Anyone know anything about Eaglesham?

[Alan SHARP]

In my book you still earn a chocolate fish, or as we might say here a "pinky bar" which apparently are a unique kiwi favourite. Keep up the good work.

Alan SHARP

[kennethm]

I've managed to find a copy of John Ainslie's Plan of Town Lands of Eaglesham No. 1, 1789. The map usefully shows the boundaries of each of the properties as well as the tack holder. Interestingly Sheila's GGGGrandfather's house in Montgomery Square is indicated on the map which suggests that it must have been built by 1789 and not 1790 as I've seen. The schoolhouse in Gilmour Street is also shown and likewise was in existence by 1789 rather than 1790.

Ken

[sheilajim]

Hi Ken and everybody,

That tournament must have been fun. It was great fun to read about it. It just goes to show that no matter how hard life is people will find some way to enjoy themselves. It must be part of the human spirit.

Ken, I do wish that I knew what the number of the building on Gilmore Street was when my old rellies were living there. On my GGGGrandfather's death cert. it only says Gilmore St.,no number is given, same thing on his second wife's death cert. The 1871 census doesn't give any number either. Maybe there weren't any numbers, but if so,how did they deliver mail in those days?
Another strange thing is that on the 1871 census, besides a son and a grandson, there are two boarders living with my GGGGrandfather's widow. They are both children, only 6 and 4 years old. A little young to be boarders I would think. I wonder what that was all about.

[Russell]

Hi Sheila

I have found a few children as 'boarders' in Kirkcudbrightshire too. We had to follow them up as they had the same surname as my wife's family. They were in-effect being supported by the Parish after their parents had died. The family looking after them were paid, I think, 2 shillings a week for each of them.
The boy stayed on to work on the farm they were placed with. The girl went on to become a house servant then get married so they did not do too badly.
Some children appear to have been adopted(the word wasn't in use then) by the family they were boarded with and, if they were young enough, change their surname to become one of the family.Older children tended to keep their original family name.
It seems to have been a cheaper option than putting them into the Poorhouse. Some areas did not even have a Poorhouse so sometimes adults were placed with willing families. This appears to have been mostly rural areas. In Glasgow there were quite a few children entered on poorhouse census returns who seemed to have no relatives of the same name in with them so I wonder if the big cities were less humane than the country Parish Kirk Sessions.

Russell

[Alan SHARP]

Greetings,

QUOTE:
"Maybe there weren't any numbers, but if so,how did they deliver mail in those days?"
END QUOTE

In practise postal & parcel deliveries back in the 1870’s were little different from the present day, except the literacy rate is higher (in most places) and now more are choosing email. (Still many “X” signatures on official documents in the 1870’s)

Until there was sufficient volume to justify delivery, postal agencies or postal branches were established and the addressee had to collect their own mail. In the early days of settlement in NZ newspapers published lists of overseas correspondence received, and awaiting collection.

When there was sufficient volume, delivery contracts were let. Being a source of money from out side of the community, those contracts were often uplifted by someone from within the community. A small business, or even a farmer’s wife who could then get an older child, to do the deliveries. Every one knew everyone.

Sisters Helen SHARP and Agnes RUSSELL both were successful at being the first postal agency holders for their respective districts, (Pukekohe East – South Auckland, and Pukeroro, Waikato) thus giving part time employment for a daughter, who was too young to take on the contract themselves.

Recently I attended a farewell to a retiring NZ Post, Rural Delivery Mailman. About the time he got marred his Father-in-law suggested that he apply for a contract that was up for renewal. He stayed with the run until he retired some 40 years later. (R. D. 1, TAUPIRI) He took pride in knowing over 300 customers on his route. Quite a number of which would change each first of June, as they worked their way through the ranks on share milking contracts, before becoming farm owners.

The SHARP address for service at our present location was:

1905 - C/- Taupiri Railway Station. (New Post Office ?) Some 8 miles away.
Between WWI & WWII - Gordonton, R.D. Taupiri, then Gordonton R. D. 1 Taupiri when the route was split in two. (After the introduction of deliveries)
After WWII – Cnr Gordonton & Tauhei Rds, R. D. 1, Taupiri.
The addition in the 1990’s of a “Rapid Number” for each residential road entrance (based upon distance in kilometres) was only introduced for the convenience of emergency call centres dispatching emergency services from centralized bases with no local knowledge. The postman on the road six days a week, knew every thing, and every one.

