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221:, as a waiter in his tavern. He established a good relationship with Hampton, as indicated by the numerous formal contracts they entered into over a ten-year span. During this period, he used his earnings to add to his land holdings. In 1847, John Lee died. As was common throughout the United States at that time, Lee owned land and slaves, including Jim's wife and children. Upon his death, those family members who were still on his plantation were willed to Jim, who took them to live with him in his new home.
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River until hostilities ceased. That first battle left thousands of bodies littering the fields throughout
Manassas. For days after the fighting was over, the Robinsons buried many in unmarked graves. Well into the 20th century family members reported that they were still digging up the bones of some of these soldiers.
371:, in accordance with their current guidelines, has no plans to rebuild the structure, but they did conduct an archeological dig on the property, which resulted in the publication of the most significant document on the house and the family that owned and occupied it from pre-Civil War days into the early 20th century.
360:, had been abandoned and fallen into disrepair. Henry House was completely demolished during the First Battle of Bull Run, killing its resident, Judith Carter Henry, in the process. Robinson House managed to remain intact in spite of its location in the center of heavy gunfire and artillery barrages.
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the map to the right shows the troops of two brigadier generals engaging in a pitched battle, that resulted in a total rout of the Union Forces, under the command of
Erasmus Keyes. The Confederate forces held their ground, under the command of Thomas J. Jackson, so well that from then on he would be
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Following the death of
Gentleman Jim in 1875, his son Alfred took over as head of the household. According to available census records, he moved in with his mother and other family members as the head of the Robinson clan, until his death in 1904. The house remained in the family up until 1936 when
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Again the battle raged around
Robinson House. Following the destruction of Henry House during the First Battle of Bull Run, Robinson House was one of the most strategically located buildings on the battlefield. Because of this it was used as a Union hospital and planning station. In sworn testimony
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Before the fighting began
Gentleman Jim took his family to a neighbor's home where he hoped they would be safe. After securing the house Jim attempted to reunite with his family, but was caught in the crossfire of the battle and had to take shelter under a bridge over Young's Branch of the Bull Run
328:
On
February 2, 1872, James Robinson presented his case to the Southern Claims Commission. This commission was set up to handle damage claims of property owners who were loyal to the Union. Jim's testimony, as well as that of the witnesses called in regarding his case, offered up valuable insights
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Although the house was able to survive the Civil War, it was destroyed by arsonists in 1993. The perpetrators were never caught, but there was evidence that it was a hate crime. Apparently, just a few weeks prior to the destruction of the house someone had vandalized the structure with graffiti.
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The
Robinson House is used as a Yankee hospital. In a visit there this morning, I found 100 of them packed in the rooms as thick as sardines. ... The wounds of the majority were undressed, the blood had dried upon their persons and garments, and altogether there (sic.) the most horrible set of
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The first battle was over in a matter of a few days. Many thought that the Civil War would be decided in one, winner take all battle. But this was not to be the case. Confederate troops won the First Battle of
Manassas, with federal troops retreating back to Washington, D.C., but the Civil War
162:, who built the house. The Robinson family, descendants of Gentleman Jim, owned and occupied the house and a large portion of the land around it from the 1840s until 1936. The National Park Service acquired this parcel as part of their effort to commemorate two major battles of the
217:, he took the last name of his tutor as his own. Although he was born free, he was bound out for a period of time under the pretense of learning a trade. In fact, he worked as a field laborer during this time. After serving his time, he went to work for Thomas Hampton in
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The Second Battle of Bull Run lasted for about a week and also resulted in a
Confederate victory. Again, Federal troops retreated back to Washington and the Confederates did not pursue. The casualties on both sides were even higher following this second battle.
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Robinson House was one of the few houses on the battlefield that was occupied during the 19th and 20th centuries. Even before the First Battle of Bull Run some of the other homes in the area, such as the Carter mansion at
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into the military maneuvers of the Union and
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186:) which occurred about one year apart. Both battles were Confederate victories. However, Robinson House managed to survive virtually unscathed. The house would burn down in 1993.
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it was sold to the National Park Service (NPS). This site of the house and the surrounding property makes up an important part of the battlefield park today.
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known as Stonewall Jackson. His forces held the line on one side of the Robinson House as the Union troops attempted to overcome their stiff opposition.
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and a free African American woman, James received an education in his youth. In honor of the private tutor who taught him and the Carters' daughters
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The house was also used as a field hospital for the wounded and dying, during the 2nd Battle of Bull Run. As one reporter put it,
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Archeological Investigation of the Robinson House Site 44PW288: A Free African-American Domestic Site Occupied From 1840s to 1936
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621:"Manassas National Battlefield Park, War For Freedom: African American Experiences in the Era of the Civil War"
464:"Manassas National Battlefield Park, War For Freedom: African American Experiences in the Era of the Civil War"
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Two major battles of the Civil War were waged around the Robinson House. During the
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University and college buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places
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Civil War Memory: Reflections of a Civil War Historian & History Teacher
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Brodie, James Michael (1990-08-16). "Battlefield House Revives Memories".
