William served in the Revolutionary War as an enlisted man in the 13th Regiment of Albany County Militia under Cols. John McCrea, Cornelius Van Veghten and Major Daniel Dickinson.

The old Robens farm was but a few miles from the Bemis Heights battle ground, and their tract ran from the present village of Wayville to the Hudson River on Lot No. 14.

Will of William Robens, Dated March 30, 1837 and probated February 10, 1838.
IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN, I, William Robens of the town of Stillwater, County of Saratoga, State of New York, considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being of sound and perfect mind and memory blessed be almighty God for same, do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner following viz. I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife, Mary Robens, her support out of my estate and she shall be supported in any place she may choose to live at and she shall have all necessaries to make her comfortable, and doctoring during her natural life, and further she shall have all the beds and bedding and household furniture that she brought here with her to be at her disposal, and likewise all the beds and bedding she has made since she has been my wife, to be at her disposal. I also give and bequeath unto my grandchildren Mahala Robens, William Robens, Mary Robens, and Elizabeth Robens, one hundred dollars to be equally divided among them, and I give and bequeath unto Esther Robens and Stephen Robens, children of my Grandson Moses Robens, one hundred dollars to be equally divided between them and bequeath unto the children of my daughter Judah Coons, deceased the sum of fifty dollars to be equally divided between them. I also give and bequeath unto the children of my grandson Adam Robens, one hundred dollars to be equally divided between them. I will and order that the several legacies or sums of money above named shall be paid to the persons by my Executors as they shall become of lawful ages - provided that time shall not be within two years after my death, and the Executors shall pay the interest on the above sums from the two years above named until paid to the Legatees of my estate by my Executors, I further will and bequeath unto my children David Robens, Thomas Robens, Reuben Robens, Esther Walters, wife of Nathaniel Walters, and Sally Collamon, to be equally divided among them or their heirs or assigns, all my property, real or personal of whatever name. I also hereby appoint my son David Robens and Tyler Dunham my Executors of this my last will and testament revoking all others. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this thirtieth day of March One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty-seven. Signed and sealed and published by the above named William Robens and declared to be his last will and testment revoking all others in the presence of us who have subscribed our names as witnesses in the presence of the testator and of each other. William Robens
Witnesses: Tyler Dunham, Stillwater; Benjamin Hicks, Stillwater; and Henry Ferris, Stillwater

Affidavit of Death & Folio, Saratoga County, February 10, 1838
David Robens of said County, being duly sworn says that William Robens died on or about the 20th day oif January last and that at the time of his death and for sometime previous thereto he was an inhabitant of the town of Saratoga in said County, that he left a widow Mary Robens who resides in said town, three sons, Thomas, and this deponent who both reside in said town, and Reuben Robens who resides in the town of Brookfield, Trumbull County, Ohio; two daughters Esther wife of Nathaniel Walters who resides in the town of Russia in the County of Herkimer; Sally, wife of John Collamon who resides in the town of Ballston, Saratoga County, and the following named grandchildren and great grandchildren to wit: Moses Robens who resides in Michigan, the town and county unknown; Esther wife of William K. Post; Mahala, wife of James Reed; William Robens, Mary Robens and Elizabeth Robens all of whom reside in the town of Stillwater, Saratoga County - the three last named are minors and Betsey Robens of said town if their general guardian - Rosamond wife of Stewart Lindsey who resides in the town of Hornellsville in the County of Steuben; the children of Adam Robens late of the town of Russia, and are probably minors and have no general guardian to the knowledg of deponent; Sarah wife of Charles Lambertson who resides in Salisbury, Herkimer County; Esther Coons who resides in the same town; the children of Cornelius Lambertson and the child of Martin Coons, deceased whose name cannot be discerned, or children residing in the town of Salisbury and are probably minors. His only heirs and next of kin as deponent verily believes, that the children of Cornelius Lambertson and the children of Martin Coons, deceased, have no general guardian within this State to the knowledge of this deponent. Thjat this deponent has made diligent inquiry to ascertain the names and places of residence of the heirs and next of kin of said William Robens deceased, and has not been able to ascertain the same more fully than is above stated, and that this deponent and Tyler Dunham are named as Executors in the will of said William Robens, deceased, now offered forprobate. David Robens
Sworn before me February 10, 1838 John W. Thompson, Surrogate

