James Robinson (October 6, 1799 – October 15, 1875), known as Gentleman Jim, was born on the Pittsylvania Plantation of Landon Carter, Jr. to a freewoman by the name of Susan aka "Annah".[1] He first rose to prominence as one of the wealthiest African Americans in the Manassas area, but is also known because his homestead was located between the lines of the Confederate and Union armies during two major battles of the Civil War.[2][3]
James Robinson aka "Gentleman Jim," was born free and landed. He also received an education from the same private tutor that taught his half sister Judith Carter.[2][4] The homestead he built in Bull Run couldn't have been more prominent at the outset of the Civil War, during which two major battles were fought in his front yard.
All of the above would have been enough to make him noteworthy; however "Gentleman Jim," was to become the 3rd richest African freedman through much of his own initiative. Using the privileges that came with being a freedman, which were quite limited in 18th century Virginia, James Robinson used the education he received from his teacher James Robinson, whose name it is believed he later took for himself, and combined that with hard work and an entrepreneurial spirit to acquire 1500 acres of land by the time of his death in 1875.[3]
The Robinson family history indicates Landon Carter, Jr. (1738 – 1801) was his father, which seems quite likely due to the special status that both he and his mother held on the plantation.[2][3]
Land Ownership
Gentleman Jim was unusual in a number of ways, including his ownership of land from birth.[5] Researchers have surmised that in order for Jim to own land from birth, by law, he would have to be free from birth.[3] Furthermore, in order for him to be free from birth, his mother would have to be free, as well. They come to the extraordinary conclusion that Landon Carter, Jr. must have freed this enslaved African woman, in order for their son to be free and enjoy whatever benefits would accrue from that freedom in the still limited world of the African freedmen. They continue on to say that this was not as unusual as one would think, because at this period in history numerous Africans were being freed, due to a low work load, somewhat akin to today's layoffs.[3]
The Robinson House was located in the middle of the battlefield where the first and second Battles of Bull Run occurred. The family was forced to evacuate to another house in the area, while Jim took cover under the bridge over Young's Branch of the Bull Run River.[6][7]
Marriage and children
Starting a family was fraught with difficulties during these times, especially in the case of black people. As a freedman there were some things that "Gentleman Jim" could not avoid. When he "married" Susan "Sukey" Gaskins (c. 1823'), due to her slave status they could not obtain a marriage license, which prevented them from having their relationship legally recognized.[3]
They were still able to raise eight children together, but they did suffer some setbacks. For instance, he was able to purchase his wife and some of their children (and thus grant them their freedom) prior to the onset of the Civil War, but there were two sons that were sold "down the river." James, Jr. and Alfred were both sold to a new owner in New Orleans. Alfred returned some time later, but James, Jr. never returned.[3]
Below is a list of children with birth and death dates that have been verified by a team of researchers who compared Prince William County records; oral history from the Robinson family and records found in the vandalized house.[3]
James Robinson's children were Bladen, James Jr., Tasco, Jermima, Alfred and Henrietta. Pendleton and Dianah were Jermima's children; father unknown[12]
References
^"The Other Pittsylvania". Pittsylvania County History.com. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
^ abc"Virginia Waymarker G-16, James Robinson House". Virginia Waymarker. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
^ abcdefghiParsons, Mia (2001). Archeological Investigation of the Robinson House Site 44PW288: A Free African-American Domestic Site Occupied From the 1840s to 1936. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of the Interior. pp. 1–136.
^"'Gentleman Jim' Robinson". Manassas Bull Run Battlefield. The Visitor Center. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
^"'Gentleman Jim' has a Unique Spot in History" 2011-07-21 at the Wayback Machine InsideNova.com. July 21, 2011.
^Arenson, Adam (July 21, 2011). "Manassas: The Missing Robinson House". Civil War Memory: Reflections of a Civil War Historian & History Teacher. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
^Stokes, Louis (1987). U.S. Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the 100th Congress, First Session, Vol. 133, No. 139. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office.
^Friedman, Carol Drake (1988-02-22). "A Family Celebration". The Robinson-Naylor-Harris News Quarterly. 1 (2): 5–6.
^Brodie, James Michael (1990-08-16). "Battlefield House Revives Memories". Centre View.
