The Children of Margaret and James Robertson

 

Alexander Robertson

 

Alexander,  eldest  son  of  Margaret  and James Robertson,  born at Glenshee on  14 April 1841, was 15 years of age when he landed in Dunedin with his parents, and he assisted his father in the work on Mr Charles Kettle's property with headquarters at Totara Island.

 

When his father took up land at Puerua he worked there until he purchased a farm close to his father's place.  He later sold the farm and went to live in Kaitangata where he established an Insurance Agency.   He was well known and respected by all in the Kaitangata district.

 

Alexander married Margaret Gordon and they had one daughter, Margaret.  

 

Both Alexander and his wife died at Kaitangata and are buried there.

 

 

William Robertson

 

William Robertson was the second son of Margaret and James Robertson, born at Glenshee on 7 December 1843.  He lived and worked on his father's farm all his life except for a short time when he was engaged in carting goods and material to the gold diggings at Gabriels Gully.

 

William did not marry.   He died at Puerua and is buried at Warepa.

 

 

James Robertson

 

James, ( left in photo)  third son of Margaret and James Robertson, was born at Glenshee on 17 September 1845.

 

He worked on his father's farm until he grew up and went to work for other farmers in the Clutha district.

 

Later he and his brother, Peter, operated a portable threshing mill.  Their work took them over a wide area in the South Molyneux and Owaka districts, but when the traction engine was introduced, they had to seek other means of earning a living.

 

James was appointed District Agent  for Macalister Implements and became a well­ known figure throughout the Clutha and Owaka districts.

 

He married Margaret Somerville, a member of the well-known Somerville family, who  operated  the first power-driven flour mill in the Puerua district.  They had no family.

 

In later years James and his wife retired to live in Clinton where they both died  - James in 1921 and Margaret 1928.  They are buried at Warepa.

 

 

Elspeth Robertson (Ayson)

 

Elspeth, second daughter of Margaret and James Robertson, was born at Glenshee on 15 October 1847.

 

She married Peter Ayson Jnr and died, in childbirth, in 1876.  She is buried at Warepa .

 

 

Peter Robertson

 

Peter, was the youngest son of Margaret and James Robertson, born at Glenshee on 7 October 1849.  

 

He was probably best known in the Clutha district for his public affairs work.   He followed the usual course of sons of the pioneers, that is, he worked on his father's farm when not engaged in helping other farmers in the neighbourhood, until the time came for him to branch out for himself.   This opportunity came when he and his brother James bought a threshing plant.   After several years in operating this he purchased his brother Alexander's farm and lived there until his death.

 

Peter was always willing to assist in any worthy cause in the Clutha district.   He was a member of the Executive Committee of the Clutha Pioneers Association and assisted in the publishing of  "Reminiscences of the Early Settlement of Dunedin and South Otago."

 

For many years Peter was a member of the School Committee and an elder of the Puerua Presbyterian Church.  

 

He married Sarah McCloskie and they had a family of one daughter and four sons.

 

Peter, who died in 1922, and his wife are buried at Warepa.

 

 

Mary Robertson

 

Mary was the youngest daughter of Margaret and James Robertson, born at Glenshee in 1851.

 

She came to Dunedin with her family.

 

She did not marry.

 

On her brother William's farm Mary managed the dairy side.   Her butter fat production was of a very high standard, and won for her local acclaim.