CAPTAIN GEORGE
4
ROBINSON(JAMES
3
, GEORGE
2
, UNKNOWN
1
)was born 1692 in NEW CASTLE
DEL. PENNSYLVANIA PROVINCE/New Castle Co., DE, and died March 1763 in AUGUSTA COUNTY,
VIRGINIA WAS ORANGE CO.. He married (1) MARTHA PERKINS. He married (2) MARY MARTHA
MACKAY. He married (3) MARY MARTHA MCKAY August 1742 in TINKLING SPRINGS, AUGUSTA
CO. VA., daughter of ROBERT MCKAY and ANN BROWN. She was born Abt. 1720 in TINKLING
SPRINGS, AUGUSTA CO. VA., and died Bef. 06 June 1797 in AUGUSTA CO. VA..
Notes for CAPTAIN GEORGE ROBINSON:
ON A DEED DATED MAY 05, 1729 GEORGE SELLS PROPERTY
HE IS OF MILL CREEK HUNDRED WHEN HE SELLS 110 ACRES OF LAND TO DUNCAN
DRUMMOND. IN THE RECITAL IT STATES HE WAS SON OF JAMES ROBINSON AND HIS FATHER,
JAMES OBTAINED THE LAND FROM ERICUS BIORK & BARBARA JAMES JOHNSON VANDENBURG
IN 1712.( DEED BK. 1,PG. 55.
IN 1740 GEORGE WAS APPOINTED FIRST JUSTICE OF AUGUSTA CO. COURTHOUSE. IN 1745
GEORGE WAS APPOINTED MAGISTRATE BY THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA. HE WAS ALSO CAPT.
OF LOCAL MILITIA WHO,S RESPONSIBILITY WAS TO PROTECT SETTLERS FROM INDIANS. HE
ALSO ASSISTED IN THE BUILDING OF LOCAL ROADS. IN JULY 1746
HE BECAME COMMISSIONER OF THE NEW COURT. ON NOVEMBER 1755 HE
HEADED A COMPANY OF PROCESSIONERS. CALLED THE LOYAL LAND COMPANY, IN SPRING
OF 1745 100,000 ACRES WERE GRANTED TO THESE MEN CALLED THE WOODS RIVER GRANT ,
LATER KNOWN AS NEW RIVER. THEIR JOB WAS TO SELL THE LAND TO NEW SETTLERS AND
THEY HAD FOUR YEARS TO DO IT. IN 1753 THE GRANT WAS RENEWED. THE VILLAGE OF
AMSTERDAM GREW UP AROUND THE HOME OF GEORGE AND THAT WOULD BE FROM 1745 TO
1763. THE FIRST PARCEL OF LAND GEORGE LIVED ON WAS THE GRANT CALLED BEVERLY
MANOR . HIS PROPERTY WAS KNOWN AS GEORGES BOTTOM, THIS TRACT OF LAND 892 ACRES
WAS GIVEN TO HIM AND HIS WIFE BY MARYS FATHER INLAW ROBERT MCKAY AS NOTED IN
HIS WILL., HE LATER SOLD THIS TRACT AND MOVED TO TINKER CREEK WHICH IS NOW
KNOWN AS BUFFALO CREEK, THIS PROPERTY WAS LATER SOLD TO DAVID ROBINSON HIS
BROTHER , DAVID LATER SOLD IT TO THOMAS MADISON , FIRST COUSIN TO JAMES MADISON
OUR PRESIDENT NOV. 06, 1770. IN GEORGE`S WILL HE STATES THAT HE WANTS TO BE BURIED
IN THE GRAVE YARD OF HIS DWELLING PLACE AND PROBABLY WAS. PART OF HIS HOME
PLACE WAS SOLD TO WILLIAM PRESTON AND THIS TRACT WAS CALLED GREENFIELD AND IT
IS SAID THAT ONE OF THE LOYAL LAND COMPANY
GEORGE ROBINSON MAY HAVE BEEN MARRIED TO A MARTHA PERKINS OR A MARTHA STONE.
