Anyone know anything about Eaglesham?

[kennethm]

Hi Hibee,

The hill's even more arduous when the last bus doesn't arrive and you've to walk back from Clarkston!

That's interesting to hear about the the second, more sombre explanation. The earliest reference I've found to Bell Craig is an article in The Presbyterian Magazine of 1 October 1864 referring to the attempted ordination of Thomas Clark in 1767. Question is did Bel Geddes hang herself on the tree before 1864? How old is the present beech tree? Is it the same tree as the one that's on top of the rock now?

Maybe we'll never know for sure...

Ken

[kennethm]

Does anyone know whether or not Thomas Johnstone otherwise known as 'The Calton Poet' or 'Figaro' was born in Eaglesham? The Johnstone family had a house in Eaglesham and Tom, a Glasgow barber, would travel to Eaglesham on Sunday mornings. Tom Johnstone otherwise known as the 'Calton Barber Poet' or 'Figaro' established a barber's shop in Abercormbie Street, Calton, Glasgow during the early 1870s and it was around this time that he well-known as a songwriter. On Monday mornings he was in the habit of obtaining a lift into Glasgow on the milk-cart which left Eaglesham at three o'clock. In 1880 he composed the well known ballad, 'The Soor Milk Cairt' for popular comedian, J.C. MacDonald.

In another song, 'The Eaglesham Bus', Tom writes,

Ye Eaglsham callans ye'll listen I'm shair,
Tae a sang frae a son o' the heath'ry muir,
Wha was born and bred in yon wee muirland toon,
That stan's near the auld ruined wa's o' Polnoon.
I canna boast the Montgomery line,
Nor a lang pedigree frae the days o' langsyne.
The siller I earn is the length o' my purse,
An' the carriage I ride in's – The Eaglesham Bus!

which suggests that he was born and bred in the village. He also mentions several people and places so may have known the local area well.

His daughter Mary wrote 'Becky's Tree', a song about an Elm that once stood in the Orry. Becky's Tree may have been called after a girl who worked half-time in the mill and half-time helping men to plant the trees that beautify the village.

Tom lived from 1850 to 1911.

Kenneth

[SarahND]

Hi Kenneth,
Here is what I've been able to find out:

I think he was born more like 1848 or even late 1847.
In 1871 he is living at 115 Abercromby, Glasgow Calton (age 23)
In 1881 he is living at 109 Abercromby (age 33)
1891, 95 Abercrombie (age 43)
1901, 95 Abercrombie (age 50)

Birthplace is consistently given as "Glasgow".

Going backwards, he was already a hairdresser at the age of 13!

1861
21 Greenhead st, Bridgeton
Mary Johnston, 47, Head, born Parish of Kilmalie, Argyleshire, Winder
Thomas Johnston, 13, Son, born Glasgow, Hairdresser

And in 1851, the census closest to his birth year, the family was living in Calton:

1851
192 Dalmarnock Road, Calton, Lanarkshire
Thomas Johnston, 43, Head, born Glasgow, Lanark, Teacher of Dancing
Mary Johnston, 39, Wife, born Fort William, Argyl
Estar Johnston, 13, Daughter, born Daemel, Ayr, Pinceler
Thomas Johnston, 3, Son, born Glasgow, Lanark

All the best,
Sarah

[kennethm]

Many thanks Sarah,

That's fantastic information.

I've managed to find a copy of The Post Office Annual Glasgow directory for 1879-80 and discovered an entry for Thomas Johnstone, hairdresser 149 Abercromby Street; house 109 Abercromby Street so it's definately the same person. Your info confirms that Tom was indeed born and living in Glasgow although several sources indicate that the Johnstone family had a house in Eaglesham (which probably confirms one source that says it was a summer house).

Thanks again.

Best,

Kenneth

[kennethm]

Hello Alan,

I've discovered the houses in Montgomery Street were renumbered sometime later in the 19th century. I'm interested to try and find out what number 34 South Street (later to become Montgomery Street) is today.

An advert appeared in the Glasgow Herald on 15th April 1831 advertising a two storey for sale by public roup (auction). The advert describes the house as having a "four loom shop" on the ground floor so suggests that it was a weaver's house. It would be interesting to find out where some of the weavers houses were as handloom weaving was a main industry in the village.

I've found the act enabling trustees to sell part of the estates in the Parliamentary Papers but wondered if you'd know where I could find the schedule (c) to the document?

