Person Page - 301

Frances Sadie Sabina Robertson was born on 19 September 1915.

She married Hugh Russell Hynd McKechie, son of Thomas McKechie and Christina Penman Hunter, in New Zealand in 1938.¹

Frances died on 26 June 2019 in Christchurch, Canterbury, at age 103.²

He was baptised on 20 May 1847 at Alva, Stirlingshire.^2,1
The siblings James, Catherine and Margaret were listed in the 1851 census in Alva, Stirlingshire, with their parents, Peter Robertson and Janet Gillespie.³

Margaret Robertson, James Robertson, Catherine Mason Robertson, Thomas Gillespie Robertson and Peter Robertson left Greenock on 12 November 1857 on board the 'Robert Henderson' (550 tons), arriving in Dunedin on the 9 Feb 1858 in the company of their parents Peter Robertson and Janet Gillespie.⁴

James died on 16 November 1930 at Le Cren St in Timaru, Canterbury, at age 83.^2,5 He was buried at the Lawrence Cemetery in Lawrence.²

James's birth was registered between July 1881 and September 1881 in Ironside, Shropshire.^1,2
The siblings William, Alexander, James and John were listed in the 1891 census at Dale End in Madeley, Shropshire, with their parents, Alexander Robertson and Mary Fergusson.¹

Janet M Robertson was born in Edinburgh, Midlothian, circa 1894.¹
The siblings John, Robert, Christina, William and Janet were listed in the 1901 census at 66 George St in St Andrew, Edinburgh, Midlothian, with their parents, Robert Robertson and Catherine Fergusson.¹
The siblings John, Christina and Janet were listed in the 1911 census at 97 Spottiswoode St in Morningside, Edinburgh, Midlothian, with their parents, Robert Robertson and Catherine Fergusson.²

Janet Mcdonald (Jessie) Robertson was born at Meadowbank farm, Clark's Flat in Tuapeka, Otago, on 15 January 1860.^2,1

She married William Thomas Talboys in New Zealand in 1880.³

She was widowed at age 63 on the death of her husband William on 28 July 1923.^4,5

Janet died on 22 June 1937 in Dunedin, Otago, at age 77.^2,6,7 She was buried on 24 June 1937 at the Southern Cemetery.^2,8

John Robertson was born in St Andrew, Edinburgh, Midlothian, circa 1880.¹
He was listed in the 1881 census at 66 George St in St Andrew, Edinburgh, Midlothian, in the household of his parents, Robert Robertson and Catherine Fergusson.¹
The siblings John, Robert, Christina and William were listed in the 1891 census at 66 George St in St Andrew, Edinburgh, Midlothian, with their parents, Robert Robertson and Catherine Fergusson.²
The siblings John, Robert, Christina, William and Janet were listed in the 1901 census at 66 George St in St Andrew, Edinburgh, Midlothian, with their parents, Robert Robertson and Catherine Fergusson. John was a compositor/printer, Robert a factory clerk and WIlliam an apprentice clerk at an iron works.³
The siblings John, Christina and Janet were listed in the 1911 census at 97 Spottiswoode St in Morningside, Edinburgh, Midlothian, with their parents, Robert Robertson and Catherine Fergusson. John was working as a compositor, Christina as a draper's assistant and Janet as a student typist.⁴
He served in the Royal Garrison Artillery (#346805) from 29 February 1916 until 17 Jan 1919, but only saw action in France from Sep 1918 with the 123 Siege Battery.⁵
He was listed in the 1921 census at 6 Lower Inverack in Blair Atholl, Perthshire, in the household of his mother Catherine Fergusson, and was employed as a printer's compositor by R & R Clark, printers.⁶

He was the informant of Catherine Fergusson's death at Pitlochry Nursing Home in Pitlochry, Perthshire, on 7 May 1925.⁷

John's birth was registered between July 1883 and September 1883 in Ironside, Shropshire.^1,2
The siblings William, Alexander, James and John were listed in the 1891 census at Dale End in Madeley, Shropshire, with their parents, Alexander Robertson and Mary Fergusson.¹
The siblings Alexander and John were listed in the 1901 census at Hill Top in Madeley, Shropshire, with their parents, Alexander Robertson and Mary Fergusson. Alexander gave his occupation as 'artist', while John was assisting his father in the clothing and outfitting trade.³