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National Register of Historic Places in Prince William County, Virginia
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List of jails and prisons on the National Register of Historic Places
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http://www.nps.gov/mana/forteachers/upload/Res1_JamesRobinsonBio.pdf
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725:. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of the Interior. p. 600.
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George N. Barnard took this photo of the Robinson House in 1862.
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Seibert, Erika (30 December 2008). "The Robinson House Site".
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Around the same time Jim established his own roadhouse on the
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527:. The Organization of American Historians. Archived from
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The site of Robinson House is preserved as part of the
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History of the National Register of Historic Places
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1306:Protected areas of Prince William County, Virginia
868:List of U.S. National Historic Landmarks by state
666:de Fontaine, Felix Gregory (September 11, 1862).
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1260:National Register of Historic Places portal
739:Archaeology in America: Northeast and Southeast
398:"Virginia Waymarker G-16, James Robinson House"
307:, despite the fact that they had more troops.
194:The homestead was constructed in the 1840s by
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27:Robinson House, Manassas National Battlefield
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424:'Gentleman Jim' has a Unique Spot in History
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1296:Houses in Prince William County, Virginia
808:U.S. National Register of Historic Places
154:. The house was named for the family of
521:"Judith Carter Henry at the Crossroads"
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337:beings it has been my lot to encounter.
236:, the capital of what would become the
146:sits at the bottom of Henry Hill, near
590:Luebke, Peter C. (December 20, 2020).
440:"Manassas: The Missing Robinson House"
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592:"First Battle of Manassas (Bull Run)"
299:were strategically out maneuvered by
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1326:African-American history of Virginia
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1316:Manassas National Battlefield Park
1223:National Historic Preservation Act
772:Manassas National Battlefield Park
376:Manassas National Battlefield Park
131:Manassas National Battlefield Park
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1311:African-American historic places
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342:After the death of Gentleman Jim
1331:1848 establishments in Virginia
668:"The Robinson Family Homestead"
638:"The Southern Claim Commission"
244:area, but would also bring the
1176:Federated States of Micronesia
822:Architectural style categories
196:James "Gentleman Jim" Robinson
156:James "Gentleman Jim" Robinson
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500:Manassas Bull Run Battlefield
556:. U.S. National Park Service
482:Biography of James Robinson
265:First Battle of Bull Run Map
16:United States historic place
525:The OAH Magazine of History
248:right into his front yard.
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1228:Historic Preservation Fund
1207:American Legation, Morocco
496:"'Gentleman Jim' Robinson"
324:Southern Claims Commission
313:Southern Claims Commission
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1169:Lists by associated state
351:Manassas Battlefield Park
286:Second Battle of Bull Run
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1301:Houses completed in 1848
1150:Northern Mariana Islands
675:Charleston Daily Courier
271:First Battle of Bull Run
257:First Battle of Bull Run
647:. National Park Service
93:38.818778°N 77.519139°W
1145:Minor Outlying Islands
1128:Lists by insular areas
842:Keeper of the Register
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35:U.S. Historic district
847:National Park Service
827:Contributing property
721:Parsons, Mia (2001).
598:. Virginia Humanities
596:Encyclopedia Virginia
550:"Robinson House Site"
369:National Park Service
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228:, the main road from
219:Brentsville, Virginia
98:38.818778; -77.519139
39:Contributing property
1202:District of Columbia
502:. The Visitor Center
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402:Virginia Waymarker
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207:Landon Carter, Jr.
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753:. Retrieved
742:. ABC-CLIO.
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704:. Retrieved
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84:77°31′08.9″W
81:38°49′07.6″N
1195:Other areas
1155:Puerto Rico
989:Mississippi
904:Connecticut
577:Centre View
311:before the
282:continued.
238:Confederacy
174:battles of
96: /
72:Coordinates
1285:Categories
1104:Washington
1024:New Mexico
1019:New Jersey
894:California
755:2012-09-13
535:2012-09-14
506:2012-09-14
449:2012-09-14
407:2012-09-13
382:References
135:ID66000039
1114:Wisconsin
1079:Tennessee
984:Minnesota
959:Louisiana
602:July 14,
297:McClellan
252:Civil War
246:Civil War
158:, a free
117:Architect
1270:Category
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994:Missouri
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969:Maryland
954:Kentucky
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909:Delaware
899:Colorado
889:Arkansas
242:Manassas
176:Bull Run
152:Virginia
148:Bull Run
62:Location
1216:Related
1119:Wyoming
1094:Vermont
999:Montana
939:Indiana
919:Georgia
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884:Arizona
874:Alabama
560:14 July
554:nps.gov
305:Jackson
127:Part of
1054:Oregon
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924:Hawaii
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815:Topics
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172:Second
166:, the
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929:Idaho
671:(PDF)
641:(PDF)
624:(PDF)
467:(PDF)
215:Tasco
198:, an
180:First
168:First
109:Built
1140:Guam
1089:Utah
1044:Ohio
944:Iowa
744:ISBN
708:2012
682:2012
653:2012
604:2024
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