Author Topic: W.Robertson  (Read 5340 times)

Offline paulmh

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W.Robertson
« on: Sunday 30 October 11 15:47 GMT (UK) »
Can anyone please help me trace information on a former footballer (soccer) called W.Robertson who played for Sheffield United between 1889 to 1891. He was known as 'Dundee Robertson' as that is understood where he hailed from - he was defiantly from Scotland but his first name and other information isn't known about him.

However he played an influential part in the clubs' history, believably he was the first player to sign for the club. The club was formed on 22 March 1889 and many of the new players came from Scotland as United were a professional club and football clubs north of the boarder were either semi or amateur.

He was the first player to score for the club (a friendly against Nottingham Rangers on 7 September 1889) and the first to score a hat-trick as well as the first player to be sent-off for the club.

The Who's Who of Sheffield United (published in 2008) says that very little is known about him despite playing 38 times for United - only 11 in the FA Cup as they wasn't a Football League club until 1892.

In its last paragraph it says; 'As the 1890-91 season progressed, he steadily played fewer games and at the end, he left and the contemporary local newspapers never reported why or whether he would play for another team! At some time however, he certainly went to Canada as there was a report in September 1908 that he was coaching in Haileybury, a remote part of Ontario.'

From my records he would have still been with United during the 1891 census, his last known game for the Blades was in the Midland Counties League - a semi-professional league away from the Football League. He played at #4 (defender) in a 3-1 loss at Burslem Port Vale on Monday, 13th April 1891.
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Offline JDC

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Re: W.Robertson
« Reply #1 on: Sunday 30 October 11 17:29 GMT (UK) »
good afternoon paulmh,

Haileybury is located in northeastern Ontario, north of Sudbury and North Bay along Hwy 11 - you can see it on googl map. I didn't find info on him, but it would be easier if you provided more info on him - birth date, parents and/or siblings names and vital BMD info, passenger list, etc.. You can check this site (www.ahtomatedgenealogy.com) to check for him on 1901 and 1911 census transcription (1921 not available yet).  Hope this helps.

JDC
Carpenter - B'ham Warwick,
Cole - Devon
Coy - Germany
Langmaid - Cornwall & Hants
Rayment - Herts & Kent
Holt - ? England

Offline JDC

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Re: W.Robertson
« Reply #2 on: Sunday 30 October 11 17:32 GMT (UK) »
Hi again,

Sorry, should have been http://www.automatedgenealogy.com/.

JDC
Carpenter - B'ham Warwick,
Cole - Devon
Coy - Germany
Langmaid - Cornwall & Hants
Rayment - Herts & Kent
Holt - ? England

Offline cosmac

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Re: W.Robertson
« Reply #3 on: Sunday 30 October 11 17:55 GMT (UK) »
http://automatedgenealogy.com/census11/View.jsp?id=87063&highlight=32&desc=1911+Census+of+Canada+page+containing+Agness+Robertson

There is a William Robertson in Haileybury on the 1911 census but he was born in Ontario.  Married to Agnes Paul 29 Oct 1897 Lanark County.  His parents were Janet and James Robertson.  William's middle name was Mackenzie.  This William had 2 children that I can find birth records for.  Ethel Alice b Oct `15, 1905 Lanark and Arthur Cranston b. Jan 18, 1901 Lanark.

On the 1901 census William, Agnes and Arthur are still residing in Lanark County
http://automatedgenealogy.com/census/View.jsp?id=69350&highlight=45&desc=1901+Census+of+Canada+page+containing+William+M.+Robertson

Could just be a coincidence of name and location.  I didn't check the 1891 Canadian census yet to see if William is residing with parents or in the Lanark area.

Debbie


Offline paulmh

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Re: W.Robertson
« Reply #4 on: Sunday 30 October 11 18:20 GMT (UK) »
Sadly he is only known as W - no forenames/dob etc is known. All that is known is that he was Scottish and later in life he moved to Canada.
Name Interests: Holland, Marshall, Townrow, Taylor.

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Offline cosmac

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Re: W.Robertson
« Reply #5 on: Sunday 30 October 11 18:30 GMT (UK) »
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~murrayp/timiskam/bucke/mt_plea2/roberts4.jpg
William and Agnes in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery Bucke Township

1891 census (taken April 6) for Ramsey Township, Lanark 26 year old William with parents (mother's name is Janet Watt from a sister's marriage record) and siblings Jenny, George and Ernest.
I'm not picking him up on the 1881
1871 for Ramsay, Lanark he is with parents and siblings John, Margaret S., Robert C., and Jane K.

Debbie

Offline valeriec

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Re: W.Robertson
« Reply #6 on: Sunday 30 October 11 19:24 GMT (UK) »
If you look at
http://automatedgenealogy.com
Ontario/Nipissing/Haileybury

There is another Wm. Robertson, b. 1865, Scotland, immigrated 1901/1902 ?, hard to read, Presbyterian, carpenter.
He is a companion to Ed Blacklock, b. England, 1866, tailor

I would try to find more info on this pair as the age is about right and also born in Scotland immigrating in early 1900's.

I would look for a public library/genealogy group in the Nipissing area of Ontario to see if they can come up with anything. You can look at the original docs at automated genealogy and may be able to make out more info.

Offline J.J.

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Re: W.Robertson
« Reply #7 on: Monday 31 October 11 16:14 GMT (UK) »
The publication "Hailyburian" should have some of coach Robertson's information.
Thought he might have coached for the college but can't see anything... http://www.archive.org/stream/haileyburycolleg00milfrich#page/276/mode/2up
Just a blurb on the Haileybury Wanderers' Football Club but no coaches mentioned   p.310  http://www.archive.org/stream/haileyburycolleg00milfrich#page/396/mode/2up
Haileybury Public Library  545 Lakeshore Rd., Haileybury ON CAN



"We search for information, but the burden of proof is always with the thread owner" J.J.

Canadian  census  transcribed  data  ©2005 www.AutomatedGenealogy.com

Offline paulmh

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Re: W.Robertson
« Reply #8 on: Monday 31 October 11 16:22 GMT (UK) »
I am interested in William Robertson, that could be him. I am trying to find out more through there library and other avenues so hopefully I'll find more out soon.
Name Interests: Holland, Marshall, Townrow, Taylor.

Townrow Family Tree - http://townrowfamilytree.weebly.com
Football Researchers - http://footballresearches.weebly.com/index.html
Sheffield United - www.blades-mad.co.uk