John Robertson

[Bob Haining]

I’ve hit a “brick-wall and I’m hoping someone might be able to help me find the death of John Robertson (my great-great grandfather).

He married Margaret McCabe in Sorn March 23, 1847
The 1851 and 61 census it has both him and Margaret born in Ireland about 1826.
Margaret died in Sorn in 1866 and John is the informant
I’m unable to find John on the 1871 census; this makes me believe he had died by then?

When Elizabeth (eldest daughter, born in Sorn about 1848) married in 1873, on the certificate, both parents are deceased.

By my calculation, John must have died between 1866 and 1871. I have found two John Robertson deaths, 1870 in Mauchline and 1873 in Kilmarnock, neither of them are my John Robertson.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

[LesleyB]

Hi Bob
I searched for John Robertson, from 1866 - 1873, Birth Year: 1826, Birth Year Range: 5, County: AYR

There is another one born within 5 years either side of 1826. He died in 1868, aged 40 at Kilmarnock, but you may have checked that one already, and it may not be your man anyway as I've only looked at the search result, not the death entry itself.

Of course he may not have died in Ayrshire...but there are a LOT of John Robertsons (42 of them) of the same age if you search the whole of Scotland!

Best wishes
Lesley

[Bob Haining]

Hi Lesley,

I just had a look at this John Robertson, still not him, but it was a good try.

Thanks for the help.

[LesleyB]

Hi Bob
Sorry for getting your hopes up...

Best wishes
Lesley

[nelmit]

I’ve hit a “brick-wall and I’m hoping someone might be able to help me find the death of John Robertson (my great-great grandfather).

He married Margaret McCabe in Sorn March 23, 1847
The 1851 and 61 census it has both him and Margaret born in Ireland about 1826.
Margaret died in Sorn in 1866 and John is the informant
I’m unable to find John on the 1871 census; this makes me believe he had died by then?

When Elizabeth (eldest daughter, born in Sorn about 1848) married in 1873, on the certificate, both parents are deceased.

By my calculation, John must have died between 1866 and 1871. I have found two John Robertson deaths, 1870 in Mauchline and 1873 in Kilmarnock, neither of them are my John Robertson.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Hello Bob,

Could he have returned to Ireland or emigrated, with his young family, after Margaret died?

Although I can find Elizabeth in 1871 I cannot find any of her younger siblings. Have you been able to locate any of them after 1861?

Regards,
Annette

[Jack]

Hi Bob,
I know you have the 1851 & 1861 censuses; they are just to compare with 1871.
Annete, could the last three below be some of Elizabeth's siblings?
Catrine & Sorn are only a mile or two apart.
====
1851 cens. 613 Ed 4 p 16. Sorn.
Ford St. ...........[lodging with Dorothy? McCartney, 36, b Lisburn & Family]
John ROBERTSON, lodger, 28, Miner, b Antrim, ?Canger?
Margaret ROBERTSON, lodger, 29, ----b Antrim, Lisburn
Elizabeth ROBERTSON, lodger, 3, -----b Catrine?
Mary ROBERTSON, lodger, 6mos, -----b Sorn
====
1861 cens. 613. Ed 11. p? Sorn.
1 Bridge Lane.
John ROBERTSON, head, 37, Ironstone miner, b Ireland
Marget ROBERTSON, wife, 38, ---------------------b Ireland
Elizabeth ROBERTSON, daur, 13, P.L.W. Cotton, b Sorn
Mary ROBERTSON, daur, 9, Factory worker, Scholar, b Sorn
Marget ROBERTSON, daur, 6, ---------------------------b Sorn
John ROBERTSON, son, 4, ------------------------------b Sorn
Marrion ROBERTSON, daur, 1mo, ------------------b Sorn
====
1871 cens. 613. Ed 9. p? Sorn.
Wood St. .....[lodging with Sarah Jackson (ms Neill), 42, b Ireland & Family]
Elizabeth ROBISON, lodger, 22, Cotton weaver, b Sorn
Margaret ROBISON, lodger, 3, -----------------b Sorn [10 Feb 1868 as Robertson?]

1871 cens. 597 Ed 14. p? Kilmarnock.
Reformatory Institution.
Margaret ROBERTSON, inmate, 15, ------b Catrine [line 20]
John ROBERTSON, inmate, 11, Scholar, b Catrine [line 7]... age meant to be 14?
Marion ROBERTSON, imate, 9, Scholar, b Catrine [line 12]
====
Cheers - Jack

[Bob Haining]

Thank-you Annette,

I don’t think he would have returned to Ireland and left 3 young children in the care of an older working daughter, but……….I guess these things do happen.


And a thank-you to you Jack,

How did you find Elizabeth on the 1871 census? Using wild card? I’d tried that, guess I did something wrong.
Three year old Margaret is the illegitimate child of Elizabeth.

On the 1871 census for the other three children, they are inmates/scholars at the Kilmarnock Reformatory Institution; would that be what we know today as an orphanage?

I’ve used wild cards attempting to find John Robertson’s death, but still no luck

I’m also looking for the birth of daughter Elizabeth, but I’ll post that in the “OPRs and others”.

[Currie]

Hello Bob,

Nothing specific about the Robertson’s but I found an article in the Glasgow Herald 1865 referring to the “Kilmarnock House Reformatory Schools”. It appears to be the same as the Ragged School.

See halfway down this page for links to photo and map. http://www.kilmarnock.org.uk/dean.html
Kilmarnock House converted into an Industrial Ragged School, “and in it many poor children who have lost their parents, and others who would otherwise become waifs of society, find a home”. (Quote from Rambles Round Kilmarnock - 1875). It finally became a reform school. It was demolished in 1935, and the area is now the car park opposite St. Marnock's Church.

Another photo here
http://www.futuremuseum.co.uk/Default.a ... &item=5029

Alan

[Bob Haining]

Thanks Allan, that was interesting reading, think I'll follow these Robertson children to see what became of them.

But what happened to their father, John Robertson? He died somewhere, but where?