David Balfour

Born:

Died:

Married:

Mother:

Father:

Descendant:

Census

1841

1851

1861

1871

1881

1891

1901

1911

1921

David Balfour was born in Torryburn, Fife, Scotland on the 15th June 1817 to parents John Balfour (a seaman) and Helen Smith. He had a brother James Balfour, and a sister Isabella Balfour. David was a Mineral Borer in Low Torry (a mining village of west Fife, Low Torry lies on the north shore of the Firth of Forth between Torryburn and Newmills)

He married his first wife Mary Paterson on the 4th January 1844, and they had two children:

John Balfour - born September 27th 1844 in Torryburn, Baptized October 6th (from parish register) Mary Balfour, died September 24th, 1849, aged in months. Mary Paterson died on November 28th 1849 at the age of 32. Her gravestone is in Torryburn churchyard next to that of her father-in-law John Balfour. Her gravestone reads:

Erected by David Balfour to the memory of

Mary Paterson

whow died Novr 28th 1849 aged 32 years.

Also their daughter Mary Balfour who died September 24th aged in months.

Marriage

He married Janet Hunter on the 8th February 1851 at Torryburn, Fife.

Marriages 1851 - Balfour & Hunter David Balfour and Janet Hunter both of this parish, gave up their names for proclamation in order to marriage 8th February 1851.

Janet Hunter already had three children from her previous marriage to John Paterson, and according to the 1851 census they came to live with David Balfour. They were:

Helen Paterson - born ~1838 Mary Paterson - born ~1840 John Paterson - born ~ 1842 David and Janet had only one child that we know about, our Janet Hunter Balfour on the 15th of April 1852 in Torryburn.

By the 1861 census Janet has died, and David is living next door to his parents-in-law, John and Helen Hunter. His step-children (the Patersons) have left, and only his own children, John and Janet, remain.

His older brother James had been born to John and Helen on the 15th May 1811 in Torryburn. James had a son, also called James, who moved to London sometime before 1861 where he was a junior baker living at 12 Guilford Street. The head of the household was a baker called James Dick (who employed three other junior bakers). By the 1871 census David's daughter Janet had moved down to London to stay with his nephew (her cousin) James Balfour at 24 Marchmont Street, St Pancras . By this time, nephew James was both head of his own household, and a baker and confectioner.

David's wife, Janet, must have died sometime after 1852 and before 1868, as on the 22nd May 1868 David remarried to an Ann Harrower, herself a widow whose maiden name was Nicol (parents Peter Nicol and Elizabeth McKensie). The marriage took place at Lowvalleyfield in the district of Culross in the county of Perth. David was 50, from Low Torry, Torryburn and Ann was 47, from Lowvalleyfield, Parish of Culross (just to the West of Torryburn) . The witnesses were James Harrower and William Nicol. David's parents were given as John Balfour (a Seaman) and Helen Smith, both were deceased by this time.

Civil register of marriages - entry for David Balfour and Ann Harrower, 1868. 

In 1871 David was living with his wife on the High Street in Low Torry, Torryburn. Their house was unusual for this road as it had seven rooms with windows. David Balfour died on the 26th July 1877 aged 60. His son John Balfour was the main executor of his will - and the Cupar Sheriff's Court proceedings of his will are transcribed here. The other two executors are his step-son James Harrowar and his brother James's son, also called James Balfour, who is residing in London. This is believed to be the James Balfour of Marchmont street whom Janet goes to stay with when she moves to London.

James Balfour Next to Mary Paterson's grave (in Torryburn churchyard) is another with the following inscription:

Erected by James Balfour to the memory of

his wif Mary Richie died Decr 7th 1849(?)

Another gravestone says:

18 62

Erected to the memory of

James Hunter

who died 9th November 1849 aged 49 years

also of his wife

Mary Drysdale who died 29th May 1894 aged 83 years.

And another, much older one:

John Hunter

Died March the 18 Aged 39

Records GROS (ScotlandsPeople): Birth/Baptism 15/05/1811 James Balfour (to John Balfour, Helen Smith), Torryburn GROS 458/00 0002

GROS (ScotlandsPeople): Birth/Baptism 15/06/1817 David Balfour (to John Balfour, Helen Smith), Torryburn GROS 458/00 0002

GROS (ScotlandsPeople): OPR Banns/Marriages 04/01/1844 David Balfour to Mary Paterson, Torryburn GROS 458/00 0004

Unrelated Other Records A David Balfour was Reverend at Torryburn church http://www.geograph.co.uk/photo/38036

No Luck in tracking down a John Balfour - the closest I've got is 26/05/1850 John Balfour, in Dysart, David Balfour & Isabella Jackson (GROS426/00 0006) or one born illegitimately to an Elizabeth Balfour. - actually it's probably the John Balfour born to David Balfour and Mary Paterson in Torryburn.

