Thomas Robblee: Traitor & Loyalist

    In March 1784, Thomas Robblee was living in Granville Township in Nova Scotia, however, he was living in "great poverty and distress" — he, a yeoman, who had once owned not one, not two, but eight horses before he came to this province. But, we are getting ahead of ourselves. 

    Thomas Robblee was born in May 1735, in Huntington, Suffolk County, New York, probably the son of Andrew Rublier and Abigail Hawkins. He was married on 29 August 1765, to Mary Allen in Manhattan, New York, in the Dutch Reformed Church. A few months later, Thomas purchased land in Nine Partner's Patent, Dutchess County, with his brother John Robblee. While John eventually moved on from this land, Thomas and Mary remained here and built up a successful farm which included four houses and 150 acres. They also owned a house and lot on Barclay Street in the City of New York. 

    Thomas' life was forever changed with the start of the American Revolution in 1775. He was among those who disagreed with the rebellious colonists and remained loyal to King George and the British Government. By 1777, the Robblee's situation in Dutchess County must have become precarious. Loyalists often faced hostilities from their patriot neighbours, and perhaps this was true of Thomas, as he left his home and joined the Royal Army in April of 1777. With this decision, Thomas sealed his fate and he was considered an enemy, and because of this, his property, both real and personal, was confiscated and sold for the benefit of the state of New York. 

    Having lost all his property and been branded a traitor, Thomas was now at the mercy of the British Government who promised recompense for his loyalty. In 1783, he was granted 300 acres in Clements Township in Nova Scotia. He removed there with is wife, but they soon relocated to Granville Township, where we find him in March 1784, in great poverty and distress. Now, this description of his condition is what his attorney, John H. Roome, wrote in his claim to the commission that was inquiring into the loses of those who remained loyal to the Crown during the Revolution. As Thomas was looking to receive financial recompense for his lost property, his condition in Nova Scotia might have been exaggerated, for though he was in great poverty, he had three slaves. In Thomas' memorial, it says that he had been indicted for high treason against the States, and the sale of his property amounted to £1249.19s.4d. The personal property that Thomas lost was also included in the claim and the following are some of the items; ten cows, fourteen cattle of varying ages, eight horses, twenty-seven sheep, hogs, poultry, a wagon and cart, farming utensils, carpenters tools, a man and woman's saddle, household furniture, painting oil and white lead, wearing apparel, cloth, six tanned cow hides, 413 bushels of wheat, 140 bushels of Indian corn, 22 bushels of buck wheat, 113 bushels of oats, 40 tons of hay, and £150 in bonds, notes, and book debts. Thomas' claim was for £1,120 and he was awarded £500, so in the end, his loyalty cost him. 

Thomas Robblee's signature on his memorial, 1784.

    On 31 August 1789, Thomas purchased Lot Number Nine in Granville Township, from Peter and Hannah (Sinclair) Balser for the sum of £225. The deed specifies that the lot was where Peter Balser currently resided which indicates that the lot included a house, which is still standing today. 

The Robblee House. Photo from Mapannapolis Heritage Homes.
https://www.mapannapolis.ca/historical-houses

    Thomas and Mary were living here a few years later when Thomas made his will on 9 July 1791, which reads as follows: "In the name of God Amen, I Thomas Robblee of Granville in the County of Annapolis and Province of Nova Scotia Yeoman being of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding, do made and ordain this my last will and testament in manner following. Firsthand principally, I resign my soul to God Almighty, and hope for salvation thro he merits of my blessed redeemer Jesus Christ. I desire to be interred at the discretion of my Executors herein after named. As to my temporal estate. I dispose thereof as follows: I name and constitute my loving Wife Mary Robblee and Francis Mills of Granville Executors of my last will and testament. I give and bequeath unto each of the Children of my friend Mr. Robert Mills Five Pounds lawful money of Nova Scotia. I give unto the Godchild of my Wife, Elizabeth Fritz, Two Cows and six Sheep, likewise a bed, Bedstead; Curtains and beding. I will that the said Cows and Sheep shall be put out, eighteen months after my decease, for the benefit of the Child according to the custom of the Country which said stock shall be under the direction of my said Executors or the survivor of them untill the said Child shall arrive at the age of Eighteen Years. I give and bequeath unto Thomas Robblee the son of my Dear Brother John Robblee all my real estate at the decease of my dear Wife together with the Stock and Farming Utensils that may then be remaining, and in case of the decease of the said Thomas Robblee without issue then I will and bequeath the said real estate to his brother William Robblee. I give all my real and personal Estate to my loving Wife during her natural life, the personal Estate to be at her own disposal and lastly I will that what Money shall be remaining at her decease to be equally divided amongst the Children of my said brother John Robblee. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Granville this ninth day of July in the Year of our Lord one Thousand seven Hundred and Ninety one." 

