Duncan McKellar Robertson (1830 - 1905)

Born 11 Aug 1830 in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Stevenson) Robertson — married 22 Nov 1851 in High Church,Paisley,Renfrew,Scotland

Descendants

Died 28 Mar 1905 at age 74 in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Christine Pike [send private message]

Biography

Duncan Robertson was born in Scotland.

Duncan Robertson, son of John Robertson (a Weaver, of Ferguslie) and Agnes McKellar, was born/baptised on 11 Aug 1830 in Abbey, Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland. ^[1]

Duncan (age 21, Weaver, of 1 Crop St, High Parish Paisley) married Sarah Stevenson (age 20, of 21 Wellmeaden, High Parish Paisley) on 7 Dec 1851 in High Church, Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland. Their marriage banns were dated 23 Nov, 30 Nov and 7 Dec 1851, but no marriage date was recorded. No parent details were recorded. Duncan (age 21) married Sarah Stevenson (age 20) in 1851 in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland. ^{[2] [3] [4]}

Duncan and Sarah had 10 children:

1. Sarah (Robertson) Pike (1852-1921) - born Scotland
2. Agnes (Robertson) Higgs (abt.1854-)
3. Daniel Robertson (1856-) - born Victoria, Australia
4. John Robertson (1857-1907)
5. James Robertson (1859-1931)
6. Elizabeth Robertson (1861-1867)
7. William Robertson (1863-1954)
8. Duncan Robertson (1866-1867)
9. Annie Elizabeth Robertson (1868-1939)
10. Margaret (Robertson) Clemence (1870-1925)

Duncan Robertson migrated from Scotland to Australia.

In 1854 Duncan (age 23) emigrated from Scotland on the ship "CAIRNGORM", with his wife (age 23), daughters Sarah (age 2) and Agnes (3 mo), and brother, James (age 19), arriving in Victoria, Australia on 1 July 1854. ^{[5] [6]}

Duncan (Weaver, of Ballarat, son of John Robertson and Agnes McKellar) died on 28 Mar 1905, aged 74 years, in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. ^{[7] [8] [9]} No will was located, bur his probate recorded his widow, Sarah, of Errard Street, Ballarat, and his surviving children:

- John Robertson, of Errard Street, Ballarat, miner,

- James Robertson, of Armstrong Street, Ballarat, miner,

- William Robertson, of Brown Bridge, Brisbane, salesman,

- Sarah Pike, of Zeehan, Tasmania, married woman,

- Agnes Higgs, of Lefroy, Tasmania, married woman,

- Margaret Clemence, of Errard Street, Ballarat, married woman,

- Annie Elizabeth Roberston, of Errard Street, Ballarat, spinster

This information was provided in an affidavit by his daughter, Annie Elizabeth Roberston.

His death was reported in the local paper, The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924) Wed 29 Mar 1905 Page 2 Family Notices, ^[10]

ROBERTSON.—On the 28th March, at 18 South street, Duncan, dearly-beloved husband of Sarah Robertson, and father of: J., J., W., and A. Robertson, and M. Clemence; aged 74 years. A colonist of over fifty years.

"So He giveth His beloved sleep."

An obituary was also published in The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924) Sat 1 Apr 1905 Page 4 OBITUARY. ^[11]

OBITUARY.

Another old colonist. Mr Duncan Robertson, passed away at his residence. South street, on Tuesday. The deceased arrived in the colony in 1854, by the ship Cairngoram, and immediately came to Ballarat, and had resided in the district ever since. The funeral took place at the Old Cemetery yesterday, and was largely attended. Messrs W. Drew, F. T. Kemp, T. Turner, T. Wilson, J. Sandford, J. Stewart, W. Hamilton, and A. W. Middleditch, were pall-bearers, and the coffin-bearers were Messrs W. Edward. sen., J. J. Sandford, W. Edward jun., and F. S. Sandford. The Rev H Bath conducted the service at the house and grave. Messrs Jordan, and Tippett carried out the funeral arrangements. The deceased leaves a widow, and grown-up family of three sons and four daughters, amongst them being Mrs Pike, Mrs Higgs, Mr John Robertson, of Tasmania; Mr W, Robertson, of Brisbane; and Mrs W. C. Clemence, of this city.

A notice of the auction of his estate was published in The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924) Tue 2 May 1905 Page 1 SALES BY AUCTION. ^[12]

SALES BY AUCTION.

Fred. H. Were and David Cooke and Co., in conjunction, will sell by auction to-morrow, 3rd of Stay, at 12 o'clock noon, in tile estate of Duncan Robertson, deceased, on the premises, No. 18 South street, a commodious six-room villa, also household furniture and effects. The residence contains six rooms, hall, lobby, pantry, bathroom, washhouse, and sheds, etc. It is substantially erected on brick foundations. The property is a very desirable one for residential purposes, and is in first-class order. Easy terms can be arranged. The furniture is for unreserved sale, and is in good order. Further particulars in advertisement.