IN A CALENDAR OF DEL. WILLS THIS INFO. WAS TAKEN, JOSEPH PERKINS, HUSBANDMAN 4TH
DAY OF 11 MONTH 1706-7 - AUG. 19, 1707, ELDEST SON JOSEPH PERKINS, SONS JOHN, CALIB,
15
HUMPHREY, JOSHUA, DAUGHTERS MAREY, MARTHA, WIFE EXE. MAR.PERKINS AND GEORGE
ROBINSON.
GEORGE WAS IN ORANGE COUNTY VA. AS EARLY AS JULY 20, 1732 WHEN HE GAVE STEVEN
HOLLINGSWORTH A NOTE FOR FOUR POUNDS, LATER ON JUNE 12, 1733 STEVEN
HOLLINGSWORTH ENDORSED THE NOTE TO ABEL PEARSON, WHO SUED ROBINSON. GEORGE
CLAIMED THE NOTE WAS NOT HIS AND THE CASE WAS SETTLED IN NOV. 1735 WHEN
HOLLINGSWORTH PAID HIM 7 POUNDS. ( ORANGE COUNTY JUDGEMENTS, NOV. 1735, PAGE 313
DAVID B. TRIMBLE, KINCANNON & MCDONALD OF SOUTHWEST VA., AUSTIN TX. 1992), ON
NOV. 12, 1735 GEORGE ROBINSON AND JOHN PETITE RECEIVED A GRANT OF 1, 650 ACRES ON
THE WEST SIDE OF OPEQUON CREEK ON TUSURORO BRANCH IN ORANGE CO. VA. WHICH THEY
SOLD TO RICHARD BEASON FOR 70 POUNDS ON SEPT. 29, 1737. ON FEB. 21, 1738-39 GEORGE
ROBINSON 892 ACRES IN BEVERLY MANOR ON THE SHENANDOAH RIVER FROM WILLIAM
BEVERLY FOR 14 POUNDS, 15 SHILLINGS AND, 2 PENSE. (F. B. KEGLY, KEGLEY`S VA. FRONTIER,
PAGE 41, S.W. VA. HIST. SOCIETY, ROANOKE, VA., 1938 AND AUGUSTA CO. DEED BKS.) ON MAY
13, 1746 GEORGE SOLD HIS BEVERLY MANOR LAND TO JOHN FINLEY , GEORGES WIFE MARTHA
THEN SIGNED AWAY HER DOWER RIGHTS. ( AUGUSTA CO. , VA. DB. 5, P- 254. ON JULY 25, 1746,
HE RECEIVED A GRANT OF 400 ACRES ON BUFFALO CREEK WHICH HE LATER SOLD TO DAVID
ROBINSON ON THE 29 OF NOV. 1749. HE ALSO SOLD LAND TO STEVEN RENTFRO ON 25 MAY 1748
AND TO JOSEPH MC DONALD ON 22 MAR. 1755. ( DB. 2 PAGE- 129 AND BK 3, PAGE- 100, VA. LAND
PATENT BK. 24
GEORGE ROBINSONS WILL (PROBATED JUNE 25, 1763 )
IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN, MARCH THE NINETEENTH DAY IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD ONE
THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND SIXTY THREE.
