Alexander Hunter Robertson

[weeweegie]

Am searching for my great grandparents:

Alexander Hunter Robertson; father Wilson Robertson, mother Isabella Hunter
and
Elizabeth Grace Rorke (the Rorke's eventually adopted O'Rourke as a surname and she was known as Grace O'Rourke Robertson to the parish priest in Glasgow); father Edward Rorke, mother Mary Lundie, previously Rorke nee Mulherron

Both from Dundee and married there 15 April 1898. At the time of their wedding they both worked in the jute industry but Alexander eventually joined the Merchant Navy (don't know when, but was a seaman by the time their daughter Alexina - my grandmother- was born in1904) and continued to work as a stoker aboard various ships. Apparently worked on the whalers from Dundee for some time.
They settled in Glasgow eventually. However, I cannot find them on the 1901 census, either together or separately (assuming he may have been at sea). Am unable to find them on passenger/crew lists.

I visited the Family History centre in Dundee in May and no-one there could find them either. Perhaps I should just give up and accept that this is one aspect of their lives I won't know? All suggestions as to where to look next gratefully received.
Thank you in anticipation

Karen

[SarahND]

Hello Karen,
Do you have the names of any children who would have been born by 1901? There is this family:

60 Albion Rd, Edinburgh
Alex Robertson, 23, Head, born Blairgowrie, Perthshire, Cash Collector
Elizabeth Robertson, 22, Wife, born Edinburgh
Amelia Robertson, 4 wks, Daur, born Edinburgh

If I have the correct 1881 census, Alexander was born about 1878 in Alyth, Perthshire which is just a few miles from Blairgowrie, so this could fit. Do you know where and when Elizabeth was born?

All the best,
Sarah

P.S. There is an Elizabeth Rourke, 14, born Edinburgh in the 1891 census who is living in the household of her grandmother Mary Rourke, 70, born Ireland. Their address is Slate Barns, Kirkliston, Midlothian.

[nelmit]

I'm sure you're right Sarah.

Wilson Robertson and Isabella Hunter were married at Blairgowrie in 1873 and the 1891 census shows Alexr, a millworker born Alyth with his mother Isabella at Dundee.

Regards,
Annette

[SarahND]

Thanks for the additional documentary support, Annette! I think we've got them nailed
Alexander was a versatile man!


Sarah

[weeweegie]

Thanks guys.

SarahND, unfortunately this isn't them This is one of the first families I found but further research disproves that they are ancestors.
60 Albion Rd, Edinburgh
Alex Robertson, 23, Head, born Blairgowrie, Perthshire, Cash Collector
Elizabeth Robertson, 22, Wife, born Edinburgh
Amelia Robertson, 4 wks, Daur, born Edinburgh

I have today tho' finally found Grace Robertson on the 1911 census (cost me a small fortune on SP) along with 5 children, Agnes 11, Hannah 10, Alexina 7 (my grandmother and she was only 5), Grace 3, Alexander 9 mths. At least I have a few more children to work with I might get further on. Again assuming that Alexander was away at sea as Grace is head of the household on the Glasgow census.

Karen

[nelmit]

Glad you found them in 1911.

Where was wee Agnes born and what about Grace?

Regards,
Annette

[weeweegie]

Annette
Thank you for asking;
According to the census, Agnes, Hannah and Alexina were all born in Forfar/Dundee whilst Grace and Alexander were born in Glasgow. At least I've now got a bit more to work with (before the next brick wall). The irony is that I know where they started from and where they ended up - it's just that annoying wee bit in the middle that I want to know more about!

Karen

[SarahND]

Hello Karen and Annette,

Here's an interesting family:

1901
30 Rosebank Street, Dundee, Angus
Alexander Hunter, 23, Head, born Alyth, Perthshire, Jute Preparer
Grace Hunter, 21, Wife, born Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Jute Preparer
Isabella, Hunter, 3, Daur, born Dundee, Forfarshire , Jute Preparer
Agnes Hunter, 1, Daur, born Dundee, Forfarshire , Jute Preparer

Besides the fact that the Ancestry transcriber has these poor little girls working as toddlers, it is intriguing. Are you sure Alexander was born in Glasgow? Do you have his birth certificate? Since Annette found Wilson and Isabella's marriage in Blairgowrie, that seems like a likely place.

All the best,
Sarah

P.S. Is this not the correct family in 1881 then?

Smith Street, Alyth, Perthshire
Wilson Robertson, 30, Head, born Arbroath, Forfarshire, Jute Spinning Overseer
Isabella Robertson, 30, Wife, born Dundee, Forfarshire
Mary Ann Robertson, 6, Daughter, born Alyth, Perthshire, Scholar
Charles Robertson, 4, Son, born Alyth, Perthshire, Scholar
Alexander Robertson, 3, Son, born Alyth, Perthshire, Scholar
William Robertson, 8 Mo, Son, born Alyth, Perthshire

[weeweegie]

SarahND - you've cracked it, thank you so much. .
I don't have access to Ancestry and it never occured to me that the name Hunter would have been used as their surname instead of Robertson, no wonder I couldn't find them but recognised the address you gave and therefore eventually managed to find them on SP. =D>
My reference in my earlier post to Grace and Alexander being born in Glasgow I didn't make clear - they were the youngest children in the family in 1911

many thanks once again
Karen

[SarahND]

Whew! Glad that turned out to be correct. For the record, I searched for agn* born 1900 +/- 1 year with mother Grace. The name Hunter clinched it as well as the jute occupation.


Sarah