She was baptised on 10 June 1845 at Alva, Stirlingshire.^2,1
The siblings James, Catherine and Margaret were listed in the 1851 census in Alva, Stirlingshire, with their parents, Peter Robertson and Janet Gillespie.³

Margaret Robertson, James Robertson, Catherine Mason Robertson, Thomas Gillespie Robertson and Peter Robertson left Greenock on 12 November 1857 on board the 'Robert Henderson' (550 tons), arriving in Dunedin on the 9 Feb 1858 in the company of their parents Peter Robertson and Janet Gillespie.⁴

She married Alexander Stewart, son of John Stewart and Janet Cameron, at Imperial Hotel in Dunedin, Otago, on 30 April 1867.^5,6,7

Margaret was named executrix and beneficiary in the will of Alexander Stewart, her husband, dated 4 November 1869 in Lawrence, Otago.⁸

She was widowed at age 32 on the death of her husband Alexander on 16 April 1878.^9,10,11

She was appointed executrix of Alexander Stewart's estate in Otago on 30 April 1878.⁸

She was listed as owning land in Tuapeka in October 1882 (180 acres, worth £360) and in Lawrence township (£375 pound value).¹²

She signed a will dated 17 April 1899 at District Court of Otago Goldfields in Lawrence, Otago, with her three survivng children being sole beneficiaries, although her daughter was bequeathed the bulk of the estate.¹³

Margaret died on 28 May 1899 in Lawrence, Otago, at age 53.^9,14,15 She was buried on 30 May 1899 at the Lawrence Cemetery in Lawrence.^16,9

Her will was probated at District Court of Otago Goldfields in Lawrence, Otago, on 3 June 1899 with Margaret Kate Stewart and Peter Robertson Stewart appointed executors and her will being supported by an affidavit in which they committed to manage the affairs of the deceased and report back to the Court by 1 Sep 1899.¹³

Margaret Robertson was born in Alva, Stirlingshire, on 21 July 1842.¹

Margaret died on 1 January 1845 in Scotland at age 2.¹

Peter Robertson was born in Logie, Perthshire, on 24 April 1817. This is based on the date in John Ward's website being the date matching this birth, and the names of the parents, namely James ROBERTSON and Catherine MASON, which matches Peter's daughter Catherine Mason.^1,2

He married Janet Gillespie in Alloa, Clackmannanshire, on 4 December 1840.^3,4

He was listed in the 1851 census as Head of Family in Alva, Stirlingshire, with his wife Janet. Their children James, Catherine and Margaret were listed as living with them.⁵

He left Greenock on 12 November 1857 on board the 'Robert Henderson' (550 tons), arriving in Dunedin on the 9 Feb 1858 with his wife Janet, accompanied by Margaret, James, Catherine Mason, Thomas Gillespie and Peter.⁶

An article in a May 1880 'Otago Witness' entitled 'A Visit to Tuapeka, and a Chat with Mr Peter Robertson, of Lawrence' states:
"The name of Peter Robertson is as inseparable from Tuapeka district as is that of Gabriel Reed. Mr Robertson has been an eminently successful settler. He has resided in the neighbourhood for 22 years, and that he is actually the second settler in the district.
He arrived in Dunedin in the 'Robert Henderson' on her first trip to the province, and was shortly engaged by Mr John Miller to proceed to what was then almost a terra incognita. Mr Miller was at that time Mr John Cargill's overseer, and the later had just stocked the Waitahuna run.
The family left Dunedin with Goodall's bullock dray, reaching the Taieri Ferry after an uneventful journey of two day's duration. Here they were wind bound for two days more, and stayed at Harrold's, being then rowed in a small boat to the head of the lake by a party of Maoris. From thence the journey was made to Tokomairiro with the aid of Mr Gray's harness bullock, the party staying a couple of days at Mr Goodall's. The next stage was two Meadow Bank, the homestead of Mr Cargill, the mode of conveyance utilised this time being Mr Miller's saddle bull, Jack. To Manuka Creek formed another day's journey; and the last stage was to the shepherd's hut at Break-neck, the mode of conveyance again being a bullock team. The hut - it is standing to the present day - was only 17 feet by 11 feet; Mr Robertson's description of the discovery of gold will be of more than local interest."⁷

Peter died on 24 October 1895 at his residence in Lawrence, Otago, at age 78.^3,8 He was buried on 27 October 1895 at the Lawrence Cemetery in Lawrence.³