Roberton Family History

The Robertons

A Noted Lanarkshire Family

(continued)

The Bedlay Robertons:

But another branch of the family was flourishing, and those Robertons were destine to make a considerable stir in the world.  I refer to the line of Bedlay.  Bedlay House, built by the Earls of Kilmarnock, stands at a little distance to the south of Chryston.  The environment is beautiful, a clear fast-running stream flows through the estate, and in the old days the place must have been exceptionally attractive.  That people found it so is convinced by the fact that a local weaver and poet, Walter Watson, who was born in 1780, wrote in praise of it a song which is still remembered and sung, “The Braes O’Bedlay”.

About the year 1580 was born James Roberton, who held the title of Lord Bedlay.  In 1618 he was Professor of Philosophy and Humanity of Glasgow University.  He became Rector of the same on the third day of April, 1664, and Lord of Session in 1661.  As he lived through the Restoration period of Charles II, he must have witnessed many strange events.  He died in the month of May, 1661.  On the 17^th June, 1664, his son Archibald was served heir. He was granted arms at some period between 1672 and 1678.  His wife was Margaret, a daughter of James Hamilton of Woodhall, whose mother was Anne, daughter of Sir James Hamilton of Broomhill.

Notable Matches:

The next owner Archibald died about 1723.  His wife was Christian, daughter of  John Roberton of Earnock, so thus again the Roberton blood was mingled.  The next heir, so of the above couple, was James, who inherited the estate in 1724 and died about 1778.  His wife was Jean Hamilton, daughter of James Hamilton, third of Dalziel, by Margaret Hamilton, daughter of Sir Archibald of Rosehall, Baronet.  In this connection, it is curious to note how many of the Robertons married members of the Hamilton family.  Through the centuries they continued to do so and the reason for their preference is inexplicable.

But other notable matches were made.  For instance, Janet, daughter of James Roberton, Principal Clerk of Sessions, who died in 1719, married William, eighth Earl of Kincardine, the ancestor of the Earls of Elgin. Janet was a celebrated beauty in her day and it is said the well-known writer of Scottish songs, Hamilton of Bangour, praised her good looks in one of his compositions.  But that, I fear, is an error.  Recently, I made an exhaustive study of Hamilton’s works, but failed to trace the verses.  The most feasible explanation I can give is that the work of another writer was credited to Hamilton.

Further, the third son of James Roberton, mentioned above was William of Robertonhall, who died in 1747.  He was a well-known doctor, and it is believed that by his skill he cured of an eye trouble no less a person than Prince Charles Edward Stewart.  With Archibald, born about 1729, served heir in 1779, and died in Edinburgh on 14^th November, 1798, the reign of the Robertons of Bedlay came to an end.  In 1786 the estate was sold to Thomas Dunlop, a near relative of the family.

(Article originally appearing in the Hamilton Advertiser August 7, 1943.  See previous post for further details.)

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.

Stop Harper

The Mongol Derby

Cheers to my friend Katherine Friedley who is about to embark on a 10 day, 1000 km endurance horse race across Mongolia! She is the only Canadian participant in this year’s Mongol Derby, billed as the longest toughest horse race in the world. Her race name is ‘Outlaw Kate’ and she will be riding for the race’s official charity MercyCorps Mongolia. For more information about this incredible adventure (or making a donation) go to TheAdventurists Mongol Derby website or read Aleesha Harris’s Vancouver Sun interview. In this photo, Kathy is riding another friend’s Icelandic pony, Dropi, during a recent visit to Hornby Island BC.

Happy Birthday Paul McCartney

From the first time I heard the Beatles as a young teenager, I knew nothing would ever be the same. It was a musical (and cultural) turning point for me and remains so almost 50 years later. 

Like most parents in the 60’s, mine were skeptical. My father in particular was not impressed. This largely had to do with the fact that his father was Scottish musician Hugh Roberton, conductor of the world famous Glasgow Orpheus Choir. Now that was real music, my father insisted, and if there was any doubt, Hugh Roberton had become Sir Hugh in 1931 as a result of his musical achievements.

Just the same, I persevered and the years went by. One day, shortly before his 90^th birthday, my father completely out of the blue and in his broad Scots accent announced that “the Beatles were wonderful composers”. I was astonished and reminded him that he certainly hadn’t thought so in the 1960’s! “No”, he said.”I didn’t then, but I do now.”

Sadly, my father died in 1993 so didn’t live long enough to see Paul McCartney become Sir Paul as a result of his musical achievements. Nevertheless, I think he would have approved of the honor.

 I’d like to offer this little story as my gift to Sir Paul today on his 70^th birthday.

Hotel Ware From The "Alicco" - Where Was The "Alicco"

One of the things I like to collect is old hotel ware and in my travels between Alberta and British Columbia, I’ve found three pieces marked “Alicco”.  The lettering has always made me think of something exotic, like Morocco  perhaps, and a dining room full of palms and lazy ceiling fans. But it’s probably a lot more likely to have been an ordinary cafe or hotel in some little Western Canadian town.

Does anyone know where the Alicco was?  If you know anything about it, I’d be interested in your comment or an email.

Remember the “Alicco”!

Canada Post and eBay

I occasionally sell items on eBay and this morning, a potential customer contacted me to inquire about shipping a clock (parcel weighs just over three pounds) to Portugal.  I headed to the on-line Canada Post parcel calculator for a quote and this is what I discovered:

·         Small Packet International Surface - $21.07 – no insurance option – would take   approximately a month and a half to arrive.

·         International Parcel – Surface – now coming up at $40.62 (but half an hour ago was $37.79).  This would also take a month and a half to arrive but you do have the option of buying up to $1000 worth of insurance.

·         Small Packet International –Air -$50.26 including $100 insurance but no option to purchase any additional insurance!

·         X-Press Post International - $77. 22 (half an hour ago coming up at $73!) – seven day delivery supposedly guaranteed and insurance.

Alas, I have used surface overseas mail before and there is no way these parcels arrive in the time frame Canada Post suggests.  The last one took almost three months! So for a difference of $10.00 ($12.00 half an hour ago), the only possibility would be the Small Packet International Air for $50, except for one thing – no additional insurance option.  Surely I was misunderstanding this.  How could the cheaper surface shipping be insurable but not the air mail? It made no sense.

So, I called the Customer Service 800 number and indeed, I was reading the webpage correctly. Only up  $100 insurance for the air mail parcel is allowed but up to $1000 on the cheaper surface option.  Why?  The best answer I could get was “because it was a Small Packet”, although the size of the parcel did not change for any of the other quotes. When the representative suggested my best option was the X-Press Post for $77.22, I asked who in their right mind would pay $77.00, and her answer was to say “that was none of their concern”!

And that is where the problem lies.  Have any of these rates been established by anyone using a single realistic thought? Perhaps Canada Post should be concerned about such ridiculous rates and policies, especially considering what a boon on-line auctions have been to postal systems in general, and since these rates have a significant impact on Canadians being able to compete in the world-wide marketplace. Sending the information on to my potential customer in Portugal, I felt like a complete idiot. In order to have adequate insurance, he either will have to pay in excess of $77 or be prepared to wait for months to receive his item.  Have I heard back from him?  Of course not!

And one final consideration...Ebay is now charging their final value fee based on the selling price as well as the shipping amount.  In part, the intention is to encourage sellers to offer reasonable shipping charges to their customers.  Since “reasonable” is not any part of Canada Post’s mandate, we clearly have a problem.