Robert Glasgow

BiographyEarly life and family
Robert Glasgow was born at Ballymena, County Antrim, Ireland. He was the son of John Glasgow and Jane McClure.

His brother James McClure Glasgow referred in his missionary journal to receiving an encouraging letter from “my brother Robert in Victoria”. James McClure Glasgow missionary journal (https://revjamesmcclureglasgow.blogspot.com/), first-person journal identifying Robert in Victoria as James’s brother (accessed 17 July 2026). 

A near-contemporary report in the Warrnambool Standard likewise described Robert as a native of Ballymena, County Antrim, and a brother of the Rev. James Glasgow, D.D., of Belfast. Warrnambool HeritageWorks, issue 111, February 2001 (https://warrnamboolheritageworks.org.au/uploads/images/HeritageWorks/newsletters/Issue111Feb2001.pdf), transcription of a February 1875 Warrnambool Standard report describing Robert Glasgow as a native of Ballymena, County Antrim, and brother of the Rev. James Glasgow, D.D., of Belfast (accessed 17 July 2026). 

These sources place Robert within the same Ballymena sibling group as James and Adam Dickie Glasgow.
Emigration to Victoria
Robert emigrated from County Antrim to Victoria, Australia, with his wife and family during the 1850s.

Passenger-arrival records for Port Phillip and later Victorian civil records should be used to establish the precise date of arrival and the names of the family members who travelled with him.
Farming at Wangoom and Purnim
Robert became a farmer in the Warrnambool district of Victoria.

The available records associate him with Wangoom and Purnim. An official probate notice described him as Robert Glasgow of Purnim, farmer. Victoria Government Gazette, 1875, no. 53 (https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1875/V/general/53.pdf), notice concerning the estate of Robert Glasgow of Purnim, farmer, who died on 3 February 1875 intestate; his widow Ann applied for administration (accessed 17 July 2026). 

He is also included among the district’s early settlers in the Warrnambool Pioneers Board. Warrnambool HeritageWorks, Warrnambool Pioneers Board (https://warrnamboolheritageworks.org.au/uploads/Pioneers%20Board/Warrnambool%20Pioneers%20Board.pdf) (accessed 17 July 2026). 
Marriage and children
Robert’s wife was Ann.

The Victorian probate notice identifies Ann as his widow and records that she applied for administration of his intestate estate. 

The couple had children, including a son John Glasgow, whose Victorian death certificate has been cited in the family research. Victoria death certificate, John Glasgow, registration 21709/1940. 

Further civil registrations are needed to identify all of Robert and Ann’s children and to confirm their dates and places of birth.
Death
Robert died on 3 February 1875 in Victoria.

The Victoria Government Gazette records that he died intestate and identifies him as a farmer of Purnim. 

A newspaper report stated that a farmer named Robert Glasgow of Wangoom accidentally fell from a dray and was killed. The Argus, 5 February 1875 (https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11511692), report that Robert Glasgow, a farmer of Wangoom, accidentally fell from a dray and was killed (accessed 17 July 2026). 

The official Gazette notice gives the exact death date as 3 February 1875. That date should be preferred over any unsourced profile date of 4 February.
Probate
Robert died intestate.

His widow, Ann Glasgow, applied for letters of administration over his estate. 

The probate notice confirms:

* his residence at Purnim;
* his occupation as farmer;
* his death on 3 February 1875;
* that he left no will;
* that Ann Glasgow was his widow.
Research NotesIdentity
Robert Glasgow of Victoria belonged to the nineteenth-century Ballymena family.

The identification rests on two independent sources:

* his brother James’s first-person journal, which refers to “my brother Robert in Victoria”; 
* the near-contemporary Warrnambool Standard report, which calls Robert a native of Ballymena and brother of the Rev. James Glasgow, D.D., of Belfast. 

This evidence directly connects Robert to James McClure Glasgow and supports his placement as a son of John Glasgow and Jane McClure.
Distinction from other men of the same name
Robert should not be conflated with Robert Glasgow, who was already aged 72 in the 1851 census.

The Victorian Robert belonged to the Ballymena sibling group. His identity provides no evidence that the older Glenleslie Robert was a son of Adam Glasgow of Inishrush.

These are separate men from different generations and family groups.
Death date
The Argus report appeared on 5 February 1875 and described the accident as having occurred “last night”, which may have led to a date of 4 February being inferred.

The official Victoria Government Gazette notice states that Robert died on 3 February 1875. Unless a stronger original civil registration gives a different date, 3 February 1875 should be used.
Further research
Useful additional records may include:

* Robert and Ann’s marriage record;
* Port Phillip passenger-arrival records;
* Victorian birth registrations for their children;
* Robert’s civil death registration;
* the full probate and administration file;
* land and rate records for Wangoom and Purnim;
* a complete transcription or image of the February 1875 Warrnambool Standard report;
* cemetery and burial records.
Sources
* Arrivals in Port Phillip.
* Victorian Pioneer Index.
* Victoria death certificate of John Glasgow, registration 21709/1940.
* The Argus, 5 February 1875 (https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11511692), report of Robert Glasgow’s fatal accident.
* Warrnambool Pioneers Board (https://warrnamboolheritageworks.org.au/uploads/Pioneers%20Board/Warrnambool%20Pioneers%20Board.pdf).

== Biography ==

=== Early life and family ===

Robert Glasgow was born at Ballymena, County Antrim, Ireland. He was the son of [[Glasgow-1657|John Glasgow]] and [[McClure-6341|Jane McClure]].

