View source for Kirkland, John

In 1863 John Kirkland married [[Kirkland, Margaret|Margaret]] in Stirling – John was fifteen years older than Margaret. He was from Paisley and early in life was a silk handweaver but joined the army and presumably was stationed in Stirling when he met Margaret. John did live in Bellingham at the 1871 Census, although possibly was only at [[Cruddas Terrace]] in the late 1870s. In 1871 he was aged 42 and a Chelsea Pensioner drill sergeant. He died on 22 March 1879 and was the subject of the following obituary which appeared in the Hexham Courant of 29 March:

''"BELLINGHAM. DEATH OF SERGEANT-INSTRUCTOR KIRKLAND, 6TH N. R. V.—On Saturday last, the death of the above non-commissioned officer took place at the Infirmary, Newcastle, from heart disease. He was appointed on the staff of the 1st Administrative Battalion Northumberland Rifle Volunteers, and posted to Major Charlton's corps at Bellingham, on the 15th February, 1867. He had served 21 years in the 92nd Highlanders, and was present with the regiment at the Indian Mutiny in 1857, for which he received the Indian medal. He was also granted a certificate from General Hay as instructor of musketry, and at the time of his transfer he was a clerk to the Assistant Adjutant-General at Dublin, from which place he was pensioned. Mr Kirkland was highly respected by the officers and members of his corps. He was fifty years of age, and leaves a widow and eight children to mourn his loss. Hexham Courant Saturday 29 March 1879."''

On 14 April 1879 a concert under the patronage of Captain F Charlton was held in Bellingham Town Hall on behalf of the widow and children of Sergeant Kirkland. 
The children living with Margaret in 1881 ranged in age from thirteen to one, all of whom had been born in Bellingham - Annie, George, Hugh, William, Margaret, Robert and Francis. Two older children, John (born 1865 in Scotland) and Bella (born 1886 in Aldershot) were in Bellingham in 1871 but not in [[Cruddas Terrace]] in 1881).

[[Category: People]]