Robert Watson [18350] ²

   FamilySearch ID: LVJ6-492.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Census, 1871, Parish Of Newhills, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. ⁵

• Emmigration: Departed SCOTLAND for Upper Ki, 1873 Apr 25, Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom. ⁶ From the account of the voyage by George Troup, Esq.: "A large number
of persons assembled at 8 a.m. in the Aberdeen [train] station to
witness the departure of the emigrants.... Farewell signals hung out
or were waved from the remote houses visible on the line. Field
laborers paused in their work to telegraph their good speed to the
wanderers.... All the luggage had been sent forward [to Glasgow] on a
previous day, and the berths and passengers' tickets being numbered,
the party soon got all into their places on board the Castalia, a
very fine steamer that had just completed the first voyage out and
in.... The Castalia is the first emigrant vessel that ever left a
British port with an equal number of emigrants, but without a single
case of intoxication among them. No other ship since the arrival of
the Mayflower has brought to America an emigration so completely of a
family character; and no vessel has ever conveyed so many young
children to a port in America--for the Castalia sailed with 198
children under 12 years of age, and has arrived with 199."
from Ruby Cusack's column: "In May of 1873 as the Scottish settlers
on board a river boat approached Kilburn's Landing, they were made to
feel welcome by a sea of waving white handkerchiefs. Just about every
man, woman and child had gathered there to greet this group who had
travelled so far.
A few years earlier, many people living on the craggy east coast of
Scotland, near Aberdeen began to think and talk seriously of crossing
he seas and establishing a 'Scotch Colony' in New Brunswick.
Although they knew little about this far-away country, they had
courage and were willing to face the unknown. The ideas of a man
being able to own his own land and be his own master was almost
beyond belief.
In 1872 Captain William Brown and Robert Stewart arrived in New
Brunswick to find a suitable tract of land. They went up the St. John
River and visited Glassville. This Scotch Settlement had been settled
10 years earlier by emigrants brought out by Rev. Mr. Glass.
After much discussion with government officials, arrangements were
completed for the proposed colony. Captain Brown returned to Scotland
and began to organize a party of emigrants who were willing to settle
in the New Kincardineshire, N.B.
The first families arrived in Saint John on May 10, 1873 on the ship
Castalia. A list of the passengers was published in the Daily
Telegraph on May 12, 1873. These folk with all their worldly goods
and 198 [sic] children went up the St. John River by river boats to
Kilburn's Landing.
Although they had received a warm welcome by the settlers already
established, they were surprised to find snow still on the ground.
Delays and disappointments seem to meet them at every turn. Only two
of the 90 houses were ready and these promised homes turned out to be
nothing more than crudely built shacks. The logging road into the
settlement had not been opened up and the whole area was a sea of mud
and melting snow, among other things. This was certainly not the
cleared lands and finished houses they were promised.
As the summer approached, consideration was given to bringing out 50
more families from Northeastern Scotland. The new settlements would
be known as Kintore and Upper Kintore near to Kincardinshire and
Stonehaven.
The next year, on May 14, the Sidonian arrived in Saint John with 219
colonists aboard. A list of the passengers was published in the Daily
Telegraph on May 18, 1874.
These Scottish settlers pushed the forests back and cleared the land
and planted crops. They were deeply religious and held services in a
log cabin at first. By 1878 they had built the Melville Church. It
still stands today, part way up the mountain, watching over the
graveyard where many of those hardy Scots rest in eternal peace. In
front of the church, a replica of a log hut serves as a reminder of
their first homes.
The publications 'A History of the Scotch Colony, Victoria County
1873-1998' and Duncan A. MacPhail's 'New Kincardineshire' provide
extensive information on this valiant band of immigrants who burned
their bridges behind them and were determined to seek their fortunes
in the wilderness of Victoria County."

• Immigration: Arrival of the steamer Castali, 1873 May 10, Saint John, Saint John County, New Brunswick, Canada. ⁶ From the account of the voyage by George Troup, Esq.: "On the morning
of Saturday the 10th May, I received information that the Castalia,
with the colony on board, had arrived in St. John. Her arrival was
signalled by rockets sent into the air from on board, and a boat with
the steamer's agent and one or two other gentlemen was soon
alongside. By five o'clock the colonists were nearly all on deck,
presenting a remarkably healthful and tidy appearance after their sea
voyage. Dr. Harding, the Quarantine Officer, boarded the Castalia
shortly after five, and examined the colonists as well as the
crew.... Between seven and eight o'clock the Castalia was boarded by
Hon. Mr. Willis, Robert Shrives Esq., Dominion Immigration Agent, and
other gentlemen; soon after the steamer Olive which was to convey a
portion of the colonists up river at once, was alongside, and, at the
same time, members of the 'St. Andrew's Society' put in an
appearance. The Castalia then weighed anchor and, convoyed by the
Olive steamed toward the city. As she approached flags were raised,
and other signs of welcome were displayed. Before the ship was made
fast to the wharf the work of transferring a portion of the colonists
to the Olive had begun, and in an hour about two hundred of the
people were on board that steamer."

• Land grant, 1876 Dec 30, Perth, , New Brunswick, Canada. ⁷ Information from Cadastral Database:
Watson, Robert*
Volume: 96, page , Grant number 16674
Original province of registration: New Brunswick
New Brunswick registration date: 1876/12/30
Accompanying plan: y
Acreage: 200 acres
Place and County: Perth, Victoria County

• Census, 1881 Mar, Perth, , New Brunswick, Canada. ⁸

• Census, 1851, Parish Of Dunnottar, Kincardineshire, Scotland. ⁹

Robert married Catherine Mcgowan Thomson [18321] [LVJ6-W4X] [MRIN: 7397], daughter of James Thomson [18326] [M5DW-VDM] and Elspeth Dey [18296] [LVJD-7V1], on 1866 Dec 8 in Parish Of Insch, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.¹⁰ (Catherine Mcgowan Thomson [18321] [LVJ6-W4X] was born on 1843 Dec 3 in Culsalmond, , Aberdeen, Scotland ⁷ and died on 1920 May 20 in New Brunswick, Canada ⁴.)

  Marriage Notes:

Witnesses: Alexander Skinner, Alexander Wood
From the certificate: "When, where, and how married: 1866 on the
eighth day of December at the Parish Church of Insch, after Banns
according to the Forms of the Established Church of Scotland"


MARR: OFFI Archibald /Storie/