Robert Williamson

1822 - 1888  (66 years)

• Name	Robert Williamson
  Born	1822	Cromarty, , Ross and Cromarty, Scotland   [1, 2]
  Gender	Male
  Interesting	story, mason
  Occupation	1881	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  	Farmer
  Residence	1881	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  	C. Presbyterian
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-148359
  Died	12 Oct 1888	Beverly Twp., Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada   [2]
  Buried	Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  Person ID	I148359	Generations
  Last Modified	19 Dec 2024

  
  

  Family	Katherine Williamson,   b. 12 Feb 1822, Cromarty, , Ross and Cromarty, Scotland ,   d. 7 Dec 1901, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 79 years)
  Children	1. Harriet Bright Williamson,   b. 17 Oct 1852, , Scotland ,   d. 19 Sep 1918, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 65 years)   2. Walter Williamson,   b. 16 Jan 1853, , Scotland ,   d. 18 Mar 1920, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 67 years)   3. Catherine M. Williamson,   b. CALC 22 Apr 1854, , Scotland ,   d. 8 May 1923, Fergus, Nichol Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada  (Age ~ 69 years)   4. Hughina Williamson,   b. 1861, Eramosa Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada ,   d. 4 Jan 1927, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 66 years)   5. Hugh M. Williamson,   b. 1865, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. 8 Aug 1904, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 39 years)   6. Robertina Williamson,   b. 1866, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   7. Mary Williamson,   b. 12 May 1866, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. 30 Nov 1920, Cobourg, Hamilton Twp., Northumberland Co., Ontario  (Age 54 years)
  Last Modified	19 Dec 2024
  Family ID	F37057	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Death of Mr. Robert Williamson, of Beverly, Clyde Road. The first paragraphs which detailed the injury to this well-known resident, must have prepared the public for the announcement which reached the town on Sabbath morning last, that at an early hour that morning, he had breathed his last, and that once more, in the dispensation of an all-wise Maker, a useful, valuable, honorable life, had been closed. Mr. Williamson was born in Cromarty, Rossshire, Scotland, in the year 1822. In early life he learned the trade of a stone-cutter, and also studied architecture. Mastering much of the details, he received an appointment under the British Government, and while holding that appointment, was superintendent of the erection of the national monument to Sir Walter Scott, and the renovation and re-erection of several of the Cathedrals in Scotland, now historical, and monuments of the early builders art and the powers of the early Churches. Mr. Williamson was cousin and also brother-in-law of the world-famed geologist and writer, Hugh Miller, and from his intercourse with him undoubtedly arose in Mr. Williamson's mind that thirst for reading and information which through his afterlife characterized him. In the pursuit of his occupation he necessarily travelled much through Scotland and became almost, in himself, a history of its old records and its eminent men, and from the Press to the Bench or Pulpit, there was not a prominent man of those days with whom Mr. Williamson was not familiar, and one of the powers of his mind was the retentiveness with which he cold depict their powers and peculiarities. He threw himself with all his power into the discussion which led to the establishment of the Free Church of Scotland, and through the columns of the Witness, of which Hugh Miller was editor, contributed much that aided the great Church revolution and founded the powerful Presbyterian Free Church throughout the land. There was a coterie of strong minds engaged on this great question, Rev. Dr. Guthrie, Hugh Miller, Mr. Williamson, and a host of the leading liberal minds of the day. They fought for enfranchisement and they succeeded. In 1854, with his family, Mr. Williamson came to Canada, his health necessitating his adopting a new life. He first came to Galt, where he left his family for a short time while he looked about for a location. Deciding to settle in the Township of Arthur, near the village of Kenilworth, he purchased land there, on which he remained for about three years. He soon became a man of mark there, and was frequently pressed to accept municipal honors, but while willing to give advice to those who filled these offices and render them every assistance in the discharge of their duties, he refused further public life. He was appointed a Magistrate and frequently served as arbitrator in the disputes natural to the early life of a township, and was selected once or twice as an expert to investigate municipal accounts, but his ambitions ended with these. Leaving Arthur, he purchased in Eramosa, pursuing there the same quiet life, only that in the support of his beloved religious views he took a prominent part in the establishment of the Presbyterian Church there and was elected an elder, a position which he held until he again removed to a farm he purchased near Mount Forest. Leaving there after a few years, he purchased the "Barnes" farm near Kossuth, where with his family, he resided for about fifteen years, and it was while resident there that he assumed the prominent position which he afterwards held in the political and agricultural history of this county. A few years ago he sold this farm and for a time retired, but the old desires were strong with him and he was never contented off the land which was not his own, and opportunity offering, by the retirement of Mr. Robert Turnbull to Galt, he purchased from that gentleman the valuable farm on which he was destined to end his days. Before he left for Canada, he was married to a half-sister of Hugh Miller's. they spent forty-one years of married life together, and had as children six daughters and two sons. Three of their daughters are married, viz.: - Mrs. Wm. Brydon, of the Blair road; Mrs. George Bailey, of near Paisley, and Mrs. George McCulloch, of Mount forest. His two sons, Walter and Hugh, with their three unmarried daughters, resided with their parents on the farm. The death of one so widely and so deservedly respected by all who knew him, caused widespread regret, and his funeral, which took place on Tuesday, to Mount View Cemetery, was largely attended, many coming from long distances to pay their last tribute of respect to one who in life had been their almost more than friend. Galt Reporter Oct 26 1888 pg 1

  
  

• Sources

  [S178] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo South - 1881, Waterloo S. Twp. 1881 Div 1 Page 27. [S2697] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge, Mount View Cemetery Internet Link. [SW] In memory of/ Robert WILLIAMSON/ a native of/ Ross-Shire, Scotland/ who died/ Oct. 21st, 1888/ aged 66 years/ Katherine WILLIAMSON/ his wife/ died Dec. 7th 1901/ aged 75 years/

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 1822 - Cromarty, , Ross and Cromarty, Scotland Occupation - Farmer - 1881 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - C. Presbyterian - 1881 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 12 Oct 1888 - Beverly Twp., Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada Buried - - Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth