Robinson Family Cemetery

Inventoried by Thomas Earnest Robinson (tomnjan@bellsouth.net)

Location:

Three miles north of Spring City, on the west side of Highway 27, a private road leads across a railroad track, then northward past an aged barn to a modest home. The visitor must then travel on foot approximately 300 feet north of the house and turn west on a trail. After passing Van’s Spring, the visitor turns south into a pasture near a farm shed. The cemetary is surrounded by a sturdy chain link fence and is visible upon entering the pasture. The current land owner, Dewey Sheppard, requests a courtesy phone call one day before visiting.

History:

The land surrounding the cemetary was purchased by James Robinson in the spring of 1838. Soon, brother John purchased the adjoining farm on the south side. The barn which is seen on the approach to the site was constructed in the manner associated with the early 1800s, with hand hewn square timbers and pegged mortise and tenon joints. The barn has several horse stalls original to the structure which gives credence to the family legend that James raised fine horses for work as well as pleasure.

The 1938/9 WPA survey does not list a marker for Hannah Mae (Earnest) Robinson, probably due to the condition of the cemetary, as it was described then as “long since abandoned.” In later years a subsequent owner of the farm moved all the engraved markers to a nearby creek bank for reasons unknown. Family members threatened legal action, which prompted the farmer to move the stones back to their original location. However, as discovered during restoration, the stones were not replaced in the proper order, and even today, the position of markers does not truly represent the exact sites of each grave. It is not known exactly how many graves are present, the 1938 survey reported “some 25 with about 10 marked with engraved stones.”

Restoration:

The condition of this cemetary today is largely due to the financial support of the late Clayton Robinson, great grandson of James Robinson. The restoration was completed just two weeks prior to Clayton’s death. Special thanks to David Robinson of Decatur, TN for his persistence and supervision of fencing, laying out, and negotiating with the land owner. Although I had desired for several years to undertake restoration, it was Clayton and David who gave their time and money and made it all possible.

–Thomas Earnest Robinson

Graves Include:

Brunetta Robinson (married Wm. Stubbs)
born: Aug 31, 1836
died: June 25, 1901

Ward H. Robinson (probably son of John)
born: Nov 5, 1851
died: Oct. 28, 1855

James A.  son of John and Hanna Robinson
born: Apr 20, 1846
died: Aug. 9, 1856

Martha E. Heiskel wife of T.J. Robinson
born: May 4, 1855
died: Oct. 24, 1887
(lived in Meigs Co. at time of death)

James Robinson
born: Jan. 27, 1805
died: Nov. 10, 1880
Age 75 yrs.
“Dear Husband, we’ll meet again.”

Elizabeth Earnest wife of James Robinson
born: May 10, 1810
died: Aug. 1, 1887
Age 77 yrs.

John Robinson
born: Feb. 10, 1799
died: July 27, 1886
Age 87 yrs.

Hannah Earnest Wife of John Robinson
born: 1809
died: Jan. 10, 1871