Harrower Family Tree » Margaret Lawson (1770-1853)
Personal data Margaret Lawson
Sources 1, 2, 3, 4- She was born on November 16, 1770 in Dysart, Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland.Sources 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
18/11/1770 LAWSON, MARGARET (Old Parish Registers Births 426/ 40 197 Dysart) Page 197 of 485
- She was christened on November 18, 1770 in Dysart, Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland.Sources 1, 2, 5
Age: 0 18/11/1770 LAWSON, MARGARET (Old Parish Registers Births 426/ 40 197 Dysart) Page 197 of 485
- Resident:
- She died January 1853 in Gallatown, Fife, Scotland, she was 82 years old.Sources 1, 6
21.01.1853 LAWSON, MARGARET Old Parish Registers Deaths 426. 110 176 Dysart
- She is buried on January 21, 1853 in Barony Church Burial Ground, Dysart, Fife, Scotland.Source 1
- A child of Peter Lawson and Mary Duncan
Household of Margaret Lawson
She is married to John Robertson.
They got married on December 8, 1792 at Dysart, Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland, she was 22 years old.Source 7
Child(ren):
- Isabel Robertson 1797-????
- David Robertson 1813-????
- Normand Robertson 1815-????
- Mary Robertson 1793-????
- Will Robertson 1807-????
- Helen Robertson 1809-????
- Elizabeth Robertson 1811-????
- Peter Robertson ± 1795-????
- Male Robertson ????-1797
Notes about Margaret Lawson
1. 18/11/1770, LAWSON, MARGARET (Old Parish Registers Births 426/ 40 197 Dysart)
2. 08/12/1792, LAWSON, MARGARET, ROBERTSON, JOHN, m. 08/12/1792, 426/50 126, Dysart
3. 21.01.1853, LAWSON, MARGARET, Old Parish Registers Deaths 426. 110 176 Dysart
4. NUMEROUS PROGENY. The Fife Journal of 27 Jan 1853 reported the death of Margaret Lawson or Robertson in Gallatown [Dysart parish] in Jan 1853 at the advanced age of 82. She was married when about 22 years of age to John Robertson, nailer, to whom she gave birth to 13 children - 7 sons and 6 daughters, 11 of whom are still alive. The family were all married, except the oldest daughter, and she had a total of 108 descendants - children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. "She is a native of the parish, never having been more than a few months out of the locality where she was born and ended her pilgrimage in this earthly life, the last 22 years of which she has been a widow"
5. The Numerous Progeny of Margaret LAWSON or ROBERTSON
by Sarah Y. Martin
[An abridged version of this article appeared in our last Fife FHS Journal - Ed]
I was surprised, and not just a little thrilled, to read the mini-article which was included in the Spring 2014 issue of the Fife FHS Journal, relating to the extract from the Fife Joumal of 27 Jan, 1853 regarding the 'numerous progeny' of Margaret LAWSON or ROBERTSON. The reason for my delight is that I can count myself in the list of her descendants since she was my 3 x great-grandmother. That small article, and the constant appeals from the editor for articles prompted me into action since I thought that there was a possibility of some other members being interested in or connected to this extensive family.
Margaret LAWSON was born on 16 Nov, 1770 at the Parish of Dysart to Peter LAWSON and Mary DUNCAN, and was baptised there on 19 Nov, 1770. Her parents had married at Dysart on 24 Nov, 1769, and Margaret was their eldest child. In fact, I have only managed to trace one other child, another daughter, Elizabeth LAWSON who was born on 16 Jun, 1772 and baptised on 19 Jun, 1772, both at Dysart. Margaret was indeed 22 years of age, as the Fife Journal article suggested, when she married John ROBERTSON at Dysart on 8 Dec, 1792. Her husband died in Jan, 1831 at Dysart before the first 'helpful' census was taken, but from various entries relating to the births of their children, he is listed as being a blacksmith, nailor (sic), nail maker, smith or feuar. The census of 1841 reveals Margaret ROBERTSON residing with her youngest son, Normand ROBERTSON, in Gallatown, Dysart, and she was still in the same place, but residing alone on the east side of the County Road, by the time of the 1851 census, her last. Margaret died in Jan, 1853 and was buried on the 21st of the month at the Barony Church Burial Ground, Dysart. The cause of her death was not included in the OPR entry, but could quite easily, in the style of the time, have read 'wom out'.
The Fife Journal article stated that John and Margaret ROBERTSON had 13 children, seven sons and 6 daughters, of whom 11 were still alive at the time of Margaret's death, and that only their eldest daughter had not married.
When I checked my own records, I discovered that I have only managed to trace 12 of their offspring, not all of whom were registered at birth. Obviously, I have still to trace one daughter, so I have my work cut out to track her down. I only managed to confirm my 2 x great-grandmother, Sarah, as one of their children, through the couple being named as her parents on her 1855 death certificate from Dunfermline. Of the family I have traced (each one actually registered at Dysart or presumed to have been born there), the details are as follows:-
[1] Mary ROBERTSON born 27 Nov, 1793 and baptised 1 Dec, 1793. No further details known. The newspaper article indicates she was not married.
