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Quote from: rickeyh on Wednesday 16 March 22 04:52 GMT (UK)

Yes Neale I have seen that David is named as the father. Intriguing but possible just a transcription error. 

I am not looking at a transcription. The original says Janet’s father is David.

I'm not sure what the explanation for that is. Janet's marriage certificate states Robert Herbertson as her father and gives her full name as Janet Douglas Herbertson. 

In 1851 there is an Alexander Herbertson, 28, wright, born Glasgow, living in Cumbrae, Bute with wife Catherine and children Margaret and Andrew. Cumbrae is where James H died in 1858.

Yes, that is the Alexander who came to Australia in 1854. His wife and children came later. Their son George Henry was their first child born in Australia in 1858.

Who is named as James H's wife in his will? Who was the informant on his death certificate?

Catherine Rankine is named as his wife. John Thomson his nephew was the informant.

Henry Herbertson, mother's maiden name Hunter, died in Glasgow in 1876. Have you got his death certificate?

Yes, I have a copy of his death certificate. Aged 51. Father James Herbertson (builder) deceased. Mother Margaret Herbertson nee Hunter deceased.  Informant was his brother, David Herbertson.

I don't see the baptisms of Alexander 1823 or Henry 1825 in the indexes at Scotland's People. Where did this information come from?

The year of birth for both has been deduced from their age as stated on their death records which also confirm their father as James and mother as Margaret nee Hunter.

There's a household in Cumbrae, Bute in 1841 consisting of James Harbertson, wright, 53; Margaret H, 50; Mary, 13; William, 11; Andrew, 9; David, 4 and Margaret under 1 year. Margaret Sr and William born in Bute, the rest elsewhere in Scotland. The only one in the baptism registers is David, baptised 1836 in Gorbals (Glasgow).

Yes, that is the correct family. I don't know what happened to William and Mary. They are not mentioned in James' will.

Robert Herbertson in Portland, Victoria, Australia on the 23st January 1879.

According to his death certificate was aged 75 so born circa 1804. Place of birth was stated as Glasgow.

His father was listed as Robert Herbertson and his mother as Margaret (maiden name not know).

The informant named on the certificate was his son, Robert Herbertson jnr born 1843.

HOWEVER, I believe that the parents listed on the certificate are not actually correct and I will outline the reasons why.

1/ I can find no record of a Robert Herbertson marrying a Margaret in the relevant time period.

2/ The only Robert Herbertson I can find being born with a father Robert in around the right time period is Robert Herbertson born Feb 1807 and baptised 9 Feb 1807 at Dalton, Dumfriesshire. So place of birth and year of birth are both different to what is on his death certificate.

3/ Oral family history written down in 1965 has Robert Herbertson arriving in Australia in 1830 with his 2 brothers Henry and Alexander. There was an Alexander Herbertson born in Glasgow in 1823 to James Herbertson and Margaret (nee Hunter). He arrived in Australia in 1854 with no family members. His wife and children came at a later date. Alexander was a joiner by trade.

Alexander did have a brother Henry 1825 - 1876 but I can find no record of him coming to Australia.

Another brother, Andrew 1832 - 1901 did come to Australia between 1851 and 1861. I cannot find a record of his arrival.

(Another brother, George also travelled to Australia to escort Alice McKechnie the future wife of Andrew. George returned to Scotland).

Robert Herbertson arrived in Tasmania Australia in the 11th of May 1833 aboard the 'Eliza'. Surname is actually written and indexed as 'Habertson'

4/ A newspaper arcticle of 1933 describing the wedding of Robert Herbertson Snr's grand-daughter, Jessie Eaton Herbertson advised that she was attended by one bridemaid, her Aunty Peggy Herbertson from Lexton. The Lexton Herbertsons were descended from Andrew Herbertson.

5/ Family history again recalls cousins from Lexton coming to visit Robert's family in Portland.

6/ Robert and Isabella's children in order are;

   Janet Douglas born 1835 (Note the second name)
   Mary Anne 1839
   James 1841
   Robert 1843
   Sarah 1845
   Georgina 1848
   Eliza 1849
   George 1851
   Thomas 1852
   Samuel 1853
   
   Isabella also had a daughter from a previous marriage;
   
   Isabella 1831
   
   
If it wasn't for his death certicate listing his parents as Robert and Margaret I would be almost certain that Robert Herbertson is the son of James Herbertson and Janet Dougal and is therefore a half brother to Andrew and Alexander.

Robert snr and the entire family returned to Scotland for a visit in 1855 and presumably visited family. His potential actual father, James (the father or Andrew and Alexander) was still alive, but James' first wife Janet nee Dougal (1783-1817) was deceased as was his second Margaret nee Hunter. At this time James was on his third marriage to Catherine nee Rankine.

Robert jnr was around 12 years old at this time so 25 years later may have simply got the parents name wrong.

I have a copy of the will of James Herbertson (1780 - 1858) and all of his children are mentioned (including Andrew and Alexander who are in Australia) except for Robert (if he is a son) and Henry. (I have Henry's death certificate that confirms James and Margaret as his parents).

So what do people think?

Can you find any record of Robert Herbertson, the son of Robert and Margaret?

Can you find any record of Robert Herbertson, the son of James and Janet?

Can you the find the birth record of Henry, the son of James and Janet?

Thanks for reading all this and if you need any further information, please let me know.

Rickey Herbertson

Sorry for the late reply Jamjar. Had to do some work ;-)  Yes that is George's death. He did alright for himself as the son of a 'peasant'.  As far as I can tell he didn't come out with the Pitts but I'm having trouble finding a record of his arrival. The closest I have to age at arrival is on the on the 'Morning Star' in 1856 but age is a bit out and date doesn't match his obituary.

Yep, that is my George. But who was the George the witness at the wedding?