Number 39 - Information on residents
1818 – 1821 Charles Hugh and Sarah (neé Ingram) TerrotThe Reverend Charles Hugh Terrot (photo c. 1860s) and Sarah moved into the house following their marriage and Terrot's appointment as minister at St. Peter's, Edinburgh. Terrot was a descendant of a family which the revocation of the edict of Nantes drove from France. His father, Elias Terrot, a captain in the Indian army, was killed at the siege of Bangalore a few weeks after his birth. His mother returned from India with Charles to Berwick-on-Tweed. He graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge with honours in mathematics and was elected a fellow of his college. In 1813, Terrot was ordained deacon and, in 1814, became the Minister at Haddington, where the leisure of a country incumbency gave him opportunity of competing for university literary honours, and in 1816 he obtained the Seatonian prize for a poem entitled Hezekiah and Sennacherib, or the Destruction of Sennacherib's Host.He was the Bishop of Edinburgh from 1841 until 1872, and engaged in a wide range of city organisations, including the Association for the Promotion of the Fine Arts and The Committee for the Erection of Public Baths. See also Religion and Royal Visits
The Terrots had fourteen children so perhaps the need for an even larger house - or a need to reduce outgoings - forced them to move to Northumberland Street after only three years here. Their eldest daughter, Sarah Anne, (photo c. 1895) who had been born in Albany Street, joined the Anglican religious order, The Sellonite Sisters.
One day in 1854, the Sellonite Sisters, who were based in the South West of England, received a telegram from Miss Sellon, the London-based Superintendent of the religious order. It requested four of the nurses who had been praised for their nursing during the recent Plymouth Cholera outbreak immediately to travel to London to meet her: ‘Let nothing prevent your reaching London tomorrow morning.’ The four,
including Sarah Terrot, set off the next morning by train, although none knew why they had been summoned. Even when they reached their Headquarters, all they were told was to wait and that Miss Sellon would see each of them individually. Eventually, it was an anxious Sister Terrot’s turn to enter Miss Sellon’s office. Without any pleasantries or asking Terrot to sit, Miss Sellon addressed her: ‘Our soldiers in the East want nurses. Some are going. I want to send eight – are you willing to be one?’ Terrot did not hesitate. ‘Of course I will go.’There had been a long-standing refusal by the War Office to employ female nurses in battle areas, but Sidney Herbert, the Secretary for War, was so concerned at the dire state of medical care for the soldiers in the Crimea he decided the use of female nurses was essential. So he wrote to Florence Nightingale: ‘There is but one person in England that I know of who would be capable of organizing and superintending such a scheme; and I have been several times on the point of asking you…My question simply is would you listen to the request to go and superintend the whole thing ?’ Nightingale agreed and approached the Sellonite Sisterhood for help.
It was not long before a newspaper reported: ‘We are happy to be enabled to announce that, under special arrangement with the Peninsular and Oriental Company, a number of surgeons, and the staff of nurses organized by Ms Nightingale, will embark on the 27th October on board the Vectics, and be conveyed by that vessel to Constantinople immediately after the delivery of the outward India mail at Malta.’ Thus, on a bright October morning in 1854, Sarah and the other nurses travelled to Marseilles to board the boat. There she met Florence Nightingale for the first time: ‘From the first moment I felt an impulse to love, trust, and respect her. Her appearance and manner impressed me with a sense of goodness and wisdom, of high mental powers highly cultivated and devoted to the highest ends.’
Her excitement at the adventure swiftly vanished in the horrors of the journey. She described her berth as ‘a coffin full of crawling creatures’ and as the Vectics was not built strong enough to challenge the hard and rough weather of the sea, it came close to sinking. Fortunately, Sarah was one of the few who did not suffer from seasickness. There must have been immense relief when the nurses finally arrived safely at the Golden Horn of Constantinople and were taken to the Barrack Hospital at Scutari. However, the relief of leaving the horrors of the ship did not last long, for their quarters at the hospital had been occupied just two days earlier by a wounded Russian general who died. The room was filthy, there was no furniture, and they slept on hard, flea-infested divans that lacked mattresses. The roof leaked, and the windows were broken. When it rained heavily, water would pour onto the floor. If the sisters did not collect it immediately, it would overflow into Nightingale’s room, directly beneath them. The situation in the rat-infested wards was even worse. The latrines were prone to backing up, and Terrot described the conditions as unfit for humans.
