PETER FORBES

TOMBSTONE: Peter Forbes - Died Oct. 16, I875 - age 65 yrs

From the Argus of Oct. 26, 1875 we read: Died at Union Rd, Lot 33, Oct. 19, Mr. Peter Forbes, of inflamation of the lungs, age 65. (Note that the stone says Oct. 16.)

The Census of 1861 shows a Peter Forbes living in Lot 33, occupation — farmer. His proprietor is listed as John H. Winslow. Their religion is listed as Presbyterian (7). Number in family: married - two, single - five. At this time we find two female and one male 5—16, two males between 16-21, and one female and one male 45-60 yrs for a total of seven. One hundred acres leased.

PETER FORBES was born about 1810. He is believed to be the son of Catherine McFarlane whose first husband was a Forbes. Catherine’s second marriage is recorded in St Paul’s Anglican Church records as 13 Oct. 1812. She was married to James Fergusson by Rev. T. Desbrisay. Both are listed of Lot 34. James Fergusson was the son of John Fergusson and Janet (Jessie) Robertson of Craggan Farm, Marshfield. Catherine and James Fergusson settled at what was to be called “Five Mile House”. There they established an inn and became known as “New Inn Fergusson”. A portion of the old Pioneer Cemetery came from this Fergusson property. The Forbes children (Peter, Willie, and ? John) are said to have grown up in the home of their step father. From Catherine’s second marriage to James Fergusson we find twins Charlotte and Elizabeth born 20 July 1813, Jessie, Ann, John, Mungo, and James Richard Scott. (See Fergusson history.)

Catherine McFarlane Forbes Fergusson was born about 1780/81 and died 7 Oct. 1874 aged 94. (Stone says 1875.) She is buried in the old Pioneer Cemetery. James Fergusson was born about 1791, Blair Athol, Scotland and died 15 July 1866, aged 75.

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Peter Forbes was married by license 5 Aug. 1837 to Margaret Robertson by L. C. Jenkins, rector of Charlotte Parish. Witnesses were James Robertson and Alexander Robertson. Margaret was the daughter of James and Jean (Miller) Robertson. They had two daughters and three sons according to the 1861 Census. Names unknown except for one son, William Forbes. It is said that sometime between 1871 and 1875 Peter Forbes and his wife had a disagreement and she and, perhaps, all the children moved to the Los Angeles area of California. William Forbes appears to have come back to the Island for a period of time and married about 1887 to a MacCallum. William (and his wife) then returned to California where he died a few years later without issue. No names or whereabouts are known for the other four children or their descendants.

Margaret’s (Robertson) family was originally from Blair Athol, Perthshire, Scotland. Her father, James, and her brother, Alexander Robertson, came over in 1818 on the ST. ANN that was sailing for Pictou, Nova Scotia. Margaret and the rest of her family came over in 1819. Her sister Jane Ann was born on Prince Edward Island.

Margaret’s siblings: James Robertson Alexander Robertson Peter Robertson Jessie Robertson Jane Ann Robertson

m. Elizabeth Fergusson m. Margaret Fergusson m. Christy Robertson m. Conrad Vickerson m. Robert Westacot

Submitted by Lorna Thompson

SOURCE

PEI Public Archives

Gibson Family History

Fergusson and Robertson History Notes