John Barclay, my great-great-grandfather, was born in September 1802 at Fawnspark, Abercorn, West Lothian, to Elizabeth (Betty) Barclay (born Lindsay), age 35, and James Barclay, age 33.
When he was 11 years old, the family had moved to Edinburgh. He married Jane Agnus in 1830; he was 27 and she was 19.
By 1832, at the age of 30, he was the “proprietor of a carriage” at the South Back of Canongate. In the 19th century, the South Back of Canongate (now Holyrood Road) was a historic area of Edinburgh where the wealthy had residences, benefiting from proximity to Holyrood Palace. Despite being an older, high-density residential area, the 19th century saw a decline in its status as wealthier residents moved to the New Town.
Between 1830 and 1838, John and Jean had three children: Janet, James, and Betsy (Elizabeth). Records are a little confusing in that the 1841 census has John, Jean, Janet, James, and Elizabeth living on the North Back of Canongate (now Calton Road) and working as a blacksmith. However, his son, Johnathan Angus Barclay (great-grandfather), was born on Lady Lawson’s Wynd in July 1841, so perhaps they moved shortly after March 1841 when census data was collected.
The 1861 census data is also confusing, listing John’s name as “Jno”, likely due to a misreading of the handwriting. The address is given as “Grove Road”, but there has never been a Grove Road in Edinburgh; Grove Street was once called Grove Lane. Other census pages show data collected from “Brandfield Place,” which is in the area now known as Grove Street, Fountainbridge.
The reference to “Grove House” is also confusing. An OS Town Plan of 1853 shows “Grove House” at the southern end of Grove Lane (Street) and Fountainbridge. Research shows the ornate tenement now there, was not built until 1864.
John Barclay died on 17 July 1872 at 76 West Fountainbridge and is buried in the Calton Cemetery.
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