Joseph Robinette Biden, Sr.

BELLE OF LIBERTY'S BLOG LETTING FREEDOM RING Joseph Robinette Biden Jr.’s Antebellum Ancestors Owned Slaves We thought we covered this subject already. But since we can’t find the post, here it is again, this time with authentic proof: Joseph Robinette Jr.’s ancestors, to the 6th generation, were slave owners. A genealogical report released on October 5, 2020, reveals that Biden’s grandmother’s family, the Robinette’s, owned slaves. Robinette, Biden’s middle name, is actually the grandmother’s family name. Apparently they wanted to preserve the “prestige” of this family. His father was Joseph Robinette Biden, Sr. We bother too much about Biden’s Irish – Finnegan – ancestry. It’s his slave-owning ancestry that ought to have Black Lives Matter storming the Biden Bunker. Biden’s paternal grandmother, Mary Elizabeth ROBINETTE (1894-1943) was the daughter of George Hamilton ROBINETTE (1844-1884) and Mary A. HANAFEE (b. 1862). George was the son of Moses Johnson ROBINETTE (b.1819-d.1903) and Jane Elizabeth PUMPHREY (c. 1824-1870). Moses was the son of Jesse ROBINETTE (b.1776-d.1832) and Dorcas “Darkey” Johnson (b. 1785-d.1861). The 67-page report traces Biden’s lineage, from his own birth in 1942, back six generations, through census records, birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, and military enrollments. The connection is indisputably linked back to Jesse and Dorcas Johnson-Robinette. The 1850 Census of Preston County, Virginia shows Moses J. Robinett (the “e” is dropped) that Moses was an innkeeper in an Inn Keeper in Preston County, Virginia. The marriage record of Moses Robinette and Jane Elizabeth Pomphrey indicates that Moses G. married Jane Pomphrey. But the notes indicate that Moses G. was much older and that it was Moses J. who married Elizabeth. The researchers also note that the Family History Library is closed and examining the original record – the micro-filmed version – “is impossible right now”). But Moses J Robinett is listed as the father of Sarah Ellen Robinett, born August 11, 1853. The death certificate indicates the date of birth was August 11, 1854. The couple is also listed in the birth records of other children. The researchers went to great lengths to establish the connection between Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. and the correct Moses J. Robinette: We have seen several different things on the Internet mixing Moses Robinette men together. There are four Moses (listed as #1- #4) listed in the 1840 Census Records in Maryland who we studied to correctly identify and document Generation 5, Moses Johnson Robinette (#1). In addition to being found in the 1840 Census, this Moses (#1) was listed at various times in the records as Moses Johnson/Moses J/Mossie Robinett/Robinette, Inn Keeper/Hotel Keeper/Farmer, who was born in 1819 in Allegany County, Maryland and later lived with wife, Jane E and their family in Preston and Taylor Counties, Virginia, that became West Virginia during the Civil War. We were able to find him in multiple census records in Allegany County, Maryland as well as in his children’s birth and death records in Virginia and West Virginia that have been presented previously. To make the right Moses determination we studied the four Moses mentioned in the 1840 Census. This will be discussed below but first we will eliminate a possible fifth Moses (#5) who we found with his family on two pages of the Allegany County, Maryland 1850 Census, who also had a son George, just like Generation 5 Moses Johnson/Moses J Robinette (#1). We did not do research to determine if this fifth Moses (#5) was one of the other three Moses listed in the 1840 Maryland Census. This #5 Moses Robinette was living in Allegany County, Maryland in 1850 while Generation 5 Moses J Robinette (#1) lived in Preston County, Virginia. Both had sons named George, but the one living in Allegany County, Maryland in 1850, his son George is too old to be the Generation 4 George Hamilton Robinette who was much younger and living with his parents in Preston County, Virginia in 1850. Getting the right Moses J. Robinette is critical to the study because the Moses. J. Robinette linked to our former Vice President was the son of the 6th generation slave owner. The researchers were able to eliminate all the other Moses Robinettes, either as too old or otherwise not eligible. In order to keep the four different 1840 Moses Robinette men separated from each