J. E. Pryde from St Andrews

[queencorgi1]

I am trying to identify J. E. Pryde who was the informant on a death certificate from St Andrews in 1955. I've found a few references to him in contemporary newspapers but only advertisements, which indicate that he was a shopkeeper (I haven't identified what kind of shop). However, I also haven't found any BMD citations for him and I don't know his full first names!
Since the dead man was extremely proud of his military experience (he fought in WW1) it's possible that Pryde also served in that war, and that this is how they met?
I realise this is all annoyingly vague, but RCF has worked miracles for me before!

Wishing a very happy Christmas to all RCF users and especially the astonishing 'top dogs'!

[Little Nell]

He may have been James Emery Pryde, born 1917 and died in 2010.  He was partner in a firm of motor engineers at the West Port or West End Garage in Bridge Street, but appears to have been an accountant by profession.  He lived in Ceres.

Nell

[hanes teulu]

That's who I plumped for
St Andrew's Citizen, 21 Feb 1953

[queencorgi1]

Yes, that's one of the advertisements I found!
That looks like the right candidate, thank you so much -- I will try and check him out further ...

A tiny Christmas present, much appreciated.

[Forfarian]

James Emery Pryde died 2010 in Dundee aged 93, mother's maiden surname Smith. You will be able to order a copy of the death certificate after New Year when things get back to normal.

James Pryde, mother's surname Smith, was born in Ceres in 1917.

FindaGrave says his parents were John Gatherum Pryde, died 1923 aged 72, and Helen Heggie died 1931 aged 80. In which case his mother was aged 66 when he was born. I think there's a generation missing.

The index to the 1921 census lists in Ceres a family consisting of James, 38; Margaret, 38; Ina, 15; Helen, 11; Ruby, 8; John, 6; James, 4 and Margaret, 1. These match Pryde children with mother Smith: Helen, 1910; Ruby, 1913; John, 1915; James, 1917; Margaret, 1919, all born in Ceres. So it seems that the gravestone is in error.

There are also Pryde children with mother Heggie: Elizabeth, 1875; Helen, 1877; Georgina Joan, 1880; Margaret Jessie, 1885. There's also a James Pryde, no mother's name in index, born 1882, who would exactly fit the 38-year-old in 1921.

[queencorgi1]

Thank you Forfarian!

My interest in J.E. Pryde is that he signed a death certificate identifying himself as 'The Intimate Friend' of the deceased, who was Henry Stamford Lewis Alford, who died in 1955. His actual signature was illegible, but someone, presumably the registrar, wrote in J.E. PRYDE in capitals above. Alford was also a resident of St Andrews.