John Umstead Kirkland

(1802-1879)

Biographical Data

Important Dates

John Umstead Kirkland was born on March 20, 1802, in Ayr Mount in Hillsborough, NC. John Umstead Kirkland was born on March 20, 1802 in Hillsborough in a house on the property of Ayr Mount. Ayr Mount was built in 1815 while John was being schooled in Glasgow, Scotland. He resided at Ayr Mount on his return to Hillsborough in 1817 [1]. He died on January 25, 1879.

Places of Residence

• Ayr Mount in Hillsborough, NC, between 1840 and January 25, 1879. The couple returned to Ayr Mount in 1840.
• Hasell-Nash House in Hillsborough, NC, between 1829 and 1838. In 1829, Elizabeth Adam Simpson and John Umstead Kirkland moved to a house belonging to her father, Samuel Simpson, likely the Hasell-Nash House on Queen St. where the couple resided until 1838.
• Montrose in Hillsborough, NC, between 1838 and 1840. The couple bought the house and grounds of Montrose, owned by William Mercer Green. The property was adjacent to the Ruffin family property, St. Matthew's Episcopal Church and Ayr Mount.
• Ayr Mount in Hillsborough, NC, between March 20, 1802 and September 11, 1811.
• Scotland, between September 11, 1811 and 1817.
• Ayr Mount in Hillsborough, NC, between 1817 and 1829. John Umstead Kirkland returned to Ayr Mount in 1817 from Glasgow, Scotland. He also brought his new bride, Elizabeth Adam Simpson, to Ayr Mount to live briefly after their honeymoon in 1829.

Schools Attended

• Unknown School in Glasgow, between September 11, 1811 and 1817. On September 25, 1811, 9 year old John Umstead Kirkland traveled with his father to London and remained with his Uncle John Kirkland and relatives in Glasgow,Scotland to be schooled for 6 years.

Occupations

• Merchant, from 1824. In 1824, John was a merchant and operated a business with his father,  "William Kirkland & Son."  The store stood on the corner of Lot 25 in Hillsborough, Orange County, NC, USA. He went to New York twice a year to purchase items for the store.
• Commissioner. John Umstead Kirkland held various occupations including, town commissioner, county commissioner, bank cashier, owner of a tanyard, director of building of courthouse in 1845, and Justice of the Peace.

Relatives

• Spouse: Elizabeth Adam Simpson (1809-1881), married from February 19, 1829 to January 25, 1879. Elizabeth Adam Simpson and John Umstead Kirkland wed in New Bern.
  Children:
  
  • six sons, Samuel Simpson Kirkland (1831-1904), William Whedbee Kirkland (1833-1915), John Umstead Kirkland, [Jr.] (1838-1914), Thomas Ruffin Kirkland (1839-1842), Alexander McKenzie Kirkland (1841-1900) and Robert Roulhac Kirkland (1855-1862).
  • six daughters, Infant Kirkland (1830-1830), Annie Ruffin Kirkland (1835-870s) , Margaret Jane Kirkland (1847-1895), Elizabeth Simpson Kirkland (1845-1849), Susan Mary Kirkland (1843-1914)  and Maria Simpson Kirkland (1850-1929).
• Others: Infant Hill (granddaughter), John Kirkland Hill (grandson, b. 1869) and Halbert G. Hill, [Jr.] (grandson, b. 1874).

References

1. Mary Claire Engstrom. The Book of Burwell Students: Lives of Educated Women in the Antebellum South. (Hillsborough: Hillsborough Historic Commission, 2007).