Samuel Robinson (politician)

Samuel Robinson (also known as Samuel Robinson, Jr.) (August 15, 1738 – May 3, 1813) was an early Vermont political and military leader who served an officer in the American Revolution and as Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives.

Biography

Samuel Robinson was born in Hardwick, Massachusetts on August 15, 1738. He was the son of Samuel Robinson, Sr. (1707–1767), one of Vermont's earliest white settlers. Samuel Robinson's brothers included Moses Robinson and Jonathan Robinson.^[1] At the age of 17 he served in his father's company of militia during the French and Indian War.^[2]

The younger Robinson succeeded his father as one of Bennington's agents who attempted to resolve the dispute between New York and New Hampshire over control of colonial Vermont.^[3]

During the American Revolution Robinson was active in the militia, commanding a company at the Battle of Bennington and rising to the rank of Colonel.^[4][5] In 1777 and 1778 Robinson served as custodian of Loyalist prisoners.^[6]f

Samuel Robinson was a member of Vermont's Board of War and was one of the first Justices of the Peace appointed in Vermont. As Judge for the court with jurisdiction over southern Bennington County, in 1778 Robinson presided over the trial at which Ethan Allen served as prosecutor of David Redding, who had been accused of stealing a horse. Redding was convicted and executed by hanging.^[7]

Robinson served in the Vermont House of Representatives from 1779 to 1780, serving as Speaker in 1780.^[8]

Robinson died in Bennington on May 3, 1813 and is buried in Bennington's Old Cemetery.^[9]

References

1. Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of the State of Massachusetts, edited by William Richard Cutter and William Frederick Adams, Volume 1, 1910, pages 215 to 218
2. History of Hardwick, Massachusetts, by Lucius Robinson Paige, 1883, page 265
3. The Vermont Encyclopedia, edited by John J. Duffy, Samuel B. Hand and Ralph H. Orth, 2003, page 250
4. The Battle of Bennington: Soldiers and Civilians, by Michael P. Gabriel, 2012, page 112
5. The Vermont Historical Gazetteer, edited by Abby Maria Hemenway, Volume 1, 1867, page 170
6. Vermont: The Green Mountain State, by Walter Hill Crockett, Volume 2, 1921, page 137
7. Revolutionary Outlaws: Ethan Allen and the Struggle for Independence on the Early American Frontier, by Michael A. Bellesiles, 1995, pages 156 to 158
8. Catalogue of the Principal Officers of Vermont, by Leonard Deming, 1851, page 17
9. Gravestone photos, by contributor Haley Amber Cook-Maine, Samuel Robinson page, Find A Grave web site, February 12, 2011