There is not much known
about James Duncan, locally known in Rothsey, Bute as ’The Copperman’,
partly because of the effigy on his tomb in the High Kirk Cemetery in
Rothsey and partly that James was believed to be involved later in life in
the re-introduction of copper coinage by the Royal Mint.
James was born at Ardnaho Farm, Isle of Bute, Scotland to James Duncan or
McConechy; born 10 Nov 1770, death unknown and Janet McNeill; born; 26 Mar
1774, death unknown. According to the inscription on his tomb, James was
born on the 16th January 1796. However, another account shows it to be on
the 16th May 1798. It must be noted at around this times many families with
the name McConechy on the island changed their name to its anglicised
version Duncan. For what ever reason, this is at present unknown.
James left Scotland in the
mid to late 1820’s and landed in Valparaiso, Chile where he
made his fortune as a merchant.
Tomb of James Duncan -