Robert Smith (bef. 1811 - bef. 1871)

Born before 1811 in Ireland [uncertain]

Husband of Margaret (Griffin) Smith — married 21 Mar 1824 in Maybole, Ayrshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died before 1871 at about age 60 in Ayrshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Hugh Smith [send private message]

Biography

Robert Smith was born in Ireland.

This profile is part of the Smith Name Study.

Robert Smith was most probably born about the early 1800's somewhere in Ireland. He was the son of (---parents not found ---). He likely arrived in the weaving village of Maybole, in Ayrshire before March of 1824 (the time of his marriage).

Robert married Margaret Griffin (the daughter of --- parents not found --- ) on the xxxx 1824 in the Parish of Maybole (OPR for marriages, Parish of Maybole).

Not long after their marriage Robert and Margaret must have moved to the nearby coastal town of Girvan in Southern Ayrshire, where their son Alexander Smith was born in January of 1825 (OPR). Robert was earning a living in Girvan Parish as a weaver at this time.

x years later Robert and his family most likely had moved back to Maybole, where daughters Ann and Martha were born in 1827 and 1828. Sometime In the next 7 years the family likely had moved to nearby Crosshills in Michael Kirkpatrick parish, where their son Robert was born in 1835. Their youngest son Samuel was born after Robert and his family had moved back to Maybole
The 1841 census of Maybole indicated that both Robert (recorded age 20 or 30 yrs [born abt 1807-1811], Ireland) and Margaret (age 30 yrs [born abt 1802-1806], Ireland) were living with all their children, namely Alexander (16 yrs), Ann ( ), Martha ( ), Robert ( ) and Samuel (1 yrs). Robert was still worked as a Cotton Hand Loom Weaver (HLW). The family lived in Welltrees St, Maybole which was inhabited by many hand loom weavers also from Ireland.
(See Research Note A).

It has not been found when and where Robert and his wife Margaret died.

At least two of their children married - son Alexander in 1849 at Glasgow and daughter Ann in 1851 also in Glasgow.

This 1841 census also says that both Robert (aged 30 yrs) and Margaret (aged 25/35 years - difficult to read 2 or 3)

Research Notes

A. Birth year of Robert Smith.

According to the 1841 census, Robert was aged 30 yrs - (rounded down from the 5yr span of 30-34 yrs. This implies that his birth year is in the range of 1807 to 1811. But Robert was most likely married in March of 1824 in Maybole parish, so the census age indicates he was married at an age from 13 (b1811) to 17 (b1807) yrs. This age range 13-17 at the time he was married is possible but seems unlikely so believe Robert's birth year is more likely to be before 1807 and that the 1841 census is in error. Have not found any other record that shows an age or birth year for Robert. Assumming age of at least 20 yrs (abt 1804) when Robert married in 1824

B. Birth of son Alexander Smith (1825-1871). He is my paternal 2G-GF Smith-127977 11:13, 28 July 2021 (UTC).

• Family Notes

(a) Son Alexander was living in Glasgow in 1851 census as a Hand Loom weaver. Living with him was his wife (married in Glasgow in 1850). Staying with him was his younger brother Robert age 15 (born abt 1836) who was working as a warper, possibly for his older brother Alexander.

(b) Daughter Ann Jane married in 1851 in Glasgow to --------.

(c) No further records have been found for the other children, or Robert and Margaret. (1851 census, OPR burials, Monumental Inscriptions - see ----- )

• 1841 Census Maybole.

It is noted that living in the same residence as Robert and Margaret in Maybole was another weaving family, namely ------ Griffen. They also were from Ireland as well. Could this be a relation of Margaret's.

1. Did Margaret and this family immigrate from Ireland together?

Research Workings

See Also

• Research Work Paper for Robert Smith (bef 1811-aft 1841)
• Space:WikiTree_Secret_Santa_2023#Brick_Wall_-_Scotland_.2F_Ireland_-_Wish_302
• Space:Scotland_Project_Challenges_Page#Secret_Santa_2023_with_Scotland

there is a 46 yr old Robert smith of Stowmuir, maybole who died 5 Sep 1848 from consumption, though his occupation was listed as labourer, so may not be him.^[1]

according to son Alexander's death certificate, his parents were both deceased by 1871.

