Robert Bell Ness

1806 - 1888  (81 years)

• Name	Robert Bell Ness
  Birth	11 Nov 1806	Dundee, Angus, Scotland
  Baptism	11 Nov 1806	Dundee, Angus, Scotland
  Gender	Male
  Census	1851	7 Union Rd, Old Machar, Aberdeen, Scotland
  Census	1861	220 Union Street, Old Machar, Aberdeen, Scotland
  Census	1871	220 Union Street, Old Machar, Aberdeen, Scotland
  Census	1881	12 Frithville Gardens, Hammersmith, London
  Retired coachmaker
  Death	28 Aug 1888	Old Machar, Aberdeen, Scotland
  Burial	1 Sep 1888	St Nicholas’, Aberdeen, Scotland
  Person ID	I700	Ash Family Database
  Last Modified	10 Nov 2026

  
  

  Family	Catherine/Katrine Ann Henderson,   b. 23 Jan 1809, Aberdeen, Scotland d. 6 Sep 1874 (Age 65 years)
  Marriage	27 Dec 1828	St Nicholas’, Aberdeen, Scotland
  Children	1. Marion Ness,   b. 11 Jan 1840, Old Machar, Aberdeen, Scotland d. 30 Apr 1929, Elm House Hotel, Goring-by-Sea, Sussex (Age 89 years)
  Family ID	F265	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	10 Nov 2026

  
  

• Event Map

  Marriage - 27 Dec 1828 - St Nicholas’, Aberdeen, Scotland Census - 1851 - 7 Union Rd, Old Machar, Aberdeen, Scotland Census - 1861 - 220 Union Street, Old Machar, Aberdeen, Scotland Census - 1871 - 220 Union Street, Old Machar, Aberdeen, Scotland Census - 1881 - 12 Frithville Gardens, Hammersmith, London Death - 28 Aug 1888 - Old Machar, Aberdeen, Scotland Burial - 1 Sep 1888 - St Nicholas’, Aberdeen, Scotland  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Notes

  Robert Bell Ness appears on his daughter Marion's marriage certificate (1862) and on the Old Parish Register of Old Machar, where his children were baptised, as a coach builder working at Union Row. Marion, Andrew and David were baptised ‘in presence of Free Bonaccord Congregation’ by The Revd. Gavin Parker, which probably accounts for the choice of name for Robert and Catherine's eighth child, Gavin Parker Ness. The 1851 Census shows Robert as a 44-year-old coach builder employing 18 men. By 1861, he was employing 13 men and 10 boys. By the time of the 1881 Census, he appears to have moved to the English capital. He was living at 12 Frithville Gardens with his 5th child Andrew (39), who had entered the same trade as his father and was working as a coach painter. They had one servant, Jane Flowers (40) from Melksham in Witshire. Robert listed himself as a widower and retired coachmaker. Robert’s carriage business laid the foundations of his son Patrick’s success and prosperity as co-owner of the Victoria Carriage Works and Burlington Carriage Company of London. Patrick became the Laird of Braco Castle, in south-west Perthshire. Did Robert move to London after the death of his wife to be closer to his successful barrister son Gavin Parker Ness and his young family who lived in some style at 19 Porchester Terrace, Paddington?