Knolton / Roebuck / Robinson Families

  Cork-Cutters of Mark Lane, London: William Peter Knolton || Charles Robinson

    Notes on the Knolton / Roebuck / Robinson Families
    Cork-Cutters of Mark Lane, London

William Peter Knolton – PCC Will (National Archives)
will dated 25 October 1766,
    ‘in the seventh year of the reign of our sovereign Lord George the third by the
    grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King and founder of the faith’.
probate date 28 November 1767.

W. P. Knolton was buried 29 November 1767 at All Hallows Staining Church, London
(London parish registers, London Metropolitan Archives, Ancestry online. Note: found in the parish register images provided by Ancestry; not included in the Ancestry index).

    Will Summary

  • William Peter Knolton of Mark Lane, London, cork-cutter.
  • sister Mary Knolton, spinster.
  • Samuel Clark, now or late of Jamaica, gentleman.
  • Benjamin Roebuck and Charlotte his wife.
  • John Roebuck.
  • son Christian David Knolton, living "abroad beyond the seas".
  • son Ignatius Daniel Knolton, under 21.
  • daughter Elizabeth Knolton, under 21, not married.
  • Executors: John Mason of St Martin’s-Le-Grand [London], baker, and
    John Wheeler of Southwark, butcher.
[After the will was written, but before Knolton passed away, his daughter Elizabeth married Charles Robinson].

Codicil dated 5 August 1767.
"I Peter Knolton having great reason to believe and fear my son-in-law Charles Robinson may not prove so honest faithful and good a husband to my daughter [Elizabeth] as I would wish" . . . provision for the financial benefit of Elizabeth and her children (grandchildren of William Peter Knolton).

Probate 28 November 1767.
John Newton of St Brides, London, cork-cutter, and Benjamin Roebuck of St Nicholas Cole Abbey, London, gentleman, appeared to state that they knew and were "well acquainted" with William Peter Knolton who died on 25 November 1767.

[A Bank of England Will for William Peter Knolton of Mark Lane [London], late of the parish of All Hallows Staining, London, was registered 19 December 1767 (Bank of England Will Extracts, Society of Genealogists data online).
This noted dual professions for William Peter Knolton as both fan-maker and cork-cutter. A note in the left margin of the document stated: "William Peter Knolton by the within different descriptions was only one and the same person"].

    Family History Notes

A marriage at St Anne and St Agnes, City of London, on 6 October 1735:
    William Knolton of St Paul Covent Garden, bachelor, and
    Hannah Clark of All Hallows Staining, London, widow; with licence.
(London parish registers, London Metropolitan Archives, Ancestry online).
The bride Hannah was a young widow.
Her first marriage took place at St Paul’s Cathedral, London, on 3 July 1733:
    Samuel Clark, widower, and Hannah Roebuck, spinster,
    both of the parish of All Hallows Staining, London, were married
    by a license from the Archbishop’s Office in this Cathedral.
(London parish registers, London Metropolitan Archives, Ancestry online).

The testator William Peter Knolton was predeceased by his wife Hannah.
A burial at All Hallows Staining, City of London, 30 October 1760:
    Hannah Knolton, aged 52
(London parish registers, London Metropolitan Archives, Ancestry online).

Benjamin Roebuck, named in the will, was the brother (or half brother) of Hannah (see the will summary below of Benjamin Roebuck, probated in the PCC in 1786).
A marriage at St Mary Magdalene Old Fish Street, London, on 3 April 1762:
    Benjamin Roebuck, bachelor, and Charlotte Phillips, spinster, both of the parish;
    by licence from the Archbishop of Canterbury.
(London parish registers, London Metropolitan Archives, Ancestry online).

Samuel Clark, named in the will, was the stepson of William Peter Knolton.
That is, he was Hannah’s son by her first marriage.
A baptism at All Hallows Staining, London on 12 May 1734.
    Samuel Clark, son of Samuel Clark & Hannah.
(FamilySearch Historical Records; and
London parish register images, London Metropolitan Archives, Ancestry online).

Non-Conformist Baptisms (FindMyPast online):
  ❖   Fetter Lane, London – Denomination: Moravian
30 Oct 1742     Christian David, son of William Peter Knolton, fan-maker &
Hannah his wife, born 6 Sep 1742.
30 Apr 1744 Mary, daughter of William Peter Knolton & Hannah his wife.
  ❖   Bedford Chapel, Bedford, Bedfordshire – Denomination: Moravian
07 Apr 1760 Ignatius Daniel Knolton, born 15 Jan 1747 [parents not stated].
place of birth: Pennsylvania Woods about 14 miles from Philadelphia on the road to Bethlehem [Pennsylvania].

