James Kinross, 1845-1931

James was born at Shore Road, Stirling on 20^th August 1845, and baptised on 14^th September 1845, the second child of William Kinross and his first wife Janet Buchanan.  He died a widower on 29^th July 1931 at his house at 11 Allan Park, Stirling, aged 86, and is buried at The Church of The Holy Rude.  James had escaped death, aged 2, when his mother was killed by a runaway farm cart after just managing to put James to safety on the tailboard.

He inherited the carriage works, which he ran until his older brother George took over.  The firm was now described as William Kinross & Sons, carriage and motor works of Port Street, Stirling.

James married Cecilia Morton in 1878, the same year as his brother George was married to Grace.  Cecilia was born 13^th July 1857 and died on 15^th January 1930, aged 72 and is buried at The Church of The Holy Rude.  She was of the Morton family, partners in the Graham & Morton Upholstery and Household Furnishings business of Stirling.  William, the eldest of their 6 children, was born at their house at 1 Dumbarton Road, Stirling in 1879.

This photograph of James and Cecilia was probably taken just after the wedding of their 4^th son Ernest, an infantry Captain, to Dora Kirkwood Macalister in 1917 at Hampstead, London.

James is recorded in the 1881 Census as a “coachbuilder employing 60 men”, living at 1 Dunbarton Place with his family and a domestic servant.

James & Cecilia later moved into his father, William's house at 11 Allan Park, Stirling, when his widowed step-mother Ann Marshall moved out to 5 Windsor Place, Stirling to live with his half-brother David Kinross.

A jolly fellow, he was still working at the motor works when he was 80 years old, long after his brother had George retired.

James and Cecilia had 5 sons and a daughter Bessie who died as an infant.  The five sons were photographed at about the turn of the century.  William Kinross, the eldest son, suceeded to the family firm and the expense of his 3 surviving brother's share of the business.

The 5 Kinross brothers from left to right: William (1879-1950), Ernest (1887-1965), Douglas (1890-1939), James (1884?-1970) & David (1881-1910).