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

Extended family of McGlashan, McCowan & Dalglish to Australia and New Zealand

by Kay McMeekin

Archibald McCowan and wife Sarah Hair and their children emigrated on the Hurricane, Glasgow to Port Phillip (Melbourne) in June 1853  as a farmer.

Gilbert McGlashan, son of Dr Gilbert McGlashan in Cumnock was born in East Kilbride on 24 Oct 1835  and died on 7 Feb 1918 in St Arnaud, Victoria, Australia. Gilbert named his house Glaisnock in St Arnaud, New Zealand 

He was an engineer, operated a foundry and engineering works and designed agricultural equipment. 

He emigrated about 1859 and married Agnes McCowan daughter of the aforementioned Archibald McCowan in 1862 in Melbourne,

Meanwhile Gilbert's sister Eliza Woodhead McGlashan born 1833 married in 1861 and emigrated to New Zealand with her new husband James Dalglish and his brother.

James Dalglish was born in Barn Street, Strathaven, on 28 Feb 1834 to William Dalgliesh and Catherine Currie. In 1841 he was living in Lanarkshire, but by April 1861 he had moved to Old Cumnock. James lived in Glaisnock Cottage, Old Cumnock, working as a woodcutter with his brother, Hugh.  

painted by Marie Benseman  Dalglish, married to James’s grandson, Ken Dalglish

    

James Dalglish

On 27 June 1861, James married Eliza Woodhead McGlashan, the daughter of a surgeon, who had moved to Old Cumnock after his first wife, Eliza's mother, had died. 

After the wedding, James and Eliza sailed to  New Zealand on the Asterope with Hugh Dalglish, arriving in Wellington on 11 Oct 1861.James and his brother worked as woodcutters in New Zealand, and James purchased a large block of land in Le Bons Bay, Banks Peninsula.Together they set up a sawmill on the land and felled the trees to make a sheep farm, where they lived. James became a significant landowner and businessman, and was a prominent figure in politics in the Canterbury Province.

Letters to Elizabeth Woodhead McGlashan from her brothers Alexander and William from 1846 -1870 have been transcribed.

William McGlashan enlisted about 1850 for 14 years as a gunner in 1st Company 2nd Battalion Artillery and was sent to East India on the ship Camperdown. He served in Lahore, Scutari and Dalhousie, Punjab. He suffered numerous bouts of ill health, and is presumed to have died there.

Brother Alexander McGlashan left Cumnock to become an accountant in Glasgow. In 1846 he was working in a Customs House in Liverpool (from correspondence with sister Eliza). In August 1847 a 21 year old Alexander McGlashen was jailed in Liverpool for embezzlement for 3 months. There was no letter to Eliza until November 1847. So it is likely the same man. He likely lost his job and that would be the reason for joining the army,

He joined the 4th Royal Irish Dragoons, and went to fight in Crimea, where he had cholera tended by Florence Nightingale and her nurses in Scutari Hospital. He was also in Bengal and Lahore in 1853. He survived to serve around Britain in Newbridge, Newcastle, Exeter and Aldershot.

He married widow Annie Rowlinson in 1868 (his father's name and occupation on the marriage certificate confirms this) and he died in 1891 in Salford.

Information, in particular the letters, from descendant of Eliza, Kathryn Dalglish Chandler. Letters transcribed 1998 by Margaret Frampton.

Geordie Graham from Dalgig

 "Few men are better remembered. Black Geordie: George Graham of Dalgig" - John D. Ellis

by Roberta McGee

George 'Geordie' Graham, as he was known, was Afro-Caribbean and born between 1785 and 1790 in Grenada in the West Indies. His father had come to Glasgow as a coachman to one of the great West India merchants. He was accompanied by his wife and Geordie. Two daughters were mentioned later on, but, whether they were born in Grenada or Glasgow is uncertain. The family were, in all probability, the merchant's slaves and it is difficult to find their original names. The Abolition of Slavery Act was passed in 1807 by the British Parliament. The Act made it illegal to buy and sell enslaved people throughout the British Colonies. However, it did not end the use of enslaved labour across the British Empire. It wasn't until 1833, when the Slavery Abolition Act was passed, that abolition was wholly achieved.

The story goes that Geordie ran away and enlisted in the Royal Navy when he was a young lad and he remained there for many years. Later records show that George was a proficient drummer. The Royal Navy had ships' bands as did the Royal Marines, which operated under the authority of the Royal Navy, where drummers were more common.  

When he returned to Glasgow he found that both his father and mother were deceased. Two sisters, however, were still alive, but with these he had little correspondence.

