Rannoch Robertsons to Pictou, N.S. 1801

[Throth]

The 1801 passenger list for the 'Sarah' with emigrants to Pictou has:

Donald Robertson, farmer, and Janet Robertson, spinster, Peggy (6y), Janet (4y), John (2y), who we believe are Donald Robertson in Over Bohespic, Blair Atholl parish Scotland and Janet Campbell in Nether Bohespic who have MIs at Kenzieville Cemetery.

James Robertson, farmer, and Christian Robertson, spinster, Elizabeth (6y) Janet (3y) and Duncan (2y)

Is this the same James Robertson, native of Blair Atholl, buried at Avondale cemetery?

These 2 entries may be related. If not, it's quite a coincidence:

Duncan Robertson lawful son to James Robertson and Cirsty McGilliwie (i.e. Lamont) in Over Bohespic, b 3 May 1799

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Throth (www.borenich.co.uk)

[Jacquie in Canada]

According to A Dictionary of Scottish Emigrants to Canada before Confederation by Donald Whyte, Donald Robertson was "From Rannoch, PER. To Pictou, NS, on the Sarah, ex Fort William, Jun 1801. Farmer. Wife Janet with him, and ch: 1. Peggy, aged 6; 2. Janet, aged 4; 3. John, aged 2." (bold added by me)

The information for James is the same as the bolded part of Donald's with James' wife and children listed as you have them.

There is also a John Robertson with the same bolded information who was a "Tenant. Wife Janet with him, and ch: 1. Alexander, 2. Elizabeth, 3. Donald, aged 13; 4. Janet, aged 11; 5. Duncan, aged 5."

Jacquie

[Throth]

Thanks Jacquie,

A few of the others on the 'Sarah' passenger list came from Rannoch, but this term covered several parishes.

2 year old John died on the voyage (possibly of small-pox) and was buried at sea. The next son, born in Merigomish, was then named John. This makes us wonder whether it was the name of Donald's father in Over Bohespic.

Throth

[Jacquie in Canada]

delete - I thought I found something but he was too old.

[Throth]

OK Jacquie, here is a link to what we have put together in the last few days.

http://www.borenich.co.uk/Ross_Document/Campbell_John.html

Please make corrections / additions.  We hope that it makes interesting reading.

Throth

[Jacquie in Canada]

James Robertson, farmer, and Christian Robertson, spinster, Elizabeth (6y) Janet (3y) and Duncan (2y)

There is a family tree at Ancestry which has this couple however they have Christian's maiden surname as Fraser. I'll see if I can find anything to confirm it.

Jacquie

[dbrobertson]

Greetings...

Apologies for responding eighteen months late to this discussion, but I think this is my family.

My great-great grandparents, John & Margaret Robertson farmed at Merigomish, Pictou County, Nova Scotia. My great grandfather James Robertson was born on the family farm 03 Aug 1840.

Great grandfather James was reportedly one of the younger of several siblings (I believe I have found the family on the 1838 census - John Robertson with spouse and seven children). I don't have names for any of these proposed sibs. James, however named his children 1) John Alexander, 2) Charles Bell, 3) James, 4) Donald Duncan - infant death, 5) Mary Ann, 6) Duncan, 7) Jessie & Murdoch.

My great grandfather has sometimes been conflated with a John James Robertson, likely a cousin or half-brother. John James was a surveyor based out of Arichat on Isle Madame. Like my great grandfather James, John James found his bride in Arichat. and lived most of his adult life in Cape Breton.

Hope some of these details ring bells for folks trying to sort out the various John Robertsons & James Robertsons in early Pictou.

Blessings,
Brian

[Throth]

While digging around for the Invervack Robertsons, we seem to have drifted off, back to the 'Sarah' passenger list of 1801.

Having looked at the list again, we are fairly certain that all of these Robertsons 'from Rannoch' are from Blair Atholl parish (as some of the monument inscriptions relate), but in particular they seem to be linked to the Bohespic area of the parish.

We have spoken about Donald Robertson (Over Bohespic) and Janet Campbell (Nether Bohespic), also James Robertson (Over Bohespic) and Cirsty McGilliwie/Lamont (Gaskan of Bohespic).  Here are observationa on some of the others.

a) John Robertson, tenant; Janet Robertson, spinster

John Robertson in Gaskan of Bohespic married Janet Robertson in Gaskan of Bohespic, 11th November 1780 (Blair Atholl OPR) but no children are recorded as baptised in the Blair Atholl OPR.

b) Alexander Robertson, labourer; Elizabeth Robertson, spinster; Donald Robertson (13); Janet Robertson (11); Duncan Robertson (5)

Alexander Robertson in Over Bohespic married Cicel Calmanach (alias Dow) in Achinruie of Glenerrochty, 19th December 1787 (Blair Atholl OPR).

Neither Donald nor Janet had their baptisms recorded in the Blair Atholl OPR and we believe that Cecil Calmanach died after the birth of Janet in 1790.

Alexander Robertson in Over Bohespic married Elspeth Robertson in Nether Bohespic, 31st December 1793 (Blair Atholl OPR)

Their son Donald was baptised 4th September 1796 (Blair Atholl OPR) and we think that this is 5-year old 'Duncan' in the passenger list

That just leaves two entries:  James Robertson, labourer;  and Donald Smith, tenant; Smith, his wife, spinster.  There are no people with the surname of 'Smith' in the parish - it would have been 'Gow' or possibly 'McGlashan' but, as all of the other families were Robertsons, our gut feeling is that this was Donald Robertson, the blacksmith, and his wife.

Throth (www.borenich.co.uk)