Reverend James Robinson is a son of Robert Robinson and Rebecca Wallace of PA. About 1789, he married Elizabeth Wilson; they had a child. An unfortunate accident, killed her and their child. He devoted himself to studying to become a missionary at the Canonsburg Academy (later chartered as the Jefferson College). He was licensed and appointed a missionary by the Presbytery of Ohio 17 Oct 1805. During this time, he married Mary Welch and had two children: John Welch Robinson and Elizabeth Wilson Robinson. He came to Pickaway County, Ohio about 1809 to service the Mt Pleasant churches. Unfortunately, his second wife passed away. About 1810 he married Mary Scott and had three children: Mariah H Robinson, James Robinson and Rebecca Robinson.

"Rev. Robinson requested and was granted dismissal from the Mt. Pleasant Church in 1820, moving the family to Darby, near Milford Centre, Union Co., Ohio to accept the pastorate of the Upper and Lower Liberty Chuches, where he stayed until 1828. He followed this with service at the church of Marysville, Ohio until 1829. By 1830, he was listed in the census as living in the Clinton Township outside of Tiffin. James preached at Republic, Melmore, and Tiffin, and erected a church on South Washington St. in Tiffin, preaching there until 1834, then at Hopewell and Orangedale until 1838. His residence had changed in 1831 to Olivesburg, Richland County Ohio, six miles west of Ashland. The church at Olivesburg had been built around 1827, chiefly by William Houston. James pastored the Olivesburg Church until 1845, when it had grown to 135 communicant members.

On November 29,1842 he married his daughter Rebecca to William Houston's son, Robert, and the two remained on the Houston family farm until their passing. Sharing his time again between churches, James pastored at Olivesburg, starting in 1831, and added nearby Ashland in 1834 on a half-time basis until 1837. After James left the Ashland pastorate in 1837, he was followed by three pastors in quick succession. Under the Rev. Robert Fulton, Principal of Ashland Academy, the church dissolved in 1841. The portion of the church which reorganized in Hopewell after its resuscitation was pastored by James again in 1842-43." Source: Rev Ralph Wilson

At the time of his death, James was living with his son, John Welch Robinson in Union County, OH.

Reverend James Robinson is the great, great, great grandfather of First Lady Barbara Pierce Bush.