Alexanderina Bingham (Leith, 11 May 1822 – Dundee, 1895) was the great aunt of our great grandfather, William Bingham. Like many people in her time, when she was young, she worked in service.

On 6th June 1841, Alexanderina Bingham (aka Benham) was living at Argyll Terrace, in Rothesay on the Isle of Bute where she was a “F S” (Female Servant) to Sir James Stuart, Baronet, who was recorded as aged 60. Her surname was incorrectly indexed as “Buchan” whereas she actually went by the name of “Benham” and she was aged 18, but this was rounded down to 15 in the 1841 census.

Where was Argyll Terrace, Rothesay?

Argyll Terrace was in an exclusive area in the north-west or Rothesay, only a 20-minute Promenade walk to Port Bannatyne.

Who was Sir James Stuart, Baronet?

Sir James Stuart, baronet has not been unambiguously identified. However, according to the 1841 census his age was recorded as 60 (ie 60-64) suggesting a year of birth around 1777-1781 and he was born “F” or “Foreign” i.e. outwith the British Isles.

This suggests that he was Sir John James Steuart, 5th Baronet of Allanbank, often known as “Sir James”, who was born at Rome in Italy in 1779.

Sir James Stuart married, as his second wife, Catherine Munro, the second daughter of Alexander Munro M.D ., on 1st June 1835. In the census report above Sir James Stuart is accompanied by a Katherine Stuart, aged 35, born in Scotland but outside the county of Bute. It is assumed that the couple were on holiday at the time. Sir James Stuart, 5th Baronet of Allenbank was the last of his line and his baronetcy became dormant when he died on 29th January 1849.