The Robertons
A Noted Lanarkshire Family
(continued)
Chryston, Cadder, Bothwell:
With regard to the history of the Bedlay Robertons, two very
interesting volumes have been published: Chryston and Its Worthies” by G. H. M.
McIsaac, issued in 1910, and “Old Country Houses of the Old Glasgow Gentry”,
issued by McLehose, one edition in 1870 and one in 1878. From McIsaac’s book it is clear there was no
place of worship at Chryston before 1774.
Before that date the people attended church at Cadder, nearly five miles
away. It seems, however, that the Bedlay
people had their own mausoleum in their garden, but this was taken down in 1870
and the stones were used to build the modern lodge. What became of the bodies the author does not
mention.
That no Roberton was buried in the churchyard at Chryston I
took the trouble to ascertain. Cadder
churchyard may have been used as a burial place, but after a careful search I
failed to find any evidence. Many of the
oldest stones, however, are moss-covered
and worn and are absolutely undecipherable, so in my opinion may be wrong. The main burial ground for the Robertons is
at Bothwell churchyard, but I rather think that applies only to the Earnock and
Lauchope lines.
The work on “Country Houses”contains an article and
photograph of Bedlay House, and also one of the adjoining Gartferry House which
for many years was ...........latter
taken down not long since, and armorial bearings over the main entrance vanished
with the house. There certainly is a lot
of interesting matter in the above-mentioned books, but judging from
authoritative standards in the details, unfortunately, are not always accurate.
Again, in dealing with documents relating to the Robertons,
I have encountered on great difficulty – the name is often misspelt
Robertson. Taking into consideration the
length of time the family lived in Lanarkshire the name is comparatively
uncommon, and the reason for this, perhaps, is that younger sons have been careless
and have allowed themselves to be called Robertson. In the register of burghers and guild
brethren of Glasgow, it is recorded that Gershom Robertson was enrolled in
1747. In the same list two of the
Earnock family are given as Robertson of Earnock. All three were Robertons as can easily be
demonstrated.
To conclude, Lanarkshire has had no reason to be other than
proud of the generations who traced their descent from Robertus de Villa
Roberti, and from those who founded the houses of Lauchope, Earnock and Bedlay.
(This concludes the article originally appearing in the Hamilton Advertiser August 7, 1943)