House of David, The, Book Extract- Lumsden Family

THE HOUSE OF DAVID.

Alexander and Jane begat David

David and Janet begat David.

Alexander Lumsden of Auchline, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, was born in 1783, his first wife, Jane Reid, in 1782.

They had seven daughters and four sons, David being the fourth one.

Alexander was a farmer of 100 acres and 19¼ acres of marsh; employing one man, William Troup, and one boy, James Reid.  (1)

Still living with Alexander at the time of the 1851 Census of Auchline were Helen and Sarah, the last two unmarried daughters, and David the fourth son.

It was in 1853 that David married Janet Forbes, resulting in a family of one daughter and five sons; David being the fifth son, born in 1865 at Clatt, Aberdeenshire.

David was a farmer at Buchaam, Strathdon, Aberdeenshire, the farm being part of the Estate of Newe.  (2)

Following the death of David in 1885, Alexander the eldest son, would have assumed responsibility of the farm; David the fifth son, departing for Aberdeen where he trained as a bank clerk.

THE DECISION.

The decision made by David and his brother William to emigrate to New Zealand could have been influenced by the economical depression in Scotland, the agricultural reforms and unemployment.  Perhaps reports reaching Scotland glorifying the availability of land, abundance of food, great wealth for the taking in New Zealand, beckoned the adventurous and courageous to uproot and set sail for that […]

From “The House of David” by Doreen Lumsden, 1990 in National Library Archives