The story of Scutcher Dan is repeated on
http://talesoftheoak.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/old-greenock-characters-scutcher-dan.html. I've found he drowned 10 May 1865 in the Clyde beside Greenock. The story (true or not) tells of his downfall after he was jilted (no date) by an unnamed woman who went on to marry the landlord of the Eagle Tavern. Does anyone know names and dates?
I'm considering she could have been Wilhelmina Shannon LEITCH, d/o Daniel LEITCH & Agnes TURNER.
On 25 Apr 1838 she married Thomas HARKNESS who was the then landlord of Eagle Inn in Greenock
On 5 Jul 1842 he died, and she came the landlord.
On 2 Jun 1845 she married John PRESTON, and he became the landlord until his death in 1865 (in Paisley Prison - and no I don't know how that came about!).
These PRESTONs are from Haddington, East Lothian. John PRESTON's father is my 3xgtgdfather, also named John PRESTON: he committed suicide on 16 May 1845 due to, it was reported in the
Dundee Courier, "a family discomfort". I'm trying to fill out the story of both the suicide and the goings on at the Eagle to see whether they are connected.
Greenock's John PRESTON was a Lock Maker in New Parish upon marriage. Born 12 May 1820 in Haddington, I cannot find him in 1841.
Can anyone throw any light on this story; find John PRESTON working as a Lock Maker in Greenock; or anything about the LEITCHs?
Howard
