Coat of Arms
"Corbin"
Arms: Argent, on a chief or, three ravens sable.
Crest: On a crown or, a raven
wings elevated proper.
Motto: PROBITAS VERUS HONOS.
(Honesty is true honour.)
The family name of CORBIN is
English, French, and Irish in origin. The name is derived from one sho was
a dweller at the sign of the raven; descendant of Coirbin(little chariot).
Variant spellings are: Corbyn and Corban.
Traditional meanings of heraldic colors: Argent(white or silver) - peace,
serenity; Or(yellow or gold) - valor; Sable(black) - repentance.
Traditional meanings of heraldic charges: Raven(also known as corbie,
corby-crow, corbyn, corf) - appears on arms for the sake of the play upon the
name; Crown - victory.
Heralds College, a royal corporation in England, was instituted in 1483 and occupied chiefly with armorial bearings.
On March 24th, 1574, George Corbin witnessed a deed between Thomas Corbyn and Thomas Warings. Thomas Corbyn used a seal displaying his shield "in chief, three ravnes". Records are in possession of the Earl of Beauchamp, in England.
In a letter dated 1618, Francis Corbin states: "Our family is of French extraction and went from Normandy with William the conqueror and was established at Worcesteshire on a large estate. I was intimately associated with Mr. Fox in England. Between this nobleman's family, General Washington's and my own, there existed and interwoven connection before the two latter emigrated to Virginia. If the subject was not too long, I could go on with heraldic proof that half or more of the British peers are novi homines compared to ourselves."
Courtesy of: Ken Corbin
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Family History
THE DANISH VIKINGS
The Danish Vikings
raided England, France, Spain, and areas along the coast of the Mediterranean
Sea. Their travels covered most of western Europe.
The Vikings who occupied and gave their name to
Normandy in northern France were mostly Danes. Rollo, or Hrolf, led the
Vikings in a long and bitter struggle with Charles the Simple, King of West
Franks. King Charles could not drive the invaders out, and they could not
gain ground against the Franks. In 911 the invaders and the invaded
reached an agreement. King Charles recognized Rollo as duke of
Normandy. Rollo became a Christian, and pledged his loyalty to the
king. He also agreed to defend Normandy and help repel future
invaders. The Danes of Normandy kept in touch with their homeland for a
long time. Scandinavian influences still remain, particularly in the names
of places and even in the clothes and customs of the Norman people.
The Normans were a group of Vikings or Norsemen
(Scandinavians), who first settled in France, then spread into England, southern
Italy, and Sicily. In the 800's Norman warriors began their conquests by
raiding French coasts and river valleys. By the early 900's, they had
colonized the French territory near the mouth of the Seine River that is now
known as Normandy. In 911 the Norman chief Hrolf, or Rollo (860? - 931?),
became a duke in the service of the Frankish king, Charles the
Simple. The Normans became Christians and adopted French
customs. Many of the Normans became famous as administrators, church
leaders and crusaders.
In 1066, Norman warriors under the leadership of Duke
William successfully conquered England, and the Norman influence spread
throughout the British Isles.
Normandy is a region in Northwestern France. It
was named after the Norsemen who conquered the area in the 800's. It lies
along the English Channel coast between the regions of Picardy and
Brittany. The famous towns of Normandy include Rouen, the capital of the
old province, Le Havre, Harfleur, Caen, Bayeuz, and Cherbourg.
In A.D. 911, the Carolingian king, Charles the Simple,
made Normandy a duchy under the Norman chieftain Hrolf, or Rollo. One of
Rollo's most famous descendants was William the conqueror, who won the English
crown after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Normandy was united with
England during the reign of the English king, Henry I (1100 - 1135).
England and France struggled for control of Normandy during the Hundred Years
War. The English recovered the region twice, but finally lost it in 1449
to Charles VII, king of France. Joan of Arc became famous as the leader of
Franch troops in the fight for Normandy.
Courtesy of: Ken Corbin
WILLIAM I, THE CONQUEROR
William I, the Conqueror (1027? - 1087), was the
first Norman King of England. He was born at Falaise, France. He was
the son of Robert I, duke of Normandy and inherited Normandy at about the age of
8 in 1035. During his youth, there were many disorders. In 1047,
William put down a great rebellion at the battle of Vales-dunes, which he won
with the aid of his lord, King Henry of France. From that time on, William
ruled Normandy with an iron hand.
In 1051, King Edward, the Confessor of England,
promised William succession to the English throne as his nearest adult
heir. Edward probably sent the promise to William through an English
archbishop who passed through Normandy on his way to Rome. In 1064,
Edward's brother-in-law, Harold, was shipwrecked on the Norman coast and taken
prisoner. Harold promised to support William's claim to the throne in
return for freedom. But Harold won the throne through a deathbed grant by
Edward and election by the nobles.
