Robert Buchanan

Previously unknown in family records. Found on FamilySearch IGI - dates of birth and baptism.

In the 1841 census Robert is 5 and living with his parents and siblings in George Street, Ayr. The surname of the family is incorrectly spelled as 'Buchamen'.

In the 1851 census Robert is 14 and living with his mother and two siblings at Loans, about seven miles north of Ayr, where his mother is a victualler. (His father meantime is in Kirkport, Ayr, working as a muslin weaver). It states Robert was born in Ayr. No occupation is given.

A search of passenger lists finds Robert Buchanan (20), from Scotland, arriving in Launceston, Tasmania, in July 1857. He is a saddler and the person by whom he is introduced is his sister Lilias Buchanan who went out earlier with older brother Joseph, who was also a saddler when still in Ayrshire.

The register of his marriage to Alice Keaty confirms that he is the son of Archibald Buchanan, toll keeper, and Marion Barr. The other details in the marriage register are: marriage date 4th August 1860 at the Presbyterian Manse, Sandhurst, Victoria, Australia. He is a bachelor aged 23 born in Ayr, and she is a spinster aged 21 born in Limerick, Ireland, to John Keaty, a draper, and Mary Drinie (?). Robert is a saddler.

The middle name of their son, Robert McCormick Buchanan, is probably derived from Robert's maternal aunt and uncle, Lillias and Robert McCormick, who ran a successful mineral water bottling company in Ayr but had no children of their own. Robert's older brother Archibald and younger sister Helen also, respectively, gave the middle name McCormick to one of their children.