James Stevenson (1774 - 1834)
If James was the father of Robert, I found one who was born in Paisley, Scotland December 7th, 1776,(1) and spent a good part of his life in Glasgow. In his obituary he was a man of faith, who was a victim of misfortune. He was also educated and a writer. He could have been but there are other possiblilities.
He did however, come to the Belfast area as a superintendent to a manufacturing concern and died there February 6th, 1834,(2) at age sixty-one. He did however come to the Belfast area as a superintendent to a manufacturing concern and died there in 1834, at age sixty-one. I have been told that Robert's father died when he was a young lad, which forced him to seek employ at a very young age. I am unaware of brothers or sisters but if the father is the James I suspect, he would have been in his forties when Robert was born and possibly any other children were born in Glasgow.
He did however, come to the Belfast area as a superintendent to a manufacturing concern and died there February 6th, 1834,(2) at age sixty-one. He did however come to the Belfast area as a superintendent to a manufacturing concern and died there in 1834, at age sixty-one. I have been told that Robert's father died when he was a young lad, which forced him to seek employ at a very young age. I am unaware of brothers or sisters but if the father is the James I suspect, he would have been in his forties when Robert was born and possibly any other children were born in Glasgow.
ROBERT STEVENSON (Unknown)
Another possiblility would be that Robert Stevenson's father was named Robert. This would indicate he was the first and possibly only child. A Robert has been located in the town of Donaghadee, married to Sarah Munn. This couple comes up as Church of Ireland, and while my Robert was identified as Methodist, I have been told prior to 1824/35 the Methodists used the Church of Ireland.
This couple had a child October 9, 1820,(3) by the name of Robert.
This couple had a child October 9, 1820,(3) by the name of Robert.
ROBERT STEVENSON (1821 - 1878)
Robert Stevenson was most likely born in Donaghadee, County Down, Ireland, Nov 1, 1821.(4) I have found a baptism, which I believe to be him naming his father as James. This was not an easy time and while the countryside is beautiful the description of the area would deem otherwise. He also has military records that identify Donaghadee, as his birthplace.
He entered into marriage June 6, 1841, Barony, Lanark, Scotland with Janette Munro,(5) at the age of twenty.
Robert entered the Military between 1845 and the time he immigrated to Toronto, Ontario, Canada which is between 1845 and 1849.(6) Perhaps as well as provide work, it also allowed him to leave Scotland and find a better life for himself and his family. Unfortunately, their life in Toronto would not prove to be much easier.
The Ontario census for 1861 has lots of information about the family and while the family did not have a lot they did own a 1-½ story house on 396 King Street East in St. David's Ward valued at $1000. The house measured only 16-½ feet in width and sat on a lot 99 feet in depth. The family of seven children was listed as New Connexion Methodist. The two eldest Robert 19 and Janet 17 were born in Scotland, while the others were born in Canada.(7)
He entered into marriage June 6, 1841, Barony, Lanark, Scotland with Janette Munro,(5) at the age of twenty.
Robert entered the Military between 1845 and the time he immigrated to Toronto, Ontario, Canada which is between 1845 and 1849.(6) Perhaps as well as provide work, it also allowed him to leave Scotland and find a better life for himself and his family. Unfortunately, their life in Toronto would not prove to be much easier.
The Ontario census for 1861 has lots of information about the family and while the family did not have a lot they did own a 1-½ story house on 396 King Street East in St. David's Ward valued at $1000. The house measured only 16-½ feet in width and sat on a lot 99 feet in depth. The family of seven children was listed as New Connexion Methodist. The two eldest Robert 19 and Janet 17 were born in Scotland, while the others were born in Canada.(7)
* The picture to the left shows the uniform Robert might have worn as a mariner.
Robert Stevenson -- Seaman Certificate
Date of Birth November 21, 1821
Donaghadee, Down
2nd Mate
5’4” ruddy complexion, brown hair, blue eyes, no marks
First went to sea as a boy in 1834,
can write
address while on land Bishop Street, Glasgow
Issued May 1845 in Glasgow
By the 1871 census the family had changed in that Robert is still at home but Janet has left. Sarah is also no longer there. John 19, Isabella 15, James 13 and Agnes 10 are still present and there are two additions, William 8 and George 6.(8) Robert is working as a clerk.
Robert survived his wife by two years but died in 1878 at the age of 56. The transcription of his death says he is only 50. He died from stomach cancer of which he had suffered during two years. In his death notice it mentions he was a wharfinger.(9) Robert is buried at the Toronto Necropolis Cemetery. The body was removed in 1989 and re-interred at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Section T Lot # 154. A letter received by my first cousin in 1979 refutes this and according to the letter it mentions the Stevenson family moved most of their family to Mount Pleasant but not the McEwan family. It implies that Robert Stevenson and wife Janet Munro are actually still at Necropolis. Something to further investigate.
