Michael T Tracy

David Ballingall (1821-1904) Michael T Tracy

The Dundee Courier Newspaper's headline on Tuesday, 29 November 1904 read "Death of Blair Drummond Factor. Mr. David Ballingall, factor on Blair Drummond estate, died on Saturday at the age of 83. He had been for over fifty years factor to the Blair Drummond family, and on attaining his jubilee was presented by the tenants on the estate and friends with his portrait in oils, painted by Mr. John Bowie, Edinburgh. Mr. Ballingall was a native of Fife, and was educated at St. Andrews and Edinburgh Universities. He was employed for a short time in the office of the Town Clerk of St. Andrews, and afterwards farmed a small property of his own in Fife. He acted as factor for some years on the Castle Semple estate in Renfrewshire, and was in 1852 appointed factor to the late Henry Home Drummond of Blair Drummond, which post he has held ever since, serving successively under Mt. George Home Drummond, Mr. Charles Home Drummond Moray, and the present proprietor of Blair Drummond. He was a member of several Parochial Boards, School Boards, County Council, and Parish Councils. He was predeceased by his wife a number of years ago." Ballingall was descended from a long line of tenant farmers in Fifeshire. Indeed, his second great grandfather, George Ballingall (1714-1793) was a long-time tenant farmer of Rameldry in Kettle Parish, Fife for over fifty years. After growing up at Rameldry in Kettle Parish, Ballingall received his education at St. Andrews University and Edinburgh University staying at Edinburgh for only a year. After farming at Ballenkirk, Kennoway Parish, Fife he was appointed factor on the Castle Semple estate in Renfrewshire during the 1840s. By 1852 the young factor decided to relocate to Kincardine Parish, Perthshire where he was appointed factor at Blair Drummond which is situated on the south bank of the River Teith. He was appointed factor to Henry Home Drummond (1783-1867) and held this position for over fifty years until his death in 1904. David Ballingall married Isabella Cunningham Gulland and they had a family of eight children, seven of whom were all born in the factor's house on the estate of Blair Drummond. This then is the narrative of the life and times of David Ballingall, the factor of Blair Drummond.