Part 889sr – Smith Robertson Genealogy – East Lothian Robertson Baptisms – New Work Project

Good Day,

I began a new work project to chart the OPR – Old Parochial Registers from East Lothian, Scotland. All-things-being-equal this project could, may, lead me to the connection of my Robertson 4-times great-grandparents and their ancestors, my 5-times and 6-times great-grandparents.  I have started with the Parishes of Innerwick and Oldhamstocks.

My challenge and goal is to plot all possible Robertson candidates, whether father, mother, or child who have documented baptism/christening registrations in the OPRs.

Based on the indexed and summary work as found on FreeREG, I have calculated that there may be approximately 1,721 possible Robertson-associated baptism records that I can use. (Please check FreeREG’s Purpose for explanation of their great work.)  Microfilms of the Parish registers are available through the Family History Library.

Today I charted 69, or 4% of the recorded baptisms. I am currently concentrating on the Parish Churches of Innerwick and Oldhamstocks. I think I have a job ahead of me.

To date I have been able to trace my 4-times great-grandparents John and Christian (née Dudgeon) to the Parish of Oldhamstocks.

We also have the current results of our Robertson Y-DNA - R-U106 (R1b1a2a1a1a), as tested through Family Tree DNA. (Thanks G.) Hopefully there are possible Robertsons out there somewhere on this small planet that may be able to identify their ancestors and/or match to our current Y-DNA results.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any ideas, thoughts, questions, and comments. Email me at A Genealogy Hunt.

Regards,

Jim

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Part 888sr – Smith Robertson Genealogy – GGG-Grand Uncle John Robertson – A Poet – Oldhamstocks to Glasgow

Good Day,

It is always a great feeling when I stumble upon a document, a piece of evidence that confirms some detail of the history and account of my genealogy.

 

Two nights ago I just happened upon a couple of pages from an 1893 publication, Minstrelsy of The Merse, The Poets and Poetry of Berwickshire, A County Anthology by the Rev. W.S. Crockett, F.S.A.Scot. I discovered two pages concerning my ggg-granduncle John Robertson - 

Pages 117 and 118.

 

The details in the short write up provides some corroborating evidence about ggg-granduncle John and his Robertson family origination in Oldhamstocks and their move to Glasgow in about 1792.

“he quitted his native village in his fourteenth year, made his way to Glasgow…”

GGG-Granduncle John Robertson was born and baptized in Oldhamstocks 4 March and 12 March 1779, respectively. And 14 years added to 1779 equals 1793…close enough.

My previous work and the collection of baptism registrations indicate that ggg-granduncle John and four of his five brothers, including ggg-grandfather Thomas, lived and were baptized in Oldhamstocks. His youngest brother, ggg-granduncle Robert Robertson was born in Glasgow 7th September 1792.

If you have any thought, idea, question, comment, please feel free to contact me at A Genealogy Hunt.

And remember the details and the facts may change with the discovery of new documentation and writings.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 886sr – Smith Robertson Genealogy – ?-Times Great-Grandfather John Robertson Search and Research

Good Day,

I thought you would like to join me with and on my Robertson genealogy search and research process and progress.

Robertson is my maternal line. I am trying to determine which John Robertson is my 6-times great-grandfather, and who was his father, and his father, and so on, and so on.

From my Robertson Descendant Chart you can follow my line back to my 5-times great-grandparents John and Ann (née Lyle/Lisle) Robertson.

Their 1 December 1758 marriage registration in the Old Parish Register from Innerwick in East Lothian, Scotland, (see Part 884rl).  5-times great-grandfather John Robertson’s “Cautioner” was his father, also named John Robertson. This John Robertson would be my 6-times great-grandfather.

Note – Cautioner, in Scottish law and contracts was one who becomes bound as caution or surety for another, for the performance of any obligation or contract contained in a deed. (The Free Dictionary)

4-Times Great-Grandfather John Robertson was born and baptized In Oldhamstocks. This was determined and cited from the Parish of Innerwick 1761 Baptism Registration for his sister, 4-times great-grandaunt Margaret Robertson. (Source: Church of Scotland. Parish Church of Innerwick, East Lothian, FHL 1067849 Item 3).

