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Robertson Family Chart #1.
Last Updated September 2007.

Biographical Details:

Margaret Johnstone Robertson
Born, 10 October 1843, (or 30 Oct 1846) Auckland NZ
Married, Walter Henderson Sloane, 2 April 1868, at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Auckland, NZ
Died, 13 January 1921, at 21 Marine Parade, Ponsonby, Auckland.

Children of Walter & Margaret Slone are listed with Walter Henderson Sloane.

Obituary, Mrs Margaret Johnstone Sloane
The death occurred in Auckland on Thursday last of Mrs. Margaret J. Sloane, in her seventy-fifth year. Mrs. Sloane, who was the mother of Mr. T. S. Sloane, of Matamata, and Mrs. M. Free, of Hamilton (late of Matamata), had not been ailing long, so that her death was quite unexpected. Deep sympathy has been expressed to Mr. Sloane and Mrs. Free at their sad bereavement. Mrs Sloane leaves a large grown up family of four sons and five daughters.
The funeral took place at the Symond Street cemetery on Saturday, the cortege being a very large one.
Mrs. Sloane was the youngest daughter of Mr. John Robertson, who owned the first timber yard in Auckland. his premises being situated in Mechanics Bay. Mr. Robertson were to Auckland in 1840, when Captain Hobson, the first Governor, founded the city, and Mrs. Sloane's sister, the late Miss Christina Robertson, is stated to have been the first while girl born in Auckland.

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Biographical Details:

John Robertson
Born, 1795, Queensferry, Scotland
Married, May Doughty, 19 November 1833, Edinburgh, Scotland
Died, 28 October 1877, Auckland, New Zealand

The portrait of John (right) is likely to be from around 1830s). The photograph (below) was taken about late 1870s.

John Robertson was born 1795 in Queensferry, Scotland. His father was William Robertson a master Mariner and his mother was Helen Finlay. In 19 Nov. 1833 he married May Doughty, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland. (Situated between, Queensferry and Dunbar)

Arrived Russell, New Zealand, on the "Westminster" on 13 March 1840. He soon settled in Auckland and set up a sawmill in Mechanics Bay. Noted for making the flagpole for celebrations in Auckland.
The 1842 Police Census for Auckland has an entry for John Robertson, his wife and three daughters living in Mechanics Bay. The 1845 Census shows John Robertson, wife, one son and two daughters living in High Street, Auckland.

Children of John & May Robertson:

Helen Robertson.
Born 1827 England                                
Died. 30 September 1898 (Aged 71)
Married(1); Thomas Osbourne
Married(2); George Boyd (they are celebrated in Albert Park by statues).

Jane Robertson.
Born 1831 England
Married(1); John Rogers on 20 August 1849 Auckland NZ
Married(2); Mr. Askew

Robenia Robertson
Born 1839 England
Died 1886 (Aged 48)
Married; George Ginn on 2 June 1860

Christina Robertson (Kitty)
Born 18 May 1841 - New Zealand?
Died 1 January 1914 (Aged 74)

Margaret Johnston
Born 30 October 1846, Auckland, New Zealand
Died 13 January 1921 (Aged 74)
Married Walter Sloane 2 April 1868, Auckland, New Zealand

Christina Robertson (1841-1914) who did not marry, is thought to be the first European girl born in Auckland.

About 1853 he lived in the Vulcan Lane/Shortland Street area. He may have also built the "Queen's Ferry Hotel".

The following is an extract from "A History of the Queen's Ferry Hotel and it's Publicans" compiled by Michael Butler, pages 2-6.

