ROBERTSON.....

[JustJean]

I need some advice on how much proof is proof enough that two families are related. In my heart I feel one thing but proving it on paper seems to be just elusive enough to allow the possibility of doubt. Important note is this family is repeatedly found under ROBERTSON and ROBINSON. For the sake of my sanity I am using ROBERTSON to describe all findings in this particular post…. but they may not necessarily be under that spelling in the actual records. Here is what I know:

In 1861 at New Kilpatrick Upper Dalsholm #53 lives:
John ROBERTSON age 25 paperwork laborer born Ireland
Agnes ROBERTSON age 21 born Ireland
William ROBERTSON age 2 born New Kilpatrick

Next door at #54 is

Jane ROBERTSON lodger widow age 50 born Ireland

And at #51 is:

William ROBERTSON age 46 paperwork laborer born Ireland
Elizabeth ROBERTSON wife age 43 born Ireland
William ROBERTSON son age 18 born Ireland
David ROBERTSON son age 15 born Ireland
Agnes ROBERTSON neice age 16 mill worker born Maryhill
Hugh ROBERTSON son age 12 scholar born Stirlingshire, Kilsyth
James ROBERTSON son age 8 born New Kilpatrick
Harriet McCONNEL lodger age 19 born Ireland

I transcribed these from microfilm at my FHL a couple years ago as I was searching my McMEEKIN line and the above Agnes age 21 married to John was a McMEEKIN. I only wrote down the others on the chance I could prove a connection some day as they were all living in close proximity. I continued researching my John/Agnes family and after several children and way too many children’s deaths the last record I have for them in the birth of a dau Agnes in 1874 in New Kilpatrick. After that it’s as if they fell off the face of the earth. I have a strong feeling they came to the US at some point but can’t find a definitive clue to prove this so I decided to move laterally and gather as many connections to ROBERTSON that I can to see if I can find a larger clump of them living in another place and also am trying to ascertain if the above William is the father of the above John. I think he is but this is all I can prove…..

When John ROBERTSON and Agnes McMEEKIN married in New Kilpatrick 1858 his parents are stated as William ROBERTSON and Agnes ANDREW (both still living and he a Paperwork Labourer). I can find no offspring of this couple on the IGI parent search.

There is a marriage of a William ROBERTSON and Margaret McKEAN in 1862 in New Kilpatrick and his parents are named William ROBERTSON and Agnes ANDREW (both still living and he a Paperwork Labourer)

Ok…so now I’ve got pretty good proof that John and William are brothers.
William and Margaret even have a son born 19 Nov 1865 in New Kilpatrick named Alexander and William signs the registration.

Now in 1862 there is a birth of Janet Moore ROBERTSON and the parents are William ROBERTSON and Elizabeth ANDREW. I’m loading this image into the gallery as the marriage date is listed as what looks like 11 October 1834 Bellaistan Ireland. Any guesses on just what town this really is???? Ballyeaston????
http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayi ... p?pos=-113

Wee Janet dies 9 months later and her death is recorded by William ROBERTSON brother. Trying to compare the handwriting of this William to the birth of Alexander described above and recorded by father William is not conclusive. It’s a very very poor blotchy sample!!!

Let’s back up now to 18 July 1856 and there is a marriage in New Kilpatrick of Martha ROBERTSON and James MAGEE and her parents are William ROBERTSON and Elisabeth ANDREW (both living and he a papermill worker). One of the witnesses is a John ROBERTSON. Martha and James have one child recorded born 26 June 1867 in New Kilpatrick named Elizabeth Young MAGEE.

Now jump ahead to 1871 Census in New Kilpatrick Dalsholm Paperwork…we have:
William ROBERTSON age 55 paperwork labourer born Ireland
Elisabeth ROBERTSON age 53 born Ireland
Matha McGEE age 33 what looks like dau in law??? born Ireland
Hugh ROBERTSON son age 22 born Stirlingshire Kilsyth
James ROBERTSON son age 18 born New Kilpatrick
Alexander ROBERTSON son age 5 born New Kilpatrick
William ROBERTSON son age 4 born New Kilpatrick
Elizabeth McGEE dau in law age 13 born New Kilpatrick

And we also have my John/Agnes family living in New Kilpatrick at Dalsholm Paperwork:
John ROBERTSON age 34 born Ireland
Agnes ROBERTSON age 39? Born Ireland
William ROBERTSON age 13 born New Kilpatrick
John ROBERTSON age 2 born Pollokshaws

I tracked down the Alexander and William ages 4 and 5 living with William et al and find they are actually illegitimate children of Martha so not really sons of William as designated.

