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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => West Lothian (Linlithgowshire) => Topic started by: alba99 on Thursday 02 April 09 14:11 BST (UK)
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Does anyone know of the names of companies, locations etc which were engaged in Boot/Shoe making in the 19th Century in Linlithgow. Many of my relatives were involved in this line of work including the tanneries supplying the leather.
I know that the Scout/Guide Halls in Dog Well wynd were previously a shoe factory and the two primary schools in Preston Road were built over the site of the last tannery in Linlithgow
Many Thanks
Les
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Does anyone know of the names of companies, locations etc which were engaged in Boot/Shoe making in the 19th Century in Linlithgow. Many of my relatives were involved in this line of work including the tanneries supplying the leather.
I know that the Scout/Guide Halls in Dog Well wynd were previously a shoe factory and the two primary schools in Preston Road were built over the site of the last tannery in Linlithgow
Many Thanks
Les
Hi, Les.
The best source for the information you want would be the Valuation Rolls which started in 1855 and there are annual copies at the West Lothian Local History Library. The first six years are on film and the remainder in large bound books. Either way it would be a long task reading through them.
However, I've been able to extract the number of footwear workers there were in the town in 1851, 1881 and 1901 which may be of interest:
1851
54 shoemakers
2 shoe makers
0 bootmakers
0 boot makers
1881
329 shoemakers
1 shoe maker
5 boot makers
5 bootmakers
1901
72 shoemakers
5 shoe makers
4 boot makers
8 bootmakers
The 1895 25" map shows three tanneries named as such - two on the north side of High Street between the street and the loch. The other, a much larger concern on the south side of the town between the railway and the canal, was named as Rivalds Green Tan Works
The factory in Dog Well Wynd belonged to Dougal & Steel but the map shows no tanneries on Preston Road. What were there in 1895 were the Gowan Stank Glue Works (an appropriate name?) and the slaughterhouse.
The 1893-94 Business Directory of Linlithgowshire lists the following:
Boot and Shoe Makers
(those marked * are wholesale)
George Aitken, 228 High St
Geo. Brotherston, Muiravonside
*Dougal & Steel, Dog Well Wynd
*W.&G. Dougal, 210 High St
*David Duncan, 264 High St
John Eccles, Muiravonside
*Thomas Glen, 126 High St
Geo. Henderson, 56 High St
Hannah Hutton, 98 High St
*Wm. Little, 71 High St
*J.&W. M'Alpine, 233 High St
*Wm. Mack, 238 High St
*Alex. M. Meek, 162 High St
*A. Morrison & Sons, 292 High St
Jas. Paterson, 197 High St
David Rattray, 56 High St
Robert Taylor, 36 High St
Curriers, Tanners and Leather Merchants
Thomas Boyd, 241 High St
P.&A.M. Callender, 338 High St
A. Hardie & Sons, 232 High St
Alex. Meek, 162 High St
Morrison & Sons, 296 High St
Skinners
Thos. Boyd, 241 High St
T. Nimmo & Co., Rivalds Green
I hope this is of some use, Les, but, I repeat, the best place for your research is the Local History Library - if you can get there, of course.
Regards,
Tom
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Thanks Tom,
I didn't expect such a wealth of info so quickly.
Morrisons : I did half suspect that it would be one of the shoemakers. I used to love going into their shop when I was young. I can still recall the smell of polished leather.
Gowan's glue factory : My Uncle worked there until it closed, I always thought it started life as a tannery and finished up making glue after the demise of shoemaking.
Rivaldsgreen : was Hardie's lemonade factory and a timber merchants when I was growing up : now the BT Telephone exchange and some new flats.
I will need to get over to Blackburn ( now reside in stirlingshire) at some point and do more researching.
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I too am looking for information on Shoe and bootmakers in Linlithgow in the 1800s. Several census entries show my ancestors- Vine- as shoemakers in High Street and I see that in 1841 apart from general and agricultural labourers and cotton trade workers showmakers were the most numerous group of workers in the town.
