A H RY OF OUR FI iii.;^-^7t i.i "• -■>"-" ^"1 JOHN RANKIN p i'. HE CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Cornell University Library HE945.P77 R21 1921 olln '3 1924 030 117 885 The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/cletails/cu31924030117885 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM PRINTED FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM BEING SOME ACCOUNT OF THE FIRM OF .POLLOK, GILMOUR AND CO. AND ITS OFFSHOOTS AND CONNECTIONS 1804 — 1920 BY JOHN RANKIN SECOND EDITION, REVISED LIVERPOOL HENRY YOUNG & SONS, LIMITED 1921 TO MY WIFE I DEDICATE THIS MY ONLY ATTEMPT AT BOOK-MAKING CONTENTS Introduction Chapter I : Pollok, Gilmour & Co., Glasgow ... John and Arthur PoUok Allan Gilmour senior George Sheriff Chapter II Gilmour, Rankin & Co., Miramichi Alexander Rankin James Gilmour Richard Hutchison Chapter III Robert Rankin & Co., St. John ... Robert Rankin Sir James Rankin, Bart John PoUok junior, and George Young Chapter IV : Allan Gilmour & Co., Quebec AUan Gilmour Sir John Gilmour, Bart John Gilmour, David Gilmour, James Gilmour Page I 12 29 39 47 49 55 61 62 64 70 82 86 90 95 100 103 Chapter V : William Ritchie & Co., Montreal (subsequently Gilmour and Co.) 106 William Ritchie no Allan Gilmour of Ottawa 113 Chapter VI John Young & Co., Hamilton ... 121 CONTENTS Page Chapter VII : Arthur Ritchie & Co., Dalhousie 122 Chapter VIII : Ferguson, Rankin & Co., Bathurst 124 Francis Ferguson, John Ferguson 127 Chapter IX : Rankin, Gihnour & Co., Liverpool (now Rankin, Gilmour and Co., Ltd.) 130 Robert Rankin II I39 John Rankin I43 Chapter X : Hoghton, Rankin & Co., New Orleans ; Pollok, Hoghton and Co., Mobile i47 George William Hoghton 132 James A. Bryson ... i59 Chapter XI : Gilmour, Rankin, Strang & Co 163 William Strang 165 Chapter XII : Characteristics 170 Chapter XIII : Some Connections of the Firm : — John H. Pollok and WUliam Pollok, Calcutta ; and certain other Sons of Titwood, Mearns ; also Hutchison and Jarvie, and Hutchison and Pollok, Ltd 179 James Rankin of Miramichi 182 Alexander Rankin junior 185 Duncan Gibb 187 Chapter XIV : Ships and Captains 192 CONTENTS Chapter XV : Mr. Hill's Reminiscences Chapter XVI : Retrospective and Discursive : — §1 . Finance and Financial Crises §2. Early methods of Distribution §3. Curtailment of Foreign Connections ... . §4. Some Personal Notes §5. Instances of Long Service §6. Reminiscences of Commercial Liverpool Sixty Years Ago Conclusion I. II. III. IV. V. Appendices : Impressions of an Employee abroad in the Sixties Remarks by Allan Gilmour senior and junior, and William Ritchie, on a Tour from Saint John, N.B., through the United States to Quebec, in Canada, in the year 1828 The Great Fire at Miramichi, N.B., 7th October, 1823 The Dunlop Volunteers, 1801 Family Histories : — The Pollolcs The Gilmours . . . The Ritchies The Rankins The Fergusons ... Documents relating to the Ferguson Estate Letter from Mr. Davie, successor to John Laird and Sons, Port Glasgow VII. Type of Letters to Ship Captains, 1838 VIII. Particulars of War Service IX. Memorabilia VI Page 222 231 242 244 254 263 267 278 285 288 296 299 302 303 304 304 305 306 3" 316 318 323 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM INTRODUCTION TO THE SECOND EDITION The book is an attempt to collect some memorials of the co-partnerships of the firm of Pollok, Gilmour & Co., and its numerous connections and offshoots. The Company has witnessed the many changes and developments of nearly 120 years, among which are the complete transformation of the conditions of commerce which has been brought about by the introduction of the steamboat, the replacement of the stage-coach by the railway, the reduction of the Atlantic passage from four weeks or more to little over four days, the marvellous acceleration of communications produced by these changes, as well as by the introduction of the telegraph, the telephone, the submarine cable, the motor, the aeroplane, the submarine, the seaplane, and much else. The story of a firm which has had to adapt itself to all these changes is worth telling, especially if I could hope to trace in detaU the alterations in business methods which they involved. 2 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM Unfortunately the task is undertaken under manifold difficulties. The original partners have long since passed' away, as have also their imme- diate successors, and loquacity was not a weakness of either generation. Consequently much that might have been conveyed from father to son has been lost, and the founders of the firms have left few written records behind them. I have always felt an interest in the subject, and regret not having taken fuller advantage of the opportunities which were — ^but are no longer — at my disposal. Much that I did hear I have forgotten, and I can only put together loose notes of what information is yet available. The pity is that the writing was not undertaken some thirty years ago, when the memory -of some predecessor could have furnished greater stores. If fully told I believe the firm's career would furnish one of the romances of commerce. Of the men who led the concerns I have heard more than of the actual working and details of their business, for they were stirring men with well-marked characters. Hence my pen is more readily attracted to gossip and the discussion of individuals than to the analysis of business methods. It is a fault I fear I am unable to correct, for my fixed material is not great. It is, however, enhanced by the records of two lawsuits — going to law was ever a luxury dear to our Scottish forefathers, and to have what was termed " a guid gauning " law INTRODUCTION 3 plea was only a sign of their respectability, and lent them prestige, I have also some partnership dates and other particulars kindly furnished by Messrs. A. & G. Young, who under that title, or until 1872 as G. & A. Young, were ever our Scottish solicitors. In these circumstances the method I have followed has been, in successive chapters, to sketch briefly the history of the parent firm and of each of its offshoots in chronological order; following each sketch I have given some account of the principal members of each firm. Where, as has often happened, the same man has belonged to more than one of the firms, I have written about him in connection with the firm which he founded, or with which he was most closely associated. I have added a chapter on ships »and captains, and in a chapter headed ' Retro- spective and Discursive ' have gathered up sundry memories and reflections which had not found a place elsewhere. Finally, I have, in part, printed in an appendix an interesting narrative of a business tour in America made by Allan Gilmour senior in 1828-9. It may be convenient at the outset to avoid •confusion by setting out the names of all the allied firms. The original firm was : — PoUok, Gilmour & Co., Glasgow. 4 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM The others were : — Arthur PoUok & Co. (existed previously, but continued on), Grangemouth, Scotland. Gilmour, Rankin & Co., Miramichi, New Brunswick. Robert Rankin & Co., St. John, New Brunswick. Allan Gilmour & Co., Quebec. William Ritchie & Co. (afterwards Gilmour and Co.), Montreal, Canada. Gilmour & Co., Ottawa, Canada. J. Young & Co., Hamilton, Canada. Arthur Ritchie & Co., Restigouche, New Bruns-^ wick. Ferguson, Rankin & Co., Bathurst, New Bruns- wick. Rankin, Gilmour & Co. (now Rankin, Gilmour and Co., Ltd.), Liverpool. Hoghton, Rankin & Co., New Orleans, U.S.A. PoUok, Hoghton & Co., Mobile, U.S.A. John & William PoUok, Calcutta. Gilmour, Rankin, Strang & Co., London. One of the most remarkable features in the history of the firm is that for two generations almost all the partners, both of the parent firm and of its branches, came from the same parish, where they had been taught by the same schoolmaster and preached to by the same minister. Some account of this background to the film's history seems, appropriate to this place. INTRODUCTION 5 The parish of Mearns in Renfrewshire is about eight miles from Glasgow, in undulating country and with good soil ; yet even to-day it is untouched b)' the railway. It is and was peopled by small lairds and tenant-farmers with their dependants, and the few craftsmen — smith, carpenter, and the rest who are to be found in every village. In the district, a century ago, there were to be found families of Polloks, Gilmours, Rankins, Ritchies and Hutchisons, long planted in this and the neighbouring parishes, and linked together by many intermarriages, and by the universal clannishness of Scottish districts. They were a long-living, shrewd, hard-headed, hard- working, thrifty race, attending assiduously to their own business, and little disturbed by what passed in the growing city near-by, or in the greater world beyond. But when one or two of them went out into the world and began to prosper, it was natural that they should find places for cousins and nephews and brothers ; and so it was that in the first half of the century men from the Mearns were spread out in the New World, organising new outlets for business, and starting to make fortunes for themselves, with which they came back to buy estates in their native land, with the homing instinct of the Scot. The chief centre of population in the Mearns was the village or hamlet called The Newton, which lay in a comer of the parish, at a junction of roads. To-day, and I do not think there has been much 6 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM change; it consists of a modest inn, a post-office, a branch of a Glasgow bank, open for a few hours in the week, a joiner's shop, a smithy, a small purveyor's shop, and a few detached buildings. The village contains neither the church nor the school. These lay some quarter of a mile nearer the centre of the parish, and no doubt represent the site of the ' old town ' of the Mearns, before The Newton grew up by the cross-roads. The church is a square-built, quaint, rather ugly building, like most Scottish churches. Here for thirty-five or forty years the parishioners enjoyed the ministrations of the Rev. Mr. McKellar. His congregation was no doubt a critical one, and consisted not only of the heads of houses and all their families, but ' the man-servant and the maid- servant ' who faithfully attended every ' session of worship.' All arrived early — ^the women-folk decorously taking their places forthwith in the ' Heritor's Pew ' attached to their farm ; while the men discussed parish affairs, and the state of crops and markets, outside the church door until they were assured the minister had ascended the pulpit stairs and awaited them. Mr. McKellar was a courtly, cultivated gentleman, and his interests did not cease with his clerical duties. Especially was he in close sympathy and touch with the adjacent parish school, and with its master Mr. Jackson. INTRODUCTION 7 To the latter should be assigned a prominent place in this history, for though he was not of the firm, yet had it not been for him there would probably have been no justification for this writing. To him came the hopefuls, of the parish, and not a few were attracted from adjoining parishes. Tall, erect, an iron-grey man, he was a disciplinarian, yet had something in his manner that attracted. He was a student of character as weU as of books and of his art, and it was his work on the crude material which furnished the greater number of the striking characters, that built up the early fortunes of the firm of PoUok, Gilmour & Co. and its branches. He- may be said to have moulded two generations of the firm. Among those whose work and character will be subsequently described, he trained, wholly or in part, Allan Gilmour senior, John PoUok, Arthur PoUok (the original partners of the firm), James Gilmour, Alexander Rankin, Allan Gilmour junior, Robert Rankin, John Rankin, William Ritchie, Arthur Ritchie, Robert Ritchie, Richard Hutchison, James, John, and David Gilmour (A. G. junior's brothers). He was a schoolmaster of the excellent type that Scotland then produced for her village schools, a scholar himself, with an apt faculty for imparting knowledge to others. While he instilled into his pupils the three R's and dipped with them into the classics, he was not one to spare the rod and spoil the child. I have heard my uncle tell of 8 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM the skill with which he could throw the " tawse ' from one end of the* class-room to the other, to alight with unfaiUng accuracy before the nose of the offending boy ; then followed, in injured tones, the order, ' Bring those tawse here, sir ' — ^an order to be obeyed not without apprehension. Almost under the shadow of his old school there lived, until 1914, Mr. James PoUok, Laird of Blackhouse and several other adjoining properties —a fine old Scottish gentleman, modest about his age as about all else, he did confess with a twinkle to being over eighty. As a boy he knew several of those who contributed their lives to P., G. and Co.„ and was at school with James Gilmour. Of his old schoolmaster, Mr. Jackson, he writes, 'As a teacher he was exceedingly competent ; was well up in all the branches of education of his day, including the classics ; and he had that magnetic influence which does more to bring boys on than severity.' , My resources do not enable me to chronicle the achievements of those whom he sent to the University. Doubtless there were several, for the custom of Scottish country life of that period enacted that every ' lad of parts ' should be given his chance to bring credit on the family, even though his parents had to stint themselves, and his brothers bide at the plough-tail all their lives. It was a law the chief merit of which lay in the splendid sacrifices which its faithful fulfilment involved: its vital INTRODUCTION 9 principle, well-meaning but misguided philanthropy is now endeavouring to dole out of existence. I have put Mr. Jackson and his work in the forefront of my story because it would ill become a Scotchman, in telling how a group of country-bred youths built up a great business, to forget the village schoolmaster who trained them. It is fitting, perhaps, that the following letter from one of Glasgow's leading shipowners should find a place in the introduction to the second edition of this book, for Mr. Nathaniel Dunlop was a contemporary of many of the men who appear in this history, and as eminently a St. Lawrence and British North America man, was competent to pass an opinion on them. ShieldhiU, Big^r, N.B., 20th May, igog. Dear Mr. Rankin, I have completed the reading of the History of your firm, and now have the pleasure of returning the book to its owner. r gave the leisure of the whole time since it came, to its perosal', and I think I may claim to have had more enjoyment in it than any other reader, apart from yourselves, is likely to have had. This because, when I entered business over 60 years ago, I was placed in the midst of your firm's business activities ; I was acquainted with some of its leading members, and familiar, too, with much of its history. It has been like living again through that wonderful period of my young life when so many great chiefs of industry filled the ground around, and the :future was full of promise. 10 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM I have nothing really to add to or take away from the story you have told. It was a wonderful time when men from Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, and Argyllshire— all mostly of the same stock— men with big heads, full of courage and enterprise, abounding energy, and the highest integrity, went out into the fields of foreign trade that were waiting to be opened up, founded great industries, and spread themselves out in every direction. Among these were not only those of whom you write — the Gihnours, PoUoks, and Rankins, with their immediate relatives and friends— but there were the Allans, who founded the business with which I am connected, estab- lishing themselves in Canada as pioneers ; the Gillespies from this neighbourhood, who founded the Gillespie-Moffat firms of London and Canada, and the timber-trading houses of" Quebec which bore their name. There were the Patersons and the Greenshields from Ayrshire, the Smiths and Workmans who first in Ireland opened up the Unen trade, and later became great warehousemen and shipowners in Glasgow, founding the City Line of saiUng ships and steamers to India ; the Bumses, who became coasting and foreign steamship owners associated with the Cunards in the great Atlantic Line ; the McKenzies, McKinnons, and Halls from Kintyre, who founded the British India Co. ; the Kidstons, shipowners and iron merchants, and a host of minor men filling up the intervening spaces in trade- — men of individuality and force.. I was, as I have said, plunged more than 60 years ago into the heart of this work, and had an opportimity, afforded to few, of seeing the rise, the culmination, and alas, the setting of some of these honoured names. I think you fairly well describe- the characteristics of the Glasgow house of your old firm. I did not expect that the bit of temper which distinguished the Gilmour lot had been noticed by any but myself. The ' Allan ' of my time sometimes exhibited it, but he had it in beautiful subjection in dealing with his fellows. He was a lovely character in business, though perhaps severe in his private dislikes. INTRODUCTION II George Sheriff, who has not stood high in your esteem for initiative and ability, had good parts, but was completely overshadowed by Mr. Gilmour, and any force that might be native to him had no scope. He looked after the sale of the timber, and when P., G. & Co. resolved to wind up the business he was too old to strike out afresh for himself. His eldest son — one of the big family — and the partner he took into business with him to carry on the timber agency, had not the opportunity to make their mark : times had changed. Speaking of temper, I mentioned at my club to-day, at lunch, to an old legal friend who was near me, that I was reading with interest your book and the history of P., G. & Co., when he exclaimed, ' It is curious ; I have to-day been engaged on a question relating to the Eaglesham Estates of a later generation of the Gilmours of Eaglesham,' and without a word from me he said, ' they have a bit of the temper for which the old folk were distinguished.' Such incidents as these are very curious. It is also, as you say, strange tp think that your firm, so closely associated with Canada in its early history, should be entirely separated from it now. But many similar changes could be pointed to. To me the pleasure of having lived among and known so many of these fine old men is great indeed. But, alas, it is chastened by the thought how completely many of them have passed away. You have done a good service in ^yriting the history of your firm, and your trade review, which is at once accurate and comprehensive, is excellent. What a fine example some of your grand old men have set to the younger generation. With kindest regards. Believe me. Yours sincerely. Nathaniel Dunlop. John Rankin, Esq., 67, South John Street, Liverpool. CHAPTER I POLLOK. GILMOUR and CO. Opened 1804 Closed 31 December, 1873 John and Arthur PoUok, brothers, and Allan 'Gilmour (to avoid confusion hereafter referred to as Allan Gilmour senior) passed their boyhood's days together at the Mearns school, in the eighties and early nineties of the eighteenth century. To judge by his correspondence, Allan Gilmour senior may not have been as proficient, or at any rate not as diligent, a pupil as the PoUoks. For some time thereafter they seem to have gone on different ways. Allan Gilmour senior carried on a small timber business in the Mearns, but when we next meet him in 1804, he has blossomed into a timber merchant, trading in Glasgow, and there is some ground for supposing that before this date he had made a trip to Norway, and had conceived the idea of importing timber thence. Meanwhile the PoUoks seem to have been bound apprentices to their uncle in Glasgow, who, on the expiry of their indentures, sold the business to them. It would appear that already before this date POLLOK, GILMOUR AND CO. 13 the PoUoks, or Arthur PoUok alone, had done some timber business at Grangemouth. Certainly, after the firm of P., G. & Co. was founded at Glasgow, a business was for many years continued at Grangemouth under the style of Arthur Pollok & Co. Perhaps it was through their mutual interest in the timber trade that the PoUoks were led to. renew their old connection with their schoolfellow, Allan Gilmour senior. In 1804, Allan Gilmour being then twenty- nine, John Pollok twenty-six, and Arthur Pollok twenty-four, the three young men from the Mearns joined in co-partnership as Pollok, Gilmour & Co. Their office was at 119 Stockwell (now StockweU Street), Glasgow, and here it remained until in 1824 they removed to 6 (afterwards renumbered 19) Union Street. This property, consisting of the street flat and sunk storey with cellars, was pur- chased by the Company, and held until its re-sale, after the dissolution of the firm in 1874. It is now occupied by a branch of the British Linen Company's Bank. Some years ago Mr. William Ritchie — ^the heir of Mr. William Ritchie herein named — ^lent me, for transcription, a copy of the first articles of partnership of Pollok, Gilmour & Co. The articles^ read : — John and Arthur Pollok, Grocers in Glasgow, and Allan Gilmour, Timber Merchant there, having agreed to> 14 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM Trade in Company, at Glasgow under the Firm of Pollok, Gilmour & Co., and at Grangemouth under the Firm of Arthur Pollok & Co., here bind themselves to observe the following resolutions, viz. : — 1st. That their Joint Stock shall amount to Three Thousand Pounds, One Thousand of which to be advanced by J. Pollok, One Thousand by A. Pollok, and One Thousand by A. Gilmour, and on no account shall any of them draw out any part of their stock, but if it is thought advantageous, they shall have it in their power to advance their Stock equally to whatever sum they may find convenient. 2nd. That a proper Sett of Books shall be kept (of which Ihis is Day Book A/c) in which shall be narrated every Transaction of the Concern, and the Said Books shall be regularly Balanced on the 31st day of December annually. 3rd. That they shall all pay their whole attention to this business, and none of them shall be concerned in any other, either directly or indirectly, without the consent of the other Partners, and they shall receive equal Shares of the Profit, or sustain equal proportion of the Loss that may arise from their deahngs, but none of them shall draw out any of the profit that may appear at Balancing untill the next Balance following, and if at that Balance there is again a profit (and not otherwise) the former profit may then be taken out. It being understood that Subsisting money shaU be allowed, but that this shall not exceed the Sum of One hundred pounds to each Partner per Annum. 4th. That this Contract shall continue for Six Years from this date, but any of the Partners shall have it in his power to withdraw from the same at the end of Three Years from this date, upon his having given intimation in writing to the other Partners Twelve Months before, in the event of which two-thirds of his Share of Stock and profit shall be paid him in 3 equal moities at Three, Six, and Nine Months .after said Balance, and whatever part may be collected of his POLLOCK, GILMOUR AND CO. 15 remaining one-third at the following Balance shall then be paid him, and so on, at every succeeding Balance. 5th. That in the event of the Death of any of the Partners before the expiry of this agreement, the Stock and Share of profits of said Partner, as appeared at the preceding Balance, with Interest thereon from the date of said Balance, shall be paid at the following Balance, the two-thirds in Three, Six, and Nine Months, and the remaining one-third as above stated in case any of the partners shall withdraw from the Concern. 6th. That if any difference shall arise during the Term of this Copartnery between any or all of the Partners, the same shall be adjusted according to the opinion of Men uninterested and experienced in business, mutually chosen. We hereby promise in the transacting of this business most pointedly to adhere to the above Six Resolutions, and upon the request of any one of us, .these with whatever others that may be thought proper by us all, shall immediately be extended on a proper Stamp in a Legal Manner, and untill then we consider ourselves as completely bound to observe the above as though it was extended in a Legal Manner on proper Stamped paper. Signed this first day of January, One thousand eight hundred and Six Year. Signed John Pollok „ Allan Gilmour „ Arthur Pollok It will be noticed that the date of these articles is i January, 1806. In this narrative I have given the date of the foundation of the firm as 1804, on information received from numerous sources. This date is supported by the evidence of John Pollok in Gilmour v. Gilmour (1852), in which he says, ' The company (P., G. & Co.) was formed about the year 1804,' Note the Scottish caution of ' about,' l6 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM a self-guarding caution apparent in other parts of his evidence ; the possibility of his being challenged as to the date r8o6 in the articles of co-partnership may have presented itself to his mind. But two dates would be firm in John PoUok's memory as in any other business man's — ^the date of his first going into business, and the date of his first partnership. He had not to trouble himself about any marriage date, for he never mariried. I take the view that the three men were from 1804 to 1806 working together and practically in partnership, yet not under any formal agreement. How else could these canny Scots have got the mutual confidence which led them to hotch-potch their savings under so informal an agreement ? Though they had been at school together, they would scarcely have come at once .into binding partnership without the mutual experience which two such years would give bhem. I prefer, therefore, to adhere to the date 1804 as the date of the foundation of the firm. In any case, there are only two years in doubt. I have spoken of the agreement as informal. They seem not to have been afraid of being their own lawyers, and the agreement was evidently home-drawn {vide clause 4, ' 3 equal moities '), and merely an unwitnessed writing on the front page of their day-book. And there is no evidence of bhere being any subsequent agreement of a more formal kind. It was under the terms of this document -that POLLOK, GILMOUR AND CO. 17 Allan Gilmour senior was paid out when the partner- ship was dissolved, as will be seen below, and under its terms that he quarrelled with his partners for going to live during the summer months some four miles distant from the office as being a breach of the agreement. In the original firm, thus humbly started with a capital of £3,000, Allan Gilmour senior seems to have been the traveller, the investigator, and not a little of a pioneer. It was he who made journeys to North America (an enterprise not lightly under- taken in those days) and to Norway, to open out new lines of trade. One does not hear of the PoUoks having been abroad at any time. John acted generally in the markets of England, Scotland, and Ireland, vending the Canadian, Norwegian, and Baltic produce imported by the firm, or (later) shipped by their branches under contracts with home consumers. Arthur PoUok was an office man, controlling the finances, and restraining, so far as he could, the somewhat ambitious enterprises of Mr. Gilmour. As to the methods of the office, it may be noted that the partners — ^at any rate, Messrs. John and Arthur Pollok — sat in a box-like arrangement in the vestibule, something Hke a porter's lodge, in order that anyone going in might have an oppor- tunity of putting his business before the partners — or, as is equally probable, in order that the l8 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM partners might see all that was going on. It was and is an unusual course ; but for long it was adopted by all the concerns, with this modification, that instead of the senior it was the junior partner who sat in the outer office, and was thus enabled to take part or not, as he pleased, in anything that was passing at the counter. Of Allan Gilmour senior's very daring enterprises in America something will be said later. When at home he lived with the two PoUoks at a house which still stands (or stood on the occasion of the writer's last visit to Glasgow), 24 Carlton Place, near Jamaica Street Bridge, which remained the property of the firm till sold in 1855. Across the road there was a smooth stretch of greensward down to the river carefully protected, or was so recently. In the river in front lay the firm's timber-rafts, sent up from Port Glasgow for the local supply at Glasgow — ^the Clyde was then a mere stream. The house has become a machine-shop, but it still bears traces of having been a stately, dignified terrace- house, and could have claimed relationship with the ' mansion ' of to-day. In this house the partners lived a very retired, but a pleasant and kindly life. Though they spared little time from their business, they could relax and have their little functions. In an old letter before me from an Irish client of P., G. & Co. I read : ' I often think of the quiet, pleasant little dinner parties at 24 Carlton Place, POLLOK, GILMOUR AND CO. 1 9 of the three old gentlemen with their solicitor, Mr. Young,' who lived at No. 22, next door ; and, doubtless, the port, if not the toddy, would pass merrily. But long hours of business, hard work, toddy, and even the .smoke of Glasgow did not diminish the longevity of the partners, though Glasgow is not exactly the place to attract anyone in search of long life. The resident partners in P., G. & Co. must have been Fortune's favourites, •or owed much to the healthy simplicity of the Mearns ; for Allan Gilmour senior died in his seventy-fourth year, John Pollok in his eighty- second year, Arthur Pollok in his ninetieth year, Allan Gilmour junior in his eightieth year, and George Sheriff in his eightieth year ; and I might fairly add that Daniel Carmichael, disappointed of his partner- ship, was prematurely cut off in his seventy-third year. This gives an average of as near eighty years as makes no matter. It is evident that the three partners, during the years of their association, lived in a relation of singularly intimate and cordial friendship. Their sharing a single house would be enough to prove ihis, but there is further proof both of their friend- ship and of their kindly memory of the country parish whence they sprang. They seem to have arranged for and prepared their burial-places, corresponding in size and position on either side of 20 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM the Mearns church burial-ground. They appear also to have erected their monuments beforehand, differing in form, ample in size, and of the period sufficiently stately. Allan Gilmour senior's heir, however, seemingly forgot to make any record of his birth, death or virtues, although three ample tablets were provided for the purpose ; they stand to-day entirely free of the mason's art. To return to the early progress of the firm, P.,G. &Co. early obtained control over a large import business from the Baltic in such articles as tar, hemp, and flax, but their chief staple was wood — in the early days from the Baltic, and later from British North America. The development of the latter business was the chief work of Allan Gilmour senior. After he had made one or more voyages to Canada, and had seen the potentialities of the lumber trade there, the decision was made to open a house at Miramichi, and in the year 1812 James Gilmour (the brother of Allan Gilmour senior) and Alexander Rankin, both of whom had been educated at the Mearns school, and had some experience in the Glasgow office, were as cadets despatched there. When it was found that these gentlemen had satisfactorily acquitted themselves at Miramichi, and that there were prospects of still further develop- ments, other young men, mostly relatives, mostly connected with the Mearns parish, and mostly after some probation in the Glasgow office, were sent to- POLLOK, GILMOUR AND CO. 21 be under tutelage at Miramichi. Among these I would mention : — John Rankin (Mearns), went out about 1814. Robert Rankin (Mearns), went out 1818. Allan Gilmour (Mearns), went out 1821. • William Ritchie (Mearns), went out 1822. Arthur Ritchie (Mearns), went out 1825. Robert Ritchie (Mearns), went out 1825. Richard Hutchison (Mearns), went out about 1825. Francis Ferguson (Dunlop), went out 1829. John Ferguson (Dunlop), went out about 1832. In due time these were again drafted out from Miramichi to form or take their parts in the various firms enumerated above (p. 4). In this way were founded the houses of Gilmour, Rankin & Co., Miramichi (1812) ; Robert Rankin & Co., St. John (1822) ; Allan Gilmour & Co., Quebec (1828) ; William Ritchie & Co., Montreal (subsequently Gilmour & Co.), (1828) ; Arthur Ritchie & Co., Restigouche, New Brunswick (1833) ; Ferguson, Rankin & Co., Bathurst, New Brunswick (about 1835). The capital for these concerns was largely provided by the parent firm, and so far as the personal element went the control fell principally to Allan Gilmour senior. It was he who mainly selected the young men, and he had indited a special ' Letter of Instruc- tions ' to them, of which he was very proud. He 22 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM frequently crossed and recrossed the Atlantic, to inspect the branch houses, and before he returned always left precise instructions as to the work to be done by the foreign partners before the next season. Till 1839 all matters, including domestic, concerning the foreign houses and their stores, fell to be dealt Avith at Glasgow. Spring and autumn orders for these stores would be a heavy matter ; except absolute provisions, everything had to come from this side to meet the wants of small communities on the other. When the foreign houses began shipbuilding (as will be recorded below), all but the wood itself for the various shipyards had to go from this side. The store requisition sheets would literally cover everything from a needle to an anchor. The development of tliis very varied busi- ness, and the connection with the foreign houses,^ involved the gradual building up of a large fleet of ships. P., G. &Co. early entered upon shipowning — true, in a very modest way — ^in what year I can- not tell ; but before Allan Gilmour senior retired from the firm its fleet, I have heard, had become the biggest in the United Kingdom, and that in the thirties and forties it numbered over 100 vessels. One informant states 130. No doubt the latter number would include vessels which had been sent home for sale, but which, from absence of market, would from time to time have to be sailed. POLLOK, GILMOUR AND CO. 23 The first thirty years of the firm's existence thus saw a very rapid growth in wealth and importance. I Uke to think of these three stalwarts, bom in comparative obscurity, making for them- selves a position in the front rank of commercial life by the remarkable strength of their characters, and at the same time inspiring others with intense, ■enthusiasm. But with wealth came the breaking up of the old close friendship between the partners. The breach may have come about gradually, but it showed itself in a marked way in 1837. The Polloks had bought an estate named Broom, about four miles outside Glasgow, where they went to live during the summer months. To this Allan Gilmour senior demurred very strongly. He took his stand on Clause 3 of the articles of partnership, which required that the partners should ' pay their whole attention to the business,' and forcibly asked how it would be possible for them to do this at such a distance from Glasgow ! He also asserted (and perhaps this was a principal cause of bitterness) that the Polloks had purchased the property of Lochlibo, in the Meams, over his head. His letters show that in this matter he was very irate, and from what one hears of his temperament, one can understand that his irritation was ever an increasing quantity. The following year (5 January, 1838) he retired from the firm. 24 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM The basis for pa3dng him out was the balance sheets of the foreign concerns as on 30 June, 1836, and the balance sheet of P., G. & Co. as on 30 June, 1837. On this basis he received, in accordance with the articles of partnership, on 24 January, 1838, the sum of £150,000. This was a good return on the ;{i,ooo he had invested thirty-two years before, and it must be remembered that he had been buying some properties meantime. His subsequent corres- pondence gives very clear and terse intimation that he did not feel he had got out of the concern all he ought to have. Though feeling between the former partners must have been pretty strained, he had continued to live with the PoUoks till shortly before his retirement from the firm. Then, for a short period, he took a house for himself in Glasgow, and finally, having purchased the property of Hazledean in the Mearns, he removed there. For some time previously he appears to have been nursing a scheme for the disruption of the firm, which, however, to his annoyance, survived his withdrawal. He either believed, or professed to believe, that the timber trade was going to ruin, and did his best to persuade the foreign partners, other than the Polloks, especially his nephew, Allan Gilmour, to come out ' while there was yet time.' The retirement of Allan Gilmour senior involved the reconstruction of the firm, and POLLOK. GILMOUK AND CO. 25 Allan Gilmour, of the Quebec house, who now came to -Glasgow, Alexander Rankin, of the Miramichi house, and Robert Rankin, founder of the Liverpool house of Rankin, Gilmour & Co., which had been estab- lished in 1838, were also admitted to partnership in P., G. & Co. as from i January, 1839. The following succinct statement of the later liistofy of the firm has been supplied by Messrs. A. & G. Young : — Messrs. John Pollok and Arthur Pollok retired from business as at 31 March, 1853, and the notice of their retiral shows that besides the original Glasgow firm of Pollok, Gilmour & Co., there were then in existence the following firms, viz. : — (i) Rankin, Gilmour & Co., at Liverpool. (2) Allan Gilmour & Co., at Quebec. (3) Gilmour & Co., at Montreal. (4) Gilmour & Co., at Ottawa. (5) Gilmour, Rankin & Co., at Miramichi. {6) Robert Rankin & Co., at St. John. (7) Ferguson, Rankin & Co., at Bathurst. (8) Hoghton, Rankin & Co., at New Orleans. (9) Pollok, Hoghton & Co., at Mobile. Mr. John PoUok died at Broom House, Renfrewshire, on 14 February, 1858. Mr. Arthur PoUok died at Lismany, County Galway, on 30 January, 1870. The partners of the firm, after the death of Mr. Alexander Rankin and the retirement of the Messrs. Pollok, would thus be Mr. Allan Gilmour, of Glasgow, and Mr. Robert Rankin senior, of Liverpool. A Contract of Copartnery executed in 1861 shows ^hat in the interim between the retirement of the Messrs. Pollok and that date, Mr. George Hoghton, merchant, of Liverpool, and Mr. William Strang, merchant, in London, had 26 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM been admitted as partners of the firm. The terms of th& contract are a little vague as to whether Messrs. Hoghton and Strang were partners of the Glasgow house before the- contract in question, but the inference is that they were. They certainly, if not previously admitted, did become partners by the contract of 1861, and at the same time there were admitted Mr. Robert Rankin junior, merchant, in Liverpool, and. Mr. George Sheriff, merchant, in Glasgow. The contract deals inter alia with the Glasgow, Liverpool and London houses, and it is provided that Mr. Gilmour, of Glasgow, and Mr. Sheriff only should be entitled to use and subscribe the name of the Glasgow firm of PoUok, Gilmour & Co., that Messrs. Rankin senior, Hoghton, and R. Rankin junior, only should be entitled to use and subscribe the name of the Liverpool firm of Rankin^ Gilmour & Co., and that Mr. Stralng alone should be entitled to use and subscribe the name of the London firm of Gilmour, Rankin, Strang & Co. On the retirement of Mr. George William Hoghton, and the death of Mr. Rankin senior, the partners left were Mr. Gilmour, of Glasgow, Mr. Strang, Mr. Robert Rankin (formerly known as junior), and Mr. Sheriff. Mr. Gilmour, of Glasgow, retired from the concern on 31 December, 1870, and he survived tmtil 18 November, 1884. Mr. Gilmour, of Glasgow, was thus a partner of the firm of PoUok, Gilmour & Co. from i January, 1839, ^O' 31 December, 1870, but Ms connection with the concerns dates from 1821, when he went to St. John, New Brunswick. He was transferred to Quebec in March, 1828, and returned to- Glasgow in 1838-39 at the time of his admission as a partner of the Glasgow house. At the time of the retirement of Mr. GUraour, of Glasgow, viz., 31 December, 1870, Mr. John Rankin, Liverpool, was admitted a partner of the Glasgow house as well as of the Liverpool and London firms. Mr. George Sheriff retired on 31 December, 1873, and the concern of Pollok, Gilmour & Co. was then woimd up,.. POLLOK, GILMOUR AND CO. 27 and the firm ceased to exist, having, as has been seen, carried on business continuously from 1804. From the time of the retirement of Allan Gilmour senior, the control exercised by the parent firm over its offshoots became less close, and the work of dealing with the foreign houses came to be divided between P., G. & Co. and the Liverpool firm of R., G. & Co. When Mr. Allan Gilmour came to Glasgow, and Mr. Robert Rankin to Liverpool, the work of supplying the foreign houses was divided, to meet the special facilities of the respective places. The business of bankers for the general traders, who had outgrown the stage of being supplied from the firm's stores abroad on wholesale terms, and the supplying of a number of shipbuilding clients, nearly all came to Liverpool. The ship management and ships' accounts, so long as the wooden ships lasted, fell to Glasgow — Mr. Allan Gilmour having special capabilities therefor. He and Mr. Robert Rankin were altogether opposed to abandoning wood for iron ships, and it was only after much persuasion that they were induced to consent to the building of the iron ship Si. Mungo. With the management, how- ever, they would not identify themselves, and this went to Mr. Strang, London, so long as they remained in business ; thereafter it came to Liverpool. Owing to realizations, the wooden fleet — once the biggest in the United Kingdom — ^had been reduced to eight or ten at the time that PoUok, 28 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM Gilmour & Co. ceased to exist, and these were taken over by R., G. & Co. and G., R., S. & Co., and managed from Liverpool. Indeed, after Mr. Gilmour's retirement, the Glasgow house ceased to have any effective existence. Whether Mr. Sheriff had capabilities I doubt — ^at any rate he initiated nothing. Mr. Strang and Mr. Robert Rankin junior were very unwilling to continue him as partner, but Mr. Gilmour's influence and firmness prevailed. At the expiration of the partnership in 1873 Mr. Sheriff elected to retire from business, and the house, after years of honourable and successful dealing, ceased to exist. Mr. Sheriff's eldest son John, and James Hunter, son of the Mearns schoolmaster, who had both been in the Glasgow office for soem years, then joined in partnership as Hunter, Sheriff & Co. to conduct the old timber business. James Hunter had up till then been right-hand man in the office. They conducted a fairly successful business for several years, but misfortunes overtook them, not altogether through their own fault. James Hunter died shortly afterwards. Mr. John Sheriff died 10 September, 1908, suddenly, whilst on a visit to Arran. The following is an extract from an article in the Scottish Field of 10 November, 1910 : — ' The firm of PoUok, Gilmour & Co. took part in the rise and development of the Canadian Imnber trade, and also POLLOK, GILMQUR AND CO. 29 saw the culmination and decline of the wooden shipbuilding industry. The extent of the firm's operations is indicated, by the inscription on the frame of an oil painting at Woodbank of the good ship Marchioness of Queensberry : " The property of PoUok, Gilmour & Co., Glasgow. Built at St. John, New Brunswick, 1824, by themselves. The largest ship in the lumber trade, and of the 78 vessels composing the fleet of PoUok, Gilmour & Co. the only one that made three voyages in one season." The firm at first traded only with Norway and Sweden, but soon diverted their business to America, where extensive forests were acquired, and sawmills erected on a scale previously unknown. Their tonnage of shipping exceeded that of any contemporary firm in England or Scotland. Upwards of 6,000,000 cubic feet of timber were annually shipped, to prepare which required over 15,000 men and 600 horses and oxen. It is worthy of remark that the firm intro- duced the novelty into their fleet of sending most of their vessels to sea upon the total abstinence principle, a system which was found to work well for all concerned.' John and Arthur Pollok John — Bom 1778 Arthur — Bom 25 December, 1780 Died 14 February, Married 1818 Barbara 1858, at Broom Thomson Died 30 January 1870, at Lismany John and Arthur Pollok were the sons of Thomas Pollok, of Faside, Mearns. The farm of Faside had been bought by Thomas' father, Allan Pollok, of Craigton, about 1707, and passed first to Thomas, and then successively to John and Arthur. 30 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM It was sold when all the Scottish properties of the family were disposed of, as will be seen hereafter. Meanwhile the original family place, Craigton, had gone to Allan PoUok's second son, from whom it has descended in the direct line to James Polio k, of Blackhouse. He recently rebuilt the Craigton house ; but until then there could be seen over the door the initials, ' A. P.' (Allan PoUok) and ' M. W.' (his wife, Margaret Wamock), with the date 1666. Thomas PoUok was a captain of volunteers during the French Revolutionary War, and John and Arthur PoUok, as young men, were also members of the corps, and used to walk the eight or nine miles from the Mearns to Paisley, and back, every day for their drill. Thus early they showed the keen- ness about an5rthing that they undertook which marked them in later life. Some years after leaving school they went to Glasgow to work under their uncle. On this point Captain J. A. PoUok, of the 42nd Highlanders, writes me : — ' Messrs. John and Arthur PoUok must have come to Glasgow before 1799. My great-grandfather was a " home-trader," which (as far as I can make out) meant that he conducted a grocer's business, in King Street, Glasgow. John and Arthur PoUok were apparently apprentices with him, and lived in his house. King Street was where the Municipal Offices now are. My grandfather sold the business to Arthur PoUok in 1804.' JOHN AND ARTHUR POLLOK 31 For ' Arthur Pollok ' in the last sentence we should probably read, ' John and Arthur Pollok,' for John, as has been already stated, seems to have <:ontinued the grocery business in Glasgow under the style of John & Arthur Pollok, while Arthur developed a timber business at Grangemouth. This, at least, is the view suggested by the opening clause of the P., G. & Co. articles of partnership.'^ I have dealt elsewhere with their share in the foundation and organisation of Pollok, Gilmour and Co., and with the film's business routine.* Here I am concerned mainly with their personal history and characters. But I find the subject somewhat difficult to deal with. In the first place I do not find it easy to realise them as separate personalities, for they present themselves to my vision as forming jointly one side, while Allan Gilmour formed the other, of a house once in perfect harmony, but ultimately divided. And in the second place they have left behind them no such documented record as their partner. No doubt they had their lawsuits ; but they do not seem to have indulged in any 'case involving the unfolding of private affairs and the delineation of character, as their partner did. There is no Pollok lawsuit which compares with the case of Gilmour v. Gilmour for the light which it sheds on the customs and characters of those concerned in it. I See page 13. 2 See page iz et seq. 32 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM John PoUok never married. Arthur PoUok married Miss Barbara Thomson, of Edinburgh, in 1818. She died in 1821 at the birth of her first child, a daughter, who ultimately married her cousin,' Allan PoUok, son of Allan, a third brother of the above, who was laird of some properties in the Mearns. Of this daughter and her husband I shall have more to say. During his brief wedded life Arthur PoUok lived at Grangemouth. But on the death of his wife he came to live at Glasgow with his brother and Allan Gilmour senior. The close companionship of the trio, thus begun, was only interrupted when the brothers went to Uve at Broom in 1837. But whether at Carlton Place or at Broom, their life was alike simple and uneventful. Regularity and punctuality governed all their actions. In Glasgow, they regularly attended St. Enoch's Church, but I do not think they accepted any church office. So methodical were they that I have heard that as they daUy went home from the of&ce to 24 Carlton Place to dine, at the old-fashioned hour of four o'clock, the gutter-snipes at the Broomielaw (place dear to all Glaswegians !) would range themselves and chant in beUman fashion, ' Four o'clock, four o'clock, the PoUoks (pronounced Pokes) going to their denner ! ' They visited little, and never traveUed more than business necessitated. 'Their relaxations were few. John ' compounded ' for JOHN AND ARTHUR POLLOK 33 another weakness ' he was inclined to,' ' by damning ' cards, which ' he had no mind to,' because they involved gambling. Arthur, on the other hand, was uncommonly fond of a game of whist, and neither John's deprecatory remarks, nor the possibility of losing a modest shilling or two on an evening's play, would daunt him. Broom had the reputation of being a hospitable house. In winter there were little whist parties, and toddy in moderation ; for despite the period in which they lived they were both very » abstemious men ; and of a summer evening there not infrequently were strong contingents for bowls. The brothers bred a greyhound or two, and now and then coursed, but only at impromptu friendly meetings of the lairds and farmers of the neighbour- hood. John, but not Arthur, also shot a little ; and this ends the list of their relaxations. They early began to invest their savings in land, partly owing to a land-hunger natural to men who came from a race of farmers, partly because they were keen politicians, and wished to control voting qualifications. Their first purchases were naturally in the Mearns. The purchase of Broom and of Lochlibo (their largest holding in Scotland) has already been recorded. Over both of these purchases they came into conflict with Allan Gilmour senior. They also acquired other smaller estates in the Mearns. In 1847 the estate of Ronachan in Argyllshire was bought,- whether by 34 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM the two brothers jointly, or by Arthur alone, I do not know ; it is immaterial, for, as John died first, all his property came to Arthur. But the largest, and in the event the most unfortunate, of aU these purchases was made shortly after the brothers retired from PoUok, Gilmour & Co., in 1853, out of the profits of their long partnership. This con- sisted of the Irish estates of Lismany, Glinsk and Creggs, in Galway, formerly the property of the 'Eyres of Eyrescourt. The purchase was a very large one, how large I have no accurate means of knowing, but first and last over £1,000,000 must have been spent upon it. It was made, I believe, to meet the vaulting ambition of the son-in-law, Allan PoUok, and it led his father-in-law into many difficulties. The land was good, though it included a good deal of bog, and the tenantry were in a wretched state. Allan Pollok, on taking possession, at once determined to change entirely the previous methods of cultivation, and to manage the estate on the most advanced principles. In particular, he resolved to amend the existing condition of small and squalid holding by creating a series of large, indeed immense, farms. To this end he made a clean sweep of the existing tenants, in some instances burning their houses. Though he gave ample — and indeed generous — compensation, he inevitably drew upon himself the enmity of the country folk JOHN AND ARTHUR POLLOK 35 — and their shooting-irons ; at that time landlord- shooting had not become the popular sport it afterwards became. Little Allan Pollok cared ; he had a nerve of iron. He went on farming large farms, improving the land, and building houses for the large farmers he intended to instal. He built handsome steadings, corn-mills, wood-mills, dairies, etc., on a princely scale. But on the capital required to enable a man to work one of these large farms he could afford to be a landowner on a fairly large scale himself, and so avoid subjection to a somewhat capricious and overbearing landlord such as Allan Pollok was. The farms, consequently, nearly all remained unlet ; most of the property under paid management yielded little return ; Allan was no financier, and Arthur Pollok, now an old man, had to go over to the rescue. Once at Lismany, there was no escape ; he remained until his death, surviving his daughter by four years. Lismany was but a modest mansion, but provided offices and out-buildings that to-day might satisfy the requirements of a meet of the Automobile Club." It was at Lismany that, with Mr. Thomas Pollok, of Liverpool, I saw Mr. Arthur Pollok for the first and only time, about the year i860. I cannot believe that the shrewd and able old man had ever contemplated such a wild scheme as his headstrong and ambitious son-in-law had drawn 36 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM him into. Doubtless need had followed need, and extension extension. The old man was endeavouring to unravel the tangle that things had got into, and the last years of his Ufe must have been the bitterest. It was too much for his faiUng vigour ; valiantly till his death in January, 1870, he addressed himself to redeeming the position. He could only put the brake on. With the exception of the jointures (of £30,000 each) which he had previously set aside for each of his granddaughters, the immense joint fortunes of his brother and himself had practically been expended on the venture. At the date I have spoken of, i860, Allan PoUok was already discussed by the country-side as ' a distressed man.' A change in the plan of campaign, and a curtailment of expenditure was needed. The new policy was successful, and now a handsome income is obtained from the estates, though very inadequate to the original expenditure. I had, in 1908, the following communication from an old gentleman of eighty-three — a, relative and near neighbour in Ireland, and therefore well acquainted with the PoUoks and the Irish properties : — ' I remember Mr. Arthur Pollok told me the first craft they bought was a 90-ton coaster, and he, at the same time, said that the largest vessel that could come up to the Broomielaw in those days was 150 tons. JOHN AND ARTHUR POLLOK 37 ' John and Arthur retired from business in the early fifties. They desired to invest the money they had made in landed property ; and at the time property was supposed to be selling very cheap in the Encumbered Estate Court in Dublin. Misfortune led AUan and his wife to go to Ireland, and they bought a pretty large property in County Galway, formerly part of the estates of the Eyres of Eyrecourt Castle, who had once held very large properties in that and King's County. The PoUoks got a Government title with their purchase, stating the names and number of the tenants and their interest in the holdings, nearly aU being represented as yearly tenants subject to a six months' notice to quit. This was simply a misrepresentation of the facts ; when Allan Pollok served them with notices to quit, the tenants fought him in the Courts, and put him to endless trouble and costs. The Authorities repeatedly warned him, whenever he and his wife were known to be coming to Ireland, that their lives were not safe. They saw there were only two courses— either to acknowledge that they had made a mistake in coming to Ireland and sell again, or to face the difficulties before them. Unfortunately, they adopted the latter course, and took the plan of buying all the stock, crop, etc., of the tenants at a great deal more than they were worth. In that way they managed, only in some degree, to satisfy the tenants, some of whom went to America, while others refused to quit their holdings, and others stayed and worked on the property, assisting in making the improve- ments. Allan Pollok's idea was to make the farming like that of the Lothians, so he built large steadings, and turned the country into large fields, levelling the great bulk of the fences. The times favoured him, as grain then brought good prices, and cattle and sheep became very dear. But though he was a very good farmer, and a great improver of land, he was not a good man of business. As it has turned out, a great deal of the money spent was wasted, for the great importation of live and dead meat has changed the style of farming very much, while, as for the grain crops, it does not pay to 38 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM grow them except where the straw can be well sold near a city. ' Allan's wife died, a comparatively young woman, 3 May, 1866, and he died 22 March, 1881, aged sixty-five. His son lived an extravagant Ufe, and died in 1891. To pay off encumbrances, all the Scotch properties were sold, and some of the Irish also, to the Estate Commissioners, who, of course, re-let to the present tenants. I often wonder what AUan PoUok would think, bad as things were in his day, if he could come back and see the state the country has come to ; his idea of large farms completely tabooed, and the grass land being bought by the Estate Commissioners and divided into ten to forty acre farms, and given to small tenants. ' I think the first outlay in Ireland by the Polloks was about £600,000, and their incomes followed into the land, so that they had both given all their money to Allan and his family before they died. What the present rental of the Irish property is I have no means of knowing, but quite apart from the extravagant and unremunerative improvements initiated, all Irish property is much depreciated. ' The two properties of Lismany and Glynsk with Creggs were nearly of the same acreage, and I was lold on good authority each of them included over 20,000 acres, but there is a great deal of bog in both, especially on Glynsk and Creggs, on which there are a great many smaU tenants on very bad land. There were som^ small properties purchased adjoining them, but I don't think their