The children of Robert Stephenson, 1st, William, James, Elizabeth and Nancy, will be, hereafter, referred to as the Four who came to America, and their brother Robert as Robert, 2nd. Robert Stephenson, 1st, was living in Ireland during the year 1772. Robert Stephenson, 2nd, who was afterwards known as "Old Robert" of Wylam, and his father, Robert, 1st, went to Northumberland County, England. This Robert Stephenson, 2nd, became the father of George Stephenson, the celebrated engineer of railroad fame. Robert Stephenson, 2nd, was first found by historians in 1774 working in a coal mine at Wylam, eight miles west of Newcastle-on-the-Tyne. History says his father was a Scotchman, and that he came across the border in the capacity of a hireling to a gentleman. But history tells very little about him. It does not even give his name. Nor does history tell the nativity of Robert Stephenson, 2nd, the father of George, who afterwards became famous. It is assumed by some that Robert, 1st, son of Henry Stephenson, the shepherd, near Jedburgh, Scotland, went direct from Scotland to England, and became the father of George Stephenson, the railroad promoter. This assumption is erroneous. As has been previously stated, Robert Stephenson, 2nd, was born of Scotch parents in Antrim County, Ireland, about the year 1752. A close observance of his history
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Section II.
