Robert Cockburn, Immigrant Ancestor

(Jody Gray) Robert Cockburn, new information and information for future research.

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Robert Cockburn’s Probate Records. Provides his date of death and his lawful heirs, including John Wait and Anne R Gray of Minnesota. Robert’s daughter, Euphemia is not listed, so she died before 1871. Euphemia’s sister, Mary Ann married Charles Weymouth -they are the witnesses to Anne Wait’s marriage to George Gray and most likely the uncle Anne went to live with in 1862 (according to her obituary). I re-examined the 1860 Map you found of Dearborn with J Gray and R Cockburn but didn’t find any Weymouth. But, then, according to the censuses I found for Charles Weymouth he was never a farmer. Mary Ann’s 1900 Census states Arrival 1837, age 9, so most likely that’s when Robert Cocburn arrived.

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Information from Scotland Records: Euphemia married Alexander Wait in 1838, Chirnside, Berwick, Scotland -she was 18, he was 25. (Margaret’s tombstone states she was born at Chirnside). Margaret was born 8/22/1822, baptised 9/15/1822, Eyemouth, Berwick, Scotland.

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*Death Records (all Detroit, Michigan) Peter Cockburn, Father, Robert Cockburn, Mother, unknown. Margaret Cockburn Rankin, Father, Robert Coburn. Mother Anna Reid. Both born, Scotland. Mary Ann Cockburn Weymouth, Father, Robert Coburn. Mother Anna Reid. Both born, Scotland. Signed by Anna R. Weymouth (daughter) *Verified: Spelling is of surname, Cockburn. Evidently, both Margaret and Mary Ann used Coburn.

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Cockburn, My Ancestry Family Tree. I added ‘calculated’ birth, death dates and locations for some people as research tools -noted, below, in blue font. Robert Cockburn aka Coburn b. ca. 1784, Berwick, Scotland d. 2/26/1871, Dearborn, Wayne, Michigan. m: Anne aka Anna Reid b. abt. 1802, Berwick, Scotland d. bef 1837, Berwick, Scotland. Children of Robert and Anne (Reid) 1 Euphemia Cockburn b. 8/29/1819, Eyemouth, Berwick, Scotland d. bef 1871, Ontario, Canada. m (1/3/1838, Chirnside, Berwick, Scotland) Alexander Wait b. abt 1813, Berwickshire, Scotland d. 1872, Canada.   *daughter, Anne Reid Wait Children of Robert and Anne (Reid) 2 Margaret L Cockburn aka Coburn b. 8/22/1822, Chirnside, Berwick, Scotland d. 1904, Big Rapids, Mecosta, Michigan m (ca 1841, Detroit, Michigan) James Rankin b. 11/24/1805, Kilsyth, Stirlingshire, Scotland d. 2/23/1883, Big Rapids, Mecosta, Michigan   *daughter, Annie Rankin Children of Robert and Anne (Reid) 3 Mary Ann Cockburn aka Coburn b. 1/16/1828, Berwick, Scotland d. 10/8/1915, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan m (1853, Michigan) Charles aka Chas Weymouth b. 10/26/1832, Maine d. 9/20/1916, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan   *daughter, Anne Reid Weymouth *son of Robert Cockburn, mother, unknown Peter R Cockburn aka Coburn b. 1815, Scotland d. 11/23/1876, Dearborn, Wayne, Michigan. Never married, lived on the farm with his father. Note, Jody Gray: since traditionally, the first son is named after the father, Robert most likely had a son, Robert before Peter. (see, entry Robert Cockburn -Ancestry Search, below) Scotland Census, 1841, Robert Cockburn b. abt 1816, East Lothian, Scotland -could have been his son.

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Anne aka Anna Reid, wife of Robert Cockburn, mother of Euphemia, Margaret, and Mary Ann, remains a mystery (Sept. 2017). For research tools, I gave her a birth date of 1802 (based on her being at least 17 when Euphemia was born -evidently, she was not the mother of Peter); I gave her a death date of before 1837 (she’s not listed on the 1850 Census and Robert Cockburn likely immigrated in 1837). So far, the only Ancestry ‘hints’ for her is Anne Reid spouse Robert Cockburn. Her daughters certainly paid tribute to her by naming daughters after her: Euphemia, Anne Reid. Mary Ann, Anne Reid. Margaret, Annie.

