For the ancestors of Frances Robertson, 1549-1605, please see Robertson Lineage 2
For the ancestors of Israel Robertson, please see Robertson: Ancestors of Israel Robertson 1698-1760
Most recently updated:
Robertson Family Lore
There once lived a High King of Ireland named Eterscél Mór, who fell deeply in love with the beautiful Mess Búachalla and made her his Queen. Legend has it that an unidentified man in the form of a bird flew in through her skylight. She gave birth to her son, Conaire Mór, who grew up as Eterscél's son and inherited the kingdom. 2,145 years later, his 63rd great-granddaughter married me. The End. Or, is that just the Beginning?
Someone should write a book about this fascinating Robertson family! Oh, wait, someone did. William Shakespeare wrote a historical fiction in which Duncan I was betrayed by his cousin, Macbeth.
"Historically, Macbeth (Mac Bethad mac Findláich) and Duncan (Donnchad mac Crínáin) were indeed cousins and rivals for the Scottish throne. The historical Macbeth killed Duncan I in battle in 1040, not in his sleep, and then became king." Google
"Duncan was temporarily buried at Elgin where he died, then moved to his final resting place on the island of Iona. "Iona Abbey's Royal Burial Ground (Reilig Odhráin) holds the tombs of many Scottish monarchs, including Duncan and Macbeth, linking them to this significant early Christian site." Google
The Annals of the Four Masters, chiefly compiled by the Franciscan friar Mícheál Ó Cléirigh, and the earlier Annals of Ulster compiled by scribe Ruaidhrí Ó Luinín comprise two of the principal among many works chronicling the medieval and ancient histories, legends, and myths of this royal pedigree that stretches from Clifton and Louise in Kentucky to Adam and Eve in Eden -- according to fable, the 122nd Great-Grandparents of Cheryl, Marielle, Dianne, and Lela. Sure, there may be discrepancies along the way and fictional characters invented in the prehistoric oral tradition stemming from any number of religious, political, or other reasons. Yet, exploration of this rich genealogical heritage is a profoundly spiritual journey, bringing to life the individuals and traditions of every successive generation. Historical, legendary, and mythical names, places, stories, and identities are illuminated for every generation, connecting the present and eternal future with the prehistoric and eternal past. There is a living spirit represented by each name. Something about each life gave root to a story, however embellished from one set of parents to the next. Whatever the authenticity of the details, the engaging stories collapse time into a compelling narrative. Fascinating tales encompass the founding of cities, the establishment of kingdoms, military conquests, royal dynasties, and the socio-religious Celtic legacy of many countries, predominantly Ireland, Scotland, and the United States.
The traditional stories of 126 generations span all the way from the creation of Adam to the birth of James Clifton Robertson. The 27 historical generations from Duncan I (Donnchadh mac Crìonain) to Cheryl's father are expected to be sufficiently confirmed by credible documentation. The 53 legendary generations from Ollom Fotla to Duncan would naturally rely heavily on oral tradition, perhaps including fantastical legends surrounding mythic characters and ancient landmarks. The mythical tales of preceding generations tell a whole different kind of story, chronicling an epic odyssey of conquest and adventure through 36 mythological generations, from Noah to Ollom Fotla, creating a family identity and clan culture intended to preserve a familial mystery and connection that would last through all the generations of all the descendants for all time. The 10 scriptural generations described in the Bible as bridging the gap from Adam to Noah establish a final genealogical punctuation to a heritage rooted in the divine.
So YHWH fashioned an earth creature out of the clay of the earth, and blew into its nostrils the breath of life. And the earth creature became a living being. (Genesis 2:7, The Inclusive Bible)
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Alexander Robertson 1440-1505, born Alexander Duncanson, was the first to use the surname Robertson. "The clan name "Robertson" was adopted from this Robert after he captured the assassins of King James I in 1437, an act for which he was granted a royal charter." Google
"Duncan de Atholia (Donnachaidh Reamhar / "Stout Duncan"): The 1st Chief and progenitor of [Clan Donnachaidh aka Clan Robertson]. A contemporary and supporter of Robert the Bruce, he led the clan at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314." Google
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Robertson Lineage
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Biblical
From Adam to Noah: (Palaeolithic & Mesolithic 12000-4000 BC; Neolithic 4000-2500 BC) (10 Generations)
Adam 5200-4270 BC (4004-3074 BC) , father of Seth 3984-3072 BC, father of Enosh 3400-2496 BC, father of Kenan 3769-2864, father of Mahalalel 3604-2714 BC, father of Jared 3544-2582 BC, father of Enoch 3382-3017 BC, father of Methuselah 3317-2348 BC, father of Lamech 3140-2353 BC, father of Noah 2948-1998 BC.
Mythological
From Noah's Ark to Spain: (Bronze Age 2500-700 BC) (23 Generations)
Noah was the father of Japheth 2450-2000, father of Magog, father of Baath mac Magog, father of Fénius Farsaid, father of Niúl, father of Goídel Glas, father of Easru, father of Sru, father of Éber Scot, father of Beodhaman, father of Ogaman, father of Tat, father of Aghnon, father of Laimhfionn, father of Éber Glúinfhionn, father of Agnan Fionn, father of Febric Glas, father of Nenuall, father of Nuadha, father of Alladh, father of Arcadh, father of Deag, father of Bratha, father of Breoghan, father of Bile, father of Míl Espáine 1773 BC - 1699 BC.
Míl Espáine to Ollom Fotla: (Bronze Age 2500-700 BC) (13 Generations)Míl Espáine 1766-1689 BC was the father of Ír, father TBD (2nd), father Eochaid Étgudach, father TBD (4th-7th), father Elim Olfínechta, father TBD (9th), father Art Imlech, father TBD (11th), father Sétna Innarraid, father of Fíachu Fínscothach reigned 1353-1333
Legendary
From Ollom Fotla to Argatmár: (8 generations)Fíachu Fínscothach was the father of Ollom Fotla 1318-1278 BC, father of Cairpre, father of Labraid Condelg, father of Blatha, father of Finn mac Blath, father of Sírlám, father of Argatmár r. 402-432
From Argatmár to Fergus Mór mac Eirc (22 Generations)Argatmár was the father of Fiacha Tolgrach 806-796 BC, father of Duach Ladrach 830-757 BC [Iron Age 700 BC - 100 AD], father of Eochaid Buigce r. 608-629 BC, father of Ugaine Mór 680-593 BC, father of Cobthach Cóel Breg 634-544 BC, father of Meilge Molbthach 570-505 BC, father of Irereo r. 481-474 BC, father of Connla Cáem 529-443 BC, father of Ailill Casfiachlach 443-418 BC, father of Eochaid Ailtlethan 414-396 BC, father of Aengus Tuirmech Temrach 385-326 BC, father of Enna Aignech r. 313-293 BC, father of Assaman Eamhna TBD-232 BC, father of Roighen Ruadh 270-209 BC, father of Fionnlogh 270-210 BC, father of Fionn mac Fionnlogh 42-80 AD (???), father of Eochaid Feidlech 143-131 BC, father of Bress-Bar-Lothar 117-59 BC, father of Lugaid Riab nDerg 54-9 BC, father of Crimthann Nia Náir 40 BC - 9 AD, father of Feradach Finnfechtnach 1-36, father of Fiacha Finnfolaidh 26-56
ProtoHistorical AD 71-600 (15 Generations)
Tuathal Techtmar 53-106, father of Fedlimid Rechtmar 68-119, father of Conn Cétchathach 110-157, father of Art mac Cuinn 152-195, father of Cormac mac Airt 175-266, father of Cairbre Lifechar 220-284, father of Fiacha Sraibhtine 245-322, father of Muiredach Tirech 261-357, father of Eochaid Mugmedón 300-365, father of Niall Noígíallach 377-465, father of Eógan mac Néill 377-465, father of Muiredach mac Eógain 425-489, father of Mór mac Eirc aka Fergus the Great 430-501, father of Domangart Réti 465-507, father of Gabrán mac Domangairt 490-560
Early Medieval aka Dark Ages AD 600-920
Áedán mac Gabráin 532-609 > Eochaid Buide > Domnall Brecc > Domangart mac Domnaill > Eochaid mac Domangairt > Eochaid mac Echdach > Áed Find > Eochaid mac Áeda Find > Alpín mac Echdach > Cináed mac Ailpín > Causantín mac Cináeda > Domnall mac Causantín > Máel Coluim mac Domnaill > Cináed mac Maíl Choluim > Máel Coluim mac Cináeda > Duncan of Strathearn aka Donnchadh of Strathearn 890-925
Historical AD 920-2007
From Duncan aka Donnchadh to John Robertson:(30 Generations)
"This lineage confirms the Clan Donnachaidh's direct male descent from the Royal House of Dunkeld through King Duncan I's son, Máel Muire, Earl of Atholl." Google
Duncan aka Donnchadh 920-965 > Duncan mac Donnchad aka Donnchad of Atholl 949-1010 > Crínán of Dunkeld 975-1045 > Donnchad mac Crínáin aka Duncan I 1001-1040 > Máel Muire aka Melmare aka Earl of Atholl 1035-1130 > Madach Atholia aka Maddad aka Matad 1085-1152 > Malcolm Atholia aka King Malcolm III of Scotland aka Máel Coluim mac Donnchada aka Máel Coluim 1031-1093 > Henry de Atholia 1158-1211 > Conan de Atholia 1180-1240 > Ewan de Atholia aka Ewan of Glenerochie 1250-1284 > Angus de Atholia 1270-1330 > Andrew de Atholia 1305-1355 > Duncan de Atholia aka Duncan of Rannoch aka Donnchadh MacRaibeirt 1370-1460 > Robert Duncanson aka Robert Riabhach aka Robert Riach aka Robert de Atholia 1390-1460 > Alexander Robertson 1440-1505 > Robert Robertson 1466-1526 > William Robertson 1497-1532 > Robert Robertson 1513-1566 > Donald Robertson 1550-1591 > Robert Robertson 1580-1657 > Duncan Robertson 1612-1687 > Donald Robertson 1641-1688 > John Robertson 1677-1716, father of John Randolph Robertson Sr 1712-1775, father of Charles Sterling Robertson 1754-1806, father of James Randolph Robertson 1780-1830, father of James Robertson 1809-1869, father of James Edward Robertson 1843-1907, father of Eddie Morris Robertson 1872-1952, father of James Clifton Robertson 1921-2007.
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Robertson Migration
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Mythological
From Eden to Ireland
Garden of Eden, Near East (Iraq) > Anatolia (Turkey), Scythia (Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan) > Gothia (Romania) > Egypt > Galicia, Spain > Brigantia (A Coruña), Spain > County Meath, Ireland
Historical
From Ireland and Scotland to Virginia
County Meath, Ireland > County Antrim, Ireland > Dál Riata (Kingdom encompassing County Antrim, Ireland & Argyll, Scotland) > Struan, Perthshire, Tayside, Scotland > Belfast, Antrim, Ireland > Prince George's County, Virginia.
From Virginia to Kentucky
Bristol Parish, Prince George's County, Virginia > Johnston County, North Carolina > Dover, Stewart County, Tennessee > Dickson County, Tennessee > Roane County, Tennessee > Dover, Stewart County, Tennessee > Canton, Trigg County, Kentucky
Kentucky
Canton, Trigg County, Kentucky > Golden Pond, Trigg County, Kentucky> Driskill, Livingston County, Kentucky > Newbern, Livingston County, Kentucky > Iuka, Livingston County, Kentucky > Driskill, Livingston County, Kentucky > Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan > Grand Rivers, Livingston County, Kentucky > Benton, Marshall County, Kentucky > Calvert City, Marshall County, Kentucky
Now for the details, as far back as they take us, and perhaps a little beyond. It all begins here, with a bona fide, highly decorated World War II hero who deeply loved his family and his faith and made great sacrifices for them, James Clifton Robertson.
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HISTORICAL
James Clifton Robertson back to Donnchad mac Crínáin aka Duncan I
2007 back to 1001
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Cheryl's Father
Grand Rivers, Livingston County, Kentucky
Ancestry | FamilySearch| Find a Grave | Geneanet (NR) | Geni | Google | MyHeritage | Newspapers | Obituary (Find a Grave Bio) | RootsFinder | WikiTree (NR)
Noteworthy
- 3rd Great-grandnephew of General James Robertson, Founder of Nashville and "Father of Tennessee." (Cheryl and her sisters are his 4th Great-grandnieces, and he is their 4th Great-granduncle; their children are 5th, and their grandchildren are 6th).
- Employed by Star Transfer Line in the Detroit, Michigan area at the time of his draft registration.
- Draft Registration 16 Feb 1942 in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
- Military Awards. Family photo of the display created by his daughter, Cheryl (to be posted and linked to here).
- July 12, 1973, there was a devasting fire at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, Missouri, which destroyed an estimated 16 to 18 million Official Military Personnel Files (OMPFs) for Army, Army Air Force, and Air Force personnel discharged between 1912 and 1964, wiping out roughly 80% of Army discharge records for that period and requiring massive reconstruction efforts. Google
- Certified Lay Speaker and member of Paradise United Methodist Church
- Tags: Methodist_, Military_, Veteran_, Staff_Sergeant, US_Army, World_War_II, Bronze_Star, Bronze_Star_V_Device, Bronze_Star_Oak_Leaf_Cluster, Farmer_, Grocer_, Steel_Worker, Cement_Mason
Parents:
Eddie Morris Robertson 1872-1952
Beulah Elizabeth Sullivant 1886-1977
Maternal Lineage: (7 Generations)
Elizabeth Rice 1690-TBD, mother of Sarah Rice 1715-1780, mother of Elizabeth Bowles 1748-1831, mother of Mary Bowles Glenn 1778-TBD, mother of Mary E Hill 1822-1897, mother of Mary Rebecca Ramage 1860-1941, mother of Beulah Elizabeth Sullivant 1886-1977, mother of James Clifton Robertson.
Spouse: Anna Louise Cooper 1934-2003
Married: 28 Sep 1951
Children: 4
- Cheryl Dean Robertson, Living
- Marielle Robertson, Living
- Dianne Robertson, Living
- Lela Gay Robertson, Living
- Birth Record. Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Kentucky Birth, Marriage, and Death Databases: Births 1911-1999. Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Ancestry | FamilySearch
- Census, 1930. Year: 1930; Census Place: Driskill, Livingston, Kentucky; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 0005; FHL microfilm: 2340502 Ancestry | FamilySearch TBD
- Census, 1950. Population Schedules for the 1950 Census, 1950 - 1950. NAID: 43290879. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, Record Group 29. National Archives at Washington, DC., Washington, DC. Ancestry | FamilySearch TBD
- Social Security. United States Social Security Administration. Washington D.C., USA; Social Security Death Index, Master File. Kentucky: James C. Robertson. Ancestry | FamilySearch TBD
Cheryl's Grandfather
Miller Cemetery
Newbern, Livingston County, Kentucky
Ancestry | FamilySearch | Find a Grave | Geneanet (NR) | Geni | Google | MyHeritage | Newspapers (NR) | Obituary (NR) | RootsFinder (NR) | WikiTree (NR)
Noteworthy
- 2nd Great-grandnephew of General James Robertson, Founder of Nashville.
