paper making town of Penicuik
William's wife Marion McGilchrist
a daughter of the Rev James McGilchrist and Elizabeth (Ballantyne)
was born on 23 April 1793 at West Linton, Scotland.
West Linton, an attractive and ancient village lies to the south of the main
A702 trunk road from Edinburgh to the M74 and the south.
The village was originally known simply as Linton, but the post office
that opened there in 1765 was called West Linton to distinguish
it from another Linton, now East Linton, in East Lothian.
The villages swiftly adopted the names of their post offices,
leaving generations of travellers since to wonder why
East and West Linton are 37 miles apart.
Click for West Linton
Marion's father, the Rev James McGilchrist who was born in Stirling
Scotland in 1744, was first licensed to preach in 1774. Two years
later James received a call to preach in Linton (now called
West Linton) and was ordained there on June 20 1776.
In 1782 James McGilchrist married Elizabeth Ballantyne with whom
he had six children, four sons and two daughters one of them
being Marion McGilchrist who subsequently married William Robertson.
James McGilchrist was baptised by the Rev Ebenzer Erskine, a name famous
in Scottish Church history. Ebenzer Erskine together with his brother
Ralph, and two or three other Ministers of the established Church of Scotland
led the revolt against Patronage which broke away from the Establishment
in 1733, and founded the Secession Church. Non conformists who
joined with them in the revolt came to be called Dissenters.
Dissenters were Protestants who dissented from the doctrine of the
17th century Church of England. They were also known as Non Conformists
a name taken by the Puritans protesting against the 1662 Act of Uniformity.
Many Dissenters who were subject to a number of legal disabilities both
civil and religious, were hanged for their beliefs with others dying
in prison. In later years the Dissenters became the Independent Church
which later still became known as the Congregational Church.
a daughter of the Rev James McGilchrist and Elizabeth (Ballantyne)
was born on 23 April 1793 at West Linton, Scotland.
West Linton, an attractive and ancient village lies to the south of the main
A702 trunk road from Edinburgh to the M74 and the south.
The village was originally known simply as Linton, but the post office
that opened there in 1765 was called West Linton to distinguish
it from another Linton, now East Linton, in East Lothian.
The villages swiftly adopted the names of their post offices,
leaving generations of travellers since to wonder why
East and West Linton are 37 miles apart.
Click for West Linton
Marion's father, the Rev James McGilchrist who was born in Stirling
Scotland in 1744, was first licensed to preach in 1774. Two years
later James received a call to preach in Linton (now called
West Linton) and was ordained there on June 20 1776.
In 1782 James McGilchrist married Elizabeth Ballantyne with whom
he had six children, four sons and two daughters one of them
being Marion McGilchrist who subsequently married William Robertson.
James McGilchrist was baptised by the Rev Ebenzer Erskine, a name famous
in Scottish Church history. Ebenzer Erskine together with his brother
Ralph, and two or three other Ministers of the established Church of Scotland
led the revolt against Patronage which broke away from the Establishment
in 1733, and founded the Secession Church. Non conformists who
joined with them in the revolt came to be called Dissenters.
Dissenters were Protestants who dissented from the doctrine of the
17th century Church of England. They were also known as Non Conformists
a name taken by the Puritans protesting against the 1662 Act of Uniformity.
Many Dissenters who were subject to a number of legal disabilities both
civil and religious, were hanged for their beliefs with others dying
in prison. In later years the Dissenters became the Independent Church
which later still became known as the Congregational Church.
A ceramic church
(in the present day care of a ROBERTSON descendant)
which Marion McGilchrist is believed to have brought to Australia with
her as a reminder of her father's church in West Linton.
While it has no manufacturer's mark research has shown that items of this type
were popular around the period the Robertson's settled in Victoria.
"I am not 100% sure, but I think I would be the only descendant to have
had a wedding service in the church at West Linton which was Marion's
father's parish. The original building is a private home now - we had
the service in the newer church, built about 1871-91. It was a
wonderful experience to be where the Robertson's had been
including Dalkeith which is a lovely place. We also went to the church
at Crichton where Marion's parents were also married - that church
was built about 1492 for the local aristocracy and there are
remains of their castle there".
Margaret Jewell - third great granddaughter.
Little is known of William Robertson''s early life in Scotland other than
he had a drapery and tailoring business in Edinburgh
where he was also a Justice of the Peace.
(in the present day care of a ROBERTSON descendant)
which Marion McGilchrist is believed to have brought to Australia with
her as a reminder of her father's church in West Linton.
While it has no manufacturer's mark research has shown that items of this type
were popular around the period the Robertson's settled in Victoria.
"I am not 100% sure, but I think I would be the only descendant to have
had a wedding service in the church at West Linton which was Marion's
father's parish. The original building is a private home now - we had
the service in the newer church, built about 1871-91. It was a
wonderful experience to be where the Robertson's had been
including Dalkeith which is a lovely place. We also went to the church
at Crichton where Marion's parents were also married - that church
was built about 1492 for the local aristocracy and there are
remains of their castle there".
Margaret Jewell - third great granddaughter.
Little is known of William Robertson''s early life in Scotland other than
he had a drapery and tailoring business in Edinburgh
where he was also a Justice of the Peace.
is located 8 miles/12.87 kilometers from Edinburgh.
Penicuik developed as a planned village in 1770 by
Sir James Clerk of Penicuik lies along the northern
bank of the steep-sided River North Esk with the main
A702 from Edinburgh to Biggar and the M74, lying a little
closer to the base of the Pentlands.
According to Stevenson McGilchrist's 1967 publication
William Robertson Victorian Pioneer 1837-1890
Penicuik's 1801 population was 121,000.
As the population of Penicuik was 1700 in 1800
and 697 according to the 1861 Census
Stevenson McGilchrist's 121,000
may have simply been a typing error.
William Robertson Victorian Pioneer 1837-1890
Penicuik's 1801 population was 121,000.
As the population of Penicuik was 1700 in 1800
and 697 according to the 1861 Census
Stevenson McGilchrist's 121,000
may have simply been a typing error.
