The Robertson family in Tressait, Strathtummel

Grennich and Tressait as shown on James Stobie's map of Perthshire (1783)

-

The first reference to Susan McDonald in Grennich is her marriage to Duncan Robertson in the Blair Atholl OPR, 26th December 1754. It can be assumed that Susan McDonald was in her twenties, so she would have been born around 1734 or slightly earlier. In 1754 Susan could have been a hired servant employed by one of the families or she could have been related to one of the two McDonalds who may have been living at Grennich at that time - Donald McDonald who married Ann Fyfe in 1755, or Angus McDonald who married Janet McIntyre in 1764. However there is no obvious connection. A further complication is that some of the McDonalds in this area were using the name 'Caldel' as an alias.

There is no record of a Susan McDonald being baptised in Blair Atholl parish but, of course, some families only baptised the boys or the eldest children. Assuming that Susan was not from the parish of Blair Atholl, one would assume that she came from an adjacent area. A search of the OPRs in Perthshire show that there were only two possible baptisms: the first in 1708 which is much too early, and the second in 1730. The latter one was the baptism of Sussana, daughter to James McDonald and Kirstain Boyd dated 14th May 1730 in Dull parish.

This is not conclusive proof as the baptismal records for some Perthshire parishes, at this time, no longer exist or were never kept. However, considering her age and that the use of Susan as a forename was uncommon, there is a high probability that this is the same person. Lastly, Dull is a large parish, being about 30 miles in length, but Susan's family were living at Tullichcro (Tullochcrosk) which is only about 5 miles away from Grennich but on the south side of the river. Tullochchrosk, meaning 'Hill of the Cross' is just to the east of Crossmount.

Crossmount and Tullochcroisk (Tullichcro) as shown on the O.S. map of Perthshire (1843)

10th February 1726, Dull parish OPR
James McDonald and Kirstian Boyd, both in the parish of Dull, were married. John Boyd and Robert Deor (Dewar), witnesses.

Kirstian's father probably was John Boyd, the witness. A different Kirstian Boyd was married 12 days later to Robert Menzies and Alexander Boyd was one of the witnesses.

23rd March 1738, Dull parish OPR
John, son to James McDonald and Christian Boyd in Tullichcro was baptised. Robert Deor and Duncan Deor, witnesses.

25th October 1740, Dull parish OPR
Isobell, daughter to James McDonald and Christian Boyd in Tullichcro was baptised. James and Thomas Boyd, witnesses.

-

Generation 1: The children of James McDonald and Kirstian (Christian) Boyd in Tullichcro, Dull parish

The Blair Atholl OPR has the entry dated 26th December 1754, for the marriage of Duncan Robertson in Grennich and Susan McDonald in Grennich. The date most likely was when the banns were called and Duncan Robertson paid 1s to the Poor Fund.

The parentage of Duncan Robertson in Grennich comes from an entry in the Blair Atholl Kirk Session minutes dated 2nd September 1764.

"An attestation was given to Janet Cumming, widow in Bohespic, that one Alexander Robertson, her son, and brother to Duncan Robertson in Grennich, alias Don, listed himself in the Royal Regiment of Highlanders and went to America in the year 1757".

So, Duncan's parents appear to have been Robert Robertson and Janet Cumming in Over (Wester) Bohespic. The Blair Atholl OPR contains the baptisms of three children: Margaret, 22nd October 1721; Elspeth, 11th March 1729; and George, 6th May 1738. There is no record of Duncan Robertson nor Alexander Robertson so they were either born before 1718 or the parents had not bothered to pay the fee for reistration in the OPR.

In 1738 Thomas Bissat, Commissioner at Dunkeld fined Robert Robertson in Over Bohespic, £10 for taking wood from David Stewart's Wood of Kynachan.

This may explain why Duncan's third daughter, Margaret, was born at Over Bohespic before the family returned to Grennich.

Duncan's first child, Elspeth, was born at Grennich and when Elspeth died in childhood another daughter was given that name at baptism. By August 1758 the family had moved to Balnabodach and by August 1761 they were in Over Bohespic. Moving the family so frequently suggests that Duncan Robertson was either a farm servant or was an artisan (e.g. shoemaker, weaver or tailor). By December 1764 the family had returned to Grennich where they remained until the birth of their last child, Christian, at Tressait in April 1778.

-

Generation 2: The children of Duncan Robertson and Susan McDonald in Grennich

There is no baptismal record for Susan Robertson, neither is there an entry in the OPRs for her marriage to John Cumming in ~1801, but this would appear to be the most likely explanation.

