Ebenezer Robertson, who became William Read's Foreman and who on his death took over William Read's ship yard, was not the first Ebenezer Robertson. In fact there are three; as will be seen from the family chart that has been built using William Read's will and information kindly provided by Richard Pinner who is a descendant of the Robertsons.

The first Ebenezer Robertson, who was born in 1775, married Mary Willimite. Ebenezer and Mary's son, John Robertson, married Mary Roper who was the daughter of the sister of William Read's Wife Mary Taylor (nee Roper). John Mary Robertson's son Ebenezer was born in 1836. This is the Ebenezer central to our story. This Ebenezer married yet another Mary (maiden name unknown) and had a son called Ebenezer W. Robertson.

Richard Pinner has the first Ebenezer Robertson's bible. From the bible Richard has transcribed the following. The author has used http://www.biblegateway.com/ to find the texts in the King James Version of the Bible.

Ebenezer Robertson wrote the following words between 1811 and about 1822

This is my wish that you should my dear family, read or repeat
Psalms 31st-32nd-34th-41st-51st-63rd-116th & the 130th

IF YOU ARE POOR IN ESTATE read:

• psalm 34 v10
  The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
• matthew 6 v33
  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
• Hebrews 13 v5
  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

IF YOU ARE SICK AND UNDER PAIN read:

• Psalm 50 v15
  And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
• Isaiah 63 v 9
  In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.
• Romans 8 v28
  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

IF SATAN TEMPT THEE

• Romans 16 v20
  And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
• 1 Corinthians
  10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
  11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
  12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
  13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
• Genesis 3 v15
  And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
• John 1 3 - 8
  3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
  4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
  5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
  6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
  7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
  8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

IF YOU ARE REPROACHED OR SLANDERED LOOK AT

• Matthew 10 v25
  It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
• Matthew 5 v11 & 12
  11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
  12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
• Luke 6 v22-23
  22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
  23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

IF THY CORRUPTION'S BE TOO STRONG-
Romans 6th - 14th (V?)
Micah 7th - 19th (V??)

• Romans 6
  14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
• Micah 7
  19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

IF YOU ARE PERSECUTED FOR CHRIST

Matthew 5 v10
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

1 Peter 4 v12,13,14
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

Psalm 94 v12
12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;

IF G-o-d HIDES HIS FACE
read isah 30th, 18th v, 63rd, 3rd v
Isah 40th 28th-29th & 30th v

Isaiah 30

• 18 And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.
• 63 v 3
  3 I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.

40 v28,29,30
28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

IF READY TO DIE WITH FEAR
read the 1st Corinthians 15th ch 55th- 56th & 57th v
Hosea 13th ch 14th v
Rev lnth ??? 14th ch 13th v
1st Corinth 3rd ch 22nd-23rd v
2nd corinth 5th ch 1st & 9th v

• 1 Corinthians 15
  v 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
  v 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
• v 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hosea 13 v14
14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.

Revelations 14 v13
13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

1 Corinthians 3
v22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your's;
v 23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

2 Corinthians 5
v1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
v9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

these and the Psalms and texts written by me I have found comfort in reading off or meditating upon when I have had many sleepless nights upon my bed
E Robertson

COPIED BY RICHARD PINNER IN MAY 2008 FROM EBENEZER ROBERTSONS BOOK 1811. THERE IS ALSO A FAMILY HISTORY WRITTEN IN THIS BIBLE.....
These are the words as written by Ebenezer, where I have not been able to definitely decipher the writing I have put in brackets what I think it is.:

(back page)
Alexander & Jane Robertson was married at St Mary Tower Church Ipswich Sept 29th 1760

Alexander Robertson was Born Dec 22nd 1733 (dead Ipswich aged 82)
Jane Robertson was born Oct 23rd 1737 (dead Ipswich aged 82)

George Robertson was born April 28th 1763 (dead Portsmouth aged 38)
Jane Robertson was born Feb 10th 1765 (dead Ipswich aged 7)
Alexander Robertson was born Aug 12th 1766 (dead Ipswich aged 12)
John Robertson was born Sept 21st 1769 (dead West Indies aged 33)
Hannah Robertson was born June 21st 1771 (died Nov 1st 1852)
Ebenezer Robertson was born Jan 28th 1775 (died May 19th 1849)
Peter Robertson was born Aug 28th 1776 (dead East Indies aged 26)
Alexander Robertson was born July 4th 1780 (died Dec 13th 1853 London)

