One goal in American genealogy is to trace each family line back to each immigrant. That goal can be difficult when the family arrived in colonial America. Such is the case with the Robertson / Thompson families. Based on evidence collected so far, almost all of the immigrants arrived either in the 1700s or the 1600s. There is still much work to do. Only the few immigrants listed below have been identified so far, and more documentation is needed for them, as well. As a result, I will be working on this research for a while until I feel all effective research has been done and all available resources have been consulted.
Below are listed the known [as of August 24, 2022] immigrant ancestors of my wife Lorie Robertson, first indicating their relationship to Lorie and then listed in order of their arrival in America. Also noted is to which of Lorie’s grandparents they are related: Philip Isaac P. I. Thompson, Mamie Lavonia Coker, Gaston Robertson, Jr., or Mattie Belle Smith.
I have identified only 9 known names of immigrant ancestors, with the surnames Heald, Bancroft, Robertson, Bowman, Black, McArthur, and Harlan.
No immigrants have been identified yet on the Thompson lines; although Stephen I. Thompson may have been born in Canada (born 29 February 1864, married 8 December 1886 to Florence Alice Adelaide Lawson East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, died 21 April 1934, Gulfport, Harrison, Mississippi).
Also, the Robertson Genealogy Book prepared 1 February 1978 by Max Herman Jordan of Ocean Springs, Mississippi notes that on the Robertson Line, Norvell Robertson I is Lorie’s G4 Grandfather. Norvell is descended from Lorie’s G9 or G10 Grandfather Thomas Norvell (originally Neuville), who was a Frenchman who came to Wright County, Virginia, and settled about 1620. The Robertson book also notes that Benjamin Powell from North Carolina and then Georgia is Lorie’s G5 Grandfather, and is of Welsh descent, the family having immigrated from Wales, but Benjamin is most likely not an immigrant.
Immigrant Ancestors: Robertson / Thompson Families :
G7 Grandparents:
Samuel Heald born 12 September 1668 Mobberley, Cheshire, Old England; married Mary Bancroft born 13 May 1673 Eccleston, Cheshire, Old England; Immigrated before 1713; died 1736 Kennet Township, Chester, Pennsylvania, Colonial America [Mattie Belle Smith].
Jeoffrey Robertson born 1654 Scotland; Immigrated before 1700; married to Elizabeth Bowman; died 1734 Henrico, Virginia, Colonial America [Gaston Robertson, Jr.].
G6 Grandparents:
Malcolm Black born Jura, Scotland 1690, died North Carolina 1740. Married Catherine McArthur [Mamie Lavonia Coker].
Sarah Heald born 19 May 1692 Mobberly, Cheshire, Old England (daughter of Samuel Heald and Mary Bancroft); Immigrated before 1713; married 1713 New Castle, Delaware, Colonial America to Aaron Harlan born 24 October 1685 Donnahlong Parish, County Down, Ulster Province, Ireland; Immigrated 1687 [to Ireland? Date to America? if 1687 to America then with his parents since he’d only be 2]; Sarah died 1747–1748 Kennet Township, Chester, Pennsylvania, Colonial America; Aaron died November 1732 Kennet Township, Chester, Pennsylvania, Colonial America [Mattie Belle Smith].
G5 Grandparents:
Archibald [Ray?] Black born Jura, Scotland 1725, died Cumberland County, North Carolina 1792. Married Christian [Surname Unknown; Carmichael?]. Immigrated 1754. Sources: The Original Scots Colonists of Early America, 1612-1783 book by David Dobson, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1989, Baltimore, MD database on-line], Ancestry.com, page 20, image 32: “servant, res. Kiles Jura Argyll, sh. 1754, to Cape Fear N.C. (SRO.GD64\5.21).” SRO = Scottish Records Office, Edinburgh; sh = voluntarily shipped; tr = transported [Mamie Lavonia Coker].
In order by approximate date of arrival:
1620: Thomas Norvell (originally Neuville)
Before 1700: Jeoffrey Robertson and Elizabeth Bowman [Gaston Robertson, Jr.].
Early 1700s: Malcolm Black and Catherine McArthur [Mamie Lavonia Coker].
Early 1700s: Unknown Powell from Wales
Before 1713: Samuel Heald and Mary Bancroft [Mattie Belle Smith].
Before 1713: Sarah Heald [Mattie Belle Smith].
Before 1713 (possibly 1687): Aaron Harlan [Mattie Belle Smith].
1754: Archibald [Ray?] Black [Mamie Lavonia Coker].
Gregg B. Gronlund 