Green Deberry Robbins was born about 1800 in Montgomery County, North Carolina, the son of Charles Robbins and Letia (Maiden name unknown). Now that's a Montgomery/Stanly/Anson County name, if I've ever heard one. I have at least four Green Deberry's in my tree. It ran through the Whitley and associated families in particular. Earlier records in Anson and Stanly (Montgomery) Counites in North Carolina show that the Whitley's were one family that the Robbins had a close association with, that of Exodus Whitley in particular. This could be a clue to where they had originated before their arrival in Anson County.
Green was but a boy when his father shows up in 1811, in Stewart County, Tennesee. It is unlikely that the family traveled alone, in fact, there seemed to be a large migration during this time from the area to Tennesee.
One of the families that I know they had to have traveled with was that of the Weatherfords. William and Hezekiah Weatherford were also in the 1800 census of Montgomery County, North Carolina. William had a daughter named Ursula, no doubt named after his sister, Ursula. The young Ursula would become the first wife of Green Deberry Robbins. In the above excerpt from the 1800 census of Montgomery County, North Carolina, Hezekiah and William Weatherford are noted in green. Other names of interest are noted in red. Exodus and Cager (Micajah) Whitley are names that appear in deeds with property that bordered or connected with the Robbins, as did that of James Gurley. Mary Cagle, the widow of a George Cagle, is another family who lived nearby the Robbins in one generation or another. I dare say that Green and Ursula had to have grown up together and knew each other as children.
Green's first act in the records as an adult was to sign a petition in 1818 to establish the new county of Wayne from its parent county of Hickman, alongside his father-in-law, William Weatherford.
And there, the family is found in the 1820 census. Charles Robbins, father of Green Deberry, is listed near William Pyburn. The Pyburns are another family that will come into play.
Green Robbins may have been living with his father-in-law in 1820, as the ages and genders of the occupants of the home add up more in that favor than they do in the home of his father, Charles.
| Name | William Weatherford |
|---|---|
| Home in 1820 (City, County, State) | Wayne, Tennessee |
| Enumeration Date | August 7, 1820 |
| Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 15 | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 18 | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25 | 2 |
| Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over | 1 William |
| Free White Persons - Females - Under 10 | 2 |
| Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15 | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25 | 2 |
| Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over | 1 Margaret |
| Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture | 4 |
| Free White Persons - Under 16 | 4 |
| Free White Persons - Over 25 | 2 |
| Total Free White Persons | 10 |
| Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other | 10 |
In the Weatherford household, there are two each of a males and females between the ages of 16 and 25. Two of these sets could have been Green and Ursula.
| Name | Charles Robbins |
|---|---|
| Home in 1820 (City, County, State) | Wayne, Tennessee |
| Enumeration Date | August 7, 1820 |
| Free White Persons - Males - Under 10 | 2 Reuben & Riley |
| Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 15 | 2 William R., Gilbert |
| Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25 | 1 Hilkiah |
| Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over | 1 Charles |
| Free White Persons - Females - Under 10 | 1 Araminta |
| Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44 | 1 Letia |
| Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture | 4 |
| Free White Persons - Under 16 | 5 |
| Free White Persons - Over 25 | 2 |
| Total Free White Persons | 8 |
| Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other | 8 |
In the Robbins household, the dashes all add up to match Greens younger brothers and one known sister.
 |
| William Red Cloud Weatherford |
Green Deberry Robbins and Ursula Weatherford II most likely married in Wayne County, Tennessee. The background of Ursula's family is a story on its own.
Her children will later file Applications as members of the Creek Nation claiming descent from William "Red Cloud" Weatherford. William Weatherford was a mixed race Native American/ European man who became active with the Creek around the time of the War of 1812, as a member of the Red Sticks. His mother was named Sehoy III and his father was Charles Weatherford, a red-haired Scot who ran a trading post. You can read more about William Weatherford here .
