Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 1.djvu/172

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

civil or military, until the King's pleasure were known, and obliged to give bond for his future good behavior. His political sympathies are borne witness to by the fact that in 1682 he was one of Robert Beverley's bondsmen. Dr. Whiting did not remain long in disfavor, how- ever, for sometime prior to Oct. 9, 1690, he was appointed to the council, and was present a: meetings in 1692 and 1693. On July 5 of the same year he was ai)i)ointed treasurer of Virginia, but did not hold the office more than a few months. I lis descendants are numerous.

Nicholson, Sir Francis, governor of \'ir- g:nia ( q. v. ).

Robinson, Christopher, >on of John Robin- son, of Cleasby, Yorkshire, England, and brother of John Robinson, bishop of I.ondon. was born in 1645. He came to \'irginia about ](/) and settled on an estate in Middlesex county, near L'rbanna, which was afterwards called "Hewick," and where he built a house which is still standing. Robinson w^as clerk (■i Middlesex county from 1675 to 1688. when he resigned. In 1691 he was a burgess, and on June 10 of that year (iov. Nicholson wrote tl'.at there were vacancies in the council and recommended "Christopher Robinson, a mem- ber of the I louse of Burgesses.'' to fill one of them. On (Jet. 15 the privy council ordered that he be confirmed as a member of the Vir- ginia council, and on Oct. 26 a letter to the same effect from the King was written. On July 5. 1692, he was furthered by the appoint- ment of secretary of state for \'irginia, and on tlie next day wrote to the lords of trades and plantations informing them that on the peti- tion of Col. William C'ole to be discharged from the j)Osition of secretary the lieutenant- governor, with the unanimous consent of the council, had given him, Robinson, the place

until their majesties' pleasure might be known, and he begged their lordships' favorable con- sideration. On Oct. 25 the King in council granted him the wished for secretaryship. Rob- inson was appointerl one of the first trus- tees of William and Mary College in 1692. On March 3, 1692-93, Gov. Andros wrote that Stcretary Robinson had died on the 13th of .\pril ])receding.

Scarborough, Charles, eldest son of Col. ICdmund Scarborough, of Accomac county, is first mentioned in Nov., 1642, when he stated in a deposition that he was twenty-four years olfl. Col. Charles Scarborough seems to have been a man of bold tem]:)erament, which sev- eral limes in his life got him into trouble. He took part in Bacon's rebellion, but was par- doned on the payment of a fine and, notwith- standing the offence, was, in 1680, presiding justice of Accomac and major of the militia. In 1687 he was prosecuted and removed from the court for saying that "King James would wear out the Church of England," for he was "constantly putting in those of another pur- suasion." In the next year, that of the revolu- tion, such opinions became meritorious, and Maj. Scarborough was reappointed a justice and elected a member of the house of bur- gesses. On June 10, 1691, Gov. Nicholson wrote that there were vacancies in the council, ahd recommended as a fit person to fill one of them "Col. Charles Scarborough," a member of the house of burgesses, and Sir Charles Scarborough's nephew. On Oct. 15 of the srime year the English privy council confirmed his a])])ointment. He was at that time coun- cillor, commander-in-chief of Accomac and I)resident of the county court, and collector and naval officer of the eastern shore. For some reason, not now known, he was for a time left out of the council, but in 1697, was