Family Group Sheet

Husband         James CONSTABLE

Born

[Record not searched]

Baptised

23 February 1794, Abernyte, Perthshire

Married

28 November 1818, Errol, Perthshire

Died

(Unverified) 1864, age 70 years, Errol (D/351/1864/12 Errol)

Buried

[Record not searched - presumably Errol Burying Ground]

Husband’s Father:  James CONSTABLE    

Husband’s Mother:  Elizabeth CRAIK      

Other wives:  none

     

Notes:  Farm servant (1875).  1851 Census records, living at Cowgate Lane, Errol, James Constable, farm servant, born Abernethy (sic), Perthshire, 56 yrs, married [source: findmypast]. 

 

Wife                 Euphemia SYMON

Born

[no record found]

Baptised

Sunday 10 April 1796, Errol, Perthshire

Died

Thursday 05 August 1875, 80 years old [actually was 79 years old], Errol village, Perthshire; c.o.d. Valvular disease of heart (2 years); Dropsy (4 months); Strangulated hernia operation, 12 days [before] death. As certified by J. Wylie, Physician & Surgeon, Errol; informant William Constable, Son (D/351/1875/32 Errol).  Death Notice: Perthshire Courier, Tuesday 10 August 1875, 3A: "At Errol, on the 5th Instant, Euphemia Symon, relict of the late James Constable, Errol, in her 80th year."

Buried

[Record not searched - presumably Errol Burying Ground]

Wife’s Father: David SYMON [AN064]

Wife’s Mother: Elizabeth WILSON [AN065]

Other husbands  none

     

Notes:]1841 Census [on findmypast]: Errol village, entry: James Constable, 45 yrs, Uphimea Constable, 40, Margery (20), William (11), John (5), Hellan (0), all born Perthshire.

 

1851 Census [on findmypast] records an entry for Euphemia Constable as head of household, living in Cowgate Lane, Errol [same street as the entry for James Constable, above], married, 54 yrs, farm labourer's wife, born Errol, living in same household as her three unmarried children: John Constable, her son, 15 yrs, "Pupil teacher", born Errol; Helen Constable, her daughter, 10 yrs, "schooler", born Errol; and Euphemia Constable, her daughter, 25 yrs, hand loom weaver, born Errol. We can probably conclude that James and Euphemia were living in the same household, despite the confusing findmypast entries.

 

Cowgate Lane is probably present day Church Lane. It was also sometimes simply "Cowgate", while occasionally the narrow wynd leading north from Pond Green (off present Church Lane) to High Street/Station Road, was known as Cowgate Lane.

 

Children

Sex     Name

Born

Married

Died

1 F  Elizabeth CONSTABLE

 

(mother's mother's name)

 

 

Bap. Sunday 05 September 1819 Errol, Perthshire.

[not living in parents' and siblings' household in Errol in 1841 Census - findmypast]

 3 deaths of an Elizabeth Constable in St Andrew (Dundee):

1890, 79 yrs (282/4/1119);

1913, 89 yrs (282/4/622);

1914, 90 yrs (282/4/149)

2 F  Margaret CONSTABLE (Margery)

 

 

Bap. Sunday 03 September 1820 Fowlis Easter, Angus.

 1841 Census: "Margery" Constable, 20 yrs, born Perthshire [findmypast] - living with parents and siblings in Errol.

 

Possibly (unverified): 1920, age 88 years, Forfar (D/288-A/1920/26 Forfar); OR 1896, age 75 years, Lundie and Fowlis (D/306/1896/2 Lundie and Fowlis)

3 M  James CONSTABLE

 

(father's name)

Bap. Sunday 16 February 1823 Errol, Perthshire. 