Robert survived his wife by two years but died in 1878 at the age of 56. The transcription of his death says he is only 50. He died from stomach cancer of which he had suffered during two years. In his death notice it mentions he was a wharfinger.(9) Robert is buried at the Toronto Necropolis Cemetery. The body was removed in 1989 and re-interred at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Section T Lot # 154. A letter received by my first cousin in 1979 refutes this and according to the letter it mentions the Stevenson family moved most of their family to Mount Pleasant but not the McEwan family. It implies that Robert Stevenson and wife Janet Munro are actually still at Necropolis. Something to further investigate.
For more insight into the family visit my blog page
THE PLIGHT OF THE IRISH - GLASGOW SCOTLAND EARLY 1800'S
9/17/2016
THE PLIGHT OF THE IRISH - GLASGOW SCOTLAND EARLY 1800'S
9/17/2016
Citations
(1) B. 1776 Stevenson James Ancestry.com. Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
(2) D. 1834 Stevenson James Ancestry.com. Belfast, Northern Ireland, The Belfast Newsletter (Birth, Marriage and Death Notices), 1738-1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. This collection was indexed by Ancestry World Archives Project contributors.The Belfast Newsletter. Belfast, Northern Ireland. Periodicals & Newspapers, Irish & Reference. Linen Hall Library, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
(3) B. 1820 Stevenson Robert Church of Ireland parish records for Donaghadee, Co. Down
(4) B. 1821 *Stevenson Robert "Ireland Births and Baptisms, 1620-1881," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F5T1-XNR : 8 December 2014), Robert Stevenson, 01 Jul 1821; citing , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 0823877 IT 6, 0824373 IT 4.
(5) M. 1841 Stevenson Robert/Munro Janet Ancestry.com. Scotland, Select Marriages, 1561-1910 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
Original data: Scotland, Marriages, 1561-1910. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013.
(6) "United Kingdom, Merchant Navy Seamen Records, 1835-1941," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KC39-9HS : 6 November 2017), Robert Stevenson, ; From "Merchant Navy Seamen1835-1941," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing BT 112-116, 119-120, series BT113, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
(7) C. 1861 Census of Canada Year: 1861; Census Place: Toronto, , York, Canada West; Roll:C-1103-1104; Page: 900
(8) C. 1871 Item Number: 2450579 Stephenson Robt. Age: 49 Province: Ontario District Name: Toronto East Sub-District Name: St. Davids Ward
(9) D. 1878 Stevenson Robert Source Citation Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Series: MS935; Reel: 20 Ontario, Canada, Deaths, 1869-1938, 1943-1944, and Deaths Overseas, 1939-1947.
(10) Bur. 1878 Stevenson Robert Necropolis
(1) B. 1776 Stevenson James Ancestry.com. Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
(2) D. 1834 Stevenson James Ancestry.com. Belfast, Northern Ireland, The Belfast Newsletter (Birth, Marriage and Death Notices), 1738-1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. This collection was indexed by Ancestry World Archives Project contributors.The Belfast Newsletter. Belfast, Northern Ireland. Periodicals & Newspapers, Irish & Reference. Linen Hall Library, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
(3) B. 1820 Stevenson Robert Church of Ireland parish records for Donaghadee, Co. Down
(4) B. 1821 *Stevenson Robert "Ireland Births and Baptisms, 1620-1881," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F5T1-XNR : 8 December 2014), Robert Stevenson, 01 Jul 1821; citing , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 0823877 IT 6, 0824373 IT 4.
(5) M. 1841 Stevenson Robert/Munro Janet Ancestry.com. Scotland, Select Marriages, 1561-1910 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
Original data: Scotland, Marriages, 1561-1910. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013.
(6) "United Kingdom, Merchant Navy Seamen Records, 1835-1941," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KC39-9HS : 6 November 2017), Robert Stevenson, ; From "Merchant Navy Seamen1835-1941," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing BT 112-116, 119-120, series BT113, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
(7) C. 1861 Census of Canada Year: 1861; Census Place: Toronto, , York, Canada West; Roll:C-1103-1104; Page: 900
(8) C. 1871 Item Number: 2450579 Stephenson Robt. Age: 49 Province: Ontario District Name: Toronto East Sub-District Name: St. Davids Ward
(9) D. 1878 Stevenson Robert Source Citation Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Series: MS935; Reel: 20 Ontario, Canada, Deaths, 1869-1938, 1943-1944, and Deaths Overseas, 1939-1947.
(10) Bur. 1878 Stevenson Robert Necropolis
**I will continue to search for more information on the ancestors of Robert Stevenson but for the moment I have hit a brick wall. The lack of documents available to me in Ireland for this time period presents a challenge.**