4-Times Great-Grandfather John Robertson’s parents 5-times great-grandfather John Robertson and 5-times great-grandmother Ann Lisle were married 1 December 1758 in Innerwick (Source: Church of Scotland. Parish Church of Innerwick, East Lothian, FHL 1067850 Item 2 and ScotlandsPeople.gov.uk 711/00 0030 0349 Innerwick (East Lothian)).

I have discovered that there are three immediate locations referred to and cross-referenced to 5-times and 4-times great-grandfathers John Robertson. The three are Oldhamstocks (A-marker), Innerwick (B-marker), and Butter Law (C-maker, approximate).

I will be spending some time in the short future trying to discover and logically determine, with the appropriate documents and citations. Check out my updates at A Genealogy Hunt - http://agenealogyhunt.com/.

Please feel free to assist, lend a thought and idea, ask a question, and make a comment. You can contact me at A Genealogy Hunt.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 581r – Smith Robertson Genealogy – 1804 Marriage – GGG-Grandparents Thomas Robertson and Agnes Miller – Glasgow, Scotland

Good-day,

In my search and research I am currently following the life and genealogy of my maternal ggg-grandfather Thomas Robertson. In my previous post, Part 580r I discovered and learned of his 29 June 1780 birth and subsequent baptism at Oldhamstocks in Haddingtonshire.

It is now 1804 and he has now traveled west approximately 90 miles, 144 kilometers to Glasgow, or thereabouts. (See the blue line in the above cut-away map from Scotland.) It is 17 August 1804 and ggg-grandfather Thomas has married ggg-grandmother Agnes (née Miller). Also I have learned that his occupation is that of a Weaver. (From the details I am discovering about my ancestry don’t be too surprised if a loom appears in my house one day.)

I received a copy of the 1804 Marriage Registration extracted from an Old Parochial Register from the General Register Office in Edinburgh, Scotland. Here is the image.

My transcription –

369.

Glasgow 29th July 1804.

Robertson

Thomas Robertson, Weaver in Glasw & Agnes Miller,
Residenter there. Married 17th August by Mr William
Watson, Burgher Seceder Minister in Glasgow

But the question is where in Glasgow were ggg-grandparent Thomas and Agnes (née Miller) Robertson actually married? Was it in a Church? Was it at their home?

An interesting fact is that the gentleman who married ggg-grandparents Thomas and Agnes was one Mr. William Watson, a Burgher Seceder Minister, in Glasgow. My first thought is that if I can find Reverend Watson's congregation and "home church" I may just have an iota of a chance of determining a possible and most-likely location of the actual ceremony.

Stephen and I have been searching and researching documentation and publications specific to Mr. William Watson, a Burgher Seceder Minister. Stay-tuned... Who knows what we will turn up.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 580r – Smith Robertson Genealogy – 1780 Birth and Baptism – GGG-Grandfather Thomas Robertson – Oldhamstocks, Scotland

Good-day,

Well, it has been somewhat a trying week and a bit taxing working with Taylor. The controlled and harnessed walks are progressing and getting a bit longer. She can’t as yet stand on four legs on her own. The water therapy works wonders in loosening her muscles. Having to teach a dog to walk and dog-paddle once again is a new experience for us…but she is most definitely progressing day by day. It is amazing what an FCE, Fibrocartilaginous Embolism can cause.

Last night I began a search of my ggg-grandfather Thomas Robertson for information and data regarding his life and genealogy.

I do know that ggg-grandfather Thomas was born 29 June 1780 in the Parish of Oldhamstocks (aka Aldhamstocks), County of East Lothian (known until 1921 as Haddingtonshire) in Scotland. According to the Parochial Register Registration he was christened in the Parish Church of Oldhamstocks 6 July 1780.

Thank you Bob for the picture of the Oldhamstocks Parish Church.

Here is the image of ggg-grandfather Thomas’ birth and baptism Registration as provided by the General Register Office in Edinburgh.

My transcription of the entry –

155

June 23d, 1780

July 6th

Thomas Lawful Son to
Jo: Robertson & Christian Dudgeon
was born the 29th of June last.
and was baptized this date before
these witne∫ses John Dudgeon
and James Dudgeon.

Included in the Registration are gggg-grandparents John and Christian (née Dudgeon) Robertson. I am not sure at this juncture how the relationship exists between the two witnesses, John Dudgeon and James Dudgeon, but there is an great element of certainty that they are related to gggg-grandmother Christian (née Dudgeon) Robertson.

And as always, stay-tuned. Much, much more to come.

Enjoy,

Jim

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