Birth - William Robertson

[paulmh]

Can anyone help me, please!

I am searching for registration of birth for William Robertson (possibly had a middle name, McKenzie). I believe he was born in Dundee in circa1865 (+/- 1).

I believe that he is the W.Robertson who was a footballer for Sheffield United and am trying to find more information regarding his birth.

[Forfarian]

Go to www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk. You'll need to register, and then you can search the birth, marriage and death indexes free of charge. If you want to view a certificate, you'll need to buy credits. One certificate costs £1.50.

[MonicaL]

Paul, there is one William McKenzie Robertson birth showing in Angus but in 1868:

William McKenzie Robertson
Birth 12 Sep 1868, Glenisla, Angus, Scotland
Parents James Robertson and Janet Jack

There are lots of William Robertson births in Dundee and Angus in general at that time. Hard to say which one could be his entry.

Why do you think the McKenzie name might be connected?

Monica

[MonicaL]

Is this the reference to 'W Robertson' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._Robertson

There is an entry in the 1891 in Sheffield census for a William Roberts born c 1869:

William Roberts 22 coal carter b. Scotland
Clara Roberts  21 wife b. Sheffield

Monica

[MonicaL]

With the reference to Haileyburg, there is a William M Robertson, husband of Agnes Paul, living with family there from 1901. Showing as born in Ontario on his 1901/11/21 entries.

Details on Family Search www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KHLC-BK1

Pretty sure that the wikipedia entry is incorrect  This William McKenzie Robertson does look to be born in Ontario. His 1897 marriage entry gives his parents as James Robertson and Janet (Watt). If you have access via subs, family tree for this William in Haileyburg here www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/26367534/person/12584339920/facts

Monica

[paulmh]

Is this the reference to 'W Robertson' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._Robertson

There is an entry in the 1891 census for a William Roberts born c 1869:

William Roberts 22 coal carter b. Scotland
Clara Roberts  21 wife b. Sheffield

Monica

Correct yes. It is for this unknown person called W.Robertson

So you believe that there is an error in the census and he is actually listed as Roberts. A bit odd that he is a 'coal carter.' I know footballers did other jobs as well at the time. It was well paid but not like today and had to earn extra elsewhere.

[paulmh]

With the reference to Haileyburg, there is a William M Robertson, husband of Agnes Paul, living with family there from 1901. Showing as born in Ontario on his 1901/11/21 entries.

Details on Family Search www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KHLC-BK1

Pretty sure that the wikipedia entry is incorrect  This William McKenzie Robertson does look to be born in Ontario. His 1897 marriage entry gives his parents as James Robertson and Janet (Watt). If you have access via subs, family tree for this William in Haileyburg here www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/26367534/person/12584339920/facts

Monica

I'm thinking it the other way round, and that they are two different Robertson's. I came across to the Dundee pages after exhausting the Canadian route. I thought if I worked backwards I might be able to find something. The information from those threads; https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=827726, suggested that I need to look at William McKenzie Robertson. The census gave all the right signals that it was him, even adding that his nationality is Scottish.

On Ancestry I had a search myself and found someone with him in their tree but it too said that he was born in Ontario, but wondered if there was a mistake due to the Lanark connection. I messaged the person who created the tree and they have confirmed that their details are correct.

This now puts me back to square one!

Maybe this Roberts is the actual one, but not really sure exactly where to look next?

[scotmum]

The Sheffield Independent of 26 August 1889 records:

.     W. Robertson, who is to play centre forward for Sheffield United, first made his appearance as a football player with the Boys of Dundee,     

It goes on to say that at close of last season he played for Strathmore and hails from Dundee.

Based on above...there was an Our Boys (Dundee) team:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dundee_Our_Boys_F.C.

https://sites.google.com/site/dpc1893/team-roll-call/our-boys

and Strathmore football team:

https://sites.google.com/site/dpc1893/team-roll-call/strathmore

Mention in 1883 newspapers of a W Robertson, president Strathmore (Dundee) football club, being involved in attempts to form Forfarshire Football Association.

[paulmh]

The Sheffield Independent of 26 August 1889 records:

.     W. Robertson, who is to play centre forward for Sheffield United, first made his appearance as a football player with the Boys of Dundee,     

It goes on to say that at close of last season he played for Strathmore and hails from Dundee.

Based on above...there was an Our Boys (Dundee) team:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dundee_Our_Boys_F.C.

https://sites.google.com/site/dpc1893/team-roll-call/our-boys

and Strathmore football team:

https://sites.google.com/site/dpc1893/team-roll-call/strathmore

I also found the Dundee's Footballing Victorians site. I even emailed the author but all he has is names and no information regarding the players, which didn't quite help.

The wiki page I believe has been created generated from information in published Sheffield United books, but, that too doesn't give a lot of information.

The census info (1891) seems positive. To be sure, I wonder if they appear in the 1901 census. This might confirm if it was a transcript error or not