Robin Smallburrow
Robin Smallburrow was a hobbit from Hobbiton, in the heart of the Shire, a friend of the Gamgees who became caught up in the events of the War of the Ring and its events in the Shire.
He became a Shirriff in circa S.R. 1412 as it gave him a chance to walk around the Shire talking to people, finding out all the latest news and especially visiting inns to sample their beer.
During the War of the Ring Robin was stationed in Frogmorton as a member of the First Eastfarthing Troop and was forced to continue as Shirriff by the ruffians despite all the myriad rules which they had to enforce on the other hobbits.
Robin, also called "Cock-robin" by Sam, was one of those charged with arresting the four hobbits on 1 November, after their return to the Shire. In effect, the Shirriffs only escorted the four hobbits to Bywater, and Robin just spoke with Sam giving him vital information about the state of the Shire. Robin informed Sam that the message to arrest them and take them to Bag End came via the Quick Post system, and that Will Whitfoot, the Mayor, had been locked up.
Robin left the hobbits at Three-Farthing Stone and Sam said he would see him at The Green Dragon. When the Shirriffs finally met up with the hobbits and saw the large force of hobbits ready to revolt, most of Shirriffs joined them - from Robin's feelings about the state of things, we can assume that he was one of them.
Etymology
The name "Smallburrow" may imply Robin came from a poor family, as only the poor and the rich lived in smials. His name bears some resemblance to the mythical Robin Goodfellow.