Sue
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Folks, I think the main Bootmakers in Linlithgow were Morrison's, Callenders & Meek's (my own lot), I believe they used to combine to service the Army Contract but when this went elsewhere it was something of a disaster for the town....Skoosh.
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Hi
My ancestor was Mary Gardner who married Alexander Miller Meek in 1866 in Linlithgow. In the 1881 census Alexander was 37 years old, master shoemaker in High Street Linlithgow, employing 10 men and 2 boys. He was also a councillor. Alexander died in 1916 in Linlithgow.
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Straddie, we have the same gt'gt' grandfather, my gt'g'father George was brother to Alexander, he married a Maggie Clydesdale from Bo'Ness, how far back have you managed to get?......Skoosh.
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Hi Skoosh
As my ancestor was Mary Gardner, the only information I have on Alexander was his parents were William Meek who married Mary Miller in 1839 and that they both died on the same day in May 1877 in High Street, Linlithgow
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Straddie, so you're descended from Mary Gardner, who presumably married? twice, William Meek's grandparents were William Meek & Isabella Watson, she was probably from Lesmahagow, died Linlithgow, he's my brick wall! died before registration. the family lived all over theplace so difficult to find his origins. Mary Miller was from Haddington, she and William Meek both died on the same day (stone in St'Michaels) The loss of the army/navy contract was a big blow to the town.
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Hi Skoosh
Mary Gardner b 10th Jan 1843 in Linlithgow was the daughter of Robert Gardner b 1810 in Muiravonside and Jean Bird b 1811 in Linlithgow. Mary married Alexander Miller Meek in 1866 she died at the age of 85 in 1927 at Roseland Cottage, 14 Royal Terrace, Linlithgow. She is buried in the Linlithgow cemetery. There is a headstone, it states "In memory of Alexander Miller Meek died 26th September, 1916 aged 73 and his wife Mary Gardner who died 24th April 1927 aged 85 and daughter, Mary Miller Meek who died 1st September 1958
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Straddie, I've sent you a PM.....Skoosh.
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I had two families in Linlithgow making with the shoes,Stein/Steens,some were tanners and Pate/Peats all on High Street.I have asked Skoosh this question but we are both stumped or not recovered fro New Year.Does anyone know if a PRESS PRINTER was anything to do with shoemaking.
George.
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In a previous post I was looking for some info on my ancestor George Anderson, a publican and horse hirer in Linlithgow. I obtained his will from 1877 and it contains details of a number of shoemakers in the area who owed him money at the time of death.
Here are the names mentioned, the money owed and the value in today's money.
William Hutton, Shoemerchant Linlithgow - £1 13s 6d - £80.92
James Watt, Shoemerchant Linlithgow - 1 7 6 - 66.43
William Liddle, Shoemerchant Linlithgow - 2 5 6 - 109.91
Robert Martin, Shoemaker, Linlithgow - 2 5 6 - 109.61
If any descendants want to square me up after all these years let me know?
Visa, Delta or Paypal accepted.
;)
Hope this is of interest.
AG
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Oops my GGG granfather's daughter Marion married a Martin in Linlithgow,Alan.If I find their descendents I will drop them a reminder ;D
George.
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In a previous post I was looking for some info on my ancestor George Anderson, a publican and horse hirer in Linlithgow. I obtained his will from 1877 and it contains details of a number of shoemakers in the area who owed him money at the time of death.
Here are the names mentioned, the money owed and the value in today's money.
William Hutton, Shoemerchant Linlithgow - £1 13s 6d - £80.92
James Watt, Shoemerchant Linlithgow - 1 7 6 - 66.43
William Liddle, Shoemerchant Linlithgow - 2 5 6 - 109.91
Robert Martin, Shoemaker, Linlithgow - 2 5 6 - 109.61
If any descendants want to square me up after all these years let me know?
Visa, Delta or Paypal accepted.
;)
Hope this is of interest.
