This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/kUB.2ACE/1969.1.1.1 Message Board Post: Henry Harvey Fuson, History of Bell County, Kentucky, (New York: Hobson Book Press, 1947}, pp. 270-278. Rev. Wilburn T. Robbins, 1876-1959, contributed his family information for inclusion in the "Early Settlers" section of this book: "Rev. W. T. Robbins gives the following with reference to his family: "The original home of the Robbins family in Kentucky was Buncombe County, North Carolina. All of the Robbins family in Kentucky came over from North Carolina during the nineteenth century. James Robbins, who married Martha Brothers, was born in North Carolina in 1750. He was my great-great grandfather. We have the information that this couple reared a large family, one of whom was my great grandfather, Jonathan Robbins, born in 1785 in North Carolina. His wife was Mary Massengale, the daughter of Lemuel Massengale. Their children were as follows: (1) James M. Robbins, born in N.C. in 1806, came to Kentucky in 1836 and settled in Bell County about one mile from Calmar. (2) Lemuel Robbins, born in N. C., came to Bell County in 1838 and settled near Colmar. He died in 1878. (3) James Robbins died April, 1876. (4) Michael Robbins, born in 1810 in N.C., came to Bell County in 1840, married Betty Crawford, and died in 1896. (5) Absalom Robbins, born in 1812, came to Kentucky [p. 271] in 1856, and settled in Jackson County. (6) Mary Robbins Holt, born in N.C. in 1814, married Holt before coming to Kentucky, and settled in Jackson County in 1856. (7) Miss Nellie Robbins, born in N.C. in 1816, and died in N.C. in 1832. She was never married. (8) Jane Robbins Runions, born in 1818 in N.C., married Thomas Runions, and settled in East Tennessee. (9) Abba Robbins Ball, born in 1820 in N.C., married Addison Ball, came to Kentucky in 1856, and settled in Jackson County. (10) Joshua Robbins, born in 1822 in N.C., came to Kentucky, remained here only a short time, and returned to N.C. (11) Rev. J. A. Robbins, my grandfather, born in N.C., November 28, 1824, and died April 26, 1867. He married Matilda Goldsmith, of S.C., and settled in Jackson County, on Pond Creek, in 1856. He was a Baptist minister and taught in the public schools. Founded many of the churches in that section, one of which is the Annville Baptist Church, which is now presided over by Rev. D. S. Smith, as pastor. During his lifetime, which covered only a few years, my grandfather accomplished a great work. Grandfather J. A. Robbins and grandmother Matilda Robbins reared a large family, of whom my father was the fourth. His oldest brother was (1) Lemuel Robbins, born in 1840, and served in the Civil War. (2) James Robbins, born in 1842, served in the Civil War and died with the measles during service. (3) Sarah Robbins Turner, born in 1844, reared her family in Jackson County, Kentucky. "The Robbins family in Bell County, Kentucky. James Robbins, Lemuel Robbins, Michael Robbins, Rev. J. A. Robbins (through my father, Wiley M. [p. 272] Robbins and John Robbins, my uncle) founded the Robbins family here in Bell County. James M. Robbins married Nancy Robbins first in N.C. in 1827, settled in Bell County in 1836, and to this union were born: (1) Maria Robbins Miracle, (2) James Robbins, (3) Nancy Robbins Smith, (4) J. A. Robbins. Maria Robbins Miracle, born in 1830 in N.C., came to Bell County with her father and mother. She was my grandmother on my mother's side. She married John E. Miracle in 1854. To this union were born five children: (1) James Miracle, born in 1856, (2) Mary E. Miracle Robbins, my mother, (3) Frederick Miracle, a twin of my mother, (4) Martha Miracle Barnett, (5) Nancy Miracle Browning. Grandfather John E. Miracle died of measles while serving in the Civil War. All of my relatives, who were old enough, joined the army and served as Union soldiers during the Civil War. Grandfather died in 1863 and was buried at Booneville, N.C., but later his remains were taken up and interred in the National Cemetery at Knoxville, Tennessee. "Lemuel Robbins, who married Kizzar Robbins in N.C., came to Bell County in 1836, and settled on the Colmar Ridge, near his brother James Robbins (also my great grandfather on my mother's side). Here Lemuel Robbins reared a large family. His children were (1) J. A. Robbins, who married Mary Pursifull, (2) Nancy Robbins, who married Alex Dickson, (3) Sarah Robbins, who married James Green, (4) James Robbins, who married Rebecca Green, their children being (1) George Robbins, who lives on Hances Creek, (2) E. L. Robbins, Farriston, Kentucky, (3) Frank Robbins, Broadhead, Kentucky, (4) Charles [p.273] Robbins, Crab Orchard, Kentucky, (5) Mrs. George Wright, of Illinois. "Clark Robbins was born in Bell County but reared his family in Jackson County. Elizabeth Robbins married David Smith. One of her sons was Rev. G. W. Smith, of Wasioto. This entire family is now dead. Michael Robbins, who came to Bell County in 1836, married Betty Crawford and settled near Colmar. Their children: (1) John C. Robbins, (2) Mary Robbins, who married Rev. James Van Bever, (3) Sarah Robbins, who married James Barnett. A large family was born to this union, among those who living are (1) Prof. R. W. Barnett, (2) Jackson Barnett, (3) Moses Barnett, (4) Charles Barnett. "John C. Robbins reared a large family: (1) Mrs. Kate Blevens, Middlesborough, (2) John