I GEORGE ROBINSON OF THE COUNTY OF AUGUSTA AND THE COLONY OF VIRGINIA BEING
SICK AND WEAK IN BODY BUT OF SOUND MIND AND MEMORY THANKS BE TO GOD FOR THE
SAME, THEREFORE CALLING TO MIND THE MORTALITY OF MY BODY DO MAKE AND ORDAIN
THIS MY LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT, FIRST I RECOMMEND MY SOUL UNTO THE HANDS OF
GOD HOPING FOR ETERNAL SALVATION THROUGH THE MERITS OF JESUS CHRIST AND AS FOR
MY BODY I RECOMMEND IT TO THE EARTH.TO BE BURIED IN A CHRISTEN LIKE AND DECENT
MANNER IN THE GRAVEYARD OF MY DWELLING HOUSE, ALSO SUCH WORLDLY GOODS
ESTATE WHERE WITH IT HATH PLEASED GOD TO BLESS ME WITH. I DEVISE AND DIS POSE OF
THE SAME IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER AND FORM , FIRST IT IS MY WILL THAT ALL MY JUST
DEBTS AND FUNERAL CHARGES BE PAID OUT OF MY MOVEABLE ESTATE OR SUCH PART
THERE OF AS MY EXECUTORS MAY THINK PROPER TO DISPOSE OF FOR THAT PURPOSE. IN
PRIMAS I GIVE AND BEQUEATH TO MARTHA MY DEARLY BELOVED WIFE HER BED AND BED
CLOTHES, ALSO HER RIDING MARE AND SADDLE, ALSO MY WILL IS THAT MY SAID WIFE AND
MY ELDEST SONS JAMES AND SAMUEL HAVE ALL THE PROFITS ARISING FROM MY MILL AND
PLANTATION DURING HER WIDOWHOOD, IN CONSIDERATION OF WHICH THEY ARE CLOTH
MAINTAIN AND SCHOOL ALL MY YOUNGER CHILDREN, WHICH CHILDREN ARE TO ASSIST IN
WORKING THE SAID PLANTATION AND MILL AND WHEN MY YOUNGER SONS GEORGE AND
WILLIAM ARE GROWNUPS FIT TO BE PUT TO THE TRADES, IT IS MY WILL THAT THEY BE
BOUND TO SUCH TRADES AS THEY AND MY HEIRS OR SURVIVORS THERE OF MAY THINK
PROPER AND IN CASE MY SAID WIFE SHOULD MARRY, IT IS MY DESIRE THAT THE THIRD OF
THE PLANTATION BE LAID OF FOR HER ACCORDING TO LAW AS ALSO ONE THIRD OF THE
PROFITS OF THE MILL, SHE BEARING A THIRD OF THE EXPENSES OF ALL AND ANY IN KEEPING
THE SAME IN REPAIR, ITEM I GIVE AND BEQUEATH TO MY TWO SONS JAMES AND SAMUEL ALL
THAT TRACT OF LAND ( WITH THE ENTERIES THAT JOIN IT ) TOGETHER WITH THE MILL TO BE
DIVIDED EQUALLY BETWEEN THEM IN QUANTITY AND QUALITY AND SHOULD THEY
DISAGREE ABOUT THE DIVISION THERE OF TO CHOOSE TWO OR MORE JUDIOUS MEN TO
DIVIDE THE SAME IN THE ABOVE MANNER BY WHOSE WORD THEY ARE TO ABIDE AND WHEN
SO DIVIDED, THE SAME JAMES AND SAMUEL ARE TO PAY SARAH MY ELDEST DAUGHTER
WITHIN THREE YEARS AFTER THIS DATE THE SUM OF TWENTY POUNDS CURRENT MONEY
16
AND A BREEDING MARE OF THE VALUE OF TEN POUNDS ALSO TO EACH OF MY OTHER
DAUGHTERS CATHERN , PRISCILLA, AND MARTHA THE SUM OF TWENTY POUNDS, A BREEDING
MARE OF THE VALUE OF TEN POUNDS WHEN THEY SHALL ARRIVE OF AGE OF EIGHTEEN
YEARS AND SHOULD ANY OF MY DAUGHTERS DIE BEFORE THEY ARE OF THAT AGE, THE SAID
SUM IS TO BE KEPT BY MY TWO SONS AS THEIR OWN PROPERTY AND BE PAID TO ANY OF THE
