Scots College, Edinburgh, Scotland -COMPLETED

[skurrie]

Just wondering if someone had access to, or knows anything about ;-

Enrolment records from Scots College, Edinburgh, Scotland.
l believe in the year of 1856 William, James and David HARPER were enrolled pupils of that institution. l have no information apart from that they were enrolled that year, and was hoping there may be record somewhere with perhaps information of the children. ( home address, parents, occupations, etc.)
In 1851, the family was noted as living in Campsie Stirlingshire, and was just wondering exactly what year they may have started, finished, and perhaps even moved to be near the school.

Anything at all found would be a greatful addition to my research.
My many thanks in advance.
Skurrie

[jessden]

Hello skurrie

What is the source of your information about these boys being enrolled at Scots College.  Was it a comtemporary document written in Scotland in the 1850s or was it something that was written much later when memories of the precise name of the institution might have faded?  How old were the boys - were they school age or likely to be at university?

The word 'college' in 19th century Edinburgh usually meant Edinburgh University. It could be that a Mr Scot had started up a private school and rather grandly called it Scots College.  I cannot find it on a directory for 1852/53 that I have to hand but will try to remember to look it up in the 1856 directory next time I go to the library.

Jessie

[skurrie]

Hi Jessie,

Thanks for replying.

My cousin a few months ago put in a request with The Genealogist UK for some paid research to be done. Included in the information they returned to her was the following;-

"•   Enrolment records from Scots College, Edinburgh, Scotland in the year of 1856 indicate that William, James and David Harper were enrolled pupils of that institution."
No further information was provided on this bit provided, and if she paid another  £147.50, documented evidence would be provided.
l felt that she had already paid out enough money, and was hoping l could help out by trying to find a kind researcher who may have further knowledge.

The boys details l have are as follows.
Sons of David Harper and Elizabeth Findlay.

William HARPER b.abt 1844 STIRLINGSHIRE
James Theodore HARPER b. 18 April 1846 CAMPSIE, STIRLINGSHIRE
David HARPER b.abt  1849 CAMPSIE, STIRLINGSHIRE


Jessie, l do hope this helps a little, and l appreciate and thank you for any help.

Skurrie

[jessden]

Hello again Skurrie

I am intrigued by this.  If enrollment records still exist they may be either in some archive or with a school of a different name that is the successor to Scots College.  There is no school of that name in Edinburgh nowadays.  I will come back to you after I have had the opportunity to do a bit of digging!

Regards

Jessie

[merryhow]

Hi Skurrie, something to think about. This family didn't appear to have had the kind of money that would have allowed them to send 3 boys to a college. I see that David snr. was Irish, was he perhaps RC, and the boys were sent to a church school?

It might be worth contacting the Roman Catholic Church in Edinburgh to see if they had a "Scots College"

                Val

[Buzancy18]

There is a Scot College in Glasgow, a Scots College in Rome and one in Paris and they all train RC priests.

Buzancy18

[merryhow]

Hi Buzancy, yes these triggered my line of thought.Wonder if there was one in Edinburgh in the 1850s
             
                  Val

[skurrie]

Thank you Jessie, Val and Buzancy18 for replying.

You've certainly provided some food for thought.
The 1851 and 1861 Census show the family at Campsie, Stirlingshire. l'm not quite sure how far the college/school would have been, if they boarded perhaps?. They may indeed have been Roman Catholic, even though James Harper in Australia was noted as Methodist, as the rest of his descendants there.

As far as money, James Theodore HARPER b. 18 April 1846 CAMPSIE, STIRLINGSHIRE was a Remittance man. What he did , for him to leave and travel to Australia is still a mystery. Money he received regularly from his family allowed him to purchase a nice house in the better part of town in Tasmania Australia. When the money stopped, he went into depression and committed suicide.

Family has noted that the boys father David and Uncle William had  a small family business ‘Harper Bros Inc.’, a singeing house in 1861.
Also their cousin Robert Harper b.1842 Glasgow Scotland established Robert Harper & Co., trading in tea, coffee and spices from the East Indies and later in oatmeal and flour in Australia in 1870s.

From this l assumed the family may have had money, indeed enough to send off to a school/college.

Once again, l thank you for your replies.

Skurrie

[merryhow]

Hi Skurrie, I'd say the boys boarded or perhaps stayed with relatives. 40/50 miles too far to travel. Do you have them on the '61 census?