RoblinGenealogyProject
A Presumed History of the Roblins in North America (and beyond)
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An Early Roblin Family in North America... Revisited

Dedicated to
Philip Roblin (c. 1753-1788) and
Elizabeth Miller Roblin (1754-1815)

Loyalist Pioneers

By Richard Owen Roblin III
(Philip and Elizabeth's g-g-g-g-grandson)
© 2015 All rights reserved

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Preface

This work modifies and extends my earlier work "An Early Roblin Family in America," completed in 2013. Since then, new information has been found that alters the conclusions reached therein. Rather than continue to attach more addenda to the 2013 work, I have completely revised it to incorporate the new information.
My wife, Nancy Rosan Roblin, has been a major contributor to the research that uncovered this new information. Together we visited genealogical research centers in Canada, Albany (NY), Wales and England where we found genealogical references to the parents of Philip Roblin (c. 1753-1788). [READ: The Parents of Philip1 Roblin (ca 1750-1788)] Her contributions resulted in many of the changes incorporated into this "revisitation."
I thank Connie Pryor for critically reading the previous version and making many helpful suggestions for improving it.


I. Introduction

As we were growing up, our father, Richard Owen Roblin, Jr. (RORJr, 1907-1985), told his three children about our family. Although Dad was born in Rochester, New York, his parents had recently moved to the United States from Ontario, Canada, after their marriage in 1905. In June 1971, Dad went to Ontario to participate in a dedication ceremony for the unveiling of a plaque marking the original location of the stone gristmill, built by Dad's great-grandfather, Owen Roblin (1806-1903). It had been dismantled in 1963 and a reconstructed version placed in Black Creek Pioneer Village in Toronto. On that occasion, Dad remembered returning to Canada to visit friends and relatives as a boy.
"Some of my most pleasant childhood memories are associated with Ameliasburg [Ontario] and the old stone mill. During my visits here as a small boy, I can recall climbing through the rafters and playing with Norris Whitney, Henry Bisdee and others. On our early visits, my mother and father (RORSr) and I came from Rochester, N.Y. to Coburg by boat, from there to Belleville by train and finally on Irving Coleman's stage coach from Belleville to Ameliasburg. Sometimes we walked up the big hill if the stage coach was too fully loaded for the horses."1
Roblin's Mill
This photograph shows the reconstructed version of Owen Roblin's mill at Black Creek Pioneer Village, Toronto, Canada. My thanks to my daughter-in-law, Lori S. Roblin, for finding it, on the Internet, and for having it framed for me.
Before his death in 1985, Dad had given me an envelope containing a Roblin family tree (see Figure 1 below) and other family genealogy documents. Years later, stimulated by his legacy, I started actively researching Roblin family genealogy.a

My research has been greatly aided by the development of the Internet and the ability to search for genealogical and historical information online using a personal computer. Exchanging information by e-mail with others interested in Roblin family genealogy provided early encouragement and much useful information. Rosalyn Insley and Linda Herman, first among the many others listed in Appendix A, generously shared the results of their independent Roblin genealogical research.

I have researched several questions. Who were the parents of our early Roblin ancestors in America, and where did they come from? Where did they settle in America? What later caused them to move to Canada? What was the relationship between the Philip and Owen Roblin (who lived in Orange Co., New York), and Ann, John, Stephen and Edward Roblin (who lived in New Jersey) as described by Canadian genealogists and historians?

Initially my drive to trace our Roblin family ancestors back as far as I could sparked the interest of my sister, Linda R. Turner and her husband, William H. (Woody) Turner. Together we visited genealogical and public libraries Orange County, New York, finding new information on every visit. Subsequently joined by our brother Will Roblin and his wife Cher, we searched the genealogical records in Haverfordwest, Wales, with the assistance of Dewi Thomas, a Welsh genealogist. Their work, encouragement, and support helped make this account possible.

Because there are a large number of Philip, and Owen and John Roblins in the early generations, they are identified by Sr. and Jr., or by consecutive numbers, or by birth and death dates where there is a possible ambiguity. The most potentially confusing is Philip (c. 1753-1788), who had both a father named Philip and a son named Philip. As used here, Philip Roblin (c.1753-1788), shown at the top of Figure 1, is called Philip1 [P114 on this web site]. Philip2 [P126 on this web site] refers to his son (c. 1773-1848), and Philip0 [P107 on this web site] refers to his recently identified father (c. 1717-). Owen Roblin Sr. (c. 1747-after 1804) was Philip1's brother (or possibly half-brother) and Owen Roblin Jr. (c. 1766-after 1851) was the son of Owen Sr.2

There are people named "Philip" or "Phillip" Roblin, and Ann or Anne Roblin in this account. The difference in spelling between Philip and Phillip, or Ann and Anne in different records may be significant. Where the spelling of the name is known from a photocopy of an original document, I have used that spelling. Elsewhere, the names are spelled as they appear in transcribed records or in an online source.

Richard Owen Roblin III, Frederick, Maryland
Last revised: December 2015
a Linda Herman and others have supplied evidence that other individuals named Roblin, Roblyn, Robling and other variations came to America in the 1700s. While they may all be related if one goes back far enough in time, I write here specifically about Philip Roblin (c. 1753-1788) and his relatives.
II. Starting Point: An Inherited Roblin Family Tree

Richard Owen Roblin Jr. Tree
Figure 1. Roblin Family Tree Chart prepared by RORJr c. 1940-1.
A valuable genealogical document RORJr handed down to his children was the chart or family tree shown in Figure 1 above.3 Starting with Philip1 Roblin (near the top of the chart), and continuing through Philip2 (1772-1848), Owen (1806-1903, builder of the Roblin's Mill shown below), Edward (1836-1900), Richard Owen Sr. (RORSr) (1871-1940), RORJr (1907-1985), down to Richard Owen III (RORIII), Linda and William, the chart traces 7 generations of our branch of the Roblin family. RORJr probably printed this family tree sometime between 1940 and 1941.

There was uncertainty in the 1940s as to the identities of Philip1's parents. Dad's chart shows a "John" Roblin as Philip1's father and an "Owen" Roblin as Philip1's grandfather. Based on the limited information available to Dad at that time, I think this was just his attempt to place an Owen and a John Roblin in the family genealogy, despite the lack of specific information about these relationships. Attempting to go back to find earlier generations of this Roblin family has been a major focus of our research during the last 16 years.

As a boy, I was told that Philip1 was a "Tory" (i.e. that he was loyal to the English crown during the Revolutionary War). This was usually mentioned in a slightly embarrassed tone. Early in my research I learned that this was strictly the patriotic American view. To Canadians, Philip1 and others like him who were loyal to the English crown, and who came to Canada after the American Revolution, were highly regarded, and designated United Empire Loyalists (U.E.L.). Loyalists were granted land in Canada and helped to settle the Canadian frontier.

