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Robbins Family Papers

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Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Call Number:
RG5.130
Repository:
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Extent:
0.5 linear ft. (1 box)
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item or series here], Robbins Family Papers, RG 5/130, Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Date:
1849-1934 (inclusive)
Creator:
Bourne, John H. (John Hill), 1870-1944 and Robbins, Annie Lawrie, 1828-1916
Form:
Diaries and Account books
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.

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.

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.

The collection is divided into six series:

  1. Biographical and genealogical material
  2. Correspondence
  3. Manuscripts
  4. Material on the Robbins family and the Seven Stars Tavern
  5. Memorabilia
  6. Pictures

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.

Processed by FHL staff prior to 1967. Also previously known as the Annie Lawrie Robbins Papers.

People
Organization
Subject
Place

Publisher
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Finding Aid Author
FHL staff
Finding Aid Date
2000
Sponsor
Encoding made possible by a grant by the Gladys Kriebel Delmas Foundation to the Philadelphia Consortium of Special Collections Libraries
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

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/.

Collection Inventory

"Historical items regarding the Robbins family of Seven Star Tavern." Diary, "Typed notes by John H. Bourne", n.d.
Box 1
Annie L. Robbins Diary, 1875.
Box 1
Physical Description

with typed extracts

Scope and Contents

John H. Bourne correspondence with surviving Robbins family members.

F.S. Robbins to Journe J. Bourne F.S. Robbins to John J. Bourne, 11/7/1927.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Includes attached copy of poem, "The Old Homestead", by Annie Lawrie Robbins, relating the history of the Seven Stars Tavern. (See printed copy, Ser.4, clipping, The Monitor-Register, 12/15/1927.)

Emma B. Robbins to John J. Bourne, 1/10/1934.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

wWth attached reprint of article by John H. Bourne entitled "Ghosts Plentiful in Old Seven Star Tavern", from Salem Sunbeam, Salem, N.J.

Scope and Contents

Arranged alphabetically by title; handwriting of many of the unsigned corresponds with that of Annie Lawrie Robbins.

"Camp Meeting Time".
Box 1
"Consider Then Act" (Incomplete).
Box 1
"Hester Perkis [sic] Dream on Free Silver".
Box 1
"A Little Girls [sic] Kindness," signed A.L.R.
Box 1
"A Night on the Street in Philadelphia forty five years ago", signed Annie L. Robbins, 1885.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Written 1885 for the Grange.

"Some Ghosts of Seven Stars Tavern", signed John H. Bourne.
Box 1
Physical Description

typed

"Some of the causes for Dull Times and the Remedy," signed Annie L. Robbins. Incomplete.
Box 1
"Tippecanoe campaign at Seven Stars".
Box 1
Scope and Contents

With accompanying campaign songs.

"What Are A Wife's Duties in the Hom [sic] On The Farm".
Box 1
"What Constitutes A Matron On The Farm".
Box 1
"Why Should Every Farmer Be A Granger".
Box 1
Two incomplete, untitled, unsigned fragments.
Box 1
"A Beautiful Life" Signed A.L.R.
Box 1
"A Birthday Wish".
Box 1
"A Poetical Address of Welcome" three versions, signed A.L.R.
Box 1
"A Poetical Essay, How We Grangers Do".
Box 1
"A Visit Poetical".
Box 1
"Childhood Past and Present," signed Annie L. Robbins.
Box 1
"For my friends and cousins".
Box 1
"Hard Cider Will Intoxicate".
Box 1
"I Am Wondering", written by Joseph A. Robins [sic], Swan Lake, 1879.
Box 1
"Old Time Winters", signed A.L.R.
Box 1
"Prophecies Fulfilled".
Box 1
"Resolutions For The New Year".
Box 1
"Some Of The Romances Of Farm Life".
Box 1
"What Our Folks Reads".
Box 1
"To some soldier boy".
Box 1
"To The Farmers [sic] Daughter".
Box 1
"To the one that gets it".
Box 1
"Uncle Sam and Free Silver".
Box 1
"We Miss Thee".
Box 1
"What Is Gained By Being A Patron".
Box 1
"When The Women Vote".
Box 1
"Work For All", signed A.L.R.
Box 1
Several untitled verses.
Box 1

Clipping from Salem Sunbeam on Louderback family, 10/14/1927.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Contains article entitled "One of County's Historic Houses Transferred to New Owner", giving information regarding the Louderback family who built the Tavern, and their descendants.

Article from The Monitor-Register, Woodstown, Salem County, N.J., 12/15/1927.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Contains picture of the Tavern, with Harry, Ann (Annie), Hannah, and Nathaniel Robbins, and poem "The Old Homestead" by Ann Lawrie Robbins.

Clipping from Salem Sunbeam, Salem, N.J. on Seven Stars Tavern, 1/10/1930.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Contains article entitled "Taverns of Colonial Salem County," by Richard Davis, including information on Seven Stars Tavern, with accompanying picture of the Tavern.

Clipping from Salem Standard and Jerseyman containing article, "Seven Stars Tavern", with accompanying picture., 1/22/1931.
Box 1

Homemade notebook; the handwriting throughout corresponds with that of Annie Lawrie Robbins.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Contains list headed "A few tunes that I know"; account of trip to Philadelphia to attend First Day School Conference and the Centennial; charade, "Washington, in three acts"; notes on meeting held to consider opening a First Day School in Woodstown, list of subscribers to fund for Library and other books needful for the school; and article, "Remedy for Hard Times."

Recipe Book of Hannah L. Robbins.
Box 1
Notebook, "This book is inscribed to Joseph A. Robbins by his relatives and friends.".
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Includes copied verses, among them "The Old Homestead and its History" by Annie Lawrie Robbins, and on loose sheet inside front cover a poem "First and Second Love" by Joseph Robbins, "who left first wife and fled west"

The Language of Flowers, Poetically Expressed..., 1849.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Printed N.Y., Leavitt, Trow, and Co. Belonged to Annie L. Robbins.

Miniature Child's Bible.
Box 1
Printed folder on Old Salem Oak, in Friends' Cemetery, Salem, N.J.
Box 1
Copy books and piece books, 1817, 1842.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Copy book, Ann Lawrie (?); exercise book, Hannah Lawrie; album, Ann L. Robbins, approx. 1842; piece book, Hannah Lawrie Robins, 1817.

Day book, Nathaniel Robbins,, 1816-1819, 1821.
Box 1

Photograph, Nathaniel Robbins, of Woodstown, N.J., Seven Stars Tavern.
Box 1
Photograph, Hannah Lawrie Robbins of Seven Stars Tavern.
Box 1
Photograph, Annie Lawrie Robbins, Hannah Lawrie Allen Robbins, and Nathaniel Robbins, in front of Seven Stars Tavern.
Box 1
Nitrate negative of Old Meeting House, Woodstown, removed from collection, 6/2000.
Box 1

Print, Suggest