Sheila gave us an interesting, illustrated talk about Charles Robinson who was Recorder for Deal in the 18th century. Sheila Harris’ Robinson family came from the Wensleydale area of N. Yorkshire and in an attempt to sort out which families were which, Sheila embarked on a mini One Name study. During her research, she came across Charles Robinson, who became Recorder of Canterbury, Deal and other towns in East Kent.
A Recorder was originally a Magistrate or Judge having criminal and civil jurisdiction within the corporation of a city of borough. He was a person with legal knowledge appointed by the Mayor and Aldermen to ‘record’ the proceedings of their courts and customs of the borough or city.
Charles Robinson was born on 9th March 1731 and baptised in Cambridge. He was the youngest child of Matthew Robinson and his wife Elisabeth nee Drake. It is through his mother that there were strong family links to Monks Horton nr.Hythe. Charles was admitted to the Middle Temple in 1749-50, to train in the Law. He married Mary Dawkes, a widow, in 1757 at St. Margaret’s Church,Westminster then became ‘Recorder’ of Canterbury in 1763 and Bankruptcy Commissioner from 1766 to 1792. He was elected MP for Canterbury in 1780 and served the city until 1790.
In 1785 he was involved in the case of two felons, David Levi and Charles Jevelein, who were found guilty of stealing goods over the value of 40 shillings. Originally they were sentenced to death but Charles Robinson interceded on their behalf and got the sentence reduced to 14 years’ transportation. When Charles Robinson died on 31st March 1807, he was still in post as Recorder and had a huge funeral procession through Canterbury with six previous Mayors acting as pall bearers.
Sheila also investigated his eight siblings, many who also had illustrious careers. Of his two sisters, Elizabeth (later Lady Montagu) was a leader of the ‘Blue Stocking Society’, a social reformer, translator, author and a close friend of Elizabeth Carter. His younger sister Sarah (later Sarah Scott) was also a novelist, translator, social reformer and member of the Blue Stockings. Sheila had produced a huge body of work on the Robinsons which made for an interesting talk on a remarkable family.
Report by Lesley Smith, Branch Secretary,
Deal & District Branch of Kent Family History Society