William Robinson (1758 - 1825)

Biography

Lieutenant William Robinson served with Amherst County Militia, Virginia Militia during the American Revolution.

William Robinson is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A031811.

William was the son of John and Lucy Robinson and had the following siblings: Stephen, Harry, John, Thomas, Simeon, Joseph, Dolly, Pheby, and Agatha.^[1]

He was married to Nancy^[2] or Lucy^[3] on 6 Mar 1786 ^[4] in Campbell, VA.

William had a Will written on 4 Jan 1825 and presented for probate on 21 Mar 1825 in Amherst, VA. In it he identified family, slaves, and associates. ^[5]

• Son - Simeon W. Robinson
• Daughter - Lucy Hollandsworth
• Daughter - Elizabeth Williams
• Daughter - Catherine Terry
• Daughter - Polly W. Robinson
• Female slave - Suchey Baldwin and two children, Pleasant and Maria.
• Daughter - Sarah Jane Robinson
• Female slave - Fanny Carter and her children, Hester Ann and Caroline
• Daughter - Martha S.P.A D.S.P.M. Robinson
• Female slave - Celia
• Male slave - Sondon

• Others Mentioned
• Jesse - someone he shares land with, maybe Jesse Beck
• Baldy McDaniel and Soderick McDaniel - trustees for unwed daughters
• David and George Markham - Executors

William was a Lieutenant during the Revolutionary war. Lt. William Robinson served with Capt. Givings and Col. Huggart. He marched from Augusta County Va . when Lord Cornwallis came to Virginia , and Tarleton plundered Charlottesville , to Albemarle , thence variously through the Country. ^[6]

Family Bible Records

Family Search contains records for a "William Robinson Family Bible" noted as being stored in the Virginia Library Archives. Page 1 of 2 and Page 2 of 2. The following is transcribed from there:

• William Robinson was born on the 11th day of September 1752
• Lucy Wiley, his wife, was born on the 2nd of January 1767
• T(h)ey were married May 7th 1786
• Their two first died in a few hours.
• Simmeon Robsinson was born on 22 day of Nov. 1790
• Lucy Robinson was born on May x2, 1792
• Elizabeth A. Robinson was born on May 12th, 1794
• Catherin Robinson was born 13 August 1796
• Mary W. Robinson was born 11 day of March 1800
• Sarah Jane Robinson was born on 14 July 1803
• Martha L. Robinson was born on 11 (sic) day 1807 

• Mr. Walker Terry to Mis Mary W. Robinson on the 24th of December 1827 by the Rev. John Early
• Walker Terry born on the 2day of September 1798
• Mary W. Robinson was born on the 11th day of March 1800
• William Robinson Terry was born on the 3 day of July 1829
• Xev William Robinson died 17th day of March 1825
• Lucy Robinson, his wife, died 27th of September 1825

Legal Transactions

In 1801 William purchased 145 acres on Fall Creek.

• Deeds: "Deed Book I, 1799-1802, Amherst County, Virginia: Amherst. Deed Books ", page 275
  > image 152 of 333
  FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSLD-1366-V (accessed 23 October 2025)

In 1813 William is appointed trustee to sell property of Benjamin Watts in Amherst, VA. Included in the transaction are enslaved persons who were to be sold. Their names were: Emamile, Dick, Sophia and three children, James, Ewel, and Leroy.

• Deeds: "Deed Book M, 1811-1815, Amherst County, Virginia: Amherst. Deed Books", p. 481
  > image 275 of 409
  FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSRY-XQ46-7 (accessed 23 October 2025)

In a 1824 deed, the year prior to his death, William sold 137 acres located on the waters of Fall Creek near Lynchburg where he was presently residing. He sold 91 acres to John M. Williams (son-in-law) for $660.50.

• Deeds': "Deed Book Q, 1824-1825, Amherst County, Virginia: Amherst. Deed Books"
  > image 24 of 258
  FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C3Q1-L9Y3-G (accessed 23 October 2025)

In 1825 a deed of 132 acres on the waters of Bolling Creek that had been transferred to William by his mother, Lucy. Land was transferred to his daughters, Lucy W. Hollingsworth (wife of William), Elizabeth Williams (wife of John M. Williams), and Catherine Terry (wife of Thomas R. Terry).

• Deeds: "Deed Book Q, 1824-1825, Amherst County, Virginia: Amherst. Deed Books", p. 446
  > image 254 of 258
  FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C3Q1-L9TL-B (accessed 23 October 2025)

Sources

1. ↑ Amherst, VA Court Records: "Will Book No. 3., 1786-1800"
   > image 289 of 673, page 516
   FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-L9P7-SCZ8 (accessed 16 January 2025) Will of John Robinson
2. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution; "Genealogy Search" https://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A031811, (accessed 16 Jan 2025)
3. ↑ Marriage: "Virginia, Marriages, 1785-1940"
   citing Digital film/folder number: 007578854; FHL microfilm: 31050; Record number: 822; Packet letter: C
   FamilySearch Record: XRWH-25G (accessed 18 January 2025)
   William Robinson marriage to Lucy Wiley, daughter of John Wiley, on 6 Mar 1786 in Campbell, Virginia, United States.
4. ↑ Marriage: "Marriage Registers 1782-1853, Campbell County, Virginia: Campbell. Marriage Registers 1782–1853"
   Film number: 007578854 > image 97 of 152
   FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-L9XF-VX9K (accessed 18 January 2025)
5. ↑ Amherst, VA Court Records: "Will Book No. 6., 1818-1827"
   > image 614 of 714, page 360
   FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-99P7-SCK7 (accessed 16 January 2025)
6. ↑ Revolutionary War Bounty Records: "Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 2028, Thomas Vines, Va.: United States. Military Pension Records 1775–1900: "
   > image 14 of 85
   FamilySearch Image: 3QHV-97MG-79L2-N (accessed 16 January 2025)