Around 1806, Dennis Calico was born a slave on a plantation in Tennessee. Dennis was sold to the Robbins plantation. His master approached him with the following proposition: if Dennis assumed the name Robbins, married Jane (who had children with the master) and raised her children as his own - he would give him his freedom. When weighing his options, Dennis saw that freedom was the one and only choice.
Dennis married Jane and moved his new family to the Dawn Settlement, Canada West. Dennis and Jane raised a large family; William, Margaret, Mary, Elizabeth, Rachel, Archibald, James, John and Joseph.
The Robbins' relocated to Buxton in 1866, purchasing land at Conc. 9, Lots 10 & 11 (and descendants still own this farm).
Dennis Calico Robbins died in 1871.