Robinsons/Robertsons in Waterford

[AlexO]

Hi all

With the 1901/1911 census for Ireland now online, I have been able to get some information on a side of my family that before has been a mystery!
Unfortunately, this means I am back on the hunt, and hoping that someone can help me with a problem I have.

On the 1901 census for Waterford, I have the following:

Charles Robertson  52
Mary Robertson  40
Bridget Robertson  16
John Robertson  14
Lizzie Robertson  10
Sarah Robertson  8
Henry/Harry Robertson  6
Blond (Blondina) Robertson  2

It is signed, significantly, pp Charles ROBINSON.

I have 2 problems.  The first goes back beyond 1901.  We believe that Charles Robinson came to Waterford from Europe, possibly the Netherlands.  I have no proof at all that this is the case, but would love to pursue it further.  There is also a family story that he was married in Waterford (RC) Cathedral.  Any ideas?

2nd issue.  I can't find trace of Charles or Mary Robinson post 1901.  I have all the children except for Lizzie (typically the one I need!), and there is no sign of Charles or Mary living with them.

We plan to take my elderly mother in law home to Ireland in the Autumn, and would love to have information that I could work on while we are there, so any help would be gratefully received.

Alex

[vasaborg]

You should visit Waterford City Library in Lady Lane , they have a newspaper index that covers the 19th and 20th Centuries, and has birth , marriage and death notices, im sure you would find some information there.

[Elwyn Soutter]

Alex,

The 1901 census gives Charles place of birth as Waterford City, which presumably answers your query as to where he came from?


Elwyn

[shanew147]

I think I'd start with the birth of one of the children's birth to establish Mary's maiden name. The youngest often has the most accurate age, and there's a single match for Blondina - and in the right registration district for Waterford City :

 Name: Blondina Robertson
 Registration District: Waterford
 Event Type: Birth
 Quarter and Year: Jul - Sep 1898
 volume : 4 / page : 640

Once you have Mary's maiden name you could try searching the index for a marriage around the early 1880s


Shane

[AlexO]

Thanks for the responses peoples.

Well, I was given the impression that Charles Robinson/Robertson was from northern Europe, and this "family story" just won't go away.  So I don't really believe that he was born in Waterford City, although it is possible.  I know there was a large influx of Jews from Germany/Netherlands and Poland etc, around this time, and it is possible that the name Robertson fits in with this, but until I can prove any of this, ... who knows!?

I now have worked through Lizzie and her siblings, and found bmds for most of them, but still can't find marriage for Mary, Charles wife, so don't know her maiden name, so I agree, Shane - I will order a birth cert for Blondina (I would feel obligated to use tons of peroxide if I had a name like that!), and see what happens.

I believe that Mary Robinson died in 1907, hence the reason I can't find her on the 1911, but Charles lived until 1929, so I wonder where he disappeared to?

Anyway, thanks for the tips - and I will visit the Waterford City Library when I am there.  Any more ideas will, as always, be gratefully received.

Thanks again

Alex

[shanew147]

....
Well, I was given the impression that Charles Robinson/Robertson was from northern Europe, and this "family story" just won't go away.  So I don't really believe that he was born in Waterford City, although it is possible.
.....

Sometimes these family stories can have basis in fact, but are out in the timeline. Maybe it was Charles's father or grandfather with this connection.


Shane

[AlexO]

Yup, this is what I wonder - and you know what it is like for us family hunters, the merest whiff of a mystery and suddenly we find ourselves still searching databases at 3 in the morning!

I think that is my next step - somehow figure if Charles really was born in Waterford.

[vasaborg]

You should also visit Waterford Archives , at High Street in the City, they have register of electors for the early 20th Century, and you might find out if they were still in Waterford City post 1911.

[AlexO]

Well I am hoping that by some fluke my work might take me to Ireland in the near future, so I could get more time for hunting than I had previously thought.  Thanks for the tips