Capt. John Robbins
Capt. John Robbins
(1762-1834)
THE REGULARS ARE COMING
The Alarm rider rode up to the house of Capt. Joseph Robbins, located a few rods east of the burying ground, struck sharply on the corner board with a bludgeon and at the same time shouted the well known words. "Capt Robbins! Capt. Robbins! The regulars are coming."
After being aroused from their beds on the morning of April 19, 1775, Capt. Joseph Robbins sent his son John (age exactly 13 years old since his birthday was April 19, 1762) to alert Isaac Davis, Captain of the Acton minute men and Simon Hunt, Capt. of the Acton's West Militia Company.
Never dismounting, Dr. Samuel Prescott, the Alarm rider, rode off to alert Col. Francis Faulkner and on to Stow that the "Regulars" were on their way to Concord.
By KATHERINE MINTON TATUM
The Beacon 1979
By Robert H. Nylander
1989
Listed on National Register of Historical Places~ July 25, 2003
Notes by Harold Phalen
John Robbins
John Robbins was born April 19, 1762 and was appointed an ensign in the militia in 1796, and made captain in 1799. John married Sally Jones in 1791. John became town treasurer in 1793, a post he would hold for 15 years. In 1802 he was appointed a justice of the peace. In 1807 he was both town treasurer and town clerk. He became a selectman as well as town clerk in 1808 and held both those posts until 1820. Any one perusing Acton's vital records for the period can see the Robbins hand. He was considered a fair and honorable man.
Notes from Phalen: History of the Town of Acton
copyright 1954
Middlesex Printing, Inc. Cambridge, Mass.
At a town meeting on March 2, 1795 the question of apportioning the town of Acton into five school districts was debated at length and finally a committee of fourteen was chosen to report at the regular meeting in May. this meeting when convened on may 6 voted to raise 80 pounds for school support, 20 pounds of which was to be expended for a women's school. The committee of school administration and inspection was made up of Aaron Jones. John Robbins, Job Brooks, Jonas Heald, Samuel Parlin, Abraham Hapgood and John Adams. On the held -over question of the school district it was decided to have five, each person to send his children to the district of his choice and to have his school levy spent in that district. Phalen: History of the Town of Acton copyright 1954 Middlesex Printing, Inc. Cambridge, Mass. pg's. 105-106
The act of 1794 forbade the selling of fractional parts at advanced prices but the practice of selling halves, quarters and eights originated in the lottery offices and was very prevalent. This scheme drew in as adventurers many who could not afford whole tickets.
The foregoing explanation provides the background for the tie-up with Acton. In one of the Harvard Lotteries, presumably the one of 1794. Mr. Abel Conant bought a ticket for five dollars and then sold three quarters of it to his neighbors at a dollar and quarter apiece. One of these was almost certainly Dr. Abraham Skinner and another must have been John Robbins who married Sally Jones of Acton in 1791. The identify of the third is unknown to the writer. The ticker won the grand prize and with their respective shares the winners built new houses in three cases and embellished one already standing apparently, in the fourth Phalen: History of the Town of Acton copyright 1954 Middlesex Printing, Inc. Cambridge, Mass. pg. 108
Acton June 1st, 1801 to Seth Brooks, Collector for Social Library in Acton, you are directed to collect the following fines of several persons hereafter named and to pay in the same to Capt. John Robbins, Treasurer of said Social Library, within six months for the use of the said Library.
Seth Brooks
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Eveling. Vol1, kept one day too long
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$0.03
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Capt. Joseph Brown
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Pilgrim Process, solided pages 194, 195
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$0.04
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David Davis
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Stack house, Vol. kept 5 day too long
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$0.15
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John Dexter
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Spectator, Vol.2, grease spot on edge p. 49 to 59
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$0.05
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Capt. Stevens Hayward
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Hunter, Vol.3, 2 days too long
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$0.06
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John Hunt
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Hunter Vol.2 one day too long
|
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John Hunt
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Hunter, Vol 3. last day after 1 Monday of May
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$0.28
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Nathan Hayward
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Stack house, Vol.1 4 days after last Monday of May
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$1.00
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Amos Noyes
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Blair Vol, 3. 1 day after last Monday of May
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$0.24
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John Prescott
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Hunter, Vol. 3, too long 4 days
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$0.12
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Dr. A. Skinner
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Morse, Vol.1, spot p. 200
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$0.03
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Lt. Samuel White
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Stack house, Vol. 6, 2 days too long
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$0.06
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Samuel Wright, Jr.
