RootsChat.Com
Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Midlothian => Topic started by: Jamboedin on Monday 30 April 12 17:21 BST (UK)
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Hi,
I believe there might be a connection between my family and the statue of Grey Friars Bobby at the top of Candlemaker row in Edinburgh. I think the connection is through my grandmothers family. Her father was called Thomas Robertson and was a Brass Finisher to trade. His father was also Thomas Robertson and was a Brass Moulder possibly owning his own foundry making brass items that would be finished by his son. an anyone help please.
Iain Wilson
;)
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Hi Jamboedin,
I welcome you to rootschat, hope you enjoy. I searched on Scotsman's Archives for "Greyfriar Bobby's statue" from 1871 onwards. I found out that the sculptor was a William Brodie, and the marble fountain and statue were requisitioned br a Baroness Burdett-Coutts, with permission from the Edinburgh Toun Council. I did not find anything about which brass foundry that carried out the work.
I was surprised to find out that the "Greyfriars Bobby" story maybe a myth. A Councillor Gillies spoke on this at Edinburgh Town Council, and in later years, Feb 9, 1899 a letter to Scotsman from correspondent J.K. said that the story was a joke, and a Mr William Robertson, editor of the "Ayrshire Post" had confirmed this to him, Mr Robertson was connected to the Edinburgh press who ran the story. Could this be the Robertson connection.
Tom
PS Hope your team successful on 19th May.
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Hi Iain, We must be related I also descend from the same Thomas Robertson
and the same story has been told in our family for at least three generations about helping to cast GreyFriars Bobby's statue. I'm very keen to make contact with my Robertson family. We live in Australia after migrating from Scotland in the early 1970's. My grandmother was Barbara Young Robertson and she was born in Haddington. Regards Yvonne
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Hi Tidybooks,
The story of Greyfriars Bobby is true and there is evidence to support that. Forbes MacGregor wrote a very good book called the 'Real Story at Last' using eye witness accounts and Scotsman archives. I do not have any connection to a William Robertson But definitely related to a Thomas and James.
The only way I am going to solve this mystery is to go to Register House and check the Trade Directories.
I know the story of Baroness Burdett-Coutts and the designer William Brodie RSA. a Mr Traill and his family looked after Bobby after James Gray died.
Happy hunting
I hope we win on the 19 May too. Jambo
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Have a look at http://www.archive.org/stream/postofficeedinbu187071edin#page/428/mode/2up
Trade Directory under plumbers!
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Hi Jamboedin,
I was disappointed to hear Greyfriars Bobby may be a myth. Here is a link to wikipedia article,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greyfriars_Bobby
I have read articles in Scotsman from the 1880's which Edinburgh City Council, had meetings where the story was confirmed as false.
Tom