Nimmo family papers
Primary maker
1. Alexander Nimmo (junior)
2. Alexander Nimmo
3. Trustees of Colonel Alexander Nimmo Trust
Production date
1897-1921
Description
Papers relating to the partnership between Alexander Nimmo (later Col Nimmo) and James Cuddie for the business of tanners and glue works in Linlithgow, 1850-1899; papers relating to Alexander Nimmo’s lending to J H Aitken of Gartcows; Col Nimmo’s Executry papers; catalogues, price lists and brochures for farm equipment and machinery for Howkerse, 1903-1926; brochures for Wolseley & Fiat motorcars, plans for alterations to coachhouse at Westbank to form a garage, 1922; miscellaneous public and private documents; annual reports and records for Falkirk & District Savings Bank, RSNH Larbert and Falkirk & District Infirmary.
Object detail
Alexander Nimmo also carried on business as a tanner and currier in Falkirk. The family house was at Westbank, close to the family tannery. He also acquired Howkerse farm from the Crawford family who had acquired it c.1730. He was educated at Falkirk Grammar School and Edinburgh University. He took a prominent part in the formation of the Volunteer Movement in Falkirk (the East Stirlingshire Rifle Volunteers) as Lieutenant in 1860, promoted to Captain in 1861, Major in 1877, Lieutenant Colonel in 1885 and Colonel in charge of the Battalion also in 1885. He resigned his regular connection with the force in 1888 after 27 years an 11 months service.
He married first Helen Russel (1828-1865) daughter of James Russel, writer, Falkirk; and second Margaret Robertson (1839-1886). His children were William Marshall Nimmo 13 Jan 1871-31 July 1871), Alexander Nimmo, who became a solicitor, Mary Crawford Nimmo or Gillies, Catherine Jane Nimmo or Sherriff, Jane Baird Nimmo or Darling and Margaret Robertson Nimmo.
Alexander Nimmo junior was educated at Cambridge and Edinburgh Universities and qualified as a solicitor. He became a partner of Russel & Aitken (along with T Callander Wade) on James Aitken’s death in 1911. He played a full part in the life of Falkirk as Honorary Treasurer of the Falkirk & District Savings Bank, Trustee of the Royal Scottish National Institution, Larbert and Vice President and convenor of the Finance Committee of Falkirk Cottage Hospital and then Falkirk & District Infirmary.
He and his wife had six children. Three of his sons, including George who was a partner in Russel & Aitken, were killed in action in the Second World War. Kirstine, the eldest married Henry Mowbray Cadell of grange. Helen (1906-2003) the second child, was a notable golfer, member of Falkirk Tryst Golf Club, playing in the Scottish Ladies Team in 1936, 1938 and 1939 (in which year Scotland beat all the home nations,). She was a Guide leader before the Second World War and joined the ATS in 1938, taking command of the Stirlingshire & Argyll ATS. She spent the Second World War in charge of training women for war work in Stirling and Inverness, becoming Commandant of the training centre at Newbattle Abbey in 1942. By August 1945 she was a Lieutenant Colonel and awarded OBE and on demobilisation was given the rank of Chief Commissioner. After the Second World War she was heavily involved in the Women’s Voluntary Service. William (1918-1997), known as Bill, the youngest child was an undergraduate at Trinity College Cambridge in 1939 when he joined the Argylls. As Force Demolition Officer he was awarded the MC for operations behind Japanese lines in Burma in 1943 as part of General Orde Wingate’s Chindit Expedition and also took part in the Second Chindit operation. He resumed his education after demobilisation and became a solicitor and a partner of Russel & Aitken in their Edinburgh office. He has a particular interest in Falkirk local history and as a result his nephew Patrick Cadell, later Keeper of the Records of Scotland, was allowed to select Russel & Aitken records to deposit in the National Library of Scotland. Bill along with his sister Helen was also responsible for the management for the family farm at Howkerse and co-operated with the Central Scotland Countryside Trust in the perpetuation of the old pear varieties in the orchard there.
The Nimmo house at Westfield was demolished to make way for Falkirk Municipal Buildings in the 1960s.
References: Newspaper obituaries (1) Colonel A Nimmo obituary in Falkirk Herald 22 June 1898 (2) Helen Nimmo obituary
Catalogues for clients of Russel & Aitken are being added regularly to our website. http://www.falkirkcommunitytrust.org/heritage/archives/finding-aids/russel-aitken.aspx
Public comments
The first paragraph here indicates that Alexander (Jr) is the son of Thomas Nimmo (died c 1850) but this also appears to be contradicted in the other references elsewhere. Our own other family history records indicate that Thomas Nimmo (1796-1849) was the brother of Alexander Nimmo (1782-1859) who is the father of Alexander Nimmo (1824-1898) (these two are my maternal 3rd and 4th great grandfathers) and who in turn is father to Alexander Nimmo (1858-1943), who is the brother of my maternal 2nd great-grandfather. https://collections.falkirk.gov.uk/persons/14647/alexander-nimmo https://collections.falkirk.gov.uk/persons/9765/alexander-nimmo-junior
- Mark Surgeon posted 3 months ago.