She worked at the Barrack Hospital from early November until the beginning of December. Then she was transferred to the General Hospital, previously a Turkish military hospital that had somewhat better facilities, although the wards were extremely cold. Another drawback was the stench that came from the latrines and the burial grounds, where the dead were not properly buried. Nursing care was provided to patients who were either wounded or suffering from infectious diseases, malnutrition, or exposure to cold. The soldiers from the Crimea had to be transported by ship to Scutari, which took several days. When they arrived, they were filthy, hungry, and neglected. Many had lost limbs and had appalling gunshot wounds. After the doctors examined the patients, the nurses bathed them and dressed their wounds. Many had to lie on the cold pavement on makeshift beds of straw. Surgeries were performed in the wards and corridors, and there were no tables for operations. Terrot described the appalling conditions: ‘One poor fellow neglected by the orderlies because he was dying…was very dirty, covered with wounds, and devoured by lice. I pointed this out to the orderlies, whose only excuse was, “It's not worthwhile to clean him: he's not long for this world.” The men in bed on each side of him told me his state was such that lice swarmed from him to them’
Terrot was especially close to one of the Catholic nurses, Sister Elizabeth Wheeler, who, in a letter home, described the sub-standard conditions. The letter was published in The Times and caused an outcry. The majority accused Wheeler of fabricating the account, as they could not believe that the authorities would ever allow Britain’s heroes to be treated so shabbily. This suited the War Office as they did not want any adverse publicity, and so Wheeler was dismissed and sent back to Britain. Although Terrot was devastated, and knew Wheeler’s letter to be the truth, she decided she must keep quiet and continue to help care for the seriously wounded men.
As the mortality rate from diseases escalated, several of those helping became ill, including Terrot. Nightingale, and the other nurses who took care of her, thought she was dying. Fortunately Terrot survived, and was sent home. ‘In the evening as we steamed away … we looked back to the great Hospital and saw the lights glimmering through the wards. How I envied those who were still ministering to the sick and suffering.’ In 1887, during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, Sarah Anne Terrot was awarded the Royal Red Cross for her work in the Crimea.
1821 – 1825 J. B. Fraser
J. B. Fraser was a solicitor (WS). He appears as having paid £42 into the estate of the painter, Sir Henry Raeburn and an advert in 1826 stated: ‘Money to be sunk on annuity. £4,000 to be invested in the purchase of an annuity, payable during the life of a married lady aged 33 years. Apply to J. B. Fraser.’ He moved to Drummond Place and in addition to his law work appears to have been a broker. It may have been this that caused him to be declared bankrupt in 1829.
1830 – 1835 George Meikle George Meikle studied medicine in Edinburgh and then was posted to Madras as Assistant Surgeon in the Indian Army. Later, he was attached to the British residence in Hyderabad where he married Mary Campbell in 1815. A year later, she gave birth to a son, but sadly the child only lived for twelve days. The couple’s life seemed happier as, in 1817, they had a healthy daughter. However, further tragedy struck, as Mary died two years later, leaving Meikle a widower at 31, and with a young daughter to look after. Meikle certainly returned to Edinburgh for a time as this letter was written from Albany Street in 1832. He may well have come back so that his then 15 year-old daughter, Marion, could attend school in the city. Meikle returned to India, and died there in 1838. In 1857, Marion married an Edinburgh advocate, Archibald Broun of Johnstounburn.
1835 – 1897
It is hard to be sure whether the house functioned as separate apartments, or a lodging house, or a mix of the two, as many residents lived here for years. From 1835 to 1839, the house was listed as lodgings, run by Mrs Tulloch, who then moved her establishment to Abercromby Place. Then in 1850, the house is again listed as a lodging house. It is unclear who managed it. It may have been Robert Dougall, who also worked as a cabinet maker. His son, John, studied divinity and moved to Australia to become the Minister of the St Andrew Scots Church in Sydney. This church was founded in 1823 by the Reverend John Dunmore Lang, who was the first Presbyterian clergyman to serve the Convict Colony.
