Hi! I had wondered about 'Robespierre' as had no luck with 'Robinspierre'! Am doing this area for my adult son whom we adopted at birth. He has had contact with his natural mother, & it was through her we discovered this french connection - on HER mother's side. As far back as she knows - after their name was anglicised to Robinson - her earliest ancestor was 'big' in the Wanganui Fire Brigade here in NZ. Through our historical BDM records & 'Papers Past' I have been able to get back to this Joseph William Robinson. His obituary in Papers Past validates (a) his connection with the Fire Brigade in Wanganui (where he was still living) & (b) his son (Sydney) from whom my son has descended! Said J W Robinson died - aged 57 - in 1884...which puts his birth around 1827. His wife was a Julia Ann (c. 1843 - 1886) I have discovered a later son of theirs who has 'Anson' as his middle name - which may (or may not!) be relevant!! There are no marriage records for them here...so am 'sorta stuck' at this stage! (According to Papers Past too, said JWR had lived in Wanganui for 19 years prior to his death...but he had lived in Dunedin previously...??for how long! Sadly I haven't been able to find any record of him arriving in NZ though, from any passenger list names!) So any other bright ideas please?