[2] Peter ROBERTSON born ca 1795 (but not registered), married Ann KELLOCK at Dysart on 7 May, 1820. I have not managed to locate this family in any Fife census and have not located the deaths of either Peter or his wife. I have only included him as one of John and Margaret's children through him probably named after Margaret's father, and from the pattern given for his own children's i.e. first son named John and second daughter named Margaret. Their children were:
(i) John ROBERTSON b. 21 Jul, 1821 and baptised 29 July, 1821 at Kettle
(ii) Helen ROBERTSON b. 29 May, 1823 and baptised 21 Jun, 1823 at Kettle
(iii) Margaret ROBERTSON b. 19 Apr, 1825 and baptised at Dysart on 15 May, 1825
(iv) Elspet ROBERTSON b. 1 Mar, 1827 and baptised 26 Mar, 1827
(v) Isabella ROBERTSON b. 15 Mar, 1829 and baptised 22 Mar, 1829
(vi) Ann ROBERTSON b. 9 Jul, 1831 and baptised 17 Jul, 1831 all at Kettle
[3] Isabel ROBERTSON born 3 Feb, 1797 and baptised 9 Feb, 1797. No further details known.
[4] Male ROBERTSON and died at Dysart 14 November, 1797, listed in the OPR Death records as being 'son of John ROBERTSON'
[5] Richard ROBERTSON b. 1801 (not registered). He married Elizabeth SHIELDS (b 14 Jun, 1798 at Dysart to William SHIELDS and Elizabeth Christian PATERSON), on 9 Nov, 1823 at Dysart.
Elizabeth predeceased her husband, dying at Gallatown in Jan, 1851, and was buried in the Sinclairtown Burial Ground. Richard lived on until 1 Jun, 1865, when he too died at Gallatown, and at which time his parents were recorded as being John ROBERTSON and Margaret LAWSON. The children born to Richard and Elizabeth ROBERTSON are listed as:
(i) John ROBERTSON b. 11 Dec, 1823 and baptised 4 Jan, 1824, married Catherine LUMSDEN (b about 1824 at Ceres to Thomas LUMSDEN and Isabella WILKIE and d 1869) at Dysart on 21 Jan, 1851. John ROBERTSON was employed as a Joumeyman Carpenter and a Ship's Carpenter. Their children were: John ROBERTSON b. 31 Dec, 1848, Isabella ROBERTSON b. 30 Nov, 1851, Thomas ROBERTSON b. 16 Jan, 1854, William ROBERTSON b. 7 May, 1855, Elizabeth Shields ROBERTSON b. 14 Jul, 1857 and Walter Lumsden ROBERTSON b. 17 Dec, 1860.
(ii) William ROBERTSON b. 29 April, 1825 and baptised 15 May, 1825, died 3 Mar, 1904 at 272 Rosslyn Street, Gallatown. He married Alison GALLOWAY (bom ca 1825 at Dysart to Thomas GALLOWAY and Elizabeth FYFE and d 1907), at Dysart on 11 Mar, 1851. Their children were: Richard ROBERTSON b. 17 May, 1851, Thomas ROBERTSON b. 20 Nov, 1852 (d 11 Aug, 1855), Elizabeth Shields ROBERTSON b. 8 Oct, 1854 (d 27 Jan, 1882), Alison ROBERTSON b. 5 Aug, 1856 (d 22 Nov, 1862), Isabella ROBERTSON b. 10 Aug, 1858 (d 5 August, 1879), Christina ROBERTSON b. 14 Aug, 1860 and Alison ROBERTSON b. 24 Sep, 1865 (d 1915).
(iii) Richard ROBERTSON b. 21 Oct, 1827 and baptised 11 Nov, 1827, d 4 Oct, 1892. On 24 Jul, 1849 he married Margaret HALDANE. She was born ca 1829 at Falkland to Peter HALDANE and Jean BUCHANAN and d 1914 at Leslie. Their children were: Richard ROBERTSON b. 25 Apr, 1850, James ROBERTSON b. 5 Aug, 1852, Margaret ROBERTSON b. 4 Jun, 1854 at St Andrews, John ROBERTSON b. 29 Mar, 1857 at Largo, Peter Haldane ROBERTSON b. 9 Jul, 1861 at Largo (d 22 Aug 1895) and Elizabeth ROBERTSON b. 29 Aug, 1864 at St Andrews.
(iv) Andrew ROBERTSON b. 13 Apr, 1829 and baptised 26 Apr, 1829 (d 26 Dec, 1920 at Kelty). Andrew married (1) Catherine BRASS on I May, 1854 at Dysart. She was born 9 Aug, 1832 to John BRASS and Ann DEWAR and died 7 Mar, 1863 at Gallatown. Their children were: Ann ROBERTSON b. 22 Jun, 1854, Elizabeth ROBERTSON b. 22 Mar, 1856 at Richard ROBERTSON b. 4 Jun, 1858 at Scoonie, John Brass ROBERTSON b. 16 Sep, 1860 at and Andrew ROBERTSON b. 1 Mar, 1862 at Kilconquhar. He then married (2) Mary BEATH (b ca 1829 and d 6 Apr, 1878 both at Cleish, Kinross) at St Andrews on 6 November, 1865 and had one child, Mary Hay ROBERTSON b. 28 March, 1867 at Anstruther Easter.
(v) Christian ROBERTSON b. 9 Jan, 1831 and baptised 13 Feb, 1831, d 22 Mar, 1905 at 253 Rosslyn Street, Gallatown as a result of bronchitis and senility. She married John TODD on 23 Jul, 1860. He had been born ca 1822 at Gallatown and died on 21 Dec, 1888 at 243 St Clair Street, Sinclairtown as a result of cardiac disease. Their children were: John TODD b. 22 Aug, 1860 and Richard TODD b. 28 Aug, 1863.
