Family History 4.01

Robinson Story

The Robinson Family

Introduction

My mother's mother's paternal grandfather, was Joshua Robinson, who arrived in Auckland in 1842.

This is his story.

These posts are largely taken from a book published in 1992 for the Robinson Reunion by Joanne Robinson, wife of Alan Robinson, a chemist with a business at Papakura. Alan's father was directly descended from Joshua, my great-great grandfather, while his mother was descended from Tom Barriball, brother of Margaret's great-great grandfather, Henry.

Before Margaret and I were married, we went looking for Barriball relatives at Waiuku, where Tom's family settled, and came across Alan's mother and established our common ancestries.

We will also be referring to a book published by the Auckland Historical Association, the diary of William Morgan, Joshua's son-in-law, and a correspondent for the Herald newspaper (called the Southern Cross then) during the Waikato Wars.

Joshua and his wife, and William and his wife, Elizabeth, Joshua's eldest child, are all buried in neighbouring graves at the little church at Pukekohe East, and you can still see the headstones if you visit.

So Joshua was the first of my ancestors to leave Europe and settle here. As you will see, he was here before the first shiploads of settlers arrived after Hobson had decided to establish his capital, named Auckland after his patron at the Admiralty, on the southern shore of the Waitemata Harbour.

By the time the Robinsons arrived, Hobson had died and the new governor was Robert Fitzroy.

The family were residents of Rotherhithe in London. Joanne's book is entitled Robinsons of Rotherhithe.

 

 

Footnote: When I was supervising Bursary exams some years ago I opened the History paper and found extracts from Joshua Robinson's diary quoted as the basis for detailed questions in the exam.