In the Wayne County Tennessee Deeds, Book A, Page 125, Green D. Robbins is witness to a transaction involving property on the Weatherford fork of Indian Creek. Dated February 21, 1825, the property was located in the southwest corner of Wayne County, two miles south of Hardin and only 10 miles from the Tennessee border.
Green Deberry Robbins is listed in the 1830 census of Wayne County, Tennesee. His household appears as a young family with parents in their twenties with small children.
| Name | Green D Robbins |
|---|---|
| Home in 1830 (City, County, State) | Wayne, Tennessee |
| Free White Persons - Males - Under 5 | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9 | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29 | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Females - Under 5 | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29 | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Under 20 | 3 |
| Free White Persons - 20 thru 49 | 2 |
| Total Free White Persons | 5 |
| Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored) | 5 |
By 1837, he has applied for a land grant in Tishomingo, Mississippi. Green appears to have relocated to Tishomingo with his brother, his Uncle, John Robbins II, and his cousins. His father, Charles Robbins, may also have relocated to Tishomingo, taking his sons with him, which may explain why they all gathered there in those years. There's no records of Charles, only his sons, even the youngest of them, so he may have passed away shortly after arriving there. It's simply a possibiltiy.
Green is found in the 1837 State Census of Tishomingo County, Mississipi. He is listed next to his brother, William R. Robbins and their younger brother, Gilbert, is just across the page. All three brothers were noted as being between 21 and 45. Gilbert, the youngest of them, had one female over 16 and one under 16 in his home for a household of 3. William R. had himself, then one male under 16, one male under, one female over 16 and three under for a total of 6. Green Deberry also had a household of 6, himself, three males under 16, (Hilkiah, John and James), one female over 16 and 1 under. Tishomingo was a new area of settlement, the occupation of all was probablly just getting settled, organizing a county government, building homes, roads, farms and businessess.
On May 6,1839, Green Deberry Robbbins of Tishomingo County, Mississippi, recieved a Grant of 126 26/100 acres from the Pontotoc Land Office in Alcorn County, MS located in the South west quarter of Section 22, township 2-S, Range 7-E, Chickasaw Meridian.
Something had happened at some point in the marriage of Green Deberry and Ursula Weatherford Robbins. They had parted ways. Their union may have, and probably did, result in divorce. Both remarried, or claimed so. I will get more into that situation later as there was an issue with one child, over the correct surname. What is known, is that James, born in 1828, lived with his father, and there never seemed to have been a dispute that he was a Robbins, but Thomas, born around 1829 or 1830, was supposed to have been a son of Thomas McDonald/McDaniel. The surname is seen both ways at different times, as if they couldn't even get his name right.
I've also only found Ursula in these records, as Ursula, or a form of her nickname "Ursley" or "Ursy". Never as Mary Ursula or as Mary. Yet, some have her as "Mary Ursula", because of the following land record, I assume, neglecting the fact that Ursula had changed her name and had a child with another man 9 years earlier.
My take on it is that Mary had to be a second wife, an entirely different woman, and the mother of his second batch of children.Ursula does not seem to be the mother of the second batch of children, and it would not make sense that she was divorced/separated from Green in the late 1820's, have a son by Thomas McD in 1831, and then step back into the home to have a group of children she later had no relationship with.
Green and Mary sold the grant that he had recieved in 1839 to a Robert Houston in 1840. It was witnessed by Thomas S. Copland and Terrel B. Phillips. The questions remain, why did they sell it and who was Mary? Did her name on the deed mean anything more than co-ownership? Usually, in those times, deeds did not include the women's names, unless it had been passed down to her by a relative, or former spouse through an inheritance or dower. There is a possibility that Mary was a Sanders. Both witnesses had Sanders connections and the Robbins had Sanders connections back home. The witnesses could have been related. Just a theory that could be looked into.
