by Renfrewshire Local History Forum The Old Manse in Kilbarchan: Information
the History Spot
from an old document - Part 2 Continued from the August Issue........
John Barbour and Humphrey Barbour are mentioned in the document as formerly owning bleachfi elds adjacent to the manse. Initially it appeared that this John Barbour was John Barbour of Law (d. 1794), the son of Baillie John Barbour (1701- 1770). Both father and son were prosperous linen merchants in Kilbarchan. The document also mentions a house and yard on the east side of the manse garden formerly belonged to the deceased Humphrey Barbour, Merchant in Kilbarchan, and thereafter by Agnes Hair his relict (widow).
However, this presented a bit of an enigma. John of Law had a younger brother, Humphrey, who was born in 1743 and died in 1817. But his wife was Elizabeth Freeland, not Agnes Hair. So who was this Humphrey Barbour named in the document? As he was a merchant who owned a bleachfi eld he was, presumably, another member of the linen Barbour family, but where did he fi t in?
There is no mention of the births or a marriage between Humphrey Barbour and Agnes
Hair in Kilbarchan Parish Records. Were they born and married in the years 1711 to 1740 when Kilbarchan Parish Records are missing? Further research has revealed an alternative primary source which verifi es their existence. A four page pamphlet entitled ‘Answers for Agnes Hair relict of Humphry Barbour merchant in Kilbarchan, defender, to the petition of John Barbour merchant in Kilbarchan and William Blackwood in Oldyeard of Lochquinnoch, pursuers’ was written in 1752. A further connected reference to Humphrey and Agnes appears again in 1766 in Decisions of the Court of Session. In a dispute (Ann Murray v Elizabeth Drew 18.6.1766) concerning the legality of a bill of exchange, mention is made of a legal precedent in 1753 where Humphrey Barbour some days before his death delivered two bills to his wife, Agnes Hair. The Lords had found that these bills were properly conveyed to Agnes Hair and she won her case against John Barbour.
From this evidence it can be concluded that Humphrey Barbour (born and married between 1711 and 1740) was a younger brother of Baillie John Barbour and in 1752 after Humphrey’s death, Baillie John Barbour was disputing the right of his sister-in-law, Agnes Hair’s entitlement to the two bills Humphrey had delivered to his wife.
John Ramsay and later his heir James Ramsay are recorded in the Old Manse document as owners of both the Old Manse and adjacent properties and old bleachfi elds on the north east of the burn from the mid-1800s until the 1930s. The Ramsay family ran a very successful business as fl eshers (butchers). What is now the dentist‘s surgery was their butcher’s shop and the manse garage, behind the premises of Kilbarchan Chiropody, (formerly the Bull Inn) was their slaughter house.
The document also reveals that John Ramsay was a shrewd businessman. When Milliken Estate was sold in the 1880s he purchased all or part of Over Johnstone Farm from the owners of Milliken Estate and in 1888 and 1889 sold off plots for building. By the 1891 Census Nos. 1-11 Easwaldbank and Reston Cottage in St Barchan’s Road had been erected on these plots and were occupied mainly by local weavers and tradesmen. The probable builders were Matthew Blair and John Gardner. They certainly were the builders of No 8 Easwaldbank. This plot was purchased by them jointly in 1889 and in 1891 the building housed a number of families including John Gardner and his family.
The document on the Old Manse is of some signifi cance because it has given clear indication of lines of research into information on little- known residents in the village in the eighteenth century and the building of Easwaldbank. If anyone in Kilbarchan holds any old documents which might similarly add to the village history please contact Helen Calcluth or Russell Young, or e-mail The Advertizer.
Arts Guild Theatre Events for September
Hairy MacLary & Friends Sunday 4th September at 2pm - Tickets: £9 each or Family of 4 £28, Concessions: £7
Anyone with young children will recognise these immortal words instantly as the opening lines of the book ‘Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy’ by Lynley Dodd. Following a Sell-Out run at the Fringe 2010, Hairy Maclary and his friends are springing off the page once again this Summer.
TooREX Friday 9th September at 8pm - Tickets: £15
This full nostalgic concert includes some early singles such as “Deborah”, “One Inch Rock” and “Ride A White Swan” to the big hits “Get It On”, “Telegram Sam”, “Hot Love” and “Children of the Revolution”, to some of the fondly remembered album material.
Children’s Art Classes
Saturday 10th September - Saturday 15th October - 11.30am & 1.30pm. Tickets: £33 for a 6 week block.
Tutored by Collette Brown BSC. PGCE (GTC fully registered). Ages 5 to 8 years attend from 11:30am to 1pm. Ages 9 to 12 years attend from 1.30pm to 3pm. Discount available for families with more than one child attending.
Portrait & Life Drawing Classes
Wednesday 14th September - Wednesday 19th October from 7.30pm - 9.30pm. Tickets: £50, Concessions: £45 Student offer (6 week block).
Tutored by Bill Stewart. Come and learn to draw and paint the human form! Tutor, Models and Studio space provided.
For Beginners to Advanced Artists: Pencil, pastel, charcoal, acrylics…… all techniques taught!
A Night of Musicals Friday 16th September at 7.30pm - Tickets: £16, Concessions: £15
Starring Michael Courtney, this electric production of Musical Showstoppers transports you on a whistle stop tour to the heart of London’s theatre-land visiting over 20 of your favourite musicals from composers such as Lloyd Webber, Boublil and Schonberg.
Tally’s Blood
Friday 16th & Sat 17th September at 7.30pm. Tickets: £9, Concessions: £8. Wallace Bennett Theatre
Set in Scotland and Italy before, during and after World War II, Tally’s Blood follows the growing friendship between a young Italian girl, living with her Aunt and Uncle in their ‘Tally Café’ in the west of Scotland, and a young Scottish boy. Booking advisable.
A Few Good Men Thu 22nd, Fri 23rd & Sat 24th September at 7.30pm. Tickets: £8
A Few Good Men, a play by Aaron Sorkin, was acclaimed on Broadway and was subsequently made into a successful fi lm in 1992. It tells the story of military lawyers at a court-martial who uncover a high-level conspiracy in the course of defending their clients, United States Marines accused of murder.
A Timeless Collection
Wednesday 28th September at 2.30 & 7.30pm. Tickets: £13 . Matinee £10.50, Concessions: £11
Nostalgia just doesn’t come any better! Another sensational new show, based on the original ‘Memories are made of This’ show. From the producers of ‘Memory Lane’, ‘All our Yesterdays’ and ‘Rolling back the Years’. One of the biggest shows of its kind in the UK, taking you on a breathtaking musical journey from the good old days of Music Hall, through the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, and fi nally into the some of the beautiful harmonies of the 1970’s.
Dancing Queen Friday 30th September at 7.30pm - Tickets: £12, Concessions: £10
Re-Live the magic of ABBA with the UK’s number one ABBA-tribute show. Stunning costumes, specially choreographed dance routines and hilarious banter between the girls and guys make Dancing Queen a show which is defi nitely not to be missed. We guarantee you will be dancing in the aisles by the end of the night.
Arts Guild Theatre, Campbell Street, Greenock. Tel 01475 723038 or visit the website at
www.artsguildtheatre.co.uk for further information.
22 |SEPTEMBER 2011 | your LOCAL news every month - in print and online |
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