Grace Carley Robinson1,2

#635, (1909 - 2005)
FatherGeorge Avery Robinson2 (1878 - 1965)
MotherMary Grace Chess2,3 (1878 - 1964)
Relationship3rd great-granddaughter of John Bonnycastle
Charts5 Generations of Descendants of Charles Bonnycastle (1796-1840)

Family

Richard Sheldon Hope Hawkins
Child
  • Stephen Hawkins7 (c 1935 - )

Life Events

BirthGrace Carley Robinson was born on 14 Jun 1909 in Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky.2
 
(with Parents) 1910 CensusGrace Carley Robinson appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Harrod's Creek Precinct, Jefferson County, Kentucky with her parents. She was 11 months old and born in Kentucky. The family was living with her grandfather William Chess.3 
(with Parents) 1920 CensusCarley Robinson appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County, California with her parents. She was 10 years old, born in Kentucky, and attended school.4 
Newspaper Published 13 Apr 1931 in the Dundee Courier.

Literary Talent
An engagement recently announced is that of Mr Richard Hawkins, the elder son of the famous novelist Sir Anthony Hope Hawkins, and Miss Carley Robinson, the only daughter of Mr and Mrs Avery Robinson. The bride to be has musical as well as literary talent, and has studied in Paris, where she had a small flat of her own. She has published a number of short stories, and last year she composed an anthem which was sung at the wedding of Miss Pamela Clarke and Mr David Byam Shaw, at which Miss Robinson was one of the bridesmaids. Her father, Mr Avery Robinson, is also very musical, and it was he who set "Water Boy" to music -- that beautiful old negro ditty which Mr Paul Robeson sings. Mrs Robinson has an original hobby of making strange, exotic-looking flowers out of various metals.5
 
MarriageShe married Richard Sheldon Hope Hawkins in Jun 1931 in London.6
 
Newspaper Published 9 Jun 1931 in the Yorkshire Post and Leeds intelligencer.

NOVELIST'S SON MARRIES
Mr R S H Hawkins and Miss C Robinson
(From Our London Correspondent) FLEET STREET, Monday
Mr Richard S H Hawkins was married to-day to Miss Carley Robinson, only daughter of Mr and Mrs Avery Robinson, of 17 York Terrace Regent's Park, London. The bridegroom is the elder son of Sir Anthony Hope Hawkins, ("Anthony Hope," the novelist) and Lady Hope Hawkins, of Heath Farm, Walton Heath, Surrey. All Souls' Church, Langham Place, was chosen for the ceremony, at which Prebendary Frank Hawkins (uncle of the bridegroom) officiated with the Rev Arthur Buxton.
The bride, who was given away by her father, wore a gown of cream marocain and tulle, cut with a long full skirt and a fitting bodice with long sleeves ornamented with insertions of tulle. Long draperies of tulle and marocain fell from the elbows and the long wide marocain train depended from the waist. A tight cap of silver mesh secured the long ivory net veil and a bouquet of stephanotis was carried. Mrs David Byam Shaw was the matron of honour, and the bridesmaids were Miss Dorothy Gillespie and Miss Helen Sheldon (cousin of the bridegroom). Mr Alan Stoddart acted as the best man.
During the signing of the register the choir sang a psalm, the music of which had been composed by the bride. After the ceremony a reception was held by Mrs Avery Robinson at 17, York Terrace, and later the bride and bridegroom left for Corsica.
Sir Gerald Du Maurier, accompanied by Lady Du Maurier, Miss Marie Tempest, Mrs Wiliam J Locke, Mr Ben Webster, Dame May Whitty, Lady (Ian) Malcolm, the Hon Theodora Benson, the Hon Doreen Jessel, and Lady Robertson were among those present at the church, as well as Sir Anthony and Lady Hope Hawkins and members of the family.6
 
Voters' ListThe Hawkins appeared on the electoral roll in 1937 in London, England. They qualifed through residence and occupation and were listed as Richard Sheldon Hope - Special Juror - Hawkins and Carley Robinson Hawkins
of 122 Eyre Court, Finchley Road, London. 
Research Note Noted as divorced on a September 1938 passenger list. 
1940 CensusCarley Hawkins appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Manhattan, New York, at East 80th Street. Her household was enumerated directly after her parents. Carley was 30, divorced, had 4 years of college education, and was born in Kentucky. Like her parents, she was an executive in the cosmetics industry, earning $2900. She worked 32 hours the previous week and had income from other sources also. Carley had one son, Stephen (5, born in England) and they had an Irish housekeeper and an English nurse.7 
Newspaper Published 16 Mar 1944 in the New York Times.

