Wythe in Hampton, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Captain John C. Robinson

Entrepreneur and Olde Wythe Community Leader

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

1. Captain John C. Robinson Marker

Inscription.

Captain John C. Robinson. Entrepreneur and Olde Wythe Community Leader. , As a teenager in the 1870s, John C. Robinson moved to Hampton from Greenfield, Massachusetts to join his father, who had relocated here in search of business opportunities after the Civil War. Within five years, John Robinson was the captain of a menhaden fishing steamer and was forever known as Captain Robinson. In 1886 he established a fish business at the mouth of Smith Creek, now known as Robinson Creek. Around this time he built his first house at 1600 Chesapeake Avenue for his bride, Lila Cock. , , With the success of his fish business, Captain Robinson obtained oyster rights in the 1890s and added oyster packing to his ventures. Oysters were brought up Robinson Creek to 41 Orchard Avenue which then served as a shucking and packing house. Because of his successful business ventures, by 1900 Captain Robinson was able to build a larger house for his growing family at 1500 Chesapeake Avenue, naming it "Oyston." Both of Captain Robinson's homes are still standing today. , , In 1910 Captain Robinson continued to expand his business with the addition of crab packing. Along with other Hampton watermen, he helped pioneer an innovative method of shipping crabs and oysters all over the country. In 1914 he further expanded his business ventures with the organization of Clay Products Company. Bricks made on the Chickahominy River were shipped by barge to his landing on Robinson Creek and sold to local builders. , , Captain Robinson was also a community leader, bringing the first telephone company to Hampton in 1895 (his phone number was 1), as well as helping to found the First National Bank of Hampton and later serving as director of the Bank of Hampton. , , Along with the seafood and brick businesses Captain Robinson also dealt in real estate. He donated land for the development of the Boulevard (Chesapeake Avenue) with the Hewins' and the Armstrongs. Upon his retirement from his business enterprises in the 1920s, Captain Robinson devoted his time to real estate development and had an active interest in community affairs. In the 1940s he divided his land between Robinson Creek, Chesterfield, and Kecoughtan Roads into lots and named the area Wythe Place and Wythe Crescent. Captain Robinson donated a tract of land for a park to be established in this area, now known as Robinson Park. Captain John C. Robinson died in 1952 and is buried in St. John's churchyard in downtown Hampton., (captions) , Captain Robinson had this professional portrait taken in 1886. , 1920s photo of the Robinson's seafood and clay products companies.

As a teenager in the 1870s, John C. Robinson moved to Hampton from Greenfield, Massachusetts to join his father, who had relocated here in search of business opportunities after the Civil War. Within five years, John Robinson was the captain of a menhaden fishing steamer and was forever known as Captain Robinson. In 1886 he established a fish business at the mouth of Smith Creek, now known as Robinson Creek. Around this time he built his first house at 1600 Chesapeake Avenue for his bride, Lila Cock.

With the success of his fish business, Captain Robinson obtained oyster rights in the 1890s and added oyster packing to his ventures. Oysters were brought up Robinson Creek to 41 Orchard Avenue which then served as a shucking and packing house. Because of his successful business ventures, by 1900 Captain Robinson was able to build a larger house for his growing family at 1500 Chesapeake Avenue, naming it "Oyston." Both of Captain Robinson's homes are still standing today.

In 1910 Captain Robinson continued to expand his business with the addition of crab packing. Along with other Hampton watermen, he helped pioneer

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an innovative method of shipping crabs and oysters all over the country. In 1914 he further expanded his business ventures with the organization of Clay Products Company. Bricks made on the Chickahominy River were shipped by barge to his landing on Robinson Creek and sold to local builders.

Captain Robinson was also a community leader, bringing the first telephone company to Hampton in 1895 (his phone number was 1), as well as helping to found the First National Bank of Hampton and later serving as director of the Bank of Hampton.

Along with the seafood and brick businesses Captain Robinson also dealt in real estate. He donated land for the development of the Boulevard (Chesapeake Avenue) with the Hewins' and the Armstrongs. Upon his retirement from his business enterprises in the 1920s, Captain Robinson devoted his time to real estate development and had an active interest in community affairs. In the 1940s he divided his land between Robinson Creek, Chesterfield, and Kecoughtan Roads into lots and named the area Wythe Place and Wythe Crescent. Captain Robinson donated a tract of land for a park to be established in this

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

2. Captain John C. Robinson Marker

area, now known as Robinson Park. Captain John C. Robinson died in 1952 and is buried in St. John's churchyard in downtown Hampton.

(captions)
Captain Robinson had this professional portrait taken in 1886.
1920s photo of the Robinson's seafood and clay products companies.

Erected by Olde Wythe Neighborhood Association.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1900.

Location. 36° 59.848′ N, 76° 22.739′ W. Marker is in Hampton, Virginia. It is in Wythe. It is at the intersection of Chesapeake Avenue and Robinson Road, on the right when traveling south on Chesapeake Avenue. The marker is located within the Olde Wythe Historic District. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1617 Chesapeake Ave, Hampton VA 23661, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Virginia’s Peninsula

and in Coastal Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Tidewater,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

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North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Officer Kenneth Earl Wallace (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Sack of Hampton / The War of 1812 (approx. 0.3 miles away); 1813 Landing of British Forces (approx. 0.3 miles away); Indian River Park – In The Heart Of Olde Wythe (approx. 0.3 miles away); George Wythe Schools (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Hampton Roads Golf And Country Club (approx. 0.6 miles away); Hampton Roads – World’s Greatest Harbor (approx. 0.7 miles away); Admiral Sir George Cockburn on the Chesapeake / The War of 1812 (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hampton.

Also see . . . Olde Wythe Neighborhood, Hampton, Va. (Submitted on July 13, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 25, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 13, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 852 times since then and 74 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 13, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.