William Carlton Robbins

The Tenth Generation

WILLIAM CARLTON ROBBINS (WILLIAM MANSON9, ISAAC TOLMAN8, THOMAS G "TOMMY"7, THOMAS6, ARTHUR5, ARTHUR4, WILLIAM3, THOMAS2, THOMAS1) was born 23-Oct-1908 in Wilmington, New Hanover, NC, and died 28-Feb-1952 in Raleigh, Wake, NC.  He married NANCY RUTH HALL 07-Dec-1932 in Reidsville, Rockingham County,  NC, daughter of JAMES HALL and ADA SPENCE.  She was born 17-Oct-1910 in Benson, Johnston, NC, and died 13-Oct-1995 in Raleigh, Wake County, NC.

Carlton had suffered with rheumatic fever at age 18, and again when he was in his late twenties.  He left State College where his brother had graduated, and took a job with Wachovia Bank in Raleigh to support himself and his mother.  He never again wanted to see or speak to his father.  Finally, in 1951, after Edna had died in 1948, my mother's family went to Wrightsville Beach for a vacation.  Manson came to the house where they were vacationing and saw and spoke with Carlton.  I remember the occasion, and everyone seemed glad that they had met.  Carltons heart problems were getting worse and he passed away only seven months later.  Manson and Bell came to Raleigh when Carlton was put into Rex Hospital for the last time.  They stayed, and Bell nursed her stepson until the last.

Carlton had lived in the shadow of his older brother most of his life. Nevertheless, he developed his own personality and was a very well liked man.  He was carefree and full of fun and my mother reminded me often of this.  His health kept him from being an outdoorsman or sportsman, but when I was very young, he loved to take Mom and I to the movies every Friday night to see a Western at the Palace Theater on Martin Street in downtown Raleigh.  I think he liked the serials better than the movies. Serials were continued from Friday to Friday and were much like todays soap operas.  He would always buy Hershey Bars by the two-dozen box from a friend at work, and then sneak a couple of them in the theater to save money.  He also loved to play cards.  Actually, he met my mother Nancy Hall at a Bridge Party given by a friend who had dated Dad a few times. 

Mom had broken up with Paul Reddish after her family had moved to Raleigh from Durham, and she had very few friends as a Senior at Needham Broughton High School.  Dad had graduated from Hugh Morson High School a few years earlier and was already working for Wachovia Bank.  She was in the first graduating class at Broughton High, and had taken a job with Dr. Tucker in his Clinic.  They were married 12-Dec-1932 in Leaksville, NC at the home of close friends who had lived in Raleigh.  The wedding was kept secrete

because of the terrible jealousy felt by Edna, Carltons mother.  Nancy was working most of the time and Edna kept house and cooked for the three of them. 

Then little Billy was born.  This gave Edna a grandson to raise and filled the horrible void left by having lost a daughter, a son, a husband and now, Carlton to Nancy.  Of course this made Carlton's life much easier,  though he had little time, or opportunity, to pay much attention to Billy.  Edna encouraged Billy to be musical and tought him to sing and play the piano. 

Carlton died a age 43. His doctor, Dr. Earl Bryan, a cardiac specialist, had told him not to expect to live to see his 40th birthday, but he did, and, at his 40th birthday party, bragged that he was now living on borrowed time.

Child of William Carlton Robbins and Nancy Hall Robbins

WILLIAM LYNN ROBBINS, SR., b. 28-Mar-1936, Raleigh, Wake, NC; m. EVA CAROL BARNES, 13-May-1967, Lumberton, Robeson, NC; b. 10-Jun-1945, Lumberton, Robeson County, NC.

William Carlton Robbins wedding picture.

Nancy Ruth Hall wedding picture.