When An Early Roblin Family in America was completed in 2013, there was still no solid information about Philip1's parents. There were some speculations (i.e. John Roblin and Elizabeth Ricketson), but they were subsequently disproven. On other grounds, I also suggested that Philip1's father's name was John, but that suggestion has also been disproven by recent new information.


III. The Parents of Philip1 Roblin

While doing online genealogical research in early 2014 I came across the records for a Roblin family that looked interesting. The father's name was Philip, the mother's name was Anne Meredith, and they christened three children named Ann, Phillip and John between 1752 and 1754 in Christchurch, Bristol, England. These names immediately brought to mind the family of Philip1 Roblin in America, as he had relatives (probably siblings or cousins) named Ann and John. We visited the Bristol Record Office (BRO) in Bristol, England to learn more about this Roblin family. After assessing the relationship of several BRO records naming Philip "Roblin" or "Robling", I put forward the following account.

Philip Roblin married Anne Meredith in Doynton parish, about 10 miles from Bristol, England on October 8, 1749, although they were said to be "of the parish St. Philip and Jacob" in Bristol.4 They subsequently became associated with Christchurch parish, Bristol. They christened their daughter Ann at Christ Church on 12 Jan 1752, and christened two sons there, Philip on 25 March 1753 and John on 7 July 1754.5 I propose that the father of this family be called Philip0. Further, I suggest that his son Philip, christened on 25 March 1753, is the same person called Philip1 above. If this proposal is correct, a more accurate birth date for Philip1 would be c. 1752-3, assuming that not too much time elapsed between his birth and christening.

From American and Canadian historical records, Philip1 Roblin had an older "brother" named Owen Sr. Despite considerable searching of online and BRO genealogical records, we were unable to find any christening or birth records connecting an Owen Roblin to this family. However, we did find a record that a "Phillip Roblin", married Grace Meredith on 9 May 1737 at Clifton, Gloucestershire.6 Clifton is about 1.5 miles from the center of Bristol. We also found a record of the 9 Aug 1748 burial in Bristol of "Grace Roblin" that we interpret as the burial of Grace Meredith Roblin.7

I propose that the Philip Roblin, who married Grace Meredith in 1737, subsequently married Anne Meredith in 1749, and is the same person we have called Philip0.8 More speculatively, I propose that Grace Meredith Roblin died in 1748 giving birth to Owen Roblin, who would thus be Philip1's half-brother. If this were so, after Grace's death in 1748 Philip0 would have been a widower with an infant son. It would not be surprising if he remarried quickly and continued to have more children. Having Owen Roblin Sr. born in 1748 to Philip0 and Grace Roblin would make him about 18 years old at the birth of his son, Owen Jr., c. 1766, and so is consistent our suggestions.

Could it be that Philip0 and Anne Meredith are not the parents of Philip1? Perhaps, but it seems highly unlikely that there could be another Roblin family in England or Wales containing children named Ann, Philip and John who are all christened between 1752 and 1754. Birth dates between 1752 and 1754 for Ann, Philip and John fit well with other information about them, such as their estimated ages at marriage, and the holding of property (see below).


IV. Philip0 and his family come to America

In An Early Roblin Family in America I suggested that Philip1 might have been born in Wales. The most direct evidence for this is an 1889 biographical note about the Canadian politician, Sir Rodmond Roblin (1853-1937), one of Philip1's g-g-grandsons.9
"Family of Welsh Extraction; came to America in 1755 and settled in York State near the now City of Troy. Great grandf. Was a U.E. Loyalist at the time of the Am. Revolution and fled to Can. in 1777, settling on the Bay of Quinte."
Even in the present day, there are a large number of families named Roblin living in Wales. Now that we know that Philip1 was likely born in Bristol, England, "Family of Welsh Extraction" might mean that Philip0 lived in Wales before coming to Bristol. Years later, some of Philip1's descendants acknowledged their Welsh roots. For example, Levi Roblin (1793-1878), grandson of Philip1, is listed in the 1871 Ontario, Canada census as a "Welsh farmer," despite his having been born in Canada and lived there for 78 years!

Assuming that Philip0 and his family came to America in 1755 raises the obvious question: "Why would the parents of three children who are about 3, 2 and 1 years of age (plus Owen?) undertake an arduous sea voyage to America in 1755?" We do not know why they left Bristol for America in 1755. However, as a number of ships are known to have sailed from Bristol to America in 1755, it would not have been difficult for them to book passage.

We also do not know why they initially settled near what is now the city of Troy, New York.10 Presumably they came from Bristol to New York City by ship and then up the Hudson River to near Troy. In 1755, the Manor of Rensellaerswyck covered most of the land around what is now Troy, New York. Perhaps this early Roblin family spent a period as tenant farmers or indentured servants at the Manor of Rensellaerswyck. Despite several searches of the genealogical and historical information from 1755 to 1760 around Troy, New York, no record has been found of Philip0 and his family.

Ann and John Roblin had a brother named Stephen. Years later in Canada, Stephen declares that he was born in 1761 in New Jersey.11 Therefore, sometime before 1761, Philip0's family relocated south from "near the now city of Troy", to Bergen County, New Jersey and subsequently to Orange County, New York. In 1761, Anne Meredith Roblin would be about 32 years old, an age at which she would still be quite capable of having another child. So the direct information from Stephen's 1796 affidavit is consistent with his being another child of Philip0 Roblin and Anne Meredith.


V. Philip1 and Owen Sr. ("New York" Roblins)

Owen Sr. was probably several years older than Philip1. For example, assuming that both married at about the same age, Owen Sr.'s first child, Owen Jr., is born 1766-7, while Philip1's first child, John, is born about 1771. Both Philip1 and Owen Sr. were tenant farmers. They leased land owned by "Philip Livingston" and David Mathews respectively.12 In his 1788 British government claim regarding his losses, Owen described his farm and holdings, initiated c. 1769, as follows
"Had a Lease farm held of David Mathews in Orange Co. It was for four years or 5 years a time, but says he could have sold the Improvements. He had lived there 10 years. ... Lost 8 horses, 1 cow, 6 sheep, 4 Hogs, Hay & Grain. Left all these things on his Farm when he went away & they were taken by the Rebels."13
Philip1 married Elizabeth Miller (c. 1754-1815; daughter of Garrett Miller) c. 1770-1. They farmed 150 acres of leased land near what is now the city of Monroe, Orange County, New York. At the time of the Revolutionary War, the area was called Smith's Clove, a clove being a cleft between two mountain ranges.

By 1779, Philip1 had accumulated animals and crops of value as he later described
"Had 150 acres Lease Land. Lease was for 6 years from Phil. Livingston. Claimt. Had taken it before the war. It was cleared chiefly when he took it. He pd. £6 per ann. Rent. Bought the Improvemts [sic]; gave £6 for them. He made some Improvements, fenced it, built some new buildings. ...Had 4 horses, 1 yoke oxen, 6 Cows, 15 Sheep, 35 Bee Hives, Wheat, furniture, utensils."14
There is one surviving historical reference to a "Philip and Elizebeth Robbin" being present at a March 1777 meeting regarding a potential move of the Old School Baptist Church from Warwick, New York (about 5 miles south of Monroe) to Westmoreland, Pennsylvania. Although the spelling of the names is slightly different, the adjacent placement of their names on the list of those attending this meeting suggests that Philip1 and his wife Elizabeth were members of this church.


