Robert Porter
Gender: Male
Birth: Jan 29 1833
Christening: Apr 21 1833 - Muirkirk, Ayr, Scotland
Residence: 1833 - Muirkirk, Ayrshire, Scotland
Father: Andrew Porter
Mother: Mary Dempster
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C11607-4
System Origin: Scotland-VR
GS Film number: 1041400
Reference ID: 2:16GSKT9


Robert Porter is Mary's child to Andrew Porter - they were probably not married but he gave his name


1841 Census

Name: Robert Porter
Age: 8
Estimated birth year: abt 1833
Gender: Male
Where born: Ayrshire, Scotland
Civil Parish: Muirkirk
County: Ayrshire
Address: Main St
Parish Number: 607
Household Members:
Name Age
James Dempster 53
Catherine Dempster 53
Catherine Dempster 12
Grace Dempster 20
John Dempster 14
Marion Dempster 10
Robert Porter 8
Geoge McNeil 50
Mathew Kee 30
Elizabeth Kee 25
James Kee 5
Peter Kee 7 Mo


1851 Census

Name: Robert Porter
Age: 18
Estimated birth year: abt 1833
Relationship: Stepson
Mother: Mary Johnston
Gender: Male
Where born: Muirkirk, airsh
Parish Number: 607
Civil Parish: Muirkirk
Phillimore Ecclesiastical Parish Maps:
View related Ecclesiastical Parish
County: Ayrshire
Address: Airdsgreen
Occupation: Teacher
ED: 3
Page: 13
Household schedule number: 52
LINE: 19
Roll: CSSCT1851_136
Household Members:
Name Age
Alexander Johnston 40
Mary Johnston 40
Robert Porter 18
William Johnston 10
Agness Johnston 8
Catherine Johnston 6
James Johnston 4
Helen Johnston 2
William Black 22
Marion Dempster 19
Marion Johnston 24

Robert emigrated to Canada sometime in the 1850's. On arrival in Canada it is understood that he took the post of a schoolmaster. His half-brother William Johnstone also emigrated to Canada and, according to William's book "History of Perth County 1825-1902", this was in 1869.

Sometime after emigrating, Robert met, and in 1860 married, Rachel Storey (born 1844) from Ontario. In the 1881 Canadian Census the couple are shown living at Usborne, Huron South, Ontario and having a number of children.



Robert PORTER M Male Scottish 48 Scotland Farmer C. Presbyterian

Rachel PORTER M Female Scottish 37 Ontario C. Presbyterian

Mary E PORTER Female Scottish 20 Ontario Farmer C. Presbyterian

William PORTER Male Scottish 18 Ontario C. Presbyterian

Andrew PORTER Male Scottish 16 Ontario Printer C. Presbyterian

Walter PORTER Male Scottish 13 Ontario Student C. Presbyterian

Jane PORTER Female Scottish 11 Ontario Student C. Presbyterian

John PORTER Male Scottish 9 Ontario Student C. Presbyterian

Elizabeth PORTER Female Scottish 5 Ontario C. Presbyterian

Agnes PORTER Female Scottish 2 Ontario C. Presbyterian

NOTE:- Charles PORTER, born at a later date, completed the family.


Robert was elected to Parliament in Canada in 1888. At that time Robert was a farmer who was elected to the Canadian Parliament under the leadership of Canada's first Prime Minister, Glasgow-born Sir John A. MacDonald.

Robert subsequently became the postmaster in the town of Clinton, Ontario.

Robert died in 1901 in Clinton, Ontario.