Robert (Howie) Paterson (1882 - 1967)

Born 1882 in Dysart, Fife

Ancestors

Husband of Betsy Low Philip — married 1904 in Dundee

Descendants

Died 1967 at about age 85 in Dundee

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Gordon Boath [send private message]

Biography

Early Life

Robert Paterson was born as Robert Howie on the 7th of October 1882 in Dysart, Fife in Scotland. He was the illegitimate son of Margaret Howie a weaver in a linen factory.

Margaret Howie born in 1858 was the daughter of hammerman James Howie and Jane Shepherd. Her twin sister Jane had died of "inflamation" in 1864.

Her mother Jane (born in Paris, France according to the census) died at Dysart in 1879 of cancer. Margaret and her younger sister Susan are then noted as boarders in the 1881 census staying with James and Janet Syme in Dysart.

Father engine fitter Robery Paterson senior, who was the son of nail maker Robert Paterson and Sarah Syme (born Penang in the East Indies according to the census). He was living in Kirkcaldy, Fife with his younger brother William.

It is not known what happened to the young Robery Howie/Paterson after he was born in 1882 but his mother Margaret Howie married plasterer Alex MacDonald in Dysart, Fife in April 1884 but unfortunately died of heart disease a few months later in December 1884 aged only 26.

On the 1891 census Robert is noted in Kirkcaldy as the grandson of widow Sarah Paterson along with his unmarried father Robery Paterson.

Dundee

In the 1901 census they had moved across the water to Dundee and Robert is noted as a blacksmith and son to mechanical engineer Robery Paterson senior. Grandmother Sarah Paterson is there as housekeeper. Niece Mary Jane Paterson is also there visiting from Ireland where her father William was a coastguard. Robert senior is noted as a widower which is most likely untrue as there is no record of him ever marrying.

His grandmother Sarah Paterson died in 1903 in Dundee of old age.

Robert joined the merchant navy as an engineer and married jute spinner Betsy Philip, Dundee in 1904. They had four children: Robina, Betsy, Margaret and Robert between 1908 and 1915.

His father Robert died in Lilybank Road, Dundee in 1917. It stated in the death certificate that he was the widower of a Jessie Howie. Lilybank Road was the home to the Patersons for a lot of years in Dundee.

His wife Betsy daughter of carter James Philip and Mary Stewart died of cancer in Dundee in 1934.

Merchant Navy and the Wars

Robert Paterson was in the Merchant Navy and was said to have participated in both the 1st and 2nd World Wars.

It is also said that he received the MBE for services to the Merchant Navy and he also received other medals as per his service.

Details on his wartime service have not been forthcoming up to this point (a Robert Paterson OBE born 1882 from Greenock being one such false lead).

It is said that Robert saw some considerable action in the shipping lanes during the 2nd World War and that his ship was sunk on more than one occasion.

His 1941 merchant navy identification card has his identity number as: YEMM/582135. His later discharge number is noted as being R341938.

After the 2nd World War

Robert continued in the merchant navy and from his later log book it can be seen that he was employed as chief engineer on the collier "Moorlands". He also was on the "Craigie" according to family.

He lived in Methil, Fife for several years with a lady called Annie Marshall. Annie had been previously married and had several children to different fathers. Her male children were petty criminals and herself and her daughter were termed by the family as "ladies of easy virtue".

Annie died in 1951 after drinking all day with Robert on his ship and falling from the pier at Newburgh in Fife. In the newspaper account of the death it has Robert as her husband. Her death certificate is not so circumspect and has him down as lodger.

Death

Robert continued his sea life until he retired and his later years were spent living with his daughter Margaret in Lochee, Dundee. He died aged 85 in Dundee in 1967. He had 4 children and 11 grandchildren.

According to family, he had said that his war medals had been lost at sea during the war but they appeared after his death. His MBE was cremated with him when he died but we have his Atlantic Star medal from the second world war.

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Sources

1. ↑ First-hand information as remembered by Gordon Boath, Monday, May 5, 2014. Replace this citation if there is another source.

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