Scottish Heritage                                           Stirling Castle

 

 

                                                       Descendants of Robert Livingston

 

                                                                   (note spelling variations in Livingston/Livingstone)

 

 

1. ROBERT1 LIVINGSTON1 was born in Scotland1, and died 1776 in Stirling, Scotland1.

Notes for ROBERT LIVINGSTON:

Robert Livingston, soldier in Sterling Castle.

Children of ROBERT LIVINGSTON are:

2. i. JANET2 LIVINGSTON, d. 1787.

ii. JAMES LIVINGSTON1.

Notes for JAMES LIVINGSTON:

James was a Sergeant Major about 1746 in the 48th Regiment of foot (Duke of Cumberland's army) during the rebellion in Scotland , then cantoned at Stirling.

He was Fort Major of Fort Cumberland in the Province of Maryland during the summer of 1756.

Letter from Major Livingston to Colonel George Washington can be found in the Maryland Archives, Volume 31 - Proceedings of the Council - August 10, 1753 to March 20, 1761, page 227-8. Also in Volume 9 - Correspondence of Horatio Sharpe, Governor.

Letter to Washington dated June 14, 1757, talks of the "Battle of Monongahela" and the French Indians near Bear Camp.

The following extensive notes are quoted from Zerilda (Landon)Richardson family record book that she maintained from the early 1930's well into the 1970's. Her original information was copied from James H. Richardson's work.

"This record of Sir. John Richardson is taken from from sworn statements to prove the proper relation of John Richardson or the nearest and lawful heir of James Livingston.

James Livingston being Sergeant Major in the Duke of Cumberlands army during the rebellion in Scotland about 1746.

Janet Livingston, a sister of James Livingston, married Sir John Richardson. This is the nearest date I have of his boyhood. According to sworn statements Janet died in 1787.

Sir John and Janet Richardson resided at Charters Hall in the Parish of Saint Vivians, (Nivians)County of Sterling (Stirling), Scotland. Their children are:

John

James

Robert

Thomas

Helen

Marian

Agnes

Thomas, son of John and Janet Richardson, married a Miss Goldsmith. Their children are:

James

William

Thomas Goldsmith

Anna

Mary

James was a Sergeant Major about 1746 in the 48th Regiment of foot (Duke of Cumberland's army) then cantoned at Sterling. He was Fort Major of Fort Cumberland in the Province of Maryland during the summer of 1756.

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From Frank Anderson's book is one of several items regarding James Livingston:

"An interesting letter from Major Livingston to Colonel George Washington can be found in the Maryland Archives, Volume 31-Proceedings of the Council - August 10, 1753 to March 20, 1761, page 227-8. Also in Volume 9 - Correspondence of Horatio Sharpe, Governor.

Livingston to Washington

Sir: Fort Cumberland, June 14, 1757

I am desired by Captain Dagworthy to aquaint you that there is a great Body of the Enemy on their Way to these Frontiers where they intend is not certain, the Intelligence comes from Captain Spotswood's Party, that arrived here about three of the Clock this Afternoon, says Captain Spotswood left them about ten Days ago, these six separated themselves from the Rest and went to Fort DuQuesne, where they stayed some Days and saw the Preparation making for the March but wanting Provisions was forced to come off to some Distance to fire their Guns as there was none to be got by their Arrows they heard a great Gun fired near where the Battle of Monongahela was fought, which they had crossed the tenth Instant and desire all their Brothers to come as soon as possible to their assistance. Lieutenant Baker marched this Day at eleven o'clock with all the Indians only two left with the Swallow's son which I am afraid will die, I've wrote to Mr. Baker to detain them Pearalls while they hear from you but am afraid it will not be in his Power, as they are fully bent to see the great Man that is come from King George and expect presents they stayed but four Hours after the letter was explained to them Captain Dagworthy would have wrote to you but being busy in writing to Colonel Stanwix and their Governor had not time, you will excuse my hurry as we are in great perplexity at present

I am your humble Servant

Jas Livingston

P.S.

Since my writing they have made us sensible that they were on their March with a number of Wheel Carriages, and men innumerable, and had marched two Days before they quit the Monongahela waters, they further say they saw them cross the said River, and Guns greater than any at this Fort you'll observe this is Indian news which I really believe to be true no white man came in yet and further say they found a stocking belonging to the White Men which causes suspicion here the whole is cut off. Keenifftikee is not in the five men which is expected hourly, Captain Dagworthy desires you will send an Express to Colonel Stanwix and Governor Sharpe in case that Express may be taken he has sent, further the six that came in three of them is wounded and one of them was killed being seven in number when they separated from Captain Spotswood by a Party of French Indians near the Bear Camp they stayed till dark and went back for their Baggage and came in four days from the French Fort they are momentarily giving fresh intelligence therefore must conclude with this confused Paragraph a safe Deliverance never was in greater Jeopardy, no men no Provisions this is the Cry of this Garrison, this is the second Express this man has been sent and no Pay for it (viz) when Trent came in and the Catawba Indian the next Colonel I believe may be from Montreal for never such a set collected as we have to defend a Garrison for my part I am easy if Indians, I must fight, but if French as long as we can but I am afraid the great guns won't be loaded by us a second time.

