John Shiell¹

Parents:

• Birth*: John Shiell was born on 3 December 1806 at Kelso, Roxburghshire, Scotland, .¹
• He was the son of Anthony Shiell and Jean Holme.¹
• Marriage*: John Shiell married Alexandrine Wilhelmina Ursula Korn on Saturday, 11 September 1841 at Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, .²
• (Deceased) Death*: John Shiell died on 5 July 1875 at Kelly Castle, Arbirlot, Forfarshire, Scotland, , at age 68 1875 Deaths in the parish of Arbirlot in the county of Forfar regf 7; John Shiell solicitor & landed proprietor widower of Alexandrine Wilhelmina Ursula Kron; died 1875 July Fifth 5h am at Kelly Castle, male aged 69 years parents Anthony Shiell merchant deceased and MAry Shiell ms Home deceased; cause apoplexy 4 months as certified by James Arrott MD; signed A G Shiell son 4 Garden Court The Temple; registered 1875 July 6th at Arbirlot signed Wm Goldie regsitrar.³

• Misc*: On 13 May 1862 at Kelly Castle, Arbirlot, Arbroath, Forfarshire, Scotland, , John Shiell was involved with the Restoration of Kelly Castle. (newspaper report) — As our readers are aware, this romantically-situated old house has during the last eighteen months been in process of restoration, preparatory to its being occupied by Mr Shiell, writer, Dundee, of the firm of Messrs Shiell & Small. When the work was begun, the Castle was in a ruinous condition, having been uninhabited for many years. Now that the work of restoration is about completed, the venerable building, although maintaining the same exterior may very properly be said to have renewed its youth so far as all its interior arrangements are concerned. From tower to basement, the whole edifice has been overhauled, and its numerous apartments have been finished with care and skill. The principal contractors have been — for the mason work, Mr Gordon, Arbroath; wright's work, Mr. Brownlee, Dundee; and the painter's work, Mr Drummond, Dundee. The dining and drawing-rooms are handsome apartments. The floor of each is bordered with inlaid wood. In the centre of the drawing-room ceiling is a large circular shield, on which are carved the dates of the various epochs in the history of the Castle, and the ciphers of its successive possessors. The first is 1442, O (Ouchterlony, and the year in which the Castle is supposed to have been built); 1614, I (Irvine); 1697, M (Maule); and 1864, J. S (Shiell). Round the cornice of this room, there are also the shields and cipher of Dalhousie, Panmure, Ouchterlony, Ramsay, Maule, Irvine, and Shiell. A large garden is being laid out around the Castle, which for a place of residence enjoys the immense advantage of over-hanging the beautiful Den of Kelly, the most picturesque spot in all this neighbourhood. We understand that Mr Shiell will enter upon the occupation of the Castle in the course of a week or two.⁴
  

  Kelly Castle, Arbroath - taken by RLS c2003
• (Witness) Newspaper Article: He were mentioned in a newspaper article about Edith Alexandrine Shiell and Alexander Macduff on 17 May 1883. MARRIAGE IN THE PARISH CHURCH, DUNDEE. - Yesterday the marriage of Mr Alexander Macduff of Bonhard, Perthshire, to Miss Alexandrine Shiell, daughter of the late Mr John Shiell, writer, Dundee, was solemnised in the Parish Church, The Rev. Colin Campbell, B.D)., the parish minister, officiated, and was assisted by the Rev. Dr Macduff, uncle of the bridegroom. The church was crowded. A number of the front pews were reserved for the marriage party. The bride, who was attended by five bridesmaids (Miss Chambers, Miss Branstone, Miss Macduff Duncan, Miss Nellie Macduff, and Miss Maude Whyte), wore a cream satin Princess dress, with train, the front draped with orange blossom ; veil, and wreath. The bridesmaids wore dresses of cream satin profusely trimmed with white lace, toques to match, and each carried a beautiful bouquet. The bridegroom was attired in full Highland costume. As the marriage party left the church Mr Hirst, the organist, played Mendelssohn's "Wedding March."⁵
• Misc: Archaeological Notes
  N064SW 8 60793 40163.
  
  (NO 6078 4016) Kellie Castle (NR)
  OS 1:10000 map (1975)
  
  For Kellie Castle, Dovecot, see NO64SW 67.
  
