James Young (Captain & Adjutant)

The marriage of George Young, Farmer and Isabella/Isobel Mitchell

was registered at Glasgow on the 17^th October 1813.

The couple had 3 known children, all born at Rutherglen:

James, born 18^th September 1815,

David born 6^th March 1818 and Margaret born 7^th March 1821

James, the eldest son enlisted into the 79^th (Cameron Highlanders) Regiment on the 27^th May, 1831 when he was around 16 years of age giving his occupation as ‘Nailer’ (which was later to become his nickname).

His army career saw him rising through the ranks to finally become Captain and Adjutant.

He served throughout the Crimean War receiving the Crimean Medal (with three clasps),

the Turkish Crimea Medal and was appointed a Knight of the Legion of Honour

by the French Government.

c1852

His regiment served in the Indian Mutiny from 1857

During 1858 he was invalided home later being awarded the Indian Mutiny Medal

(with Clasp for Lucknow.)

It was after his return to Scotland that he married Frances Leigh Cormack

on 2^nd February 1859 at Fettes Row, Edinburgh.

The couple’s Marriage Registration lists James as a widower, aged 42

and a Lieutenant in the 79^th Highlanders.

Frances is listed as aged 27, spinster and daughter of William Cormack, Farmer

and Catherine Sinclair.

Nothing is known about his first marriage although research suggests that his first wife

may have been Jane Wilson, daughter of Charles Wilson,

the marriage taking place at Bombay, India on 25^th January 1847.

James and Frances went on to have 4 (known) children:

George, born January, died 2^nd February 1860 (age 4 days)

James, born March 1861

Isabella, born 1864

Frances Leigh, born 1865

On the 1861 Census for Stirling, the family is listed as living at 9 Forth Place, Stirling.
.

James Young, age 45, Head of Household, born Rutherglen, Lanarkshire,

Occupation: Returned Captain from the army, now Adjutant, Stirlingshire Rifle Volunteers

Fanny L. Young, age 31, Wife, born Cannisbay, Caithness

James Young, age 1 month, Son, born Stirling.

Sadly, Frances died on the 28^th of October 1865, shortly after the birth of  daughter Frances.

Frances was buried in Section W of  Mar Cemetery in Stirling.

(It is unknown whether infant son George is also interred there,

but is listed on the stone’s inscription)



It is possible James remained in Stirling

but the family are proving difficult to locate on the 1871 Census.

On 11^th December 1872, James married his third wife, Margarer Moyes Burr

at 18 Merkland Terrace, Hillhead (or Partick), Glasgow, the bride’s home.

He was now 57 years old and was listed as a widower and Captain & Adjutant

of Stirlingshire Rifle Volunteeers, living at 23 Albert Place, Stirling.

Margaret is listed as age 44, daughter of Alexander Burr, Commission Agent

and Margaret MacGibbon.

This third marriage was also destined to be short as nine months later,

on the 14^th August 1873, James died at East Wemyss in the Kingdom of Fife.

On his Death Registration, his domicil was listed at Stirling,

the informant to the Registrar being a Medical Attendant.

His cause of death is listed as Disease of the Liver.

He was buried in Mar Cemetery beside his second wife Frances.

Mar Cemetery, Stirling.

“Stirling—Funeral of Captain and Adjutant Young.  Yesterday, the remains of Captain Young, Adjutant of the Stirlingshire Rifle Volunteers, whose death occurred at East Wemyss, Fifeshire, on Thursday, were interred, with military honours, in Stirling Cemetery.  The cortege left the residence of the deceased officer shortly after half-past two o’clock in the following order:-- Firing party of 100 men, under command of Captain Galbraith, 1^st S.R.V.; pipers; the band of the battalion; the coffin, borne by six men, and covered with the Union Jack; Captain Nimmo, 3^rd S.R.V.; Captain Wilson, 9^th S.R.V.; Captain Wilson, 9^th S.R.V.; Captain Turnbull, 11^th S.R.V.; and Captain and Adjutant Chalmers, Clackmannanshire R.V.—officiating as pall-bearers; the relatives and friends; Volunteers, of whom there were upwards of 300; the drill instructors of the battalion; the officers of the battalion; staff sergeants of the Highland Borderer’s Militia; detachments of the 21^st, 72^nd, and 91^st Regiments, Stirling Castle.  Great numbers of spectators lined the way taken by the procession, and the cemetery was quite filled.  On arriving at the grave, a short service was engaged in by Rev. Mr. Stephen, assistant to Rev. Dr. Alexander, of whose church the deceased was a member.  After the coffin had been lowered into the grave, three volleys were fired, the band playing between the volleys the “Old Hundred”.  The volunteers were then reformed, and proceeded to the High School square, where they were dismissed.  Among those who attended to pay a last tribute of respect to the deceased were Sir C.R.G.  Maitland, M.P. for Mid-Lothian; Sheriff-Substitute Sconce; Colonel Hope, C.B., 58^th Brigade Depot, Stirling; the officers of the regiment in Stirling Castle, &c.”

His widow Margaret appears to have reverted back to her maiden name and was listed

as such on the 1881 Census as follows:

Living at 1 Roseberry Terrace, Glasgow

James Burr, age 54, Head of Household, born Edinburgh, Commission Agent

Margaret Burr, age 53, Sister, born Edinburgh, Annuitant

Grace Burr, age 51, Sister, born Edinburgh

With the Burr siblings were Margaret’s step-children:

James Young, age 20, Boarder, born Stirling, House Factor’s Clerk

Isabella Young, age 17, born Stirling, Apprentice Milliner

Frances Leigh Young age 15, the youngest daughter, was found as a pupil

At Fulford Field Boarding School in Yorkshire.

Captain James Young left an estate valued at approximately two thousand pounds not including a one thousand pound trust fund which he had set up for his widow Margaret pursuant to a contract of  marriage.

www.memento-mori.co.uk



The Scotsman Newspaper of 20^th August 1873 carries an Obituary.