William Robinson (Rhode Island official)


William Robinson was a deputy governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.

Early life

Robinson was born on January 26, 1693, in South Kingstown in the Rhode Island colony. He was the eighth of twelve children born to Mary Robinson and Rowland Robinson, who married in 1676 and acquired a fortune and considerable land holdings.
His mother was a granddaughter of Governor Henry Bull, and his father was a deputy to the general assembly. He was a relatively late immigrant to Rhode Island, arriving in Newport from Cumberland, England in 1675. His maternal grandparents were John Allen, a wealthy farmer, and Elizabeth Allen.

Career

Robinson was one of the most prominent men in the colony for many years. He first served in a civil capacity in 1724, becoming Deputy to the General Assembly from South Kingstown, and he served another eight terms. He was the Speaker of the House of Deputies in 1735 and 1741. In 1742, he was appointed by the Assembly with four others to determine if the "woods" part of Newport should be set apart from the "compact" part of Newport. The following year, the "woods" part became the new town of Middletown.
In 1745, Robinson was selected as Deputy Governor of the colony for a one year term, and then selected again in 1747 for another term, serving under Governor Gideon Wanton both times.
In the early 18th century, Robinson began the serious development of the Narragansett Pacer with a stallion named "Old Snip", speculated to be either an Irish Hobby or an Andalusian and considered the father of the breed.

Personal life

Robinson married twice, had 13 children, and resided at South Kingstown. His first marriage was in 1717 to Martha Potter, the daughter of John and Sarah Potter. William and Martha were the parents of five children:
  • Rowland, who married Anstis Gardiner in 1741.
  • John, who died unmarried.
  • Margaret, who married William Mumford in 1745.
  • Elizabeth, who married Thomas Hazard in 1742 and was the grandmother of Rowland G. Hazard.
  • Martha, who married Latham Clarke in 1747.
Following Martha's death in 1725, he married Abigail Hazard in March 1727 in Kings County. Abigail was the widow of Caleb Hazard and the daughter of William and Abigail Gardiner. This marriage resulted in eight more children:
  • Christopher, who married Rhuhama Champlin in 1752.
  • William, who married Hannah Brown in 1752. Their daughter Hannah married Lt. Gov. George Brown in 1776.
  • Thomas, who married Sarah Richardson in 1752.
  • Abigail, who married John Wanton in 1751.
  • Sylvester, who married Alice Perry in 1756 and became a freeman.
  • Mary, who married John Dockray in 1756.
  • James, who married Nancy Rodman.
  • John, who married Sarah Peckham in 1761.
Robinson died on September 19, 1751, in South Kingstown, leaving a very large estate to his heirs. He is buried in a Robinson family cemetery near Narragansett Pier. His widow Abigail died on May 22, 1772.