names are of importance. ' Mr. Pollok built large flour and meal mills, which he carried on himself, and he put up threshing mills on many of the farms — ^ten or eleven in all I think — and large steadings attached, which I may say are now put to very Uttle use. The present owner's name is AUan Bingham Pollok ; he is the great-grandson of Arthur Pollok. ' The largest property in Scotland was Lochlibo ; next to it came Ronachan. They also had Broom in the Meams, with some adjoining and several outlying farms, for the old JOHN AND ARTHUR POLLOK 39 gentlemen were keen politicians, and bought them for the votes connected with them. But the property that I most regretted to see sold was the farm at Faside.' Mr. James Pollok, of Blackhouse, writes me : ' I never knew two finer men than Mr. John and Mr. Arthur Pollok, so kind and natural in manner, and very superior to anything like purse-pride. Mr. John was very outspoken, would give you a growl when you deserved it ; would stand up for his own way, and not be easily daunted, even on the prospect of a lawsuit. His sports were coursing and shooting. Mr. Arthur was quieter, and not so outspoken ; more of a thoughtful reader. He was intimate with Mr. Murray, the publisher. I never knew him to lift a gun. His amusements were bowling, curling, and whist.' Allan Gilmour senior* Bom 1775 Retired from P., G. & Co., 24 January, 1838 Died 4 March, 1849 Allan Gilmour was the son of Allan Gilmour, of South Walton, Mearns, who had married Elizabeth Pollok. His sister married David Ritchie ; of their issue niore anon. From what one can learn — and in igo8 he was still just remembered by a few in the Mearns parish — ^he was not without kindliness of disposition ; but he must have been odd-tempered, susceptible to flattery, irritable and litigious, yet far-seeing and of • I give throughout to Allan Gilmour of Quebec — subsequently of Glasgow and Lundin and Moatrave — the title of Allan Gilmour, and to his uncle — the above— that of Allan Gilmour senior 40 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM untiring energy. In his latter days he was un- doubtedly vindictive, and with feeble health came at times feeble mind ; but in the main he was able to exercise his strong will to the last. In his parish and on the mart he was spoken of as A. G. (pronounced ' Ah G.') — a distinction such as one might expect to attach to some potentate. At his best he must have been a strong man ; an active-minded, able-bodied, and enterprising man. As the history of the succeeding firms shows, he had a rare capacity for selecting his young men. They received their early training under his partners, John and Arthur PoUok, in the Glasgow office, and were later drafted abroad. The senior of all these was Alexander Rankin, who was early established at Miramichi, and to whom were sent out in rapid suc- cession John and Robert Rankin, and Mr. GUmour's nephews, Allan Gilmour and William, Arthur and Robert Ritchie. In sending the young men to Alexander Rankin, Mr. Gilmour showed sound perception, for, perhaps, no one could have better trained them in the business methods of the Company, wherein the keenest attention to detail was combined with an all-prevailing sense of business probity. Allusion has already been made to Mr. Gilmour's ' Letter of Instructions ' to the young men, of which he was rather proud. Mr. Gilmour himself often crossed and recrossed the Atlantic to inspect the houses ALLAN GILMOUR SENR. 41 already established, and to exploit new fields. From these journeys he would send home as opportunity offered in returning vessels a diary, which, if not a literary production, conveyed his business impressions of the moment. But, as he made his progress, his conclusions, runningly recorded, were, I have been told, apt to be altered and realtered, and they thus afforded little guidance to his partners. Still he thought highly of them, and^ Gladstone-like, was able on most occasions to point to the day and date on which he had advised in a sense different from the manner in which the PoUoks had acted. Unhappily, none of these diaries have been preserved. Before Allan Gilmour left for home each partner abroad would have his work for the coming winter allotted to him ; certain things were to be done, certain grounds were to be investigated, and reports must be sent home for his partners' information, or produced to Mr. Gilmour on his arrival out next spring. The foreign partners must have indeed lived strenuous lives ; for nothing was too small to escape the lash of Mr. Gilmour's tongue, hardly anything too big for him to adventure. One year — it cannot have been long after the Quebec office had been estab- hshed — ^he carried out a most successful operation, an absolute corner in lumber. Report has it that, excepting the small remnant stock from the previous season, he succeeded in securing in advance all the supply that was coming down the St. Lawrence 42 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM for summer shipments. This he did by sending his agents up that river and the Ottawa to intercept and purchase rafts on the way down. His plans were carried out so quietly and successfully that the other shippers in Quebec were completely taken by surprise, and to fulfil their contracts for ship- ments to the United Kingdom or elsewhere had to come to him, for he alone could supply. This kind of enterprise (and there was certainly at least one other similar transaction in Norwegian timber) gave the PoUoks a most uneasy time in financing the unlooked-for transactions, which, however, ultimately swelled their coffers considerably. The Report of the Select Parliamentary Committee on Timber Duties records that Mr. Gilmour senior in his examination on 21 July, 1835, stated : — ' That he had been eight seasons in America (or part of eight seasons) ; that previously he had had four seasons in Norway, Sweden, and Russia ; that Pollok, Gihnour & Co.'s mode of business was, in Canada generally, to purchase from the lumberers (who made it) their produce as it arrived at Quebec, but that in New Brunswick they first had to pay a stumpage to the Crown Lands Office, then to furnish the lumberers, sent in August and September, with provisions and goods ; that he estimated they amounted to 5,000 persons annually in the Compan3?'s employ, with the use of 1,500-2,000 horses and oxen, also belonging to the Company ; that they were paid the current price at time of, and of the port of shipment ; that the Company had shipped over 300 cargoes in the year 1834 from British North America ; that as regards shipbuUding ALLAN GILMOUR SENR. 43 he considered the cost of a New Brunswick-built vessel £8 los per register ton, whilst the Quebec-built ship of white oak and rock elm would cost £12 to £14 per register ton, though inferior ships could be built at Quebec at about £9 per register ton. He speaks of Russian and Norwegian sailors getting 15s per month, whilst English owners paid 50s to 60s ; that the Norwegian sailors were provisioned on black rye-bread and stock fish at a cost of 4d to 5d per day, but that the English ship cost a shilling per day. He had been well over the Swedish lands, but could not get above Memel, for, as he says, it was in Buonaparte's time, and he could not get from the French the pass to go further north which was accorded to him by the Swedish Authorities. For many years he lived with the Messrs. Pollok in close fellowship at Carlton Place. It would almost seem that it was merely the increase of his infirmities and temper that led to a rupture. Friction between them grew slowly, but steadily, until undoubtedly Mr. Gilmour had conceived an intense dislike to the Polloks, and, worse still, a desire to do them harm. He decided to retire, and to make his retirement shake the foundations of the concern. He laid before the foreign partners his views as to there being troubles ahead in the timber trade ; it was going to ruin, he asserted ; and while there was yet 'time he urged them to come out from the firm along with himself. His greatest desire was that his favourite nephew, Mr. Allan Gilmour (then of Quebec, but subsequently of Glas- gow) should do so. The latter would not conform to such wish, which much irritated the old man ; 44 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM still in many ways his fondness for this nephew continued to show itself. Throughout the corres- pondence that ensued, Mr. Allan Gilmour maintained his attitude, and while manifesting alike the respect and gratitude due to his uncle, conceded nothing that was derogatory to the position he occupied. Apparently the uncle acquiesced, if reluctantly. After a time he sought interviews with another nephew, Allan Gilmour of Ottawa (Shotts Allan). But he also declined ; and I have heard that, forgetting hospitality's laws, old Mr. Gilmour absolutely turned his nephew out into the night, and this in the country. About this time very many strange acts on the old gentleman's part would seem to indicate softening of the brain, yet it was hardly so, for as often as not his old will retained the mastery, and his actions were clear and determined. In 1849, however, he had something more than a threatening of paralysis, and the fear of death was before him. Further appeals to his favourite nephew were still unsuccessful. About this time he was frequently visited by his brother, James Gilmour, of Polnoon, formerly of Miramichi, and his sons, James and Allan. With this brother there had existed a coldness, James Gilmour having made a marriage at Miramichi of which Allan Gilmour senior dis- approved. With him Allan Gilmour senior was more successful. I understand his offer to each of ALLAN GILMOUR SENR. 45 them was that he would see that they who followed his lead and withdrew would escape the doom he was preparing for the parent firm, in fact, be secure of their capital interest. Eventually the services of solicitors, other than those Mr. Allan Gilmour senior usually employed, were called in to make a fresh Will, under which James Gilmour of Polnoon, and his son Allan, were made heirs. To make the Will valid in event of his early demise (which did occur) it was necessary, according to Scotch law, that he should attend ' Kirk and Market ' within a reasonable time of its execution. This was carefully attended to, and in no very fit state the old gentleman was got to attend in Glasgow on market day, and there before witnesses to purchase a cheese. Likewise he put in some appearances at church. Many stories were current at Mearns as to what had been the state of Mr. Gilmour senior's mind and capacity before and at the time of this alteration of his Will. A suit to invalidate the new Will was very naturally entered by Mr. Allan Gilmour, of Quebec, in whose favour the original Will ran ; but with a high sense of what was fitting, if not just, he, on the evidence adduced in Court by the other side, withdrew the action. Undoubtedly there was ample ground for its being undertaken. Old Mr. Gilmour did, however, leave the West Walton farm to his nephew. With what truth I know not, but I sometime heard that he 46 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM only did so to comply with the then Scotch law requirement in view of previous Will. Be that as it may, Mr. Allan GUmour refused to recognise the legacy, and never lifted the rent. The tenant, I understand, conscientiously paid the rent to a legal factor, and it was only when Sir John Gilmour inherited that the legacy became operative. Besides the property of Hazeldean, where he lived and died, he owned Fingalton, Kirkhouse and several farms, and he had acquired the estate of Eaglesham at a cost of about £200,000 from the Eglinton family. Mr. Gilmour senior was a keen sportsman and an excellent shot, and nothing gave him greater pleasure than to snatch some hours with his gun. The Twelfth at that period was a solemn function. Daylight would see him on the moor ; there was no greater dallying than the muzzle-loaded gun called for, and only darkness drove him home. Could he revisit the glimpses of the moon it would be interesting to hear his comments upon the Telegraph and the Telephone, the Submarine and the Suffragette, the Turbine and the Territorial, the Steel girder sky-scraper building wherein wood has little part, the Motor car and the Aeroplane, the Dayhght Bill, the Woman Voter, and the fashion- able hour for Dinner, Old age pensions and the Land question, the Ground Game Act and the Breech-loader, and much else. GEORGE SHERIFF 47 George Sheriff. Bom 1807 Became partner 1861 Died I September, 1887 I propose connecting the history of individual partners with the firm which they founded, or with which they immediately acted. Hence I write of Allan Gilmour, whose place otherwise should come here, under Allan Gilmour & Co. I proceed to Mr. Sheriff, the only resident partner of P., G. & Co. who was not primarily concerned with one or other of the branch houses. Before entering the office of PoUok, Gilmour & Co. Mr. Sheriff was in the office of Messrs. J. & A. Scott & Co., timber merchants, Glasgow. In 1833 he had been successful in obtaining an appointment in the Excise Service, but imme- diately afterwards he was offered an engagement with PoUok, Gilmour & Co., which he preferred. He was fortunately able to transfer the Excise appointment to his brother. Mr. Sheriff married in 1837, and had, I think, a family of sixteen children. Some time before his admission as a partner in PoUok, Gilmour & Co. Mr. Sheriff was offered the position of manager, or secretary, to a new steamship company then being formed. He decided, however. 48 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM to remain where he was, and Mr. Allan Gilmour, then in charge of the firm, and esteeming his services very greatly, was much gratified with his decision. When Mr. Sheriff became a partner in 1861 there was considerable friction with Mr. Carmichael, who was his senior in the service. Mr. Carmichael thought that he should have got a partnership also, but this Mr. Gilmour would not agree to. The difficulty was ultimately smoothed over by the increase of Mr. Car- michael's salary to £1,000 per annum. He did not, however, remain long in the service of the firm after Mr. Sheriff became a partner. Assiduous and unobtrusive, Mr. Sheriff does not appear to have made any special mark in the concern — ^indeed, such was Mr. Gilmour's individuality that it would have been difficult for even a stronger man to do so. In a subsidiary way he would have many strings to tend. Eminently respected, conscientious, and of placable temper, he went about his duties, not originating, but carr5dng out. Mr. Strang, of the London house, and Robert Rankin ii, of the Liverpool house, had no desire to continue the connection after 31 December, 1870, when Mr. Gilmour retired ; but Mr. Gilmour felt so strongly that his wishes prevailed, and the partner- ship continued for three years more. Then Mr. Sheriff retired, and the firm was closed. He continued to reside at Glasgow (13 AthoU Gardens) till his death, which took place at Crieff, i September, 1887. CHAPTER II. GILMOUR, RANKIN and CO. Opened 1812 Closed about 1870 Alexander Rankin and James Gilmour (the brother of Allan Gilmour senior) were sent out to Miramichi in 1812, in the firm's brig, the Mary, 180 tons burden (compare this with the Mauretania of to-day, 31,938 tons). They had to land at the mouth of the river, which was full of ice, and walk to Chatham, while the Mary had to winter at Prince Edward's Island. At that period the woods extended down to the edge of the Miramichi River, which had two branches, the North-west and South-west, thus affording every facility for large operations. Though it was a fine, navigable river, the bar at its mouth could only admit vessels of 16 to 18 feet draft. That was at the time, and for many years after, quite sufficient for the class of vessel then built ; but it became inadequate later, and the bar has since been deepened. The country was almost virgin forest. The very site for the saw-mill, offices, and house at Douglastown, almost opposite Chatham, had to be cleared. A shipbuilding yard was built later, and D 49 50 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM still later a second saw-mill ; while men in rapid succession, and employment for them, quickly followed each development. In this, till then, very sparsely inhabited district, it was necessary that the firm should be general suppliers as well as general employers ; and, therefore, a store was established, in which everything that the district could require had to be provided for. Of necessity, the bulk of the wages to the workpeople had to be paid in kind. A heavy part of the firm's operations consisted in getting together, and transporting inland, the provisions necessary for the various camps of lumbermen, who set out for the woods early in September, and remained there till the end of spring, afterwards bringing the logs down to the mill boom at Miramichi. After despatching these from the river's bank on their course down stream, the men had to follow on as 'stream-drivers,' pick the logs up as they got stranded on the shoals or banks, and re- float them. In the wider channel lower down they were able to form the logs into rafts, and two or three men would bring the raft down to the mill boom, there to be broken up into separate logs once more. Now, the mere work of supplying these parties, in addition to the local Miramichi demands, would be a heavy matter, requiring considerable arrangement and finance. Not only were there no steamers or railways, but there were practically no GILMOUR, RANKIN AND CO. 51 Toads ; where there were tracks they were mostly undefined, indeed they had mostly to be made. Schooners had to be chartered to bring cargoes of sugar and molasses from Demerara and the West Indies, and pork from Boston or Canada ; tea and biscuit came from home, and these, together with fish and game, formed practically the fare on which the lumbermen subsisted for six months of the year, and thrived too. I can say, from experience gained during a camp visit, when the thermometer was many degrees below zero, that frozen fat pork with molasses is quite delectable. Even during the night Nature called for the replenishment of the system, and whatever the hour, I rarely failed to note some one attacking the commissariat. It would be difficult to define the extent of timber lands held by the firm, for they were widely scattered, extending on the one hand up to the Tobique, a branch of the St. John River, and on the other hand to one of the branches of the Restigouche. I have heard of parties of lumbermen in adjacent camps, cutting on the one hand for the St. John, on the other for the Miramichi, and in another case, cutting for Restigouche and Miramichi, on practically the same ground. At what date it is not clear, but GUmour, Rankin & Co. were soon followed at Miramichi by the firm of Cunard Bros., whose operations, similar in kind, were conducted with keen antagonism. 52 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM The rivalry was great, alike of principals and em- ployees, and at election times there was always some very lively work — ^axe handles being freely used as arguments. My brother Alexander writes me : — ' I recollect the election in New Brunswick in 1843 ; Gilmour, Rankin & Co. for J. A. Street, Cunard Bros, for WiUiston. Cudgels were used, and there were many broken heads on both sides. County Northumberland took twelve days polling — open voting. Street won by an overwhelming majority. Feeling afterwards ran so high that two companies of soldiers were sent from St. John to quell the riots. It was some time before things calemd down.' Ultimately Cunard Bros., defeated and worsted in competition, had to go under. This for Miramichi district meant a considerable upheaval, for they had been doing an immense business, but on lines utterly unsound. Their motives would appear to be fairly indicated in a conversation with another competitor who had found fault with the prices Cunard Bros, were selling at. The partner's reply was : — ' We don't care a d so long as we sell more deals than Gilmour, Rankin & Co.' Strange what events follow upon hidden causes. Stimulated by failure in one sphere of activity, Samuel Cunard returned to this country, and promulgated the idea of a subsidised mail steamship service to America. The project, after much labour on his part, commended, itself to some capitalists and shipbuilders, and from GILMOUR, RANKIN AND CO. 53 this beginning arose the Cunard Co. of to-day— not, however, without some vicissitudes. One may ask, how far should Gilmour, Rankin & Co. have credit for the Cunard Co. ? Gihuour, Rankin & Co. started their own shipbuilding yard — ^indeed, actively carried on this branch. The two rival firms, each having its own clients, supplied other builders with goods, materials, and cash advances, and at the end of the season these clients' crafts would be sent home to Liverpool, the market then for the sale of soft-wood ships. Among the builders who worked through Gilmour, Rankin & Co. were Joseph Russell, Cieorge Burchill, and later on John Harley, each turning out two or three ships each year. When the Gilmour, Rankin & Co. shipyard was started I cannot tell — ^probably under Mr. Allan Gilmour or Mr. William Ritchie, both of whom had qualifications. Who succeeded them or him I never heard, but in my time, and for many years previously, Mr. James Henderson was the shipbuilder, and turned out some very pretty models. At the store the work was unending, and when the doors opened at six a.m. in the summer, there would be a crowd awaiting entrance, and closing time, ten to eleven p.m., must have been haUed with satisfaction, albeit I have heard some of the employees say that those days under Mr. Alexander Rankin were the m_ost enjoyable of their lives. In 54 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM winter time with early morning, teams galore had to be loaded up with material for the camps, and throughout the day the work was only less arduous than in the summer. A notable event in the history of the firm was the great fire at Miramichi, still so termed despite more recent great conflagrations. An account of the fire will be found in Appendix III. Between morning and night the whole of Gilmour, Rankin and Co.'s work for well-nigh a generation was imdone — ^had clean disappeared. The one thing left standing near by, untouched by the fire, was a wooden shanty wherein lay a corpse. For many years, and until the supply ceased, or became too costly to get, Miramichi square pine was famous for its clean, mellow, and readily workable character ; in my time it had become quite a negligible quantity, and has now ceased altogether to be exported thence. All descriptions of lumber were readily obtainable, but now, as from other lower ports, spruce deals are practically the only export. Mr. Alexander Rankin appears to have been the acting spirit of the firm, and very fully possessed the confidence of the home partners. It was to him from time to time that the young men from home were sent out. Mr. James Gilmour, his partner, though he was older, and no doubt took some share of the responsibility, does not appear to ALEXANDER RANKIN . 55 have been regarded as a serious quantity. I am unable to trace when my uncle, John Rankin, went to Miramichi — ^probably in the year following his brother Alexander, say, 1813 or 1814. His, however, was a short career. He was drowned from a raft on 4 August, 1815, at the age of twenty-one. As time went on, and particularly after Mr. James Gilmour left for home, greater responsibihty was given to Mr. Richard Hutchison. He became a partner, probably in the latter part of the forties. After the death of Mr. Alexander Rankin in 1852,^ he was the sole resident partner until about 1870, whert the business, mills, and lands were handed over to him altogether by the home partners. Alexander Rankin Bom 31 December, 1788 Died 3 April, 1852 Alexander Rankin, born at Mains House, Mearns, Renfrewshire, was brought up in the Glasgow office, whence he went to Miramichi, N.B., in 1812, along with Mr. James Gilmour (brother of Allan Gilmour senior), and founded the firm of Gilmour, Rankin & Co. The district was pretty well in its pristine condition, namely, river and woods and fairly large 56 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM Indian colonies distributed at different points. With these conditions he had to clear the ground to start in getting his wharves, mill, stores and house built, and when these were all set a-going, assistants came out in rapid relays from Glasgow. From the first he was a force in the place, and he afterwards became a force in the province. His personal bearing, his kindly if taciturn manner, his ability to direct, attached to him all who came in. contact with him. It seems almost strange that a man in such surroundings, with the never-ending work of his own business, should have had the time or disposition to think so much of others as he did. His was no self-seeking spirit. If criticism could be made of him, it was that he was altogether too kind-hearted and sympathetic. As time went on, and for what reason one cannot very well tell, he entered the New Bruns- wick House of Representatives, and on his proceeding to the Senate, became the Hon. Alexander Rankin. I suppose it must have been a sense of duty to the community, for there was no honour that could have been bestowed upon him greater than the respect that was entertained for him throughout the province. He was only human, and maybe the rivalry that existed with the firm of Cunard Bros, was such, that to be a candidate and their opponent, may have had even for him some charms. His influence among the people was great — ^he was simply adored. His house, one for the period sufficiently dignified, and ALEXANDER RANKIN 57 of considerable extent, provided accommodation for the recruits who came from home and for the clerks. It was a very hospitable ^louse, and he entertained freely not only the passing traveller, but those who from time to time visited the province. Among ihese were several Governors and other notable personages, also the Rev. Dr. Norman McLeod, a name then and always an honoured one wherever Scots abound. He jokingly rallied Mr. Rankin with being the father of so large a family, as there was Tiardly a house or shanty he entered where he did not find an inmate rejoicing in the Christian name of Alexander Rankin. After the fire at Miramichi, which devastated not only his property, but the surrounding country (even sweeping across the river, at that point about a mile and a half wide), he, out of the goods that immediately afterwards arrived from the spring ships, and out of his own pocket, met, so far as was possible, the needs of the distressed. A considerable colony formed round him at Douglastown — I presume, attracted by the work offered — a. good many Scotchmen, some possibly imported. The Indians were not profitable clients at the store, and still less so to him, as they unceasingly brought their troubles and appeals to him. They might be useful in certain ways to the winter lumber parties, or by bringing in skins, etc. to trade, but Ihey were too prone to intoxication ; when sober 58 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM they were hunters, but never ' citizens.' They called him their ' Great White Father.' An old employee writes me : — ' He was always an early riser — always up at five in summer, rain or sunshine — ^had a turn round the deal wharf and timber ponds before work commenced at six. In fact, all day long I may say he was ubiquitoiis.' It was a day of mourning when the news came out that Alexander Rankin had died at Brom- borough, 3 April, 1852, and the allusion made at church on the following Sunday may be worth, reprinting : — ' In his life he set an example of serving his generation in many respects. Providence blessed his temporal enter- prises, and thus enabled him to furnish the means of support to many families. By the blessing of God upon steady industry and persevering attention to business, he was enabled for a long period of time to furnish emploj'ment to a great number ; and I believe it will be admitted by all who have been in his employment that, as a master, justice, integrity, and uniform kindness have ever marked his conduct. ' And as he prospered himself, so he was delighted to see others prospering also. Wherever he found any who were anxious to do well, he was always willing to encourage them, and even to stretch out to them a helping hand. ' The kindliness of his disposition inclined him always to sympathise with others in their misfortunes, and his sympathy was manifested in the most delicate manner. Many have received tokens of his kindly feeling, of which none ever knew but the person who received them, for he was one of those " who do good by stealth and blush to find it fame." He never sought to blazon abroad the acts of kindness which he performed — nay, he even shrunk from the idea of having them mentioned. ALEXANDER RANKIN 59 ' In the old settlers, with whom he had been long acquainted, he ever felt a deep interest. While they main- tained an honest and reputable character, however poor they might be, they had always free access to him, and were ever treated with respect and kindness. ' Of his gentlemanly manners, mUd, unassuming dis- position, and bountiful hospitality I will not speak, nor will I dwell on the manner in which, as a representative of this county, he served his generation for a great number of years ; for most of you know, even better than I do, what time and attention he devoted to the duties that devolved on him as Legislator, and how he employed the accurate and