listings however. e. New Jersey Department of the Environment i. Contacted Renee Jones at DEP back in 2007. She was looking for the deed. No response back from her. ii. New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife iii. David Chanda, Director N.J. Division of Fish and Wildlife Mail Code 501-03 P.O. Box 420 Trenton, NJ 08625-0420 END