[6] Sarah ROBERTSON (my 2 x great-grandmother) bom ca 1803 at Dysart, and died 28 Feb, 1855 at Back of Dam, Dunfermline, Parish of Dunfermline, as a result of 'menonhegia', her parents being shown as John ROBERTSON and Margaret LAWSON. She married William YOUNG at Dysart on 23 Dec, 1825. He had been born 12 Jun, 1790 at Saline to William YOUNG and Helen YOUNG, and died 20 Apr, 1856 at Baldridgeburn, Dunfermline. There is some confusion as to the number of children born to William YOUNG and Sarah ROBERTSON. One list can be compiled from the Parish records of Dysart and Dunfermline, while another was given by her husband to the registrar in Dunfermline to comply with the information required to register a death in 1855, and the two lists raise some discrepancies.
Taking both lists and the entries from the OPR deaths for Dunfermline into consideration, the list of children born to William YOUNG and Sarah ROBERTSON can be summarized as:
(i) William YOUNG b. 12 Jun, 1826 at Dysart, married Barbara MOIR on 6 Nov, 1848 at Dunfermline. She had been born ca 1820 at Dunfermline to Peter MOIR and Barbara DONALDSON, and died 5 May, 1893 in the Poorhouse, Dunfermline as a result of senility. William had also died at the Dunfermline Poorhouse, only weeks before his wife, on 16 Mar, 1893 as a result of bronchitis. Their family were: Barbara YOUNG born ca 1848, William YOUNG 1851, Peter YOUNG born 1854 and John YOUNG b. 22 Oct, 1856, all at Dunfermline.
(ii) John YOUNG born ca 1828 at Dunfermline, and died at Crossford, Dunfermline, aged 1 year + on 28 Mar, 1829 and was buried on 31 Mar, 1829.
(iii) Margaret YOUNG born 26 May, 1829 at Dunfermline. She had two illegitimate children at Dunfermline; James ADDISON, b. 7 Jan, 1853 whose father appears to have been one Adam ADDISON, of Beath against whom Margaret raised an aliment action in 1855. Her second child, Sarah YOUNG was born on 8 Jul, 1861, and it would appear that her father was James DRUMMOND. Margaret YOUNG married Thomas DALLAS on 6 Sep, 1867 at Baldridgebum, Dunfermline. He was born in Dunfermline ca 1824 to David DALLAS and Catherine FLOCKHART, and died there on 25 Apr, 1896. Thomas' father, David DALLAS was born at Dunfermline about 1799 to Thomas DALLAS and Christian ANDERSON. He was a veteran of the Battle of Waterloo and his story has been told in previous issues of the Fife FHS Joumal. Margaret YOUNG and Thomas DALLAS had no children together and she died at Baldridgeburn, Dunfermline on 5 Aug, 1874 as a result of hemiplegia.
(iv) Helen YOUNG born 19 Nov, 1830 at Dunfermline. No further information known.
(v) Isabella YOUNG (my great-grandmother) 21 Apr, 1833 at Crossford, Dunfermline, and died 30 Sep, 1925 at 26a Main Street, Townhill, Dunfermline. She gave birth to an illegitimate daughter, Sarah TULLOCH in late 1851. It seems that the child was fathered by the family's lodger, William TULLOCH, a cloth lapper, but he and Isabella did not marry. Isabella YOUNG married on 14 Aug, 1857 at Baldridgebum, Dunfermline to William FORSYTH. He had born ca 1834 at Milton of Balgonie, Markinch, the eldest of three illegitimate sons of William FORSYTH and Catherine ADAMSON, and died at Main Street, Townhill, Dunfermline on 16 Feb, 1912. William FORSYTH and Isabella YOUNG had eight of a family: William FORSYTH b. 20 Jun, 1858 at Townhill, Dunfermline, d 11 Mar, 1943 at 243 Shields Road, Motherwell, Catherine FORSYTH b. 27 May, 1860 at Thistle Street, Dunfermline, d 19
Mar, 1932 at 95 Main Street, Townhill, Dunfermline, Isabella FORSYTH b. 1 Feb, 1863 at Thistle street, Dunfermline, died 8 Dec, 1933 at 30 Main Street, Townhill, John FORSYTH b. 28 Oct, 1865 at Wallyford, Inveresk, d 26 May, 1941 at 46 Mid Beveridgewell, Dunfermline, David FORSYTH, b. 7 Jan, 868 at 2 Wallyford New Row, of Inveresk, d 10 Apr, 1933 at 70 Den Walk, Buckhaven, Eliza FORSYTH b. 19 May, 1870 at 2 Wallyford New Row, Inveresk, d 30 Sep, 1945 at 57 Eskside, Musselburgh, Inveresk, Thomas Dallas FORSYTH b. 22 Oct, 1872 at Townhill, Dunfermline, d 21 Feb, 1881 at Townhill, Dunfermline, and Andrew FORSYTH, b. 5 Jun, 1875 at Townhill, Dunfermline d 15 Mar, 1923 at Main Street, Townhill, Dunfermline.