extensive knowledge which he possessed of the country, for the purpose of promoting its prosperity in every possible way. Neither would I say much of the active encouragement which he gave to agriculture and domestic manufactures, and to everything which he thought had a tendency to bring comfort to families, and secure their temporal prosperity. ' There are, however, one or two traits in his character which deserve a more particular notice. ' He took a deep interest in the education of the young. Believing that the happiness and good order of society depended very much on the moral and religious training of the young, he ever exhibited a marked attention to whatever had a tendency to improve the mode of education, and to secure its advantages to the rising generation. Hence he was anxious to obtain information concerning the improvements intro- duced into schools ; hence he often took an opportunity of inculcating on the settlers in distant and destitute localities, the importance of obtaining teachers, and even contributed largely to the building of schools, and in many places also to the maintenance of teachers. ' Nor was he less desirous that the services of the sanctuary should be supported. To this church, in particular, he has been a steady and efficient supporter, contributing liberally himself, and encouraging others to do hkewise. Nor ■6o A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM was his liberality confined to this church, nor even to that branch of the Christian Church to which he belonged ; for, though himself conscientiously attached to the Church of Scotland, he yet wished to see all others enabled to worship God according to their own consciences. ' He who has now departed was for forty years a resident in Miramichi, and on the first of January last completed the sixty-third year of his age.' A letter from my uncle, Mr. Robert Rankin, dated Liverpool, 6 April, 1852, states : — ' On Thurs- day he came to Bromborough Hall, and felt so well and strong, that the same evening he took a long walk over the farm with Mr. Ritchie. On Friday he was engaged in writing letters to New Brunswick, and really seemed better, and in better spirits than he had been for a long time. Next morning he was seized with internal bleeding, which eventually tended to suffocate him, and although the doctor was with him continuously, it was of no avail, as God had willed it otherwise, and I trust he is now in rest and happiness, leaving a bright example to all his friends who are left behind, as few men possessing more sterling worth and kindness of disposition ever lived.' These closing words form a eulogy, equally applicable to the life and character of him who wrote them. JAMES GILMOUR 6i: James Gilmour Bom 1782 James Gilmour, son of Allan Gilmour of" South Walton, Mearns, and brother of Allan Gilmour senior, Glasgow, went out to Miramichi in 1812, along with Alexander Rankin, to found Gilmour, Rankin and Co., and remained there, with the exception of one short visit to this country, till he left the concern, about 1840, at his brother's instigation. He went to reside at Polnoon, Eaglesham, a parish adjacent to Mearns. I was informed by one of the employees that he was a nonentity in the business, and that a very unpleasant manner and temper caused him to be intensely disliked. It was this James Gilmour who, with his. son, became heir to Allan Gilmour senior, under the terms of the Will made shortly before his death... Under this Will he obtained Eaglesham House, Renfrewshire, a very large property, which AUaru Gilmour senior had bought from the Earl of Eglinton, and which has passed down from Allan Gilmovir to Allan Gilmour, the present proprietor having been born in 185 1. «62 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM Richard Hutchison Bom 1810 Died 1890 Richard Hutchison was also a product of the Mearns parish and school. It is not very clear when he went out to Miramichi. He was made manager of G., R. & Co. before the retirement of Mr. James Gilmour, and some time after that date he became a partner. After Mr. Alexander Rankin's death in 1852, he removed into Mr. Rankin's large house. He had married a Miss Mackie, a lady of distinctly excitable temperament, and as the clerks mostly lived in ' The House,' this did not make for harmony in the staff. I recollect him as being, in my opinion, a much more capable man than any of the other partners of the Colonial houses, unless it were Allan Gilmour, of Ottawa (Shotts Allan). Of strong, indeed, rugged character, quaint in manners as in speech, he lacked the elements of touch and sympathy with his fellow-creatures — ^indeed, there was much of the Puritan sourness in his disposition. The ' store ' under his regime no longer harboured the contented staff it previously had. Twice the entire staff was depleted. On the first occasion, when the Calif ornian mining fever set in, about 1850, all the clerks started out, if not gleefully, without regret RICHARD HUTCHISON 63 for what they were leaving. Of those who started for California, only one reached San Francisco, the others disposing of themselves in various positions by the way — ^New Orleans being the favourite place. This would point to their distaste for their environ- ment at Miramichi rather than to their being imbued with a desire to get rich quickly. The second occasion was in 1852, when the staff was dismissed wholesale by Mr. Hutchison. When, about 1870, all the New Brunswick firms were transferred to the partners abroad, Mr. Hutchison assumed the Uabilities of his own ; and I think his was the only case of the financial pledges to the senior partners being fully redeemed. His son, Mr. Ernest E. Hutchison continued business at Miramichi under his own name. CHAPTER III. ROBERT RANKIN and CO. St. John, N.B. Opened 1822 Closed 1876 This firm was inaugurated by Mr. Robert Rankin in May, 1822, he being then only twenty- one, and it was the second off-shoot from the parent stem. Their business and routine was much the same as that described on page 50 ; indeed, such eventually became the case with all the houses subsequently started. The selection of St. John was a wise one, for the harbour is one of the best on the American coast, and is open all winter. True, the Bay of Fundy, with its abnormal rise of tide of 70 feet, abounds in fogs even in summer, but these drawbacks did not outweigh the advantages of the port. There are indications that R. R. & Co. early took over some portion of the business of Mr. Strang, of St. Andrews, New Brunswick, who died in 1824. Doubtless, the firm had its struggles and disappoint- ments, but brains and hard work were bound to tell. All I know is that they prospered immensely, 64 ROBERT RANKIN AND CO. 65 until Mr. Rankin left for home in 1838, leaving behind him a splendid and well-organised business. Mr. John Pollok junior was then admitted a partner. He was reputed a man of brilliant parts, but whether from the removal of the guiding hand, or other causes, the business did not receive sufficient attention. John Pollok had a brother James, who was in charge of the Nashwaak mills, and who died about 1847 of consumption, accelerated, it is said, by the curse of all countries. About 1849, sinister rumours were afloat about Mr. John PoUok's habits, and the visits of Mr. Alexander Rankin to St. John were frequent ; but I think Mr. Pollok remained a partner till he died in 1852 at St. John, his wife dying the same year at Bromborough Hall, the home of her sister, Mrs. Rankin. Mr. George Young, a son of our Glasgow solicitor, had gone out to St. John in 1839, and was admitted as partner in 1845. As partner, however, he brought none of that force to bear that alone could have redeemed the situation. Possibly it was for this reason that, in 1851, Mr. Francis Ferguson was withdrawn from Bathurst, and made a partner in St. John. If the intention was to galvanise the concern, I fear the choice of man was not a happy one. At all events, things went from bad to worse. Francis Ferguson and George Young were continually at loggerheads. At length, in 1856 I believe, when at home in the Liverpool office, 66 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM Mr. Young retired, or was retired, from the concern. Mr. Gilmour was present at the interviews. The lumber lands held by the firm up the Rivers St. John and Tobique were of very considerable extent. On the Nashwaak River the firm worked extensive forests and a very large mill, in what were, for some time, very favourable circumstances, but lack of adaptability on the part of the later management to changing conditions, made it in subsequent days only an incubus. It was decided to sell the Nashwaak Mills and lands, notwithstanding their advantageous position, and they were purchased by a Mr. Gibson for a comparatively small sum. He introduced some changes of method, particularly in the mode of shipping the deals. It had previously been the practice to float the deals down to St. John, and there to sort out and classify them in piles on the wharf, where they might lie for some time, only to be unpiled, tallied and taken on shipboard. This involved considerable expense, which Mr. Gibson got rid of by floating the produce of the mill as it rose from the saw, direct to the ship loading at St. John. Thanks to the economies thus made, Mr. Gibson, in a few years, became a rich man, though he was working a property that had only brought loss under the previous management. It was the old story of Columbus and the egg. Of course, at first there was an indisposition on this side to buy cargoes that had not a specification showing the qualities as well ROBERT RANKIN AND CO. 67 as lengths, ett., but that was got over. Mr. Gibson did furnish a specification which showed the dimen- sions only, and for the rest, by consistent shipping to the larger markets, such as Liverpool, he estab- lished a reputation, and his cargoes commanded the market price relative to value received, which was all that was achieved on previous practice. An innovation it doubtless was, and there would at first be some difficulties and prejudices to overcome. Whether any proposition for adopting such a course was ever submitted to Mr. Rankin and Mr. Gilmour I do not know. I think it would have commended itself to them. The firm of R. R. & Cp. also had mills at Portland, St. John, and the original dwelling-hpuse was contiguous to the office there. The firm did not work their own shipyard, but for all purposes it was just the same. Mr. Thomson, one of the most practical and up-to-date builders of the period, possessed the confidence of Mr. Rankin, and was financed by him, and as a result, some of the finest specimens of the wooden ship of the period were turned out. Some were adopted for the furra's fleet, but in the majority of cases they were sent home to be vended in this country. Mr. Young married Mr. Thomson's daughter, and they eventually went to live in London. There was never very much Hfe in the business after Mr. Rankin left St. John, and on his 68 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM death in 1870 and the withdrawal of Mr. Allan Gilmour on 31 December of the same year, Mr. Ferguson and his son continued the business for their own behoof under the old name. The most charitable thing to say is that the luck had left the house. Their monetary undertakings to Mr. Rankin and Mr. Gilmour were never fully met, and in a few years the father, the son, and the firm were ahke dead and buried. Appended is a cutting from a St. John newspaper of March, 1894 : — The above illustration represents the wharves and warehouses of the largest export and import firm that repre- sented St. John for at least a quarter of a century. From 1822 to i860 Robert Rankin & Co. were at the head of St. John merchants. The position of the property is one of great historical interest. The mound on the left hand side of the illustration is all that remains of an extensive fortified trading post, that existed over two centuries ago. It was not merely a quantity of earth thrown up for temporary use, but a finished defensive work buUt by skilled workmen. The earth for ramparts and embrasures was brought to the spot and planted on the solid rocks — the passage ways were inlaid with beach stones, laid both with regard to size and regularity, with mathematical precision, and imbedded in cement so firmly, that if an endeavour was made to break the mass, the stones would break before the cement. After the evacuation of the French it seems as if this important point was left without a tenant, and it was not until the property became part of the Simonds estate that any effort was made to re-establish the former glory of this important business centre. Pollok, Gilmour & Co., of Glasgow, in their day and generation were one of the largest shipowners of Great Britain, ROBERT RANKIN AND CO. 69 being owners of 120 square riggers. In 1822 they commenced their campaign in Canada, and established branch houses in St. John, Chatham, Bathurst, Douglastown, Mramichi, Quebec and other ports, under the style of Robert Rankin & Co., with variations. Most of the extensive wood warehouses now standing give suf&cient proof of the enterprise. They were erected in 1825. The brick building was erected, for offices in 1842. For many years this house and its branches controlled an enormous amount of New Brunswick business. They imported for at least one-half of the merchants of St. John. In 1853 they loaded 130 square-rigged vessels. From 1825 to 1840 their ship-yard on their property turned out a large number of vessels of from 300 to 500 tons. The Si. John, Faside, Miramichi, and other well-known regular traders were built in their yard. It appears their shipbuilding department was given up, and the yard rented to Mr. George Thomson, who built the largest vessel up to that date that had been launched. She was of 700 tons register, and so great was the rejoicing that schools were closed and a general hoUday was observed on the day she took the water. Mr. Thomson was likewise the owner and resident of a marine villa, known as Thomson's ark. It appears that a piece of old Royal Navy junk in the shape of H.M. ship Dcedalus was sold to a private firm, arid found her way to St. John for a cargo, got into business difficulties, got wandering round the harbour for some time, and was finally sold to Mr. Thomson. She was a thorough oak-built vessel. Mr. Thomson conceived the more novel plan of converting the same into a residence. She was hauled up alongside the wharf and a house built there. Her lower deck served as a cellar, etc. She remained stationary at all times of tide. Mr. Thomson's ship was afterwards rented to Nevins & Co., and some of the finest vessels ever laimched in St. John can claim that spot as their birthplace. 70 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM I think the craft alluded to was one I heard Mr. Rankin speak of — The Marchioness of Queens- berry, built in 1838, and described in Lloyd's Register as 668 tons, and that her builder said of his handi- work : ' I'm thinking they'll never get ahead of, or improve on that,' or words to that effect. I heard also of an amusing incident at the launch. The conditions of wind, weather or tide being unpropitious, Mr. Rankin and Mr. Thomson were anxiously consulting as to whether it would be wise to let her go, when a very ragged Irishman interposed with : ' Ach ! let her rip ; I'll risk her.' Robert Rankin Bom at Mains House, Meams, Renfrewshire, 31 May, 1801 Married 17 March, 1829 Died 3 June, 1870 With Mr. AUan Gilmour, and several others who were afterwards associated with the firm, Robert Rankin attended the Mearns School under Mr. Jackson, of whom a short account has been given. He joined the staff at Grangemouth on his fourteenth birthday ; thence he was drafted into the Glasgow office, 15 December, 18 16, and he must have there shown decided efficiency. I remember him telling me how he came to be appointed cashier, ROBERT RANKIN 71 a duty previously religiously performed by Mr. Arthur PoUok himself. Owing to his many interviews and general work, Mr. PoUok would, not infrequently, find at the end of the day that he could not get his balance. His desk must have been within view of Mr. Rankin's, and he would call out to him that he was short so much, give him the book, and ask him if he remembered anything that would guide him. Generally Mr. Ranldn could. Ultimately, one day, Mr. PoUok said, ' I am thinking, lad, you are more fitted for this job than I am ; take it over.' I have before me Mr. Rankin's personal expenditure book, i August, 1815, to 31 December, 1822. Neither book nor expenditure is heavy. It contains the following laconic particulars : — Robert Rankin, born 31 May, 1801. Went to John Wilson, Glasgow, 4 April, 1814 ; left him 18 May, 1815. Went to Mr. A. PoUok, Grangemouth, 31 May, 1815 ; left there for Glasgow 15 December, 1816. Left Glasgow for Miramichi 10 April, 1818 ; arrived there 12 May, 1818, Left Miramichi for St. John 15 May, 1822 ; and got there 20 May, 1822. In the previous year he had made a pros- pecting trip, but, for reasons stated hereafter, he did not really start the business at St. John till the summer of 1822. 72 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM The book shows evidence of a Spartan self- discipline. The item of ' a poor woman ' often occurs, and his church donations, if not of large amount, are of weekly regularity. A present ft-om Mr. Arthur PoUok of £i is occurs more than once. Restricted in means as he must have been, he was able to afford a periodical present of snuff to one, old James Bogle. Froni the time he went to Glasgow it would seem clear that his destination was to be Miramichi, for he soon secures the services of one, Charles Du Bois, at the remuneration of £i lis 6d per quarter, to teach him French. In a few months' time he treats himself to a copy of The Adventures of Tele- machus, my own friend of later days. I never was aware that he knew a particle of French — ^he was always so reserved about himself. In November, 1817, an entry appears : — ' Received my share of my father's effects, after providing for my mother, £45.' One gleans that for his three years' services he was credited by PoUok, Gilmour & Co., with £30, £35 and £40 ; and that they appreciated these services is evidenced by their presenting him on his leaving with £40. The independent, thrifty Scotch blood was there ; he cut his coat according to his cloth ; it may be assumed not easier to do then than now. To Miramichi he went not only without liabilities, ROBERT RANKIN 73 but with a credit of £32 8s gd in PoUok, Gilmour and Co.'s books. At Miramichi he must have let himself go more freely, though still in moderation — doubtless he had no small position to maintain there. Clothes are expensive, and silk handkerchiefs are de rigueur ; balls and concerts were patronised, but these must have been of a primitive order. The church is not forgotten, but compared with other claims benefits liberally. Two items puzzle me, one which recurs to debit, for road money, and another (to credit) yearly for Treasury Warrant. Can there have been a capitation assessment for the construction of roads, and did the Treasury make a grant to the early pioneers ? At Miramichi he received a yearly salary of ;fioo sterling, plus board, and on his leaving there an amount of £398 6s sterling was transferred as on 25 February, 1823, to his credit in the books of Robert Rankin & Co., St. John. Clearly he could not be accused of extravagant living. Not the least doubt the same austerity in early life, and the same subsequent recognition of what was required of them, characterised the Gilmours, the Ritchies, and others. Mr. Rankin's account book happens to survive, but theirs would be much hke it if they could be produced. On 10 April, 1818, he had sailed for Mira- michi, and in the spring of 1821 the project arose 74 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM of his founding a firm at St. John. I remember him telling that to get there he had to travel, first by land from Miramichi to Fredericton, a distance in direct line of about 60 miles, and thence by river or road to St. John. But there was no recognised road between Miramichi and Fredericton, so he had to travel up the Miramichi River and down the Nashwaak River — probably thrice the distance. Unfortunately it fell for him that the conditions were such that it was quite impossible to travel either on wheels or by sleigh ; the snow was melting by day, and during the night a frozen crust formed on the surface, quite penetrable up to one's thigh ; this made it impossible for beast, and very irksome and painful for man to travel. But the object had to be achieved, and, accompanied by an Indian, he set out on foot for Fredericton. Between them they carried, mostly in bullion, and partly in silver Mexican dollars, the capital with which he intended to start his business. It must have been a difficult undertaking so to cover those miles, but it was done. Arriving eventually at St. John, he found conditions there, in his opinion, not such as to justify his starting in business ; so, after looking around and obtaining information which might be useful for him on another occasion, he returned to Miramichi. In the following year he travelled the same route again — ^this time on horseback, as Mr. Kirk wrote me ; there was still no road. Circumstances were now ' ROBERT RANKIN 75 much more favourable ; and thus in the summer of 1822 he opened at St. John, a business which, for many years, was both large and profitable. On 17 March, 1829, he married Ann, eldest daughter of John Strang, of St. Andrews, New Brunswick, an uncle of William Strang mentioned later. Mr, Rankin's life at St. John was an arduous one, and under him business developed quickly. What he undertook and carried through, especially during the summer season, seems beyond belief. When I visited New Brunswick in 1869, an old man who had been the stevedore for loading the ships, told me that on many occasions when he went to the office at daylight for his day's orders, he would find, not Mr. Rankin fresh after an ordinary night's rest, but Mr. Rankin who had been at work till the small hours of the morning, yet fit and ready for another day's work, having snatched an hour or two of sleep in the office itself. This sort of thing went on until, in 1838, he was recalled to Scotland by the dissensions between Mr. Gilmour senior and the PoUoks. He was accompanied by his wife and family. Amid so much strife and worry, what must mot a tombstone in the Mearns Kirkyard tell of sorrow. It is of the loss from scarlet fever, while he was staying at his partner's (Mr. Gilmour's) house, shortly after his arrival, of two of his three children. The record is of Helen Rankin, 13 December. 1838, 76 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM aged six years and four months ; Agnes Rankin, 23 December, 1838, aged four months. Earlier in the same year he had lost another child at St. John. I have it on the authority of my brother, that Mr. Rankin had for some time previously looked forward to ultimately retiring direct from the St. John house, returning to Scotland, and acquiring a property. The upheaval in the home business, and his loyalty to the concern forbade this. In the result, further extensions being thought advisable, it was decided that he should open a house in Liver- pool. After making a brief return visit to St. John, he carried out this design by opening the firm of Rankin, Gilmour and Co., Liverpool, late in 1838,. or early in 1839. He took up his residence at 64 Upper Parliament Street, then one of the most desirable neighbourhoods in Liverpool. In 185 1 he removed to Bromborough Hall, Cheshire. About 1857, with his wife, son, and daughter, he made a,. tour in Canada, New Brunswick and the United States. At the scenes of his former labpurs he was received with open arms — ^indeed, at many places he had an almost Royal reception. Mr. Rankin was a man entirely free from, ostentation, unobtrusive, a very silent man, but one to arrest attention, not from what he might say, but from his ordinary bearing. His benefactions, public and private, were as liberal as they were ROBERT RANKIN yy unostentatious. His letters were clear in con- struction, tersely expressed, and logical ; in comparison with the hasty productions of the present day, they were a pleasure to read. Indited for the guidance of the partners abroad, they were, to my own knowledge, written with a fluent pen ; but everj^hing was clear, nothing involved, and there could be no difficulty in determining his meaning. He had a perfect mastery of figures and of book- keeping — ^to him a well-kept system of books was a delight. A strong financier, this department of the home affairs soon devolved on him, and it was no Ught or easy matter. He had a love of order, was quick in decision, and maintained, as all the merchants in that day had to do, a close eye upon the leading markets and articles of produce. Once having ascertained that any article was at a price such as had not been known within any reasonable period, he had no fear in purchasing and storing to await a rise. A good buyer, he was also what few men are, a wise and competent seller, and would not regret if the buyer had a profit ; while, if the transaction turned out differently from what he had anticipated, he knew how to act promptly and minimise his loss. Of some of his successors — excellent buyers — ^it was justly said : ' Leave to them the buying, but to the office-boy the directions about selling.' An instance of his kindly disposition and 78 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM unflinching sense of duty was furnished me by Mr. Jardine when speaking of his early reminiscences. He was apprentice and salesman to Dempsey, Frost and Co., to whose business he eventually succeeded. Mr. Dempsey was an eccentric character, also a speculator, and the usual position was that while a goodly sum might stand to his credit in the partnership account, a larger was at his debit on his private account. Such was the position when he died, holding considerable undeveloped property, terribly encumbered. His sons-in-law, John Torr and Thomas H. Holderness, merchants in Liverpool, and Mr. Rankin were his executors. His affairs were in such a tangle, and his financial position so involved, that the former two, after due consideration, could see no other course than to resort to the Court of Chancery. That would have left the widow penniless. They withdrew, and Mr. Rankin, single- handed, carried on the executorship, succeeded in compromising claims, advanced money to develop the property, and after infinite worry, when he handed over the Trust some years before his death, Mrs. Dempsey was in receipt of an income of jfSoo a year therefrom. For sport he had no great predilection, though, as I have said, if he had followed his own liking he would, in 1838, have settled down to a country life, for he had a love for farming and especially for live stock, a taste which he was able ROBERT RANKIN 79 to exercise to a greater or less degree from 185 1 onwards, when he went to live at Bromborough. He liked his beasties, and they loved him. Mr. Rankin early made his mark in Liverpool, and was quickly singled out for election to the old Dock Committee, subsequently constituted as the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board. Of this latter he was elected Chairman (January, 1862) — the highest honour Liverpool has to bestow. An unusual incident in connection therewith was the friendly rivalry between Mr. Rankin and Mr. Ralph Brocklebank, each desirous to place the other in the Chair. Neither were men disposed to alter their judgment once formed, but Mr. Brockle- bank was even less accustomed than most of his generation to have his will thwarted, and Mr. Rankin eventually yielded and assumed the Chair. About 1865 or so, I remember him being invited to meet and advise, with a small committee of experts, in regard to the financial affairs of the Great Western Railway, then in a dubious, if not parlous, condition. His, I was informed, was the guiding hand in their deliberations ; the investigation was a continuous and prolonged one, and on the scheme they eventually drew up, the company floated into its present prosperous state. Natural diffidence, I think, prevented him really enjoying the position of Chairman of the Dock Board, nor was he altogether in good health. He 8o A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM resigned that office in November, 1863, and was succeeded by Mr. Brocklebank. As an instance of his public spirit I have the following from Mr. John Temple, one of the actors in the lapng and recovering of the first Atlantic cable. There was considerable difficulty in raising the funds to start the enterprise, then considered very quixotic. Mr. Rankin early advanced £1,000 thereto. After the first failure there was immensely more difficulty in gathering together the funds for raising the lost cable and for making a second attempt. Only few words were required, and he advanced a further £1,000. His love for progress doubtless dictated the action that so many as well placed refrained from, for to my knowledge he eschewed the use of the cable or the telegraph wire as much as he could. The life-long strain of heavy physical and not less heavy brain work, combined, if I may say so, with the all too regular life he had led, forbade that elasticity and power to rebound that Nature required. With Mrs. Rankin, he made a long trip to the Mediterranean, but came back none the better, rather worse. About this time, on 23 August, 1869, there happened the greatest trouble of his Hfe, the death of his daughter, Annie Maclver, who was drowned at