Alexander Steward Robertson (1829 - 1894)

Born 1829 in Kilmarnock, Ayr, Scotland

Husband of Lillias Logan (Tweed) Robertson — married 24 Apr 1854 in Barrhead, Renfrew, Scotland

Descendants

Died 17 Aug 1894 at about age 65 in Manhattan, New York County, New York City, New York

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Biography

buried in Maple Grove Cemetery, Queens (Kew Gardens), New York City, New York occupation - print cutter, block cutter (1) The family home in Scotland is listed as 22 Robertson Place, Kilmarnock, County Ayr on the birth certificates. After immigration, New York City directories from 1873 to 1890 list the family’s address in Manhattan at several addresses in the 400 block of West 31st Street. The 1880 U.S. Census for Manhattan lists their address as 454 West 31st Street (2, 3, 4). The death certificate of Alexander S. Robertson lists an address of 457 West 30th Street. (3) Alexander Robertson immigrated before the rest of the family. The 1871 Scottish census, which was taken a few months before the family immigrated, says “Husband in America”. He is also not listed on the passenger list for the Europa (8, 9) (4) Alexander Robertson was a block cutter in the wallpaper industry at least after the family immigrated to New York City. A blockcutter was the tradesman who cut the patterns into the brass blocks used to print patterns on wallpaper. In Scotland, the family occupation may have been as print cutters in the calico-printing industry associated with the manufacture of shawls (12).

Sources

(1) Extract, Marriage Register Book, Parish of Neilston, Renfrew, Scotland: photocopy (2) U.S. Census Records, 1880, 1900, and 1910 for Manhattan, New York County, New York City, New York (3) Extracts, Birth Register Book, District of Kilmarnock, County Ayr, Scotland; photocopy (4) New York City Directories, 1873-1890; New York Public Library, Manhattan, New York City, New York (5) Family Interviews 7) Death Certificate, Alexander S. Robertson, Certificate No. 28113, New York City Department of Records and Information Service, Municipal Archives, New York, New York (8) Scottish Census, Kilmarnock Parish, Ayrshire, Scotland: 1861 and 1871 (9) Passenger List, Ship Europa, 3 October, 1871; Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1820-1897. Microfilm Series M-237, List No. 997. National Archives, Washington, DC. (10) internment record, Alexander Robertson family plot, Maple Grove Cemetery, Queens (Kew Gardens), Queens County, New York City, New York – obtained photocopy from office during personal visit (12) Morrison, I.O. 1975. Calico printing and shawl making in Kilmarnock. Newsletter of Kilmarnock and District History Group, Number 15 (June 1975).