(vi) John YOUNG b. 28 July, 1835 at Dunfermline, d 21 Dec, 1912 at Castleblair Park, Dunfermline. He married Christian Wilson WALKER on 7 May, 1865 at Cambusbarron, St Ninians, Stirling. She had been bom 2 Jul, 1843 at Dunfermline to Ralph WALKER and Helen YOUNG, and died 22 Jul, 1914 at Castleblair Park, Dunfermline. Their family were: Helen YOUNG b. 27 Aug, 1865, Sarah YOUNG b. 27 Mar, 1867, William YOUNG b. 5 Apr, 1869, Grace YOUNG, b. 5 May, 1871, Ralph YOUNG b. 2 Jun, 1873 all at Cambusbarron, St Ninians, Alexander YOUNG born ca 1878 at Glasgow, John YOUNG bom ca 1882 at Glasgow, Christian YOUNG b. 1884 and Thomas YOUNG b. ca 1889 both at Dunfermline.
(vii) Andrew YOUNG born ca 1837 and died, aged 1 year, on 28 Jun, 1838 as a result of smallpox. He was buried in the common ground at Dunfermline on 1 Jul, 1838.
(viii) Peter YOUNG born ca 1838 and according to his father, died at 2 months in 1838 (possibly as a result of smallpox?).
(ix) Norman YOUNG b. 31 Jan, 1841 at Dunfermline and died 18 Aug, 1880 at Golfdrum Street, Dunfermline, as a result of Asiatic Cholera. He married Helen GOWIE on 14 Jul, 1871 at Golfdrum, Dunfermline. She was bom on 16 Jun, 1840 at Dunfermline to John GOWIE and Christian MELDRUM, and died 27 Dec, 1916. As family, they had: Christina Meldrum YOUNG b. 30 Jul, 1872, William YOUNG b. 29 Dec, 1873, John YOUNG born 1878 and Norman YOUNG b. ca 1880, all of the births having taken place at Dunfermline.
(x) Alexander YOUNG b. 13 Apr, 1843 at Dunfermline.
(xi) Janet YOUNG b. 20 May, 1845 at Dunfermline and died aged 6 weeks in Jun, 1845 and was buried on 8 Jun, 1845 in the common ground, Dunfermline, and
(xii) Richard YOUNG, born ca 1848/1849 and died, according to his father, in 1849 at the age of 6 months.
[7] Will ROBERTSON born 30 Dec, 1806 and baptised 4 Jan, 1807, died some time between 1871 and 1875. He married Mary DAVIDSON on 3 Jan, 1834 at Dysart, the daughter of David DAVIDSON and Jane ANDERSON who had been born at Pathhead on 18 Jul, 1804. She died 30 Jan, 1875 at Dysart. Their children were:
(i) Jean ROBERTSON b. 26 Oct, 1834 and baptised 9 Nov, 1834 - d 23 Apr, 1899 at 225 Rosslyn Street, Gallatown.
(ii) Margaret ROBERTSON b. 10 Dec, 1836 and baptised 22 Dec, 1836. She died 28 Apr, 1881 at 225 Rosslyn street, Gallatown.
(iii) John ROBERTSON b. 4 Jan, 1839. He married Isabella CRICHTON on 18 Dec, 1865 at Kirkcaldy. She was born on 5 May, 1841 at Markinch, the daughter of David CRICHTON and Grace PAGE. Their family were: Grace Crichton ROBERTSON b. 31 Jan 1867 at Leslie, William ROBERTSON b. 20 Aug, 1868, David ROBERTSON b. 29 Sep, 1870, Mary ROBERTSON b. 10 sep 1872 all at Lochgelly, Auchterderran, John ROBERTSON b. ca 1875, Robert ROBERTSON b. ca 1877, Thomas ROBERTSON b. ca 1879 and James ROBERTSON b. ca 1881 all at Burntisland.
(iv) David ROBERTSON 1841 and d 16 Oct, 1910 at Cupar. He married Janet MOYES on 16 Oct, 1863 at Dysart. She was born at Wemyss on 16 Jan 1842 (d 8 Mar, 1924 Cupar), the daughter of Peter MOYES and PATERSON. Their children were: William ROBERTSON b. 14 Nov, 1863 at Dysart, Peter Moyes ROBERTSON b. 31 May, 1869 and Isabella Paterson ROBERTSON b. 30 Jun, 1871 both at Falkland.
(v) William ROBERTSON b. 26 Jun, 1842 and baptised 15 Jul, 1842.
(vi) Thomas ROBERTSON b. 28 Nov, 1844 and baptised 13 Dec, 1844. He died of pneumonia on 15 Jan, 1855 at Gallatown.
(vii) Mary ROBERTSON b. 18 Mar, 1847 and died 11 Sep, 1901 at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. She married David KIDD at Gallatown on 4 Nov, 1870. He had been born on 19 Dec 1848 at Gallatown (d 27 Mar, 1891), the son of Matthew KIDD and Annie GRAY. Their children were: Mary KIDD b. 28 Jan 1871, Matthew KIDD b. 4 Feb 1874 (d 1895), William R KIDD b. 1876, David KIDD, b. ca 1878, John R KIDD b. 1880, James KIDD b. 1882, Peter R KIDD b. 1884, (d 1885), Robert KIDD b. 1885 and Thomas KIDD b. 1890 all at Gallatown, and
(viii) Peter ROBERTSON b. 12 Nov, 1850. He married Mary BUCHANAN on 28 Mar, 1878 at Tantallon Place, Edinburgh, Newington. She had been born 1853 at Callander, the daughter of Henry BUCHANAN and Margaret WILSON. Their children were: William ROBERTSON b. 20 Feb 1879, Jean Stewart ROBERTSON b. ca 1880, Jessie McL ROBERTSON b. ca 1883, Margaret M ROBERTSON b. ca 1886, Alice ROBERTSON b. ca 1888 and Evelyn ROBERTSON b. ca 1892, all born Callander.