William immediately invaded England. His
expedition had the pope's blessing because William was expected to depose the
Anglo-Saxon Archbishop of Canterbury and introduce ecclesiastical reforms.
Before William could sail, the king of Norway invaded northern England.
King Harold hurried north and defeated the Norwegian invaders at Stamford
Bridge. William landed before Harold could return to defend the
coast. The Normans destroyed the Anglo-Saxon army and killed Harold at the
Battle of Hastings.
On Christmas Day, 1066, William was crowned king.
William then suppressed local rebellions. He took lands from those who
resisted him, and gave them to his followers to hold in return for their
military service to him. to emphasize the legitimacy of his crown,
William confirmed the laws of Edward the Confessors and retained all the powers
of the Anglo-Saxon monarch. He levied Danegeld, the only national tax on
landed property in all of Europe at that time. At Salisbury in 1086, he
made all the landholders, even the vassals of his barons, swear allegiance
directly to him as king.
William was devout, firm in purpose, and unchanging in
gaining his ends. His greatest monument is the Domesday
Book, an exhaustive survey of the land, the principal landholders, the farm
population, and the material and financial resources of his realm.
The descendants of the Normans became the ruling class
in England. for a time, they kept themselves aloof from the Anglo-Saxons
and treated them as conquered people. But as the years went by the Normans
and the Anglo-Saxons intermarried. The two races, which even in the
beginning were similar, blended into one.
The Normans were a race of conquerors, with a genius
for law and government, and they ruled England with great ability. In
addition, English language, literature, and architecture owe much to the
Normans. At first the Normans spoke French. Later the Norman French
blended with the Germanic tongue of the Anglo-Saxons and became English.
Courtesy of: Ken Corbin
THE BATTLE ABBEY ROLL
A list
of those who served with William of Normandy, more popularly known as William I,
the Conqueror during his invasion of England during the year 1066.
This list includes the following four Corbin surnames:
Philip
Corbin
Nicholas Corbin
Robert
Corbin
Margaret Corbin
Courtesy of: Ken Corbin
ABOUT OUR ANCESTORS
The
coat of arms illustrated with the ravens for a charge, gives a clue to the
derivation of the name Corbin. It may reasonably be supposed to be from
the French word "corbeau", a raven. It has been suggested,
however, that Corbis or Corbilo, towns of France, may have been responsible for
the name. Corbilo, now St. Hazaire, was founded by the Thoenicans, and it
was in its harbor that Crassus, by Caesar's order, built the fleet by which , in
56 B.C., Brutus routed the Venetians. At the close of the fourth century
Corbilo was occupied by the Saxons.
Variants of the name are many, as witness the
following: Corbyn, Corbynne, Corbinne, Corban, Corben, Corbins, Corbis,
Corby, Corbe, Corbee, Corbison.
Battle Abbey Roll, which gives the names of those who
were with William the conqueror at the Battle of Hastings, mentions the Corbin
name four times. The family were undertenants until about 1154, when they
became possessed of large estates through marriage. There are many Corbins
in France at the present time, which helps us out with the theory that the
family is of French origin.
Henry Corbin, a Virginia colonist about 1654, was a
burgess from Lancaster County, and in 1663 he was one of the "gentlemen of
the council to devise a means of redress for the excessive planting of tobacco
in Virginia." The conference between this commission and a similar
one, appointed by Calvert from Maryland met on May 12, 1663, at Maj. Isaac
Allerton's Wicomico.
Henry Corbin married before he left England, and at the
early age of 16, Alice Eltonhead, who was probably younger than her
bridegroom. Alice was a sister of the dashing cavalier, William Eltonhead.
Gavin Corbin, son of Henry and Alice, was a Burgess and
president of the council. He married Katherine, daughter of Ralph Warmely
of Middlesex, Va., whose widow, Agatha, married Sir Henry Chicheley.
Warmeley's Creek was familiar to the continental troops at the siege of
Yorktown.
Richard, son of Gavin, used his influenced to procure
George Washington, in 1752, a commission as lieutenant colonel in the malitia.
Henry Corbin, colonist, was a son of Thomas and
Winifred Corbin of Warwick. Winifred was daughter of Gavin Grosvenor, also
of Warwick. Henry settled in Stratton Major, King and Queen County,
afterward purchasing land in Lancaster, Westmoreland and Middlesex Counties.
The New England forebear and the first Corbin to come
to America, was Clement Corbin, who in 1656, bought land in Boston. He
married Doreas Buckminister, and they had eight children. One son, Jabez,
has the title "lieutenant". Another son, John, was a soldier in
King Phillip's war in 1675. His brother James, called a man of tremendous
energy and great ability, was one of the founders of Woodstock, Conn.
