James Muirhead and family lived at Malta House for more than three decades, between 1874 and 1906.[1] James Muirhead was a poulterer and fishmonger with business premises at 79 Queen Street trading as ‘Charles Muirhead’ (his father’s name).
James Muirhead was born on 21 October 1839 in Canongate parish, Edinburgh, son of Charles Muirhead and Elizabeth Brown.[2] Charles was a fishmonger and poulterer. In 1861 James’ occupation was recorded as ‘fish salesman commission agent.’[3] James Muirhead entered the family business and continued to trade as Charles Muirhead at 79 Queen Street, after his father’s death in 1865.[4] He extended his business interests into trawling through the company Muirhead Trawlers Ltd., located at 77 Queen Street. The business and James Muirhead personally were declared bankrupt in 1904, leading to the sale of Malta House in 1906. James and his family moved to No. 3 Malta Terrace where they remained until 1912. He died on 13 April 1915 at 24 Starbank Road, Leith.[5]
James Muirhead’s wife was Mary Alexander, though they were never formally married. As a result their children had ‘illegitimate’ written in their birth registration. Mary Alexander was born on 10 August 1844 and baptised at Rousay, Orkney on 14 November 1844.[6] She was the daughter of Magnus Alexander and Margaret Inksetter (or Inkster). Magnus Alexander was a shoemaker and farmer of 70 acres at Lingro, Wasbister. Mary Alexander was living there with her parents in 1861, aged 16.[7] About six years later she had her first child with James Muirhead in Edinburgh in 1868. Mary Alexander or Muirhead died on 17 September 1934 at 24 Starbank Road, Trinity, Edinburgh.[8]
The children of James Muirhead and Mary Alexander were recorded at Malta House in censuses.
James Alexander Muirhead was born in Edinburgh on 21 February 1868.[9] He joined the family business and was variously described as a fishmonger, fish merchant and auctioneer. When his father went into sequestration in 1904, he took over running of the business but died four years later 14 November 1908.[10] He married Helen Morgan Thomson in 1889.[11] In 1891 they lived at 16 St Vincent Street[12] and in 1901 at 17 Trinity Crescent.[13]
Mary Alexander Muirhead was born on 02 June 1869 at 16 St Vincent Street, Edinburgh.[14] She was at Malta House in 1901[15] and at No. 3 Malta Terrace in 1911, living with her parents.[16] She was a piano teacher. She later lived at 24 Starbank Road, where she died on 07 January 1953.[17]
Elizabeth Muirhead was born on 15 December 1870 at 16 St Vincent Street, Edinburgh.[18] In 1901 she was a boarder, with her brother Charles, at ‘Henrivilla’ New Street, Inveresk.[19] Like her brother, she appears to have had poor mental health, or a mental disability, and was admitted to the Midlothian and Peebles District Asylum on 13 August 1909,[20] the same day as Charles. She was moved to Bangour Asylum in May 1910,[21] and then to Dundee District Asylum on 19 May 1915.[22] She died at the Dundee District Asylum on 22 December 1916.[23]
Margaret Muirhead was born on 18 September 1872 at 16 St Vincent Street, Edinburgh.[24] In 1897 she married John Russell Higson[25] who had graduated M.B., Mast. Surg. from the University of Edinburgh in 1892.[26] She died at Lewisham, Kent on 11 April 1959.[27]
Charles Muirhead was born at Malta House on 09 November 1874.[28] In the census of 1891 he was described as a lawyer’s clerk.[29] Like his sister Elizabeth, Charles appears to have had poor mental health for most of his life. Saughtonhall Asylum, ‘a private lunatic asylum for the well-off,’[30] admitted a Charles Muirhead on 16 November 1892.[31] In 1901 he was a boarder at ‘Henrivilla’ New Street, Inveresk.[32] In 1909 he was admitted to Midlothian and Peebles District Asylum[33] and the following year to Bangour Asylum,[34] where he died on 20 December 1926.[35]
William George Muirhead, the youngest son of James Muirhead and Mary Alexander, was born at Malta House on 23 March 1876.[36] He was described there in the 1891 census, aged 15, as a poulterer and fishmonger.[37] Ten years later, still at Malta House, the census described him as a commission agent;[38] and in the 1902-03 Directory he was listed as an auctioneer and fish salesman.[39] He lived in his father’s household, moving with him to No.3 Malta Terrace in 1907, until his marriage in 1908. He died 25 September 1955 at 19 Drumsheugh Gardens, a nursing home.[40]
William George Muirhead married Amelia Dunnet Sutherland on 11 July 1908.[41] She died at 1 Laverockbank Avenue on 12 August 1911.[42] He married his second wife, Jane Cumberland in 1925,[43] a year after her divorce from her first husband William Henry Bowie on grounds of desertion.[44] She died at the home of her daughter in Fairmilehead on 05 June 1973.[45]
[1] PO Directories 1874 to 1906.