[8] Helen ROBERTSON b. 19 Dec 1808 and baptised 1 Jan 1809, died 4 May, 1891 at 18 Thistle Street, Kirkcaldy. She married John WILKIE on 10 December, 1831 at Dysart. He had been born on 11 Feb 1808 at Dysart, the son of William WILKIE and Rachel WILSON and died 29 May, 1891 at 1B Thistle Street, Kirkcaldy. Their family were:
(i) Margaret WILKIE b. 3 Jun. 1832
(ii) Rachel WILKIE b. 10 Nov, 1833 and died 17 Nov, 1916 at Dysart Combination Poorhouse. She had an illegitimate son, David WILKIE at Dysart on 6 Mar, 1855.
(iii) Helen WILKIE b. 22 Dec, 1836, died 1841
(iv) John WILKIE b. 1 Sept, 1839, and died after 1891. He married Agnes HARDIE on 7 Jun, 1864 at Leslie. She was born on 28 Jan, 1842 at Markinch, the daughter of Thomas HARDIE and Janet GARDNER, and died 1882. Their family were: John WILKIE, 27 Jun, 1864, at Markinch, died before 1874. Janet WILKIE b. 29 Dec, 1865, Helen WILKIE b. 21 May, 1869, Agnes WILKIE b. 23 Dec 1871, John WILKIE b. 23 Jan, 1874, Thomas WILKIE b. ca 1877, Margaret WILKIE b. ca 1881 and Normand WILKIE b. ca 1882, all at Dysart.
(v) Helen WILKIE b. 12 Jun, 1841 and died 1918 at Kirkcaldy. She married Douglas HARPER on 19 Jan, 1864 at Sinclairtown. He was born ca 1841 at Dysart to John HARPER and Margaret DOUGLAS and died 28 Mar, 1875 at Granton Harbour, Cramond. Their family were: Helen HARPER, b. 18 Aug, 1866. John HARPER b. 1868 both at Dysart and Margaret Douglas HARPER b. 20 Nov, 1870 at Bumtisland.
(vi) William WILKIE b. 23 Jun, 1843 and 1919. He married Janet Langlands WALKER on 5 April, 1867 at the Parish of Kirkcaldy. She had been born at Kirkcaldy on 16 Oct, 1844 (d 1929), the daughter of Robert WALKER and Henrietta BALDERSON. Their family were: Henrietta Balderson WILKIE b. 23 Jun, 1868, John WILKIE b. 13 Aug, 1870, Helen WILKIE b. 15 Dec, 1872, Female WILKIE b. 9 Jan, 1875, Robert WILKIE b. ca 1876 and Jane WILKIE b. ca 1880, all at Dysart.
(vii) Isabella WILKIE b. 18 Apr, 1848, died 21 Sep, 1935. Married Henry RAMSAY (b 28 Aug, 1844 to Charles RAMSAY and Amelia HUTTON) on 2 March, 1880. Henry RAMSAY d 22 May. 1919. As family they had: Nellie RAMSAY b. ca 1881, Charles RAMSAY b. ca 1883, John RAMSAY b. ca 1887 and Isa RAMSAY b. ca 1889 and
(viii) Elizabeth WILKIE b. 15 Sep, 1850, died 11 NOV, 1929 at Edinburgh. She married Norman Oscar CRAIG, b. 29 Dec, 1850 at Leslie, the illegitimate son of John Harkes CRAIG (surgeon) and Helen HUNTER, on 5 June, 1874 at Kirkcaldy. Elizateth WILKIE's death certificate shows that she was the widow of Norman CRAIG, manager of Diamond Mining Company. They had at least one child, a daughter, Elizabeth who registered her mother's dæth.
[9] Elizabeth ROBERTSON b. 9 May, 1811 and baptised 9 Jun, 1811 at Dysart. No other information known
[10] David ROBERTSON b. 6 Aug, 1813 and baptised 9 Aug, 1813 at Dysart. No further information known.
[11] Male child ROBERTSON (twin of David) b. 6 Aug, 1813 died 9 Aug, 1813 at Dysart (David's baptismal entry states that his twin brother died before baptism).
[12] Normand ROBERTSON b. 29 Apr, 1815 and baptised 16 Jun, 1815 at Dysart. It was suspected that Normand ROBERTSON had taken his own life, when he was found drowned in Gallatown Reservoir on 18 Nov, 1866. The Fife Advertiser of 24 Nov. 1866 carried a report of the incident, which included the information that his mind had become deranged after several days 'hard drinking'. He had married Julia TODD on 1 Oct, 1841 at Dysart. She was the daughter of John TODD and Elizabeth CUNNINGHAM and had been born 1817 in Dysart. She died on 7 Feb, 1888 at the Dysart Combination Their family were:
(i) John ROBERTSON b. ca 1842 and died after 1901. He married Isabella Pitcaithly YOUNG on 3 Jan, 1870 at South Leith. She had been born at Abernethy on 29 Sep, 1842 to George YOUNG and Margaret ROLLO. Their family were: Margaret Rollo ROBERTSON b. 5 Dec, 1870, Isabella Young ROBERTSON b. 9 Feb, 1873 and Betsy ROBERTSON b. 29 Jul, 1876, all Gallatown.
