This is not an article. It is a trip report about my second trip to Wales for genealogical research. I have written it for the edification of my family. Feel free to read it if you care to.
The earliest known Welshmen were Celts, descendants of the Vikings. They had no formal governments. The only influencing units were the family and church. They tended to live separately, in hamlets or small villages. They had no surnames. During the occupation of the Normans, government and social organization began to evolve. The taking of surnames began in Wales during the thirteen hundreds. One of the earliest Welsh surnames was Roblyn (The Surnames Of Wales, John and Sheila Rowlands 1996, page 23, Federation of Family History Societies; also refer to Dictionary Of Surnames, Oxford 1988, entry: Roberts page 453).
Roblyn was a derivative of the Anglo name Robert. Robert was a derivative of the French name Robertson or Son of Robert. All Roblin, Robling, Wroblin, Wrobling, ,Robline, Roblene, Robleyne, Robbins, Robinsons are derivatives of Roblyn.
In June of 1996 my daughter, Dana Robling Shaul, and I continued to follow the leads of our foremost family genealogist, Natalie(Mrs. Dale) Robling of Vincennes Indiana. Our pursuits were a continuation of the research I began in February of 1995 at The National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth, Wales. Our findings were as follows:
Jordan Roblyn 1326 in The Black Book of St. David's (owners of property)
Adam Roblyn Archdeacon of St. David's Cathedral September 19, 1350 and March 12, 1365 in the Papal Registers of the Diocese of St. David's also in the Episcopal Registers of St. David's in 1383
We held in our hands and read the original will of Ievan Roblin of Llawhaden county Pembrokeshire along with his inventory from the year 1609 registered in 1611. The documents were in mint condition and still had the wax seal affixed to the will.
The muster rolls of 1613: John William Robline, Newport Parish John Roblin, Ambleston & Reynalston Philip Roblin, Walton Thomas Roblin, St. Ishmells
Pembrokeshire Plea Rolls 1723 John Roblyn, of Roch Aug 10 1723
Cofnodion, Ewyllysiau, Tyddewi Probate Record of St. David's 1700- 1749 page 279 from The Facsimiles of Frances Green updated Feb 27, 1996.
Name............Parish..........Township........County..........Status.......ref........record no
John Roblin.....Lambston........Waseland........Pembroke............yeoman.......sd1704/46..110647
John Roblin**...Llan-y-cefn..........................P..........................yeoman.......sd1740/144.118951
Owen Roblin***..Walton East......................P.............................................sd1700/226.109995
Peter Roblin*...Llan-y-cefn....Llwynbedw......P.............................................sd1733/216.117622
Henry Robling...Warren.................................P.........................yeoman........sd1721/199.114509
John Roblyn.....Burton...................................P.............................................sd1717/5...113370
Phillip Roblyn****Llandysilio........................P..........................gent.............sd1720/07..114155
. * We held and read the original will and inventory of Peter Robling Jan 26 1728 along with the execution of the will Nov 24 1730. He and his wife Catherine had two sons, Thomas and John** and four daughters Alice, Elizabeth, Susan and Mary. Catherine and son John were executors of the will. The daughters could receive their inheritances only after marriage.
**We held and read the original will and inventory of John, son of Peter and Catherine. The will was executed Oct 7, 1740. John left everything to his mother Catherine.
****Phillip was the son of ***Owen. Owen and son Phillip inherited part of the estate of son in law/ brother in law William Phillips Aug 15 1700.
William Roblin built the Mansion Roblinston during the reign of Henry IV. The ruins of Roblinston were still standing during the early 1900's. I have not established whether they still exist. References to Roblinston, a mansion of greater size than normal for the time, can be found in the following books:
Caermarthenshire, Cardiganshire & Pembrokeshire Pedigrees From About 1700 to 1710 John Philipps Allen Lloyd Phillips, Esq. of Dale Castle, county of Pembroke. Typis Medio-Mentains, Impessit Jecobus Rogers Pembrokeshire Pedigrees, page 35 and Roblinston & Wooldalf page 130 "William Roblin of Roblinston"
Historical Tour Through Pembrokeshire, Richard Fenton, F.H.S. Davies & Co. Bridge St. 2nd Edition 1903 page 86 William Roblyn
I have researched many of the Parish registers and Probate records of several counties. This research includes baptisms, weddings, funerals, disputes regarding land holdings, wills and other probate matters, and various church records. All references to Roblyn, Roblin, Robling and other derivatives of Roblyn in Wales during the period of 1300 through 1800 occur only in Pembroke (Pembrokeshire means "county of Pemproke". It should be further noted that various record referring to the same person will often be found spelled with different spellings of the name of that person.
Welsh history lists show no criminals and no priests amoung our ancestors.
I am Daniel Prentice Robling father of Prentice Daniel Robling, grandfather and adoptive father of Daniel Prentice Robling. I am the son of Prentice Doral Robling, grandson of Prentice William Robling, great grandson of Horation Seymour Robling, great-great grandson of George Robling, great-great-great grandson of Peter Robling of Pike County Indiana, also descendant of Lewis and Peter Robling of North Carolina.
Peace be with you,
Dan
July 5, 1996