"Colonel John Robinson" Topic

Following on from the previous request, I am also seeking information on Col.John Robinson. Towards the end of the first civil war when Wales was on the verge of being totally overrun, I believe he set sail on what must have been an extremely perilous voyage in a cockle boat to join the Earl of Derby in the Isle of Man. He did sucessfully make it, but how long he stayed there and what happened to him next is a mystery. Did he, like so many others opt to continue the fight in Ireland, or was he one of the many that voted for voluntary exile? Any information on where he went and where he eventually died would be warmly appreciated.

Hi Royalist Dave,

In the First Civil War John Robinson (1617-1681) raised a foot regiment for the King from Denbighshire. In the 1648 North Wales rising he appears to have been in command of the Trained Bands of Northern Anglesey and was marching them to Beaumaris when Mytton defeated the Royalists of Lord Bulkeley. After Beaumaris Robinson "thought it safer to commit himself to the mercy of the sea in a cock boat than to trust to Mytton's favour, and after a day and a night rowing arrived safe in the Isle of Man".

The North Wales rising is covered in an article by John Barratt in ECW Notes and Queries vols 39 and 40.

As to his later exploits, there is an entry for him in the online 'Dictionary of Welsh Biography' at wbo.llgc.org.uk/ but the site seems to be offline tonight unfortunately.

Ah according to the Wiki page he was captured at the Battle of Wigan Lane – link

Draper, quoting Robert Lilburne's letter to the Speaker of the House of Commons:

A List of the Prisoners taken at Wigan, August 25th, 1651.—Col. Throgmorton, Col Rich. Leg, Col John Robbinson, Col Baynes, Col Ratcliffe Garret, Adjutant General, Lieut.-Col Francis Baynes, Lieut.-Col Galliard, Lieut.-Col Constable, Major Oower, Four Captains, 2 Lieutenants, One Quarter-master, Twenty Gentlemen and Reformadoes, 400 Private Prisoners.—All their Baggage and Sumptures, Armes and Ammunition, the L. Derbies three cloakes with stars, his George, Garter, and other Robes.—Slaine and dead since they were taken :—The L. Witherington, Major-Gen. Sir Thos. Tilsley, Col. Math. Boynton, Major Chester, Major Trollop, and divers others of quality, whose names are not yet brought in, besides 60 private men.

Draper noted that Sir Robert Throgmorton, knight-marshal, was left for dead on the field of battle, but was taken up by a poor woman, and placed under the care of Sir Robert Bradshaw where he recovered.

Many thanks Timbo, as always you are to be relied on. An incredible journey from Beaumaris to the IoM and in a very small boat at that. An horrendous journey on one of the worst seas in the world, the man certainly had guts. However it does raise a few more questions. Was he on the island for 3 years before marching with Derby to Wigan, or did he venture into Ireland along with several other well known Royalists that also appeared on the island including Lord Byron? After his capture at Wigan was that the end of his military career or did he get involved with the ill fated rising in 1655? If anyone can find out you can Timbo. Thanks again.

As ever more questions raised than answers given, but here's the Welsh Biography writeup for him (the site now appears to be playing ball)

JOHN ROBINSON ( 1617- 1681 ), royalist commander , was the eldest son of the above William Robinson . He entered Christ Church , Oxford , in 1634 (26 Sept.) and Gray's Inn in 1637 (23 Dec.) . After service in Ireland he was commissioned as lieutenant-colonel in the royal forces at home, defending Holt castle, Denbs. , against the Roundheads in Nov. 1643 , commanding a company at Rowton Heath ( 24 Sept. 1645 ) and signing the articles of capitulation for Chester the following Feb., then helping in the defence of Anglesey , where, after seizing the coastal fort of Lleiniog ( Pen-mon ), he had once more to sign terms of surrender. He also took part in the Anglesey revolt of 1648 , but arrived with reinforcements too late to save the Royalists from defeat outside Beaumaris . His flight to the Isle of Man and France , and his attempt to establish a Royalist privateering base on Bardsey ( March 1650 ), led to his inclusion ( 26 Sept. 1650 ) in the Bill for sale of delinquents' estates, but the lands were bought in by the family and through an intricate web of leases and mortgages (which left the estate fatally crippled) kept intact for Robinson on his return after the Restoration . He was named for the abortive order of the Royal Oak , took a considerable part in the political life of Anglesey (as Member of Parliament for Beaumaris , 1661-79 ), Caernarvonshire , and Denbighshire , succeeded SirJohnOwen ( 1600- 1666 ) (q.v.) as vice-admiral for North Wales , and married a Norris of Speke , the parent stock of his house. In Parliament he supported the Court , from which, according to official figures, he was drawing £200.00 GBP a year in secret service money in 1679 . As a militia colonel he was active in harrying the Dissenters and Quakers of Denbighshire . He d. on 22 March 1681 , and was buried at Gresford , his epitaphs there are in Pennant , Tours , iii, 286, and Palmer , Gresford , 60. Contemporary miniatures of colonel Robinson and of his father are preserved at Nantlys , Tremeirchion , in the possession of Mr.A. D. H.Pennant .

