Janet Scott: What Do We Know Ten Years Later?

Ten years ago, I began untangling the life of Janet Scott (née Craigie). While some answers have surfaced, others remain just out of reach. Here’s what I’ve pieced together about her journey.

Janet, also known as Jessie, was married in 1868 in Victoria, Australia, but details about her life before then have been elusive. Recently, I uncovered records suggesting she may have been cared for by Reverend John D. Robertson and his wife, Amelia. The couple married in Canada in 1857 and later settled in Victoria, where Reverend Robertson became a well-known figure in the Presbyterian Church.

Janet’s connection to the Robertsons has strengthened my hypothesis that she was likely the Jessie Craigie listed as living with John and Margaret Robertson in Scotland. By the 1860s, the Robertsons were in Australia, and it seems plausible Janet traveled there to reunite with them. This move might have been orchestrated by Margaret Robertson, who appears to have been an aunt or other close relative, likely tied to Janet’s late parents.

While the lack if information in the records hint Janet’s mother may have passed away when she was very young, possibly even at birth, her father’s fate remains unclear. If Margaret Robertson was related through Janet’s father, John Craigie, the family ties begin to clarify. The lack of detailed information on her parents may explain why Reverend Robertson acted as her guardian during her marriage in Victoria.

As for Janet’s arrival in Australia, she could have accompanied the Robertsons directly or joined them shortly after they settled. This remains an area I plan to investigate further, though there’s always a chance her arrival records are lost or incorrectly transcribed.

For now, I’ll leave the rest as a work in progress. If you’d like to discuss Janet’s story further or learn more about the sources behind my research, feel free to reach out. Collaboration is always welcome in uncovering family histories!