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Edwin Robinson and Dinah Notley © The son of Joseph Robinson and his wife Harriet (nee Vowles), Edwin was born on the 11th April, 18421, in the sub-district of Redmarley, Staunton, County of Gloucestershire and Worcestershire. He was baptized in the St James Parish Church, Staunton, Worcestershire, on the 1st May, 18422, and his birth was registered by his mother on the 1oth May, the same year. Little is known of Edwin's early life, but he is found on the 1851 Census3, age 10, living in Staunton with parents and brothers George, Arthur, Joseph and William. There are no occupations listed for any of the family members on this Census. The next record we have of Edwin, shows that on the 24th August, 1858, at the age of 18, he joined the Army in Bristol4. His army record describes him as 5feet 6inches tall, with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. His trade at the time of his enlistment was given as Labourer. Not located on the 1861 Census, Regimental records indicate that Edwin, as a Private from England, was sent to join the 97th Regiment of Foot, in India, on the 10th October, 1859, suggesting he was overseas at the time of this Census. These same records show the Regiment spent time in England from 1867, with the regiment moving to Ireland in 1871, date they moved is not known but Edwin is also not found on the 1871 Census. Deployed to Jamaica in the West Indies during 1873, the unit relocated to Burmuda in 1875, and then 1877 the unit was sent to Nova Scotia, in Canada. On the 23rd December, 1872, Edwin married Dinah Notley, in her local Parish Church at Fisherton Anger, in Wiltshire5. Edwin gave his father as Joseph Robinson, a Labourer and Dinah gave her father as James Notley, a Gardener. Witnesses were James Hibberd and Frances Hibberd, believed to be Dinah's sister & brother-in-law. Even though it is recorded on their marriage certificate both their residences at the time was Fisherton Anger, it is not known how, or when, Edwin met Dinah, as he was still a Soldier in the 97th Regiment. Perhaps, the unit was stationed in Bournemouth at some stage before it was to depart, and Edwin, possibly while on leave, met Dinah who had been working in the area. Dinah, the second child and first daughter of Frances (nee Issacs) and John Notley, was born on the 7th July, 1851, in Fisherton Anger, Wilshire1. Her mother registered her birth on the 14th August, and Dinah was baptised in St Clements Parish Church on the 21st September, the same year2. The original 14th Century Church in Fisherton Anger was demolished in 1852 and replaced by St Paul’s. However, many of the interior and exterior features were saved and incorporated into the new church. A scholar age 9, Dinah appears on the 1861 Census3, living in Fisherton Street, Fisherton Anger, with her mother Frances, who is recorded as a Widow, brothers James and Frank and sisters Fanny and Julia. Fisherton Anger is situated on the western bank of the river Avon, and today is a suburb of the City of Salisbury, with which it is connected by a stone bridge. It is mentioned in the 1086 Domesday Book as a small settlement with only 9 households and a value of just £3. The village proclaims its name originates from the original primary occupation of its inhabitants: fishing. In the later 13th Century it still contained two professional fishermen and its fishery was tithable in 1341. A monastery of Dominican Friars was founded here about 1281, and records indicate several fisheries belonged to the Dominican Order. On the 1871 Census3, Dinah is shown as a servant in the household of Alfred Rogers, a Linen Draper, at No. 9, The Arcade, Holdenhurst, Bournemouth, in Hampshire. It is not known just where Edwin served in Jamaica or Bermuda, but it is possible he was stationed in Barbados at the Needhams Point Garrison, or in the Garrison in Bridgetown. This supposition is based on the fact that Edwin & Dinah's first child, son, Edwin, was born in Barbados in 1876. Apart from Regimental dates, little else is known of the movements or living conditions of Edwin and Dinah, until their daughter Frances Georgiana was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, early in 18781. The Birth/Baptism record states Edwin was a Private in the 97th Regiment and a Chapel Orderly. Frances Georgiana married Richard Fuller 1900. Army records show that in 1879, Edwin applied for and was granted a discharge, after having served a total of 21years and 79days. Edwin's conduct is recorded as being 'Very Good'. He was in 'possession of 4 Good Conduct Badges' and held a '3rd Class School Certificate'4. On his Discharge Papers, Edwin indicated he and his family intended to reside in Staunton, Worcestershire. However, the family must have spent some time in Poole, Dorset, as daughter Harriett was born there in 1880. By the time the 1881 Census3 was taken, Edwin and his family had settled in Staunton, where Edwin's occupation is listed as a 38year old Pensioner. His wife Dinah is 30, and their children are listed as: Edwin 5; Frances 3; and Harriet 9months, with them is Edwin’s brother Joseph, a 32year old Gardener. However, no record of any pension for Edwin has, to-date, been found. The 1891 Census3 tell us that Edwin, now recorded as a 49year old Army Pensioner, and his wife Dinah, age 38, had moved to Blagdon in Somerset, and the family had grown with the addition of son, Joseph in 1884. Located in the beautiful Mendip Hills in Somerset, south of the River Severn, and the Bristol Channel, Blagdon is at least 20km south of Staunton. Recorded as Blachedon in the 1086 Domesday Book, the name comes from the Old English ‘bloec’ and ‘dun’ meaning 'the black or bleak down’. The shape of some of the existing fields suggest they are of medieval origin, and there are several houses in the village dating from medieval times and earlier. Blagdon developed gradually as a village, and altered very little until the end of the 19th and early-20th Centuies. At this time the railway arrived, only to cease again by the mid-twentieth century. But the greatest change was the construction of Blagdon Lake as a reservoir. The valley floor of the River Yeo was marshy and not inhabited. The land was excavated to a depth of 150ft in places, the river dammed, and by 1904 the lake was filled. Today the lake still provides drinking water, but also acts as a recreational fishing lake and nature reserve. On the 13th June, 1893, Edwin died in Blagdon6. His age is recorded as 47, and the cause of death was given as Heart Disease for the past three years, his occupation was listed as an Army Pensioner, and the Informant was his son Edwin of Blagdon, who registered the death on the 16th June. Edwin was buried in the Parish Churchyard, Blagdon, on the 17th June, 18937. Following her husband's death, it appears Dinah moved back to Fisherton Anger, possibly to the home of her brother James and his wife Ellen. Dinah died at the Fisherton Anger Infirmary on the 22nd September, 18956. She was 43years old and the Widow of Edwin Robinson. Her death was registered on the 23rd September, the Informant was her sister-in-law Ellen Notley of 16 Gas Lane, Fisherton Anger. Dinah's cause of death was recorded as Heart Disease, she was buried in Fisherton Anger on 24th September7.
References: 1. Birth Certificate 2. Parish Baptism Record via Worcestershire Record Offie 3. UK Censuses via Ancestry.co.uk https://www.ancestry.co.uk 4. Regimental Service & Pay Records via PRO London 5. Marriage Certificate 6. Death Certificate 7. Parish Burial Record via Worcestershire Record Office
Other Sources: Ancestry.co.uk https://www.ancestry.co.uk Bermuda online http://bermuda-online.org/britarmy.htm British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk Earl of Ulsters 97th regiment of Foot https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/97th_(The_Earl_of_Ulster%27s)_Regiment_of_Foot Family Papers Open Domesday Book http://opendomesday.org/ Oral Family History Parish Records Via Worcestershire & Somerset Record Offices
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