Jane Stout Miller Robertson (1880 - 1969)

Born 20 Apr 1880 in Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Died 14 Dec 1969 at age 89 in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Jane Stout Miller Robertson, known as Jean, was born on 20 April 1880 at 11 Mill Street, Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland, the third (known) child of James Paton Robertson and Jean Galbraith.^[1]

At the time of the 1881 census Jean lived with her parents and siblings at 16 Holmscroft Street in Greenock.^[2]

In the 1891 census Jean lived with her parents and siblings at 15 Renfield Street in Renfrew.^[3]

At the time of the 1901 census Jean lived with her parents and siblings at 37 Deacon Road, Willesden, Middlesex, England.^[4]

In the 1911 census Jean lived at 'Ardavon', Westcombe Park Road, Greenwich, London, England.^[5] Jean and her sister Polly lived with their brother John Galbraith Robertson and his family from sometime after his marriage in 1905. His wife Florence had a child ca. every 18 months in the earlier years of their marriage and was often incapacitated because her pregnancies made her unwell. At the beginning of the marriage John paid for at least one servant, but he soon called on his unmarried sisters for support. This was resented by his mother Jean, who would have preferred to have at least one of her daughters for company and to help run her home. Jane's nieces Jane, Mary and Florence, and her nephew Ian were all born at this address. ^{[6] [7] [8] [9]}

The house on Westcombe Park Road, which looked very similar over a century later, had been rented from a retired captain. When the captain died, his heirs presumably wanted to sell the property with vacant possession and the family moved.^[10]

In 1912 Jean probably lived at 'Ardavon', Hervey Road, Kidbrooke, Charlton, London, around the time of her niece Vera's birth.^[11] The family lived at this address for a year or so. It is not known whether they came up with the name 'Ardavon', but it seems too much of a coincidence that both houses they lived in went by the same name, especially since it was a relatively unusual Scottish name. However, with talk of war with Germany, John Galbraith Robertson thought it advisable to leave London in case of bombing.^[12]

In 1913 Jean probably lived at 'East Lynne', 15 Marine Terrace, Rosemarkie, Ross-shire, Scotland, around the time of her niece Betsy's birth.^[13] This house was named for a popular but rather lurid Victorian novel about an unhappily married young woman in a negative relationship with her older sister-in-law, who goes on to have an adulterous affair and lose her children, a curious choice for this seaside family home, but reflective of some of some family relationships.^[14]

From about 1914 to 1916 Jean probably lived in Kilmacolm in Scotland, where her older nieces Jane, Mary and possibly Florence, as well as her nephew Ian attended a preparatory school.^[15]

The family probably moved to Dollar, Clackmannanshire, Scotland, in around 1917 for her oldest niece, Jane and nephew Ian to attend Dollar Academy.^[16] Valuation rolls from 1920 onwards show that Jean's brother [Robertson-17347|John]] was the tenant of 4 Brooklyn, the fourth of a group of four buildings on the north side of Dollar, just a few minutes' walk from Dollar Academy grounds, with Dollar town to the south of the school.^[17]

At the time of the 1921 census Jean lived at Brooklyn with her mother Jean, sister Polly, her nephew Ian and her nieces Jane, Mary, Florence and Betsy.^[18] The delay of the census to 19 June shows Jean's sister-in-law Florence and youngest niece baby Dorothy, born at the beginning of June, both still in an Edinburgh nursing home.^[19][20] Jean's father James and brother John were not in Dollar or in Edinburgh and were probably away on business, possibly in London.

On 6 July 1922 Jean was probably living at 'Brooklynn', Dollar, Clackmannanshire, Scotland when her father, James Paton Robertson died there of injuries following a fall at work.^[21] Her sister Polly reported their father's death.

The family's continued residence at 4 Brooklyn in Dollar is confirmed by valuation rolls from 1923, 1924, 1925 and 1926.^{[22][23][24] [25]}

Jean's oldest niece, Jane and nephew Ian were matriculated at Glasgow University for the summer term of the academic year 1927 to 1928, and they lived independently.^[26] Jean and her sister Polly remained in Dollar with their mother and their younger nieces and nephews. Florence Emily Avey had permanently returned to London by this time after at least one trial separation from John.^[27]. Jane and Ian did not re-matriculate for the following academic year because John Galbraith Robertson lost much of his money in the economic crash.^[28]

In late 1928 to early 1929 Jean's brother John Galbraith Robertson aged 55, took 49-year-old Jean, their 79-year-old mother Jean Galbraith, their 43-year-old sister Polly his oldest daughter Jane) and youngest daughter Dorothy on a round-the-world journey looking for a new start. Despite the distinctive group of names and ages, records for the initial part of the outbound journey have not yet been found.