AG
or do you mean there is interest (to pay)
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My great-great grandfather was William Meek who married Mary Millar. There son, Alexander, carried on the family business. The family house is still there, 14 Royal Terrace, and it remained in the family for many years. Check it out on google maps. it is the pretty stone cottage set back from the road with a big yellow van parked in front of it. The last person in my direct line to die in Linlithgow was Miss Gladys Meek who was my grandfather's (another Alexander Meek) cousin. She taught French at Linlithgow Academy. My grandfather went to Liverpool, married an Irish girl called Edith Montgomery from Cookstown, and ran a big fruit and vegetable merchants, Bellis and Meek. He had two children, Jack and Rhona. Jack was a Professor at Liverpool University and had 2 daughters, Rhona married John Brown, and had one daughter - me - in New Zealand. Therefore the family name has died out in this line of the family
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We have the same g't, g't, grandfather tormohun. George was my g't, grandfather. I think Alexander was the Provost. How's Trix?
Skoosh.
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tormohun,
If you post twice more you will be able to send Skoosh a Personal message,
cheers,
Billy.
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I have ordered some newspaper articles about the Meek family from West Lothian library service. They are all from this century. Do you have any info on how they built up the tannery business? Must have started from nothing when William came from Lesmahagow. William seems to have stayed in the paper trade, and it looks like Alexander was the first one in the shoe trade
The 1861 census has him as born in 1797, then the 1871 census has him born 1817 - have you seen any actual documents? Have they read the old writing incorrectly? What were the circumstances of the deaths of William and Mary?
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tormohun, William & Mary both died on the same day of different things, (I have the details) their stone is in St Michael's, Linlithgow.
I don't think the Meek's had a tannery, they were bootmakers. Linlithgow was a centre of bootmaking. William's father, also William, was a baker in Old Monkland but never came from there, his wife Isabel Watson was from Lesmahagow which was where there oldest was born .
Skoosh.
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I found this on Rootschat
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?action=printpage;topic=372610.0
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Have found an ordnance survey map 1856 showing Roseland Cottage. It is still there looking as beautiful as ever
http://maps.nls.uk/townplans/view/?sid=74416124&mid=linlithgow
And it is a listed buiding
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tormohun, I've sent you a PM. Skoosh.
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Straddie, a bit of movement on the origin of the William Meek who married Isabella Watson. He was the son of George Meek, miller in Whitburn East mill & Margaret Calder, both were apparently born in Muiravondale, Stirlingshire, where there were a few mills, presumably also the son of a miller as this trade tended to run in families.
Bests,
Skoosh.
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Hi, I have just found this topic about Linlithgow Shoemakers/Boot makers of Linlithgow, on my 5Xs gt grandfather George Douglases Marriage Certificate it states that he was a Cordiner in Linlithgow in 1706, his son James Douglas became a member of the Incorporated Shoemakers of Linlithgow in 1760.
Sholto.
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Hi tormohun from new Zealand. My mother spoke of you. She was born Ethel Jean Gibb Meek in Liverpool in 1918 and died only recently 2013. I believe we have the same great grandfather, Alexander Meek, a boot maker from Linlithgow. My grandfather, John, left Linlithgow for Liverpool, possibly before your grandfather who was several years younger. Grandfather John seemed to set himself up virtually immediately with a Walter Bellis and formed Bellis and Meek, wholesale fruit and veg. This company was in existence by 1900.
I am looking into the Meek family history but have so many gaps
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Fruitveg, if you make another couple of posts (about anything) I can send you a PM.
Skoosh.
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my info does not go back too far. As far as I know it was solely a bootmakers in Linlithgow. I believe they made a lot of boots for men in the cavalry and that this trade dwindled towards the end of the 19th century. My great grandfather, Alexander Millar Meek had 6 children but did any of them continue in the boot and shoe business. He and Mary had 3 boys and 3 girls. 2 of the boys John(my grandfather) and Alexander (grandfather of Tormohun!) left Linlithgow for Liverpool. The eldest boy was William. Did he stay and continue in the trade?
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My gt g'father was Alexander's brother George. Alexander was the provost & sat on the bench as a magistrate where his own grandfather, a baker in Bathgate, appeared on a poaching charge & was fined £10, a lot of money!