Moses Corbin was another early colonist. Born in
England, he was living at Whitehall, New York before the revolution. His
son, Moses Jr., married Polly Cook of Hartford, New York.
Asabel Corbin, great-grandson of Clement Corbin, was in
the "Lexington Alarm". He married Jerusha Morse of Sturbridge,
Mass. James Corbin of the fifth generation from Clement was also a soldier
in the Continental Army, and of the Mass. branch. In 1790 he moved to
Newport, NH. He married Lois Kibbe, daughter of Capt. Charles Kibbe.
In the Rhode Island Historical Society is a record of
those who took part in the expedition against Canada in 1746. Among the
names are those of Isaac, Jabez, and Stephen Corbin.
In New York City is a historic site preserved to the
memory of Margaret Corbin, who followed her husband, John Corbin, up from Bucks
County Pennsylvania, and fought by his side. When he fell before the fire
of the British, she seized the cannon rammer and continued to fire the gun until
she was wounded.
The Kentucky pioneer was
Rawley Corbin, born in Virginia. Rawley was the son of Thomas Corbin, born
about 1729. Thomas was married about 1750 to Elizabeth Scott.
Courtesy of: Ken Corbin
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Time Table of John Corbin I
21 Sept.
1652 John Peade was granted land for
transporting five persons to Virginia, one of whom
was John Corbyn.
21 Feb.
1692 Richard Shippie, of St.
Mary's Parish, Richmond County, and Eleanor, his wife,
conveyed unto John Corbin of the aforesaid Parish and county, a certain tract of
land
containing 160 acres, part of 640 acres formerly belonging to John and George
Motts.
10 Aug.
1696 Know all men by these
presents that I, Robert Waight, do for me my heirs Exes. and
Admes. for a valuable consideration in hand already received give grant bargaine
and
sell unto John Corbin and Elizabeth Corbin his wife, of Richmond County their
heirs
Exes. Admes & Assignes for ever a parcell of land lying and being in the
above said
County containing, one hundred Acres bounded as followeth: On the maine
Run of
Golden Vale Creek beginning at a red oak near the same, and extending thence
into
the woods S 30 W 106 perches to a stake near two red oaks, thence N
78 W 160
perches to a hickory, thence N 30 E 106 perches to a small willow by the
said Maine
Run Side, thence down the said main Run its S everall courses to the first
mentioned
Station, which said land was given by my deceased father John Waight to my
sister
Elizabeth Vickers, and by her sold to William Smith father of the above said
Elizabeth
Corbin. To have and to hold the above said one hundred acres of land with
all woods,
underwoods, waies, water, water courses, and all other appurtenances from me the
said Robert Waight my heirs Exes & Admes or Assignes to them ye above
said John
Corbin & Elizabeth his wife their heirs Exercts Admes & Assignes for
ever warranting
the same from me my heirs Exes. Admes. & Assignes to them ye said John
Corbin &
Elizabeth his wife their heirs Exes. Admes & Assignes for ever in witness
whereof I
have hereunto set my hand and seale this tenth day of August Ano. Dom. 1696.
Robert Waight (Seale)
Signed, Sealed, & Delivered in presence of us
John Batle
Signman
Richard R. Long
Now Recordath
Acknowledged at a court held for Essex County ye 10th day of August 1696
Dec.
1721
King George County Court Order Book page 28: The Grand Jury presents John
Corbin
for common swearing within six months past.
Mar.
1721/2 King
George County Court Order Book page 46: Case against John Corbin for
common
swearing was dismissed.
Aug.
1723
King George County Court Order Book 1721-1734 page 132: John Corbin has
suit
against John White dismissed.
1 Nov.
1723
King George County Court Order Book page 139: Samuel Ridgway had warrant
issued against him by William Thornton (Justice) for having gotten with child
Elizabeth Corbin of this county & Parrish of Hanover, and several scandalous
words and
threats to the said Elizabeth. Page 140: Elizabeth Corbin ordered to
next court.
(This Elizabeth Corbin is John Corbin's daughter.)
8 Feb.
1724
King George County Court Order Book page 155: Sheriff of this county
ordered to
take the body of Samuel Ridgway into his custody for sundry threatening of
Elizabeth
Corbin and for his getting said Elizabeth with child.
Mar. 1724
King George County Court Order Book page 151, Elizabeth Corbin being presented
by
the Grand Jury for having a bastard child and the sheriff being ordered to
summon her
to appear at next court and failing to appear and answer the same judgment is
therefore
granted unto the Church Wardens of Hanover Parrish against the said Elizabeth
Corbin
for the sum of five hundred pounds of tobacco which is ordered to be paid.
4 Nov.
1726
King George County Court Order Book page 337: The Grand Jury presents
Elizabeth
Corbin for having a bastard born child in the month of October past.
