Robert Lewis Balfour Stevenson (1850 - 1894)

Born 13 Nov 1850 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Frances Matilda (Van de Grift) Stevenson — married May 1880 in San Francisco, California, USA

Died 3 Dec 1894 at age 44 in Vailima, Tuamasaga, Samoa

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Robert Stevenson was a historically significant person of Scotland. Join: Scotland Project Discuss: Scotland

Biography

Robert Stevenson was born in Scotland.

Robert Stevenson is Notable.

Robert Lewis Balfour Stevenson was born on 13 Nov 1850 at 8 Howard Place in the New Town, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland. ^[1][2] He was baptised Robert Lewis Balfour, but from about his eighteenth year dropped the use of the third christian name 'Balfour' and changed the spelling of the second to 'Louis'.^[3][4] His family called him Louis. He was the only child and son of Thomas Stevenson and Margaret "Maggie" Balfour.^[5]

Robert Louis Stevenson was a prolific writer, most famous for Treasure_Island (1883), The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886), Kidnapped (1886), and his children's poem collection A Child's Garden of Verses (1885).^[6][7]

Marriage

Robert went to America and married Frances Matilda Van de Grift in May 1880 in San Francisco, California, United States. She had three children from her 1st marriage to Samuel C Osbourne, who she divorced in Jan 1880.

He inherited the tendency towards coughs and fever from his mother and maternal grandfather who both suffered from "weak chests", which later necessitated a desire to reside in warmer climates for his health. He travelled at one time to Australia, and finally settled on the Island of Samoa in Vailima, Tuamasaga.^[5]

Residence

1851 Census^[8][9]

Census Date: 30 MAR 1851

Place: Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland

Address: 8, Howard Place, St Cuthbert's, Edinburgh

Age: 4m

1861 Census^[10][11][12]

Census Date: 7 APR 1861

Place: St Andrew, Midlothian, Scotland

Address: Heriot Row, St Stephen, Edinburgh

Age: 10y

1871 Census ^[13][14][15]

Census Date: 2 APR 1871

Place: Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland

Address: 17, Heriot Row, St Stephen, Edinburgh

Age: 20y

Death

Robert Louis Stevenson died suddenly of a stroke, aged 44 years, at his Samoan property on the 3rd of December 1894,^[16][17] and as per his wishes, was buried on top of Mount Vaea, overlooking Vailima.^[18][19] There is a cenotaph at Saint Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh, Scotland.^[20]

His obituary was published 17 Dec 1894 in many publications in England,^[21][22] Scotland,^[23][24] and the United States. ^[25][26][27]

Sources

1. ↑ "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F31Z-F51 : 12 February 2020), Robert Lewis Balfour Stevenson, 1850.
2. ↑ "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Births and baptisms" database, National Records of Scotland, ScotlandsPeople (https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/: accessed 22 Dec 2021), Robert Lewis Balfour Stevenson, parents: Thomas Stevenson/Margaret Isabella Balfour, 13 Nov 1850, Edinburgh; citing Parish Number 685/1, Reference Number: 600 207.
3. ↑ Ernest Mehew, "Robert Louis Stevenson", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford: OUP, 2004. Retrieved 29 September 2008 . The spelling "Lewis" is said to have been rejected because his father violently disliked another person of the same name, and the new spelling was not accompanied by a change of pronunciation (Balfour (1901) I, 29 n. 1.
4. ↑ Joseph Chamberlain Furnas, Voyage to Windward : The Life of Robert Louis Stevenson (New York : William Sloane Associates, 1951).
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Dictionary of National Biography (Smith, Elder & Co., London, 1885-1900) Vol. 54, Page 245 Robert Louis Stevenson 1850-1894
6. ↑ WorldCat Author Search for Robert Louis Stevenson, 33,627 results: , accessed 13 Nov 2022.
7. ↑ The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson
8. ↑ Free UK Genealogy "Scottish General Register Office: 1851 Census Returns database", FreeCEN (https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/5903da6fe9379091b10144b1 : accessed 24 Jan 2023) [data about Robt L B STEVENSON in household of Thomas STEVENSON]; citing Piece: 685 Place: Edinburgh Enumeration District: 15 Civil Parish: Edinburgh Ecclesiastical Parish: St Cuthberts Folio: 721 Page: 3 Schedule: 11 Address: Howard Place.