Reverend David Balfour of Torryburn (died 24th Februrary 1808) had two children, Reverend John Balfour, and Isabella Balfour (died 1842).

Will of James Balfour, retired baker Torryburn, died 8 Nov 1890, referring to his sister Isabella Balfour (or Macallay), his wife Ann Brimer (she previously married), and a John Balfour, wood merchant of Bo'ness. Also refers to his niece Janet Balfour/Gordon in London...

Parish Registers The parish register for Torryburn has Janet's birth:

Balfour: Janet Hunter, Daughter of David Balfour and Janet Hunter was born 15h April 1852 and Baptized 27th April 1853

Other References

Births

1 18/05/1800 BALFOUR DAVID THOMAS BALFOUR/MARGARET MITCHELL FR2524 M DUNFERMLINE 424/00 0008 2 09/11/1803 BALFOUR DAVID WILLIAM BALFOUR/ELIZABETH TAYLOR M COLLESSIE 416/00 0001 3 08/06/1803 BALFOUR DAVID ALEXANDER BALFOUR/SARAH HODGE M KINGSBARNS 441/00 0002 4 02/04/1804 BALFOUR DAVID THOMAS BALFOUR/ELEANORA CURRIE FR3538 M ST CUTHBERT'S EDINBURG 685/02 0063 5 29/04/1804 BALFOUR DAVID ANDREW BALFOUR/AGNES PHILP M MARKINCH 447/00 0002 6 26/06/1808 BALFOUR DAVID ROBERT BALFOUR ELIZABETH TAYLOR FR672 M GREENOCK MIDDLE 564/01 0003 7 20/06/1808 BALFOUR DAVID DAVID BALFOUR/MARGARET CLARK FR3139 U DUNDEE 282/00 0009 8 31/01/1808 BALFOUR DAVID JAMES BALFOUR/ANNE FYALL M ANSTRUTHER WESTER 403/00 0003 9 24/06/1808 BALFOUR DAVID DAVID BALFOUR/CATHARINE MC DONALD M ARDCLACH 120/00 0001 10 16/05/1809 BALFOUR DAVID ROBERT BALFOUR/MARGARET LAW FR475 U FALKLAND 428/00 0002 11 23/12/1810 BALFOUR DAVID ROBERT BALFOUR/ANN PIGOT M MONIKIE 311/00 0003 12 04/11/1810 BALFOUR DAVID JOHN BALFOUR/JEAN WALKER M MONTROSE 312/00 0005 13 28/10/1810 BALFOUR DAVID GEORGE BALFOUR/JANET WHITE M PITTENWEEM 452/00 0002 14 04/03/1810 BALFOUR DAVID ROBERT BALFOUR/ M COLLESSIE 416/00 0001 15 22/07/1810 BALFOUR DAVID ALEXANDER BALFOUR/SARAH HODGE M KINGSBARNS 441/00 0002 16 27/01/1811 BALFOUR DAVID WILLIAM BALFOUR/KATHARINE BRAID M NEWBURN 451/00 0002 17 05/05/1811 BALFOUR DAVID ROBERT BALFOUR/JANET YOUNG FR2994 M DUNFERMLINE 424/00 0009 18 25/10/1811 BALFOUR DAVID WILLIAM BALFOUR/MARY BALFOUR MANSON M SHAPINSHAY 028/00 0001 19 29/06/1812 BALFOUR DAVID THOMAS BALFOUR/ELISABETH WEIR M BRECHIN 275/00 0004 20 12/03/1814 BALFOUR DAVID JAMES BALFOUR/CLEMENTINA HARRISON FR3887 M ST CUTHBERT'S EDINBURG 685/02 0063 21 06/12/1814 BALFOUR DAVID WILLIAM BALFOUR/ELIZABETH STOCKS FR3914 M ST CUTHBERT'S EDINBURG 685/02 0063 22 05/09/1814 BALFOUR DAVID ANDW. BALFOUR/BARBARA WRIGHT M DYSART 426/00 0004 23 27/08/1815 BALFOUR DAVID JAMES BALFOUR/CHRISTIAN DRUMMOND FR77 M STRATHMIGLO 457/00 0001 24 27/08/1815 BALFOUR DAVID JAMES BALFOUR/CHRISTIAN DRUMMOND FR615 M STRATHMIGLO 457/00 0001 25 26/06/1816 BALFOUR DAVID JAS. BALFOUR/JEAN RENDALL FR144 M WESTRAY AND PAPA-WESTRAY 033/00 0001