VI. Relationship to the New Jersey Roblins: John, Stephen and Ann

William Caniff, the Canadian historian, refers to two brothers, Stephen and John Roblin, who lived in New Jersey at the time of the Revolutionary War.15 According to Canniff, among the stories that have been handed down are that:
1) Stephen and John were at home when a raiding party of Patriots came by. They shot up the house, wounding John in the knee. They hung Stephen up by the thumbs while they unsuccessfully searched the house for money. John's wife (Sarah Wessels) was threatened and may have just barely escaped being shot.
2) John was given medical attention at a Patriot hospital, but was so badly treated that his wife complained to General George Washington. Supposedly, Washington said or did something so that they were not bothered further by the Patriots. John was said to be crippled by this wound for the rest of his life.

Until recently the relationship between the "New York" and "New Jersey" Roblins was not clear. Our finding that the family of Philip0 and Anne Meredith initially included Ann, Philip and John (with Stephen born later in America) shows that Philip1, Ann, John and Stephen were siblings, not cousins. We speculate that Owen Sr. could be a half-brother of the other children.

John Roblin (c. 1754-1793) married Sarah Wessels [daughter of Joseph and Ariaantjie Wessels] around 1776. The children usually attributed to John Roblin and Sarah Wessels are: Elizabeth, (1776-before 1807); Sarah (1777-?); Rebecca (ca. 1778-?); Ann (1782-?); Harriet (1783-1858); and John (1791-?).

Stephen Roblin (1761-1823) was probably not married. Upon his death without a will in 1823, a Letter of Administration for his estate was given to Owen Wessels (son of Sarah Wessels' brother Nicholas Wessels) as next-of-kin.

Ann Roblin (c. 1752-c. 1787), the sister of Philip1, John and Stephen, is believed to have married Nicholas Wessels, the brother of Sarah Wessels. Ann Roblin was Nicholas' first wife, and she apparently died after giving birth to several children. Nicholas remarried, to a woman named Ann Smith. Nicholas and Ann and their five children arrived in Ontario, Canada around 1787.


VII. Another approach to determining the name of Philip1's father

The Dutch settlers in the New York/New Jersey area (like Joseph and Nicholas Wessels) used a distinctive pattern in naming their children. The first boy was named for his paternal grandfather, and the second boy was named for his maternal grandfather. The first girl was named for her maternal grandmother, while the second girl was named for her paternal grandmother. Therefore, we sought to use the names and birth order of the children of Ann Roblin and Nicholas Wessels to determine the name of Ann Roblin's (and Philip1's) father.

Nicholas and Ann Roblin Wessels first child was named Joseph. Philip, John, Owen and Harriet followed him. By the time Harriet was born in 1787, Ann Roblin had probably died and Nicholas was married to a woman named Ann Smith.

Since Joseph was the name of Nicholas Wessels' father, it appears that Nicholas' family was following the distinctive Dutch naming pattern. I suggest the following revised birth order and dates for the children of Nicholas Wessels and his two wives named Ann.16

Child's name Birth Order Named For
Joseph Wessels (1777-1849) First son His paternal grandfather
Philip Wessels (1778-) Second son Her paternal grandfather
John Wessels (1782-) Third son Ann's brother John Roblin
Owen Wessels (ca. 1785-1859) Fourth son Ann's relative, Owen Roblin
[Ann Roblin Wessels dies and Nicholas marries Ann Smith]
Harriet Wessels (1787-1813) First Daughter Her paternal grandmother Ariaantjie Wessels

Naming the first daughter Harriet is a change from the expected naming for her maternal grandmother (i.e. Ann Roblin if she was Harriet's mother). Ann Smith is believed to be Nicholas Wessels' wife by the time they move to Canada in 1787. Harriet Wessels is born before they arrive in Canada. This departure from the Dutch naming convention (naming the first daughter, Harriet, for her paternal (instead of maternal) grandmother Ariaantjie) was observed in other Dutch families where the death of a first wife occurred.

Assuming that Ann Roblin Wessels gave birth to their second son, the finding that he is named Philip is consistent with the Dutch naming convention and our research showing that Ann Roblin's father's name was Philip0. The fact that their next two sons are named John and Owen (presumably after Ann Roblin's relatives) strongly suggests that Ann Roblin was the mother of Philip Wessels. Finding that Ann Roblin's father's name was Philip by this independent method confirms our finding through the christening data that Philip0 Roblin was the father of Ann, Philip1, John and Stephen. We suggest how Philip0 could also have been the father of Owen Sr.


VIII. The Location of Roblin Farmed Lands near Monroe, New York, and Philip1's neighbor Henry Reynolds

The land around Monroe, New York was originally part of a large tract called the Cheesecock Patent. When the land was surveyed, it was divided into multiple lots of 150 acres, although a few were larger (see Figure 2 below).17 Several of the large landowners in New York, including "Philip Livingston" purchased the rights to several of these lots. They were subsequently sold or rented to families who farmed the land.

Monroe, NY - Cheesecock Patent Lots
Figure 2. Cheesecock Patent Lots near Monroe, New York [Inside each lot outline is its number, the number of acres it contains, and the initials of the original owner. Note particularly the location of Lots 46, 51 and 53.]
Early in our Roblin family research we came across a reference to a 1769 land purchase involving "Philip Roblon" from "Bargain" [Bergen] County, in the Province of East N.J." and "John Belcher of the Presinck of New Cornwall" [Orange County, New York].18 "Philip Roblon" agreed to pay John Belcher £170 in the form of a mortgage on 75 acres. Note that Roblon is said to previously reside in Bergen Co., New Jersey. We know from Stephen Roblin's affidavit, that in 1761 when Stephen was born, Philip0's family lived in New Jersey.

The 1769 land transaction involved a lot that intersected the corners of Lots 51 and 52. As seen in Figure 2, this means that the transaction between "Philip Roblon" and John Belcher involved a one-half portion of Cheesecock Patent Lot 53. This would locate "Philip Roblon's" purchased 75 acres close to the area where Elizabeth Miller, Philip1's future wife lived. This would have afforded Philip1 close proximity and time to court and marry Elizabeth Miller.

I previously assumed that the purchaser of the 75 acres was Philip1, but, as we now believe that he was born c. 1752-3, in 1769 he would have been only about 16. I doubt that he would have been qualified to take out a mortgage for £170 on his own. Alternatively, it seems more likely that that the purchaser of the 75 acres (1/2 of Lot 53), was Philip0. With his sons (Philip1 age 16 and John age 14) to help him work the land, Philip0 would make a much more reasonable prospect to take out such a mortgage.

The Cheesecock Patent Lot 53 land transaction was reversed in 1772, with "Phillip Roblon" receiving £85 back from John Belcher. By that time Philip1 was 19, and had already married his neighbor Elizabeth Miller. He was now old enough to enter into a lease for Lot 51 in his own name.

We do not know why the Lot 53 land purchase was reversed in 1772. It is possible that Philip0 died, and the remaining family (Anne [Meredith] the mother, age about 43, Ann her daughter, age 20, John, age 18 and Stephen, age 11) was unable to work the land themselves. Where did they go? It is possible that the family (with or without Philip0) may have moved back to Bergen County, NJ.19

I thought it might be possible to identify the leased 150 acres farmed by Philip1. Since Philip1 reported that he leased land from Philip Livingston, I looked particularly at Cheesecock Patent Lots 51 and 53, originally owned by "Philip Livingston" (marked "PL" in Figure 2). Based on information available in the year 2000, I favored the idea that Philip1 had leased Cheesecock Patent Lot 53.20 I also suggested that Garrett Miller owned the nearby Cheesecock Patent Lot 46. The 1788 Probate of Garrett Miller's estate subsequently confirmed that Garrett Miller owned Lot 46.21

However, my previous proposal that Philip1 leased Lot 53 turned out to be incorrect. I did not clearly separate the 75 acres of Lot 53 purchased in 1769 by "Philip Roblon", from the 150 acres leased by Philip1 c. 1772. By 1772, Philip1 had married Elizabeth Miller, the daughter of Garrett Miller. Leasing Lot 51 c. 1772 would put Philip1's leased land immediately adjacent to that of his new father-in-law, Garrett Miller on Lot 46. I now favor the conclusion that Philip1 and his family farmed Lot 51 from 1773 to 1779.

For the next 5 years, Philip1 was busy farming and improving his leased 150 acres and providing for his growing family including John born c. 1771, Philip2 born c. 1772-3, and Owen born 1774. By 1777 the Revolutionary War had started, and in that year Henry Reynolds and his family moved to Monroe, New York. As an ardent supporter of the Patriot cause (pro American independence from England), Reynolds had much in common with Garrett Miller, who was a Captain in the Patriot Army. Although Reynolds was a Quaker, he was willing to fight and participated in the Battle of Stony Point.

Garrett Miller gave Henry Reynolds 10 acres of land and a house within his Lot 46, putting them on land immediately adjacent to Philip1 Roblin's Lot 51. Although it is not mentioned in Garrett's 1777 will, this came to light during the 1788 Probate his estate.21 His widow Patience had remarried, and land from Garrett's estate had to be sold to pay his debts. The Probate document contained the following clause<
"Excepting and reserving there out a small lot said to contain ten acres where a Henry Reynolds now lives lying on both sides of the Main road leading towards Ramapough Clove through the said [Cheesecock Patent] lot number forty six."
It must have galled a Loyalist like Philip1 that his father-in-law gave the Patriot sympathizer Reynolds 10 acres of land and a house, very close to Philip1's own leased land. This may have given Philip1 a score to settle with Reynolds (see below, XI. The Attack on Henry Reynolds. Which Roblin, Philip1 or Edward?).


IX. Impacts of the Revolutionary War on this early Roblin family

Early in the dispute between England and America, Philip1 and Owen Sr. and a number of their neighbors, hoped it would be possible to reconcile with England. A "Philip Robben" living in Monroe and an "Owen Noblen", signed a Pledge of Association in 1775.22 The signers pledged
"To adopt and endeavor to carry into execution whatever measures may be recommended by the Continental Congress and resolved by our Provincial Convention for purpose and preserving our Constitution and opposing the execution of the several Arbitrary Acts of British Parliament, until a reconciliation between Great Britain and America on Constitutional principals (which we most ardently desire) can be obtained and that we will in all things follow the advice of our General Committee respecting the purposes aforesaid, the preservation of peace and good order and the safety of individuals and property."
However, after the first battles of the war with England and the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, the possibility of reconciliation became increasingly remote. On April 20, 1777 the Constitution of the State of New York was adopted. It provided for the naturalization of foreign-born residents as follows:
"XLII. And this convention doth further, in the name and by the authority of the good people of this State, ordain, determine, and declare that it shall be in the discretion of the legislature to naturalize all such persons, and in such manner, as they shall think proper: Provided, All such of the persons so to be by them naturalized, as being born in parts beyond sea, and out of the United States of America, shall come to settle in and become subjects of this State, shall take an oath of allegiance to this State, and abjure and renounce all allegiance and subjection to all and every foreign king, prince, potentate, and State in all matters, ecclesiastical as well as civil."
This required Philip1 and Owen Sr. to swear allegiance to New York State and to renounce all allegiance to the King of England. To judge by their future actions and the way they were subsequently treated, they refused to do so.

In October 1779, the New York legislature passed an "Act of Attainder"23 that provided a legal basis for the seizure of the property of those who opposed the American Revolution. The Orange County lands of both Owen Sr. and Philip1 were confiscated and both brothers were imprisoned. When they were released, they had little choice but to travel to New York City, where the British Army was encamped. There they joined the "Barrack Masters Department"24 and stole firewood, cattle and horses for the British Army in nearby New Jersey and New York. By the end of 1779, Loyalists Owen Sr. and Philip1 had lost their land, many of their possessions, and their farming livelihoods.

Although I have found no record that Philip1 fought in battles of the Revolutionary War, his brothers Stephen and Owen Sr. did.25 They both participated in the battle at Ward's blockhouse near Bull's Ferry, New Jersey, in July 1780. The blockhouse was a refuge for those stealing livestock and firewood for the British Army in New York City. About 70 Loyalists defended this structure against General Anthony Wayne and a much larger force of Patriots. After an artillery barrage of over an hour failed to significantly damage the blockhouse, the Patriots rushed it but were driven off with perhaps fifteen killed and many more wounded.26

As mentioned above, John Roblin was wounded by Patriot troops that also hung up Stephen by his thumbs. Stephen became a supporter of the Loyalist cause and was wounded in fighting against the Patriots. In 1783, after the end of formal hostilities, Stephen was one of a group of Loyalists who were tried on a charge of treason, but a jury acquitted him. John and Stephen carried their physical and psychological wounds with them when they left America and resettled in Canada in 1787.


X. Edward Roblin

An Edward Roblin lived in the Saddle River precinct, Bergen County, New Jersey and played a role in the events of the Revolutionary War era in this area.27 His relationship to Owen Sr., Philip1, John, Stephen and Ann Roblin is uncertain. However, with the same last name as the members of Philip0 Roblin's family, and being settled near them in northern New Jersey, Edward presumably knew them and was probably related to them in some way.