Around 1880 Linlithgow lost the army/navy? contract which hit the town badly. George Meek moved to Galashiels then Queensferry & finally Glasgow, my cousin has a Meek website & would like me to send you his email number, once you have made 3 posts I can PM this to you as email numbers are not allowed on the threads.
Bests,
Skoosh.
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@ fruitveg, there was a Willie Meek had a shoe-shop in Linlithgow, North side of the High Street if I remember aright! Morrison's also had a shoe-shop on the south side.
Skoosh.
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Fruitveg and Skoosh.
Some more information for you.
As you say, Alexander Miller Meek had six children.
William 1867-1939, married Marion (Minnie) More, and had four children themselves. William did carry on the boot manufacturing business. He joined the Linlithgow Town Council, became a magistrate, and then Provost of Linlithgow. His son William carried on the business.
Jane Bird (1870-1951) married Andrew Grierson, and had three children. Andrew became town clerk of Edinburgh and was knighted, so Jane became Lady Grierson.
John (1872-1952), married Isabella Moffatt, and with his brother Alexander and Walter Bellis founded Bellis and Meek. I believe they had two children.
Mary Miller (1876-1958) did not marry. She lived at Rosland Cottage and then Edinburgh.
Alice (1878-1955) married Archibald Blackadder, motor engineer, They did not have any children. Alice died at Rosland Cottage.
Alexander (1883-?), as you know, married Edith Montgomery. I am aware, I think, of three children, John, Rhona and Ethel, but have no further details.
I hope this helps to fill some gaps.
Bill66
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Welcome to Rootschat Bill! ;D
Skoosh.
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Skoosh,
Thanks. Thought it was about time... :D
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So our great grandfathers were brothers. My great grandfather, Alexander did pass on his boot manufacturing business to his eldest son, William. William married Meenie and had a son, Alexander and 2 daughters on the 1901 census.
Of the 2 other sons who came to Liverpool (where I was born and brought up) it seems the Meek name has died out. My grandfather, John had 4 children, just 1 being a boy, my uncle Ken. Ken married and had 2 daughters.
Information on the third son has been given by Tormohun from New Zealand whose email I would welcome if poss.
Thanks to Bill66 who knows about Bellis and Meek. My interest is knowing why my grandfather came to Liverpool and who was Walter Bellis
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Fruitveg,
See this link http://www.myprimitivemethodists.org.uk/page/walter_james_bellis_jp
Is this Walter? I would guess they came to Liverpool because it was the biggest port in the UK at that time.
Bill66
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Fruitveg,
I have sent you a personal message.
Bill66
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Bill66. Wow indeed that must be the Walter Bellis as I thought he was a JP. Many thanks. When John Meek came to Liverpool (for the reason you give, no doubt) he met and married Isabella Moffat who was from Haiti but of British parentage. They had two children, Elise and Kenneth. Sadly Isabella died around 1915 of 'consumption' and my grandfather remarried in 1917 and had two daughters with his new (and much younger) wife, Ethel.
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Hi. I am booked to go to Linlithgow in a few weeks. Can anyone help with information so I make the most of my trip. Do we know which church the Meeks went to and so where they are buried?
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The Meek family are buried at St Michael's Parish Church which is attached to the Palace, that doesn't necessarily mean that they attended it. They might have joined the Free Church but as my own g'father was an elder in Springburn Parish Church, The Kirk seems most likely. Their grave-stones are on the south side of the church. I believe there are some paintings of Provosts but whether Provost Meek is there, I dunno.
Skoosh.
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Alexander and his wife and sister Mary are buried at Linlithgow Cemetery. A gravestone marks the spot. Alexander attended the United Free Church. His premises were at 160-162, High Street, Linlithgow, and his house, which still stands, Rosland Cottage, is at 14, Royal Terrace, Linlithgow.
His son William is also buried at Linlithgow Cemetery. It is likely that he was a member of St Michael's Church.
As Skoosh says, Alexander's parents, William and Mary, who died on the same day in 1877, were buried in St Michael's Churchyard, by Linlithgow Palace. A gravestone marks the spot.
Hope this helps.
Bill66