McManus 168

The partnership of James Fullerton and Stephen Davidson must have been a relatively new one when the firm subscribed to the fund for the Albert Institute. In the 1861 census Fullerton is described as a farmer’s son at Ardestie, Monikie in Angus^[4] and Davidson is a flax merchant’s clerk of 7 Seafield, Broughty Ferry^[5]. The partners would only have been about 21 years of age when the subscription was made. According to his obituary after coming to Dundee, Fullerton worked for Baxter Brothers and this is perhaps how he met Davidson. It would appear that the partnership moved the two young men from linen, which Fullerton’s employment at Baxter Brothers and Davidson’s work as a flax merchant’s clerk would suggest, to a concentration on the burgeoning jute industry. The obituary makes no mention of the partnership, but states that after starting in business on his own account Fullerton was for long years “one of the leading jutebrokers in the city“. It also records that as “an expert in jute fibres and manufactures, he enjoyed a high reputation both on the local market and in the London Exchange, and as an arbiter his services were in constant demand“.^[6]

The earliest reference to an office is at 4 St Andrews Street, but subsequent directories list them at Meadow Place^[7] and 51 Meadowside.^[8] All of these addresses are close to the main concentration of jute merchants in the Cowgate. In addition to their work as jute merchants Fullerton & Davidson are listed as agents for the Scottish Commercial Insurance Co.^[9] and the British and Foreign Marine Insurance Co. (Ltd.).^[10] The Fullerton & Davidson business partnership seems to have ceased by 1873 when Fullerton appears in the parliamentary list of voters as sole tenant and occupant of the office in Meadowside previously under joint tenancy and occupancy with Davidson.^[11]

Stephen Davidson was the son of Peter Davidson and Helen Millar.^[12] His father was a merchant and fish-curer with premises at 90 and 92 Seagate and a home address of Seafield Cottage, Broughty Ferry.^[13] By the time of the 1861 census Peter seems to have died and Stephen is living alone with his mother at 7 Seafield,^[14]. Although the directories list it under Mrs P. Davidson at Seafield^[15] the property is probably the Seafield Cottage listed earlier under Peter Davidson’s name. In 1871 Stephen is living independently at Seafield Lodge and his mother is the householder at Seafield Cottage.^[16] Davidson was married to Mary Nimmo and died relatively young at Thorn Bank, East Newport, Forgan, Fife on 3 May 1880, aged 38.^[17] He is buried in the Western Cemetery in Dundee.^[18] Stephen died intestate, but confirmation was granted to his widow, Mary Grant Nimmo, James Place, Broughty Ferry. The value of his estate was £86, 14s. 3d.^[19]

James Fullerton was born in Brechin^[20] and came from a farming background; his father was a long-term tenant of Ardestie.^[21] In his obituary it was noted that James was for many years a member of Dundee Chamber of Commerce. He was also described as a keen sportsman, well-known on the local golf links and one of the oldest members of the Dalhousie and Panmure clubs and at one time captain of the latter. He was “a capital shot, a keen angler, and a highly expert curler, in all these sports and their social adjuncts he made hosts of friends.”^[22] It seems likely that he is the James Fullerton listed as one of the lieutenants of the 1st Forfarshire (Dundee) Rifle Volunteers^[23] given his description as “a capital shot“. He lived at a number of addresses in and around Dundee, including: Ardestie, Monifieth;^[24] Maryfield Cottage, East Newport, Fife;^[25] 42 Magdalen Yard Road, Dundee;^[26] 44 Magdalen Yard Road, Dundee;^[27] 15 Magdalen Yard Road, Dundee;^[28] and 7 Dudhope Terrace, Dundee^[29]. He was married to Janet Miller Dick, who was born in Glasgow.^[30] He died at his residence Viewbank,^[31] 7 Dudhope Terrace, Dundee on 25 April 1904.^[32] He was survived by his wife, five sons and four daughters.^[33]