Robert McDiarmid: 1814-1890

Robert was born on 19 May 1814 and worked as a tenant farmer all his life. He married Margaret Campbell on 21 November 1846. I have Robert and Margaret's family bible, in which are recorded the births of their 9 children as follows.

  • Grace: born 21 September 1847 at Claggan. Died 24 March 1851 (possibly drowned) at Claggan, aged 3.
  • John: born 23 April 1849 at Claggan. Died in Edinburgh on 22 February 1927 aged 78. Read more about John here..
  • James: born 30 June 1851 at Claggan. Died at Oakleigh in Comrie on 31 March 1930 aged 78. Read more about James here.
  • Ann: born 22 May 1853 at Claggan. Died at Dunruchan, Muthill, on 30 July 1918 aged 65.
  • Grace - my Great Grandmother: born 10 December 1855 at Claggan, Kenmore. Died at Oakleigh in Comrie on 17 March 1941 aged 85.
  • Duncan: born 3 August 1858 at Comrie (this might have been Comrie Farm near Keltneyburn in Glen Lyon, as the family did not move to Auchnafree until a year later in 1859). Died on 16 March 1859 aged 7 months.
  • Catherine (Kate): born 12 January 1860 at Auchnafree. Died at Comrie on 10 March 1925 aged 65.
  • Margaret Christina: born 22 February 1862 at Auchnafree. Died at Morenish on 21 January 1907. The death notice that appeared in the paper ( I don't know which one) read "At Morenish, on 21st inst., Margaret Christina MacDiarmid. Funeral to Killin churchyard on Thursday 24th at 12 noon. Friends will please accept this invitation." A later newspaper cutting records that there was placed on her grave a beautiful wreath with this inscription "From past and present scholars of Morenish Sabbath School, in loving memory of their teacher, Miss Margaret McDiarmid, who died 21st January 1907".
  • Janet (Jessie): born 15 August 1865 at Auchnafree. Died at 4.10pm on 9 October 1897 aged 32. At the time of her death she was single and working as a domestic servant. Her place of death is recorded as Dundee Royal Lunatic Asylum, Liff, County Forfar (Benvie; Invergowrie). The cause of death was described as cardiac failure (duration 3 hours) following "exhaustion from excitement" (duration 3 months). The death notice that appeared in the paper (I don't know which one) read simply "On the 9th inst., Janet McDiarmid, youngest daughter of the later Robert McDiarmid, Mornish, Killin."

    • Robert and Margaret McDiarmid and their four eldest children (John, James, Ann and Grace) moved from Claggan on the south side of Loch Tay near Ardtalnaig, to Auchnafree in Glen Almond in 1859. During the family's stay in Auchnafree three more children were born: Catherine (Kate), Margaret Christina and Janet (Jessie).

    John, the eldest child, left home in ca 1864 and studied medicine at Edinburgh University.

    James received his education mainly at home and from teachers who taught the children of farmers and others in the lonely Glen Almond.

    On 9 May 1873 Margaret, wife of Robert and mother of the seven children, died at Auchnafree. Her death was registered on 15 May 1873 by James Russell, Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages in the Parish of Monzie in the County of Perth. Cause of death was recorded as cancer of the breast, the duration of which was said to be several years. She had no qualified regular medical attendant.

    The 1881 Census shows Robert plus John, James, Ann, Grace and Maggie still living at Auchnafree. It also shows Janet, "a scholar", boarding and lodging at 20 Burrell Street, Crieff and her sister Catherine, described as "a farmer's daughter", visiting her there.

    The family (Robert, John, James and probably several of the girls) left Auchnafree in 1887 and moved to Morenish, Killin.

    On 27 June 1889, at Morenish, Grace married Abijah Murray, a Clerk at the Board of Supervision. The wedding notice in The Scotsman reads as follows: "At Morenish Farm, Killin, on the 27th inst, by the Rev Alexander McDiarmid, MA, Free Church, Grantown, cousin of the bride, assisted by the Rev John McBean MA, Free Church, Killin, Abijah Murray, Edinburgh, to Grace, daughter of Robert McDiarmid, farmer, Morenish, formerly of Auchnafree."

    On 8 April 1890 Robert McDiarmid died at Morenish aged 74. His death was reported by his son James, certified by Thomas Hamilton Hedges and registered on 11 April 1890 at Killin by the Registrar, Alexander Cameron. The cause of death was recorded as cancer of the stomach, the duration of which was said to be 1 year.

    His funeral was held on Saturday 12 April at 12.00 noon. An invitation to attend the funeral was sent from Morenish, Killin on 8 April to Abijah Murray Junior, Robert's son-in-law (by dint of marriage to Robert's daughter Grace). Signed by Robert's eldest son John it reads: "Sir, the favour of your Company to attend the Funeral of Robert McDiarmid my father from the house here to the place of Interment in Ardtalnaig on Saturday the 12th Inst at 12 o'clock will much oblige."

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