Charles Duncan (1800-1876)

Charles Duncan was born on 18 January 1800 (Baptised 22 January), the fourth child of Robert Duncan and Janet Dunlop, in Campbeltown, Argyll, Scotland. [1]

Charles siblings were Isabella (b 1794, d bef 1802), Robert (b 1795), James (b 1797), Isabella (b 1802), Jean (b 1804), Dunlop (b 1807, d 1882) and Janet (abt 1809, d 1891). 

Charles Duncan and Barbara McLeod were married on 20 January 1820 in Gorbals, (near Glasgow).  Both were residents of Gorbals. [2]

Barbara McLeod was born about 1802 in Kelso, Ayrshire / Roxburghshire, based on various Census data. To date not birth registration has been found to match these particulars.

The 1841 Census (Renfrew District, Renfrew County)[3] of 6 June lists the following residents of Clyde Bank Lodge as:

Charles Duncan, Male, (age) 40, Ship Carpenter;

Barbara Duncan, Female, 40;

Isabella Duncan, F, 15,

Elizabeth Duncan, F, 15;

Janet Duncan, F, 14;

Angus Duncan, M, 12;

Robert Duncan, M, 10;

James Duncan, M, 8;

Barbara Duncan, F, 6;

Charles Duncan, M, 4;

John Duncan, M, 7 months. 

Comment:  The age of Charles and Barbara, both 40, as shown in the Census would put their births about 1801.  This agrees with Charles’ Birth Registration and Barbara’s estimated year of birth.

The 1851 Census (Renfrew District, Renfrew County)[4] of 30 March shows the residents of Clyde Bank Lodge being:

Charles Duncan, Head of family, Mar(ried), M(ale),  aged 51; Superintendant Carpenter of Clyde Trustees Works; (Born) Kintyre, Argyllshire;

Barbara Duncan, Wife, Mar, F, aged 49; (b) Kelso, Ayrshire

Isabella Duncan, dau(ghter), Unm(arried), F, aged 28; (b) Greenock, Refrewshire

Elizabeth Duncan, dau, Unm, aged 26; Dress Maker, (b) Glasgow, Lancarkshire

Janet Duncan, dau, Unm, aged 24; Dress Maker, (b) Glasgow, Lancarkshire

Robert Duncan, son, Unm, aged 20, Journeyman Engineer, (b) Glasgow, Lancarkshire

James Duncan, son, Unm, aged 18, Engineers Apprentice, (b) Glasgow, Lancarkshire

Charles Duncan, son, Unm, aged 13, School Boy, (b) Glasgow, Lancarkshire

Comment:  The age of Charles (51) and Barbara (49), as shown in the 1851 Census would put their births about 1800 and 1802.  This agrees with Charles’ Birth Registration.  However, his place of birth is different to that on the Birth Certificate

The Clyde Trustees Works is believed to be the works arm for the Clyde Trustees, the body established to maintain the navigability of the River Clyde.

The Clyde Trustees Works is located on the north bank of the River Clyde at Yoker, about 8km downstream from Glasgow. Clyde Bank cottage is within the Clyde Trustees Works.

The works was a few hundred metres west of the present day Yoker Ferry Terminal.  

Renfrew Sheet VIII.7 (Renfrew) Survey 1857, pub. 1864

Daughter Barbara, aged 14 (born 1837), was not resident with her parents on the night of the 1851 Census. Where was she resident that night?

Q: What became of son Angus (born 1829) and would have been about 22 years, as he is not mentioned in the 1851 Census?

Elizabeth Grant Duncan died on 10 December 1860 at Clyde Bank Cottage, Yoker, Glasgow[5]. At the time Charles Duncan, her father, was the Manager, Clyde Trustees’ Works.

By 7 April 1861 (1861 Census), the following were resident in Clyde Bank Lodge[6]:

Charles Duncan, Head of family, Mar(ried), M(ale),  aged 61; Manager, Clyde Trustees Works; (Born) Argyllshire, Campbeltown;

Barbara Duncan, Wife, Mar, F, aged 58; (b) Roxburghshire, Kelso

Robert Duncan, Son, Un(married), M, aged 30, Ship Builder, (b) Lancarkshire, Glasgow

Barbara Duncan, Dau(ghter), Un, F, aged 24, , (b) Lancarkshire, Glasgow

Anne D(unlop) Duncan, Dau, Un, F, aged 18, , (b) Renfrewshire, Clyde Bank

John Duncan, Son,  Un, M, aged 20, Engineer Smith, (b) Renfrewshire, Clyde Bank

Charles A D Lockerbie(??), Grandson, Un, M, aged 11, Scholar, (b) Renfrewshire, Clyde Bank

Grandson Charles Lockerbie living with Charles and Barbara Duncan in April 1861 is the child of Isabella (nee Duncan) and Andrew Lockerbie, born on New Years day 1850.

