Robbins Family Papers
Scope and Contents
The collection contains some genealogical information on the Robbins family and correspondence and articles concerning the Seven Stars property, as well as some Robbins family papers, especially the poetry, prose, and a diary (1875) of Annie Lawrie Robbins (1828-1916), the unmarried daughter who kept house in the Seven Stars homestead.
In addition to the history of the property, the collection, particularly the diary, offers insight into the life of rural South Jersey Quakers in the late nineteenth century.
Dates
- Creation: 1849-1934
Creator
- Bourne, John H. (John Hill), 1870-1944 (Person)
- Robbins, Annie Lawrie, 1828-1916 (Contributor, Person)
- Bourne, John H. (John Hill), 1870-1944 (Contributor, Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Friends Historical Library believes all of the items in this collection to be in the Public Domain in the United States, and is not aware of any restrictions on their use. However, the user is responsible for making a final determination of copyright status before reproducing. See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/.
Biographical / Historical
This small collection concerning the Robbins family, Quakers who owned the historic Seven Stars property in Salem County, N.J., was compiled by John H. Bourne. The Robbins family purchased the tavern about 1805, and the property remained in the family until it was purchased by John H. Bourne in 1927. John H. Bourne (1870-1944) became a member on request of Woodstown Monthly Meeting, N.J., in 1928.
Well-known during the 18th century, the tavern was no longer operated after its purchase by Nathaniel Robbins, Sr., who farmed the property. He was succeeded by his son, Nathaniel, Jr., who married twice. His second wife was Hannah Lawrie Allen. They had three children, Nathaniel (1826-1914), Annie Lawrie (1828-1916), and Joseph A. (born 1830). The two older children never married and remained on the homestead, farming and keeping house. They were members of Pilesgrove Monthly Meeting which later became Woodstown Monthly Meeting. Nathaniel Robbins died in 1914, and Annie Lawrie died in 1916. The house was vacant for some years before its purchase by John H. Bourne.
The collection contains historical and genealogical information about the Robbins family and the Seven Stars Tavern in Salem County, as well as a diary kept by Annie Lawrie Robbins in 1875, family correspondence, manuscript writings, printed material concerning the Tavern, memorabilia and pictures.
Extent
0.5 linear ft. (1 box)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
This small collection concerning the Robbins family, Quakers who owned the historic Seven Stars Tavern property in Salem County, New Jersey, was compiled by John H. Bourne. The Robbins family purchased the tavern about 1805, and the property remained in the family until it was purchased by John H. Bourne in 1927. The Robbins family belonged to Pilesgrove Monthly Meeting (Hicksite), which in 1928 became Woodstown Monthly Meeting. John Bourne also was a member of Woodstown Monthly Meeting. The collection contains some genealogical information on the Robbins family and correspondence and articles concerning the Seven Stars property, as well as poetry, prose, and a diary (1875) of Annie Lawrie Robbins (1828-1916), the unmarried Robbins daughter who kept house in the Seven Stars homestead, and other family material. In addition to the history of the property, the collection, particularly the diary, offers insight into the life of rural South Jersey Quakers in the late nineteenth century.
Arrangement
The collection is divided into six series:
- Biographical and genealogical material
- Correspondence
- Manuscripts
- Material on the Robbins family and the Seven Stars Tavern
- Memorabilia
- Pictures
Physical Location
For current information on the location of materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donor: John H. Bourne, 1934
The collection was given by John H. Bourne, a Quaker from Salem County, N.J., who purchased the historic Seven Stars Tavern situated near Woodstown, Salem County, in 1927. In researching the house, he compiled this material on the property and the Robbins family. Materials on previous owners, the Lauderbach/Lauderback and Woods families mentioned in Bourne's correspondence apparently went to a different depository.
Processing Information
Processed by FHL staff prior to 1967. Also previously known as the Annie Lawrie Robbins Papers.
Subject
- Robbins family (Family)
- Seven Stars Tavern (Salem County, N.J.) (Organization)
Genre / Form
Geographic
Topical
- Title
- An Inventory of the Robbins Family Papers, 1849-1934
- Author
- FHL staff
- Date
- 2000
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
- Sponsor
- Encoding made possible by a grant by the Gladys Kriebel Delmas Foundation to the Philadelphia Consortium of Special Collections Libraries
Find It at the Library
Most of the materials in this catalog are not digitized and can only be accessed in person. Please see our website for more information about visiting or requesting repoductions from Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College Library