His brother [[Glasgow-1780|James McClure Glasgow]] referred in his missionary journal to receiving an encouraging letter from “my brother Robert in Victoria”.<ref name="JamesJournal">[https://revjamesmcclureglasgow.blogspot.com/ James McClure Glasgow missionary journal], first-person journal identifying Robert in Victoria as James’s brother (accessed 17 July 2026).</ref>

A near-contemporary report in the ''Warrnambool Standard'' likewise described Robert as a native of Ballymena, County Antrim, and a brother of the Rev. James Glasgow, D.D., of Belfast.<ref name="WarrnamboolStandard">[https://warrnamboolheritageworks.org.au/uploads/images/HeritageWorks/newsletters/Issue111Feb2001.pdf Warrnambool HeritageWorks, issue 111, February 2001], transcription of a February 1875 ''Warrnambool Standard'' report describing Robert Glasgow as a native of Ballymena, County Antrim, and brother of the Rev. James Glasgow, D.D., of Belfast (accessed 17 July 2026).</ref>

These sources place Robert within the same Ballymena sibling group as James and [[Glasgow-1781|Adam Dickie Glasgow]].

=== Emigration to Victoria ===

Robert emigrated from County Antrim to Victoria, Australia, with his wife and family during the 1850s.

Passenger-arrival records for Port Phillip and later Victorian civil records should be used to establish the precise date of arrival and the names of the family members who travelled with him.

=== Farming at Wangoom and Purnim ===

Robert became a farmer in the Warrnambool district of Victoria.

The available records associate him with Wangoom and Purnim. An official probate notice described him as Robert Glasgow of Purnim, farmer.<ref name="VictoriaGazette">[https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1875/V/general/53.pdf ''Victoria Government Gazette'', 1875, no. 53], notice concerning the estate of Robert Glasgow of Purnim, farmer, who died on 3 February 1875 intestate; his widow Ann applied for administration (accessed 17 July 2026).</ref>

He is also included among the district’s early settlers in the Warrnambool Pioneers Board.<ref name="PioneersBoard">[https://warrnamboolheritageworks.org.au/uploads/Pioneers%20Board/Warrnambool%20Pioneers%20Board.pdf Warrnambool HeritageWorks, ''Warrnambool Pioneers Board''] (accessed 17 July 2026).</ref>

=== Marriage and children ===

Robert’s wife was Ann.

The Victorian probate notice identifies Ann as his widow and records that she applied for administration of his intestate estate.<ref name="VictoriaGazette" />

The couple had children, including a son John Glasgow, whose Victorian death certificate has been cited in the family research.<ref name="JohnDeath">Victoria death certificate, John Glasgow, registration 21709/1940.</ref>

Further civil registrations are needed to identify all of Robert and Ann’s children and to confirm their dates and places of birth.

=== Death ===

Robert died on '''3 February 1875''' in Victoria.

The ''Victoria Government Gazette'' records that he died intestate and identifies him as a farmer of Purnim.<ref name="VictoriaGazette" />

A newspaper report stated that a farmer named Robert Glasgow of Wangoom accidentally fell from a dray and was killed.<ref name="ArgusAccident">[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11511692 ''The Argus'', 5 February 1875], report that Robert Glasgow, a farmer of Wangoom, accidentally fell from a dray and was killed (accessed 17 July 2026).</ref>

The official Gazette notice gives the exact death date as 3 February 1875. That date should be preferred over any unsourced profile date of 4 February.

=== Probate ===

Robert died intestate.

His widow, Ann Glasgow, applied for letters of administration over his estate.<ref name="VictoriaGazette" />

The probate notice confirms:

* his residence at Purnim;
* his occupation as farmer;
* his death on 3 February 1875;
* that he left no will;
* that Ann Glasgow was his widow.

== Research Notes ==

=== Identity ===

Robert Glasgow of Victoria belonged to the nineteenth-century Ballymena family.

The identification rests on two independent sources:

* his brother James’s first-person journal, which refers to “my brother Robert in Victoria”;<ref name="JamesJournal" />
* the near-contemporary ''Warrnambool Standard'' report, which calls Robert a native of Ballymena and brother of the Rev. James Glasgow, D.D., of Belfast.<ref name="WarrnamboolStandard" />

This evidence directly connects Robert to [[Glasgow-1780|James McClure Glasgow]] and supports his placement as a son of [[Glasgow-1657|John Glasgow]] and [[McClure-6341|Jane McClure]].

=== Distinction from other men of the same name ===

Robert should not be conflated with [[Glasgow-1367|Robert Glasgow]], who was already aged 72 in the 1851 census.

The Victorian Robert belonged to the Ballymena sibling group. His identity provides no evidence that the older Glenleslie Robert was a son of Adam Glasgow of Inishrush.

These are separate men from different generations and family groups.

=== Death date ===

The ''Argus'' report appeared on 5 February 1875 and described the accident as having occurred “last night”, which may have led to a date of 4 February being inferred.

The official ''Victoria Government Gazette'' notice states that Robert died on 3 February 1875. Unless a stronger original civil registration gives a different date, 3 February 1875 should be used.

=== Further research ===

Useful additional records may include:

* Robert and Ann’s marriage record;
* Port Phillip passenger-arrival records;
* Victorian birth registrations for their children;
* Robert’s civil death registration;
* the full probate and administration file;
* land and rate records for Wangoom and Purnim;
* a complete transcription or image of the February 1875 ''Warrnambool Standard'' report;
* cemetery and burial records.

== Sources ==

<references />

* Arrivals in Port Phillip.
* Victorian Pioneer Index.
* Victoria death certificate of John Glasgow, registration 21709/1940.
* [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11511692 ''The Argus'', 5 February 1875], report of Robert Glasgow’s fatal accident.
* [https://warrnamboolheritageworks.org.au/uploads/Pioneers%20Board/Warrnambool%20Pioneers%20Board.pdf Warrnambool Pioneers Board].