Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/430

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

ceived his appointment as postmaster from President Wilson, Mr. Sinclair entered upon the duties of his new office in June, 1913, and now, familiar with his office, fills it ably and competently. He was one of the organizers of the People's National Bank of Manassas, and is at present its vice-presi- dent, having served in that capacity since its organization. He is a member of the Virginia B^ar Association, and fraternizes with the Masonic Order and the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, in the former society belonging to Manassas Lodge, No. 182, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, having at one time been secretary of that body. In religion a Baptist, his political faith is Democratic.

Mr. Sinclair married, June 28, 1876, Eloise, born in Front Royal, Warren county, Virginia, daughter of George Carter and Laura Virginia (Green) Armistead. The only other child of the family is Mary Lan- don, who married Dr. Robert Willett Leache, now deceased, three children were born to them, namely : Irene, Aline, and Eugene Hunton Leache. All are married and living in Texas. George Carter Armi- stead was a son of Colonel Robert Landon and Mary (Carter) Armistead, of near Up- perville, Fauquier county, Virginia, descend- ants of Robert Carter (King) and Betty Landon, his second wife. Colonel Robert Landon Armistead was a son of Major John Baylor and Ann (Carter) Armistead. John Baylor Armistead was a son of John Armistead, colonel in revolutionary war, and Lucy Baylor, daughter of Colonel John Bay- lor, of Newmarket, Carolina county, Vir- ginia, who was first aide-de-camp on the stafif of General George Washington. One ot the faniilv who gave valiant service to the cause of the Confederacy, was General Lewis Addison Armistead who was con- spicuously engaged at the battle of Gettys- burg and killed in Pickett's charge. Mrs. Sinclair is a direct descendant of Lord Bal- timore, founder of Maryland, and is identi- fied with the Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America, Daughters of the American Revolution, the National Society of the Daughters of the War of 1812, and Daughters of the Confederacy. Children of Arthur W. and Eloise (Armistead) Sin- clair: I. Laura Williams, born August 14, 1877; married Edgar Flerbert Nash. 2. Charles Armistead. born in Brentsville,

Prince William county, Virginia, August 3, 1880; was educated in the public schools, Manassas Institute, and Richmond College, being graduated from the last-named insti- tution as B. L., June 12, 1902, and was admitted to the Virginia bar in the same month : he formed a partnership with his father which continued until 1913, when the elder Sinclair retired to accept the position of postmaster, since which time he has prac- ticed alone; he married Edmonia, daughter of Thomas O. Taylor, of Prince William county, Virginia, and they have four chil- dren, Charles Armistead, Jr., Anna B., Elizabeth T. and Arthur Williams, Jr. 3. Kathleen Cook, born in Brentsville, Vir- ginia, July 25, 1883; married Eugene B. Giddings, of Leesburg, Virginia, a merchant of Manassas, Virginia, and has children, Eloise Armistead and Mary Hempstone.

James William Robinson, a merchant of Newport News, is descended from Scotch- Irish ancestry, of one of the numerous fami- lies of this name in Virginia. They came from northern Ireland and settled in Fred- erick county, Virginia, in the neighbor- hood of Gainesboro, whence two members removed to Maryland and were prosperous and useful citizens. The family has been noted for producing many large planters and merchants.

Andrew A. Robinson, of this family, was a successful farmer and miller of Gainesboro, Frederick county, Virginia. He married a Miss Jackson, and they had eleven children : David, Archibald, Joseph, Alexander, Jack- son, Josiah, Jonathan, James, \\'illiani, Mary Jane and Margaret Ann.

Jonathan Robinson, son of Andrew A. Robinson, was born in Frederick county, Virginia, and educated in public schools and an academy. He was subsequently very successful as a farmer, became proprietor of a flouring mill, and was among the most industrious and useful citizens of the county. Farmers came long distances to bring their grain to Robinson, the miller. He was a Quaker in religious belief, and one of the most upright and conscientious citizens of the community, a gentleman of the old school, a man of great executive ability, and universally esteemed and re- spected. Politically he was an exception to most of his contemporaries, being a Re- publican. He married Mary Frances Clev-