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Was christened 2 May 1830 in Westerkirk Parish, Dumfriesshire, Scotland. In the 1841 Scottish Census, a Robert Thomson, age 10 was listed living at Mid Knock, Westerkirk Parish. In the 1851 Scottish Census a Robert Thomson was listed as a 21 year old Tailor journeyman in the household of Andrew Bell, Waukmill, Westerkirk Parish, born in Westerkirk Parish, Dumfriesshire. Robert paid $300 and took possession of Lot 17, Concession 1, South Orillia Township, Simcoe County, Upper Canada, 200 acres, on 5 September 1862. He received the Crown Patent for the property on 31 October 1873. Robert was the original owner of the property. On 20 September 1871 Robert sold, for $400, a Right of Way to divert the course of a stream and to build culverts; and on 19 October 1871 sold 5 acres, for $456, to The Toronto, Simcoe & Muskoka Railroad Company, both transactions registered on 6 November 1871. (Archives of Ontario microfilm GSU178869 Abstracts to Deeds). Robert and Mary's marriage recorded in the Orillia Presbyterian St. Andrews Church Records, marriage register 1858-1873: Robert Thomson, age 36, resident of Orillia, Upper Canada, born Scotland, parents David Thomson and Jane Edgar; Mary Cameron, age 19, resident of Oro, Upper Canada, born Oro, Upper Canada, parents Duncan Cameron and Margaret Bone. Witness, James Thomson of Orillia, Upper Canada; married 13 March 1867, Oro Township. Ceremony performed by Rev. John Gray, Presbyterian Church of Canada. (also Archives of Ontario, Simcoe County Marriage Register 1858-1869, microfilm MS248 reel 15). According to Ruth Frances Thomson, granddaughter of Robert, in 1871 Robert obtained Lot 17 Concession 1, South Orillia, 200 acres (this would have been when he received the Crown Patent) and in 1873 purchased an adjoining 200 acres (Wayne Thomson note: Ruth must have been referring to the Grist Mill property). On 3 April 1873 (purchase registered 10 April 1873), Robert and his brother James purchased from John Blain, part of Lots 10 & 11 Concession 2 and part of Lots 10 & 11 Concession 3, South Orillia Township which contained a Saw Mill and a Grist Mill built by James Dallas and a mill pond of 150 acres at high water, for $2,600. On 12 November 1873 (registered 21 November 1873). Robert took out a $2,000 mortgage on Lot 17, Concession 1 from The Canada Land Credit Company (which was discharged 3 March 1884, registered 26 September 1884). On 17 December 1873 (registered 31 December 1873), Robert bought out James Thomson's half share of the mill property for $1,300. An ad in The Orillia Packet, 10 May 1877 informed the community that the Thomson Grist Mill, that had been destroyed by fire, has been rebuilt with the latest of equipment; dated May 9, 1877. Robert took out a $2,000 mortgage on the mill property on 10 January 1879 (registered 14 January 1879) from James Johnston of Oro Township, Simcoe County. This is believed to be the step father of Robert's wife Mary. (Mary's mother married a James Johnston after her first husband, Duncan Cameron died). This mortgage was taken just days before Robert died. The mill and property was sold at public auction on 12 January 1883 (registered 13 February 1883) under James Johnston's Power of Sale, for $5,000 to James Thomson. (the same day, James took a $2,000 mortgage from James Johnston). Had three or four children die as infants? Died at age 49. Death registration 017124 Archives of Ontario microfilm MS935 reel 23 filed under Thompson. Was listed as a Presbyterian. Had cancer of the jaw. Died in Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, under the care of Dr. C.O. Reily. Buried in St Andrews & St James Cemetery, Plot A12-3, Orillia, Orillia Township, Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada. Robert died intestate (no Will, Codicil or Testamentary Papers), and Surrogate Court of Simcoe County, file 1305 for Robert Thompson, (Archives of Ontario microfilm GS1 reel 897) shows affidavits leading to applying to be Administrator of Robert Thomson's personal estate and effects, was files on 11 February 1879, by Mary Thomson who declared she was the widow with four children.