[not recorded as living in parents' household in Errol in either 1841 or 1851 Census - findmypast]

 

[unverified - findmypast] 24 March 1871, Dundee: Sarah Ann SMITH (M/1871/282-2/53 St Mary)

 

1871 Census: 3, Tofthill, Liff and Benvie parish, Angus. James Constable, head, married, 48, "Camb [missprint?] builder", born Errol, Perthshire; Sarah Constable, wife, married, 60, no occupation, born Errol, Perthshire [unverified - findmypast]

 

[unverified - findmypast] death of Sarah Constable, 1888, 78 yrs, Lochee, Dundee (D/1888/282-5/123 Lochee)

 

1891 Census: Tofthill, Liff and Benvie parish, Angus: James Constable, head [no other HH member], widower, 68, "Camb builder", born Errol, Perthshire [unverified - findmypast]

 

 

Possibly (unverified): 1906, age 83 years, Lochee (D/282-5/1906/144 Lochee)

4 F  Euphemia CONSTABLE

 

(mother's name)

 

Born Friday 15 April 1825 OR Bap. Sunday 15 May 1825 Errol, Perthshire.

Living with mother [and father] in Cowgate Lane, Errol, unmarried, age 25 years, hand loom weaver, in 1851 Census.

 

[not recorded in 1841 Census in parents' and siblings' household, Errol]

 

[Unverified] Errol, Perthshire, 31 December 1852: Hugh CAMERON, born in Errol, circa 1814-1816. [findmypast]

 

2 daughters: Elizabeth, born circa 1854, Errol; and Helen, born circa 1857, Errol.

 

1861 Census: living in Ann Street [Hilltown], Dundee, Euphemia Cameron, 36 yrs, born Perthshire, no occupation, married; Hugh Cameron, married, 45, jute cloth measurer, born Perthshire; with their 2 daughters Elizabeth, 7 yrs, born Perthshire, scholar; and Helen, 4, born Perthshire, scholar. [findmypast]

 

1871 Census: living at 17 Princes Street [in vicinity of Baxter Brothers' Dens Works, Wallace Craigie Mill and Wallace Mill; present day A929 towards Forfar], Dundee: Hue (sic) Cameron, married, 53 yrs, Mill Overseer; Euphemia Cameron, his wife, married, 47 yrs, mill overseer's wife; Elizabeth Cameron, daughter, unmarried, 17 yrs, reeler; and Helen Cameron, daughter, unmarried, 15 yrs, weaver; all born in Errol, Perthshire [findmypast].

 

Marriage: 25 July 1873, Elisabeth Cameron to Andrew WATT;1881 Census, 26 Kidd Street, Dundee: Andrew Watt, married, 31 yrs, Dresser (Factory), born Dundee; Elizabeth Watt, wife, married, 27, no occupation, born Errol, Perthshire; their daughter, Euphemia, 3 yrs, born Dundee; and boarder, Jessie Robertson, 5 years, scholar, born Dundee [findmypast].

 

1881 Census: living at 31 Princes Street, Dundee: Hugh Cameron, widower, 65 yrs, Mill Overseer; and Helen Cameron, daughter, unmarried, 24 yrs, Linen Weaver; both born Errol, Perthshire [findmypast].

 

1891 Census: living at Princes Street, Dundee: Hugh Cameron, widower, Farm Servant, retired, 76 yrs, born Perthshire; and Helen S Cameron, daughter, unmarried, 34 yrs, jute weaver, born Perthshire [findmypast].

 

 

 

(Unverified): 1879, 54 years old, St Andrews, Dundee (D/282-4/1879/305 St Andrews Dundee).

 

(Unverified) death of a Hugh Cameron, 1895, 75 yrs, Dundee (D/1895/282-4/679 St Andrew (Dundee))

5 M  David CONSTABLE

 

 

Bap. Sunday 08 July 1827 Kinnaird, Perthshire.

[not recorded in 1841 Census entry for his parents and siblings]

[not found after 1854]

6 M  William CONSTABLE

Bap. Sunday 30 August 1829 Kinnaird, Perthshire.

(Unverified): 1869, Errol: Catherine [or Cathrine] SYMON (M/351/1869/9 Errol).  Children: William (born 1870).

 

1871 Census has William and Catherine Constable, married, 41 and 35 respectively, living in Errol with son William, under 12 months old. William senior's occupation is "salmon fisher".

 

1881 Census records William and Catherine Constable, married, 51 and 46 respectively, living on Cowgate Road, Errol, with son William, 10. William senior's occupation is "fisher".]

 

1901 Census records William Constable joiner, single, 30, living on Cowgate Lane, Errol as only other occupier of household headed by his mother, Catherine Constable, widow, 65.

