Benjamin Robbins

    Benjamin Robbins was born in Monmouth County, New Jersey on November 29, 1760.  He was a surveyor and a farmer.  In 1782, he married Bathsheba Nutt, Aaron's sister, and they had twelve children.  

When the brothers-in-law chose their lots, Benjamin chose 160 acres in the spring rich section northwest of town.  He was the first of the three to arrive back with his family and settle into their new home.  They arrived on April 6, 1797 after a ten day trip cutting their way through the heavy underbrush and trees to clear a path for their wagon. 

Robbins first small cabin was unroofed by a storm soon after it was built.  In 1803, he then built a stone house on the site which still stands as the one-story portion at the rear of the Routsong Funeral Home.  He added a two-story section in 1820.

There is a story that has been passed down that a plague of rattlesnakes infested his land close to his house.  He called for volunteers to help get rid of the snakes.  Twelve backwoodsmen came to his farm and in one day killed 400-some snakes - mostly rattlesnakes.

Benjamin's son Sam was Centerville's first mayor.  His daughter, Nancy, married Peter Sunderland on October 15, 1799, in the first wedding performed in this new community.

He died on June 3, 1837 and is buried in the Centerville Cemetery.