Edward appears to have been a daring rogue, accused of seducing young ladies and marauding in the countryside with the infamous Claudius Smith gang (aka the Cow-boys, because they stole cattle, among other things).
One account about Edward described him as follows:28
"Among the Cow-boys was one named Edward Roblin, who was almost equal to [Claudius] Smith in daring. This man when young was an honest and industrious farmer, working for a prominent citizen of the county. He fell in love with his employer's daughter, who returned his affection. Knowing that her father would never consent to their marrying, they eloped, walking nine miles to a minister's. When their flight was discovered, the father started in pursuit on a fleet horse, and he reached the minister's in time to prevent the marriage. He had advanced young Roblin money, which was still unpaid, and he had the young man arrested for debt and thrown into Goshen Jail. Imprisonment for debt was a serious thing in those days, and Roblin was confined in jail for many months. Meantime, his former employer had compelled his daughter to marry the man he had selected for her. The jailer had a comely daughter who had fallen in love with young Roblin. When the prisoner heard that his betrothed had married, he made love to the jailer's pretty daughter, who carried him his daily rations. The result was that an elopement was planned. The young woman let the prisoner out of jail and joined him. They selected a horse from her father's barn and fled to Newburg, where they were married. But Roblin was a changed man. When the war broke out he lived in Smith's Clove with his wife and several children. He became a Tory, and joined Claudius Smith's gang of outlaws. When the war was over he, with Richard Smith and others of the gang, fled to Canada, where they passed the remainder of their days.
Sons of Richard Smith and Edward Roblin came from Canada to Orange County in 1820, with written instructions from their parents as to the finding of certain treasure hidden in the rocks and caves in the Highlands and Schunemunk Mountains. They made a long and industrious search, but never found the treasure."
We have no birthdate and very limited information for Edward Roblin. He could be a cousin, a sibling or an uncle of Owen Sr., Philip1, John, Stephen and Ann Roblin. His house is located "in the Clove" near the Saddle River area of Bergen County, New Jersey, close to where John, Stephen and Ann Roblin and Joseph Wessels lived. He shares the Loyalist sympathies of Owen Sr., Philip1 and Stephen Roblin. And, according to some accounts, he played a role in the 1782 attack on Henry Reynolds.


XI. The Attack on Henry Reynolds. Which Roblin, Philip1 or Edward?

The ardent Patriot Henry Reynolds, who was given 10 acres of land and a house by Garrett Miller, was attacked at night by a small group of men who cut and stabbed him repeatedly and attempted to hang him. Courageously, his 12-year old daughter Phebe kept cutting him down, thus saving his life.

There are two major sources of information about this attack. One source29 names "Philip Robbin" (I assume this means Philip1) as an attacker. According to the other source30 Edward Roblin was a prominent member of the attacking party. Which of these sources is correct, or are they possibly both correct?

Circumstantial Evidence favoring it being Philip1 Roblin

1. Prior proximity, land ownership and political antagonism. Philip1 and his family lived 0.5 to 1 mile from Henry Reynolds in the Smith's Clove area from about 1777 to 1779. Philip1 was a Loyalist and Henry was an ardent Patriot - so they were political antagonists. Further, around the time of his arrival in the Monroe area in 1777, Henry Reynolds acquired 10 acres of land and a house from the 150 acres owned by Garrett Miller, the Patriot father of Philip1's wife Elizabeth. Since they were near neighbors, Henry Reynolds and his family presumably knew Philip1 Roblin by sight. They may not have been as familiar with Edward Roblin.

2. A last chance for revenge. In 1779, after passage of the Act of Attainder by New York State, the 150 acres that Philip1 Roblin leased to farm, and the 15 acres that he and Elizabeth had inherited, were confiscated, as was his other property (animals, crops, etc.). Subsequently, he and Owen Sr. relocated to New York City where they stole supplies (firewood, beef, horses) for the British Army. Since he had been stripped of his land and his possessions and driven into exile, Philip1 had plenty of cause to seek revenge against a Patriot like his one-time near neighbor, Henry Reynolds.

By July 1782, it was clear that the Patriot cause was going to triumph. Cornwallis had surrendered at Yorktown in October of 1781. The names of Philip1 and his family were on a 1782 list of those that might be resettled in Nova Scotia, so Philip was making plans to leave the area. Philip1 was running out of time to settle accounts with Henry Reynolds.

Why it might not have been Philip1 Roblin

It would have been very risky for Philip1 to leave the environs of New York City and make a July 1982 journey to Monroe, New York. After June 1779 there was a warrant for Philip1's arrest as an accessory to the robbery of the Patriot politician Nathaniel Satterly. As he had been branded a Loyalist and stripped of his property in 1779, and was currently stealing supplies for the British Army, Philip1 was liable to be imprisoned or killed if he was caught back in Orange County, New York in 1782. If that had happened, it would have left his wife and four children to fend for themselves. However, since the attack on Reynolds took place at night, Philip1 could have traveled during the day through northern New Jersey where he was not as exposed.

Circumstantial Evidence favoring it being Edward Roblin

The Claudius Smith Gang. Edward Roblin was associated with, and a supporter of, the Claudius Smith gang. After Claudius was hung in 1779, this gang vowed revenge on prominent Patriots. Henry Reynolds was thus a tempting target because of his outspoken pro-patriot rhetoric and his military activism.

His previous activities and character. Both of our major sources of our information describe Reynolds' attackers as members of the Claudius Smith gang. One article also features a short biographical sketch of Edward Roblin, almost the only source of information about him. Edward is depicted as a tough character in the New York Times account of the attack. He terrorizes a young servant boy by threatening to behead him if he moves. The Times account indicates that Edward had previously spent time in jail. The threat of violence against the Reynolds' servant boy is consistent with other events in Edward's life.

Both the Quinlan account and the New York Times article say that their information came from stories that Henry Reynolds and his daughter Phebe told their family and friends over the years. Henry Reynolds died in 1830 and Phebe Reynolds Drake died in 1853. The Quinlan account was published 20 years after Phebe's death, and the New York Times article six years after that. So there was time for accounts to change as the story was retold multiple times.

Could both Philip1 and Edward have participated in the attack on Henry Reynolds? Yes, since each had a motive. If that were the case, it would reconcile the apparently conflicting versions that have come down to us.


XII. Travel to Canada and a New Start

After the passage of the 1779 Act of Attainder and their time in jail, Philip1 and Owen Sr. moved to New York City where the British Army was encamped. It seems likely that the wives and children of these two Roblin men remained in Orange County with relatives for a time. It would have been difficult for Philip1 and Owen Sr. to provide shelter for their families (each had a wife and several children) in British occupied New York City in 1779. The weather during the winter of 1779 was unusually harsh, and the supply of housing was scarce.31

Philip1 indicates that he "took two lots in New York (City) in 1779, and built a house". In his asset inventory dated September 15, 1784,32 Philip1 lists "house and 2 lotts in Reade? Street New York" and values them at £80. "Reade" Street was the last named street before farmland on maps of New York City at that time. Philip1 may have "squatted" on this land, as the British Army controlled New York City from 1779 to 1783. The house he built may have been a "double house", able to shelter both his family and that of Owen Sr. Their families probably joined Philip1 and Owen Sr. in New York City sometime between 1780 and 1782. Philip1 and Elizabeth's daughter, Elizabeth was born c. 1782/3 probably while they were together in New York City.