[2] Baptisms index (OPR) Scotland. Canongate, Edinburgh. 21 October 1839. MUIRHEAD, James. 685/3 370/ 58. https://scotlandspeople.gov.uk: accessed 22 October 2024.
[3] Census records. Scotland. Edinburgh. 07 April 1861. MUIRHEAD, James. 685/4 78/ 03. Ancestry collection ‘1861 Scotland Census.’ https://ancestry.co.uk: accessed 20 October 2024.
[4] Death announcements. 1865. Caledonian Mercury. 25 May 1865. MUIRHEAD, Charles. p. 04, col. 06. https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk: accessed 07 July 2021.
[5] Deaths (SR) Scotland. Leith North, Edinburgh. 13 April 1915. MUIRHEAD, James. 692/1 166. https://scotlandspeople.gov.uk: accessed …
[6] Baptisms (OPR) Scotland. Rousay, Orkney. 14 November 1844. ALEXANDER, Mary. 024/ 20/ 93. Ancestry collection ‘Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950.’ https://ancestry.co.uk: accessed 03 January 2024.
[7] Census records. Scotland. Rousay and Egilsay, Orkney. 07 April 1861. ALEXANDER, Magnus. 24/ 01/ 04. Ancestry collection ‘1861 Scotland Census.’ https://ancestry.co.uk: accessed 22 October 2024.
[8] Deaths (SR) Scotland. Leith North, Edinburgh. 17 September 1934. MUIRHEAD, Mary. 685/9 283. https://scotlandspeople.gov.uk: accessed 12 March 2024.
[9] Births (SR) Scotland. St Andrew, Edinburgh. 24 March 1968. ALEXANDER, James. 685/2 223. https://scotlandspeople.gov.uk: accessed 21 October 2024.
[10] Cemetery registers. Scotland. Warriston, Edinburgh. 17 November 1908. MUIRHEAD, James Alexander. BR0008. Edinburgh City Archives. Ancestry collection ‘Edinburgh, Scotland, Cemetery Registers, 1771-1935.’ https://ancestry.co.uk: accessed 21 October 2024.
[11] Marriages index (SR) Scotland. St Andrew, Edinburgh. 1889. MUIRHEAD, James A. and THOMSON, Helen Morgan. 685/2 480. https://scotlandspeople.gov.uk: accessed 21 October 2024.
[12] Census records. Scotland. Edinburgh. 05 April 1891. MUIRHEAD, James (Head). 685A/2 13/ 09. Ancestry collection ‘1891 Scotland Census.’ https://ancestry.co.uk: accessed 20 October 2024.
[13] Census records. Scotland. Leith, Edinburgh. 31 March 1901. MUIRHEAD, James (Head). 692/1 22/ 16. Ancestry collection ‘1901 Scotland Census.’ https://ancestry.co.uk: accessed 20 October 2024.
[14] Births (SR) Scotland. Edinburgh. 02 June 1869. MUIRHEAD, Mary Alexander. 685/2 487. https://scotlandspeople.gov.uk: accessed 21 October 2024.
[15] Census records. Scotland. Leith, Edinburgh. 31 March 1901. MUIRHEAD, James (Head). 692/1 22/ 16. Ancestry collection ‘1901 Scotland Census.’ https://ancestry.co.uk: accessed 20 October 2024.
[16] Census records. Scotland. St Bernard’s, Edinburgh. 02 April 1911. MUIRHEAD, Mary. 685/1 25/ 04. https://scotlandspeople.gov.uk: accessed 21 October 2024.
[17] Deaths (SR) Scotland. Leith, Edinburgh. 08 January 1953. MUIRHEAD, Mary Alexander. 685/8 26. https://scotlandspeople.gov.uk: accessed 21 October 2024.
[18] Births (SR) Scotland. St Andrew, Edinburgh. 10 January 1871. MUIRHEAD, Elizabeth. 685/2 23. https://scotlandspeople.gov.uk: accessed 21 October 2024.
[19] Census records. Scotland. Inveresk and Musselburgh, Midlothian. 31 March 1901. MUIRHEAD, Elizabeth. 689/ 11/ 02. Ancestry collection ‘1901 Scotland Census.’ https://ancestry.co.uk: accessed 12 March 2024.
[20] Midlothian and Peebles District Asylum. Admission form. Index only. 13 August 1909. MUIRHEAD, Elizabeth. Patient number 100285. MC2/605. National Records of Scotland. https://www.scottishindexes.com/: accessed 20 October 2024.
[21] Bangour Asylum. Admission form. Index only. 26 May 1910. MUIRHEAD, Elizabeth. Patient number 100285. MC2/614. National Records of Scotland. https://www.scottishindexes.com/: accessed 20 October 2024.
[22] Dundee District Asylum. Admission form. Index only. 19 May 1915. MUIRHEAD, Elizabeth. Patient number 100285. MC2/674. National Records of Scotland. https://www.scottishindexes.com/: accessed 20 October 2024.