Church registers - Old parish registers - Births and Baptisms

• SMITH ALEXANDER, Parents: ROBERT SMITH/MARGARET GRIFFIN FR600 (FR600), M, Baptised: 06/02/1825, 594/ 30 / 56, GIRVAN
• SMITH ANN JANE, Parents: ROBERT SMITH/MARGARET GRIFFAN FR752 (FR752), F, Baptised: 16/11/1827, 605/ 40 / 96, MAYBOLE
• SMITH MARTHA, Parents: ROBERT SMITH/MARGARET GRIFFAN FR766 (FR766), F, Baptised: 03/12/1829, MAYBOLE, 605/ 40 / 123
• (no baptism record found on SP)
• SMITH ROBERT, Parents: ROBERT SMITH/MARGARET GRIFFIN FR575 (FR575), M, Baptised: 22/02/1835, 600/ 30 / 74, KIRKMICHAEL
• SMITH SAMUEL, Parents: ROBERT SMITH/MARGARET GRIFFIN FR710 (FR710), M, 20/12/1840, 594/ 30 / 276, GIRVAN

Church registers - Old parish registers - Banns and Marriages

• SMITH ROBERT, Spouse: MARGARET GRIFFIN/FR1003 (FR1003), Married: 21/03/1824, 605/ 50 / 19, MAYBOLE
• SMITH ALEXANDER, Spouse: MARY POLLOCK/FR5458 (FR5458), married: 23/11/1849, 622/ 200 / 15, BARONY
• SMITH ANN, Spouse: WILLIAM WITHERS/FR5795 (FR5795), married: 31/12/1852, 622/ 210 / 81, BARONY

"Scottish General Register Office: 1841 Census Returns database, FreeCEN (https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/5a142155f4040b9d6e0b0008 : viewed 23 Dec 2023), Robert SMITH in household of Allan MCNEIL, Welltrees Street, Ayrshire, Scotland; from 1841 "England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images; citing The National Archives HO 107/605, Folio 0, Page 7, Schedule , The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

1852 SMITH, ANN (Old Parish Registers Marriages 622/ Barony) Page 81 of 570 1827 SMITH, ANN JANE (Old Parish Registers Births 605/ Maybole) Page 96 of 526

Transcriptions

1824 SMITH, ROBERT (Old Parish Registers Marriages 605/ Maybole) Page 19 of 333

1824 Proclamations'

March 21st. Robert Smith and Margaret Griffin both in this Parish.

1825 SMITH, ALEXANDER (Old Parish Registers Births 594/ Girvan) Page 56 of 626

Register of Births & Baptisms 1825 (Pg 280A)

Smith. Alexander Lawful son of Robert Smith Weaver in Girvan & Margaret Griffin was born the 28th January & Baptised the 6th Feby 1825.

1827 SMITH, ANN JANE (Old Parish Registers Births 605/ Maybole) Page 96 of 526

Baptisms 1827

Nov 16th Robert Smith & Margaret Griffan his spouse had a Daughter Born in lawfull marriage. Baptised Ann Jane

1829 SMITH, MARTHA (Old Parish Registers Births 605/ Maybole) Page 123 of 526

Baptisms 1829 (Page 61)

Decr 3rd Robert Smith weaver and his spouse Margaret Griffan had a Daughter Born in lawful marriage. Baptised Martha.

1835 SMITH, ROBERT (Old Parish Registers Births 600/ Kirkmichael) Page 74 of 328

1835 Births & Baptisms (Page 37)

Smith. Robert son of Robert Smith Weaver in Crosshill and of Margt Griffin, his spouse born 13th Feb and baptised 22nd by the Revd Mr Gray Minister of Maybole.....1

1840 SMITH, SAMUEL (Old Parish Registers Births 594/ Girvan) Page 276 of 626

1840 Register of Births & Baptisms (Page 454)

Smith. Samuel lawful son of Robert Smith and Margaret Griffin was born7(?) Nov & baptized the 20th Decr 1840.

Sources

1. ↑ Death or Burial: "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Deaths and Burials"
   National Records of Scotland, Parish Number: 605; Ref: 60/134
   ScotlandsPeople (accessed 30 December 2023)
   Robert Smith death or burial (died age 46) on 5 Sep 1848 in Maybole, Ayrshire, Scotland.

• Scot OPR (baptisms) for Girvan Ayr Scotland
• Scot OPR (marriage) Maybole Ayr Scotland
• Scot 1841 Census Maybole Ayr Scotland