Robert Fairbairn (m. Janet AINSLIE)1,2

(say 1760 - bet. 1803 - 1866)

Intro

     All that is known about Robert himself is derived from his marriage record, baptisms of two children, and an obituary for his known son John, which states John was the "youngest son of Robert Fairbairn, Esq. of East Gordon, Berwickshire".
The two elder sons are yet to be found, and are not immediately obvious in the 1855+ deaths on Scotlands People.
Robert is of an age, and with place connections to Greenlaw (where daughter Isabella was born), that he may be the son of James and Elizabeth (PURVES) Fairbairn of Hallyburton, who had many descendants in Australia, grandson George having emigrated to South Australia in 1839, shortly thereafter moving to Victoria.
Robert's son John was in Western Australia around 1839, later moving to New South Wales, via "the Murray" district - which just happens to be (assuming only one) where a grandson of the Hallyburton family emigrated to abt 1855.
Both George and John had children who rose to prominent positions.3,4,5

BDMs

     Robert Fairbairn was born say 1760 ?Greenlaw, BEW, SCT.2 He married Janet Ainslie on 25 Jul 1789 Gordon, BEW, SCT; entry reads: "Robert Fairbairn was married to Janet Ainslie" (entry 27th Jun: "Robert Fairbairn and Janet Ainslie both in this parish" - followed a "Compeared for proclamations in order to marriage for James Aitchison and Janet McDougal.")6
     Robert Fairbairn died bet. 1803 - 1866 ?Greenlaw, BEW.2
Farm Horse tax rolls show Robert at Cowrig, Par. of Greenlaw, and being taxed on 4 work horses, 2/- each (which place is where John was born in 1800.)7

DNA Info

     Robert's line needs a/another participant in the FAIRBAIRN Surname DNA Project. Check out the Wanted! page for further information.

Family

Janet Ainslie (say 1765 - bet. 1803 - 1866)
Children
  • Male Fairbairn3 (say 1791 - )
  • Alexander Fairbairn3,1 (circa Oct 1794 - )
  • John Fairbairn+ (circa Mar 1800 - Jul 1872); assumed to be this Robert/John father/son pair because of the AINSLIE name in John's children and East Gordon connection in John's dth notice3,4
  • Isabella Fairbairn2,8 (circa Aug 1801 - Jun 1866)
ChartsRobert & Janet (AINSLIE) FAIRBAIRN
Last Edited21 Jan 2012

Citations

  1. [S55] Scottish BMDB entries (to 1854), http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/index.php, Bap 12 Oct 1794 Alexander s/o Robert FAIRBAIRN, tenant, East Gordon, BEW 742/00 0040 0194, copy d/loaded Oct 2010.
  2. [S56] Scottish BMDB entries (from 1855), http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/index.php, Dth 4 Jun 1866 Isabella SUTHERLAND d/o Robert FAIRBAIRN & Janet AINSLIE, Greenlaw, BEW 743 #10, copy d/loaded Oct 2010.
  3. [S1918] Newspaper clippings, Dth 8 Jul 1872 John FAIRBAIRN, youngest son late Robert FAIRBAIRN Esq., East Gordon, BEW, from The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), Sat 13 Jul, 1872, online at http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13260434, extracted Nov 2010.
  4. [S2] Lorna Henderson, "FAIRBAIRN Analysis", Oct 2010.
  5. [S2841] Interview, Jack FAIRBAIRN, Immigration, 1855 John FAIRBAIRN, to farm on the Murray, VIC phone conversation Apr 2009.
  6. [S55] Scottish BMDB entries (to 1854), http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/index.php, Marr. 25 Jul 1789 Robert FAIRBAIRN & Janet AINSLIE, Gordon, BEW 742/00 0040 0160, index searched Oct 2010.
  7. [S2891] 1797 Farm Horse Tax Rolls - Scotland online at http://www.scotlandsplaces.gov.uk/, 11 Sep 1797 Robert FAIRBAIRN, Cowrig, Par. of Greenlaw, BEW, extracted Dec 2009.
  8. [S55] Scottish BMDB entries (to 1854), http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/index.php, Birth/bap? 6 Aug 1801 Isabel d/o Robert FAIRBAIRN & Janet AINSLIE, Greenlaw, BEW 743/ 0010 0133, index searched Oct 2010.
 
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