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Aberdeenshire / Re: Mary Robb - Whose the parents?
« on: Wednesday 27 July 05 22:51 BST (UK) »
Mary Robb was my great-great-grandmother and was the 6th wife (at the last count!) of George Gordon Benzies (1803-1877) and I have been doing research on the Benzies line for over 20 years.
The first problem has been over Mary's death certificate of 1911 when she was living at Logiemuir, Udny, Aberdeenshire. The certificate was registered by a neighbour and he may have been unaware of her full family history. The only thing that seems to agree with her death certificate and her marriage certificate to George Gordon Benzies in 1862 is that Archibald Robb was her father and was deceased and he was an agricultural labourer. I personally would put more reliance on the marriage certificate.
To me it seems that Ann Jaffery may be the one who married on 3rd February 1833 to William Willox, which would mean that Mary's biolological father Archibald Robb was dead when she was about 6 years old. I know that when Mary married George Gordon Benzies (whom I will call GGB from hereon) he took in her illegitimate son William Willox Robb, later being brought up by GGB as his son as William Benzies but who married as William Smith. I believe that William Robb/Benzies/Smith's father was Robert Smith of the Gordon Highlanders (then the 92nd Foot). There is some evidence in the Strichen Kirk Session registers to suggest that Mary had 2 other illegitimate children, if (and I stress if) it was the same Mary Robb. I do know that Mary Robb is buried at Udny Green and not at Strichen where GGB should be buried (if anyone knows where, please let me know).
As far as the relationship between Mary and GGB there is evidence (see Lorna Moon, My Secret Mother, by Richard de Mille) that by this GGB was a bit unhappy (not surprising as 5 of his wives had died and 6 of his children). GGB had been widowed for a year when he married Mary. When GGB left the 92nd Foot his pension was small and it has been suggested the regiment did from time to time send him supplies to keep him going. Although GGB was a crofter after leaving the regiment in 1842 (having joined in 1821) he was (it was said) to be a local recruiting agent for the regiment.
The question of GGB's death seems to be an accident, the local magazine The Journal (from Aberdeen) reported GGB as being very sad when he disappeared and his body was not found for nearly a week. There has been a suggestion of suicide but the corrected death entry (after being sent to the Deputy Procurator-Fiscal) talks of cuts at his elbow. This was before Fatal Accident Inquiries were started.
I would be interested in the staement about two of Mary's children who "lived to make old bones", these seem to be my great-grandmother (Isa Ann Benzies and her sister Margaret Benzies). Isa (Isabella) like Margaret worked in a mill in or around Strichen, Isabella at one time ran a boat service to help people cross the loch of Strathbeg near Rathen and Margaret (Maggie) ran a temperance hotel in Strichen for many years. One of Margaret's daughters (Helen Nora Wilson Low, also known as Lorna Moon) ended up in Hollywood working for MGM pictures during the 1920s before Lorna's death in 1930.
The first problem has been over Mary's death certificate of 1911 when she was living at Logiemuir, Udny, Aberdeenshire. The certificate was registered by a neighbour and he may have been unaware of her full family history. The only thing that seems to agree with her death certificate and her marriage certificate to George Gordon Benzies in 1862 is that Archibald Robb was her father and was deceased and he was an agricultural labourer. I personally would put more reliance on the marriage certificate.
To me it seems that Ann Jaffery may be the one who married on 3rd February 1833 to William Willox, which would mean that Mary's biolological father Archibald Robb was dead when she was about 6 years old. I know that when Mary married George Gordon Benzies (whom I will call GGB from hereon) he took in her illegitimate son William Willox Robb, later being brought up by GGB as his son as William Benzies but who married as William Smith. I believe that William Robb/Benzies/Smith's father was Robert Smith of the Gordon Highlanders (then the 92nd Foot). There is some evidence in the Strichen Kirk Session registers to suggest that Mary had 2 other illegitimate children, if (and I stress if) it was the same Mary Robb. I do know that Mary Robb is buried at Udny Green and not at Strichen where GGB should be buried (if anyone knows where, please let me know).
As far as the relationship between Mary and GGB there is evidence (see Lorna Moon, My Secret Mother, by Richard de Mille) that by this GGB was a bit unhappy (not surprising as 5 of his wives had died and 6 of his children). GGB had been widowed for a year when he married Mary. When GGB left the 92nd Foot his pension was small and it has been suggested the regiment did from time to time send him supplies to keep him going. Although GGB was a crofter after leaving the regiment in 1842 (having joined in 1821) he was (it was said) to be a local recruiting agent for the regiment.
The question of GGB's death seems to be an accident, the local magazine The Journal (from Aberdeen) reported GGB as being very sad when he disappeared and his body was not found for nearly a week. There has been a suggestion of suicide but the corrected death entry (after being sent to the Deputy Procurator-Fiscal) talks of cuts at his elbow. This was before Fatal Accident Inquiries were started.
I would be interested in the staement about two of Mary's children who "lived to make old bones", these seem to be my great-grandmother (Isa Ann Benzies and her sister Margaret Benzies). Isa (Isabella) like Margaret worked in a mill in or around Strichen, Isabella at one time ran a boat service to help people cross the loch of Strathbeg near Rathen and Margaret (Maggie) ran a temperance hotel in Strichen for many years. One of Margaret's daughters (Helen Nora Wilson Low, also known as Lorna Moon) ended up in Hollywood working for MGM pictures during the 1920s before Lorna's death in 1930.