"John Robertson
1865-1877

Mr. Robertson was born in Queens Ferry, Scotland and originally emigrated to New South Wales. However not liking the climate, and upon hearing that Captain Hobson, who had been appointed Governor of New Zealand, wanted to take down some mechanics with him, he applied, and was the first man engaged to proceed to the infant colony. Sailing from Sydney with Captain Hobson, he landed at the Bay of Islands in March 1840, (see note below) which he left after a residence of six months. Ever since, Mr. Roberson had been a citizen of Auckland, having lived in the same spot in Vulcan Lane for 35 years. He purchased the property in an auction on 29 June 1842 and in 1845 was engaged there as a sawyer - later running a general store on the site. the wooden building in which for so many years he kept a store was burnt in the great fire about 1857 or 1858, and in its place Mr. Robertson erected a two story brick building. He continued running a general store up until April 19, 1865 when he received conditional approval to turn the existing premises into the Queens Ferry Hotel, his application being adjourned, in order to give time for him to put his house in order and thereby comply with the licensing requirements.

The Hotel seems to have been named after the Scottish town, Queens Ferry, that Mr. Robertson came from and not, as many people believe, because the harbour Queen's ferries plied to the naval ships in the harbour and were once able to moor close by the hotel, although this may well have been the case.

Mr. Robertson's broad Scotch accent, as if he had left the Lowlands only a week or two ago, was the calling card for every Scotch-man in Auckland and the Queen's Ferry became a gathering place for the Scottish as well as being the birthplace of the Scottish Volunteers of the Auckland militia.

Note: It would appear that Hobson travelled indepentantly to New Zealand on the Herald, arriving in the Bay of Islands 29 January 1840, with a group of government immigrants arriving on the Westminster on 17 March 1840.

'On Friday a meeting of persons interested in the formation of a Highland Company in connection with the Auckland volunteers, was held at the Queens Ferry Hotel. About 15 persons were present, and after some discussion, the meeting was adjourned for a week.'
(Star, June 24, 1871)

'Last evening an adjourned meeting of persons interested in the formation of a Scotch (and kilted) Company, in connection with the Auckland Battalion of Rifles, was held at the Queens Ferry Hotel, Vulcan Lane. Over 30 persons were present; Mr. McCaul occupied the chair and Mr. McLeod acted as secretary. The object of the meeting was explained to those who had not been at the previous meeting. The chairman remarked that the Scotch element was very strong in Auckland, and that they ought to have a company of their own (hear, hear). He had spoken to a good many Scotchmen, and numbers of them had signified their intention of joining. Several gentlemen of very high standing were ready to take command and become officers, and he had no doubt that when the company was once started it would rapidly go ahead. The names of twenty-two gentlemen were then enrolled as efficient, and two honorary members. At the next meeting this number will probably be augmented to fifty. After the conclusion of the meeting Jim McPherson, who was present in full highland costume, played a number of inspirational scotch airs on the bagpipes. We understand that next week the election of officers for the company will take place."
(Evening Star, July 1, 1871 p.2)

The Hotel was also popular as a commercial venue after improvements were made in 1871, especially with the many speculative gold-mining boom in Auckland and who regularly met in all the hotels during this period.

'The annual meeting of the Berkeley Castle Gold Mining Company will be held at the Queens Ferry Hotel, at 5pm today.'
(Star July 21, 1871 p.2)

'The first annual meeting of the shareholders of the Moanatairi Union Gold Mining Company was held yesterday, the Queensferry Hotel, Vulcan's Lane. There was a good attendance of shareholders. Mr. D. W. Wallace, chairman of directors, presided. The directors' report was read, which showed: receipts for past year, 828 pounds 15s 4d; expenditure, 755 pounds 7s 5d; leaving a balance in bank of 73 pounds 7s 11d. J.W. Booker, Esq., was elected director to replace Mr. Wallace, retiring. In reply to shareholders, the chairman stated that the directors would immediately invite tenders for putting in a tunnel 260 feet in length, to intersect the Golden Age reef, which has already proved dividend paying. This work will be pushed forward with all possible dispatch, to test the reef already in the company's ground. The proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the Chairman,'
(Evening Star, 30 September, 1871)

A description of the hotel and the refurbishments appeared in June of the same year.

