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- Biography1: CHRISTIE, JAMES - In the Lyon Register, Edinburgh, under date of July 26, 1787,
James Christie is thus described:
"James Christie, Esquire, of Durie, in the county of Fife, only son & heir of Thomas Christie, Esquire, by Mary, daughter of John Watson, Esquire, of Thirty acres, third son of Duncan Watson, many years Sheriff-Depute of the County of Stirling by commission from Charles II., during the minority of the Earl of Callender, heritable sheriff of that county, which Thomas was second son of James Christie, Esquire, who was several times Provost of Stirling, & was descended from the Christies of Chamberlands in the aforesaid county."
James Christie was born December 2, 1738. In 1758 he proceeded to New York & subsequently joined the
mercantile house at Baltimore, established by his cousins James Christie of Stirling & Robert Christie of Glasgow & was known as James Christie, junior. He continued in business amassing considerable property.
Ref: Biographical Register of Saint Andrew's Society, NY.
Biography2: Robert Christie Jr. was sheriff of Baltimore. His cousin James Christie Jr. , eldest son of Thomas Christie & Mary Watson of Sterling), wrote a letter in 1775 to brother Lt. Colonel Gabriel Christie [ 1722 Stirling, Scotland-1799.1.26 Montreal], who was posted in Antigua in His Majesty's Service, where he said that "A part of yours or any other Regiment ...would keep us very quiet." After some proceedings before the "Maryland Council of Safety", James was declared an enemy of America, & ordered out of town, after being levied a charge of £500 for the defence of America.
Since this same Robert Christie had, the year before, declined an order received in his role as sheriff (appointed in 1744), to read the Declaration of Independence to the people at the Court-House, he & his family were no doubt being watched closely. Finally, in a meeting the night of 4 Dec, 1776, at Grant's Tavern (where Washington would stay in 1789 on his way from Mt. Vernon to Washington), Christie was told he should "leave town instantly". James Christie Jnr. joined Colonel Christie as commissary general of the Leeward Islands, & eventually retired to London in 1782 where he resided at Selkirkshire until purchasing the estate of Durie, where he died in 1803.
Ref: Scott Christie, Rootweb.com, 2006.10.10.
XRef: John Willson, Senior [Lawyer, born Piscataway, NJ - died Toronto, Canada] entered into James Christies' employ [i.e. the Quartermaster ] as a Forage master & ran Many risks of my Life, being twice taken Prisoner & confined.
SUMMARY of Newspaper Articles:
. 1759 Nov 15 - Just Imported in the Brigantine Sharpe, Benjamin North, Master, from Madeira, A quantity of Land & NY wines, to be sold on reasonable Terms by James Christie.
Ref: Maryland Gazette Newspaper, Annapolis, Maryland. 9& an multitude of similar advertisements.
. 1775 Jul 16, Baltimore. The Partnership between John Wilson, James Christie, Jun. & Robert Christie, junior under the the Firm of John Wilson & Co. is dissolved & the business now married on formerly by John Wilson & Robert Christie, junior, at Rock Run, in Hartford county, they have purchased James Christie's shore of good on hand & outstanding debts & hope for their friends custom as usual. Those who are indebted to the old Copartnership, are requested to make as speedily payments as possible to John Wilson, who'll receive county produce in discharge of the debts at market price. They now have unhand variety of Goods & harvest just received a quantity of Coarse Salt, which will be sold on reasonable terms, by John Wilson, Robert Christie, Jun.
Ref: Story & Humphreys's Pennsylvania Mercury, Philadelphia, pub. July 21, 1775.
Note: Further investigation into the identity of this John Willson is required. - PJ Ahlberg 2017.
