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Robert
Blair and Margaret McLuckie
Robert Blair, son of John Blair and Margaret
McLuckie, was born in Bucklyvie, Kippen Parish, Stirlingshire Scotland about
1755. Robert married Margaret McLuckie in 1784. We have found reference to a
Robert Blair and Margaret McLuckie, married on Apr 17, 1784 in Greenock,
Renfrew. They sailed for America a few days latter and reached Barnet VA in
August. Robert and Margaret had 8 children; John, Andrew, Christian, Robert,
Alexander, Margaret, Joseph, and Janet. According to the History of Barnet
Vermont Robert died May 21, 1821 at the age of 67. Margaret died Dec 13, 1833
at the age of 83.
The date of birth of both Robert and
Margaret varies depending on the source. For Robert we have four sources:
1. The History of Barnet VT says he was
born in 1755, yet based on his age at his death he probably would have born
in 1754.
2. A letter from his father, John says he
was born July 1754.
3. A letter from a brother dated Feb 29,
1796 says "you are 43 years old", implying that he was born in
1753.
4. The Buchlyvie Associate Session Baptisms
(some marriages) 1752–1785 lists Robert as the son of John Blair and
Margaret McLuckie, baptized on Jul 15, 1753 in Kippen, Scotland.
For Margaret we have two sources:
1. The History of Barnet VT says she died
Dec 13, 1833 at the age of 83, making her birth 1850.
2. A letter from her brother Robert says
she was born in 1753.
Letters from Robert's family in Scotland and
Margaret's brother Robert, also in Scotland lead us to believe that Margaret
had at least five brothers and sisters. Reference is made to brothers John and
Andrew, and sisters Janet and Elizabeth. Reference is specifically made to
brother John being in South Carolina and sister Janet marrying John Wright.
Robert was one of the earliest settlers in
Barnet VT. He was part of a group of Scottish immigrants from Perth and
Stirling to settle in Barnet. Among these early settlers were Gilfillans and
Lackies.
The farm that Robert settled on was kept in
the family up until 1950; passed down from Robert to his son Joseph, then to
his grandson Gilbert, and finally to his great grandson Joseph. The farm, now
owned by the Bogie's and called Bogie Mountain, is one of the most
photographed farms in New England. It has been on several calendars and the
covers of Ideal and Yankee magazines. In 1950 there was still no running water
or indoor plumbing. The barn and most of the outlying structures are still the
original, but the house itself was burned to the ground in the 1970s and
rebuilt to the original footprint. The farm is an active dairy farm and also
produces Vermont maple syrup.
Robert's son Andrew Blair, along with Elihu
Sabin, Reuben Smith, Elisha Sheppard, Reuben Crosby, Thomas Ransom, Azatiah
Boody, and Ephraim Perrin, were the earliest settlers of Goshen Gore (now
called Stannard) VT, around 1803. The Vermont Historical Magazine noted that
"Mrs. Andrew Blair sent her girl to the first school, and paid the
tuition with a pink silk handkerchief. 'Schoolmarm know'd I had it, and she
wanted it to make her a bonnet' (Good old Mrs. Ann Blair's testimony)" Of
Andrew Blair, the magazine reports: "Had the Olympic races come down to
our times, Mr. Blair, according to report, might have, become a successful
competitor for a crown. It is current that he once ran down and captured a
fox, and was overheard holding a parley with the captive, whether the thing
was done fair. But, unlike the Olympic races, not having an impartial judge to
decide the points, the fox seemed to dissent from his victor's boast of fair
play. Now,' says Mr. Blair, 'if you think the thing was not done fair, we'll
try it again.' Whereupon the fox was let go, and was allowed to have a few
rods the start, when Blair took the track. Away went the fox-away went Blair;
one for life, the other for victory, over hill, over fence, over brush, till
Blair caught the breathless trophy, a second time, in triumph.
The 1850 Vermont Census contains the following information
|
Co: Caledonia |
Tn\Twp: Barnet |
pg 107 |
1267\1317 |
|
Blair, John, 65, m, farmer, 700, Vermont |
[see note at bottom] |
|
Blair, Agnes, 62, f, Massachusetts |
[Agnes Kelley] |
|
Blair, Mary, 37, f, Vermont |
|
|
Blair, Jannette, 29, f, Vermont |
|
|
Co: Caledonia |
Tn\Twp: Barnet |
pg 107 |
1268\1318 |
|
Blair, Robert, 39, m, farmer, 850,
Vermont |
|
Blair, Nancy, 31, f, Vermont |
|
Blair. Martha J.. 10. f. Vermont(S) |
|
Co: Caledonia |
Tn\Twp: Barnet |
pg 107 |
1271\1321 |
|
Blair, Joseph, 54, m, farmer, 3,000,
Vermont |
[see note at bottom] |
|
Blair, Mariah, 47, f, Vermont |
[Marion Gilfillan] |
|
Blair, Jane, 23, f, Vermont |
[m. George Sanborn] |
|
Blair, Robt., 22, m, laborer, Vermont |
|
|
Blair, Gilbert, 12, m, Vermont(S) |
[m. Elizabeth Batchelder] |
|
Co: Caledonia |
Tn\Twp: Goshen Gore |
pg 254 |
2\2 |
|
Blair, Joseph, 32, m, farmer, 1,200,
Vermont |
[see note at bottom] |
|
Blair, Susan, 24, f, New York |
|
|
Blair, Mary, 5, f, Vermont(S)* |
|
|
Blair, Susan, 3, f, Vermont |
|
|
Co: Caledonia |
Tn\Twp: Goshen Gore |
pg 254 |
8\8 |
|
Blair, Andrew, 63, m, farmer, Vermont |
[see note at bottom] |
|
Blair, Eliza, 65, f, New Hampshire |
|
|
[had a dau. Margaret b. 1820, d. 1838] |
[mem #873] |
[John 53, Joseph 54, and Andrew 63
are all sons of Robert Blair and Margaret McLuckie (sp). Peter 44 is
the nephew of Robert Blair. Joseph 32 is probably a gs/o Robert
Blair. More information is available in
A History of Barnett Vermont, by Frederick Wells.]