(ii) Betsy ROBERTSON b. ca 1844 died after 1851
(iii) Margaret ROBERTSON b. ca 1846 died after 1871
(iv) Normand ROBERTSON b. 20 May, 1848 and died Feb, 1854 (buried Barony Church Burial Ground)
(v) Isabella ROBERTSON b. 1853, died after 1881 and
(vi) David ROBERTSON b. 19 May, 1856, died 19 Nov, 1913 at 67 Commercial Street, Kirkcaldy. He married Elizabeth KINLAY on 21 Mar, 1883 at Kirkcaldy. She had been born on 17 July, at 13 Provost Wynd, Cupar to James KINLAY and Catherine Bachelor and died 1936 at Kirkcaldy. Their family were: Kate Bachelor ROBERTSON. b. 18 Mar, 1884, d 1889, Julia Todd ROBERTSON b. 30 Apr, 1886. Normand David ROBERTSON b. ca 1888, d 1890, Lizzie Kate ROBERTSON, b. ca 1890, Davina ROBERTSON b. ca 1891, Annie Kinlay ROBERTSON b. ca 1893, Normand David ROBERTSON b. ca 1895, James Kinlay ROBERTSON b. 1897 and Maggie ROBERTSON b. ca 1900.
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Timeline Margaret Lawson
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Sources
- Fife Family History, Spring 2014 issue of the Fife Family History Society Journal, Ref. The Fife Journal of 27 Jan 1853. Information from Ancestry.co.uk at the URL below
1. NUMEROUS PROGENY. The Fife Journal of 27 Jan 1853 reported the death of Margaret Lawson or Robertson in Gallatown [Dysart parish] in Jan 1853 at the advanced age of 82. She was married when about 22 years of age to John Robertson, nailer, to whom she gave birth to 13 children - 7 sons and 6 daughters, 11 of whom are still alive. The family were all married, except the oldest daughter, and she had a total of 108 descendants - children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. "She is a native of the parish, never having been more than a few months out of the locality where she was born and ended her pilgrimage in this earthly life, the last 22 years of which she has been a widow"
2. The Numerous Progeny of Margaret LAWSON or ROBERTSON by Sarah Y Martin.
I was surprised, and not just a little thrilled, to read the mini-article which was included in the Spring 2014 issue of the Fife FHS Journal, relating to the extract from the Fife Journal of 27 Jan, 1853 regarding the 'numerous progeny' of Margaret LAWSON or ROBERTSON. The reason for my delight is that I can count myself in the list of her descendants since she was my 3 x great-grandmother. That small article, and the constant appeals from the editor for articles prompted me into action since I thought that there was a possibility of some other members being interested in or connected to this extensive family.
Margaret LAWSON was born on 16 Nov, 1770 at the Parish of Dysart to Peter LAWSON and Mary DUNCAN, and was baptised there on 19 Nov, 1770. Her parents had married at Dysart on 24 Nov, 1769, and I presume that Margaret was their eldest child. In fact, I have only managed to trace one other child, another daughter, Elizabeth LAWSON who was born on 16 Jun, 1772 and baptised on 19 Jun, 1772, both at Dysart. Margaret was indeed 22 years of age, as the Fife Journal article suggested, when she married John ROBERTSON at Dysart on 8 Dec, 1792. Her husband died in Jan, 1831 at Dysart before the first 'helpful' census was taken, but from various entries relating to the births of their children, he is listed as being a blacksmith, nailor (sic), nail maker, smith or feuar. The census of 1841 reveals Margaret ROBERTSON residing with her youngest son, Normand ROBERTSON, in Gallatown, Dysart, and she was still in the same place, but residing alone on the east side of the County Road, by the time of the 1851 census, her last.
Margaret died in Jan, 1853 and was buried on the 21 st of the month at the Barony Church Burial Ground, Dysart. The cause of her death was not included in the OPR entry, but could quite easily, in the style of the time, have read 'worn out'.
So, my research obviously has some way to go before I manage to identify the 108 descendants of Margaret LAWSON or ROBERTSON who had been born by the time of her death in January, 1853. Having totted all of the figures up, I have only managed to locate 12 children, 45 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, born before 1853, a total of 67 so far, but the research extends to many others who were obviously born after her death, bringing the total up to great-grandchildren alone, to 170. At the present time, I can identify 349 descendants of John ROBERTSON and Margaret LAWSON, including myself. At least the Fife Journal article has given me a rough guide to follow, and to come to the realisation that there are still many gaps to fill in for this particular line of research. I tend to think that the missing daughter may well have been named Margaret, since no child bearing that name has been found, and it would be highly likely that the mother would have named one of her daughters after herself. One of the two sons known to have died in infancy may have been planned to have the name 'John' after their father, had they survived. - Scotland. Select Births and Baptisms. Ancestry,com. 1564 -1950, Ancestry.com, 1770 Record for Margaret. Lawson Ancestry.com. Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Original data: Scotland, Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013. FHL Film Number: 1040109
Record for Margaret. Lawson
Name: Margaret. Lawson
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 16 Nov 1770
Baptism Date: 18 Nov 1770
Baptism Place: Dysart,Fife,Scotland
Father: Peter Lawson
Mother: Mary Duncan
FHL Film Number: 1040109 - 1841 Scotland Census Ancestry.com, Record for Normand Robertson Parish: Dysart; ED: 1C; Page: 1; Line: 1260; Year: 1841 1841 Scotland Census [Ancestry.com] The 1841 Census for Scotland was taken on the night of 6 June 1841. The following information was requested: name, age, gender, profession, and birthplace. Database online.