-

Alexander Robertson and Cecil Cumming in Tressait, USA and Canada

Before he married Cecil Cummming in 1799, the Blair Atholl OPR for 22nd March 1793 shows that Alexander Robertson in Tressait had an illegitimate son by Isabel McIntyre in Blairbuie, who was baptised and named Duncan. By tradition, the eldest son was named after the paternal grandfather - but not when the child was born out of wedlock!

Alexander Robertson married Cecil Cumming in Carie, Logierait parish, 27th July 1799. She was the daughter of Alexander Cumming and Catharine McDonald, the youngest of eight children (Cecilia Cumming baptism, Logierait OPR, 30th March 1772).

30th March 1772, Logierait OPR - Rannoch
Cecilia, lawful daughter to Alexander Cumming and Catharine McDonald in Carie.

The baptism of their first child, Susan, was recorded in the Blair Atholl OPR, 7th July 1800 while the family were still living at Tressait. The forename of Susan is not common in this parish and one must assume that it was chosen as being the name of her paternal grandmother.

Alexander's son Robert was born around 1802 but his baptisms does not appear in the Blair Atholl OPR, so the family may have already left the parish. The next two children, Alexander and Duncan, are said to have been born between 1805 and 1806 in Schenectady, Schenectady County, New York State, USA. By 1810 the family had moved to Amsterdam, Montgomery Co. NY, where Margaret was born, but by 1815 had moved to the adjacent Albany Co. Finally by 1819 the family settled in Halton, Ontario, possibly to be with other Scots settlers from Perthshire.

There is a monument to Alexander Robertson and his wife in the Boston Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Halton Hills, Ontario. It is inscribed: "Alexander Robertson died Feb 1st 1840 aged 75 years. Cecilia his wife died Feb 12th 1847 aged 75 years. Natives of Perthshire, Scotland". One side is inscribed: "Robert Robertson died Jan 5th 1826 aged 23 years". Another side is inscribed: "Duncan Robertson died Oct 3 1855 aged 49 years. Jennet his wife died Nov 6 1854 aged 31 years".

-

Generation 3: The children of Alexander Robertson and Cecil Cumming in Tressait, USA and Canada

* A note linked to Robert's memorial inscription relates that "Robert was killed by a falling tree while lumbering in Norval, Ontario".

-

Susan (Susanna) Robertson married twice: firstly to Thomas Bell and secondly to Angus McCullum. She had two daughters, one by each husband, Margaret Bell (1824-1905), and Eliza McCallum (1830-1922).

The Children of Thomas Bell and Susan Robertson in Kent, Ontario

-

John Stewart and Elspeth Robertson in Bohally

13th May 1804, Dull OPR
Alexander, son to John Stewart and Elspeth Robertson in Dalcroy, was baptised.

16th March 1807, Dull OPR
Elspeth, daughter to John Stewart and Elspeth Robertson in Bohally, was baptised.

The family may have moved to Perth after this date.

-

Patrick Gow and Beatrice Robertson in Achinruie

Patrick Gow in Achinruie and Betty Robertson in Tressait, married 6 Jan 1797 (Blair Atholl OPR). Although Betty is often used as a familiar form for Elizabeth, the name probably was pronounced in Gaelic as 'Beattie', the familiar for Beatrice. Patrick Gow was the illegitimate son of Donald Gow in Achinruie and Margaret McFarlain in Kindrochit, and was born 8th April 1773. Patrick's father then married Margaret McGrigore in Sleighach who was the daughter of Para Mòr (Big Peter) 4th of Ard Làraich. Margaret McGrigore and her step-grandson, Duncan Gow 'McIntosh', (The Sulky Bàrd) were renowned Gaelic poets.

The first child of Patrick Gow and Betty Robertson was born in Tressait, where Betty's mother could supervise with the delivery. The second child, Susan, was born at Riechaile which was where Betty's older sister Margaret was living. By 1802 the family had moved to Clachan of Struan and by 1808 they were living at Kinaldy in Glenerrochty.

-

Generation 3: The children of Patrick Gow and Beatrice Robertson in Achinruie

Henry McLauchlan in Tomcraggach and Susan Gow in Cuiltalosgin, married 6th December 1835 (Blair Atholl OPR).

The 1841 and 1851 census returns show that the couple had moved to the Kinclaven area where they had six children, but none of them appear in the OPRs. The 1861 census return has the family living in Little Dunkeld with three of their children: Peter; Christian and Sarah. By 1871 all of the youngsters had left home.

Susan Gow, married to Henry McLaughlan, gardener, died at 72 Watergate, Perth on 30th November 1879 aged 68 years (sic) of paralysis. Her parents were given as Peter Gow, farmer, and Betsy Robertson, both deceased. The informant was Henry McLaughlan, her husband.

-

Generation 4: The children of Henry McLauchlan (McLaughlan) and Susan Gow in Little Dunkeld