Duncan was buried in the Ballarat Old Cemetery (plot: J Avenue Border, 1, Grave 1). ^{[13] [14] [15]} His gravestone reads:

In Loving Memory of

MY BELOVED HUSBAND

DUNCAN ROBERTSON

DIED 28TH MARCH 1905 AGED 74 YEARS

ALSO OUR BELOVED SON JOHN

DIED 3RD OCT. 1907 AGED 50 YEARS.

ALSO SARAH.

BELOVED WIFE OF THE ABOVE

DUNCAN ROBERTSON

DIED 31ST DEC. 1910 AGED 79 YEARS

Note: It is not clear whether Duncan ever used "McKellar" as a middle name, despite some sites suggesting this - it is not recorded in any of the sources located (Pike-5935 14 January 2024).
However several of his decendants did:

• grandson, Duncan McKellar Robertson (1896-1917)
• grandson, William Robertson (1863-1954)
• great-grandson, George McKellar Robertson (1928-1987)

Residence

In the 1841 census Duncan, aged 11, was living at "Ferguslie", 10 Ferguslie Street, Paisley, Scotland, with his father (John) and siblings (Heneretta, Daniel, James). ^{[16] [17]}

In the 1851 census Duncan (age 20, Spinner Mill Thread) was living at 1 Cross Street, Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland, still with his father, step-mother, and siblings (John, James, Agnes, Robert, Mary, Archibald). ^[18]