'Yesterday we were called in the course of business into the Queens Ferry Hotel, in Vulcan Lane and were somewhat surprised to find, in this unpretending hostelry, such first-class accommodation as is provided by Mr. Robertson for his customers. Behind the bar is situated one of the best Commercial rooms that we have seen in Auckland. This has been recently added to the hotel, and if it can be equalled cannot be surpassed in this city. In this cold winter weather there is one this, which will recommend itself to the peripatetic public whose business is principally conducted at the "the Corner", and that is a good fire and a comfortable room to sit in, where every convenience, for commercial transactions may be found. A full suite of bedrooms and sitting rooms has also been added to the upper portion of the building and the hotel altogether, has been made one which will command itself to families and the commercial public. The lighting decoration and furnishing of the rooms have been all equally well attended to, and for comfort and convenience there is not a hotel in Auckland, that can surpass the Queens Ferry Hotel, Vulcan Lane.'
(NZ Herald June 24, 1871 p.2)

Mr. Robertson died on October 28, 1877, aged 82 years and was probably at the time the oldest citizen of Auckland. He never took any part in political matters, but was well-known to every one of the older citizens of Auckland, and was highly respected by all his acquaintances. He left four daughters, all married.

'The funeral of the late Mr. John Robertson, the well-known proprietor of the Queensferry Hotel, Vulcan Lane, took place yesterday afternoon. Shortly after 3 o'clock the cortege, consisting of half-a-dozen carriages, and about sixty persons on foot, moved off from the Queens Ferry Hotel, and proceeded up Queen-street to the Presbyterian cemetery. Amongst those present were representatives of many of the business firms of the city, and most of the very old Auckland settlers. The chief mourners were * Walter Sloane, Geo. Boyd, and John Guilding, sons-in-law; Thomas Powley, and John Sinclair, husbands of two of the grand-daughters; and Alex. J. Harris, an intimate friend. It may be mentioned that Mr. Harris and Mr. John Harris (who was also present) arrived in the colony in the same vessel as the deceased. The burial service was read by the Rev. Mr. Carrick.'
(NZ Herald October 31, 1877)."

Footnote (4 May 2005): according to a descendant "John Guilding" in the obit above is mostly likely to be John William Richard Guilding born in Auckland in 1842. I have contact details available for those seeking further information about the Guilding family in New Zealand.

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Biographical Details:

May Doughty
Born, About 1803, Scotland.
Married, John Robertson, 19 November 1833, Edinburgh, Scotland
Died, 9 September 1880, Auckland, New Zealand.

The portrait of May (right) is likely to be from around 1830s). The photograph (below) was taken about 1878.

The following is an extract from "A History of the Queen's Ferry Hotel and it's Publicans" compiled by Michael Butler, page 7.

"May Robertson
1877-1880.

When Mr. Robertson died, his wife May Robertson took over the running of the Queens Ferry hotel.

Mrs. Robertson had married at age 30 in Edinburgh which was right next to Queensferry in Scotland and arrived in New Zealand to join her husband in 1842. She died of cerebral disease at her residence, the Queens Ferry Hotel on September 9, 1880.

'In our obituary column will be found recorded the death of Mrs. Robertson, of the Queens Ferry Hotel, Vulcan Lane who was aged 77 years. The deceased was a very old colonist, and the widow of the late Mr. John Robertson, who died some time back. After a forty years' residence in the province, Mrs. Robertson was much respected for her kindly disposition and charitable deeds, and has passed away at a good age having more than attained the allotted span of human existence. The funeral will leave the Queens Ferry Hotel at 2p.m. on Sunday, friends are respectfully invited to attend.'
(NZ Herald, September 11, 1880)

Walter Sloane, the son-in-law briefly ran the hotel for a few months until December 3, 1880 when the lease of the hotel was transferred to a Mr. Charles Sutherland."

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