SURVIVING SISTERS, AS ALSO THE SAID JAMES AND SAMUEL ARE TO PAY MY TWO YOUNGER
SONS GEORGE AND WILLIAM THE SUM OF FOURTY POUNDS EACH WHEN THEY SHALL REACH
THE AGE OF TWENTY ONE YEARS AND IF ONE OF THEM DIE BEFORE THEIR TIME IT IS MY WILL
THAT HIS FOURTY POUNDS BE PAID TO THE SURVIVORS, AND SHOULD BOTH DIE BEFORE
THEY ARRIVE AT AGE THEIR FOURTY TO BE EQUALLY DIVIVED SUCH OF MY DAUGHTERS AS
MAY BE THEN ALIVE AND THE REMAINDER TO FALL UNTO MY SONS JAMES AND SAMUEL,
AND SHALT MY PERSONAL ESTATE AMOUNT TO MORE, THEN WILL PAY OFF MY JUST DEBTS,
IT IS MY WILL THAT THE SAME MAY BE KEPT FOR MY WIFE AND ELDEST SONS IN ORDER TO
ENABLE THEM TO BRING UP MY OTHER CHILDREN, AND SHOULD MY WIFE MARRY SHE IS TO
HAVE ONE MORE PART OF SUCH PERSONEL ESTATE AS COMING TO THE VALUE THEREIN,AND
PAYING DEBTS OFF AND THE REMAINING TWO THIRDS TO BE THE PROPERTY OF MY TWO
SONS TO ENABLE THEM TO MAINTAIN THE CHILDREN AFTER MY WIFES MARRIAGE AND TO
PAY OFF THE ABOVE MENTIONED LEGACIES AND I DO HEREBY APPOINT MY SAID WIFE
EXECUTOR AND MY TWO SONS JAMES AND SAMUEL EXECUTORS OF THIS MY LAST WILL AND
TESTAMENT HEREBY REVOKING AND MAKING VOID ALL FORMER AND OTHER WILLS AND
LEGACIES BY ME MADE AND DECLARING THIS TO BE MY LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT IN
WITNESS WHEREOF I HAVE HERE UNTO MY HAND AND SEAL THE DAY AND YEAR ABOVE
WRITTEN, SIGNED SEALED, PUBLISHED AND DECLARED BY THE SAID GEORGE ROBINSON AS
HIS LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT IN THE PRESENCE OF US THE SUBSCRIBERS.
WM. PRESTON
WM. GRAHAM
JOSEPH ROBINSON
JOHN ROBINSON
FRANCIS GRAHAM
AT A COURT CASE HELD FOR AUGUSTA COUNTY JUNE 25, 1763, THIS LAST WILL AND
TESTAMENT OF GEORGE ROBINSON DECEASED WAS PROVEN BY THE OATHS OF WM. PRESTON,
WM GRAHAM, AND JOSEPH ROBINSON, THREE OF THE WITNESSES THERE TO AND ORDERED
TO BE RECORDED AND ON THE MOTION MARTHA, JAMES AND SAMUEL ROBINSON THE
EXECUTORS THEREIN NAMED WHO MADE OATH TO SAME, CERTIFICATE IS GRANTED THEM
FOR OBTAINING A PROBATE THERE OF IN DUE FORM, THEY HAVING WITH SURETY INTERED
INTO ACCORDING TO LAW.
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS THAT WE MARTHA ROBINSON, JAMES ROBINSON,
SAMUEL ROBINSON, JOSEPH ROBINSON AND WM GRAHAM ARE UNTO AND FORMALLY BOUND
UNTO JAMES LOCKHART, PAT MARTIN,DAN`L SMITH, JOHN POAGE, FEBIS GILBERT, JUSTICES
IN THE COMMISSION OF THE PEACE FOR AUGUSTA COUNTY FOR AND IN BEHALF OF THE
JUSTICES OF THE SAID COUNTY IN THE SUM OF ONE THOUSAND POUNDS TO BE PAID TO THE
SAID JUSTICES AND THEIR SUCCESSORS TO WHICH PAYMENT WILL AND DULY BE MADE, WE
BIND OUR SELVES AND EACH OF US AND EVERY OF OUR HEIRS, EXECUTORS, AND
ADMINISTORS AND SEVERALLY FIRMLY BY THESE PRESENTS SEALED WITH OUR SEAL, DATE
THIS 25 DAY OF JUNE 1763.