Historian John D. Ellis says:

That a former soldier should descend into vagrancy was not uncommon; the end of the Napoleonic Wars (1793-1815) had seen thousands of British Army and Royal Navy veterans returned to "civvy street" at a time when Britain was a country in turmoil. Famine, unemployment, and civil unrest were rife. Veterans of battles like Trafalgar (1805) and Waterloo (1815) found their campaigns eulogised - whilst paradoxically they were left to fend for themselves (the "1824 Vagrancy Act" was, in part, passed as a response to former sailors and soldiers living on the streets or in make-shift camps).

So Geordie made the rural Ayrshire countryside his home, especially around Leadhills, New Cumnock and Old Cumnock. He was a vagrant, poorly clad, and he didn't appear to have any means to feed himself. He roamed alone during the day along the riverbanks and spent his nights under the shelter of the heat of one of the many pottery/brick kilns which were in active operation in the neighbourhood. Although he spoke English well he appeared to be unsociable and initially the villagers treated him with suspicion because of his ebony coloured skin.  However, they soon began to accept him. Three months later he disappeared, much to the puzzlement of the villagers, only to reappear the following summer, full of energy, to again roam the banks and channels of the rivers and he would sleep at the pottery/brick kilns and be supplied with food, usually by the local farmers.

He was reluctant to speak about his past life but was chatty about topical subjects which made him popular with the locals. He would disappear again without warning and then reappear for a three month spell. The villagers were puzzled over Geordie's odd behaviour but eventually his secret was discovered. 

Geordie was gathering pebbles from the channels in the rivers and streams sometimes extending his search to Carsphairn and Galston. These were not ordinary pebbles. They were jasper stones, a type of quartz, which came in many colours and patterns. He would use a large freestone at a nearby meal mill which would grind his pebbles into shape and, by applying emery afterwards, would produce a polish which made the stones more valuable. He would sell these semi-precious stones for as much as £15 each in nearby cities.

Scottish Red Jasper which is thought to increase strength, energy, stamina, focus and determination. It was known as "the warrior's stone" or "the stone of endurance" 

He also found employment where he could. He was in the service of Mr. Ferguson of Dinmurchie, Barr and for a while lived in Old Cumnock where he worked in the Cumnock Pottery.

Pottery Row - CHG Banks & Bankers, Shops & Inhabitants, Cumnock Chronicle & Jack Hill 1961

Leadhills Village 

The sale of the stones gave Geordie some stability and he eventually moved into a house of his own where he could spend the summer and the winter. He had a very fierce-looking bulldog, which was always by his side. It went by the name of 'Ready' which was the signal given by Royal Navy gun crews when they were prepared to fire. I'm surmising that the village he chose to settle in was Leadhills where there was a brass band. Geordie took a keen interest in it and would march alongside them. One day the drummer asked Geordie if he would like to use the drumsticks to beat the drum. Geordie replied that he would like to have the drum too. Hoping to have a laugh at Geordie's expense the drummer complied but was taken by surprise when Geordie expertly fitted himself out with the big drum. The leader asked Geordie which tune he would prefer. He replied  'the 4th Dragoon's March'. Geordie gave three taps and the band struck in. The tone was superior to anything they had heard before and was executed to perfection. 

Off they marched causing a sensation in the village. One of the onlookers asked Geordie where he had learned to beat the drum. His only answer was that he had paid for his learning. Choosing to play 'the 4th Dragoon's March' was perhaps a clue to one of the regiments Geordie had served in. 

Historian John D. Ellis says:

'The duty of an army drummer was to beat out the drum patterns issued by his commanders to communicate orders to soldiers.' and Geordie had displayed this skill. 

In 1832 there were celebrations in towns and cities across Scotland following the passing of the Reform Act. The Leadhills Brass Band were invited to perform. They walked from Leadhills Village to Sanquhar, which was about seven miles, to get there on time with 'Big Black Geordie from Dalgig beating the drum'. 

In July 1844 there was a festival in Ayr and the band were to play. Geordie loved bright colours and a local landowner presented him with a full suit of his native African dress to wear.

In 1841 George Graham is living at Dalgig Farm, New Cumnock and is employed as a manservant. The farmer is Ivie Campbell. He was a very kind man. Any tramp passing through, if he said his name was Campbell, was certain of porridge and milk. Hungry Irish travellers searching for work and a place to stay could always rest for a few days at Dalgig until they regained their strength.

