Further Research and Concluding Thoughts
William H. Robinson’s business partner Henry Randall went on to create the Joint Stock Club, an investment club that assisted African Americans with buying property. William H. Robinson wasn’t shy about having business partners. However, the greatest question is whether William H. Robinson and Tasco Robinson were beyond business partners and perhaps related?
There is evidence that William and Tasco have the same last name within their deed and tax documents as well as each having children named after the other; William H. Robinson had a son named Tasco T. Robinson while Tasco Robinson had a son named William Robinson (as well as a daughter named Willie Ann). However, there are limitations on the web of linking these two as family and William H. Robinson’s marriage certificate does not preface who is his father. Another reason for their same last names may be that they were chosen by the men themselves, which could also lead to an interesting story and friendship between them.
Outside of what has been included in my exhibit, Tasco and William H. Robinson have many more land deeds together that would be helpful to sourcing out the start of their journey as business partners. For example, some deeds include Sarah Robinson’s name as well which means Tasco must have been familiar with William’s family.
The deeds and tax documents found are due to William H. Robinson’s notoriety as a landowner within Northern Virginia. However, it gets increasingly more indistinct when looking into the personal life or past of William H. Robinson. It would be interesting to also know more about his time as a farm hand for the Mount Vernon Ladies Association or his time as a member of the Old Fellow Group.