Inventory of Personal Effects Of Robert Thomson:
Household Goods and Furniture$200
Farming Implements$100
One Horse$ 80
Horned Cattle$ 40
Swine$ 5
Book debts & Promissory Notes$575
Total $1,000
Roberts estate held on to Lot 17, Concession 1 until the family, Duncan Thomson etux; William J. Thomson, unmarried; Annie T. Johnston & husband John Johnston; Mary Kerr & husband Albert Kerr; Jane R. Burce & husband George Bruce; Robina Thomson, spinster; sold the property on 10 April 1902 (registered 15 April 1902) for $4,000 to Robert Thomson. (this was confusing until it was determined that the purchaser, Robert Thomson was a nephew of the original Robert Thomson and was the son of Roberts brother William Thomson).
The Orillia Packet, January 24, 1879 recorded:
"Died at Toronto on Monday 20th inst. Mr. Robert Thomson of Orillia aged 54 years". Also "Mr. Robert Thomson, brother of the Reeve of Orillia and Matchedash, has been suffering from a cancer of his lip for several years. He went to Toronto last week for treatment and on Saturday an operation was performed by a skilled surgeon but the cancer had grown to greater proportions than the doctors suppose and the operation was so sever that the patient, weakened by previous suffering, could not rally and he died on Monday. The deceased had been a resident of South Orillia for a considerable number of years and was much respected. The remains were attended to the grave on Thursday by a very large concourse of people".
The Surrogate Court of the County of Simcoe, Guardianship file 1583, Archives of Ontario microfilm GS1 reel 899.
- An undated letter petitioning for Archibald Thomson (brother of the late Robert Thomson) to be appointed guardian of Duncan Thomson, Jane Thomson, William John Thomson, Margaret Ann Thomson and Robina Thomson, infant children of the late Robert Thomson, Miller, deceased and his widow Mary Kerr (this formed the information for the following newspaper announcement). The document states that Robert Thomson died leaving 5 infant children. This would indicate that a sixth child David Edgar Thomson died before 1879. The youngest child, Robina Thomson was born after Robert died.
- Newspaper announcement of the guardianship petition dated 13 September 1881 and published in the Orillia Times on 22 September 1881. The Surrogate Court confirmed the application for guardianship with a 20 day waiting period after the newspaper publication date.
- 13 October 1881, confirmation that a true copy of the petition was served on Mary Kerr, in Toronto, County of York.
- 1 November 1881, formal application to the Surrogate Court of the County of Simcoe by Archibald Thomson to be appointed guardian.
- 5 November 1881, announcement that Archibald Thomson with James Thomson and James Johnston Senior (the latter bonding their assets, James Thomson for $11,000 and James Johnston Senior for $8,500) in the guardianship petition and for the settlement of Robert Thomson's estate in favor of the five infant children.
- 8 November 1881, Mary Kerr of Toronto in the County of York, by her solicitor, John McLean, objected to the petition of guardianship.
- 23 March 1882, Mary Kerr withdraws her objection to the petition. Her husband Albert Kerr witnesses the document.
- 25 March 1882, Surrogate Court orders the issue of Letter of Guardianship to Archibald Thomson.
The documents state that in 1881 Duncan Thomson and Robina Thomson were living in the Town of Orillia (Robina was living with her step grandparents, Samuel and Margaret Kerr); that Jane Thomson was living in the Township of South Orillia and that William John Thomson and Margaret Ann Thomson were living in the Township of Oro. No indication of exactly where Duncan and Jane were living. It is possible that William John and Margaret Ann were living with Mary (Cameron) (Thomson) Kerr's mother and step father, Margaret (Bone) (Cameron) Johnston and James Johnston (or Johnstone?). Robina Thomson is the only child of the five found recorded in the 1881 Canada Census.
1841/1851 census: Westerkirk, Dumfries.
1871 census: Matchedash/Orillia
Robert Thomson, age 41, b: Scotland, farmer
Mary Thomson, age 23, b: Ontario
Duncan C. age 2, b: Ontario
Jane Robina, age1, b: Ontario.
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1830 - 1879 (48 years)
