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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Angus (Forfarshire) => Topic started by: Forfarian on Tuesday 25 September 18 21:42 BST (UK)
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Does anyone know anything about G McFarlane, Dundee, who built the railway bridge across the River Spey at Ballindalloch in 1863? What else did he build?
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Forfarian,
Do you know anything else about him i.e. BMD info. as there may be info. hiding in places where he was familiar to?
Annie
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Do you know anything else about him i.e. BMD info. as there may be info. hiding in places where he was familiar to?
Not a scrap. All I know is this https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5919010
I have done a few searches but found nothing so far.
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I did do a wee search & found the link myself earlier...
I also noticed somewhere he's been recorded as C McFarlane but there was too much to trawl through to find it so if this is him with the wrong initial attached there may be other info. with it?
Using the quotes;
"detail of manufacturer's nameplate (C. McFarlane, Engineer, Dundee)"
Is he a possible ancestor or just someone/something of interest?
Annie
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. Alexander Gibb was the engineer, from whose line section book the figure is taken, and the contractor for the ironwork was G. McFarlane, Dundee.
https://canmore.org.uk/site/16004/ballindalloch-railway-bridge
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Scotmum,
That's a help as it certainly adds something as G McFarlane was only the Contractor i.e. Forfarian will now possibly be looking at Alexander Gibb?
Annie
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https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Alexander_Gibb_(1804-1867)
Annie
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I, too, thought it should read 'C'. McFarlane - wonder if it could be a Campbell McFarlane (born South Leith) who in 1861 is shown as 'Iron Moulder' and in 1873 as 'Engineer in Rope Work'.
Annette
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Thank you both. I had found both those links, but they tell me nothing more about the contractor G McFarlane. At the moment I am attempting to be interested in G McFarlane, not Alexander Gibb. He must have had a fairly substantial business to be awarded the contract to build the bridge at Ballindalloch, and to complete it successfully.
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Sorry, previous post crossed with Annette's. Yes, I have seen it interpreted as C McFarlane, but comparing the initial to the 'G' in 'Engineer' and with the 'c' in McFarlane, I think it's G. But it could be 'C'. That's one of the reasons for my curiosity about it.
There's a death of a Campbell McFarlane, 63, in South Leith in 1869, described as engine worker (factory). He was the son of Alexander McFarlane and (probably) Ann Harley, born 1804 in South Leith. In 1851 he was a blacksmith, living in Salamander Street, South Leith. He had a son, also Campbell McFarlane, born South Leith in 1832, who in 1851 was an iron moulder and in 1881 a meal miller at Stobo in Peebles-shire. He died in South Leith in 1892 aged 61.
There is no Campbell McFarlane in Dundee in any census.
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A maybe as he would be able to afford a property?
MACFARLANE GEORGE
Proprietor
DWELLING HOUSE DALLFIELD TERRACE, DUNDEE
1865
VR009800016-
I haven't looked at any census records just looking for potentials but didn't find a 'C' M(a)cFarlane in Dundee
Annie
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I found a G McFarlane, boiler maker, in Dock Street, Dundee in the PO directories in the 1860s. In 1861-1865 his house was 8 Bain Square, then it was 27 Step Row, then 37 Step Row.
But in 1869-70 the PO directory also lists D and G McFarlane, linen manufacturers, office 3 Coupar's Alley, and G McFarlane, of D and G McFarlane, at 37 Step Row.
There's only one George M*f*rl*n* in the census in Dundee of an age to be a contractor in the 1860s: in 1861 George McFarlane, 41, boiler maker, born Coupar Angus, living in Bain Square, Wellgate. In 1871 he is 50, linen manufacturer, born Perth, living at 37 Step Row. His wife Agnes is the last name on that page, but the index shows George, 16 and Louis, 12 on the next page. In 1881 Agnes, annuitant, widowed, was living at Mount Pleasant House, Precinct Street, Coupar Angus with George Jr, Louis, various daughters, her father George Stirton and a grandson. There is a will of George McFarlane, manufacturer, who died on 22 May 1877 at Mount Pleasant, Coupar Angus.
