Jonathan ROBESON

                   He lived first in  the Manatawny region, then later of Whitemarsh and Wrightstown, PA. He then moved to New Jersey. He was later of Upper Dublin Township, Philadelphia County, PA, where he died. He was a member of Friends' Meeting in Gwynedd and then also in Bethlehem. Was a member of the Colonial Assembly of PA. from 1730-1738. There is a tradition , that at the breaking out of the French and Indian War, Jonathan was asked to make cannon balls at the Furnace, but belonging tot he Society of the "Friends", he had conscientous scruples about making "Weepons of War" and turned his attention to another kind of iron thought to be unsuitable for cannon balls. Cannon balls were made at this furnace during the Revolution, some being preserved at Independence Hall. Jonathan had died before this and he sold the Robeson Furnace to Dr. William Shippen. When asked to make cannon balls for the Revolution they replied " We cannot make cannon balss, but thee can have the furnace", thus combining patriotism and conscience; it is said that the government took charge of the furnace till the close of the war.
His will was proved 5 Apr 1776.
I also have a death date of Apr 1773.
IGI said he was of Greenwich Township, Glouchester, N.J.

In an address at the "Sussex Centennial" 1854, Benjamin Edsall Esq. says, "Jonathan Robeson was one of the first Judges of Sussex Co. His father wore the erminebefore him in Pennsylvania, while his son, grandson and great-grandson each in turn have occupied seats on the Judicial bench: William P. Robeson of Warren Co.being the fifth Judge in regular descent, from his ancestor, Judge Andrew Robeson. In this Country, where the accident of birth confers no special right to stations of honor, and where ability and honesty are, or ought to be, the only passports to public distinction, this remarkable succession of office in one family affords a rare example of hereditary merit, and is, so far as I know, without parallel in our Judicial Annals."

Jonathan began the erection of a Furnace at Oxford, in 1741, and the first pig-iron was turned out Mar. 9, 1743, the weekly product being from 13, to 15, tons (the output in 1906, per week, by the "Empire Steel & Iron Co." was about 700 tons, though this did not represent its capacity). The old stack, with additions, was still in good condition and in use as late as 1881. The Robeson Furnace was the only blast-furnace in Warren Co. for more than a hundred years; In an articleon "Oxford" published in the "Newark Evening News" of Aug. 27, 1898, the writersays: "The ancient furnace (built by Jon 'a. Robeson) stands in the center of Oxford, a picturesque monument of the past, as sound and strong as upon the day of its completion in 1742, the lime-rock of which it is constructed, was dug out of the hills round about, the slate tiles with which it is roofed were quarried from the deposits close at hand, lime-rock of beautiful tints, and imperishable quality, and slate of excellent grain, are abundant in the vicinity Oxford has always been famed for its deposits of magnetic ore which seem inexhaustible, and an old saying in the neighborhood,to express confidence in any enterprise, is: 'As good as the Oxford mines.'
These mines were among the first worked, in the country, and their development was the foundation of the fortunes of the 'Robeson' and 'Scranton' families. Originally, all the ore that was not sold to the forges in the vicinity, was carriedto Foulrift on the Delaware (below Belvidere) and taken to Phila. by boat and sometimes to Great Britain aa ballast."