Thomas Robbins Sr. (1741 - 1802)

Born 6 Sep 1741 in Menotomy, Middlesex, Province of Massachusetts Bay

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Gould) Robbins — married 29 Oct 1761 in Cambridge, MA

Husband of Rebecca (Bibber) Babbidge — married 18 Dec 1794 in Deer Isle, Maine

Descendants

Died 22 May 1802 at age 60 in Deer Isle, Hancock, District of Maine, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Adrian Stanley [send private message]

Biography

1st Lieutenant Thomas Robbins Sr. served with Capt. Nathaniel Fales' Company, Massachusetts Militia during the American Revolution.

Thomas Robbins Sr. is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor.
NSSAR Ancestor #: 279827
Rank: Captain

" The village of Menotomy [Menotomy was part of "Old Cambridge" and later became West Cambridge] (now Arlington) was located on Concord Road (now Massachusetts Avenue) between Boston and Lexington. ..." The Battle of Menotomy_ Arlington Historical Society.

ROBBINS, Thomas, Capt, MA r Deer Isle b Lexington, MA 1741 Capt 4th co Col Allan's command d Stonington 1802 m(1) Sarah (2) Rebecca 1S; 13S; MOCA page 666 Soldiers Sailors & Patriots of the Rev. War Maine

"1807_West Cambridge, later renamed Arlington, separated from Cambridge."

Maybe Robbins, –––––, s. Thomas, Feb. 20, 1740. PR Births-Vital Records of Arlington [formally Menotomy] page 37

ROBBINS, Thomas s. Thomas Bpt. 6 Sept 1741, the Arlington Vital Record reflects: P.R.— private record, from Rev. Samuel Cooke's Abstract of Births, Deaths and Marriages, now in the possession of the Arlington Historical Society.

Research Notes

FORT MACHIAS The garrison consisted of 300 volunteers, enlisted from the County of Lincoln exclusively, and was furnished with one hundred stands of new firearms, two nine-pounders, one six-pounder and the necessary stores. The fortifications, were built as soon· as possible. A breastwork on the south side of the river was completed in 1776. On the east side of the river, near the home of Silvanus Scott of Revolutionary fame, the remains of the breastwork, "Fort Foster", are still to be seen. Fort Machias usually called Fort O'Brien was on the west side of the Machias River at Machiasport. 34 MAINE FORTS https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1013&context=me_collection

Map with Fort Machias.

Roster/Roll https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSJ7-CSYB-4?i=117&cat=729681

Marriage Record 1794 "Decr 18. Catp. Thomas Robins & Rebecca Babbidge both of ------" page 85 AN EXACT TRANSCRIPTIDN OF THE FIRST CHURCH RECORDS OF THE FIRST "CONGO" CHURCH OF DEER ISLAND

" ... that Thomas6 [Robbins] was bapt. in Lexington (1741) from which town the family left for Boston on the day of the battle [April 19, 1775] so memorable to all. With his wife Sarah (Gould) and the children he embarked on a vessel from Boston to Glouchester and there he received the news of the Battle of Lexington -- a stunning surprise, it is said. The vessel went into Gloucester for a harbor over night and then continued on to Deer Isle.

A descendant of Nathaniel7 [Robbins](b. abt. 1760) [of Deer Isle] in Deer Isle--son of Thomas6--said that Nathaniel was born in Lexington and left there when 15 years old, which would be 1775. " Robbins Genealogy by Dr. B L Noyes

Born in Lexington, Massachusetts, USA on 6 Sep 1741 to Thomas Robbins and Anna Stearns. Thomas married Sarah Gould and had 3 children. He passed away on 22 May 1802 in Deer Isle, Maine, USA.

19. [Robbins] THOMAS, prob. s. of Nathaniel (11), res. at Menot., m. Anne Stearns (pub. 26 Feb. 1740), and had

Thomas, bap. 27 Sept. 1741 ;

Nathaniel,^ bap. 25 Sept. 1743;

James, bap. 27 Oct. 1745; at the last date the father is styled " now of Woburn." "History of Cambridge, Massachusetts. 1630-1877. With a genealogical register" page 643

Robbins, Thomas, Capt, MA r Deer Island [ Deer Isle, Maine] b Lexington, MA 1741 Capt 4th co Col Allan's command d Stonington 1802 [Deer Isle, Maine] m[1] Sarah m[2] Rebecca 1S; 13S; MOCA [Solders...Maine page 666]

Capt. Thomas Robbins Settlement at Deer Isle Maine Page -26- ... Thomas Robbins, 1775 ... https://archive.org/details/historicalsketch00hosm/page/26/mode/1up?view=theater

