%eadnotat; ]> 5130robb An Inventory of the Robbins Family Papers, 1849-1934 Finding Aid Prepared by FHL staff Encoding made possible by a grant by the Gladys Kriebel Delmas Foundation to the Philadelphia Consortium of Special Collections Libraries Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College. 2000 Text converted and initial EAD tagging provided by Apex Data Services, December 2000. ENG Robbins Family Papers, 1849-1934 FHL staff Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College. 2000 Descriptive Summary Robbins Family Papers, 1849-1934 RG 5/130 John H. Bourne (John Hill) (1870-1944) 1 box; 0.5 linear ft. Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College.
Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081-1399 U.S.A.
For current information on the location of materials, please consult the Library's online catalog. 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.

Repository:

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, PA 19081-1399

Phone: (610) 328-8496 FAX: (610) 690-5728

 BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL 1805-1928This 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. 1826-1918Well-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.

 SCOPE AND CONTENT

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.

 Arrangement

The collection is divided into six series:

Biographical and genealogical material Correspondence Manuscripts Material on the Robbins family and the Seven Stars Tavern Memorabilia Pictures ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Accession information

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.

 Access

Collection is open for research.

 Use Restrictions

Copyright has not been assigned to Friends Historical Library All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in to the Director. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Friends Historical Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by reader.

 Preferred Citation

[Indicate the cited item or series here], Robbins Family Papers, RG 5/130, Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

 Processing information

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

 SELECTED SEARCH TERMS

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Friends Historical Library (TRIPOD). Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings:

Robbins family Robbins, Annie Lawrie, 1828-1916 Bourne, John H. (John Hill), 1870-1944 Quakers - Social life and customs Quakers - Salem County (N.J.) New Jersey - Salem County - Woodstown Diaries Farm life Seven Stars Tavern - Salem County (N.J.) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE RECORDS

Note to Researchers: To request materials, please note both the location and box numbers shown below:

 Ser. 1. Biographical and genealogical material, 1875, n.d. “Historical items regarding the Robbins family of Seven Star Tavern.” Diary, “Typed notes by John H. Bourne" n.d. 1 Annie L. Robbins Diary 1875 1 with typed extracts Ser. 2. Correspondence, 1927-1934

John H. Bourne correspondence with surviving Robbins family members.

 F.S. Robbins to Journe J. Bourne 11/7/1927 F.S. Robbins to John J. Bourne 1

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.)

 1/10/1934Emma B. Robbins to John J. Bourne 1

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

 Ser. 3. Manuscripts, 1885, 1879, n.d.

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

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

Written 1885 for the Grange.

 “Some Ghosts of Seven Stars Tavern”, signed John H. Bourne 1 typed “Some of the causes for Dull Times and the Remedy,” signed Annie L. Robbins. Incomplete. 1 “Tippecanoe campaign at Seven Stars” 1

With accompanying campaign songs.

 “What Are A Wife's Duties in the Hom [sic] On The Farm” 1 “What Constitutes A Matron On The Farm” 1 “Why Should Every Farmer Be A Granger” 1 Two incomplete, untitled, unsigned fragments. 1 Verse: “A Beautiful Life” Signed A.L.R. 1 “A Birthday Wish” 1 “A Poetical Address of Welcome” three versions, signed A.L.R. 1 “A Poetical Essay, How We Grangers Do” 1 “A Visit Poetical” 1 “Childhood Past and Present,” signed Annie L. Robbins. 1 “For my friends and cousins” 1 “Hard Cider Will Intoxicate” 1 “I Am Wondering”, written by Joseph A. Robins [sic], Swan Lake 1879 1 “Old Time Winters”, signed A.L.R. 1 “Prophecies Fulfilled” 1 “Resolutions For The New Year” 1 “Some Of The Romances Of Farm Life” 1 “What Our Folks Reads” 1 “To some soldier boy” 1 “To The Farmers [sic] Daughter” 1 “To the one that gets it” 1 “Uncle Sam and Free Silver” 1 “We Miss Thee” 1 “What Is Gained By Being A Patron” 1 “When The Women Vote” 1 “Work For All”, signed A.L.R. 1 Several untitled verses. 1 Ser. 4. Printed material on the Robbins family and the Seven Stars Tavern, 1927-1931 Clipping from Salem Sunbeam on Louderback family 10/14/1927 1

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 1

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 1

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 1/22/1931containing article, “Seven Stars Tavern”, with accompanying picture. 1 Ser. 5. Memorabilia, 1816-1849, n.d. Homemade notebook; the handwriting throughout corresponds with that of Annie Lawrie Robbins 1

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 1 Notebook, “This book is inscribed to Joseph A. Robbins by his relatives and friends.” 1

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 1

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

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

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