From: Lynn McFadden [clcn3930@yahoo.com] Sent: Thursday, September 17, 2009 8:35 PM I also have a John Robins - my 5th great-grandfather - who was supposedly born somewhere in New Jersey on December 9, 1785.  I do not know the name of his parents, but later census indicate he was from New Jersey.  My John married a Mary Garrison, daughter of Mary Snover and Cornelius Garrison (Cornelius was from Alsace and came to America to fight against the British in the American Revolutionary War).  John and Mary made their home in Hanover Township, Luzerne County, PA - John died  August 22, 1831 in Sugar Notch, Luzerne County, PA and Mary died in 1868 in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne, PA. "The History of Hanover Township" by Henry B. Plumb states John had a brother named Abner and a sister Rebecca.  So, it appears that two John Robins were born in New Jersey in 1785 and neither of their parents are definitely known. I have found evidence of a John Robins born in New England on the same date as mine, but his siblings don't match up.  Maybe some day my mystery will be solved!? Lynn in Texas From: Sara Hoffman [july37@cox.net] Sent: Friday, September 18, 2009 4:06 PM Lynn, Some thoughts on your John Robins & family. Information found in Henry Plumb's "History of Hanover Township" appears to conflict in places with the census records. Elias Robins b. 1826 or 1827, the youngest son of John & Mary Garrison Robins gave his birthdate as May 1827 & place New York. Mr. Plumb records Elias' birthplace as Hanover, PA. Do you have any idea which one is correct? Cornelius Robins b. 1810 brother of Elias gave his birth place as PA. The 1850 census shows the children of Cornelius Robins were born in NY between the years 1841 & 1846. Elias Robins who says he was born in NY, migrated around 1865 from PA to Wheatland, Hillsdale, MI. We find that Jonathan Robins b. Nov. 8, 1785 & his wife Mary Vossler left Lebanon Township, Hunterdon Co., NJ about 1835 for Wheatland, Hillsdale Co.,MI. They stayed in NY for a couple of years before going on to MI. I don't see a link for John & Mary Garrison Robins to Jonathan & Mary Vossler Robins. However, I find it interesting to learn that descendants from both of these families with NJ origins lived in Wheatland, Hillsdale, Michigan. Each family retained the one b spelling of the Robins name. Do you think it is just a co-incidence or maybe there a link somewhere for these two families going back to the unknown NJ Robins ancestor of your John Robins b. 1785 & the unknown NJ ancestor of Jonathan Robins b. 1785? Has anyone taken a DNA test in your John Robins line? It would be interesting to see the results. From: Sara Hoffman [july37@cox.net] Sent: Friday, September 18, 2009 11:31 PM Lynn, I took a closer look at the Jonathan & Mary Vossler Robins family & your John & Mary Garrison Robins family & found some similarities. John & Jonathan were born in 1785 in NJ They married women named Mary & the father of each man is unknown. The names John & Jonathan are similar & Jonathan can be shortened to John or misinterpreted as John. Elias the youngest son of Jonathan & Mary Vossler Robins was born May 27, 1827 in New York. Elias Robins the youngest son of John & Mary Garrison Robins was born May ? 1827 in New York. Also noted that Elias Robins according to "History of Hanover Township" had two wives 1st Mary Mill & 2nd Sarah Overton. Elias Robins son of Jonathan & Mary Vossler according to "History & Genealogy of the Robins Family" by Elizabeth Robins Wood also had two wives,1st Mary Culbert & 2nd Sarah F. Day. The publications say both of the Elias' had a son named Norman. This is rather interesting because Norman isn't an extremely common name like John, Wm or James etc. I couldn't find anything that indicated Jonathan & Mary V. Robins ever lived in or visited Hanover, PA. Their journey appears to have been from Hunterdon Co NJ to Palmyra, Wayne Co., NY where they lived for some time & were members of the Congregational Church before settling in Wheatland Township, Hillsdale Co., MI. I have no idea if any of this information is of any value or if there is any connection.