Boiler maker to railway contractor to linen manufacturer is a rather odd progression.
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Re
. found a G McFarlane, boiler maker, in Dock Street, Dundee in the PO directories in the 1860s. In 1861-1865 his house was 8 Bain Square, then it was 27 Step Row, then 37 Step Row.
see
. BOILER AND SHIP TANK MAKER. GEORGE M'FARLANE (Late Foreman to Gourlay Brothers & Co.), respectfully intimates, that he has COMMENCED BUSINESS on his own account in
in 29th August 1856 edition of the Dundee, Pert and Cuoar Advertiser.
. Railway —Mr George M'Farlane, Dock Street, Dundee, has been successful obtaining contract for malleable iron lattice girder bridge
in 26th 21st March 1862 edition of the Dundee, Perth and Cupar Advertiser. Ties in nicely.
. Mr George M'Farlane, of Dock Street Boilerwork, Dundee, to construct a new iron bridge caisson for the entrance to Camperdown Dock,
in 4th June 1872 edition of Dundee Courier.
. STOCK-IN-TRADE AND PLANT FOR SALE. To be Sold, by Public Roup, the Premises, Dock Street, Dundee, on Friday, October, 1873, The Whole STOCK-IN-TRADE and PLANT belonging to George M'Farlane, Boilermaker, Dundee (who is retiring from the Business),
in a few editions of Dundee Courier, September/October 1873.
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Scotland's biggest manufacturer of structural & ornamental ironwork was Walter Macfarlane's Saracen Foundry in Possilpark, Glasgow. Whether this is any connection who knows but he certainly made that kind of lattice-work bridge.
Skoosh.
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Brilliant, thanks, both. I had tried to find the Dundee Courier online, so far without success. In theory it is in the NLS digital gallery but searching there produced zilch.
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Railway — Mr George M'Farlane, Dock Street, Dundee, has been successful obtaining contract for malleable iron lattice girder bridge - in 26th March 1862 edition of the Dundee, Perth and Cupar Advertiser. Ties in nicely.
Murphy's Law. FindMyPast has the editions of 25 March and 28 March 1862, but not 26 March :(
Where did you find the article, scotmum?
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Oops, my eyes mustn't have been fully focused. Should read 21st March.
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Thank you again. I don't think the clothier in Coupar Angus is the same George McFarlane, but he is very likely a relative. Not sure it's very relevant to Ballindalloch Bridge in any case :)
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Great info, Scotsmum ;)
Looks like the business went on after George's retirement (from the snippet you posted above)?:
M'Farlane, Machan, & Co., engineers and boilermakers, Dock Street
Engineering Works, East Dock street
https://digital.nls.uk/directories/browse/archive/87303614?mode=transcription - 1892-3
Monica
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Boilermaker to railway contractor is believable, no boilers, no railways! & without rivetting there would be neither.
Skoosh.
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Boilermaker to railway contractor is believable, no boilers, no railways! & without rivetting there would be neither.
It's from that to linen manufacturer that seems odd.
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http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB8466
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1869...recorded as 'Boiler Maker' which was after the plaque was dated (as Engineer) in 1863 but helps narrow down when he went into the Linen Trade I suppose i.e. between 1869 & 1871 ???
In 1871 he is 50, linen manufacturer, born Perth, living at 37 Step Row"
ninetradesofdundee.co.uk/.../guildry.../1864%20-%201895%20Sederunt%20Book.pdf
Annie
Add... that the link doesn't take you to the page i.e. using quotes...
"George McFarlane Boiler Maker in Dundee for self and posterity and for having" ::)
Maybe a 'one hit wonder' as there seems to be little about his career whilst he "COMMENCED BUSINESS on his own account" in 1856?
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The industrial revolution was boom-time. Scotland's greatest engineer Telford was a stonemason, Baird of Gartsherrie, farmer to iron-master. Tennant's chemical works owner which became ICI, was a farmer. James Cook a Fife millwright set up in Glasgow as a flax-spinner & then cotton-spinner then pioneered sugar-refining machinery & turned to marine-engines. This was the norm, these were the guys who invented modern Scotland.
Skoosh.