Robert Stevenson (abt. 1871 - abt. 1943)

Born about 1871 in Lanarkshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Husband of Christina (Leith) Stevenson — married 6 Jul 1892 in Cannington, Ontario, Ontario, Canada

Husband of Mary May (Wight) Stevenson — married 14 Nov 1894 in Ontario, Canada

Husband of Dencie Jane (Newbern) Draper — married 8 Jul 1920 in Mount Albert, York, Ontario, Canada

Descendants

Died about 23 Apr 1943 at about age 72 in Baldwin, Georgina, Regional Municipality of York, Ontario, Canada [uncertain]

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Biography

Robert was born about 1867.

Appeared in the 1871 Scotland Census in Dunlop, Ayrshire, Scotland. The household included: William Stevenson age 25, born in Ayrshire, occupation agricultural labourer; Jane age 26, born in Lanarkshire; William age 6, born in Lanarkshire; Robert age 2, born in Lanarkshire; Jane age 1, born in Ayrshire.

Appeared in the 1881 Canada Census in Georgina, York, Ontario. The household included: William Stevenson age 35, born in Scotland, occupation farmer; Jane age 35, born in Scotland; Jane age 11, born in Scotland; James age 9; John age 7; Andrew age 5; Elebeth age 3; William age 1.

Appeared in the 1901 Canada Census in Sutton, York, Ontario. The census shows he immigrated to Canada in 1877. The household included: Robert age 33, occupation farm labourer; Mary age 28; G. William age 6; G. Dora age 4; Eugene age 2; W. Charles age 1.

Appeared in the 1911 Canada Census in Parry Sound,, Ontario. The census shows he immigrated to Canada in 1877. The household included: Robert age 42, occupation labourer, coal yard; Ross age 3; Wellington age 11; Dora age 14; Eugene age 12; George age 15.

Robert Stevenson murdered his wife, Denise. An article regarding the incident appeared in the Newmarket Era on May 5, 1922, p. 1. The article is as follows:

Farmer Kills His Wife, Wounds 2 Step-Daughters, Shocking Crime Near Ravenshoe - (From Toronto Globe) - Newmarket, April 3- - Robert Stevenson, 55 years of age, a farmer, living on the Catering road near Ravenshoe, killed his wife at about 5 o'clock Saturday with an axe. He next attacked his youngest stepdaughter, Vera, 11 years old, with the axe, and while she lay bleeding on the floor he sized a 12-gauge shotgun and chasing his other stepdaughter, Norah, aged 13, out of the house, knocked her down and emptied both barrels into her breast and shoulders. Both girls were taken to the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, and are in a critical condition. The murderer, after wandering about all night, gave himself up to the police here.

The crime is said to be the climax of a long-draw-out family quarrel.

On Thursday last Stevenson appeared before Magistrate Bruton in the County Police Court, charged with non-support. After the hearing Stevenson returned to his home, leaving Mrs. Stevenson, who is his third wife, and her two daughters, Norah and Vera Draper in Toronto. On Saturday afternoon the family returned on a Metropolitan car, and it was the intention of Mrs. Stevenson to pack up her personal belongings, take her children and leave her husband. Just where she intended going is not known.

Packing Up to Leave

Mrs. Stevenson had collected her clothing and the children's clothing into a heap on the kitchen table, preparatory to placing them in a trunk. Vera, the younger girl, was busy washing some dishes and Norah, the elder, was helping her mother.

They were in the midst of these preparations when Stevenson is reported to have appeared in the doorway and demanded of his wife an explanation, apparently. Mrs. Stevenson hold him she was going to leave home. A dispute followed and Stevenson backed out of the doorway, walking in the direction of a woodpile in the rear of the house.

In a short time he returned with an axe, and without further words he advanced toward his wife an struck her a terrific blow just above the eyes, inflicting a terrible wound from which death followed almost instantaneously.

Officers who have investigated the case claim that as the woman lay dying her assailant must have struck her on the mouth with the broad side of the axe, knocking out her teeth.

Child Washing Dishes

Vera, who was washing dishes near at hand, screamed and made an attempt to escape, when her stepfather fell upon her with the axe.

She received a glancing blow on the head, which may prove fatal.

