According to Walter H. Burgess in "John Robinson, Pastor of the Pilgrims" (New York, 1920), a Christopher Robinson paid taxes on land at Sturton in 1544 and 1571. Burgess then made the leap that in 1585 Christopher's apparent son John paid taxes on the same land, at the rate of five shillings four pence. There is no proof that the property Christopher Robinson last paid taxes on in 1571 is the same property that John Robinson, Sr. paid taxes on in 1585. Further, there is no proof that a Christopher Robinson was the father of John Robinson, Sr. There is no known male descendant of John Robinson, Sr. and his wife Anne for upwards of 8 subsequent generations named Christopher, whether in England or New England. In fact, by virtue of John's own will versus that of his wife Anne's two years later, the land on which the Robinson family resided was very likely from wife Anne's side of the family, and not inherited from John Robinson Sr.'s side of the family.
John Robinson Sr. married Anne (---) sometime before 1575, whose parentage and place of birth remain unknown. In 1587-1589, and again in 1609, John is recorded as having been the churchwarden of the Sturton-Le-Steeple parish church [Archdeaconry Court of Nottingham records.] He was particularly close in civil and religious affairs with John Quippe (1562-1602), the parish vicar.
On March 26, 1588 John was appointed supervisor of the will of Richard Worsley and in 1591 gave evidence on behalf of the Countess of Rutland. In 1599 John and Robert Poole were overseers of the will of Ellen White of Fenton, who was not one and the same as Ellenor (Smith) White, the mother of John's subsequent daughter-in-law Bridget White (wife of Rev. John Robinson, Jr.) On June 29, 1602 John Robinson Sr. was appointed with the parish vicar to receive the bond of neighbor Margaret Flower.
John Robinson, Sr. died at Sturton-Le-Steeple within the five month span of Mar. 14, 1613/4, the date of his will, and Aug. 19, 1614, the date his will was probated. In the order mentioned, his will gave:
• 1. to the poor of Sturton and Fenton, £6, 13 shillings, 4 pence.
• 2. to eldest son John, 5 marks, son John's wife [Bridget] 20 shillings, to their son John 40 shillings, and to each of their other children 20 shillings.
• 3. to youngest son William £105 and to William's wife 20 shillings and to each of their children 20 shillings.
• 4. to son-in-law Roger Lawson 20 shillings "which he owes me" upon condition he performed a will and a gift which he made to William Pearte.
• 5. to son-in-law William Pearte 20 shillings, to William's wife 20 shillings, and to each of their children 20 shillings.
• 6. to Richard Barke and his wife, 10 shillings.
• 7. to his servant John Mytton 10 shillings and to Joan Greene 1 shilling, 5 pence.
• 8. to his cousin William Fenton 10 shillings and to the latter's daughter, John's goddaughter, 1 shilling, 5 pence.
• 9. loving wife Anne to be sole executor, and bequeathed all the residue of his goods and cattle.
• 10. his loving cousin William Fenton and loving son William Peart are named overseers.
The Will was witnessed by William Fenton and Robert Bishopp, and proved by the oath of "Anne Robinson Widow the Relict and sole Executrix."
John Robinson, Sr. left no provision for the disposition of any real estate, especially to wife Anne. On the other hand, in the widow Anne's will of 1616 she left the family homestead to eldest son John, "my heir apparent."
John Robinson, Sr. and wife Anne had three known children, the eldest son being:
• i. Rev. John Robinson, Jr., b. at Sturton-Le-Steeple in 1576 and d. at Leiden in South Holland on Mar. 1, 1624/5 in the modern (Gregorian) English calendar (Mar. 1, 1625 in the Dutch calendar.) He m. on Feb. 15, 1603/4 at St. Marys Church in Greasley Parish, in western Nottinghamshire, Bridget White, dau. of Alexander White & Ellenor Smith, b. at Sturton-Le-Steeple. She died, possibly at Leiden, Holland after Oct. 28, 1643, the date of her Dutch will at Leiden.
