John Robinson (pastor) - Posthumous Events

Posthumous Events

After Robinson died, the remnant congregation at Leiden began a period of gradual decline. In time, there were only a few members left as several had between 1629 and 1633 sporadically relocated to the Plymouth Colony. This included Robinson's son Isaac who arrived in 1631 and joined the Pilgrims at the Plymouth Colony. In 1658 Professor John Hoornbeek of the University of Leiden claimed that Bridget and her children who were still residing at Leiden eventually joined the Dutch Reformed Church.

John Robinson and Bridget White were the parents of upwards of eight children, six of whom have known first names, with only five living beyond early adolescence. There was no daughter named Ann born at Norwich in 1605 as this purported child was misidentified by Burgess, Dexter and Sumner in both England and at Leiden:

1. John, born at Norwich, England and baptised March 24, 1606 at Norwich's St. Peter Hungate parish church; matriculated at the University of Leiden, first on April 17, 1622 as a student of Fine Arts and again on April 5, 1633 as a student of Theology; in-between the latter two dates he graduated in May 1630 from the University of Caen at Normandy, France with a degree in Medicine; married and in 1658 was living at Norwich, England.
2. Bridget, born at Norwich, England and baptised January 25, 1607 at Norwich's St. Peter Hungate parish church; married (1) John Greenwood in 1629, who studied theology at the University of Leiden; 2) William Lee of Amsterdam in 1637; she was living at Leiden in 1680 and had two daughters living there in 1680.
3. Isaac, born at Leiden in 1610 and died circa 1704 likely at Barnstable, Massachusetts; arrived at Boston, Massachusetts on the Lion February 15, 1631 ; married (1) Margaret Hanford; (2) an unnamed wife (not Mary Faunce as otherwise claimed); (3) Mary, whose maiden name is unknown, but was living in July 1686 as Isaac's wife at Tisbury, Massachusetts.
4. Mercy, born at Leiden in circa 1614; was buried in 1623 at Leiden at the Pieterskerk (St. Peters Church).
5. Fear, born at Leiden in circa 1616, died testate at Leiden before May 31, 1670; married John Jennings, Jr. in 1648, who died at Leiden in 1664 leaving three daughters.
6. James, born at Leiden circa 1620-21; matriculated in May 1633 at the age of 12 at Leiden University as a student of Literature; never married and was buried May 26, 1638 at Leiden at the Pieterskerk (St. Peter’s Church).

After her husband's death, the widow Bridget Robinson continued to live at Leiden. Her inclusion in 1629 as an intended passenger of the so-called Mayflower II to New England is a fabrication. On April 6, 1640 at Leiden she witnessed the marriage of George Materce to the widow Elizabeth (Jepson) Loder. On July 3, 1641 at Leiden, Bridget is named as then living, aged about 66, in the affidavit of Rose (Lisle) Jennings, widow of John Jennings, regarding Bridget's former financial support of Mary Jennings, who died at Leiden in November 1640.

On October 28, 1643, the Will of Bridget Robinson was drawn at Leiden by notary J. F. van Merwen on the Breestraat. At the time she had four living children: John, a doctor of medicine, who was married and living in England; Isaac, who was married and living in New England; Bridget, who had married William Lee as her 2nd husband; and Fear, who later married John Jennings, Jr. The date of her death and place of interment is not of known record.

In 1865, a marble marker was placed on the building occupying the former site of Robinson’s home. It is inscribed:

“On this spot, lived, taught, and died John Robinson, 1611-1625.”

On July 24, 1891 under auspices of the Congregational Church of the United States, a bronze marker in his memory was placed on the wall of St. Peter’s Church. Present were delegates from the United States (including his descendant Rev. William Robinson of Vermont, who was a member of the committee responsible for the marker's erection) and England, the city and University of Leyden, and the city’s clergy. On this marker was inscribed:

“In Memory of

Rev. John Robinson, M. A.

Pastor of the English Church Worshipping Over Against

This Spot, A. D. 1609 - 1625, Whence at his Prompting

Went Forth

THE PILGRIM FATHERS

To Settle New England

in 1620

- - - - - - - - -

Buried under this house of worship, 4 March, 1625

Æt. XLIX Years.

In Memoria Aeterna Erit Justus.

Erected by the National Council of the Congregational

Churches of the United States of America

A. D. 1891”

The General Society of Mayflower Descendants erected a tablet on the wall of St. Peter’s Church in 1928. It is inscribed:

“In Memory of

JOHN ROBINSON

Pastor of the English Church in Leyden

1609 1625

His Broadly Tolerant Mind

Guided and Developed the Religious Life of

THE PILGRIMS OF THE MAYFLOWER

of Him These Walls Enshrine All That Was Mortal

His Undying Spirit

Still Dominates the Consciences of a Mighty Nation

In the Land Beyond the Seas

This tablet was erected by the General Society of Mayflower

Descendants in the United States of America A.D. 1928.”