other, we have found and studied them in the following 1840 census records. We found (#1 Moses) Generation 5 Moses J. Robinett on the 1840 Census of Allegany County, Maryland. He was married with no children yet in 1840 but he was not there in 1850. We know from previously reported 1850 census research that he lived by that time in Preston County, Virginia with wife Jane E and 4th Generation George H. By 1860, they lived in Taylor County, Virginia. In the last 25 pages, we come at last to the bottom line: Generation 6 – Paternal: Robinette/Johnson. Dorcas Robinette died in 1861. Dorcas Robinette’s heirs were: James Robinett, Moses J Robinett Alice Davis, Eliza Ann Jamison, George Robinett, Mary Elizabeth Piper, Anna Maria Piper, Watson J. Piper. This confirms and links Generations 5 and 6. See Jesse Robinett probate records as confirming evidence for Dorcas as wife of Jesse Robinett/e . The 1860 Slave Schedule for Allegany County, Maryland shows that Dorcas Robinett had six slaves. This confirms slave ownership in the Robinette Lineage – 6th Generation of the Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr. Ancestry through Dorcus Robinett. The 1850 slave schedule for Dorcas Robinett (widow) and several other Robinette individuals living in Allegany County, Maryland shows that slavery was quite common with the Robinette families. She owned seven slaves. This confirms slave ownership in the Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr. Ancestry in the 6th Generation through Dorcas. There are two possibilities for Dorcas Robinette in the 1850 Census household schedule of Allegany County, Maryland. The most likely was Dorcas Robinette, age 65 living with a blacksmith named Nelson Rice. He was possibly a relative taking care of her or a boarder living in the house. He was only 23 years old in 1850. The second possibility was the Dorcas Robinette living with Amos Robinette. The children do not match to be her children mentioned in her probate records. Also, there is nothing indicating that Dorcas remarried after Jesse Robinette died. This Dorcas has been eliminated because of this household schedule. The correct Dorcas Robinette was on the 1860 Census household schedule of Allegany County, Maryland living alone. It is not known what household Dorcas Robinette was living in 1840. Her name does not appear in the Family History Library online census indexes as Dorcas, Darkey, or Mrs. Jesse Robinett/e. We were only able to search Districts 7, 8, and 9 for Allegany County, Maryland 1840 census records. Dorcas may have lived in one of the districts we were not able to search. The Family History Library is currently closed. The FHL library catalog does not indicate that the entire Allegany County, Maryland census is available there. However, the 1830 U.S. Federal Census for Allegany County, Maryland shows a list of Robinett men, with at least one having the name of “Jesse”. The entry lists several children and one female between forty and fifty years of age. U.S. Federal Census of 1830 for Allegany County, Maryland also lists a “Slave Schedule.” This is the 6th Generation Documentation for which the researchers were hunting so diligently. There was a Slave Schedule for 1830 where it shows Jesse Robinett owned 16 slaves in 1830 confirming 6th Generation ancestor was a Slave Owner. His slaves listed on a second page as shown on the 4th line down. The total of 23 counts both slaves and the number of people in the white family with Jesse having seven persons in his household. The 1820 Federal census lists Jesse as owning 12 slaves in 1820. Jesse Robinett owned 12 slaves in 1820. This confirms that Generation 6 Ancestor Jesse Robinette was a slave owner. Jesse owned 5 male slaves, ages 14-25; 2 male slaves, ages 26-44; 3 female slaves, ages 0-13; 1 female slave, age 14-25; and 1 female slave, age 45+, in 1820. So the older female in the household was a slave. Was this Dorcas Robinette, or her mother, perhaps? Is that why Dorcas is not listed in the Census by name? Well, a few pages later, the researchers relate: Jesse Robinette [was listed] on the 1810 Census Allegany County, Maryland. He owned six slaves at that time, establishing that Generation 6 Jesse Robinett was a Slave Owner. Jesse Robinette and Dorcas Johnson were married in 1807. They had one son and one daughter under 10 years of age in the 1810 census. He owned six slaves at that time. Jesse Robinette appeared in the 1800 census of Allegany