- Consistent with the demographics of western Kentucky during his lifetime, census records for Golden Pond, Trigg County, list him as a farmer. Google
- Tags: Farmer_, Timber_
Parents:
James E Robertson 1843-1907
Missouria L Whitney 1850-1923
Maternal Lineage:
Ruth Kenady 1833-1863, mother of Missouria L Whitney 1850-1923, mother of Eddie Morris Robertson
Spouse: Beulah Elizabeth Sullivant 1886-1977
Married: 22 August 1909
Children: 4
- Dorris Larue Robertson 1913-1984
- Rebecca Lucille Robertson 1916-2004
- James Clifton Robertson 1921-2007
- Edna Elizabeth Robertson 1922-2003
- Census, 1880. (surname incorrectly spelled "Robberson"). Year: 1880; Census Place: Golden Pond, Trigg, Kentucky; Roll: 443; Page: 423c; Enumeration District: 155 Ancestry | FamilySearch
- Census, 1900. (name recorded as Edward m Robertson"). Year: 1900; Census Place: Driskill, Livingston, Kentucky; Roll: 539; Page: 12; Enumeration District: 0054 Ancestry | FamilySearch
- Census, 1910. (name recorded as "Ed M Robertson"). Year: 1910; Census Place: District 2, Livingston, Kentucky; Roll: T624_491; Page: 6a; Enumeration District: 0101; FHL microfilm: 1374504 Ancestry | FamilySearch
- Census, 1920. (name recorded as "Edd Robertson"). Year: 1920; Census Place: Driskill, Livingston, Kentucky; Roll: T625_587; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 115 Ancestry | FamilySearch
- Census, 1930. (name recorded as "Edd M Robertson"). Year: 1930; Census Place: Driskill, Livingston, Kentucky; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 0005; FHL microfilm: 2340502 Ancestry | FamilySearch
- Census 1940. "United States, Census, 1940, Entry for Edd M Robertson and Bulah E Robertson, 1940." Ancestry | FamilySearch
- Census, 1950. National Archives at Washington, DC; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Year: 1950; Census Place: Livingston, Kentucky; Roll: 6245; Page: 3; Enumeration District: 70-5 Ancestry | FamilySearch
Cheryl's Great-Grandfather
His tombstone and some other sources say he was born in November 1843. Some other sources have his dates as September 4, 1843 - December 21, 1907.
b. Dover, Stewart County, Tennessee
d. Newbern, Livingston County, Kentucky
Dover, Stewart County, Tennessee 1843, 1860 > Canton, Trigg County, Kentucky 1866, 1870 > Golden Pond, Trigg, Kentucky 1880 > Driskill, Livingston County, Kentucky 1900 > Newbern, Livingston County, Kentucky 1907
Newbern, Livingston County, Kentucky
The actual burial location is Miller Cemetery in Livingston County, Kentucky, as Find a Grave photographs (and personal visits) confirm. Cheryl grew up there and several of her other relatives are buried there, and we have our plots in Miller Cemetery. Some sources erroneously say he was buried in Canton Cemetery in Trigg County, Kentucky or in Robertson Cemetery in Stewart County, Tennessee.
Ancestry | FamilySearch | Find a Grave | Geneanet (NR) | Geni | Google | MyHeritage | Newspapers (NR) | Obituary (NR) | RootsFinder (NR) | WikiTree (NR)
Noteworthy
- Great-grandnephew of General James Robertson, Founder of Nashville.
- This branch of the Robertson family is historically part of the early settlement of the Jackson Purchase and Pennyrile regions of western Kentucky, with roots likely tracing back to Virginia. Google
- Census records from 1880 place him in Golden Pond, Trigg County, Kentucky, where he worked as a farmer. Google
- He served as a Private in the 50th Tennessee Infantry (Confederate) during the Civil War. Google
- Tags: Farmer_, Laborer_, Military_, Civil_War, Confederate_, Veteran_, Private_
Parents:
James Robertson 1809-1869
Ann Marie Ragan 1812-1893
Maternal Lineage TBD
Spouse: Missouria L Whitney 1850-1923
"Conflicting Records: There is a record of a James Lesley Robertson (whose father was also a James Robertson) married to a Martha "Mattie" Bunch." Google This is conflated in some sources.
Married: 4 November 1866 in Trigg County, Kentucky
Some sources say 1868, but the official marriage records say 1866, which also coincides with the birth year of their first child.
Children: 5
- Ida M Robertson 1867-1927
- Mennie Robertson 1871-1938
- Eddie Morris Robertson 1872-1952
- Marvin Clay Robertson 1882-1977
- Ollie Rhea Robertson 1882-1960
- Marriage Record. Marriage Records. Kentucky Marriages. Madison County Courthouse, Richmond, Kentucky. Ancestry | FamilySearch TBD
- Census, 1860. The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M653; Residence Date: 1860; Home in 1860: District 7, Stewart, Tennessee; Roll: M653_1272; Page: 482; Family History Library Film: 805272 Ancestry | FamilySearch TBD
- Census, 1870. NAID: 2791276; Record Group Number: 29 Ancestry | FamilySearch TBD
- Census, 1870. The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M653; Residence Date: 1860; Home in 1860: District 7, Stewart, Tennessee; Roll: M653_1272; Page: 482; Family History Library Film: 805272 Ancestry | FamilySearch TBD
- Census, 1880. Year: 1880; Census Place: Golden Pond, Trigg, Kentucky; Roll: 443; Page: 423c; Enumeration District: 155 Ancestry | FamilySearch TBD
- Census, 1900. Year: 1900; Census Place: Driskill, Livingston, Kentucky; Roll: 539; Page: 12; Enumeration District: 0054 Ancestry | FamilySearch TBD
Cheryl's 2nd Great-Grandfather,
Residences:
Dover, Stewart County, Tennessee 1809 > Dickson, Dickson County, Tennessee 1929 > Roane County, Tennessee 1930 > Dover, Stewart County, Tennessee 1850, 1860 > Canton, Trigg County, Kentucky 1829, 1860, 1869
"I've been told the Robertsons came from Dickson Tn." Marielle Robertson, Family Research Book
Apparently, James, likely as a child with his family, moved from Dover to Dickson sometime between his birth in 1809 and his marriage in 1829.
"James was born in 1809 in Middle Tennessee (variously cited as Stewart or Dickson County). During this period, his family was part of the early settlement of Dickson County, which was formed in 1803 from Montgomery and Robertson counties." Google
The marriage record states that he married Ann Marie Ragan in 1829 in Dickson.
Some sources indicate the move from Dickson, Tennessee to Canton, Kentucky to have been made "shortly after their marriage" in 1829, (Google), but census records indicate the move took place after 1860. Perhaps this would indicate some other moves during that time.
Cemetery TBD
Noteworthy
- Great-nephew of General James Robertson, founder of Nashville. James 1809-1869 is the son of James Randolph Robertson 1780-1830, son of Charles Sterling Robertson 1740-1805, brother of James Randolph Robertson 1742-1814.
- In addition to his occupation as Farmer in other census records, the 1860 Census identifies his occupation as "Poor House Keeper." Google | 1860 Census
- Around 2000, Cheryl and I drove around the Canton, Kentucky, community with her parents after dining at the Lake Barkley State Park. Clifton said that his great-grandparents were from there.
- "Historical Note: Because "Robertson" and "Robinson" were often interchanged in handwritten census records, he is sometimes erroneously listed as "Robinson" in the 1850 and 1860 Tennessee census." Google
- "James Robertson is listed in the 1850 and 1860 U.S. Federal Censuses for Stewart County, Tennessee, where he is typically recorded as a farmer." Google
- Tags: Farmer_, Poorhouse_Keeper
Parents:
James Randolph Robertson 1780-1830
Anna Russell 1783-1830
Maternal Lineage:
Mary Gower 1716-TBD, mother of TBD Gower TBD, mother of Elizabeth Gower 1750-1760, mother of Anna Russell 1783-1830, mother of James Robertson
Spouse: Ann Marie Ragan 1812-1893
Married: 27 August 1829 in Dickson, Tennessee
Children: 6
- Williams Robertson 1834-1892
- Caroline Robertson 1835-1895
- Eliza C Robertson 1836-1896
- Joseph P Robertson 1839-1918
- James Edward Robertson 1843-1907
- Ellen Robertson 1846-1906
Census and marriage records are conclusive that Ann Marie Ragan 1812-1893 was the spouse of James Robertson 1809-1869.
- Census, 1830. Year: 1830; Census Place: Roane, Tennessee; Series: M19; Roll: 180; Page: 27; Family History Library Film: 0024538 Ancestry | FamilySearch TBD
- Census, 1850. The National Archives in Washington, DC; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M432; Residence Date: 1850; Home in 1850: Stewart, Tennessee; Roll: 896; Page: 401b Ancestry | FamilySearch TBD
- Census, 1860. 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. "Historical Note: Because "Robertson" and "Robinson" were often interchanged in handwritten census records, he is sometimes erroneously listed as "Robinson" in the 1850 and 1860 Tennessee census." Google | Ancestry | FamilySearch TBD
- Census, 1870. Year: 1870; Census Place: Canton, Trigg, Kentucky; Roll: M593_501; Page: 68B Ancestry | FamilySearch TBD
- Marriage Record. Tennessee State Library and Archives; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002. Ancestry | FamilySearch
- Family History Books: The River Counties Quarterly. "Early Dickson County Marriages." The River Counties Quarterly-V 2, No 2 Apr 1973. Ancestry.com. U.S., Family History Books [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2025. Ancestry | FamilySearch TBD
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James Randolph Robertson, Cheryl's 3rd Great-Grandfather
1780-1830
b.Washington County, Tennessee
d. Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee
Cemetery TBD
"He is widely reported to be buried at the Nashville City Cemetery in Nashville, Tennessee, where many members of the Robertson family were interred following the cemetery's establishment in 1822." Google
Ancestry | FamilySearch | Find a Grave (NR) | Geneanet | Geni | Google | MyHeritage | Newspapers | Obituary (NR) | RootsFinder (NR) | WikiTree
Noteworthy
- Nephew of General James Robertson 1742–1814, son of Charles Sterling Robertson (1754-1806), the General’s older brother.
- 1st Cousin of Sterling Clack Robertson 1785–1842, who founded the Robertson's Colony in Texas
- Served in US Army
- Tags: Military_, US_Army, Veteran_
Parents:
Charles Sterling Robertson 1740-1805
Susannah Cunningham 1749-1812
Maternal Lineage:
Susannah Patton 1715-1785, mother of Susannah Cunningham 1749-1812
Spouse: Anna Russell 1783-1830
Married: 1803 in Tennessee
Children:
- William Russell Robertson 1805-1866
- James Robertson Oct 10, 1809-1869
- Mark A Robertson 1811-TBD
- Abraham Robertson 1815-TBD
- Felix Robertson 1817-1884
- John Robertson 1818-TBD
- Elizabeth Robertson 1820-TBD
"The children of James Randolph Robertson (b. ~1780) and Anna Russell (b. ~1782) primarily resided in Dickson County, Tennessee, and Trigg County, Kentucky, before some branches migrated to Illinois." Google
- Army Enlistment. "United States, Registers of Enlistments in the U.S. Army, 1798-1914", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJD5-VTFL : Thu Jan 16 06:33:55 UTC 2025), Entry for James Robertson, 23 May 1814. Ancestry TBD | FamilySearch
- Marriage Records. Various Illinois County Courthouses; Various Illinois County Courthouses; Marriage Records; Collection Title: Marriage Records. Ancestry TBD | FamilySearch
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Charles Sterling Robertson, Cheryl's 4th Great-Grandfather
& GGF of Bill's 5th cousin 4x
aka Buffalo Robertson
1754-1806 (51-52)
b. Wake County, North Carolina
d. Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee
Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee
Ancestry | FamilySearch | Find a Grave | Geneanet | Geni | Google | MyHeritage | Newspapers | Obituary (NR) | RootsFinder (NR) | WikiTree
Noteworthy
- Brother of General James Robertson, Founder of Nashville and "Father of Tennessee."
- He represented Washington County in the North Carolina House of Commons and later served in the Senate of the short-lived State of Franklin. Google
- He served as a Major in the North Carolina Militia during the American Revolutionary War. He participated in the Battle of Kings Mountain (1780) and various expeditions against the Cherokee. Google
- Colonel Charles Robertson was a founder of the Watauga Association and served as its first Trustee. He was also a prominent military figure during the Revolutionary War, leading troops in the capture of Thicketty Fort and at the Battle of Musgrove's Mill. Google
- He was a key leader in the Watauga Settlement (modern-day East Tennessee) and signed the Watauga Petition in 1776, asking North Carolina to annex the settlement.He held several key military, political, and land-management roles that were essential to the founding of Tennessee. Google
- He managed a significant estate on Sinking Creek (near modern Johnson City, TN), where he was a successful farmer and landholder. Google He was appointed a justice of the peace for Washington County on 23 Oct 1790. Ancestry
- Tags: Military_, Major_, Colonel_, Revolutionary_War, Politician_, Farmer_, Plantation_Owner
Wake County, North Carolina 1754 > Washington County, Tennessee 1790 > Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee 1806
Parents:
John Randolph Robertson 1712-1761
Mary Ann Gower 1716-1775
Maternal Lineage:
Jane Gower TBD-1710, mother of Irene Higgins 1670-TBD, mother of Jane Mary Gower 1695-1775, mother of Mary Ann Gower 1716-1775, mother of Charles Sterling Robertson.
Spouse: Susannah Cunningham 1749-1806
Married: 1774 in Washington County, Tennessee
Children:
- Agnes Nancy Robertson 1774-1857
- Elizabeth Robertson 1777-1784
- James Randolph Robertson 1780-1830
- Elijah Sterling Robertson 1784-1858
- Christopher Cunningham Robertson 1785-1836
- Mary "Polly" Robertson 1789-1842
- Rhoda Robertson 1791-TBD
- Susannah Robertson TBD
- Jenney
- Others TBD
- Marriage. Yates Publishing. U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Ancestry | FamilySearch TBD
- Will. Ancestry TBD | FamilySearch
- Census, 1790. Territorial Papers of the US; Volume Number: Vol 4; Page Number: 432; Family Number: 3 Ancestry | FamilySearch TBD
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John Randolph Robertson Sr, Cheryl's 5th Great-Grandfather
& 2nd GGF of Bill's 5th cousin 4x
8 May 1712 - 11 Dec 1775
Some sources have Scotland or Ireland as birthplace. Some have 26 Apr 1761 as his death date.
b. Bristol Parish, Prince George's County, Virginia
d. Johnston County, North Carolina
Cemetery TBD
"Based on his death records, he is most likely buried in Johnston County, North Carolina, where he lived at the time of his death." Google
Ancestry | FamilySearch | Find a Grave | Geneanet | Geni | Google | MyHeritage | Newspapers (TBD) | Obituary (TBD) | RootsFinder (TBD) | WikiTree
Noteworthy
- Father of James Randolph Robertson, Founder of Nashville & "Father of Tennessee"
- Tags: Planter_, Farmer_, Church_of_England
Parents:
John Robertson 1677-1716
Elizabeth Ann Randolph 1690-1716
Some sources have Israel Robertson & Sarah Martin Williams as the parents. Please see Robertson: Ancestors of Israel Robertson 1698-1760.
Maternal Lineage:
Anne Elsdon TBD-1675, mother of Elizabeth Blossom 1620-1713, mother of Eleanor Randolph 1670-1766, mother of John Randolph Robertson Sr
Spouse: Mary Ann Gower 1716-1775
Married: 1739
Children: 9
- James Randolph Robertson 1742-1814
- "Father of Tennessee" and founder of Nashville
- Ancestry | Find a Grave | Google
- John Randolph Robertson aka Jonathan 1743-1780
- William Cash Robertson 1745-1857
- Julius Caesar Robertons 1750-1818
- Sarah Eliza Robertson 1751-1803
- Elijah Robertson 1752-1797
- His son, Sterling Clack Robertson (1785–1842), founded Robertson's Colony in Texas.
