Please help – seeking GGGG Grandchildren.

[Currie]

An old man, Archibald Macindoe, late of Swinton, Baillieston, is seeking his GGGG Grandchildren and has sent in this clipping from the Glasgow Herald of Monday, July 3, 1854 in the hope that it will help someone to recognise him.

ONE OF NELSON'S CREW OF THE "VICTORY."
In the close of last week we were waited upon by an old man, exhibiting traces of a powerful frame, who stated that his name and designation were Archibald Macindoe, weaver, Swinton, Baillieston, near Glasgow. He stated that he, and those who knew him well, were annoyed from seeing in the newspapers from time to time, notices of the discovery, in the person of some old seaman, of the "last survivor of Nelson's crew of the 'Victory' at Trafalgar"—one of which printed paragraphs he produced. He says he has not any notion as to whether there may be two or ten survivors of the crew of the Victory; but he protests against it being said that every other man is the last survivor of that glorious crew so long as he survives also. Macindoe states, and gives evidence of the fact, that he was one of the crew of the Victory (Lord Nelson's flag-ship) at the memorable triumph at Trafalgar, in October, 1805. He was one of the crew belonging to the starboard-bow gun (a twelve pounder) on the main deck, which fired the first shot from the Victory on entering the action. Thomas Johnston was the captain of this gun, and he, along with some others of the twelve men attached to the piece, was killed during the action. Macindoe says that he and his messmate when working the gun were only clothed in shirt and trousers—with arms and feet bare, and a cotton handkerchief bound tightly round their heads—the latter being intended, to some extent, to deaden the dreadful noise of the cannon explosions; but he says that in spite of all his efforts to shut out the terrific roar, he has suffered from it permanently, as he has now and then been affected with a confusion in his hearing ever since. He saw Lord Nelson on the forenoon of the memorable 21st of October walking along the quarter-deck of the Victory with some of the captains of the fleet; but he does not claim, like the majority of the Victory's veterans of late years, to have seen his Lordship receive his death wound; for he says, that he himself, and the messmates with whom he was in immediate contact, did not hear of Lord Nelson's wound and death till the morning after the great battle. Macindoe says that he had quite enough to do in performing his duty, and looking after himself, without inquiring as to the fate of others; and the old man waxes eloquent in telling how they fought for five hours "as hard as they could lick," with the "Santissima Trinidada," and afterwards with the "Redoubtable;" but of course it is needless to repeat details of this great victory which are now known to every school boy.

Our venerable visitor, who is 70 years of age, was born in Bishop Street, Anderston, and, while still a boy, was put upon the loom, at which he worked till he was 15 years old. At this time he took an itching for the sea, and went on board the brig Alexander of Greenock, Captain M'Laren. After sailing with this vessel for some time, she was captured while on a voyage to Norfolk, United States, by the French privateer La Proserpine of Bordeaux, carrying 18 long brass 12-pounders. The crew of the Alexander were carried to a Spanish port, and, after enduring five months of captivity and much suffering, Macindoe got away at length from Oporto in the barque Clyde, in which he arrived at Greenock. Here he entered at the Naval Rendezvous in 1803, and in due course was put on board the La Follet at Plymouth, where he saw some service in the Channel, and was engaged in a partial action off the batteries at Cherbourg. In the following year he was sent as a supernumerary on board the Victory, then off Toulon, in the Mediterranean, and in this memorable ship, as already stated, shared in the battle of Trafalgar. In 1806 he joined the Fame, 74, and served in her in various parts of the world—leaving his Majesty's service in 1814, on the then conclusion of the war. Macindoe then returned to Glasgow, where he resumed his early occupation of weaving. Here he married, and reared a family in decent circumstances; but he has been for some years a widower, and, as his surviving children emigrated a good while since to America, the aged sire may be said to be alone in the world. His sons in the United States kindly send him occasional help; but the old man still works daily at the loom, and says he has enough to do to keep soul and body together with all his exertions. Such are the simple annals of one of the Victory's crew at Trafalgar.

So, if any of his descendants are out there reading this please contact him at archiemacindoe@wideblueyonder.co.he

Alan

P.S.
In the Glasgow Herald, Monday, July 20, 1857, there’s an article saying in part—”At Airdrie, on the 12th curt., one of those veteran warriors closed his earthly career. This was Archibald Macindoe, aged 72, to whom we made some reference a few years since”.
Alan

[Currie]

Nobody seems to be interested in poor old Archie MacIndoe. Nobody has come forward to claim him and I can’t see him on GR or WorldConnect. There’s a 64 year old Archibald McIndoe who was living in Old Monkland, Lanarkshire in 1851 so I suppose that’s him.

And it looks like his 1857 death is on SP as McIndoe died Airdrie age 67 which goes to show that whoever reports these things can get it wrong even when it’s plastered all over the newspapers.

Goodbye Archie,
Alan

[JustJean]

I only wish I could claim him......it was a great story!

Btw....the informant to Archie's death was William Wilson (who actually had a lovely cursive hand) inmate of the Poorhouse who states he was not present. Archie had suffered from dysentery for some 3 weeks. James Hendry, beadle, confirms his final resting place in New Monkland Churchyard.

Now if Archie had only died in '55 and been particularly talkative about his sons in America before passing some of us would now be scrambling to find a US descendant for him.....ah well......

Best wishes
Jean