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When I began, not much was known about George R Gray’s 1st wife, Anne Reid Wait. Obituary: b. 10/8/1842 Chatham, Western Ontario, Canada. d. 3/19/1900 (age 57). Age 20 (1862) she went to Detroit, Michigan to live with an uncle; until, 1867, when she married George Gray. (she was 25, he was 22). Witnesses to their marriage: C. A. Weymouth and Mary A. Weymouth. -Mary Ann Cockburn, daughter of Robert and Anne (Reid) Cockburn, sister of Euphemia Cockburn -mother of Anne Reid Wait (aunt of Anne Reid Wait). Conclusion: Charles A and Mary Ann (Cockburn) Weymouth, of Detroit, Michigan, were the relatives that Anne Reid Wait went to live with in 1862; John Wait in 1853. Euphemia’s sister, Margaret married James Rankin, they also lived in Detroit, Michigan.

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Robert Cockburn - Records *Media: 1860 Map, Dearborn, Wayne, Michigan *R. Cockburn straight across from J. Gray (to the Left) -I can see how the families of Cockburn and Gray would be acquainted and the marriage arranged between Anne Reid Wait (daughter of Euphemia Cockborn and Alexander Wait) and George R Gray. Census, Dearborn, Wayne, Michigan: 1850, 1860 (agriculture), 1870. Note: the only person listed with him is his son, Peter R. The 1870 Census lists Robert, born abt 1874, Scotland. I use this as his birth date. I add Berwick based on the birth locations of his children. Census, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan. 1850 Robert 70 (abt 1780), Peter 28 (abt 1822) 1860 agriculture Census: value 1,400. Implements 25. Horses 2. Mules 2. Milk Cows 1. Other cattle 2. Pigs 2. Value of livestock 140. Crops: Indian Corn 10. Oats 10. John Gray. value 4,000. Other familiar surnames: William Rudiman 6,000. George Troop 2,000. Stevenson 7,000. Ward 1,000. *no Weymouth or Rankin.   Weymouth, Charles 1870 Census, Dearborn (age 37, Clerk in Store) -he was never a farmer.   Rankin, James 1850 Census, Dearborn (age 45). 1860 (age 53). 1870 (age 65) Brass Worker. 1880 Mecosta, Michigan (age 74) Farmer -son-in-law, John J. Teachout (doing the Farming, Find-a-Grave -Newspaper Clipping,  8/19/1975, Centennial Farm, states Margaret Cockburn Rankin bought the farm in 8/31/1874. Owners (1975) Carl and Burnice Teachout (grandson of Margaret Rankin). 1870 Robert 86 (abt 1784) Farmer. Value 2,000. Peter 54 (abt 1816) *Peter, ‘at home’ (Will) Probate for Robert Cockburn provided his death date, 2/26/1871. Heirs-at-law: Peter Cockburn of Dearborn; Margaret Rankin of Detroit (husband, James); Mary Ann Weymouth of Detroit (husband, Charles); John Wait and Annie R Gray of Minnesota. Death date of son, Peter 11/23/1876. (see, below, Probate for Robert Cockburn) Daughter, Margaret Cockburn memorial stone inscription: Margaret L. Cockburn wife of James Rankin b. Chirnside, Scotland 1822-1904. James Rankin’s memorial stone inscription: b. 1805 Kilsyth, Stirlingshire, Scotland. He m1: Mary Lindsay, b. 1808, Scotland -they had two children, James b. 1828 and John b. 1832 (both b. Scotland). Daughter, Mary Ann Cockburn Ancestry Scotland Records: Mary Anne Cockburn -no other information. Michigan Marriages: Mary A Weymouth (Mary A Coburn). 1900 Michigan Census, Arrival 1837. Daughter, Euphemia Cockburn Ancestry Scotland Records: Birth 8/29/1819. Baptism, 10/3/1819, Eyemouth, Berwick, Scotland. Father, Robert Cockburn. Mother, Anne Reid. Marriage, 1/3/1838, Chirnside, Berwick, Scotland. Euphemia Cockburn m: Alexander Wait. There are 2 Scotland Census but she would not have been living in Scotland in 1841 or 1861 -could be a relative -both are Edinburgh, Midlothian. Alexander Wait, Passenger List -Arrival 7/16/1838 (from Glasgow to NY -occupation, (Ship Carpenter, son John Wait, Biography) Carpenter. Scotland Records: Marriage: Alexander Wait m: Euphemia Cockburn -no other information (her marriage record lists date and location, see) 1841 Scotland Census (both had left by 1841): Alexander Wait b. 1813, Berwickshire, Scotland). Ancestry Family Trees, found 2, one for a different Wait lineage (James Wait m: Mary Jamieson); one that follows the Gray lineage from Alexander and Euphenna but follows a different George Alvey and Clara Maud Lynch lineage (they would be my cousins, the owner of the tree saved my documents for Anne Reed Wait, including a photo, but didn’t save my documents or pictures for anyone else). I have no ancestor lineage information for Alexander Wait. All that is known about him comes from his son, John’s biography. Alexander and Euphemia emigrated to county Kent, Canada where John was born in 1841 and Anne in 1842; Alexander died in 1872. Robert Cockburn -Ancestry Search. ‘Hints’ Scotland Records: Robert Cockburn Spouse Anne Reid -no other information listed. Scotland Census 1841 and 1851 -Robert Arrival 1837 (based on Mary Ann’s 1900 Census). Robert, 1850 Census Detroit, Michigan. There’s a Robert Cockburn b. abt 1816, East Lothian, that could be a son (he would have been 25 in 1841). Peter was born abt 1815, Euphemia 1819 (Scotland Records, birth and baptism). Note: traditionally, Robert’s first son would have been named after him (Robert).

