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Robert Douglas Gibson Henderson
LabourerBiography
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : Robert Douglas Gibson Henderson
Gender: Male
Date and place of birth: 1890, Dumfriesshire
Date and Place of Death: 22nd February, 1919, infirmary Gretna? Buried in Dornock cemetery
Gender: Male
Date and place of birth: 1890, Dumfriesshire
Date and Place of Death: 22nd February, 1919, infirmary Gretna? Buried in Dornock cemetery
Nationality: Scottish
Disability : Yes – “moral imbecile” as stated on army discharge record
Childhood: Only child possibly
Parents: Adam and Janet Carlyle nee Gibson
Parents occupations: Farm servant
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: Dumfries and Maxweltown Industrial School 1901-1905. See: http://www.childrenshomes.org.uk/DumfriesIS/
Occupation: Labourer
Place of residence at Gretna: Back Road, Lotherstown with mother
Marital status: Unmarried
Children: None known
Travels: N/K
Awards/recognitions: N/K
Positions held: N/K
Trivia / any other information: Yes
BibliographyBooks published (Title, year of publication, publisher):
Books written about the individual or mentioning the individual (Title, year of publication, publisher):References
Disability : Yes – “moral imbecile” as stated on army discharge record
Childhood: Only child possibly
Parents: Adam and Janet Carlyle nee Gibson
Parents occupations: Farm servant
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: Dumfries and Maxweltown Industrial School 1901-1905. See: http://www.childrenshomes.org.uk/DumfriesIS/
Occupation: Labourer
Place of residence at Gretna: Back Road, Lotherstown with mother
Marital status: Unmarried
Children: None known
Travels: N/K
Awards/recognitions: N/K
Positions held: N/K
Trivia / any other information: Yes
BibliographyBooks published (Title, year of publication, publisher):
Books written about the individual or mentioning the individual (Title, year of publication, publisher):References
Blogs about the individual:
Websites about the individual:
Further links, notes, and comments:
Mini Biography
Robert Douglas Gibson Henderson 1890-1919
Robert Douglas Gibson Henderson was born in Dumfriesshire in 1890 to Adam Henderson farm servant and Janet Carlyle nee Gibson.
1901- school records show he was admitted to Dumfries and Maxwelltown Industrial School, a former “ragged and reformatory school” according to http://www.childrenshomes.org.uk/DumfriesIS/
This date is contrary to the date in the newspaper report below.
Joined the army, 3rd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers but was discharged with the disability of Moral Imbecile, defined as are defined as “Persons who from an early age display some permanent mental defect coupled with strong vicious or criminal propensities on which punishment has had little or no deterrent effect.” His intended address was Back Road, Lotherstown, Gretna
Dumfries and Galloway Standard -Saturday 05 August 1916 – tells the rest of Robert’s story.
“ROBBERY AT Dornock Robert Douglas Gibson Henderson , labourer, Back Lotherstown, Dornock was accused with having on 26th May stolen a containing a purse with about 20s in money from Margaret Barton, housekeeper, A 1, Eastriggs, in Cemetery, and in a field adjoining the cemetery assaulted James Cecil Wallace Auld, foreman engineer, G 10, Eastriggs, Dornock, and Robert Wotherspoon, engineer, Jutland House, Eastriggs, and threatened stab them with knife. pleaded guilty, and was defended by an agent. Margaret Barton, housekeeper, A 1, Eastriggs, Dornock, stated that about 8 o’clock on the night in question she went to Dornock cemetery to visit her mother’s grave, and she was carrying a satchel containing a purs© with about 21s in silver in it. entering the cemetery she saw a man lying on the grass, and she was engaged in putting flowers on the grave w the man came to it. She paid no attention to him at first, and went get some water to put cn the flowers. When she had got the water she wanted she turned to leave the water butt, and found that the man was advancing towards her. She took a step towards him, and struck at him the face with a tin cross she had. It was evident that the man’s intention was indecent assault. She went out of the cemetery and spoke to two men, and told them what had happened, and on returning she found the tin cross lying on the path, but her bag was gone. James Auld, foreman engineer, 10, Eastriggs, Dornock, stated that about a quarter-past nine on 26th May he was along with Robert Wotherspoon walking on the road near Dornock Cemetery. He saw Miss Margaret Barton, who was in a hysterical state, and appeared to in great distress about something. He saw the man from where he was standing, and his friend ran after him and saw him drop a purse. identified accused the man. Accused picked up some stones, and drew a knife from his pocket, and threatened to for witness if advanced a step further. said he would do him in, and would knock his skull in, and other things. In the meantime he was holding up the knife. Afterwards, in the loaning leading to the farm, accused again threatened him. Robert Wotherspoon, engineer, Jutland House. Eastriggs, corroborated, and stated that accused said the purse belonged him, and that it was his own money it contained. Martha Swallow, daughter of John Swallow, farmer, Priestholm, Dornock, stated that she was engaged in the kitchen of the farm on the night question, and she saw the accused going past “pretty quickly, and saw two men who appeared to be following him. They asked her if she knew him, and she said she knew him by sight. Constable Milligan, Eastriggs, stated that he charged accused with the offence the following day, and said, “She struck me first.” Accused told him where he had put the purse and the money taken from the woman. This concluded the evidence, and the Sheriff found the charge proven. Accused’s agent stated that for long period had been living at Lowthertown with his mother, whose sole support he was. She was 65 years of age and widow. The Sheriff said this was a very serious offence both in regard to the form the theft and to the second charge against accused of arming himself with a knife and threatening to use it. It was bad offence, and was aggravated the number previous convictions against the accused. Everything seemed to have been tried sine he left the Industrial School in 1900, and this occasion would have to go prison for three months with hard labour.”
Died 22nd February 1919 of pneumonia at the Infirmary and is buried in Dornock cemetery. He was 28.