26 21/07/1816 BALFOUR DAVID DAVID BALFOUR/ELIZA. GOODALE FR247 U AUCHTERDERRAN 405/00 0001 27 21/01/1816 BALFOUR DAVID THOMAS BALFOUR/CHARLOTTE ALLAN FR560 M SCOONIE 456/00 0003 28 15/06/1817 BALFOUR DAVID JOHN BALFOUR/HELEN SMITH M TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 29 19/09/1818 BALFOUR DAVID JOHN BALFOUR/HELEN BORTHWICK M ST VIGEANS 319/00 0002 30 16/03/1819 BALFOUR DAVID JOHN BALFOUR/ M MENMUIR 309/00 0001 31 25/07/1819 BALFOUR DAVID JOHN BALFOUR/JANE BARRY M DYSART 426/00 0004 32 05/03/1820 BALFOUR DAVID THOMAS BALFOUR/ELIZABETH CHALMERS M MONIMAIL 448/00 0003 33 02/11/1821 BALFOUR DAVID THOMAS BALFOUR/MARY ADAMSON FR1258 M KILCONQUHAR 436/00 0004 34 04/07/1822 BALFOUR DAVID JOHN BALFOUR/JEAN MCINTOSH M DYKE 133/00 0005 35 02/07/1823 BALFOUR DAVID ARCHBALD BALFOUR/MARGARET PETRIE FR472 M DUNBAR 706/00 0007 36 22/08/1825 BALFOUR DAVID WILLIAM BALFOUR/MARY PATERSON M SCOONIE 456/00 0004 37 01/10/1826 BALFOUR DAVID WILLIAM BALFOUR/MARY DUNCAN FR713 773 M KINGSBARNS 441/00 0003 38 07/01/1827 BALFOUR DAVID JAMES BALFOUR/JEAN MACNAB U CUMBERNAULD 495/00 0003 39 22/08/1827 BALFOUR DAVID JOHN BALFOUR/ISABEL LOW M MONTROSE 312/00 010* 40 21/04/1828 BALFOUR DAVID DAVID BALFOUR/JANET MIDDLETON FR641 M DUNNOTTAR 255/00 003* 41 07/11/1828 BALFOUR DAVID WILLIAM BALFOUR/MARY CAMPBELL M GLENBERVIE 261/00 0002 42 04/07/1830 BALFOUR DAVID JAMES BALFOUR/JANET EDNY FR583 M DUNINO 425/00 0003 43 27/12/1830 BALFOUR DAVID DAVID BALFOUR MARY ANN BARBOUR FR1489 M GREENOCK OLD OR WEST 564/03 005* 44 28/11/1824 BALFOUR DAVID BROWN JAMES BALFOUR/EUPHAN MCGILL M ST MONANCE 454/00 0003 45 22/12/1802 BALFOUR DAVID KINNEAR ALEXR. BALFOUR/ M LETHENDY AND KINLOCH 372/00 001*

