McManus 168

Family

On 9 March 1863, Thomas, then 30 years old, married 18-year-old Annie Nichol of Sheffield in the Talbot Street Methodist Chapel, Sheffield. The absence of any information about him between 1841 and 1857 presents a puzzle as to how a man born and, at least partly, brought up in the West of Scotland, and for five years before marriage living and working in Dundee, came to meet and marry a girl from Sheffield.^[3] Unfortunately, at the date of the 1861 census Annie Black was visiting a house thought to be near the address on her marriage certificate, so very little is known of her circumstances at the time. The census records her status as “visitor”.^[14]

The couple took up residence in Dundee. Thomas, when he had come first to Dundee, had lodged at 37 Albert Court (which is listed in the census as 202 Nethergate, Albert Court).^[4] By 1861 he had moved to 37 Nethergate where it seems likely that he started married life.^[5] By 1867 he had moved to 5 Craigie Terrace on the Broughty Ferry Road between the junctions of Murray Street and Dalgleish Street,^[6] and by 1868 to 5 Westfield Avenue just off the Perth Road^[7] where he was still living at the date of the 1871 census. In late 1873 he is on the move again and leases out the Westfield Avenue house^[15] and  purchases Encliffe, a house which now has an address on Albany Road, West Ferry.^[8] This was a house with five bedrooms and three public rooms set in almost an acre of “…grounds that are tastefully laid out as lawns, shrubberies and kitchen garden.”^[16]  The sale was by public roup with an upset price of £2,500^[17] (nominal value at 2018: Relative to income £2,000,000). Here they lived until Thomas was transferred to Hamilton -where they lived at Woodcroft, Townhead Street, Hamilton.^[18]

Civic and social life

In Dundee Thomas seems to have played a part in social life. He was on the committee of Dundee Bowling Club and, one may suppose, played there for several seasons.^[10] He also took an interest in Dundee Public Library and, on 21 January 1870, chaired a meeting of its proprietors to consider transferring it to the Free Library.^[11] Further, on 24 August that year, he contributed to the discussion at a meeting of the subscribers to the Public Library, called to consider its winding up.^[19]

It would seem that he was a popular and gregarious figure to judge by the number of invitations to public events that he received. He was one of the gentlemen invited on the inaugural trip of the Harbour Commissioners’ new tug on Saturday 4 March 1871;^[20] he was one of the “influential citizens” present on 26 September 1872 at a Testimonial to Provost Yeaman;^[21] he attended a dinner to celebrate the appointment of Mr. Alex. Menzies as Rector of Webster’s Seminary, Kirriemuir (now Webster’s Academy);^[22] was present in the Town Hall at a dinner to celebrate the marriage of the Duke of Edinburgh;^[23] and at receptions in the Town Hall to mark the Queen’s birthday on 20 May 1874,  19 May 1874, and 17 May 1876. ^[24]  In addition, he attended a dinner to welcome the Prime Minister of Canada on 15 July 1875^[25], and on 26 August 1875 he was at a farewell dinner for Rev James Mackay who was moving from Dundee to a charge in Brechin.^[26]

Career

Nothing is known of Thomas Black’s professional career until he appears in Dundee in 1858 on his appointment as surveyor of taxes in succession to Mr. James Jack who had retired.^[27]  In addition to this office he was also appointed as valuer under the rating legislation for Dundee -which at times resulted in his involvement in public controversy. On 25 January 1866, the town council considered a sub-committee report on valuations in the burgh and one member at least was critical of his assessments – though others praised his work and he was reappointed for the following year.^[12] Later in the year he faced numerous appeals against his rating valuations in Dundee from the large mill owners and the owners of large houses who were represented by the formidable Dundee solicitor Mr. (later Sir Thomas) Thornton. Many of his valuations had significantly increased following a change of policy based on the approach of his Edinburgh colleague and while some valuations were reduced it seems that most were upheld.^[12] He had earlier been appointed Assessor under the Registration of County Voters (Scotland) Act for the county of Forfarshire.^[13]

Thomas Black seems to have been well-thought of in his professional capacity. In a report of his death the Dundee Advertiser observed that he “…gained the respect of all who were brought into contact with him by the very intelligent and judicious manner in which he discharged his official duties—being at once one of the most conscientious and courteous men. While firmly guarding the interests committed his charge, he was always willing to listen and give effect every reasonable representation.” ^[28]

One would not expect other than complimentary remarks in an obituary, however, the same sentiments had appeared in a newspaper cutting of February 1877 reporting his transfer to Hamilton. The transfer was part of a reorganisation of the work of Surveyors of Taxes throughout Scotland and the writer was in no doubt that it was a well-merited promotion. He commented that his departure:

“… will be received alike by the public authorities and his many friends with deep regret. At the same time, they have the satisfaction of knowing that the ability, fairness, and courtesy he has displayed have been recognised by the Government, who have conferred upon him probably the most valuable appointment in their power to bestow.”^[29]

Death

He died in Hamilton at a house named Wybourne on 12 October 1882.^[9] Had the Blacks changed the name from Woodcroft, or was it a different house?  The former seems more likely, as Wybourne was the address from which his wife had been married. A report in the Courier states that he died after a comparatively short illness “…from an exceedingly distressful malady,”^[27] which his death certificate shows was cancer of the liver.^[9]

The Dundee Advertiser provided more detail:

“Many in Dundee will regret to observe in our obituary today an intimation of the death of T. M. Black, who for a number years was Assessor of Taxes for Dundee and district. About six years ago he was promoted to similar office in the county of Lanark and since then has resided at Wybourne, Hamilton. When resident in Dundee he enjoyed excellent health and his comparatively premature death will come upon our readers as a surprise. On the 22nd September he wrote to us intimating his intention to proceed to Harrogate for the benefit of his health but six days later again wrote that his health, not having improved there, he had returned home; and last evening we received intimation of his death.” ^[30]

He left a widow and five children (four girls and a boy) aged between 7 and 18 years.

Although neither Thomas nor Annie Black was a native of Dundee, they clearly developed an affection for Dundee and put down roots there. Even after they had moved to Hamilton, we find Mrs. Black still involved in the activities of Stephen’s Church, Broughty Ferry. In an advertisement in the Dundee Courier she is listed as one of those who will accept donations for a bazaar to reduce the debt on the new church^[31]. Her husband was buried in the Eastern Cemetery (see grave stone photo) where there was a large attendance at his funeral.^[32] Most tellingly, she brought her family back to Dundee where they lived at Caenlochan Terrace^[33] until she remarried in 1884. Her second husband was a widower, James Procter Kyd, one of the founding partners of Shield & Kyd – until recently (2012) a prominent firm of solicitors in Dundee.^[33]

Thomas Black left a personal estate worth £2,600^[34] (nominal value at 2018: Relative to income £2,080,000) the income of which was given to his wife during her widowhood, and the capital then passed in equal shares to his surviving children as they reached 21 years^[35]:-

Emily Mary Black – Born: 22 September 1865 – Died: 13 July 1937

Florence Black – Wife of W S Campbell – Born: 20 November 1870 – Died: 20 July 1933

Frederick Morton Black – Born: 19 June 1874 (see Courier notice 23 June 1874) – Died: at Bombay 16 January 1913 aged 38 (see headstone) and intestacy record on ScotlandsPeople.