 

1881 Census also records, on High Street, Errol, a household headed by Cathrine Symon, widow, 79, pauper, with other household members: Eliza Constable, granddaughter, 8; Jessie Constable, granddaughter, 5; and James Robertson, grandson, 23, plasterer, unmarried.

Possibly (unverified): 1899, age 69 years, Errol (D/351/1899/18 Errol).

7 M John CONSTABLE

Born Friday 01 January 1836 and baptised Sunday 24 January 1836 Errol, Perthshire.

(Unverified): 10 July 1860, Errol: Isabella SANDERS (M/351/1860/10 Errol).

 

"John [Constable], M.D., a physician, practising at Leuchars, Fifeshire, and a J.P. for the county of Fife" (Rogers, Four Perthshire Families, 1887, p.100)

 

Numerous mentions of Dr John Constable, Leuchars, in local press of the period.[1]

 

1871 Census has John, 35 yrs, and Isabella Constable, 38 yrs, married, living at 86 Wellbank, Leuchars, Fife. Anne Muir, 19, single, born in Leuchars, was living with them as a domestic servant. John's occupation is General Practitioner, MD and CM University of Glasgow. Isabella's occupation is "wife of the above".

 

1881 Census has John, 45 yrs, and Isabella Constable, 47 yrs, same occupations as above, married, both born in Errol, Perthshire, living in Leuchars; also in household is Georgina Robertson, domestic servant, 29 yrs, single, born in St Andrews, Fife. 

 

1891 Census, Wellbank House, Leuchars, John (55 yrs) and Isabella (57 yrs), and Mary Norman, 22, single, domestic servant, born Newburgh, Fife.

 

1901 Census, Wellbank, Leuchars village, Fife, James (65) and Isabella (67) Constable, and Mary Norman, 30, single, domestic servant, born newburgh, Fife.

 

(Unverified) Isabella SANDERS or CONSTABLE died 1905, age 78 years, Leuchars (D/445/1905/20 Leuchars)

Possibly (unverified): 1910, age 74 years, Leuchars (D/445/1910/7 Leuchars).

8 F  Helen CONSTABLE

Bap. Sunday 02 August 1840 Errol, Perthshire.

1864, Perth: William ELDER (M/387/1864/18 Perth). (b. 1833, d. 1896 Errol)

 

Living with her mother [and father] in Cowgate Lane, Errol, age 10 years, "schooler", in 1851 Census.

 

[unverified: Margaret ELDER, born 1862, Errol (B/1862/351/58 Errol) (d 1955, 87 yrs)]

 

(1) Euphemia ELDER, born 1864, Errol (B/1864/351/61 Errol) died 1919, 54 yrs, Errol (D/1919/351/7 Errol) ; Euphemia Symon ELDER married William Tait ANDERSON, 1892, Errol (M/1892/351/8 Errol)

[Possible son, unverified): William, born 1867, Longforgan (B/1867/377/40 Longforan); died 1870, age 3 years, Errol (D/351/1870/16 Errol)]

 

[unverified: Helen Alexander ELDER, born 1868, Errol (B/1868/351/6 Errol), died 1943, 75 yrs]

 

(2) James ELDER ("Jimmy"), born 1874, Errol (B/1874/351/40 Errol), mason latterly working with James S. Symon & Son, Errol, resided High Street, Errol; died 1958, 83 yrs, Errol (D/1958/351/4 Errol), married Bethia Thompson TYRIE, 1905, Errol (M/1905/351/5 Errol)  Bethia Tyrie or Elder died, 1973, 91 yrs, Perth (D/1973/390/500 Perth)

 

- their 3 daughters, all nurses, resided Daleally Crescent, Errol after death of father, were Sunday School teachers:

 

(i) Jessie Bruce Tyrie ELDER, born 1906 (B/1906/351/4 Errol), died 1990, 84 yrs, Perth (D/1990/390/980 Perth);

 

(ii) Helen Margaret ELDER ("Nellie"), born 1908, Errol (B/1908/351/42 Errol), died 1988, 79 yrs, Perth (D/1988/390/122 Perth);

 

(iii) Bethia Elizabeth ELDER, born 1914, Errol (B/1914/351/14 Errol), died 1994, 79 yrs, Perth (D/1994/390/202 Perth).

