Person:Peter Spalding (1)

According to the census records Peter was recorded as being born in Angus Rattray (1851 census) or in Coupar Angus, Perthshire (1861 census). The 1841 census records Peter as not being born in Lanarkshire. Coupar Angus and Rattray are adjoining parishes almost on the border of Angus (Forfarshire) and Perthshire. Rattray is in Perthshire (near Blairgowrie) next to Coupar Angus. They are about 4 miles apart.

   Peter's dates of birth are referenced as -
   1841 Census   1786 - 1791    50 years (means usually 50-55)
   1851 Census          1785    66 years
   1861 Census          1783    78 years
   Death Certificate    1784    78 years on 27 Jun 1862

   A picture of Thomas Spalding, Peter's first son, was sent to General George Spalding located in Monroe, Michigan, USA, by an Andrew Spalding in Blairgowrie, Scotland. The family information on the reverse of the picture clearly link Thomas Spalding, grocer of Larkhall, son of Peter, to General George Spalding, son of Andrew, as cousins.

   Text from the reverse of a photo of Thomas Spalding who was born in 1819 at Larkhall and who died in 1899 Larkhall.
   "This is a photograph of Thomas Spalding who was a successful Grocer at Larkhall Lanarkshire Scotland & who died early in the nineties. He was a son of Peter Spalding who was a brother of Andrew Spalding the Father of General Spalding.  Said Thomas Spalding was therefore a full cousin of General George Spalding.  He has one daughter alive and 2 grandchildren - girls.  He was a very religious man and highly respected in his town.  I saw him often & know his family.

   Signed
   Andrew Spalding
   Blairgowrie
   December 1906"

   This means that Peter had a brother Andrew.  There are baptism records from Rattray Parish church for both a Peter and Andrew as sons of William Spalding of Bonyton as follows:
   Baptism: Rattray 6 June 1790 -  William Spalden in Bonyton had a child baptised as Peter.  FHL - 1040134
   Baptism: Rattray 15 Oct 1791 - Wm Spaldin Boneyton had a child baptised as Andrew  FHL C113894
   (They were also siblings of William and Cecilia)

   William Spalding of Rattray married Margaret Smith on 26 August 1786 and so Peter's mother was most likely this Margaret.

   Peter's parents of William and Margaret are also confirmed by the the names given to Peter Spalding's children -
   1st child Thomas - child's mother's father
   2nd child William - child's father's father
   3rd child George - ?
   4th child Peter - child's father
   5th child Mary - child's mother (and child's mother's mother)
   6th child Margaret - child's father's mother

   Peter left Perthshire as a young man and moved to Hamilton, Lanarkshire where he married Mary Thomson in 1818.  The Hamilton Parish Records show -  
   Marriage: Peter Spaldin and Mary Thomson both in this parish for two days 19 and 26 April 1818 - FHL 1066593

   Peter was a coal miner and also got involved in coal sales, and for a period as a blacksmith.  Peter and Mary then moved to nearby London Street, Larkhall, Lanarkshire in the parish of Dalserf and had nine children.  Peter died in 1862 in London Street, Larkhall when in his seventies.  His parents were unknown by his third son, George.