The death is announced at Shandon of Mr Alexander Duncan, agent of the National Bank of Scotland (Limited), High Street, Edinburgh.
The deceased, who had been in indifferent health for some time, went to Shandon a little over a week ago, and had, it was believed, derived considerable benefit from his stay there. On Monday, however, he became seriously ill, and died about midnight, the cause of death being heart failure.
Mr Duncan began his professional life as a banker in Newburgh, Fife, at the age of seventeen years. He came to Edinburgh more than forty years ago, when he became connected with the Commercial Bank. Some years later he opened the High Street branch of the National Bank, which he has conducted with great success.
He was for many years a well-known figure in the Old Town, by the merchants of which he was held in high regard alike for his business and social qualities. He is survived by three daughters.
GREENOCK TELEGRAPH AND CLYDE SHIPPING GAZETTE 11 AUGUST 1892
CASE OF ELOPEMENT IN THE SHANDON DISTRICT
Some little sensation has been created in the Gareloch district by the elopement of a young working-man’s wife with her cousin.
It appears that a gardener named Thomson and his wife, residing in the Shandon district, were recently visited by Thomas Barr, an engineer, lately returned from China, and who is a cousin of Mrs Thomson’s. While ostensibly making a friendly stay of eight days, Barr succeeded in ingratiating himself with his cousin as to induce her to elope with him on Monday, Mrs Thomson on the day in question being supposed to be on a visit to her father’s house in Helensburgh.
When the fact became know that Barr and Mrs Thomson had disappeared together, inquiry was made at the young man’s parents, who reside in Govan, and the information was elicited that Barr has taken train for London, and the supposition is that Mrs Thomson has gone with him.
Much sympathy is felt for Thomson, who has taken very much to heart the desertion by his wife. The levanting wife leaves a child behind.
The following is a copy of H M Inspector’s report of this school:-
“The present teacher has been in charge only since January, but has already made a marked impression. The school is taught with great firmness, vigour and quietness.
The pupils are uncommonly tidy. The tone is very earnest and healthy, but wanting somewhat in geniality. The results, which included the second standard, were very good indeed.
The reading might be more fluent, but was very distinct. Intelligence should receive increased care, and simultaneous answering be sparingly used.
The singing was uncommonly good and expressive, and was done in two parts, very rare with pupils so young. Industrial work was very creditable.”
I do hope you found the above as enjoyable as I do. It certainly gives us an insight into goings on at the Hydro plus the fact that someone was inspired to write a poem at the Hydro.
Dear blog reader, this is the third part in the series looking at what was the focus in Shandon in a particular week in time. These reports appeared in the first 1880 edition of the Helensburgh News reporting on Christmas night at the Hydro and those people who were staying at the Hydro that Christmas.
HELENSBURGH NEWS 1 JANUARY 1880
SHANDON
CHRISTMAS NIGHT AT THE HYDROPATHIC
On Christmas night there was a large attendance of visitors, and the energetic manager (Mr G R McKenzie) did all in his power to provide for their comfort and amusement. The list of visitors found in another column will show at once the numerous and influential party. The proceedings began in the afternoon with a concert, under the leadership of the Hillhead Musical Association, comprising the following: Mr and Mrs Zavertal, Mr Zavertal senior, Herr Vogt, Miss Munro, Mr John Gardiner, Mr Black and Mrs William Duff. In the evening there was an assembly, which took place in the large hall, tastefully decorated with evergreens and appropriate devices. Altogether a most pleasant day and evening were spent. On the following evening there was a dramatic entertainment, the piece performed being ‘Breach of promise’ in which the following took part: Mr John Mowat junior, Mr F Morrison, Mr W Mollison, Mr T Duff junior, Mr W Duff and Misses Duff.
