Robert Ballingall (1791-1860)

by Michael T. Tracy

He was the eldest surviving son of Niel Ballingall (1750-1843) Factor of Balbirnie and had been in charge of the farm at Auchmuty then leased by his father. Later he would become a tenant farmer, firstly of Treaton and then of Kingsdale, both in Kennoway Parish, Fife. In 1815 he married Christina Rennie and they had eight children who were all born in Kennoway Parish. Robert, during this time, took a great interest in the wider field of agriculture. After the death of his wife in 1842 at Kingsdale, Robert left the profession of farming and was appointed Factor firstly in Berkshire for a short period of time and then in Penrith. With the illness of his brother, James (1798-1856) he relocated back to Fife to assist him in his duties as Factor to John Anstruther Thomson of Charleton. After his brother's death in 1856, he succeeded him as Factor at Charleton and resided at Rosebank for the rest of his life. This then is the narrative of the life and times of Robert Ballingall.