THE CONDITION OF THIS OBLIGATION IS SUCH THAT IF THE ABOVE BOUND MARTHA
ROBINSON, JAMES ROBINSON, AND SAMUEL ROBINSON EXECUTORS OF THE LAST WILL AND
TESTAMENT OF GEORGE ROBINSON GENT DECEASED DO MAKE OR CAUSE TO BE MADE A
TRUE AND LAWFUL INVENTORY OF ALL LAND, SINGULAR THE GOODS, CHATTLES, AND
CREDITS OF THE SAID DECEASED WHICH HAVE AND SHALL COME INTO THE HANDS, POCESS
IN, OR KNOWLEGE OF THE EXECUTORS OR POSSESSION OF ANY PERSON OR PERSONS FOR
THEM AND THE SAME DO EXIHIBIT UNTO THE COUNTY COURT OF AUGUSTA AT SUCH TIME AS
THEY MAY BE THERE UNTO REQUIRED BY THE SAID COUNTY, THE SAME GOODS, CHATTLES
17
AND CREDITS AND ALL OTHER THE GOODS, CHATTLES, AND CREDITS OF THE SAID DECEASED
AT ANYTIME AFTER SHALL COME TO THE HANDS, POSESSION OR KNOWLEGE OF THE SAID
ESTATE OR UNTO THE HANDS, OR POSESSION OF ANY OTHER PERSON OR PERSONS FOR THEM
DO WILL AND TRUELY DO MAKE ACCORDING TO LAW AND FURTHER DO MAKE A JUST AND
TRUE ACCOUNT OF THERE AND DOINGS THERE IN WHEN THERE TO REQUIRED BY THE SAID
COURT AND ALSO SHALL AND TRUELY PAYING DELIVABLE LEGACIES CONTAINED AND
SPECIFIED IN THE SAID LAW SHALL CHARGE, THEN HIS OBLIGATION TO BE VOID AND OF NO
EFFECT OR ELSE TO REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND VIRTUE.
SEALED AND DELIVERED IN THE PRESENSTS OF
MARTHA ROBINSON
JAMES ROBINSON
SAMUEL ROBINSON
JOSEPH ROBINSON
WM. GRAHAM
VA. COURT HELD FOR AUGUSTA COUNTY JUNE 25, 1763, MARTHA, JAMES, AND SAMUEL
ROBINSON WITH JOSEPH ROBINSON AND WILLIAM GRAHAM HIS SURETIES ENTERED INTO AND
ACKNOWLEGED THEIR BOND ACCORDING TO LAW.
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS THAT WE JAMES REABURN AND JOHN NICKLE OF
THE COUNTY OF AUGUSTA ARE ERETO AND FORMALLY BOUND UNTO JOHN LOCKHART, PAT
MARTIN, FELIA GILBERT, AND DANIEL SMITH , JUSTICES IN COMMISSION OF THE PEACE FOR
THE SID COUNTY FOR AND IN BEHALF AND TO THE SOLE USE AND BEHALF OF THE JUSTICES
OF THE SAID COUNTY, THEIR EXECUTORS, ADMINISTORS OR ASSIGNS IN THE SUM OF FIFTY
POUNDS TO BE PAID TO THE SAID JUSTICES AND THEIR SUCESSORS TO THE WHICH PAYMENT
WILL AND TRUELY TO BE MADE WE BIND OURSELVES AND EACH OF US BY HIMSELF OUR AND
EACH OF OUR HEIRS, EXECUTORS AND ADMINISTRATORS FIRMLY BY THESE PRESENTS
SEALED BY OUR SEAL AND DATE THIS 25 DAY OF JUNE .
GEORGE IS SAID TO HAVE HAD TWO WIFES MARY MCKAY AND MARTHA BUT GEORGE
WAS ON HIS PROPERTY KNOWN AS GEORGES BOTTOM IN 1734 WHICH WAS GIVEN TO HIM ,
ACCORDING TO ROBERT MCKAYS WILL BY MARY`S FATHER ROBERT MCKAY. ROBERT DIED IN
1752 AND MARY WAS STILL ALIVE. IN 1763 GEORGE DIED LEAVING MARTHA HIS WIFE HIS
ESTATE SO GEORGE WOULD HAVE HAD TO MARRY A MARTHA BETWEEN THIS TIME PERIOD
OF 11 YEARS. COULD MARY AND MARTHA BE THE SAME PERSON ?
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WAS TAKEN FROM THE BOOK , ( SEED BED OF
THE REPUBLIC ) BY ROBERT DOUTHAT STONER.
