James Muirhead and his family moved from Malta House to No. 3 Malta Terrace in 1906, following the bankruptcy of his poulterer and fishmonger business.[1] He was born in Edinburgh on 21 October 1839,[2] the son of Charles Muirhead, who established the business, and his wife Elizabeth Brown. James Muirhead entered the family business and continued to trade as Charles Muirhead at 79 Queen Street, after his father’s death in 1865.[3] He extended his business interests into trawling through the company Muirhead Trawlers Ltd., located at 77 Queen Street. James Muirhead remained at No. 3 until 1912. He died at Starbank Road, Leith on 13 April 1915.[4]
Mary Alexander was recorded as the wife of James Muirhead in census records and on his death registration, but they do not appear to have formally married.[5] She was born 14 November 1844 at Rousay, Orkney, daughter of Magnus Alexander and Margaret Inksetter.[6] She died at 24 Starbank Road on 17 September 1934.[7]
James Muirhead and Mary Alexander had six children. Their eldest daughter, Mary Alexander Muirhead, was recorded living with them at No. 3 in the 1911 census.[8] She was born 02 June 1869 at 16 St Vincent Street.[9] She was recorded as a teacher of music and head of the household at No. 3 Malta Terrace in the 1911 Census.[10] She died unmarried in the first week of January 1953, at 24 Starbank Road.[11]
The youngest son of James Muirhead and Mary Alexander lived at No. 3 until his marriage in 1908. William George Muirhead was born at Malta House on 23 March 1876.[12] He followed his father and grandfather into the fish trade, but as an auctioneer and fish salesman. In the 1901 census his occupation was recorded as commission agent, and ten years later as auctioneer.[13] In Post Office Directories, his business address was the Newhaven fish market.[14]
On 11 July 1908, William George Muirhead married Amelia Dunnet Sutherland,[15] and he moved from No. 3 Malta Terrace to Laverock Bank Avenue, Leith. He died on 25 September 1955 at 19 Drumsheugh Gardens.[16]
[1] PO Directories 1905-06 and 1906-07.
[2] Baptisms (OPR) Scotland. Canongate, Edinburgh. 21 October 1839. MUIRHEAD, James. 685/3 370 58. https://scotlandspeople.gov.uk: accessed 07 July 2021.
[3] Death announcements. 1865. Caledonian Mercury. 25 May 1865. MUIRHEAD, Charles. p. 04, col. 06. https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk: accessed 07 July 2021.
[4] Deaths (SR) Scotland. North Leith, Edinburgh. 14 April 1915. MUIRHEAD, James. 692/1 166. https://scotlandspeople.gov.uk: accessed 07 July 2021.
[5] Births (SR) Scotland. Edinburgh. 11 April 1876. MUIRHEAD, William George (illegitimate). 685/1 586. https://scotlandspeople.gov.uk: accessed 07 July 2021.
[6] Baptisms (OPR) Scotland. Rousay, Orkney. 14 November 1844. ALEXANDER, Mary. 024/ 20 93. https://scotlandspeople.gov.uk: accessed 07 July 2021.
[7] Death announcements. 1934. The Scotsman. 19 September 1934. MUIRHEAD, Mary Alexander. p. 18, col. 07. https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk: accessed 07 July 2021.
[8] Census records. Scotland. St Bernard’s, Edinburgh. 02 April 1911. MUIRHEAD, Mary A. (Head). 695/1 25/ 4. https://scotlandspeople.gov.uk: accessed 30 July 2017.
[9] Births (SR) Scotland. St Andrew, Edinburgh. 23 June 1869. MUIRHEAD, Mary Alexander. 685/2 487. https://scotlandspeople.gov.uk: accessed 07 July 2021.
[10] Census records. Scotland. St Bernard’s, Edinburgh. 02 April 1911. MUIRHEAD, Mary A. (Head). 695/1 25/ 4. https://scotlandspeople.gov.uk: accessed 30 July 2017.
[11] Deaths (SR) Scotland. Leith, Edinburgh. 08 January 1853. MUIRHEAD, Mary Alexander. 685/8 26. https://scotlandspeople.gov.uk: accessed 07 July 2021.
[12] Births (SR) Scotland. Edinburgh. 11 April 1876. MUIRHEAD, William George (illegitimate). 685/1 586. https://scotlandspeople.gov.uk: accessed 07 July 2021.
[13] Census records. Scotland. Edinburgh. 31 March 1901. MUIRHEAD, James (Head). 685/1 46. https://scotlandspeople.gov.uk: accessed 07 July 2021. Census records. Scotland. St Bernard’s, Edinburgh. 02 April 1911. MUIRHEAD, Mary A. (Head). 695/1 25/ 4. https://scotlandspeople.gov.uk: accessed 30 July 2017.
[14] PO Directories 1902-03 to 1910-11.
[15] Marriages index (SR) Scotland. North Leith, Edinburgh. 1908. SUTHERLAND, William George and SUTHERLAND, Amelia Dunnet. 692/1 86. https://scotlandspeople.gov.uk: accessed 07 July 2021. Marriage announcements. 1908. The Scotsman. 13 July 1908. MUIRHEAD, William George and DUNNET, Amelia Sutherland.
[16] Deaths index (SR) Scotland. Haymarket, Edinburgh. 1955. MUIRHEAD, William George (aged 79). 685/1 562. https://scotlandspeople.gov.uk: accessed 07 July 2021. Cumberland/Hay/Richardson Tree. https://ancestry.co.uk: accessed 07 July 2021.