- Charles Sterling "Buffalo" Robertson 1754-1806
- Anne Gower Robertson 1757-1821
- Mark Claiborne Robertson 1759-1787
- Marriage. Yates Publishing. U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Ancestry | FamilySearch TBD
______________________________________
John Robertson, Cheryl's 6th Great-Grandfather
& 3rd GGF of Bill's 5th cousin 4x
1675-1716 (40-41) some sources have birth year 1677
b. Perthshire, Tayside, Scotland
d. Belfast, Antrim, Ireland
Cemetery TBD
Ancestry | FamilySearch | Find a Grave | Geneanet (TBD) | Geni | Google (TBD) | MyHeritage | Newspapers (TBD) | Obituary (TBD) | RootsFinder (TBD) | WikiTree
Noteworthy
- Tags: Immigrated_to_USA
Parents:
Donald Robertson 1641-TBD
Margaret Robertson 1633-TBD
Maternal Lineage:
Margaret Robertson 1633-TBD
Spouse: Elizabeth Ann Randolph 1690-1716
Married:
Children:
- John Randolph Robertson Sr 1712-1775
- William Robertson TBD
- Charles Robertson TBD
- James Robertson 1714-1768
- Ancestry TBD | FamilySearch TBD
______________________________________
Donald Robertson, Cheryl's 7th Great-Grandfather
& 4th GGF of Bill's 5th cousin 4x
1641-1688 (47)
b. Drumachuine, Perthshire, Tayside, Scotland
d. Perthshire, Tayside, Scotland
Cemetery TBD
Ancestry | FamilySearch (TBD) | Find a Grave (TBD) | Geneanet (TBD) | Geni (TBD) | Google (TBD) | MyHeritage (TBD) | Newspapers (TBD) | Obituary (TBD) | RootsFinder (TBD) | WikiTree
Noteworthy
- Tags:
Parents & Maternal Lineage TBD
Parents:
Maternal Lineage:
Spouse:
Married:
Children:
- John Robertson 1677-1716
- Others TBD
- Ancestry TBD | FamilySearch TBD
______________________________________
Duncan Robertson, Cheryl's 8th Great-Grandfather
& 5th GGF of Bill's 5th cousin 4x
1612-1687
b. Struan, Perthshire, Tayside, Scotland
d. Drumachuine, Perthshire, Tayside, Scotland
Cemetery TBD
Ancestry | FamilySearch (TBD) | Find a Grave (TBD) | Geneanet (TBD) | Geni (TBD) | Google (TBD) | MyHeritage (TBD) | Newspapers (TBD) | Obituary (TBD) | RootsFinder (TBD) | WikiTree (TBD)
Noteworthy
- Tags:
Parents & Maternal Lineage TBD
Parents:
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Spouse:
Married:
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- Others TBD
- Ancestry TBD | FamilySearch TBD
______________________________________
Robert Robertson, Cheryl's 9th Great-Grandfather
& 6th GGF of Bill's 5th cousin 4x
1580-1657
b. Struan, Perth, Scotland
d. Struan, Blair Atholl Parish, Perthshire, Scotland
Cemetery TBD
Ancestry | FamilySearch (TBD) | Find a Grave (TBD) | Geneanet (TBD) | Geni (TBD) | Google (TBD) | MyHeritage (TBD) | Newspapers (TBD) | Obituary (TBD) | RootsFinder (TBD) | WikiTree (TBD)
Noteworthy
- Tags:
Parents & Maternal Lineage TBD
Parents:
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Spouse:
Married:
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- Others TBD
- Ancestry TBD | FamilySearch TBD
______________________________________
Donald Robertson, Cheryl's 10th Great-Grandfather
& 7th GGF of Bill's 5th cousin 4x
1550-1591
b. Struan, Perthshire, Scotland
d. Struan, Perthshire, Scotland
Cemetery TBD
Ancestry | FamilySearch (TBD) | Find a Grave (TBD) | Geneanet (TBD) | Geni (TBD) | Google (TBD) | MyHeritage (TBD) | Newspapers (TBD) | Obituary (TBD) | RootsFinder (TBD) | WikiTree (TBD)
Noteworthy
- Tags:
Parents & Maternal Lineage TBD
Parents:
Maternal Lineage:
Spouse:
Married:
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- Others TBD
- Ancestry TBD | FamilySearch TBD
______________________________________
Robert Robertson, Cheryl's 11th Great-Grandfather
& 8th GGF of Bill's 5th cousin 4x
1513 - 13 May 1566
b. Struan, Perthshire, Tayside, Scotland
d. Struan, Perthshire, Tayside, Scotland
Cemetery TBD
Ancestry | FamilySearch (TBD) | Find a Grave (TBD) | Geneanet (TBD) | Geni (TBD) | Google (TBD) | MyHeritage (TBD) | Newspapers (TBD) | Obituary (TBD) | RootsFinder (TBD) | WikiTree (TBD)
Noteworthy
- Tags:
Parents & Maternal Lineage TBD
Parents:
Maternal Lineage:
Spouse:
Married:
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- Others TBD
- Ancestry TBD | FamilySearch TBD
______________________________________
William Robertson, Cheryl's 12th Great-Grandfather
& 9th GGF of Bill's 5th cousin 4x
1497-1532
b. Struan, Perthshire, Tayside, Scotland
d. Struan, Perthshire, Tayside, Scotland
Cemetery TBD
Ancestry | FamilySearch (TBD) | Find a Grave (TBD) | Geneanet (TBD) | Geni (TBD) | Google (TBD) | MyHeritage (TBD) | Newspapers (TBD) | Obituary (TBD) | RootsFinder (TBD) | WikiTree (TBD)
Noteworthy
- Tags:
Parents & Maternal Lineage TBD
Parents:
Maternal Lineage:
Spouse:
Married:
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- Others TBD
- Ancestry TBD | FamilySearch TBD
______________________________________
Robert Robertson, Cheryl's 13th Great-Grandfather
& 10th GGF of Bill's 5th cousin 4x
1466-1526
b.
d.
Cemetery TBD
Ancestry | FamilySearch (TBD) | Find a Grave (TBD) | Geneanet (TBD) | Geni (TBD) | Google (TBD) | MyHeritage (TBD) | Newspapers (TBD) | Obituary (TBD) | RootsFinder (TBD) | WikiTree (TBD)
Noteworthy
- Tags:
Parents & Maternal Lineage TBD
Parents:
Maternal Lineage:
Spouse:
Married:
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- Others TBD
- Ancestry TBD | FamilySearch TBD
______________________________________
Alexander Robertson aka Alexander Duncanson,
Cheryl's 14th Great-Grandfather & 11th GGF of Bill's 5th cousin 4x
1440 - 18 Mar 1505
b.
d.
Cemetery TBD
Ancestry | FamilySearch (TBD) | Find a Grave (TBD) | Geneanet (TBD) | Geni (TBD) | Google (TBD) | MyHeritage (TBD) | Newspapers (TBD) | Obituary (TBD) | RootsFinder (TBD) | WikiTree (TBD)
Noteworthy
- 5th Chief of Clan Donnachaidh
- Tags:
Parents & Maternal Lineage TBD
Parents:
Maternal Lineage:
Spouse:
Married:
Children:
- Others TBD
- Ancestry TBD | FamilySearch TBD
______________________________________
Robert Duncanson aka Robert Riabhach aka Robert Riach aka Robert de Atholia,
Cheryl's 15th Great-Grandfather & Bill's 16th Great-Grandfather & 12th GGF of Bill's 5th cousin 4x
Making Cheryl and Bill 16th Cousins 1x Removed through their Robertson lineages
1390 - 4 August 1460
Cemetery TBD
Douglas, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Bill's Lineage: see Ancestors of Frances Robertson 1549-1605 in Bill's Mother's Lineage
Robert Duncanson 1390-1450, father of Duncan Robertson 1430-1490, father of Robert Duncanson 1465-1520, father of Thomas Robertson 1485-1540, father of Robert Robertson 1505-1550, father of John Robertson 1523-1613, father of Frances Robertson 1549-1605
Frances Robertson > Meribah Gibbs > Peter Folger > Experience Folger > William Swain Sr > Hephzibah Swain > Mary Pinkham > Mary Worth > David Day > Phedora Alice Day > Lenore Inez Steger > Barbara Lou Tridle
Ancestry | FamilySearch (TBD) | Find a Grave (TBD) | Geneanet (TBD) | Geni (TBD) | Google (TBD) | MyHeritage (TBD) | Newspapers (TBD) | Obituary (TBD) | RootsFinder (TBD) | WikiTree (TBD)
Noteworthy
- 4th Chief of Clan Donnachaidh
- The Surname Transition: While he was known as Robert Duncanson, he is the reason the clan eventually became the Robertsons. His son, Alexander, adopted the surname "Robertson" (Robert's son) specifically to honor his father's heroic deed of capturing the assassins of King James I in 1437. Google
- Barony of Struan: In 1451, King James II rewarded Robert Duncanson by consolidating his lands into the Barony of Struan. Google
- Heraldry: His legacy remains visible in the Robertson clan's coat of arms, which features a "savage man in chains" representing the assassin (Sir Robert Graham) whom Robert Duncanson captured. Google
- Tags:
Parents & Maternal Lineage TBD
Parents:
Maternal Lineage:
Spouse:
Married:
Children:
- Duncan Robertson 1430-1490 (Bill's ancestor)
- Alexander Robertson 1440-1505 (Cheryl's ancestor)
- Others TBD
- Ancestry TBD | FamilySearch TBD
______________________________________
Duncan de Atholia aka Duncan of Rannoch aka Donnchadh MacRaibeirt,
Cheryl's 16th Great-Grandfather
& 13th GGF of Bill's 5th cousin 4x
1360-1438
d. Perthshire, Scotland
Cemetery TBD
Ancestry | FamilySearch (TBD) | Find a Grave (TBD) | Geneanet (TBD) | Geni (TBD) | Google (TBD) | MyHeritage (TBD) | Newspapers (TBD) | Obituary (TBD) | RootsFinder (TBD) | WikiTree (TBD)
Noteworthy
- 3rd Chief of Clan Donnachaidh
- Tags:
Parents & Maternal Lineage TBD
Parents:
Maternal Lineage:
Spouse:
Married:
Children:
- Others TBD
- Ancestry TBD | FamilySearch TBD
______________________________________
Andrew de Atholia aka Andrew of Atholl,
Cheryl's 17th Great-Grandfather & 14th GGF of Bill's 5th cousin 4x
1275-1355
b. Carrick, Fife or Carrick, Argyll, Scotland
d. Atholl, Perthshire, Scotland
Cemetery TBD
Ancestry | FamilySearch (TBD) | Find a Grave (TBD) | Geneanet (TBD) | Geni (TBD) | Google (TBD) | MyHeritage (TBD) | Newspapers (TBD) | Obituary (TBD) | RootsFinder (TBD) | WikiTree (TBD)
Noteworthy
- 4th Laird of Glenerochie
- Tags:
Parents & Maternal Lineage TBD
Parents:
Maternal Lineage:
Spouse:
Married:
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- Others TBD
- Ancestry TBD | FamilySearch TBD
______________________________________
Angus de Atholia, Cheryl's 18th Great-Grandfather
& 15th GGF of Bill's 5th cousin 4x
1230-1282
b. Atholl, Perthshire, Scotland
d. Atholl, Perthshire, Scotland
Cemetery TBD
Ancestry | FamilySearch (TBD) | Find a Grave (TBD) | Geneanet (TBD) | Geni (TBD) | Google (TBD) | MyHeritage (TBD) | Newspapers (TBD) | Obituary (TBD) | RootsFinder (TBD) | WikiTree (TBD)
Noteworthy
- 3rd Laird of Glenerochie
- Tags:
Parents & Maternal Lineage TBD
Parents:
Some historical researchers, such as the Clan Donnachaidh Society, identify Angus as the son of Ewan de Glenerochie. In this version, Ewan was the son of Conan, making Angus the great-grandson of Earl Henry. Google
Maternal Lineage:
Spouse:
Married:
Children:
- Others TBD
- Ancestry TBD | FamilySearch TBD
______________________________________
Ewan de Atholia aka Ewan of Glenerochie,
Cheryl's 19th Great-Grandfather & 16th GGF of Bill's 5th cousin 4x
1250-1284
b. Atholl, Perthshire, Scotland
d. Atholl, Perthshire, Scotland
Cemetery TBD
Ancestry | FamilySearch (TBD) | Find a Grave (TBD) | Geneanet (TBD) | Geni (TBD) | Google (TBD) | MyHeritage (TBD) | Newspapers (TBD) | Obituary (TBD) | RootsFinder (TBD) | WikiTree (TBD)
Noteworthy
- Tags:
Parents & Maternal Lineage TBD
Parents:
Maternal Lineage:
Spouse:
Married:
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- Others TBD
- Ancestry TBD | FamilySearch TBD
______________________________________
Conan de Atholia, Cheryl's 20th Great-Grandfather
& 17th GGF of Bill's 5th cousin 4x
1180-1240
b. Atholl, Perthshire, Scotland
d. Atholl, Perthshire, Scotland
Cemetery TBD
Ancestry | FamilySearch (TBD) | Find a Grave (TBD) | Geneanet (TBD) | Geni (TBD) | Google (TBD) | MyHeritage (TBD) | Newspapers (TBD) | Obituary (TBD) | RootsFinder (TBD) | WikiTree (TBD)
Noteworthy
- Tags:
Parents & Maternal Lineage TBD
Parents:
Maternal Lineage:
Spouse:
Married:
Children:
- Others TBD
- Ancestry TBD | FamilySearch TBD
______________________________________
Henry de Atholia, Cheryl's 21st Great-Grandfather
& 18th GGF of Bill's 5th cousin 4x
1158-1211
b. Atholl, Perthshire, Scotland
d. Atholl, Perthshire, Scotland
Cemetery TBD
Ancestry | FamilySearch (TBD) | Find a Grave (TBD) | Geneanet (TBD) | Geni (TBD) | Google (TBD) | MyHeritage (TBD) | Newspapers (TBD) | Obituary (TBD) | RootsFinder (TBD) | WikiTree (TBD)
Noteworthy
- 3rd Earl of Atholl
- Tags:
Parents & Maternal Lineage TBD
Parents:
Maternal Lineage:
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Married:
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- Others TBD
- Ancestry TBD | FamilySearch TBD
______________________________________
Malcolm Atholia aka Máel Coluim aka Máel Coluim mac Donnchada
aka King Malcolm III of Scotland
Cheryl's 22nd Great-Grandfather & 19th GGF of Bill's 5th cousin 4x
25 Aug 1031 - 13 Nov 1093
b. Blair Atholl, Perthshire, Scotland
d. Battle of Alnwick near Alnwick, Northumberland, England
Cemetery TBD
Ancestry | FamilySearch (TBD) | Find a Grave (TBD) | Geneanet (TBD) | Geni (TBD) | Google (TBD) | MyHeritage (TBD) | Newspapers (TBD) | Obituary (TBD) | RootsFinder (TBD) | WikiTree (TBD)
Noteworthy
- Ruled Scotland from 1058 to 1093
- Tags:
Parents & Maternal Lineage TBD
Parents:
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Married:
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- Others TBD
- Ancestry TBD | FamilySearch TBD
______________________________________
Madach Atholia aka Maddad aka Matad,
Cheryl's 23rd Great-Grandfather & 19th GGF of Bill's 5th cousin 4x
1085-1152
b. Atholl, Perthshire, Scotland
d. Atholl, Perthshire, Scotland
Cemetery TBD
Ancestry | FamilySearch (TBD) | Find a Grave (TBD) | Geneanet (TBD) | Geni (TBD) | Google (TBD) | MyHeritage (TBD) | Newspapers (TBD) | Obituary (TBD) | RootsFinder (TBD) | WikiTree (TBD)
Noteworthy
- Mentioned in the Orkneyinga Saga as the father of Harald Maddadsson, a powerful Earl of Orkney.
- Tags:
Parents & Maternal Lineage TBD
Parents:
Maternal Lineage:
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Married:
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- Others TBD
- Ancestry TBD | FamilySearch TBD
Cheryl's 24rd Great-Grandfather
b. Atholl, Perthshire, Scotland
d. Cumberland, England
Cemetery TBD
Ancestry | FamilySearch (TBD) | Find a Grave (TBD) | Geneanet (TBD) | Geni (TBD) | Google (TBD) | MyHeritage (TBD) | Newspapers (TBD) | Obituary (TBD) | RootsFinder (TBD) | WikiTree (TBD)
Noteworthy
- Tags:
Parents & Maternal Lineage TBD
Parents:
Maternal Lineage:
Spouse:
Married:
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- Others TBD
- Ancestry TBD | FamilySearch TBD
b. Atholl, Perthshire, Scotland
d. Pitgaveny, Scotland
Iona Abbey
Isle of Iona, Scotland
Historical tradition suggests he was first buried at Elgin, near where he was killed in battle at Pitgaveny (Bothnagowan), before his body was later relocated to the sacred royal burial grounds on Iona. His remains are specifically thought to lie within the Reilig Odhrain (Saint Oran's Graveyard), the legendary "Street of the Dead" located adjacent to the abbey. (Google AI)
Ancestry | FamilySearch (TBD) | Find a Grave (TBD) | Geneanet (TBD) | Geni (TBD) | Google (TBD) | MyHeritage (TBD) | Newspapers (TBD) | Obituary (TBD) | RootsFinder (TBD) | WikiTree (TBD)
Noteworthy
- His accession in 1034 was notable because it bypassed the traditional Law of Tanistry, where the crown alternated between family branches, marking a move toward direct hereditary succession.
- Despite his short six-year reign, he founded the House of Dunkeld, and his sons Malcolm III (Canmore) and Donald III (Bane) both eventually reclaimed the Scottish throne.
