From:   Robbinsfamilysouthjersey@yahoogroups.com on behalf of Chris Schopfer [cjschopfer@gmail.com]
Sent:   Thursday, May 31, 2007 11:27 PM
To: Robbinsfamilysouthjersey@yahoogroups.com
Subject:    [Robbinsfamilysouthjersey] Fwd: Interesting will involving Robins Meeting

All:

Thought you might be interested in the below transcription of the will of a
former slave. The "executors" appear to have been the Robins Meeting
(presumably meaning the institution itself), who then appointed two
individuals to the task. This was posted on the NJ Rootsweb mail list.

Chris

Date: Tue, 29 May 2007 06:35:41 -0600
From: dtourison@vcn.com
Subject: [NJ] FIND ME IN NJ Answer #30
To: nj@rootsweb.com
Message-ID: <20070529063541.fum9fgvkyoksskk8@webmail.vcn.com>
Content-Type: text/plain;       charset=ISO-8859-1;     DelSp="Yes";
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Howdy - thought you folks would like to see this one, all by itself.
It is by far, the most unique abstract I've come across, and well
worth sharing.  David

NJ Archives Vol XXXIX, Calendar of Wills No. 10, pp. 311, 312:

   1798, Nov. 2.   MINGO, [a black man], of Upper Freehold Twsp.,
Monmouth Co., yeoman; will of.  "My parents, Brister and Amy, both
belonged to Edmond BAINBRIDGE, of Maidenhead Twsp, Hunterdon Co., and
after the decase of my lawful master I became the property of his son,
Abraham BAINBRIDGE, who sold me to Richard COCHORON of Somerset Co.,
and in time of the Revolutionary contest, the said COCHORON went to
the British, and according to the law then, forfeited his estate and I
being part thereof was sold by the States and bought by a certain John
PEESHANK, of Hunterdon Co., who sold me to [hole in paper] --
HORSFIELD, of Hunterdon Co., and the said HORSEFIELD sold me for a
certain sum of money which was paid him in full by James COMBS, Isaac
IVINS and Job CLEVENGER; all of said state; and I, MINGO, paying the
same back to them, the said, James COMBS, Isaac IVINS and Job
CLEVENGER, as fully appears by their receipt of discharge, clearly
establishes me on the permanent bottom of Freedom, and that Freedom
being ratified and confirmed further by my paying taxes since the time
of my being Free, as the White free subjects doth.  I had a sister
named CLOE, whose husband's name was FRANK, who bought the said CLOE,
his wife, of Isaac ANDERSON, then living near Princeton; also I have
another sister named NELLY who was carried by her mistress, who
married Thomas BILES, into Pennsylvania.  My real and personal estate
to be equally divided between the children of my sisters, CLOE and
NELLY, and should sister NELLY, be alive she is to have an equal share
with her children.  At present my sister CLOE's children are in a
state of bondage, and if any of them, by being in a 'state of
bondage,' cannot enjoy the free and sole use of their legacy; their
share, whether male or female, to be equally divided amongst the
legatees, that can claim their share.  If any of the men die before 21
years, or if any of the women die before 18 years, they cannot have
any claim or share."  Executors - the Meeting, called Robins, in the
County of Monmouth.  Witnesses - Joel CHESHIRE, Joseph RIDGWAY, Thomas
RIDGWAY.  Proved Feb. 1, 1802.     Lib. 39, p. 511.
   1801, Dec. 16.   At a meeting held in the Robins Meeting House, on
said date, Edward TAYLOR and Samuel CRAFT, were appointed executors of
the said MINGO's will.  Minutes signed by John COOMBS, Jr., Elijah
FIELD, George CRAFT, Sr., William SATTERTHWAITE, Jr., George WILLIAMS,
Jediah HANCE, Joel CHESHIRE.
   1802, Jan. 29.   Inventory, L685.1.4 1/2; made by James COMBS and
Samuel IMLAY.
File 8500 M.



From:   Robbinsfamilysouthjersey@yahoogroups.com on behalf of july37 [july37@cox.net]
Sent:   Friday, June 01, 2007 11:31 AM
To: Robbinsfamilysouthjersey@yahoogroups.com
Subject:    Re: [Robbinsfamilysouthjersey] Fwd: Interesting will involving Robins Meeting

Chris,

Thanks for sharing your most interesting find. It's certainly a unique piece of information. I've never read the will of a former slave. I see Samuel Imlay is mentioned & other family names that we find associated with the Robins of NJ.


Re: Robbins as slave owners. The Genealogical Magazine of NJ Jan 2007 Vol. 82 No. 1, pg. 13 has an article "1798 Federal Direct Tax Lists Particular Lists of Slaves" by Judith Green Watson. In 1798 John Robbins of Middletown Township, Monmouth Co., is listed as owning 8 slaves. He was taxed for 4 of them & 4 were exempt. In the State of NJ exemptions were for made for all female slaves, all males slaves under age 16 & over 50 & all male slave between 16 & 50 who were unable to work.

A William Robbins of Rutherford Co., NC is referred to as a "blackbirder" in the slave trading business from an article written by Wilma A. Dunaway "Put In Master's Pocket: Cotton Expansion & Interstate Slave Trading & the Black Appalachian Diaspora" as part of the book "Appalachians & Race: The Mountain South From Slavery to Segregation", edited by John Inscoe (University Press of Kentucky, 2000) This same book mentions a Kit Robbins from Surrey Co., NC who operated a 6 county slave trading business in NC. There are most likely other Robins/Robbins who owned slaves but these are the only ones I've found.

                              Sara