Thomas R. Robertson (1795 - 1878)

Thomas R. Robertson was the first Treasurer for the Society of Saint Andrew. He served from 1825 to 1828, and was also President in 1846 and 1847. Born in Scotland, Thomas arrived to Fredericton in 1818 – along with his friends Robert Gowan, and John Gregory – all with the 74th (Highlanders) Regiment of Foot. 

When his regiment departed Fredericton in 1823, he stayed behind, joining the merchant firm of Thomas L. Langen as a clerk. Thomas soon became a full partner, and their business operated under the name of Langen & Robertson. This continued until 1831, when Mr. Langen retired and the business was then taken over by Thomas. 

T. R. Robertson’s store was located on the west end of Queen Street, and continued to operated in the same location. On August 2, 1839 his store was destroyed by a fire – described by the Fredericton Sentinel as the most disastrous of the decade. Nevertheless, T. R. Robertson’s store was rebuilt and continued for another 17 years.

Thomas was a highly respected money-manager. In 1855, he was appointed by the Province as Deputy Treasurer of Fredericton, remaining in that position until Confederation in 1867; he was then appointed Canada’s First Collector of Customs for the Port of Fredericton. He was also one of the tax assessors for the City of Fredericton, and a Director of the Central Bank of New Brunswick. 

Thomas participated actively in the religious life of Fredericton, and is credited – along with his close friends and fellow Society members Francis Beverly, Robert Fulton, John Gregory, and Robert Gowan – with founding St Paul's Church. He was also one of the church’s original trustees and was their first Treasurer. 

Thomas R. Robertson and his wife Fanny are buried in section 8 of the Old Burying Ground. Their gravestone reads:

Sacred
to the memory of
Fanny,

wife of
Thomas R. Robertson,

who closed her mortal life in prospect

of a blessed immortality on the

29th day of May, A.D. 1838

in the 38th year of her age. 

Also of
 Catherine,
their infant daughter, who
Died on the 20th day of August

aged 4 months and 4 days. 

Also
William Reid,
Born 1831

Died at New York, 1866

Frances,
Born 1835
Died 1869

Isobel

Born July 1833
Died Jan 1877

Thomas R. Robertson,
Born July 25, 1795, Died October 16, 1878

also his daughter
Mary Ann

Born August 24, 1836, Died May 16, 1898.