Commander George Aikman (né Robertson),

Aikman (né Robertson), Capt. George (1760-1844), of Ross House.

Only son of David Robertson of Loretto and his wife Marion, daughter of Hugh Forbes and his wife Margaret (née Aikman), born 11 January 1760.

Educated in Scotland; served in East India Company's navy, 1773-1805, rising to the rank of Commander. JP for Lanarkshire, 1817-44.

He changed his name to Aikman on inheriting Ross House in 1821. In 1820 he married his mistress, Sarah (d. 1865), daughter of William Cumby, a marriage which had the effect of legitimating the previous children of the couple under Scots law. They had issue:

1. Georgiana Robertson Aikman (1816-1904); died 16 March 1904; will proved 27 August 1904 (estate £13,442);
2. George Robertson Aikman (1817-79) (q.v.);
3. Hugh Henry Robertson Aikman (1819-82) (q.v.);
4. John Robertson Aikman (b. 1820), born 19 December 1820 and baptised 8 June 1822; solicitor and JP; contested the legitimacy of his elder brothers in the courts, 1859-61, a final ruling in their favour being given by the House of Lords; died 3 November 1882; will proved 23 December 1882 and 22 May 1914 (estate £11785 and £1080);
5. (5) William Robertson Aikman (1822-1903), died unmarried, 15 October 1903; will proved 22 December 1903 (estate £582);
6. (6) Rosabella Robertson Aikman (c.1825-76), died unmarried, 25 October 1876; will proved 4 December 1876 (estate under £600);
7. Col. Frederick Robertson Aikman VC (1828-88), born 6 February 1828; served in the army (4th Bengal Native Infantry); awarded the VC for an action in the Crimea where with a party of a hundred men he routed a a group of 500 armed rebels and was wounded in the face; died without issue, 5 October 1888 and buried in Kensal Green Cemetery;
8. Sarah Eliza Robertson Aikman (1829-1913); born 5 December 1829 and baptised 13 May 1831; died unmarried, 9 September 1913; will proved 6 November 1913 (estate £31,543);
9. Jessie Robertson Aikman (b. c.1830).

He purchased a small estate at Whitehill (Lanarkshire) in 1810, and rented Auchingramont House nearby from 1812-18. He inherited the Ross and Broomelton estate in 1821 from his uncle, John Aikman (1737-1821).

He was buried at All Souls, Kensal Green, 1 February 1844, and his will was proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 12 September 1845. His widow died in 1865.

Other References

• "(60) Robertson-Aikman of Ross House", Landed families of Britain and Ireland Blog, Nick Kingsley
• Burke, Bernard, Sir. A genealogical and heraldic history of the landed gentry of Great Britain & Ireland 6th ed. London : Harrison 1879. Vol I. page 10