Robert Anderson – carpenter
A native of Edinburgh, Robert, his wife Jessie and their family arrived at Ft. Victoria on the Norman Morison, in January, 1853. He was one of 4 carpenters hired by McKenzie to work at the Puget Sound Agricultural Company's farm – later named Craigflower. Born Feb. 15, 1824, Robert was 29 and his wife 27 when they arrived. Accompanying them were their two sons, John, age 7, Robert, age 5, and a baby, Eliza. Eliza was born at sea shortly after the Norman Morison had left the mouth of the Thames (Aug. 17, 1852). She was subsequently christened Eliza Norman Morison Wishart.1
By trade a joiner, Anderson would have taken part in the early construction of the buildings at Craigflower. By July1853, it appears that a house had been built for Anderson and his family; Melrose noted that "Anderson got a cow." However, Anderson disagreed with the terms of employment under McKenzie and by August 1853 he was "stricken work", had left McKenzie and was working for Capt. Cooper. For thus breaking their contract, Anderson, and a number of other rebels (Deans, Montgomery and Weir), were apprehended and imprisoned on the fort for one month.2
It is difficult to determine whether Anderson returned to work for McKenzie. Present research indicates that he fulfilled the terms of his contract by working as a carpenter for the Hudson's Bay Company and was employed in the construction of such buildings as the first Victoria church, the constabulary and the post office:
Aug. 1854 – Victoria Church account:
f26 – Cash paid Robt. Anderson for wages... 10 1/2 months
f5 – Paid Robt. Anderson for rations... 1 1/2 months
f4/3/6 – Paid Robt. Anderson for the use of his tools... 10 1/2 months
Nov. 1856 Ibid.
Aug. 1858, Colonial Building
$1500.00 paid... to R. Anderson on a/c of contract to build Constabulary and Post Office.3
By 1857, Anderson had completed his 5 year contract and purchased land from the HBC under the terms of the agreement. By 1859 he had established a farm – "Loch End" at the head of Portage Inlet in the area now traversed by West Burnside. It appears that the farm was reasonably successful and Anderson was respect in the district. Two references in the Colonist provide some information for this period:
July 13, 1859, p. 3.
Mr. Robt. Anderson informs us that he had 8 head of cattle stolen.
March 4, 1862, p. 3.
Marble – We will not have to travel very far for marble to adorn out marble palaces for there is an excellent vein of it on the farm of Mr. R. Anderson at the head of Victoria Arm. In time it will prove very valuable and that time cannot be far distant.
During this time the size of the family increased with the births of 6 more children (see attached). Although the Anderson name does not appear on Claypole's list of Craigflower pupils for 1865, Anderson's name is on a list of parents protesting the tutelage of Lyndon Lelievre, 1872,4 and the name of Peter Anderson appears on Newbury's list for 1888.
With his youngest son only 16, Anderson died at 60, August 3, 1883 after a lengthy illness.
Endnotes:
1 In his Diary, Melrose recorded Eliza's birth Aug. 18, 1852, and her baptism Dec. 5, 1852. Baptismal records for Ft. Victoria also record her baptism by Rev. Staines, Feb. 21, 1854. Wishart was the captain of the Norman Morison.
2 Melrose, Diary, Aug. 8 – Oct. 5, 1853. The reasons for the discontent which caused a number of men to break their contracts seem to stem from what they felt were inadequate wages and living conditions.
3 Hudson's Bay Company, Victoria accounts (1852-59). According to information provided by Anderson's descendents in 1824, Anderson had built a house on Fort St., on the site then (1924) occupied by the Times Building.
4 ??? Not given
ROBERT ANDERSON
Birthplace: Lasswade, Polten Bank, Edinburgh
Feb. 15, 1824.
Mother's maiden name: Helen Crampton
Date of death: Aug. 7, 1883, buried at Ross Bay Cemetery.
JESSIE ANDERSON – (nee Jessie Livingstone Murray)
Birthplace: Prestonpans, Scotland
Jan. 21, 1826.
Parent's names – Peter Murry
Sarah Livingstone
Date of death: Oct. 9, 1997, buried at Ross Bay Cemetery.
Children:
John:
- born Jan. 22, 1846, Edinburgh, Scotland
- died Nov. 1, 1883, buried at Ross Bay Cemetery
- unmarried
Robert:
- born May 8, 1848, Falkirk, Scotland
- died Dec. 25, 1912, buried at Tacoma, Wash.
- married Margaret McNamara, May 25, 1872.
Jemima:
- born 1850, Scotland; died in infancy
Eliza Norman Morison Wishart:
- born Aug. 17, 1852, off English coast.
- died, 1926
- married Geo. B. Lyall, Jan. 25, 1881, Victoria
Sarah Livingstone
- born Aug. 14, 1885, Victoria
- died 1856, possible buried Quadra St. cemetery.
Helen Crampton:
- born Aug. 17, 1857, Victoria
- died Feb. 7, 1907, Ross Bay cemetery
Jessie Murry:
- born Oct. 13, 1860, "Loch End"
- died (not know)
- married Theo. Lowe, Feb. 11, 1888, Sacramento Calif.
Grace Henderson:
- born Jan.1, 1862, "Loch End"
- died (not known)
- married Chas Ridout, Jan. 1, 1886, Victoria
Isabel Bruce:
- born May 12, 1865, "Loch End"
- died (not known)
- married Geo. Patton 1996, Oregon
Wm. Bennet 1894, Calif
Wm. Paddison 1903, Victoria.
Peter Murray:
- born Dec. 16, 1966 [sic], "Loch End"
- died July 6, 1918, buried Ross Bay
- unmarried