James Brown of Perth and Dundee

[sunny51]

Hi, I'm researching James Brown born 1784 Craig by Montrose, Forfar/ Angus. 
His parents are John Brown 1745 - 1798 buried Maryton and Jean Ruxton 1753 -1824 buried Maryton. That is all I can find on the parents.

I find tidbits of history about James as a shipowner in perth and Dundee, but cannot locate a marriage or children registered and they do not appear on the census of 1841,1851 with him. 
If anyone can help the details are below. Many thanks.

James was a shipowner/ shipbuilder at Perth from after 1814 until around 1841. I haven't found a sale of the property yet to date this.
He relocated to Dundee where he was a shipowner and an Inspector of the Tay Ferry for Dundee City until he died in 1861 at Craiglea Cottage, Dundee.
I have been unable to find information or records about the cottage too.

thank you

[MonicaL]

Hi sunny51

Welcome to RootsChat 

If you haven't found any wife and children on the censuses for James, he could have remained unmarried. What was his marital status on the 1851 census?

There is an entry in the Wills & Testament section of www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ which shows:

James BROWN, 05/08/1863 - SHIPOWNER IN DUNDEE RESIDING AT CRAIGIE COTTAGE NEAR DUNDEE - DUNDEE SHERIFF COURT - SC45/31/17.

Three pages show but not clear what type of document it might be.

Monica

[sunny51]

Unfortunately, there was only a transcript available for both 1841 and 1851 which didn't give his marital status.
James died 1861, so the document is probably settlement of his estate.
Thank you Monica.

[MonicaL]

The 1851 census should give his marital status. The original image on www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ or a transcript for 1851 here www.freecen.org.uk/cgi/search.pl should both include this. His death cert on Scotlands People is obviously the most relevant.

What entry do you have for him in 1851 from other transcripts? This might help to find him on FreeCen.

Monica

[MonicaL]

From other transcript:

James Brown 61, retired shipmaster b. Dundee
Address: Nethergate Dundee

Don't think this is showing on FreeCen sadly so likely the only other source with marital status will be the pay to view Scotlands People.

Monica

[sunny51]

Thankyou Monica. Appreciated.
I found Scotland's People extraordinarily expensive. But I will continue searching at freebmd/cen
and at find my past.

[MonicaL]

Unfortunately the only source of info for what you now need will be Scotlands People. FindMyPast and A/try do not have this info for Scotland, only the scottish census transcripts which at least for A/try, don't include a person's marital status.

SP can be expensive if you do blind searches, with next to no info or very common names and lack of detail. But you have quite precise info by the sounds of it. For £7GB you can search, view and download up to 5 images of BMDs and census pages. The cost of the BMDs, up to relatively recent years, is very economical compared to costs elsewhere in the UK.

Have you tried checking the Post Office Directories to see what shows? www.nls.uk/family-history/directories/post-office Not sure how comprehensive they will be for the areas you need. Some are better that others.

Monica

PS: At least we can see what he looks like here www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/paintings/james-brown-17841861-ship-owner-and-ship-builder-perth-an108191

[MonicaL]

Have you come across this old post here on RC on James' extended family? www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=686939.0

Monica

[GR2]

There are interesting obituaries for him in the Dundee, Perth and Cupar Advertiser (22-1-1861) and the Dundee Courier (21-1-1861).

Amongst other things, he was liberated from captivity by the French on the instigation of the Empress Josephine, and he raised the Comet in 1826.