. 1775 Feb 22 Tues. Baltimore. The Committee summed Mr. Christie to attend them, but being confined to his bed he was unable to do so. They sent Committee to attend on him at his house to enquire whether the said letter was wrote by him. Mr. Christie had been shown the letter & acknowledged that it was wrote by him, but quested further proceedings might be postponed until his health would permit his person attendance. Committee not thinking it proper to comply wit his request., Mr. Christie immediately gave notice to Robert Christie attend on his behalf, but it growing late, many of the members being withdrawn, the Committee directed a 9 men guard be placed round Mr. Christie's house till tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock.
. 1775 Jul 14, Friday. The Committee met, Wm. Smith Chairman, & 33 members & resumed yesterday. Robert Christie attended & declared Mr. James Christie was very sorry for the letter to wore Lieut. Colonel Christie & he was very willing to acqueinence in the determination of Committee. Motion resolved what to do of James Christie & enquire that unite for their defenses mentioned his letter. Mr. Christie declared there never was any association between him & his friends for the purposed alluded to, last winter he was informed some of his friends were to be made a public example of, for not uniting with the town, but no determination being then made was never afterward thought of.
The Committee proceeded to deliberate Mr. Christie's conduct to said letter. They do think it their duty to advertise James Christie Jun. as an enemy to this country & all persons to break off all connection with them. Resolved he is guilty of dangerous & atrocious nature & will lay the same before their Delegates at the Continental Congress for advice. The security guard to continue at this house to prevent any escape . Christie to pay each man 5 shillings for each 24 hours. Two Committee members directed to immediately search Mr. Christie's house, & they only found 2 guns & a pair of pistols & no ammunition. Resolved,That the proceedings be published in the Maryland papers, Wm. Lux Secretary.
Ref: Dunlap's Maryland Gazette, 1775.7.18 Tues.
. 1775 Feb 22, Baltimore, Special Meeting of Committee of BaltimoreTown, A letter intercepted was laid before the committee.
To Lieutenant Colonel Gabriel Christie, 60th Regiment, Antigua.
Dear Sirs, I received yours of Nov 13 & 22. I have met with great misfortune inflicted one in the loss of the the wife of my soul on Dec 15 last, that has almost put it out of my power to mind anything for some time pass. She had been brought to bed of a girl about 20 days, a dear little infant died a few days after its mother.
I sent your mother £22 for the boys passage, for Charles' clothing, schooling when ashore runs hight. Gabriel has been with me 3 or 4 months. At preset I think of going to Britain soon as my affairs admit, either in London or Glasgow. We are a little behind the New Englanders mustering, purchasing arms, ammunition etc. We have some violet fanatical spirits among us, who do everything in their power to run thins to the utmost extremity, that we moderate people are under a necessity of uniting for our own defense, after being threatened with expulsion, loss of life. Signed, James Christie, junior.
Ref: Virginia Gazette, Williamsburg, Virginia, published Sep 7, 1778.
. 1775 Feb 28, Baltimore, For Sale. The corner water loot at Fell's not, lying on Bond & Thames Sts., opposite the London coffeehouse, with the wwhart, granaries & dwelling house at present occupied by Ge. James. The lot a 120feet fronton the street & the wharf 120 feet front on the water, well filled in& secured, & has 17 feet water at a common tide. The granaries to which a ship may lay her side & take in her whole cargo, hold 14,000 bushels & are strong well suited framed houses. The dwelling house has good cellars & is sufficient for a small family, with a pump of water at the door; the whole well fenced in. A purchaser may have any reasonable credit & know the terms, by applying to James or Robert Jr. Christie.
Ref: Maryland Gazette, Annapolis, pub. 1775 Jul 27 -
. 1775 August 7, Annapolis, Maryland. In Provincial Convention the following memorial of James Christie, junior of Baltimore town, merchant was read:
- Your memorialist did on 22 Feb. last write a letter of his fired & cousin-gentleman Lieut. Colonel Christies, Antigua Island. At the time of writing the did not approve of measured pure in this province, as a petition from the continental congress was then lying the Great Britain throne. The letter was intercepted on 13 July & given to Baltimore county committee. He had already suffered painful imprisonment & pad to the committee guard £31 6s. He then gave 5 secures not to depart the province without leave. He now begs leave to depart with molestation in person & property. May peace & tranquility be respire to every part of British empire. Sincerely James Christie, Junior.
