Thomas Robinson: The Oldest Man in Greenwich, Connecticut?

  Thomas Robinson: The Oldest Man in Greenwich, Connecticut?

When Thomas Robinson turned 101 years of age on 17 September 1926, the newspapers celebrated his birthday and proclaimed that he was “hale and hearty and with all his faculties as a man thirty years his junior.” [Ref 1].   When he died a few months later on 27 January 1927 in Greenwich, Connecticut, his obituary stated he was “Greenwich’s oldest male resident." [Ref 2] But was he?

The 1927 newspaper obituary claimed he was born on 17 September 1825, which is consistent with the “oldest male resident” claim. Furthermore, his gravestone in Union Cemetery, Greenwich, marked his birth at 1825, consistent with his claimed age of 101. [Ref 3]

However, the Greenwich Town death certificate [Ref 4]

states that he was born on 17 September 1837 and that his age was 89 years, 4 months and 8 days -  twelve years later than claimed! Which is right?

 

Let’s look at the Census records. Fortunately, Thomas Robinson and his family are well documented in the census records for Greenwich, Connecticut.  In 1870, he was 24 years old. [Ref 5].

I 1880, he was aged 45. [Ref 6] In 1900, he was aged 60. [Ref 7] He is not found in the 1910 census, but in 1920, he is aged 91 and living with his son. [Ref 8]

 

Greenwich kept excellent vital record and his age is recorded for some of his children who were born or died in Greenwich.

His son Henry Robinson was born on 28 December 1869, and Thomas Robinson’s age is given as 34. [Ref 9].

On 20 December 1875, his son Alfred Robinson was born and Thomas’s age is 35. [Ref 10]

 When his son Carroll Robinson was born on 1 October 1880, no age was given. [Ref 11]

On average, the various records suggest he was born about 1833. However, it is only since 1920 that his claimed age rose. When taking the earliest records before 1920, his age averages about 1838.  It would seem that Thomas Robinson was indeed born about 1837 and that as he got older, and perhaps gaining some attention, he began claiming he was much older than he actually was and that his “oldest male resident” claim was likely made up.

 

His place of birth is somewhat questionable also. All of the records document that he was born in England (now we know about 1837, not 1825). But where?

 

His death record says he was born in Lancashire. [Ref 12]. However, his obituary says his was born in Lincolnshire. [Ref 13] And in 1875, when his son, Alfred, was born, his birthplace was recorded as Yorkshire. [Ref 14]

Thomas Robinson is a rather common name in England, and no records have come to light as to identify this particular Thomas Robinson.

 

We can say that Thomas Robinson was born about 17 September 1837 in England, possibly in Lancashire, but could have been Yorkshire or Lincolnshire. He died on 25 Jan 1927 in Greenwich and was buried in Union Cemetery, Greenwich.  

He married Mary Jane Sloan before 1864. She was born on 18 Oct 1848, possibly in Dublin, Ireland. [Ref 15]. She died on 19 Apr 1909 in Greenwich and was also buried Union Cemetery. [Ref 16] Thomas Robinson was a coachman and gardener. He was regarded as an excellent horseman and worked for a number of prominent Greenwich families, where he developed a number of excellent trotting horses. [Ref 17].

Thomas Robinson and Mary Jane Sloan had the following children:

1. GEORGE ROBINSON was born on 14 Mar 1864 in Orange, Essex, New Jersey. [Ref 18]. He died on 26 Feb 1927 in Greenwich. [Ref 19] He married Maria Jane Clune on 12 Jun 1887 in Greenwich. [Ref 20] She was born on 30 May 1867 in Ireland. She died on 13 May 1938 in Greenwich and wasburied St. Mary's RC Cemetery. [Ref 21]
2. WILLIAM JOHN ROBINSON was born about 1867 in Greenwich (calculated from age at death). He died on 10 Feb 1887 in Greenwich of hydrophobia (i.e., rabies) [Ref 22]. His burial location has not been uncovered, but likely Union Cemetery.
3. HENRY ROBINSON was born on 28 Dec 1869 in Greenwich. [Ref 23] He died on 23 Dec 1874 in Greenwich of dropsy. [Ref 24]
4. HORACE ROBINSON was born on 15 Jul 1873 in Greenwich. [Ref 25]. He died on 06 May 1946 in Greenwich and was buried in Union Cemetery. [Ref 26]. He married Katherine Larkin about 1902 in Greenwich. 
5. ALFRED ROBINSON was born on 20 Dec 1875 in Greenwich. [Ref 27] He died on 01 Dec 1940 in Greenwich and was buried in Union Cemetery. He married Frances O’Brien on 04 May 1919 in Greenwich. [Ref 28] She was born in 1887 and  died in 1936 in Greenwich.
6. CARROL ROBINSON was born on 01 Oct 1880 in Greenwich. [Ref 29] He died on 12 Sep 1900 in Greenwich of epilepsy/drowning. [Ref 30]

Another unnamed child was likely born either before 1864 or between 1864 and 1867.

