Robert Turnbull (Jr.) was christened “Robert” in Midlothian in January 1809. He learned the tailor trade from his father, and immigrated to Canada in 1832, eventually finding his way to Elma, Galt, Ontario, in 1834, where he set up a tailor shop on West Main Street. Meanwhile, Helen Little’s family immigrated to Canada about the same time. Robert and Helen were married in 1836 in Galt. At this time we do not have any information about Helen Little’s parents or siblings.
By the 1851 Canadian census, Robert and Ellen (Helen) are shown with 5 children, the oldest Nancy Turnbull, born in 1837. They lived in Galt, Township of Dumfries, County of Halton, Canada West (Ontario). Many of the Turnbulls were known to Robert’s grandson, R.J. Bonner, including his mother Nancy’s siblings: Uncle “Little John” Turnbull, Uncle Robert, Aunt Jane and Aunt Euphemia. It happens that Uncle John’s middle name was his mother’s maiden name “Little”, and he was 6’3″ tall, thus 2 reasons for his nickname “Little John”!
The oldest Turnbull, daughter Nancy married John Bonner sometime before 1857. The couple initially lived with Robert and Helen Turnbull, and all of Nancy’s siblings.
As a child, Robert Turnbull (Jr.) tried to establish contact with his maternal grandmother, Anne Ellison Bates of Melbourne Hall in Northumberland, England. Read the story in A Proud Scot Declines a Sovereign and a Meal.