1. 2. William ROBENS   b. 1771, Stillwater, Saratoga County, New York; d. 1801/1802, Russia, Herkimer County, New York.
2. 3. Judith ROBENS   b. 26 Apr 1772, Stillwater, Saratoga County, New York; d. 23 May 1810, Herkimer County, New York.
3. 4. David ROBENS   b. 20 Aug 1774, Stillwater, Saratoga County, New York; d. 1 Aug 1867, Stillwater, Saratoga County, New York.
4. 5. Esther ROBENS   b. 22 May 1777, Stillwater, Saratoga County, New York; d. 4 Jun 1842, Russia, Herkimer County, New York; bur. Russia, Herkimer County, New York (Century Cemetery).
5. 6. Reuben ROBENS   b. 10 Oct 1779, Stillwater, Saratoga County, New York; d. 15 Oct 1855, Brookfield, Trumbull County, Ohio.
6. 7. Thomas ROBENS   b. 2 Feb 1782, Stillwater, Saratoga County, New York; d. 22 Apr 1881, Wilton, Saratoga County, New York.
7. 8. Sarah ROBENS   b. 9 Aug 1784, Stillwater, Saratoga County, New York.
8. 9. Stephen ROBENS   b. 13 Sep 1786, Stillwater, Saratoga County, New York; d. 6 Feb 1824.

Robens, William was born in 1770 and died in 1802. He married Judith Bullock and they had 4 children, including Adam and Rosamond. William came in 1792 from Stillwater, NY and purchased land near what is now Cold Brook village. William's son, Adam was born in 1794 and died 1834. Adam married Polly Payne and they had 7 children. Two of these children married: 1) Laura who was born in 1824 and died in 1885, and married George Vickery and 2) William who was born in 1817 and died in 1875, was married to mary Putnam. William and Mary had a son William D. Robens who was born in 1874 and died in 1950.

www.rootsweb.com/~nyherkim/russia/russiafam.html

His will was probated 21 January 1802.

GenWeb Cemetery Project: www.rootsweb.com/~nyherkim/cemeteries

Reuben Robens followed his brother William to Cold Brook and purchased land near William's. Reuben was married to Laura Payne and then to Elizabeth Parish and had 7 children, including a daughter Mathilda, who married Richard Millington, and a son William, who was born 1804 and died in 1855 and married Lucretia Pardee and later Angelina Russell. William had a son, Nelson who moved to Syracuse. Much more exists from source. "A Memorial of the Village of Cold Brook, Herkimer County, New York, 1776-1976; 200 years of American History," published by Cold Brook Bicentennial Committee, 1976.

www.rootsweb.com/~nyherkim/russia/russiafam.html

Will of Thomas Robens, dated April 24, 1874, Wilton, New York, probated August 2, 1881.
I, Thomas Robens, of the town of Wilton, County of Saratoga and State of New York, aged ninety-one years and being of sound mind and memory, and considering the uncertainity of this frail and transitory life, do therefore make, ordain, publish, and declare this to be my last will and testament: That is to say, first, after all my lawful debts are paid and discharged, I give and bequeath to my son William T. Robens, all the notes, bonds, or mortgages I hold against the said William T. Robens; Second, I give and bequeath to all my following named children viz. John E. Robens, Richard D. Robens, Benet Robens, Amiel Robens, Phebe Jennet Taylor, Artimecy P. Strang, and Betsy Mariah Carr, all the rest and residue and remainder of my property of whatsoever name or nature and where-ever situate to be equally divided between them and share alike. Likewise I make, constitute and appoint Joshua Taylor and Amiel Robens to be Executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made. In witness Whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal, the twenty-fourth day of April in the year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Seventy-three. Thomas Robens (his mark)
Witnessed by Obadiah Green, of the Town of Wilton &
G. B. Hinkley, of the Town of Wilton.

Petition to the Surrogate of the County of Saratoga, New York
The petition of Joshua Taylor respectfully showeth: That lately, and on or about the 22nd day of April 1881, Thomas Robens died at the town of Wilton in the County of Saratoga being at that time an inhabitant of the County of Saratoga. That the said deceased left a certain instrument in writing purporting to be his last Will and Testament bearing date upon the 24th day of April 1873, which relates to both real and personal estate, and in said instrument your petitioner is named as Executor. That said deceased left the following persons him surviving to wit:

Margaret Robens and Allen J. Robens of Browersville, Salina County, Wisconsin

John E. Robens of Glenn, Michigan

Richard D. Robens of Northumberland, Saratoga County

Bennett Robens and Calestina Robens of Chagrin Falls, Ohio

Amiel Robens and Edward Robens of Battle Creek, Michigan

Phebe Jennet Taylor and Betsy M. Carr of Wilton, Saratoga County

Artemicia P. Strang of Climax, Kalamazoo County, Michigan

Cornelius W. Esmond of Utica, Illinois

Sarah Wood of Odel, Livingston County, Illinois

Edward Esmond of the State of Oregon but exact residence unknown.
Dated the 16th day of May 1881. Joshua Taylor.

He was living with his daughter Betsy Carr when he died.