  Kelly (D MacGibbon and T Ross 1889) or Kellie (G M Ramsay, owner) Castle, which was also known as Auchterlony, was the seat of the Elliot family from the 14th to the 17th centuries but the building itself appears to date from the late 15th century at the earliest. After standing in ruins for some time it was restored in the mid-19th century and is still occupied.
  The castle consists of a large tower-house overlooking a courtyard on the W. The tower-house, 4 storeys high and massive, may date from the late 15th century, but architectural detail suggests that it is more likely to be contemporary with the ranges of 16th century buildings which flank the courtyard. These are 2 storeys high on the N, S and W, where there is a modern entrance archway. The east range abutting the tower on the N is 3 storeys high. At the outer angles of the W range there are round towers with conical roofs.
  The whole building shows only slight evidence of its 19th century restoration, e.g. a few window insertions and some outbuildings on the N. In general it still retains its early character.
  Visited by OS (JLD) 6 June 1958
  
  Architectural Notes
  Kellie Castle
  
  NMRS REFERENCE
  
  See "Registrum de Panmure" Vol. 1, edited by John Stuart - historical notes and photograph.
  
  EXTERNAL REFERENCE:
  
  Scottish Record Office:
  
  Panelling the principal rooms at Kellie Castle. Contract between Henry Maule of Kellie and Henry Wright in Dounie.
  Contract witnessed by Alexander Edward, architect.
  1651-1708
  1699 GD 45/18/1233
  Mason work at Kellie Castle.
  Contracts between Henry Maule of Kellie and James Thomson, mason in Edinburgh.
  1701 GD 45/18/1236
  Alterations to house.
  They include work on fireplaces and windows and the lowering of the kitchen and cellar floors.
  Two letters from Alexander McGill at Aberbrothock.
  1705 and n.d. GD 45/14/332
  
  EXTERNAL REFERENCE:
  
  University of Dundee Archives;
  Collection of drawings held at University of Dundee Archives
  Dated '13th May 1862'
  Unsigned
  Address '30 Reform Street, Dundee' James MacLaren
  Proposed minor alterations
  Drawing No 1 Missing
  2 Dining Room Floor Plan including ceiling layout
  3 Drawing Room Floor Plan including furniture plan
  4 Attic Plan and Section
  5 South Elevation
  6 Section C-D
  7 Section A-B
  8 West Front.⁶

Census & Directory Entries

Head of Household	7 April 1851	He was listed as head of household along with spouse Alexandrine Wilhelmina Ursula Korn in the 1851 census at Magdalen Yard Road, Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, . John Sheill Head Married Male 44 1807 Writer Or Solicitor In Fractis Kelso, Roxburghshire, Scotland Alexandrine Sheill Wife Married Female 29 1822 - Germany plus Margaret Johns Visitor Married Female 25 1826 Annuitant Kettins, Forfarshire (Angus), Scotland Mary Scot Servant Unmarried Female 33 1818 Nursery Maid Forfarshire (Angus), Scotland Elizabeth Fraser Servant Unmarried Female 27 1824 House Maid Fife, Scotland Elizabeth Bailley Servant Unmarried Female 36 1815 Cook Fife, Scotland Euphemia Harrower Servant Unmarried Female 17 1834 Under Nursery Maid Forfarshire (Angus), Scotland; also in the household were Anthony George Shiell, John Shiell, George Lewis Shiell, Gertrude Minna Shiell and William Shiell.7
Head of Household	7 April 1861	He was listed as head of household, along with spouse Alexandrine Wilhelmina Ursula Korn in the 1861 census at Craigie House, Arbroath Road, Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, . John Shiell Head Married Male 54 1807 Collector Of Inland Revenue Dundee & Writer There Kelso, Roxburghshire, Scotland Alexandrina Korn Shiell Wife Married Female 38 1823 - Germany plus Katherine J Trench Visitor Unmarried Female 14 1847 Scholar Under Governess Jamaica, West Indies Ottllia Molle Governess Unmarried Female 29 1832 Governess Germany Ann Cant Cook Unmarried Female 66 1795 Cook Forfarshire (Angus), Scotland Christina Murhead Servant Unmarried Female 28 1833 Housemaid Midlothian, Scotland Mary Edmonds Servant Unmarried Female 23 1838 Table Maid Ireland ; also in the household were Gertrude Minna Shiell.8