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N.E.Farmer, 14 days too long
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$0.42
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Paul Hayward
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Moors Journal Vol. 1, leaves loosed at begining
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$0.06
|
James Coolidge
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Gordon, Vol. 3, 1 day too long
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$0.03
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Deacon Simon Hunt
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Stack house Vol.4 spot page 421
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|
Moses Wood
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Doddridge, Vol. 1 spot page 265
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|
Abraham Skinner Aaron Jones
Samuel Parlin John Edwards
Davis Barnard Trustees
Phalen: History of the Town of Acton copyright 1954 Middlesex Printing, Inc. Cambridge, Mass. pgs113-114
Even after the new meeting house , at the cost of ten thousand dollars was to all superfical apprearences complete, there were niumerous details that demanded attention. In October of 1807 the fround around the building to a distant of forty feet was leveled for "stable grounds" for the equipages of the citizens. Eventually horse sheds to the number of 30 or more were built.
A list of shed owners, as numbered by the selctman, on Nov. 8, 1825 is given below:
Ebenezer Davis, 2. Ebenezer Davis, 3. Ebenezer Davis, 4. Stevens, Hayward, 4, Stevens Hayward, 5. Simon Hosmer, 6. Mary Faulkner , 7. Aaron Jones, 8. Luther B. Jones, 9. Josiah Bright, 10. Benjamin Haywrad, 11. William Reed, 12. Edward Wetherbee, 13. Ephraim Forbush, 14. Abel Jones, 15. Nathaniel Faulkner, 16. Nathan Hosmer, 17. William Stearns, 18. James Keyes, 19. Joseph Chaffin, 20. Jonathan Billings, 21. Ephraim Billings, 22. Paul Dudley, 23. Amos Noyes, 24. Ebenzer Davis, 25. Seth Brooks, 26.Joanna Noyes, 27. Betsey hayward, 28. L.Conant & J. Edwards, 29. Daviel White, 30. John Robbins.
Phalen: History of the Town of Acton copyright 1954 Middlesex Printing, Inc. Cambridge, MAss. pg 120
The copies from the town records of Acton is affixed as follows Isaac Davis and Hannah Brown, both of Acton, were married by the Rev'd John Swift, October 24th. A.D. 1764
Copy of record attest.
John Robbins, Town Clerk
Acton, March 6, 1818
I, John Robbins testy and say that widow Hannah Leighton of Acton is the same person as mentioned in record above by the name of Hannah Brown. That I know her to be the wife of Capt. Isaac Davis who killed on the 19th of April 115 in Concord by the British troops
John Robbins
Sworn to before John Keyes
Phalen: History of the Town of Acton copyright 1954 Middlesex Printing, Inc. Cambridge, Mass. pg 135
John Robbins
Acton Town Selectman 1808-1821
Acton Town Treasurer 1793-1807, 1818
Acton Town Clerk 1807-1817, 1819-1820
Phalen: History of the Town of Acton copyright 1954 Middlesex Printing, Inc. Cambridge, Mass. pg 373
Moderator Presiding At the Annual Town Meeting
John Robbins
1805-1806, 1819, 1823, 1829, 1830,
Phalen: History of the Town of Acton copyright 1954 Middlesex Printing, Inc. Cambridge, Mass. pg 406
Descendants of John Robbins
Generation No. 1
1. CAPT. JOHN1 ROBBINS (JOSEPHA, NATHANB, GEORGEC, GEORGED) was born April 19, 1762 in Acton, Middlesex, MA., and died July 24, 1836 in Acton, Middlesex, MA.. He married SARAH JONES December 15, 1791 in Acton, Middlesex, MA., daughter of OLIVER JONES and HANNAH WOOLEY. She was born September 08, 1768 in Acton, Middlesex, MA., and died November 10, 1839 in Acton, Middlesex, MA.
More About CAPT. JOHN ROBBINS:
Burial: Woodlawn Cemetery, Acton, MA.
Elected: Town Clerk and Treasurer
Military: Bet. 1796 - 1799, Ensign/Captain, Acton, MA.
Resided: Bet. 1800 - 1836, 144 Great Rd. Acto, MA (Lottery Hse)
Notes for SARAH JONES:
Sally Jones
More About SARAH JONES:
Burial: Woodlawn Cemetery, Acton, MA.
More About JOHN ROBBINS and SARAH JONES:
Marriage: December 15, 1791, Acton, Middlesex, MA.
Children of JOHN ROBBINS and SARAH JONES are:
i. SALLY2 ROBBINS, b. October 20, 1792, Acton, Middlesex, MA.; d. February 03, 1821, Acton, Middlesex, MA..
More About SALLY ROBBINS:
Burial: Woodlawn Cemetery, Acton, MA.
ii. LOUISA ROBBINS, b. January 26, 1795, Acton, Middlesex, MA.; d. February 08, 1827, Acton, Middlesex, MA.; m. JAMES FLETCHER, March 11, 1819, Acton, Middlesex, MA.; b. February 25, 1788, Acton, Middlesex, MA.; d. September 17, 1831, Acton, Middlesex, MA..
More About LOUISA ROBBINS:
Burial: Woodlawn Cemetery, Acton, MA.
More About JAMES FLETCHER:
Burial: Woodlawn Cemetery, Acton, MA.
