Born:

1797 James Charters Currie, b 28 Nov, bapt 3 Dec, tenth child and fifth son of William Corrie, tenant farmer at Hollows, Torthorwald, Dumfriesshire, and Margaret Kirkpatrick.

Probably called after their neighbouring tenant farmer, James Charters, who died in December 1790 of a fever.

Life:

Left £70, a number of books and "a dozen of my best shirts" by his uncle John Kirkpatrick, farmer of Parkside, in his 1819 will.

Moved to London and age 26 married Rosanna Clement (age 20) on 8 Apr 1824 at Church of St Dunstan, Stepney, Middlesex. Present at the wedding were Rosanna's brothers Jacob, Matthew and her sister Margaret Clement.

Had 15 children, 12 survived, though Rosanna (#1) only lived for 7 weeks - 9 boys and 3 girls - John Clement, James Charters, William, Alexander, Margaret, Matthew, McDowall, David, Rosanna, Rosanna, Archie and Allan, all except the last 3 christened at St Vincent Street Scotch Church, Stepney, London.

Wife died in 1850 aged 46. JCC was moved to write a lengthy account of the history of her illness and her last months. The 'diary' is full of religious sentiment and memories of his wife. It also touches on the problems they had with their 2 eldest sons and gives another long account of youngest daughter's decline from consumption.

Lived in High Street, Deptford, working as a draper, and 15 Ashburnham Grove, Greenwich in London.

Worked in the insurance business - at one point for Scottish Equitable Life. Family seems to have received some sort of sum from Standard Life Assurance Company, London, for whom he was an agent, on his death. Active in 'Scotch' churches in London, especially St Mark's Church Greenwich, and the Scotch Society.

Died:

12 Jun 1871, aged 73, at son Alexander's house - 7 Morley Villas, Lewisham

Buried in Nunhead Cemetery (now in Southwark) grave 1734/162

Sources:

Will of John Kirkpatrick 1819
James Charters Currie's Diary on the death of his wife and daughter 1850
Letters to and between James Charters Currie and Rosanna Currie (née Clement)and their children
Condolence letters on the death of James Charters Currie in 1871
British birth, baptism and marriage records
Dumfries Parish Registers
English census records
British cemetery records