Every family tree has its share of bold, brave, and distinguished individuals. Likewise, no family tree would be complete without a few ne'er-do-wells and black sheep. Here's a look into the life of one of the latter, my great, great, great granduncle, David Angus. Looking back at his life through 21st century eyes, it is tempting to speculate on the motivations and perhaps extenuating circumstances of the events of his life. For the most part, those types of details are lost in history. What remains, it would seem, are the facts as they were recorded at the time.

The information in narrative below was gleaned from some 80 pages of court documents preserved by and obtained from the National Archives of Scotland. The documents include the testimonies of family members, witnesses, and wronged parties, precognition documents, and pages from minute books. Vital information was gathered from birth and death records as well as census returns. And so, the Case of David Angus...

David Angus was born around or about the year 1838 in one of the parishes in Perthshire, most likely Tibbermore. He was the seventh child and final son of George Angus, a laborer, and his wife Barbara Arthur. The 1841 census finds the family living in Tibbermore with a then three year old David. It is difficult to say when problems with the boy began, but the paper trail seems to start in 1847, when he would have been about nine years old. In June of that year he was accused of the crime of theft aggravated by having been committed by breaking into a house on Reform Street in Perth. The occupant of the house was John Angus-though the document does not record a relationship, this John Angus is most likely David's oldest brother, my great, great, great grandfather. David was charged with entering the home through a window and using a hammer to force open a chest. From the chest he "wickedly and feloniously" removed about 18 shillings.

He was also charged at around or about the same time of having entered the Perth Foundry by climbing over a locked gate. From the foundry he "theftuously" took away a brass trowel and two brass cleaners belonging to an iron worker at the foundry and two button sleekers belonging to a second foundry worker. Upon being found guilty, he was sentenced to 8 months in the prison at Perth.

On July 16, 1849 a complaint was filed by John Ramsay of Perth charging that David Angus had broken into his home on the 13th of that month and taken five pawn tickets-all valued at less than one pound. He was found guilty and sentenced to 60 days imprisonment in Perth prison.

Another complaint was filed against David on March 7, 1850. The complaint charged that he broke into the home of James Gall, an innkeeper, and took two spirit licenses, a dressing glass drawer nob, one shilling, and some copper money all of value less than one pound. David plead not guilty to the charge. Three witnesses were called: James Gall, the innkeeper, James Rollo, a Perth police officer, and William Ferrier, master of the Boys School of Industry in Perth. The presence of this last witness leads to some speculation that perhaps David may have attended or been required to attend that institution. David was found guilty and again sentenced to 60 days in prison.

On 5 June 1850 David Angus once again appeared in court. He testified that he lived in Perth but could not say how old he was. Further, he confessed that since his last release from prison he had taken a silver watch and chain from a Peter Campbell, that he had also broken into a home and taken two books and finally, had broken into a still another home and taken 2 brooches. Numerous witnesses gave testimony in the case, including David's brother, James Angus, at that time a 21 year old blacksmith. In his testimony, James describes his brother as "not considered in his right mind." He further testifies that his brother "readily admits any thing he does, frequently without being asked...He can't be trusted alone for 5 minutes at a time, for fear of his making his escape and doing something... "

Taking into account his brother James's testimony as to his soundness of mind, the legal documents suggest that some investigation was done into this possiblity. "Is there any reason to think that he is of weak intellect or is the weakness alluded to by his brother just a weakness for theiving". In response to this question came the information that David Angus had been under the charge of a Dr. Malcom for "some days" and had been found to be "not insane." In September of 1850 David Angus was found guilty and sentenced to 18 months in prison.

The 1851 census finds David serving his sentence at the prison in Perth. He is listed as being 13 years old at the time.

The legal paper trail ends here. The next documentation of David's life is found in the 1861 census. At that time he is found living with his mother Barbara and siblings William and Jessie at Shuttlefield Close, in Perth. His age is given as 21 and in the area where occupation was to be recorded is the notation "of unsound mind."

One last and final document remains. David Angus, a pauper, died in the poorhouse at Tibbermore on Christmas morning, 1870 from pneumonia complicated by pulmonary congestion. Though his mother and siblings were still living, his death was registered by a man named James Coch. His age was listed as 38, though he was likely only 32 years old at the time of his death.

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