James ROBERTSON & his wife Ann's (BYERS) emigration from Cruden to Australia.

[evequest]

When and on which ship did James ROBERTSON (1812-1887)& his wife Ann (BYERS) (1818-1894) emigrate from Cruden, Scotland to Tasmania, Australia?

James Robertson was born in Cruden, Aberdeenshire and his wife Ann Byers was born in Peterhead. They had three children prior to emigrating to Australia. These are Agnes (1839), Mary (1940) ( mentioned in the 1841 census) and James, who was born in January of 1842.

As their fourth child, Ellen was born in Tasmania, Australia about 1844/1845, their arrival is most likely to be around 1842-1845.

I have been searching for years to find out the date and the name of the ship.

Does anyone have any suggestions that may guide me in my research?

[maddys52]

Have you checked the images on the Tasmanian Names Index at Libraries Tasmania? There are many James ROBERTSON arrivals and ROBERTSON arrivals - given names not recorded, but family groups often stated ie "Mr and Mrs and 3 children" .
https://librariestas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au/client/en_AU/names/?

[wivenhoe]

What is the earliest evidence you have of this ROBERTSON family in Tasmania?

Did they stay in Tasmania?

Where did James ROBERTSON die, 1887?

Where did Ann ROBERTSON die, 1894?

[wivenhoe]

"As their fourth child, Ellen was born in Tasmania, Australia about 1844/1845"

How do you identify Ellen to be the fourth child.....and to be born in Tasmania?

[maddys52]

I'm assuming this is the death notice for James in Westbury, Tasmania 1887
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/39529266

and death notice for Anne, 1894
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/39595134

[evequest]

Thanks Maddys52,

yes, I have checked through the Tasmanian Names Index and their arrivals. None of the James Robertsons match my dates (1842-1845).

yes, these are the death notices for James and his wife. (Thanks for looking them up.)

[evequest]

Thank you Wivenhoe for resonding to my query.
1. James and Ann Robertson had three children in Scotland, the youngest being born in January 1842.
2. Their third child Ellen was born in Tasmania 1844/1845.
3. James Robertson died in Westbury, Tasmania in 1887. His wife also died in Tasmania.

[Neale1961]

What was James’ occupation?

[Forfarian]

Have you considered that they might have travelled initially to Victoria or New South Wales, and then by a local coastal ship to Tasmania? If so, would they have shown up in the Tasmania immigrant lists?