Researched and written by Harriet Robinson, April 2001

Abner Robinson came from either Kretinga or Taurage (Tarvig). Kretinga, which was completely wiped out during the Nazi era, was a very small village in west Lithuania 13 miles northeast of Memel (Klaipeda), which was a port city on the Baltic Sea (birthplace of at least one of Abner and Minda's sons). Taurage was near East Prussia, in the province of Kovno (Kaunas), which includes Kretinga, Memel, Salantai (birthplace of Abner's wife Minda Holtzberg) and Plunge (birthplace of Abner's niece Fanny Robinson Lesser).

The story of the Robinson family, as compiled so far, goes back to the mid-1800s in Lithuania when it was under Russian rule. First, the story looks at the Robinsons' lives in Russia and then their immigration to and early years in the United States. It continues with details about their children and other descendants, including significant dates and places of births, marriages, residences, occupations, military service, deaths and burials. The story comes from remembrances of various descendants of Abner, Minda and the extended Robinson family as well as research into existing records of their history. Some photographs and other memorabilia are included to help strengthen the connection with the Robinsons' past.

None of Abner and Minda's seven children is alive today, but six of their fourteen grandchildren are. With their stories and clues to help uncover more about the Robinson ancestors, they make it possible for the twenty-six great-grandchildren, the thirty-four great-great-grandchildren and four great-great-great grandchildren (and those to come) to discover their rich family history.

For the descendant chart, photos and stories about the family members, click on the links above.

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