Roberton Family History

Going through some family items, I came across an article entitled "The Robertons -A Noted Lanarkshire Family". It had originally been published in the Hamilton Advertiser (Hamilton, South Lanarkshire Scotland), August 7th, 1943 and a typewritten copy was sent to my father Arnold Roberton in Canada by his brother Hugh who lived in Canberra Australia. Hugh wrote the following note to accompany the article:

"Recently I discovered a Richard Roberton who is a pilot with a Company flying planes in the North West of West Australia & in the Northern Territory – Aerial Enterprises, of Derby, W.A.

He is a New Zealander who claims kinship and his eldest son, Hugh is doing Medicine at the Melbourne University.

He was good enough to send me a Photostat copy of “The Hamilton Advertiser” of 7^th August, 1943, and the enclosure is an accurate copy."

There was no mention of the article's author in my copy, however, thanks to the library at the South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture Ltd., I have since discovered that the piece was written by someone with the initials W. R.

A Roberton perhaps?

As it is fairly long, I will present it in several postings.

The Robertons

A Noted Lanarkshire Family

There are four distinct families of Roberton, all related and probably descended from the original stock.  This indeed seems a certainty for so far as has been ascertained there was only one barony claiming the name.  Apart from the main line, there were Robertons at Earnock, Lauchope and Chryston.  After the Bedlay family several people now living claim their descent, and Lauchope House near Holytown, most fortunate of all, still has a Roberton for its laird.

An Upper Ward Roberton:

The family as is well known,  is the oldest in Lanarkshire.  Over 800 years ago Robertons held the lands of Roberton, that pretty little village to which they gave their name and from which they dated their charters.  In the year 1200 the then baron signed himself “Robertus de Villa Roberti”, but a century later the estates were forfeited.  The cause of this was understandable.  In 1296 Steven de Roberton swore fealty To Edward I.  Later, stupidly for himself and his posterity, he espoused the cause of the unworthy Balliol. These facts, unfortunately, were remembered by King Robert the Bruce when he came into power.  In revenge he outlawed the baron and bestowed his possessions on Sir James Douglas, and ancestor of the Earls of Morton.

It now remains to be recorded that in these modern and matter of fact days there is nothing left in Roberton or its neighbourhood to tell of those who, in the olden time, possessed the lands.  No fragment of their ancient fortalice exists, and the very site of it has been forgotten.  Time, the great iconoclast, has effectively obliterated all remembrance of the family, and nothing but the name survives.

Robertons of Earnock:

But the above crushing blow did not damp the spirit of the race.  Shortly afterwards the Robertons set up house at Earnock.  Their stay lasted many generations, and while there they won the esteem of the shire and mad many attractive alliances with members of the Scottish nobility.  It is on record that Anna, daughter of a John Roberton of Earnock, married the Marquis of Hamilton, and the daughter of another John became the Countess of Elington.  But, alas, no Robertons are not to be found at Earnock.  Their ancient and honoured name has been lost, their abode was demolished.  That seems a pity, for a friend of mine who was given the privilege of inspecting Earnock House told me the great hallway was beautifully decorated with armorial bearings of the Roberton, and that the fireplace was remarkable for its carving.