- Upon reading said letter referred to Gabriel Christie, Lieutenant colonel of the 16th Regiment, the inhabitants of that town in his option, treasonable & rebellious, & that a number of soldier would keep them very quiet, resolved the said James Christen by the said letter, he manifested a spirit inimical the the rights & liberties of America, & by insinuating the necessity of a military force in this price.
- there resolved James Christie is considered an enemy to American, that no person trade, deal or barter with him hereafter. His property be seized. J Christie be expelled & banished from this province forever.
- J Christie fined £500 sterling towards his proportion all all hares & expenses incurred to defence of American.
- No punishment shall be inflected on him. The Resolutions of Baltimore county, charges are therefore suspended & said against James Christie.
Signed, by order of the convention, G Duvall, Clerk.
Ref: Virginia Gazette, Williamsburg, Virginia, published 1775 Sept 7.
. 1775 Sep 7. - Baltimore. The subscribers being empowered to settle the fairs of James Christie, Jun, formerly of Baltimore Town, Merchant, to make immediate settlement of their debts the the subscribers, Signed, Robt. Milligan, James Jaffray, Attorneys in fact for James Christie.
. 1785 Aug 18 - In Council, Resolved, That the following claims, to approved for payment: Claimants Anne C Green, deceased, Hugh Dean's bond, Geo. Well, Jos. Stiles. Against James Christies. Reasons was not passed: The Claimants & debtor too being British subjects.
Ref: Maryland Journal & Baltimore Advertiser.
. 1777 Jan x, Baltimore. Mr. K Merdins? hearing some British army were approaching, went out to demand protection of the commander General. This officer rode up encouraging the housekeeper to go & you shall not bear hurt nor anything in the ouse. He placed a centinel at each door. In the afternoon thereat of army came, almost all Philadelphians, with them unluckily, James Christie, (a Confistionary?) late of Baltimore town. They called for wine & being sold by the housekeeper he had none. Mr. Chrisite seem most eager & lively, went into the cellar, broached a case of wine, drink who the shade & carried a few bottles, giving a receipt at the woman's request.
Next day, the 17th, about 10 o'clock in the morning, James Christie, returned with 6 wagons & a number of foot soldiers & light horse, with their swords drawn, surrounded the house. He ran to the cellar, emptied it of several casks of the finest wines, spirits, being all the stock of 4 families, except one barrel of neat's tongues, packed in ashes, wherein he groped with his hands, but the tongues escaped his grasp.
Ref: Independent Chronicle, Boston, Mass., published 1778 Feb 12.
. 1785 Oct 21 - Annapolis - Office for Confiscated Estates
By Direction of the Independent Revenue, on Mon. Nov 21 next will be sold at Mr. McCanless's, in Baltimoretown, The undermentioned confiscated property: 7 Acres of meadow, Lot 76 of My Lady's Manor, containing 114 Acres. Bond with approved Security to be given on the day of sale. Signed, Clement Holiday, Gabriel Duvall.
Ref: Maryland Journal, pub. 1785.10.28
. 1801 Jun 12 - /summer's Tavern. Water Duty. At numerous & respectable Meeting of the inhabitants of Edinburgh, called to considered the additional assessments for water duty, order levied by Lord Porvost & Magistrates. Resolved to appoint the following Gentlemen: …James Christie of Durie, Esq.
. 1803 Nov 16 - On Tuesday, in Pall Mll, Mr James Christie Sen., well known & justly celebrated for many years as an auctioneer of great ability & integrity.
Ref: Bury & Norwich Post, Suffolk, England. - - -
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1738 - 1803 (64 years)