Robinson
The Robinson surname crops up a lot over the decades, however as yet we can rarely link the family relationships.
14th June 1761 – Acknowledgement of settlemet. “To churchwardens & overseers of Stowupland, from the same of Combs, acknoledging John Robinson, Eliz his wife, Wm, John, Martha & Eliz, their children to be our inhabitants {Note made by P. Northeast and found in Ena Carter’s Archives}
In 1791 John Robinson is named as an occupier on Crown Farm
In 1818 when Mrs (widow) Carter put Crown Farm up for auction John Robinson was living in an adjoining cottage that was offered for sale in a separate lot, (could this be Scoltons?)
02/05/ 1840. William Robinson (b 1817)) occupation was given as a carpenter, at the age of 23 he hanged himself – ‘being a lunatic’. (Stowmarket LHG archive, data collated by Steve Williams)
July 20th 1844: Sale of Property of John Stedman (Deceased) Freehold double cottage in the occupation of Edmund Robinson & George Alexander, & 3 pieces of arable land (9acres) in occupation of executors
These reminiscences were published in a 1917 newspaper.
William Robinson was the father of Edmund, and he worked as a horseman for Charles Rayner Freeman of Stowupland Hall. Edmind’s mother (Amy) lived to be 83, she had 13 children. One of her daughters was Mrs Rose Lockwood who lived in Saxon (Saxham) Street.
Searching through the census forms the Robinson family appear to have moved several times, but this is because over the decades what is now the A1120 between Thorney Green and Saxham Street corner has been known by several different names.
William’s son Edmund Robinson attended ‘secular school’ for one week only though he may have attended the Congregational Sunday School. The article says that as soon as he was old enough he was sent to Stowupland Hall where he ‘assisted Mr Charles Rayner Freeman, who was deaf and for whom he acted as interpreter about the Hall, and also made his buisness journeys in his horse and gig (Presumably between 1821 and 1864).
William Robinson was born in the early 1800s, he married Amy in 1830, by the age of 67 he is recorded in the census as being disabled but still an ag lab. In 1871 their youndest child Emily is somewhat unusually recorded as being a scholar.
Edmund Robinson (b.1834) married Esther (b . 1843 in Mendlesham). In the 1861 census, at the age of 22 his occupation is given as horseman, whether he is still helping as an interpreter for Mr C.R. Freeman we don;t know. By 1871 Edmund and Esther are living next door to his parents and they have a 1 year old son, called William. Edmund is by then an ag.lab. and Stowupland Hall is now in the hands of William Freeman.
One of Edmund’s younger brothers, Robert (b. 1854), was working at the Gun Cotton Munitions factory in 1871.
March 9th 1850: Sale of part of stock-in- trade of Mr John Robinson, who declines the wheelwright business
In 1852 William Freeman in his diaries mentions a Robinson carpenter ‘putting in windows and doors, reapairing granary and putting up new dresser.
From 1861, to be sold by Auction by Mr Henry Crosse on Nov 21st, ‘Capital assortment of Superior beech, Ash and fancy – grained Oak Plank, excellent Old English and Black Poplar Boards and Plank of various thickness, superior Elm But, Four Ash timbers, 14 pairs of naves of large dimensions, quantity of oak sills. Posts and Scantling, sundry window frames, Sash Lights, shutters, troughs, mangers, &c; several lots of Wheelwrights and carpenter’s articles; Four new ladders, strong Timber Jin, useful machines, pair of vices &c; set of nearly new Pony harness; 2 clocks, tables, chairs, linen horse, and sundry other useful furniture; the surplus stock of John Robinson, carpenter and builder, at Stowupland.’
And in the Essex Standard, 29th Jan 1868, an auction by Newmarket auctioner against John Robinson of Stowupland, carpenter – to recover £10 3s 2d having bought some lots he was unable to pay for.
John Robinson is important to our history of Saxham Street. In 1869 he was the owner and occupier of a house & shops in Saxon (Saxham) Street, with a rateable value of £6 5s 0d. This is most likely Saxham Cottage – though we don’t know if it had a name.
And from the Ipswich Chronicle 26th March 1868, ‘Mr Robinson has a contract to supply coffins to Sto Union WorkHouse.’
1881 census: Thomas Robinson (b1850) and his wife Susannah with children, Thomas, Arthur, and Mary are living in Saxham Street.
In 1901 living along Main Road at 2, Myrtle Cottage: Sarah Wilden widow (64), Charles Robinson, (son, aged 42) Gunner 88 R. F.A. (88th Regiment Field Artillery?) and Ellen C. Robertson granddaughter (9).
In 1901 Aubrey Alfred Robinson at the age of 15 was living in Saxham Street and working as a telegraph messenger. He enlisted in the 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment but he was was killed on 11 April 1917, aged 21 . He has no know grave but is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.
Nathan Robinson can be seen on this photo of a 1930s presentation of the Soames trophy for a quoits competition.Mr Robinson orgarnised the competition and was quite active in many local organisations. He was Chairman of Parish Council, school manager, Oddfellow and active in Builders trade union etc. He died in 1958. (Neil Langridge).
Ruth Robinson was born in Earl Stonhma but moved to Stowupland following her marriage to Thomas William Brame in the early 20th century
Alfred Robinson – brother of Ruth, known as Uncle Happy and lived in Church Walk. He and his wife Emily had 2 daughters Edith and Dorrie. Edith married Arthur Dent. Dorrie was unmarried but looked after her father for many years. She had been a lady’s maid. It is thought she committed suicide due to poor health.
In May 1934 the marriage took place between Miss G.R. Robinson and Mr W.T. Reason, both of Stowupland.
Also rom the 20th century, Sid Robinson.before joining th Air Ministry Works dept as a stoker at RAF Wattishem in 1939, he had worked in the fitting shop of the Suffolk Iron Foundry at Stowmarket.
In 1944 he joined the RAF as a nursing orderly becoming an NCO in charge of sick quarters.https://www.stowuplandlocalhistorygroup.org/tv-and-radio/
In 1948 he returned to RAF Wattisham.
In 1948 he built a television receiving set ‘which it was believed to be the first seen in Stowupland.’
And according to his son once more people had their own TV set, he became the ‘unofficial’ go to person for anyone where needed the set repairing.
According to this press cutting – in 1964 Miss Elaine Robinson of Eastward, The Green married Lt Peter Lee R.N. They were given a guard of honour by officers from HMS Ganges, Shotley.
1983, occupiers of Fir Tree Farm, Saxham Street were Peter Andrews & wife (this is possibly from Dec 1983) . From the voters list Nicolas C.Robinson (wife Alison)
