Rev. William Albert Robinson, D.D., s. of Rev. Septimius Robinson and Semantha Washburn, b. Feb. 24, 1840 at Morristown, VT. He d. Oct. 18, 1910, Æ 71. At his death he was residing at Davenport, IA with the family of his son-in-law and dau., Edson N. and Emily Maria (Robinson) Coleman.

On Sept. 1, 1862 at Morristown, VT William m. Lucy Camp Swift, dau. of Silas Nathaniel Swift and Sylvia Camp, b. Nov. 15, 1840 at Fairfax, VT. She d. in 1935, Æ 95, at Davenport, IA also while residing with the family of her son-in-law and dau.

Rev. William and his wife Lucy were sixth generation half-cousins. William was a paternal descendant of the Sandwich, Mass. immigrants William Swift and his first wife Sarah while wife Lucy was the paternal descendant of the same William Swift and his second wife, the widow Joan Dimbleby. Rev. William Albert was a maternal descendant of Mayflower passengers William White, his wife Susanna Jackson and their son Resolved White; of Francis Cooke, his wife Hester and daughter Jane (Cooke) Mitchell; and James Chilton and daughter Mary (Chilton) Winslow. Separately, Lucy Camp (Swift) Robinson was a descendant of Mayflower passenger Richard Warren, Sr.

In 1902 as part of a historical sketch of his ancestry published by the Robinson Family Association, Rev. William Albert Robinson wrote regarding Rev. John Robinson, the father of Isaac Robinson, the American family's immigrant ancestor:

• In 1891, a committee of the National council of Congregational Churches of this country, on which the writer of this sketch had the honor to serve, caused a handsome bronze tablet to be placed in his memory upon the wall of St. Peter's Cathedral at Leyden, bearing, besides the record of his name and offices, the apt inscription 'In Memoria Aeterna Erit Justus.'

While the "Proceedings" of the 1891 dedication in Leiden was fully published, William Albert Robinson's name is not listed as having traveled to Leiden and directly participated in the dedication ceremony.

At his death an extended obituary was published in several newspapers. The following is from the Wednesday, October 19, 1910 issue of The Daily Times of Davenport, IA:

•Dr. William Albert Robinson, a clergyman of the Congregational denomination, who has been making his home with his daughter, Mrs. E. N. Coleman, 844 East Fourteenth street, for the past two years, died this morning.

•Dr. Robinson was born In Morristown, VT Feb. 24, 1840. The son of a clergyman, he decided early in life to enter the same calling. After attending the People's academy of Morrisvllle, VT he graduated from Middlebury college in 1862 and from Bangor Theological seminary In 1865.

•In that year he became pastor of the Congregational church of Burton, Vt., where he remained for six years. He then accepted a call to the First Congregational church of Homer, NY, where he spent a fruitful ministry extending over nearly a quarter of a century. At the close of this period he became pastor of the First Congregational church of Middletown, NY and gave twelve more years of faithful labor to the interests of that church and community.

•He then retired from active service, devoting his time for a few years to such supply work as came conveniently in his way. In this capacity he served the church at Poughkeepsie, NY for over a year, where he might have become the regular pastor, had not premonitions of failing health warned him to decline their urgent and repeated invitations. He did his last work with the Geddes Congregational church at Syracuse, NY.

•Dr. Robinson was married in 1862 to Miss Lucy Camp Swift, who with their daughter, Mrs. E. N. Coleman of Davenport, survives him. Their only son, Henry Swift Robinson, died in 1876 at the age of 11 years.

•During the past two years Dr. and Mrs. Robinson made their home with Mr. and Mrs. E. N. Coleman. 844 East Fourteenth street where he enjoyed the quiet peace and loving care which are the natural reward of a well spent life.

•He came of a splendid Congregational ancestry, being a direct descendant of John Robinson, the famous pastor of the Pilgrim church in Holland before its emigration in the Mayflower to Plymouth, Mass. He was a man of ripe culture, broad sympathies, and varied interests, one who found it impossible to shut himself up in some narrow ecclesiastical shell, but who must expend his energies along many lines that made for the betterment of the community and the uplift of humanity. He was a member of the Vermont Constitutional, convention in 1870. member of the Vermont state board of education in 1868, president of the Homer board of education for ten years, delegate to the Inter-National Council of Congregational churches in London in 1891, president of the New York Home Missionary society for twelve years, and corporate member of the American Board of Commissioners]for Foreign Missions. He was a man of great personal charm, a strong preacher, a sympathetic pastor, a loving husband and father, and a steadfast friend.

•A stroke of paralysis, with which he was taken on Saturday, Oct. 15, ended his life on Tuesday, Oct. 18. The remains will he taken to Homer, NY, to be laid to rest amid the scenes of his labors for so many years.

Rev. William Albert Robinson and Lucy Camp Swift had the following two children:

• i. Emily Maria Robinson, b. June 14, 1863 at Morristown, VT, d. Sept. 9, 1950 at Davenport, IA, Æ 88; m. July 30, 1890 at Homer, NY as his second wife, Edson Nathaniel Coleman, s. of Lyman and Ann Coleman, b. Sept. 28, 1854 at North Lansing, NY. He d. Dec. 25, 1938 at Davenport, IA, Æ 85. Four children of the family.

• ii. Henry Swift Robinson, b. Sept. 27, 1864 at Morristown, VT; d. in his youth Mar. 16, 1876 at Homer, NY, Æ 12.

Revised and expanded 2/19/2024