See also
| Husband: | Robert SHEDDEN (1741-1826) | |
| Wife: | Agatha GODRICH ( -1838) | |
| Children: | George SHEDDEN ( - ) | |
| John SHEDDEN ( - ) | ||
| Robert SHEDDEN ( - ) | ||
| William SHEDDEN ( - ) | ||
| Bridger SHEDDEN ( - ) | ||
| Elizabeth SHEDDEN ( - ) | ||
| Name: | Robert SHEDDEN | |
| Sex: | Male | |
| Father: | William SHEDDEN (1708- ) | |
| Mother: | Beatrix DOBIE ( - ) | |
| Birth | 31 Dec 1741 | Beith |
| Residence | Virginia & London | |
| Id | R4 | |
| Death | Sep 1826 (age 84) | London |
| Name: | Agatha GODRICH | |
| Sex: | Female | |
| Father: | - | |
| Mother: | - | |
| Birth | Virginia | |
| Death | 31 Jan 1838 | Isle of Wight |
| Name: | George SHEDDEN | |
| Sex: | Male | |
| Name: | John SHEDDEN | |
| Sex: | Male | |
| Name: | Robert SHEDDEN | |
| Sex: | Male | |
| Name: | William SHEDDEN | |
| Sex: | Male | |
| Name: | Bridger SHEDDEN | |
| Sex: | Male | |
| Name: | Elizabeth SHEDDEN | |
| Sex: | Female | |
Information from The History of the County of Ayrshire dated Sep 1847.
Robert Shedden, the eldest son of this marriage, spent the early part of his youth with his aunt at Knockmarloch, and was educated at Craigie. He was sent, when very young, to Virginia. in the employment of a mercantile house in Glasgow. On attaining majority, he commenced business on his own account at Norfolk, in Virginia, and made an early marriage. On the breaking out of the American Revolution, he took the Royalist side, and escaped with difficulty with his family to the British fleet, and afterwards to Bermuda, where he carried on an extensive mercantile business during the war. The Americans seized all the property he left at Norfolk. He sent his sons, as they grow up, to his sisters at Beith, to be educated. At the peace of 1783, having made a considerable fortune, he returned to Scotland with his family, and afterwards settled in London, where be commenced the business of underwriter at Lloyd's, at which place he came to be held in the highest esteem; and when his name appeared on a policy, it was soon filled up. He also carried on an extensive business with Jamaica. He never forgot his native place, to which he regularly transmitted charitable donations. On the occasion of a visit to Beith, he was requested to attend a public dinner, and to allow his portrait to be put up in the Courthouse. The portrait was by that celebrated artist, John Graham Gilbert, and is a first-rate painting and an excellent likeness. He made the parish a present of a fine sounding bell, cast at London, at the price of one hundred guineas, on the occasion of the parish church being rebuilt. The estate of Knockmarloch coming to be sold, he purchased it, and left it to his eldest son. He died at London in September, 1826. at the age of 86. By his settlement, also, he charged a perpetual annuity of £50 on the lands of Gatend, to be distributed among reduced tradesmen not receiving aid from the kirk session, either in sums of £10 yearly to live annuitants, or £5 yearly to ten annuitants. The last plan has always been adopted, and the charity has proved of great benefit. Robert Shedden left a large family, both of sons and daughters; and a large fortune. Four of his sons were brought up to business, and admitted partners with himself.
From the Statistical Account of Scotland 1845 Beith Parish:
Robert Shedden, of Gower Street, London Esq., was born in this parish. He was eldest son of William Shedden, who was
second son of Robert Shedden of Roughwood, by Beatrice, daugh-
ter of Robert Dobie, Chamberlain of Giffen. In early life he
went to America, and settled as a merchant at Norfolk in Vir-
ginia. At the commencement of the American war he left Vir-
ginia, and, after living some time in Bermuda and New York, re-
turned to England in 1783, and settled in London as an under-
writer and, general merchant. His unwearied attention and cor-
rect and honourable principles soon acquired an extensive busi-
ness, which in due time brought him great wealth. He proved a
distinguished benefactor to the place of his nativity. In particu-
lar, he purchased the lands of Gatend, in this parish, which he
burdened with a perpetual annuity of L.50, which he vested in
trustees, who were directed to apportion the same among persons
of respectable character, and who had resided three years in the
parish, in annuities not exceeding L.10, nor less than L.5 to each.
This grant has been of great benefit to the receivers, and the
same has hitherto been awarded by the trustees in the most judi-
cious manner. Mr Shedden died in London, 29th September
1826, aged 85. He was married to Agatha, daughter of John
Godrich, Esq. She died at the Isle of Wight, 31st January 1838.
Name and date of death from Statistical records of Scotland 1845