Robert Smith

[Asa]

I'm not sure if this is a hopeless case at the moment and I know it's harder to help with Scottish records but....

I have an ancestor Robert Smith about whom I know a fair amount and yet very little! I haven't found him on any census but I've found 6 records of him in Dundee newspapers. I think a timeline is the best way of showing what I do know

4 Jan 1847 Cupar, Fife - Umbrella maker, married Mary Hollinger (born c1828/32 Dundee), both of the parish.

Jun 1847 Bell-hanger of Abroath, Forfar (Angus). He and Mary (a mill worker of Ramsays Pend, Dundee) found guilty of assault & disorderly conduct.

May 1849 Bell-hanger of Overgate, Dundee. 40 days imprisonment for being drunk and disorderly.

1851 census. Mary Hollinger, wife of a travelling tinker, in Forfar prison. Above her are Robert Young, married, 24 and John Smith, unm 22 both umbrella menders and born Dundee.

abt 1853 Daughter Mary born Dundee

3 Dec 1856 Daughter Margaret born Dundee. Father a bell hanger

1858 Dundee 3 months with hard labour for striking his wife with fists & kicking her. 11 previous convictions for assault

14 Mar 1861 Daughter Robina Jane born Dundee. Father a Master Bell hanger

1861 Census Mary, married, Cherry Fields, Liff & Benvie, Dundee with three daughters

13 Dec 1864 Daughter Betsy born

1866 Umbrella maker of Dudhope Crescent, Dundee. Convicted for 21 days for breach of the peace.

1868 & 1869 Robert, a hawker of Balgay Street, Lochee, Dundee. 2 more convictions for assaulting his wife & attacking a policeman.

1871 Census. Mary is a married jute spinner in Todburn Lane, Dundee with daughter Robina.

Nov 1879 Mary dies at Blairgowrie, Perth, wife of Robert Smith, bell hanger.

1884 Daughter Robina marries. Father a bell hanger

1904 Daughter Margaret dies, father a deceased general dealer.

Clearly a charmer. Mary has several convictions as well, usually for being drunk and disorderly. I've looked at several death certificates for Robert Smith and not yet found him.

I feel I should be able to find him on census on Ancestry, using occupation but haven't.

Any ideas?