Military men

We joined the navy to see the world, chirped Bing Crosby in 1936.  Joining the army or navy took men and families around the world. We look at 3 military men who died in Cumnock.

 

These men are all pre first world war which we have documented on cumnocksoldiers.blogspot.com

 

 

Walter Ferguson was born on 17^th April 1774 in Cumnock. His father James was an innkeeper in Cumnock.

Walter enlisted in the Elgin Fencibles in November1799. The regiment was sent to Cork, Ireland. He transferred to the 72^nd regiment of Foot on 4 July 1800 in Newry, Co Down. He signed on for unlimited service and served 19 years 143 days. He was supernumerary to the regiment and was to a great measure disabled, having lost the use of his right hand  due to an accident while on duty in the engineer department, he was discharged on 9 November 1820 in Cape Town. His rank was Sergeant and his conduct was very good.  He had a pension. He was 5 ft 9 (quite tall for the time period) with brown hair and eyes and a brown complexion. (In another army record his eyes were blue and hair fair, fair complexion and a long face, though his height was the same) His trade was a weaver.

 

He had married Anne Phillips, an Irish girl from Cork, about 1809 in Cape of Good Hope, South Africa. They had 10 children born in Mauritius (an island formerly called Isle de France in the Indian Ocean), Ireland and Cape of Good Hope, South Africa.  4 of their children died before age 5. We know all this from his army record.

 

By the 1841 census they were in the village of Cumnock and in 1851 census they were in the village of Skares above the town. His source of income was his army pension. His rate of pension was 2/3 (two shillings and three pence) which was comparatively high.

 

He died aged 84 in February 1861 in Townhead, Cumnock. 

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John Johnston was born in Clackleith near Sanqhuar, Dumfriesshire. His father William Johnston was the “Laird of Clackleith” a sheep farmer known to the National Bard Robert Burns and referred to in the Kirk’s Alarm. John was one of 14 children.

 

We find him in the 1841 census a teacher at Braehead of Glaisnock and in 1851 census, teacher at Benston School. Benston is on the same road as Glaisnock so it may have been essentially the same school. The Marchioness Bute built him a school and schoolhouse. Strangely John appeared not to be in receipt of an army pension and his case was taken up by local journalist Adam B Todd.

 

Our Cumnock correspondent last week forwarded us a letter containing an appeal on behalf of a surviving hero of Trafalgar, but which came to hand too late for insertion. It appears that Mr Johnstone, the subject of the letter, is in his 91st year, is sprung from a highly respectable family, and having left the navy in 1814, without a pension, has earned a livelihood as a teacher, up till six years ago. It is certainly a disgrace to the country as the writer ably points out, that any one of the very few who now remain of those who perilled their lives for their country in the most eventful crisis of her history should, from no fault of his, be forced " To join the poor, and eat the parish bread." Mr Johnston is in receipt of 3s (id a week from the parish ! on which sum it seems a grateful country has decided he should starve. Mr A. B. Todd, the writer of the letter, concludes as follows :—" Mr Johnstone, we may add is a man of most unblemished reputation, and for forty years has been an entire abstainer from all intoxicating drink. When his circumstances are known, we do hope that there are individuals who will do something to cheer the closing days of his long life before he goes down (as soon he must) into the valley and shadow of death." The writer might do well to name some gentleman who would act as treasurer.   Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald - Saturday 21 October 1871

 

 