Dougall died in 1854 and the lodgings were then run to 1872 by William and Janet McKutcheon. Janet ran the lodgings and William McKutcheon was an English teacher. He died about 1862. His wife lived on in the house with their five daughters and one son.
In 1871 the eldest daughter was working as a millinery saleswoman and the eldest son, Henry, as a clerk, but he died in his 20’s. For a time the large family living there was swelled by a niece who was employed as a mantle maker. Four of the daughters are known to have married: Isabella to William Rowe, Margaret to James Dickie and Jane to I. Greenbury. The fourth, Janet, married James Mackenzie, a divinity student, but she died giving birth in 1878. After the death of his wife Mackenzie abandoned his plan of working as a missionary in China and instead emigrated to New Zealand with his young daughter, also Janet. He married again in 1840. Janet became a teacher in various schools and in 1821 was appointed to run the new Correspondence Classes set up by the Department of Education. Working from the Government Buildings in Wellington, her task was to cater for the needs of 83 children, many of whom could neither read nor write. She later wrote: ‘there was nothing then of the school you know. Nothing. Not even a room. Nothing but a pile of application forms, and a teacher with a pen.' The numbers of children she taught by correspondence increased quickly to 300 and another teacher was appointed as her assistant by the end of the first year. In 1938 she returned to Scotland on holiday, but because of the outbreak of the Second World War, had to remain in Britain for seven years before she could return to New Zealand. Both Dougall and McCutcheon had other jobs, and their wives looked after the house on behalf of the tenants and lodgers.
From 1884 – 1897, the house was termed apartments and managed by Elizabeth Elphinstone, a widow, and her sister, Flora. In 1897, the sisters moved their apartments to Number 13, and, in 1904, moved again, this time to Number 41, which again they ran their apartments until 1925.
1833 – 1834 Lodger - William Ellis and Robert and Margaret (neé Mitchell) Ellis
William, and his son, Robert, were both solicitors (WS) and previously had lived and worked from Number 13. They had moved to Royal Terrace for a time, and after two years here, moved on to George Street.
Robert married Margaret in 1828. Robert acted as the Edinburgh agents for the sale of shares in the Great Western Railway that was seeking £3 million capital.
In 1868, Robert, now a widower, and his sons moved back to Albany Street, living at Number 17 where Robert died.
1834 to 1836 Lodger - Archibald Black
Archibald Black was a Surveyor of Taxes. He moved to York Place.
1839 – 1856 Lodger - Robert and Susan (neé McCulloch) Dougall
Robert Dougall, a cabinetmaker, who had moved with his wife and fourteen year-old son from Elder Street.
At the 1851 census, John was still living with his parents while he studied divinity. In 1853, John emigrated to Australia and may have become the Minister of the St Andrew Scots Church in Sydney. It also is possible that Susan travelled to Australia to join her son following Robert’s death in 1854.
1841 – 1845 Lodger - David J Macbrair
David Macbrair was a solicitor in the Supreme Court (SSC). In 1852 he published, A digest of cases decided in the Court of Session, Teind Court, Court of Exchequer, and House of Lords from Nov. 1840 to Nov. 1850. He later became Sheriff Clerk of Chancery in Scotland. He moved to George Street.
1841 - 1842 Lodger - Thomas Edmondston
Thomas Edmonston was born in the Shetlands where his father, Dr Laurence, was a respected ornithologist and his mother, Eliza, the author of Sketches and Tales of the Shetland Islands. Thomas became fascinated by botany and in his early teens recorded the flora of Shetland. After attending Edinburgh University at just sixteen he was appointed assistant secretary of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh. It is at this time he lodged here. In 1844 Thomas successfully applied for the professorship of Natural History at the Andersonian University of Glasgow. However, before he began giving lectures, Thomas was offered the position as naturalist on a government expedition to California at a salary of £300 per annum. In London, before sailing, he received a silver mounted rifle from Prince Albert while scientists like Hooker and Darwin deluged him with advice and requests for specimens. Darwin advised him to take plenty of steel rat traps in order to collect rodents. In early 1846 he set off and after visiting the Gallapagos, the boat arrived at Ecuador. A group of sailors and Thomas were returning to their ship when one of the sailor’s trouser legs became entangled in the un-cocked hammer of a loaded buffalo rifle. The hammer was pulled back and then fell forward. The rifle went off and its lead ball hit twenty year old Thomas who died instantly.