MRS ROBINSON MARRIED
Becomes Bride of Allan Dawson,
Counselor of Havana Embassy
Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES

Mrs Carley Hawkins Robinson, daughter of Mr and Mrs Avery Robinson of New Lebanon, NY, was married here this afternoon to Allan Dawson, new counselor of the American Embassy in Havana, in the Church of the Covenant by the Reb Albert J McCartney, the pastor. A reception was given later at the Washington Club.
Mrs Anne McBride Yardell was the bride's only attendant. The couple left tonight for Mexico and later will go to Havana.
The bride, who was educated in London and Paris, made her home for several years in England, where she was presented at court in 1930.
The bridegroom, son of the late Thomas C Dawson, entered the Foreign Service in 1925 and had been acting chief of the Brazilian division in the State Department. He was graduated from the United States Military Academy.8
 
MarriageGrace Carley Robinson married Allan Dawson on 16 Mar 1944 in Washington, DC.8
 
(Mentioned) ObituaryThey was mentioned in her mother's 1964 obituary as daughter Mrs Carley Dawson, of Washington DC.9 
(Mentioned) ObituaryShe was mentioned in Avery Robinson's 1965 obituary as daughter Mrs Carley Dawson, of Washington DC.10 
DeathGrace died on 17 Mar 2005.11
 
ObituaryHer obituary was published on 29 Mar 2005.

WILLIAMSTOWN -- Carley Dawson, 95, of Sweetwood died Thursday, March 17, at Sweet Brook Care Centers.
Born in Louisville, Ky., on June 14, 1909, daughter of George A. and Grace Chess Robinson, she lived in England after World War I and attended the then newly created Montessori School.
After living in Paris, Mrs. Dawson returned to Louisville to make her social debut. She married Richard Hope Hawkins of London and returned to England in 1939. She returned to the United States and lived in Washington, D.C., and then in Sante Fe, N.M.
Mrs. Dawson was a composer, actress, author of three historical novels and a French translator. She opened and managed a shop in London for a perfume firm known as Mary Chess, which was formed by her mother in New York City after the Depression. Several other branches were located in America for many years.
She was a member of the Divine Science Church of the Healing Christ in Washington. She was a spiritual leader, minister and teacher and enjoyed traveling and gardening.
She leaves a son, Stephen Hawkins of New Lebanon, N.Y; four grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
FUNERAL NOTICE -- Services for Carley Robinson Dawson were private. Memorial gifts may be made to the Church of the Healing Christ or to New Lebanon Central School PTA Honor Gardens, both in care of FLYNN & DAGNOLI-MONTAGNA HOME FOR FUNERALS, West Chapels, 521 West Main St., North Adams, MA 01247. She also leaves her daughter-in-law, Peggy Hawkins, and many students and friends.12
 
Last Edited2 Jan 2017

Citations

  1. George Norbury Mackenzie, Colonial Families of the United States of America (New York: n.pub., 1907), vol. 5.
  2. Harvard College. Class of 1900 ed. Secretary's Third Report, Rockwell & Churchill Press (1910), digitized copy viewed on Google Books, June 2009.
  3. Online image of the 1910 Federal Census for United States (Heritage Quest, www.heritagequest.com), Kentucky, Jefferson County, Harrods Creek, Series T625, Roll 483, page 58.
  4. United States 1920 Federal Census, California, Santa Barbara County, Santa Barbara, Roll T625_146, ED 99, Page 16B.
  5. Dundee Courier, 13 April 1931, Page 10. Richard Hawkins & Carley Robinson engagement announcement. Image accessed online at Find My Past.
  6. Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer, 9 June 1931, page 12. Hawkins & Robinson marriage story. Image accessed online at Find My Past.
  7. United States 1940 Federal Census, New York, New York, ED 31-1341, Page 9A.
  8. The New York Times, (Images viewed on Ancestry.com), 16 March 1944, Dawson / Robinson marriage announcement.
  9. Obituary of Mrs Grace Chess Robinson in Chatham NY Courier, 16 January 1964. Image viewed online at fultonhistory.com.
  10. Obituary of Avery Robinson in Berkshire Eagle [Pittsfield Massachusetts], 12 May 1965. Image viewed online at newspaperarchive.com.
  11. United States Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index, Text index viewed at Ancestry.com "Carley Dawson, born 14 Jun 1909, last residence New Lebanon, Columbia, New York, issued in New York before 1951."
  12. Obituary of Carley Dawson in Berkshire Eagle, 29 March 2005. Viewed online at Legacy.com.