| Name | G T Robbins |
|---|---|
| Home in 1840 (City, County, State) | Tishomingo, Mississippi |
| Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9 | 1 Hiram |
| Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14 | 1 James |
| Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19 | 1 John |
| Free White Persons - Males - 30 thru 39 | 1 Green |
| Free White Persons - Females - Under 5 | 2 Nancy E. and Mary A. |
| Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9 | 1 Harriett E. |
| Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14 | 1 Araminta Margaret |
| Free White Persons - Females - 30 thru 39 | 1 Mary |
| Persons Employed in Agriculture | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Under 20 | 7 |
| Free White Persons - 20 thru 49 | 2 |
| Total Free White Persons | 9 |
| Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves | 9 |
In the 1840 census, Green is shown in Tishomingo, and a look at the original document shows a "D", not a T, it's just a rather flat D. All known children are accounted for. The youngest haven't been born yet, and his oldest, Hilkiah "Hill K." Robbins is a newlywed, having just married Mary Pyburn, daughter of Jacob Pyburn.
He is shown in 1840 in Hardin County, Tennesee, living near some of the Franks, a family at least 4 of his siblings and one of his nieces married into, and Jacob Pyburn, his father-in-law. As noted earlier, Green's deed in Tishoming was in the southwest corner of the county and as you can see at the top of this post, the counties bordered each other. The center of Hardin and the center of Tishomingo Counties, despite being in different states, are only 28 miles apart. Hill K Robbins may have lived less than 10 miles from his father at this point.
Green is counted, along with many members of his family in the 1841 state census of Tishomingo, Mississippi.
Mary must have passed away befor 1845, because in March of 1845, Green married Ann Burdine of Itawamba County, Mississppi. This time, they made his D a little rounder, so it was mistaken as an "O" by the transcribers.
| ame | Green O. Robins |
|---|---|
| Spouse | Anna Burdine |
| Marriage Date | 20 Mar 1845 |
| County | Itawamba |
Green D. Robbins is counted in the 1845 census of Itawamba County, Mississippi, living next to his brother, William R. Robbins and also near Rev. Wiley R. Burdine, who was possibly related to his wife, Ann Burdine, and also near Nathan Sanders, who seems to be a relative of his last wife, Mary.
After his marriage, Green and Ann move to Hardin County, Tennesee, where his sons, and his ex-wife, Ursula, were settling.
On the 23rd Day of August, 1849, Green D. Robbins recieved a grant of 226 ares in Hardin County, Tennesee, on the waters of Horse Creek.
Horse Creek is located near Savannah, Hardin County, and spills into the Tennesee River.
Name Green Robins
Gender Male
Race White
Age 49
Birth Year abt 1801
Birthplace Tennessee
Home in 1850 District 7, Hardin, Tennessee, USA Occupation FarmerI ndustry Agriculture
Real Estateb500 Line Number16 Dwelling Number 4 Family Number 44
| Household Members (Name) | Age |
|---|---|
| Green Robins | 49 |
| Ann Robins | 23 |
| James Robins | 22 |
| Hiram Robins | 18 |
| Mary A Robins | 17 |
| Nancy E Robins | 14 |
| Ann C Robins | 11 |
| Sarah E Robins | 9 |
| John Gibson | 14 |
| Susannah Gibson | 11 |
| Joseph Gibson | 10 |
| Mary A Gibson | 8 |
The 1850 census finds Green Deberry Robbins in a houseful of children, not all of them his.
Ann. 23, was his wife, Ann Burdine Robbins. James was the youngest son of Green and Ursula Weatherford Robbins McD (Shown at various times as McDaniel, McDonald and McDonell). Hiram remains a mystery. He could have authentically been a Robbins and died as a young man, or he may not have been a Robbins at all. It's possible that he was Mary's son by a previous husband. I've not found anything more on Hiram, or enough information to nail down if he was a Hiram of another surname. The girls, Mary Ann, Nancy Elizabeth, Ann Caroline and Sarah Ellen, all appear to have been the daughters of Green and Mary. Sarah, the youngest, was born in 1841, and he married Ann Burdine in 1845, so his previous wife, Mary, must have died between those years.
