John Robson

Born [date unknown] in Caithness, Scotland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 1618 in West Garty, Loth, Sutherland, Scotland

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Biography

John Robson is a member of Clan Gunn.

John Gun Robson III was the chief of the Robson branch of the Guns. In 1615, he, his brother Alexander, and his cousin Alexander Georgeson were solicited by the Earl of Caithness to "burn the corn" (grain) of Captain Innes at Sandside. John, and his cousin Alexander, declined, but Alexander participated in the raid. The clan suffered extensive retribution.

John Gun Robson had 4 sons:

• John of Kinbrace and the Easterdale
• William (1603 - 1661), who fought in the Thirty Years War, and the English Civil War (on the Royalist side),
• Donald
• Alexander (died before 1629)

He had two daughters:

• Christina (who married Alexander Georgeson)
• Margaret

When John Gun Robson III died of a bloody flux in West Garty, Sutherland, in 1618, his chidren were still minors. He left the children in the care of Sir Robert Gordon, uncle and tutor of the Earl of Sutherland (and author of the "History of the Earldom of Sutherland").

Research Notes

In several places (e.g. pg 125, pg 172) Mark Rugg Gunn gives the sons of this John Robson as Sir William and Robert (of Lybster) without mentioning John, Donald, or Alexander.

But Thomas Sinclair on page 155, says "Donald Gunn in Westerdale was the brother of Sir William Gunn, son of John Gunn (Robson), and Donald's descendants are traceable to this day. He is sometmes called Donald Gunn, Dalemore". Pg 114 - 115 has several references to Donald Gunn, son of "John Gunn, alias Robson", brother of John Gunn, junior, and William, with dates of 1629, 1637, 1645, 1652, 1653, and references to the education of Donald's son.

Further confusing the case, pg 123 says that Robert's (son of the Crowner) second son, John, had a son John (d 1586), father of John Dirlot (d 1618). John of Dirlot's sons were John of Kinbrace, Major General Sir William, and Robert of Lybster, father of John of Crosskirk.

Sources

• The Forebears and Descendants of Ingram Gun (1737 – 1800) of Wick, by James M. A. Gunn 1998
• History of Clan Gunn by Mark Rugg Gunn, 1969
• The Gunns by Thomas Sinclair, 1890