So Isle of Man, France, Bardsey Island and Wigan Lane – a fair old mix!

Must admit I know nothing of the Bardsey Island venture either, will check it out.

More here:
link

ROBINSON, John II (c.1617-81), of Monachty Grange, Anglesey and Gwersyllt Hall, Denb.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1660-1690, ed. B.D. Henning, 1983
Available from Boydell and Brewer

MP for Beaumaris 1661

Family and Education

b. c.1617, 1st s. of William Robinson of Gwersyllt by Jane, da. of John Price of Newtown Hall, Mont. educ. Christ Church, Oxf. matric. 26 Sept. 1634, aged 17; G. Inn 1637. m. (1) Sage, da. of Rees Lloyd of Bronwydd, Carm., s.p.; (2) aft. 1664, Margaret, da. and h. of Edward Norris of Speke, Lancs., 2s. 2da. suc. fa. 1644.1

Offices Held

Capt. of ft. (royalist) by 1643, lt.-col. by 1646; gov. Holt Castle 1643-5.2

J.p. Denb. 1643-6, Anglesey and Denb. July 1660-d.; commr. for assessment, Denb. Aug. 1660-80, Anglesey 1661-80; dep. lt. Anglesey and Denb. 1661-d.; col. of militia ft. Denb. by 1662-d.; commr. for loyal and indigent officers, Anglesey and Denb. 1662; v.-adm. N. Wales 1666-79.3

Biography

Robinson was descended from Sir William Norris, a Cheshire knight who married a sister of Owen Tudor and settled in Wales. The third generation adopted the Welsh custom of using a patronymic as surname. Robinson's grandfather, bishop of Bangor from 1566 to 1585, and a leading figure in the introduction of Protestantism to North Wales, increased the family estates by a grant of the ex-monastic property of Monachty. His father was a commissioner of array, while Robinson himself won distinction by his defence of Holt Castle in 1643 and at the battle of Rowton Heath. After negotiating the surrender of Beaumaris in 1646, he was again active in the second Civil War. He attempted to establish a royalist privateering base on Bardsey Island, and was captured at Wigan in 1651. His lands were included in the sale of delinquents' estates in 1652, but bought from the treason trustees by two of his kinsmen. He seems to have passed most of the Interregnum in Paris, sharing ‘a mean lodging' with Sir Edward Herbert. He regained his estates at the Restoration, but they were much encumbered with mortgages, and in the list of proposed knights of the Royal Oak they were valued at only £800.00 GBP p.a.4

When Heneage Finch chose to sit for Oxford University in the Cavalier Parliament, Robinson was recommended to Robert Bulkeley, Viscount Bulkeley on the King's express instructions to fill the vacancy at Beaumaris, the first of his family to enter Parliament. Although until 1665 there is the possibility of confusion with Thomas Robinson in his record as a committeeman, he was probably an inactive Member, serving on only 31 committees and making no speeches. On 6 Feb. 1662 he petitioned for a commission to keep the toll books in Welsh fairs and markets, and in the following year he was granted, together with Sir William Compton and Sir John Owen, any surplus that could be recovered from prizes taken under Commonwealth letters of marque. In this year he was added to the committee examining the defects in the Corporations Act, and appointed to that for the sectaries bill. He was also active against local dissenters as a militia officer. He first appears as an excise pensioner in 1674-5, with £300.00 GBP p.a., although in A Seasonable Argument the sum was given as £400.00 GBP He received the government whip for the autumn session in 1675, and was listed as a court dependant and a government supporter by Sir Richard Wiseman. He was marked ‘thrice vile' on Shaftesbury's list, and appeared on both lists of the court party in 1678. He probably did not stand again, dying on 15 Mar. 1681, ‘worn out as well as ennobled by honourable wounds'. His grandson William sat for Denbigh Boroughs from 1705 to 1708.5

Superb again. Know nothing of Bardsey island but trying to set up a privateer base does not surprise me. Robinson would have been well aware of the success of the privateers operating in the Irish Sea and in particular the Swan whose captain, Bartlett, made many forays into Chester during the siege. The Swan was captured in Dublin and a few years ago the wreck was found. Setting up a base made sound military sense if there was to be an attempt to retake Wales and in 1650 the chance was certainly worth taking. Look forward to your next instalment Timbo.

Hi Royalist Dave,

haven't found much beyond the standard histories on Bardsey Island really – little mention of privateering. Will keep an eye out for it though and let you know if I spot anything relevant,

Cheers!