126 Gilmore Place

44 when he got married

Barbara died young at the age of 34 of bowel cancer, leaving three small children, the youngest of whom was Agnes, usually known as Ann. As a teenager and orphan, Ann was sent to Mull to look after the aging and ailing Agnes Mitchell, her grandmother. Ann loved being on Mull and didn't want to leave when Agnes died. In later life she came back to the island.

Barbara Mitchell (1863-97)

Born in Dalry, Ayrshire in 1863, one of the five daughters of Charles Spence Mitchell (182991) and Agnes Mary Mitchell, née MacFarlane (c. 18291913).

Married George Scott Smith (c. 18431903), a travelling salesman, at 126, Gilmore Place, Edinburgh, on 2 December 1887. He was a travelling salesman, 44 years of age and 20 years her senior. Barbara gave Bunessan, Mull, as her usual place of residence. According to family tradition, she taught needlework in the village school and possibly also in the school on the nearby island of Erraid. She had met George when he travelled to Mull to sell goods family lore has it that he had previously proposed to one of Barbara's sisters, who had turned him down. The marriage was witnessed by Barbara's sister, Mary Agnes Mitchell (18651947). Barbara had made her own wedding dress of white lace and carried a posy of white heather.

In 1891, George and Barbara Smith were living at 41, Clarence Street, Govan, Glasgow. They had a daughter, Catherine, born in 1889. Barbara's sister, Mary, was staying with them she was described as a Saleswoman Tobacconist. Also in the house was Agnes Dunlop, daughter of another of Barbara's sisters, Elizabeth (born c. 1851). Agnes, possibly aged about 12, was employed as a draper's girl.

Barbara Smith died on 9 December 1897, aged 34, in the Western Infirmary, Glasgow she had been suffering from cancer. She left three children, Catherine, who was now eight, James William (usually known as Bill, or in the family, 'Bowf'), who was about six, and Agnes (often called Anne) who was born on 10 April 1894. By 1901, George Scott Smith had moved with his children to 63, Earlston Street. He was now working as a stationer. His mother-in-law, Agnes Mitchell, was also living in the household, presumably helping to raise the three children following her daughter's death.

George Smith died of kidney disease on 14 April 1903, at Gartnavel Royal Lunatic Asylum. The three children, Catherine, James William and Agnes/Anne, were now orphaned according to family tradition, their aunts helped to raise them after their father died. When Agnes/Anne was about 14, however, she moved to Mull, to look after her grandmother, Agnes Mitchell, who was once more living on the island, but in poor health. The house Agnes (senior) lived in at Ardtun, near Bunessan, appears to have been rented for her by her son Robert Mitchell (18601921), a Bristol wine merchant.

Young Agnes (Smith) remained with her grandmother until the latter died from heart disease on 20 March 1913. The death certificate was signed by Elizabeth Dunlop.

Catherine Smith married Brian Duppa ?c. 1920 they had one son who died in infancy. James William (Bill) never married he died c. 1973. Agnes/Anne Smith married David Hooker Hannay in 1918 and settled in Cheshire. After David's retirement, the couple moved to Fionnphort, Mull, where they built a cottage. Agnes/Anne died on 19 March 1968 and is buried in Kilpatrick Cemetery, in the same grave as her grandparents, Charles and Agnes Mitchell.