J.L.

Washington was at Fort Loudon at this time. Command of Fort Cumberland had been turned over to the colonial government by the British but evidently Major Livinston had been left to assist in holding the fort.

Note: The above letter has virtually no punctuation and, various words are capitalized. (Copied by Frank Anderson from someone elses work)

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iii. JOHN LIVINGSTON1.

iv. ALEXANDER LIVINGSTON1.

Generation No. 2

2. JANET2 LIVINGSTON (ROBERT1)1 died 17871. She married SIR JOHN RICHARDSON2,3 1754 in St. Ninians, Stirling Scotland3. He was born 1729 in St. Ninians, Stirling Scotland3.

Notes for JANET LIVINGSTON:

Janet Livingston was a Daughter of Robert Livingston, soldier in Sterling Castle, and sister to James, John and Alexander Livingston, soldiers in the British armies at this period.

Notes for SIR JOHN RICHARDSON:

John and Janet Richardson lived for many years about Sauchie in the parish of St. Ninians and County of Sterling, Scotland.

This information appears in Frank Anderson's book, but also in other papers as well. Note that there is an "e" on Livingston.

PROOF OF THE PROPINQUITY OF JOHN RICHARDSON AS THE NEAREST AND LAWFUL HEIR OF JAMES LIVINGSTONE.

James Thomson Senior of the Burgh of Sterling in the county of Sterling, North Britian, Merchant and present Dean of Guild maketh oath and saith that he, this deponent, knew and was well acquainted with Major James Livingstone, who was for many years in the service of the King of Britain, now deceased. That this deponent also knew and was well acquainted with Robert Livinstone, soldier in Sterling Castle Father of the said James and with Alexander Livingstone and Janet Livinstone Brother and Sister Germane to James. That Alexander went abroad many years ago as a soldier in the Army and for what the deponent knows, he is dead without issue. That Janet was married and resided many years about Sauchie in the parish of St. Ninians and County of Sterling. That the aforesaid James Livingstone returned to Sterling after having been in America, without issue about ( ) years ago. (&Further this deponent saith not.)

Sworn at the Burgh of Sterling

before me, John Glas, Provost, (signed)

and Chief Magistrate of the said James Thomson

Burgh this Twelfth day of February John Glas

in the year 1798.

Captain Thomas Gilfillan of the late Second Seventy First Regiment maketh oath and saith that he knew James Livingstone aforesaid, first, about the year One Thousand Seven Hundred and Forth Six (1746), a Sergeant-Major in the forty-eighth Regiment of foot then Cantoned at Sterling. That this deponent saw him also in the year One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty Eight when he the said James Livingstone was Fort Major of Fort Cumberlund situated in the Province of Virginia or Maryland. That the said James Livingstone was held and reputed to be the lawful son of Robert Livingstone, Soldier in Sterling Castle whom the deponent also knew and he knew Alexander Livinstone, his Brother, who he thinks went abroad in the Army many years ago. And further, this deponent saith not.

Sworn at the Burgh of Sterling

before me, John Glas, Provost (signed)

and Chief Magistrate of the -T.Gilfillan

said Brugh, this Twelfth day of (Capt. of the Late 2.71 Reg.)

February, in the year 1798

John Risk of Touchgerm (Touchgorm) in the parish of Saint Ninians and County of Sterling aforesaid farmer maketh oath and saith that he knew Major James Livingstone who resided a number of years in the town of Sterling, and died there about twenty two years ago and that he also knew and was well acquainted with Janet Livingstone, Spouse of John Richardson, residing at Charters Hall in the said Parish of Saint Ninians. That the said Janet Livingstone was always held and reputed to be the lawful sister of the said Major James Livingstone and she the said Janet died a number of years ago. That this deponent knew and was well acquainted with all her children from their infancy, they being in this deponent's neighborhood till they grew up. That he knows John Richardson now in New York in North America, formerly a malt-maker at Sterling and Dunbarton, to be her oldest son. That James Richardson also now in New York is her Second Son in Life and that Robert and Thomas Richardson both in the said Parish of Saint Ninians and Shire of Sterling are her younger sons and she has three daughters, one of whom named Helene, went abroad to New York about two years ago to her brothers John and James and that to the best of this deponent's knowledge and belief, the said John Richardson in New York is the true and lawful heir of the said deceased Major James Livingstone, and further, this deponent saith not.

i. (Sworn as above) (signed)