Menai Straits ; a cruel blow in his enfeebled state of health. Mr. Rankin received the news, stunned possibly, but with characteristic ROBERT RANKIN 8l calmness — ' God's will be done ' were the only words he uttered — ^but the sorrow of it entered his soul. Her life of usefiilness was all too short ; she was probably somewhat in advance of what was at the period considered to be a woman's sphere. She had high ideals, was practical, and to do good was her aim. It was she — the first to move in such a direction — who induced the Cunard Co. to provide facilities and accommodation for the Company's clerks dining on the premises at, to themselves, very much reduced cost. This was before the day of cafes, and also of tramway facilities for their getting home to lunch. With her, too, was the inception of a house of resi- dence (the first in England) for shop girls whose homes were not in Liverpool, and subsequently the name of Bromborough House was given to the home in her memory. Not by any means of the advanced- woman type of to-day, there was much, I believe, of social improvement she would have accomplished had her life been prolonged. Mr. Rankin never properly recovered health or spirits, and died at Bromborough on 3 June, 1870. I know of no more abstemious and devoted life. His wife and life-long helpmate continued to reside at Bromborough Hall till 1873. She then went to live at Manor Lodge, Bournemouth, where she died 5 February, 1875. Of his family of seven children, f oiu: died young ; Sir James Rankin alone survived to a ripe age. 82 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM Sir James Rankin, Bart., J.P., D.L. (M.P. 1880-1906 and 1910-1913) Bryngwyn, Hereford Bom 25 December, 1842 Married 12 January, 1865 Created Baronet, 1898 Died 17 April, 1915 James Rankin, the only son who survived to maturity of the family of Robert Rankin, was educated at first privately, subsequently at the Royal Institution School, Liverpool, and at Trinity College, Cambridge (ist Class Natural Science Tripos, 1865), He married in the same year Annie Laura, daughter of Christopher Bushell, J.P., of Hinderton, Cheshire. During that winter he attended pretty regularly at Rankin, Gilmour & Co.'s office, but not with any idea of coming there permanently. He devoted himself mostly to acquiring a knowledge of book- keeping. Mr. Rankin, about this time, 1865, purchased the estate of Brjoigwj^, in Herefordshire, and conveyed it by deed of gift to his son, who, a year or two later, purchased the Lyston estate adjoining, making in all a property of 3,300 acres, and thither went to reside in 1866. He built a new residence, 1868-70, a fine country seat, and imme- diately found in the district plenty of scope for all SIR JAMES RANKIN, BART. 83 his energies. He joined the Hereford Rifle Volun- teers, of which he became major, bestowed much time and attention on all matters agricultural, was no mean breeder of high-class stock, gave much attention to the better organisation of the friendly societies, and worked hard for the good of all classes in the community. He was largely instrumental in the founding and building of an Agricultural College outside Hereford, which, however, failed to be properly utilised, and is now turned into a most •successful training college for women teachers. He built and presented to the city an excellent free library. In this, as in all matters educational, he was a pioneer. In 1880 he was elected member for Leominster Borough, after a stout contest, and sat therefor till, under the Redistribution BiU, it was disfranchised. Thereafter he sat, 1 886-1906, 1910- 1913, for the Leominster Division of Herefordshire. To devote so many years of one's life to Parlia- mentary work — work in the real sense — ^the while giving a broad-minded and active interest to matters philanthropic, imperial as well as local, means a big strain, however strong the wiU and the constitution. He did not relax in his work on the Herefordshire County Council, of which he was an Alderman ; upon him as Chairman of its Education Committee fell much arduous effort, both before and after the passing of the Act of 1902. The most of 84 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM the organisation and reorganisation fell upon his shoulders. While Parliament was sitting, most Friday evenings he returned to Bryngwyn for his committees, etc., at Hereford on Saturdays and Mondays, returning to the House on Monday afternoon. He was appointed to the position of Chief Steward of the City of Hereford in 1878, the duties of the position being honorary. True, he resigned the Mastership of the Fox Hounds, which he had held from 1877 to 1884, but meantime he had become Chairman of the Central Emigration Society, and also of the National Provident League in London. He introduced a Bill for Old Age Pensions, which Mr. Chamberlain backed, but he did not succeed in obtaining a place for its second reading. He devoted himself strenuously to party political organisation ; he was Chairman of the National Union in 1894, and treasurer of that Union till 1906, when he lost his seat in North Herefordshire. He was Chairman for many years of the Midland Division of the National Union, covering ten counties, and also for twenty-five years was Chairman or President over the county party organisation. He certainly worked hard for the good of the community ; his labours, like those of John Gilmour, were fitly recognised by a baronetcy. In Parliament, instead of posing before the reporters, he devoted himself largely to Committee work, of which he was allotted probably more than his full share; and SIR JAMES RANKIN, BART. 85 of several Committees he was Chairman, e.g., the Committees on the widening of the Strand, the London Water Companies, and an important Select Committee on the production and sale of gas by the London Gas Companies. In appreciation of his services the county — all conditions and colours of politics — subscribed for, and in 1907 presented to him his portrait by H. G. Herkomer, a replica of which was given to the Shire Hall. He contributed several papers upon social as well as scientific subjects ; among the former, ' State Emigration,' ' Housing of the Poor,' and ' Old Age Pensions.' While I cannot say he worked himself to death, his almost too constant devotion to the duties devolved on him involved such strain that he fell into bad health, and died in 1915. To such men the country owes more than it acknowledges ; the worst of it is that to the wilUng horse is always left the heft of the work. His son, Reginald, succeeded to the baronetcy and lives on the property. 86 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM John Pollok junr. and George Young. Bom — Bom 1820 Married Margaret Strang Married Miss Thomson, Died 1832 St. John, about 1854 Died 27 December, 1909 It is convenient to place these two men together. They were successors to Mr. Robert Rankin when he left St. John. John Pollok had been some years in St. John before George Young came out, and it was to him that the partnership and control were given at the time above referred to, 1838-9. He had for some time previously proved an assiduous assistant to Mr. Rankin. George Young was a son of Mr. (ieorge Young, of Messrs. G. & A. Young, solicitors, Glasgow, who conducted our Glasgow firm's legal business from start to finish. His father lived at 22 Carlton Place, next door to the PoUoks and Allan Gilmour senior. He entered the Glasgow office in 1834, attending the University classes at the same time. In 1839 he went out to St. John. From what is before me, Mr. Young was somewhat disappointed that two years later he, being then twenty-one, was not, as he had anticipated, admitted into partnership — a, somewhat ambitious aspiration. JOHN POLLOK JUNR. AND GEORGE YOUNG 87 In 1841, when in ordinary course he expected he would have become a partner, losses had accumu- lated. Evidently the dry-rot had soon set in. It was not considered fair that he should be burdened with such losses, so it was arranged to defer his admission as partner. He became a partner in 1845. In 1841 and subsequent years, the nerves and sinews of all the houses were strained to meet the inexorable demands of A. G. senior upon them. As Mr. Young was not without capital, I think it most probable that the recognition of the liability that would be assumed, and a sense of what was due to a young man entering life in the circumstances then existent, deterred Mr. Alexander Rankin from assuming him earlier into the partnership. I first met Mr. Young about 1856, when he was staying at the old Waterloo Hotel, Liverpool, which stood where the Central Station now is. I imagine he returned to St. John, but in i860 — certainly 1861 — ^he had established himself here. I remember him as a delightfully pleasant man, with the hopefulness of a Micawber, and the cheerfulness of a Mark Tapley ; but his affairs did not prosper. He ultimately went to London to live, and on 27 December, 1909, aged 89, died at 21, Beechcroft Mansions, Streatham. John PoUok was proud, self-reliant and a general favourite. Not less a favourite was George Young; both were social successes, but in the 88 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM business dismal failures. This undoubtedly suffered from want of attention. John Pollok either built or acquired a somewhat pretentious house on Prince William Street, ever called the PoUok house. I do not know but that he made it firm's property, for it was there that Francis Ferguson afterwards went to live. The guiding hand of Mr. Robert Rankin had been removed, and neither John Pollok nor George Yoimg could "carry corn," neither did they work in accord. Mr. Pollok's habits became irregular. No such allegation can be made about George Young ; but he was easy-going, good-natured and lacking in force. It sufficed Mr. Pollok to come to the office late and go early. Mr. Young rarely appeared till 6 p.m. and left soon after, in each case one cancelling largely what the other had done. What could such management avail ? Useless were the frequent visits of the all too kindly-hearted Alexander Rankin from Miramichi, to try and mend matters — ^an Allan Gihnour senior to fire the actors out would have been a benefit probably to the men themselves, no less than to the concern. John Pollok died at St. John in 1852, and in the same year his wife, who had come home the previous year, died at Bromborough Hall, a grief-stricken, heart-broken woman. To fill his place Francis Ferguson had been withdrawn from Bathurst, but I doubt if this effected any improvement. John Pollok and George Young had at least lived in peace and harmony ; now it was JOHN POLLOK JUNR. AND GEORGE YOUNG 89 a cat-and-dog life between George Young and Francis Ferguson. Probably less successful than any of his compeers and juniors, he survived every one of them — say those who were either partners or employees in responsible positions in any of the concerns at the time he was so connected with our firm, including those who were at that time serving their novitiate. Some of these eventually became partners, e.g., George W. Hoghton, William Strang, Robert Rankin junior, George Sheriff, James A. Bryson. Such was equally the case with the partners resident abroad. Mr. Hill, who practically remained in active service to the last, and so claimed to be the remnant of the ' Old Guard,' pre-deceased him by one year. To end a somewhat dismal chapter, as stated under R. R. & Co., George Young retired, or was retired, in 1856. CHAPTER IV. ALLAN GILMOUR and CO. Quebec. Opened 1828 Closed 1878 This firm was opened in 1828 by Mr. Allan. Gilmour, subsequently of Glasgow and of Montrave. He had, during the earlier part of the year, along with Mr. Allan Gilmour senior and Mr. Ritchie, made a very extended tour, with the view to posting themselves as to the capabilities of the several districts they went through, to meet the require- ments, not only of their own firms, but also of the needs of the firms of the so-called lower ports — St. John, Miramichi, Bathurst and Dalhousie. A copy of a portion of his log on this tour will be found in Appendix II to this volume. In the light of to-day it is peculiar reading. Those were not the days of express trains opulently equipped with, dining-saloons and sleeping-cars. The firm's timber storage ground and pond, was at Wolfe's Cove, just above Quebec (so styled because General Wolfe effected his memorable landing. 90 ALLAN GILMOUR AND CO. 91 there), near the very high ground of the equally memorable Plains of Abraham. In addition to the timber business, he estab- lished a shipyard, and entered upon a considerable building programme, which was continued by the firm down to 1870. Probably the most successfiil vessel turned out was the Advance, 1466 register — a leviathan of her day. The firm's business in lumber extending, they established another and very extensive deep-water cove at the extreme entrance to the port, on the Point Levis side of the river, named Indian Cove. It was from there that in later years the bulk of the business was conducted, though much of the preparation of the lumber was still done at Wolfe's Cove, and the timber was towed down on the tide by heavy row-boats, to be shipped at Indian Cove. In passing, it may be of interest to mention that in towing spars or tapered timber, instead of the narrow end being towed first, it was the butt or thick end, justifying the old adage as to the true sailing-ship model — ' Cod's head, Salmon taU.' It was at Indian Cove, the only place practic- able on account of the lateness of the season, that the English troops were landed in the early winter of 1862, at the time of the so-called ' Mason and Slidell,' or 'Trent' affair with the United States. It was always the Cove that closed latest in the winter, and opened earliest in spring. 92 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM In what year the senior Allan Gilmour carried through his big ' corner ' in timber, to which I have already alluded, I cannot tell. After Mr. Gilmour came home to Glasgow, his brothers John and David Gilmour, who had been associated with him at Quebec since 1832, became partners. The Gazette notice of date 2 June, 1857, refers to the death of David, and to the retirement of James Gilmour, and sets forth that ' the business heretofore carried on at Quebec under the firm of Allan Gilmour & Co., and at Montreal under the firm of Gilmour & Co., and the several subordinate establishments in Canada therewith connected, would be carried on by Allan Gilmour, Glasgow; Robert Rankin, Liverpool ; John Gilmour, Quebec ; Allan Gilmour, Ottawa.' Mr. John Gilmour was thenceforward the resident partner at Quebec, Mr. McNaughten being his right-hand man; and Mr. NicoU, his co-equal, undertook the onerous duty of visiting this country twice each year to sell their output. There were probably more changes in the constitution of this than in any of the firms, Montreal of course excepted, where the partners were from first to last identical with those at Quebec. In 1828 it opened with Allan Gilmour senior, John and Arthur PoUok, Allan Gilmour and Wm. Ritchie as partners. ALLAN GILMOUR AND CO. 93 In 1838 Allan Gilmour senior retires, and John and David Gilmour, of Quebec, also Robert Rankin, are admitted. In 1841 Mr. Ritchie retires, and AUan Gilmour (subsequently of Ottawa) and James Gilmour above named, are admitted. In 1850 the Messrs. PoUok retire — ^by i January, 1858, the names of David and James had been withdrawn, the former by death, the latter being retired on account of irregularity of habits — ^the partners now remaining being Allan Gilmour, John Gilmour, Robert Rankin, and Allan Gilmour of Ottawa. 31 December, 1869, Mr. Rankin's name, by decease, is withdrawn. 31 December, 1872, Mr. Allan Gilmour of Ottawa retired. 25 February, 1877, Mr. John Gilmour died, and Mr. Allan Gilmour, Glasgow, aU unwilling, becomes the sole surviving partner. I say all unwiUing, for I think there is not the slightest doubt that he had only remained in from a sense of loyalty to the two firms he had taken part in founding, and to his own brother. He con- tinued his interest in the Canadian firms (to his monetary disadvantage) after he had retired from his own firm at Glasgow. Eventually he withdrew, as from 31 December, 1877, aUke from Gilmour and Co. and Allan Gilmour & Co., in favour of AUan,. 94 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM John and David Gilmour, sons of John Gilmour; John David, son of David Gilmour ; and Peter McNaughten, the Quebec manager. This partnership was, I think, short-lived. John Gilomur, afterwards Sir John, of Montrave, about 1878 found it necessary to visit Canada, and there was a spht. The brothers Allan and David Gilmour joined -together and assumed the management of the Trenton Mills, under the style of Gilmour & Co. The cousins John and John David joined together and assumed the management of Gatineau Mills, under the name of John Gilmour & Co. Peter McNaughten retired. The business thereafter, as indeed it had been during the immediately preceding partnership, was largely, if not entirely with the United States in sawn lumber, and in articles and accessories manufactured at the Mills. Allan died ig May, 1903, and his brother David became established in the United States as a manufacturer of doors. John David, usually known as Jack Gilmour, died 7 April, 1898, having previously sold his interest to a Mr. Hughson, and the business was carried on by Mr. John GUmour and Mr. Hughson under the style of Gilmour and Hughson. The Gatineau Mills business is therefore all that remains in the Gilmour name of the once ALLAN GILMOUR OF QUEBEC AND GLASGOW 95 well-known and extensive firms of Allan Gilmour and Co., Quebec, and Gilmour & Co., Montreal, and subordinate establishments — the Trenton concern having gone into liquidation. Allan Gilmour OF Quebec and Glasgow Bom 29 September, 1805 Married Agnes Strang, 1839 Died 18 November, 1884 Allan Gilmour was bom at Craigton, Mearns, 29 September, 1805, and entered the Glasgow office in 1818, or 1819, at the same time as his cousin William Ritchie. It may be taken for granted their income and expenditure accounts were as restricted as was that of Mr. Robert Rankin. Allan Gilmour went to Miramichi in 1821. In 1824 he went to Bathurst, N.B. — I understand more from a desire to learn French from the local padre than for any purpose of business there, and as French would be still more requisite to him in Canada. In 1825 he came back to Glasgow, and spent a year at Greenock learning ship-draughting, and in 1826-27 we hear of him in St. John, then the most advanced place in shipbuilding in the colonies, though now the industry is dead there. In 1828 he founded 96 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM Allan Gilmour & Co., of Quebec. His dwelling- house was first at Wolfe's Cove, and subsequently at ' Marchmont ' on the height just above it. Full of resource, and of active habits, he would seem to have rejoiced in the amount of work he overcame. Early each summer morning he might have been found on his way up to Cap Rouge, some miles away, where the rafts, daily coming down for the market, were first boomed. Any fresh arrivals he would have personally gone over and inspected, to see if they worth purchasing, and perhaps eight o'clock would see him back for breakfast. He had early quahfied in ship-construction, in which he had great delight. Under his foreman shipbuilder, Mr. McCord, and subsequently Mr. Dick, he turned out many excellent specimens, certainly not lacking in strength, as their subsequent history showed, and for the special purposes of the firm, namely, the carrying of the largest cargo of timber practicable, they could not be excelled. This pur- pose entailed lines that did not add to their sailing capacity in light winds, but with a strong wind few craft could hold alongside such vessels as the Advance, and some of the others. They carried no figure- heads. It is said that on one occasion when AUan Gilmour represented to his uncle, A. G. senior, the improvement in their appearance these would give, the answer promptly came, ' No, they won't thereby carry any more wood.' As to knowledge pertaining ALLAN GILMOUR OF QUEBEC AND GLASGOW 97 to the build and equipment of wooden ships, Mr. Gilmour was one of the most prominent and efficient shipowners of his day. He was frequently requisitioned to give evidence before Parliamentary Committees. I know of two, at any rate, that on the Navigation Laws, and again that on the Tonnage Measurement of Ships, but there were others. He was a man of quick, possibly impulsive temperament, and of strong will ; somewhat irreconcilable if thwarted, but whatever there was of haste in his temper it was generally quickly over. As an instance of nerve, I have heard from our old captains that when, as he regularly did, he was examining the condition of the ships at the Clyde, and how they had been maintained, instead of doing so by walking along the stringer by the 'tween deck beams, he would skip down the centre line of the ship from beam to beam, spaced 4 feet apart, with unerring certainty, and equally unerring eye for any- thing that might be wrong. Of course, long practice on floating logs of timber would lend some facility to this work ; still, it showed a very strong nerve, as probably 14 feet lay below, and certainly nothing soft to fall upon ; this too, when he was well past middle age. He and Alexander Rankin were summoned to Glasgow at the time of the dissensions between Allan Gilmour senior and the Polloks, to confer with the Polloks and act for the other foreign 98 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM partners. In the result he ultimately remained there to succeed his uncle in the active part of the management of PoUok, Gilmour & Co. In 1839 he made a further short trip out to Canada, but I do not know that he made a subsequent one. On this occasion he married Miss Agnes Strang, of St. Andrews, N.B. His dwelling-house at Glasgow was 180 St. Vincent Street, which is now given over to legal chambers. Much devolved upon him there, and yet his work cannot have been anjrthing like so exacting as it was abroad. If he missed his moose hunting during the winter in Canada, he was able here to take an hour or two, once or twice a week, with his gun or rod, for he too, like his uncle, was a keen sportsman. I remember in 1856 spending a summer holiday with the Hutchisons, by invitation, at South Walton, and Mr. Gilmour at that time (before the Twelfth) often came out to fish the Snipe's Dam, or the Hairlaw Dam. The tradition of us boys was that, keen for exercise, he had lead filled in the butt end of his rod, so as to give him more work. On one occasion we had got a loan from a neighbouring farm servant of an ' Otter,' and were working the illicit instrument with fairly satisfactory results on the Snipe's Dam, when our look-out man reported Mr. Gilmour as coming down upon us. We were scared to a degree, bolted for home, and regardless of supper went to bed. ALLAN GILMOUR OF QUEBEC AND GLASGOW 99 Much to our relief next morning there was only a very quizzical look and nothing said. Perhaps it reminded him of some of his own early escapades. He had greater opportunities for enjo5dng the gun after he had rented Ardlamont, in the Kyles of Bute. He had no use for driven birds, nor yet for the breech-loader, but shot over and watched the working of his dogs, in the selection of which he took great care. To him the dogs were a part of the sport, and fair-doing required that the dog should have some little rest while the gun was being loaded, and not as with the breech-loader, be quickly rushed along after rapid re-loading. He probably took, at this period, somewhat more leisure than did his compeer, Robert Rankin, of Liverpool. In different ways they were each fond of the country, and of the land from which they had sprung. Shortly before his death he acquired the estates of Lundin and Montrave in Fifeshire, which he bestowed upon his only remaining son, John, who, till ill-health supervened, lived, though in a different way, the strenuous life his father lived and loved. He was a partner in all the concerns both home and foreign, until the date of his retirement (from all except those in Canada), 31 December, 1870 ; and he died at 4 Park Gardens, Glasgow, on 18 November, 1884. 100 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM I wish I had known more, and thereby could have written more about Mr. Gilmour. As a builder of the firm, and as regards share interest therein,, he was co-equal with Mr. Robert Rankin. Sir John Gilmour, Bart., J.P., V.D., D.L.. OF LUNDIN AND MONTRAVE, AND SOUTH WALTON. Born 24 July, 1845 Married 18 September, 1873, at Quebec, Miss Henrietta Gilmour Created Baronet, 1897 Died 21 July, 1920 The son, and only surviving member of the family of Allan Gilmour, Glasgow, John Gilmour was educated at Glasgow and Edinburgh Academies, and Edinburgh University. I do not think that he under- took any regular work in PoUok, Gilm.our & Co.'s office, but from time to time kept himself posted with what was passing there. He entered the Argyllshire Volunteer Artillery, Karnes Section, March, 1868, and was Second Lieutenant there for nearly six years, in fact till on leaving the neighbourhood. He joined the Fife Light Horse in April, 1874 — a. very distinctive and strong regiment — ^as Second Lieutenant ; Cap- tain, June, 1881 ; Honorary Major, Jime, 1890 1 SIR JOHN GILMOUR, BART. loi Lieutenant-Colonel, October, 1895 ; Honorary Colonel Commanding, 1900. Then the regiment merged into the Fife and Forfar Imperial Yeomanry ; he was their Colonel till 1904, when he accepted the Hon. Colonelcy. It will be seen, therefore, that his total commissioned service is over thirty-six years, not counting his Honorary Colonelcy after relin- quishing active command in 1904. He therefore well earned his V.D. He was out in Canada — sometimes on pleasure, and on other occasions on his father's affairs, and closing his partnerships — ^in 1868-69, 1872, 1873, 1877-78. In 1873 he married his cousin. Miss Henrietta Gilmour, second daughter of David Gil- mour, Quebec, deceased. He succeeded to the Lundin and Montrave estates and South Walton in 1884 (about 4,500 acres) but long before that we find him actively engaged in all matters specially connected with his county, also in wider affairs coimected with agriculture, stock breeding, etc. Especially into these latter matters he threw a great deal of interest, and at his own expense, and on a large scale, carried out experimental and research work, the information culled therefrom being freely at the disposal of all interested. He contested East Fife in the Conservative interest in 1885, in the Unionist interest in 1892 and in 1895. In the last two contests, in a distinctly Radical and Miners' Division he fought Mr. Asquith, the late Prime 102 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM Minister, and the poll he made is indication of the esteem in which he was held in the county. His hearty, cheery manner endeared him everywhere. Had his politics been Radical it would have been a poor chance for any Conservative. His portrait, by Sir George Reid, was presented to him in Decem- ber, 1886, by his political and other friends and supporters in the county. He held many honourable positions, of which I may mention : Convener of the Commis- sioners of Supply for Fife ; President of the Scottish Union of Conservative Associations ; Member of the Royal Commission on Horse Breeding ; Member of Royal Commission on Agriculture, 1893-97 ; a leading Director, and Hon. Secretary of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland ; and also a Member of Committee of the Royal Agricultural Society in England. He took an active interest in the County Council of Fife, of which he became Chairman. In 1886 he was made Deputy- Lieutenant of Fife. Sir John Gilmour was brought up to the use of the gun, was a keen sportsman, a good shot, and an enthusiastic stalker. Long- ago an unfortunate accident, while out shootmg, deprived him of the use of one eye. He was joint-master of the Fife Fox-hounds, along with the late Captain Middleton, for the season 1896-7. After the latter's death that year he became sole master, which position he held JOHN, DAVID AND JAMES GILMOUR 103 for six seasons. Of his fishing prowess on the Godbout I speak elsewhere. It is hard to assess the value in a country district — ^removed so far as his sphere was from my own — of such an active and enthusiastic worker as Sir John Gilmour. Of him, as of Sir James Rankin, it may be said, he did as much for the county and country in which he Uved as any man. Neither he nor Sir James Rankin Uved to enjoy the leisure they had so well earned. He died 21 July, 1920. John Gilmour David Gilmour quebec quebec Bom 1812 Bom 1815 Married Miss Caroline Married Miss Matilda White White Made partner 1840 Made partner 1840 Died 25 February, 1877 Died 1857 James Gilmour montreal Bom 1818 Married Made partner 1840 Died about 1850 Messrs. David and John Gilmour, Quebec, and James Gilmour, Montreal, were brothers of 104 ^ HISTORY OF OUR FIRM Mr. Allan Gilmour. Their mother, I am told, had three sets of twins ; and one account claims that John and David were twins, but I have authority for the dates given above. Scotch parents were strangely persistent in repeating the name of a deceased child, and it seemed part of their creed to stick to family names. I believe these three, with Mr. Allan Gilmour, were the male portion of the family of John Gilmour of Craigton, Mearns, that survived infancy. Though one account makes it 1830, I believe that David and John went out to the Quebec concern in 1832, and as their brother James, with Allan Gilmour of