Copy'd from My Fathers Family
Bible Aug 18th 1822
Ebenezer Robertson Sen

(front page)
Ebenezer Robertsons Book
March 25th 1811

This book I will and bequeath to my dear son Alexander
signed Ebenezer Robertson Sen

Ebenezer Robertson Sen Born January 28th 1775
Was married to Mary Willimite October 18th 1803
at St Lukes Chapple Norwich Cathedral
Mary Robertson was Born December 23rd 1770 (died APRIL 11TH 1854)
-------------------------------------------

Ebenezer Robertson Jun was born August 11th 1804
At Eleven Minutes before Five in the Morning. (christened at St Stephens) (died Sept 2nd 1868)

Alexander Robertson was born August 23rd 1805 at Quarter before Seven in the Evening (christened at St Stephens) (died Jan 4th 1865)

John Robertson was Born September 29th 1807
at Ten minutes Before Two in the Morning (christened at St Stephens) (died Dec 8th 1851)

James Willimite Robertson was Born December 11th 1811
At a Quarter after Six in the Morning (christened at St Margarets)
---------------------------------------------
Ebenezer Robertson Jun was Married at St Stephens church Ipswich
to Elizabeth Holland Hines, April 30th 1827
Elizabeth Holland Hines was born April 13th 1806 (died Dec 28th 1870)

Elizabeth Lousinby Robertson was born July 19th Thursday Morning Twenty Minutes before Seven, Christened Aug 10th 1827 at St Clements.

Sarah Willimite Robertson was born March 5th Thursday afternoon Half Past Two, Christened March 25th 1829 at St Clements Church.

William Hines Robertson Born August 30th 1830 at 3 O'Clock Monday Morning,
christened at St Clements Church (died 19th or 20th Jan 1860)

George Alfred Robertson Born June 28th 1832 at Half Past One O'clock Thursday morning, Christened at St Clements Church (11th Jul 1832)

Walter French Robertson Born March the 11th wednesday evening half past Eight 1835, Christened April 3rd at St Clements Church (died march 7th 1867)

Amelia Dibah Robertson Born October 20th 1837 at four O'clock Afternoon, Christened February 21st 1838 at St Clements (died April 1861)

Frederick Robertson was Born May 27th 1841 at Half past Six, Thursday morning, Christened June 16th 1841 at St Stephens (died April 9th 1873)
------------------------------------------------

Alexander Robertson was married to Sarah Blundwin at St Stephens Church Ipswich June 24th 1832.
Sarah Blundwin was born April 13th 1806 (died Feb 1884)

Alexander Robertson son of the above was born Thursday the 11th of July 1833 at Five O'Clock in the Morning , Christened at St Stephens Church August the 4th 1838 died (Jan 21st 1843, Burryed at St Stephens Church

Eliza Robertson was born February 13th Twenty Minutes after 7 O'Clock in Morning, Christened March 15th 1835 at St Stephens
Died November the 10th 1836 burried at St Stephens

Mary Ann Robertson was born November 24th 1836 Quarter before Four O'Clock After Noon, Christened at St Stephens

William Robertson Born June 18th at Ten Minutes Past Six in the Morning, Christened july 15th 1838, at St Stephens (died Aug 12th 1880)

Henry Robertson Born Sunday Quarter before Twelve at Noon April 26th 1840 christened at St Stephens (died 1926)

Eliza Robertson was Born at Ten O'Clock on Wednesday Morning September 29th 1841, Christened at Saint Stephens Church (died 1922?) (1928?)

Charlotte Robertson was Born Thursday Night twenty Minutes beforeTwelve O'Clock, March 2nd 1843 Christened at St Stephens Church (died 1924)

Kate Robertson was Born Half Past Ten O'Clock Thursday Night December 19th 1844, Christened at St Stephens Church (died Sept 28 1858)
-==========================

John Robertson (died Dec 8th 1851) was Married to Mary Roper November the 9th 1832 at Rushmere Church near Ipswich
Mary Roper was born April 19th 1813

William Read Robertson was Born October 25th 1832 at Half Past Eleven at Night, Christened at (Jacket Street Meeting)

John Willimite Robertson was Born January 6th 1835 at Quarter Past Three Afternoon Died February 18th 1835

Ebenezer John Robertson was Born February 12th 1836 at Ten O'Clock at Night, Christened at (Jacket Street Meeting) (died 24 Oct 1913)

Mary Ann Rebecca Willimite Robertson was Born on Sunday evening Twenty Minutes Past Seven, April 28th 1839. Christened at (Jacket Street Meeting) (died March 11th 1843, Burried at St Stephens