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*Anne aka Anna Reid -nothing is really known about her, Ancestry Scotland Records: Anne Reid m: Robert Cockburn. She’s listed as mother on Death Records for Margaret and Mary Ann. Euphemia m: Alexander Wait, they migrated to Canada, both appear to have died there -I have no death records for them. All Anne’s daughters named a daughter after her -Euphemia and Mary Ann, included Reid as ‘middle’ name -they would have been old enough to remember their mother.   I gave Anne Reid Cockburn a birth date of 1802, making her 17 when her first child, Euphemia was born -all her children were born in Scotland. (age 17) 1819, Euphemia (age 20) 1822, Margaret (age 26) 1828, Mary Ann (in contrast) age of her husband Robert Cockburn, birth date of 1784. (age 30) 1815, Peter R (age 35) 1819, Euphemia (age 38) 1822, Margaret (age 44) 1828, Mary Ann Conclusion: Anne Reid was about 18 years younger than her husband, Robert Cockburn. Evidently, she was his second wife and by his first wife he had at least two children, Robert and Peter.

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*Probate for Robert Cockburn. d. 2/26/1871. Heirs-at-law: Peter Cockburn of Dearborn Margaret Rankin of Detroit (husband, James) Mary Ann Weymouth of Detroit (husband, Charles) John Wait and Annie R Gray of Minnesota Principal (executor), Archibald Robertson and Charles A Weymouth (husband of Mary) Copy of his will. Peter R Cockburn all my personal estate… after his decease to my daughter Mary Ann Weymouth… (Peter) authorized to act solely on the advice and consent of the said Mary Ann (Jody Gray) an indication that Peter was not ‘intellectually-able’ to act on his own behalf -another indication of this is that on the 1870 Michigan Census, Robert, age 86, ‘Farmer’. Peter, age 54, ‘at home’. ...attesting witness, John Ward, Detroit, Wayne Co, MI. Henry A. Knight also of Detroit… Judge of Probate: James D. Weir. Other persons interested in said estate: Margaret Rankin, Peter R. Cockburn, Mary A. Weymouth. Publication in newspaper. Notary Public, Geuls Campbell Page with signature of James Rankin (husband of Margaret) Publication in newspaper. Mary Ann Weymouth -petitions for the assignment to herself of the residue to the estate… 3/26/1872. Received from Archibald Robertson administrator of the estate (looks like 13.31) all the money remaining in his hands after paying the debts… Mary A Weymouth for Peter R Cockburn. (Jody Gray) another indication that Robert Cockburn’s farm was small and provided ‘shelter and sustenance’ for Robert and Peter. Publication in Newspaper. (to close estate) *That Peter R. Cockburn, the son of the said deceased referred to in said will died 11/23/1876, leaving no heirs of his body, and that your petitioner is now entitled to the residue of said estate, the same consisting of real estate in the township of Dearborn… that all the debts, legacies and funeral expenses of said Robert Cockburn and the charges of administering his said estate have been fully paid and that the funeral expenses of said Peter R. Cockburn have also been paid.   Wherefore your petitioner prays that said estate may be closed, and the residue of the estate of said Robert Cockburn, deceased, may be assigned to them. Mary Ann Weymouth. *she appeared on 1/22/1877. Newspaper, Commissioners’ Notice. 3/28/1871. Account, Estate, by Archibald Robertson, Executor. Disbursements -including an entry for James Rankin $236.52.