John Risk

John Glas

Janet Richardson of Sterling aforesaid Widow, maketh oath and saith that she, this deponent, knew and was well acquainted with James Livingstone, son of Robert Livingstone, Soldier in the Sterling Castle. That she knew him before he went into the British Army. That she saw him afterwards in Sterling, a Sergeant-Major in the Duke of Cumberland's army during the Rebellion in Scotland about the year One Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty-Six (1746). That is consists with her knowledge that he, the said James Livingstone, went from Sterling to Ireland and from Ireland to New York with the Army and that he wrote a letter from New York to some of his friends in Sterling. That he returned to Sterling about thirty years ago and was commonly known by the name of Major Livingstone and died about twenty or twenty two years ago. That she also knew and was well acquainted with Janet Livingstone, spouse of John Richardson at Charters' Hall aforesaid the deponents brother. The said Janet Livinston was always held and reputed by her acquaintances, and owned and acknowledged by the said Major Livingston, to be his lawful sister. That the said Janet died about eleven years ago. That three of children namely: John Richardson, the eldest, James Richardson, the second and Helen Richardson went abroad to New York at different times. That her sons, Robert and Thomas and her daughters Marion and Agnes are still in Scotland. That the said Major James Livinstone had a brother named Alexander and another named John who went abroad with the Army many years ago and the deponent never heard more of them. That to the best of this deponet's knowledge and believe, the said John Richardson in New York is the true and lawful heir of the deceased Major James Livingstone and further this deponent said she cannot write.

(Sworn as above) (signed)

John Glas

Helen Richardson, residing in Sterling, Spouse of Arthur Bell, Weaver in Sterling, maketh oath and saith conform to the immediate preceding deponent Janet Richardson, her sister, in Omnibus, excepting that she did not know Major James Livingstone aforesaid until he came to Sterling, a Sergeant-Major with the Duke of Cumberland about the year One Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty-Six. And further this deponent saith that she cannot write.

(Sworn as above) (signed)

John Glas

TO ALL WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME:

I, John Glas, Provost and Chief Magistrate of the Burgh of Sterling in Scotland, do hereby certify that on the day of the date hereof personally come and appeared before me, James Thomson, Captain Gilfillan, John Risk, Janet Richardson and Helen Richardson, the deponents named in the affidavits hereunto annexed being persons well known and worthy of good credit and by solemn oath, which they then respectively took before me, upon the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God, did Solemnly and sincerely declare, testify and depose to be true, and several matters and things mentioned and contained in the said annexed affidavits.

In Faith and Testimony whereof, the said Provost and Magistrate have caused the seal of the said Burgh to be hereunto put and affixed. Dated the twelfth day of February in year of our Lor, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety-Eight (1798)

Signed - John Glas

Children of JANET LIVINGSTON and SIR JOHN RICHARDSON are:

i. JOHN3 RICHARDSON3, b. 1754, Scotland3.

Notes for JOHN RICHARDSON:

John was living in New York in 1798, and had formerly worked as a malt-maker in Sterling and Dunbarton, Scotland.

ii. JAMES RICHARDSON3, b. 1755, Scotland3.

Notes for JAMES RICHARDSON:

Lived in New York in 1798.

iii. HELEN RICHARDSON4,5, b. 1756, Scotland5; m. ARTHUR BELL5, August 20, 1767, Stirling, Stirling Scotland5.

Notes for HELEN RICHARDSON:

Left Scotland in 1796 to join her brothers John and James in New York. As of 1798 still living there.

iv. MARIAN RICHARDSON5, b. 1757, Scotland5.

v. AGNES RICHARDSON5, b. 1758, Scotland5.

vi. ROBERT RICHARDSON5, b. 1759, Scotland5.

Notes for ROBERT RICHARDSON:

Lived in Scotland in 1798.

3. vii. THOMAS RICHARDSON, b. 1760, Saint Ninian, Scotland..

Generation No. 3

3. THOMAS3 RICHARDSON (JANET2 LIVINGSTON, ROBERT1)5 was born 1760 in Saint Ninian, Scotland.5. He married MISS GOLDSMITH5 1798 in Scotland5.

Notes for THOMAS RICHARDSON:

Living in Scotland in 1798.

Children of THOMAS RICHARDSON and MISS GOLDSMITH are:

i. JAMES4 RICHARDSON5, b. 18025.

ii. WILLIAM RICHARDSON5, b. 18035.

iii. THOMAS GOLDSMITH RICHARDSON5, b. July 08, 1804, New York, NY or Isle of Mann (unsure)5; d. June 07, 18835; m. MARGARET PRICE5, December 12, 18285; b. 1812, New Jersey5.

 

Endnotes

 

 John Richardson Birth and Marriage record, Latter Day Saints Film Number 451071, Ref. 79377.

Marriage of Helen Richardson, Arthur Bell, Latter Day Saints Source #1041977,0102132 - 0102137 Film 6902136 Batch M114906..

Richardson Descendants compiled by Bill and Marilyn Knowles 1992.