Family History 4.02

Robinson story

Extract from Robinsons of Rotherhithe by Joanne Robinson

 

Robinson Roots

 

The history of our Robinson family traced so far begins in the Rotherhithe-Bermondsey area of London. The year is 1779 and William Robinson and Elizabeth Metcalfe are born to their respective parents.

 

King George the Third is on the British throne, but England's stability is being threatened by the American Revolutionary War, which will end in 1780, with England losing vast areas of its colonial possessions in North America.

 

Napoleon's statue at Waterloo

As William and Elizabeth grow up they may hear of the First Fleet's arrival in Australia and New South Wales, where Britain's criminals are being sent. Once again England is under threat, this time by Napoleon, in a war that will begin in 1793 and not end completely until 1815, with his defeat at Waterloo. The war will cause a huge drain on Britain's economy and as young adults they will certainly know of the food shortages, which cause the bread riots.

 

In 1802 William and Elizabeth will meet, and marry on the 25th of May, at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Bermondsey, the witnesses to the marriage being Thomas Robinson, possibly William's father, and Thomas Metcalfe, possibly Elizabeth's father.

 

The church that they chose for their wedding was built in 1675-7 on the site of a previous monastic church which was pulled down in the latter part of the seventeenth century. The church was altered by the addition of galleries in 1793, before they were married there, and in 1830 the top stage of the tower was removed and changed to the present lantern-like structure.

 

In 1803 the first settlers were arriving in Tasmania, and little do William and Elizabeth realise that in years to come they will be farewelling some of their family to settle in another new land. Their first child, a daughter, they named Lydia, and she was born on the 3rd of June 1804. Then there seems to be a gap of some years until 1811, when their twins, Joshua and Caleb, are born on March the 11th in Paradise Street, Rotherhithe.

 

They have two more children that we know of, Ebenezer born some time in 1813, and Jemima sometime in 1816.

 

We don't know what occupation William follows, but as they live in the Bermondsey-Rotherhithe area and two sons become carpenters it can be assumed he has something to do with the building trade. As Joshua will tell us in his "Journal", the family was wealthy enough to send the children to a private school and provide them with books to further their education.

 

 

Paradise Street is in the centre of this 1830 map of part of the Borough of Southwark