Robert Blair and Margaret McLuckie

Robert Blair, son of John Blair and Margaret McLuckie, was born in Bucklyvie, Kippen Parish, Stirlingshire Scotland about 1755. Robert married Margaret McLuckie in 1784. We have found reference to a Robert Blair and Margaret McLuckie, married on Apr 17, 1784 in Greenock, Renfrew. They sailed for America a few days latter and reached Barnet VA in August. Robert and Margaret had 8 children; John, Andrew, Christian, Robert, Alexander, Margaret, Joseph, and Janet. According to the History of Barnet Vermont Robert died May 21, 1821 at the age of 67. Margaret died Dec 13, 1833 at the age of 83.

The date of birth of both Robert and Margaret varies depending on the source. For Robert we have three sources:

1. The History of Barnet VT says he was born in 1755, yet based on his age at his death he probably would have born in 1754.

2. A letter from his father, John says he was born July 1754.

3. A letter from a brother dated Feb 29, 1796 says "you are 43 years old", implying that he was born in 1753.

For Margaret we have two sources:

1. The History of Barnet VT says she died Dec 13, 1833 at the age of 83, making her birth 1850.

2. A letter from her brother Robert says she was born in 1753.

Letters from Robert's family in Scotland and Margaret's brother Robert, also in Scotland lead us to believe that Margaret had at least five brothers and sisters. Reference is made to brothers John and Andrew, and sisters Janet and Elizabeth. Reference is specifically made to brother John being in South Carolina and sister Janet marrying John Wright.

Robert was one of the earliest settlers in Barnet VT. He was part of a group of Scottish immigrants from Perth and Stirling to settle in Barnet. Among these early settlers were Gilfillans and Lackies.

The farm that Robert settled on was kept in the family up until 1950; passed down from Robert to his son Joseph, then to his grandson Gilbert, and finally to his great grandson Joseph. The farm, now owned by the Bogie's and called Bogie Mountain, is one of the most photographed farms in New England. It has been on several calendars and the covers of Ideal and Yankee magazines. In 1950 there was still no running water or indoor plumbing. The barn and most of the outlying structures are still the original, but the house itself was burned to the ground in the 1970s and rebuilt to the original footprint. The farm is an active dairy farm and also produces Vermont maple syrup.

Robert's son Andrew Blair, along with Elihu Sabin, Reuben Smith, Elisha Sheppard, Reuben Crosby, Thomas Ransom, Azatiah Boody, and Ephraim Perrin, were the earliest settlers of Goshen Gore (now called Stannard) VT, around 1803. The Vermont Historical Magazine noted that "Mrs. Andrew Blair sent her girl to the first school, and paid the tuition with a pink silk handkerchief. 'Schoolmarm know'd I had it, and she wanted it to make her a bonnet' (Good old Mrs. Ann Blair's testimony)" Of Andrew Blair, the magazine reports: "Had the Olympic races come down to our times, Mr. Blair, according to report, might have, become a successful competitor for a crown. It is current that he once ran down and captured a fox, and was overheard holding a parley with the captive, whether the thing was done fair. But, unlike the Olympic races, not having an impartial judge to decide the points, the fox seemed to dissent from his victor's boast of fair play. Now,' says Mr. Blair, 'if you think the thing was not done fair, we'll try it again.' Whereupon the fox was let go, and was allowed to have a few rods the start, when Blair took the track. Away went the fox-away went Blair; one for life, the other for victory, over hill, over fence, over brush, till Blair caught the breathless trophy, a second time, in triumph.

The 1850 Vermont Census contains the following information

Co: Caledonia	Tn\Twp: Barnet	pg 107	1267\1317
Blair, John, 65, m, farmer, 700, Vermont		[see note at bottom]
Blair, Agnes, 62, f, Massachusetts		[Agnes Kelley]
Blair, Mary, 37, f, Vermont
Blair, Jannette, 29, f, Vermont
Co: Caledonia	Tn\Twp: Barnet	pg 107	1268\1318
Blair, Robert, 39, m, farmer, 850, Vermont
Blair, Nancy, 31, f, Vermont
Blair. Martha J.. 10. f. Vermont(S)
Co: Caledonia	Tn\Twp: Barnet	pg 107	1271\1321
Blair, Joseph, 54, m, farmer, 3,000, Vermont		[see note at bottom]
Blair, Mariah, 47, f, Vermont		[Marion Gilfillan]
Blair, Jane, 23, f, Vermont		[m. George Sanborn]
Blair, Robt., 22, m, laborer, Vermont
Blair, Gilbert, 12, m, Vermont(S)		[m. Elizabeth Batchelder]
Co: Caledonia	Tn\Twp: Goshen Gore	pg 254	2\2
Blair, Joseph, 32, m, farmer, 1,200, Vermont		[see note at bottom]
Blair, Susan, 24, f, New York
Blair, Mary, 5, f, Vermont(S)*
Blair, Susan, 3, f, Vermont
Co: Caledonia	Tn\Twp: Goshen Gore	pg 254	8\8
Blair, Andrew, 63, m, farmer, Vermont		[see note at bottom]
Blair, Eliza, 65, f, New Hampshire
[had a dau. Margaret b. 1820, d. 1838]		[mem #873]
[John 53, Joseph 54, and Andrew 63 are all sons of Robert Blair and Margaret McLuckie (sp). Peter 44 is the nephew of Robert Blair. Joseph 32 is probably a gs/o Robert Blair. More information is available in A History of Barnett Vermont, by Frederick Wells.]