DEATH OF TRAFALGAR VETERAN 

On Wednesday, John Johnston, of Benston Cottage, Cumnock, died the age 99 years and 41 days. He was one of the last of the great Lord Nelson's heroes, and was born at Clackleith, in the parish of Sanquhar, on the 21st day of July 1781, his father being one the most extensive sheep farmers in the South of Scotland. Being somewhat restless disposition in his youth, his mind was easily fired by the stirring events which followed the first French Revolution, and in 1802 he enlisted in the Royal Marines without the knowledge of his family and continued in the service until 1814. Shortly before the escape of the French fleet from Toulon, he was drafted from on board the Hibernia to the Colossus, and joined in Lord Nelson's pursuit of the enemy to the West Indies and back to Europe, when the combined fleets France and Spain were come upon and signally defeated near Cape Trafalgar on the 21st day October 1805. In this ever-memorable fight Johnston received a severe flesh wound, which strangely enough broke out afresh 55 years after it had been received. Leaving the navy in 1814 without pension, and having been disinherited by his father for some fresh offence, he betook himself to teaching as a means of support, having received a superior education in his youth. With the exception of two years spent as agent and lecturer for the Western Temperance Union, nearly 50 years ago, he continued to teach until he was long past his 80th year—the late amiable and kind Marchioness Bute being kind to him in his latter years, building for him a cottage and a school, and giving him a small salary besides. When unfit any longer to teach he was reduced to sore straits after the death of his patroness, but his sad state having been made known to the country by Mr A. B. Todd, Cumnock, a liberal response was made to his appeal, and on the application of the same gentleman, the Admiralty, nine years ago, granted him a Greenwich Hospital pension of £27. 7s. yearly. With this, and with a cottage and a small sum of money kindly given him by the present Marquis of Bute, his closing years have been spent in comfort and content. He kept his faculties to the last, and his end came calmly and without pain. Mr Johnston had quite a literary turn of mind, and soon after leaving the navy he wrote, in a poem, an animated account the great battles the Nile and of Trafalgar. This poem, which met with much success on its publication, was published in 1874, with a biographical Sketch of the author by Mr A B. Todd. 

This text was published in several newspapers including the Edinburgh Evening News Thursday 02 September 1880:  

 

NEW BOOKS AND NEW EDITIONS 

There is still alive, at Benstone , in the parish of Cumnock , Ayrshire , a survivor of Trafalgar Mr John Johnston, the author of Lord Nelson : a Poem, was born in July 1781, in Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire, and fought at Trafalgar on board the Colossus , where he received a severe wound. After quitting the navy, Mr Johnston laboured till he was considerably more than eighty years of age as a schoolmaster. When compelled to abandon this avocation, he was left without any means of making a livelihood , and was reduced to great distress, from which .

, however, he was relieved by a liberal public subscription and a small Greenwich Hospital pension granted by the Admiralty at the intercession of a friend, who made known the circumstances in which he was placed. For the last few years, therefore, the veteran has enjoyed well-earned comfort and repose, and the celebration of his centenary seems a by no means impossible event. The poem which is printed in this little booklet was written more than sixty years ago, soon after Mr Johnston left the navy. Its theme is the exploits of England's greatest naval hero. The verse is rather practical and prosaic in character but gives a minute and graphic account of the battles of the Nile and Trafalgar and evinces the possession by the author of considerable general information.  

The Scotsman - Saturday 28 April 1877

 

The poem and biographical sketch have been digitised:

 

Title	Lord Nelson: a Poem
Author	John Johnston (of Benstone.)
Published	1874
Original from	National Library of Scotland
Digitized	10 Aug 2023
Length	45 pages

 

Link https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=x29bUYc0nnMC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false  

 

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JOHN KIRK

John Kirk died in Cumnock in 1856 . 

His death certificate gives his age as 69. His occupation is pauper, formerly weaver  and soldier of the 91st regiment of foot. He was married at the time of death in Townhead but the wife’s name not given. He died of asthma and the death was registered by Archibald McCowan, Inspector of Poor.

The Glasgow Sentinel printed this: 

DEATHS. Cumnock, the 27th ult., John Kirk, weaver. Deceased was a veteran of the Peninsular war, but had a pension. The Glasgow Sentinel - Saturday 02 August 1856

His pension was clearly not enough to support him.

In the 1851 census this appears to be him

Townfoot, Tanyard st Cumnock

John Kirk 63 Head handloom weaver born Durisdeer

Barbara Kirk 55 Wife born Campbeltown

And this is likely him in 1841 census

Village

John Kirk 50 cotton handloom weaver journeyman b Ayrshire

Margaret Kirk 50 born Scotland not Ayrshire

Alexander Kirk 15 born Ayrshire

Alexander Kirk was born in1825 in Cumnock to John Kirk and Margaret Blackstocks. They were married on 28 September 1821  in Muirkirk.  There was an earlier Alexander born 1823 in Muirkirk.

