ROBINSON

GEORGE ROBINSON [I], arrived in Boston, Mass., in 1634, from England or Wales. was born about 1633. He married MARY BUSHNELL, born in 1638.

Their son, GEORGE ROBINSON, JR., born 1658, in Boston, Mass.. married SARAH REED, who was born in 1665.  He died in Needham, Suffolk County, N.Y., in 1726.

Their son, GEORGE ROBINSON, III,  born 1685 in Needham, Mass., died in Dudley, Mass., in 1752.  He married MARY LEARNED, born 1686, in Middlesex, Mass., and who died in Dudley, Worcester County, Mass., in 1750.

Their son, SILAS ROBINSON, born 1721 in Needham, Mass., married SUSANNAH MOORE, who was born in 1728 in Oxford Mass., and died in Dudley, Mass., in 1792. He died in 1801 in Dudley, Mass.

Their son, MICAIAH ROBINSON, born 1765-66 in Dudley, Mass., married SARAH BALLARD, who was born in 1764, Middlesex County, Mass.  They later moved to Hartwick, Otsego County, N.Y.  She died in 1852 in Otsego County, N.Y.  He died there in 1829.

Their son, Dr. SILAS B. ROBINSON, [my g-g grandfather], was born in Hartwick, Otsego County, N.Y., on Feb. 25, 1795. He married MARIA SLOCUM, born in 1799 in Wilkes Barre, Pa., the daughter of Major BENJAMIN SLOCUM, (Frances Slocum's brother).

Their son, Giles Slocum Robinson, m. Mary Jane Race (the Phillips line directly back to George Soule...Mayflower); Benjamin Slocum Robinson, m. Gertrude Wilson; and on.
 

Dr. Silas B. Robinson Dr. Silas B. Robinson came into the township in 1823, where he creditably practiced his profession nearly forty years. So long had he lived in the township, and so well was he known for his blunt manners, blameless life, and kind heart, even with all his pardonable eccentricities, that his presence was welcome everywhere, and his sudden death in 1860 widely lamented. [Page 201]

Thirty-nine years ago, in 1846, there were but two doctors between Pittston and Carbondale, Dr. Silas B. Robinson, who died in 1860, and the writer. [Page 458]
From History of the Lackawanna Valley, by H. Hollister, M.D.; Fifth Edition; Printed by J.B. Lippincott Company, Philidelphia, 1885. 

"Dr. Silas B. Robinson came into the township in 1823, where, as Dr. Hollister, the historian of this valley, says, he practiced his profession creditably for nearly forty years. Dr. Throop used to say that Dr. Robinson often walked as far as Tunkannock to confinement cases for very small fees." [From History of Scranton, 1914, by Colonel Frederick L Hitchcock, "Pioneer Physicians" Page 325]

"Dr. Silas Robinson came to Providence Township in 1823. He was born in Otsego County, New York, and received an ordinary education, but by native industry attained a respectable  knowledge of medicine under the tuition of Dr. Stephen Wilson of Lawrence, New York, receiving a diploma from the Otsego County Medical Society in March, 1821. From November, 1821, until March 1822, he practiced medicine at Abington, and soon afterward removed to Providence.  At this time there were only two other physicians in the valley, Dr. Davis and Dr. Nathaniel Giddings, the latter of whom settled at Pittston in 1783. Dr. Robinson practiced over a large extent of country, making his visits on foot, sometimes "attending all far and near regardless of fee or reward".   He died suddenly of congestion, January 10, 1860, having visited patients within two hours of his death." [Page 506 of History of Scranton, Pennsylvania, by David Craft, William A. Wilcox, Alfred Hand, J. Wooldridge, published for H.W. Crew by the United Brethren Publishing House, Dayton, Ohio, 1891.]


Dr. Silas B. Robinson settled in the township in 1823. Born in Otsego, New York, he had but an ordinary education; but after reading under the direction of several prominent physicians of that State, received his diploma from the Otsego Medical Society in 1821. There were only two other physicians in the valley at this time, and he had a large practice, which extended into adjoining counties. His sudden death, which occurred from congestion, in 1860, was widely deplored, as he was a man of sterling worth, vigorous habit, blunt manners and blameless life. [Page 94 of A Half Century in Scranton, by Benjamin H. Throop, M. D., 1895]


The following was written for an edition in a local historical society in Hartwick, N.Y., called The Pioneers of Otsego County.

