William Robinson

Who was William Robinson?

William Robinson was a deputy governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. The son of Rowland and Mary Robinson of South Kingstown in the Rhode Island colony, his father was a relatively late immigrant to Rhode Island, arriving in Newport from Cumberland, England in 1675.

Robinson first served in a civil capacity in 1724, becoming Deputy from South Kingstown, and subsequently served an additional eight terms. In 1735 and again in 1741 he was the Speaker of the House of Deputies. In 1742 he was appointed by the Assembly with four others to determine if the "woods" part of Newport, consisting mostly of farmers, should be set apart from the "compact" part of Newport, consisting mostly of merchants and tradesmen. The following year the "woods" part became the new town of Middletown. In 1745 Robinson was selected as Deputy Governor of the colony for a one year term, and then selected again in 1747 for another term, serving under Governor Gideon Wanton both times.

Robinson married twice, first to Martha, the daughter of John and Sarah Potter with whom he had five children. Following Martha's death he married Abigail, the widow of Caleb Hazard, and daughter of William and Abigail Gardiner. This marriage resulted in eight more children. Robinson died on 19 September 1751 in South Kingstown, leaving a very large estate to his heirs, valued at over 21,000 pounds. He is buried in a Robinson family cemetery near Narragansett Pier.