James Norwell1

#20698, (1817 - 1882)
Extended Family
ChartsJames Graham & Agnes Finlayson - collapsible 7-generation descendant chart
James Norwell
c1817-1882
James Norwell
c1817-1882

Children of James Norwell and Margaret Reid
  • unnamed daughter Norwell6 (1860 - 1860)
  • Mary Graham Norwell14 (1861 - )
  • John Craigie Norwell15 (1869 - )
  • Janet Reid Norwell16 (1872 - )
  • Margaret Moncrieff Norwell17 (1874 - )

Life Events

BirthJames Norwell was born on 6 Feb 1817 in Perth, Perthshire.
Transcription from the parish register: "Pomarium West Church Parish Perth Thursday the Sixth day of February One thousand eight hundred and Seventeen was Born James Norwell lawfull Son to John Norwell labourer in said Parish and Janet Craigie his Spouse and Baptised the Ninth day of February said year by the Reverend Mr Alexander Pringle Minister of the Associate Congregation in Perth."2 
OccupationHe started work with the Union Bank of Scotland in 1835. In December 1869 the Glasgow Herald reported that James had been appointed as secretary to the Union Bank of Scotland in Edinburgh. Prior to that he worked in the Greenock branch.3 
MarriageHe married Margaret Reid, daughter of James Reid and Mary Graham, on 30 Jun 1859 in 23 Blythswood Square, Glasgow, Lanarkshire.
James was 42, occupation banker, and Margaret was 25. They were married after banns according to the Forms of the Church of Scotland.4 
1861 CensusJames and Margaret appeared on the 1861 Census of Glasgow Maryhill, Lanarkshire, at 39 Lansdowne Crescent. James was 44, a banker, and was born in Perth. Margaret was 26, born Glasgow. They had two female servants.5 
Newspaper Published 24 Oct 1863 in the Glasgow Herald.

Banking Presentation. Mr Norwell, Inspector of Branches of the Union Bank of Scotland, being about to leave that establishment for the management of the London Bank of Scotland in Glasgow, a number of gentlemen of the head office met in the board-room, on Wednesday afternoon, for the purpose of presenting him with a testimonial of their respect and esteem for him as a gentleman, and their high admiration of him as an officer of the bank. Mr Fullarton being called to the chair, in tasteful and appropriate terms presented Mr Norwell with a beautiful timepiece and a bracelet for Mrs Norwell, and expressed the pleasure it gave him to be the medium of this presentation, and the hope that every happiness might ever attend him and his family, in which he was most cordially joined by all present. Mr Norwell has been nearly 29 years in the service of the bank, during 17 of which he filled the important office of Inspector of Branches.6
 
1871 CensusJames and Margaret Norwell appeared on the 1871 Census of Edinburgh St Cuthberts, Midlothian, at 5 Magdala Crescent. James was a banker, age 54, born in Perth City. Margaret was 36 and born in Glasgow. Their children were Mary G (9) and John C (2). Also there were a cook, a nurse, a housemaid, and a visitor, apparently the cook's sister.7 
1881 CensusJames and Margaret appeared on the 1881 Census of Edinburgh St Georges, Edinburgh, at 55 George Street. James was 64, born in Perth, Perthshire, and was Secretary, Union Bank of Scotland. Margaret was 46 and born in Glasgow. Their children were Mary G (19, birthplace Glasgow), John C (12, Greenock), Janet R (8, Edinburgh), and Margaret M (6, Edinburgh). Also in their household were a visitor from Inverness, a cook, a nurse, and two general servants. [62, 64 and 66 George Street Edinburgh comprised the Union Bank building]8 
DeathJames died on 3 Oct 1882 in 62 George Street, Edinburgh, Midlothian.9,10
 
ObituaryHis obituary was published in the Scotsman.