Geordie's chosen surname was Graham. What his birth name was nobody seems to know. It's interesting to note that Ivie Campbell's brother-in-law, who was married to Ivie's sister Isabel, was William Graham from Marchburn Farm, New Cumnock. He was in the Dragoon Guards and was discharged in 1802. Geordie's chosen tune to play on the drums was 'the 4th Dragoon's March'. Did Geordie serve with William Graham or did Ivie hold a special affection for him because he was, like Ivie's brother-in-law, a veteran? Perhaps one of these reasons why George chose Graham as his surname. 

In 1851 Geordie is at Dalgig working as a farm labourer and in 1861 he is working there as a groom. 

Geordie took an active part in farm life and regularly accompanied the Campbells to their frequent shows.

Cumnock Chronicle 1902

Geordie died of cramp of the stomach, after one day, at Dalgig, New Cumnock on 2nd May 1868. The informant was Mr Ivie Campbell. Geordie was aged 78 years and single. His parents names were not given



Sources:

Irvine Times 22/5/1885

Lanarkshire Upper Ward Examiner 6/2/1886

Ayrshire Weekly News 26/2/1886

Black Soldiers and Edinburgh 1792-1848 by John D. Ellis

Historical Roots - "Few men are better remembered. Black Geordie:

                               George Graham of Dalgig, Ayrshire" by John D. Ellis

Robert Smith, Ochiltree to Eastern Cape Province

By Elaine Corbett

Robert Smith  was a farmer’s son from Whitehill Farm, Ochiltree.

Follow this link to the farm post for Whitehill on our blog Ploughing Up Our Past.

Robert was my 2nd great grand-uncle, brother of my great, great grandfather, David Smith.

He was the third son of Robert Smith and Jane Guthrie born in 1835, and must have been recognised as being a bright lad and encouraged to pursue his studies. The remaining sons all stayed farming. 

The 1851 census finds him in Ochiltree village with, (we think) his great-aunt, Elizabeth Wallace so it is evident he was sent away from the distraction of his siblings to get on with his book learning.

In 1861 he was living in Aberdeenshire as a teacher, and in 1862 he married Margaret Anderson, in Binns Farm, Urquhart. Margaret’s family were interesting, as her father was a farmer and ship owner. Her uncle was a sea captain before he too bought into a shipping company and settled in Glasgow with his Danish wife.

The 1871 census sadly, shows that Robert had gained two sons, William and Robert, but Margaret had died from complications of childbirth. His occupation was now Bank Agent. 

In 1872 he married Mary Mather and they set up home together in Union Street, Aberdeen. They had four children before Mary died in 1888 from Tuberculosis. 

Despite his personal tragedies, Robert’s career seems to have been doing well, and by the 1891 census, he had decided to emigrate to King William’s Town, East Cape Province, South Africa and had become the manager of the Bank of South Africa there. The children were staying with family getting ready to join their father and begin their new life.

The younger boys David Guthrie Smith, and John Ogilvie Smith, and daughter Jessie MacLean Smith were staying with Mary’s sister in Glasgow, while Mather, the oldest of Mary’s children was with Uncle Hugh at Whitehill Farm. The sons from his first marriage seem to have left home and were building their own lives. Their names were Robert Smith, and William Anderson Smith.

Robert stayed in Scotland and qualified as a doctor, and found a medical practice in Assam, India, but unfortunately died there aged just 30.

William Anderson Smith was studying Arts in Aberdeen University, but no trace after that in UK records, until the very last clipping posted here.

There was also an adopted daughter called Elizabeth Anderson, but I can’t find any trace of her, or even who her mother and father might have been.

Of the remaining family, it seems they had an exciting life in South Africa.

The Smith family had not long been in South Africa before the Second Boer War began. Although a relatively short war, from 1899 to 1903  it was quite brutal. Much of it was conducted under guerilla tactics, sieges, and was the first war we saw mention of concentration camps. It was fought using cavalry swords, rifles and bayonets, and cannon. All three of Robert’s sons who were with him immediately signed up to fight.

Mather joined the 1st Battalion, Imperial Light Horse and his record shows he earned four clasps to his medal for seeing action at the relief of  Mafeking, the Transvaal clasp, the Relief of Ladysmith, and Tugela Heights.

He was wounded at Acton Homes 19th January 1900, where 40 Boers were captured, recovered from his wounds then returned to service. He was finally discharged from service 12th October 1900.

When he was staying with his Uncle, before going out to Eastern Cape, he had been studying engineering. When he married Nellie Sweeten, a Cumbrian girl from Penrith in 1911, he was described as being from the Worcester Gold Mining Company, Barberton, so it seems his engineering studies had come to fruition.

Cumberland and North Westmorland Herald 17th June 1911

Arthur Sweeten was publisher of a newspaper in Penrith, and one of his sons was out in South Africa, so perhaps Nellie met Mather in South Africa.