John Shiell

John Shiell at the Latch, Brechin

Parents:

• Birth*: John Shiell was born on 4 April 1833 at Cannongate, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, .
• He was the son of William Shiell and Mary Russell.¹
• (Groom) Marriage*: John Shiell married Susan Lyall Guthrie, daughter of Colonel (?) Guthrie, on 24 July 1863 at Brechin, Forfarshire, Scotland, .
• (Deceased) Death*: John Shiell died on 21 June 1912 at Latch Road, Brechin, Forfarshire, Scotland, , at age 79 1912 deaths in the district of Brechin in the county of Forfar, ref 74; John Shiell, Solicitor before Supreme Court, married to Susan Lyall Guthrie, died 1912 June Twenty-first 11h 0m pm Latch Road Brechin, male aged 70, parents William Shiell Clerk of Session (dec) and Mary Russell (dec), cause senile decay, syncope, as certified by LB Adams MD; signed David G Shiell, son, Dalhousie Lodge, Edzell, regsitered 1912 June 22nd at Brechin Chas V Mills registrar.²

• Photograph*: John Shiell and Susan Lyall Guthrie are in this photograph taken circa 1887 along with William Shiell, Helen Scott Shiell, David Guthrie Shiell, Susan Mary Shiell, John Shiell, Herbert Shiell, Catherine Jane Shiell, Arnold Shiell, Robert Shiell, Buchanan Shiell automobile engineer, Alexander Guthrie Shiell and Lyall Guthrie Shiell.³
  

  John Shiell and Susan Lyall Guthrie with many of their family c 1887
• Occupation*: In 1908 John was Solicitor.
• Newspaper Article*: He was mentioned in a newspaper article DEATH OF MR JOHN SHIELL, S.S.C.,
  BRECHIN.
  The death of Mr John Shiell, solicitor, took place at his residence, Latch Road, Brechin, on Friday night. Mr Shiell, who had just celebrated his 70th birthday, had been absent from home for some time and only returned on Saturday. Although somewhat frail, he was in his usual health, and was out during Friday. In the evening, feeling not very well, he retired to bed, and expired shortly after eleven o'clock.
  Mr Shiell was a native of Edinburgh, being a son of the late Mr William Shiell, for many years one of the chief Clerks of the Court of Session. After serving for some time in the office of Messrs Shiell & Small, solicitors, Dundee, the senior partner of that firm being his uncle, he came to Brechin about 40 years ago as partner to the late Mr D. D. Black, Town Clerk. The partnership did not last very long, and on leaving Mr Black Mr Shiell commenced business on his own account, and soon built up a sound connection in the district. Shortly after commencing business he was appointed agent of the National Bank, a position he held at the time of his death. In 1880, on the death of the grandfather of the present Earl of Dalhousie, he was appointed factor on the Brechin Castle and Edzell estates of the Dalhousie family, and later, on the death of his father-in-law, the late Colonel Guthrie, Carlogie House, Carnoustie, he was appointed sole factor on the estates. During the time of the late Earl many improvements were carried out on the estates, while a most liberal form of lease was drawn up for the tenants, a form that became a model for progressive landlords, and it was well-known at that time that Mr Shiell was in a large measure responsible for the form it ultimately took. In addition, the comfort of the cottars and farm servants on the estate were not overlooked, comfortable cottages being erected on the farms, and in this work Mr Shiell also gave valuable assistance.
  In 1903 Mr Shiell, finding the burden of the estate work getting too heavy for him, retired from the factorship, being succeeded by his son, Mr D. G. Shiell. He was, however, continued as confidential adviser, and performed the duties of that position to the last. On his retiral from the factorship he was entertained by the employees on the Brechin Castle and Edzell estates at a cake and wine banquet, and was made the recipient of a solid silver rose bowl, suitably inscribed.
  In addition to his factorship of the Dalhousie Estates, Mr Shiell also acted as factor for a number of other estates, and carried on a large general business as a solicitor. For many years the late Mr James Don was associated with him as partner, and on the death of that gentleman, he assumed his son. Mr D. G. Shiell, as partner. Of recent years. Mr Shiell, while regularly attending at the office, had not taken an active part in the business of the firm. He had been & Director of the Brechin and Edzell District Railway since the formation of the Company, and was also a Director of Guthrie, Martin, & Company, Ltd. He was for long a member of the County Council, and took an active part in the work of the Brechin District Committee. He was also an Hon. Sheriff Substitute for the County of Forfar. A Unionist in politics, he never took any very active part in political matters. He was a member of St Andrew's Episcopal Church, and took a warm interest in the welfare of the congregation. He was married to a daughter of the late Colonel Guthrie of Carlogie House, by whom he is survived, and by a family of sons and daughters.
  The funeral of deceased took place on Tuesday, the pall bearers being :-Mr D. G. Shiell and Mr Buchanan Shiell (sons), Dr Gilruth, Arbroath (son-in-law); Rev. Dr Samuel Macaulay. Mr D. Sharp (Fast Drums), Mr Sharp, W.S. (Edinburgh); Mr Guthrie (Broughty Ferry): and ex. Provost Scott (Brechin). on 28 June 1912 at Brechin, Forfarshire, Scotland, .⁴