County, Maryland. Jesse Robinette was between 16 and 25 years old in 1800. He was born between 1775 and 1784. He was living with a female aged 16-25. This could have been his sister or a first wife. He married Dorcas “Darkey” Johnson in 1807. He owned two slaves in 1800. This is the earliest reference to slave ownership in the Robinette Lineage. A search of the Allegany County, Maryland probate records confirmed Generation 6 Jesse Robinette’s death in 1832, with his Wife Dorcas and Son-in-Law John Piper, Jr. designated as Administrators. A search of his probate records showed that Generation 5 Moses J. Robinette was the son of Jesse and Dorcas and a minor at the time of Jesse’s death, requiring guardianship papers to be filed. This confirms and links Generation 5 and Generation 6. The most important part of probate records for genealogists is the distribution of the estate to the heirs. Here is where we found out the names of children, or in the case of married women, the names of the sons-in-laws who inherit for their wives’ portions of the estate. This document is evidence of Slave Ownership in Generations 5 Moses J Robinette and 6 Jesse Robinette and wife Dorcas. The transcription of the above shown “Distribution of Slave Property to Jesse Robinett’s Heirs” continues: “% Dorcas Robinette boy Benjamin valued at four hundred and fifty dollars girl Nancy valued at four hundred and fifty dollars girl Mary valued at two hundred and thirty five dollars and boy Nathan at six hundred dollars and that Dorcas Robinette to pay the Piper Jr the sum of sixteen dollars and sixty six cents “% Jno Davis and Alice his wife boy Bob valued at six hundred dollars and to Jno Davis to pay John Piper Jr the sum of forty seven dollars and thirty three cents “Jas Robinett boy Tom valued at six hundred dollars and the said Jas Robinett to pay said Pipers Jr the sum forty seven dollars and thirty three cents “George Robinett boy Charles valued at three hundred and fifty dollars and boy Solomon valued at two hundred and fifty dollars the George Robinett to the Piper Jr forty seven dollars and thirty three cents “Moses J Robinette (a minor) boy Joshua valued at six hundred dollars and the Moses J Robinett by his guardian to pay Eliza Ann Robinett (a minor) forty seven dollars and thirty three cents “% John Piper Jr girl Betsey valued at four hundred dollars and to pay to Eliza Ann Robinett by her guardian six dollars and thirty three cents “% Eliza Ann Robinette boy Pero valued at three hundred dollars and Elin valued at two hundred dollars “…..6th day of “August 1836….” So, the heirs of Jesse Robinette, alive in 1832 were: Dorcas Robinette, his wife and the following children or sons-in-law: 1) John Davis and wife, Alice (daughter of Jesse and Dorcas Robinette) 2) John Piper, Jr (son-in-law) 3) James Robinette 4) George Robinette 5) Moses J Robinette (a minor) 6) Eliza Ann Robinette (a minor) 6th Generation Jesse Robinette Explanation of Additional Heirs and/or Descendants: (Footnote 54, 55) There were many pages in the probate record of Jesse Robinette. He died intestate (without a will.) The couple had two children not named in this record: Sarah and Amos Robinette. They also belong in the family as evidenced by the following records. 7) Amos Robinette born in 1810 and died in 1828. He is not mentioned because he died before Jesse.54 8) Sarah Robinette was married to John Piper, Jr. His name is mentioned and hers is not. The researchers conclude: Joe Biden has American slave owners in his ancestry. Professional Genealogy Research in the Fall of 2020 on his Robinette Lineage identified and documented his 5th Generation 2nd great grandfather, Moses Johnson Robinette, and Moses’ parents, Joe’s 6th Generation 3rd great grandparents as slave owners in Allegany County, Maryland prior to the American Civil War..................

Added by Janet Milburn 9/27/21

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Sources:

• Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Year: 1920; Census Place: Baltimore Ward 16, Baltimore (Independent City), Maryland; Roll: T625_660; Page: 32A; Enumeration District: 277. Image Online.
• Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002. Year: 1930; Census Place: Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 0020; FHL microfilm: 2340024. Image Online.
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• President Biden ancestor table American Ancestors, v 21, no. 28-31, winter 2021. Page 28-31.