James Taylor Mackay

James Taylor Mackay, an Edinburgh hat manufacturer, lived at No. 8 between 1863 and 1866.¹ He lived in Danube Street before and after living in Malta Terrace. He was born in Edinburgh on 9 January 1805, son of Patrick Mackay and his wife Ann Taylor.² Patrick Mackay was also a hat manufacturer, trading in 1830 as P. Mackay and Son at 26 Gayfield Square.³ Patrick Mackay died on 17 October 1832⁴ and the business continued later under the name of James T. Mackay. When James T. Mackay lived in Malta Terrace, the business was at 64 North Bridge.⁵ He died on 1 March 1869, at 6 Mary Place.⁶

James Taylor Mackay married Jane Denholm Somerville on 11 November 1830, at St Cuthbert’s Chapel of Ease, Claremont Street, Edinburgh.⁷ She was born in 1805, daughter of William David Wightman Henderson Somerville of Fingask and Margaret Denholm. She died on 29 January 1890.⁸ James T Mackay and Jane D Somerville had eight children, all born long before the family occupied No. 8. The youngest may have been living with their parents during this time, including Henrietta Mackay (1843-1890), John Somerville Mackay (1847-1933) and Alexander Mackay (1849-1909).⁹

1. PO Directories.
2. Baptisms index (OPR). Scotland. Edinburgh. 9 January 1805. MACKAY, James. FamilySearch. Collection: Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950. https://familysearch.org: accessed 10 December 2020.
3. PO Directory 1830-1831.
4. Testaments index (ScotlandsPeople). Scotland. Edinburgh. 17 October 1832. MACKAY, Patrick. https://scotlandspeople.gov.uk: accessed 10 December 2020.
5. PO Directories.
6. Deaths (CR). Scotland. Edinburgh. 1 March 1869. MACKAY, James Taylor. 685/1 265. https://scotlandspeople.gov.uk: accessed 10 December 2020.
7. Marriages (OPR) Scotland. St Cuthbert’s, Edinburgh. 11 November 1830. MACKAY, James Taylor and SOMERVILLE, Jane Denholm. 685/2 420 143. https://scotlandspeople.gov.uk: accessed 10 December 2020.
8. Gravestone inscription. Old Calton Cemetery, Edinburgh. Find a Grave. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/74712529/jane-denholm-mackay: accessed 10 December 2020.
9. Years of birth from FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org) and years of death from gravestone in Old Calton Cemetary (Find a Grave).