Bourne, Benjamin, 1755-1808

Asher Robbins was born October 26, 1761, in Wethersfield, Connecticut, the son of Joshua Robbins and Sarah Harris. He graduated from Yale College in 1782 and worked as a tutor at Rhode Island College (now Brown University) before studying law and being admitted to the bar in 1792. In 1791, he married Mary Ellery, and they had at least 8 children. Robbins first practiced law in Providence, and moved to Newport three years later. He became United States district attorney in 1812 and was elected to the Rhode Island state assembly from 1818 to 1825. Robbins then served several terms as a Whig senator from Rhode Island, 1827-1833 and 1835-1839, and returned to the state assembly in 1840-1841. He served as postmaster of Newport, Rhode Island, from 1841 until his death on February 25, 1845.

Benjamin Bourne was born December 9, 1755, in Bristol, Rhode Island, the son of lawyer and politician Shearjushub Bourne and Ruth Bosworth Church. Bourne was elected to the Rhode Island state assembly in 1780, and as the state's first U.S. Representative in 1790. Thereafter, he served as a judge for the U.S. District Court and the Court of Appeals. He died on September 17, 1808.

From the guide to the Asher Robbins papers, Robbins, Asher papers, 1794-1813, (William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan)