Samuel Craik Cumming - From Prison to Poorhouse by way of Fraserburgh, Aberdeen and New Deer

One of the advantages of an individual having a slightly unusual middle name is that it makes locating them in the newspapers, census returns and statutory registers that bit easier. Samuel Cumming had the distinctive middle name of "Craik". The North British Agriculturalist newspaper of 14th September 1870 contains a report of Samuel's appearance at the Aberdeen Circuit Court, on the 9th September 1870 which, incidentally, was the same day as the trial of David Todd who has previously featured in this blog:

Samuel Craik Cumming, from the prison of Aberdeen, was charged with stealing from different places in the parishes of Fraserburgh, Longside and Lonmay, three articles of wearing apparel on the nights between the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th February last. The offences were aggravated by six previous convictions before the Sheriff Courts of Aberdeen, Peterhead and Forfar, ranging from June 1846 to July 1860. Panel pleaded guilty and was sentenced by the Lord Justice Clerk to seven years' penal servitude.

Samuel Cumming was evidently no stranger to a court of law or the inside of a prison. Indeed, he appears on the 1861 census aged 50 as an inmate at H.M. General Prison, Perth, where his usual occupation is given as that of a "Labourer" and his place of birth as Fraserburgh. The census also notes that he is married. 

His trial of September 1870, reported above, saw Samuel incarcerated once more, until his release on licence on 31st July 1876. It is at this point that his mugshot and details appear in the Register of Returned Convicts for Aberdeen (see image at foot of page). Unfortunately the adhesive used to paste the mugshot into the register has, over time, bled through the paper leaving dark lines on the image. 

During the remainder of 1876 and until July 1877, Samuel lives at various addresses in Aberdeen including Harriet Street, 44 Gallowgate, and 1 Albion Street. Albion Street (also known as the 'Bool Road' because it led to the bowling green at the Queen's Links) no longer exists, but followed the approximate line of the present day Beach Boulevard. 

Map Reproduced by permission of the National Library of Scotland

Ordnance Survey

Aberdeenshire LXXV.11 (Old Machar, Greyfriars, St Clements, East, West, North & South)

Published 1869

https://maps.nls.uk/index.html 

On July 13th 1876 Samuel is noted in the Register of Returned Convicts as having gone "To Fraserburgh". We know from the 1870 trial papers (now held at the National Records of Scotland in Edinburgh) that Samuel was of "no fixed abode" at that stage in his life and was doubtless resorting to crime in order to feed and clothe himself.

By the time of the 1881 census, Samuel's circumstances appear to have improved somewhat as he is listed as a lodger at a farm on the lands of Auchoch, New Deer. By this point he is aged 70, a widower, and his occupation is that of a stonebreaker.

We can't be certain how much longer he lived at the farm, but by the time of his death from 'dropsy' or heart disease in May 1883, Samuel was a resident at the poorhouse in Maud.