Record for Normand Robertson
Name: Normand Robertson
Age: 25
Estimated birth year: abt 1816
Gender: Male
Where born: Fife, Scotland
Civil Parish: Dysart
County: Fife
Address: Gallatown
Occupation: Linen H L W
Parish Number: 426
Household Members:
Name Age
Margaret Robertson 70
Normand Robertson 25 - 1851 Scotland Census Ancestry.com, Record for Margaret Robertson Parish: Dysart; ED: 13; Page: 1; Line: 20; Roll: CSSCT1851_88; Year: 1851 1851 Scotland Census [Ancestry.com] The 1851 Census for Scotland was taken on the night of 30/31 March 1851. The following information was requested: place, name, relationship to head of family, marital status, age, gender, profession, birthplace, and whether blind, deaf, and dumb. Database online.
Record for Margaret Robertson
Name: Margaret Robertson
Age: 80
Estimated birth year: Abt 1771
Relationship: Head
Gender: Female
Where born: Dysart, Fife
Parish Number: 426
Civil Parish: Dysart
Town: Gallatown
County: Fife
Address: County Road East Side
Occupation: Formerly Blacksmith Wife
ED: 13
Page: 1
Household schedule number: 7
Line: 20
Roll: CSSCT1851_88
Household Members:
Name Age
Margaret Robertson 80 - Scotlands People - Old Parish Registers of Births and Baptisms, 1770 LAWSON, MARGARET (Old Parish Registers Births 426/ 40 197 Dysart)
18.11.1770 LAWSON, MARGARET Old Parish Registers Births 426 40 197 Dysart
Births in the Parish of Dysart in the County of Fife. 1770
Births and Baptisms, Dysart 1770.
Margaret Lawson. Peter Lawson & Mary Duncan had a daughter bapt. Margaret, born 16th Nov. wit. Marth S????, Alxr. Duncan Bap 18th Nov - Scotlands People - Old Parish Registers of Deaths and Burials, 1853 LAWSON, MARGARET (Old Parish Registers Deaths 426. 110 176 Dysart)
21/01/1853 LAWSON, MARGARET Old Parish Registers Deaths 426. 110 176 Dysart
Deaths in the Parish of Dysart in the County of Fife 1853. January 21st, Margaret Lawson, Spouse to the deceased John Robertson, Feuar in Galatown, was interred in the middle draw and their own Stone - Scotlands People - Old Parish Registers of Banns and Marriages, 1792 ROBERTSON, JOHN, MARGARET LAWSON (Old Parish Registers Marriages 426/50 126) Dysart
ROBERTSON, JOHN, MARGARET LAWSON, 08/12/1792, 426/50 126, Dysart
Robertson & Lawson. 1792 Dec. 8th
John Robertson & Marg't Lawson both here were contracted & after proclamation married
Historical events
Birthday November 16, 1770
- The temperature on November 16, 1770 was about 4.0 °C. There was 44 mm of rainWind direction mainly east-northeast. Weather type: sneeuw regen. Source: KNMI
- Erfstadhouder Prins Willem V (Willem Batavus) (Huis van Oranje-Nassau) was from 1751 till 1795 sovereign of the Netherlands (also known as Republiek der Zeven Verenigde Nederlanden)
- In the year 1770: Source: Wikipedia
- March 5 » Boston Massacre: Five Americans, including Crispus Attucks, are fatally shot by British troops in an event that would contribute to the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War (also known as the American War of Independence) five years later.
- April 19 » Captain James Cook, still holding the rank of lieutenant, sights the eastern coast of what is now Australia.
- April 19 » Marie Antoinette marries Louis XVI of France in a proxy wedding.
- May 16 » The 14-year-old Marie Antoinette marries 15-year-old Louis-Auguste, who later becomes king of France.
- July 5 » The Battle of Chesma between the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire begins.
- July 7 » The Battle of Larga between the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire takes place.
Christening day November 18, 1770
- The temperature on November 18, 1770 was about 0.0 °C. Wind direction mainly east-northeast. Weather type: sneeuw omtrent helder. Source: KNMI
- Erfstadhouder Prins Willem V (Willem Batavus) (Huis van Oranje-Nassau) was from 1751 till 1795 sovereign of the Netherlands (also known as Republiek der Zeven Verenigde Nederlanden)
- In the year 1770: Source: Wikipedia
- April 20 » The Georgian king, Erekle II, abandoned by his Russian ally Count Totleben, wins a victory over Ottoman forces at Aspindza.
- April 29 » James Cook arrives in Australia at Botany Bay, which he names.
- June 11 » British explorer Captain James Cook runs aground on the Great Barrier Reef.
- July 1 » Lexell's Comet is seen closer to the Earth than any other comet in recorded history, approaching to a distance of 0.0146 astronomical units (2,180,000km; 1,360,000mi).
