David Stuart Robertson - seems to only exist from aged 25???

[RachH13]

Hi everyone,

I've been searching for details on my great-grandfather for years but he seems to only exist officially at the time of his marriage and his death in 1916 (and on a photo taken from an un-named newspaper).   I can't find him on any census or birth records for him, or any form of proof that he really did exist before 1913.

His marriage certificate lists that his father was Peter Robertson, a Gamekeeper, in Kirkmichael.

His military records state he was born in Dull, Perthshire, that his parents were Peter and Nellie Robertson from Kirkmichael, and his number was 20609.    His age on the documents doesn't match - so I'm not sure if he was born in 1887, 1888 or 1889!

The newspaper cutting is entitled "4 Kirkmichael brothers in the colours" and shows 4 men in military uniform - David, William, George and James Robertson.

However, on the Kirkmichael census, there is Peter (gamekeeper), Helen and their children George, James and William .... but no David.   I can't find him at any address on the Kirkmichael census either.  He would have been 13, give or take a year.

If I search for a David Stuart Robertson born in the relevant years, with a father called Peter Robertson nothing comes up. 

Its like he doesn't exist until he marries??? 

Does anyone have any ideas as to how I can find out more?

Many thanks.

[bleckie]

Hi

If you do a search on www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk  and do a search for David Robertson

year range 1885  -  1890   county Perthshire  Parish Dull  you get 1 hit


Have you discounted this one

Yours Aye
BruceL

[Gadget]

Hi and Welcome to Rootschat


Peter Robertson married Helen Scott in Perth in 1887. From the 1901 census which you mention, they appear to have been in Coupar Angus around the time of the 1891 census


1891
Reids Close, CA
Peter Robertson, 27, sewing machine agent, b. Caputh
Helen, w, 23, b. do
David, s, 3, b. Grandtully  * fits with Bruce's find
Maggie, d, 2, b. Redgorton
William Scott, b in l, 15, draper (app), b. Dunfallandy (? - near Pitlochry)


Gadget


PS - you don't mention that they also had daughters  Margaret, Jessie and Elizabeth with them in 1901

[Gadget]

I think this is him in 1901:

Kirk Road, Milnathort, Kinross
George Scott, 35, plasterer, b. Auchtergaven
Georgina B, 35
Margaret, 2
David Robertson, 14, Plasterer's apprentice, b. Dull, Perthshire


Gadget

[Gadget]

I had some spare SP credits:

Aberfeldy parish

May 1887 (Twenty<something - unclear - maybe Twentyninth> )*
David Robertson, illegitimate, b. Ballinluig, Grantully
Parents - Peter Robertson, blacksmith and Helen Scott, labourer's daughter. both parent's signed.


Gadget

* attached

[Gadget]

Peter seems to change his occupation on each census (and David's birth cert). However, there is consistency with age and place of birth. Here's the 1901 that you refer to, showing that it is the same family as the 1891 that I gave:

Wester Tullochcunar, Kirkmichael
Peter Robertson, 37, gamekeeper, b. Caputh
Helen, w, 33, b. do
Margaret, d, 12, b. Redgorton
Jessie, d, 9, b. Coupar Angus
William, s, 7, b. do
James, s, 4, b. Kirkmichael
George, s, 3, b. do
Elizabeth A, d, 1, b. do


Gadget

[Annette7]

His parents married 10/6/1887, a month after David's birth.

Annette

[Gadget]

His parents married 10/6/1887, a month after David's birth.

Annette

... in Perth (Reply #2) - Helen living Grandtully and Peter in Little Dunkeld .

Forgot to say that in Scots law, a child is legitimised if parents subsequently marry and were able to marry at the time of the birth:

If the parents subsequently married, then the child was legitimised under Scots law (provided the parents would have been free to marry at the time of the birth).

http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/content/help/index.aspx?578


Gadget

[RachH13]

Thanks everyone.  I'll check all that out.  I kept finding a David Stewart Robertson, not "Stuart", with similar birth date and from the same area, which was making things difficult.

Yes, I saw that there were sisters in one Census - the trouble is, I had a couple of older relations who gave  me the initial information, and they said he just had brothers so I wasn't sure I was looking at the correct family.  But I think they're wrong, and you lot are correct!     Interestingly, my grandmother (daughter of David) had the middle name of Jessie, so perhaps named after his sister.

My relatives also said all 4 brothers died in WW1, but I've now discovered that wasn't true either!  I think I'll ignore family from now on, and go with the paper trail and people who know what they are doing 

Thanks again .... I'm on a lunchbreak, can't wait to get home and go through all of this properly.