Revised 3/7/2016
According to Walter H. Burgess in "John Robinson, Pastor of the Pilgrims" (New York, 1920), a Christopher Robinson paid taxes on land at Sturton in 1544 and 1571. Burgess then made the leap that in 1585 Christopher's apparent son John paid taxes on the same land, at the rate of five shillings four pence. There is no proof that the property Christopher Robinson last paid taxes on in 1571 is the same property that John Robinson, Sr. paid taxes on in 1585. Further, there is no proof that a Christopher Robinson was the father of John Robinson, Sr. There is no known male descendant of John Robinson, Sr. and his wife Anne for upwards of 8 subsequent generations named Christopher, whether in England or New England. In fact, by virtue of John's own will versus that of his wife Anne's two years later, the land on which the Robinson family resided was very likely from wife Anne's side of the family, and not inherited from John Robinson Sr.'s side of the family.
John Robinson Sr. married Anne (---) sometime before 1575, whose parentage and place of birth remain unknown. In 1587-1589, and again in 1609, John is recorded as having been the churchwarden of the Sturton-Le-Steeple parish church [Archdeaconry Court of Nottingham records.] He was particularly close in civil and religious affairs with John Quippe (1562-1602), the parish vicar.
On March 26, 1588 John was appointed supervisor of the will of Richard Worsley and in 1591 gave evidence on behalf of the Countess of Rutland. In 1599 John and Robert Poole were overseers of the will of Ellen White of Fenton, who was not one and the same as Ellenor (Smith) White, the mother of John's subsequent daughter-in-law Bridget White (wife of Rev. John Robinson, Jr.) On June 29, 1602 John Robinson Sr. was appointed with the parish vicar to receive the bond of neighbor Margaret Flower.
John Robinson, Sr. died at Sturton-Le-Steeple within the five month span of Mar. 14, 1613/4, the date of his will, and Aug. 19, 1614, the date his will was probated. In the order mentioned, his will gave:
• 1. to the poor of Sturton and Fenton, £6, 13 shillings, 4 pence.
• 2. to eldest son John, 5 marks, son John's wife [Bridget] 20 shillings, to their son John 40 shillings, and to each of their other children 20 shillings.
• 3. to youngest son William £105 and to William's wife 20 shillings and to each of their children 20 shillings.
• 4. to son-in-law Roger Lawson 20 shillings "which he owes me" upon condition he performed a will and a gift which he made to William Pearte.
• 5. to son-in-law William Pearte 20 shillings, to William's wife 20 shillings, and to each of their children 20 shillings.
• 6. to Richard Barke and his wife, 10 shillings.
• 7. to his servant John Mytton 10 shillings and to Joan Greene 1 shilling, 5 pence.
• 8. to his cousin William Fenton 10 shillings and to the latter's daughter, John's goddaughter, 1 shilling, 5 pence.
• 9. loving wife Anne to be sole executor, and bequeathed all the residue of his goods and cattle.
• 10. his loving cousin William Fenton and loving son William Peart are named overseers.
The Will was witnessed by William Fenton and Robert Bishopp, and proved by the oath of "Anne Robinson Widow the Relict and sole Executrix."
John Robinson, Sr. left no provision for the disposition of any real estate, especially to wife Anne. On the other hand, in the widow Anne's will of 1616 she left the family homestead to eldest son John, "my heir apparent."
John Robinson, Sr. and wife Anne had three known children, the eldest son being:
• i. Rev. John Robinson, Jr., b. at Sturton-Le-Steeple in 1576 and d. at Leiden in South Holland on Mar. 1, 1624/5 in the modern (Gregorian) English calendar (Mar. 1, 1625 in the Dutch calendar.) He m. on Feb. 15, 1603/4 at St. Marys Church in Greasley Parish, in western Nottinghamshire, Bridget White, dau. of Alexander White & Ellenor Smith, b. at Sturton-Le-Steeple. She died, possibly at Leiden, Holland after Oct. 28, 1643, the date of her Dutch will at Leiden.
Revised 3/7/2016