John Kirk married Barbara McDonald in 1846 in Cumnock. Can't find her again after the1851 census..She could have been a widow in 1846.

I found his army record. WO 97 429 130

JOHN KIRK

Born DUNFIRMLINE, Fife

Served in 91st Foot Regiment 1 nov 1804 - 24 March 1817

then 23rd Foot Regiment; 25 march 1817 -15 sep 1818

Enlisted in St Paul? France in 1817 at the age of 28

Discharged aged 30

Served 14 years 29 Days

general disability, chronic rheumatism

general conduct - very bad

5 ft 7 gray eyes light hair

occupation labourer

Although the birthplace differs from the census record, it does seem to be the same man.

or

Name	John Kirk
Age	20
Birth Date	abt 1789
Birth Place	Muirkirk, Ayr
Military Date	17 Jan 1809
Unit	91st Foot Soldiers, 1st Battalion

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17th company Imperial Yeomanry in 2nd Boer War

17 local men  took part in the 2nd Boer War under Captain John Douglas Boswell of Garrallan. They left for South Africa by train on 23rd February 1900. They included McLanachan brothers David, George and William from Loganhill farm, Adam Montgomerie of Lessnessock, William Montgomerie of Guelt.  Most were farming men, but also William McMillan a coachman at Garrallan and David Tear a joiner from the Village. They were away for over a year. George McLanachan remained in South Africa where he died in 1923.

McLanachans at Loganhill c 1900

from a Pictorial History of Cumnock, Dane Love

Rev. Alexander McDonald Allan, missionary in Colombia

 

by Roberta McGee

Alexander McDonald Allan was born in Netherthird Farm, Old Cumnock on 15/2/1876. His father was Robert Allan who was born in Old Cumnock on 20/2/1837 and his mother was Jeanie Baxter McDonald who was born in Kirkintilloch in 1849.

Robert's brother, who was also called Alexander, served his apprenticeship with Turnbull & Young, watchmakers & jewellers, who had premises in Glaisnock Street, and when the firm decided to sell up, Robert and his brother Alexander acquired it. They traded under the name of R & A Allan - "Sign of the Big Clock". "The Big Clock" or "Allan's Knock" hung above their shop in Glaisnock Street next to McKechnie's. The shop became, in later years, Peggy Lindsay's, draper. 

Allan’s Knock is on the right


        

Sadly Robert died on 10/3/1886 at Viewfield Cottage, Cumnock, where they had moved to from Netherthird Farm. His wife Jeanie moved to 2 Armour Street, Kilmarnock and that's where we find her on the 1891 census with her children Margaret aged 18yrs who is a pupil teacher, 16yrs old William who is a baker, Alexander aged 14yrs & Helen aged 9yrs.

Alexander excelled at Kilmarnock Academy. Here is the transcription of an article from the Cumnock Chronicle from 1936 detailing his extraordinary life. 

Interesting career of a Cumnock native

"On Sabbath last the pulpit in the West Church was occupied by the Rev. Alexander McDonald Allan, a Cumnock native, who, in the course of his service, gave a most interesting account of 26 years' service in Colombia, South America. We have been favoured by a fuller account of Mr. Allan's experiences, and have great pleasure in reproducing them, and we are certain that they will be read with great interest, not only by all in Cumnock who knew him as a boy at school, but by natives of Cumnock, no matter where they reside.

Mr Allan was the son of Mr. Robert Allan, who, 60 years ago, occupied the farm of Netherthird, and who, along with his horse 'Prince', was a very well-known feature of Cumnock streets at that time. On retiring from Netherthird, Mr. Allan, along with his younger brother Alexander, bought the jewellery business of Turnbull & Young, and formed the firm R. & A. Allan, which was in business for many years, and whose name still adorns the big clock in front of the premises they occupied in Glaisnock Street. 