 

Agnes ELDER, b. 1912, Errol (B/1912/351/25 Errol), m. 1942 William Wilson TAIT, architect (M/1942/351/6 Errol), lived in Edinburgh after marriage. Willie Tait was one of the Tait builder family from Errol, two of them working as builders in Errol in the late 1940s.

 

(3) Symon ELDER, born 1876, Errol (B/1876/351/8 Errol) (d 1941, 65 yrs) (m Lottie JONES, d. 1945, 65 yrs) [no record of marriage or death found in Scotland] [unverified record of James Symon ELDER died Carnoustie]

 

(4) Agnes Paterson ELDER born 1877, Errol (B/1877/351/32 Errol), Agnes ELDER died 1878, 10 months, Errol (D/351/15 Errol)

 

(5) John Constable ELDER, born 1879, Errol (B/1879/351/47 Errol)  (d 1942, 52 yrs; interred San Mateo, California, U.S.A.)

 

(Unless otherwise stated, information is from memorial of William Elder and Helen Constable, Errol burying ground, July 2017)

 

(Unverified) Helen CONSTABLE or ELDER, 1903, age 63 years, Errol (D/351/1903/29 Errol)

 

William ELDER died in 1896, 62 years, Errol (D/351/1896/10 Errol)

 

Memorial, Errol burying ground

 

References:

 

Created 03 January 2017; updated 07, 10 & 12 July 2017.

 

Jimmy Elder worked as a mason overseas as a younger man, possibly in Argentina or Ameria, as a number of Errol men did, on a seasonal basis. He latterly worked for Peter Symon, partner in James S. Symon & Son, Errol. Peter's son, Scot Symon (my father), remembers visiting a job with his father that Jimmy was doing, restoring the bell and clock tower at Rossie Priory. As they were entering the tower, the bell started ringing, giving them all a fright. Jimmy must have been in his seventies, or at least his late sixties, at the time. Dad didn't know Jimmy Elder was his grandfather's second cousin (or his own second cousin, twice removed). Jimmy's youngest son, John, was interred in San Mateo, in the Bay Area of San Fransico, California in 1942.

 

Jimmy lived on High Street, around Northbank farm, and when he died his daughters moved into a council house on Daleally Crescent, Errol (built 1947). The Misses Elder were Sunday School teachers in Errol church and I remember being taught by one of them. They were all nurses. One of them worked in Dundee Royal Infirmary. Jimmy Shand, the famous accordionist, had treatment for cancer as an inpatient in a ward in which Nurse Elder worked and was so impressed by the care he received he composed a tune, Miss Elder's Reel, which is widely played today. 

 


[1] Dr Constable, Leuchars, attended at death of ploughman Edward Glen or Glenny, foreman on farm of Strathburn, allegedly murdered by William Williamson at Fordell Hill farm near Leuchars, Friday 18 October 1867 ("Murder of a Ploughman Near Leuchars", Dundee Courier, Monday, 21 October 1867). 

Dr Constable, Leuchars, attended but unable to save life of surfaceman George Robertson, knocked down on Saturday 19 December 1885 by 8.50 a.m. passenger train from Tayport to St Andrews on North British Railway between Leuchars and Tayport ("Fatal Railway Accident", Dundee Courier, Monday 21 December 1885, col F).  

Dr John Constable, Leuchars was witness at Fatal Accident Inquiry in Cupar Sheriff Court, 1897, into accidental death of Dundee vanman, David Smith, near St Michael's Inn, Fife on 11 May 1897  ("The Fatal Accident to a Dundee Man in Fife", Dundee Courier, 09 June 1897).

Dr Constable, Leuchars, proposed vote of thanks to the chairman, Rev. Mr Murray, F.C. (Free Church of Scotland), "for his conduct in the chair and his energy in the undertaking which they saw that day well nigh consummated" (to Applause), at the opening of Pitcairn Institute, Dairsie, on Friday 12 November 1897, including a speech by Sir John Gilmour (Dundee Courier, Saturday 13 November 1897, 5C).

[There are more than two dozen articles in the same vein as the above selection, mentioning Dr Constable, in the Dundee Courier, during the above period].