Heriot & Warriston Address 1856

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Currie
Posts: 3924
Joined: Fri Jun 22, 2007 3:20 am
Location: Australia

Re: Heriot & Warriston Address 1856

Post by Currie » Fri Jun 03, 2011 8:10 am

Hello Sandy,

The Scotsman, November 12, 1864, has a report of a David Sandilands, a skinner, of Silverfield, Bonnington, Edinburgh, getting into strife for striking a strike-breaking skinner during an industrial dispute. If you haven’t seen this article and want more detail please let me know and I’ll post the text here or in a PM.

Alan

SandySandilands
Posts: 121
Joined: Wed May 25, 2011 7:22 pm
Location: England

Re: Heriot & Warriston Address 1856

Post by SandySandilands » Fri Jun 03, 2011 12:02 pm

Hi Alan

Have a copy, thank you :)

I heard the tale growing up but it was slightly different to the one told in the Scotsman. The headline tells it how it was, he was jailed to set an example. They didn't want the workers getting organised and, according to what I was told, David was set-up.

I tried to get a copy of the court documents and those from Carlton Jail (thought I might get a description of him) but I was informed none exist. Shame :(

Also had a little delve into the background of Dundas Grant, the advocate who defended him but I couldn't find any family connection apart from the fact that he lived in Charlotte Street at one point and so did John Wallace, the brother of David's step-mother, Mary Wallace.

As far as I know, David never worked as a skinner/ leather dresser again after that.

My 2 x g.grandfather was in the same trade. He had to take work in England because of his (& his father's) involvment with the then budding trade union and socialist movement. In fact, only one of David's sons was able to work in Scotland due to their political views and the fact that they expressed them. The others moved to England, one via India.

The funny thing is, David seems to have been both a skinner and a spirit dealer right up until that point but then he becomes soley a spirit dealer. He's listed in the Edinburgh & Leith Trade Directories from 1858/9 right up until 1907 (the year after his death). In 1866 he buys land which becomes Burlington Street and he owns Sandilands Place, 6 houses and 2 shops, there for decades. I would have expected a jail sentance to have ruined his reputation somewhat but it doesn't appear so.

Ah... the tales I could tell about him - I have quite a few ;)

SandySandilands
Posts: 121
Joined: Wed May 25, 2011 7:22 pm
Location: England

Re: Heriot & Warriston Address 1856

Post by SandySandilands » Fri Jun 03, 2011 1:17 pm

Alan,

Just been reading about the Odd Fellows as per your excellent help on my other post:
The radical nature of the Oddfellows Society in Sheffield is clearly shown by the title of its own local newspaper: “Tracts for Oddfellows and Social Reformers” which was published in the city during the mid-19th century. Even down to the present time, some early verses are used at the closure of formal Lodge Meetings including the following lines, which might well be construed as incitement to revolution
Fits in with the "social reformers" in my family.

Looks like your Odd Fellows link is a hot lead :)