Balfour Births in Torryburn: No Date Surname Forename Parent Names/Frame No. Sex Parish GROS Data Image Extract 1 01/03/1815 BALFOUR ----- THOMAS BALFOUR/MARY ROSS F TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 2 01/03/1815 BALFOUR ----- THOMAS BALFOUR/MARGARET MEIKLEJOHN FR613 F TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 3 01/03/1815 BALFOUR ----- THOMAS BALFOUR/ F TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 4 22/10/1842 BALFOUR ----- JAMES BALFOUR/ U TORRYBURN 458/00 0004 No Image ORDER 5 22/10/1842 BALFOUR ----- JAMES BALFOUR/ U TORRYBURN 458/00 0004 No Image ORDER 6 06/04/1769 BALFOUR AGNES DAVID BALFOUR/AGNES LAUDER F TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 7 20/04/1788 BALFOUR ALEXANDER ROBERT BALFOUR/MARY ERSKINE M TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 8 19/05/1793 BALFOUR ALEXANDER ROBERT BALFOUR/MARY ERSKINE M TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 9 28/02/1802 BALFOUR ALEXANDER ROBERT BALFOUR/MARY ERSKINE M TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 10 18/01/1795 BALFOUR ANDREW ROBERT BALFOUR/MARY ERSKINE M TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 11 04/07/1745 BALFOUR BESSY JAMES BALFOUR/MARGARET BALD FR376 F TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 12 27/10/1737 BALFOUR BETHRAGE JOHN BALFOUR/MARGARET KELTY FR366 U TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 13 13/06/1773 BALFOUR CATHARINE ROBERT BALFOUR/HELEN NICOL F TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 14 13/06/1773 BALFOUR CATHARINE ROBERT BALFOUR/HELEN NICOL F TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 15 20/04/1785 BALFOUR CATHRINE ROBERT BALFOUR/HELEN NICHOL F TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 16 21/01/1790 BALFOUR CATHRINE ROBERT BALFOUR/MARY ERSKINE F TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 17 21/12/1834 BALFOUR CHARLOTTE THOMAS BALFOUR/MARY ROSS F TORRYBURN 458/00 0004 No Image ORDER 18 10/08/1754 BALFOUR CHRISTIAN JAMES BALFOUR/MARGARET BALD FR400 F TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 19 17/11/1761 BALFOUR DAVID JAMES BALFOUR/MARGARET BALD FR433 M TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 20 26/08/1776 BALFOUR DAVID ROBERT BALFOUR/HELEN NICOL M TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 21 26/11/1782 BALFOUR DAVID JOHN BALFOUR/ELIZABETH COAZE M TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 22 24/08/1788 BALFOUR DAVID WILLIAM BALFOUR/HELEN WIGHTMAN M TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 23 15/06/1817 BALFOUR DAVID JOHN BALFOUR/HELEN SMITH M TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 24 09/05/1819 BALFOUR ELISABETH THOMAS BALFOUR/MARY ROSS F TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 25 13/01/1771 BALFOUR ELIZABETH JAMES BALFOUR/ELIZABETH KEIR F TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 26 20/11/1785 BALFOUR ELSPETH THOMAS BALFOUR/AGNES KILGOUR F TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 27 13/02/1763 BALFOUR HELEN ROBERT BALFOUR/HELEN NICOL FR439 F TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 28 31/05/1827 BALFOUR HELEN THOMAS BALFOUR/MARY ROSS FR1013 F TORRYBURN 458/00 0004 No Image ORDER 29 27/07/1845 BALFOUR HELEN JAMES BALFOUR/JANET BALLANTYNE F TORRYBURN 458/00 0004 No Image ORDER 30 19/01/1794 BALFOUR ISOBEL WILLIAM BALFOUR/JANET BEVERIDGE F TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 31 13/02/1813 BALFOUR ISOBEL JOHN BALFOUR/NELLIE AGNES SMITH F TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 32 02/08/1771 BALFOUR ISOBELLA DAVID BALFOUR/AGNES LAUDER F TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 33 18/05/1817 BALFOUR ISOBELLA COLVIL THOMAS BALFOUR/MARY ROSS F TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 34 12/08/1733 BALFOUR JAMES JOHN BALFOUR/MARGARET KELTIE FR361 U TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 35 28/06/1742 BALFOUR JAMES JOHN BALFOUR/MARGARET KELTIE FR372 M TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 36 02/09/1743 BALFOUR JAMES JAMES BALFOUR/MARGARET BALD FR374 M TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 37 22/05/1768 BALFOUR JAMES ROBERT BALFOUR/HELEN NICOL M TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 38 09/03/1777 BALFOUR JAMES JAMES BALFOUR/ELIZABETH CHRISTIE M TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 39 29/10/1786 BALFOUR JAMES WILLIAM BALFOUR/HELEN WIGHTMAN M TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 