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James Arklay Esquire

James Arklay, Esq., of Kinninmonth was of a Forfarshire landowning family. He resided in Dundee. During his lifetime he generously gave of his time and wealth to worthy causes, both within his local community and abroad.

Subscription value in 1863:

£40

Relative to inflation up to 2024:

£4000

Relative to income compared to 2024:

£32000

Personal details and history

Full name

James Arklay

Date of birth

30-03-1828[1][2]

Place of birth

Parish of Monifieth[3][2]

Gender

Male

Marital status

Not married

Name of spouse

N/A

Children

N/A

Home address

1 Hawkhill Place[4][5]
Dundee

Age at death:

54 years

Place of death:

1 Hawkhill Place, Dundee[6]

Date of death:

18-05-1882[7]

Buried:

St Rules Cemetery, Monifieth, Angus, Scotland[8]

Affiliations, clubs, offices and related subscribers

Religious affiliation

Unknown

Political affiliation

Unknown

Clubs / societies

Unknown

Public offices

Director of High School of Dundee:[9] Member of General Court of Governors of Dundee Royal Infirmary:[10]

Related subscribers

Career and worklife

Occupation

Landowner[11]

Employment

Self-employed

Place of work

Haddingtonshire (later than 1863, see Comments)

Work address

Kingslaw
Haddingtonshire[12]
(see Comments)

Career to date:

James Arklay, born in 1828, was a son of Robert Arklay of Ethiebeaton, in the parish of Monifieth, and Elizabeth Sim.[2] Elizabeth was the daughter of Rev. David Sim, minister of Barrie.[13] On Robert's death in 1837, his eldest son, Robert, took over the estate of Ethiebeaton and Hillock.[13] James is generally styled "of Kinninmonth," perhaps referring to land from which he got an income. He resided at 1 Hawkhill Place from c.1861, and perhaps even earlier as a Mrs Elizabeth Arklay is recorded at that address c.1856-9.[14] He lived there until his death.[15] He was a man of considerable wealth, able to give generously of his time and money to a variety of causes. It would appear that James Arklay only acquired land at Kingslaw in Haddingtonshire late in life. He is only styled as landed proprietor "of Kingslaw" in the Dundee Directories from 1878/9 onwards.[16][15]

More information

James Arklay, Esq., of Kinninmonth (sometimes referred to as James Arklay of Kingslaw)[17]

James Arklay was a member of the Arklay family, proprietors of the estate of Ethiebeaton in the parish of Monifieth. He lived at 1 Hawkhill Place, Dundee. Mr Arklay never married. He lived alone, employing a servant (1871 Census, Isabella Stewart; 1881 Census, Jane Langstaff).[18] However, at some point it appears that his sister Miss Agnes Arklay (born 1830) stayed with him, as her death was reported at his address on 17 January 1862.[19]

He acquired land, probably late in life, at Kingslaw in Haddingtonshire. The entry in the Register of Confirmations of Wills and Inventories for James Arklay, dated 24th October 1882, styles him as James Arklay of Kingslaw, Haddingtonshire, residing at 1 Hawkhill Place.[20]

By the standards of the time Mr Arklay was quite wealthy. He left an estate to the value of £20,341. 13s. 5d. and Robert Arklay of Ethiebeaton was his next of kin. James Arklay died intestate. (Nominal value at 2018: Relative to income – £ (800 x 20,342) = £16,273,600. Relative to inflation – £ (100 x 20,342) = £2,034,200).[21] Often mentioned in the newspapers of the day for giving money to worthy causes, James Arklay was a very generous and philanthropic man –  for example giving £550 to The Lancashire Relief Fund,[22] £110 to the China Famine Fund[23] and £110 to the running of a soup kitchen.[24]

James Arklay was a prominent citizen of Dundee. He served on the General Court of Governors of Dundee Royal Infirmary,[25] took an active interest in the city’s education system and attended a public meeting in the Kinnaird Hall which was debating the teaching of religious instruction in schools.[26] He was active in promoting the Harris Endowment and Education Bill.[27] and was a Director of the High School.[28] He was also involved in the winding up of the Albert Institute Company as reported in the Dundee Courier. He is quoted several times questioning the process of liquidating the company.[29]

An obituary appeared in the Dundee Courier highlighting James Arklay’s contributions to the community and noting that he had died from heart disease.[30]