The four Gibson children, I've not been able to identify the parents of, and do not find any familial connection. That doesn't mean there wasn't one. From first appearances, they could have just been orphaned neighbors that he took in.
As for Green's older children, Araminta Margaret Robbins Franks was living among the Frank family in Wayne County, She was 26, and her younger sister, Harriett Emaline Robbins, 18, was living with them. She had married John Franks Jr., and they were living next to his parents, John Sr. and Sarah. To note, her oldest son, age 5, was named Hiram.
Oldest son , Hill K. (Hilkiah) Robbins and his wife were living in Hardin County, near his father, Green, and also near his namesake Uncle, Hilkiah "Hill K." Weatherford. There was an older Hilkaih Weatherford, this Hill's grandfather, I believe, and Hill Robbins Great Grandfather.
John H. Robbins was living in Wayne County, Tennesee. He had married Polly Franks, a daughter of Lewis Franks and wife, Winny Sharpe Franks. They had two little girls already, Margaret Jane and Elizabeth. Living with John was his mother, Ursula "McDaniel" and her 14 year old son, Thomas, by her second husband, Thomas McDonald/McDaniel.. Mc D-something.
Green's life was not over and neither was his lovelife. His young wife, Ann, passed away sometime after the 1850 census, but probably not until after 1853. It doesn't appear that they had any children, at least none that lived very long. At any rate, Green would meat and marry his fourth wife, a widow name Lena Letia Kemp Boyle. Keep in mind, his first wife, Ursula, is still living, so he only outlived Mary and Ann.
Lena Kemp was born in 1810 in Greenville, South Carolina, the daughter of Richard Kemp and Elizabeth French. In 1827, in Forsyth County, Georgia, she married Peter Boyle, Jr. Together, they had 7 children: Richard, Caroline, Narcissus Jane, Sporting P., Elizabeth Canzada aka "Canzy", John Alexander and Evaline.
Peter Boyle died in Forsyth County, Georgia and Lena would follow some of her older children to Arkansas and there she would meet Green Deberry Robbins.
Green Deberry Robbins had been on the move again and applied for another grant in Polk County, Arkansas, described as 80 acres in "the South west half of the north west quarter, Section 39,"of Lands subject for sale at the Washington, Arkansas Land Office.
| Name | Green D Robbins |
|---|---|
| Land Office | Little Rock |
| Document Number | 7872 |
| Total Acres | 240 |
| Signature | Yes |
| Canceled Document | No |
| Issue Date | 1 Aug 1857 |
| Mineral Rights Reserved | No |
| Metes and Bounds | No |
| Statutory Reference | 3 Stat. 566 |
| Multiple Warantee Names | No |
| Act or Treaty | April 24, 1820 |
| Multiple Patentee Names | No |
| Entry Classification | Sale-Cash Entries |
| Land Description | 1 NE 5TH PM No 7N 10W 14; 2 N½NW 5TH PM No 7N 10W 14 |
Green appears in the 1860 state census of Center, Polk County, Arkansas. He also appears in the 1860 Slave Schedules, as owning 4 people, what looks like a family, a man age 45, a woman age 35, and two little boys, 6 and 9.
As Green had never before owned slaves, I believe these came with his wife, Lena, as further up the page, you can see two of her daughters, Canzada and Caroline, with guardians lisited, owning one slave apiece, presumably from their father's estate.
Green has settled in Arkansas by 1857. I don't know if Ann died in Tennesee or Arkansas. Green in in the 1860 state census of Arkansas.
| Name | Green D. Robbins |
|---|---|
| State | AR |
| County | Polk County |
| Township | Centre Township |
| Year | 1860 |
| Record Type | Federal Population Schedule |
| Page | 608 |
| Database | AR 1860 Federal Census Index |
He settles in the town of Center, in Polk County.
