Tracing Your Ancestors in Scotland

This afternoon I had a couple of hours free as tonight's guests weren't arriving until 5pm. They're now settled and getting ready to go out for an evening meal so I've time to tell you about my exploits.

In August I have visitors from New Zealand arriving. They're on a tour to trace their ancestry in Scotland.  Now I know lots of Scots emigrated to New Zealand back in the 'old days' and many continue to do so because of the quality of life offered, but my visitors are young New Zealanders and both are of Scots descent. The amazing fact they themselves have discovered is that both their great-great-grandparents came from this area of Scotland and both were named Robertson! Both were single when they arrived in New Zealand.

What a work they've put into this research but it appears neither great-great-grandparent knew each other before they emigrated and it's still not known if they knew each other in New Zealand. Mind you, they started sheep farms quite a few hundred miles apart (still in existance today) so they may well have 'heard' of each other without meeting. The woman emigrated with her brother and, of course, it's her brother's name that is on the documentation for the land purchase!

Back in those days Blairgowrie was a small and successful town with farming being one of the strong industries.

Anyway, back to my activities. I've been wandering around the old Blairgowrie cemetery at the top of the town but with little success. Many of the stones have been vandalised since the ground was deconsecrated but also a majority of the stones are readable.

I did have success at Bendochy churchyard though and have forwarded them photos of 7 gravestones with the name Robertson. Hopefully they will help in some way even if it's only to eliminate some leads.

These young people want to do a joint 'Ancestry' book and video to present to their respective parents later this year as a thank you for helping them purchase their new house.

I can see tears in the eyes of four parents already and all because a young couple want to trace their ancestry to the Scots and Scotland!