Norah, the 13-year-old girl, managed to escape from the house. Stevenson at once armed himself with a double-barreled 12-gauge shotgun, and pursued her down the and to the road, where he fired both barrels into the girl's breast and shoulders.

Before the crime was committed Stevenson had been ploughing in a field near his house, and William McClure, a neighbor, was plowing in an adjacent field. McClure saw Stevenson leave his team and go to his house, but was not aware anything was wrong until he heard the shot fired. He saw Stevenson standing in the lane, and ran over to the scene. The child, Norah, was lying in some wagon tracks, bleeding profusely. Believing she was dead, McClure did not pause to give aid, but went straight for Stevenson, who levelled the gun at him, reloading it as he did so.

McClure stopped short, and Stevenson commanded him to get the team and put it in the barn. McClure complied, being followed to the stable by Stevenson, who kept the gun pointed at him, only stopping to follow when McClure was in the horses' stalls, unhitching them. When he came out of the barn, Stevenson was waiting for him, and was accompanied by his 15-year-old boy, a son by his first marriage. The boy, whom he held by the hand was repeating the words Norah had called out before Stevenson shot her, "Oh, Bob, don't do it!"

Gives Money to His Boy

By this time Stevenson had dropped the shotgun, and addressing McClure is reported to have said, "Mc, I've cleaned up on them." Continuing, he told McClure to watch over the boy and look after him. While giving these instructions, he reached into his trousers pocket and pulled out some money, and a watch, which he handed to the boy.

The lad was apparently dazed, as he took the money and said nothing. After this Stevenson walked to his house and disappeared.

Meanwhile Norah had recovered sufficiently to crawl to the house of a neighbor, where she fell in the doorway in a swoon. Some time elapsed before the countryside was awakened to the fact that Stevenson had killed his wife, and it was nearly 8 o'clock before Constable Kirk of Newmarket was notified. It is said that Norah actually travelled by crawling and walking, a distance of one and a quarter miles to the home of John Hamilton. When Constables Thompson, Meyers, Simpson, Travener, Trivett, Kirk and Curtis appeared at the rough log shanty, which was the home of the Stevensons, Stevenson could not be located.

It was thought for a time that he might have committed suicide, as when he was talking to Mr. McClure, he had a razor in his hand, and told the latter not to report him to the police until he had time to get away, and by that time it would be too late. The constables searched the nearby woods all night, but could find no trace of the murder.

Vera Talks to Doctors

Dr. Wesley of Newmarket was called to the scene of the tragedy, and also Dr. Boynton of Sutton. The latter succeeded in getting a few words from Vera, who was being looked after by some neighbors. It seems that the direct cause of the fatal quarrel was due to the demand from Stevenson that his wife sign away her property rights. When Stevenson was in the Police Court a few days previous he objected to providing for the little girls.

It now develops that Stevenson walked 10 miles to Sharon and there caught a Metropolitan car en route to Toronto. To get to Sharon he had cut through the fields and bush, and must have travelled at a fast pace. Boarding the car, Stevenson rode as far as Schomberg Junction, and the apparently changed his mind and turned back toward Newmarket.

At 9 o'clock Sunday morning he stepped of the car at Newmarket and gave himself up to Constable Duncan with the statement, it is alleged "I'm the man you want." At 12 o'clock Stevenson was taken to the Toronto jail.

Stevenson was accompanied by his brother, who lives near Baldwin, and the latter is held as a material witness.

"The body of Mrs. Stevenson was taken to Sutton, and Coroner Wesley and County Crown Attorney Murphy opened an inquest Sunday evening which was adjourned until next Saturday.

The Newmarket Era continues with an article on page 5.

Pleads Guilty in Police Court (From Globe of May 2nd)

In the County Police Court yesterday Robert Stevenson pleaded guilty to a charge of slaying his wife Lucy Stevenson, on Saturday afternoon last at their home near Ravenshoe, York County. County Crown Attorney Murphy requested a week's remand, which was granted.

Stevenson's brother, Wm. Stevenson, was charged at the same time with neglect to aid the police in discharging their duty. He, likewise was given a week's remand, a third brother, John, gauranteeing bail of $1,000.

