Hi Paul,

Based on your instructions on second thought perhaps this is the better place to post my message to you. Hope all is well with you in Blantyre these days. I contacted the Blantyre Livingstone Centre regarding the Neil Livingston gravestone that was in the old Blantyre Works Graveyard which the 1830 article you located stated was inscribed Neil Livingston and there was a death date of 1799. The 1799 date is a bit of mystery to me and perhaps it is to you as well. There is apparently no surviving death record for him but I noticed that some Livingstone researchers somehow came up with a death date of 1825, but I have seen no supporting records or information for that date. There is also no birth date for him as well, but some researchers have suspected he was born abt. 1745 and if so then he would only be about 55 if he died in 1799. I am not in a position to dispute what was seen inscribed on that tombstone back in 1930 but I am inclined to suspect that he did die in 1799 and I wondering how you feel about it. We have had some interesting discussions about the old gravestones in that cemetery and I have no doubt as you have located Dr. Livingstone's aunt Catharine McKinnon gravestone. Perhaps you have thoughts regarding this 1799 gravestone.

The problem I am having and I hope you can help me with is that Dr. Livingstone in his book Missionary Travels seems to indicate that his grandfather Neil Livingston lived well into his old age and that he was alive and well when he in his youth. He states that" in his old age according to the customs of that company pensioned off as to spend his declining years in ease and comfort." Also he states that "as a boy I remember listening to him with delight for his memory was stored with never stock of stories.... And Andrew Ross author of David Livingstone Mission and Empire states that "from what little else is available in the records it would appear that his grandchildren were fond of him and loved to hear him tell the old Highland stories. Indeed David and elder brother John, when in their teens slept at the cottage of old Neil and their grandmother Mary when their own house became embarrassingly overcrowded."

I know you have like myself dedicated much of your times in recent years to Livingstone research and you have the added advantage I do not have that is being located in Blantyre where it all began all those many years ago. Your insight would be greatly appreciated.

sincerely yours,

Donald Clink