The Chalmers Family (continued)

by John Dall Chalmers 1987

David Chalmers

My grandfather, DAVID CHALMERS, was born 2-Mar-1864 the only son in a family of five, and carried on the firm of D.CHALMERS & Sons.

On 13-Dec-1889 he married AGNES LAWSON DALL (b. 14-Mar-1859) the daughter of JOHN DALL and ANN WRIGHT. JOHN DALL and his brother HENRY DALL were general merchants in Leslie in Fife, where my grandparents were married.

The couple must have started their married life at Lochleven Place in Kinross because my father DAVID CRAIG DALZIEL BUCHANAN CHALMERS (see page 5), the eldest of the family of five sons and one daughter (see photograph), was born there on 30-Jun-1890. They later moved to a house in Curate Wynd immediately north of "The Knowe" before moving to "Ivy Bank" in 1904.

At "Ivy Bank" worksheds, a garage and an office were built and from here the family business was continued. During this time several properties were acquired and new buildings constructed - including "The Knowe" built in 1910 and "Chrysvale."

Details of DAVID C.D.B.CHALMERS their eldest son and my father follow (see page 5), but below a brief summary about the other 5 members of the family follow:

JOHN DALL CHALMERS, after whom I was named, was born in 1892. He served as a Gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery and was killed in action in World War I on the 11-Dec-1917. He is buried in Ypres, Belgium. DAVID E.V.CHALMERS believed that JOHN DALL CHALMERS had sought employment at "Lochleven Garage" (then "Morgan's Garage") but was too young. The job went to DAVID BEVERIDGE - later to be proprietor of the garage.

ANNIE WRIGHT CHALMERS (named after her maternal grandmother) was born in 1893. She never married but kept house for her father and WILLIAM DALL CHALMERS (her brother) at "Ivy Bank" following the death of her mother AGNES LAWSON DALL on 24-Feb-1929. She inherited the house on the death of her father DAVID CHALMERS on 23-May-1944. She continued to live there until, due to illness, she moved to stay with a friend in Dunfermline. She died there on the 5-Apr-1945.

HENRY(HARRY) DALL CHALMERS was born in 1896 and like his brother JOHN DALL served as a Gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery. He was killed in action on 14-Jul-1917 (12)

WILLIAM (WILLIE) DALL CHALMERS was born in 1899 and lived at "Ivy Bank" with his father and his aunt ANNIE. He inherited "Ivy Bank" on the death of ANNIE CHALMERS and in July 1947 he married MARY J.DONALDSON (1907-1956). On Mary's death WILLIAM moved to "The Knowe" to live with his brother DAVID C.D.B. CHALMERS. He died suddenly on 4-Mar-1957 while walking to church with his sister-in-law NELLIE JANE ROGER. WILLIAM was a partner in the family business but was more of a labourer than a tradesman.

CECIL BAILLIE CHALMERS (named after his paternal grandmother) was born on 31 August 1902, the youngest of the family. He married CHRISTINA FORSYTHE COUTTS (26-Aug-1906 - 9-Oct-1979) and they started their married life in the reconstructed "Chrysvale" adjacent to "Ivy Bank" where on the 18-Sep-1936 their only son DAVID BAILLIE CHALMERS was born.

Following the death of WILLIAM DALL CHALMERS (1957) CECIL and his family moved to "Ivy Bank." CECIL too, was a partner in the family business and was responsible for the clerical work. Following his move to "Ivy Bank" and the retiral of his brother DAVID C.D.B.CHALMERS he wished to limit himself only to small jobbing works on his own, and the assets of the firm were divided equally between him and DAVID EDWARD VERNON CHALMERS - eldest son of DAVID C.D.B. CHALMERS. CECIL was an elder in the Kinross East Church and a member of the choir. He died at "Ivy Bank" on 26-APR-1975. For some time prior to her death (9-Oct-1979) CHRISTINA (CHRISSIE) lived with her son DAVID BAILLIE CHALMERS in Perth.

Like his father DAVID CHALMERS liked his garden and built a small greenhouse where he spent many happy hours. He had been quite keen on fishing and an avid reader. In his book "About Kinross-shire and its Folk" (published 1948), the author, the late Robert S.Young in an article about the town band mentioned that "the late Mr. David Chalmers senior, slater was also a player". DAVID E.V.CHALMERS remembers "a drawerful of penny whistles at Ivy Bank". DAVID CHALMERS was fond of taking all his grandchildren to the pantomime in Edinburgh at Christmas.

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12. "PRO PATRI MORI" From "Kinross-shire Advertiser"(See Appendix 12)