- Killed by Macbeth in the Battle of Pitgaveny
- Tags:
In the 11th century, Scottish kings did not have a single fixed residence; they traveled between various royal centers to maintain control. For Donnchad mac Crínáin (Duncan I), the following locations are the most historically significant: (Google)
- Blair Atholl, Atholl, Perthshire, Scotland
- Strathclyde, Scotland
- Forteviot, Perthshire, Scotland
- Scone, Scotland
Parents:
Crínán of Dunkeld 980-1045
Bethóc of Scotland 984-1045
Maternal Lineage:
Aelgifu 962-1023, mother of Bethóc of Scotland 984-1045
Spouse: Suthen aka Sybilla 1009-1040
Married: 1030 in Scotland
Children:
- Malcolm III aka Canmore 1031-1093
- Donald III aka Donald Bane 1033-1099
- Máel Muire Donnchadh aka Melmare 1035-1130
- Others TBD
- Ancestry TBD | FamilySearch TBD
b. Atholl, Perthshire, Scotland
d. Dunkeld, Perthshire, Scotland
Cemetery TBD
Ancestry | FamilySearch (TBD) | Find a Grave (TBD) | Geneanet (TBD) | Geni (TBD) | Google (TBD) | MyHeritage (TBD) | Newspapers (TBD) | Obituary (TBD) | RootsFinder (TBD) | WikiTree (TBD)
Noteworthy
- progenitor of the House of Dunkeld, the dynasty which would rule Scotland for centuries
- Hereditary Lay Abbot of Dunkeld
- Mormaer of Atholl
- Led a rebellion against Macbeth in 1045 to restore his grandson, the future Malcolm III, to the throne
- Tags:
Parents:
Duncan mac Donnchad 950-990
Athelreda of Dunbar 950-1045
Maternal Lineage:
Spouse:
Married:
Children:
- Others TBD
- Ancestry TBD | FamilySearch TBD
b. Atholl, Perthshire, Scotland
d. Perthshire, Scotland
Cemetery TBD
Ancestry | FamilySearch (TBD) | Find a Grave (TBD) | Geneanet (TBD) | Geni (TBD) | Google (TBD) | MyHeritage (TBD) | Newspapers (TBD) | Obituary (TBD) | RootsFinder (TBD) | WikiTree (TBD)
Noteworthy
- Mormaer of Atholl
- Lord of Atholl
- Tags:
Parents:
Duncan aka Donnchadh 920-965
Groa Thorsteinsdottir 922-TBD
Maternal Lineage:
Spouse: Athelreda of Dunbar 950-1045
Married:
Children:
- Others TBD
- Ancestry TBD | FamilySearch TBD
d. Battle of Duncrub
Cemetery TBD
Ancestry | FamilySearch (TBD) | Find a Grave (TBD) | Geneanet (TBD) | Geni (TBD) | Google (TBD) | MyHeritage (TBD) | Newspapers (TBD) | Obituary (TBD) | RootsFinder (TBD) | WikiTree (TBD)
Noteworthy
- Tags:
Parents & Maternal Lineage TBD
Parents:
Maternal Lineage:
Spouse: Groa Thorsteinsdottir 922-TBD
Married:
Children:
- Others TBD
- Ancestry TBD | FamilySearch TBD
______________________________________
LEGENDARY
______________________________________
______________________________________
b. Atholl, Perthshire, Scotland
d. Caithness or Perthshire, Scotland
Cemetery TBD
Dunkeld, Perth and Kinross, Scotland
Ancestry | FamilySearch (TBD) | Find a Grave (TBD) | Geneanet (TBD) | Geni (TBD) | Google (TBD) | MyHeritage (TBD) | Newspapers (TBD) | Obituary (TBD) | RootsFinder (TBD) | WikiTree (TBD)
Noteworthy
- Earl of Caithness
- Hereditary Priest of Dule
- Tags:
Parents:
Maternal Lineage:
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Married:
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- Others TBD
- Ancestry TBD | FamilySearch TBD
Dates
This summary was generated using Google AI Mode, 10 Jan 2026 using the prompt "Cormac mac Airt birth and death dates and places and biography and legends"
- Birth: Approximately 954. While specific dates like October 5, 958, or places like or are sometimes cited in genealogical records, professional historians generally consider his exact birth date and location unknown.
- Death: November 25, 1034. He died at in Angus, Scotland.
- Burial: He is buried on the .
- Rise to Power: Malcolm was the son of King Kenneth II. He seized the throne after killing his predecessor, Kenneth III, at the Battle of Monzievaird in 1005.
- Military Success: His most significant victory was the Battle of Carham (c. 1016/1018), where he defeated Northumbrian forces, securing Scottish control over Lothian and setting the River Tweed as a border.
- Dynastic Strategy: Lacking surviving sons, Malcolm married his daughters into powerful regional dynasties to stabilize his rule.
- His daughter Bethóc married Crínán, Abbot of Dunkeld; their son was Duncan I.
- His daughter Donada married the Mormaer of Moray; their son was the historical Macbeth.
- Succession: To ensure Duncan's succession, he reportedly eliminated several rival claimants, violating the traditional "tanistry" system where the throne alternated between family branches.
- "The Destroyer": In the Prophecy of Berchán, an 11th-century verse chronicle, he is referred to by the epithet Forranach, meaning "the Destroyer" or "the Avenger".
- Cause of Death: While official records often state he died of natural causes, legends recorded by later chroniclers like John of Fordun claim he was assassinated by rivals or killed fighting "parricides" or bandits at Glamis.
- The Glamis Stone: A Pictish carved stone known as Glamis 2 is traditionally called "King Malcolm’s Grave Stone," though it likely predates him by centuries.
430-501
This summary was generated using Google AI Mode, 10 Jan 2026 using the prompt "Mór mac Eirc birth and death dates and places and biography"
- Birth Date: Most traditional sources cite June 29, 430 AD, though some scholarly estimates place it closer to 434 AD or 450 AD.
- Birth Place: , specifically the northern region of Dál Riata (modern-day County Antrim).
- Death Date: Typically recorded as October 12, 501 AD.
- Death Place: ; some accounts specify he died in or drowned in , with his body washing ashore at .
- Founder of Scotland: According to medieval national myths, Fergus led a migration of the Scoti (Gaels) from northeastern to around 498–500 AD.
- Royal Lineage: He was the son of Erc, King of Irish Dál Riata. He is recognized as the progenitor of the Scottish royal line, with monarchs from Cináed mac Ailpín (Kenneth MacAlpin) to the present day claiming descent from him.
- Cultural Legacy: Fergus is famously credited with bringing the Stone of Destiny (Stone of Scone) from to for his coronation, a tradition that persisted for centuries in Scottish and British monarchies.
- Historical Debate: While his name appears in early annals like the Annals of Tigernach, some modern historians view him more as a legendary figure used by later kings to legitimize their rule rather than a strictly historical person.
425-489
This summary was generated using Google AI Mode, 10 Jan 2026 using the prompt "Muiredach mac Eógain birth and death dates and places and biography"
- Birth: Approximately 425–434 AD in , Ireland.
- Death: Approximately 480–489 AD (some sources suggest as late as 507 AD).
- Burial: Legend states he died in his sleep and was buried in a dolmen north of modern-day Dublin.
- Lineage: He was the son of Eógan mac Néill (the founder of the Cenél nEógain dynasty) and grandson of the famous Niall of the Nine Hostages.
- Reign: According to the Laud Synchronisms, he ruled for roughly 24 years, from approximately 465 to 489 AD.
- Family: He married Erca, daughter of Loarn mac Eirc of Dál Riata. Their son, Muirchertach mac Muiredaig (also known as Muirchertach mac Ercae), became a High King of Ireland.
- Legacy: Muiredach is considered a pivotal figure in the expansion of the Northern Uí Néill, with several of his sons founding major branches of the dynasty, including the Cenél Fearadhaigh and Cenél Moain.
377-465
This summary was generated using Google AI Mode, 10 Jan 2026 using the prompt "Eógan mac Néill birth and death dates and places and biography"
- Birth: Estimated between 370 and 400 AD. While some sources specify Tyrone, Ireland, his birth date and place remain largely traditional rather than historical.
- Death: Reportedly 465 AD.
- Death Place: Traditionally said to be in , County Donegal.
- Cause of Death: Medieval tradition holds he died of grief following the death of his brother, Conall Gulban.
- Burial: He is reputedly buried at in Iskaheen, Inishowen, where a memorial plaque honors him.
- Ancestry: He was the son of the legendary High King Niall of the Nine Hostages (Niall Noígíallach) and Rignach Ingen Meadaib.
- Founder of Ailech: Eógan founded the Kingdom of Ailech, centered at the ancient stone hill fort of in modern-day County Donegal.
- Dynastic Legacy: As the eponymous ancestor of the Cenél nEógain ("Kindred of Owen"), his descendants founded the over-kingdom of (Land of Owen), from which the modern County Tyrone takes its name.
- Religious Connection: According to Patrician hagiography, he was a close friend and early convert of Saint Patrick, receiving the saint's blessing for himself and his lineage.
- Political Roles: He reportedly served as a judge in succession disputes alongside his brother, Lóegaire mac Néill, the High King.
377-465
This summary was generated using Google AI Mode, 10 Jan 2026 using the prompt "Niall Noígíallach birth and death dates and places and biography"
- Birth: Likely late 4th century (c. 342–361 AD) in , specifically associated with the royal line of Connacht.
- Death: Traditionally dated to 405 AD, though modern scholars suggest he may have lived until c. 450–452 AD. He is unanimously said to have died outside of , with locations ranging from the English Channel during a raid on Roman Britain to the Loire Valley in France or the Alps.
- Burial: Tradition places his grave at (Ochann) near Navan, County Meath.
- Lineage: The son of King Eochaid Mugmedón and Cairenn Chasdub, a captive Saxon princess (or Romano-Briton).
- Rise to Power: Legends describe him winning the kingship by succeeding in tests where his half-brothers failed, such as rescuing tools from a burning forge and kissing a hideous hag who revealed herself as the Sovereignty of Ireland.
- Nine Hostages: He earned his epithet by allegedly taking nine hostages as a show of dominance—traditionally five from the provinces of Ireland and four from abroad (the Scots, Saxons, Britons, and Franks).
- Military Feats: He is remembered as a prolific raider of the British and French coasts. Many traditions claim he was responsible for the raid that kidnapped a young Saint Patrick and brought him to Ireland as a slave.
- Legacy: He is the eponymous founder of the Uí Néill dynasty. Genetic studies suggest that roughly 8% of Irish men (and millions worldwide) share a Y-chromosome haplotype likely originating from a single powerful early-medieval ancestor, often attributed to Niall.
300-365
- Birth: Generally estimated between 287 and 325 AD. Traditional records often place his birth in or , Ireland.
- Death: Most historical traditions agree he died at around 362–365 AD.
- Burial: While specific details are often missing in early texts, later traditions suggest he was buried in or specifically at .
- Rise to Power: The son of High King Muiredach Tírech, Eochaid ascended the throne after killing the usurper Cáelbad. According to the Lebor Gabála Érenn, he ruled for roughly seven to eight years.
- Military Campaigns: His epithet "Mugmedón" ("Slave-Lord") stems from his frequent raids into Roman Britain, from which he brought back numerous slaves to Ireland.
- Marriages and Conflict:
- His first wife, Mongfind (sister of the King of Munster), bore him four sons: Brian, Fiachrae, Ailill, and Fergus.
- His second wife (or concubine) was Cairenn, a captive British princess. Legend says Mongfind treated Cairenn cruelly, but Cairenn's son Niall eventually rose to become the most powerful of Eochaid's children.
- Death: He is traditionally said to have died of a natural illness at , though some variants of the "Three Collas" legend suggest a more violent end.
261-357
This summary was generated using Google AI Mode, 10 Jan 2026 using the prompt "Muiredach Tirech birth and death dates and places and biography"
- Birth: Generally estimated between 261 and 304 AD. Locations cited include , , or more broadly.
- Death: Most sources date his death to 356 or 357 AD. Some genealogical records suggest he died in , or his "hometown" of .
- Family: He was the son of Fiacha Sraibhtine and Aoife. He married Muireann (or Muiron) and was the father of Eochaid Mugmedón, making him the grandfather of the famous Niall of the Nine Hostages.
- Rise to Power: Muiredach regained his father’s throne by exiling his nephews, the Three Collas, who had killed Fiacha Sraibhtine.
- Reign: He is credited with a 30-year reign (approx. 326–356 AD according to the Annals of the Four Masters).
- The Three Collas' Return: After exiling them to Scotland, Muiredach eventually took the Collas back into his service. Legend says he intentionally spared them to avoid a prophecy that would end his own lineage's claim to the throne.
- Expansion: He directed the Collas to conquer , leading to the destruction of Emain Macha and the founding of the kingdom of Airgíalla.
- Downfall: He was ultimately overthrown and killed by Cáelbad.
245-322
- Birth: Estimated circa 245–255 AD. His birthplace is traditionally cited as , , or sometimes .
- Death: Generally recorded as 322 AD (according to the Annals of the Four Masters) or 306 AD (according to Geoffrey Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn).
- Place of Death: He was killed at the Battle of Dubhcomar, located in Crioch Rois(near modern-day , between Kells and Navan in ).
- Lineage: He was the son of Cairbre Lifechair and a descendant of the line of Heremon.
- Rise to Power: After his father's death, the throne was briefly held by the Fothad brothers. Fíacha defeated and killed the survivor, Fothad Airgthech, at the Battle of Ollarba to claim the High Kingship.
- Reign: He ruled for approximately 31 to 37 years. During his reign, his son Muiredach Tirech served as his primary military commander, as custom often prohibited the king himself from entering certain battles.
- Prophecy and Death: His three nephews, known as the Three Collas, rebelled against him while his son’s army was away in Munster. Before the battle, Fíacha's druid, Dubhcomar, prophesied that if Fíacha won, none of his descendants would ever rule again, but if he lost, the Collas' descendants would be barred from the throne. Fíacha chose to sacrifice himself and his reign in the Battle of Dubhcomar to ensure his own lineage's future power.
- Legacy: He is an ancestor of the Uí Néill (Kings of Tara) and the Connachta dynasties.
220-284
Cairbre Lifechar (also known as Cairpre Lithfeachair) was a semi-legendary High King of Ireland in the 3rd century. His name, meaning "Lover of the Liffey," reflects his upbringing near the River Liffey.
- Birth: Approximately 220–235 AD. Traditional accounts often place his birth in , , or Dublin.
- Death: Circa 284 AD. He was killed in the Battle of Gabhra (Gowra), located near the Hill of Skreen in .
- Reign: Estimates vary by source. The date his reign from 267–284 AD, while Geoffrey Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn dates it to 245–272 AD.
- Lineage: He was the son of the famous High King Cormac mac Airt and Eithne Ollamhdha. He succeeded Eochaid Gonnat to become the 117th Monarch of Ireland.
- Key Conflicts: His reign was marked by conflict with the Fianna, a powerful band of warriors led by Fionn mac Cumhaill's descendants. Tensions escalated when the Fianna demanded an exorbitant tribute for the marriage of Cairbre's daughter, Sgiamh Sholais.
- The Battle of Gabhra: To break the power of the Fianna, Cairbre raised a massive army from Ulster, Connacht, and Leinster. Although his forces were victorious, Cairbre fell in single combat against Oscar, Fionn's grandson, or was dispatched shortly after by a relative named Simeon.
- Legacy: He is a pivotal figure in the Fenian Cycle of Irish mythology. His sons, Fiacha Sraibhtine and Eochaid Doimlén, continued his lineage, with Fiacha eventually succeeding him as High King.
175-266
This summary was generated using Google AI Mode, 10 Jan 2026 using the prompt "Cormac mac Airt birth and death dates and places and biography"
| Event | Conventional/Legendary Dates | Key Locations |
|---|---|---|
| Birth | c. 175, 183, or 190 AD | Born under a tree in (near Sligo or ). |
| Reign | 204–244 (Keating) or 226–266 (Annals of the Four Masters) | Ruled from the , County Meath. |
| Death | c. 244, 260, or 266 AD | Died at Tech Cletig (Cleiteach) near the Boyne or on the hill of . |
- Birth & "Wolf-Child" Upbringing: Cormac was the son of High King Art mac Cuinn. Legend says he was conceived the night before his father died in the Battle of Mag Mucrama. As an infant, he was reportedly carried off and raised by a she-wolf in the caves of Keshbefore being found by a hunter.
- Rise to Power: At age 30, Cormac traveled to . He proved his fitness for the throne by making a wiser legal judgment than the then-king Lugaid mac Con regarding a woman's sheep.
- A Golden Age: Under his 40-year rule, flourished. He is credited with codifying Brehon Law, building the Great Banqueting Hall at , and introducing the first watermill to Ireland.
- Otherworld Encounters: Legend tells of his visit to the Land of Promise, where the sea god Manannán mac Lir gave him a magic branch with golden apples and a cup that could distinguish truth from lies.
- Abdication and Death: Cormac was forced to step down after being blinded in one eye during a conflict with the Déisi, as ancient law required a king to be physically perfect. He reportedly died by choking on a salmon bone, an event sometimes attributed to a druid's curse after Cormac converted to Christianity.
- Tecosca Cormaic(The Instructions of Cormac): A poetic guide to leadership and life dictated to his son, Cairbre Lifechair.
- Psalter of Tara: A now-lost book of Irish chronicles and laws.
