Robinson, William (1)

Robinson, William (1), a Presbyterian minister, was born near Carlisle, England, in the beginning of the 18th century. Having plunged into the dissipations of London, he was ashamed to return to his father, and resolved to seek his fortune in America. On his arrival, he began to teach school in Hopewell, N.J., living the life of a correct and sober man. Soon after his conversion, he determined to enter the ministry, and pursued his studies at the Log College. He was received under the care of the New Brunswick Presbytery on April 1, 1740, and was licensed to preach May 27 following. On Aug. 14, 1741, he was ordained in New Brunswick sine titulo. Until 1746 he labored as missionary in Virginia, and on March 19 was dismissed from the Presbytery of New Brunswick to that of New Castle, with a view of his becoming pastor of the congregation at St. George's, Del. But in April following, before he had been installed, his death occurred. There remains little documentary testimony concerning him; but there is a uniform tradition that he was an eminently devout and benevolent man, and one of the most vigorous and effective preachers of his day. See Sprague, Annals of the Amer. Pulpit, 3, 92.