Elizabeth Knolton was born on 27 March 1748 in Pennsylvania (Catalogue of Bedford Congregation of the Bedford Moravian Church, Bedfordshire Archives).
Elizabeth was married at St Mary, Whitechapel [London], 6 January 1767.
The marriage register gave the details:
    Charles Robinson, widower of the parish, and Elizabeth Knolton
    of the parish of All Hallows Staining, spinster and minor,
    with consent of her father William Peter Knolton; by licence.
    Witnesses: Benjamin Roebuck, John Sarney.
(London Marriages and Banns, 1754–1938, London Metropolitan Archives, Ancestry online).
A Vicar General marriage licence was issued on 30 December 1766 for the groom Robinson and the bride Knolton (Society of Genealogists data online).

Biographical note in Abraham Reincke and William C. Reichel, "A Register of Members of the Moravian Church, and of Persons Attached to Said Church in this Country and Abroad, between 1727 and 1754", Transactions of the Moravian Historical Society, Vol. 1, 1873, pp. 299 & 301 (JSTOR digital library ):

Late in September of 1745 Knolton and his wife arrived at Philadelphia, after a six month’s passage from London. They proceeded to Bethlehem, united with the congregation at that place, severed their connection with the Brethren in September of 1746, were some time residents of Philadelphia and returned to England in 1750. Knolton died in London in November of 1767.
Franklin’s Pennsylvania Gazette of August 10th 1749, contains the following advertisement: "Peter Knolton, from London, makes, mends, mounts and sells all sorts of fans, and fan-sticks, wholesale and retail, in Sassafras Street, near the Moravian church. Also lengthens short fans, and sells all sorts of corks".

A notice in the Lloyd’s Evening Post, London, 19 June 1765 (17th & 18th Century Burney Newspapers Collection, accessed at Points to the Past ):
To all Merchants, Captains of Ships, Brewers, and Others,
Cork and Corks sold wholesale and retail, at the lowest prices, facing All Hallow's [Bread Street] Church, in Watling Street, newly opened; where all orders will be gratefully acknowledged and punctually obeyed,
    By your most obedient humble servant,
        David Knolton.
N.B. Cork Waistcoats or Jackets; also a large quantity of gooseberry and preserve bottle corks, very reasonable; and all orders from country shop-keepers, and others, will be punctually answered, and hawkers served on reasonable terms.

The David Knolton in the above notice may have been the son of William Peter Knolton. If so, he left London soon after and sailed to New York. A marriage licence was issued by the State of New York on 13 September 1766 for Christian David Knolton, cabinet-maker of the City of New York, and Jeanneta Arabella Pilkington, spinster of the City of New York. A witness was Jarvis Roebuck [the maternal uncle of Christian David Knolton], cork-cutter of New York. A record dated 11 September 1770 named David Knolton as a cabinet-maker and freeman of New York City
(George Henry Knowlton, editor, Errata and addenda to Dr. Stocking's History and genealogy of the Knowltons of England and America, Boston, 1903, p. 170,
Internet Archive ; and New York marriage licences ).

A probate record dated July 1787 in the National Archives, London
(reference: PROB 31/766/573):
    Christian David Knolton, widower of Newfoundland [Canada]
    formerly of New York, North America, who died abroad.
    Probate inventory, or declaration, of the estate of the same, deceased.
Note: The catalogue description stating Newfoundland as the residence may have been transcribed incorrectly. Ancestry online has a digitized version of the book:
Peter Wilson Coldham, English Estates of American Colonists: American Wills and Administrations in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1700–1799, 1980.
An entry (page 66) stated the residence as New Providence:
    Knolton, Christian David, formerly of New York City but late of
    New Providence Island. Administration to Jarvis Roebuck, guardian of only
    child Catherine Knolton (July 1787). Revoked and granted to Roebuck as
    attorney for Catherine Knolton now come of age; relict Jennet
    Arabella Knolton having died before administering (November 1788).

Ignatius Daniel Knolton enrolled at the University of Edinburgh as a student of medicine in 1770 and graduated MD in 1773 (The University of Edinburgh Historical Alumni online database ). He became a physician at Boston, Lincolnshire (Catalogue of Bedford Congregation of the Bedford Moravian Church, Bedfordshire Archives – this document records that Ignatius Daniel Knolton was born 15 January 1747 in Pennsylvania).

A burial at St Paul in the Bail Church, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, 5 May 1823:
    J. D. [Ignatius Daniel] Knolton MD, aged 76, of the lunantic asylum
(FreeReg transcribed parish registers online and FamilySearch).
Ignatius Daniel Knolton, probate administration 1831 at Lincoln, Lincolnshire (LincsToThePast online catalogue, Lincolnshire Archives).

Benjamin Roebuck – PCC Will (National Archives)
will not dated.
probate date 3 April 1786.

