1861 – 1863 John and Mary Smith
John Smith was a partner in Philpott and Smith, auctioneers based in George Street. The firm was primarily involved in auctioning property. The Smiths moved to North Castle Street, where John Smith died in 1864.
1863 – 1875 Major-General Walter Hamilton CB and Colonel John James Hamilton
Walter and John were brothers. Their parents, Daniel Hamilton of Gilkerscleugh and Harriet Campbell of Shawfield, had five sons. Alexander became a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and died in 1820; George served in the East India Company’s army and died in 1868; and Robert became a minister, later serving as a Chaplain for the East India Company in Madras where he married Susan Churchill, a daughter of the Bishop of Madras. Both Walter and John also joined the army.
Walter was born in 1803 and his last overseas posting was at Fort George. Two years before returning to Scotland, he had earned promotion while fighting with the 78th Highlanders as part of the British army force struggling towards Lucknow to try to rescue the besieged British army and civilians. Over many months, in harsh weather conditions, beset by illness and opposed by large opposing forces the small British force moved towards Lucknow. In one of the many battles fought on the way, Hamilton led the 78th against the enemy under heavy fire. As they approached ‘they cheered and charged with the bayonet, the pipers sounding the pibroch.’ The village was taken, and the enemy guns captured. In another battle Hamilton had his horse shot from under him by a musket ball. In his later years, Walter was appointed Inspecting Field Officer of the recruiting district of Ross-shire. He died in Albany Street in 1868.
John was born in 1806 and joined the East India Company’s Bengal Army in 1824. He served, at least for part of his time, with the 2nd Regiment Native Infantry. He retired in 1856 and died at Number 56 in 1874.
1876 – 1906 Charles Bertram, Janet Dickson & Isabella Bertram
Charles Bertram lived here with his sister Janet (Dickson), now a widow, and Isabella, the daughter of their cousin, John Bertram of Hartside. The Bertrams were born in Garvald. They are recorded as donating to the 1877 fund for famine in India. Charles died in 1887, but Janet lived on in the house until her death in 1900. Isabella moved to Dundas Street in 1907, a year or so before her death.
When Janet died in 1900 her will contained a range of beneficiaries. Isabella was left all the household furniture and Janet's ‘silver tea service marked with the letter "B" and one dozen Tea spoons in a morocco case and marked with the initials "B"’ Janet's servant, Marion Turner, received some money and ‘the furniture in the servants bedroom including beds and bedding therein three pairs of sheets two bolster cases and two pairs of pillow cases also the five chairs covered with haircloth and the old easy chair covered with drab moreen and all my under clothing woollen jackets and woollen dresses and bonnets.’
Many others, mainly female relatives, were left money and there also were legacies to a wide range of charities including the Edinburgh Longmore Hospital for Incurables, the fund for Relief of Indigent Gentlewomen of Scotland, the Association for Augmenting the smaller living of the Clergy of the Church of Scotland, Edinburgh Royal Blind Asylum Edinburgh, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, the Minister of Saint Stephens Parish Church Edinburgh to be used as he shall think best for the poor within his Parish or in his Congregation and the Minister and Kirk Session of the Established Church at Gifford East Lothian for such public or charitable purposes in the village of Gifford as they shall think fit.