Searching for early records of James Robertson

[KennyD]

My great-great-great-grandfather was James Robertson who I know was a millwright in Van Diemen's Land and was married to Jane (maiden name unknown at this stage) and was in New Norfolk when his son David Robertson was born on 4 September 1832 and when his daughter Elizabeth Robertson was born on 3 April 1835.

I know he has moved some time after this to Honeywood (which was later renamed Geeveston, Tasmania) and he died at his son's residence in Honeywood/Geeveston on 7 May 1862 (I have the BDM of his death and related newspaper articles) and these indicate he was always a millwright and that he was born around 1801 but I do not know where or exactly when.

I have hit a complete brick wall in finding anything of James's life or Jane's life before the birth of David in 1832. (I have found a number of other James Robertsons in Tasmania around the same time but all of these are easily eliminated from my search using this limited information I do have...)

Absolutely any help in tracing James Robertson or Jane Robertson further would be greatly appreciated! 

Regards, Ken.

[judb]

Tasportal mentions this man but with little information 

http://portal.archives.tas.gov.au/menu.aspx?search=8
Colonial Tasmanian Family Links Detail
ROBERTSON, JAMES
Gender:   Male
Birth   
Marriage/Relationship:   1832 - NEW NORFOLK,Tasmania ( Not stated, JANE )

You could also try LINC
https://linctas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au/client/en_AU/all/search/results?qu=james&qu=robertson&rw=36

Judith

[KennyD]

Yes, these two are definitely him - but unfortunately this adds nothing to my search...  :-(

http://portal.archives.tas.gov.au/menu.aspx?detail=1&type=P&id=434794

http://portal.archives.tas.gov.au/menu.aspx?detail=1&type=P&id=434817

[matthewj64]

This is proving to be a tough one 

There appears to be a few other Robertsons who were millwrights, including another James (from Easby & Robertson Millwrights and Engineers)

There being only two known children of the couple hints at the possibility of Jane's death or departure...

...or, there are two births to James Robertson and Jean Scott to consider

James Alexander 1843
Margaret 1847

https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD33-1-1-p399j2k

https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD33-1-3-p044j2k

One of David's children was Alice Jean, and online trees have James born in Scotland, so an accent may have confused records

David and son are buried in the Geeveston Congregational grounds, I've had a look through some Congregational records without any luck so far

http://www.gravesoftas.com.au/incomplete%20municipalities/Esperance/Geeveston_Congregational_Arve_Rd.htm

M

[KennyD]

Thank you, Matthew...

Yes, I did warn that this was going to be a difficult search and it is proving me only too correct...

I haven't located any document from the time of the births of David (in 1832) or Elizabeth (in 1835) that show Jane either 'making her mark' or signing her name which might help completely dispel Jane and Jean (who used an X) being the same person - but I already very strongly suspect they are not one-and-the-same.

If I could figure out exactly when James and family went to Honeywood/Geeveston, I should be able to definitely confirm or eliminate a family in Melville Street, Hobart in 1843 to 1847 as being the same family.

[Massive coincidence? - the Robertsons are Mum's family; on Dad's side, my great-grandfather Shakespeare Lauritz Duus set up a bakery/coffee shop "Duus's Coffee Cafe" at heritage listed 61 Melville Street, Hobart on 25 August 1906 before moving back to Queensland several years later!]

I have always suspected Scottish heritage - my grandad Gilbert Stuart Tasma Robertson served in New Guinea in WWII proudly wearing a Glengarry rather than the customary slouch hat...

{Note to self: I must organise a clearer photo of that gravestone in the Geeveston Cemetery so I can read the entire inscription.}

All this still leaves me searching for what did happen to Jane, where James was buried and where they both came from!  <Sigh>

Kind regards,
Ken.

[matthewj64]

Burial record for James Robertson (entered as John) from the Franklin parish C of E records (snip attached below)

The church in Franklin was St Marys (replaced by St Johns in 1864) but he's not listed there on the Gravesites of Tasmania page for St Johns
http://www.gravesoftas.com.au/municipalities/Huon/St%20Johns%20Franklin.htm

So, did he not have a headstone or could he have been buried nearer to home at Shipwrights Point?

M

[KennyD]

Thank you, Matthew. 

That's definitely him - died of 'general debility'...  One more piece to the puzzle!

Perhaps he went by the name "John Robertson" to distinguish himself from all of the other James Robertsons in Tasmania?

Kind regards, Ken.

[Dundee]

If I could figure out exactly when James and family went to Honeywood/Geeveston, I should be able to definitely confirm or eliminate a family in Melville Street, Hobart in 1843 to 1847 as being the same family.

Do you not think it is more likely that James went to live with his son at Honeywood in later life?

David was married in Hobart in 1858, was living at Hospital Bay in 1860 and in Honeywood in 1861 when his children were registered.

The son born in 1861 was David Scott ROBERTSON.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/25407702

https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD37-1-59p166j2k

Debra 

[Dundee]

Marriage of a James Alexander ROBERTSON gives his age as 21 in 1864 and he is the son of the late James ROBERTSON, Engineer.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/38651543

https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD37-1-23p99j2k

Debra