Robert Forsyth, Tailor 1837-1912

Click on title for map of Wentworth County, Ontario including
townships of Ancaster and Beverley.

Robert Forsyth was the youngest child of John Forsyth and Charlotte Cockburn and was born December 16th, 1837 in West Fenton. His birth is registered in the records of the Dirleton Parish Church. Both these places are east of Edinburgh and in East Lothian, Scotland.

Robert's birth / baptism record was either lost or he was never baptised, as on August 13, 1854 when he was 17, a note was made in the Parish records that Hugh Goodlet (the husband of Robert's mother), appeared before the Kirk Session of Dirleton and made an affidavit that Robert was born in Dirleton. He used the entries taken from his and John Forsyth's family Bible as proof. Why this was done at this time is unclear; however, in the 1861 census, Robert is the only child still with his parents in Innerwick at age 23 and is a 'tailor journeyman.' Perhaps it was related to the apprenticeship system. The other possibility is that he planned to emigrate from Scotland and required a record of his birth for this purpose. His two brothers went to Canada in the mid 1850's; perhaps it had been his plan as well.

Robert immigrated to Canada in 1863. This information comes from the 1901 census. On the 18th of November, 1866, he married Jane Varner (sometimes shown as Jennie) in Wentworth County. The record provides the following details:

Robert Forsyth, 28, b. Scotland village, residence - Ancaster Township, son of Jonathon (?) Forsyth and Charlotte, married
Jane Varner, 24, b. England, daughter of Samuel and Catherine Varner.

Jane's place of birth is given as Ireland in census records. A Catherine Varner, age 58, born in Ireland appears in the Dundas, Wentworth County census for 1871. Her occupation is 'tailoress'. This would seem to be Jane's mother. There is no Samuel Varner, but there are other Irish Varners in the Stratford area.

It is not known why Robert Forsyth went to the Hamilton area. His elder brothers, Charles and John had already emigrated by the time the 1861 Scottish census was taken. John was in King Township, north of Toronto in 1861. Charles location has not yet been found before 1871 when he was in York. It is not known where Robert spent the three years between his immigration and his marriage in 1866. John and Mary Dales (with parents and sister Alison) went to Muskoka in 1865. Perhaps Robert was not interested in living in the wilderness of Muskoka and his trade was better suited to a larger centre of population.

The 1871 Census only provides the name of the head of the household:

FORSYTH, Robert, 32, b. Scotland, Wentworth South, Ancaster

The 1881 Census for Ancaster, Wentworth South is as follows:

Robert FORSYTH, M, Scottish, 43, b. Scotland, Tailor, Presb.
Jane FORSYTH.......... F,......Irish, 37, b. Ireland.............Presb.
Kate FORSYTH.......... F, Scottish, 14, b. Ontario..............Presb.
Charlotte FORSYTH...F, Scottish... 7, b. Ontario..............Presb.

In 1889, Kate married Robert H. Pettigrew. He was an advertising agent and they lived in Hamilton. They had five children; the youngest child, Charles, was born in January, 1904. By 1911, Kate was widowed.

By the 1891 Census Robert Forsythe and family had moved to Beverly Township and they were living between Postmaster Haws and a shoemaker named John Montgomery. Robert is 48, Jane 46, their younger daughter daughter, 'Lottie,' is now 17.

In the 1901 Census, they are in Dundas, Wentworth South:

Forseth , Robert, M, Head, M...............b. Aug 11, 1844, 62
Forseth, Jane, F, Wife, M...........................b. Aug 16, 1844, 57
Forseth C. F., F, Daughter, S,.....................b. May 28, 1875, 26

Jane Forsyth died June 1, 1901 at age 54 (?). Her address was given as King Street, Dundas. She was born in Ireland, and was Presbyterian. Jane died of cancer.

In this census we learn that Robert came to Canada in 1863 and Jane came in 1844. Robert is still working as a tailor and their daughter is shown as the bookkeeper.

On December 24, 1907, Charlotte married Walter C.B. Donkin, a teacher. They were married in Lincoln County and in the 1911 census, they are living in Brantford.

I have been unable to find Robert in the 1911 Census record; however, he died in Hamilton in 1912. He was 74 years old.

1912, May 28 - Robert Forsyth, Tailor, 170 King St W., Hamilton
b. Scotland, son of John Forsyth & Charlotte Cockburn
City Hospital, Hamilton, 5 days - Heart Disease - Dr. A.S. Langrill Certified by Mrs. W.B. Donkin, 195 St. Paul Ave, Brantford

The Daughters of Robert:

1901 Census - Hamilton, Ontario
Pettigrew, H. R, Head, Dec 17, 1860, 40, Advertising Agent
Pettigrew, A. Kate, Wife, Aug 25, 1867, 33
Pettigrew, V. Alison, Daughter, May 30, 1890, 10
Pettigrew, V. Anna, Daughter, May 17, 1893, 7
Pettigrew, J. Alba, Daughter, Feb 1, 1896, 5

1911 Census - Hamilton, Ontario
Pettigrew, Kate A., Head, W, Aug, 1868, 42
Pettigrew, Viola, Daughter, May, 1893, 18
Pettigrew, Alba, Daughter, Feb, 1896, 15
Pettigrew, Howard, Son, Jul, 1901, 9
Pettigrew, Charles, Son, Jan, 1904

1901 Census - Brantford, Ontario
Donkin Sarah, Head, W, Aug 12, 1848, 52
Donkin, Walter, M, Son, S, Jun 7, 1868, 32

1911 Census - Brantford
Donkin, W. B., M, Head, Jun, 1870, 40
Donkin, L., F, Wife, May, 1880, 31