152-195
This summary was generated using Google AI Mode, 10 Jan 2026 using the prompt "Art mac Cuinn birth and death dates and places and biography and legends"
- Birth: Approximately 152–157 AD at the , County Meath, Ireland.
- Death: Circa 195 AD in Magh Mucruimhe(near Athenry, County Galway).
- Reign: Dates vary by source, with the placing his reign from 165–195 AD.
- The Exile and the Quest: Art was once banished from Tara for a year by his stepmother, the fairy Bé Chuma, who was jealous of him. Later, she challenged him to a game of fidchell (an ancient board game); when he lost, she sent him on a perilous quest to find the beautiful Delbcháem in the Land of Wonder. He eventually defeated her monstrous family to win her.
- Conception of Cormac mac Airt: On the eve of his final battle, Art stayed with a smith named Olc Acha. A prophecy foretold a great king would come from the smith’s line, so Art slept with Olc's daughter, Achtan. This union produced his famous successor, Cormac mac Airt, who was later famously raised by wolves.
- The Battle of Maigh Mucruimhe: Art's reign ended when his nephew, Lugaid mac Con, returned from exile with a foreign army. Art was defeated and killed in the ensuing battle.
- Burial: While most High Kings were buried at Brugh na Bóinne, some traditions state Art was buried atTreóit(Trevet, Co. Meath) or that his son Cormac later broke tradition by refusing burial with "pagan" kings.
110-157
This summary was generated using Google AI Mode, 10 Jan 2026 using the prompt "Conn Cétchathach birth and death dates and places and biography and legends"
- Birth: Traditional accounts place his birth around 110–113 CE. Legend states he was born in Ireland on Samhain, a night marked by the appearance of five new roads leading to the royal seat of .
- Death: He is commonly said to have died in 157 CE. His death occurred at Tara or Túath Amrois.
- Reign: Dates vary significantly between sources:
- : 122–157 CE.
- Geoffrey Keating: 116–136 CE.
- Lebor Gabála Érenn: Synchronizes his reign with Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (161–180 CE).
- Lineage: Son of High King Fedlimid Rechtmar and Ughna (daughter of a king from Lochlann or Denmark).
- Ancestry: Recognized as the progenitor of the Connachta and the ancestor of the powerful Uí Néill dynasty through his descendant Niall of the Nine Hostages.
- Major Conflict: His most significant political act was the division of Ireland after a long rivalry with Mug Nuadat (Eoghan Mór). They split the island along the Esker Riada (a line of hills from Dublin to Galway), creating:
- Leth Cuinn(Conn's Half) in the north.
- Leth Moga(Mug's Half) in the south.
- Demise: According to Library Ireland, he was assassinated at by Tipraite Tírech, the King of Ulster, who reportedly used fifty warriors disguised as women to ambush him while he was alone.
- The Roaring Stone: The Lia Fáil (Stone of Destiny) supposedly roared when Conn stepped on it, signaling his rightful kingship for the first time since the legendary Cú Chulainn split it.
- Baile in Scáil: In this "Phantom's Vision," Conn encountered the deity Lugh and a woman representing the Sovereignty of Ireland, who served him red ale and prophesied his long line of royal descendants.
- Connection to Fionn mac Cumhaill: Traditional sagas state the legendary hero Fionn mac Cumhaill was born during Conn's reign and later served in his court, eventually becoming the leader of the Fianna.
- Otherworldly Trials: He is central to tales like the Echtra Condla, where his son Connla is lured away to a magical island by a fairy woman, and the Adventure of Art mac Cuinn, involving a famine caused by a cursed marriage.
68-119
This summary was generated using Google AI Mode, 10 Jan 2026 using the prompt "Fedlimid Rechtmar birth and death dates and places and biography and legends"
- Birth: Often cited around 68 AD or 95 AD at the , .
- Death: Most sources agree he died in 119 AD. Unlike many High Kings who fell in battle, he is famously recorded as having died in his bed (a peaceful death) at .
- Reign Periods:
- : 110–119 AD.
- Geoffrey Keating (Foras Feasa ar Éirinn): 104–113 AD.
- : Synchronizes his reign with the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius (161–180 AD).
- Parentage: He was the son of Tuathal Techtmar and Báine, daughter of Scál.
- Ascension: Fedlimid took power after killing his predecessor, Mal mac Rochride, who had previously slain Fedlimid’s father.
- Family: He married Ughna, daughter of the King of Denmark. He was the father of several famous sons, most notably Conn Cétchathach (Conn of the Hundred Battles).
- Succession: He was succeeded by Cathair Mór.
- The Lawgiver: His epithet Rechtmar (meaning "Lawful" or "The Judge") comes from his legendary reform of Irish law. He is credited with instituting the lex talionis (the principle of "an eye for an eye") into the Brehon Law system, which was said to have greatly improved civil behavior in Ireland.
- Road Construction: Legendary accounts attribute the completion of the five great ceremonial roads leading to the to his reign.
- Stability: His rule is characterized in sagas as a period of exceptional peace, security, and plenty for the Irish people.
53-106
This summary was generated using Google AI Mode, 10 Jan 2026 using the prompt "Tuathal Techtmar birth and death dates and places and biography and legends"
- Birth: Typically dated to AD 53 or 56. Legend states he was born in Alba(Scotland) after his mother, Eithne Imgel, fled there to escape a rebellion.
- Death: Generally recorded around AD 106. He was reportedly slain in battle at Mag Line(Moylinny, near Larne in County Antrim) by Mal mac Rochride.
- Alternative Chronologies: Geoffrey Keating dated his reign from AD 80–100, while the Lebor Gabála Érenn synchronizes his return to Ireland with the Roman emperor Hadrian (AD 122–138).
- Exile and Return: Tuathal was born posthumously after his father, High King Fíachu Finnolach, was overthrown by the "subject peoples" or provincial kings. At age 20 or 25, Tuathal returned to Ireland with a foreign army, landing at Inber Domnann(Malahide Bay).
- Unification: He defeated the usurper Elim mac Conrach at the Battle of Achall and spent years fighting over 100 battles to subdue the four provinces of Ireland.
- Establishment of Mide: He is credited with carving out the (Meath) as a central royal territory taken from portions of the other four provinces.
- Legacy: He is regarded as the ancestor of the Uí Néill and Connachta dynasties.
- The Four Royal Sites: Tuathal reportedly built four major fortresses to anchor the central kingship: (Leinster), (Connacht), Tailtiu(Ulster), andTlachtga(Munster).
- The Bórama Tribute: Legend claims Tuathal imposed a massive cattle tribute (bórama) on Leinster as punishment after the King of Leinster caused the tragic deaths of Tuathal’s two daughters, Fithir and Dáirine.
- Divine Approval: His return was said to coincide with the end of a great famine that had plagued Ireland as divine punishment for the deposing of his father.
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This summary was generated using Google AI Mode, 10 Jan 2026 using the prompt "Fíachu Fínscothach birth and death dates and places and biography and legends"
Fíachu Fínscothach (also known as Fiacha Finscothach) was a legendary High King of Ireland whose story is a mix of dynastic warfare and mythological wonder.
- Family: He was the son of Sétna Airt, a previous High King of the Milesian line.
- Rise to Power: Fíachu went into exile after his father took the throne by killing the former king. He eventually returned with a "black fleet" and, with the help of an accomplice named Muinemón, killed his own father to seize the High Kingship.
- Death: After ruling for 20 years, he was killed by his former ally Muinemón, who then took the throne himself.
- : 1353–1333 BC.
- Foras Feasa ar Éirinn (Geoffrey Keating): 975–955 BC.
- The Wine Flowers: His name, Fínscothach, is derived from the Old Irish words fín (wine) and scoth (flower). Legend states that during his reign, flowers yielded a "wine-like" liquid that was pressed into glass vats.
- Prosperity: Like many legendary Irish kings, his reign was characterized by a specific natural abundance—in this case, the miraculous wine-producing flora that supposedly blossomed throughout Ireland.
- Birth/Death Place: Historical records for legendary kings rarely specify exact birthplaces, but his father gained the throne after a combat at (Rathcroghan), a major royal site in modern County Roscommon.
- Regional Origin: He belongs to the Milesian dynasty, traditionally associated with the central and northern royal seats of Ireland.
1010-910 BC
This summary was generated using Google AI Mode, 10 Jan 2026 using the prompt "Sétna Innarraid birth and death dates and places and biography and legends"
Sétna Innarraid (also spelled Seadhna Innarraidh) was a legendary High King of Ireland whose name translates to "Sétna of the Wages" or "of the stipend". As a figure of medieval Irish mythology, his "historical" details vary significantly depending on the source.
- Birth: Traditionally recorded as the son of Bres Rí. Some modern genealogical sites estimate his birth around 1010 BC, though this is not a verified historical date.
- Death: He was killed by Siomón Brecc, the grandson of a previous king, after reigning for 20 years.
- Places: While specific birth/death coordinates are not documented, his reign is centered on the traditional seat of the High Kings at .
- : 930–910 BC.
- : 705–685 BC.
- : Synchronizes his rule with the Persian kings Darius the Great (522–485 BC) and Xerxes I (485–465 BC).
- The "Wages" King: His primary legend is that he was the first Irish king to pay his soldiers with a formal stipend or wages (hence the epithet Innarraid). Prior to this, military service was typically based on tribal loyalty or land tenure.
- Lineage: He belonged to the line of the Milesians, the final mythical race to settle in Ireland according to the Lebor Gabála Érenn.
- Succession: He took the throne from his father, Bres Rí, and was eventually succeeded by his killer, Siomón Brecc.
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2948-1998 BC
This summary was generated using Google AI Mode, 10 Jan 2026 using the prompt "Noah birth and death dates and places and biography and legends, Scottish and Irish Tradition"
Noah is a central figure in Abrahamic religions, primarily known for surviving a global flood in a massive ark.
- Birth Date: Traditionally calculated to approximately 2950 BC or 2913 BC. Jewish tradition places his birth in the year 1056 AM (Anno Mundi—years after creation).
- Death Date: Estimated around 2000 BC or 1963 BC, exactly 350 years after the Great Flood.
- Lifespan: He lived for 950 years.
- Location: While not explicitly named in the Bible, archaeological and biblical deductions suggest he lived in Mesopotamia(modern-day Iraq). Local traditions in the claim it as both his birthplace and burial site.
- Lineage: Noah was the tenth generation descendant of Adam through the line of Seth. His father was Lamech, and his grandfather was Methuselah, the oldest man in the Bible.
- The Flood: At 500 years old, he had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. When he was 600, God sent a flood to destroy humanity due to widespread wickedness. Following God's instructions, Noah built an Ark to house his family and pairs of every animal species.
- Post-Flood Life: After the Ark rested on Mount Ararat (or Mount Judi in Islamic tradition), Noah became the first recorded person to plant a vineyard. He is noted as the progenitor of all post-flood humanity.
- Mesopotamian Roots: The story of Noah shares striking parallels with older Mesopotamian epics, such as the Epic of Gilgamesh (featuring Utnapishtim) and the Atrahasis Epic.
- Global Flood Myths: Hundreds of cultures have similar "Flood Hero" legends, including Deucalion in Greek mythology, Manu in Hindu texts, and Fuhi in Chinese lore.
- Inventions: Some Jewish legends credit Noah with the invention of the plow, bringing relief from the "toil of the hands" mentioned at his birth.
- Islamic Tradition: The Quran (Surah 11 and 71) describes Noah (Nuh) as a persistent prophet who preached for 950 years, but mentions one of his sons refused to board the Ark and perished in the flood.
- The Forbidden Voyage of Cessair: Irish myth identifies Cessair (sometimes called Noah's granddaughter) as the first person to set foot in Ireland. According to the Liverpool Irish Festival, Noah refused her father, Bith, a spot on the Ark because he was a thief. Cessair led a fleet of three ships to Ireland, believing its sinless soil would be spared from the Flood.
- The Survival of Fintan: Only three men reached Ireland with Cessair: Bith, Ladra, and Fintan mac Bóchra. When the Flood arrived, Fintan alone survived by shapeshifting into a salmon, then an eagle and a hawk, living for over 5,000 years to recount Ireland's history to later kings.
- Leprechauns and Fomorians: A unique legend suggests that the Fomorians (a supernatural race of giants) and even leprechauns were the descendants of Noah's son Ham, cursed with "unshapely appearances" because Ham mocked his father's nakedness.
- Genealogical Claims: Later waves of invaders, such as the people of Partholón and the Gaels, were traced back to Noah’s son Japheth via his son Magog to establish a "noble" biblical lineage for the Irish people.
- Lineage of the Scots: Similar to the Irish, the Prophecy Workshop notes that Scottish kings traditionally traced their ancestry to Noah through Japheth. The Scots were said to have moved from Ireland to the Hebrides and northern Britain, carrying this biblical heritage with them.
- The "Scots Noah": In the Scots language, the Scots Language Centre features poetic retellings of the Flood, such as "Noah" by Angela Graham, which uses traditional Scots terminology to describe the Ark and the "nippin' up the gang plank" of the animals.
- Naoise and Name Variants: The name Noah is often translated as Naoi in Irish. It is sometimes conflated in folklore with the name Naoise, a legendary hero who fled to Scotland with Deirdre of the Sorrows, though they are distinct figures in scholarly myth.
- Popularity: "Noah" has consistently been one of the top baby names in both Scotland and Ireland in the 2020s.
- Ussher's Chronology: The famous calculation that the Flood began on November 25, 2348 BC, was popularized by James Ussher, the 17th-century Irish Archbishop of Armagh.
3140-2353
This summary was generated using Google AI Mode, 10 Jan 2026 using the prompt "Lamech birth and death dates and places and biography and legends, Scottish and Irish Tradition"
In Scottish and Irish traditions, Lamech appears primarily as a foundational figure within pseudo-historical genealogies that link Gaelic origins to the biblical antediluvian world.
- Birth: Approximately 3130–3132 BC. In Irish tradition, his birth is often situated within the broader context of the ninth generation from Adam.
- Death: Approximately 2353–2355 BC (roughly five years before the Great Flood).
- Age: He lived for exactly 777 years.
- Places: No specific "Scottish" or "Irish" geography is assigned to his life; however, he is the root of lineages that supposedly migrated to Ireland.
- Lineage Connection: In the Lebor Gabála Érenn (The Book of Invasions), Lamech is the critical link between the Bible and the early Milesian kings of Ireland.
- Paternal Role: He is the son of Methuselah and the father of Noah. In Irish annals, he is credited with transmitting the wisdom of Enoch to his son, Noah, to preserve it through the Flood.
- Prophetic Character: He is portrayed as a man seeking "comfort" (the meaning of Noah's name) from the toil and curse on the land.
- The Blind Archer: A prominent legend (often shared with Jewish apocrypha but found in medieval Irish manuscripts) claims Lamech was blind and accidentally killed his ancestor Cain while hunting.
- The Secret Combinations: Some traditions (such as those in the Book of Moses) suggest Lamech entered into a "secret covenant" with Satan, leading to further violence in his lineage.
- Preserver of Arts: While biblical Lamech (of Cain's line) is the father of music and metallurgy, Irish traditions sometimes conflate the two Lamechs, seeing him as a progenitor of the Túatha Dé Danann's ancestral knowledge.
3317-2348 BC
This summary was generated using Google AI Mode, 10 Jan 2026 using the prompt "Methuselah birth and death dates and places and biography and legends, Scottish and Irish Tradition"
In Biblical tradition, Methuselah is the son of Enoch, the father of Lamech, and the grandfather of Noah. He is best known for being the oldest person recorded in the Bible, having lived for 969 years.
- Birth: Born in roughly 3317 BC (1656 years before the Flood in the Masoretic chronology).
- Death: Died in 2348 BC (the year of the Great Flood), potentially just seven days before it began.
- Place: Lived in the antediluvian world (pre-flood Middle East), a time characterized by extraordinary human lifespans.
- Biography: According to Genesis 5, he fathered Lamech at age 187 and continued to have other sons and daughters for the next 782 years. Some traditions portray him as a preacher of repentance who worked alongside Noah to warn humanity of the coming judgment.
- The Ineffable Sword: Medieval Jewish Midrashim claim Methuselah possessed a divine sword engraved with the Ineffable Name of God, which he used to slay thousands of demons.
- Prophetic Name: His name is often interpreted as "his death shall bring," suggesting the Flood was withheld until he passed away.
- Lineage of the Gaels: Irish monks in the Lebor Gabála Érenn (The Book of Invasions) attempted to link Irish origins to biblical patriarchs. They claimed the Irish were descendants of Fenius Farsaid, who was supposedly a great-grandson of Noah (and thus a direct descendant of Methuselah).