In 1782, Philip1 and "Awin" (Owen Sr.) Roblin, each with a wife and four children, are named on a list of Loyalists bound for Nova Scotia.33 They did not make this trip, perhaps because Owen Sr.'s wife and one of his children died.34 Owen Sr.'s family was listed as a wife and four children in 1782, but only Owen Sr.'s son, Owen Jr., accompanied him to Canada in 1783. Two other children, Mary and Rebecca, subsequently joined Owen Sr. in Canada.

Philip1's family (now containing five children) plus Owen Sr. and his son joined a group of Loyalists under Peter Van Alstine who left New York in September 1783, and sailed north around Nova Scotia and up the St. Lawrence River to Sorel, Quebec, Canada. They spent the winter in cloth tents but all survived. They resumed their journey in the spring, and landed at Adolphustown, Ontario, Canada on June 16, 1784. Philip1 must have started immediately to build another house for his family, which started growing again with the births of Nancy (b. 1784), Fanny (b. 1787) and David (b. 1788).

Sometime during 1787-1788 Philip1 may have been injured or become ill, because in February 1788 he made a claim to the British government for his losses in America (Endnote 14) and secured affidavits35 to back up his claim. Sometime later in 1788 he died, leaving his widow Elizabeth with eight children, ranging in age from 16 to newborn.


XIII. Conclusions

I have presented evidence for the following answers to the questions posed at the start of this account.

1. My "early Roblin family" (Philip0, Anne, Owen Sr.?, Philip1, Ann and John) came to America in 1755 from Bristol, England, and settled "near the now city of Troy, NY." By 1761 they had relocated to New Jersey, probably to northern Bergen County.

2. Individuals previously known as the "New Jersey" Roblins (Ann, John and Stephen) and Philip1 of the "New York" Roblins were all siblings. A Canadian genealogist, Katherine Staples, has indicated that she independently reached this conclusion by 1996.36

3. From 1769-1772, "Philip Roblon" from Bergen County, NJ had a mortgage from John Belcher on one half (75 acres) of Cheesecock Patent Lot 53 near Monroe, NY in Orange County. I suggest that Philip0 was the same person as "Philip Roblon". Near the end of 1772, "Philip Roblon" reversed this transaction and received £85 from John Belcher.

4. Around 1772, Philip1 leased the 150 acres of Cheesecock Patent Lot 51 from Philip Livingston. He lived there with his family until 1779.

5. We have been unable to find any birth or christening information that places Owen Roblin Sr. in this family. We speculate that Philip0 was his father and Grace (not Ann) Meredith was his mother. If so, he would have been the half-brother of Philip1, Ann, John and Stephen. A proposed revised family tree showing the parents and family of Philip Roblin (c. 1753-1788) is shown in Appendix C.

6. Because of their continued loyalty to the British crown, in 1779 Philip1 and Owen Sr. were imprisoned, stripped of their possessions and fled to New York City where they stole cattle, horses and firewood for the British Army. In 1783 they left America and resettled in Adolphustown, Ontario, Canada in 1784.

During my search for information about my early Roblin Family in America I learned a lot about the lives of Philip1 and Elizabeth Miller Roblin. I developed great respect for their endurance, persistence and sacrifice. Despite mounting evidence that he could lose everything, Philip1 remained loyal to the English crown during the Revolutionary War. He built houses for his family in Monroe, New York and New York City, and was forced to abandon both of them. He then built a third house on the Canadian frontier in Adolphustown, Ontario. Elizabeth raised their four sons and four daughters after Philip1's death in 1788. Five years later she married widower John Caniff, and they had three more children! This account is thus dedicated to my g-g-g-g-grandparents, Philip1 and his wife Elizabeth, Loyalist pioneers.