" PROMINENT CITIZENS " PAGES 327-328
GEORGE ROBINSON , ALONG WITH ROBERT POAGUE AND JOHN MATHEWS CAME INTO
BOTETOURT COUNTY EVEN BEFORE ANY PETITIONS FOR LARGE GRANTS WERE CONSIDERED
BY THE COUNCIL. IN 1742 WE FIND HIM THE CAPTAIN OF THE MILITIA MADE UP OF THE FIRST
SETTLERS SOUTH OF THE JAMES. HE WAS A JUSTICE OF AUGUSTA COUNTY FROM THE
BEGINNING AND ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE DEVELOPEMENT OF THE WOODS RIVER GRANT
WITH COL. PATTON.
HIS LOCATION IN PRESENT BOTETOURT WAS AN ADVANTAGIOUS ONE, IN THE FORK OF
THE ROADS LEADING SOUTH AND WEST NEAR PRESENT AMSTERDAM, THE DEVELOPEMENT
OF WHICH HE SPONSORED, BRINGING IN AMONGST OTHER SETTLERS HIS BROTHER- IN- LAW ,
BRYAN MC DONALD SR., AFTER HIS DEATH , HIS LAND BECAME PARTS OF THE THOMAS
MADISON GLEBE LANDS AND THE GREENFIELD ESTATE. HE CAN TRUELY BE SAID TO HAVE
BEEN A LEADER OF THE FIRST SETTLERS OF BOTETOURT.
( PAGE 18 )
THE EARLIEST SETTLEMENT AROUND AMSTERDAM GREW UP AROUND THE HOME OF
CAPTAIN GEORGE ROBINSON. IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT WHEN THE VERY FIRST PIONEER
REACHED A GIVEN PLACE, A ROBINSON WAS READY TO LEAVE IT FOR AN EVEN MORE
REMOTE FRONTIER. THE GREAT ROAD THAT CARRIED THE EARLY CIVILIZATION FORKED IN
18
THIS COMMUNITY. THOSE WANTING TO GO SOUTHWARD TOOK THE CAROLINA ROAD WHICH
FOLLOWS SOMEWHAT THE PRESENT U.S. RTE # 220. THOSE GOING WESTWARD TURNED TO
THEIR RIGHT AND SKIRTING TINKER MOUNTAIN, TOOK THE ROAD UP TO CATAWBA CREEK.
THIS IMPORTANT JUNCTION PROBABLY HAD AS MUCH TO DO WITH THE LOCATING OF ITS
EARLY INHABITANTS AS DID THE PRODUCTIVITY OF ITS SOIL.
( PAGE 22 )
LORD BOTETOURT ON OCTOBER 30, 1745 APPOINTED TWENTY ONE MAGISTRATES TO
GOVERN AUGUSTA COUNTY, AT LEAST NINE--- JAMES PATTON, JOHN LEWIS, JOHN BUCHANAN,
GEORGE ROBINSON, ROBERT POAGUE, THOMAS LEWIS, RICHARD WOODS, JOHN CHRISTIAN,
AND JOHN ANDERSON ---- WERE EITHER THEMSELVES OR THEIR IMMEDIATE DESCENDANTS
AMONG THE MOST NOTED CITIZENS OF BOTETOURT COUNTY AT THE TIME OF ITS
ORGANIZATION.
( PAGE 21 )
IN 1745 GEORGE ROBINSON WAS GRANTED 191 ACRES ON BUFFALO CREEK NEAR THE
PRESENT DAY TOWN OF AMSTERDAM.
( PAGE 305 )
ON NOVEMBER 06, 1770 THOMAS MADISON PURCHASED LAND ON BUFFALO CREEK FROM THE
ROBINSONS.
