Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/108

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

political office. He has been a member of the executive committee of the Democratic State Central Committee, appointed in 1866; was a member of the board of visitors to the University of Virginia and of a similar board to the Miller Manual Labor School of Alexandria, but never had held a political office. His senatorial term began March 4, 1895, on vv^hich date he was sworn in as a member of the Fifty-fourth Congress of the United States. He served the full term of six years with honor, was reelected by the Virginia legislature to succeed himself; six years later he was again elected to represent his state in the highest legislative tribunal of our country and on January 12, 1912, for a fourth time he was honored as the choice of his state for the term beginning March 4. 1913.

Senator Martin is one of the strong men of the United States senate and of his state, famous for its great men. He is wise in counsel, but a whirlwind in action ; a force- ful, eloquent speaker, quick and ready in de- bate, a valuable attorney and a dreaded op- ponent. His broad-minded statesmanship has been often displayed in times of state and national crisis and like a rock he has stood for the principles of his party and the honor of his country. When the state of Virginia was torn with dissension over the settlement of the state debt he rendered a distinguished service as advisory counsel to the committee having the matter in charge. Broad and progressive as he is in his views on national and state afifairs, he is highly regarded for his personal traits of character. His good nature is as unfailing as his cour- tesy, his charity broad, and his sympathy ready. He possesses not only the power to attract and convince men, but the power to hold their friendship. In honoring Sena- tor Martin with so long a term in the senate, the state of Virginia has honored herself, his public service ranking with that of any senator from the Old Dominion.

Senator Martin married. October 10, 1894, Uucy Chamblis Day, daughter of Charles Fenton and Virginia (Jordan) Day. They have two children : Lucy Day Martin, born January 20, 1897; Thomas S. Martin Jr., born February 23. 1902.

Morgan Poitiaux Robinson. Several l)ranches of the Robinson family are now to be found in Virginia, all descended from John

Robinson, who came to America in early Colonial days. Many of the name have been distinguished in the history of Virginia, and in the history of the Protestant Episcopal church during Colonial times. Branches of the Robinson family emanating from this emigrant ancestor are known to have lived iv York, Middlesex, Gloucester, King and Queen, Caroline, Henrico, Norfolk, and other counties, in Virginia. Robinsons of this clan have held important official posi- tions in Virginia from Colonial times down to the present, and John Robinson, of Rich- mond (born February 13, 1773, died April 26, 1850), is believed to have held the rec- ord of the state for length of service. He v/as deputy clerk of the Hustings court and of the district court of Richmond, also clerk for twelve years, until the latter was abol- ished, and then clerk of the circuit court of Henrico county, Virginia, forty-one years, in all, fifty-three years, from 1797 to 1850, the time of his death.

(I) John Robinson, the first of the Rob- inson family in Virginia of whom we have any account, came from Cleasby, Yorkshire, England, about the middle of the seven- teenth century. He married Elizabeth Pot- ter, of Cleasby, daughter of Christopher Pot- ter, and settled in York county, Virginia, in what was then called Charles River parish. John Robinson received 300 acres of land in Lancaster county, Virginia, April 4, 1653, and later grants of several thousand acres in York, Lancaster and Gloucester counties, Virginia. He died March i, 1688, in New Charles parish, York county, Virginia, and left surviving issue.

(II) Anthony Robinson, son of John and Elizabeth (Potter) Robinson, was born May I, 1662, in New Charles parish, York county, Virginia. Anthony Robinson, of New Charles parish, held lands in York county, Virginia, prior to 1691, as on October 20, 1691, he received a grant of thirty-three acres of land in Poquosin parish, York county, which was bounded in part by said Robinson's old line, and in part by lines of Robert Kirby. He was vestryman and church warden of Charles parish in 1707 and 1708. He died November 11, 1727. His will, dated November 9, 1727, was probated December 18, 1727; it makes bequests to his children, Peter, William and John Robin- son. To Anne Parsons and his son-in-law, William Parsons, husband of Anne. To his