On 5 April 1864 Angus, the youngest son of Mr Charles Duncan, Clyde Bank Cottage, Yoker, died at 29 Taylor St, Glasgow[7].

Son John married Mary Pride on  24 February 1865 in Renfrew [8].

By 2 April 1871 (1871 census), Clyde Bank Cottage had in residence:

Charles Duncan, Head of family, Mar(ried), M(ale),  aged 71; Manager Ship Building Garden, (Born) Campbeltown, Argyllshire

Barbara Duncan, Wife, Mar, F, aged 70; (b) Kelso,  Roxburghshire

Barbara Duncan, Dau(ghter), Un, F, aged 36, , (b) Renfrew, Renfrewshire

Ann Duncan, Dau, Un, F, aged 26, , (b) Renfrew, Renfrewshire

Mary Duncan, Granddaughter, Un, F, aged 5, (b) Renfrew, Renfrewshire

Mary Duncan who was living with her Grandparents at Clyde Bank Cottage in 1871 was born on 29 Dec 1865 to John and Mary Duncan [8]. 

The 1875 Valuation Roll [10] has Charles Duncan, Manager living at “House Clyde Bank by Patrick”, Proprietors “ River Clyde Trustees”.

Charles Duncan (Snr) died on 7 May 1876 (12 noon), aged 76 years at Clyde Bank Cottage, Renfrew Ferry.  According to his Death Registry entry he was a Carpenter and married to Barbara McLeod, his parents were Robert Duncan, Shipbuilder, (deceased) and Janet Duncan, nee Dunlop (deceased) and died of Heart Disease (10 months) as certified by ??? Robertson LRC F Ed, Renfrew.  The informant of his death was Chas. Duncan, son, who was present.[11]

Charles Duncan’s (Snr) Death Notice appeared in the Glasgow Herald on Mon 8 May 1876 [12]. The Notice mentions that Clyde Bank Cottage is in Renfrew Ferry and Clyde Trustee Works is in Dalmuir.

Comment: Dying at age 76, puts his birth around 1800.  His death registration has  his parents as Robert and Janet. All this information confirms the birth and death registration are for the same person.

Charles Duncan (Snr) in his Will and Testament [13] dated 1 January 1876 required his Executors (son Robert Duncan and daughter Barbara Duncan) to provide sufficient fund for his wife, Barbara McLeod, if she outlived him, to live a comfortable life and upon her dying his estate to be paid to his two unmarried daughters Barbara and Ann Dunlop.  Settlement occurred on 12 May 1877 with an estate of £389 2s. (abt £25,000 in 2015).

Barbara, (widow of Charles Duncan), manager of Clyde Trustee Works) died on 11 November 1881 (1pm), aged 80 years, at Clyde Bank Cottage, Renfrew.  According to her Death Registry, her parents were John McLeod, Tailor, Meloshaw (??), (deceased) and Elizabeth McLeod (nee Grant) (deceased) and died of old age as certified by ??as Robertson, Surgeon.  The informant was Gil G???  , friend.

Comment: Dying at age 80 puts her birth around 1801.

The 1891 Census, shows Barbara Duncan, aged 53 (b abt 1838), being head of Clyde Bank Cottage Yoker.  Also residing in the cottage was her sister Ann , aged 42 (b abt 1849) and a border Thomas Twamlow (aged 37), an Inland Revenue Officer.

Charles Duncan (Jnr) died on 21 April 1895 at 2 Maxwell Tce, Pollokshields, Glasgow.  He was employed by Inland Revenue[14].  A Death Notice appeared in the Glasgow Herald.

According to the 1901 census, Barbara Duncan (b 1837) and sister Ann Duncan (b 1843 or 1847) were still unmarried and living at Clydebank Cottage with Barbara being head of household.  Two borders were also resident.