[23] Deaths (SR) Scotland. Liff and Benvie, Angus. 25 December 1916. MUIRHEAD, Elizabeth. 301/ 87. https://scotlandspeople.gov.uk: accessed 20 October 2024.
[24] Births (SR) Scotland. Edinburgh. 18 September 1872. MUIRHEAD, Margaret. 685/2 841. https://scotlandspeople.gov.uk: accessed 20 October 2024.
[25] Marriages index (SR) Scotland. St George, Edinburgh. 18 September 1897. MUIRHEAD, Margaret and HIGSON, John Russell. 685/1 465. https://scotlandspeople.gov.uk: accessed 20 October 2024.
[26] Medical Register 1901. Ancestry collection ‘UK and Ireland, Medical Registers, 1859-1943.’ https://ancestry.co.uk: accessed 20 October 2024.
[27] Probate records. England. London. Administration. 08 May 1959. HIGSON, Margaret Russell. Ancestry collection ‘England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995.’ https://ancestry.co.uk: accessed 20 October 2024.
[28] Births (SR) Scotland. Edinburgh. 09 November 1874. MUIRHEAD, Charles. 685/1 1753. https://scotlandspeople.gov.uk: accessed 02 January 2024.
[29] Census records. Scotland. ST George, Edinburgh. 05 April 1891. MUIRHEAD, Charles. 685A/2 13/ 09. Ancestry collection ‘1891 Scotland Census.’ https://ancestry.co.uk: accessed 20 October 2024.
[30] Friends of Saughton Park. (2019) ‘The History of Saughton Park.’ https://www.friendsofsaughtonpark.org/history-of-saughton-park-1: accessed 03 January 2024.
[31] Saughtonhall Asylum. Admission Form. Index only. 16 November 1892. MUIRHEAD, Charles. MC2/ 404. National Records of Scotland. https://www.scottishindexes.com/hentry.aspx?hid=749204: accessed 03 January 2024.
[32] Census records. Scotland. Inveresk and Musselburgh, Midlothian. 31 March 1901. MUIRHEAD, Charles. 689/ 11/ 02. Ancestry collection ‘1901 Scotland Census.’ https://ancestry.co.uk: accessed 12 March 1924.
[33] Midlothian and Peebles District Asylum. Admission form. Index only. 13 August 1909. MUIRHEAD, Charles. Patient number 100284. MC2/605. National Records of Scotland. https://www.scottishindexes.com/hentry.aspx?hid=749204: accessed 03 January 2024.
[34] Bangour Asylum. Admission form. Index only. 27 May 1910. MUIRHEAD, Charles. Patient number 100284. MC2/614. National Records of Scotland. https://www.scottishindexes.com/hentry.aspx?hid=749204: accessed 03 January 2024.
[35] Deaths (SR) Scotland. Ecclesmachan, West Lothian. 23 December 1926. MUIRHEAD, Charles. 666/ 109. https://scotlandspeople.co.uk: accessed 03 January 2024.
[36] Births (SR) Scotland. St George, Edinburgh. 11 April 1876. MUIRHEAD, William George. 685/1 586. https://scotlandspeople.gov.uk: accessed 20 October 2024.
[37] Census records. Scotland. Edinburgh. 05 April 1891. MUIRHEAD, William George. 685A/2 13/ 09. Ancestry collection ‘1891 Scotland Census.’ https://ancestry.co.uk: accessed 20 October 2024.
[38] Census records. Scotland. St George, Edinburgh. 31 March 1901. MUIRHEAD, William G. 685/1 46/ 10. Ancestry collection ‘1901 Scotland Census.’ https://ancestry.co.uk: accessed 20 October 2024.
[39] PO Directory 1902-03.
[40] Death Announcements. Scotland. The Scotsman. 26 September 1955. MUIRHEAD. p. 10, col. 2. https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk: accessed 20 October 2024.
[41] Marriage announcements. Scotland. The Scotsman. 13 July 1908. MUIRHEAD – SUTHERLAND. p. 12, col. 8. https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk: accessed 20 October 2024.
[42] Death announcements. Scotland. The Scotsman. 14 August 1911. MUIRHEAD, Amelia Dunnet Sutherland. p. 12, col. 7. https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk: accessed 13 March 2024.
[43] Marriages index (SR) Scotland. St Giles, Edinburgh. 1925. MUIRHEAD, William George and CUMBERLAND, Jane. 685/4 1112. https://scotlandspeople.gov.uk: accessed 20 October 2024.
[44] ‘Undefended Divorce Cases.’ The Scotsman. 01 November 1924. p. 12, col. 4. https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk: accessed 13 March 2024.
[45] Death announcements. The Scotsman. 07 June 1973. MUIRHEAD, Jane. p. 22, col. 2. https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk: accessed 13 March 2024.