Robert Stevenson
(abt 1834)
Robert Barclay MacPherson Stevenson
was born about 1834 and according to the 1851 census that was in Canada. He was deceased
by about 1913 but his widow was Sarah Fraser who was alive at this time and
residing at Durham Downs, Yeulba, Queensland, Australia. This information was
found during a search of legal papers an extract of which reads thus:-
' VI. The said claimant is the widow of Robert
Barclay MacPherson Stevenson, son of the said John Stevenson, the eldest son of
the testator William Stevenson. The said John Stevenson had two of a family, the
said Robert Barclay MacPherson Stevenson and Margaret Stevenson, who married and
had issue. '
It is not obvious from this extract whether
Robert had children or not.
Information has been
received which sheds some doubt on this. I do not know whether there is another
document containing more evidence or not at this time but it would seem that the
family knew of his widow and where she was. Perhaps she could have seen the
advert in the newspaper for heirs of William Stevenson and applied, thinking it
was one in the same. This matter will have to remain unresolved until I can wade
through more of the legal stuff. It may well be that there is a paper relating
to her and whether or not the two men are indeed one in the same.
If it turns out to be that they are the
same, then it would appear that John Stevenson married in Canada whilst having a
wife and children in Scotland. Bigamy or an annulment? Why did the other
children, or their descendants, not also put in a claim? Did Sarah keep quiet
about them?
Here is the 'other' family in case it turns
out to be the case!
John Stevenson and Ann McPherson
John Stevenson married Ann McPherson on the 9th February 1816
at Laggan.
Children of John Stevenson and Ann McPherson are:-
James Stevenson, born 3rd January 1817, Fort William
Robert Barclay McPherson Stevenson, born 2nd May 1819, Fort
William
Isabella Stevenson, born 19th February 1822,, Fort William.
She married John Ross.
John McPherson Stevenson, born 1st April 1824, at Cluny,
Laggan
This John Stevenson is a storekeeper and there is no record
of him after the move to Laggan. In 1841 his wife is at Laggan and a grocer and
by 1851 is an annuitant and widow. She died in Edinburgh on the 7th April 1859.
The two eldest sons emigrated to Melbourne in 1841 and James
is thought to have gone to America.
The above Robert B. McP. Stevenson, appears to have married
Amelia Cameron about 1848 and emigrated. They had seven children. After Amelia
died (9th March 1888) Robert re-married his first cousin Sarah Fraser McPherson
but they had no children. Ameila died on the 30th November 1926.
If these two John Stevenson's turn out to be one in the same,
then his disappearance about 1824 could account for him going off to Canada.
John would certainly have been of an age to be married in 1816. The Robert, who
was his 'son' in Canada cannot be the same one as above as he was born about
1834. It also states on a legal document that Margaret Stevenson is the only
legitimate heir.
It certainly is intriguing. More research will
eventually be done on this, but whether or not it resolves this is
anyone's guess!
Thanks to John Hawkins in Australia for sticking a
spanner in the works! The additional family group is curtsey of his
work.
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