Census & Directory Entries

Member of Household	6 June 1841	John Shiell was listed along with William Shiell and Mary Russell in the 1841 census at Blacket Place, St Cuthbert's, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, . William Shiell Male 40 1801 Scotland Mary Shiell Female 38 1803 Midlothian, Scotland plus Christina Allan Female 24 1817 Midlothian, Scotland Helen Munro Female 28 1813 Midlothian, Scotland ; John Shiell Male 8 1833 Midlothian, Scotland.5
Member of Household	30 March 1851	They was listed as a member of the household of William Shiell in the 1851 census at 8 Great Newington PLace, St Cuthbert's, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, . John Shiell Son Unmarried Male 17 1834 - Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland ; William Shiell Head Widower Male 50 1801 Assistant Clerk Of Session Roxburghshire, Scotland plus Margaret Stewart Servant Unmarried Female 25 1826 Servant Midlothian, Scotland Jane Harkess Servant Unmarried Female 21 1830 Servant Haddingtonshire (East Lothian), Scotland.6
Head of Household	3 April 1881	He was listed as head of household along with spouse Susan Lyall Guthrie in the 1881 census at 12 Latch Road, Brechin, Forfarshire, Scotland, . John Shiell, head, mar, 47, solicitor before Supreme Courts, Edinburgh; Susan L Shiell, wife, mar, 40, Brechin; Elizabeth Swankie, sev, unm, 30, cook, Dundee; Annie Greene, serv, unm, 23, housemaid, Carmylie; Jane Nelson, unm, 28, nurse, Brechin; Eliabeth P Thomson, unm, 20, under nurse, Brechin; also in the household were Helen Scott Shiell, David Guthrie Shiell, Susan Mary Shiell, John Shiell, Herbert Shiell, Catherine Jane Shiell, Arnold Shiell and Robert Shiell.7
Head of Household	5 April 1891	He was listed as head of household along with spouse Susan Lyall Guthrie in the 1891 census at 28 Latch Road, Brechin, Forfarshire, Scotland, . John Shiell, head, mar, 58, solicitor before Supreme Courts, employer, Edinburgh; Susan L Shiell, wife, mar, 50, Brechin; Eliza Thomson, unm, 34, nurse, Brechin; Agnes Robertson, serv, unm, 28, housemaid, Ceres; Mary Ann Marr, serv, unm, 29, cook, Inverarity; Elizabeth Rattery, serv, unm, 15, under housemaid, Arbirlot; 13 rooms with windows; also in the household were Helen Scott Shiell, John Shiell, Herbert Shiell, Catherine Jane Shiell, Arnold Shiell, Robert Shiell, Buchanan Shiell automobile engineer and Lyall Guthrie Shiell.8 The Latch, Brechin
Head of Household	31 March 1901	He was listed as head of household along with spouse Susan Lyall Guthrie in the 1901 census at 38 Latch Road, Brechin, Forfarshire, Scotland, . ? John on previous page ?; Susan L Shiell, wife, mar, 60, Brechin; Joan Brand, serv, unm, 26, tablemaid, Glenbervie; Margaret S Henderson, serv, unm, 18, housemaid, Stracathro; Mary Milne, serv, unm, 42, cook, St Cyrus; also in the household were Catherine Jane Shiell and Buchanan Shiell automobile engineer.8