Family:Robert Black and Martha Ross (2)

In the 1871 Scotland census^S2, son Matthew gives a birthplace of Ireland, so Robert and Martha were probably from there.

Assuming a marriage before Matthew's birth then they likely married before 1840. They are known to have at least one son.

Although it is not known what part of Ireland the family came from, as the later family was know to be staunchly Protestant^S2 it is far more likely they were Scots-Irish or from the part of Ireland known as the Pale rather than native Gaelic catholic Irish.

Son Matthew lists Robert's occupation as a Farmer^S1 and a Laborer^S3. The Irish potato famine occurred from 1845 to 1852 when their children were young, so it is possible the family may have emigrated from Ireland to escape it. The famine surely hit farmers harder than others.

Robert and Martha are listed as dead on Matthew's 1864 marriage record^S1. It is not known whether they died after bringing Matthew to Glasgow, or whether Matthew emigrated on his own after being orphaned in Ireland.