Number 29 - Information on residents
1808 – 1812 William and wife (name not known) Jackson In 1807, William Jackson (here possibly caricatured as A Jack in Office by Robert Dighton) was appointed to the post of solicitor of the Excise Office, in place of John Bonar, a noted scholar and treasurer of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Jackson and his wife moved into the newly built Albany Street house and in 1809 had a daughter. There is an account of Jackson defending his officers who had seized furniture from a Mrs Brumhall in lieu of unpaid fines. When asked by the authorities why the furniture had been taken, he explained that normally they would take cattle in lieu of the fines but in parts of the country where cattle could not be found, furniture was taken instead. He explained that it often was the practice of the inhabitants to drive away the cattle at night, and bring them back in the morning when the excise officers had gone. It seems likely that Jackson became ill for he was replaced as Solicitor of Excise in 1809 and died in 1812. In 1834 there was an investigation into the process of admitting new members to the bar and John Currwood, an advocate, recounted the difficulty he had experienced when young. The account refers to Jackson, and his father, also a solicitor, and underlines the significance of contacts in advancing careers at the time: ‘When I was called to the Bar it was necessary to be introduced. I myself at the time knew no bencher but my friend William Jackson, who was afterwards Solicitor of Excise in Scotland: when I mentioned the fact to him, he said, “I will give you a letter to Mr B__, he is an intimate friend of my father’s.” I gave that letter to him. After dinner that day Mr B came out of the bench Chamber and said to me, “I have proposed you; but this letter was only from the young man; you will bring me a letter from his father.” I anticipated no objection, and then applied to my friend William to get a letter from his father. I only know what passed between him and his father from his report: he informed me that his father said to him, “William, what a damned situation you have put me into; I have had a quarrel with this fellow [Mr B], and this is a trick to compel me to ask a favour of him, which I cannot do.” Upon which I went to Mr B and said, “Sir, I am in an unfortunate situation, I cannot bring the letter you require, from circumstances which perhaps you may know.” He turned short upon his heel and said, “Then, Sir, you must get somebody else to propose you.” Now at that time, which was more than 30 years ago, when I was a young man, I was destitute of family connections, for I was the only make person of my race living; I had neither father nor mother nor uncle, and my society was chiefly with young men of my own standing and situation, but among my friends I got a letter to Sir Arthur Pigot. He went to propose me but was told Mr B had proposed me before and asked why I did not proceed with him, and declined to assist. I presume it raised an imputation of some kind against me though it was not of my doing.’
Advert from 1811 (house number then 14)
1812 – 1825 Matthew and Edward Pemberton
Matthew Pemberton had begun working with the Customs Office as Clerk and Storekeeper, then later was promoted to Secretary to the Board of Customs and Excise in Scotland. In this role he signed contracts for alterations and additions on the Customs House and Excise Office at Leith (early engraving) for which he had responsibility. His brother, Edward, began as an Assistant Clerk to the Customs, and later worked as a Clerk there.
In 1825, just before the Pembertons moved to Bellevue Crescent, one of their new servants, Isaac Simpson, was arrested for having broken into their Albany street house and stolen 25 gold sovereigns. Simpson had been born in Gibraltar to a soldier and served in the army before becoming a servant. Simpson pleaded guilty, presented favourable references from previous employers, plead leniency as he had four children, and blamed intoxication for his crime. This probably saved him from the gallows, but did not prevent him from being sentenced to fourteen years transportation. There was a suggestion that another woman was involved as his wife, when asked where the 25 gold sovereigns had gone, said she did not know, but knew that Isaac had been ‘gracious with the cook’ at his previous employment. Burns used a similar term in Tam O'Shanter, when referring to the landlady of the hostel that Tam frequented on that famous night. Along with 120 other prisoners, Simpson sailed on the ship, The Minstrel, to Australia. For the whole of the 160 day trip he, like all the prisoners, was kept locked below decks.
Matthew died in 1828.
