The ROBERTS / FOWLER family from SELKIRK 1796-1877

[Arwald]

Does anyone know anything about the origins of this family?

GEORGE ROBERTS 1796-1877
B 1796
M ? to AGNES FOWLER
D 1877

This guy ran a woolen mill, Messrs George Roberts and Co., of Selkirk. They had multiple children.

In the period 1902-1914, Forest Mill was one of the premier mills in the Scottish Woollen Industry. But in the wake of the Great War, Forest Mill had, like many others, lost it's principal markets in Europe. As the steady but inexorable decline set in, an effort to concentrate the more profitable mills was launched in 1960. Thus in 1962, George Roberts and Company merged with Robert Noble, Hawick and Walter Thorburn, Peebles. After a brief success, this venture failed, with the result that the weaving interests of the group were sold to Henry Ballantyne, Walkerburn. Following this failure, the weaving mill at Forest Mill was closed in 1967, the wool store and spinning sections following in 1973, when operations were transferred to the company's mill in Huddersfield. Two years on, in 1975, the mill in Huddersfield was finally sold to the Nottingham Manufacturing Company.
Information taken from "The Little Guide to Selkirk Mills", c. 2000

On the Forest Mill site was previously built Hogg's Factory. A spinning mill, built c. 1771, it was owned by James Rodger and William Rodger. Hogg's used the bleaching fields of Kilncroft and Bleachfield.
Information taken from "The Little Guide to Selkirk Mills", c. 2000

Messrs Roberts have the reputation of using superior wools, which of course gives a character to their goods. Messrs Roberts were also the first to introduce the self acting mule.
Writing in 1868, Bremner also noted that this company had, within "the last two years", erected a powerful steam engine, their water supply having found to be inadequate to their needs.
Finally Bremner notes, that Messrs Roberts have a mill in Innerleithen for spinning yarn which is worked up into tweeds at their mill in Selkirk.
D Bremner, 1969

Roberts of Selkirk, renown for their fine Scottish tweeds, introduced silk strips of great complexity to their clothes.
Information taken from Butt and Ponting, 1987

Erected in 1838, with additions in 1868. The four storey block was topped off by a bellcote.
Information taken from C A Strang, 1994

[Piglet01]

Hello,

As they both died after 1855, their death entries can be obtained from www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk

Will give their parents names and mothers maiden name - allowing you to get back a generation.   Free to register.  £6.00 minimum spend, buys 30 credits - allows for download of 5 bmds/census copies (not transcriptions.

On the same site for purchase at £5.00 each via 'shopping cart' are the documents outlined below.  A total of 40 pages.  What info do you have, what are you specifically looking for?

Regards,   Steve :O)


ROBERTS   GEORGE   08/09/1877   SOMETIME MANUFACTURER, SELKIRK, RESIDING AT WELLWOOD PARK THERE, D. 22/03/1877 AT SELKIRK, TESTATE   CORRECTIVE INVENTORY GIVEN UP 02/10/1878   SELKIRK SHERIFF COURT   SC63/34/13

ROBERTS   GEORGE   02/10/1878   MANUFACTURER, SELKIRK, D. 22/03/1877 AT SELKIRK, TESTATE   CORRECTIVE INVENTORY   SELKIRK SHERIFF COURT   SC63/3

[Piglet01]

I think your George may have been married twice as the 1851 census has him and his family below at Water Row, Hermitage House, with a 33 year old wife and a son of 23:

From :  www.freecen.org.uk  I'll let you go to the site to check.  The 1841 census has what appears to be him with a Mary in the household, but she is only 20 and his son James at the time is 13.  Relationships not given on the '41 census.

     Surname   First name(s)   Rel   Status   Sex   Age   Occupation   Where Born   Remarks   
    ROBERTS   George   Head   M   M   53   Woollen Manuf Chief Magistrate    Selkirkshire - Galashiels       
    ROBERTS   Agnes   Wife   M   F   33   Manufacturer's Wife    Berwickshire - Coldingham       
    ROBERTS   James   Son   U   M   23   Woolen Manufacturer    Roxburghshire - Galashiels       
    ROBERTS   Eliza   Dau   U   F   21   Daughter    Roxburghshire - Galashiels       
    ROBERTS   George   Son   U   M   9   Scholar    Selkirkshire - Selkirk       
    ROBERTS   Alexr   -   U   M   6   Scholar    Selkirkshire - Selkirk       
    ROBERTS   John   Son   U   M   5   Scholar    Selkirkshire - Selkirk       
    ROBERTS   Edward   Son   U   M   3   Son    Selkirkshire - Selkirk       
    ROBERTS   Thomas   Son   U   M   1   Son    Selkirkshire - Selkirk       
    BROWN   Jessie   Servnt   U   F   27   House Maid    Selkirkshire - Selkirk       
    LAMBERT   Jessie   Servnt   U   F   22   House Maid    Selkirkshire - Selkirk       
    -   Catherine   Servnt   U   F   17   Nursery Maid    Roxburghshire - Hawick    Surname not enumerated.

Regards,  Steve

 

[Arwald]

What about this census makes you think he was married twice?

[Piglet01]

What about this census makes you think he was married twice?

A possibility only? I would have thought being a Chief Magistrate, pillar of the community etc - he'd have had his children born 'in wedlock', therefore a 33 year old wife and children of 23 and 21 showing on the '51 census and the next child being 9 years old would suggest it to me?  The Mary from the '41 census would have been to young to be the mother of James, possibly a relative to look after him?  I'm being Devils Advocate....



Regards,   Steve ....

[Arwald]

Aha! I've got you, I didn't look at that. A lot of the time ages don't add up in censuses, and it's rude to ask a woman her age afterall

However this discrepancy is something more than the usual 2 or 3 years here or there.

[Piglet01]

Just come off the IGI at www.familysearch.org.uk
and it has an 'extracted' marriage for an Agnes Fowler and a George Roberts in Melrose, Roxburgh for January 1843.

The original copy can be downloaded from www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk, but being an OPR will probably give little info other than the 2 peoples names - you might be lucky though.

There is a good chance that Georges death entry would give both wives names - if he was married twice - and if the informant knew.

Got to go am at work.

Good luck.  Regards,   Steve

[Arwald]

Yes that would make him 43 years old. Unusually old to be getting married for the first time. Trouble at mill!

[Piglet01]

Last post for now.

As eldest son James is 13 on the 1841 census, went looking in Selkirk and Roxburgh for marriage of a George Roberts 1823 to 1833 - there is only one marriage on the IGI - a 'submitted' one

 JANET DICKSON  Marriage:  30 JUN 1826   Melrose, Roxburgh, Scotland

If there was a 1st marriage - a possibility? 

Regards,   Steve