Robertsons--brick wall

[simbasgang]

Hi all,
I have come up against a brick wall in the form of my 3x gt grandparents Daniel ROBERTSON and Catherine McKiasack (various spellings).

He married Catherine McKiasack 3 May 1788 in Comrie, Perthshire

They are the parents of Alexander my 2x gtgrandad--proven via BCs and DCs.

I have explored many avenues and cannot find the definite birth date for them. I have 2 birth dates for Catherine--both Comrie, 26/8/1762 to John McKisaik anad Christian McBeath, and 21/5/1759 to Patrick McKisaick and Catherine Drummond.

The most likely Daniel Robertsons were born Perth 21/12/1760 to Charles Robertson and Sarah McDonald.
Dundee, Perth 21/3/1772 to Daniel Robertson and Helen Gall
Fowlis Wester27/2/1769 to Daniel Roberson and Catherine Sim

Daniel and Catherine named 2 of their 5 known children Charlotte Rebecca Ruthven Robertson , and Mary Ann Melville Robertson, which leads me to think that there could be a connection to the Ruthvens of Melville House. Also their first child was born at Monimail. And Daniel is a Gardener on his son's DC.

To further back this up, one of Alexander's boys---Alexander again-- was apprentice gardener at Melville Gardens in 1841.

Does anyone know where I could find any archive material on Melville house about the gardeners there?

Can anyone help with Burial records in the Fife area. All the rest of Daniels children were born at Markinch, so presumably the family lived in the area all their life and could be listed in the burials. I have looked on line but not all are available.

I am not sure where to look next to be sure which Daniel and Catherine are mine.

Can anyone please, please help me out? I have spent hours on the internet trying as many avenues as I can think of and getting really frustrated! I don't want to claim the wrong one!

Thanking you all in advance, Sheilah x

[LesleyB]

Hi Sheilah
I'm maybe not following the above correctly, but as far as I'm aware, the Melville house I know of in Fife would fall into Monimail parish. I'm not sure where Markinch comes into the story? Did they move in that direction later on after Monimail? Or am I thinking of the wrong Melville House?

Best wishes
Lesley

[simbasgang]

Hi Lesley,
You are right about Melville House--it is in Monimail. Daniel and Catherine married in Comrie, and their first son,Peter, was born in Newburgh in 1791. Their second child, Charlotte Rebecca Ruthven, was born in 1793 at Markinch as were James 1795, Alexander 1797 (my gt.gt.grandad), and Kathrine 1801. Their 6th child (sorry, I said 5 before-oops) was Mary Ann Melvil 1805 born Monimail.

Also, Alexander's son, Alexander, born 1823 Pittenweem, was an apprentice gardener at Melville Gardens in 1841.

Of Alexander's other 10 children, another one was born Pittenweem, one Dunfermline, Christian, who died Colinsburgh 1849 age 18, and the others all in Colinsburgh, Kilconquhar.

Alexander lived with his wife, Margaret, in Colinsburgh in 1841 and 1851, and later in Elie, where he died in 1868.

I have a Daniel living on his own age70, Ag. Lab. at Colinsburgh.
Also in 1851 a Daniel living still Colinsburgh age 84, forester, with his granddaughter Jane Rue. (I have traced her as Jane RAE, born Midlothian 1813, parents Charles Douglas Rae and Christian Robertson---but Daniel , as far as I know didn't have a daughter Christian, so this may not be 'my' Daniel)

I have a death for a Daniel Robertson in Colinsburgh, 18/5/1852 age 86, born c.1766 ,but no more details, so still don't know if he is 'mine'.

The families seemed to have lived around these areas for a long time. it would be good if I could piece their lives together, but not sure where to look for records that could help.

I am still convinced there is a connection with Melville House and the Ruthven family somewhere!! I can only find modern details on Melville House.

Any help, no matter how little would be much appreciated.

All the best,

Sheilah x