Polk County is in Western Arkansas near the Ouchita Mountains.
| Name | Lena Robbins |
|---|---|
| Age | 45 |
| Birth Year | 1815 |
| Gender | Female |
| Race | White |
| Birth Place | South Carolina |
| Home in 1860 | Center, Polk, Arkansas |
| Post Office | Dallas |
| Dwelling Number | 96 |
| Family Number | 92 |
| Inferred Spouse | Green D Robbins |
| Name | Age |
|---|---|
| Green D Robbins | 60 |
| Lena Robbins | 45 |
| Alexander Royles | 11 |
| Evaline Royles | 9 |
| Canrada Royles |
Green and Lena are shown living in Centre Township, Polk County, Arkansas in 1860, with some of her children.
Green Deberry Robbins is seen no more, probably dying in Polk County between 1860 and 1870, in his sixties. His place and exact date of burial as unknown. Some family trees have him dying in White County, Arkansas in 1865, and leaving a will, but this was actually his nephew and namesake, Green Deberry Robbins (1834-1865), son of his brother, William R. Robbins.
Green leaves a widow, Lena Kemp Royles Robbins. It's unknown when Green died, but Lena has followed her children to Texas and in there, farming, by 1870
| Name | Lene Robbins |
|---|---|
| Enumeration Date | 1870 |
| Place | Williamson, Texas, USA |
| Schedule Type | Agriculture |
| OS Page | 13 |
| Line Number | 20 |
Lena dies in Erath County, Texas in 1896. She was a member of the Green Creek Baptist Church.
| Name | Linnie Robbins |
|---|---|
| Maiden Name | Kemp |
| Gender | Female |
| Birth Date | 1812 |
| Birth Place | South Carolina, United States of America |
| Death Date | 12 Feb 1896 |
| Cemetery | Hickey Cemetery |
| Burial or Cremation Place | Erath County, Texas, United States of America |
| Has Bio? | Y |
| Children | Narcissus Jane Earp; Caroline Bella |
Green Deberry Robbins left the following descendants.
.
The children by Ursula Weatherford were:
1822-1863 Hilkiah "Hill K." Robbins, Married Mary Pyburn.
1824- aft 1880: Araminta Margaret Robbins (not to be confused with her aunt of the same name. Married John F. Franks.
1823 John H Robbins. Married Mary Ann Polly Franks. Died in Civil War in 1865. This Branch of Robbins intermarried much within the Franks family. One of John's daughters also married a Franks.
1825-1914 : Harriet Emmaline Robbins Married Frederick Francis Marion Franks.
1828-1865: King Henry James Robbins. Married Mary Frances Harrison. Also died in the Civil War.
James and John H. Robbins.
The middle two mysterious sons/stepsons/nonsons:
Hiram born around 1832. Only appears in the 1860 census. No more information. May have been a stepson and not a Robbins.
1834- 1900 Thomas Robbins/McDaniel/ McDonald/McDonnell. Thomas was a son of Ursula Weatherford Robbins who supposed married a Thomas McDonald, who is in Wayne County, Tennesee in 1830. Thomas is supposedly Thomas Jr. He goes by the McDaniels, etc. name, all of his life, however, most, if not all , of his children went by the surname Robbins as adults, meaning the descendants of Thomas's sons are Robbins. Thomas married Louisa Franks, making him the fourth child of Ursula to marry a Franks.
Ursula Weatherford Robbins McD"""" died in Wayne County, Tennesee in 1885 and buried in the Robbins family cemetery there.
Second group of children after Hiram:
1833- Unknown Mary Ann Robbins married Hewell Barham.
1836 - 1859 Nancy Elizabeth Robbins. Married a Duncan, died of pnuemonia at 23 in Arkansas.
1839-1908 Ann Caroline Robbins. Married George Washington Mason, 7 children. Died in Reagan County, TX.
1841-1921 Sarah Ellen or Ella Robbins: Married William B. McClelland. 4 children Died in Ellis County, Texas