4 Feb.
1727
King George County Court Order Book page 352: Judgment granted to the
Church
Wardens of Hanover Parrish agt Elizabeth Corbin for the sum of five hundred
pounds
of tobacco it being for the offense of bringing a bastard which is ordered to be
paid.
10 Jun.
1728
John Corbin purchased a parcel of land on the North side of the Rappahannock
River
and on the Great Run of the Watery Mountain from the Proprietors of the Northern
Neck. The Great Run of the Watery Mountains, as shown upon the Warrenton
Sheet
of the United States Geographical Survey, rises some four or five miles North
easterly
from Warrenton in Fauquire County, and flows South until it reaches the
Rappahannock River a few miles South of Fauquire White Sulphur Springs.
3 Oct.
1729
King George County Court Order Book page 465: On the motion of Richard
Elkins,
John Corbin, John Settles Sr., John McNamara, and Robert Jones, it is ordered
that
they be free from paying their county levy for the future.
1 Jun.
1733
King George County: William Corbin, who has died intestate has
administration on
his estate granted to John Corbin, County Order Book 1, page 639, Bond by
John
Grant, Bond book 1, page 32. Inventory of this estate dated 3 & 9 Aug.
1733,
Inventory Book 1, page 162, Deed Book 1-A page 274 for estate account.
6 Jul. 1733 King George County, William Corbin estate inventory admitted and recorded, page 645
4 Jan.
1734
King George County, John Corbin produced the amount of his administration
of the
estate of William Corbin deceased and made oath thereunto, page 661
5 Jul.
1734
King George County, The petition brought by Richard Bryan against John
Corbin is
continued, page 674
2 Aug.
1734
King George County, John Corbin loses suit and had to pay 328 pounds of
tobacco,
no cost.
28 Feb.
1737
King George County, in regards to the deed dated 21 Feb. 1692, The
certificate of
Eleanor Shippie's acknowledgment to the foregoing deed was not in conformity
with
law; and, to cure the defect, she executed another deed for the same property on
this
date, describing John Corbin as then of Brunswick Parrish, King George County,
and
the land as that whereon the said Corbin now lives.
2 Mar.
1737
John Corbin conveyed the foregoing land to John Grant, excepting some fifty
acres
thereof which he conveyed unto his son John Corbin Jr. by the following deed:
4 May
1738
To all Christian People to whom these presents shall come, I, John Corbin Senior
or the
Parrish of Brunswick and County of King George send Greeting, in our Lord God
everlasting now know ye that I, the aforesaid John Corbin Senior, for and in
regard of
the natural affection I bear to my well beloved son John Corbin Jr. and also for
diverse
other good causes and considerations me hereunto moving, have given, granted
aliened and confirmed and do by these presents give, grant alieve and confirm
unto the
aforesaid John Corbin Junior, his heirs and assigns forever a certain parcel of
land
lying and being in Brunswick Parrish in the aforesaid County of King George,
fifty acres
of land more or less, and boundeth as followeth: beginning at a Chestnut
White Oak
thence running to a corner in Stephen Hansford line to two Marked Hickorys from
thence along the said line to a marked Hickory being the division I made between
John
Grant and my son John Corbin Jr., and thence to a white oak standing upon a
ridge by
the side of the Routing Road betwixt Potomack and Rappahannock thence down to a
branch of Lambs Creek to a marked White Oak and thence up the north east Run to
the
beginning it being the run which runs from Richard Bryan to Lamb's Creek.
To have and to hold all and singular the said demised premises to him his heirs
and
assigns forever in as large and ample manner as the same is granted to him by
Patent
without any molestation eviction expulsion of me or any person or persons
whatsoever
claiming in by from under them.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seale this fourth day of May,
1738.
John Corbin Senior (seale)
Signed Sealed and delivered in the presence
John Coburn
Sacheveral X Norman
his mark
Bridget Coburn
25 Jul.
1748
John Corbin Jr., by deed this date, recorded in Prince William County, conveyed,
unto
William Pickett the land which had been conveyed unto his father, John Corbin
Sr., by the
proprietors of the Northern Neck by grant of 10 June 1728, reserving 100 acres
thereof
which he, John Corbin Jr., had previously conveyed unhto his son, John Corbin
III. The
deed to John Corbin III, is dated 3 July 1748, and recorded in Prince William
County.
It recited that John Corbin Jr., of Brunswick Parrish, King George County, in
consideration
of love and affection, granted unto his beloved son John Corbin III, one third
of a parcel of
land, being the plantation whereon my father, John Corbin Sr., lived, which came
to me by
his death, situate in Hamilton Parrish, Prince William County, on the north side
of the
Rappahannock River.
Courtesy of: Ken Corbin