Royal English Gold Finch

Brief Sketches of Henry Robb & Mary Ann Stewart Robb

Henry Robb was born February 2, 1784 in the Northern part of Ireland. He was the son of peasants. Family history tells us they were Presbyterians. Exact location is not known at this time. He was taught the trade of a Blacksmith. In the late 1810's he was employed by the Court of Queen Victoria, at Kensington Palace, London, England, to work for the kings guard as a blacksmith in the stables. It was at that time he met and fell in love with Mary Ann Stewart, a lady-in-waiting in the Court of Queen Victoria at the palace.

Mary Ann Stewart was a descendant of the House of Stewart and was a Lady-in-Waiting for Queen Victoria. She was born in 1788 in Scotland. Because she was of royal lineage she was not allowed to date or fall in love with Henry Robb, as he was just a blacksmith. A conflict arose in her family regarding this couple. She and her brother had inherited a large estate in the West Indies and she was threatened that if she continued to see Henry Robb she would be disinherited. A royal party was held at the palace and Mary Ann Stewart was invited but Henry Robb was ignored. It was at that event that her deed was torn up and she and Henry Robb left and married. Her brother later tried to deed her a large estate in England and coax her to leave Henry Robb. Mary Ann would not leave Henry and was once again dismissed by the House of Stewarts.

They moved to Belfast, Ireland where six daughters were born to them. Rosanna, Ellen, Nancy Agnes, Abagail C., Anna Mary, Sarah Jane. They was during the period of 1820-1837 in Ireland. In 1837 Henry decided to take a ship to Quebec, Canada and to start a new life in North America. The voyage took approximately two months. Ellen Robb died due to illness on the trip and was buried at sea. They arrived with their five daughters in Canada.

Henry, Mary Ann and their daughters then built a small homestead at Covey Hill, Havelock Township, Huntington County, Quebec, Canada where Henry did blacksmith work and was a farmer. Another daughter Mary was born in 1832 and later their first son Henry Robb Jr was born in 1834 at the homestead.

In 1840 Rosanna (eldest daughter) married David Tate. They also lived at Covey Hill close to Henry and Mary Ann Robb. Also in 1840 Nancy Robb married Robert Cowan.
In 1854 Sarah Jane Robb Milne and her husband George Milne married in DeKalb, Illinois.
In 1856 Nancy Agnes Robb Cowan and her husband moved to Iowa.
In 1861 Henry writes daughter, Sarah Milne and asks her to come and take the bird back to Kansas.
In 1863 Henry Robb dies in Canada.
In 1870 Nancy, Sarah and Abigail all immigrated to Harvey County Kansas with their husbands.

Letters from Henry and Mary Ann Robb, along with the English Gold Finch came to Kansas with the daughters. Also many descendants remember trunks of Scottish clothing that came over by ship from their family arriving in Harvey County, Kansas. It is thought that it was Mary Ann's Brother sending the clothing. Sarah Robb Milne is photographed in once of the dresses that showed the Scottish plaid of the House of Stewart while living in Harvey County, Kansas.

The story of the English Gold Finch is as follows ~

On the day that Queen Victoria was born a caged song bird (English Gold Finch) died in the Royal Gardens, May 24, 1819. Mary Ann Stewart Robb wanted to keep the bird. It was stuffed and mounted on a branch, later put in a wood and glass box.

This keepsake traveled from the Royal Gardens to Belfast, Ireland then across the ocean to Covey Hill, Quebec, Canada. It stayed in Canada until 1863. Then Sarah Jane Robb Milne traveled to her parents home in Canada and got the bird.

It was then brought to the home of George and Sarah Milne. It was keep above the mantel of the fireplace and handed down to their Grandson John Phillips, he then handed it down to his daughter Marcy Phillips Bahre. The bird in now in her possession. The bird was preserved in early 1800’s and still is in excellent condition in 2005.

Compiler, Auther: Julie Welty – Great Great Great Great Grandaughter of Henry and Mary Ann Robb

slvwng@gmail.com

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Sources

Letter from Henry Robb, Canada ~ sent to Sarah Robb Milne in Harvey County, Kansas.
Golda Dorr ~ Letter to Elsie M. Lowman Schroeder, regarding her DAR research into the life of Henry Robb and Mary Ann Stewart Robb.
Family Bible ~ William Henry Milne (son of Sarah Cowan Milne). Story of the House of Stewart, deed to the estate and West Indies and the fact that Mary Ann was disinherited.
Family Story ~ Interview 1979, between Elsie May Lowman Schroeder and Julie Schroeder Welty, regarding the marriage and life of Henry & Mary Ann Robb.
Letter ~ By Sarah Milne Betz. Life story of Mary Ann Stewart Robb.
Letter ~ dated, December 27, 1936 in Newton, Kansas. Written by Golda Dorr. The life story of Henry and Mary Ann Stewart Robb.
Letter – By Nancy Newby. Family story from Nancy Robb Cowan as retold by Nancy Newby, her grand.
Family Story ~ by Vleda Milne Allen. Family story from Sarah Agnes Cowan Milne as told to Vleda.

Henry Robb’s Descendants may be found at

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/w/e/l/Michael-T-Welty/index.html