Bill Robinson (1827-unknown)

Quilt square with pink, indigo, and cream colored fabric representing the big dipper — Bill Robinson, "The Big Dipper"

According to a deed in the Brazoria County Clerk’s office, 12 January 1847, Tod Robinson, resident of Brazoria County sold to J. H. Polley “the following described negro slaves towit: Jack a dark mulatto man aged about twenty-five years, Bill a negro man about twenty years of age and Reuben a dark mulatto man aged about twenty years.”

Bill is not listed among the enslaved people that gained their freedom in Bailey’s Light. Nor is he listed among the men that Polley hired as servants in 1865.

His quilt square is “The Big Dipper.”

This biographical selection is from The Enslaved People of J. H. Polley Plantation, Whitehall, Sutherland Springs, Texas 1836-1865. The collection is the work of independent scholar, Dr. Melinda Creech. Dr. Creech compiled and presents a biographical sketch of each of the enslaved along with a unique historic Texas quilt for each individual since photos of the 28 enslaved are not available. The collection is available to view in person at the Sutherland Springs Historical Museum.