Abner Robinson

Quick Facts

Date of Birth:

1762

Place of Death:

Stillwater, NY

Date of Death:

September 19, 1777

Abner Robinson (born 1762) of Bridgewater, Massachusetts was the middle child of 14 born to James and Jerusha Robinson. As with most living in New England in 1777, the Robinsons supported the newly-declared United States in its fight against British tyranny.

With the creation of 15 new Massachusetts Continental Army regiments in 1777, the state saw to it that ranks were filled as fast as possible by instructing militia officers to find recruits from among their ranks. The Robinsons’ children were willing to join the fight for independence: James (born 1752) and Watson (born 1757) signed up, as did their 14-year-old brother Abner. Although Abner was too young to be in the militia in the first place, the young teen was nevertheless now an underage enlistee in the Army of the United States.

All three brothers joined Captain Allen’s company of Colonel John Bailey’s (2^nd) Massachusetts Regiment on April 17, 1777 for three-year terms. They had time to arrange affairs at home and give their goodbyes before departing to join their regiment, which they did on May 22. Because of his 1776 military service, Watson was appointed to the rank of serjeant.

With the British invasion from Canada in June 1777, Bailey’s Regiment was split between Forts Edward and George, the post being an important supply, hospital, portage, and shipbuilding site located on Lake George’s southern shore. Now age 15, Abner and his brothers withdrew with the rest of the American Northern Army and in August, they formed part of Benedict Arnold’s expedition up the Mohawk Valley for the relief of FortStanwix.

On September 19, the Northern Army faced off with the British invaders near Bemus Heights, located about 25 miles north of Albany. Bailey’s Regiment was deployed to fight that day, and in the end returned to camp with the rest of the defeated army. Captain Allen and five soldiers from Bailey’s Regiment were dead; Abner was one of them. the teen’s remains were probably buried near where he was killed.

Watson and James fought in the 2^nd Battle of Saratoga, saw Burgoyne surrender, and wound up at Valley Forge. While there, both men became sick; Serjeant Watson survived, but James died on April 10, 1778.