On 15 July 1929 Jean and the party departed from Vancouver, British Columbia, on the R.M.S. Niagara, travelling first class to Auckland, New Zealand, via Honolulu and Suva.^[29]

26 August 1930. Departure from Auckland, New Zealand on the RMMS Aorangi. (This is the likely travel date according to the schedule on http://www.derbysulzers.com/shipaorangi.html).

Jean's last permanent residence before 26 August 1930 was given as Sharp Road, Auckland, New Zealand on her US visa issued on her return journey.^[30]

11 September 1930: arrival in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.^[30] This record was crossed out, but the journey must have been made after all, otherwise the arrival date on the US visa would not fit.

(There is a second passenger list for departure from Auckland with an arrival date of 6 September 1930 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, but this does not tally with shipping schedules or the date on the US visa. [Source: "New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Passenger Lists, 1839-1973," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6PLS-LSH?cc=1609792&wc=MP72-FSP%3A119255001%2C119056001%2C119035302 : 5 July 2019), Vancouver (other ports also listed) > 1930 > Aorangi > image 131 of 136; Archives New Zealand, Wellington.] This record only lists Jane, her father, brother and younger niece. The fact that her sister Mary and older niece Jane) were missing from this booking suggests that the family had temporarily split, indicating a quarrel.)

28 November 1930. Border crossing from Canada at Blaine, Washington, USA. Visa states that Jane is literate, 5ft 2in tall, has a medium complexion, brown hair and blue eyes. Recorded intention to permanently settle in New York.^[30]

16 December 1930. Departure from New York, USA on the Cunard liner RMS Samaria, bound for Boston and Liverpool.

21 December 1930. Arrival in Liverpool, England.

Jean probably lived at 35 Mayhill Road, Greenwich East, Kent, England, at the time of the death of her mother Jean Galbraith.^[31]

At the time the 1939 register was taken, Jean lived at 35 Mayhill Road, Greenwich, London, England, with her brother John and sister Polly.^[32] While Polly was, for the first time, recorded as working outside the home and family, Jean's occupation is given as 'Unpaid Domestic Duties'.

At some point Jean and her sister Polly went to live on the Isle of Jura in Argyll, Scotland. Their brother John lived with his (now married) daughter Jane when he died in 1961. Changes to the state pension system, perhaps in 1948, and/or the age at which they became eligible for pensions or had paid the minimum ten years required, may have facilitated the independence of the two sisters. Jean remained on Jura until Polly's death in 1966 and then lived with her niece Jane.

Jean died on 14 December 1969 at St Francis Hospital in Nottingham, her usual residence being 36 Mapperley Road, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England. ^[33]

Jean was buried on 19 December 1969 in grave no. R35.51 at the Southern Cemetery, Wilford Hill, Nottinghamshire, England. ^[34]

Research Notes

1. 1911 census: The transcriptions produced by providers of the 1911 census contain many errors, but the family group is recognisably the same one even though individual names may appear different.
2. Arrival date in Auckland, New Zealand, not established.
3. Sharp Road, Auckland, may have been in Epsom, as this was an established residential area in 1929 to 1930. Further research required.