40 15/05/1811 BALFOUR JAMES JOHN BALFOUR/HELEN SMITH M TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 41 13/01/1839 BALFOUR JAMES JAMES BALFOUR/MARY RITCHIE M TORRYBURN 458/00 0004 No Image ORDER 42 22/05/1825 BALFOUR JANET THOMAS BALFOUR/MARY ROSS FR1010 F TORRYBURN 458/00 0004 No Image ORDER 43 27/04/1853 BALFOUR JANET HUNTER DAVID BALFOUR/JANET HUNTER FR1056 F TORRYBURN 458/00 0004 No Image ORDER 44 27/07/1752 BALFOUR JEAN JAMES BALFOUR/MARGARET BALD FR393 F TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 45 24/03/1730 BALFOUR JOHN JOHN BALFOUR/MARGARET KELTIE FR357 U TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 46 02/11/1740 BALFOUR JOHN JAMES BALFOUR/MARGARET BALD FR370 M TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 47 08/05/1768 BALFOUR JOHN DAVID BALFOUR/AGNES LAUDER M TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 48 18/09/1774 BALFOUR JOHN JAMES BALFOUR/ELIZABETH CHRISTIE M TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 49 06/06/1779 BALFOUR JOHN ROBERT BALFOUR/HELEN NICOL M TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 50 08/05/1809 BALFOUR JOHN JOHN BALFOUR/HELEN SMITH M TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 No Image ORDER 51 06/10/1844 BALFOUR JOHN DAVID BALFOUR/MARY PATERSON M TORRYBURN 458/00 0004 52 22/06/1823 BALFOUR JOHN ROSS THOMAS BALFOUR/MARY ROSS FR1008 M TORRYBURN 458/00 0004 53 31/05/1829 BALFOUR LOUISA THOMAS BALFOUR/MARY ROSS FR1015 F TORRYBURN 458/00 0004 54 09/04/1735 BALFOUR MARGARET JOHN BALFOUR/MARGARET KELTIE FR363 U TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 55 09/01/1748 BALFOUR MARGARET JAMES BALFOUR/MARGARET BALD FR381 F TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 56 23/05/1765 BALFOUR MARGARET ROBERT BALFOUR/HELEN NICOL F TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 57 15/01/1769 BALFOUR MARGARET JAMES BALFOUR/MARY KEIR F TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 58 29/04/1770 BALFOUR MARGARET JAMES BALFOUR/ELIZABETH CHRISTIE F TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 59 15/09/1799 BALFOUR MARGARET ROBERT BALFOUR/MARY ERSKINE F TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 60 18/06/1750 BALFOUR MARION JAMES BALFOUR/MARGARET BALD FR387 F TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 61 24/05/1767 BALFOUR MARION JAMES BALFOUR/ELIZABETH KEIR F TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 62 20/10/1740 BALFOUR MARY JOHN BALFOUR/MARGARET KELTIE FR370 F TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 63 07/02/1745 BALFOUR MARY JOHN BALFOUR/MARGARET KELTY FR376 F TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 64 25/12/1768 BALFOUR MARY JAMES BALFOUR/ELIZABETH CHRISTIE F TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 65 09/08/1772 BALFOUR MARY JAMES BALFOUR/ELIZABETH CHRISTIE F TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 66 27/08/1775 BALFOUR MARY JAMES BALFOUR/ELIZABETH KEIR F TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 67 20/02/1785 BALFOUR MARY WILLIAM BALFOUR/HELEN WIGHTMAN F TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 68 05/02/1797 BALFOUR MARY ROBERT BALFOUR/MARY ERSKINE F TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 69 01/08/1738 BALFOUR ROBERT JAMES BALFOUR/MARGARET BALD FR367 M TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 70 30/09/1770 BALFOUR ROBERT ROBERT BALFOUR/HELEN NICOL M TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 71 14/07/1806 BALFOUR ROBERT JOHN BALFOUR/ISOBEL SMITH M TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 72 27/05/1821 BALFOUR ROBERT THOMAS BALFOUR/MARY ROSS FR1005 M TORRYBURN 458/00 0004 73 10/06/1759 BALFOUR THOMAS JAMES BALFOUR/MARGARET BALD FR425 M TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 74 17/07/1791 BALFOUR THOMAS ROBERT BALFOUR/MARY ERSKINE M TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 75 08/08/1807 BALFOUR THOMAS JOHN BALFOUR/NELLY SMITH M TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 76 13/07/1834 BALFOUR THOMAS ANDREW BALFOUR/JEAN WILLIAMSON FR1021 M TORRYBURN 458/00 0004 77 28/01/1748 BALFOUR WILLIAM JOHN BALFOUR/MARGARET KELTY FR381 M TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 78 06/06/1756 BALFOUR WILLIAM JAMES BALFOUR/MARGARET BALD FR410 M TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 79 02/09/1781 BALFOUR WILLIAM ROBERT BALFOUR/HELEN NICOL M TORRYBURN 458/00 0002 80 02/08/1796 BALFOUR WILLIAM WILLIAM BALFOUR/JANET BEVERIDGE M TORRYBURN 458/00 0002