From: Robbinsfamilysouthjersey@yahoogroups.com on behalf of tomRobbins@comcast.net Sent: Thursday, December 28, 2006 7:54 PM To: Robbinsfamilysouthjersey@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Robbinsfamilysouthjersey] Ye Olde Robbins Burial Ground - Continued I guess it didn't send my original message. This is an update on my trip to New Jersey today. I stopped by the Robbinsville Library, Hamilton Square Library and the Allentown Library. From: Robbinsfamilysouthjersey@yahoogroups.com on behalf of tkrobbins1 [tomRobbins@comcast.net] Sent: Thursday, December 28, 2006 7:35 PM To: Robbinsfamilysouthjersey@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Robbinsfamilysouthjersey] Ye Olde Robbins Burial Ground - Continued I must of hit the wrong button and sent my message before I had finished typing it. Anyway, I found an artical by Judge R.C. Robbins written in 1885 that describes the Robbinsville area. I also went to Hamilton Square Library, but struck out. They couldn't provide me any information, although I need to check back with their historian Tom Glover next Tuesday. Finally, I hip pay dirt at the Allentown Library. They had Todd Hogrefe's Eagle Scout project done in 1992 that has a complete history of the burial ground including site maps showing where the graves are located. I'm going to contact Todd tomorrow to see if I can get a copy of this document. It is almost as large as Sara and John's Robins Robbins of New Jersey book. Todd has the following sections: Physical Description of Ye Olde Robbins Burial Place Methods Used to Perform the Survey Daniel Robins Robins Meeting Great-Great Aunt of Abraham Lincoln Buried in Ye Olde Robbins Burial Place Deeds of Ye Olde Robbins Burial Place (Up to 1923) Characteristics of Gravestones Facts about Individuals Newspaper Articles Appendix A - Listing of inscriptions Appendix B - Coordinate Geometry Printout Appendix C - Field Notes from the Survey References Also included is a site map and some gravestone rubbings I didn't have time to do a detailed study of the document, but it was impressive. It is available as a reference to review if you visit the library. I'll update you after I talk to Todd and the Green Acres lawyers. From: Robbinsfamilysouthjersey@yahoogroups.com on behalf of John W Taylor [Johntaylor6@juno.com] Sent: Thursday, December 28, 2006 8:28 PM To: Robbinsfamilysouthjersey@yahoogroups.com Cc: Robbinsfamilysouthjersey@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Robbinsfamilysouthjersey] Ye Olde Robbins Burial Ground - Continued Tom, Sounds interesting. See pages 306 through 315 in "Robins, Robbins of NJ" for burial listings in Ye Olde Robbins Burial Ground. Also see discussion in the Appendix.. On pages 372 and 373 is an article from the Allentown Messenger re the burial ground. John Taylor From: Robbinsfamilysouthjersey@yahoogroups.com on behalf of tkrobbins1 [tomRobbins@comcast.net] Sent: Thursday, December 28, 2006 8:44 PM To: Robbinsfamilysouthjersey@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Robbinsfamilysouthjersey] Newspaper Extract - 17th Century Graves Found in Woods All, Here's a partial extract from a newspaper article Todd Hogrefe had in his Ye Olde Robbins Burial Place book (located at the Allentown, NJ Library). I just extracted the information I had not seen before, mainly the Green Thumb program doing maintenance on the site. Sorry, the article didn't have a date or the newspaper's name (Press?). Note that the author didn't know for sure if the State acquired the property. 17th Century Graves Found in Woods By James S. Brown Press Staff Writer UPPER FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP <96> A Green Thumb project in this rural community has turned up a piece of county history hidden for half a century by trees and underbrush<85> Several years ago, the state Green Acres program acquired the old burial ground <96> or at least all the property around it <96> for Assunpink Creek State Park. When the land was turned over to the state Division of Fish and Game for development as a public recreation area, the question arose: what to do about the burying ground? There hadn't been a funeral there since the death of Eliza R. Steward in 1914, and the wagon road in from Route 524 was blocked by trees and brush. State officials turned for help to the Green Thumb program, established by the National Farmers Union under contract with the Federal Bureau of Public Works to provide part-time employment for senior citizens from rural backgrounds<85> Two seven-man crews made up of men aged 66 to 76 from