Robert Shiels (6th Gen) 1841-1869 & Jane Renwich

Robert Shiels was born in 1841 in Carrington, Midlothian Scotland. He was the 1^st child of George Shiels and Mary White.

In the 1861 census, he was 20 years old and was living at home. Robert was listed as a Plowman.

On May 23, 1862, Robert married Jane Robina Renwick at Easter Kinleith, Currie, Midlothian. She was born Aug 14, 1836 in Walston, Lanarkshire.

Robert and Jane had 4 children, George Aitchison 1863, Andrew 1864, Janet 1866 and Robina in 1869.

Robert died suddenly on Jul 16, 1869 in New Mills, Currie, Midlothian, just 2 months before his youngest child was born. He was only 28 years old at the time. This left Jane to raise the children on her own.

In the 1871 census, 2 years after her husband had died, Jane was listed as a Shop Keeper living at New Mills, Currie with her 4 children. In the 1881 census, she was still living at New Mills and had become a Mill Worker. Andrew had left home by this time and the three remaining children were still with their mother. Her son Andrew died on Aug 21, 1886 when he was only 21 years of age.

In the 1891 census, Jane was living with her son George in Smith’s Building in Currie and Jane was listed as a Housekeeper while George was an Electrician in the Mill.

Jane Robina died in 1911 and is buried in the family plot in Balerno, Currie, Midlothian.

Summary of Robert & Jane’s children

George Aitchison Shiels (1863-1921)

George Aitchison Shiels was born Jun 1, 1863 in Currie, Midlothian. He was the 1^st child of Robert Shiels and Jane Renwick.

George was only 6 years old when his father died, and he helped his mother raise his younger siblings.

George never married and lived at home with his mother his entire life.

In the 1881 census, he was 18 years old and was working as a Railway Servant Porter. In the 1891 census, he was working as a Wire Fencer. He had become an Electrician working in the Mill in the 1901 census and continued there for the rest of his life.

George’s mother died in 1911 and he lived on his own in Balerno until he died in 1921. He is also buried in the family plot in Balerno, Currie, Midlothian.

Andrew Shiels (1864-1886)

Andrew Shiels was born Nov 3, 1864 in Currie, Midlothian. He was the 2^nd child of Robert Shiels and Jane Renwick.

Andrew was only 4 years old when his father died.

In the 1881 census, Andrew was living in a Boarding House and was working as a Railway Booking Clerk. He never married and continued to work as a Railway Clerk until he died on Aug 21, 1886 in Balerno, Currie, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland. He was only 21 years of age.

Janet Shiels (1866-1938)

Janet Shiels was born Mar 18, 1866 in Currie, Midlothian. She was the 3^rd child of Robert Shiels and Jane Renwick.

Janet lost her father when she was only 3 years old. 

Janet never married and died on Jan 4, 1938 at the age of 71 in Balerno, Currie, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland.

Robina Shiels (1869-1955)

Robina Shiels was born Sep 10, 1869 in Currie, Midlothian. She was the 4^th and final child of Robert Shiels and Jane Renwick. Her father died two months before she was born.

Robina lived at home with her mother, two brothers and one sister.  In the 1891 census, Robina had moved to Edinburgh and was working as a servant. By the 1901 census, she had moved back to Currie and continued to work as a servant.

Robina never married and died at age 86 in 1955 in Balerno, Currie, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland.