Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 5).djvu/296

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ROBBINS
BOBBINS

to the "Christian .Spectator" iml other journals, to several works compiled by Samuel G. Goodneh. and was the author of brief biographies of the poets James G. Percival and John G. C. Brainard, prefixed to editions of their writings ; many pub- lished sermons ; a test-book entitled "Outlines of Ancient and Modern History" (Hartford, 1839); and a " History of American Literature," intended as a supplement to Robert Chambers's "History of Kiuli-h Literature" (Hartford, 1837).


ROBB1XS. Chandler, clergyman, b. in Bran- ford, Conn., 24 Aug., 1738; d. in Plymouth, Mass., 30 June. 179!). He was the son of Rev. Philemon Bobbins, pastor of a church in Branford. Conn., from 1732 till 1781, and was graduated at Yale in IT'iii. taught in an Indian school in Lebanon, stud- ied theology, and was ordained pastor of the Con- gregational church in Plymouth, Mass., remaining there until his death. The degree of D. D. was conferred on him by Dartmouth in 1702, and by the University of Edinburgh in 1793. He published "A Reply to John Cotton's Essays on Baptism" (1773); "'An Address at Plymouth to the Inhabi- tants assembled to celebrate the Victories of the French Republic over their Invaders " ( 1 79:>) : " An Anniversary Sermon on the Landing at Plymouth " (1793); and other discourses. His brother, Ammi Ruhamah, clergyman, b. in Branford, Conn., 20 Aug., 1740 ; d. 'in Norfolk, Conn., 30 Oct., 1813, was graduated at Yale in 1760, on 28 Oct., 1761, was ordained pastor of a Congregational church in Norfolk. ( 'oun., and remained there until his death. In March, 1776, he joined Gen. Philip Schuyler's brigade at Albany as chaplain. He published sev- eral Mormons, including a " Half-Century Sermon" (1811). Ammi Ruhamah's son, Thomas, clergy- man, b. in Norfolk, Conn., 11 Aug., 1777; d. in Colebrook, Conn., 13 Sept., 1856. was graduated ai Williams in 1796, had charge of the academy in Danville, Conn., from 1799 till 1802, and labored as a missionary in Ohio in 1803- : 6. He was then pastor of Congregational churches in East Windsor, Conn., in 180i)-'27, in Strat- ford, Conn., in 1830-'!, in Matta- poisett in 1831, and in Rochester, Mass., from 1832 till 1842. Subse- quently he resided in Hartford, Conn. Harvard gave him the degree of D.D.

in 1838. He was

a founder of the Connecticut historical society, of which he was librarian in 1844, and to which he gave his private library. This was deposited in the Wadsworth athenaeum at Hartford, and was alii' d at $10,000. It contains a pine chest that was brought over in the " Mayflower," on the lid of which the passengers signed their compact. His diary has been edited by Increase N. Tarbox (2 vols.. Boston, 1886-'7). He delivered an oration on the "Death of Gen. Washington " at Dun bury on 2 Jan., 1800. In addition to many sermons lie was llie au- thor of a " Historical View of the First Planters of New England," written for the "Connecticut Evangelical Magazine" (Hartford, 1815); revised and continued James Tytler's " Klnm Mils of Gen- eral History" (1815) ; and edited the first and sec- ond American editions of Cotton Mather's "Mag- nalia Christi Americana " (1820 and 1853). He also issued anonymously a work on " All Religions and Religious "Ceremonies" (1823). Chandler's grandson. Chandler, clergyman, b. in Lynn, Mass., 14 Feb., 1810; d. in Westoh, Mass., 11 Sept., 1882, was graduated at Harvard in 1829, and at the di- vinity-school in 1833, when he was ordained pas- tor of the Second church in Boston, of which Ralph Waldo Emerson had been in charge. He remained there until his resignation in 1874, when he was the oldest settled pastor in Boston, and during his pastorate a new church edifice was erected in Boyl- ston street. He was chaplain of the Massachusetts senate in 1834 and of the state house of representa- tives in 1845, and was largely interested in phi- lanthropy, and was a founder of the Children's hos- pital in 1869. Harvard gave him the degree of D. D. in 1855. Dr. Robbins was a member of the Massachusetts historical society, an editor of its proceedings, a frequent contributor to periodicals, and the author of "A History of the Second or Old North Church in Boston " (Boston, 1852) ; " Lit- urgy for the Use of a Christian Church" (1854): "Hymn -Book" (1854); "Memoir of Maria E. Clapp" (1858); "Memoir of William Appletun" (1863); "Memoir of the Hon. Benjamin R. Curtis, LL. D." (1878); and sermons and addresses.


ROBBINS, Francis Le Baron, clergyman, b. in Camillus, Onondaga CO., N. Y., 2 May, 1830. He was graduated at Williams in 1854, studied theol- ogy at Auburn seminary, and in I860 was ordained to the ministry and installed as pastor of a Pres- byterian church in Philadelphia. He founded the Oxford Presbyterian church in that city, which was dedicated in 1869, and became the pastor, re- signing the office in 1883. During his pastorate the church edifice, one of the handsomest in the city, and which had been constructed through his efforts, was destroyed by fire. Through Dr. Rob- bins's efforts a new building was erected. After resigning he travelled extensively in Europe, and on his return took up the work of founding a church in Kensington, the centre of the manufac- turing district of Philadelphia. In this he succeed- ed, and in 1886 the Beacon Presbyterian church was dedicated. Connected with it is a reading- room, and a hall where lectures on travel, art, sani- tation, and other popular and timely themes are delivered, and class-rooms for instruction in me- chanical arts, music, drawing, oratory, and a dis- pensary, in which more than 3,000 patients received free medical attention in 1887. He has received from Union college the degree of D. D.


ROBBINS, Horace Wolcott, artist, b. in Mobile, Ala., 21 Oct., 1842. He went to Baltimore with his family at the age of six, and eleven years later came to New York, where he studied paint- ing under James M. Hart. In 1865 he made a visit with Frederick E. Church to the West Indies, and thence went to Europe. Here he studied for three years, after which he returned to New York. He was elected an associate of the Academy of design in 1864, and an academician in 1878, and in 18S2 he became recording secretary. He is also a member of the Water-color society and the New York etching club, and was president of the Artists' fund society during 1885-'7. Jinny of his works are pictures of mountain and lake scenery, in the delineation of which he has, perhaps, been must successful. His oil-paintings include " Blue Hills of Jamaica " (1874); "Passing Shower, Janutira " (1870); "Roadside Kims" and "Harbor Islands. Lake George" (1878); "Lake Katahdin, Maine"