Ambleside Herald & Lakes News Issue #149 26 January 1883 Page 4 - Death of JAMES ROBINSON Sad Disappearance Of An Ambleside Tradesman During the present week the residents of Ambleside have been much troubled over the disappearance since Saturday night last, of Mr. JAMES ROBINSON (of the firm of Cousins and Robinson, plasterers), aged about sixty years, who is supposed to have been drowned in the River Rothay, in the part known as Birdhouse. The warrant for this supposition lies in the fact that MR. ROBINSON's hat was found on Monday morning last, at the side of the river opposite Old Brathay; also that he was met on the previous Saturday evening, at about seven o'clock, down the fields near to Miller Bridge, and that a splash was heard from the river near Rothay Bridge by some passers by, a little later in the evening. An energetic search was prosecuted throughout the neighbourhood on Sunday, and on Monday morning a large number of boats, filled with sympathising occupants, commenced a search of the river, drags being obtained from Bowness to assist. The workers have stuck manfully to their task up to the present moment, but without any trace further than the discovery of the hat, which was made by MR. KELLETT COWARD. In the meantime, the suspense is felt very keenly by the relatives and friends, and it is to be hoped that some news of the missing one will be forthcoming before long. Issue 194 7 Dec 1883 Page 4 High Court of Justice, Probate Division Before Sir JAMES HANNEN, President, on Wednesday the 28th ult a motion was made by Mr. JOSEPH GATEY, as Counsel for Mrs. JANE ROBINSON (instructed by Mr. GEORGE GATEY, solicitor, Ambleside), for permission to take out letters of Administration to the effects of JAMES ROBINSON, plasterer, Ambleside, who disappeared on 20th of January last, and has not since been heard of. It was proved by a large number of affidavits that MR. ROBINSON was last seen on the 20th of January last, a little after 7 o'clock in the evening, near to the Boys' School in Ambleside, walking in the direction of Miller Bridge, and it is supposed that in consequence of the darkness of the night he missed the end of the bridge and fell into the river, which was much flooded at the time. No trace of the unfortunate man has ever been discovered, except that his hat was some time after picked out of the reeds below the junction of the rivers Rothay and Brathay and near to the head of the lake. The President made an order that the death of James Robinson should be assumed to have taken place on or about the 20th of January last. David Leverton Leverton, Stevens, Clibborn, Dodgson, Hird, Stalker ulpha@telus.net