More About JAMES FLETCHER and LOUISA ROBBINS:
Marriage: March 11, 1819, Acton, Middlesex, MA.
iii. JOHN ROBBINS, b. October 12, 1796, Acton, Middlesex, MA.; d. July 12, 1818, Acton, Middlesex, MA..
More About JOHN ROBBINS:
Burial: Woodlawn Cemetery, Acton, MA.
iv. NANCY ROBBINS, b. October 29, 1798, Acton, Middlesex, MA.; d. October 28, 1818, Acton, Middlesex, MA..
More About NANCY ROBBINS:
Burial: Woodlawn Cemetery, Acton, MA.
v. LUCY ROBBINS, b. December 30, 1800, Acton, Middlesex, MA.; d. March 08, 1801.
More About LUCY ROBBINS:
Burial: Woodlawn Cemetery, Acton, MA.
vi. JERSHUA ROBBINS, b. February 13, 1802, Acton, Middlesex, MA.; d. February 01, 1833, New Orlean, LA..
More About JERSHUA ROBBINS:
Burial: unknown
vii. JOSEPH ROBBINS, b. December 13, 1804, Acton, Middlesex, MA.; d. March 17, 1827, Acton, Middlesex, MA.; m. CHARLOTTE PARKER, January 23, 1823, Acton, Middlesex, MA..
More About JOSEPH ROBBINS:
Burial: Woodlawn Cemetery, Acton, MA.
More About JOSEPH ROBBINS and CHARLOTTE PARKER:
Marriage: January 23, 1823, Acton, Middlesex, MA.
viii. LUKE JONES ROBBINS, b. November 17, 1807, Acton, Middlesex, MA.; d. October 24, 1835, Cincinnati. OH.; m. CATHERINE JOSEPHINE WILSON, August 08, 1829, New Orleans, LA.; d. October 18, 1835, Cincinnati. OH..
More About LUKE ROBBINS and CATHERINE WILSON:
Marriage: August 08, 1829, New Orleans, LA.
ix. ELBRIDGE ROBBINS, b. March 23, 1810, Acton, Middlesex, MA.; d. October 19, 1890, Acton, Middlesex, MA.; m. (1) CHARLOTTE WHITE, January 16, 1833, Acton, Middlesex, MA.; b. May 01, 1814, Acton, Middlesex, MA.; d. September 09, 1844, Acton, Middlesex, MA.; m. (2) MARY ELIZABETH HAPGOOD, June 06, 1849, Nashua N.H.; b. January 18, 1822, Acton, Middlesex, MA.; d. 1902, Acton, Middlesex, MA..
Notes for ELBRIDGE ROBBINS:
six children with his second wife
Name: Elbridge Robbins Jr.
Side: Union
Regiment State/Origin: Massachusetts
Regiment Name: 5 Massachusetts Mil. Inf. (3 Months, 1861)
Regiment Name Expanded: 5th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry (3 months, 1861) (Militia)
A large farmer and dealer in live-stock
Robbins son, Elbridge, inherited half of his father's farm upon his death and the rest upon thee death of his mother and his niece, Sarah Louisa Fletcher in 1847. The house was eventually sold out of the Robbins family in 1918.
Elbridge Jones Robbins was listed as a "trader" when he enlisted in the Fifth Massachusetts Volunteer Militia (Civil War) This company, known as the CONCORD ARTILLERY was the first to go from this town. Left Concord April 19, 1861 as Co. A; became Co. G on arrival Washington; in the FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN July 21 1861. Mustered out of the United States service July 31 1861. (note that the company left Concord/MA 86 years to the day of the battle of Lexington/Concord the day the Revolutionary War began.
More About ELBRIDGE ROBBINS:
Burial: Woodlawn Cemetery, Acton, MA
Census: 1855, Massachusetts State Census for Acton
Enlisted: May 01, 1861, Concord, MA.
Military: Civil War
Occupation: Farmer
Resided: 144 Great Rd Acton, MA
More About ELBRIDGE ROBBINS and CHARLOTTE WHITE:
Marriage: January 16, 1833, Acton, Middlesex, MA.
More About MARY ELIZABETH HAPGOOD:
Burial: Woodlawn Cemetery, Acton, MA
More About ELBRIDGE ROBBINS and MARY HAPGOOD:
Marriage: June 06, 1849, Nashua N.H.
x. LUCY ROBBINS, b. June 04, 1813, Acton, Middlesex, MA.; d. March 12, 1861; m. REV. WINTHROP FAULKNER WHEELER, August 15, 1850; b. March 27, 1815, Acton, Middlesex, MA.; d. June 27, 1880.
More About REV. WINTHROP FAULKNER WHEELER:
Baptism: June 11, 1815, Acton, Middlesex, MA.
More About WINTHROP WHEELER and LUCY ROBBINS:
Marriage: August 15, 1850