    Will Summary

  • Benjamin Roebuck of Lawrence Lane, London, merchant.
  • brother [half brother] Jarvis Roebuck now or late of New York.
  • nephew Peter Roebuck of Saint Croix in the West Indies.
  • Charles Robinson, cork-cutter of Mark Lane [London].
  • niece Elizabeth Robinson, wife of Charles Robinson.
Note dated 16 March 1786
Appeared personally Elizabeth Robinson of Stepney, spinster [possibly the daughter of Charles Robinson by his first wife, named in the will of her stepmother Elizabeth Robinson, the widow of Charles Robinson, probated in the PCC in 1810], and Amelia Hammersley, wife of Joseph Hammersley of Stepney, coalmeter, to state that they were "well acquainted" with Benjamin Roebuck, late of the parish of St Dunstan, Stepney, deceased.

Probate 3 April 1786
Administration of the estate of Benjamin Roebuck, late of the parish of St Dunstan, Stepney, a widower, deceased, granted to Joseph Bradway the attorney of Jarvis Roebuck, the "natural and lawful brother by the half blood".
Jarvis Roebuck now residing at New York in North America.

Jarvis Roebuck of the City of New York:
Will dated 4 January 1793, probated 18 February 1794
(New York, Wills and Probate Records, Ancestry online).
The Ancestry database has another copy of the will with the probate date enterd as February 1795 (viewed February 2023). However, the document images record a probate date of February 1794.

Charles Robinson – PCC Will (National Archives)
will dated 20 May 1793.
probate date 2 December 1793.

Charles Robinson was buried 4 December 1793 at All Hallows Staining Church, London (London parish registers, London Metropolitan Archives, Ancestry online).

    Will Summary

  • Charles Robinson of Mark Lane, London, cork-cutter.
  • "I give and bequeath unto my loving wife Elizabeth Robinson all those my leasehold messuage or tenement, warehouses, coach houses and stables with the appurtenances situate in Billiter Lane, London, and also all those my two messuages or tenements with the appurtenances situate in Mark Lane aforesaid . . . and I also give and bequeath unto my said wife Elizabeth Robinson all the rest, residue and remainder of my personal estate . . . to and for her own sole use and benefit and I do nominate, constitute and appoint my wife Elizabeth Robinson sole executrix of this my last will and testament."

Elizabeth Robinson – PCC Will (National Archives)
will dated 4 May 1801.
probate date 13 January 1810.

Elizabeth Robinson, aged 57, died 3 August 1806 and was buried in the churchyard of All Hallows Staining Church, London (London parish registers, London Metropolitan Archives, Ancestry online).

    Will Summary

  • Elizabeth Robinson, cork-cutter of Mark Lane.
  • "it is my earnest request that no dispute may arise between any parties".
  • son Benjamin Robinson.
  • daughter Mary Robinson.
  • daughter Charlotte Dunn.
  • daughter Frances Blackham.
  • Elizabeth Robinson, daughter of my husband Charles Robinson by his first wife.
  • "I also leave my two undutiful sons John Ignatious Robinson and William Robinson the same" [that is, equal shares to all her children, including her stepdaughter Elizabeth].
  • [no executor was appointed].
Note dated 8 December 1809
Appeared personally Obadiah Blackham of York Street in the parish of St Saviour, Southwark, boot maker; and Harriott Waylett of No 11 Mark Lane in the parish of All Hallows Staining, London, spinster, to state that they "were intimately acquainted" with Elizabeth Robinson, late of Mark Lane in the parish of All Hallows Staining, London, widow.

    Family History Notes

The daughter of Charles Robinson by his first wife may be the Elizabeth, daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Robinson ‘in the High Street’, baptised 5 July 1759 at St Mary Whitechapel, Stepney, Tower Hamlets, London (FamilySearch Historical Records; also found in the Ancestry parish register images, not in the Ancestry online index).

Baptisms at All Hallows Staining Church, London
(London parish registers, London Metropolitan Archives, Ancestry online).
children of Charles Robinson and [his second wife] Elizabeth [née Knolton] 

 Birth date  Baptism date
28 Aug 1768  26 Sep 1768   Sophia Robinson 
             26 Oct 1769   Benjamin Roebuck Robinson 
06 Nov 1770  07 Dec 1770   Mary Robinson 
05 Sep 1772  06 Oct 1772   Charlotte Robinson 
12 Nov 1773  14 Dec 1773   John Ignatius Robinson 
13 May 1778  15 Jun 1778   Sarah Robinson 
18 Jul 1779  21 Aug 1779   Frances Robinson 
07 Jun 1781  24 Jun 1781   William Robinson 
             05 Jan 1784   Thomas Robinson

Some Family Weddings
(London Marriages, London Metropolitan Archives, Ancestry online).
28 May 1795   All Hallows Staining, London
John Ignatius Robinson, bachelor of the parish, and Rebecca Higginson,
spinster of the parish of St Thomas, Southwark; by licence.
witnesses: Thomas Watkins, Johannah Watkins.
08 Jan 1797 St Dunstan, Stepney, London
Robert Dunn, bachelor, and Charlotte Robinson, spinster,
both of the parish; by licence;
witnesses: Mary Robinson, Frances Robinson.
24 Jun 1800 St Andrew Holborn, London
Obadiah Blackham and Frances Robinson, both of the parish; by banns;
witnesses: Thomas [?], Robert Dunn.