   Thomas Stevenson Head Married M 32 Civil Engineer In Edinburgh Edinburgh, Midlothian

   Margt J Stevenson Wife Married F 22 Colinton, Midlothian

   Robt L B Stevenson Son M 4m Edinburgh, Midlothian

   Janet Sherar Servant Unmarried F 38 Cook Mulhill, Perthshire

   Janet Mackenzie Srvnt Married F 26 Nurse Falkirk, Stirlingshire

   Euph Smith Servant Unmarried F 26 Housemaid Edinburgh, Midlothian

9. ↑ "1851 Scotland Census," database, (Ancestry Record 1076 #2726072 : accessed 23 January 2023), Robt L Po Stevenson (4 mo) son in household of Thomas Stevenson (32) at 8, Edinburgh St Cuthberts, Midlothian. Born in Edinr, Midlothian; citing Parish Edinburgh St Cuthberts, ED 15B, Page 3, Line 4, Roll CSSCT1851_184, Year 1851, Household Schedule Number 11, Roll CSSCT1851_184
10. ↑ FindMyPast.CO.UK Abbreviation: FindMyPast.CO.UK Publication: http://www.findmypast.co.uk/ 1861 Scottish Census Data: Date: MAY 2012 Text: STEVENSON, Thomas Head Married M 42 1819 Civil Engineer Midlothian STEVENSON, Margaret J Wife Married F 32 1829 Colinton, Midlothian STEVENSON, Robert L B Son M 10 1851 Scholar Midlothian CUNINGHAM, Alison Servant Unmarried F 34 1827 Sewing Maid Torryburn, Fife ALLAN, Isabella Servant Unmarried F 39 1822 Cork Domestic Servant Grange, Banffshire WILLIAMSON, Isabella Servant Unmarried F 26 1835 Housemaid Midlothian Piece: 2 Folio: 0 Page: 9 Registration District: St Andrews Civil Parish: St Stephen Municipal Borough: Address: Heriot Row, St Stephen County: Midlothian
11. ↑ "1861 Scotland Census," database, (Ancestry Record 1080 #1223442 : accessed 23 January 2023), Robert L B Shoaum (10) son, Scholar, in household of Thomas Herman (42) in No 17 Heriot Row, Edinburgh St Stephen, Midlothian in St Andrew registration district. Born in Edinburgh; citing Parish Edinburgh St Stephen, ED 48, Page 9, Line 6, Roll CSSCT1861_126, Registration Number 685/2, Household schedule number 31, Roll CSSCT1861_126.

    Thomas Herman Head M 42 Civil Engineer Edinburgh

    Margaret I Herman Wife F 32 Chilton, Midlothian

    Robert L B Shoaum Son M 10 Scholar Edinburgh

    Alison Cunningham Servant F 34 Dairy Maid Torryburn, Fife

    Isabella Allan Servant F 39 Cork Domestic Servant Granger, Banff

    Isabella Williamson Servant F 26 House Maid Edinburgh

12. ↑ "Scotland Census, 1861," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VB4L-2XQ : 4 February 2020), Robert L B Stevenson in household of Thomas Stevenson, St Andrew, Midlothian, Scotland; from "1861 England, Scotland & Wales census," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012.); citing p. 9, PRO RG 9, The National Archives UK, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 103,876.
13. ↑ FindMyPast.CO.UK Abbreviation: FindMyPast.CO.UK Publication: http://www.findmypast.co.uk/ 1871 Scottish Census Data: Date: MAY 2012 Text: STEVENSON, Thomas Head Married M 52 1819 Civil Engineer Edinr, Midlothian STEVENSON, Margaret I Wife Married F 42 1829 Colinton, Midlothian STEVENSON, Robert L Son Unmarried M 20 1851 Student Of Arts Edinr, Midlothian SMITH, John Visitor Married M 70 1801 Retired From Business Galston, Ayrshire SMITH, Janet Visitor Married F 62 1809 Glasgow, Lanarkshire PATON, Barbara Servant Unmarried F 22 1849 Domestic Servant Whitburn, Linlithgowshire (West Lothian) WILLIAMSON, Isabella Servant Unmarried F 36 1835 Domestic Servant Edinr, Midlothian Piece: 685 Folio: 49 Page: 16 Registration District: St Andrews Civil Parish: St Stephen Municipal Borough: Address: 17, Heriot Row, St Stephen Edinburgh County: Midlothian
14. ↑ "1871 Scotland Census," database, (Ancestry Record 1104 #4818227 : accessed 23 January 2023), Robert L Stevenson (20) son, Student Of Arts, in household of Thomas Stevenson (52) at 17 Heriot Row, Edinburgh St Stephens, Midlothian in St Andrew registration district. Born in Edinr, Midlothian; citing Parish Edinburgh St Stephens, ED 49, Page 16, Line 9, Roll CSSCT1871_159, Registration Number 685/2, Household schedule number 77, Roll CSSCT1871_159.

