While looking for the author of The Robertons – A Noted
Lanarkshire Family which appears in three previous posts (originally printed in
the Hamilton Advertiser on August 7th, 1943), a librarian at the
South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture Center also found another piece on
Roberton history, again from the Hamilton Advertiser, but published in July
1874. Entitled Earnock and its Early Proprietors, it is another lengthy
writing that I will present in a number of postings.
Earnock and its
Early Proprietors (continued)
(from the Hamilton
Advertiser, July 1874)
The Robertouns (cont.)
According to Lodge, “This lady is the youngest daughter of
the late Sir Francis Burdett, Baronet of Foremark, Co. Derby, and Ramsbury,
Wilts (many years M.P. for Westminster), who was born 25th January,
1770, and died 23 January, 1884, having married 5th August, 1799,
Sophia, youngest daughter of the late Thomas Coutts, Esq., banker, of London.
She was born 25th April, 1814; assumed by royal license the
additional surname and arms of Coutts, under the will of her grandfather’s
widow, Harriet, in 1837; and was created Baroness Burdett-Coutts of Highgate
and Brookfield, Middlesex, in 1871.”
But to return from this digression. John Gray of Auchingraymount married Jean
Robertoun, second daughter of Lord Bedlay.
This John was probably a son of Professor Rae, who married on of the
daughters of Archibald of Stonehall.
Their daughter, Mary Rae, was married to Robert Hamilton of Fairholm,
“wrytar and Town-Clerk of Hamilton, and wrytar to His Grace the Duke of
Hamilton.
Another cadet of the family was John Robertoun,
Sheriff-Clerk of Lanarkshire, and brother of Bartholomew, laird of
Earnock. He married Elizabeth, daughter
of John Hamilton of Fairholm, and their eldest daughter, Margaret, married 5th
September, 1706, her cousin, John Hamilton of Fairholm, writer in Hamilton, and
bailie of the regality and dukedom of Hamilton.
Another daughter, Elizabeth, was married to William Cullen of Sauchs,
and was mother of the celebrated physician Dr. William Cullen, as is shown by
the following extract from “The Register of Births and Baptisms of the Parish
of Hamilton”: - “William Cullen of Sauchs, writer and Town-Clerk of Hamilton,
and Elizabeth Robertoun, his lawful married wife, had their second son brought
forth on Saturday morning, about 6 of the clock, 5th of April, 1710,
and baptised William on Tuesday forenoon, the 2nd of May, 1710, in
the Kirk of Hamilton, by Mr. Alexander Findlator, collegiate minister of
Hamilton. The witness, John Robertoun,
Sheriff-Clerk, and John Hamilton of Fairhom.”
Another branch of the family, engaged in mercantile pursuits
in Glasgow, retained that part of the estate called Kennedies up to a recent
period, when it was sold to the present proprietor, Mr. John Dunn.
This ancient and honourable family is now extinct in the
district. “Their memory and their name is gone.” Still, for the antiquary and
the genealogist there is a melancholy pleasure in tracing their pedigree, and
musing over the changes which the vicissitudes of time and the reverses of
fortune have brought about in connection with their history.
This concludes the 1874 writing. Although lengthy and written in an old and somewhat cumbersome style that can be difficult to follow, I feel it is well worth
posting to for the benefit of other Robertons who are interested in their
family history.