Children of John Ignatius Robinson, cork-cutter, and Rebecca [née Higginson].
Quaker births registered at the Monthly Meeting of Horsleydown, Southwark
(National Archives (TNA) reference: RG6/423, online access at TheGenealogist ). 

 Birth date     Name                        Where born
15 Mar 1797  Benjamin Joseph Robinson,   Thomas's Street, Southwark.
             [died 26 Nov 1798, aged 1 year and 8 months,
              buried Long Lane, Bermondsey, 29 Nov 1798 
              (TNA reference: RG6/424, online access at TheGenealogist)]
18 Feb 1799  John Ignatius Robinson,     Thomas's Street, Southwark.
05 Feb 1801  Elizabeth Fowler Robinson,  Thomas's Street, Southwark.

Note: Elizabeth born in 1801, was given the middle name Fowler. This was the maiden name of Elizaeth who married Joseph Higginson (see the transcribed record in notes for the Higginson family). This provides evidence of Elizabeth Higginson’s relationship as the maternal grandmother.

Rebecca’s mother Elizabeth Higginson remarried Joshua Cubbidge and, after becoming a widow for the second time, she carried on as a cork-cutter at St Thomas Street, Southwark. So possibly she took on her son-in-law John Robinson as a partner (see notes for the Higginson family).

John Ignatious Robinson – PCC Will (National Archives)
will dated 30 November 1809.
probate date 16 January 1810.

    [Burial record not found].

    Will Summary

  • John Ignatious Robinson of College Yard, Counter Street [Southwark], cork-cutter.
  • wife Rebecca Robinson.
  • two children John and Eliza Robinson.
  • executors: wife Rebecca Robinson, and John Higginson.
[Notes: The maiden name of Rebecca was Higginson (see the marriage record transcribed above). So possibly, but not confirmed, the co-executor John Higginson was Rebecca’s brother (see notes for the Higginson family)].

William Robinson – PCC Will (National Archives)
will dated 15 March 1815.
probate date 1 April 1815.

William Robinson of Lambeth, aged 33, was buried on 22 March 1815 at All Hallows Staining, London [the church where his father and mother were buried]
(London burials, London Metropolitan Archives, Ancestry online).

    Will Summary

  • William Robinson, late Private Soldier of the 13th R. V. Bn. [13th Royal Veteran Battalion], captain, Mr Lords Company, Lambeth;
    son of Charles and Elizabeth Robinson of the parish of All Hallows Staining, Mark Lane, Fenchurch Street, London;
    cork-cutter by trade.
  • lawful wife Sarah Robinson, native of Andover, Hampshire, given "the sum of one shilling should the said Sarah Robinson aforesaid be now living not having heard from her for upwards of twelve years".
  • friend Sarah [?], of Pembrokeshire [Wales], given a generous legacy and "to receive all my worldly goods and chattels" etc.
  • mentions [his uncle] Doctor Knolton, and provisions made in the will of his grandfather "Isaac" Peter Knolton [William Peter Knolton, PCC Will probated 1767; see will summary above], cork-cutter and fan maker of the parish of All Hallow Stainings, Mark Lane, Fenchurch Street, London.
    His uncle Daniel Ignatious Knolton, physician of Boston, Lincolnshire, was the trustee of the will of William Peter Knolton which left money to be "equally divided" among the grandchildren, who were the surviving children of Elizabeth Robinson. Those who received their portion were Benjamin, Mary, Charlotte, John and Frances Robinson [the brothers and sisters of the testator William Robinson].
  • "previous to my mother’s decease I went abroad where I remained until the 8th of January in the year of our Lord 1815 which day we embarked for England and now residing in the parish of St Mary, Lambeth".
  • [no executor was appointed].
Probate 1 April 1815
William Robinson of No 6 Faircloth Court, Lambeth.
Probate granted to Sarah Robinson, the widow and "residuary legatee".
[Possibly this was the "friend" Sarah of Pembrokeshire who was claiming to be the widow. This explanation appears to fit the wording of the probate].

    Notes
The Royal Veteran Battalions were British Army units of the early nineteenth century that were made up of men no longer fit for front-line service. The 13th Royal Veteran Battalion was raised in 1813 at Lisbon from Peninsular War invalids.

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