The late Mr James Norwell - Our obituary to-day announces the death, in his 67th year, of Mr James Norwell, who for the last thirteen years has acted as secretary of the Union Bank of Scotland. A native of Perth, Mr Norwell entered, upwards of 45 years ago, the Shipping Bank in Glasgow, whence he was transferred to the Union Bank. In its service the rest of his life was spent, assiduity and capacity gaining for him successive positions of trust and responsibility. He acted for some time as inspector of branches at Glasgow, was then a branch agent, and, in 1869, he was, on the death of the late Mr William Brand, W.S., appointed secretary at the Edinburgh office. In business, Mr Norwell was active, shrewd, and attentive; while personally, though quiet and unobtrusive, he was much like by those with whom he came in contact. His loss will be deeply regretted both in this city and in Glasgow. While he naturally shrank from duties of a public or quasi-public character, he acted as treasurer for the University Buildings Extension Fund along with the late Mr Samuel Hay, and was a trustee of Palmerston Place United Presbyterian Church. Pleurisy, complicated with gout, was the immediate cause of death, the deceased being suddenly seized with the fatal illness in the office of the bank last Friday morning.11
 
ProbateHis estate was probated on 25 Nov 1882 in Edinburgh Sheriff Court Inventories. He was listed as Secretary, Union Bank of Scotland (Limited), George Street, Edinburgh, who died 03/10/1882 at Edinburgh, intestate.9 
Newspaper Published 7 Dec 1882 in the Otago Daily Times.

Mr James Norwell, for 13 years secretary of the Union Bank of Scotland, died in Edinburgh on October 3rd, aged 66. He began his career in the Shipping Bank of Glasgow, 45 years ago, but soon was transferred to the Union Bank, in which he rose to the important post he occupied at his death. His last illness came upon him suddenly while he was at his duties in the Bank, four days before his death.12
 
BurialMargaret and James were buried in Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh.13
James & Margaret Norwell grave monument
Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh
Last Edited1 Jul 2012

Citations

  1. [S1320] Website International Genealogical Index, civil registration index (www.familysearch.org).
  2. [S2517] E-mails from David McColl, Durham, to J Kolthammer, [GROS (General Register Office for Scotland) - OPR Births 387/00 0170 0116 PERTH].
  3. [S2517] E-mails from David McColl, Durham, to J Kolthammer, [p160 The life cycle of The Union Bank of Scotland 1830-1954 by Norio Tamaki, The University Press Aberdeen, 1983].
  4. [S2517] E-mails from David McColl, Durham, to J Kolthammer, [GROS - Statutory Marriages 644/06 0257].
  5. [S1186] Online index to the 1861 Census for Scotland (Ancestry.com) "Glasgow Maryhill, ED 40, Page 13."
  6. [S2517] E-mails from David McColl, Durham, to J Kolthammer, [Glasgow Herald].
  7. [S1207] Online index to the 1871 Census for Scotland (Ancestry.com) "Edinburgh St Cuthberts, ED 54, Page 3."
  8. [S246] 1881 Census for England, Scotland, and Wales (Family History Library, on CD), Volume 685-2, ed 104, page 5.
  9. [S710] Website Scotlands People Wills & Testaments Index (www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk), Index of Scottish Wills, James Norwell, 1882, SC70/1/218.
  10. [S2517] E-mails from David McColl, Durham, to J Kolthammer, [GROS - Statutory Death 685/02 0492].
  11. [S2517] E-mails from David McColl, Durham, to J Kolthammer, [The Scotsman].
  12. [S2486] Otago Daily Times [New Zealand], James Norwell obituary, 7 December 1882, Page 3. Digital image viewed at Papers Past website.
  13. [S2496] Photograph of the James & Margaret Norwell gravestone at Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh, Lothian, Scotland, taken by a GPR volunteer. Image from the Gravestone Photographic Resource at http://www.gravestonephotos.com (copyright belongs to GPR volunteer photographer).
  14. [S2517] E-mails from David McColl, Durham, to J Kolthammer, [GROS - Statutory Birth 644 07/0563].
  15. [S2517] E-mails from David McColl, Durham, to J Kolthammer, [GROS - Statutory Birth 563 03/0217].
  16. [S2517] E-mails from David McColl, Durham, to J Kolthammer, [GROS - Statutory Birth 685/01 1160].
  17. [S2517] E-mails from David McColl, Durham, to J Kolthammer, [GROS - Statutory Birth 685/01 1332].