Article written by the grandson of Micaiah Robinson, Deacon Solomon Robinson. (Micaiah, the father of Dr. Silas B. Robinson, later of Wyoming Valley.)

In March 1792 Micaiah Robinson, a citizen of the east part of Dudley - now Webster, Mass. - decided to emigrate to the west to the town of Hartwick, Otsego County, N.Y., about 70 miles west of Albany, and a distance from Dudley of about 200 miles.   As he had a wife and three children and being in midwinter so as to be able to cross at Albany on the ice, he made the following arrangements.   He built a good ox sled of bent saplings and cloth was used for a sled covering in which to place his goods, provisions and family and behind he tied a farrow cow. After getting the cow shod to prevent her slipping, he hitched up his oxen and started on his journey.   When night overtook them they put up at a tavern or private home as convenience offered; took out their beds to lie on during the night, and their cold provisions, together with the milk from the cow, and made a good meal.  The next morning they would start out again and so continued until they arrived at their journey's end in about two weeks.

His wife (Sarah) endured the fatigue of the journey well but had one constant fear of crossing the Hudson River at Albany on the ice.   On approaching Micaiah found it well frozen over and informing his wife of the fact she, however thought the way was rough as he seemed to make great effort to keep his team clear from the stumps.   After the crossing was over, he informed her of the safe passage over the river to her great surprise.


[Page 94, History of Scranton, Pennsylvania] "On a knoll just below the village of Providence now stands the low brown cottage where Doctor Robinson commenced practice in 1823. At this time no other practitioner save Davis and Giddings [both of Pittston,] lived in the valley, nor was the wild region known as Drinker's Beach trodden by a physician until long after this time." For a number of years the good doctor rode the bridle paths, and forded the streams, and breasted the storms on his horse in answer to calls for his services, without a rival. With the increasing population of later years the city has enjoyed the services of men more noted in their profession, but of none with a warmer heart or of more self-sacrificing toil.


Proceedings and Collections of the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society
For the Year 1905 Volume IX

Page 98: Pioneer Physicians of Wyoming Valley

Dr. Silas B. Robinson

Dr. Silas B. Robinson settled in Providence, Pa., in 1822 or 1823, where he practiced his profession nearly 40 years. So long had he lived in the township and so well was he known for his blunt manners, blameless life and kind heart, even with all his pardonable eccentricities, that his presence was welcome everywhere and his sudden death in 1860 was widely lamented. He was born February 25, 1795, in Hartwick, N.Y. Dr. Throop in "Half Century in Scranton" says he received his diploma from the Otsego Medical Society in 1821. He had a large practice in Lackawanna Valley and neighboring counties. Dr. Hollister said of him:

During his long practice he always carried his own medicine, which he purchased in Wilkes Barre, at the nearest drug store, 19 miles away. He always went on foot, no matter how great the distance or urgent the case. A colt once ran away with him and never afterwards would he ride in a wagon. He always carried his rusty turnkeys to twist out teeth. He had two peculiarities, one was to always read the Bible at the bedside of his patient, and the other was his great habit of profanity. He would rarely utter a sentence without an oath. He had no competitor in the field, while Dr. Nathaniel Giddings, at Pittston Ferry, Dr. Andrew Bedford, of Abington, and Dr. Thomas Sweet of Carbondale were his nearest colleagues.

From Page 88: Dr. Nathaniel Giddings:

He, (Dr. Giddings), at Pittston Ferry, and Dr. Robinson at Providence, were the only physicians between Wilkes Barre and Carbondale.

First cottage on Lake Winola, Pa., above and near Scranton, Pa.  On the
Point," between large and small lakes. This photo was taken previous to 1910,
when the cottage was sold by Benjamin Slocum Robinson.

Left to right as written on the back of the picture.

Back row...... Benjamin Slocum Robinson (His Cottage); Sam Lewis; Next ?; Chas. Bertine (On railing)

Front row.....
Bert Sherman; Next ?; John Wolf

Front, on step....Henry "Hog" Smith, who lived to be well over 100 years old.

Copyrighted By Ralph W. Robinson, II.


These documents are made available for non-commercial personal use.

Lake Winola, including a Postcard of The Point, showing the Robinson Cottage

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