( PAGE 425 )
BRYAN MC DONALD SR., AND BRYAN MC DONALD JR. CAME TO THE HEADWATERS OF
BUFFALO CREEK ( TINKER CREEK ) WEST OF AMSTERDAM IN 1745, HIS PARENTS HAVING COME
TO AMERICA ABOUT 1684 AND SETTLED IN NEW CASTLE COUNTY, DELAWARE. A FEW YEARS
AFTER HIS ARRIVAL IN BOTETOURT COUNTY , HE BUILT THE TWO STORY LOG STRUCTURE
WHICH STILL STANDS ON LANDS LATELY OWNED BY BREEDLOVE BUT KNOWN AS "THE OLD
BRYAN MC DONALD HOUSE " THE STONE FOUNDATION OF THIS HOUSE EXTENDED UP TO
FORM THE WALLS OF THE GROUND FLOOR, OVER WHICH WAS BUILT THE LOG HOUSE, WITH
ITS PORCH ACROSS THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE BUILDING, AND THE HUGE CHIMNEYS AT
EITHER END BEING NECESSITATED BY THE FACT THAT COOKING HAD TO BE DONE OVER
THEIR FIRES. BRYAN MC DONALDS WIFE, CATHERINE ROBINSON , WAS A SISTER OF CAPTAIN
GEORGE ROBINSON AND THE DAUGHTER OF JAMES ROBINSON, WHO WERE AMONG THE FIRST
SETTLERS IN CENTRAL BOTETOURT. SINCE BRYAN MC DONALD SR., DIED IN 1757, THIS MAY
WELL BE THE OLDEST STRUCTURE IN PRESENT BOTETOURT, BECAUSE MORE THAN TWO
HUNDRED YEARS HAVE PASSED SINCE THE DEATH OF ITS BUILDER.
NEAR HIS FATHERS HOME PLACE, BRYAN JR. BUILT IN 1766 A HOUSE OF SANDSTONE ROCK
WHICH STILL STANDS FOUR SQUARE AGAINST NATURES STORMS AND MANS DESTRUCTION.
IN THE SIDE WALL OF THIS SOLID STRUCTURE IS A LARGE STONE WITH THE DATE " 1766 "
CARVED ON IT AND AT LEAST ONE OF THE SEVERAL LEGENDARY SECRET PASSAGES CAN
STILL BE SEEN LEADING THROUGH THE FIREPLACE TO THE BASEMENT, AND IS OF SUFFICIENT
HEIGHT TO ALLOW A MAN TO STAND ERECT IN IT. FROM THE BASEMENT A SECRET
UNDERGROUND PASSAGE LED TO AN OUTBUILDING SOME DISTANCE FROM THE HOUSE ,
SHOWING THE ANXIETY OF THE BUILDER , THAT HIS FAMILY MIGHT FIND PROTECTION FROM
THE INDIANS WHO HAD ALREADY TAKEN A HEAVY TOLL FROM THEM.
( KEN ) THESE HOMES WERE STILL THERE AS OF 1962 WHEN THIS BOOK WAS PUBLISHED.
WHEN GEORGE ROBINSON WENT TO VIRGINIA THE COUNTY NAME WAS ORANGE , THEN
AUGUSTA, THEN BOTETOURT NAMED AFTER THE GOVENOR OF VIRGINIA.
More About CAPTAIN GEORGE ROBINSON:
19
Burial: AUGUSTA COUNTY, VIRGINIA WAS ORANGE CO.
Will: 19 March 1763, AUGUSTA CO, VA.
2
More About GEORGE ROBINSON and MARY MCKAY:
Marriage: August 1742, TINKLING SPRINGS, AUGUSTA CO. VA.
Children of GEORGE ROBINSON and MARY MCKAY are:
21. i. SAMUEL
5
ROBINSON, b. Abt. 1742, AUGUSTA COUNTY, VIRGINIA; d. 08 March 1821, ELK
GARDEN,VA. RUSSELL COUNTY.
22. ii. JAMES ROBINSON., b. 04 September 1743, AUGUSTA CO. VA.; d. 15 May 1799, GILBERTS CREEK,
ANDERSON CO. KY..
iii. SARAH ROBINSON., b. Abt. 1745, AUGUSTA CO, VA..
iv. ROBERT ROBINSON., b. Abt. 1747, AUGUSTA CO, VA..
v. PRISCILLA ROBINSON., b. Abt. 1751, AUGUSTA CO, VA..
vi. MARTHA ROBINSON., b. Abt. 1753, AUGUSTA CO, VA.; m. SAMUEL WOODS.
23. vii. WILLIAM ROBINSON., b. Abt. 1757, AUGUSTA CO, VA.; d. FRANKLIN CO. KY..
viii. CATHERINE ROBINSON, b. Abt. 1749, AUGUSTA CO. VA..
24. ix. GEORGE ROBINSON., b. Abt. 1755.