Robert Glasgow late Robertson

Robert Robertson, beneficiary under the will of his father-in-law Dr Robert Glasgow (d. 1828), which provided also for Robert Robertson to take the name of Glasgow.

1. Eldest son of Alexander Robertson of Gunsgreen House, Eyemouth (and of Prenderguest and Brownsbank), whom he succeeded in 1804. Married Anne Glasgow, 'natural' (illegitimate) daughter and heir of Dr Robert Glasgow of Montgreenan Ayrshire and St Vincent. Anne and Robert inherited the sugar plantations of Montgreenan and Sans Souci (St Vincent) in 1828, for which he submitted claims for compensation. His younger brother George Home Robertson, minister of Ladykirk, married Elizabeth, daughter of Dr Charles Kenney and Margaret (nee Cooper) of St Croix (a Danish colony, now one of the US Virgin Islands). Margaret was the daughter of Arthur Cooper owner of Montpellier estate or Cooper's plantation on St Croix. Upon his death in 1830 Elizabeth inherited a portion of the estate along with her sister-in-law Elizabeth Wightman (q.v.).

2. Robert Robertson graduated in Medicine from the University of Edinburgh in 1797 and became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1802.

3. Married Anne Glasgow, 02/08/1804. From his father-in-law he also inherited Glenarback in Dumbartonshire. Four children: Robert the heir, a J.P. and advocate; Philadelphia Jane; Anne; Charlotte Marie Cecilia.

4. In 1841, Robert Glasgow, age 65, of independent means, born in Scotland, was living at Holly Walk, Leamington Priors, with Ann Glasgow age 40, Mary Glasgow age 19, Ann Robertson age 18, Jane Robertson age 20, Charlotte Robertson age 10 and Wilhelmina Robertson age 1, one male servant and four female servants. All the children were listed as being born in Scotland. Wilhelmina was the daughter of Robert Glasgow's eldest son, also Robert. The baptism of Charlotte in Edinburgh on 20/07/1828 gives her birth as Rome, 22/11/1827. Anne Glasgow the elder has not been traced and had presumably died by 1841. Anne Glasgow or Robertson the younger was born in Edinburgh 05/10/1805 and baptised 26/03/1805 in Ayton, Berwickshire. It is this younger Anne, the daughter, not the wife of Robert, who appears in the 1841 census.

T71/892, counterclaim from Robert Glasgow Esq. (late Robertson) and Anne his wife and Colin Campbell, Mungo Nutter Campbell, Robert Small Hugh Brown and Alexander Robertson, trustees under deeds of release dated 22 and 23 June 1821, then withdrawn; Robert Robertson of Prenderguest (a son-in-law) inherited Montgreenan estate of Dr Robert Glasgow in North Ayrshire [Scotland] in 1828 and changed his name to Robert Glasgow, will of Robert Glasgow, 14/10/1828, Edinburgh Sheriff Court papers SC 6/44/4/1; T71/1266, Robert Robertson of Prenderguest marrying Anne Glasgow.

1. Cases Decided in the House of Lords: On Appeal from the Courts of Scotland 1836-37, Volume 2, pp. 333-34; fully sourced e-mail from Derek Janes [20/7/2015]. According to Dr Anthony J Cooke via email 09/02/2011, Robert Glasgow late Robertson died at Pau in France in 1845, leaving an estate of £5141, with £4081 arrears in rent due to his late father-in-law Robert Glasgow [SC 70/1/69/533]; see also Anthony Cooke, 'An elite revisited: Glasgow West India merchants, 1783-1877', Journal of Scottish Historical Studies 32.2 2012 pp. 127-165, at p. 160.

2. List of the Graduates in Medicine in the University of Edinburgh from MDCCV to MDCCCLXVI (Edinburgh, Neil & Co., 1867). University of Edinburgh Historical Alumni Database, http://collections.ed.ac.uk/alumni/record/91089?highlight=robertson%2C+robert [accessed 06/01/2016].

3. Burke's Landed Gentry (1837) vol. I p. 508.

4. 1841 census online. GROS OPR Births 685/1 560 78. GROS OPR Births 727/10 129.

We are grateful to Derek Janes, Isla Tusk and Anthony Cooke for their help with this entry.