I looked for a David in 1871 and found one in West Kilpatrick:
David ROBERTSON moulder born Ireland
Agnes ROBETSON born E? Kilpatrick
William ROBERTSON age 1 born Glasgow Lanark

I haven’t proved whether this is the right David or not yet. I ran out of credits and credit card!!!!

I can’t find the existence of a single solitary conclusive soul in 1880/1 Census records anywhere. How can that many people hide?????

Do you think that John and William:
1. Couldn’t remember their mother’s name correctly?
2. Truly had a mother named Agnes and then William remarried? (Unlikely if the marriage date is accurate as recorded on wee Janet’s BC)
3. Elisabeth and Agnes were used interchangeably??????

Any insights at this point would be welcomed!!!!!

Jean

[JustJean]

Hi everyone

For those of you just sitting on the edge of your computer chairs thought I'd share my update! Yesterday I had a major breakthrough in finding what most certainly must be the remants of my ROBERTSON family in Philadelphia on the 1900 US Census. While not in the same household but appearing in the same registration district there is a Martha GILLES Widow, son William ROBERTSON, brother Hugh ROBERTSON and next door is a wife (poor thing has no first name listed but certainly has every indication of being Elizabeth MAGEE dau of Martha!!!) to Daniel SULLIVAN and also living with them is a cousin Annie ROBERTSON. Months and years of birth all line up. Immigration says they arrived in 1872.

Oh yes...almost forgot.....a few streets over is my John ROBERTSON, wife Agnes (McMEEKIN), and a dau Annie born in Pennsylvania. Again all the data fits....not the least of which is the fact that once again they are all living in close proximity half way round the world from Scotland.

I may never know the mystery of Agnes ANDREW vs. Elizabeth ANDREW but am quite satisfied to sort out this whole new batch of info!!!!!

Jean

[JustJean]

I have to add this postscript just on the off chance it helps someone else avoid the same mistake I made. The interchangeable ROBERTSON and ROBINSON surnames have been legendary in tripping up my searching the online records at SP.

I started out with a tiny clue.....a photo that was labeled Nancy ROBINSON taken in the mid 1930's on a visit to other US rellies of mine. Using that surname it was a cinch to find the marriage of Agnes McMEEKIN to a John ROBINSON in Scotland and from that point forward I have assumed that they had a son who had a son who had a son until you reach Nancy. Except everytime they had a son he ended up deceased at a young age!!! But nevertheless I kept looking for the son......when all the time.....it was the daughter!!! Their youngest daughter Anna ROBERTSON was born in the US in 1885....and guess what....she married a ROBINSON!!!!! What are the chances!!!! I sat down and laughed at myself. The very clue that lead me to Scotland was based on a false premise but got me correct results...but in the end....it was also the wall that kept me from the finish line.....

What a long strange trip it's been

Jean

[JayPee]

What a long strange trip it's been

Jean

No kidding! But (for the most part, when we don't run into brick walls) extremely enjoyable!
Congratulations on your breakthrough!
- JayPee

[bearsandtrains]

Hi Jean, I was thrilled to see your post when I did a google search for Agnes McMeekin of New Kilpatrick, Scotland. I am the her great great granddaughter. I am the great granddaughter of Annie Robertson, the daughter of John Robertson and Agnes McMeekin. She married my great grandfather, Charles Henry Robinson. They lived in Ambler, Pennslvania and had 6 children. You reference a photograph of Nancy Robinson from the mid 1930s. Unfortunately, Nancy has passed away, as have all of her siblings save her sister, Hazel, who is now living with one of her daughters in Florida. I would love to hear from you and share information. Thanks and hope to hear from you. Patti

[JustJean]

Hi Patti

What a wonderful treat to see your post to my long ago ramblings on the Robertson/Robinson folks in my tree!!!! I would love to chat with you in detail. See my PM!!

Best wishes
Jean