- Fionntán mac Bóchra: Often called the "Irish Methuselah," Fionntán is a legendary figure who survived the Flood by taking various animal forms (salmon, hawk, etc.). Like Methuselah, he lived for centuries and served as a bridge between the ancient world and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland.
- Chronology: Early Scottish and Irish chronicles used Methuselah’s lifespan to calculate the "Age of the World," establishing a timeline that connected their own kings to the biblical "Seven Shepherds".
3382-3017 BC
This summary was generated using Google AI Mode, 10 Jan 2026 using the prompt "Enoch birth and death dates and places and biography and legends, Scottish and Irish Tradition"
Enoch is a central figure in biblical and apocryphal traditions, uniquely characterized as a man who "walked with God" and bypassed physical death. While his primary biography is rooted in Hebrew texts, he occupies a distinct place in the folklore and theological traditions of Scotland and Ireland, often as a guardian of sacred knowledge and a participant in apocalyptic prophecies alongside the prophet Elijah (Elias).
- Life Dates: Traditional biblical chronologies place his life between approximately 3382 BC and 3019 BC. Other estimates suggest B.C. 3550–3185.
- Lifespan: He lived on earth for 365 years.
- Lineage: He was the seventh from Adam, the son of Jared, and the father of Methuselah.
- The "Death" of Enoch: He did not die a natural death; rather, he was "translated" or taken by God. In Hebrew tradition, he is often identified as the angel Metatron after his ascension.
- The Two Witnesses: A widespread belief in Celtic Christianity, influenced by the Book of Revelation (11:3), identifies Enoch and Elias as the "two witnesses" who currently reside in a hidden paradise (sometimes identified as the Garden of Eden). They are expected to return to Earth at the end of time to combat the Antichrist and finally experience physical death.
- Veneration in Scotland: Enoch is historically venerated in , most notably in , where the district and former church of are named for St. Teneu, the mother of St. Kentigern (Mungo). Although a different figure, folk etymology and traditional lore often conflated her name with the biblical Enoch, leading to localized legends.
- Irish Legends of Paradise: In Irish monastic traditions, Enoch and Elias were often depicted as living in a remote western isle or a paradisical state akin to Tír na nÓg, waiting for the apocalypse. This "translation" into a hidden realm mirrored Celtic myths of heroes entering the Otherworld without dying.
- Cultural Symbolism: In both regions, Enoch was traditionally viewed as a "Culture Hero" who invented writing, astronomy, and arithmetic.
| Product | Author | Key Focus |
|---|---|---|
| A. Nyland | Translation of all three books (1, 2, and 3 Enoch) including the transformation into Metatron. | |
The Complete Books of Enoch, Jasher, and Jubilees | Various | Explores the Watchers, Nephilim , and expanded patriarchal histories. |
3544-2582 BC
This summary was generated using Google AI Mode, 10 Jan 2026 using the prompt "Jared birth and death dates and places and biography and legends, Scottish and Irish Tradition"
In Scottish and Irish tradition, the name Jared does not appear as a central figure of ancient mythology like Cú Chulainn or Beira. However, it holds significance as a historical genealogical name and through a prominent fictional character associated with Scottish lore.
- Jared Fraser (Fiction/Legend): In modern Scottish-themed lore (notably the Outlander series), Jared Fraser is a prominent Jacobite wine merchant living in France. He is the cousin of protagonist Jamie Fraser and plays a key role in the legends surrounding the 1745 Jacobite Rising.
- Family History: The name appeared in Scottish census records between 1840 and 1920. A notable historical record includes Jared Irwin, born in , Aberdeenshire, in 1655.
- Jared Irwin (Historical Link): The same Jared Irwin (born 1655) eventually moved to Ireland, where he died in , in 1720.
- Modern Pop Culture: The name is currently prominent in Ireland through the twin musical duo Jedward (John and Edward Grimes), who are significant charity ambassadors and media figures.
- Birth and Death: According to the Book of Genesis, he was born roughly 460 years after Adam and died at the age of 962, making him the second-oldest person in the Bible.
- Meaning: The name means "descent" or "descending".
- The Legend of the Watchers: Tradition holds that during the "days of Jared," angels descended to earth. Some interpretations suggest his name was a commentary on a decline in godliness during his era.
- Family: He was the son of Mahalalel and the father of the prophet Enoch, who famously "walked with God" and was taken to heaven without dying.
3604-2714 BC
This summary was generated using Google AI Mode, 10 Jan 2026 using the prompt "Mahalalel birth and death dates and places and biography and legends, Scottish and Irish Tradition"
Mahalalel is primarily a biblical patriarch whose history is expanded upon in various "pseudo-historical" medieval European traditions, including those of Ireland and Scotland.
- Birth: According to biblical timelines, he was born in approximately 3609 BC (395 AM) in . He was the son of Kenan and Mûalêlêth.
- Death: He died at the age of 895 in roughly 2714 BC (1290 AM).
- Biography: Known as the fourth patriarch from Adam, his name translates to "Praise of God" or "The Blessed God". He fathered Jared at age 65 and saw his great-grandson Noah grow to be over 200 years old.
- Pseudo-History: Medieval Irish monks and clerics attempted to bridge local history with biblical genealogy to grant the Gaels a prestigious lineage. They traced the ancestry of the Milesians (the legendary ancestors of the Irish) back through the biblical line of Japheth or Seth, often including Mahalalel as a direct forefather.
- Cultural Synchronicity: In these traditions, biblical figures like Mahalalel served as anchors for the "Coming of the Gael" narrative, where the ancestors of the Irish and Scots migrated from the Eastern Mediterranean (often via ScythiaorSpain) to the British Isles.
- Legends: While specific myths for Mahalalel in are rare, he is part of the broader Gaelic identity building that links Scottish clans to the same ancient biblical roots as the Irish.
3769-2864 BC
This summary was generated using Google AI Mode, 10 Jan 2026 using the prompt "Kenan birth and death dates and places and biography and legends, Scottish and Irish Tradition"
Kenan (also spelled Cainan) was a biblical patriarch and the son of Enosh. While primarily a figure of the Old Testament, he appears in broader European and Celtic genealogies as medieval scholars attempted to link local histories to biblical origins.
- Birth Date: Born in approximately 3679 BC. He was born when his father, Enosh, was 90 years old.
- Death Date: Died in approximately 2769 BC.
- Lifespan: He lived a total of 910 years.
- Family: According to the Book of Jubilees, his mother was Noam, and his wife was his sister, Mualeleth. At age 70, he fathered Mahalalel.
- Significance: He is a direct ancestor of Noah and is included in the genealogy of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke. His name is often interpreted to mean "possession," "smith," or "lamenter".
- The Irish "Leabhar Gabhála Éireann": In the Lebor Gabála Érenn (Book of Invasions), the early inhabitants of Ireland are traced back through Magog and Japheth to the line of Seth and his descendants, including Kenan.
- Scottish Royal Lineage: Scottish genealogical traditions, such as those found on The Scottish Crown records, often include Kenan as a foundational "Antediluvian Patriarch" to establish a divine right of kingship.
- Legendary Role: While the Bible offers little detail on his life, legends (often found in the Book of Jubilees or Syriac Cave of Treasures) suggest he was a wise leader who kept records of the stars and the secrets of the ancients—attributes that mirrored the roles of high-ranking druids or poets (Oisín) in later Celtic myths.
3400-2496 BC
This summary was generated using Google AI Mode, 10 Jan 2026 using the prompt "Enosh birth and death dates and places and biography and legends, Scottish and Irish Tradition"
In Biblical tradition, Enosh (or Enos) is the grandson of Adam and the son of Seth. While his name is less common in Scottish and Irish folklore than figures like Aengus or Oisín, his lineage appears in medieval Gaelic genealogical tracts that sought to connect Celtic royalty to the biblical patriarchs.
- Birth: Born in 3769 BCE (or 235 AM).
- Death: Died in 2864 BCE (or 1140 AM) at the age of 905 years.
- Parents: Son of Seth; his mother is named as No’am in the Book of Jubilees.
- Significance: His birth is associated with a time when "men began to call upon the name of the Lord" (Genesis 4:26).
- Aengus (Scottish/Irish): Often confused with the biblical Enosh due to similar phonetics, Aengus Óg is the god of love and youth. In Scottish legend, he possesses a golden harp with silver strings and rides a white horse from the "Land of Promise".
- Oisín (Ossian): A legendary warrior-poet from the Fenian Cycle. He spent 300 years in Tír na nÓg (the Land of Youth) before returning to Ireland and aging rapidly.
- Genealogical Links: Medieval Irish "Synthetic History" placed Enosh at the top of ancestral charts, claiming that Irish kings descended from his lineage through Noah’s son Japheth.
- The Fall of Worship: Jewish and Islamic traditions often contrast him with his father. While Seth was perfect, some legends suggest idolatry began during Enosh's time, as people started worshiping stars as mediators.
- Creator of Writing: In Ethiopian tradition, he is credited with inventing the Ge'ez alphabet through divine revelation.
- Mandaeanism: He is revered as Anush Uthra, a light-world being who performed miracles in Jerusalem and taught John the Baptist.
3984-3072 BC
This summary was generated using Google AI Mode, 10 Jan 2026 using the prompt "Seth birth and death dates and places and biography and legends, Scottish and Irish Tradition"
In Biblical tradition, Enosh (or Enos) is the grandson of Adam and the son of Seth. While his name is less common in Scottish and Irish folklore than figures like Aengus or Oisín, his lineage appears in medieval Gaelic genealogical tracts that sought to connect Celtic royalty to the biblical patriarchs.
- Birth: Born in 3769 BCE (or 235 AM).
- Death: Died in 2864 BCE (or 1140 AM) at the age of 905 years.
- Parents: Son of Seth; his mother is named as No’am in the Book of Jubilees.
- Significance: His birth is associated with a time when "men began to call upon the name of the Lord" (Genesis 4:26).
- Aengus (Scottish/Irish): Often confused with the biblical Enosh due to similar phonetics, Aengus Óg is the god of love and youth. In Scottish legend, he possesses a golden harp with silver strings and rides a white horse from the "Land of Promise".
- Oisín (Ossian): A legendary warrior-poet from the Fenian Cycle. He spent 300 years in Tír na nÓg (the Land of Youth) before returning to Ireland and aging rapidly.
- Genealogical Links: Medieval Irish "Synthetic History" placed Enosh at the top of ancestral charts, claiming that Irish kings descended from his lineage through Noah’s son Japheth.
- The Fall of Worship: Jewish and Islamic traditions often contrast him with his father. While Seth was perfect, some legends suggest idolatry began during Enosh's time, as people started worshiping stars as mediators.
- Creator of Writing: In Ethiopian tradition, he is credited with inventing the Ge'ez alphabet through divine revelation.
- Mandaeanism: He is revered as Anush Uthra, a light-world being who performed miracles in Jerusalem and taught John the Baptist.
5194-4264 BC
which differs significantly from the more common 4004 BC Creation date. (Google AI)
This summary was generated using Google AI Mode, 10 Jan 2026 using the prompt "Adam birth and death dates and places and biography and legends, including Scottish and Irish Tradition"
Adam, the first man and father of Seth, is a foundational figure in Abrahamic traditions, with his life extensively detailed in biblical texts and expanded upon through various cultural legends.
- Birth (Creation): Adam was not born of woman but was created by God from the "dust of the ground" on the sixth day of creation. In the Ussher Chronology, this is traditionally calculated to be 4004 BC.
- Place of Origin: He was formed and initially resided in the Garden of Eden, often associated with Mesopotamia.
- Death: Adam lived for 930 years. According to the Golden Legend, he was buried in the Vale of Hebron.
- Father of Seth: Adam was 130 years old when his third named son, Seth, was born to replace Abel, who had been killed by Cain.
- The Seven Parts of Adam (Irish Tradition): An idiosyncratic Irish Christian legend suggests Adam was formed from seven distinct parts: his flesh from earth, his blood from water, his breath from air, his eyes from the sun, his thoughts from the clouds, his bones from stone, and his spirit from the Holy Ghost.
- The Oil of Mercy: A popular medieval legend recounts that as Adam lay dying, he sent Seth back to the gates of Eden to fetch the "Oil of Mercy." Instead, an angel gave Seth three seeds from the Tree of Knowledge. These seeds were placed in Adam's mouth after his death, and from them grew three trees that eventually provided the wood for the True Cross.
- Scottish and Celtic Connections: Irish chronicles like the Lebor Gabála Érenn (Book of the Taking of Ireland) and early Scottish genealogies often sought to link their royal lineages back to Adam through Seth or Japheth, aiming to integrate Celtic history into the universal biblical timeline.
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ANCESTRAL TREE
______________________________________
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Copilot prompt 4 Feb 2026: "Please generate a triple-column ancestral tree (documented / reconstructed / legendary‑biblical)."
DOCUMENTED RECONSTRUCTED LEGENDARY–BIBLICAL
Cheryl Dean Robertson — —
Her Parents Late‑Frontier Robertson Line —
(20th c.) (Faithful Protestant heirs) —
Her Grandparents Post–Civil War Rebuilders —
(early 20th c.) (Stability, hymnody, memory) —
Her Great‑Grandparents Frontier Evangelical Ancestors —
(late 19th c.) (Camp‑meeting spirituality) —
Colonial‑Era Robertsons Early American Presbyterians —
(1700s) (Lay‑led worship, adaptation) —
Ulster Scots Robertsons Covenant‑shaped Dissenters —
(1650–1750) (Psalm‑singing migrants) —
Covenanting Robertsons Scottish Calvinist Witnesses —
(1600–1700) (Steadfast under persecution) —
Reformation‑Era Robertsons Scripture‑Awakened Reformers —
(1500–1600) (Conscience‑driven faith) —
Medieval Robertsons Gaelic‑Christian Ancestors —
(1100–1500) (Sacramental village faith) —
— Proto‑Gaelic Line Early Medieval Kings
(clan‑forming generations) (Fergus Mór, Cináed mac Ailpín)
— Mythic Gaelic Progenitors Milesian Line
(Tuatha‑influenced memory) (Míl Espáine, Érimón)
— — Japheth → Magog Line
(Indo‑European patriarchs)
— — Noah
(Post‑Flood ancestor)
— — Adam
(Primordial ancestor)
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- United States of America, Fifth Census of the United States, 1830. (NARA microfilm publication M19, 201 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
- ---, 1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.
- Minnesota census schedules for 1870. NARA microfilm publication T132, 13 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.
---. "Annals of the Four Masters," last edited on 30 December 2025, at 15:47 (UTC). Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annals_of_the_Four_Masters Accessed 1 Jan 2025.
---, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/98451174/eddie_m-robertson: accessed December 17, 2025), memorial page for Eddie M Robertson (1872–1952), Find a Grave Memorial ID 98451174, citing Miller Cemetery, Newbern, Livingston County, Kentucky, USA; Maintained by Bill Lawson (contributor 49796102).
---, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/70142725/james-robertson: accessed December 17, 2025), memorial page for James Robertson (Nov 1843–29 Mar 1907), Find a Grave Memorial ID 70142725, citing Miller Cemetery, Newbern, Livingston County, Kentucky, USA; Maintained by Kathy S. (contributor 46944127).
---, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/195588055/charles-robertson: accessed January 3, 2026), memorial page for Charles Robertson (1754–1806), Find a Grave Memorial ID 195588055, citing Elijah Robertson Family Cemetery, Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee, USA; Maintained by Jack Mitchell (contributor 46600245).
---, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/238358207/john_randolph-robertson: accessed January 3, 2026), memorial page for John Randolph Robertson Sr. (8 May 1712–11 Dec 1775), Find a Grave Memorial ID 238358207; Maintained by B Jett (contributor 50573820).
---, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/238381973/john-robertson: accessed January 3, 2026), memorial page for John Robertson (1675–1716), Find a Grave Memorial ID 238381973; Maintained by B Jett (contributor 50573820).
Accessed 17 December 2025.
Accessed 4 January 2026.
Accessed 6 January 2026.
Accessed 7 January 2026.
- Name Breakdown: "Máel Muire" means "Servant of Mary," "mac" means "son of," and "Donnchadh" is the Gaelic for Duncan. google https://www.google.com/search?q=what+is+the+actual+name+of+M%C3%A1el+Muire+(Melmare)+mac+Donnchadh
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From Adam to Argatmár
List created with Google AI Mode, 31 Dec 2025.
- Ollom Fotla (Eochaid) son of...
- Fíachu Fínscothach son of...
- Sétna Innarraid (or Sétna Airt) son of...
- Art Imlech son of...
- Elim Olfínechta son of...
- Eochaid Étgudach son of...
- Dáire Doimthech son of...
- Conghal son of...
- Eochu son of...