ENDNOTES AND SOURCES

I have documented this account as completely as possible with specific references to sources. Instances where different sources give different dates or accounts have been noted in the text or in the Endnotes. Wherever possible, photocopies of original documents rather than transcripts have been used. In some cases, uncertainty persists because no birth or marriage records can be found to substantiate "inherited" views of dates. For a date that is not known from a well-documented source, but which, from other information can be reasonably estimated, I have used circa (c.) to show my best current estimate.
  1. Taken from a typed version of the talk given by Richard O. Roblin, Jr. (RORJr) in June 1971 at the dedication of the plaque marking the original location of Owen Roblin's mill in Ameliasburg, Ontario.
  2. For further help in identifying individuals listed in this account, see Appendix B for the WikiTree identification numbers for some of them.
  3. The chart shows RORSr's death on Feb 6, 1940 but Linda Ann's (1941) and William Murray's (1944) birth dates were added by my mother, Jane Andrews Roblin. Note that some of the information on this chart is incorrect, i.e. Elizabeth Moore as the wife of the Philip1 Roblin at the top of the chart, and having him go from New Jersey to Canada without mention of his residing in Orange County, NY and New York City, and "Kejiah" rather than Keziah.
  4. Bristol Record Office, Bristol, England (BRO), "Bishop's Transcripts, Gloucestershire #5", microfiche record FCEP/V/4/67(a)13, for Doynton. Also, ancestry.com search record FHL Film #1595996, Item 8.
  5. Ann's christening: BRO microfiche record for Christ Church, Bristol, "Christenings, Anno 1752". Also, ancestry.com search record FHL Film #1596358.
    Philip1's christening: BRO microfiche record for Christ Church, Bristol, "Christenings, 1753". Also, ancestry.com search record FHL Film #1596358.
    John's christening: BRO microfiche record for Christ Church, Bristol, "Christenings Anno 1754". Also, ancestry.com search record FHL Film # 1596358, Item 2.
  6. Marriage: BRO microfiche record for St. Andrew, Clifton "Marriages for ye year 1737". Also ancestry.com search record FHL Film # 1749584, p. 39.
  7. Burial: "England, Selected Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991". Ancestry.com search record FHL Film #1596926.
  8. Were Grace and Anne Meredith sisters? Probably not, as they appear to have different parents. An Ann Meredith was christened on 11 May 1729 in Bristol, England, so she would have been about 20 years old in 1749. Her father's name was Evan Meredith and her mother was named "Cremrocy". Ancestry.com search record FHL #1595986.
    A daughter, born to Charles Meredith and wife Dinah, was christened in 1717, at Wootton-under-Edge, Gloucester. Wootton-under-Edge is about 13 miles from Bristol as the crow flies. Assuming that this daughter was Grace Meredith, she would have been about 20 years old in 1737, when she married Phillip0 Roblin. FamilySearch.org search record; FHL microfilm #427812.
  9. The Canadian Parliamentary Companion, ed. J.A. Gemmill, [Ottawa: J. Durie, 1889] 343-4. I am indebted to Rosalyn Insley for sharing this important information with me in April 1999. However, note the following discrepancy in this source: There is abundant evidence that Philip1's family came to Canada in 1783, rather than 1777. Perhaps 1777 just indicates a starting date for the Revolutionary War.
  10. "Near the now city of Troy" would locate the Roblins early after their 1755 arrival in America within the Manor of Rensellaerswyck on the east side of the Hudson River. The Manor of Rensellaerswyck (Rensellaerwick, Renselaerwyck) was a patroonship owned by the Van Rensselaer family. It included land on both sides of the Hudson River, including parts of the cities of Albany (West Manor) and Troy (East Manor). The Van Rensellaers recruited primarily Dutch farmers and skilled tradesmen to settle and develop the Manor lands. On the 1767 Bleeker map of the Manor, many of the names of the freeholders are of Dutch extraction.
  11. C. Loral R. Wanamaker, "The Roblins...Revisited", The County Magazine, Spring 1978, 2. "Before one P.V. Alstine, J.P. on 21st day of June, 1796 - Stephen Roblin gives his age as 35 and was born in New Jersey, professing the Christian faith. (From this, his birth year would be 1761 and he would be 16 years old at beginning of the Revolution and 27 years on arrival in Canada.)"
  12. "Philip Livingston", used in the description on the deed for Lot 53, indicated ownership by a group of people including Peter Van Brugh Livingston, John Livingston, Philip Livingston, Henry Livingston, William Livingston, and others. Livingston Manor included a large tract of land on the east side of the Hudson River, south of the Manor of Rensellaerswyck.
    David Mathews' family owned a substantial amount of property in Cornwall precinct near what is now Washingtonville, NY. David was the Tory Mayor of New York City from 1776-1783.
  13. Alexander Fraser, Second Report of the Bureau of Archives for the Province of Ontario, pt. 2, [Toronto: L.K. Cameron, 1905] 1006. 872. Claim of Owen Roblin, late of Orange Co. Assuming that the 10 years referred to dates back from 1779 when Owen joined the British in New York City, he would have started his farm leasehold ca. 1769.
  14. Alexander Fraser, Second Report of the Bureau of Archives for the Province of Ontario, pt. 2, [Toronto: L.K. Cameron, 1905] 1103. 1081. Claim of Philip Roblin, late of Orange Co.
  15. William Canniff, History of the Settlement of Upper Canada (Ontario) with special reference to the Bay Quinte [Toronto: Dudley & Burns, 1869] 661
  16. In An Early Roblin Family in America, I listed "John Wessels (1778-1852)" as the second son of Ann and Nicholas Wessels. That assignment relied heavily on information from Linda Herman that John Wessels' birth date was well established by a gravestone rubbing. Upon recent re-examination of this data there is now less certainty about the 1778 birth date for John Wessels. The 1778 birth date is contradicted by an entry for John in the 1851 Census of Canada where it states that he is 69 years old, and therefore born c. 1782, not 1778. I note another reference, http://www.tribalpages.com/tribe/familytree?uid=wessels&surname=Wessels: Accessed 9/18/2014, which indicates that Philip Wessels (1778-1840) was the second son born to Nicholas Wessels and Ann Roblin.
  17. Figure 2 shows a portion of a map that lists the original owners of specific Cheesecock Patent Lots near Monroe, NY. It was found in the Goshen Public Library and Historical Association. The map was too large to copy on one letter-size page. On the part of the map that is not reproduced in Figure 2, the map bears the partial legend "Tracing of a Map...Cheesecock Patent, from a certified copy in the...Knight, Bush & Thompson...For the records of...Orange County Planning...Scale on original map given as 50...Traced by George C. Lewis".
  18. Myrtle S. Edwards' to Alfred McLaughlin 11 June 1987, [Orange County Genealogical Society Library , Goshen New York,] "Miller" file. Her letter describes a 27 May 1769 land transaction entered in a Goshen, Orange Co., New York. "Mortgage A" book. Edwards was for years a librarian at the Orange County Genealogical Society Library (OCGSL) in Goshen, NY.
    In this land transaction, a "Philip Roblon of Bargain (Bergen) County in the Province of East N.J.", agrees to pay John Belcher £170 plus interest, and acquires a mortgage on a half portion (75 acres) of a Cheesecock Patent Lot 53. On November 9, 1772, this land sale was reversed, with Philip receiving £85 from John Belcher and giving up his mortgage.
  19. Philip0 and Anne's children, John and Ann, subsequently married Sarah and Nicholas Wessels, who lived in New Jersey. Sometime after 1772 and before their marriages c. 1776, John and Ann must have been located within courting distance of Sarah and Nicholas Wessels.
  20. Richard O. Roblin III, The Location of Philip and Elizabeth Roblin's property in Smith's Clove (Monroe), Orange County, New York, unpublished note with four maps © 2000. Map1 shows a portion of the lots of the Cheesecock Patent. (Source: Ruttenber, E.M. & Clark, L.H., History of Orange County, New York, [Philadelphia: Evarts & Peck, 1881] 16A. It is printed from "Map of Land Patents from Original Surveys, by Simeon DeWitt"). Map 2 is the same as Figure 2 above. Map 3 is a 1989 hand drawn sketch by Myrtle S. Edwards showing the locations of Garrett Miller's mill and Henry Reynolds House with respect to the current roads in Monroe, New York. The fourth map is a recent road map of Monroe, NY. Cross-referencing the information on these maps supported the location of Henry Reynolds on Lot 46 and Philip1's leased land being Lot 51.
  21. Excerpted from a transcription of the September 29, 1788 Probate of Garrett Miller's estate, made by Garrett Hollands, a descendant of Garrett Miller. This copy is taken from Appendix B of An American Family In A World Turned Upside Down, ©1999 by Garrett G. Hollands. I am indebted to Dennis Miller for this important reference.
  22. Samuel Eager, An Outline History of Orange Co., N.Y., S.T. Callan, Newburgh, 1846-7. For the complete list of those signing the Association in Cornwall, embracing Cornwall, Bloominggrove and Monroe, see Eager, p. 530-532. Among the signatories are the names Elihu Marvin, Philip Robben (I assume this is Philip1), Owen Noblen (I assume this is Owen Roblin, Sr.), Edward Robbin (Edward Roblin?), Garret Miller, and Henry Reynolds. (POSSIBLE INCONSISTENCY - If this is the Henry Reynolds to whom we refer in this account, having him sign this Pledge of Association in 1775 in Orange Co. conflicts with other information that he arrived in Monroe, NY in 1777.)
  23. Thomas Jones, History of New York during the Revolutionary War, ed. Edward Floyd De Lancey, [New York: printed for the New York Historical Society, 1879], Vol II, 510-523 Passed 22 October 1779, the Act of Attainder provided "for the forfeiture and sale of the estates of persons who have adhered to the enemies of this state..."
  24. Philip1 and Owen Sr. both explicitly mention joining the "Barrack Masters Department" in their 1788 claims to the British government for compensation on their losses. See Endnotes 13 and 14 for the sources.
  25. In Canada Owen Sr. petitioned for, and was granted, 300 acres as "a Blockhouse man". Owen says in his claim on the British Government (Endnote 13) that he "served at the outposts"; Philip1 and others directly supported this claim.
    Sophiasburgh May 10, 1798 - sworn before one John Howell, J.P., by David Demore Loyalist - that Stephen Roblin served in Ward's Blockhouse when General Wayne and his party was (sic) defeated by Captain Ward. Recommended July 5, 1798 for 300 acres in addition as a Blockhouse Man (Public Archives Ottawa)"
  26. W. Woodford Clayton, History of Bergen and Passaic counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men, [Philadelphia: Evarts & Peck, 1882] 59-60.
  27. George Henry Budke, Papers Relating To The New York And New Jersey Boundary Controversy, 1686-1775, (1924). [Reprinted, Library Association of Rockland County, 1975]. Page 78 contains "A list of freeholders and inhabitants living in Saddle River Precinct in the County of Bergen above the line lately run by James Clinton and Anthony Dennis from Due west of the Yonkers lower Mills". The Clinton-Dennis line established the final boundary between New York and New Jersey c. 1774. The name Joseph Wessells appears on p. 80. Page 81 contains the name John Fell (known to have lived on Franklin Turnpike in the Allendale area), and p. 82 lists the name Edward Roblin.
  28. "Deeds of the Cow-boys, Claudius Smith's Terrible Gang in Revolutionary Days, Memories of Deeds of Murder and Robbery Evoked by the Finding of Two Rusty Gun-Barrels - The Career of the Scourge of the Highlands and His Outlaws," New York Times, November 23, 1879
  29. James E. Quinlan, History of Sullivan County (1873). [Republished, Liberty, NY, 1965] 468-476; E.M.Ruttenber and L.H. Clark, History of Orange County New York (1881) quote Quinlan's account on p. 72.
  30. "Phebe Reynolds Bravery: Protecting a Father from the Tories' Revenge. How Henry Reynolds Secured the Enmity of the Cowboys...Three Times Hanged...His Daughter's struggles to save him, although stabbed and beaten by the Ruffians" New York Times, December 7, 1879, p. 10
  31. Geoff Welch, "Sacrifices in the Bitter Fall and Winter of 1779 in the Ramapough Clove", Newsletter, Rockland County Conservation Association, Inc., Winter Quarterly Meeting - Thursday, March 20, 2008. The severe 1776 fire in New York City had reduced the supply of housing, and the city's population swelled from 12,000 in 1777 to 33,000 in 1779.
  32. Canada Loyalist Claims 1776-1835 AO 12 American Loyalist Claims, Series 1 (143) Losses of Divers Persons 1784; alternatively, American Loyalist Claims, 1776-1835; Class AO13, Piece 143. The National Archives of the U.K., Kew, Surrey, England. Philip1 signed his name "Phill Roblin" to this asset inventory. Owen Sr. made his own asset inventory at the same time. It amounted to less than half that of Philip1, and Owen Sr. signed his inventory with an X.
  33. Carleton's Loyalist Index. List of Loyalists for Nova Scotia. September 22, 1782. CD Database of 54,568 Records, A select index to the names of Loyalists and their associates contained in the British Headquarters Papers, New York City 1774-1783 (the Carleton Papers). The King's Names Project of Sir Guy Carleton Branch, Ottawa. United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada. ISBN 0-9681938-0-3.
  34. They may have died of smallpox, which was still endemic in America in 1782. Philip1's acquaintance and fellow refugee, George Galloway, reported a strikingly similar death of his wife in 1782 in New York City. John P Galloway, Jr., "George Galloway: A Loyalist's Story" Loyalist Trails newsletter online edition 2012.
    http://www.uelac.org/Loyalist-Trails/2012/Loyalist-Trails-2012.php?issue=201234#Galloway Accessed November 23, 2015.
  35. Philip1's claim was supported by sworn affidavits from Nicholas Wessels (taken 3 January 1788, Adolphustown) and George Galloway (taken 21 January 1788, Kingston). He also produced a Certificate from Elihu Marvin, a Commissioner of Sequestration in Orange County, NY stating that he seized Philip1 's property "for use of the state". The deposition from Elihu "Arvin" was taken 8 February 1787. That probably indicates that Philip1 contacted someone in America, but planning to come to Canada (Nicholas Wessels?), to obtain this deposition and bring it to Canada. Marvin's deposition stated, "The claimant (Philip1) was a near neighbor who was taken to court as a loyalist and bound over when the deponent (Marvin) was in charge of the Bench."
  36. Katherine Staples to Andrea Sale, July 17, 1996. This letter was found in a file at the Loyalist Cultural Centre, Adolphustown, Ontario. Ms. Staples was Manager of the Centre for a number of years. The letter said, in part "Enclosed are MANY pages on the Roblin family...maybe more than you ever wanted to know. I am sorry for the delay but we have been swamped with requests. I have found through much trial and error, that Philip Roblin's father was also Philip...not John. The original siblings were: Philip m. Elizabeth Miller, Stephen unm., Ann m. Nicholas Wessels, John m. Sarah Wessels, Owen." Unfortunately, the "MANY pages" referred to in Staples' letter (presumably documenting what she had "found through much trial and error") were not with the letter in the file. Our family's letters to Staples and Sale asking for more information were not answered.



