Cumming / Gourlay

[mormisha]

Hi

I am struggling to find details of my 4x Great Grandfather James Cumming's parentage. He was a supervisor of the excise (evidenced on son's marriage certificate) and spent his final years in Broughty Ferry.

Birth/baptism records for James are from Kirkhill, Inverness and mention his father as being Duncan Cumming and mother Elisabeth Cumming but the trail runs cold for me from there and I have no dates for either of them. Duncan and Elisabeth's children were:

James Cumming 1766 – 1840 (married Helen Gourlay 1774 - 1853)
Alexander Cumming 1768 – (married Margaret Watson)
Frances Cumming 1771 –
Janet Cumming 1774 –

Children of James:
(Dr) William Spink Cumming 1793 – 1872
Duncan Cumming 1795 –
James Cumming 1798 –
Charles Cumming 1802 –
Elizabeth Cumming 1806 –
Frederick Cumming Dr 1808 – 1891
Gershom Gourlay Cumming 1810 – 1898
Jane Cumming 1812 –
Euphemia Cumming 1814 – 1871
Margaret Cumming 1814 –
Helen Cumming 1815 –
Jessie Cumming 1816 –

The only other information I have is a clue that Elisabeth, mother of James may have had three sisters with the married surnames of Pried, Grant and Haswell.

I'm also always pleased to hear from anyone tracing this line and would be hugely grateful if anyone can make a breakthrough on Duncan and Elisabeth.

Many thanks

Michele

[StewL]

Hello Mormisha

Sorry I can't help you with your lot, there are a few Cummings' around Inverness.
Hopefully someone else will come along and help, they are a great and helpful lot on TS.

[nelmit]

Hi Michele and welcome to TS,

There is a death notice in 1821 of a very tempting Duncan Cumming. Unfortunately I don't see a will at SP where you may be able to find out more on him.

The places mentioned don't sound right to be your Duncan but the time he married and his occupation were close enough to post the info just in case you could follow it up.

February 17 1821
At Grange Toll near Edinburgh on the 5th current within a few weeks of 100 years old, Duncan Cumming superannuated officer of Excise, grandson of George Grant esq. of Tullochgoram. He was born March 1821. He lived in St Andrew's in 1745 when the Highland army passed through that place and was much solicited to join them, which, however he declined. Till within the last 24 hours of his life he was able to walk out and on the Friday before his death he walked in to the Old Town. He was a person of genuine piety, and of a cheerful happy temper, which he enjoyed to the last. This old man who witnessed so many changes in all around him married at 40 and he and his wife (who is yet alive) lived together for 60 years.

I only have access to 19th century newspapers but maybe there is more in earlier times.

Regards,
Annette

[Currie]

Hello Michele,

I couldn’t find anything useful to add to what Annette found. The obit was also in the Scots Magazine. http://books.google.com.au/books?id=F1w ... 22&f=false

There was someone else tracing this line but you probably won’t be able to contact them except through a medium.

In a 1929 edition of Scottish Notes and Queries there’s a query. http://books.google.com.au/books?id=A4k ... CE4Q6AEwBg

1270. CUMMING.—Information would be welcomed on the following points : —
(1) The parentage, etc., of Duncan Cumming, excise officer at Conan, Culbokie and Tain, and Elizabeth Cumming, his wife, who were particularly connected with the parish of Kirkhill, where several of their large family were baptised, the father always appearing as “Mr.” Duncan Cumming. He seems likely to have been the son of a “Mr.” James Cumming there, and the family is supposed to have been impoverished.
(2) The Cummings of Balshangie in the 18th century, and particularly James, who was in possession in 1710-1721, but not in 1744, although he did not die until 1776. His wife was left the interest on 1000 merks, intended later for charity, by the widow of Lachlan McIntosh, Captain of Clan Chattan, and a grant was made to her husband, and later her daughter, Anne. Information is specially desired as to the names of his children and where he lived after leaving Balshangie, but information about the Balshangie family in the 18th century would be useful. — L. C.


I managed to squeeze all the text out of Google. I wonder if he or she got an answer.

There’s what appears to be a National Archives of Scotland reference at the top of page 23 of this publication. http://books.google.com.au/books?id=Jby ... an&f=false

CUMMING, DUNCAN, Excise officer at the Morass of Conan, 1770. [NAS.E769.91.255]

All the best,
Alan

[mormisha]

Thanks everyone for a great welcome and suggestions. I'll see if I can follow up on any of that. I return to Elisabeth and Duncan regularly! I had heard he could either be a solicitor or exciseman although medicine was also in the family.

Best wishes and thanks

Michele