- July 5 » The Battle of Chesma between the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire begins.
- November 14 » James Bruce discovers what he believes to be the source of the Nile.
Day of marriage December 8, 1792
- The temperature on December 8, 1792 was about 5.0 °C. Wind direction mainly south-southwest. Weather type: zeer betrokken. Special wheather fenomena: noorderlicht. Source: KNMI
- Erfstadhouder Prins Willem V (Willem Batavus) (Huis van Oranje-Nassau) was from 1751 till 1795 sovereign of the Netherlands (also known as Republiek der Zeven Verenigde Nederlanden)
- In the year 1792: Source: Wikipedia
- January 25 » The London Corresponding Society is founded.
- March 29 » King Gustav III of Sweden dies after being shot in the back at a midnight masquerade ball at Stockholm's Royal Opera 13 days earlier. He is succeeded by Gustav IV Adolf.
- April 25 » "La Marseillaise" (the French national anthem) is composed by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle.
- April 25 » Highwayman Nicolas J. Pelletier becomes the first person executed by guillotine.
- August 16 » Maximilien de Robespierre presents the petition of the Commune of Paris to the Legislative Assembly, which demanded the formation of a revolutionary tribunal.
- December 11 » French Revolution: King Louis XVI of France is put on trial for treason by the National Convention.
Day of burial January 21, 1853
- The temperature on January 21, 1853 was about 4.2 °C. There was 4 mm of rain. The atmospheric humidity was 95%. Source: KNMI
- This page is only available in Dutch.De Republiek der Verenigde Nederlanden werd in 1794-1795 door de Fransen veroverd onder leiding van bevelhebber Charles Pichegru (geholpen door de Nederlander Herman Willem Daendels); de verovering werd vergemakkelijkt door het dichtvriezen van de Waterlinie; Willem V moest op 18 januari 1795 uitwijken naar Engeland (en van daaruit in 1801 naar Duitsland); de patriotten namen de macht over van de aristocratische regenten en proclameerden de Bataafsche Republiek; op 16 mei 1795 werd het Haags Verdrag gesloten, waarmee ons land een vazalstaat werd van Frankrijk; in 3.1796 kwam er een Nationale Vergadering; in 1798 pleegde Daendels een staatsgreep, die de unitarissen aan de macht bracht; er kwam een nieuwe grondwet, die een Vertegenwoordigend Lichaam (met een Eerste en Tweede Kamer) instelde en als regering een Directoire; in 1799 sloeg Daendels bij Castricum een Brits-Russische invasie af; in 1801 kwam er een nieuwe grondwet; bij de Vrede van Amiens (1802) kreeg ons land van Engeland zijn koloniën terug (behalve Ceylon); na de grondwetswijziging van 1805 kwam er een raadpensionaris als eenhoofdig gezag, namelijk Rutger Jan Schimmelpenninck (van 31 oktober 1761 tot 25 maart 1825).
- In The Netherlands , there was from November 1, 1849 to April 19, 1853 the cabinet Thorbecke I, with Mr. J.R. Thorbecke (liberaal) as prime minister.
- From April 19, 1853 till July 1, 1856 the Netherlands had a cabinet Van Hall - Donker Curtius with the prime ministers Mr. F.A. baron Van Hall (conservatief-liberaal) and Mr. D. Donker Curtius (conservatief-liberaal).
- In the year 1853: Source: Wikipedia
- The Netherlands had about 3.3 million citizens.
- January 19 » Giuseppe Verdi's opera Il trovatore receives its premiere performance in Rome.
- April 16 » The Great Indian Peninsula Railway opens the first passenger rail in India, from Bori Bunder to Thane.
- July 14 » Opening of the first major US world's fair, the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations in New York City.
- July 25 » Joaquin Murrieta, the famous Californio bandit known as the "Robin Hood of El Dorado", is killed.
- September 24 » Admiral Despointes formally takes possession of New Caledonia in the name of France.
- October 4 » The Crimean War begins when the Ottoman Empire declares war on the Russian Empire.
Same birth/death day
- 1750 » Edward Law, 1st Baron Ellenborough, English lawyer, judge, and politician († 1818)
- 1753 » James McHenry, Irish-American surgeon and politician († 1816)
- 1758 » Peter Andreas Heiberg, Danish philologist and author († 1841)
- 1774 » Georg von Cancrin, German-Russian Minister of Finance († 1845)
- 1793 » Francis Danby, Irish painter of the Romantic era († 1861)
- 1806 » Mary Tyler Peabody Mann, American author and educator († 1887)
About the surname Lawson
- View the information that Genealogie Online has about the surname Lawson.
- Check the information Open Archives has about Lawson.
- Check the Wie (onder)zoekt wie? register to see who is (re)searching Lawson.
The Harrower Family Tree publication was prepared by Colin Harrower.
When copying data from this family tree, please include a reference to the origin:
Colin Harrower, "Harrower Family Tree", database, Genealogy Online (https://www.genealogieonline.nl/harrower-family-tree/I2080.php : accessed May 16, 2024), "Margaret Lawson (1770-1853)".
Colin Harrower, "Harrower Family Tree", database, Genealogy Online (https://www.genealogieonline.nl/harrower-family-tree/I2080.php : accessed May 16, 2024), "Margaret Lawson (1770-1853)".