Appendix A. Researchers who have shared research and valuable information on Roblin family genealogy

  • Linda Herman
  • Rosalyn Insley
  • Cathy Behan
  • Linda Burkell
  • Myrtle S. Edwards (Orange County Genealogical Association Library, deceased)
  • Barbara Jeffries
  • Rosalie Kimmerly
  • Barbara Luckham
  • Dennis Miller
  • Natalie Robling
  • Tim Ryeland
  • Dewi Thomas (Haverfordwest, Wales Genealogical Library)
  • Jerry Turner
  • Mark Underhill
  • Russ Waller
  • C. Loral R. and E. Mildred Wanamaker (deceased)



Appendix B. Cross-Reference of WikiTree Identification Numbers with the Names of some of the people in this work

Name This Work WikiTree Number
Philip Roblin (c. 1717-?) Philip0 Roblin-122
Anne Meredith Anne Meredith-1240
Philip Roblin (c. 1753-1788) Philip1 Roblin-70
Owen Roblin Sr. (c. 1747- aft 1804) Owen Sr. Roblin-126
Philip Roblin (1772-1848) Philip2 Roblin-280
Owen Roblin (1806-1903) Owen Roblin-73
Edward Roblin (1836-1900) Edward Roblin-117
Richard O. Roblin Sr. (1871-1940) Richard Roblin-121
William H.C. Roblin (1865-1944) William H.C. Roblin-119
Richard O. Roblin Jr. (1907-1985) Richard Roblin-327
Richard O. Roblin III (1938-) Richard Roblin III-1
Linda Roblin Turner (1941-) Linda Turner-343
William M. Roblin (1944-) Will Roblin-328
Adolphus Roblin (1866->1943) Adolphus Roblin-67


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