This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Robinson, Gates, Sweet, Fenton, Alden Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/3cDBAIB/2963.3009.1 Message Board Post: Billie, Here is some info about a Robinson Circus. The following is from the CD “Genealogy and History of the Family Robinson”. It is the "Robinson Genealogy; Descendants Of The Rev. John Robinson, Pastor of the Pilgrims; Volume One; Published by the Robinson Genealogical Society". "FAYETTE LODAWICK ROBINSON, born in Richmond, NY, May 2, 1818. Died in Jefferson, Iowa, Sept 4, 1884. When a young man he was engaged in the shoe trade and in 1845 started in the show business. He appeared as Lucy Long at Madame Thielman’s Theater, St. Louis, MO. He also traveled with June and Turner’s Circus, and about 1851 traveled under the title of the “Robinson Family,” playing farces, singing quartettes, comic songs, etc. In 1867, Mr. Robinson was head and front of the largest show the world had ever seen. He took the first show across the continent. After a year in California, he returned in 1873. His was the first tent show around the Lakes, in a chartered steamboat, making a six weeks tour, and traveling 3300 miles. Cents ¾ of an inch in diameter were coined and issued by him bearing the inscription “Yankee Robinson Big Show 1869”. Obverse: his profile with the inscription “Yankee Robinson”. Fayette Lodawick was the son of Able; s/o Able; s/o Samuel; s/o Peter; s/o Peter; s/o Isaac; s/o John; s/o Rev. John. He was married three times and the children were by the second and third wives. CHILDREN: Silas Fayette, b. Dansville, NY, 1846; Kate Elizabeth, b. Eaton, Ohio, 1853; Charles Lodawick, b. DeRuyter, NY, Sept. 20, 1862; Ella Celia, b. Ny, NY, March 5, 1865; d. Aug. 13, 1865; Idella May, b. Chicago, Illinois, May 12, 1867; d. March 25, 1889. His Father, Abel, was born in Pawlet, VT, Apr 21, 1789. Died in Grand Rapids, Mich., at the home of his son, Lawton, Oct 16, 1876. Able's children were 1. Lawton Henry, b. Benson, VT, Nov 28, 1814; d. Milwaukee, WI, Mar 28, 1890. 2. Fayette Lodawick 3. James N., b.Richmonr, NY, Mar 29, 1820. 4. Charles Dwright, b. Richmond, NY, Oct 16, 1823, drowned in NY in 1842. 5. Mary E., b. in Richmond, NY, Mar 26, 1826. 6. Fanny S., b. Richmond, NY, Nov 16, 1827. Both Girls married brothers, last name Gilbert. My husband's great uncle died in a fall from a highwire in a circus, probably in Milwaukee. There are several by the spelling Robbinson in Walworth Co., WI. Helen