Biographical notes

The birth of Robert Pettigrew birth was recorded in the St Quivox Parish Register on 1 Sept 1830. In the 1841 Census he is listed, aged 10, living with his parents, with the occupation of Shoemaker. From his wife's death certificate which sites his occupation as a soldier, it looks as if he joined the army for a time but no independent verification of this has yet been found. In 1870, he married Jane Martin and the couple lived in Kilmarnock. On the marriage certificate his occupation is given as Shoemaker. Neither of their two children survived. On their certificates Robert's occupation is variously given as Labourer and Pit Head Labourer. In 1889, they have moved to Wallacetown where Robert was tragically killed, crushed between the buffers of two railway wagons whilst gathering coal.