The Chalmers Family (continued)

by John Dall Chalmers 1987

David Craig Buchanan Chalmers

My great grandfather was the sixth child in a family of eleven children. Born on 6-Feb-1832 he was "the first child to be baptised in the New Church, Kinross" (from Family Bible (3)) and was named after the minister the Rev. George D.C. Buchanan.

On 30-Aug-1861 he married CECILLIA BAILLIE (1831-1869) and they had five children - four girls and one boy (my grandfather). In fact, according to her birth certificate, the oldest daughter "Auntie Ciel" was born on 4-Jun-1859 at Muirton in the Parish of Kinglassie to Cecilia Baillie, a domestic servant and the father is unnamed. My great-grandfather and Cecilia Baillie were married in Kinglassie. Whether or not he was her father "Auntie Ciel" stayed with him until he died and was named as his daughter in his will.

On the death of his father, the house in Brewery Lane was left to his elder brother George (Valuation Roll 1877-78)(7) about whom I have no further details, but certainly my great-grandafther and "Auntie Ciel" both lived there until they died on 15-May-1924 and 25-Aug-1945 respectively. Auntie Ciel left the house to my father who sold it preferring to live at "The Knowe."

As my great-grandfather died four years before I was born I did not know anything about him other than the above, and that he continued to run the family business from the house in Brewery Lane (or Parliament Close as stated in the Valuation Roll). I understand that following some disagreement his brother, Francis Moyes Chalmers, started up a business in opposition, working first from a shed in Mill Street, Kinross and later from a house at the north end of Curate Wynd. (both addresses obtained from the 1872-73 Valuation Roll - and confirmed by my brother) (8)

My sister JANE HUME BROWN CHALMERS and my brother DAVID EDWARD VERNON CHALMERS who were aged 9 and 4-1/2 years respectively at the time of his death could only tell me "that he had a white beard and walked stooped from the waist." I was fortunate to obtain photographs of him with his family at a later date.

My brother was able to tell me that my great-grandfather and "Auntie Ciel" were buried at the "Auld Kirk" (the purchase of the lairs was confirmed in the District Council records) and I was able to find the headstone. From this, having obtained the date of his death I was able to consult the appropriate adition of the "Kinross-shire Advertiser" and learned that he had been a keen gardener.

---

3. Held by David E.V. Chalmers (See Appendix 3)

7. Note by John Dall Chalmers (See Appendix 7)

8. Note by John Dall Chalmers (See Appendix 8)

10. From "Kinross-shire Advertiser" (See Appendix 10)