Great Grandparents Robinson

This partially, and only partially, restored photo shows my great grandparents, Israel and Elizabeth Robinson (nee Drew) and their son, George. The picture was taken at Cashion's Glen, near Cornwall, Ontario. Elizabeth was the daughter of my great great grandmother whose picture I showed in a previous post just a few days past.

Israel was a farmer and cobbler who seems to have be a rather hardy individual because a photo album note says that, when he was in his seventies, he walked thirty-five miles to visit his brother in Glen Robertson. I don't know if that was one way or both. He may have been the brother or other relative of the John Beverley Robinson who was the first attorney general of Upper Canada. The same relationship might also exist between him and Peter Robinson for whom the city of Peterborough, Ontario is named. Apparently, Peter led a group of immigrants from Ireland to settle in that area.

My grandmother, Charlotte or Lottie, spent some time back at Cashion's Glen caring for her father, my great grandfather Israel, after he fell and broke his hip. My mother and uncle spent some time there too as children, but I think they were all back in Montreal when he died.

I believe that Great Grandmother Elizabeth was the one who visited from one family member to the next to end her days. I'm sure that she couldn't keep the farm up. I remember my mother telling of either having to give up or share her bed with the old lady; I forget which. The boy, George, died when he was thirteen. My grandmother had two sisters, Bertha and Mamie. I knew Bertha's daughters and their children, but I never met Mamie who ended up in California. However, I am indebted to her for sending me the first novel that I ever read, The Bobbsey Twins at The Seashore. My memory tells me that I started it one day in the summer when I was seven and was quite surprised and proud that I finished it. After that, I read many other Bobbsey Twins books before moving on to The Hardy Boys and others.

This is the branch of the family that has longer roots in Canada than all of the rest, on both his and her side, I believe. Several years ago, I went to Glen Roberston and found some grave stones of some Robinsons but not of these people. Now I know that they lived in another settlement, and I think that they were buried on the farm anyway: at least my great grandfather and his son, George, were.

I'm so glad that my mother put these albums and notes together for us. It's neat to learn some of the stories and to think that I and my offsrping carry some genetic material from these folk.