All the best,

Kenneth

In Parliamentary Papers there’s: “27 June 1834 An Act to enable the Trustees of Hugh Montgomerie of Skelmorlie, Earl of Eglinton, deceased, to sell a Part of the Trust Estates, in order to extinguish the Debts left by the said Earl which affect or may be made to affect the said Estates. [27th June 1834.]”

Schedule (C) to this lengthy document lists properties in the Barony of Eagleshame that may be disposed of. The table for Eaglesham Village has columns for street and number, names, and rent paid. The only streets listed are Polnoon Street, Cheapside, Montgomerie Square, Montgomerie Street, and maybe Glasgow Road.

[Currie]

Hello Kenneth,

The list of properties in Eaglesham Village is on the last three pages of a 36 page document. Schedule C is for the Barony of Eagleshame and starts on page image 32.

It looks as though there are several PPs dated the 27th June that are to do with this matter, and that may be putting a spanner in the works. Try a search in the main PP search page for keyword "skelmorlie earl" (including the quotes) and go to the last of the 13 results. Click on Full Text.

If that doesn't work, let me know, and I'll send you the document (about 4mb).

All the best,
Alan

[David Hamilton]

Hello, my first post. I have ancestors from Eaglesham. I thought the following diary entry written by the Reverend William Hamilton (1807 Kilmarnock - 1879 Mortlake, Victoria, Australia) may possibly contain some tit bits of interest (makes reference to the Thomas Clark incident):

The spelling of words difficult to decipher appear in italics.

"224. Dec 11th I have just returned from Eaglesham where I was preaching on Sabbath. I have learned some particulars concerning my ancestors that are highly gratifying. The remotest notice of my family that I could obtain is that we are of the Hamiltons of Langlee, highly respectable farmers formerly in a long valley to be seen from the Glasgow & Kilm. road at Logan’s well. My great grandfather Andrew was ordained an elder by Colin Campbell minister of the parish & was a leader in the secessions on the occasion of the violent settlement of a Mr. Clark. A female of Langlee being called in question by the minister for attending the first preaching in the neighbourhood held by a seceder gave the following very satisfactory reply “ A hungry bird ‘ill be blythe o’ a pick any place.” Andrew Hamilton, my father tells me, wore a wig (of dignity) & was a man of very distinguished piety. He farmed Greenfield on the road between Eaglesham and Kings’ wells. There my grandfather for whom I am named was born. The oldest son was admitted to the occupance of the farm & the father with William and another son who affornamed enlisted came down & lived at lochlin at the head of the village pursuing there the business of a Tailor. The farmer of Greenfield died without progeny. My grandfather learned the mason trade. He was an elder in the Burgher church & was possessed of a remarkably good memory which was stored with scriptures & the sermons he had heard. He seems to have been unequalled in the neighbourhood in the gift of prayer & altogether eminently pious & intelligent. He went to Glasgow with his wife in pursuit of his business & there both died of fever within a few days of each other & were buried in Eaglesham Churchyard. A large stone covers the grave."


The writer, my G G grandfather was the son of the Rev. Andrew Hamilton minister of the High Kirk Kilmarnock (1773 Eaglesham - 1839 Kilmarnock). This Andrew was the last of my ancestors to be born within the parish.

I was wondering if Lochlin may have been the name of a dwelling in Eaglesham? In Ainslie's town plan a Wm Hamilton is shown resident in North street. Possibly the William referred to?

Regards, David.

[steiner]

Hi all

I too have ancestors from Eaglesham. John Currie, the most notable, was an inn-keeper of the Swan Inn and is buried in the old churchyard in the village. He died in 1854 and was married to Elizabeth Fulton about 1802 again in Eaglesham. She died in 1828.

I'm not sure if he lived above the inn or maybe had his own house in the village.

Andy

[Muriel]

I don't know the address of the Swan Inn but John Currie & his 2nd wife Ann Crawford lived in Polnoon Street in 1841, with the number given as 30 in 1851. I have a tangential link with John in that one of his sons, Robert, married my ggggg aunt Agnes Ross!

Muriel

[Anne H]

Hi David and a warm welcome to TalkingScot!

Thanks for sharing the diary entry with all of us...what a treasure to have! Hopefully one of the posters who are familiar with the Eaglesham area will be able to come up with something on Lochlin for you.

Regards,
Anne H