 References

[1] The New Britain [Connecticut] Herald, “Greenwich Man Hale and Hearty at Age of 101,” 17 September 1926, p. 1, col. 5.

[2]  The Daily Advocate [Stamford, Connecticut], “Thomas Robinson,” 7 January 1927, p.18, col. 2.

[3] Find A Grave, memorial 106960421, Thomas Robinson, Union Cemetery, Greenwich. [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/106960421/thomas-robinson]  

[4] Connecticut State Board of Health, Medical Certificate of Death in Town of Greenwich, No. 201 (1927),Thomas Robinson; Department of Vital Statistics, Connecticut.

[5]  1870 U.S. census, Fairfield County, Connecticut, Greenwich, p. 28, dwelling 183, family 203, line 25, Thomas Robinson household. 

[6]  1880 U.S. census, Fairfield County, Connecticut, Greenwich, p. 41 (474A), dwelling 258, family 288, line 8, ED 160, Thomas Robinson household.

[7]  1900 U.S. census, Fairfield County, Connecticut, Greenwich, p. 7B, dwelling 136, family 147, line 40, ED 69, Thomas Robinson household. 

[8] 1920 U.S. census, Fairfield County, Connecticut, Greenwich, p. 10B, house 199, dwelling 127, family 240, line 93, ED 125, Alfred Robinson household; Thomas Robinson, father, age 91.

[9] Greenwich, Connecticut. Town Hall, Records of Births, Marriages, Deaths 1847-1908, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/729989), Births: Henry Robinson, 28 December 1869, page 132, Image 169/200. [FHL 007731304].  

[10] Greenwich, Connecticut. Town Hall, Records. Births: Alfred Robinson, 20 December 1875, page 134, Image 170/200. [FHL 007731304].  

[11] Greenwich, Connecticut. Town Hall, Records, Births: Carrol Robinson, 1 October 1880, page 136, Image 171/200. [FHL 007731304].  

[12] Medical Certificate of Death in Town of Greenwich, No. 201 (1927),Thomas Robinson.

[13] The Daily Advocate [Stamford, Connecticut], “Thomas Robinson,” 7 January 1927, p.18, col. 2.

[14] Greenwich, Connecticut. Town Hall, Records, Births: Alfred Robinson, 20 December 1875, page 134. 

[15] Connecticut State Board of Health, Medical Certificate of Death in Town of Greenwich, No. 197 (1909), Mary Jane Robinson; Department of Vital Statistics, Connecticut.  

[16] Ibid.

[17] The Daily Advocate [Stamford, Connecticut], “Thomas Robinson,” 7 January 1927, p.18, col. 2.

[18] New Jersey Births and Christenings, 1660-1980, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1675383), George Robinson, 14 Mar 1864, Orange Township, Essex County, New Jersey.  

[19] Connecticut State Board of Health, Medical Certificate of Death in Town of Greenwich, No. 205 (1926), George Robinson; Department of Vital Statistics, Connecticut.

[20] Greenwich, Connecticut. Town Hall, Records, Marriages: Robinson-Clune, 12 June 1887,  page 392, Image 122-123/723 [FHL 434421].  

[21] Connecticut State Board of Health, Medical Certificate of Death in Town of Greenwich, No. 114 (1938), Maria Clune Robinson; Department of Vital Statistics, Connecticut.  

[22] Greenwich, Connecticut. Town Hall, Records, Deaths: William John Robinson, 10 February 1887, page 454, Image 275/723. [FHL 1434421].  

[23] Greenwich, Connecticut. Town Hall, Records, Births: Henry Robinson, 28 December 1869, page 132, Image 169/200. [FHL 007731304].  

[24] Greenwich, Connecticut. Town Hall, Records, Deaths: Henry Robinson 23 December 1874, page 580, Image 269/723. [FHL 1434421].  

[25] U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, database, (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/60901: accessed at 26 June 2023), entry for Harry Robinson.

[26]  The Daily Advocate [Stamford], Connecticut, Obituary for Horace Robinson, 7 May 1946, p.9, col. 7. 

[27] Greenwich, Connecticut. Town Hall, Records, Births: Alfred Robinson, 20 December 1875, page 134, Image 170/200. [FHL 7731304].

[28] Connecticut Marriage Records, 1897-1968. Ancestry. (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/70865/). Alfred Robinson-Francis O’Brien. Citing:  Connecticut State Department of Health; Hartford, CT; Connecticut Vital Records — Index of Marriages, 1897-1968.  

[29] Greenwich, Connecticut. Town Hall, Records, Births: Carrol Robinson, 1 October 1880, page 136, Image 171/200. [FHL 007731304].  

[30] Greenwich, Connecticut. Town Hall, Records, Deaths: Carrol Robinson, 12 September 1899, page 38, Image 699/723. [FHL 1434421].