With guidance from the Leisure & Recreation Department of Perth and Kinross Council, the Trustees have devised a collecting policy that reflects the strengths of the existing collection of material which comprises items from the Marshall Bequest and material gifted in subsequent years. 

January 1847 - December 1850, and January 1859 - May 1863) 

Introduction to the Diary 

A few years ago. two hand-written diaries, well bound in hard covers, were donated to the Kinross-shire Antiquarian Society. They were the first and final volumes of a diary kept by Mr David Marshall of Kinross. The books had been discovered some time earlier in the attic of a house in Kinross, where they had lain for many years, and since then they had been passed from hand to hand by local gentlemen with an interest in the history of Kinross. 

There is obviously a gap of nine years between the two volumes, so at least two others must be missing. Nevertheless, those which have been rescued for posterity have proved to be very well worth studying. 

David Marshall was born in 1831 and died in 1902. In his Introduction to the Diary. which he began to keep at he age of 16, he writes, "I must confess it is but a sorry and rude piece of work, very little care being taken of the handwriting, or yet the contents; the principal purpose was to keep little trifles in remembrance." 

David Marshall was already assuming the responsibilities of his ailing father, Campbell Marshall. who was the "Tacksman" or leaseholder of the commercial fishings ("Tacks") on Loch Leven. The fish were caught in large nets and sold locally or sent to Edinburgh. Glasgow or even Manchester. He was also a cooper, employing two, men, John Martin and Robert Lessels, and perhaps others, including part-time fishermen. They made wooden casks for transporting fish, and a variety of other articles such as water-stoups. tubs, luggies and measures, which were sold at 'the local markets and fairs. The family home is described in Appendix 5. 

The Marshall family were also "Portioners". or owners of a strip of land; this must have been a good sized area, as they had at least one cow and some pigs. and they grew barley and cabbages. The "portion was probably to the west of Kinross, in the "Haughs" bordering on the South Queich River, which runs into Loch Leven. Beside the house there was a large garden in which David grew vegetables and flowers. He became a keen gardener, under the influence of the recently-created Horticultural Society and he made detailed notes of the flowers he planted (including 'valiant attempts to spell "dahlias".) 

The Marshalls leased the fishings from Sir Graham Montgomery of Kinross House, who was the Laird of Kinross and Loch Leven. But Sir Graham' s home was in Stoke in Peebleshire Kinross House stood empty for Ho years I so he was very fortunate to have such honest and reliable tenants as the Marshall father and son, who had control over several men and all the work connected with the Loch. 

Although be probably left school about the age of twelve, David Marshal, hereafter referred to with affection as DM would be well-founded in English Grammar. Latin. Mathematics, History. Geography and, of course, Religious Knowledge. He was also "a great reader". This is reflected in his Diaries where he refers to books which he bought or bartered: There was also a good "Tradesmen's Library' in the town. 

DM's style varies considerably. Sometimes he makes simple bald statements: at other times he shows the influence of the verbose and rather pompous Editor of the "Kinross-shire Advertiser". The Rev William Peters: He also aspires to be a poet. but with little success: but when. describing incidents such as the chasing of the poacher in Chapter 2 he drops naturally into the Kinross dialect, which is much more vivid (there is a glossary among the append ices: 

DM's writing begins as beautiful copperplate, but degenerates as his work-load increases, until finally a magnifying glass is required to distinguish the scribbled letters. In the second volume of the Diary, however, the script is once more copperplate, and much more mature, but so closely written that it too, is difficult to decipher at times. Some examples of the varying handwriting are given on page vii. 

One of DM's hobbies was bookbinding, to which he refers several times, and he made a fine job of his diaries. In this he was assisted and encouraged by friends such as Mr George Barnet. the printer of "The Kinross-shire Advertiser" whose first issue coincided with the start of DM's diary. 
Wherever the KA gives details to supplement what is mentioned in the diaries, these are added as background information. 

In spite of his modest dismissal of the worth of the diaries, they could be of real interest and historical value to a wide readership. Of course, many of the entries deal with the work of the Loch (and each day's entry usually begins with a record of the weather and wind direction. which were of prime importance to the fishermen). But there is much, much more. Entries dealing with the many other facets of his life have been edited together into sections, to give better continuity. Some spelling mistakes have been corrected, unless the older forms are of interest: and some or the punctuation has been improved for greater ease of reading. 

Through the pages of the diaries, we are given a lively glimpse of life and times of the local inhabitants - their hardships. amusements, comings and goings, illnesses and deaths - all the "little trifles" which made up life for the community beside Loch Leven in the mid-19th Century 

David Marshall's Kinross-shire & and its Owners, Kinross, Orwell and Portmoak. pp700. 3 vols   
There is only four copies of this book and they are held at Kinross Library, Perth Library, Scottish Record Office, and one privately held.   
The contents of this book is the result of David Marshall's research in the Kinross House Charter Room. some of the research goes back to II David. Contains assorted history and the history of 30 Kinross-shire farms their owners and etymology and genealogy research.
 

e-mail: info@kinrossmuseum.co.uk