William Babbidge was the first settler upon the lot of land adjoining that of Mr. Morey on the east. He came very early — prior to 1770; and was a brother to Mr. Courtney Babbidge, who came some years after, and resided near the Southeast Harbor. Mr. William Babbidge sold out his right to Mr. Joshua Haskell, a brother of Ignatius Haskell, Esq., and took up another lot of land, on what is known as Babbidge's Neck, ... After the death of her husband Mrs. Babbidge became the wife of Mr. Thomas Robbins, Sr. Page -116-

Thomas Robbins settled on the lot of land lying easterly of the land of Mr. Buckminster. He came from Boston, or some place in the near vicinity [Cambridge, MA], in 1775, with his family, and in the early years of the town he was a man of considerable influence, and for many years held the office of coroner, and was well known as "Coroner Robbins." He was twice married. His last wife was the widow of the Mr. William Babbidge before noticed, who resided near him. The date of his death is not to us known, and two of his sons who resided here were the Messrs. Nathaniel and Thomas Robbins, Jr., who have been noticed. One of his daughters was the wife of Mr. Buckminster, and the other that of Mr. Thomas Stinson, 3d, known as Deacon Thomas Stinson. The farm of Mr. Robbins came into the possession of Mr. John Buckminster, by whom it was occupied till his death, and now is the property of his son, Mr. William S. Buckminster. Page -228-

1789 "on Monday, April 6, at nine of the clock in the forenoon, for the choice of town officers, and to act upon such other business as might be necessary, and also to give in their votes for a Governor, Lieutenant-governor, a State Senator, and a Registrar of Deeds. Pursuant to said notice the inhabitants met at the time and place appointed and chose Thomas Stinson, Esq., Moderator, Rev. Peter Powers, Town Clerk, and five Selectmen, to wit: Thomas Stinson, Esq., Captain Thomas Robbins, Mr. William Foster, Mr. Nathan Haskell, and Mr. Joseph Sellers ; and Captain Ignatius Haskell, Treasurer, besides other officers. The Rev. Mr. Powers during the year resigned the office of Town Clerk, and Nathan Haskell, Esq. was chosen, who was elected to said office till the year 1803." ... "1790. The following-named persons were chosen selectmen : Thomas Robbins, William Foster, Joseph Sellers, Theophilus Eaton, and Thomas Stinson. ..." An historical sketch of the town of Deer Isle, Maine, page 220/21

Thomas Robbins Jun(r) Deceased May 22 - 1802 _ VR Deer Isle, ME

Thomas was born in 1741. Thomas Robbins ... He passed away in 1802. Thomas Robbins settled on the lot of land lying easterly of the land of Mr. Buckminster. He came from Boston, or some place in the near vicinity, in 1775, with his family, and in the early years of the town he was a man of considerable influence, and for many years held the office of coroner, and was well known as "Coroner Robbins." He was twice married. His last wife was the widow of the Mr. William Babbidge before noticed, who resided near him. The date of his death is not to us known, and two of his sons who resided here were the Messrs. Nathaniel and Thomas Robbins, Jr., who have been noticed. One of his daughters was the wife of Mr. Buckminster, and the other that of Mr. Thomas Stinson, 3d, known as Deacon Thomas Stinson. The farm of Mr. Robbins came into the possession of Mr. John Buckminster, by whom it was occupied till his death, and now is the property of his son, Mr. William S. Buckminster. [Page 128, History of Deer Isle; source below]

Defence of Machias Pay Roll Dec 78 to Jan 78.

Robbins, Thomas, Captain; engaged May 18, 1778; discharged Dec. 1, 1778; service 6 mos. 19 days under Col. John Allan, including 6 days [120 miles] travel home; company raised for defense of Machias; also, Captain; pay roll sworn to in Lincoln Co., June 1, 1779, of sundry persons who continued in service for defense of Machias, agreeable to order of Council of Nov. 11, 1778, and other person employed in the Indian business under Col. John Allan; engaged Dec. 1, 1778; discharged Jan. 19, 1779; service 1 mo. 19 days. Volume 37 page 166 Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution. - Volume 13 page 389

Noted: "In April 1778, Allan commanded a total of one hundred fifty-one men, one hundred twenty-one Indians and thirty men in Allan's Artillery coups. " . ... "Allan's force numbered one hundred and eighty one on July 31, 1778, and this included one hundred and six Indians, twenty-nine men in Lieutenant Albee's artillery unit, twenty-nine in Captain Robbin's company ... [Maine Rubicon _ Downeast Settlers during the American Revolution page 115 & 184]

Robbins, Thomas, 1st Lieutenant; Capt. Nathaniel Fale's co., entered service Aug. 3, 1779 to Aug. 15; service 13 days at Penobscot; company marched on expedition to Majorbagaduce [Castine] by order of Gen. Lovel. [ joined to Colonel Samuel McCobb's Regiment ]

Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution. - Volume 13 page 390

Fifth Militia Regiment of Lincoln County, Deer Island Plantation [Company of Eighty men] Captain Thomas Robbins. When the Revolution Came. page 32

GOULD, Sarah (of Medford, int.) and Thomas Robbins, Oct. 29, 1761. in Vital Records of Cambridge, MA, Cambridge Marriages [Vol 2] page 335 https://ma-vitalrecords.org/MA/Middlesex/Cambridge/Images/Cambridge_M335.shtml

Cambridge Marriage Record to Sarah Gould, Births, marriages, and deaths, 1651-1793 Authors: Massachusetts. Superior Court (Middlesex County) (Main Author) Massachusetts. County Court (Middlesex County) (Repository) "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9QY-HSV9?cc=2061550&wc=Q4DM-K6D%3A353350601%2C353362601%2C353362602 : 13 July 2016), Middlesex > County records > Births, marriages, deaths 1651-1793 > image 566 of 652; citing Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston.

Thomas Robbins_Census_1800_Formally of Cambridge, MA Deer Isle, Hancock, Maine, United States. Page: 23 "United States Census, 1800," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHR8-4V1 : accessed 1 April 2020), Thomas Robbins, Deer Isle, Hancock, Maine, United States; citing p. 23, NARA microfilm publication M32, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 7; FHL microfilm 218,677.

• https://archive.org/details/populationsc18000007unit/page/n16/mode/1up

^[1]

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Thomas Robbins Sr. was a pioneer settler of Deer Isle.

Sources

An historical sketch of the town of Deer Isle, Maine, with notices of its settlers and early inhabitants - Hosmer, George Lawrence [page 123 or 128] https://archive.org/stream/historicalsketch00hosm#page/128/mode/1up

Soldiers, Sailors, and Patriots of the Revolutionary War ~ Maine, page 666, by Carlton and Sue Fisher

When the Revolution Came [Old Deer Isle] by Vernal Hutchinson - References Battle of Webb's Cove - page 16 The Fourth of July - page 33

Massachusetts soldiers and sailors of the revolutionary war. A compilation from the archives by Massachusetts. Office of the Secretary of State Published 1896Topics United States -- History Revolution Registers, lists, etc., Massachusetts -- History Revolution, 1775-1783, Massachusetts -- Militia Vol. 13

https://archive.org/stream/masssoldiers13bostrich#page/389/mode/1up

https://archive.org/stream/masssoldiers13bostrich#page/390/mode/1up

Vital records of Cambridge, Massachusetts, to the year 1850 freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ancestorhunt1000/cambridge_vol2.pdf

https://ma-vitalrecords.org/MA/Middlesex/Arlington/aBirthsR.shtml

• "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9QY-HSV9?cc=2061550&wc=Q4DM-K6D%3A353350601%2C353362601%2C353362602 : 21 October 2020), Middlesex > County records > Births, marriages, deaths 1651-1793 > image 566 of 652; citing Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston.

1. ↑ Entered by Adrian Stanley, Thursday, November 28, 2013.

• History of the town of Arlington, Massachusetts by Cutter, Benjamin, 1803-1864; Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918

Publication date 1880 https://archive.org/stream/historyoftownofa00cut#page/290/mode/2up/search/robbins

• Robbins Genealogy [page 641] _History of Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1630-1877: With a Genealogical Register By Lucius Robinson Paige

https://archive.org/details/historyofcambrid00paigiala/page/643/mode/1up

• "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FCWQ-X52 : 10 February 2018), Thomas Robbins, 06 Sep 1741; citing ARLINGTON,MIDDLESEX,MASSACHUSETTS, ; FHL microfilm 0874026 IT 2.
• https://arlingtonhistorical.org/learn/articles/the-battle-of-menotomy/
• Payroll: Muster/payrolls, and various papers (1763-1808) of the Revolutionary War (Massachusetts and Rhode Island). Vol. 37, Sea coast defense, Penobscot Expedition 1775-1781. A Pay Roll of Capt. Nathaniel Fales and his Company in the State pay on the Expedition to Penobscot from the 6th of July 1779 to the 26th of August following. Film #008092198. Image 171-72 of 628.
• Muster roll: Muster/payrolls, and various papers (1763-1808) of the Revolutionary War (Massachusetts and Rhode Island). Vol. 37, Sea coast defense, Penobscot Expedition 1775-1781. A Pay Roll of Capt. Nathaniel Fales and his Company in the State pay on the Expedition to Penobscot from the 6th of July 1779 to the 26th of August following. Film #008092198. Image 118 of 628.

1771 Map of Machias https://digitalmaine.com/planbook26/24/ Image of Machias https://collections.leventhalmap.org/search/commonwealth:9g54xk596

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Adrian Stanley for creating Robbins-2285 on 28 Nov 13. Click the Changes tab for the details on contributions by Adrian and others.