Sources

  1. Burial record. St Rules Cemetery, Monifieth. Find a Grave Index 1300s-current,UK and Ireland. FHL Film No 993492  www.findagrave.com
  2. Old Parish Registers. Births. 1828. Parish of Monifieth. 310/60 26. ScotlandsPeople website
  3.  Burial record. St Rules Cemetery, Monifieth. Find a Grave Index 1300s-current UK and Ireland. FHL Film No 993492. www.findagrave.com
  4. Dundee Postal Directory, 1864/5. Dundee City Archives
  5. Census 1871 & 1881, 1871 Census St Peter, Dundeee Reg No 282/1, 1881 Census St Peter, Dundee Reg No 282/1,  Ancestry website
  6. Newspaper Article. Dundee Courier. 19 May 1882. British Newspaper Archive website
  7. Newspaper Obituary. Dundee Courier. 19 May 1882. British Newspaper Archive website and Extract from Register, District of St Peter in Burgh of Dundee, Extract from Statutory Registers. Death. 282/1  168,]. p.56, Dundee. ScotlandsPeople website
  8. Burial record. St Rules Cemetery, Monifieth. Find a Grave Index 1300s-current,UK and Ireland. FHL Film No 993492.www.findagrave.com
  9. Newspaper Article. Dundee Courier. 19 May 1882. British Newspaper Archive website
  10. Newspaper Article. Dundee Advertiser. 10 June 1862. British Newspaper Archive website
  11. Census 1871 & 1881, 1871 Scotland Census St Peter, Dundee Reg No 282/1, 1881 Scotland Census District St Peter Dundee Reg No 282/1, Ancestry website
  12. Extract from register. In the England and Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1858 - 1966 for James Arklay 1882, Page 108, Probate Date 25-11-1882. Ancestry website
  13. Warden, Alexander J. Angus or Forfarshire. Vol. 4. 1884. Dundee. Geo. Alexander & Co
  14. Dundee Directory, 1856/7.  Dundee Directory, 1858/9. Dundee Directory, 1861/2. Dundee City Archives
  15. Dundee Directory, 1880/1. Dundee City Archives
  16. Dundee Directory, 1878/9. Dundee City Archives
  17. Extract from register. Scottish, National Probate Index. (Calendar of Confirmations and Inventories). 1876 - 1936 for James Arklay 1882. Confirmation date, 24-10.1882, Page 28, Ancestry website
  18. Census 1871 & 1881, 1871 Scotland Census District St Peter Reg No 282/1. 1881 Scotland Census District St Peter Dundee. Reg No 282/1. Ancestry website
  19. Newspaper Article. Dundee Advertiser. 18 January 1862. British Newspaper Archive website
  20. Register of Confirmations of Wills and Inventories. 1882. Printed. Dundee City Archives
  21. Extract from register. Scottish, National Probate Index (Calendar of Confirmations and Inventories) 1876 - 1936 for James Arklay 1882. Confirmation date 24-10.1882, Page 28, Ancestry website
  22. Newspaper Article. Dundee Courier. 19 December 1862. British Newspaper Archive website
  23. Newspaper Article. Dundee Evening Telegraph. 18 September 1878. British Newspaper Archive website
  24. Newspaper Article. Northern Warder and Advertiser for Counties of Fife, Perth and Forfar.2 March 1854. British Newspaper Archive website
  25. Newspaper Article. Dundee Advertiser. 10 June 1862. British Newspaper Archive website
  26. Newspaper Article. Dundee Courier.  27 February 1872. British Newspaper Archive website
  27. Newspaper Article. Dundee Courier. 27 February 1872. British Newspaper Archive website
  28. Newspaper Article. Dundee Courier. 19 May 1882.British Newspaper Archive website
  29. Newspaper Article. Dundee Courier. 19 December 1878 and 20 December 1878. British Newspaper Archive website
  30. Newspaper Obituary. Dundee Courier. 19 May 1882. British Newspaper Archive website

Credits

Staff of Blackness Library Staff of the Local History Library in the Central Library

The information above about James Arklay has been collated from a range of digital and hard copy sources. To the best of our knowledge it is correct but if you are relying on any information from our website for the purpose of your own research we would advise you to follow up the sources to your own satisfaction. If you are aware of an inaccuracy in our text please do not hesitate to notify us through our Contact page.