    Thomas Stevenson Head M 52 Civil Engineer Edinr, Midlothian

    Margaret J Stevenson Wife F 42 Colinton, Midlothian

    Robert L Stevenson Son M 20 Student Of Arts Edinr, Midlothian

    John Smith Visitor M 70 Retired From Cusiness Galston, Ayrshire

    Janet Smith Visitor F 62 Glasgow, lanarksh

    Barbara Paton Servant F 22 Domestic Servant Linlithgow, whitburn

    Isabella Williamson Servant F 36 Domestic Servant Edinr, Midlothian

15. ↑ "Scotland Census, 1871," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VB5Q-D5L : 4 February 2020), Robert L Stevenson in household of Thomas Stevenson, St Andrews, Midlothian, Scotland; from "1871 England, Scotland & Wales census," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing p. 16, PRO T 1, The National Archives UK, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 104,050.
16. ↑ Graham Balfour, The Life of Robert Louis Stevenson (New York : C. Scribner’s sons, 1901).
17. ↑ "Scotland, National Probate Index (Calendar of Confirmations and Inventories), 1876-1936," database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry Record 60558 #648122 : accessed 23 January 2023), Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson probate. Died 3 Dec 1894 in Vailima; citing Commissary Clerk of Edinburgh under the Sheriff Courts Act, 1876. Calendar of Confirmations and Inventories.
18. ↑ "Samoa Burials, 1895-1970", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FGPQ-G3J : 9 February 2020), Robert Louis Belfour Sterenton, 1894.
19. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images  : accessed 26 August 2020), memorial page for Robert Louis Stevenson (13 Nov 1850–3 Dec 1894), Find A Grave: Memorial #3770, citing Stevenson Family Estate Grounds, Vailima, Tuamasaga, Samoa ; Maintained by Find A Grave .
20. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/206935681/robert-louis-stevenson: accessed 23 January 2023), memorial page for Robert Louis Stevenson (13 Nov 1850–3 Dec 1894), Find A Grave: Memorial #206935681, citing Saint Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh, Scotland; Maintained by Find a Grave.
21. ↑ "British Newspaper Archives, Obituaries," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q26M-WLCR : 26 October 2019), Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson, 17 Dec 1894; citing Obituary, Coventry, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom, page , Records extracted by FindMyPast and images digitized by FamilySearch. The British Library, London; FHL microfilm 102,001,148.
22. ↑ "British Newspaper Archives, Obituaries," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q26M-WZBG : 26 October 2019), Mr Robert Louis Stevenson, 17 Dec 1894; citing Obituary, Manchester, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom, page , Records extracted by FindMyPast and images digitized by FamilySearch. The British Library, London; FHL microfilm 102,001,142.
23. ↑ "British Newspaper Archives, Obituaries," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2D1-BRFR : 26 October 2019), Mr Robert Louis Stevenson, 24 Dec 1894; citing Obituary, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, United Kingdom, page , Records extracted by FindMyPast and images digitized by FamilySearch. The British Library, London; FHL microfilm 101,918,323.
24. ↑ "British Newspaper Archives, Obituaries," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q26M-R12B : 26 October 2019), Mr Robert Louis Stevenson, 18 Dec 1894; citing Obituary, Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, United Kingdom, page , Records extracted by FindMyPast and images digitized by FamilySearch. The British Library, London; FHL microfilm 102,001,201.
25. ↑ "United States, GenealogyBank Historical Newspaper Obituaries, 1815-2011", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q5S9-TZT6 : 18 July 2020), Stevenson and Mr Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson, 1894.
26. ↑ Daily Advocate, Stamford, Connecticut, "United States, GenealogyBank Historical Newspaper Obituaries, 1815-2011", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q59P-3RYP : 29 July 2020), Mr Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson, 1894.
27. ↑ "United States, GenealogyBank Historical Newspaper Obituaries, 1815-2011", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q5SN-Z92D : 29 July 2020), Mr Robert Louis Stevenson, 1894.

See also:

• The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson on Project Gutenberg
• Wikidata: Item Q1512

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Stevenson-999 created through the import of Brian Timothy Finn B1952.ged on May 1, 2012 by Wombat Allen.