Robert Merchant Coutts (later “Grandda”)

20 January 1880 to 4 March 1969

COU00006

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1880

Robert Merchant Coutts was born at Craigiebuckler, Aberdeenshire on 20 January 1880 (census, family knowledge).

Robert’s daughter, Evelyn Gordon Coutts (COU00003) told her daughter, Evelyn Margaret (nee Coutts) Soulsby that Robert Merchant Coutts took his middle name from Robert Merchant. Mary Ann Coutts (COU00025) was the eldest of William Coutts’ (COU00014) first family and she had married Robert Merchant in about 1876. Robert Merchant Coutts was born four years later in 1880, and seems to have taken his middle name, and perhaps his first name too, from Robert Merchant. Indeed we know the family were close with the Merchant family, since Sarah Murray Coutts (COU00030) later married Alexander Merchant.

Old Machar, Aberdeen

1881

1881 Census – Rubislaw Road, Old Machar, Aberdeen

William Coutts, 52, gardener

Mary Coutts, 30

Arthur F Coutts, 15, unmarried, assistant gardener

Sarah M Coutts, 12, Scholar

Alexander H Coutts, 7, Scholar

Elsie Jane Coutts , 5

George D Coutts, 3

Robert M Coutts, 1

Jane Mann , 41

Emily Lawson, 27

1891

1891 Census – 9 Nellfield Place, Old Machar, Aberdeen

William Coutts, 61, gardener, widower

Elsie J Coutts, 15, general servant

Robert M Coutts, 11, scholar

James R Coutts, 8, scholar

John G D Coutts, 6, scholar

Stewart Coutts, 5, scholar

Ann Deans, 81

1901

1901 Census – 261 Union Grove, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeenshire

William Coutts, 72, retired gardener

Elsie J Coutts, 25

George D Coutts, 23, grocer

Robert M Coutts, 21, upholstery salesman

James R Coutts, 18, grocer

1904

William Coutts with their family in about 1904

It is thought they are, from left, Robert Coutts, Stewart Coutts, Elsie Coutts, George Coutts, William Coutts himself, Dingwall Coutts and Jim Coutts.

1904

Robert Merchant Coutts married Lizzie Bella Gordon in perhaps about 1904.

1907

Evelyn Gordon Coutts (COU00003) was born on 18 June 1907.

1908

Evelyn Gordon Coutts with her parents Lizzie Bella and Robert Merchant Coutts

1911

1911 Census – Rubislaw, Aberdeen

Robert Coutts, 31, upholstery salesman

Lizzie Coutts, 30

Evelyn Coutts, their daughter, 3

1912

Dorothea Harper Coutts was born on 13 July 1912.

1915

Kathleen Margaret Coutts was born on 10 June 1915.

1921

1921 census – 81 Devonshire Road, Rubislaw, South Aberdeen

James Gordon, 65, upholstery and cabinet maker

Robert M Coutts, son in law, 41, upholstery and cabinet maker

Lizzie B Coutts, 40

Evelyn G Coutts, 14

Dorothea H Coutts, 8 years 11 months

Kathleen M Coutts, 6

2 others

1924

Robert M Coutts lived at 81 Devonshire Road, Aberdeen (electoral register).

Robert was a partner with his father in law, James Gordon (GOR00002) in the firm of John Alexander & Co.

John Alexander & Co was a well known Aberdeen furniture store, which closed its doors after 156 years in business in 2014 (Aberdeen Press & Journal, 7 October 2014).

It was 1858, Queen Victoria was on the throne and the British Empire covered much of the globe when John Alexander started up in the city.

When it closed in 2014, Alexanders had been at the Rosemount location for more than 30 years having previously been located in Union Street. The shop was founded as an upholsterer and quickly added cabinetmaker and a carpet warehouse to its services.

It was previously known as John Alexander & Co, and the firm reconstructed the shop front and premises at 257 Union Street in 1931. It was declared as ‘enhancing the beauty of Union Street’ in an article in the city’s Press and Journal newspaper at the time.

The original John Alexander was a master cabinetmaker who died in 1891.

1929

(Aberdeen Press and Journal, 27 February 1929)

(Aberdeen Press and Journal, 2 September 1929)

1930

Robert Merchant Coutts (left) and Lizzie Bella Coutts (right), with their daughters in perhaps about 1930.

Dorothea Coutts back left, Evelyn Coutts back right, Kathleen Coutts (sitting on floor)

1931

(Aberdeen Press and Journal, 16 September 1931)

(Aberdeen Press and Journal. 16 November 1931)

The carved wooden frontage from the shop used to hang in Robert Merchant Coutts’ hall. When he died in 1969, his grand children were allowed to choose one thing from his house. Gordon chose the Grandfather clock and Eve chose this carving.

1958

Robert’s wife, Lizzie Bella Coutts died in Aberdeen on 14 May 1958 (Probate Index).

1954

Lizzie and Robert Coutts at their Golden Wedding in about 1954 George Coutts (left) and Robert Merchant Coutts (right) in perhaps about 1954.

Robert and Lizzie’s Golden Wedding in about 1954

1963

Robert flew out to Vancouver, to see his brothers, in 1963, at the age of 83. This was only the second time he had ever been in a plane.

1966

Robert M Coutts lived at 2 Harlaw Road, Aberdeen (electoral register).

1969

Robert Merchant Coutts died, aged 90, on 4 March 1969 (family knowledge, media).

(Aberdeen Press and Journal, 6 and 7 March 1969) (West Lothian Courier, 2 May 1969)