Point Pleasant, Lakewood, Toms River, Jackson, and Lakehurst have been working three days a week on fish and game projects, helping develop properties acquired under Green Acres. They have been clearing ground, landscaping, building animal traps, and razing buildings. About a month ago, at the request of Paul McLain, wildlife biologist, they were assigned to clean up the old burial ground. Use Hand Tools Working entirely with hand tools, they removed trees and brush and reopened and marked the old wagon road and then cleared out the cemetery. They will continue to maintain the property, said Mr. McLain<85> From: Robbinsfamilysouthjersey@yahoogroups.com on behalf of tkrobbins1 [tomRobbins@comcast.net] Sent: Thursday, December 28, 2006 8:51 PM To: Robbinsfamilysouthjersey@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Robbinsfamilysouthjersey] Re: Ye Olde Robbins Burial Ground - Continued John, This is a complete site survey. Todd has mapped each gravesite giving it a map coordinate. I've emailed him for permission to make a copy of his document that could be shared with the group. The large survey maps may be a problem, but I know folks at work that scan these types of documents. He has complete deed information and it is interesting that he doesn't have any documentation of the hand over to the state (if there was one). If the lawyers from Green Acres come back with information on this, it will provide a complete record. Tom From: Robbinsfamilysouthjersey@yahoogroups.com on behalf of Gary Robins [gdrobins@robinsgenealogy.net] Sent: Thursday, December 28, 2006 9:16 PM To: Robbinsfamilysouthjersey@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Robbinsfamilysouthjersey] Re: Ye Olde Robbins Burial Ground - Continued Tom: It is my belief that quite possibly the Green Acres program acquired title of the surrounding land, without realizing that the burial ground had been separated out from the land by deed many years earlier. This technicality could mean that the land belongs yet to Robins/Robbins descendents. I'm encouraged by the fact that you have twice referenced from different sources the lack of knowledge or documentation of the transferal of that particular land. From: Robbinsfamilysouthjersey@yahoogroups.com on behalf of july37 [july37@cox.net] Sent: Thursday, December 28, 2006 10:04 PM To: Robbinsfamilysouthjersey@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Robbinsfamilysouthjersey] Re: Ye Olde Robbins Burial Ground - Continued Gary's astute observation about the lack of documentation for transfer of the burial ground with the Green Acres Program may prove to be something not previously considered. I'm not absolutely sure but I believe only the descendants of 8-Moses & 10-Aaron were trustees of the burial ground. I do know no 5-Richard descendant was ever a trustee. Sara From: tomrobbins@comcast.net Sent: Thursday, December 28, 2006 10:31 PM To: tomrobbins@comcast.net; Robbinsfamilysouthjersey@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Robbinsfamilysouthjersey] Re: Ye Olde Robbins Burial Ground - Continued Sarah's mother Laura R. Hutchinson died on 28 April 1990. She was born 28 April 1898 according to the Social Security Death Index record on Ancestry. Does anyone have access to the Trenton papers? If we can find an obit, we may get her daughter's married name. Here's the SS Death index record: Social Security Death Index about Laura R. Hutchinson Name: Laura R. Hutchinson SSN: 145-20-4076 Last Residence: 08618 Trenton, Mercer, New Jersey, United States of America Born: 28 Apr 1898 Died: 28 Apr 1990 State (Year) SSN issued: New Jersey (Before 1951 From: Robbinsfamilysouthjersey@yahoogroups.com on behalf of tomRobbins@comcast.net Sent: Thursday, December 28, 2006 10:19 PM To: Robbinsfamilysouthjersey@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Robbinsfamilysouthjersey] Re: Ye Olde Robbins Burial Ground - Continued Last trustees were Charles Percy Hutchinson and George R. Robbins. I'm trying to track down Charles' daughter Sarah E. Hutchinson (don't have a married name yet). Tom From: Robbinsfamilysouthjersey@yahoogroups.com on behalf of tomRobbins@comcast.net Sent: Thursday, December 28, 2006 11:17 PM To: Robbinsfamilysouthjersey@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Robbinsfamilysouthjersey] Re: Ye Olde Robbins Burial Ground - Continued Success! I was able to track down Charles Percy Hutchinson (a relative of Laura R. Hutchinson). I have his contact information and will send him a letter asking if he has any information on the Robbins Burial Ground deed. Tom