4

Based on DNA research, Ruth’s biological father was 100% Askenazi. Family gossip was that grandma Irene had an affair with a white man that lead to her pregnancy with Ruth. From other cousins DNA we think he was from Gorod Rostov-On-Don, Rostov Oblast, Russia.

One candidate for Ruth’s biological father was a Mr. Ratner who owned Ratner’s Grocery Store on the corner of St Felix and Fulton Streets. Irene had her grandchildren purchase anything and everything from Mr. Ratner and “put it on her bill” which was subsequantly never paid.

We have been unable to find any information on Mr. Ratner or his store. The Ratner family appears to be from Zel'va, Byelorussia, although there are many Ratners from Ukraine and Russia, and even some from Poland. There are no Jews in Zelva today, they were all taken to the Treblinka camop and exterminated. There was a line of Ratner’s in Brooklyn, from ELIAHU BUBLATZKY RATNER, b. 1869, Zel'va, Byelorussia; d. January 06, 1944, Kings County Hospital, Brooklyn, New York.

Another possible parent is Mikhail Kisin , son of Grigory Kisin and Esfir Unknown. The Kisin/ Kissin’s appear to be from Kiev, Ukraine



John Robinson’s name is in on Ruth’s birth certificate but John C. Robinson was not Ruth’s biological father. That said, he was her father in that he raised her, loved her, had a great influence on her, and in all regards was her only father.

About John Carey Henry Hayes Robinson
Born: 9 Mar 1876 - Waverly, Virginia
Died: 1950 - Brooklyn, NY
Worked as a janitor, a carpenter and a lay minister and may have worked in Brooklyn Navy Yards. John Robinson being a very common name, there is no information on him prior to his marriage to Irene. We know he was from Peterburgh, Virginia.

Lay minister at Bethel Baptist Church, 265 Bergen St, Brooklyn, NY

1920 US Census Manhattan Assembly District 19, New York, New York
John C Robinson, head of household

John and Irene were introduced by “Sister Annie”, the sister of their minister at Bethel Baptist Church.

New York Marriage Index
John C Robinson
Gender: Male
Marriage Date: 12 Aug 1925
Marriage Place: Kings, New York, USA
Certificate Number: 11331

1925 New York State Census, Brooklyn, Kings
51 Saint Felix Street
John Robinson 49 Head
Irene Robinson 39 Wife
Eugene Robinson 15 Son
Helen Robinson 11 Daughter
Macleon Robinson 32 Brother
Rudd Oliver Brother-in-law
Martha Oliver Sister-in-law

John Robinson
Birth Date: abt 1876
Birth Place: United States
Age: 49
Gender: Male
Residence Place: Brooklyn, Kings
Relationship: Head
Color or Race: Black
Assembly District: 11
House Number: 51
Line Number: 24
Page Number: 11
Household Members:
Name Age
John Robinson 49
Irene Robinson 39
Eugene Robinson 15
Helen Robinson 11
Macleon Robinson 32
Rudd Oliver 36
Mrtha Oliver 34

1925 NY State Census -
They are living at 51 St Felix St.
We have John- janitor, and Irene- housewife ,
Eugene Robinson - son - 15 - this would have had to be John’s son from a prior marriage?
Helen - daughter - 11, - Irene’s youngest daughter
McClean 32 - longshoreman - this is John’s brother who mom called Marcellus who is working at the Brooklyn Navy Yards.
Oliver & Martha Rudd - Brother & Sister-in-law respectively. He's a longshoreman and she's a maid . I don’t know who they are. No sign of Evelyn.

1917 US Draft Registration
NAME: Marcellus Robinson
BIRTH: 18 May 1890 - Virginia,United States of America
RESIDENCE: Surry, Virginia
OTHER: Surry County

1930 US Federal Census Queens , Queens, New York
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Head John Robinson M 53 Virginia
Wife Irene Robinson F 47 Virginia
Daughter Evelyn Robinson F 19 New York
Daughter Helen Robinson F 17 New York
Son-in-law John Ellis M 21 Virginia
Granddaughter Elinor Ellis F 0 New York

Address: 3211 98th St. , Queens County, NY
John Robinson  M negro age 53 married. owned the house valued at $8000.
Age of 1st marriage - 27
Owns a radio set
Not in school
Can read & write
Birthplace - Virginia
Parents birthplace - Virginia
Speaks English
Occupation - carpenter
Owns his own business
Employed
Not a veteran

Children
Evelyn - 19 married, Helen - 17 listed as assistant to a Doctor - employed, Ellis, John - 21 . He's listed as Ellis, John - no comma. Bellhop - Hotel, Son-in-law, Married at 21, Eleanor - listed as 1 yo granddaughter.