Shotts, went out to the Montreal concern in the same year, it would seem likely they all went in one party. Under their brother, Mr. Allan, at Quebec, Messrs. David and John would not find their work lacking. The Quebec business had so developed that there would be plenty of work for them at the booms and the office. Whether Mr. David took any part in the shipyard I do not know — Mr. John did. This work was mostly conducted in the winter months when other business would be closed, and labour cheap. Mr. David I have heard spoken of as a very capable, light-hearted, attractive man, quick in despatching his work, also quick-tempered like all the Gilmours of that period. His death, through sudden illness at Rutland, on his way to New York en route for England, about 1857, was a heavy loss JOHN, DAVID, AND JAMES GILMOUR 105 to his firm. His widow, afterwards Mrs. Farquhar- son Smith, died 4 June, 1904, at Thorngrove, Worcestershire, then the home of her youngest -daughter, Mrs. Walter Chamberlain. Mr. John was in manner more reserved. He was not a man that you readily got much further with. Outside of his home he immersed himself in his work and seemed somewhat careworn, severe and suspicious. His death occurred shortly after the McDuff defalcations. Neither Mr. David nor Mr. John had the old prospecting to do that Mr. Allan had in former days undertaken with such zest, but each winter — ^if not wanted on this side — ^they undertook visits to the Camps, and weary work shoeing over the snow it must have been. Combined therewith, however, they had a good deal of Moose hunting. Like all the Gilmours they were of wiry constitution and keen hunters, and the day's work snow-shoeing they would put in would put to shame most of our modern sportsmen. On the ground a hole scraped in the snow, with some fir boughs over it, was good enough bed for them. Human warmth below, and the heat from the breath, would ensure an effective breathing hole above should further -snow fall. Of Mr. James, at Montreal, I only gather he was a genial soul — for his own good a too convivial •one; of his work I know nothing. CHAPTER V. WILLIAM RITCHIE and CO., MONTREAL, Subsequently GILMOUR and CO. Founded 1828 Style altered to Gilmour & Co., 1841 Closed 1878-9 Mr. Allan Gilmour senior, Mr. Wm. Ritchie,, and Mr. Allan Gilmour had completed their Canadian business tour (commenced on 5 June) on 22 July, 1828, and although Articles of Partnership — ^which. I cannot ignore — only bear date i March, 1829, there cannot be the least doubt that immediately after this 22 July, 1828, both Mr. Ritchie, at Montreal, and Mr. Gilmour, at Quebec, were engaged at least, in setting their nets, if not, as is more likely, in active business. It must be remembered that Mr. Gilmour had to get home, not necessarily at once, and travelling — ^more particularly by sea — ^in those days was not conducted with any unseemly haste. It is useless to suppose that these gentlemen spent the intervening nine months in idleness. The Cyclopedia of Canadian Biography (1886), in an article revised by Mr. Allan Gilmour of Ottawa,, says : — ' The Montreal firm was established at the 106 WILLIAM RITCHIE AND CO. 107 same time as that of Quebec, under the management of William Ritchie, a nephew of Mr. Gilmour senior of the Glasgow firm. This house was known as William Ritchie & Co., and it carried on for many years a wholesale dry goods and grocery business, besides supplying parties engaged in the management of square timber and other lumber in Canada and New Brunswick, and further it conducted the con- siderable financial operations connected therewith.' Messrs. Wm. Ritchie & Co.'s business was in two ways essential to the foreign houses ; and as regards the home firm, if we must admit that it is essential first to provision, and secondly to pay the bills of our offspring, then to the full extent were W. R. & Co. essential to the home firm also. One can imagine, on the arrival of a mail, the Montreal letter being accorded a first place, as, on the advice therein of heavy or light drawings, would depend the equanimity and digestion of the home partners. Drawing bills is easy work ; accepting them equally so ; with the arranging of finance to meet them comes the rub. Montreal was and is the money centre of Canada — ^it occupies a position in that respect akin to London — and finance was a very necessary feature in the operations of the various establishments. It was also the centre of the provision trade, and enormous supplies had to be purchased and forwarded to the New Brunswick as well as to the Canadian lumber I08 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM parties. Whether to survey the various aspects of Ihe money market and take favourable opportunities of placing exchange, or correctly to judge the con- ditions surrounding the market for the more material food supplies for the lumber parties in Canada and New Brunswick and the stores in the latter province, a man of good parts, of clear and astute judgment, was required. In 1832, referred to in the Canadian Cyclopedia as ' the first year of the dread -cholera period,' there came out from Glasgow, as assistants, Mr. James GUmour (a younger brother of Messrs. John and David Gilmour, then at Quebec), also Allan GUmour of Shotts. Mr. Ritchie's retirement, while possibly not a direct result of the retirement of Mr. Allan Gilmour senior, was probably a by-product of it, the two having been in direct touch with each other for many years. His withdrawal from the concern bears date I January, 1841, and on this date the above-named Allan Gilmour of Shotts, and James Gilmour were admitted, and the style of the firm altered to Gilmour & Co. The Ottawa (then Bytown) firm of Gilmour and Co., seems to have been formed at this time with Mr. Hamilton — ^a connection of the Gilmours — as manager, under the close supervision of Mr. Allan Gilmour (Shotts), who himself had to assume resi- dence and control there in 1853. James Gilmour was the last partner resident in Montreal. He was WILLIAM RITCHIE AND CO. 109- retired on to a farm shortly after 1856, and Mr. Allan Gilmour (Shotts), henceforward styled as of Ottawa, came back temporarily . Then, I believe, a Mr. White, previously head clerk {brother-in-la,w to John and David Gilmour of Quebec), held the procuration for a time. Speaking of the period that comes within my own knowledge, Mr. Thomas McDuff, of a well- known Edinburgh family, held the procuration. I do not think there was much more than an annual visit from the Quebec and Ottawa partners at balancing times. On such occasions Mr. Allan, Gilmour of Ottawa sent home a closely written,, closely reasoned letter of unlimited folios, reviewing the past season's work and future prospects, more especially in regard to the milling operations. These were almost the only occasions on which he did officially write home. While the book-keeping and the provisioning of the up-country mills and camps centred at Montreal, their operation and direction emanated from Mr. Allan Gilmour of Ottawa, no doubt in consultation with the partners at Quebec. Mr. McDuff was a man much respected in Montreal, and everywhere trusted — certainly he held, the full confidence of the partners — ^yet early in 1877 it was found he had not only much abused this trust but had absconded. When he disappeared he left a statement of all his shortages, and how they occurred. He had no A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM been in the habit of speculating in pork for Gilmour and Co., and having made some heavy losses, was told not to speculate any more without the consent of the partners. In his anxiety to redeem his previous losses he disobeyed, with the result of only getting deeper, and he was afraid to meet Mr. John Gilmour. Mr. Allan Gilmour of Ottawa had retired in 1872. The event fell as a terrible blow upon Mr. John Gilmour, and he never afterwards properly looked up. His body was found under the ice at Montreal the following spring. The firm's subsequent iiistory is one of liquidation — truly a gloomy ending. William Ritchie Bom 24 August, 1804 Married Miss Mary Strang, i September, 1834 Died 17 January, 1856 Born at Langton, Mearns, a nephew of Allan Gilmour senior, WUliam Ritchie and Allan Gilmour were first cousins, and from the earliest days great friends — ^they sat on the same bench at the Mearns School, together proceeded to PoUok, Gilmour and Co.'s office, and lodged together at Glasgow. The first separation took place in 1821, when Allan Gilmour was sent to Miramichi, and William Ritchie to Grange- mouth to learn ship-draughting. The friendship was, however, soon to be renewed ; in 1822 Mr. Ritchie also WILLIAM RITCHIE iii ioUowed to Miramichi. There, doubtless, he pursued the usual routine of store and outdoor business. What this meant I give, later on, some indication, obtained from my brother Alexander, who went through somewhat of the same schooling at a later period. Suffice it to say, it gave full occupation both to mind and body. It is natural to suppose that Mr. Ritchie's shipbuilding and ship-designing education at Grangemouth was utilised at the Mira- michi shipyard. What follows, however, is that he who had studied shipbuilding goes to Montreal to manage store, finance, and bu5dng, and Allan Gilmour builds ships at Quebec. I give hereafter an account of the tour made along with his cousin and Allan Gilmour senior in 1828. Presumably of intention this had been under- taken in the summer, and made less arduous than ^ome of its predecessors, on account of the senior's advancing years. The winter was the time usually devoted to prospecting. Truly the men of that generation took their trips — ^if these were their pleasures — seriously, and with an eye to business. His firm were the bankers for all the foreign concerns. The work at Montreal was responsible, and involved much detail. The place itself for residence would be the most desirable in Canada. Neither Mr. Ritchie nor Mr. Robert Rankin was actually home at the time of the re-arrangements consequent upon Mr. Gilmour senior's severance 112 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM from the PoUoks. They were respectively repre- sented by Mr. Allan Gilmour and Mr. Alexander Rankin. In the conferences and the negociations Mr. AUan Gilmour acted generally for the Canadian partners, present and prospective, and Mr. Alexander Rankin for the New Brunswick partners, present and prospective. With the fresh Agreement for three years then concluded, as between the PoUoks and the foreign partners (James Gilmour of Miramichi, brother of Allan Gilmour senior, alone withdrew) Mr. Ritchie, so far as his interests were concerned, was not altogether satisfied. True, this Agreement gave to any foreign partner not present thereat, the power to decline, within six months, to implement it; but in those days of tedious communications, six months soon went by. Correspondence, negociations, and remonstrances went on throughout the term, till, in the autumn of 1840 — the Agreement terminating 31 December of that year — Mr. Ritchie set sail for home. Into the Agreement Mr. Ritchie had evidently only entered in a half-hearted way ; indeed, after events show this and Allan Gilmour senior's malign influence upon him. A considerable amount of acrimony had been created during the corres- pondence ; further negociations failed, and litigation ensued. It would be as needless as undesirable to enter into details of the wrangling and litigation, which extended, what with reclamations and appeals^ ALLAN GILMOUR OF OTTAWA. 113 down to 1851. On 11 February of that year, before the full bench of Scottish Judges, decision was given under which, in my opinion, either side in final result would have been better off if they had accepted the original offer made by the other party. His with- drawal from the firm dates back to i January, 1841, say from : — William Ritchie & Co., Montreal ; AUan Gilmour & Co., Quebec ; and John Young & Co., Hamilton. In the aforesaid action Mr. Ritchie laid claim to an interest in the firm of PoUok, Gilmour & Co., Glasgow, and Rankin, Gilmour & Co., Liverpool, but was unable to sustain it. Mr. Ritchie had in 1834 married Miss Mary Strang, a sister of Mrs. Rankin and Mrs. Gilmour — ^all the more painful the litigation that went on. He purchased the considerable estate of Middleton, in Midlothian, to the management of which he devoted himself till his death in 1856, his wife having predeceased him in 1851. Allan Gilmour of ottawa Bom 23 August, 1816 Made partner Gilmour & Co. 1841 Died 25 February, 1895 To distinguish him from Allan Gilmour of Glasgow, I have generally heard him spoken of as 114 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM Shotts Allan, and by some, on account of his stature, ^ as Long Allan. Herein it will be convenient to call him Allan Gilmour of Ottawa. He was born in Shotts Parish, adjoining Mearns, and received the ordinary Scotch parish-school education, proceeding thereafter to Glasgow University for one year. He, like many of the foregoing, was a nephew of Allan Gilmour senior. His father lived to the ripe age of ninety-three. Allan went to Canada in 1832 with his cousin James Gilmour (brother of Allan Gilmour, then of Quebec, subsequently of Glasgow) as cadets to William Ritchie & Co., Montreal (founded 1828), both being cousins of William Ritchie. There both remained in the capacity of clerks and managers till the end of 1840, when Mr. Ritchie retired and they became partners, changing the style of the firm to Gilmour and Co. It was,, Allan of Ottawa that his uncle Allan Gilmour senior, after a stormy interview, turned irom his door late one winter's night, because he would not lend himself to his machinations for the dis- ruption of the firm, and the undoing of the PoUoks. It was to Allan Gilmour senior unbearable that at aiiy rate two who bore his name would not acquiesce in his designs and withdraw from the firm, even although the tempting bait had been offered to each in turn, that if he did so he would be made his uncle's heir. Allan Gilmour, then of Quebec, had already unhesitatingly refused the offer. Upon assuming partnership he established ALLAN GILMOUR OF OTTAWA 115 an agency at Bytown (the present city of Ottawa) under the management of a Mr. Hamilton, a con- nection of the Gilmours. Bytown had been, and continued to be, the centre of the firm's lumber operations. Allan Gilmour's duty it was to super- vise personally these operations, and for this purpose he paid frequent visits from Montreal, to Bytown and the camps. His journeys were attended by much exposure to cold, and a neglected gathering in the ear, caused thereby, ultimately entailed stone States to Quebec, in Canada, in the year 1828. 5 June 1818. — Left Saint John, N.B., in steamboat at seven o'clock, and reached Eastport after a very good passage, about a quarter past two o'clock, being a distance of about 60 miles. On our arrival at Eastport finding a packet waiting a wind for Boston, we went on board and engaged our passage by her. The packet is called the Sarah of Boston, 133 tons per register, or 180 tons British. On our passage down to Eastport we had some conver- sation with a Mr. Smith, of St. John, who had cured a quantity of pork there last winter ; he collected it from various quarters, but he said the greatest part of it was brought from the head of the Bay ; it cost him 4 c. per pound, and he paid for spruce barrels 4s., which he said holds in pickle as well as ash ; for cutting and packing he paid is 6d., and other charges, including salt, would amount to 4s 6d more. It was his opinion that curing pork could be done to much better advantage at St. Andrews, where it is admitted by inland navigation from the United States duty free, and sells at about 3 c. per pound. APPENDIX II 289 Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 6th, 7th and 8th June being thick, foggy weather, and Uttle or no wind, we could not sail, and during this time we lodged at Eastport in the house of a Mr. Pine, who formerly belonged to the Province of New Brunswick, in whose house we found very good accommodation, but charges are extravagantly high. 9 June, Monday morning. — Having cleared, we sailed from Eastport at 8 o'clock. Eastport is at present, in appearance, an extremely dull place, and a stranger would at first view say that Uttle or no business was done here, but being situated so near the British boundary, and from the number of large stores, it is very evident that smuggling to a great extent is carried on. The inhabitants of Eastport, however, seem to be a decent people, and from the appearance of their houses one would judge them to be in easy and comfortable circumstances. A store on CampobeUo, or in any other near situation with a proper assortment of British goods, and under the management of a proper and active person, might do some good by disposing of them to the people to be passed into the States, and be enabled to receive flour or any other article of value for the use of the Provinces of New Brunswick or Nova Scotia, and thereby nearly save the duty, although the person carrying on such business should not be directly connected in passing the goods, but only do it by bartering or buying and selling. On account of the tariff Bill lately passed in the States, more British goods wiU in aU probability be sent into the States through Eastport than formerly, as the duty on woollens, clothing, etc., directly imported to the States from Britain is so great as to be almost a prohibition to the trade. Spruce barrels with twelve hoops sell here for 70 c., or 3s 6d currency. On leaving Eastport on Monday morning we had a fine breeze with clear weather. We passed close to a small town on the American side called Lubec, the situation of which is good, but it cannot at present be a place of much business, as several large stores have been shut up for some time past, and iadeed the very streets are beginning 290 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM to be overgrown with grass, yet should the Tariff Bill remain permanent, Lubec may on accoimt of its local situation revive, for doubtless British goods can be passed into the States with much facility here, and American goods received in return, as a person standing on the wharves at Lubec may speak to another on Campobello. From Lubec, and after passing the Quoddy lighthouse, the coast is very low, and few or no settle- ments are as yet upon it. About ten o'clock at night we got abreast of Mount Desart, which is so high that it cannot be mistaken for other land near it, and as the coast around it is free of rocks or shoals, it surely must be considered a good land- mark, and vessels from Britain boimd into or up the Bay of Fundy cannot go far wrong in attempting to make the Mount or Machias light, which is only a little farther up than the Mount, for in clear weather if any attention be paid at all. Mount Desart wiU be seen a great distance off, and in foggy or thick weather it is very imprudent to go near any land or lighthouse, especially where there are such strong currents as are on this coast, and better to lay back a day or two than attempt running with a heavy ship, for the fog is generally thicker close upon the land than a few miles off. Monday night we had little or no wind, and of course did not make much progress, and on Tuesday we had sometimes tolerably smart breezes, and at other times nearly calm with very thick weather, and we could not see over one mile from the vessel at any time. There were two passengers on board for Portland, and we stood in for it, but the weather continuing so thick the Captain thought it more prudent to bear up and stand direct for Boston, which was done about four o'clock. The wind was now bare, and we could only lay course say S.W. by W. per compass. Between nine and ten o'clock, fearing we might be too close down upon the shoals to westward of Portland, we tacked and stood out to the eastward for about three hours, and afterwards lay course. Wednesday morning : still continuing very thick with only a light breeze, we did not make much headway, but as APPENDIX II 291 the sun advanced the fog retired and thinned, as we came to the south-westward, and the wind increasing a little after la o'clock we made Cape St. Ann. As there was no chart on board, nor smy account kept of the vessel's course or distance, it made it very unsatisfactory for a passenger, but the vessel sailed well, and the accommodation was good. On perceiving the land we soon afterwards bore away a little, and the breeze freshening we came fast up Boston Bay. There are two entrances to Boston Harbour, one for vessels of a heavy draught of water, called the Ship Channel, and one for small vessels. The tide here rises from 10 to 15 feet. We came in the Shoal Channel, which commences by a rugged rock on the left-hand side, above which there are several small islands, and on one of them is a fort for the pro- tection of the harbour, abreast of which the channels are brought into one which is very narrow. There is also a fort on the mainland opposite the one on the island, and on the right hand on entering the harbour of Boston the view is good, and at once presents a country of some cultivation ; but above all, the site of the city is well chosen, the body of which rises gradually as it extends back from the water side, and what may strike a stranger the most is the dome of the State House, which shews itself over all the other buildings. The tide being low we could not run in to the, wharf, but went nearly to the upper end of the city, where the vessel took the ground about six o'clock in the evening, after which we were put on shore by the Sarah's boat, and took lodgings in the Commercial Coffee House kept by a man of the name of Miriam. 12 June, Thursday morning.— Took breakfast at seven o'clock, which appears to be the regular hour for breakfast in Boston and, indeed, throughout the most of the Northern States. We afterwards took a walk in the town, and although the streets are very irregularly laid off, yet there are many fine buildings in it both of brick and stone, but more particularly of stone, which is a sort of very hard granite of a greyish or white colour; but the houses are, without exception, a complete batter of 292 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM windows, and do not please the taste of British architecture. In front of the State House there is a Park as a common, on the border of which there is a very splendid promenade, called the Mall, beautifuUy shaded by three rows of large trees, mostly of elm, and fronting this walk there is a row of gentle- men's lodgings very neatly finished. We went into the State House, which appears to be a good building, but the walls by some means draw the damp, and the plaster commences to give way. On entering the State House the statue of Washington presents itself, and it is allowed to be a piece of good workmanship. We next went to view the Navy Yard, and saw under cover two seventy-four-gun ships of an immense size. The foundation on which they are buUt being of wood, has begun to decay, and they are now taking it out piece by piece and building it of stone. They have a great extent of ground in the yard, and are now busily employed in constructing a dry dock. From thence we went to Bunker's Hill, which lies north-east from the town, on which they are now erecting a monument in memory of those who fell there in the cause of liberty on 17 Jime, 1775. From this monument when finished, a very extensive view of the city and country aroimd will present itself, which, especially at this season of the year, the eye looks upon with pleasure, for as the country near and around Boston is for the most part in pasture and bearing hay, it appears more fresh and pleasing before it commences to wither under the powerful heat of the sun. On our return we took the Market House which is extensive, commodious, well-kept, and plentifully supplied. In the afternoon we took a stroll down among the shipping and fell in with Captain Palmer, of the Salamis from Sunderland, with a cargo of coals, who, on delivery proceeds to St. John for a cargo of timber from R. Rankin & Co. Captain Palmer introduced us to a Captain Fitzsimmons, master and owner of the brig Dorcas Savage, of Porta-ferry, who brought from Wales a cargo of slates in good order by making bulkheads athwartship, and stowing the slates fore and aft. Captain Fitzsimmons is APPENDIX II 293 going to St. John for a cargo of timber ; we therefore gave him a letter of introduction of R. R. & Co., and from what was said to him would expect he will load with R. R. & Co. There are at present a good number of vessels lying at Boston, and trade in shipping is said to be a very dull and losing business. The convenience in loading and discharging ships at Boston is good — Shaving extensive quays which are covered with large stores, and thereby saving much expense in cartage and otherwise damaging goods. No merchant ships are at present building here, and we only saw two small schooners on the stocks. We did not see in Boston Harbour any vessel that pleased us in the build, being for the most part too lean forward, rather little sheer, stem timbers not upright enough, and leaving the counters quite too hollow. We saw some good boats, the timbers bent, of good scantling, the plank sound and solid, but the stem of most of them not well fastened to the body ; wood chiefly red oak. Trade in general is flat in Boston at this instant. West India produce and some British goods, such as cotton, cloths, etc., are not much dearer than in St. John. The shops in Boston are, generally speaking, kept in good order, but the fancy, haberdasher, and jewellers are shewn off with much taste, and the keepers are full of poHteness shewing their goods to strangers. Saw a considerable quantity of American calicoes, etc., but they do not yet come up to the British in fineness or equality of thread, and are for the most part only of two colours. The accommodation at the Com- mercial Coffee House is good, and charges are very reasonable. The breakfast is on the table at seven o'clock, dinner at two o'clock, and tea at half-past seven o'clock, and little time is lost at either meal ; every one rans off as soon as he has done, which will not exceed ten to fifteen minutes after the moment he is seated. Boston is said to contain about 70,000 inhabitants. 13 June.— The coach for Providence came about half- past eleven o'clock, and took us up at our lodging. It left town about ten minutes after twelve o'clock carrjnng one lady. 294 ^ HISTORY OF OUR FIRM ten gentlemen, and the driver, with a good deal of luggage. The first stage is about twelve miles from Boston, called Dedham, where we dined, for which we paid a half dollar each. We afterwards changed horses twice, and the roads being rather soft and rough, we did not reach Providence until nearly eight o'clock, when we immediately went and engaged our berths on board the steamer Washington for New York to sail to-morrow at noon. The country between Boston and Providence is very uneven, and may, without danger of contradiction be said to be a poor piece of land, having no depth of soil, very stony, many large rocks, and mixed with extensive pieces of bog or moss ; nevertheless, there are many showy houses on the roads, around which the apple trees are so numerous that it is worthy of the name of one continued orchard as far as Dedham, and from which, except aroimd a house now and then, imtil we came near Providence, the land is in its original wilderness state, and what clear land there is, is in pasture or bearing hay, but so completely overrun by what we call the large white or horse gowan, that at a distance it resembles fields of snow. We passed through no village of note until we came to within four miles of Providence, where stands one called Pawtucket, on the banks of a small stream, one branch of wliich empties itself above, and the other a little below Providence. It was at Pawtucket the first cotton and woollen factories were established in the States. At present there are several carried on, and it is said to advantage. 