Rev Robert Turnbull

     
     Robert Turnbull was born cir. Mar 1812 at Dikehead, Nichol Forest, CUL, ENG, (no record obvious on the IGI. My extracts from the Parish Registers for Kirk Andrews started in 1813, so I would have missed this birth, although a recheck of my notes does show I also searched the Bishop's Transcripts to 1812 without noting it).^4,5,1,6,7 He was baptized on 1 Mar 1812 at Kirkandrews upon Esk, CUL, ENG; his St John's College notes showing him as the "S of Robert of Dikehead, Cumberland (and Eleanor)" which nicely supplements the id of Robert's parents from his marriage cert which only states his father as Robert, joiner.⁴
     Robert Turnbull married Female UnknownSurname bet 1830 - 1844 ?CUL or ?CAM, ENG, but this marriage has yet to be found and the wife identified. I only know it existed because Robert described himself as a widower when he remarried in 1844.³
     Robert Turnbull remarried on 9 Nov 1844 at St Andrews Parish Ch, Clifton, Bristol, GLS, ENG, to Louisa Philipine Maes, daughter of Louis Maes, cert reads:1844 marriage solemnized at the Parish Ch in the Parish of Clifton in the City & County of Bristol #498 (or 408): November 9th Robert Turnbull, widower, gentleman s/o Robert Turnbull joiner and Louisa Philipine Maes spinster d/o Louis Maes, tobacco merchant, both of full age and resident in Clifton; according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church, by licence by James Taylor in the presence of Augustus Forbes and Sarah Forbes.^3,8,5,9
     Rev Robert Turnbull died on 6 Feb 1877 in Wybunbury, Dist of Nantwich, CHS, ENG; aged 64.^10,11,12 His estate was probated on 21 Mar 1877 at Chester, CHS, ENG; administration being granted to "Louisa Phillipine Turnbull widow the relict the sole executor" .. the testator the Reverend Robert Turnbull was late of Wybunbury in the County of Chester Clerk in Holy Orders and died on the 6th day of February 1877 at Wybunbury aforesaid" Estate under £800.¹³
     
     Given that I eventually found that the Rev Robert's birthplace was Kirk Andrews, Cumberland, and his birth year was shortly after the marriage of Robert Turnbull and Eleanor Scott, at which time Robert gave his address as Kirk Andrews, the identification of the Rev being the son of Robert and Eleanor was looking more likely, even though no baptism was obvious in the Parish Records (1813+) or the Bishop's Transcripts (to 1812). The marriage cert of Robert and Louisa confirmed the relationship, in that Robert's father was given as Robert, a joiner. Which finally confirmed the link between the "Sir Robert Turnbull in London" and his supposed cousin Stephen in Taranaki, which started the search. Made even more certain by his entry in Alumni Cantibrigienses showing his mother as Eleanor.^14,4 He graduated with a BA, or so Crockford's would have us believe in 1847 from St John's College, Cambridge, CAM, ENG, The St John's College biographical archive confirms he graduated from there with a BA but have 1849 as the date, following "Adm. pens. at St John's, Jan 14 1845" and "Matric, Easter 1845". However they also have him being ordained deacon at Ripon in 1848 and priest in 1849.^15,4
     The census of 1851 showed Robert with his wife Louisa at Whitchurch, SAL, ENG, household enumerated as TURNBULL: Robert head, 39, Curate of Whitchurch (BA?) b Kirk Andrews, CUL; wife Louisa P, 38 b France; Dtrs: Louisa M A 5, Ellen 4 both b Cambridge; Sarah 1 b Keighly, Yorkshire; Servant Martha ?Kort? 18 b Whitchurch.¹⁶ Fr 1860 - 1877 Rev Robert Turnbull was a Vicar in the Vicarage, Wybunbury, Nantwich, CHS, ENG, entries in Crockfords show that the Vicar became a Deacon in 1848, a Prelate 1849, both by Bishop of Rippon. Vicar of Wybunbury Diocese of Cheshire 1844 (Patron Bishop of Lichfield): Tithe - App £1761 V £329 5s 7d Glebe 12 acres V's gross income £430 & house; Pop 3188 "Late C. of Whitchurch, Shropshire". The entries for other years differ only in the population of Wybunbury - 1865 & 1868: 3746; 1870: 3976; 1872: 5206; 1874 & 1876: 4649, and by 1878 he has disappeared from the register.¹⁵
     The census of 7 Apr 1861 showed Robert with his wife Louisa, their sons Robert and Walter, their dtrs Louisa, Ellen, Sarah and Edith in the Village, Wybunbury, CHS, ENG, household enumerated as TURNBULL: Robert, head, 49 Vicar Wybunbury b Kirk on Esk, Cumberland; wife Louisa Philippine 48 b Dou?? France; Children (all scholars): Louisa Mary Ann 15; Ellen 14, both b Cambridge; Sarah 11 b Keighley, Yorkshire; Robert 9; Edith 7; Walter 5 all b Whitchurch, Shropshire.¹⁷
     Robert and Louisa P Turnbull appeared on the census of 7 Apr 1871 in the Vicarage, Wybunbury, Nantwich, CHS, ENG, as TURNBULL: Robert, 59, b Kirk Andrews, CUL; wife Louisa P, 58, b France (British Subject); Children: Ellen 24, b Cambridge; Sarah 21 b Keighley, YKS; Edith 17 scholar b Whitchurch, Salop; Mabel M 10 scholar b Wybunbury, CHS; Servant: Lydia Green 19 unm, gen serv dom b Wybunbury CHS.⁵
     Rev Robert Turnbull of Wybunbury, CHS, ENG, wrote a will in 1875 leaving his entire estate to his wife Louisa (the will index describing him as a clerk, but the actual document amplifed that to Clerk in Holy Orders) The probate copy was dated the ninth day of (blank) month one thousand eight hundred and seventy five and had no special provisions, and no mention of his children, leaving everything to his "wife Louisa Phillipine her heirs executors administrators and assigns to and for her and their own absolute use and benefit ...". Witnesses to the original will were David and Eliza Stevenson.^18,13