|
|
Group Sheet |
|
Robert Blair and Margaret McLuckie
(son of John Blair and Margaret McLuckie) |
|
|
Robert Blair |
|
|
Born: |
|
in: |
Buchlyvie (Kippen) Stirlingshire, Scotland |
|
Christened: |
Jul 15, 1753 |
in: |
Buchlyvie (Kippen) Stirlingshire, Scotland |
|
Married: |
April 17, 1784 |
in: |
Middle or New Parish, Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland |
|
Died: |
January 21, 1821 |
in: |
Barnet VT |
|
Buried: |
|
in: |
Barnet Center Cemetery, Barnet, VT |
|
Father: |
John Blair |
|
Mother: |
Margaret McLuckie |
|
Occupation: |
Farmer |
|
|
Margaret McLuckie |
|
|
Born: |
1753 |
in: |
|
|
Christened: |
|
in: |
|
|
Died: |
December 13, 1833 |
in: |
Barnet VT |
|
Buried: |
|
in: |
Barnet Center Cemetery, Barnet, VT |
|
Father: |
|
|
Mother: |
|
|
Occupation: |
|
|
|
Children |
|
|
1 |
Name: |
John Blair |
|
M |
Born: |
May 28, 1785 |
in: |
Barnet, Caledonia Co., VT |
|
|
Married |
May 03, 1810 |
in: |
Barnet, Caledonia Co., VT
|
|
|
Died: |
Jane 25,1873 |
in: |
|
|
|
Buried: |
|
in: |
Barnet Center Cemetery, Barnet, VT |
|
|
Spouse: |
Nancy Kelly, Agnes Kelley |
|
|
2 |
Name: |
Andrew Blair |
|
M |
Born: |
November 29, 1786 |
in: |
Barnet, Caledonia Co., VT |
|
|
Married: |
Oct 31, 1809
|
in: |
Barnet, Caledonia Co., VT
|
|
|
Died: |
December 06, 1865 |
in: |
Goshen Gore (Stannard), VT
|
|
|
Buried: |
|
in: |
Stannard Cemetery (Old), Stannard, VT |
|
|
Spouse: |
Elizabeth Ronnalds |
|
|
3 |
Name: |
Christian Blair |
|
F |
Born: |
August 29, 1788 |
in: |
Barnet, Caledonia Co., VT |
|
|
Married |
December 20, 1812 |
in: |
Barnet, Caledonia Co., VT
|
|
|
Died: |
June 10, 1876 |
in: |
Ryegate, Caledonia Co., VT
|
|
|
Buried: |
|
in: |
|
|
|
Spouse: |
William Gibson |
|
|
4 |
Name: |
Robert Blair |
|
M |
Born: |
September 10, 1790 |
in: |
Barnet, Caledonia Co., VT |
|
|
Married |
|
in: |
|
|
|
Died: |
1806 |
in: |
|
|
|
Buried: |
|
in: |
|
|
|
Spouse: |
|
|
|
5 |
Name: |
Alexander Blair |
|
M |
Born: |
March 30, 1792 |
in: |
Barnet, Caledonia Co., VT |
|
|
Married |
Mar 26, 1823
|
in: |
Barnet, Caledonia Co., VT |
|
|
Died: |
April 14, 1883 |
in: |
Barnet, Caledonia Co., VT |
|
|
Buried: |
|
in: |
Barnet Center Cemetery, Barnet, VT |
|
|
Spouse: |
Jean Gilfillan |
|
|
6 |
Name: |
Margaret Blair |
|
F |
Born: |
August 03, 1794 |
in: |
Barnet, Caledonia Co., VT |
|
|
Married |
April 20, 1820 |
in: |
Barnet, Caledonia Co., VT
|
|
|
Died: |
January 06, 1877 |
in: |
Ryegate, Caledonia Co., VT
|
|
|
Buried: |
|
in: |
Barnet Center Cemetery, Barnet, VT |
|
|
Spouse: |
David Gibson |
|
|
7 |
Name: |
Joseph Blair |
|
M |
Born: |
August 10, 1796 |
in: |
Barnet, Caledonia Co., VT |
|
|
Married |
December 09, 1824 |
in: |
Barnet, Caledonia Co., VT |
|
|
Died: |
September 28, 1878 |
in: |
Barnet, Caledonia Co., VT |
|
|
Buried: |
|
in: |
Barnet Center Cemetery, Barnet, VT |
|
|
Spouse: |
Marion Gillfillan |
|
|
8 |
Name: |
Janet Blair |
|
F |
Born: |
August 16, 1797 |
in: |
Barnet, Caledonia Co., VT |
|
|
Married |
|
in: |
|
|
|
Died: |
1807
|
in: |
Barnet, Caledonia Co., VT |
|
|
Buried: |
1807 |
in: |
|
|
|
Spouse: |
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[ Up ] [ Donald Blair and Janet McAdams ] [ John Blair and Margaret McLuckie ] [ Robert Blair and Margaret McLuckie ] [ Peter Blair & Elizabeth Bell ] [ Peter Blair and Elizabeth Rodger ] [ Peter Blair and Etta Mary Pratt ]
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