1935 NY State Census
Head of Household John Robinson, Janitor
Wife Irene Robinson
Daughter Evelyn, Son-in-law, Eugene

Where is Ruth?

1940 US Federal Census, Assembly District 11, Brooklyn, New York City, Kings, New York
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Head John Robinson M 64 Virginia
Wife Irene Robinson F 51 Virginia
Daughter Ruth Robinson F 12 New York

51 Saint Felix Street
Head of Household John Robinson, Male, Negro, age 64, Minister, born abt 1876, 8th grade education, born Virginia, both parents Virgina
Wife Irene Robinson, Female, Negro, age 51, 8th grade education, born Virginia, both parents Virgina
Daughter Ruth, Female, Negro, age 12, Single, in school

1940 US Federal Census, Assembly District 11, Brooklyn, New York City, Kings, New York
John Robinson
Respondent: Yes
Age: 64
Estimated birth year: abt 1876
Gender: Male
Race: Negro
Birthplace: Virginia
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Home in 1940: New York, Kings, New York
Map of Home in 1940: View Map
Street: Saint Felix Street
House Number: 51
Farm: No
Inferred Residence in 1935: New York, Kings, New York
Residence in 1935: Same House
Sheet Number: 6B
Number of Household in Order of Visitation: 275
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Occupation: Preacher
House Owned or Rented: Rented
Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: 30
Attended School or College: No
Highest Grade Completed: Elementary school, 8th grade
Weeks Worked in 1939: 0
Income: 0
Income Other Sources: Yes
Native Language: English
Veteran: No
Social Security Number: No
Usual Occupation: Minister
Usual Industry: Church
Usual Class of Worker: Working on own account
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
John Robinson 64
Irene Robinson 51
Ruth Robinson 12
Florence Glenn 40
Mary Williamson 80
Florence Goung 30

Additional oral information from Ruth:
Father owned commercial property in Richmond, Virginia

Ruth’s grandfather was Elliot Robinson
Ruth’s grandmother was Ophelia

Siblings:
Melissa
Rosa
Brahme
Octavia
Marcellus according to Ruth a WW1 Navy veteran
Ophelia: James, Cary, Luvenia , John, Clarence , Benjamin , Mary Ellis, Lulu Mae [Byrd], Florence

Niece: Mary Ellis:
Albert ;
Lydia, Master Teacher;
Ronald, Minister;
Donald, Attorney;
Millicent, Dietician, Caterer;
Anderton, Bail Bondsman;
Fern, Teacher;
Marvin, Businessman, self-employed;
Melody, Coach and going to university for education.

Lulu Mae may be the best source for family.

He received an inheritance of real estate from his father, but it was not the main portion of the estate which apparently included a plantation. John Henry told Ruth he did not think it appropriate for a black man to own a plantation anyway. This land was in downtown Richmond, Virginia. Ruth sold it years later.

John Henry and Irene raised their family at 51 Saint Felix Street in Brooklyn, NY. For a short time they lived at a property he owned in Rego Park, Queens, but were unable to afford both residences during the Depression. After her daughter was born in 1948 Ruth returned home, but John Henry died suddenly in 1950 at the age of 76.

I believe that that John was the illegitimate child of a former slave owning family and a former slave family, but we have no birth or death records for him.

In the 1880 US Census for Hendrico County, Virginia there are several candidates who require further research.

John Robinson, B, Age 5, Series T9 Roll 1372 page 414
John Robinson, B, Age 1, Series T9 Roll 1372 page 528
John Robinson, M, Age 1, Series T9 Roll 1372 page 465
John Robinson, B, Age 4, Series T9 Roll 1371 page 41