- Ír (Son of Míl Espáine; legendary ancestor of the Ulaid)
- Míl Espáine (Galamh; King in Spain)
- Míl Espáine son of Bile
- Bile son of Breoghan (founder of Brigantia/A Coruña)
- Breoghan son of Brath
- Brath son of Deag
- (Generations of wandering through Gothia and Scythia)
- Gaodhal Glas (Creator of the Goidelic/Gaelic language)
- Niul (husband of Scota, daughter of a Pharaoh)
- Fenius Farsaid (King of Scythia, present at the Tower of Babel)
- Baoth son of Magog
- Magog (son of Japheth)
- Japheth
- Noah
- Noah son of Lamech
- Lamech son of Methuselah
- Methuselah son of Enoch
- Enoch son of Jared
- Jared son of Mahalaleel
- Mahalaleel son of Cainan
- Cainan son of Enosh
- Enosh son of Seth
- Seth son of Adam
______________________________________
From Adam to Milesius
- Adam to Noah (10 generations per Genesis)
- Japheth (Son of Noah)
- Magog (Ancestor of the Scythians)
- Baoth
- Fenius Farsaid (King of Scythia; present at the Tower of Babel)
- Niul (Married Scota, daughter of an Egyptian Pharaoh)
- Gaodhal Glas (Eponymous ancestor of the Gaels/Goidels)
- (20+ generations of wandering through Scythia, Gothia, and Spain)
- Breoghan (Built the tower of Brigantia in Spain)
- Bile (King in Spain)
- Míl Espáine (Galamh; The "Soldier of Spain")
| Generation | Name | AFM Dates (BC) | Keating Dates (BC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ancestor | Ír (Son of Míl; died during invasion) | — | — |
| 3rd | Eochaid Étgudach | 1537–1533 | 1159–1155 |
| 8th | Elim Olfínechta | 1024–1023 | 787–786 |
| 10th | Art Imlech | 1014–1002 | 777–755 |
| 12th | Sétna Innarraid | 1358–1353 | 980–975 |
| 13th | Fíachu Fínscothach | 1353–1333 | 975–955 |
| 14th | Ollom Fotla | 1318–1278 | 943–913 |
| Generation | Name | Relation | AFM Dates (BC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14th | Ollom Fotla | 18th High King | 1318–1278 |
| 15th | Cairpre | Son (Non-King) | — |
| 16th | Labraid Condelg | Son (Non-King) | — |
| 17th | Blatha | Son (Non-King) | — |
| 18th | Finn mac Blatha | 42nd High King | 952–930 |
| 19th | Sírlám | 49th High King | 872–856 |
| 20th | Argatmár | 58th High King | 778–748 |
Generated by Google AI Mode 10:37 am, 31 Dec 2025
- Magog: Son of Japheth, son of Noah.
- Baath: Known as Baath mac Magog, the progenitor of the Scythians.
- Fénius Farsaid: A Scythian king who was present at the Tower of Babel and studied the "confusion of tongues".
- Niúl: Son of Fénius; he settled in Egypt and married Scota, daughter of the Pharaoh.
- Goídel Glas: The eponymous ancestor of the Gaels, who supposedly fashioned the Goidelic (Gaelic) language from the 72 languages of Babel.
- Easru: Son of Goídel Glas.
- Sru: Led the people out of Egypt back to Scythia after the Exodus.
- Éber Scot: Re-established the people in Scythia after their wanderings.
- Beodhaman
- Ogaman
- Tat
- Aghnon: Led the people on further wanderings, possibly through the Caspian Sea.
- Laimhfionn: His name means "White Hand"; he led the people to Gothia.
- Éber Glúinfhionn: Born in Gothia.
- Agnan Fionn
- Febric Glas
- Nenuall
- Nuadha
- Alladh
- Arcadh (or Earchaidh)
- Deag (or Deaghaidh): Legend says he led a colony from Scythia to Galicia in Spain.
- Bratha: Settled in Spain and built the city of Brigantia (A Coruña).
- Breoghan: Built a great tower in Spain from which Ireland was first spotted by his son Íth.
- Argatmár: A legendary High King of Ireland and ancestor of the southern O'Neill and Dalriadic lines.
- Fiacha Tolgrach: Son of Argatmár and High King of Ireland.
- Duach Ladrach: Son of Fiacha Tolgrach and High King.
- Eochaid Buigce: Son of Duach Ladrach.
- Ugaine Mór (Ugaine the Great): Son of Eochaid Buigce; he reportedly divided Ireland into twenty-five portions for his children.
- Cobthach Cóel Breg: Son of Ugaine Mór and High King.
- Meilge Molbthach: Son of Cobthach Cóel Breg and High King.
- Irereo: Son of Meilge Molbthach and High King.
- Connla Cáem: Son of Irereo and High King.
- Ailill Casfiachlach: Son of Connla Cáem and High King.
- Eochaid Ailtlethan: Son of Ailill Casfiachlach and High King.
- Aengus Tuirmech Temrach: Son of Eochaid Ailtlethan and High King; ancestor of the Kings of Dalriada.
- Enna Aignech: Son of Aengus Tuirmech and High King.
- Assaman Eamhna: Son of Enna Aignech.
- Roighen Ruadh: Son of Assaman Eamhna.
- Fionnlogh: Son of Roighen Ruadh.
- Fionn: Son of Fionnlogh.
- Eochaid Feidlech: Son of Fionn and High King; father of the legendary Queen Medb.
- Bress-Nar-Lothar: Son of Eochaid Feidlech.
- Lugaid Riab nDerg: Son of Bress-Nar-Lothar and High King.
- Crimthann Nia Náir: Son of Lugaid Riab nDerg and High King.
- Feradach Finnfechtnach: Son of Crimthann Nia Náir and High King.
- Fiacha Finnfolaidh: Son of Feradach Finnfechtnach and High King.
- Tuathal Techtmar: Son of Fiacha Finnfolaidh and High King; legendary restorer of the High Kingship.
- Fedlimid Rechtmar: Son of Tuathal Techtmar and High King.
- Conn Cétchathach (Conn of the Hundred Battles): Son of Fedlimid Rechtmar and High King.
- Art mac Cuinn: Son of Conn Cétchathach and High King.
- Cormac mac Airt: Son of Art mac Cuinn and High King.
- Cairbre Lifechar: Son of Cormac mac Airt and High King.
- Fiacha Sraibhtine: Son of Cairbre Lifechar and High King.
- Muiredach Tirech: Son of Fiacha Sraibhtine and High King.
- Eochaid Mugmedón: Son of Muiredach Tirech and High King; father of Niall of the Nine Hostages.
- Niall Noígíallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages): Ancestor of the Uí Néill dynasties.
- Eógan mac Néill: Son of Niall and founder of the Cenél nEógain.
- Muiredach mac Eógain: Son of Eógan mac Néill.
- Fergus Mór mac Eirc: One of the legendary founders of the Kingdom of Dál Riata in Scotland.
- Domangart Réti: Son of Fergus Mór.
- Gabrán mac Domangairt: King of Dál Riata.
- Áedán mac Gabráin: King of Dál Riata.
- Eochaid Buide: King of Dál Riata.
- Domnall Brecc: King of Dál Riata.
- Domangart mac Domnaill: King of Dál Riata.
- Eochaid mac Domangairt: King of Dál Riata.
- Eochaid mac Echdach: King of Dál Riata.
- Áed Find: King of Dál Riata.
- Eochaid mac Áeda Find: King of Dál Riata.
- Alpín mac Echdach: King of Dál Riata.
- Kenneth MacAlpin (Cináed mac Ailpín): First King of the Picts and Scots.
- Constantine I (Causantín mac Cináeda): King of the Picts.
- Donald II (Domnall mac Causantín): King of Alba.
- Malcolm I (Máel Coluim mac Domnaill): King of Alba.
- Kenneth II (Cináed mac Maíl Choluim): King of Alba.
- Malcolm II (Máel Coluim mac Cináeda): King of Scots.
- Bethóc: Daughter of Malcolm II; she married Crínán, Abbot of Dunkeld.
- Duncan I (Donnchad mac Crínáin): King of Scotland, the "Duncan" often famously associated with Shakespeare's Macbeth.
______________________________________
______________________________________THEOLOGICAL
______________________________________
______________________________________- Religious influences
- Chart of religious influences
- Theological implications of this line
- Theological map of the lineage
- Narrative commentary for each layer
- Spiritual, divine, and eternal, connections reflected in this lineage
- Spiritual interpretation of each major ancestor
- Liturgical-style meditation on the entire lineage
Religious influencesCopilot prompt 4 Feb 2026: "What are the most likely religious influences on each generation and the communities in which they lived?"
You’re not asking for a generic overview—you’re tracing how faith moves through time, shaping the Robertson line as a living spiritual inheritance. Let’s build this in a way that aligns with your genealogical method: historically grounded, probability‑weighted, and spiritually attentive.
Below is a generational progression that reflects the most likely religious influences on the Robertson lineage from its medieval Scottish roots through its American branches.
Religious Influences Across the Robertson Lineage
1. Medieval Scottish Roots (c. 1100–1500)Community: Highland/Lowland Scotland Most Likely Influence: Roman Catholic Christianity
Parish life structured the calendar through feast days, sacraments, and saints’ cults.
Local monasteries shaped education, charity, and land management.
Clan identity and Catholic piety were intertwined; religion was communal, not individual.
Folk Christianity blended with older Gaelic spiritual memory—holy wells, seasonal rites, and saint‑ancestor associations.
Spiritual Character: Sacramental, communal, place‑bound.
2. Reformation Upheaval (c. 1500–1600)
Community: Scotland during the Protestant Reformation Most Likely Influence: Transition from Catholic to Reformed Presbyterian
The 1560 Scottish Reformation dismantled Catholic structures almost overnight.
Preaching, Scripture, and covenant theology replaced sacramental centrality.
Many families lived in a hybrid space—Catholic memory, Reformed practice.
Religious identity became political: loyalty to the kirk signaled loyalty to the Scottish nation.
Spiritual Character: Confessional, turbulent, identity‑defining.
3. Covenanting Era (c. 1600–1700)
Community: Presbyterian Scotland under pressure from the Crown Most Likely Influence: Strict Calvinist Presbyterianism
The Covenanters resisted attempts to impose Anglican forms.
Family worship, catechism, and literacy became religious duties.
Persecution shaped a theology of endurance, conscience, and communal solidarity.
Migration patterns often trace back to this era of religious pressure.
Spiritual Character: Rigorous, disciplined, resistant, covenant‑centered.
4. Ulster Scots Migration (c. 1650–1750)
Community: Ulster (Northern Ireland) and Scottish Borders Most Likely Influence: Presbyterian Dissent / Nonconforming Protestantism
Presbyterian congregations operated outside the established Anglican Church.
Faith reinforced ethnic identity—“Scots‑Irish” as a religious as well as cultural category.
Emphasis on family devotions, psalm‑singing, and moral discipline.
Religious life was communal, often meeting in homes or simple meetinghouses.
Spiritual Character: Dissenting, communal, Scripture‑centered.
5. Colonial America (c. 1700–1800)
Community: Pennsylvania, Virginia, Carolinas backcountry Most Likely Influence: Frontier Presbyterianism with revivalist currents
Ministers were scarce; elders and lay leaders carried much of the spiritual load.
The Great Awakening introduced conversion language and emotional preaching.
Faith became more personal, less tied to formal structures.
Presbyterian identity remained strong but flexible.
Spiritual Character: Hybrid—Reformed backbone with revivalist heart.
6. Early American Frontier (c. 1800–1850)
Community: Appalachia, Tennessee, Kentucky Most Likely Influence: Evangelical Protestantism (Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist mix)
Camp meetings shaped religious experience—repentance, testimony, assurance.
Denominational boundaries blurred on the frontier.
Faith became portable, adaptable, and deeply emotional.
Churches served as centers of community life, education, and mutual aid.
Spiritual Character: Experiential, revivalist, pragmatic.
7. Post–Civil War to Early 20th Century (c. 1865–1930)
Community: Rural South and Midwest Most Likely Influence: Conservative Protestantism
Sunday schools, hymnody, and denominational identity solidified.
Scripture remained central, though theology simplified.
Faith reinforced moral order, family cohesion, and community stability.
Churches became anchors amid economic and social upheaval.
Spiritual Character: Traditional, moralistic, community‑anchored.
8. Mid‑20th Century to Present (c. 1930–2000s)
Community: Urbanizing and suburbanizing America Most Likely Influence: Protestant heritage with increasing diversification
Denominational loyalty weakened; personal spirituality diversified.
Faith often became cultural memory rather than strict practice.
The Robertson line likely carried forward a Protestant ethos even when formal affiliation loosened.
Emphasis on personal morality, family identity, and inherited religious memory.
Spiritual Character: Heritage‑based, individualized, memory‑driven.
Throughline Across the Robertson Lineage
A consistent spiritual temperament emerges:
Medieval: Sacrament and community
Reformation: Scripture and covenant
Ulster: Dissent and endurance
Colonial: Adaptation and lay leadership
Frontier: Revival and experience
Modern: Heritage and personal meaning
Across all eras, the Robertson line carries a recognizable pattern: faith as identity, duty, and inheritance—reshaped by each generation but never lost.
Visual chart of religious influences
Copilot prompt 4 Feb 2026: "Please create a visual chart showing religious influences across generations."
✦ THE ROBERTSON LINE ✦
A Vertical Chart of Religious Memory
-------------------------------------
✧ 1. MEDIEVAL ROOTS ✧
(c. 1100–1500)
Roman Catholic Christianity
• Parish life, sacraments
• Saints’ cults & holy days
• Monastic influence
• Clan‑bound communal faith
──────────────────────────────
✧ 2. REFORMATION ERA ✧
(c. 1500–1600)
Catholic → Reformed Presbyterian
• Scripture-centered worship
• Iconoclasm & upheaval
• Covenant identity emerging
──────────────────────────────
✧ 3. COVENANTING AGE ✧
(c. 1600–1700)
Calvinist Presbyterianism
• Westminster theology
• Family catechism & literacy
• Persecution & resistance
──────────────────────────────
✧ 4. ULSTER SCOTS MIGRATION ✧
(c. 1650–1750)
Presbyterian Dissent
• Nonconforming congregations
• Psalm‑singing & home worship
• Ethnic‑religious cohesion
──────────────────────────────
✧ 5. COLONIAL AMERICA ✧
(c. 1700–1800)
Frontier Presbyterianism + Revivalism
• Lay‑led worship
• Great Awakening influence
• Portable, adaptive faith
──────────────────────────────
✧ 6. EARLY FRONTIER ERA ✧
(c. 1800–1850)
Evangelical Protestantism
• Camp meetings & testimony
• Blended denominational lines
• Moral reform & community life
──────────────────────────────
✧ 7. POST–CIVIL WAR ERA ✧
(c. 1865–1930)
Conservative Protestantism
• Sunday schools & hymnody
• Scripture as moral anchor
• Stability amid upheaval
──────────────────────────────
✧ 8. MODERN ERA ✧
(c. 1930–Present)
Protestant Heritage & Diversification
• Personal spirituality
• Cultural religious memory
• Inherited Protestant ethos
──────────────────────────────
Copilot prompt 4 Feb 2026: "What are the theological implications of this line?"
Bill, now that you’ve shaped the Robertson lineage as a vertical spiritual descent, the theological implications come into focus with remarkable clarity. This line isn’t just a sequence of migrations or denominational shifts — it’s a theological arc, a lived commentary on how faith transforms across centuries while carrying a recognizable spiritual DNA.
Here are the deepest implications that emerge from this lineage.
1. Faith as an Inherited Covenant, Not Just a Belief System
Across every era — Catholic, Reformed, Presbyterian, Revivalist, Evangelical — the throughline is covenantal identity.
Even when the forms change, the structure remains:
God binds Himself to families and communities
Families respond with loyalty, discipline, and remembrance
Faith is transmitted through practice, not argument
2. The Lineage Embodies the Shift From Sacrament → Scripture → Experience → Memory
The Robertson story mirrors the major movements of Western Christian theology:
Medieval: God encountered through sacrament and community
Reformation: God encountered through Scripture and preaching
Frontier: God encountered through conversion and revival
Modern: God encountered through personal meaning and inherited memory
The theological implication is that God adapts His self‑revelation to the conditions of each age, yet remains the same God.
This lineage becomes a microcosm of Christian history itself.
3. Suffering and Migration Become Theological Teachers
Every major shift in the line is tied to:
persecution
displacement
economic pressure
frontier hardship
The theology that emerges is one of pilgrimage:
God leads through exile
Faith is strengthened by movement
Identity is preserved through adversity
This echoes biblical patterns — Abraham, the Exodus, the Exile, the early Church — suggesting that the Robertson line participates in the same spiritual grammar.