1825 – 1854 Josiah and Joanna (neé Wise) Maxton & John Maxton
See Number 17
1854 – 1858 Sir Adam Ferguson and Lady Margaret Ferguson (neé Stewart)
The Fergusons were elderly when they moved here from George Square. (The couple in their George Square house by David Cooke Gibson - collection National Galleries of Scotland). Margaret, the widow of George Lyon, married Ferguson in 1821. Adam Ferguson was the eldest son of the famous philosopher, Professor Adam Ferguson. While a student at Edinburgh University he met Walter Scott , who also was studying there, and the two remained life-long friends. While students, Ferguson and Scott were members of a number of clubs and looking back on that time Scott wrote: ‘I cannot applaud in all respects the way in which our days were spent. There was too much idleness, and sometimes too much conviviality: but our hearts were warm, our minds honourably bent on knowledge and literary distinction.’ No mention is made of the drinking although given their young age and Ferguson’s fondness for a drink or three, one suspects the exchange of knowledge was oiled by much wine. Scott once recalled Ferguson visiting him and recounting that he had sat till four o'clock with a crony, drinking wine and water. "Wine and water!" exclaimed Scott in astonishment, never having suspected his friend of watering down his drinks. ‘Yes,’ replied Ferguson, ‘I drank the wine and he drank the water.’ Through his friendship with Ferguson, Scott often visited the famous Professor Ferguson's house which he later described as: 'a general point of reunion among his friends, particularly of a Sunday, where there generally met, at a hospitable dinner party, the most distinguished literati of the old time who still remained, with such young persons as were thought worthy to approach their circle, and listen to their conversation'. It was there, aged sixteen, that Scott had his one meeting with Robert Burns. Scott and Ferguson went on a number of trips together. In July 1797, on a visit to the English Lake district, while riding near Gilsland they met a young woman on horseback. Both were much taken by her appearance and discovered that she would be attending a local ball that evening. So, dressed in their bright red Edinburgh Volunteers uniforms, the two friends swaggered into the dance. Young Charlotte Carpenter was more than happy to dance with both the Scottish beaus, but it was Scott that she let accompany her to supper, and so began a whirlwind romance that resulted in Scott and Carpenter marrying on Christmas Eve.
Although Adam Ferguson had studied law alongside Scott, he knew a law career would not suit him. Instead he joined the army in 1800, serving under the Duke of Wellington. His zestful approach to life and his bravery, or possibly simple recklessness, is splendidly exemplified in Sir Morgan O’Doherty’s account of Ferguson at war: ‘In the battle of Albuera [during the Peninsula War in Spain] was Adam Ferguson, then a captain in – I forget what regiment; and he, on the morning of the fight, had received a copy of The Lady of the Lake, sent to him by the author, his old, and to the last, his attached friend. Sir Adam had begun to read the book, when the attack of the Polish lancers commenced, and he was obliged to attend to combat more personally pressing than the adventures of “the stag who had at morn drank his fill”. After a short time his regiment halted under some cover – perhaps a wall – perhaps a hedge – and there while the firing and charging of the French were going forward fast and furious, under a canopy of bullets, Sir Adam read, to a large circle of congregated soldiers, (officers, my dear fellow, were soldiers in those days, whatever they may be now), The Lady of the Lake. There is a situation for you! The poetry of Scott recited to the hoarse music of the musket and the cannon, and the clinking treble of the clashing sabre and bayonet. I often wished David Wilkie would paint a picture on this subject.’
Ferguson was taken prisoner during Wellington's retreat from Burgos in 1812 and not released till the peace of 1814. When he left the army in 1816, Scott housed Ferguson and his two sisters in the mansion-house of Totfield, on Scott;s Abbotsford estate. When Ferguson married Margaret Stewart in 1821, Scott recounted: ‘The noble Captain Ferguson was married on Monday last. I was present at the bridal, where the Captain advanced in a jaunty military step, with a kind of leer on his face that seemed to quiz the whole affair. I have sent John of Skye with Tom, and all the rabblement which they can collect, to play the pipes, shout, and fire guns below the Captain's windows this morning; and I am just going over to hover about on my pony, and witness their reception. The happy pair returned to Huntly Burn on Saturday; but yesterday being Sunday, we permitted them to enjoy their pillows in quiet. This morning they must not expect to get off so well.’ See also Sir Walter Scott and Albany Street
A year later Ferguson was knighted at Hopetoun House by George the Fourth during the King’s brief state visit to Scotland. It was reported that the King lunched sparingly on turtle soup and three glasses of wine before knighting Ferguson and Sir Henry Raeburn, the Scottish portraitist, in the Yellow Drawing Room using Lord Hopetoun's sword. When asked afterwards how he had found the ceremony Ferguson jested; ‘His Majesty just gave a smart slap o' the shouther with the back of sword, and said, “Rise, Sir Adam Ferguson.” The shouther was a wee bit bruised, but I just rubbed it wi’ a little ' yellow basilicon [an ointment that was believed to have 'sovereign' virtues] and its aw' weel enough now.’
Ferguson continued his official duties as Keeper of the Scottish ‘Honours’, including participating in official visits. When the Nepalese Ambassador visited Edinburgh in 1850: ‘His party were then conducted to the Crown Room, where they were received by Sir Adam Ferguson. The Prince seemed very much struck with the richness and brilliancy of the jewellery with which the Crown is ornamented.’
Scott said of Ferguson: 'he has the lightest and most airy temper with the best and kindliest disposition.’ Scott also recorded in his journal written during his last year: ‘Sir Adam Ferguson breakfasted — one of the few old friends left out of the number of my youthful companions. In youth we have many companions, few friends.’ Elizabeth Grant, the author of Memoirs of a Highland Lady, lived near Sir Adam and Lady Ferguson and often visited. She said of Ferguson: ‘He was fond in the summer of walking excursions in two or three localities where he had friends, in the Perthshire Highlands, along the coasts of Fife and Forfar, and in the Border country, the heights along the Tweed, etc. Mark the points well. His acquaintances were of all ranks. He had eyes, ears, observation of all kinds, a wonderful memory, extraordinary powers of imitation, a pleasure in detailing – acting, in fact - all that occurred to him.’
