Asa Robinson was born in 1763 in Pembroke, NH, the son of Peter and Mary Robinson. Peter Robinson served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the New Hampshire Militia under Captain Samuel McConnell during the American War for Independence. Following in his father's footsteps, Asa enlisted in the 11th New Hampshire Regiment. His military career, and his personal dealings in the community proved to be rocky.
Remains of cellar, Asa Robinson Homestead, located on the site of the Edward Cross Training Complex (ECTC), Pembroke, NH.
In the years after the Revolutionary War, the new country experienced economic hardship, especially as related to paper currency. Soldiers has been paid in paper currency for their services, but it was generally worthless. In addition, hard cash was not readily available and most debts were paid by the barter system. In such an economy, people were unable to pay their taxes in cash as required. These issues caused New Hampshire residents to seek action from the legislature.
On September 20, 1786, Lieutenant Asa Robinson, of the 11th New Hampshire Regiment, was part of an armed mob who marched on their elected representatives in Exeter to demand the State to issue additional amounts of paper currency to alleviate the post-Revolution economic depression. The group of about 200 individuals was made up of former soldiers of the Revolution, current state militia officers (of which Asa was one) and others affected by the depression. The insurgents were met by General Joseph Cilley (former commanding Colonel of the First New Hampshire Regiment of the Continental Line) and representatives of the State Militia. Several of the ringleaders, including Lieutenant Asa Robinson, were arrested, and the others were dispersed to return to their homes.
Those arrested were tried, and Asa Robinson was found guilty, stripped of his military rank, cashiered from his service in the 11th New Hampshire Regiment and prohibited from holding future officers rank in the State Militia. It appears that Asa’s resentment towards the State of New Hampshire are directly related to the financial state of his father, Peter. A year earlier, it was reported that Peter Robinson had not been paid his pension by the state, equivalent to one year's pay. Claiming he was incapacitated physically and deprived of his reason in such a manner as to not be able to pay his debts, Asa and his mother petitioned the State for the right to sell off some of his father's estate. It is likely that the petition was granted, as the family was allowed to keep at least some property in Pembroke.
In the years following his arrest and conviction, Asa Robinson seems to have lived and worked in Pembroke, becoming very active in town politics and community affairs. At some point, Robinson was allowed to re-enlist in the New Hampshire Militia, and in 1795 appears is town documents again as a Lieutenant, despite being banned from holding officer's rank 9 years earlier.
His service to the town of Pembroke and the State of New Hampshire continued throughout the early 1800's, while also being advanced in rank in the Militia, eventually being promoted to Brigadier General in 1812.
In 1819, a number of junior officers submitted a petition requesting the legislature to remove Brigadier General Asa Robinson from his position. The petition charged Robinson with "habitual intoxication...profanity in language at all times, even in the functions of his office...[loss of] his private character as a citizen, [and] all that is entitled to respect or confidence...and has abused and exceeded the authority vested in him by law...." Before the legislators could investigate and act upon the complaints leveled against him, Asa Robinson submitted his resignation, which was accepted on June 22, 1819.
After his resignation from the militia, Robinson and his wife remained in Pembroke.
In 1820, Robinson reportedly built the residence on what is now the grounds of the Edward Cross Training Complex. This site is It is a recorded archaeological site (27-MR-331) that has been determined eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
It is unclear for how long the Robinsons living in this home, as, at some point after 1820, they moved to Binghamton, NY to live with their son, Peter. Peter Robinson served in the New York State Assembly from 1826-1831.
Asa Robinson died in Binghamton, NY in 1828.