Robbins, Middlesborough, (3) G. W. Robbins, (4) W. M. Robbins, (5) Houston Robbins, (6) Mrs. Ervin Wilson, (7) Mrs. Eb Ingram, being some of his children. "Rev. J. A. Robbins, being represented in Bell County by Rev. Wiley Robbins, son of John Robbins. The late Wiley M. Robbins, my father, came to Bell County from Bond, Jackson County, in 1871, and married Mary E. Miracle, my mother. To this union were born the following children: (1) Rev. John A. Robbins, Glamorgan, Va., (2) Rev. W. T. Robbins, Highsplint, Kentucky, (4) Cleve Robbins, Four Mile, Ky., (5) Leonard Robbins, Wasioto, Kentucky, (6) Garret Robbins, Dayhoit, Kentucky, (7) Mrs. Otis Simpson, Ferndale. "There are three Baptist preachers in our immediate family. Our grandfather, J. A. Robbins, is a Baptist preacher. So far there have been [p. 274] more than twenty Baptist preachers in the family. Most of them are Missionary Baptist preachers, but some of them are primitive Baptists. One of them is a Holiness preacher. One time one of our cousins was a Mormon preacher. His name was Rev. A. J. Isaacs, Lock, Ark. The best known Primitive Baptist preachers are: Elders J. A. Robbins, Middlesborough, and R. W. Robbins, Route 1, Pineville. "(1) My brother, J. A. Robbins, born June 27, 1873, (2) W. T. Robbins, (myself), born October 29, 1876, (3) G. W. Robbins, born 1893, (4) Cleve Robbins, born April 25, 1884, (5) Leonard Robbins, born January 8, 1882, (6) Garret Robbins, born 1896, (7) Mrs. Ottie Simpson, born 1898. Every one of the above has reared a large family. "W. T. Robbins, on July 12, 1902, married Miss Geneva Peace. We have the following children living: (1) Mrs. Juanita Robbins Anderson, born October 19, 1904, Married S. E. Anderson, Abingdon, Va. Juanita is a teacher in the public schools. (2) Beatrice Robbins Rice, born July 27, 1907. (3) Ezra Robbins, born January 17, 1911, (4) Marvin J. Robbins, born September 2, 1912, (5) Thurman Robbins, born June 2, 1916, (6) Birchel Robbins, born January 22, 1918, (7) Roddy Robbins, born January 8, 1920, (8) Hugh W. Robbins, born December 12, 1921. Seven of our children finished high school. Three have had some college training. Two are in the teaching profession. Two are working for the Kroger Grocery Company. One drives a truck for the Standard Oil Company. One attends Union College. One is at home with his mother. "The writer has had thirty-five years' [p. 275] experience in the teaching profession, 40 years' work in the ministry, 34 years of this time Clerk of the Bell County Baptist Association, helped to organize 45 churches, and helped to ordain 48 new preachers. I helped to baptize 1206 persons into the churches, received by letter 970 persons into the churches, making a total increase for the churches of 2176. I was County Judge of Bell County for four years, served on the County Board of Education four years, and was bookkeeper and stenographer in Knoxville, Tennessee, for five years. I have traveled 74,500 miles to fill my appointments to preach to my people, walked 31,600 miles of this distance. I acted as Missionary of the Bell Association of Baptists 11 years. Most of the time I have been pastor of four country churches and some of the time as many as six. "I have an accurate record of all my work. At one time during the flu epidemic I was teaching and working at the same time for the State Board of Missions. I received a letter from the State Superintendent to close my school and that I would be paid in full for all the time I lost. I also received a letter from the State Missionary and he told me to do the same thing, to close my work as a missionary and visit sick folk and to do what I could without trying to preach. At that time my friend H. C. Smith was County Tax Commissioner. He asked me to assist him in his office. This I did, and as a result, I was paid three salaries at the same time. I give this information only to show how many occupations some of our preachers [p. 276] have had in order to pay expenses while preaching to country churches. "Going back to my great grandfather on my mother's side, James M. Robbins, his second marriage was to Sallie Miracle. By this union there were born the following children: (1) Zachery Robbins, (2) James M. Robbins, Jr., (3) U. S. Robbins, (4) Rev. E. B. Robbins, (5) John F. Robbins, (6) Sarah Robbins Knowles. These were all born in Bell County and reared their families here mostly. There were once two men in Bell County by the name of John A. Robbins, who took their names from my grandfather, Rev. J. A. Robbins. "Lemuel Robbin's son, J. A. Robbins, married Mary Pursifull. Their children were (1) Thomas Robbins, (2) James B. Robbins, (3) Ellen Robbins Davis, (4) Sarah Robbins Bingham, (5) Charity Robbins Risner, (6) Rev. W. S. Robbins, (7) Jacob Robbins, (8) Alice Robbins Denny, (9) Maggie Robbins Williams, (10) Rev. John M. Robbins, (11) Kizzar Robbins, (12) Henry Gray Robbins. James Robbins' son, J. A. Robbins, married Vicie Pursifull, and had these children: (1) Esau Robbins, (2) John Robbins, (3) Green Robbins, (4) Clark Robbins, (5) Malinda Robbins Jackson, (6) Margret Robbins Smith, (7) Mary Robbins Smith, (8) Nancy Robbins Smith. "Thomas Robbins, the son of Lemuel Robbins, has two sons living in Bell County: Elders J. A. Robbins, Middlesborough, and R. D. Robbins, Route No. 1, Pineville. Both are ministers of the Primitive Baptist Church. Both have large families and are good citizens.