14 June, Saturday. — ^At Providence we put up at Laton's Hotel, where we lodged comfortably enough. Provi- dence is said to contain 18,000 inhabitants and is daily improving, but business at present, as at all other places, is dull. Some time ago some large fortunes were made in the East India trade, but now little or nothing in comparison is done. Around Providence there are a great number of beautiful residences with small gardens in front attached to each, many of them are splendidly finished, for the most part neatly kept, and have undoubtedly a palace-Uke appearance. A magnificent APPENDIX II 295 arcade is now building in Providence which it is said will cost a large sum of money. At twelve o'clock we went on board the steamboat Washington. She is 130 feet in length on deck, and about 330 tons United States measurement. She is a well-finished boat. The ladies' cabin is on the upper deck and the gentlemen's below. The lower one is 118 feet long, clear fore and aft, the two engines being placed on each side. The trip before the present she carried 165 passengers to New York, this time 65. We left Providence a few minutes after twelve o'clock, and touched at a small town called Newport, to land and take on board passengers. A short time ago Newport had nearly all the trade on the river, but Providence being at the head of the navigation, and nigh the Pawtucket factories, has now taken the whole of it. The country from Providence to Newport lies low and is of a very light, sandy soil, although tolerably well settled, and the fields neatly enclosed with stone dykes. From Newport to New York the country is in appearance very low, and in some parts not much settled. We came in between Long Island and the mainland, and the island, like the main, is not of good soil, and were it not for the climate the soil would do but little for its owners. As we approached New York Sound, or space between the island and main narrows, having a fine morning to view it, we were much pleased with the scenes that were presented. We arrived at New York on Sunday morning about eight o'clock, a distance of 212 or 215 miles.' And so the log wags on tUl, on 22nd July, they are landed up at Quebec. Nothing bearing on prospective business or indeed otherwise escapes attention : even in the slow travel of that day they had covered 2,863 nules— by steam and boats 2,593 miles, by land 270 miles. Mr. Gilmour's tour during the following winter, 1828-9, undertaken alone, was much more Spartan. It begins : — •25 December, 1828— Wednesday— Left Quebec at three a.m., with only a Mr. Levy, in the stage for Montreal. Morning very cold. Snow at Quebec not less than 3I feet 296 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM deep, but as we came along got very thin. After a good deal of jolting passing over the Cachots, arrived Three Rivers about 9 p.m. and lodged.' And so, while conveying his business enquiries, it proceeds ; by turns he travels on wheels, by sleigh, on horseback or on foot. From many places he starts on his journey at 3 a.m., and after calls by the way, makes his destination by or after dark. In a Canadian winter there was not much pleasure in this. As showing the bent of his inclination, one notes the peculiar pains he takes to go over and criticise any vessel's hull he finds building (there is, or was, much shipbuilding on the Canadian lakes), and in the lumber districts, the special interest he has in any ship lumber that is being got out. The Falls of Niagara are reached by the 28th January, and whatever his inner feelings, he does not apparently waste much time or any paper over them. APPENDIX III THE GREAT FIRE AT MIRAMICHI, N.B., 7TH OCTOBER, 1825 [Excerpt from Kingsford's History of Canada, published 1897.] On the 7th October, 1825, occurred on the banks of the Miramichi River, N.B., one of the most remarkable of the calamities known in modem times. Some idea of its extent may be formed by the narrative of the losses it occasioned. It was subsequently ascertained that the number who suffered by its devastation was 3078, and the total loss in this thinly populated country was nearly a quarter of a million pounds sterling. One hundred and thirty persons were destroyed in the fire, ten were drowned, and twenty died from the injuries received, two thousand people were left perfectly destitute ; APPENDIX in 2^7 -two small towns, Newcastle and Douglastown, were completely destroyed. It was a strange coincidence that on the same date a great part of Fredericton, N.B., was burned ; that on the Penobscot for 30 miles the fire raged with a sea of flame, and that both in Upper and Lower Canada there were fires of great extent in the forests. In Newcastle on the afternoon of the 7th a dense cloud of smoke was seen in the north-west, which obscured the atmosphere. It wels known that the woods were on fire, but no danger was suspected for there was little wind. As the afternoon advanced the wind increased to a hurricane. The sound became deafening, and the flames burst forth with a power to destroy all before them. So rapid was the devastation that one thought only prevailed, to save life. Those who witnessed the scene have left a record of the agony felt on that night. Some plunged into the river to escape destruction, •others drifted on temporary rafts to meet death by drowning, himdreds sought refuge in a marsh near the town, which indeed proved the only place of safety. The fire took its origin in the neighbourhood of the Baie des Chaleurs ; its cause was never known. It extended to Richibucto, eighty-five miles by land, and passed over the district of the north and south-west boundaries of the Miramichi — more than 100 miles in a direct line, this area containing 8,000 square miles of forest. There were 120 square- rigged vessels in the river. Many caught fire but were saved by the energy of the seamen. Three ships, however, were burned. Fortunately the town of Chatham escaped, and it was here that the sufferers found refuge. Many extraordinary incidents occurred. The cattle where possible, took refuge in the river, but nearly 900 were burned. In one case they were joined by a bear from the woods. When the fire was over the creature left without attempting mischief. The very fish in the river suffered from the floating burning wood. Many were driven on the shore. Large numbers of salmon, bass, and trout were found on the river bank. The birds also 298 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM suffered, especially the seagulls. Many were found dead. The snakes even crawled for the clearings. Such as failed to escape the flames were burned or suffocated. The greatest sympathy was called forth by the calamity.. A ship of war with several vessels in Halifax immediately left with provisions. Surgeons in the service volunteered to attend to the sufferers. The garrison of Halifax and the ships in the navy gave a day's pay for the relief of the distress. Subscriptions were started in the Maritime Provinces, in Upper and Lower Canada, the United States, and the Mother Country,, and upwards of £43,000 sterling was obtained. Although seventy years have passed since this remark- able fire, the memory of it is stUl vividly retained in New^ Brunswick. Dr. Norman McLeod, of Glasgow, who visited MiramichL some years afterwards, writes : — ' A hurricane rushed in fury along the river, tearing burning trees up by the roots, hurling flaming branches through the air for 5 or 6 miles (which set lire to the shipping and to the woods on the other side of the broad stream) causing at the same time such a rolling sea up the river as threatened to swamp the boats, and sweep the miserable refugees from the rafts ! It seems incredible, but we believe there is no doubt as to the fact that the ashes of the fire fell thick on the streets, of Halifax, St. John's, Newfoimdland, and Quebec, and that some were carried as far as the Bermudas, while the smoke darkened the air himdreds of mUes off That fire has left singular traces of its journey. The _ road from Newcastle to Bathurst, near the Bay of Chaleur, passes for 5 or 6 miles through a district called ' The Barrens.' Far as the eye can reach on every side there is nothing but desolation. The forest extends, as it has done for ages, across plains, and vanishes over the undulating hiUs which bound the distant horizon. But while all the trees, with most of APPENDIX IV 299 their branches remain, spring extracts no bud from them, nor does simimer clothe even a twig with foHage. All is a barren waste ! The trees are not black now but white, and bleached by sun and rain, and far to the horizon, round and round, nothing is discerned but one vast, and apparently boundless forest of the white skeleton trunks of dead leafless trees. That immense tract is doomed to remain barren— perhaps for ever— at least for many long years to come. It is avoided by the emigrant- nay the very birds and wild beasts seem to have for ever deserted it. The land itself has become so scourged by the exuberant crop of plants which grow up in such soil, when cleared by a fire, as to be comparatively useless in a colony of countless acres yet untouched by the plough of the settler.' APPENDIX IV THE DUNLOP VOLUNTEERS, 1801. Extract of a letter from Mr. A. Ferguson, dated Dartmoor, 24 November, 1865, to his brother Colonel John Ferguson, Bathurst, New Brunswick. ' I had a long letter from David Wark of which the few lines I have copied and the names on the other side form a part. For a man of four score David still writes a good business hand and tolerably correct letter, but in several instances I can see symptoms of the old man having got hold of him. There are a few particulars respecting the volunteers which I can furnish you with, and which you may perhaps think worth recording. The dress : Beginning at the feet— Shoes, black gaiters and white trousers (braces not being then in fashion I remember these had to be extemporised by garters or shreds 300 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM from the sides of broad cloth), a short narrow-tailed blue coat with tight sleeves and gilt buttons, some brass or gold lace about the lapels and sleeves, a frilled shirt, and the usual black hat with a strip of patent leather about an inch wide stitched on one side of the hat from the crown to the brim, between which and the hat the whalebone shank of the cockade was stuck, and was unshipped if the hat was required when off duty. The cockade was at least a foot or fourteen inches above the hat, made from a cock's white neck feathers with about two inches at the bottom dyed red. I can remember at one time our father's feathers required repairing, and the rooster, although he protested loudly against it, was laid under contribution for materials to supply what was wanted. The names on the other side were sent me by David Wark. I wrote him making enquiry and telling him that you were now in the military line. The following is in an extract from his letter dated i6 October, 1865 : — " On receipt of your letter I made out a list at random, as the names occurred to me, of all my old fellow soldiers, beginning at the city and going round with the sun, but have put off sending the list till now. I have found no reason for altering any, though I may be wrong with one or two. It was rather remarkable how the Company kept together so long considering the dangers they encountered, but where are the brave army now ? There only remains John WyUie, Mosside, and your humble servant of the three score invincibles and they on the pension list, disabled and infirm. Along with the list give my compliments to Colonel Ferguson, and teU him to be valiant for his own territory, and not trust too much to the Dunlop Volunteers, as we are getting very selfish in the Old Country now, and allow that God helps those most who help themselves." I can remember when a child seeing them drilling on the top of Dunlop Hill, and in a field above the Chapel Craigs. APPENDIX IV 301 I can also well remember being taken by my mother to Dunlop on the 4th June (old King George Ill's birthday) to see the Volunteers, it being a sort of general holiday always upon that day, as well as upon other particular occasions they used to assemble, and with James Brown and Tom Barr, with fife and drum before, marched in military order to Dunlop House (old Lady Dunlop being their patroness, several of her sons being then fighting in India and the Peninsula), and after going through various evolutions, they fired a few rounds in the old lady's face, who, I have heard say, sat in an upper window waving her handkerchief after each volley. After that they marched to the residence of their Captain, John Brown, of Hill, and from there to the minister's, firing at each place and finishing by firing a few rounds at the Kirk Stile, and by the time that was done it was generally evening, when each took off their different way. A few perhaps might stop and have a gill at the ' Black Bull ' to wash the dust out of their throats, but that was the exception and not the rule. I think about the last public display they made or attempted to make was on the Jubilee as it was called, or the 50th Anniversary of the accession of George III, and if I mistake not it was a wet day and very little was done.' In a list of 7 officers and 55 privates figure the names, of David Wark, and Robert Ferguson my grandfather, both of Oldhall. They all furnished their military dress, arms, and ammimition, and maintained their number without death or desertion for about seven years. I think there was no formal disbanding, but the thing died a natural death. 302 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM APPENDIX V FAMILY HISTORIES. Only so far as this History is concerned, I have endeavoured to trace the family record and connections of those of the PoUoks, Gilmours, Ritchies, Rankins, and Fergusons who have been mentioned in the foregoing pages. Perhaps later I may get together a fuller set of genealogies. Unfortun- ately for my purpose, all records of the Meams Parish before 1829 were burnt, or are at any rate missing. THE POLLOKS AUan Pollok, of Craigton, married Margaret Warnock, 1666. He died about 1696. Their son, AUan Pollok, of Craigton, married Elspeth Paton. Their son, Allan Pollok, of Craigton, married Margaret Anderson. He died at Faside about 1800. They had of children — Thomas Pollok, of Faside, and James Pollok, of Craigton. The former was the father of John and Arthur Pollok (the Polloks of Pollok, GUmour and Co.) and Allan Pollok, of Faside ; whilst James Pollok, of Craigton, was the father of Allan Pollok, of Blackhouse, and WUliam Pollok, of Titwood. Arthur Pollok's daughter married her cousin, Allan PoUok, of Lismany, &c., the son of Allan Pollok, of Faside. Allan Pollok, Blackhouse, was the father of Jas. Pollok, Blackhouse. WUliam PoUok, of Titwood, was the father of John and WUliam Pollok, Calcutta, and of Thomas Pollok of Liverpool. APPENDIX V 303 THE GILMOURS Allan Gilmour, of South Walton, married Elizabeth Pollok. He died 8 March, 1793. They were the parents of :— Allan Gilmour, ultimately of Hazelden, the original A. G. senior, of the Firm. Barbara, bom 26 March, 1770, who married David Ritchie of Auchintiber, Neilston. (See Ritchie History). John Gilmour, of Craigton. David Gilmour, bom 12 March, 1780, of Shotts, father of A. G. of Ottawa. James Gilmour, bom 14 October, 1782, who went with A. Rankin to found G., R. & Co., Miramichi, grandfather of Allan Gilmour of Eaglesham, Renfrewshire. Returning to — John Gilmour, of Craigton : married Margaret Urie, (bom 29 October, 1780) he died 1841-2 ; they had of children : — *Mary, wife of David Hutchison, Middleton, Meams. Bom 22 October, 1803. fAllan Gilmour, who founded AUan Gilmour & Co., Quebec, subsequently of Ardlamont, Lundin, and Montrave. Bom 29 September, 1805. Died 18 November, 1884. ^Barbara, wife first of John Gilmour, South Walton ; secondly of Robert Hutchison, Liverpool. Bom 14 July, 1810. Died 4 April, 1884. §John Gitmour, of Quebec firm. Bom 31 October, 1812. Died 25 February, 1877. °David Gilmour, of Quebec firm. Bom 20 August, 1815. Died 1856. James Gilmour, of Montreal firm. Bom 22 July, 1818. • Two sons after "^ing in Glasgow office went to Quebec, and thence to the Canadian saw miUs of the firm. t Father of Sir John Gilmour, Bart., Montrave. t Mother of James Hutchison, Liveipool. Mother-in-law to Wm. Strang, of l.ondon. § One son stiU engaged in lumber trade in Canada ; one in the U.S. ° Father of Lady Gilmour, Montrave. 304 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM THE RITCHIES David Ritchie, of Auchintiber, Neilston, Renfrewshire, bom 15 May, 1765, who died March, 1844, married Barbara Gilmour, daughter of Allan GUmour, of South Walton (see above), bom 26 March, 1770, died 10 November, 1857. They had issue among others :— ♦David, bom 2 AprU, 1800, died 2 June, 1876. fWilham, bom 17 August, 1804, died 17 January, 1856. {Arthur, bom 7 February, 1807. §Robert, bom 30 June, 1809, died 17 January, 1842 ; and several others. All being nephews of A. Gilmour senior. * Father of David and John Ritchie, LiverpooL t Who founded Wm. Ritchie & Co, Montreal, afterwards Gilmour & Co., Montreal, the father of William Ritchie of Moffat, and Arthm* Ritchie, Liverpool. t Who founded Arthur Ritchie & Co., Dalhousie and Campbeltown. § Who accompanied Arthur Ritchie to Dalhousie. THE RANKINS James Rankin, of Mains House, Meams, bom 1752 ; died 10 March, 1815, married 5 July, 1786 ; Helen Ferguson, of Auchintiber (Ayrshire), bom Jime, 1764, died 29 January, 1838. They had issue : — **James, bom 2 September, 1787, died 26 December, 1870. If Alexander, bom 31 December, 1788, died 3 April, 1852. {{Arthur, bom 23 September, 1790, died 4 January, 1838. Marion, bom 30 June, 1792, died 16 July, 1856. §§John, bom 31 May, 1794, died 4 August, 1813. °°Robert, bom 31 May, 1801, died 3 June, 1870. ** Married Marion Ferguson, of Old Hall, Dunlop — sister of Francis and John Ferguson. Father of Robert Rankin II and John Rankin, Liverpool. t+ Who founded Gilmour, Rankin & Co., Miramichi. it Father of James Rankin of Miramichi. §§ Who was drowned at Miramichi. •^ Father of Sir James Rankin, Bart., and Mrs. David Maclver. Founded Robert Rankin & Co., St. John, and Rankin, Gilmour & Co., Liverpool. Note. — Se our correspondents Borthwick, Wark & Co., London : Alexander Wark was a nephew of my grandfather Robert Ferguson, of Old HaU, and of my grandmotbec Helen Rankin, as above. APPENDIX V 305 THE FERGUSONS Robert Fergusoit, of Old Hall, Dunlop (a son of Auchin- tiber, Stewarton, Ayrshire), bom 1772, died 1857. Married 4 June, 1802, Agnes Logan, of Dunlop, bom 1783, and had issue a large family, of which — *Marion, bom 18 August, 1804, died 3 September, 1880. tFrancis, bom 18 Febmary, 1808, died 9 September, 1875. JJohn, bom 20 November, 1813, died about 1877. §Jean, bom 25 December, 1816, died 27 December, 1897. The Fergusons, who have been in possession of Auchin- tiber, Stewarton, in continuous line from eldest son to eldest son for over 400 years, fumish me with an interesting document. The name changed from Fergushill to Ferguson about 1750. I mention this as I have thought the following record too quaint to be omitted, with its allusion to the " sorrow kow ' and ' auld hors.' The Testament Dative and Inventar of the guids geir debts sowmes of money quhillds pertenit to umquhile John Fergushill in Achintibir quha deceist untestit in the Moneth of Februar I™ V four scoir yeuis (1580) faythfullie maid and gevin up by Jonet Robesone his relict, Robert Fergushill his onlie lauchtfull sone executor dative decemit to his guidis and geir be decreit of the Commissar of Glasgow the day and dait of thir presentis. Inventar Item the said umquhile Johne had perteining to him and his spous the tyme of his deceis two tydie ky (cows) price of the peice X" (£10) summa XX". Item ane * Mairied James Rankin, father of Robert Rankin II, Mrs. Jarvie, Alexander Rankin junior, London, and John Rankin. t Who founded Ferguson, Rankin & Co., and was afterwards of Robert Rankin & Co., St. John. X Of F., R. & Co., Bathurst — the Honourable John. §',Mother of Alexander Harvey, London, and of Andrew and Frank Harvey (Harvey Bros., London). Managers of the Tinnevelly Mills. U 306 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM sorrow kow price VIII". Item ane auld hors X". Item standard in the bame four boUis muirland come price of the boU III" VI= VIII^. Summa XIII" VI» VIII^ Money. Item the insicht of the hous estimat to nil" money. Summa of the inventar foirsaid LV" V^ VIII^. No debtis awand in Debtis awand out. Item awand (owing) to the Erie of Eglintoun his Maister (Superior) for ane yeiris MaiU the yeir of God I^V'' four scoir yeiris (1580) XX". Item mair to his lordship sax capoimis (six cocks) at VI^ the peice summa XXXVI^ Item mair to the said Erie of Eglintoim sex stane cheis price of the stain XIII^ IIII*^ summa IIII". Item to my lord of Kilwyning for ane yeiris teind the year foirsaid ane boh meill price thereof IIII". Item to the person* of Stewartoun of Alterage teind XIIIP Item to Patrik Gibson of fie ... IIII" Item to Robert Armour of fie ... IIII" Item to Jonet Fergushill of fie ... XL^ Summa of the debtis foirsaid XL" HIP restis frie gier debtis deducit XV" IP VIII"* to be devydit in three partis deidis pairt is V" X' o''. quota V^ ****** The following document is a copy of an old parchment, one of several that I have received from the present owner and tenant of Auchintiber, Alexander Ferguson. It purports to be a certificate of deUvery of possession in accordance with the terms of the marriage contract of one of my forbears. I only hope she understood its purport better than I do. Some of the writing is almost illegible, and the document has with • J.e. the paison — perstma. APPENDIX V 307 difficulty been transcribed for me by Mr. J. A. Twemlow, Lecturer in Palaeography in the University of Liverpool. On the phrase ' Eleven shillings one penny half-penny land of old extent ' Professor Hume Brown kindly supplies the following note : — ' The phrase means a piece of land valued at lis. i^. of tlie old valuation {i.e. extent) of the whole lands of Nether Auchintiber. The " old extent " is the old valuation taken probably in the reign of Alexander III for the purpose of assessing the feudal casualties due by the crown vassals, or of pa5dng a contribution to a royal subsidy. For a discussion of -the Old and New Extent, see Lord Karnes, Historical Law Tracts (Edin., 1792) No. XIV.' Mr. J. Maitland Thomson adds :— ' Old extent means the valued rent in the time of King Alexander III. The War of Independence greatly reduced the value of land, and it became customary in Retours (Brieves of Mortancestor you would, I think, say in England) to state that the lands are now worth so-and-so, and " in time of peace " so-and-so. Gradually the fall in the value of money reversed things, and the " new extent " became the higher — in the 17th century the regular rule was that £x land of old extent was £3 land of new extent. The old extent used to be a fine thing for the lawyers, as the qualification for a vote in a county was the' possession of 40s. worth of land of old extent held in capite of the crown. But that beastly Act of 1832 stopped that. ■G)smo Innes held, on the authority of a 17th century decision of the Court of Exchequer, that a 40s. land of old extent is the same thing as a ploughgate. On the whole matter, see Cosmo Innes, Scotch Legal Antiquities (1872), pp. 270 seq.' In the name of God soe be it. Be it known to all men be this present publick instrument that upon the twenty-first day of Aprill one thousand seven himdered and twenty years, and of the reign of our soveraign lord George king of Great Brittan, France and Ireland, defender of the faith, the seventh 308 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM year, in presence of me nottar publick and witnesses under- written, compeared personally John Fergushill, laufuU son to. Alexander Fergushill of Netherauchintiber, for himself and in name and behalf of Helin Gilmour, laufull daughter to John Gilmour, portioner of Grainge in the parochin of Dunlop, his futur spouse, and past to the ground of the lands after specifit, haveing and in his hands holding a certain contract of marriage past betuixt the said John Fergushill with consent of the said Alexander Fergushill his father, and he as taking full burden in and upon him for his said son, on the ane part^ and the said Helin Gilmour, with consent of the said John Gihnour her father, on the other part ; wherby, for the dote to her good and other causes therein specified, the said Alexander FergushiQ band and oblidged him, his heirs and successors,, with all convenient diUigence deuly and laufullie to infeft and sease the said John Fergushill his son and the said Helin Gilmour his futur spouse in her pure virginity, and longest liver of them tuo, in conjunct fee and lyfrent, and the heirs, to be procreat betuixt them, whichs faUreing [sic], to the said John Fergushill his nearest and laufull heirs and assigneyes whatsomever, heretably and irredeemably, but any manner of reversion redemption or regress, in all and haill his elevin. shilling one penny half penny land of old extent of Nether- auchintiber lying in the parochin of Stewartoun, bailUary of Cunninghame, and shirrefdome of Air, and bounded in manner mentioned in his originall rights, reserving aUwayes to the said Alexander Fergushill the lyfrent of the just and equaU half of the forsaids lands of Netherauchintiber during all the dayes of his. lyf e, and in case the said Helin Gilmour should happen to survive the said John Fergushill her futur husband, then she is to Ij^frent the just and equall half of the foresaid mailling all the dayes of her lyfe, she being allwayes oblidged to pay the pubUck burdens effeiring to the equall half of the mailling she is to lyfrent. And ther the said John FergushUl for himself and in name and behalf of the said Helin Gilmour his futur spouse presented and delyvered the foresaid contract of marriage containing; APPENDIX V 309 therein the precept of seasin above and after mentioned to a discreit man Robert Fergushill, portioner of Netherauchintiber, baillie in that part specially constitut be the said precept of seasin, humbly requyring and desyring him to execute his office of baillie in that part incumbent to him therby, which contract and precept of seasin therein the said Robert Fergushill, baillie in that part foresaid, received in his hands and delivered the same to me nottar publick undersubscrybmg, to be read by me in audience of the witnesses underwritten standing about, of the which precept of seasin the tenor foUowes attour : — To my lovit *Robert Fergushill portioner of Nether- auchintiber *and ich ane of them conjunctly and severally my baillies in that part specially constitut greeting. It is my will and I charge you straitly and command that, incontinent thir presents sein, ye passe to the ground of the said elevin shilling one penny half penny land of old extent of Netherauchintiber, and ther give heretable state and seasin to the said John Fergushill my son of the saids haill lands, and to the said Helin GUmour l5^rent state and seasin of the equaJl half of the saids lands for her lyfrent use aUenerly, with reall actuall and corporaU possession in manner above mentioned, with houses biggings yeards parts pendicles and pertinents thereof, be deliverance to them or ther certain attumeyes in ther names, bearers hereof, of earth and stone of the ground of the saids lands as use it, reserving to myself the lyfrent of the equall half of the saids lands during my lyfetyme in manner above mentioned, and this on noe wayes ye leave undone, the doing wherof- 1 committ to you my baillies in that part foresaid my full frie plain power expresse bidding mandament and charge be ther presents, in witnes wherof this with the tuo proceeding pages wherof thir presents consist and the other just double hereof are written be Ninian Bannatyne chamber- land to the earle of Glasgow on stampt paper, and subscrybed be the saids parties at place day moneth and year of God above ** A blank space in the parchment. 310 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM written, befor these witnesses James Robertson in Nether house of Auchintiber and James Robertson his son, and the said Ninian Bannatyne sic subscribitur, John Ferguson, ,* Alexander FergushiU, John GUmor, James Robison, witnes, James Robertson witnes, Ninian Bannatyne witnes. After reading of the which precept of seasin in audience of the witnesses underwritten standing about, the said Robert FergushiU baillie in that part foresaid, be vertew wherof and of his office of baillie incumbent to him therby, gave heretable state and seasin reall actuaU and corporall possession of all and haiU the said elevin shilling one penny half penny land of Nether- auchintiber to the said John FergushiU, and lyfrent state and seasin actuaU reaU and corporaU possession of the equaU half of the saids lands to the said Helin GUmour, for her lyfrent use aUenerly, with houses biggings yeards parts pendicles and pertinents thereof, be deliverance to the said John FergushiU, for himself and in name and behalf of the said Helin Gilmor his futur spouse, of earth and stone of the ground of the saids lands respective and successive, according to the tenor of the said contract of marriage and precept of seasin therin contained in aU points. Wherupon the said John FergushUl, for himself and in name and behalf of the said Helin Gilmor his futur spouse, asked and took instruments ane or mae in the hands of me nottar pubUck imdersubscrybing. Thir things were acted and done betuixt the hours of elevin and twelve in the forenoon day moneth and year of God abovewritten, and of his majestie's reign above exprest, befor James Robertson in Netherhouse of Auchintiber and James Robertson his son, and Andrew FergushUl brother to Robert FergushiU portioner of Nether- auchintiber, witnesses speciaUy called and requyred to the premisses. Here foUows a long document of witness, beginning " Christus est spes mea " * A blank space in the parchment. 