Appeal to help solve Dunning mystery

Jan 25 2013 by Iain Howie, Strathearn Herald

Historians in Dunning are looking to find out more about a mystery figure whose legacy continues to feature in the heart of the village.

Dunning Parish Historical Society is carrying out detective work into Alexander Martin, who gifted a fountain to his native village which stands in Tron Square.

Mr Martin left his homeland in 1840 and settled in Canada where he lived to age 73, dying in Saint John in New Brunswick, in 1874.

Janet Crowe, on behalf of the society, is hoping Strathearn residents can help with the missing pieces of the puzzled.

She said: “It seems that Alexander has faded from local memory and Dunning Parish Historical Society would like to find out more about his life. “Thanks to one of our members and the St John library, we know a little about his life in Canada.

“We know his brother James was a bookseller in Edinburgh but we have been unable to find any other record of him in Scotland.

“We would be pleased to hear from any reader who can offer information which might help us.”

The memorial fountain bears the date 1874 and has a marble plaque stating: ‘Erected as a gift to his native village by Alexander Martin Esq,’ and wrongly calls his new home ‘St John’s, New Brunswick’, which also caused confusion with a Newfoundland community of the same name.

Further investigations have turned up mixed results, with uncertainty over whether an Alexander Martin mentioned in commissions is the same one.

The Perthshire Advertiser, The Herald’s sister paper, featured an article on August 20, 1874, which detailed the switching on of the fountain by a Mrs McDonald, Alexander’s niece.

It describes that Alexander had a warm interest in the welfare of his native village.

Anyone who might have information to help the society can contact Ms Crowe, chairperson, via email at postman@dunning.uk.net or write to DPHS, The Old Schoolhouse, Newton of Pitcairns, Dunning, Perthshire PH2 0SL.