July 22, 2026 - ai summary - Based on the available evidence, Robert Cruikshank Sr.'s exact birth has not been proven. What is documented is his marriage and children, while his birth remains an informed hypothesis. Confirmed facts Robert Cruikshank Sr. Married Jane (Janet) Paterson at Huntly, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on 8 December 1784 (not 18 December). Their known children include: Robert Cruikshank Jr., born 22 June 1786, Rhynie Elizabeth, born 19 February 1789 Jean, born 15 June 1791 George Patterson Cruikshank, born 3 June 1793, later of Alabama Probable birth The strongest candidate identified by Scottish researchers is: Robert Cruickshank Baptized 28 May 1762 Forgue Parish, Aberdeenshire, Scotland Son of Alexander Cruickshank. This candidate is considered plausible because: He would have been about 22 years old when he married in 1784. Forgue is adjacent to Huntly, where the marriage occurred. Robert and Janet's children were baptized in nearby Rhynie. Their son was named George Patterson Cruikshank, consistent with the Scottish naming tradition of honoring the maternal grandfather (suggesting Jane/Janet was likely the daughter of George Paterson). Current conclusion The best-supported reconstruction is: Robert Cruickshank Sr. Probably baptized: 28 May 1762, Forgue, Aberdeenshire, Scotland Probable father: Alexander Cruickshank Married: Janet (Jane) Paterson on 8 December 1784, Huntly, Aberdeenshire Birth is not yet conclusively proven by surviving parish or other contemporary records. If you're documenting this family, I would record him as: Robert Cruickshank Sr. (probably baptized 28 May 1762, Forgue, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; exact birth date unknown), married Janet Paterson on 8 December 1784 at Huntly, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. I can also reconstruct Robert Cruickshank Sr.'s parents, siblings, and the Forgue Cruickshank family from original Old Parish Registers and tax records to determine whether the 1762 Robert can be conclusively linked to the man who married Janet Paterson. reconstruct Robert Cruickshank Sr.'s parents, siblings, Worked for 29s Reconstruction of Robert Cruickshank Sr.’s family The evidence supports-but does not yet conclusively prove-that the Robert Cruickshank who married Jane/Janet Paterson in 1784 was the Robert baptized at Forgue in 1762. Probable parents Father: Alexander Cruickshank Mother: Margaret Shaw Alexander Cruickshank and Margaret Shaw appear in several independent family reconstructions as a couple living in or near Forgue Parish, Aberdeenshire during the 1760s. Their documented sons include James and George; the 1762 Robert fits chronologically and geographically between them. Alexander’s exact birth, occupation, residence and marriage date have not been established from an accessible image of the original register. Margaret Shaw’s parentage also remains unproven. Probable children of Alexander Cruickshank and Margaret Shaw 1. James Cruickshank Born or baptized: about 1760 Parish: probably Forgue, Aberdeenshire Wife: reportedly Helen Stewart or Stuart Died: 10 March 1850 Buried: Forgue Parish Churchyard A surviving genealogical tradition identifies James Cruickshank, born about 1760, as a son of Alexander Cruickshank and Margaret Shaw. His grave memorial gives his death as 10 March 1850 and his age as approximately 89 or 90. James was probably the eldest surviving son. 2. Robert Cruickshank Sr. Baptized: probably 28 May 1762 Parish: Forgue, Aberdeenshire Father named in the baptismal index: Alexander Cruickshank Probable mother: Margaret Shaw Married: 8 December 1784 Place: Huntly, Aberdeenshire Wife: Jane or Janet Paterson Robert would have been approximately 22 years old when he married Janet Paterson, which is entirely plausible. The identification depends primarily on: the correct age; proximity of Forgue to Huntly and Rhynie; the presence of Alexander and Margaret’s family in Forgue; Robert’s position chronologically between James, born about 1760, and George, baptized in 1764. The 1784 marriage date is consistently reported as 8 December 1784, rather than 18 December. 3. George Cruickshank Born before or baptized: 10 February 1764 Parish: Forgue, Aberdeenshire Parents: Alexander Cruickshank and Margaret Shaw Occupation: farmer Married: 18 November 1815 Wife: Christian Alexander Died: 1841 George is the most securely documented child attributed to the couple. His indexed record explicitly identifies him as a son of Alexander Cruckshank and Margaret Shaw. He remained in Forgue and had at least three sons and two daughters. Probable family group Person Approximate date Relationship Evidence level Alexander Cruickshank probably born before 1740 Father Probable Margaret Shaw probably born before 1740 Mother Probable James Cruickshank about 1760-10 March 1850 Son Strongly probable Robert Cruickshank baptized 28 May 1762 Son Probable, not conclusive George Cruickshank baptized 10 February 1764-1841 Son Well supported Possible paternal ancestry An old privately preserved Cruickshank pedigree gives the following descent: James Cruickshank, reportedly 1683-1757 His son Alexander Cruickshank, husband of Margaret Shaw Their son James Cruickshank, reportedly 1760-1850 This pedigree could place Robert’s probable father Alexander as a son of James Cruickshank, 1683-1757. However, it is a submitted family tree rather than a transcription of a contemporary parish, probate or land record, so it should be treated as a clue-not proof. Assessment of the identification I would presently classify the reconstruction as follows: Robert Cruickshank Sr., probably baptized 28 May 1762 at Forgue, Aberdeenshire, was probably a son of Alexander Cruickshank and Margaret Shaw. His presently identified probable brothers were James Cruickshank, born about 1760, and George Cruickshank, baptized 10 February 1764. No additional children of Alexander Cruickshank and Margaret Shaw can presently be added with confidence. There may have been daughters or children whose baptisms were unrecorded, lost or entered under spelling variants such as Cruikshank, Cruickshank, Cruckshank, Crookshank or Crukshank. Scotland’s People confirms that Church of Scotland registers are the appropriate primary sources for births or baptisms and marriages, while Forgue’s surviving kirk-session records include volumes covering 1734-1772 and 1781-1807. These could potentially identify Alexander’s residence, occupation, poor-fund payments, disciplinary cases or other family relationships. Recommended genealogical entry Robert Cruickshank Sr. Probably baptized 28 May 1762, Forgue Parish, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; probable son of Alexander Cruickshank and Margaret Shaw; married Janet “Jane” Paterson, 8 December 1784, Huntly, Aberdeenshire. Probable brothers: James Cruickshank, born about 1760, and George Cruickshank, baptized 10 February 1764. Parentage remains subject to verification from the original Forgue parish-register image.