31 ■APPENDIX VI. LETTER FROM MR. ROBERT DAVIE, OF PORT GLASGOW. The following was written by Mr. Davie in his Ssn year. He was the successor to John Laird & Sons, Port Glasgov who from their situation attended to all the port work fo Pollok, GUmour & Co. : — I knew all .the P. G. ships and their Captains tha traded to Port Glasgow in my younger days. I remember th Oxford, Manner, and Henry Hood. They were second hand ships which had been bought. The Mariner was a brij the only one P., G. & Co. owned ; all their other ships were thref masted, so far as I know. But the ships built by or for then selves were larger, and as time went on they continued to bull still larger. For instance, the Ann Rankin (474 tons) was th smallest vessel built for themselves. Then came the Miramich paside, St. John, Ant, Bee, Canton, Canada, Quebec, Wolfe's Covt Hibernia (all about 580/600 tons). After these came th Indus, Renfrewshire, Pollok, Gilmour, Rankin, M earns, Euxim Lochliho, Ritchie (700/800 tons). Following these came Argi Ronochan, and Marchmont (1,000/1,100 tons). Then ther were four new vessels came home in one year — two large am two small— viz.. Acme (1,241 tons), Adept (1,199 tons] Arthur & Arran (900/1,000 tons), and after these the Advic (1,422 tons), and last of all the Advance (1,610 tons). From the first these ships were built of a model am construction specially suited for the trades in which they wer to be employed, viz., the timber and cotton trades. They wer not ships that would take the eye, having no figurehead nc fancy gilding ; they were plain but substantial, bluff, roun bows, with four extra large cargo ports for the easy loadin and discharging of cargo. On deck they had four ranges c ling-bolts (which was not common in most ships), two on tl 312 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM starboard and two on the port side (one along the waterwaj^ and the other along the line of main hatch combings), to which the spare spars and the deck load were lashed. The lashings used were the dog chains (which all P., G. ships carried) for bringing the timber from the coves to the ship at Quebec. Each ship was amply supplied with all requisites for loading and discharging of cargo, such as crab winches, gins, crowbars, cantbars, dog chains, etc., etc., thereby saving the expense of hiring them at Quebec. P., G. & Co.'s ships were not classed at Lloyd's, but were built far in excess of Lloyd's requirements. From keel to gunwale everything was of a much larger scantling than usually put in vessels of similar size. Those ships which were not metal sheathed were laid up during the winter. The captains, officers, and apprentices were all kept on, and employed cleaning every nook and comer, beating the rust off the anchors, chains, and other ironwork, overhauling the sails, standing and running gear. Periodically the standing rigging was taken down and carefully overhauled. The 'tween deck was converted into a rigging loft, where the rigging was carefully stripped, re-tarred, parcelled with new canvas and spunyam, which was an excellent education for the apprentices, of whom there were from four to six in each ship. P., G.'s ships always carried apprentices, and a fine set of officers and sailors they turned out. They also carried a painter and cooper, in addition to the other petty officers. The latter was a necessity in these days, as the supply of fresh water was carried in casks, and therefore a cooper was required to attend them. Iron tanks had not been introduced then. When the Arthur was abandoned it was not an ordinary tug that was sent out in search for her, but the Dom Pedro, a screw steamer belonging to Messrs. Henderson Bros., and the salvage crew was composed of aU the P., G. shipmasters and officers who happened to be at home at the time. She returned unsuccessful from her first adventure, but in the interim the Arthur had been again reported. Captain Alex. McArthur, APPENDIX VI 31 "the overlooker, at once sent them out again, instructii the salvors of the position in which she was last seen, ax ordering them to take up a certain position, from which the were to describe a circle round the place where she was la seen, narrowing the circle each round, which proved successfu The cause of the water-logging was not a leak in tl lull, but in the deck. She had a deck-load of timber, and 1 save the deck as much as possible deals for sleepers were lai on the deck on the line of the deck beams^ but meeting wH heavy weather the deck-load shifted, as did also the sleeper the result being that the sleepers landed between the line ( the beams, and the weight of the deck-load stove in the dec — hence the water-logging. The Oxford was a quaint looking old ship. She had bee a Government transport at one time, and was built of oaJ She was very round sided, and the planking of her bends wi ■cut anchor-stock fashion, like this : — Her steering wheel was in front of the poop, and had a ver comfortable shelter for the man at the wheel. She made tt record passage of 93 days from Port Glasgow to St. John, N.B which I don't think has been beaten yet. She had been drive as far north as Iceland. Captain Jas. Bums, who commande her, was very forgetful, and in case he should neglect to win the chronometer he had painted on a piece of tin the word ' Wind the chronometer,' which the steward placed on h plate every morning before breakfast. I remember the Ellerslie being put into the Port Glasgo' graving-dock to receive a general overhaul, which include boot-topping (or rather in her case, doubling on the bends, a the planks were 2J inches thick), which increased her breadt 314 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM by 5 inches, and the result was she was too broad to get out. Consequently, one of the gates had to be taken off before she could be released. I remember the Broom loading cattle for Australia. Captain Alex. McArthur was overlooker, or ship's husband,, and was known as the ' Commodore.' He was a little stout man, very active and attentive to his duties. Captain John McArthur, eldest son of the Commodore^ was Master first of the Ann Rankin ; afterwards of the Rankin. He and Captain Purdon were the two swell Masters of the P., G. fleet. They carried pennants on each of their ships, which reached from the truck on the mainmasthead to near the deck, which only H.M. ships were permitted to carry. On one occasion they met in Bombay, and of course hoisted their pennants, but before long a message came from the Commander of the warship on the station to haul them down or he would, fire into them. When Captain John McArthur retired from the sea he was appointed Dock Master of the Surrey Commercial Dock, through the influence of Mr. Strang. Captain Purdon 's widow is still Uving here (Port Glasgow} in her 98th year. Captain Mitchell of the Argo was, as you say, a loveable old man. When in port he regularly attended church, and the pew he occupied with his wife and daughter was immediately behind ours. Captain SommerviUe of the Acme was another fine old man. He died on board the Marion (under my management) on the passage home from Quebec in 1865. Captain John Bums was transferred from the Renfrew- shire to the Adept when she was launched. Captain Wm. Smith did fine work with the Lady Falkland.. He was very fortunate in making fast passages. He emigrated to the States, and for a time sailed on the Lakes. I spent a. day with him in Detroit in 1872. Captain Jas. Smith of the Mearns was a brother. Captain Williams, of the Ant, shot a crimp in Quebec APPENDIX VI with coffee beans, but never went back to the St. Lawi afterwards. I remember Miss GUmour arriving at Port Gla from IVIiramichi on board the Oxford. She afterwards ma Mr. Jas. Anderson, younger son of Mr. Jas. Anderson ju Higholm, Port Glasgow. He commenced shipbuildin Quebec under the firm of Provan & Anderson, but was successful. He returned home, and was appointed local i here for the Royal Bank of Scotland. Mrs. Anderson died about three years ago. ' Another story of the figurehead is, that one of the masters asked Mr. GUmour senior to put a cutwater figurehead on the ship he commanded. Mr. Gilmour's ] was short and to the point : 'It's a figurehead on the I want.' Mr. John Wood, shipbuilder, purchased a mast from P., G. & Co., but in the dressing it was found to be ro so Mr. Wood demanded a reduction of the price, but Gilmour replied : ' Your eye was your merchant, had found a diamond in it you would not have brought it to : In 1874 1 saw a quantity of teak timber in the West ] Dock, London, marked Ann Rankin. Captain John McAj who was Master of the A. R. an. that voyage, told me the brought that timber home a great many years previoi that date. No doubt you are aware that John Laird & Sons P., G. & Co.'s agents at Port Glasgow from the time (P., G. & Co.) commenced business until they retired. J. L. not only acted as their agents, but took charge of and meas all theii- imports. They were also joiners, block-makers, blacksmiths, and as such did aU the necessary repairs tc ships in these branches, and further provided all the out: these departments for the new ships built at Quebec, lack the iron knees, breasthooks, etc. etc. I knew Mr. AUan Gilmour senior by sight only, was a man over the average height, strong and muse 3l6 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM bronze complexion, carried his head well forward, with a purpose and determination in his looks. He took long steps and walked quick. I now occupy J. Laird & Sons' old office, and am writing this in the room where Mr. Allan Gilmour transacted his business when in Port Glasgow. Robert Davie. Port Glasgow, 30th December, 1909. {Written in his 8^rd year — a fine bold hand) . APPENDIX VII TYPE OF LETTERS TO SHIP CAPTAINS IN 1838. Glasgow, 30th March, 1838. Captain John Craig, Sir, In consequence of a quantity of contraband goods having been found on board of several of our ships, we deem it necessary to alter and amend the condition of our former agreement for sailing our ships, which in future shall be as follows : — You engage for our safety as owners, as well as your own safety as shipmaster and commander, to use the greatest vigilance in your power, as also in the most particular manner to instruct your mate and all other officers to prevent the possibility of any contraband goods, even to the value of sixpence worth, being put on board of your ship for the purpose of smuggling, and that you wiU not allow any traffick whatever to be carried on, on board of your ship under the penalty of APPENDIX VII forfeiting your wages and allowances as aforemen' Your wages to be at the rate of eighty-four pounds p. ; from and after this date — say £7 p. month. A punch mm to be allowed as stores for each voyage, and ten i each voyage for furnishing your cabin ; with forty \ additional provided you accomplish your two voyages the season, that is to say, before the first day of the fol year, and also provided you do not allow any contraband or any traffick of any kind on board of your ship. So you do not arrive at your discharging port the second ^ before the first of January next following, or if you any contraband goods or any traffick whatever to be carr on board of your ship, you cannot demand the allowance < but to be satisfied with what under the circumstances case, we may think proper to give even although no p said £40 should be allowed you. We have also occasi found it unpleasant at settling accounts to be obliged to deductions from the charges made in some of our ships' 1 You know that the furnishing of the cabin and upholdii cabin materials are done by you for the allowance of ten p per voyage ; and that no board wages are to be allowed 3 whatever port you may go to discharge, and as a puncb rum is allowed for each voyage, we allow no farther c to be made for spirits whatever length of voyage you may We also allow you to take a passenger or two in the cat giving the ship credit for £8 for each ; but should you tal passengers on board without putting the same to the of the ship in the ship's book, we in that case charge yo for each passenger at the settlement. We state these ci stances that nothing may appear in the ship's book thai require to be deducted at settling accounts. We hav( taken a particular note of the quantity your ship should and every expence that should be incurred in navigating vessel ; and by your increasing the stowage and diminishii expences and every charge that is possible, and having your in such good order in the fall that she can be fitted out 3l8 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM moderately next spring, you shall receive from us every encouragement, and we hope to be able to continue to you the foresaid wages and allowances, although we understand and have been informed by many of the Captains of timber ships in the neighbourhood of Whitby and Shields that they are not paid more than from £7 to £8 p. month, and that only while they are at sea and discharging their ships, without any additional allowances whatever. We, however, by no means grudge the extra wages and allowances we give our Ship Masters while they do their duty. If you agree to sail the ship Faside agreeably to the before-mentioned terms and stipulations please say so. We are. Sir, Your most obedient servants, POLLOK, GiLMOUR & Co. APPENDIX VIII PARTICULARS OF WAR SERVICE OF THOSE WHO JOINED UP FROM OUR SMALL STAFF (PARTNERS INCLUDED). Captain Robert Rankin, A.S.C. Particulars of Service : Enlisted as a Private in Public Schools Brigade (2nd Platoon, " C " Company, i8th Battalion, i8th Royal Fusiliers), 15th September, 1914. Lance Corporal ditto, April, 1915. Corporal, ditto, June, 1915. Lieutenant, Army Service Corps, 31st August, 1915. Lieutenant, S. R. D., Deptford, 5th September, 1915. Lieutenant, H. T. D., Blackheath, Ranger's House, i8th October, 1915. Lieutenant, B. E. F., France, lOth November, 1915. Lieutenant, ist Reserve Park, 15th APPENDIX VIII 319 November, 1915. Lieutenant, ist Indian Cavalry Reserve Park, now 4th Cavalry Division, Reserve Park, Sialkote Brigade, i8th May, 1916. Captain, ditto, ist April, 1917. Invalided, December, 1917. Re-joined, Transport Officer, Napier Lines, Colchester, April, 1918. Cannock Chase, R.A.S.C., 240th H.T. Co., Brocton Camp, Jmie, 1918. Demobilized, January, 1919. Captain James S. Rankin. M.P., Toxteth Division of Liverpool. Particulars of Service : Joined as Private in the R.A.M.C, in the last week of August, 1914, and served with it until the end of February, 1915. Draughted unexpectedly with his Platoon into Hospital orderly work, with no apparent prospect of getting to France. Applied for Commission and was gremted one in the R.F.A., in February, 1915. Trained at St. Annes-on-Sea, Grantham, and Salisbury Plain. Went to France early in November, 1915, as Captain in charge of the Ammunition Column of the 150th Brigade, County Palatine Division. Served in the Somme area till May, 1916. Owing to breakdown in health, home for some months on sick leave. Later on Home service at Catterick and Ripon, and after further training went with the 386th Battery, R.F.A., to Mesopotamia, sailing in June. 1917, and landing at Basra on the 22nd August, 1917. Proceeded with his battery to a desert camp about 150 miles N.E. of Baghdad — ^towards the Persian border. Though still attached to his battery he was offered and accepted a District Sub- Directorship with the Director of Local Resources, a scheme originally arranged by General Maude for utilising the great possibilities of the country. He had been working on this from March tiU September, 1918, when he went to Persia on a special mission. Left Kermanshap, Persia, late September, 320 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM 1918, for Baghdad, and at a later date was granted leave to resume his Parliamentary duties, arriving, in England, January 26th, 1919, and was shortly after demobilized. Captain T. E. Rome, M.C. i/6th (Rifles) K.L.R. Particulars of Service : Joined 6th K.L.R. as Rifleman, September 4th, 1914. Commissioned, 28th October, 1914. Sent to i/6th K.L.R., at Canterbury. Trained there until sent out to' France, February 2ist. Unit at Ypres. Occupied trenches at the Bluff, Hill 60. Sanctuary Wood. Wounded during HUl 60 Battle (start of 2nd Ypres battle) 21st April, 1915. Home Service Upstreet,. 2/6th K.L.R., July, 1915, and 3/6th K.L.R., Blackpool. Re-joined B.E.F., February, 3rd, 1916, 55th Division at Wailly, South Arras. Marched down to Somme. Captain, September 9th, 1916. Left Somme, September 30th, trained up to Ypres,. took over Railway Wood section, front line. July offensive, 1917. September offensive. Awarded M.C. Taken out of line, and put in quiet Sector, Cambrai front, October, 1917. German offensive, November 29th. Division badly cut up. Rest billets. Re-organising unit until February, 1918. La Bassee, wounded during start of German final offensive,. April 9th. Returned England, April 27th. Home service, 52nd K.L.R. (Young Soldiers' Training Battalion), Kinmel Park and Crowborough. Joined 5th Battalion K.L.R., 30th November, 1918. Discharged from Army, ist April, 1919. Sergeant E. C. Colley. Particulars of Service : Joined i8th Service Battalion! K.L.R., ist September^ 1914, as Private. Trained at Hooton Park, Knowsley Park, APPENDIX VIII 321 Grantham, and Salisbury Plain. Went to France, ;rth Novem- ber, 1915. In line, December, at Gommecourt. Jantiary, 1916, Division on Somme. July, Somme offensive. August, in line at Givenchy. October, on Somme again. Attacking at Flers. November, Arras front. April, 1917, Arras offensive. May, at Zillebeke sector, Ypres. July 31st, third battle of Ypres. September, in line at Wyschaete. November, Paschaendale sector. January, 1918, Division transferred to St. Quentin front. March 21st, proceeded on leave 24 hours before the German offensive commenced. April, returned to remains of unit, in line at Kemmel Hill. End May, Division broken up and sent down to Etaples. Heavily bombed by Huns whilst there. Jime, joined i/6th K.L.R., in line at Givenchy. July, wounded, sent down line. Early September rejoined Battalion. September 21st attacking by La Bassee. October onwards, open warfare. In action imtil Armistice signed. December, at small village near Ath, in France. January, Division marched to Uccle, near Brussels. March, 1919, proceeded home to be demobilized. The Late Lieutenant Benjamin Molyneaux, 3rd Cheshire Regiment. (Of Broad Green.) Particulars of Service : Enlisted in the army in September, 1914, joining the 6th Battalion King's Liverpool Regiment. He volunteered forthwith for active service, but being only 18 years of age at the time, was not sent overseas until June, 1915. After twelve months' service with the Expeditionary Force, he returned to England to obtain his Commission in the Cheshire Regiment. He was back in France in January, 1917, with the nth Battalion of that Regiment, and was seriously wounded at Messines in June the same year, and invalided home. He again returned to France in August, 1918, and joined the 9th 322 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM Battalion of his regiment, and was appointed Scout and Intelligence Officer. On the 4th November, whilst visiting the front line at Jenlain, near Valenciennes, with his Sergeant and Corporal, he was mortally wovmded by a shell, and carried to the Regimental Aid Post, where he was detained the night, as he was too ill to be moved. The following day he was sent to the Casualty Clearing Station at Awoingt, near Cambrai, but died in the early morning of the 8th November. The following letter was received from Lieut.-Col. King, 9th Cheshire Regiment : — ' Dear Mrs. Molyneaux, I fear that nothing I can say will help you in your sorrow, but you will at least be very proud to know of the splendid work done by your son before he was wounded. He had been carefully chosen for the very diflScult and responsible post of Scout Officer to the Battalion. During attacks on the 3rd and 4th November his work was reaUy magnificent. He continually visited the leading line, getting information and bringing it back, imder the most intense rifle, machine-gun, and shell fire. He was absolutely fearless and regardless of his own life. I can assure you that he was directly responsible for much of the success of his Battalion in this last battle of the war. None of us will ever forget his fine courage and example. I can only convey to you the very deep sympathy of myself and my brother officers. Yours very sincerely, (Signed) C. A. King, Lieut.-Col. 9th Cheshire Regiment.' 323 APPENDIX IX MEMORABILIA 1804 Concern of Pollok, Gilmour & Co. established in Glasgow. Partners : John and Arthur Pollok and Allan Gilmour, of Eaglesham. 1819 Allan Gihnour and Robert Rankin sailed from the Clyde to Miramichi. 1838 Allan Gilmour (of Eaglesham) retired, and Allan Gilmour (his nephew) became a partner in P., G. & Co. Concern of Rankin, Gilmour & Co. established in Liverpool. Principal : Robert Rankin. 1839 Sept Wm. Strang joined staff. Staff : Wm. Strang, Geo. Hoghton. 1844 Thomas Hill entered office. Died i860. 1845 Robert Rankin jimior, and Alex. Rankin came from New Brunswick to the Clyde in the Coverdale. 1847 Feb. i4...Chas. Hill entered office. June 23... Robert Rankin junior entered office. 1852 John and Arthur Pollok retired from the firm of P., G. & Co. 1853 Wm. Strang established concern of Gilmour, Rankin, Strang & Co., in London. 1854 Geo. Hoghton came home permanently from New Orleans. Jas. A. Bryson became a partner in the firm of Hoghton, Rankin & Co., New Orleans. John Rankin came from Woodstock, N.B., to the Clyde, in the Actaeon. i860 Alex. Farrel entered office. Left 19th May, 1880. 1861 July I... Robert Rankin junior, Geo. Hoghton, and Geo. Sheriff became partners. 324 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM 1861 Concern of Hoghton, Rankin & Co. dissolved. Sept. I. ..John Rankin entered office (16J years old). 1862 Robert Rankin junior married Miss Currie. 1863 July I... Miss Rankin married David Maclver. 1865 „ I... James Rankin (bom 17th November, 1842) married Miss Bushell. 1866 Dec Geo. W. Hoghton finally left the concern. 1867 Nov. 8 ...Duncan Gibb died. 1868 John Gilmour (afterwards Sir John Gilmour) son of Allan Gilmour, went to New Orleans with J. A. Bryson. 1869 Aug Mrs. David Maclver died. Robert Rankin retired from all the Canadian concerns. Jas. A. Bryson established on his own account in New Orleans. 1870 June 3... Robert Rankin died at Bromborough. Dec. 31... The concerns of Ferguson, Rankin & Co., Gilmour, Rankin & Co., and Robert Rankin & Co. ceased connection with P., G. & Co., R., G. & Co., and G. R., S., & Co., from which date also Allan Gilmour (of Glasgow) retired from all the firms. 1871 Jan. I... John Rankin became a partner. Aug Alex. Rankin entered the office. Left 30th September, 1886 ; died 17th July, 1892. 1872 Dec Wm. Alexander left Liverpool office to join the London office. 1873 April Mrs. Rankin finally left Bromborough for Bournemouth. Dec. 3i...PoUok, Gilmour & Co. dissolved, and Geo. Sheriff retired. _ I Mar. to 1 John Rankin went to New Orleans and through (Aug. ... i the States and Canada. Dec. 31... Wm. Jaffiray left the staff to join that of David Maclver. APPENDIX IX 325 1875 Mrs. Rankin (of Bromborough) died at Bourne- mouth. Sept. I . . .John Rankin married Helen Margaret, daughter of James Jack. Sept. 9. ..Francis Ferguson (of St. John) died. , John Gihnour (of Quebec) died. 1876 Jan. 14... G. W. Hoghton died in London. 1877 I i , } Chas. Hill went to New Bnmswick, etc. Dec. 31... Allan Gilmour (of Glasgow) retired from the Canadian concerns, and Allan Gilmour (of Quebec), John Gilmour, David Gilmour, John David Gilmour, and Peter McNaughton con- stituted the new partnership. 1878 1 c i j Chas. Hill again went to New Bnmswick. 1879 1 .^ I Chas. HUl again went to New Brunswick. July 17. . .Mrs. John Gilmour (of Quebec) died. 1880 Jan. 28... Mrs. James Douglas died, aged 90. Feb Launched our first steamer, the Saint Albans. May 19. ..Alex. Farrell left the staff. (Entered in i860). Aug. 16... Walter Lewin joined the staff. (Left 31st January, 1887). Sept. 2. ..Mrs. Rankin senior (of Northampton) died. Sept. 10. ..James Jarvie died. 1881 Jan. 6... J. W. Irvine joined the staff. (Left, April, 1884). May 18. . . Wm. Bridge joined the staff. (Died, 9th April, i8g8). June 5...Thos. Aitkin joined the staff. (Left, October, 1895). 1882 Sept. i2...Gordon Kennedy joined the staff. (Left, April, 1885). John S. Rankin joined the staff. (Left, Sept- ember, 1883). 326 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM 1884 John S. Rankin sailed for India. May 22... Wm. Bridge sailed in Saitit Ronans for New York, to recruit. Nov. 18... Allan Gilmour (of Glasgow) died, aged 79. 1885 April 9... Alex. Rankin and Miss Agnes Jack married. 1886 Sept. 2... Alex. Rankin came back from Buxton ? Oct. 2...Jas. NicoU died at Newcastle-on-Tyne. Oct. 19. . .Alex. Rankin sailed in Lake Huron for Montreal. Died, I7tli June, 1891. Nov. 17... T. F. Harrison joined staff. Became partner I January, 1898. 1887 Jan. 17... Harry Jones joined staff. Sept Captain Davey became Marine Superintendent. Originally joined the service in 1861, in the ship Arthur. Oct. 12. ..R. McCulloch joined staff. 1889 Dec Concern of Gilmour, Rankin, Strang & Co., in London, closed. Mr. Strang retired. 1890 April 16. ..John Rankin went to New Yorlj, &c. 1893 Donald Kennedy died. 1894 Feb J. Reid became Superintendent Engineer, Mr. Bremner, who joined March, 1886, then leaving. May J. Williams joined the staff. 1896 April 7...Robt. Rankin junior (son of John Rankin) joined the staff. May 4...W. Hadley joined staff, 1897 John Gilmour created a Baronet. 1898 Jan. 20.;.Robt. Rankin (of Fulwood) died. May 23... F. W. Place joined staff. Oct. 31... A. Young joined staff. James Rankin created a Baronet. 1903 Sept. i...Robt. Rankui, son of Sir James Rankin, joined staff. 1905 April Captain Pugh appointed Assistant Marine Superintendent. APPENDIX IX 327 1906 Jan. I... The firm of Rankin. Gilmour & Company was converted into Rankin, Gilmour & Company, Limited. John Rankin, Chairman. House flag altered from P., G. to R., G. Feb. 14... James S. Rankin, son of John Rankin, joined staff. Left, January, 1909. 1907 Feb. 14... Charles Hill resigned his position in the office. (Jomed staff, 1847). In continuation of the foregoing we add :— July 17... Robert Rankin (eldest son of John Rankin) married Mss Baker. Oct. 18.. .Robert Rankin's 30th birthday. Dec. 3... Captain Davey died. Joined the service in 1861, on ship Arthur, and was appointed Superintendent in 1887. 190S Jan. I. ..Captain Pugh appointed Superintendent. Captain McPherson appointed Assistant Super- intendent. Aug Charles Hill died (61 years in of&ce), aged 75. 1909 Jan James S. Rankin left office. Joined 1906. June I...E. Colley joined staff. Aug Mr. Harrison's daughter, Lottie, married. Sept John Rankin went to Canada. 1910 John Rankin, High Sheriff of Westmorland. Sept. I... John Rankin entered his 50th year of business in the firm, and celebrated the occasion by making presentations to all employees with over ten years' service. Nov James S. Rankin elected City Councillor of Sefton Park East, Liverpool. 1911 Sept. I. ..John Rankin completed his 50th year in the office. His partners (T. F. Harrison and Robert Rankin) presented him with a silver model of the firm's first ship. Saint Mungo. The Staff, Captains, Officers, and Engineers presented him with a casket and address. 328 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM 1911 Sept. 2...Corise Helen Margaret Rankin, daughter of Robert Rankin, bom. Oct. 7... David Jardine died, aged 85. Oct. 12... Mr. Harrison's daughter, Elizabeth, married. Nov Mr. Harrison's son died at Savannah. 1912 Feb Mr. Robert Rankin went to Colombo. Feb Mr. Harrison went to Egypt. June 7... Captain Fitzgerald died. Sept. 4...T. Rome joined staff. Dec Mr. John Rankin went to Australia. Dec. 30... B. Molyneaux joined staff. 1913 Very good year for shipping, 1914 Jan. I... John Rankin gave the M.M.S.A. £10,000, to establish annuities for Captains of the Mercantile Marine. May 3...Cecile EUzabeth Florence Rankin, daughter of Robert Rankin, bom. May John Rankin took members of M. D. & H. B., and others, in the SS. Magic for a visit to Continental ports. August ...The Great War. Sept Mr. Robert Rankin joined Royal Fusiliers (Public Schools Battalion). Received Com- mision August, 1915, in the A.S.C. E. CoUey joined "Pals." Rome and Molyneaux joined the Territorials. Miss Amott joined staff. Wm. Boase joined staff (temporary). James S. Rankin joined London Territorials, R.A.M.C. Received Commission R.F.A. 1915 April 17... Sir James Rankin, Brynwyn, died. Aged 73. Nov. 4... J. Williams joined Army "Derby," placed in reserve. Called up twice and rejected. Nov. 5. ..A. Young joined Army "Derby," placed in reserve. Called up twice and rejected. Nov. 19.,. Wm. Boase joined army. APPENDIX IX 329 1916 April Captain Shrine retired after 32 years' service. Dec Saint Ursula sunk in Mediterranean. Dec. 12. ..Saint Theodore captured by Germans. 1917 Sept. 1^... Saint Ronald sunk by torpedo. Dec Twelve steamers sold to T. & J. Harrison ; they taking over Captains, Ofi&cers, and Engineers. Copy of report in " Journal of Commerce." Gratuities given to Captains, OfiBcers, and Engineers. 1918 Feb. 7... British & Foreign SS. Co., Ltd. went into volimtary liquidation. March ...F. Harding joined staff. Left, 1919. April 17... Walter Hadley left staff. May 16... A. Young left staff, to join staff of T. & J. Harrison. Oct Captain Pugh, overlooker, retired. Nov. 4...B. Molyneaux wounded (second time). Nov. 8...B. Molyneaux died in France. Dec James S. Rankin returned to Parliament unopposed as Member for East Toxteth. 1919 Jan. I... Messrs. H. Jones, R. McCulloch, and F. W. Place appointed Directors. Jan. I... The new Company, "The Saint Line, Ltd.," started with three steamers. Saint Michael, Saint Patrick, Saint Stephen. Feb Mrs. Harrison died. Feb Captains Robert and James S. Rankin demobilized from army. Feb Mr. and Mrs. Robert Rankin went to West Coast, South America. Mar. 12. . .E. Colley returned to office after demobilization from Army. March ...R. Owen joined staff. April T. E. Rome returned to office after discharge from army. w 330 A HISTORY OF OUR FIRM 1919 June ig... Captain McPherson died, aged 66. 53 years in the service. Aug Miss Amott left staff. Aug IVIiss Whittow joined staff . IQ20 Jan R. McCuUoch left the firm. Jan T. E. Rome left, and joined staff of Campbell and Co., London. March ...A. Young re-joined staff. March ... Mr . Harrison made an Associate of the Institute of Naval Architects. March ...Mr. Harrison went to Jamaica. May Captain Robert Rankin, son of John Rankin, purchased Broughton Tower, Broughton-in- Fumess. June John Rankin, J.P., received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws from the Liverpool University. July Sir John Gilraour died on the 21st. Aged 75. Sept Miss Whittow left staff. LIVERPOOI- : LEE & NIGHTINGALE, PRINTERS, NORTH JOHN STREET. 1921.