Sources

1. ↑ Birth or Baptism: "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms"
   National Records of Scotland, Parish Number: 559; Ref: 60/318; Frame: 2156
   ScotlandsPeople (accessed 15 January 2024)
   Surname: ROBERTSON; Forename: DUNCAN; Parents/Other details: JOHN ROBERTSON/AGNES MCKELLAR FR2156 (FR2156); Gender: M; Birth Date: 11/08/1830; Parish: Abbey.
2. ↑ Marriage: "Scotland, Parish Marriages & Banns 1561-1893"
   Reference: OPR 573-2/1; Page: 52
   FindMyPast Transcription (requires subscription, accessed 15 January 2024)
   First name(s): Duncan; Last name: Robertson; Birth year: 1830; Age: 21; Banns date: 23 Nov 1851; Marriage year: 1851; Occupation: Weaver; Residence: 1 Clof Street High Paisley; Spouse's first name: Sarah; Spouse's last name: Stevenson; Spouse's age: 20; Spouse's residence: 21 Williamden High Paisley; Place: Paisley; County: Renfrewshire; Country: Scotland; Item: 4; Year range: 1803-1819.
3. ↑ Marriage: "Scotland Marriages, 1561-1910"
   citing Digital film/folder number: 007908519; FHL microfilm: 1041284
   FamilySearch Record: XYW8-LRM (accessed 13 August 2023)
   Name: Duncan Robertson; Birth Date: 1830; Age: 21; Marriage Date: 22 Nov 1851; Marriage Place: Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland, United Kingdom; Spouse's Name: Sarah Stevenson
4. ↑ Marriage: "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Banns and Marriages"
   National Records of Scotland, Parish Number: 573/1; Ref: 40/268; Frame: 934
   ScotlandsPeople (accessed 15 January 2024)
   Surname: ROBERTSON; Forename: DUNCAN; Spouse Name: SARAH STEVENSON/FR934 (FR934); Date: 22/11/1851; Parish: Paisley High Church.
5. ↑ Immigration: Public Record Office Victoria, Unassisted passenger lists, (1852-1923) Record Series Number (VPRS): 947
6. ↑ Passenger List: Public Record Office Victoria, (CAIRNGORM 1854)
   DUNCAN ROBERTSON: Ship name: CAIRNGORM; Age: 23; Gender: M; Native place: SCOT; Arrival year: 1854; Arrival month: JUL; Date of arrival: 1854-07-01; Ship master: MEIKLEJOHN THOMAS; Page: 5; Origin code: B; Fiche: 72;
   MRS ROBERTSON: Ship name: CAIRNGORM; Age: 23; Gender: F; Native place: SCOT; Arrival year: 1854; Arrival month: JUL; Date of arrival: 1854-07-01;
   SARAH ROBERTSON: Ship name: CAIRNGORM; Age: 2; Gender: F; Native place: SCOT; Arrival year: 1854; Arrival month: JUL; Date of arrival: 1854-07-01;
   AGNES ROBERTSON: Ship name: CAIRNGORM; Age: I; Gender: F; Native place: SCOT; Arrival year: 1854; Arrival month: JUL; Date of arrival: 1854-07-01;
   JAMES ROBERTSON: Ship name: CAIRNGORM; Age: 19; Gender: M; Native place: SCOT; Arrival year: 1854; Arrival month: JUL; Date of arrival: 1854-07-01;
7. ↑ Death: Births Deaths and Marriages Victoria; Death Reg. no: 334, 1905; Family name: ROBERTSON; Given name(s): Duncan; Place of event: Ballt, Australia; Age at Death: 74; Mother's name: Agnes; Mother's family name at birth: MCKELLAR; Father's Name: Robertson Jno
8. ↑ Probate: "Victoria Wills & Probate"
   FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (requires subscription, accessed 15 January 2024)
   Nature of grant: A; First name(s): Duncan; Country of residence: Australia; Sex: Male; Death date: 28 Mar 1905; Last name: Robertson; Grant date: 15 Jul 1905; File number: 95/071; Occupation: Weaver; Order link: VPRS 28/P0, unit 1232;<; Residence: Ballarat; Resident state: Victoria; State: Victoria; Country: Australia.
9. ↑ Probate: "Australia, Victoria, Index to Probate Registers, 1841-1989"
   citing Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, series 95, record 071, Public Record Office, Victoria; FamilySearch digital folder 004104583
   FamilySearch Record: JV7S-D2X (accessed 13 August 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: S3HY-6QRQ-XPP Image number 50
   Name: Duncan Robertson; Occupation: Weaver; Probate Date: 15 Jul 1905; Probate Place: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Death Date: 28 Mar 1905; Event Type: Probate; Event Century: 19; Source Grant Type: A; Source Record Nbr: 071; Source Series Nbr: 95; Source Volume Begin Year: 1900; Source Volume End Year: 1909.
10. ↑ Death Notice: Trove, National Library of Australia, The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924) Wed 29 Mar 1905 Page 2 Family Notices, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/210353561
11. ↑ Obituary: Trove, National Library of Australia, The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924) Sat 1 Apr 1905 Page 4 OBITUARY., https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/210353957
12. ↑ Auction: Trove, National Library of Australia, The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924) Tue 2 May 1905 Page 1 SALES BY AUCTION.,https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/210356577
13. ↑ Burial: "Australia, Sydney Branch Genealogical Library, Cemetery Inscriptions, 1800-1960"
    citing Digital film/folder number: 004117116; FHL microfilm: 887475; Image number: 465; Indexing batch: L00001-6
    FamilySearch Record: FLJB-SWG (accessed 13 August 2023)
    FamilySearch Image: S3HY-D1FB-66
    Name: Duncan Robertson; Burial Place: Ballarat; Death Date: 28 Mar 1905; Death Place: Victoria, Australia; Birth Date: 1831; Age: 74; Record Nbr: 6314; Vis Status: VISIBLE; System Of Record: SLS; Spouse's Name Sarah Robertson
14. ↑ Memorial: "Billion Graves" (has image)
    Ballarat Old Cemetery, Centre Avenue, Ballarat East, Ballarat City, Victoria, Australia
    BillionGraves memorial (accessed 13 August 2023)
    Memorial page for Duncan Robertson (1830-28 March 1905);
    Also on memorial : John Robertson b 1857 d 3 Oct 1907; Sarah Robertson b 1831 d 31 Dec 1910.
15. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
    Find A Grave: Memorial #227887150 (accessed 15 January 2024)
    Memorial page for Duncan Robertson (1830-28 Mar 1905), citing Ballarat Old Cemetery, Ballarat, Ballarat City, Victoria, Australia (plot: J Avenue Border, 1, Grave 1).
16. ↑ 1841 Census: "Scotland Census, 1841," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VYZ9-D6K : 10 December 2017), Duncan Robertson, Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland; from "1841 England, Scotland & Wales census," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing p. 9, PRO HO 107, New Register House, Edinburgh; FHL microfilm 1,042,729.
17. ↑ 1841 Census: "1841 England, Wales & Scotland Census"
    Reference: -; Piece number: -; Page: -; Schedule: 48
    FindMyPast Transcription (requires subscription, accessed 13 August 2023)
    First name(s): Duncan; Last name: Robertson; Sex: Male; Age: 11; Birth year: 1830; Birth county: Renfrewshire; Birth county as transcribed: Renfrewshire; Birth place other: Scotland; Birth place other as transcribed: SCOTLAND; Occupation: D b; Full address: Ferguslie, 10, Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland; House name: Ferguslie; House number: 10; Street: Ferguslie; Parish or township: Paisley; County: Renfrewshire; Country: Scotland; Family member first name(s): Daniel, Henrietta, John, James; Family member last name: Robertson.
18. ↑ 1851 Census: "1851 England, Wales & Scotland Census"
    Piece number: -; Folio: -; Page: -; Schedule: 36
    FindMyPast Transcription (requires subscription, accessed 13 August 2023)
    First name(s): Duncan; Last name: Robertson; Relationship: Son; Marital status: Unmarried; Sex: Male; Age: 20; Birth year: 1831; Birth town: Paisley; Birth town as transcribed: Paisley; Birth county: Renfrewshire; Birth county as transcribed: Renfrewshire; Birth place: Scotland; Birth place other as transcribed: Scotland; Occupation: Spinner mill thread; Full address: 1, Cross Street, Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland; House number: 1; Street: Cross Street; Parish: Greenock; Island: Great Britain; County: Renfrewshire; Country: Scotland; Enumeration district: 20.