Robinson Genealogy

 Nadene Goldfoot                                        

Today I made a discovery about John Robinson.  Though I knew he was born on April 12, 1798 in Scipio, Cayuga, New York, the only thing that I considered was that it was New York.  Eliza Fowler, his wife, was also from Scipio, Cayuga, New York.  I have it that John died in Tunbridge, Orange, Vermont, home of many Durkees, a few Robinsons and it happens to be next door to Royalton, Windsor,  Vermont.  In fact, Julia Ann Tuller was Abiathar Smith Robinson's wife, and Julia's mother was Asenath Durkee b; 1814 in Royalton, Vermont.  

Elisha Durkee,  son of Andrew Durkee,  was born June 6, 1764 in Windham, Connecticut but died August 21, 1819 in Scipio, Cayuga, New York.  He was Asenath's 3rd cousin twice removed.  Elisha's wife was Hannah Gore.  Maybe she was an ancestor of Al Gore.  Hanna, born in Preston, New London, Connecticut, also died in Scipio, Cayuga, New York with her husband.  Their first child was Betsy Durkee who was the 1st child born in Scipio on December 9, 1790.                                    

SCIPIO. town in Cayuga County, New York was created on March 5, 1794, so Elisha and Hanna were true pioneers starting the community.  

Scipio was one of the original towns, having been formed March 5, 1794. Sempronious was taken off in 1799; a part of Marcellus (Onondaga County) in 1804. Ledyard, Venice and a part of Springport in 1823. It is located on the west shore of Owasco Lake, south of the center of the county and has a rolling surface, the highest summits being five hundred feet above the lake, a steep bluff twenty to fifty feet high extends along the lake and from its summit the land slopes gradually upward for about a mile. The streams are nothing but mere brooks and the soil is a clayey loam.

Scipio Center, contains two churches and about one hundred inhabitants; Scipioville near the west line is about the same size as also is Sherwoods near the southwest corner. The Square in the northwest part, and Bolts Corners, in the south part are hamlets.

In 1790, the first settlements were made, Elisha Durkee, Henry Watkins, Gilbert and Alanson Tracy, Samuel Branch, Ebenezer Witter, and Gideon Allen, being the pioneers. The first child born was Betsy Durkee, December 9, 1790. The first marriage was that of William Allen and Betsy Watkins, June 25, 1793. William Daniels taught the first school in 1798, and Doctor Strong kept the first store in 1808. The first religious services were held by Elder David Irish in 1794 and the first church (Baptist), was formed the same year.  

Abiathar's father, John and his father, Edward R Robinson were from Scipio, New York.  Edward R. Robinson was married to Eunice Rix and of course, Abiathar and Julia Ann's son was named Edward Rix Robinson, b: 1852.  9 months after they had married.  

Elisha Durkee's father was Andrew Durkee who was a private in the Revolutionary War.  Born in 1737 in Windham, Connecticut, he died in Hampton, Windham, Connecticut. He had married Mary Benjamin, daughter of Joseph Benjamin and Mary Clark. 

Back to his 3rd cousin, Asenath Durkee who was born in 1814 and was born and died in Royalton, Windsor, Vermont.  Her father was Heman Durkee, Jr. b: 1789, mother being Rebecca Hatch.  His father was Col. Heman Durkee born in Woodbury, Litchfield, Connecticut in 1759 whose wife was .Susanna Rix.  We remember that Abiathar Robinson's son's name was Rix Robinson.  His father's name was Lieutenant Timothy Lewis Durkee b: 1737 in Woodbury, Litchfield, Connecticut, too but died in Royalton, VT.  His father was Captain Nathaniel Durkee, born in 1702 in Ipswich, Massachusetts and died in Woodbury, Litchfield, Connecticut. Wouldn't you know it, but Julia Ann picked a Robinson, Abiathar Smith,  who never served in the army.   

The Durkees went back to Meath County, Ireland with William Durgy/ Durkee born between 1632-1634.  Our Robinson, Ken, tested showing an Irish connection to the Fitzpatrick line with the Big Y test.                                          

Elmhurst, New York Durkee spice tins. I haven't found them lately, must now be out of business.   

The Durkees are very well-known with their spices which was their business. 

Resource:

https://wwwrobinsongenealogy.blogspot.com/2019/05/two-soldiers-saved-our-family-in.html   (my article) 

http://wwwrobinsongenealogy.blogspot.com/2017/04/robinson-durkee-tuller-in-royalton-and.html  (my article) 

Labels: Cayuga, Durkees, New York, Rix, Robinson, Scipio, Tuller

The Durkees also lived in Royalton, Vermont. Julia Ann, Tuller, my ggreat grandmother, was born there in 1834. My ggreat grandmother, Julia Ann Tuller's mother, was Asenath Durkee b: 1814-1816, daughter of Heman Durkee b: 1789 son of Col. Heman Durkee b: 1759 . His father was Timothy Durkee was born on May 1, 1737 in Pomfret, Connecticut but moved to Royalton in 1770 or perhaps 1776. The Revolution was starting then. Timothy's distant cousin was Col. John Durkee who was leading his "Sons of Liberty" into battle in Connecticut. Vermont had been part of New Hampshire and part of New York and was just evolving into the 14th state. Settlements were sparse and widely scattered.

Timothy volunteered in their army as a Private and later became Lieutenant and helped in building Fort Fortitude in Bethel, Vermont. He had married Lucy Anna. His children born in Royalton were Lorena, Jirah and perhaps a Thomas who died while young. Royalton was settled in 1770 and Timothy was an origianl proprietor when the town was chartered in 1781.

October 1780 was when the "burning of Royalton" by Indians happened. Three or more of Timothy's children were captured in this Indian raid. Andrew and Sheldon were freed because of Mrs. Hendee, but the older Adin was taken by Indians to Montreal where he died in the camp on December 19, 1780 at age 20. The oldest son, Heman, was not captured as he evidently was elsewhere at the time of the raid. Harvey, age 7, must have been with him as he was not captured, either.

Timothy died in March 1797 just before his 60th birthday. His tombstone says: "In Memory of Lt. Timothy Durkee, d: March 22, 1797, age 59 years, 10 months.

In 1780 Royalton was a fort (a temporary military installation) near the river that was taken down several months before the Indian raid of October 16, 1780. The settlers had not built near it but were strung out in clearings along both sides of the river as far as the First Branch, up that branch to Tunbridge line, and on the north side of the river to the Second Branch. The Indians came down in the First Branch burning buildings and killing livestock, taking men and boys prisoners and killing any who tried to escape. They burned everything on both sides of the river down over Sharon line and up the river to the mouth of the Second Branch. Then the raiding parties met in the meadow near the mouth of the First Branch bringing in their prisoners to Lieutenant Horton (British). Here young Mrs. Handy begged the release of her little boy and 8 others too young to survive the trip to Canada. The raiding party then went north over the hills, picking up more prisonerrs, one of whom was Zadock Steele. His writing has made the names of the Royalton settlers who suffered in the raid well known. Those who were missed in the raid also escaped being passed down in history. I believe there were 5 British soldiers accompaning the Indians on the raid.

Reference: Durkee Family Newsletter page 90-94 Volume XI Winter, 1992

Labels: Durkees, History of Royalton, Vermont 1780