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Related, Cockburn Family. From the Cockburn Genealogy Book. II. Sir Robert ce Cokburn of that Ilk and Henderland. He was knighted by King Alexander III. In 1262 he witnessed the deed whereby Earl Patric of Dunbar granted a donation to the nuns of Coldstream… (Robert de Cockeburn, Knights… given at Chirneside…)   Sir Robert having acquired very extensive territories in Tweeddale, resided there, and his name is not mentioned in records of the Merse after the year above mentioned. (pg 61) ...There seems to be no reason for doubting that three of the name, prominent men in the latter part of the 13th century, were Sir Robert’s sons, namely, Nigel, Piers, and Thomas… *https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockburn_(surname) Cockburn (surname) *II. Robert de Cockburn mentioned as a ‘serviens’ (sergeant) in a charter dating from 1232 to 1242, in which land is granted to the Chapel of St. Nicholas, next to a bridge over the River Spey in Moray. The knight Sir Roberto de Cokeburn (perhaps the same Robert) is mentioned in a charter that was prepared in Chirnside 11/4/1261 during the reign of Patrick III, Earl of Dunbar (1248-1270). Roberto de Cokeburne mentioned in another charter (dated to 1269-1289) as being the constable of the royal burgh of Roxburgh… it appears that at least one other Cockburn landowner incurred the disfavor of Longshanks at about this time. In a charter, 3/20/1312, King Edward II restored to III. Nigel de Cockburn is former land in Megget… which had been awarded to another man by the previous English king because Nigel had been declared a rebel… References: Cockburn, Sir Robert Cockburn Bt. and Harry A. Cockburn, The Records of the Cockburn Family, T. N. Foulis, London, 1913. Thomas Cockburn-Hood, The house of Cockburn of that ilk and the cadets thereof: with historical anecdotes of the times in which many of the name played a conspicuous part, Scott and Ferguson, Edinburgh, 1888. (Jody Gray) I used this book, see, *BP: House of Cockburn. http://gray-adamsfamily.blogspot. *

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Future Research. Scotland Burial, Cemetery Records. *http://www.bordersfhs.org.uk/BFHSPoorLawsearchform.asp Borders Family History Society. (Borders parishes, 1845-1933). These records are about applications for poor relief made by people who were settled in a Borders parish, but not necessarily living there… *List of names in alphabetical order Robert Cockburn, Castlegate, Poor Law Volume: Jedburgh Parish (1875-1893) Anne Reid, Jedburgh, Poor Law Volume: Jedburgh Parish (1852-1874) (Jody Gray) possibly the wife and son of Robert Cockburn, our immigrant ancestor; appears she died before he immigrated to America. And, it appears Robert was previously married and had sons Robert (who remained in Scotland) and Peter (who immigrated to America with his father). Research shows that later years the Cockburn family fell upon ‘hard times’ so it’s entirely possible that our immigrant ancestor Robert Cockburn could have had to apply for poor relief. Which, more than likely, was the cause of his immigration to America, where he settled in Dearborn, Wayne County, Michigan; according to the census records, his farm was small (RE value, livestock, crops). Chirnside Churchyard Cemetery: William son of John Cockburn. Kathrin (Cockburn) Wait. James Cockburn, wife Janet Davidson, daughter Janet Cockburn. Alison (Cockburn) Reid.

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