Thomas Robblee's signature on his will, 1791.

    Thomas' will tells us that he was good friends with the Mills family who had immigrated from Yorkshire, England, in the 1770s. Robert Mills lived in what is now Granville Ferry, and the home that he built when he arrived in Granville is still standing. He had five children, Francis Mills (who was one of Thomas' executors), William Mills, Jonathan Mills, Robert Mills Jr., and Elizabeth Mills. Altogether £25 was given to the children of his friend. Mary had also made friends in Granville and was the godmother to Elizabeth Fritz, who was probably the daughter of Jacob Fritz and Elizabeth Spurr, who was born on 15 August 1788, in Granville Township. As they did not have any children of their own, they were helping the children of their friends. Thomas also named his nephew and namesake, Thomas Robblee, son of his brother John, as his heir and left him his real estate and everything related to the farm. Mary was allowed to dispose of their personal estate however she chose, but the money that remained after her death was to be divided between John Robblee's children; Joseph, Lydia, Hannah, Thomas, and William. John and his family were also Loyalists and had settled in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia.

    Thomas lived another five years after he made his will and died on 4 September 1796, at the age of 61 years. He was buried in the graveyard of St. Paul's Anglican Church (now Christ Church Anglican Church) and his stone is the second oldest in the graveyard. His headstone reads; To / the Memory of / THOMAS ROBBLEE / who departed this Life / Sepr. 4th / 1796 / Aged 61 Years / & 4 Months / The Grave has Eloquence, its Lectures teach / In Silence louder, then Divines can preach / Hear what it says — ye sons of Folly hear / It speaks to you — lend an attentive Ear. 

Thomas Robblee's Headstone.

    An inventory of Thomas' estate was taken the month after his death on 11 October 1796, by Mary Robblee and Francis Mills and appraised by George Cornwell and Moses Shaw. This inventory gives some insight into what Thomas and Mary's life might have been like. The first items mentioned were his farm in Granville, No. 9, valued at £250, and his lands in Clements valued at £15. His livestock included a mare, five cows, a yoke of oxen, two calves, three yearling steers, one heifer, twenty-six sheep, and five hogs, which was less than what he had had in 1777. In the house, there were three beds each with bedsteads and bedding and one with curtains, eight pillowcases, two tablecloths, three bottle cases, two spinning wheels, 20lbs of wool, three tables and thirteen chairs, a mahogany chest and trunk, books, pictures, a looking glass, a beauseat and other furniture, Mr. Thomas Robblee's wearing apparel valued at £15, a watch, a pair of silver knee buckles and stack buckles, a pair of gold sleeve buttons, six silver tea spoons, one table spoon, and tongs and strainer, two pairs of andirons, two pairs of tongs, and two fire shovels, two brass kettles, three iron pots, and a warming pan, a frying pan, gridirons, and trammels, two pairs of flat irons, two candlesticks, a lantern, scales and weights, milk things, eight pewter plates, and two pewter dishes, and a musket. Altogether, his estate was valued at £580.2s.5d. 

    From the inventory, it seems like Thomas dressed well as his clothing was valued at more than his yoke of oxen! Sadly, they did not go into detail on what books he had or the extent of their furniture. Regardless, they lived comfortably. Mary must have continued to live on in the house, but there is no record of her death or burial. Thomas Robblee Jr., was in Granville by April 1797, as he was married to a local girl, Hannah Delap, on 23 April. As Thomas Jr. was meant to inherit his uncle's estate after the death of his Aunt Mary, she had either died before then or he was living with her in the house. 

    Thomas and Hannah had eleven children together John, James, Thomas Edwin, Mary Ann, W. Harris, Ann E., Susan, Joseph, Hannah Eliza, William Jaden, and Sarah. All their children survived to adulthood except their youngest son William Jaden Robblee who died at the age of 3 years, 6 months, and 20 days. Thomas continued live the farm left to him by his uncle and when he died in 1854, he left it to his sons Thomas and Joseph and the house remained in the Robblee family until 1969.