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[1] ScotlandPeople.gov.uk OPR Births 507/00 0040 0195 Campbeltown

[2] ScotlandPeople.gov.au OPR Marriages 644/02/0060 0003 Gorbals

[3] ScotlandPeople.gov.au Census 1841 575/00 007/00 011

[4] ScotlandPeople.gov.au Census 1851 575/00 009/00 002

[5] Glasgow Herald Thursday 11 December 1860

[6] ScotlandPeople.gov.uk Census 1861 575/00 001/00 003

[7] Glasgow Herald Wed 6 April 1864

[8] ScotlandPeople.gov.uk Statutory Births 575/00 0010

[9] ScotlandPeople.gov.au Census 1861

[10] ScotlandPeople.gov.uk Valuation Rolls VR114/30/152

[11] ScotlandPeople.gov.uk Statutory Deaths 575/00 0054

[12] Glasgow Herald Mon 8 May 1876

[13] ScotlandPeople.gov.uk Will SC58/42/44 Paisley Sheriff Court

[14] Glasgow Herald Mon 22 April 1895

Robert Ferguson Duncan (1826/7 - 1884)

Robert Ferguson Duncan, the first child of Dunlop and Jean/Jenn Duncan (nee Ferguson) was born about 1826/7 [1], in Glasgow, Lanarkshire.

In 1841[2], aged 14, Robert resided with his father, step-mother, siblings and half-siblings at Back Street, Campbeltown, with him being listed as an indentured painter (most probably to his father).

According to the 1851 census, Robert and his brother John are listed as residing with their aunt Janet Scott and her son James (aged 14 years) at Sugarhouse Lane Greenock.  Robert is listed at being 24 and a painter.  Janet Scott’s husband is listed as being a Mate and away at sea.

Robert married Barbara McMichael on 9 September 1853 in Campbeltown.  Barbara, the daughter of John McMichael, was born in Islay, Argyleshire about 1824.  She was a couple of years older than Robert who was working as a painter at the time.

According to the Birth and Death Registers, Robert and Barbara had three children:-

• ·      Barbara Ferguson, born about 1854 and died on 26 November 1864 (aged 10 years) at Watt St, Greenock of ‘Scarlet Fever’[3],
• ·       Jessie Ann, born on 25 September 1856 at Regent St, Greenock[4] and died of ‘Kidney disease’ on 18 July 1883 in Gourock, Renfrewshire[5].   Jessie was single when she died and her usual residence was Ardgowan St West, Greenock, and
• ·      Hugh McMichael, born on 15 January 1859[6] but died on 31 October 1861 (aged 2 ¾ years) at Regent St, Greenock of ‘Enteritis’[7].

In 1861, at the time of the census, the family resided at Regent St, West Greenock.

At the 1871 census, Robert (45), Barbara (47) and daughter Jessie A (a scholar aged 14) resided at Watt St, Greenock West.  Robert was a Painter employing 3 men, 4 boys and a girl.

By the 1881 census, Robert, Barbara (aged 56) and daughter, Jessie Ann, aged 24, a Music Teacher, had moved to Ardgowan St, Greenock West.  Robert is listed in the census as a Master Painter, aged 54, possibly working for Duncan Colquoun, another Master Painter who lived at the same address and employed 5 men, 5 boys and a girl.

Robert died on 4 December 1884, aged 58, in Greenock West, Renfrew, and according to the Statutory Death Register he predeceased his wife, Barbara.

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[1] OPR 644/01 0040 Frame 6753

[2] Census Registration, District 507, Enumeration District 7 pg 9,

[3] Statutory Deaths 564/3X  0087

[4] Statutory Births 564/03 0677

[5] Statutory Deaths 567/02 0126

[6] Statutory Births 564/03 0073

[7] Statutory Deaths 564/03 0492

Dunlop Duncan family’s residence in Campbeltown

As mentioned in yesterday’s Dunlop Duncan blog, Dunlop Duncan and his family according to the various 1800s censuses resided at:

·         1841 - Back Street, Campbeltown

·         1851 - Bolgam Street, Campbeltown

·         1861 - Longrow Street, Campbeltown

·         1871 - Longrow St / Corbett Close, Campbeltown

·         1881 - Corbett Close (Longrow St), Campbeltown

At first glance you would think they moved residence regularly, however on examining maps of the period held by the National Library of Scotland you notice that all the above addresses are for the same group of building, as shown on the extract of the 1855 Ordinance Survey map of Campbeltown, bounded by Corbett Lane, Bolgam and Back Street and Reform Square (Longrow Street).  Reform Square is at the southern end of Longrow Street.

This map shows "Slaughterhouse Hotel" at the end of Back Street.

Corbett Close (Lane) is now known as Burnbank Place and Back Street is now Union Street, whilst Reform Square no longer exists and is part of the south-east extension of Longrow Street.

Looking at the building in Google Street View, it would appear the multi story building in which Dunlop and his family lived, still exists today.