Ferguson died in Albany Street on Christmas Day 1855 aged eighty five and Lady Ferguson two years later.
1858 – 1859 Ann Bruce (neé Bell)
Ann Bruce was the widow of James Bruce of Powfoulis. She had previously lived in York Place with her son, John, a solicitor. On her husband’s death the estate and Mansion House at Powfoulis, near Falkirk, passed to the eldest son, James, and this perhaps obliged her to find alternative accommodation.
1859 – 1868 Lodgings
These were run by Mrs Hislop until 1861.
1861 Lodger – John and Jane (neé Earle) Grieg
John Grieg was a Superintending Surgeon in the East India Company Bengal Army. In 1848, he and Jane, widowed two years previously, married. She was the illegitimate child of Lt Col. John Augustus Shadwell, an officer in the Bengal Army, and had been conceived while he was serving as Lieutenant in 26th Native Infantry in Cawnpore in 1805. She was christened in Calcutta in 1808, three years after her birth. She was given his name. In 1821, when she was only sixteen, she married William Henry Earle, also serving in the Bengal army. They had at least three children, Mary Anne, Charlotte and William. William joined the Bengal army and became a Major General.
One of Jane’s daughters from her first marriage, Charlotte, married Lieutenant Colonel Richard Simeon in India in 1847. Lodging with John and Jane were Charlotte’s two children, and it seems possible that the grandparent/step-grandparent had travelled back to Edinburgh to allow the children to attend school, while Richard and Charlotte remained in India.
1868 – 1876 William and Georgina (neé Touchet) Robertson
The Robertsons moved here from Drummond Place. William and Georgina had married in 1834. They had four surviving children: William, a Captain in the 79th Highlanders; John, nothing traced; George, a planter in the West Indies; and Gertrude, nothing traced.
William Robertson was the Minister of New Greyfriars Church. At this time Greyfriars Kirk was divided into two parts, the old and the new, by a dividing wall. The wall was removed in the 1930s. In the 1860s, the minister of the other section, the Old Kirk, was Dr Robert Lee, who led a movement to reform worship. He introduced a harmonium to accompany the singing, followed five years later by the first organ to be installed and kept in any Presbyterian church in Scotland. As well as introducing the first post-reformation stained glass windows, he also used a service book and encouraged the congregation to kneel for prayers and to stand for singing. Whether the elderly William Robertson brought in similar innovations in his half of the church is not known. However, he was widely regarded for his work in helping the disadvantaged, including, in 1846, establishing The Vennel Ragged School, the first of its kind in Edinburgh. The William Robertson Memorial Mission Church in the Grassmarket was erected to his memory.
Robertson enjoyed travelling. One of his books, published in 1845, was Journal of a Clergyman during a Visit to the Peninsula. In 1862 Robertson gave a lecture entitled Adventures on the High Alps: ‘an admirable description of the peculiarities of the Swiss scenery, the theory of the glaciers, and very interesting and amusing accounts of Alpine travelling.’
As Minister of Greyfriars Robertson would have been one of those who first noted the small Skye terrier dog that became a resident in the church’s graveyard in the 1860s, staying there for fourteen years, guarding the grave of John Gray who had fed the dog in the years before his death. The dog, named Bobby, would have been destroyed being a stray had it not been for the then Lord Provost, William Chambers, who, in 1867, arranged for the city to pay Bobby’s dog licence fee. In 1872 Bobby died and later that year his famous statue was erected on George IV Bridge, near the entrance to the Graveyard. The Robertsons moved to Royal Terrace and William died in 1882. 1876 – 1890 George and Jane Begg George Begg’s wife had died three years previously and he moved here with his mother who helped look after his nine year old son, Alexander. Begg was a solicitor (SSC) and he, and his partner, James Murray, operated their law practice from the house. He married Jane around 1877, who although only 21, was a widow. They had three children but George died in 1878, leaving Jane with the four children to look after. Begg’s partner, Murray, and later others, continued to practise under the name of Begg & Murray. When the family and the law practice finally moved out Jane advertised the furniture for sale, including George Begg’s Chamber Organ. 1890 – 1898 James Paul and Margaret (neé ?) Smith The couple moved here with their five young children. Smith was the brother of Archbishop Smith, the Catholic Bishop of Edinburgh and worked as the President of St Mary’s Cathedral Club. He died in 1898 and at his funeral in the cathedral special mention was made of his quiet and religious life, and his interest in the welfare of the parish. James died here in 1898.
1898 – 1904 Adelaide Elliott and her niece, Eleanor McHardy
Nothing known except that in 1901, Miss McHardy is listed as one of those volunteering to undertake door to door collections to raise funds for the Shilling Fund, a form of fund-raising (everyone giving one shilling) popular at the time. Then the following year she assisted in organising a charity dance to raise funds for the League of Pity.