Stuart Simpson was born on 21 April 1828. Both of his parents were alive at the time of his application in 1835, but his father, a tailor in Stockbridge, was left unable to support the family after an attack of cholera in 1832. The family was being supported by Stuart’s eldest sibling, aged seventeen who made straw hats and did needlework. The Edinburgh Post Office Directory for 1835 lists ‘Miss A & M Simpson, straw hat makers, 90 South Bridge’.

John Simpson, the Father of the Child now proposed for admission into M.^r Watson’s Institution, continued, for many years to maintain his Wife and family in comparable comfort, and independence, till the month of September 1832, when he had the misfortune to be visited with a most virulent attack of Asiatic Cholera, which, owing to his extreme age, (he is now nearly 71 years), completely disabled him from doing anything for the support of his Wife and Children: — He would have thus been reduced to absolute destitution, had it not been for the exertions of his eldest Daughter, who strives, by Needlework and Straw-hat making, to support the family. But owing to her youth (she is at present only 17) and the small renumeration now obtained for such work, she finds it almost beyond her efforts, with the most indefatigable industry, to pay a House rent, and to provide for her Parents and her two younger Sisters, her Brother & herself with even the necessities of life; – and utterly out of her power to pay for the education of her Brother, the Child who is now proposed for admission into M.^r Watson’s Institution.

For evidence of the circumstances above stated, reference is respectfully made, to the Certificates mentioned in the subjoined Inventory – by Ministers of the Church of Scotland, & other respectable individuals.

application

Certificate of birth

Certification of father’s age

letter of recommendation (1)

Letter of Recommendation (2)

Letter of recommendation (3)

Letter of Recommendation (4)

Letter of recommendation (5)