SHANDON HYDROPATHIC
LIST OF VISITORS
Mr Robert Milne, Misses and Master Milne, Aberdeen; Mr and Mrs Cassels, two children and maid, Glasgow; Mrs Oliphant, Edinburgh; Mr, Mrs and Misses Galt, and maid, Glasgow; Mr Wm Johnston, Paisley; Mr John Cochrane, Glasgow; Mr and Mrs Cunningham, two children and maid, Glasgow; Mr and Mrs Biggam, Airdrie; Miss Smith, Stirling; Mrs Birrell and party of eight, Glasgow; Misses Cunningham and Ritchie, Glasgow; Mr A W and Miss Clark, Glasgow; Mr and Mrs Black, Glasgow; Messrs Riddoch, Partick; Mr and Mrs James and Mr Fred Morrison, Glasgow; Mr and Mrs Sharp, Helensburgh; Mr and Mrs Eric Anderson, Ceylon; Mr and Mrs Robert Crawford, Glasgow; Mr, Mrs and Misses Morrison, Glasgow; Mr Silva White, Mr Steel, Mr Davis, Mr P McLellan, Mr Mitchell, Glasgow; Mr Urquhart, Edinburgh; Mr and Misses Ritchie, Glasgow; Mr and Mrs Henry, Miss and two Messrs Grierson, Glasgow; Mr and Mrs Thomas Duff, Glasgow; Messrs and Misses Duff, Glasgow; Messrs Black, Schuman, Sorley, McDonald and Walker, Glasgow; Messrs Gardener, Elkhurst and Mollison, Glasgow; Mr and Mrs ZAvertal, Mr Zavertal senior, Miss Munro, and Herr Volt, Glasgow; Messrs Cook, Riddle, Jeffrey, Connell and Hatton, Glasgow; Mr John Milne, Aberdeen; Bailie and Mrs Clark, five children and two nurse, Glasgow; Mrs Harvey, Miss Mories, Miss Nicol and Miss Aikman, Glasgow; Mr and Mrs James Leitch and Miss Stewart, Glasgow; Bailie and Mrs Mowat, Miss and two Messrs Mowat, Glasgow; Reverend A P Arnott and Master Arnott, Edinburgh; four Misses Cross, Glasgow; Messrs Hedderwick, Moffat, Arrol, McLean and McCarlie, Glasgow; Mr Stewart, Stirling; Mr George Drummond, Glasgow; Mr Cree, Glasgow; Mr Russell, Paisley; Mr F F Porter, Glasgow; Mr Duncan Smith, two Messrs Smith, Edinburgh.
Shortly after four o’clock yesterday, two lads named Gordon Carnachan, son of Dr Carnachan, and Archibald Campbell, son of Captain Campbell, of the Circassia, each aged about 16, started from Clynder in the lugsail boat Zulu to cross the loch.
When opposite Blairvaddich they were observed by Archibald Donaldson, coachman, Hydropathic, who was returning with his horses from Helensburgh, to proceed to the bow of their boat, which immediately sank bow first, the lads clinging to the mast.
Donaldson at once tied his horses to the rail, and by means of a punt lying on the shore proceeded to the scene of the accident. On his way he was passed by a large dog which had accompanied the boys, swimming to the shore.
On reaching the spot nothing could be found save the caps of the unfortunate lads. As both were particularly intelligent and well known, their sad end has occasioned the utmost gloom on both sides of the loch. Up to nine o’clock boats were engaged trawling for the bodies, but without result.
This is the second part in a series of Shandon hatches, matches and dispatches that have appeared in the newspapers.
I always find such finds very exciting in my own 30 years of family history research and I hope this helps anyone doing similar Shandon-based research.
Please note that for privacy reasons all entries will be 100 years old and over.
(Glossary: inst/instant means of the present month, ult/ultimo means of last month)
Births
St James’s Gazette, 29 July 1884
Sons – Bell, wife of Mr Henry, of Summerhill, Shandon, NB, at Cornwall Terrace, Regent’s Park, NW, July 27
London Evening Standard, 3 March 1888
Bell – March 1, at 5, Cornwall Terrace, Regent’s Park, NW, the wife of Henry Bell, Summerhill, Shandon, of a daughter
Marriages
The Examiner, 14 July 1833
[Also in the York Herald, the Inverness Courier and the Perthshire Courier]
At Blairvaddoch, Charles, second son of the late Sir W Forbes, of Pitsligo, Baronet, to Jemima, daughter of the late Colonel Ronaldson MacDinell, of Glengarry and Clanronald
Westmorland Gazette, 9 November 1833
[Also in the Sun, the Scotsman and the Inverness Courier]
Ay Blairvaddoch, Dumbartonshire, Andrew Bonar, Esq, banker in Edinburgh, to Marcelly, daughter of the late Colonel Ronaldson MacDonnell, of Glengary and Clanronald.
Greenock Advertiser, 9 October 1855
On the 4th instant, by the Rev Dr Buchanan, Mr William Wyse Ritchie, Edinburgh, to Mary, eldest daughter of Duncan Turner, Esq, Lagbuie, Shandon
Illustrated London News, 5 November 1870
On the 27th ult., at Lagbuie, Dumbartonshire, by the Rev Dr Robert Buchanan, John M Easton, CE, Nursingpore, India, to Lucy, daughter of Duncan Turner, Esq. No cards.
