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Mini Biographies of Scots and Scots Descendants (R)
Robertson and McBeath, New Zealand


I am a novice of the internet. Genealogy became an interest when I found my Irish ancestors on Genforum.com. A Cousin whom I did not know was studying my fathers family side. Insight got me checking into my mothers ancestors. On the net, I discovered that other New Zealand 'cousins' were looking into the same name.

After making contact I found that my mothers family had emigrated to Dunedin, New Zealand from Scotland. During the 1850's. Wow I thought. I had relatives who had been a part of the settlement of Dunedin. The new Edinburgh of New Zealand.

But alas Mr. Thomas Robertson, is a hard fellow to find especially when alot of Scots renamed their children after Grandfather & Grandmother, Mother & Father.

It is interesting that my McBeath, and Robertson families stayed close together within the community of Dunedin. There is even a Printing Firm Robertson&McBeath in Dunedin, New Zealand situated on Vogel Street.

'Old families' really looked after one another. The recent generations have dispersed about New Zealand & other countries now.

Mrs.McBeath, nee McLeod lived just down the road from her daughter Mrs. Robertson during the early 1900's. Mrs. McBeath married Hector, from Sutherlandshire and they had eleven children. Mary & Thomas Robertson had nine children. Unfortunately Thomas Robertson passed away in 1910, while working for the New Zealand railway's in the small community of Nelson. In this close-nit family he is the only original Dunedin settler who hasn't been interred within Dunedin's cemetery. Thomas & Mary Robertson, had a young son Alexander who went to fight in the First world war. Thomas had passed away before the war started and Alexander's mother Mary Robertson (nee,McBeath) had to sign a form permitting her son to join the expeitionary forces. Alex came back to New Zealand safe but injured by mustard gas after having fought on the front lines in France. He stayed with his mother in Helena Street for a short time.

So I can safely say that I have an ancestral connection with Scotland and it's cities of Aberdeen and Perth.

Ms. Sarah Abercrombie-Mills


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