One of my husband's GGGrandfathers was John Oliver, his Gran often told a story about him quiting his work at the manse.
After her death we got a few of their old books, one I claimed was "Brightons & Surrounding Areas" by a miner turned Minister, D. R. Dishington.
To our great surprise there in his 'Jottings' section was the story of Our Jock.
In the late 1800's there lived in Polmont village a character bearing the name of 'Jock Oliver' who operated Polmont manse water pump. He was a handy man in his way, local postman, boot repairer and quite a variety of semiskilled repair work.
Jock was for a time engaged by the resident minister to pump water into the manse by means of using a hand operated water pump. He was paid one shilling per week.
His pay did not satify 'Jock'. He thought he was exploited by being underpaid. One day whilst in a disgruntled mood and having the gift of writing poems, he wrote in chalk on the pump:
The work is hard,
The pay is ma',
gae pump yersel,
for Jock's awa'.
I thought in Moonwatchers absence you could use a smile
"Jock Oliver".....
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"Jock Oliver".....
Wilma