Sources

1. ↑ Scotlands People statutory birth index: ROBERTSON JANE STOUT MILL F 1880 564/3 357 Greenock Old or West
2. ↑ Scotlands People 1881 census index: ROBERTSON JANE 1881 F 1 564/3 39/ 27 Greenock Old or West Renfrew
3. ↑ Scotlands People 1891 census index: ROBERTSON JANE 1891 F 10 575/ 5/ 50 Renfrew Renfrew
4. ↑ S965256693 Class: RG13; Piece: 1226; Folio: 27; Page: 46 Ancestry Record 7814 #7105943
5. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1911," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XWR8-RXL : 10 May 2019), Jannie Miller Stout Robertson in household of John Gallwitt Robertson, Greenwich, London, England, United Kingdom; from "1911 England and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 14, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
6. ↑ Free BMD: Births Sep 1906 Robertson Jane Florence G Greenwich 1d 1094
7. ↑ Free BMD: Births Mar 1909 ROBERTSON Mary Galbraith Greenwich 1d 1088
8. ↑ Free BMD: Births Sep 1910 ROBERTSON Florence E G Greenwich 1d 1014
9. ↑ Free BMD: Births Dec 1907 ROBERTSON James Paton Greenwich 1d 1046
10. ↑ Conversation with the owner of the house in 2008, who had a local history book detailing the change of ownership. Will try to find the reference for the book.~~~~
11. ↑ Free BMD: Births Jun 1912 Robertson Veronica I G Avey Woolwich 1d 2156
12. ↑ Oral history from living family members confirmed by newspaper reports of the time.
13. ↑ Scotlands People statutory birth index: ROBERTSON BETHIA SARAH GA F 1913 080/ 6 Rosemarkie and Fortrose
14. ↑ Oral history from living family members and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Lynne
15. ↑ Oral history from Mary and living family members.
16. ↑ research needed in school archives
17. ↑ Scotlands People 1920 valuation roll: ROBERTSON JOHN Tenant/Occupier HOUSE 4 BROOKLYN DOLLAR DOLLAR 1920 VR009500032-
18. ↑ Scotlands People 1921 census index: ROBERTSON JEAN 1921 F 34 467/ 3/ 14 Dollar Clackmannan
19. ↑ Scotlands People statutory birth index: ROBERTSON JUNE R D GALBRA F 1921 467/ 15 Dollar and ROBERTSON JUNE R D GALBRA F 1921 685/2 462 St Andrew (Edinburgh)
20. ↑ https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/research-guides/research-guides-a-z/census-records/1921-census
21. ↑ Scotlands People statutory death index: ROBERTSON JAMES PATON 71 PATON 1922 467/ 14 Dollar
22. ↑ Scotlands People 1923 valuation roll: ROBERTSON JOHN Tenant/Occupier HOUSE 4 BROOKLYN DOLLAR DOLLAR 1923 VR009500035-
23. ↑ Scotlands People 1924 valuation roll: ROBERTSON JOHN Tenant/Occupier HOUSE 4 BROOKLYN DOLLAR DOLLAR 1924 VR009500035-
24. ↑ Scotlands People 1925 valuation roll: ROBERTSON JOHN Tenant/Occupier HOUSE 4 BROOKLYN DOLLAR DOLLAR 1925 VR009500035-
25. ↑ Scotlands People 1926 valuation roll: ROBERTSON JOHN Tenant/Occupier HOUSE 4 BROOKLYN DOLLAR DOLLAR 1926 VR009500035-
26. ↑ Oral history by living family members.
27. ↑ Family oral history cited by living people.
28. ↑ Glasgow University Archive Services Ref: R6/81 cited in private correspondence from GUAS of 17 December 2010
29. ↑ "New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Passenger Lists, 1839-1973," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-X43F-NV?cc=1609792&wc=MP7V-B85%3A119239001%2C119053401%2C119256601 : 5 July 2019), Sydney (other ports also listed) > 1929 > Niagara > image 14 of 43; Archives New Zealand, Wellington
30. ↑ ^{30.0 30.1 30.2} "United States Border Crossings from Canada to United States, 1895-1956", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XPWM-C4C : 14 November 2019), Jane Robertson, 1930.
31. ↑ Source: Free BMD: Deaths Mar 1938 ROBERTSON Jean G 87 Greenwich 1d 1020
32. ↑ "England and Wales National Register, 1939," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7K2X-DR3Z : 15 April 2019), Jane S M Robertson in entry for John G Robertson, 29 Sep 1939; from "General Register Office: National Registration: 1939 Register," database, FindMyPast (https://www.findmypast.com : 2017); citing Census, Greenwich, London, England, United Kingdom, RG 101, The National Archives, Kew, England; FHL microfilm.
33. ↑ Free BMD: Deaths Dec 1969 ROBERTSON Jane Stout M 20Ap1880 Nottingham 3c 718
34. ↑ S965256673 Ancestry Record 70845 #978164

• Source: living person testimonials and papers held by the family of ˜˜˜˜