Alan SHARP.

Edit: Added Taupiri PO. Uncertian exactly when the Taupiri Post Office with resident Post Master accomodation was built, adjacent to the rail line. The rail way arrived in the late 1870's.

[Hibee]

Eaglesham Tournament (or Fair, as it is now called) continues to this day. Here are some pics from last year's event.

http://www.eagleshamfair.co.uk/photos

Hibee

[Alan SHARP]

Thanks for the link Hibee

All very interesting since our Wm RUSSELL came from Eaglesham to the Waikato, and that I and other descendants, are in the thick of helping to organize the biggest farm show down under, and one of the biggest, of it's type, in the world. Friday June 19th we can expect some 38 to 40,000 visitors. See: www.fieldays.co.nz
Must away.

Alan SHARP

[sheilajim]

Russell, it never occured to me that these two children might be foster children. I can't make out their names very well on the census for SP. Their last names look like Newcastle, but there aren't any children named Newcastle matching for births on SP. They are listed as being born in Eaglesham. Ancestry doesn't even try to decipher a last name. Their first names seem to me to be Thomas & Susan. Another thing that I found out by going to SP's census. Ancestry lists Alexander Kennedy,9 yrs old, as being a grandson. When I look at the census from SP, it seems to me that instead of grandson it looks more as adoped son. At least that is how I read it.

Alan- Than was interesting about the postal service in NZ. I just realized that it was very unlikely that Jane Campbell Kennedy ever got mail. She couldn't even write her name, so I suppose that she couldn't read either. My GGGGrandfather could at least write his name and he was born around 1798.
I find it strange that so far I haven't found one male relative who can't even write his name, but I have found 3 female relatives who can't. For example, while my GGGGrandfather could write his name, not only his 2nd wife and probably his first too, but even his eldest daughter could not, although his younger daugther could. This doesn't say much for girls education in Scotland in the 19th century.
As for writing letters, it is a shame that nobody writes letters anymore. The last letter that I received was years ago, sometime in the 1980's. Even before e-mail, it was much easier to just phone somebody rather than write them a letter.
Kenneth - The only clue that I have to the number of the address on Gilmore Street, where my GGGGrandfather died and his 2nd family lived for a few more years is on the 1871 census. They are the No.45 on the schedule. After the next household, No. 46, the enumerator writes "End of Gilmore Street" He starts No. 47 with Back Row, which is Montgomery Square. So it seems that the family didn't move very far, just a few houses away.

[kennethm]

Hi Sheila,

The house numbers are interesting. Gilmour Street is numbered in a south-east - north-west direction. No. 45 is Wardle and Son's Cross Garage and the building next door is Kirkstyle cottage at 51. 46 is one of the two-storey houses opposite Kirkstyle's garden. It looks to me though as if the street has been renumbered at some point. Assuming the numbers have always run in the same direction; from the emunarator's description, 47 was probably on the cross-roads side of Montgomery Square (or Backrow) of Gilmour Street and 45 on the other corner with Montgomery Square. I'll maybe take a photo next time I'm passing but you can see the houses in this picture:



The last house in the block running away from the garage would have been number 47 at the time. Just beyond is what would have been 45, however the original building was demolished and rebuilt in the 20th century. 46 is one of the houses on the left.

[kennethm]

Hi Alan,

Here's an Eaglesham farming connection with New Zealand I thought you may be interested in.

John Struthers of Evoch Farm won many prizes at the agricultural shows and appears to have bred and exported horses to NZ. I found this advert from the Otago Witness

TO STAND THIS SEASON AT SEAWARD BUSH ON THE MATAURA,
THE Fine Imported Clydesdale Horse EGLINTON, out of a
Prize Mare, the property of Mr. Struthers of Eaglesham,
and by "Barrandra", for many years the best stallion in
Scotland. He is a bright bay with black points, 4 years
old, stands 17 hands high, with great power and compact
form, active and docile; he is now one of the largest of
his kind, and will be found to possess the good qualities
of that breed so celebrated. He was the winner of several
prizes as a yearling and two year old before leaving
Scotland. Weaned Foals by this horse out of good draught
mares will be taken by the owners of "EGLINTON" at £20
to £30 each if required.

Otago Witness, 1st September 1860

Ken