http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/dewittbios3.htm ROBINSON. James W. Robinson was born about 1800 by some records in Ohio and others in HamiltonCo, Indiana. He is thought to be the son of Samuel and Margaret Newell Robinson. In Indiana, Robinson practiced law and married Mary Isdell in 1820, but is said to have deserted the family of five children upon emigration to Arkansas in 1828. In Arkansas he married Sarah Snider with which he had a son William N. Robinson. Robinson first settled and practiced law in Nacogdoches where he received title to a league of land in the Vehlein Colony, current San JacintoCo. As a representative from Nacogdoches, he was involved in outlining plans for a provisional government for Texas in the consultation held in San Felipe in Nov 1835 and elected lieutenant governor together with Henry Smith as governor of the provisional organization. After a dispute of Smith with the council of the provisional government, Robinson was declared governor, but Smith refused to vacate his position claiming a quorum was not present. For a time, both operated as governor.. After San Jacinto where he served in Capt. William Smith's Company J Cavalry, 2nd Regiment, he settled in current Gonzales County and later LavacaCo of the former DeWitt Colony where he resumed the practice of law and was elected one of the first district judges of the Republic of Texas which made him a member of the Supreme Court. He served in the 4th Congress of the Republic. Robinson was legal counsel for Col. Philip Howard, husband of Sarah Creath McSherry Hibbins Stinnett, in his many court battles to protect and distribute the estates of multiple times widowed wife Sarah's former families. Robinson was wounded by Comanches in the Council House Fight in San Antonio in Mar 1840. He was captured and imprisoned in Mexico City in the Woll invasion and capture of San Antonio in 1842. While a prisoner, Santa Anna took notice of his proposal for peace between Texas and Mexico and released him to present it to President Houston who was in his second term as President of the Republic. In Mar 1843, Robinson discussed the proposition with President Houston at Washington some credit him with an armistice between Texas and Mexico resulting in release of prisoners. Robinson was listed on the taxrolls of LavacaCo in 1846. In 1850, he moved to San Diego, CA where he continued the practice of law and public service until he died in Oct 1857. He was involved in promotion of a railroad connecting California and Texas. His will provided for distribution of his estate between descendants of children from both marriages who were dead when he died and was not settled until 1903 among over 73 grandchildren and heirs.