John H. Robinson

John H. Robinson was the elder son of Daniel Robinson and Susan Greenman, reportedly born in Woodstock, NY in 1812.  The earliest evidence we find of John is in the 1831 record of his enlistment in the U.S. Army.  He had enlisted in Albany, NY and was reportedly working as a farmer.  His younger brother, Isaac, first appeared in an 1834 newspaper (The Albany Argus) noting that he was a stone mason living in West Troy (Albany County), so it seems that the Robinson family was most likely living in the Albany area by the early 1830's.  We have yet to confirm when Daniel died or when the family left Woodstock, but it is possible that he either returned to work at the Rensselaer Glass Factory, or Susan simply brought the boys to live with her relatives in that area after Daniel died (sometime before July 6, 1833 when Susan remarried).

John's basic training seems to have been at Fort Picolata in Florida.   He remained in the Army, re-enlisting in Plattsburgh, NY (1836) to continue his service in Florida, and then re-enlisting again in DeRuyter, NY (1839) where his mother was living at the time with her 2nd husband, Jesse Stillman.  At this point, he moved to Portsmouth, NH where he worked (affiliated with Fort Constitution) as a recruiter at the rank of Sergeant.

In November of 1841, John married Sarah Ann Walden in Portsmouth.  Together they had three children, Louiza J. Robinson (1842), Charles Milton Robinson (1843), and Susan Robinson (1844).  In about 1845, John left the Army, turning to religion according to his obituary posted at Find-A-Grave (transcribed below).  The family moved to New Castle, NH and then out to Amsterdam, NY where his brother, Isaac, was living at the time.  Unfortunately, after only about a year, John fell ill with scarlet fever in Amsterdam and returned to Portsmouth, NH where he died on June 6, 1846 at the age of 34.

In 1848, Sarah married Franklin C. Hoyt, a former Army colleague of John in Portsmouth.  Sadly, she died in childbirth along with her baby, Sarah J. Hoyt, the following year.  The three Robinson children were then raised by the Hoyt family.  They appear together in the 1860 U.S. Federal Census in Portsmouth.  Louiza eventually went to live with her uncle, Isaac, in Johnstown, NY by 1862, to presumably help care for her grandmother, Susan (Greenman) Robinson, whose 2nd-husband passed away in October of that year.  Charles enlisted in U.S. Army in 1861 to serve in the Civil War and returned home after being injured in the Second Battle of Bull Run (1862).   He remained in New Hampshire, the state his family and descendants called home for generations.  Susan Robinson, however, remains a mystery at this time.  She last appeared in the 1860 U.S. Federal Census, and was perhaps married or died before 1870.  I am hoping genetic genealogy will help tie up the loose ends.

OBITUARIES. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DIED,

In Portsmouth, N.H., on the 6th inst. JOHN H. ROBINSON, aged 34, a member of the Pleasant-street Church of that place; recently of Amsterdam, N.Y. The following obituary notice has been sent to us by a friend – a member of the same church.

Bro. Robinson was a native of Ulster County in the State of New York. He first came to Portsmouth about the year 1839, as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army, connected with the recruiting rendezvous then opened at Portsmouth. By his kind manners and gentlemanly deportment he soon endeared himself to a large number of friends. They found him to be a worthy and estimable young man. In Nov. 1841, he was married to Miss Sarah Ann Walden, of that town, with whom he lived happily until his death. During the winter of his marriage, his mind was powerfully excited on the subject of religion, and he was induced to confess that when he was about twelve years of age, he made a public profession of religion and was baptized, but did not join any church – that by neglecting duty he had, in a measure, given up the hope he once enjoyed; and desired the prayers of Christians that he might once more be brought to enjoy the liberty of the Gospel. Soon afterwards his mind was set free. Having renewed his covenant, and choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, he related his experience and offered himself as a member of the Pleasant-Street Christian Church, and was publicly received as such on the 6th of March 1842. From that time he began to doubt the propriety of continuing his connection with the army, considering it inconsistent to be a disciple and soldier of Christ, and at the same time to be engaged in qualifying himself and others in the art of killing their fellow men. His convictions on this point grew so strong that, at the expiration of the time for which he had enlisted, he left the service, having served 15 years therein with honor to himself and with the respect and confidence of his superior officers. This was in April,1844. He removed to New Castle, where he remained about one year and then removed to Amsterdam in the state of New York. He had but just got comfortably established at that place when he was taken violently sick with the scarlet fever and inflammation of the lungs. His sickness was long and distressing, leaving him in a weak and debilitating condition. Remaining feeble, and being unable to attend to any business – fearing also that he should never be any better, he concluded to return to Portsmouth. He arrived there in March last. His health continued failing – medical aid and the attention of kind friends could do him no good. On the morning of the 6th inst. he quietly and peaceably fell asleep in Christ. On the following Sabbath his remains were carried to the meeting- house, where he had so often lifted his voice in prayer and praise to God, and an appropriate sermon was preached by Brother J C Blodgett, who supplied the pulpit on that day, from Phil. 1:21 ‘For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” It was a solemn and affecting time. After the customary services on such occasions his body was conveyed to the South Cemetery, or ‘proprietor’s burying ground,’ followed by many sympathizing friends desirous of showing their respect for him they so dearly loved.

Brother R. maintained his profession to the last. During his sickness he exhibited the true spirit of a Christian, and manifested a perfect resignation to the Divine will. At times he suffered much distress, but all was calmness and serenity. A chasm has been made which cannot easily be filled. The church has lost a valued member, and society one of its brightest ornaments. Kind and faithful as a husband, his death is deeply afflictive to his companion. May she be led to adopt the language of Job; ‘The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taketh away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’ He has left three children, too young, as yet, to realize their loss. May they as did their father, give their hearts, and dedicate themselves, to their heavenly Father. A fond mother and an affectionate brother will receive the news of his death with grief, though not perhaps entirely unexpected. He who parted with them so short time since, in hopes to meet him again in this world, has been removed by the cold hand of death – no more will he greet them here – his account is sealed up.

May all who are in any way afflicted by this dispensation of Providence, be prepared to follow him who ‘though dead yet speaketh.’ Happy will it be for us all if we can leave as good evidence, as our brother has, that our work is well done and that we are fitted for death.

[?] Herald
Thursday, June 25, 1846 Exeter, NH