Mr Allan was born at Netherthird in 1876 and his father died 10 years later at Viewfield Cottage, Glaisnock Road. In 1889 the family removed to Kilmarnock, and at Kilmarnock Academy Alexander gained the Paterson Bursary and the Ballochmyle Bursary. At the age of 16 Alex went to sea and for four years served before the mast, during which time he visited Mauritius, Australia, Mexico, Costa Rica, Chile and Brazil. At the latter place he was shipwrecked and had to swim ashore. He crossed the Equator 18 times, rounded the Cape of Good Hope 5 times and Cape Horn 3 times. All his seafaring experiences were gained in sailing ships.

Returning to Glasgow, he studied two years at Glasgow University, and then went to New Zealand where he was engaged in mission work in the Northern part for some years amongst Maoris and Europeans. He travelled all over the North Island and visited the South Sea Islands for five months in the Anglican Mission schooner 'Southern Cross', and spent some time amongst the cannibals of the Solomon Islands. He spent the next six months in Australia and two years in California, where he continued his studies. Returning to New Zealand in 1904, he spent three years in the Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Dunedin and two years in mission work.

 He married Margaret (Pearl) Allan, whose grandfather belonged to Riccarton, Kilmarnock, and was one of the first settlers in New Zealand. 

1914 Presbyterian Research Centre Archives

He offered himself for foreign mission work in South America, and was accepted by the Presbyterian Church in USA, and went to Colombia in 1910. He resides in Bogota, the capital, which has a population of 350,000 people and is situated 9000 feet above sea level. The state of Colombia has a population of 8 millions. He has a furlough every six years. He has a family of two; Margaret, who is now aged 22 years and Robert, 16 years, who is accompanying him on a brief visit to Scotland. 

James Fraser, an Aberdeen medical student, went from Paris to Colombia with the British Legion, consisting of 2000 Scotch and Irish, to help General Boliver in the Wars of Independence. After victory, Fraser invited the Presbyterian Church of Scotland to send missionaries to Colombia, but they were already too busy in Africa and India to do so. He wrote to the USA Presbyterian Church and they began to work in Bogota in 1856. They have now 26 missionaries in Colombia. Mr Allan has remained a British subject, but furloughs in USA. In September and October he undertakes deputation work for the churches in Illinois and Ohio.

He and his son sail from Greenock on the S.S. Samaria on August 22nd for New York, to rejoin his wife and daughter at Wheaton, Illinois. He and his wife return to Colombia in March 1937, while his son and daughter will remain in Illinois to continue their studies.

Six years ago the clerical-conservative government gave way to a transition government. Two years ago a Liberal government got into power, and it is now busy seeking complete separation between Church and State, and the liberation of the public schools from clerical control, and endeavouring to increase the number of schools, and further the general development of the country along democratic lines, but avoiding the extremes which are causing so much trouble in Spain today.

Altogether there are eighty Protestant missionaries in Colombia, from various societies, and the people receive them well as an element of progress, providing schools and bibles, and a new outlook on religion, but in this work they are opposed by the priests. In 1912 Mr. Allan founded a paper entitled 'El Evangelista Colombiano' and since that time it has been published every month, and 1300 copies are sold monthly. It is a religious and popular paper for those interested in Protestantism.

Mr. Allan has been a pastor of a church in Bogota, where all the work is done in Spanish, the language of the country. He has now under his care 8 country schools, 10 country congregations and he itinerates one third of each year over a territory as large as Scotland. In spite of all their difficulties, their congregations are increasing and developing, and contrary to popular belief, mission work is easier in South America than in Asia. However, all Mission Boards are sorely tried today, through the increased cost of living in foreign lands, and the decreased gifts since the crisis at home, at a time of enlarging opportunities."

Both Alexander and his wife, Margaret Gordon Allan, became American citizens in 1955, their residence given at that time as 755 Mayflower Road, Claremont, California. Their children, both of whom were born in Bogota, were resident in the USA - Margaret in Pomona, California and Robert in Kansas City. 

Margaret Gordon Allan died 29/12/1960 in Los Angeles, California and Alexander died 22/1/1973 also in Los Angeles. 

As for "Allan's Knock", Well it didn't have such a peaceful ending.

1963 Cumnock Chronicle