Google StreetView from Bolgam St, down Corbett Lane 

Google StreetView looking down Corbett Lane and Longrow Street

Dunlop Duncan (1807-1882)

Dunlop Duncan, the seventh of eight children of Robert and Janet Duncan, born in 1807/08 at Irvine, became a painter and resided in Campbeltown, [1]  

 Comment

• 1807/08 date of birth is based on ages shown on various census returns of 1841 (33), 1851 (43), 1861 (52), 1871 (64) and 1881 (73) and death registration / headstone which states he was 74 when he died in March 1882. 
• an alternate date is ‘about 1796’ in Campbeltown, Argyll.  This date is referenced with Jean Ferguson being his spouse. (Bernie Duncan research) 

Dunlop married Jean (also known as Jenn) Ferguson on 26 June 1825 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. 

Two (2) boys were born to Dunlop and Jean in Campbeltown: Robert Ferguson Duncan in 1827 and John Ferguson 1828 . 

It has also been proposed that as son John was christened shortly after his birth that he was very ill and not expected to live and Jean died following complication of the birth.  (NOTE: no record of her death has been found.)

Comment:

• Two Jean Duncans are recorded as dying between 1828 and 1831 (when he married Elizabeth Grant): a 56 year old on 30 Jan 1829 and a 12 year old on 13 Dec 1829.

• Two Jean Fergusons are known to have been born in Campbeltown between 1770 and 1780; and six between 1770 and 1800.

Family Headstone at Kilkerran Cemetery, Campbeltown

Dunlop and Elizabeth had seven (7) children: Lewis Grant (1831 - 1917 ), James Grant (1833 - 1901), Dunlop (1836 - 1905), Simon Grant (1838 - 1841), Isabella Grant (1841 - 1850), Janet Dunlop (1843 - 1864) and Ann Macdonald (1846 - 1850).

Looking at the various addresses Dunlop and Elizabeth are recorded at living in, it would be assumed they moved around.  This is not the case all addresses are for the same residence - see my next post. 

Comment: I consider the birth date of 1807/08 to be the more accurate date, due to the number of references which calculate this as the birth. 

No other information is known about Jean / Jenn Ferguson.

On 21 December 1830 [2], Dunlop married Elizabeth Grant (1800 - 1885), daughter of Lewis and Ann (nee McDonald) Grant, at Campbeltown.  Elizabeth was born in Ireland.

Lewis Grant was a Sergeant Major in the Argyll Militia.

The 6 June 1841[3] census records show Dunlop (aged 33- Painter) and Elizabeth (aged 41) with children Robert (14 and Painter), John (12), Lewis (9), James (7), Dunlop (5) and Isabella (5mths) resided at Back Street, Campbeltown.  Anabella McMillan, aged 17, also resided in the Back Street, Campbeltown residence.

The 30 March 1851 census records show Dunlop (aged 43- Painter) and Elizabeth (aged 51) with children Lewis (19 - Painter), James (17 - Painter), Dunlop (15 - Schollar) and Janet (8) resided at Bolgam Street, Campbeltown. [4]

The 7 March 1861 census records show Dunlop (aged 52- Painter) and Elizabeth (aged 60) with Janet (18) and lodger Lindsay McMary (76) resided at Longrow Street, Campbeltown.

The 1871 census records show Dunlop and Elizabeth residing by themselves at Longrow St / Corbett Close.

The 1881 census records show Dunlop and Elizabeth residing at Corbett Close (Longrow St). Also residing with them were their grandchildren James Duncan (Painter aged 15) and Christina Duncan (scholar aged 10).

James Grant and Christina Catherin Anne were children of Dunlop (1836-1905) and Christina (1839-1872) Duncan (nee McKenchie).  Both children were born in Dublin, Ireland on 13 Nov 1867 and  30 Jun 1871 respectively.

It is believed that James and Christina were sent by their father in 1872 to live with their grand-parents following the death of their mother in Dublin.

Dunlop died on 26 March 1882, aged 74 [5] at Longrow St, Campbeltown of “Debility of old age” and is buried in “old” Kilkerrin Cemetery.  Death was witnessed and registered by James Grant Duncan (grandson).

Elizabeth died on 4 February 1885, aged 85, at Longrow Street, Campbeltown, of apoplexy, 17 days after suffering a stoke.  Death certificate was signed by William Gibson MD and registered by James Grant Duncan (grandson) [6]

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[1] 1825, 1828 Painter resided at Campbeltown

[2] IGI pg 1755

[3] 1841 Census Registration, District 507, Enumeration District 7 pg 9,

[4] 1851 Census Registration listing – Campbeltown 507/00 007 003
[5] Scotlands People OPR 507/00 0046  1882
[6] Scotlands People OPR 507/00 0026 1885