A Loved One Gone

William Robertson is buried in a "leir" grave in the Eastern Cemetery in Arbroath Road, Dundee. The people buried there are Lizzie Robertson, aged 4 months on 27 September 1887, William himself 28 June 1897, Jane Dorward aged 6 weeks buried 10 July 1911, Jane Robertson, aged 3, buried 20 March 1926, Jean Jackson Robertson, aged 79, buried 16 February 1931, Jennifer Smith aged 2 1/2 years on 11 April, 1942 and William Low Robertson, aged 76, buried 22 June 1951.

The leir was purchased by William's son, Charles Neaves Robertson , in 1887 while he was living at 10 Peddie Street, Dundee. The purchase was sadly due to the need to bury his (Charles's) daughter - Lizzie Jackson Robertson who died aged 4 months in the early hours of the morning on 25th September 1887, having been sick for 1 month from diarrohea.

William wrote a poem for Lizzie:

A Loved One Gone.

We miss our bairnie very sair;
Her cherry mou' her bonnie hair,
And winning smile we'll see nae mair,
O 'oor ain darling Lizzie.

Lang will affection dearly prize
Her dearly lov'd and winsome wyes,
And mem'ry will recall wi' sighs
The bonnie dace o' Lizzie.

Yon dearly lov'd wee grassy mound,
To us a sacred spot o' ground,
Affection loves to hover round
Whaur sleeps oor dearest Lizzie.

Nor can the sun nor sunny shower,
That cleid wi' bloom the dell and bower,
Bring back to us that precious flower -
Oor Op'ning rosebud - Lizzie.

That time will soothe oor sorrows yet,
Twin'd round oor hearts we can't forget,
The lov'd the smiling, pretty pet,
Alas! we've lost in Lizzie.

Noo, sleepin' in her lowly bed
Upon the turf that haps her head,
Sweet memories, like fragrance shed,
Cling to the grave o' Lizzie.

Nae langer we they presence see,
And hush'd the tones of childhood glee;
An angel heaven saw in thee,
And took awa' oor Lizzie.

Image: http://www.deathonline.net/ (website by the Australian museum).