Christopher Robinson (burgess)
Christopher Robinson was a Virginia-born planter and politician who followed the path of his merchant and emigrant father, Col. Christopher Robinson, the patriarch of the Robinson family of Virginia.
Early life and education
His father, a planter, merchant, burgess and then member of the Governor's Council in 1692, died when he was twelve, so merchant and former burgess William Churchill, his father's executor and his mother's new husband, became guardian for Christopher and his elder brother John. Robinson then finished his education at William and Mary College in Williamsburg, which had become the colony's seat of government.Career
Upon reaching legal age, Robinson inherited his father's lands, especially Hewick plantation in Middlesex County, but also land in several counties in Virginia's Tidewater region, which he farmed using overseers and enslaved labor. Robinson also followed his father's career path by serving as a local justice of the peace, as well as in the House of Burgesses. However, unlike many other large planters, who meted out punishment on the plantation instead of bringing matters to court, between 1711 and 1725, of the 54 slaves brought before the Middlesex court for disciplining, 34 belonged to this Christopher Robinson. Many of the offenses related to stealing food, especially hogs. One slave, Charles, was brought before the court three times with confederates. On the first hog stealing offense, all were lashed, but when Charles was convicted a second time, his ears were chopped off, and he was executed after his third conviction.From 1680 and for nearly a decade except for the 1684 session, Middlesex County voters elected and re-elected Robinson as one of their representatives in the House of Burgesses. He succeeded his guardian William Churchill, who also served as his replacement.