The American Revolution - Quick as you can say "Jack Robinson"

 

1911 Pocket Watch of John Robinson

There’s an old expression: Quick as you can say ‘Jack Robinson.’ Its exact origin is uncertain, but it appears at least as early as 1778 in Frances Burney’s novel Evelina. It has always meant simply: “very quickly.” And such were the events of the American Revolution. From the first shots fired in April 1775 to the far‑flung states declaring their independence through the Continental Congress, only a short year and three months had passed.

The United States was on its way to nationhood as quick as you can say "Jack Robinson."

As you may know “Jack” and “John” are really the same name. Jack grew out of a Middle English habit of adding ‑kin to names to make them affectionate or diminutive — a bit like saying “little John” or “dear John.” You still hear that old suffix in nursery rhymes like “Where is Thumbkin?” And it’s not far from the way modern Spanish adds ‑ito or ‑ita to soften or miniaturize a word.

Over time, the spoken diminutive John‑kin shifted in pronunciation and spelling as people wrote it the way they heard it. The path looks something like this: John → Johnkin / Jonkin → Jankin → Jackin → Jack

So, that brings me to John Robinson, my fifth great-grandfather. I discovered the Robinsons in my family tree fairly recently as I traced a clue left by a single piece of paper stating that my well-established 3rd great-grandfather, James Terry, was first married to a Sarah Roberton or Robinson. I was eventually able to prove that it was actually Robinson and that she and James were connected by Wills to the Robinsons whose well-heeled family came from Hewick Plantation.

John is recognized by the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) as a patriot. John was living in Amherst, VA during the conflict. He was in his late 30s when independence was declared, but there is no evidence he went off to war. He did, however, submit to Virginia's taxation to support the American war effort in 1782.

John was flanked by two other of my ancestors that are considered patriots. John's father, William I, and his son, William II. John's father provided beef and blacksmith work (probably actually performed by plantation workers) for the Virginia militia. He was reported by SAR to have been an "Adjutant of the 9th Virginia Regiment and later annexed to the 5th Virginia Regiment." At the time of the Revolution William I was sixty-seven years old.  His post as Adjunct was probably more honorary than functional with a focus on raising any necessary defense in his Urbanna community. At least one of William I's brothers, Beverley, chose to remain loyal to Britain. And as quick as you can say "Jack Robinson" the family was split like the British / American bond.

John's son, William II, was also a patriot. He was a Lieutenant during the Revolutionary war, serving with Capt. Givings and Col. Huggart. He marched from Augusta County Va. when Lord Cornwallis came to Virginia, and Tarleton plundered Charlottesville, to Albemarle, then variously through the Country. During the war he apparently met a saddler named Thomas Terry. Thomas, one of my fourth great grandfathers, had sons and William had daughters and quick as you can say Jack Robinson - a family alliance was formed as four of Thomas's sons married four of William's daughters.

Well, John Robinson shows up everywhere. As I draw this blog to a close - My wife's grandfather was also named John Robinson and his uncle was named John Robinson.  This last John Robinson owned a pocket watch purchased in 1911 - which my wife and I have come into possession of.

Now quick as you can say "Jack Robinson" - this story of a family of patriots is done.