In the prisoner's dock Stevenson replied to all of Magistrate Bruton's questions in a firm, steady voice, without betraying any signs of emotion. When asked by the Magistrate how old he was, Stevenson replied that he was born in Scotland 52 or 53 years ago, and was a Presbyterian.

Evidences of Long Tramp

Stevenson wore the same suit of clothes in the court that he was wearing when he committed the shocking deed that led to his arrest. Mud was still clinging to his boots, which showed that the prisoner on the night of the murder had floundered through swamps and plowed fields on his 10-mile walk to Sharon, where he caught the Metropolitan car. During the trial some of Stevenson's relatives from Sutton arrived with fresh clothes for the prisoner, who appeared pleased and anxious to make a change. Constables T. Kirk and G. Thompson escorted the prisoner from the jail to the court, Stevenson being hand-cuffed to Constable Kirk.

Domestic Troubles

John Stevenson, who was with Robert Stevenson at the time of his arrest, is alleged to have said that there may have been trouble at times between Stevenson and his wife, but he would not commit himself when pressed for an answer to the question: "Is Robert feeling at all sorry for what he has done?" From the time of the non-support trial last Thursday neither of the two brothers, William and John, had seen the prisoner until after the murder. Robert Stevenson at the time of the non-support trial had expressed objection to supporting the two little girls, but apparently had no aversion to keeping his wife and providing a home for her.

Consulted His Lawyer

J. W. McCullough barrister, was consulted by Stevenson on Wednesday last, the day before the non-support trial. At that time Stevenson was accompanied by his son-in-law, Cryderman, and his brother, William. In the court on Thursday it was pointed out that he had provided the children with food, but had not given them any clothing. Magistrate Bruton lectured Stevenson, but at the same time turned to Mrs. Stevenson and said: "I can see that you are a "nagger," and I do not want you to go home and repeat my words to your husband just to rile him." It now appears, according to Mr. McCullough that Mrs. Stevenson as soon as she reached home told her husband that she would see that he was sent down for two years, and the lawyer says this statement lead to an argument that terminated tragically.

An inquest will be held at Sutton Saturday night.

The two little Draper girls now in the Hospital for Sick Children, have shown some slight signs of improvement, but are not yet out of danger, althought it is said that unless complications set in both may recover. Vera, who was struck with an axe on the head, is reported as resting quietly. Nora, who was shot in the breast and shoulders is resting easily. The shot pellets have all been removed. Both of the girls at late hour last night were semiconscious.

Sources

• Mentioned in the record of Dora Gerldean Stevenson: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FMDR-FRV

"Scotland Census, 1871," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VBRW-SXS : 4 February 2020), Robert Stevenson in household of William Stevenson, The Whole Of The Parish Of Dunlop, Ayrshire, Scotland; from "1871 England, Scotland & Wales census," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing p. 7, PRO T 1, The National Archives UK, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 103,960.

"Canada Census, 1881," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVFH-QVT : 2 March 2021), Robert Stevenson in household of William Stevenson, Georgina, York, Ontario, Canada; from "1881 Canadian Census." Database with images. Ancestry. (www.ancestry.com : 2008); citing William Stevenson, citing Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.

• "Canada, Ontario Marriages, 1869-1927," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FMVY-GP7 : 8 March 2021), Robert Stevenson and Christina Leith, 06 Jul 1892; citing registration , Cannington, Ontario, Ontario, Canada, Archives of Ontario, Toronto; FHL microfilm 1,870,472.

Library and Archives Canada. "Canada Census 1901 - Robert Stevenson." Government of Canada, 30 Aug 2022, https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/1901/Pages/item.aspx?itemid=3412672

"Recensement du Canada de 1911," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV9P-9NGY : 15 August 2022), Ross Stevenson in entry for Robert Stevenson, 1911; citing Census, Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada, Library and Archives of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario; FHL microfilm .

Newmarket Era (Newmarket, ON1861), May 5, 1922, p. 1. (n.d.). https://news.ourontario.ca/newmarket/2426283/page/1?n=

Newmarket Era (Newmarket, ON1861), May 5, 1922, p. 5. (n.d.). https://news.ourontario.ca/newmarket/2426283/page/5?n=