The Manumission of the Robinson Family
In the late 1850's Planter Jon Lee died. Owner of James Robinson's wife Susan Gaskins and their eight children, Lee freed the entire Robinson family still living on his property in his will. Unfortunately, two of the family's sons, Alfred and James, were sold further South to Louisiana by Lee before the rest of the family was freed in his will. Many families were broken up in this heartbreaking way during slavery.
Library of Congress, View Original.
1850's
Hiring Form Between James Robinson and John Lee
This is a hiring form between James Robinson and John Lee regarding James' son Tasco. Though James was free his wife and children were enslaved and Lee was their owner.
In his attempts to keep his family safe and together, Robinson was able to hire some of his children from Lee, either paying for their services himself or arranging for them to be hired by local white acquaintances. This hiring form depicts one such interaction and shows James hiring our his son Tasco from Lee in 1846 for $30.
James Robinson Files, Manassas National Battlefield Park Archives.
1846
Robinson Farm
Robinson house, pictured here, was a small 400 square foot house built around 1840. This is how the home would have appeared during both of the Battles of Manassas, remaining unchanged until an expansion in 1871.
“The Robinson House,” Archeology and Ethnography Program, National Park Service, View Original.
About 1840
"Rallying the Troops"
This wood cut depicting a charge during the First Battle of Manassas in July of 1861 shows Confederate leaders Bee, Bartow, and Evans rallying the troops. Visible in the background is a small farm, Robinson House Farm. Also located on what is today known as Henry Hill, the Robinsons experienced the devastation of the war firsthand.
1861
"The Main Battleground"
The second in a series of woodcuts depicting the Second Battle of Manassas, this shows the devastated fields after battle. No longer lush with crops, the fields have been laid barren, hurting the livelihoods of local residents only one year after the First Battle of Manassas. Robinson House Farm can be seen in the background.
1862
James Robinson's Claim to the Southern Claims Commission
In order to receive payment for damages to his property sustained during the war, James Robinson filed a claim with the Southern Claims Commission (SCC). In addition to providing proof of damages a large part of receiving compensation was proving that you supported the Union during the war.
This claim shows testimony from AM Compton, one of James' white neighbors, who asserts that James is known as a "Union man."
Though he reported $2,608 in damages, Robinson was only approved for $1,249 from the SCC.
Southern Claims Commission, Testimony of Albert Flagler.
March 3, 1871
Robinson House - 1849
Built on land purchased in 1840, the Robinson's original house was a one room, 400 square foot simple structure. Small even for the standards of the time, the house itself was so small because Robinson, his wife, and their children would spend most of their time outdoors - either farming or working in the house yard.
National Park Service, Archaeology Program. <a href="http://www.nps.gov/archeology/robinson/house.htm">View Original</a>.
1849
Robinson House - 1871
1871 was the first time that Robinson expanded his home. Using funds received from the federal government for damages incurred during the Civil War, Robinson was able to rebuild and expand his home. The original structure was rebuilt along with a two story addition.
National Park Service, Archaeology Program. <a href="http://www.nps.gov/archeology/robinson/house3.htm">View Original</a>.
1871
Robinson House - 1888
Again adding onto his original home, another wing was added to Robinson House. As Robinson's wealth and family continued to grow throughout the nineteenth century so too did his home.
National Park Service, Archaeology Program. <a href="http://www.nps.gov/archeology/robinson/house4.htm">View Original</a>.
1888
Robinson House - 1926
With the 1926 renovation to their home the Robinsons built a new structure rather than adding to the original house. Creating a two story frame home with two rooms per floor the Robinsons also added improvements like indoor plumbing at this time.
This is how the house appeared until 1993 when it burned down, the victim of arson.
National Park Service, Archaeology Program.<a href="http://www.nps.gov/archeology/robinson/house5.htm"> View Original</a>.
1926