David Bruce Grocer - 40 years in my house - Doing what ?

[oldfashionedgirl]

Hello all

I have been looking into the inhabitants of my 130+ year old house for many years.
The earlier and more transient inhabitants have actually been easier to discover information about.

The one which intrigues me most is the one who lived in it for 40 years, the longest inhabitor.
David Bruce 1890-1975 Grocer = Agnes Boyd Ingram

I have his birth, census x3 and marriage in Fife, death in Edinburgh (not in the house)
None of his children were born here and I have looked at the British newspaper archive but no mention of him.

I have yet to look for him in a 'grocers trade list' which I will do next time in town.

I cannot see him in any trees on Ancestry but I'm not a member at the moment so didn't have an in depth trawl.

Can anyone give me a pointer as to where to look for some more information on him and his family.
Thanks

[Thornwood]

You don't say when he moved from your house but there may be people still living in the area who remember him. You could put a card in a local shop or a message in church magazine etc. A local history group may also have photos or stories of him.

[oldfashionedgirl]

Thanks Thornwood.
I have asked around the neighbours but nobody was here in 1975 when he left.
Good idea about the church and the local paper shop has been in the same family for years so I will chat to them.
Cheers

[oldfashionedgirl]

Just an update to encourage fellow searchers to hang on in there and never give up 

Over four years ago I put up this original post, I didn’t really get any further than BMDs etc.

In the first lockdown my doorbell rang and a lady asked if I was ‘old fashioned girl’ on Rootschat.

She had stumbled upon my post while searching the internet for a photo of her Grandfathers grocers shop - he being David Bruce who had lived in my house for 40 years !

We had a great chat on the doorstep but I couldn’t invite her in as it was Lockdown.

Fast forward to today and I have just spent a wonderful afternoon with her and her sister showing them the house and them telling me all about their grandfather and the house where their mother grew up.

They brought photos of the family and elements of the house and garden can be seen in the background.

Best wet Sunday afternoon I’ve had in years 

[IgorStrav]

Absolutely fantastic story!

Well done oldfashionedgirl AND Rootschat! 

[oldfashionedgirl]

Absolutely
Rootschat was the key, it’s such an amazing website

[heywood]

That’s a lovely story. To find others who are interested must be really satisfying.   

[rosie17]

Lovely story and nice of the lady to take the time to  visit you 

Rosie

[oldfashionedgirl]

Yes it was so exciting.
I have spent some time this morning scrutinising the photos they bought, which I copied.
It is wonderful to see elements of my house and garden in the background.
I spent most of yesterday evening frantically writing down all that was discussed.
Such lovely people and a very interesting and enlightening afternoon.