ROBERT BLACK (1818-1906) (Last Updated: July 21, 2015)
Robert BLACK was born Jun 12, 1818 at Ochiltree in Scotland, son of Elizabeth GILMOUR and Hugh BLACK (1777-1855).
Scotland to Canada
In 1834 Robert immigrated to Canada (Fergus, Ontario) with his parents and siblings. Fergus is located in the Great Lakes region of Ontario, west of Toronto.
Marriage to Mary BRYDEN
Around 1840 Robert married Mary BRYDEN (born 1824 in Ontario) of uncertain parentage. They settled on the Bruce Peninsula (RM of Keppel) between Lake Huron and Georgian Bay.
Canadian Confederation
On July 1, 1867 the British colonies in North America were united under the British North American Act to become the Dominion of Canada. Sir John A MACDONALD (1815-1891) was appointed as Canada’s first Prime Minister. On July 15, 1870 Manitoba became the fifth province of Canada, the Canadian Government having acquired the territory previously governed by the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC).
On Oct 11, 1869, Louis RIEL (1844-1885) placed his foot on the surveyors’ chain to tell them their work was finished! This marked the beginning of the historic Red River Métis Rebellion.
On July 15, 1870 the Rebellion ended when RIEL’s Provisional Government accepted the terms of the Manitoba Act and Manitoba became the fifth province of Canada.
Census of 1871 in Grey County North (RM of Keppel):Robert BLACK, Farmer; age 52; wife Mary, age 47. Children: Hugh (age 24), John (23), Robert (21), Catherine (19), Elizabeth (17), Alexander (13), Mary (11), William (8), Christina (6) and baby Marion Alice (4 months).
Sons Adam and Hugh became sailors, and worked on steamboats that plied the Great Lakes, and by the early 1870’s on Lake Winnipeg.
The BLACK Family moves to Manitoba
Around 1871 the BLACK family moved to Red River (Manitoba) where they settled in the Springfield - East St Paul (Birds Hill area), east of the river.
Census of 1881 in the RM of Springfield-East St Paul: Robert BLACK, farmer, age 62; wife Mary, age 57. Children: Adam (age 38), Jane (26), Alexander (23), Mary (21), William (18) and Marion (age 10).
In 1885 daughter Mary married Kenneth McLEOD in Springfield.
In 1886 son Hugh married Mary Witchiniepan (nee GREYEYES) VINCENT in St Andrews, daughter of Nancy and GREYEYES (b-1805), Indians from the St Peters Indian Reserve.
By 1895 son Adam was in a connubial relationship with Catherine SPENCE, daughter of Sarah BIRSTON and Jacob SPENCE (1830-1906). ** MORE ABOUT JACOB SPENCE
In 1890 son William married Ann Ellen MATHESON in Springfield, daughter of Mary Ann GUNN & John MATHESON (1844-1909).
Census of 1891 in Springfield South: Robert BLACK, age 72; wife Mary, age 67. Children: Adam (age 49), Jane (35), Alex (33) and Alice (age 20).
On Aug 9, 1896 Mary (nee BRYDEN) BLACK died in Springfield at the age of 72.
In 1898 daughter Alice married John GUNN in Springfield, son of Ann MATHESON and Alexander GUNN (b-1827). In 1899 son Alexander married his sister-in-law, Mary MATHESON in Springfield, daughter of Mary Ann GUNN & John MATHESON (1844-1909).
Around October of 1899 Adam BLACK conceived a child with Widow Jessie (nee BIRD) SMITH. At that time he was still in a common-law relationship with Catherine SPENCE.
Census of 1901 in Springfield: Robert BLACK, age 82 and widowed. With him is his daughter Jane, age 46.
On Mar 3, 1906 Robert BLACK died in Springfield at the age of 89.
In 1919 son John married Charlotte McRAE in Selkirk, probably the daughter of Elizabeth HARCUS & Alexander McRAE (1849-1916). ** MORE ABOUT ALEXANDER McRAE
Comments and queries at this link: FORUM DISCUSSING ROBERT BLACK and his DESCENDANTS
=========================== Family Details ===========================
Children: 2. Oct 12, 1846 HUGH BLACK (m. Mary (nee GREYEYES) VINCENT)
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