Biographies of Reverend (Episcopal) John Murray Robertson and his son, Henry Manadier Robertson, Jefferson, Alabama ==================================================================== USGENWEB PROJECT NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Project Archives to store this file permanently for free access. This file was contributed and copyrighted by: Dave Robertson ==================================================================== November 1998 I have record of two brothers (there may be more than two). The brothers are Henry M(urray?) Robertson, MD, and Reverend (Episcopal) John Murray Robertson. John Murray Robertson, son of Henry M. Robertson, MD (d. May 1868) and Sophia Maxwell of Cambridge, Dorchester Co., MD, was born in 1831 and died October 31, 1910 in Huntsville, AL. He married Susan Isabella White, born April 13, 1830, daughter of Thomas White and Henrieta Elizabeth Martin, in Cambridge, MD, May 10, 1854. John and Susan had nine children: Nannie Dimmock Robertson, b. August 4, 1853 Emily Murray Robertson, b. July 21, 1857 William Vans Murray Robertson, b. January 1, 1859 Henry Manadier (Murray) Robertson, b. October 15, 1860 Henrietta Maria Robertson, b. July 1, 1862 Leila Martin Robertson, b. April 4, 1865 Jane McKinney Robertson, b. August 1, 1866 Sophia Maxwell Robertson, b. August 1, 1866 Susan Isabella Robertson, b. April 10, 1869 As far as I know, all children were born in Huntsville, Alabama except Henry Manadier Robertson who was born in New Iberia, Louisiana. On July 6, 1869, Susan Isabella Robertson, wife of John Murray Robertson, died. They were living in Huntsville, Madison County, Alabama. She died less than three months after the birth of their youngest child was born. Henry Manadier Robertson moved to Birmingham in about 1890 where he became president of a financial institution. He married a cousin, Stella Robertson, on December 25, 1901. She was the daughter of Samuel Lowrie Robertson* and Isabella Donahoe. At the time Henry married, he changed his middle name from Manadier to Murray. Henry and Stella had five sons, all born in Birmingham: Henry (Hank) Murray Robertson, Jr., b. January 19, 1904 John Murray Robertson, b. July 25, 1907 David Atholl Robertson, b. July 2, 1910 Charles Donahoe Robertson, b. June 8, 1912 George Murray Robertson, b. February 1, 1915 The 1910 Census shows that Stella was the mother of 3 children and that one had not survived. Stella's mother, Isabella, was living with Henra and Stella and was a widow. David Atholl Robertson was an Alabama graduate, all the others graduated from Auburn. No rivalry there! The only brother to die in Birmingham was Hank. David lived most of his adult life in Washington DC working for the Department of State and died in San Angelo, TX where he spent his last days with his brother, Johnny. Henry M. Robertson, MD of Cambridge, MD, had a brother, the Reverend John Murray Robertson. The Reverend John Murray Robertson was born June 15, 1804. He was an Episcopal minister and moved from Cambridge, Md., to Huntsville, Ala. where he was rector of the Church of the Nativity for many years. While the Federals were in possession of Huntsville during the Civil War, they ordered him to desist praying for the President of the Confederacy, and to pray, as formerly, for the President of the U. S., when reading the Episcopal service. Having refused to obey this order, he was made prisoner, and while detained, still continued to read the Episcopal service, not omitting his prayer for the President of the Confederacy. m. in 1833, Rebecca Norfleete Lowrie, dau. of Judge Samuel Lowrie, of the Supreme Court of North Carolina, and Louisa Norfleete, of Warrenton, N. C. John M. Robertson was found n the 1850, 1860, and 1870 census records. His widow, Rebecca, was in the 1880 Census. Records are as follows: In the 1850 US Census, John (age 36) and Rebecca (38) are in Madison County, Alabama. With them are their children William N., age 16, Mary E., age 14, Samuel L.*, age 12, Thomas P, age 10, Henry M., age 8, and Orrik, age 2. The 1860 US Census shows John (age 56) and Rebecca (age 48) in Madison County, Alabama. With them are Mary, age 23, Thomas, age 19, Murry, age 17, and Orrik, age 11. All the children were born in Alabama. According to the 1870 US Census, John M. Robertson, age 66 and born in Maryland, and his wife, Rebecca, age 58 and born in North Carolina, were in Huntsville, Madison County, Alabama. With them was Mary Robertson, age 30, and Susan, age 1, both born in Alabama. By the 1880 US Census, Rebecca was listed as a widow, age 68, in Madison County, Alabama. With her were: daughter, Mary Robertson, age 42, a school teacher, born in Alabama; niece Susan Robertson, age 11, born in Alabama; brother-in-law, V. Murray Robertson, age 68, born in Maryland, a farmer and lawyer; Jennie Robertson, a black cook, age 64, born in NC; and Timothy Robertson, a black servant, age 50, born in NC. Orick H. Robertson was a clerk in a store in the 1880 US Census for Huntsville. He was listied as living with Susan Todd along with many other people. He was most likely boarding in her home. Marriage records in Madison County show that William N. Robertson married Elizabeth J. Tiller, Volumn 4B, page 465, on June 12, 1860. *Samuel Lowrie Robertson married Isabella Donaho, daughter of Charles Donaho and Rebecca Towbridge Whitcomb, on December 26, 1871 in Tuscaloosa Co., Alabama. Stella, the oldest child, was born November 26, 1872 in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama. Samuel died September 2, 1909 in Birmingham. Isabella died November 22, 1915.