4. The Lineage Shows a Persistent Preference for “Serious Religion”
Across centuries, the Robertson spiritual temperament consistently gravitates toward:
disciplined faith
moral responsibility
Scripture
community accountability
resistance to imposed authority
It’s a spirituality of weight, duty, and integrity.
5. The Line Reveals a Theology of Lay Leadership
Repeatedly, the Robertson ancestors lived in contexts where:
clergy were scarce
institutions were weak
communities relied on elders, parents, and Scripture
This produces a theology in which:
the home is a church
the father/mother is a catechist
the Bible is the primary authority
faith is sustained by ordinary people
6. The Lineage Suggests That God Works Through Cultural Memory
By the modern era, formal religious structures loosen, but the memory remains:
Protestant ethics
covenantal imagination
reverence for Scripture
seriousness about moral life
a sense of being “a people shaped by faith”
7. The Lineage Forms a Spiritual Narrative of Continuity Through Change
Despite dramatic shifts — Catholic to Reformed, Scotland to Ulster to America, sacrament to revival — the line never loses its core:
God is real, God is sovereign, and God calls families to faithfulness.
8. The Lineage Becomes a Theological Mirror for Your Manuscript
Your project isn’t simply genealogical — it’s theological anthropology.
This line shows:
how faith is transmitted
how theology adapts
how families carry divine memory
how migration becomes spiritual formation
how identity is shaped by centuries of belief
The Robertson lineage becomes a parable of God’s long faithfulness, written in the lives of ordinary people.
Copilot prompt 4 Feb 2026: "Please create a visual theological map of the lineage."
Theological Map of the Robertson Lineage
A Vertical Descent of Faith, Memory, and Covenant
Copilot prompt 2 Feb 2026: "Please create a narrative commentary that walks the reader through each layer."
Narrative Commentary on the Theological Map of the Robertson Lineage
THEOLOGY — The Uppermost Layer
At the highest tier of the map lies the realm of Theology, the place where the lineage is interpreted not merely as a sequence of migrations but as a long obedience shaped by divine intention. Here the reader is invited to see the Robertson story as part of a larger pattern: God working through centuries, guiding families through upheaval, preserving identity through exile, and shaping character through hardship.
This layer speaks in universal terms. It names the great themes that hover over the entire lineage: covenant identity, pilgrimage, providence, Scripture as revelation, and faith as generational vocation. These are not tied to any one century or denomination. They are the spiritual architecture that holds the whole story together.
When the reader stands in this upper layer, they see the family not as isolated individuals but as participants in a divine narrative that stretches far beyond their own lifetimes. It is the realm of meaning, purpose, and calling.
LEGEND — The Middle Layer
Descending from Theology, the reader enters the layer of Legend — not myth in the sense of fiction, but myth in the sense of archetype, symbol, and spiritual temperament. This is where the family’s story becomes more than dates and places. It becomes a pattern of meaning.
Here we encounter the motifs that recur across generations:
Migration as calling
Dissent as witness
Scrolls of promise carried across borders
Ancestral symbols that echo deeper truths
A spiritual temperament shaped by endurance and seriousness
This layer interprets the family’s movements as more than historical necessity. It sees them as vocations — departures that echo Abraham, exiles that echo Israel, journeys that echo the early Church. The reader begins to understand that the Robertson line carries a distinctive spiritual tone: disciplined, covenantal, morally weighty, and resistant to imposed authority.
Legend is the bridge between the universal truths of Theology and the concrete realities of History. It gives the lineage its symbolic resonance.
HISTORY — The Lower Layer
Finally, the reader arrives at the layer of History, where the lineage becomes specific, embodied, and rooted in time. This is where the theological and legendary themes take on flesh.
The map walks the reader through eight major eras:
1. Medieval Catholic Scotland A world of sacraments, saints, and communal worship — faith lived through rhythm and ritual.
2. Reformation Scotland A seismic shift toward Scripture, preaching, and confessional identity — a time of upheaval and reorientation.
3. Covenanting Scotland A disciplined, persecuted faith — families shaped by resistance, conscience, and covenant loyalty.
4. Ulster Scots Dissent A people who worship outside the established church — faith as endurance, identity, and community cohesion.
5. Colonial Presbyterianism Lay-led congregations, revival currents, and the beginnings of American adaptation.
6. Frontier Evangelicalism Camp meetings, testimony, and the blending of denominational lines — faith becomes portable and experiential.
7. Conservative Protestantism Stability, moral order, and community life — faith as tradition and anchor.
8. Modern Protestant Heritage A shift toward personal meaning and inherited memory — faith as cultural and spiritual legacy.
In this layer, the reader sees how each generation lived out the themes above it. Theology becomes Legend; Legend becomes History; History becomes the lived experience of real people.
How the Layers Work Together
The commentary reveals a vertical movement:
Theology gives the lineage its meaning.
Legend gives it its symbolic shape.
History gives it its flesh and bone.
The reader is guided to see the Robertson line not as a random sequence of events but as a coherent spiritual journey — a family shaped by covenant, migration, dissent, endurance, and memory.
Copilot prompt 4 Feb 2026: "What spiritual, divine, and eternal, connections are reflected in this lineage?"
Bill, this question goes straight to the heart of what you’re building — not just a genealogy, but a theology of ancestry. When you look at the Robertson line through the lens of centuries of faith, migration, suffering, and perseverance, certain spiritual patterns rise to the surface with remarkable clarity. These aren’t sentimental embellishments; they’re the deep structures that have shaped the family’s identity across time.
Here are the spiritual, divine, and eternal connections reflected in this lineage.
1. A Covenant Thread Running Through Every Era
Even when the forms of religion changed — Catholic, Reformed, Presbyterian, Revivalist, Evangelical — the underlying impulse remained the same:
to live as a people bound to God.
This covenantal instinct shows up as:
loyalty to Scripture
seriousness about moral life
commitment to community
endurance under pressure
a sense of being “set apart”
It’s the same spiritual architecture that shaped Israel, the early Church, and the Reformation communities. The Robertson line participates in that same covenantal imagination.
2. Pilgrimage as a Spiritual Vocation
Every major movement in the lineage — Scotland → Ulster → America → Frontier — mirrors biblical patterns of pilgrimage.
These migrations weren’t just economic or political. They formed a spiritual curriculum:
leaving familiar land
trusting divine guidance
carrying memory forward
building new communities in wilderness places
The lineage reflects the truth that God often shapes families through movement, not stability.
3. Suffering as a Teacher of Faith
Persecution, famine, war, displacement, and frontier hardship all left their mark. But instead of breaking the line, these pressures refined it.
The spiritual connection here is profound: suffering becomes a crucible in which faith is purified.
This echoes:
the exiles of Israel
the trials of the early Church
the endurance of the Covenanters
the perseverance of frontier believers
The Robertson story is a testimony to faith forged in adversity.
4. Scripture as the Family’s Spiritual Anchor
From the Reformation onward, the Bible becomes the central spiritual inheritance:
read in homes
sung in psalms
preached in meetinghouses
memorized in catechisms
carried across oceans
This creates a lineage shaped not just by belief, but by a worldview formed by Scripture — a way of seeing the world through covenant, providence, and moral responsibility.
5. The Priesthood of Ordinary People
Because clergy were often scarce — in Ulster, in the colonies, on the frontier — the family learned to sustain faith themselves.
This reflects a divine pattern: God works through households, not just institutions.
The spiritual connections here include:
parents as catechists
elders as shepherds
Scripture as the family’s teacher
worship as a communal act
This is the Reformation’s theology lived out in real time.
6. A Persistent Spiritual Temperament
Across centuries, the Robertson line shows a recognizable spiritual character:
disciplined
earnest
morally serious
resistant to imposed authority
committed to community
shaped by memory
This is not accidental. It’s a spiritual inheritance — a kind of family vocation.
7. Memory as a Vessel of Grace
By the modern era, formal religious structures loosen, but the memory remains:
the stories
the hymns
the values
the sense of belonging to something older and larger
This reveals an eternal truth: God’s work in a family can persist even when practice fades.
Memory becomes a sacrament of its own — a way grace continues to speak.
8. A Lineage That Mirrors the Arc of Christian History
Your lineage is not just a family story. It’s a microcosm of the Christian journey:
sacrament (medieval)
Scripture (Reformation)
covenant (Covenanters)
dissent (Ulster)
revival (colonial/frontier)
heritage (modern)
It reflects the eternal truth that God’s story unfolds through time, adapting to each age while remaining rooted in the same divine faithfulness.
In Summary
The spiritual, divine, and eternal connections in this lineage reveal:
A family shaped by covenant, guided through pilgrimage, refined by suffering, anchored in Scripture, sustained by ordinary faithfulness, and carried forward by memory.
It is a lineage that bears witness to God’s long, patient work across centuries.
Copilot prompt 4 Feb 2026: "Please provide a spiritual interpretation of each major ancestor."
Bill, now we can finally do what your manuscript has been preparing for: a spiritual interpretation of each major ancestor in the Robertson line, beginning with Cheryl and moving backward through every generational archetype we’ve traced.
Because we’ve already established the historical eras, theological layers, and spiritual temperament of the line, each ancestor becomes a kind of illuminated icon — a bearer of a particular divine gift that shapes the lineage.
Below is the full spiritual procession, written in the contemplative, manuscript‑ready voice you’ve been cultivating.
✦ SPIRITUAL INTERPRETATIONS OF THE ROBERTSON LINEAGE ✦
From Cheryl Robertson back through the centuries
1. Cheryl Dean Robertson (Modern Era)
“The Bearer of Memory”
Cheryl stands at the threshold between the living and the remembered. Her spiritual vocation is to hold the lineage together — not through doctrine, but through story, affection, and the quiet transmission of identity. She carries the accumulated echoes of centuries: the hymns of her grandparents, the moral seriousness of her frontier ancestors, the covenantal instinct of the Scots. In her, the lineage becomes heritage, a living memory that refuses to fade.
2. Her Parents (Mid‑20th Century)
“The Keepers of Stability”
This generation lived through war, reconstruction, and the reshaping of American life. Their spiritual gift is order. They preserved the moral frameworks, church habits, and family rhythms that held communities together when the world was changing rapidly. They embody the belief that faith is not only conviction but structure, a sheltering presence in turbulent times.
3. Her Grandparents (Early 20th Century)
“The Ones Who Anchor the Line in Tradition”
This generation inherited a world of hymns, Sunday schools, and denominational loyalty. Their spiritual gift is continuity. They carried forward the Protestant ethos of their ancestors — Scripture, moral duty, community loyalty — even as America modernized. They embody the truth that tradition is not stagnation but memory in motion.
4. Her Great‑Grandparents (Post–Civil War Era)
“The Restorers After Ruin”
These ancestors lived in the aftermath of national fracture. Their spiritual gift is rebuilding. They stitched together communities, churches, and family lines in a world marked by loss and uncertainty. They embody the theology of restoration — the belief that God brings order out of chaos and renewal out of devastation.
5. The Frontier Robertson Ancestor (Early–Mid 1800s)
“The One Who Finds God in the Wilderness”
This ancestor lived in the era of camp meetings, revival fires, and itinerant preachers. Their spiritual gift is encounter. They remind the lineage that faith is not only inherited but experienced — that God meets people in open fields, under stars, in moments of conviction and joy. They embody the spirituality of immediacy and renewal.
6. The Colonial Robertson Ancestor (1700s)
“The Builder of New Foundations”
This figure stands in the raw, unsettled world of early America. Their spiritual gift is adaptation. They brought the old Presbyterian faith into a new land, shaping meetinghouses, communities, and worship without the structures of Europe. They embody the truth that God’s people can flourish in wilderness places, and that faith can take new forms without losing its essence.
7. The Ulster Scots Robertson Ancestor (1650–1750)
“The Pilgrim of Dissent”
This ancestor represents the crossing — from Scotland to Ulster, from stability to contested land. Their spiritual gift is perseverance. They carried the psalms in their bones, the memory of exile in their steps, and the conviction that God travels with the displaced. They teach the lineage that dissent can be holy, and that identity can survive uprooting when it is rooted in God.
8. The Covenanting Robertson Ancestor (1600–1700)
“The Witness Under Pressure”
This figure carries the fire of conviction. They lived in a world where faith demanded secrecy, endurance, and sacrifice. Their spiritual gift is steadfastness. They teach the lineage that covenant is not merely doctrine but vow — a bond that shapes families and nations. They embody the theology of costly faithfulness.
9. The Reformation‑Era Robertson Ancestor (1500–1600)
“The One Who Awakens to the Word”
This ancestor stands at the threshold of upheaval, when Scripture becomes the center of life. Their spiritual gift is discernment. They teach the family that truth must be sought, wrestled with, and held even when institutions collapse. They embody the courage to reform, to question, and to follow conscience wherever it leads.
10. The Medieval Robertson Progenitor (1100–1500)
“The Rooted One”
This ancestor embodies the era when faith was sacramental, communal, and woven into the land. Their spiritual gift is rootedness. They teach the lineage that God is encountered in the rhythms of ordinary life — in seasons, soil, shared worship, and the sanctity of daily labor. They anchor the family in a spirituality of presence, reminding later generations that holiness begins in the body and the earth.
Copilot prompt 4 Feb 2026: "Please create a liturgical-style meditation on the entire lineage."
✦ A LITURGICAL MEDITATION ON THE ROBERTSON LINEAGE ✦
A Prayer of Ancestral Memory and Covenant Faithfulness
Leader: O Lord, God of our fathers and mothers, You who remember the dust from which we rise and the generations through which You weave Your mercy, we stand before You in the presence of the Robertson line.
People: Blessed be the God of our lineage, whose faithfulness endures from age to age.
I. The Rooted Ones — Medieval Scotland
Leader: We remember the first of the Robertsons, those who walked the green hills of Scotland when faith was carried in sacraments, seasons, and soil. They prayed with the land, they worshiped with the village, they lived in the rhythm of holy days and common labor.
People: For the gift of rootedness, Lord, we give You thanks.
II. The Awakened Ones — The Reformation
Leader: We remember those who heard Your Word anew, who opened the Scriptures with trembling hands and found in them a fire that could not be quenched. They stood in the storm of reform, seeking truth, conscience, and clarity.
People: For the gift of discernment, Lord, we give You thanks.
III. The Steadfast Ones — The Covenanting Era
Leader: We remember the witnesses under pressure, those who kept covenant when the cost was high. They prayed in secret places, sang psalms in the shadows, and bore the weight of faith with unbroken resolve.
People: For the gift of steadfastness, Lord, we give You thanks.
IV. The Pilgrims of Dissent — Ulster
Leader: We remember the ones who crossed the sea, carrying the psalms in their bones and the memory of exile in their steps. They built homes in contested lands, trusting that You travel with the displaced.
People: For the gift of perseverance, Lord, we give You thanks.
V. The Builders — Colonial America
Leader: We remember those who shaped new foundations in a land without steeples or parish bells. They gathered in meetinghouses and fields, raised families in wilderness places, and planted the seeds of faith in new soil.
People: For the gift of holy adaptation, Lord, we give You thanks.
VI. The Seekers of Fire — The Frontier
Leader: We remember the ones who found You in open skies and camp‑meeting songs. They knew the God who speaks in the wilderness, who stirs the heart, who calls the weary to renewal.
People: For the gift of encounter, Lord, we give You thanks.
VII. The Restorers — Post–Civil War
Leader: We remember those who rebuilt what was broken, who held families together through hardship, who kept hymns alive when hope was thin. They made faith a refuge, a structure, a sheltering presence.
People: For the gift of stability, Lord, we give You thanks.
VIII. The Bearers of Memory — The Modern Generations
Leader: We remember those who carried the stories, the values, the quiet strength of the line. Even as the world changed, they kept the flame of heritage alive in their words, their choices, their love.
People: For the gift of memory, Lord, we give You thanks.
IX. The Living Branch — Cheryl Robertson
Leader: And we remember Cheryl, the living branch of this ancient tree. In her, the lineage becomes present; in her, the past becomes blessing; in her, the story continues its sacred work.
People: For the gift of her life, Lord, we give You thanks.
X. The Benediction of the Lineage
Leader: O God of covenant and pilgrimage, of Scripture and sacrament, of exile and homecoming, You have shaped this family through centuries of Your mercy.
Make us worthy of the inheritance we carry. Teach us to walk in the faith of our ancestors, to honor their endurance, to remember their devotion, and to live as witnesses in our own time.
People: Blessed be the God of the Robertson lineage, now and forever. Amen.
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© 2023-2025 William H Lawson Jr
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