1846 - 1856 Lodger - William Henderson
William Henderson lived here soon after qualifying as a solicitor. His father was Robert Henderson of Abbotrule, Roxburghshire, described as ‘a pious, homely man who had patriarchal notions about the manner of educating and bringing up his family. He liked to have them all living around him, and to each he gave the life-rent of a farm on the payment of a nominal rent, except in the case of his son William, who preferred to live in Edinburgh.’ William died unmarried in 1859
1850 Lodger - Nisbet Dougins,
Nisbet Dougins was a twenty-tear-old Australian who was studying medicine at Edinburgh University but, sadly, he died from consumption while lodging here.
The valuation record for 1855 shows that the house was owned by Mrs Janet Hogg who also owned number 41.
1857 – 1871 Lodger - Francis Gebbie
Francis Gebbie was an advocate. In 1816, his father, William, aged just 23, gave up a secure position and travelled to Strathaven, Lanarkshire to set up on his own. He wrote to his mother after his arrival: ‘Here I am snug and safe .It was however longer than I intended before I could depart from Glasgow. There was a little difficulty occurred in my final settlement with Messrs. Grahame & Mitchell but I surmounted it and obtained an arrangement to my entire satisfaction. I have obtained an office in a central and pleasant situation of the town. All my friends seem cordially to wish me success and as far as their influence extend will heartily contribute to aid my prosperity. I dare say I will be very comfortable and happy here.’
Francis, and his brother, James, followed their father into the legal profession. James took over his father’s law practice, a practice that is still in business today.
Francis became an advocate, and in 1871 left Edinburgh to take up the position of Sheriff Substitute of Dumbartonshire.
1870s Lodger - Lieutenant Henry Mortlock and Mary Ommannery
Lieutenant Henry Mortlock Ommannery was an officer in the Royal Navy, and he lodged here with his wife, Mary; probably for her to give birth.
Henry’s father was Rear-Admiral Ommannery who had retired after a more than active service with the navy and had become Deputy-Lieutenant for Banff. Henry himself had recently been on HMS Pekin, one of the naval force sent by the British Government to assist the Chinese to retake Shanghai from the rebels during the Taiping Rebellion. However by the time the flotilla arrived in China, the Emperor and his advisers had decided against letting a foreign force participate. They insisted that the ships be placed under the control of the provincial authorities but the British refused. So after a stand-off, all the vessels sailed home. Some of the officers and men belonging to the flotilla had behaved in such a fashion that there was a general sense of relief among the European residents upon its departure. The disappearance of the ‘Vampires,’ as they were called, probably saved some of them from having to meet charges of piracy. One trusts Henry was not one of the rabble.
1879 - 1880 Lodger - William Stewart
William Stewart was a doctor, possibly serving with the army in India, but nothing known for certain.
1881 – 1883 Lodger - Mrs Hebden
Mrs Hebden was a widow but no more traced.
1880s Lodger - James Fraser
Colonel James Fraser was a retired army officer, having served on the Madras Staff Corps. He died here in 1908.
1887 –1903 William Galbraith Miller
William Miller was an advocate and lectured at Glasgow University on Public Law, the Philosophy of Law and International Private Law. In 1903 he published The Data of Jurisprudence. Clearly a man who did not take life too seriously he also published, though anonymously, The Points of Leading cases in Private International law done into Doggerel. One example:
There once was a lady called Stavert;
With divorce she her husband would have at:
But his domicil
Was an English one still,
And so the Scotch Courts he did laugh at.
Other apartment lodgers around this time included Colonel James Fraser, retired Indian Army Officer; and Charles Waterston, a retired banker, and his unmarried daughter.
1897 – 1914 Robert T and Margaret (neé ?) Macqueen
Robert Macqueen was a solicitor (SSC), and briefly in partnership with George Rennie, practicing as R T Macqueen and Rennie. The firm acted as the agent for the Oakley Collieries and the Lancashire Yorkshire Reversionary Investment Company. Robert died in 1914 and George Rennie took over the house and the legal practice, continuing it as R T Macqueen and Rennie.