Helensburgh News, 25 March 1880
At 20 Park Circus, Glasgow, on the 23rd inst., by the Rev James Smith, Crammond, uncle of the bride, assisted by the Rev Donald MacLeod, DD, William G Wilson, to Ann, youngest daughter of the late Duncan Turner, Lagbuie, Shandon
The Scotsman, 31 December 1908
MacLellan – Guild – At Holy Trinity, Sloane, London, on the 30th current, by the Rev H R [illegible], MA, Wm Turner MacLellan, son of the late [illegible] MacLellan of Blairvaddich, Dumbartonshire, to Mabel, daughter of the late J Wyllie Guild, Glasgow
The Scotsman, 21 June 1917
A wedding was solemnised by the Rev Canon Leighton Crane at Cobham Parish Church, on June 18th, between Captain J Archibald Cowie, HLI, son of the late Archibald Cowie, Esq., of Cardross, and Mrs Cowie, Moffat and Esmee Mary, daughter of Carl Grabowsky, Esq., of Linnburn, Shandon, Dumbartonshire
Deaths
Paisley Herald and Renfrewshire Advertiser, 17 November 1877
[Also appeared in the Dundee Courier]
At Lagbuie, Shandon, on the 15th inst., Duncan Turner, in his 79th year
The Scotsman, 16 February 1878
Died at 4 Grosvenor Terrace, Glasgow, on the 14th inst., Janet MacLellan, in her 71st year, widow of Duncan Turner, Lagbuie, Shandon
Dundee Courier, 12 April 1882
At Ardchapel, Dumbartonshire, on the 8th inst., Georgina Frances Downie Cullen, wife of William Swan, LLD, Emeritus Professor in the University of St Andrews
Dundee Courier, 21 November 1892
[Also in the Morning Post and in the Northern Whig]
Sanders – At Altnacoile, Shandon, on the 17th inst., Bertha, widow of the late Commander C D Sanders, RN, aged 52
The Scotsman, 8 March 1913
Brown – At Bournemouth, on the 7th inst., A R Brown, Summerhill, Shandon, Gareloch, Hon Consul for Japan at Glasgow (and of A R Brown, McFarlane & Co Ltd)
Hampshire Advertiser, 3 March 1917
Brown – on the 26th ult., at Kayama, Bournemouth, Louisa, widow of A R Brown, late of Summerhill, Shandon
The Scotsman, 29 September 1919
Anderson – at Hampstead, London, on the 25th inst., Robert Hood Anderson, eldest son of the late Sir James Anderson, MP, of Blairvaddich, in his 87th year
Paisley Herald and Renfrewshire Advertiser 14 May 1859
In our obituary today many will regret to observe the name of Mr Gunn of Shandon Bank, for a considerable period extensively engaged in business in this city, and who for a number of years has lived in retirement on his property at Shandon Bank, on the Gareloch, near Helensburgh, on the results of his successful industry.
For several years he has been afflicted with an internal complaint, and some three or four weeks ago came to Glasgow to try what the best medical skill could do for him, as his country residence is at considerable distance from that of any practitioner. His disease, however, baffled th best skill and most unwearied care, and on Sabbath last he sunk under the disease.
For many years we have had the pleasure of his acquaintance, and have always found him faithful, warm-hearted, and considerate friend. During his long life he was remarkable for his strict attention to religious duties, and though unable during his last hours to articulate, he was able to give evidence that his end was peace.
Greenock Advertiser 10 May 1859
Deaths
At Buccleuch Street, Glasgow, on the 8th instant, Mr William Gunn, of Shandon Bank, aged 76.
Yesterday, when two engineers were endeavouring to start the engines of a twin-screw cabin cruiser on the Gareloch near the Glasgow Motor Boat Racing Club’s pier at Shandon, one of the engines mis-fired and an explosion occurred, throwing one of the men into the fore-saloon with great violence.
A fire broke out, and the Helensburgh fire brigade extinguished it, but not before considerable damage had been done. The boat, which belonged to Mr R Mitchell, late of Shandon Hydro, was a 60-foot twin-screw cabin cruiser, and the damage is estimated at £1000.
Robert Hill (13) succumbed in the Victoria Infirmary, Helensburgh, yesterday, to injuries sustained through the accidental discharge of a gun in the hands of a comrade.
The boys had been shooting squirrels on Tuesday night and the gun went off, the charge lodging in the right shoulder of Hill who had been walking 10 yards in front. Hill was the son of Robert Hill, Lagbuie, Shandon, a soldier in France.
Shandon People and History 