Alexander (Stroart??) Robertson was Born Quarter before Four O'Clock Sunday Morning October 10th 1841
-----------------------------------------
This Book I Will & Bequeathe (to my Dear Sister Mary Ann Robertson) Signed Henry Robertson
(died 10th April 1914)* *(Mary or Henry???) Nov 19th 1900

I bequeathe this book (to my dear sister )Charlotte
signed 10th .............................. Henry Robertson
=============================

James Willimite Robertson was married to Susan Hurry June 16th 1834 at Wingfield Church
Susan Hurry was Born November 2nd 1800

Maria Hurry Robertson was Born January 4th 1835

James Willimite Robertson was born May 9th 1836 (died Nov 13th 1854)

Mary Ann Robertson was Born January 8th 1838
----------------------------------------------------

Ebenezer Robertson Sen died May 18th 1849

John Robertson Died Dec 8th 1851

Kate Robertson died September 28th 1858

Amelia Robertson Died April 12th 1861

Mrs Blunden (should that be BlundWin??) Died July 12th 1864

Alexander Robertson Died January 4th 1865

William Robertson Died aug 18th 1880
================================
Sarah Robertson Died February 9th 1884

Mary Ann Robertson Died April 18th 1914

-------------------------------------------
Rebecca Willimite Daughter of Alexander Robertson and Sarah his Wife was Born on Monday Night at twelve o'Clock November 9th 1846 Christened at St Nicholas Church Dec 20th

Rebecca Willimite Robertson was married to Abraham Cook Abbott at St Nicholas Church Ipswich
Henry Cook Abbott was born in London January 19th 1874
--------------------------------------------

Henry Robertson Son of Alexander & Sarah Robertson
was married to Frances Webb (widow) Daughter of James Thomas Waterman, Plumstead Kent, December 20th 1893 at St Judes Church, St Judes Parish, Grays Inn Road London.

Frances Robertson died February 11th 1915
Buried at West Norwood Cemetery London. No. of Grave 33818
---------------------------------------------
THE NEXT WORDS WERE WRITTEN BY MY GRANDFATHER LEONARD ALFRED PINNER
---------------------------------------------
Henry Robertson died on the 15th September 1924 at Cauldwell Hall Road Ipswich. Buried at Ipswich cemetery on 19/9/24 Grave (Section F, Division 2, Space 23 58
7Y

==========================

Eliza Robertson was born at 10 O'Clock on Wednesday Morning September 29th 1841 & Christened at St Stephens Church ipswich and died at 30 Chevallier Street, Ipswich; on 2nd Sept 1922 (Section F Div 12 Space 55 interred 6/9/22

Sister of Henry, Charlotte and Mary Ann she married Joshua Masterson (Printer ??/ & unpositor*??) (died 8th June 1890 interred 12/6/90 Grave F/12/55) on .......... 186..? she had NINE children the eldest of whom was Alexander Masterson (emigrated to Toronto) and the youngest was Rhebba Eliza born at 311 Woodbridge Road on March 28th 1881 died October 29th 1958 (plot 33 Ipswich cemetery 3/11/58)
(Rhebba Eliza Masterson) married Alfred Pinner** 20th Sept 1909 (born Belstead M Ipswich 1882)
at St Nicholas Church Ipswich (p225 No. 449))
and begat

Elizabeth Kate Pinner July 5th 1910 and Leonard Alfred Pinner Sept 28th 1911
married married
Henry J Farrer at Edith Tapper
St Margarets Church Ipswich 1938 at Didham (Dedham?) Parish Church on January 24th 1940 and begat John Masterson Pinner born
Truro Cornwall 1944 May 28th
Janet Stephanie Pinner born
Redruth Cornwall 1948 April 19th
Linda Jane Pinner, born at
"Azura" Porthtowan, Nr Truro
on February 21st 1952

** Sara Ann Pinner (late Clarke, formerly Pinner (died Nov 1st 1918 internment 4/11/18 section (I?) Division 3 Space 16 Ipswich Cemetery))
begat Alfred Pinner on the 29th November 1882 at (Whitstead) (I think this is Wherstead) (Reg district Saniford, sub dist Holbrook)..

These are ALL the words written in Ebenezer ROBERTSONS book..... typed this day Saturday 17th May 2008 by Richard Stephen Pinner son of John Masterson Pinner.

Also see William Read's Will and associated Chart of Immediate Family