Henry Robinson - Bookseller in Edinburgh

[djct59]

Mr Robinson was perhaps the last man to be prosecuted for blasphemy in Scotland. The prosecution was unsuccessful - https://www.scottishindexes.com/jcdetail.aspx?jcid=1843513&pid=184351301
   

[AlanBoyd]

Caledonian Mercury 9th June 1856

Births
ROBINSON – At 10 Catherine Street, on the 5th inst. the wife of Mr Henry Robinson, bookseller, of a daughter.

This side-by-side map view reveals that Greenside Street was part of what is now all called Leith Street, and that Catherine Street was just across the road.

https://tinyurl.com/57tvkjwr

[AlanBoyd]

I suspect that Henry Robinson was a bit of a radical. We already have the evidence of his indictment in 1843. Here is some further evidence, although it is indirect.

In March 1863 Edward, Prince of Wales (the future Edward VII) married Princess Alexandra of Denmark.  The Caledonian Mercury of March 16th 1863
was a Special Marriage Edition and it includes very detailed descriptions of illuminations and street decorations in Edinburgh. Here we find:

LEITH STREET AND GREENSIDE
...
Mr Henry Robinson, bookseller, exhibited a large illuminated crown, and two fine engravings, the one representing the declaration of American independence, and the other portraits of the various American Presidents, from General Washington to Lincoln. The shop was gaily decorated with British, Danish, and American flags.
…

Looking over the rest of the page I see mentions of portraits and transparencies of the couple (and of Queen Victoria), lots of Prince of Wales' feathers, hearts, Chinese lanterns, illuminations based upon gas jets, royal mottoes, coats of arms, flags etc. etc. But no other mention of America. Perhaps he was signalling his republicanism?

[AlanBoyd]

I realise this is a little long, but I decided to post it all.

9 January 1861: Edinburgh Evening Courant

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN
That a Petition has been presented to the Sheriff of Edinburgh by HENRY ROBINSON, formerly Bookseller at No. 7 Brunswick Place, Glasgow, now at No. 11 Greenside Street, and residing at No. 10 Catherine Street, Edinburgh, and by Mrs MARGARET FINLAY or ROBINSON, his Spouse, and daughter of Thomas Finlay, cabinetmaker in Edinburgh, and formerly residing in Haddington Place there, stating that the Petitioners, on the 3d day of June 1839 appeared before one of her Majesty's Justices of the Peace, and solemnly declared themselves married persons, and that too in presence of the parties therein named and designed, and of certain of the relations of the parties; and that the said Justice of Peace gave the Certificate of Marriage therewith produced: That the marriage was thereupon intimated in the Public Newspapers: That the Petitioners after their said marriage lived together as Husband and Wife, and were owned as such by their friends, neighbours, and acquaintances, and that there had been seven children born of the marriage: That their marriage was omitted to be got registered in the Public Register of Marriages, and that they were anxious yet to get that done, in virtue of the Act to amend two Acts of the 17th and 18th years, and of the 18th year of her Majesty, relating to the Registration of Births, Deaths, and Marriages in Scotland, 6th August 1860, sec. 2d. : And therefore praying his Lordship to cause the application be advertised in the way and manner he might think, to take such further evidence as to his Lordship might deem necessary, and thereafter, on resuming consideration of said Certificate of Marriage by said Justice of the Peace, and of any further evidence that might be adduced, to grant warrant to the Petitioners to get their marriage registered in the manner prescribed by the foresaid statute. • The Sheriff-Substitute, on advising said Petition, was pleased to pronounce the following Interlocutor:—'Edinburgh, 7th January 1801.-The Sheriff-Substitute appoints intimation 'of the foregoing Petition and of this Deliverance to be made by advertisement in the Edinburgh Evening Courant Newspaper not less than fourteen days before the diet after mentioned: Further, appoints the Petitioner, along with any persons whose testimony he proposes to adduce in support of the Petition, to attend within the ordinary Sheriff Court-house here upon the 25th day of January 1861 at Twelve o'clock Noon, at which time and place the Sheriff will consider the Petition, and hear any interested parties who may appear to oppose it.

(Signed) FREDERICK HALLARD.'
WILLIAM POLLOCK, Petitioners' Agent.

[oldfashionedgirl]

As above his daughter was born on 9.6.1856.
Her name was Margaret Finlay Henrietta Robinson.
Mothers maiden name Finlay.

Unfortunately and unusually, for a Scottish birth registration, It doesn’t say the date of the parents marriage.

If you look the up on later census's they may have had more children and by looking at their births the parents marriage may be recorded.

[Hector99]

Hi AlanBoyd
I think you are right about his radicalism.

His children were called
Thomas Paine Carlile                 Very interesting
Matilda Henrietta Ransted (?)    Difficult to read.  Does not mean anything to me
Ann Amos
Mary Ann Eliza
Georgina
Jane Finlay
Arthur Trewelyn           
Margaret H
Henry George

[AlanBoyd]

Yes, Thomas Paine clinches it I think.