"I descended from Sarah Burgess and James Robinson's son Michael. Michael's seventh child Herbert. My great-grandfather, immigrated with his family first to Canada, then the U.S. around 1900. (Although his eldest son remained in Canada.) They settled in Zion, Illinois. His third child, Percy, was my Grandfather. My mother, Marjorie Robinson was born in Zion, Illinois, but ran away at age 16, to Chicago. My mother married my father (her second husband) when she was 32. They met in Chicago. My father was in the US Navy, so they lived in many places, mostly West Coast, although my sister was born on Kwajalein Atoll, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, post WWII USA occupation, and my twin brother and I were born in San Diego, where they finally settled after my father retired from the Navy. I ended up in Hawaii, through a forced job transfer, against my wish at the time, but that was almost 20 years ago. So in a very brief way, this is how I am related and how I ended up in Hawaii."

Philip: All very interesting, but he could have gleaned those details off your story on the internet.

Jean: No he couldn’t. I’m sure I never mentioned the names of Sarah and James’ family in that book.

Jean: Anyway, he goes on.

"My mother passed away when I was 11. I had only heard a few stories about her family, and had only met briefly my grandfather and the aunts and uncles. I remember being told that we descended from royalty, that the family in England was at one time very wealthy, but that Herbert (my great-grandfather) had been disowned by the family. My mother even gave me a "family heirloom," inherited through a favorite aunt, a gold brooch in a velvet lined leather case, that I was told was passed down from the royal line. At 11, I hid it away with the other mementos of my mother, and fortunately still have it today.

"Due to the early loss of my mother, I was always curious about who my mother was. This of course included her genealogy. In my 20's, I attempted to gain more information, but my only sources, my living aunts and uncles, did not respond to my letters of request for information about the Robinsons. I could not understand why their responses were only cordial, "nice to hear from you", "hope you are doing well," but no answers to my direct questions about who we were. In time I got on with my life and career, but now having recently retired, I have more time on my hands and have decided to begin my search again.

"In the age of the Internet, ancestry research has become a lot easier. The access to records made it possible for me to trace my Robinson lineage back to James and Sarah Robinson, but it stopped there. I was able to locate their dates of death, burial sites (Egham, Sussex) and James' Will. In my course of research, I did discover some interesting facts, like Michael Robinson having spent his last 16 years in an asylum, but I was frustrated at not being able to search further. I was also trying to find the royal link.

"James and Sarah Robinson, resided and died (1830's) in Egham, and were buried in the Parish churchyard. James' Will did mention a son-in-law, James King, and the Latter Day Saints web site had an unverified mention that Michael's mother was Sarah Burgess, but I could not document that. I also was able to obtain a Monumental Inscription for Sarah, relict of the late James Robinson, that had been recorded and archived years ago in the Surrey Family History Society's archive, but gave no further clues to Sarah.

"I had an opportunity to go to Europe this month and I decided to go visit the graves of James and Sarah while I was in London. Last Thursday, I took the train to Egham, to visit the Parish church. I had contacted the church ahead of my visit and they welcomed me. Inside the church I was delighted to see a memorial plaque to James and Sarah, and a daughter who was also buried there."

"I was told that they must have been important members of the Parish and were most likely buried aboveground in one on the churchyard crypts, but unfortunately the crypts were in very bad shape. Many of the memorials had crumbled away years ago, leaving only the brick structures, and many were heavily overgrown with ivy and shrubs. Sadly the grave sites had been abandoned both by relatives and by the church. I was at least happy to discover that the memorial on the inside church wall stated the James was the second son of William Robinson of West Grinstead, Sussex (a new clue!!!!,) but saddened by the thought that Sarah's lineage would stop at the church.

I then proceeded to search for their grave sites in the churchyard. There were three crypts outside near the outer wall near where the memorial plaque hung on the interior wall. I decided to look there first. I tore back the heavy ivy cover to expose the crypts. Sadly two of the crypts' memorials had crumbled away, but the third crypt still had the memorial attached. It was almost unreadable, but I was able to faintly see "Robinson". I peered closer and tried to make out what had been inscribed in front of it. I saw an "m" and could make out a "J", and finally the rest of "James" came into view. A warm feeling came over me. I had found James Robinson's grave. Being a spiritual person, I remained by the crypt and talked by my deceased ancestor. I asked for help in researching the family further back, and asked for help finding the royal lineage if it existed."

Jean: (continues reading)

"I then went to the two unmarked crypts to pay respect to Sarah. I didn't want to leave, I wanted to find out more. I walked into town to see if I could find some charcoal and sheets on paper to "rub" the James' crypt to decipher more of the memorial. All I was able to find in town was some tissue paper and crayons and my attempt at "rubbing" upon return to the churchyard, was not successful. Still not satisfied, I peered strongly at the stone, rubbing it with my fingers. I discovered above "James Robinson" the name "Sarah" and the word "relict." I then realized that I had discovered, and had been talking to, Sarah's crypt. I paid my final respects to all three crypts, took some photographs, and left the little town of Egham. I was both happy with my discovery, and saddened that I may not find out anymore about Sarah.

"Upon my return home to Honolulu, this last Monday, I decided to search the Internet for the next generation, William Robinson of West Grinstead. I was not successful. Frustrated with the new clue and no results, I keyed just "Robinson" and "West Grinstead" into Google. The one of the first links on the list that appeared was the link to your second installment of Day After Day on the Open Writing web site. The paraphrase ....The fifth daughter married B. James Robinson of West Grinstead.

"I immediately clicked on the link. What a surprise! Was I reading a historical passage? What were the chances of an author creating a Sarah and James Robinson of West Grinstead? (I had just discover 5 days earlier at the Egham Parish church that James' father was, and therefore he must also be from West Grinstead.) Sarah in the story was a Burgess. I had seen her referred to as Sarah Burgess on a Latter Day Saints site. They had a daughter who married a James King and the young girl in the story was a King. Was it a coincidence? It couldn't have been. That is why I wrote to the site asking if I might be put in contact with you. When I checked the posting date of your story, I saw that it had just been posted the day before my visit to Egham.

Jean:

"A thought.... I discovered, after asking for help at the crypt of James, that I had actually been asking Sarah. Your storyline involves Sarah's family and not James'. And it revealed a royal lineage. Was Sarah helping me to discover her lineage? I mused that over the years, I have asked, without success, living relatives for information about our lineage, but it was not until I asked a dead relative that information came readily."

Philip: So you are convinced by that, are you? He couldn’t have made it all up?