Ebenezer Alexander Robinson1

b. June 1806, d. 3 September 1879
FatherJohn Robinson2,3 b. say 1765, d. 29 Jun 1826
MotherElizabeth Edmiston3 d. bef 16 Dec 1817
BirthJun 1806 Ebenezer Alexander Robinson was born on the 6th (notes from a Robinson family Bible) or the 8th (headstone) of Jun 1806 in Washington County, Virginia.4,5,6 
Childhood  He was the 7th of his parent's 9 children. The family lived in a log cabin on the north side of the Great Road opposite Old Glade Spring Church. 
Legatee29 Jun 1826  Ebenezer's father died in 1826 leaving the bulk of his land to Ebenezer's older brother Moses. The men's stepmother Jane was to have the use of the east half of the family home; Moses received the west half. Ebenezer and his brother John each received 10 acres. Ebenezer's 10 acres was to be taken from the northeast corner of John Robinson's land. Ebenezer was to have enough money to sink a 30 foot deep well and to build a cabin on the land. He was also to receive 80 young apple trees from his father's nursery and a horse and saddle. In addition, John left Ebenezer and his brother John tuition fees so they could pursue their education, noting that they labored on the farm during school vacations.2 
Land-Sell23 Sep 1837  It is not clear that Ebenezer lived on the land left him by his father. There is no entry for him as the head of a household on either the 1830 or 1840 census. On Sept. 23, 1837 Ebenezer and his brother Moses sold a little over 37 acres of land to Nickerson Snead for $900. The land sat on both sides of the Great Rd and included some, and possibly all of the 10 acres devised to Ebenezer by his father's will.7 
Cens-185021 Aug 1850  In fact the brothers continued to live together in the family home and were enumerated together in 1850 when all members of a household were recorded by name for the first time. Moses (54) was listed as the head of the household. He owned land worth $8,000. John (45) and E.A. (37) were listed next, followed by Rebecka Fulton (25), James Buchanan (25) and Roger Reed (25). James was employed as a merchant and Roger was a clerk. The Robinson men were farmers.8 
Legatee  Ebenezer's brother John died June 3, 1852, having written his will in Dec. 1850. John, who had not married, left Ebenezer his interest in land purchased from William Beattie Jr. [adjacent to and north of the Robinson land], as well as the 10 acres left John by the men's father [on which Evan Smith lived]. John left Moses and Ebenezer jointly his interest in the store known as J.S. Buchanan & Company. John also asked Moses and Ebenezer to pay Rebecca Fulton $100. 
Marriage27 Jul 1854 Two years later, on 27 Jul 1854 Ebenezer Alexander Robinson married Rebecca Fulton, daughter of Robert R. Fulton and Sarah (?), in Washington County. Ebenezer was 48 and Rebecca was 32.1,9 
Legatee  Ebenezer's brother Moses died from consumption on Aug. 3, 1857. He left the men's sister Elizabeth Kerr $25, and the rest of his land and interest in "the store" to Ebenezer. He also appointed Ebenezer as his executor.10 
  A few months later, on Nov. 18, 1857 Ebenezer's brother James also died from consumption. He had married some years earlier and lived immediately south of his unmarried siblings. 
Residence  With the death of his brothers John and Moses, Ebenezer owned a large tract of land on both sides of the Great Rd. He built a large brick home facing the road and close to the log house in which Ebenzer had grown up. Here he and Rebecca raised two sons they named in memory of Ebenezer's brothers John and Moses.11,3,12 
Cens-18603 Jul 1860  The 1860 census noted that "E.A." Robinson owned land valued at $10,000 and personal property worth $7,000. Besides Ebenezer and Rebecca's 2 year old son John, the household included James Edmondson (18, farm laborer), Sallie Fulton (80) [probably Rebecca's mother] and Mary Snodgrass (35, seamstress, owns personal property worth $1,600).13 
Cens-187029 Sep 1870  A second son, Moses Walter, joined the family in 1864.11 
Land-Sell15 Jul 1867  Ebenezer and Rebecca sold small parcels of their land over the years. In 1867 they sold 10 acres to the Trustees of Glade Spring Church for the establishment of a parsonage. The trustees paid $1,000 for the property which sat on a small rise south of the church. The church expanded the land surrounding the parsonage in Nov. 1874 when the trustees purchased an additional 7 acres from Ebenezer and Rebecca for $300.14,15 
Land-Sell3 Apr 1869  And on April 3, 1869 Ebenezer and Rebecca sold 35 acres from the northwest end of their property to Peter Clark for $1,420. The southern edge of the parcel abutted the Stage Rd.16 
Land-Sell4 Apr 1873  This was followed by the sale, 4 years later, of an adjacent 16 acres to John M. & Thomas B. Clark [Peter Clark's sons] for $648.25.17 
Death3 Sep 1879 Ebenezer died on 3 Sep 1879 at age 73.4 
Burial He was buried at Old Glade Spring Cemetery in Washington County.4 

Related Links and Images:

The Ebenezer Alexander Robinson home on the north side of the Stage Rd., built near the log cabin in which Ebenezer and his siblings grew up.
See the Glade Spring area maps made in 1821 and 1890. Look for the home labeled "Robinson's" on the 1821 map. The same home was indicated by a square, but not labeled, on the 1890 map. Additional detail is presented in a chart following the maps18
See Francis Kincannon Grants on the Old Stage Rd. for plats and a discussion of how the Robinson family came to own part of Francis Kincannon's land
Other interments in Old Glade Spring Cemetery

Family

Rebecca Fulton b. 7 Mar 1822, d. 7 Nov 1899
Children
Last Edited16 Jul 2013

Citations

  1. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 304. Ebenezer Alexr Robinson, 47, sgl, b. WCV, farmer, s/o John & Elizabeth Robinson marr Rebecca Fulton, 33, sgl, b. WCV d/o Robert R. & Sarah Fulton; 27 Jul 1854.
  2. [S618] John Robinson will (1826), Washington Co., Virginia, Will Book 5: 324. The will was dated 20 May 1826 and exhibited at court 19 Dec. 1826.
  3. [S1199] Victoria Gilliam, "M.W. Robinson house", 1937, digital image, Works Progress Administration of Virginia Historical Inventory, Library of Virginia Online, <<http://www.lva.virginia.gov>>: accessed Feb. 2013. Ms Gilliam's primary sources were Mr. M.W. Robinson and Mr. John Robinson. [sons of Ebenezer Alexander Robinson (1806-1879) and grandsons of John Robinson]
  4. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 186. Stone reported to read: E.A. Robinson, 8 June 1806-3 Sept. 1870, age 73y, 2m, 25d.
  5. [S3142] Robinson Family Bible, original held in 2013 by Walter Robinson, Glade Spring, Virginia. Ebenezer Alexander [Robinson] b. 6/6/1806, d. 9/3/1879, "Old Glade."
  6. [S1199] Victoria Gilliam, "M.W. Robinson house", 1937, digital image, Works Progress Administration of Virginia Historical Inventory, Library of Virginia Online, <<http://www.lva.virginia.gov>>: accessed Feb. 2013. Ms Gilliam's primary sources were Mr. M.W. Robinson and Mr. John Robinson [sons of Ebenezer Alexander Robinson (1806-1879) and grandsons of John Robinson] who reported their father's date of birth as June 6, 1806.
  7. [S2526] Jack Hockett, Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 17, 1844-1846, abstracting Washington Co., VA Deed Bk 17: 179. This deed was executed 23 Sept. 1837 but not delivered to the county clerk for recording until 28 Mar 1845.
  8. [S367] Moses Robertson [Robinson] household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., District 67, p. 107 (stamped), dwelling 605, family 605, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Feb. 2012. Household includes: Moses Robertson [Robinson], 54, farmer, owns land worth $8,000; John, 45, E.A., 37, Rebecka Fulton, 25; Jas Buchanan, 25 merchant; Roger Reed, 25, clerk; all b. VA.
  9. [S3142] Robinson Family Bible, original held in 2013 by Walter Robinson, Glade Spring, Virginia. Rebecca Fulton and Ebenezer Alexander Robinson married July 27, 1854.
  10. [S2146] Jack Hockett, Washington Co. VA Will Book 14 1856-1859, abstracted, citing Will Bk 14, p. 184.
  11. [S635] E.A. Robinson household, 1870 U.S. cens, Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Glade Spring township, p. 75 stamped, dwelling 308, family 308, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jan. 2013. Household includes: E.A. Robinson, 64, farmer, owns land worth $5,000, pers. prop. of $800; Rebecca, 49; Jno R, 12; Moses W., 8; all b. VA.
  12. [S3203] "Virginia Division of Historic Landmarks Survey Form", (1992), Ebenezer Alexander Robinson home, file: 095-238, Department of Historic Resources, Richmond, Virginia. The survey form was completed by Ms Vivian Coletti from interviews with Mrs. Mahlon Robinson, Julia (Mrs. Alex) Robinson, and June (Mrs. Walter) Robinson.
  13. [S234] E.A. Robinson household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Western District, p. 78 (original script), dwelling 538, family 528, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jan. 2013. Household includes: E.A. Robinson, 53, farmer, owns land worth $10,000, pers. prop. of $7,000; Rebecca, 38; John, 2; James Edmondson, 18, farm laborer; James Barlow, 16, farm laborer; Sallie Fulton, 80; Mary Snodgrass, 35, seamstress, owns pers. prop of $1,600; all b. VA.
  14. [S3055] Jack Hockett, Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 27, 1868-1870, abstracting Washington Co., VA Deed Bk 27: 355.
  15. [S3217] Jack Hockett, Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 31, 1874-1875, abstracting WCV Deed Bk 31:338.
  16. [S3055] Jack Hockett, Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 27, 1868-1870, abstracting Washington Co. VA Deed Bk 27: 615.
  17. [S3214] Jack Hockett, Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 30, 1871-1874, abstracting Washington Co. Deed Bk 30:307.
  18. [S1376] Image cropped from Washington County Surveyed and Drawn under the Direction of John Wood dated 1821; from the Lib. of VA Digital Collection (digital Board of Public Works Collection) and used with permission. The full map may be viewed online at: http://digitool1.lva.lib.va.us:8881/R/…