Robinson and Potter Family Connections; Wm. and Mary Qrtly., Vol. 18, No. 3 Transcribed by Kathy Merrill for the USGenWeb Archives Special Collections Project ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** Robinson and Potter Family Connections William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol. 18, No. 3. (Jan., 1910), pp. 190-191. ROBINSON AND POTTER FAMILY CONNECTIONS. The Virginia immigrants came over in families more or less related. Thus, besides Colonel Christopher Robinson, we find in the records of Middlesex County, Virginia, the names of Richard Robinson, Cuthbert Potter and John Vaus, who were clearly his kinspeople; all three held a leading position in the County, being large landholders, and members of the court of Magistrates. Richard Robinson gave land to the church and in 1693 his house was used for a Court House at a rent of 4000 pds. of tobacco per annum. By consulting the pedigree in Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. XV., p. 445, it will be seen that John Robinson of Cleasby, Yorkshire, father of John Robinson, bishop of London, and of Col. Christopher Robinson of Virginia, Secretary of State for that colony, had a brother named Richard Robinson, a Turkey merchant, who died unmarried. He had also a brother William who had two sons. One died in London and the other went to Virginia the Richard Robinson of Virgina was the son of William Robinson. Page 191. It is also seen from the Robinson chart that the mother of Col. Christopher Robinson was Elizabeth, daughter of Christopher Potter of Cleasby, Yorkshire. In 1656 Richard Robinson is mentioned as a "headright" of Cuthbert Potter; he married Anne ------, widow of Abraham Moone, and then of John Curtis. By his marriage with Anne, he had (1) Anne born November 26, 1670, married George Haselwood son of Captain John Haselwood of London, Mariner; and she married secondly about 1693 William Tomlin. Her daughter Anne Haselwood married William Stanard, May 3, 1708, and died December 5, 1712. (2) Richard born March 12, 1674-5 (Middlesex County Records and Parish Register). Richard Robinson, Sr., died December 19, 1693; his wife Anne Robinson, died October 5, 1688. Col. Cuthbert Potter was also a prominent citizen of Middlesex County. In 1690 he was sent by Governor Nicholson on a mission to New England, where he was badly treated. An abstract of his report is in the "British Calendar of State Papers 1689-1692". He died in 1691. John Vause, another kinsman, had also prominent dealings in Middlesex County. He married twice at least. One of them apepars to have been a daughter of Bertram Obert; James Curtis married Elizabeth another daughter of Bertram Obert. A later representative of the Potter family was Dr. Henry Potter of Middlesex County, a prominent physician, a man of high culture and refinement. His tomb- stone may still be seen at Christ Church, Middlesex County. He married Hannah, daughter of Hon. John Grymes, Esq., of Middlesex, who died November 2, 1748. He had two daughters mentioned in the will of their grandfather John Grymes, Hannah and Susannah. Miss Susannah, or "Sukey" Potter was a belle in her day, and was one of Jefferson's fair acquaintances when a collegian at William and Mary, and she figures in his early letters. (See Ford, Writing of Jefferson, Vol. I., 352-356).