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"grassmarket james howe"
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The Ritchies and Watts at Cairnbank
Unknown, 1934, Photograph
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The Ritchies and Watts at Cairnbank
The Ritchies and Watts at Cairnbank
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Category
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Item no
27799
Title
Mary Sim Ritchie (nee Hill), Agnes Ritchie, Catherine "Cassie" Watt (nee Ritchie) David Watt, David Ritchie Watt at Cairnbank
Artist / maker
Unknown
Date
1934
Type
Photograph
From left to right:
Mary Sim Ritchie (nee Hill), was born in the Grassmarket in Edinburgh in 1871 and died in 1948 at the age of 77. Mary married Leone "Leo" Levi Ritchie at Waterloo Hotel in Edinburgh on 23 August 1897. The couple had three daughters; Catherine "Cassie" Richardson, Annie "Nannie" Rose, and Agnes Barclay Rose. The family moved to Cairnbank House seen in this photograph in 1922 where Leo lived until his death in 1958.
Agnes Barclay Rose Hunter (nee Ritchie), was born in Edinburgh in 1906. She finished her education at Portobello High School, where she was one of the brightest students of history of her year. Agnes attended the University of Edinburgh and received a 2nd Class Honours Degree (1st Class was given to men only) and qualified as a school teacher. She taught at Towerbank School in Portobello until she married William Hunter (1904 - 1970) in 1943. The couple had one son; James Wallace Hunter who matched his mother's educational achievements by gaining a B.Sc. Honours in Physics followed a Ph.D. Agnes died in 1984 at the age of 78.
Catherine "Cassie" Richardson Watt (nee Ritchie) was born in Edinburgh in 1898. She was taught at Broughton School, where she was recognised as a talented essay writer, winning several prizes. After completing her education, Cassie wanted to be a schoolteacher, but as her voice was not strong enough, she instead worked as an assistant secretary at the Queen's Club until her marriage to David Watt in 1926. Cassie was an intelligent woman who developed interests in Ancient Egypt, Atlantis, Eastern Religions, Philosophy, and Spiritualism. She was also an avid letter writer and an efficient record keeper. She kept records of how every penny was spent from Day 1 of her marriage, not out of mistrust of her husband's spending, but from sheer interest.
David Watt was born in 1896 and after serving in the British Army during WWI, returned to Edinburgh where he met Cassie at a church social event. David began a career as a stationer, eventually being a co-owner of Blair & Davidson LLC. David married Cassie on 10 July 1926.
The couple welcomed son David Ritchie Watt (pictured front centre) on 13 May 1927. Cassie would often say that he was like "a little Buddha," citing that nothing worried or bothered him, like he was reincarnated and had seen it all before.
Image from the David Ritchie Watt Family Album.
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David Ritchie Watt family album
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