^Crosby, Edward (January 1998). "Family Homegoings". The Robinson-Naylor-Harris News Quarterly. XI (1): 3. Retrieved 22 September 2012.[permanent dead link]
African-American Households from Manassas National Battlefield Park
Second Manassas
January 20, 2023
gentleman, robinson, james, robinson, october, 1799, october, 1875, known, gentleman, born, pittsylvania, plantation, landon, carter, freewoman, name, susan, annah, first, rose, prominence, wealthiest, african, americans, manassas, area, also, known, because, . James Robinson October 6 1799 October 15 1875 known as Gentleman Jim was born on the Pittsylvania Plantation of Landon Carter Jr to a freewoman by the name of Susan aka Annah 1 He first rose to prominence as one of the wealthiest African Americans in the Manassas area but is also known because his homestead was located between the lines of the Confederate and Union armies during two major battles of the Civil War 2 3 James Gentleman Jim RobinsonBornOctober 6 1799Pittsylvania Plantation Bull Run VADiedOctober 15 1875Robinson House Manassas Virginia Bull Run VAOccupation s Entrepreneur businessman farmer landownerSpouseSusan GaskinsChildrenJemimi Alfred Tasco Sr Henrietta Bladen Diana Pascal James Jr ParentLandon Carter Jr amp Susanna of Pittsylvania Plantation Virginia Contents 1 Biography 2 Land Ownership 3 Marriage and children 4 Descendants 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksBiography EditJames Robinson aka Gentleman Jim was born free and landed He also received an education from the same private tutor that taught his half sister Judith Carter 2 4 The homestead he built in Bull Run couldn t have been more prominent at the outset of the Civil War during which two major battles were fought in his front yard All of the above would have been enough to make him noteworthy however Gentleman Jim was to become the 3rd richest African freedman through much of his own initiative Using the privileges that came with being a freedman which were quite limited in 18th century Virginia James Robinson used the education he received from his teacher James Robinson whose name it is believed he later took for himself and combined that with hard work and an entrepreneurial spirit to acquire 1500 acres of land by the time of his death in 1875 3 The Robinson family history indicates Landon Carter Jr 1738 1801 was his father which seems quite likely due to the special status that both he and his mother held on the plantation 2 3 Land Ownership EditGentleman Jim was unusual in a number of ways including his ownership of land from birth 5 Researchers have surmised that in order for Jim to own land from birth by law he would have to be free from birth 3 Furthermore in order for him to be free from birth his mother would have to be free as well They come to the extraordinary conclusion that Landon Carter Jr must have freed this enslaved African woman in order for their son to be free and enjoy whatever benefits would accrue from that freedom in the still limited world of the African freedmen They continue on to say that this was not as unusual as one would think because at this period in history numerous Africans were being freed due to a low work load somewhat akin to today s layoffs 3 The Robinson House was located in the middle of the battlefield where the first and second Battles of Bull Run occurred The family was forced to evacuate to another house in the area while Jim took cover under the bridge over Young s Branch of the Bull Run River 6 7 Marriage and children EditStarting a family was fraught with difficulties during these times especially in the case of black people As a freedman there were some things that Gentleman Jim could not avoid When he married Susan Sukey Gaskins c 1823 due to her slave status they could not obtain a marriage license which prevented them from having their relationship legally recognized 3 They were still able to raise eight children together but they did suffer some setbacks For instance he was able to purchase his wife and some of their children and thus grant them their freedom prior to the onset of the Civil War but there were two sons that were sold down the river James Jr and Alfred were both sold to a new owner in New Orleans Alfred returned some time later but James Jr never returned 3 Below is a list of children with birth and death dates that have been verified by a team of researchers who compared Prince William County records oral history from the Robinson family and records found in the vandalized house 3 Jemima born 1817 died 1914 James Jr born circa 1822 3 Alfred born 3 15 1828 on the John Lee Plantation Willow Green died 1904 at the Robinson House Tasco Sr born 1829 Henrietta born June 1840 Bladen born May 1843 Diana born 1843 Pascal born 1855 Descendants EditEdward W Crosby Carl Stokes Louis Stokes 8 9 Rick James 10 Steve Harvey 11 Notes EditJames Robinson s children were Bladen James Jr Tasco Jermima Alfred and Henrietta Pendleton and Dianah were Jermima s children father unknown 12 References Edit The Other Pittsylvania Pittsylvania County History com Retrieved September 15 2012 a b c Virginia Waymarker G 16 James Robinson House Virginia Waymarker Retrieved September 13 2012 a b c d e f g h i Parsons Mia 2001 Archeological Investigation of the Robinson House Site 44PW288 A Free African American Domestic Site Occupied From the 1840s to 1936 Washington D C U S Department of the Interior pp 1 136 Gentleman Jim Robinson Manassas Bull Run Battlefield The Visitor Center Retrieved September 14 2012 Parsons 2001 p 208 Gentleman Jim has a Unique Spot in History Archived 2011 07 21 at the Wayback Machine InsideNova com July 21 2011 Arenson Adam July 21 2011 Manassas The Missing Robinson House Civil War Memory Reflections of a Civil War Historian amp History Teacher Retrieved September 15 2012 Stokes Louis 1987 U S Congressional Record Proceedings and Debates of the 100th Congress First Session Vol 133 No 139 Washington D C Government Printing Office Friedman Carol Drake 1988 02 22 A Family Celebration The Robinson Naylor Harris News Quarterly 1 2 5 6 Brodie James Michael 1990 08 16 Battlefield House Revives Memories Centre View Crosby Edward January 1998 Family Homegoings The Robinson Naylor Harris News Quarterly XI 1 3 Retrieved 22 September 2012 permanent dead link http www pwcvirginia com documents JohnLeeswill pdf bare URL PDF External links EditAfrican American Households from Manassas National Battlefield Park The Battle of Bull Run Known in the South as First Manassas Second Manassas Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gentleman Jim Robinson amp oldid 1077088744, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
