New Cumnock

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CUMNOCK AND AUCHINLECK Ayrshire Directory 1837 - by Pigot & Co

Cumnock (or Old Cumnock) is a considerable village of thoroughfare; 60 miles sw of Edinburgh, 16 e of Ayr, and the like distance sse of Kilmarnock; situate on a line of road between Dumfries on the south-east and Glasgow on the north, 44 from the former town and 38 from the latter.

The village,which is of an irregular triangular form, in seated in a deep sheltered hollow, at the confluence of the Glaisnock and Logan waters; it is celebrated for the manufacture of those beautiful wooden snuff boxes, a species of trade which originated here nearly thirty years since, and, with some few exceptions, as Lawrencekirk [N.B. a town roughly half-way between Dundee and Aberdeen], Catrine and Mauchline, is still confined to Cumnock. This branch furnishes employment to a considerable number of men, women and children, all of whom get more wages by their ingenious labour than most other artisans; and a good deal of money is thus caused to flow through and enrich the town. Plane [sycamore] is the wood used in the manufacture, and great ingenuity is evinced in adorning the lids with devices, which is chiefly performed by boys; the very nice manner in which boxes are constructed is admired and although, the hinges are part of the box, many imitations have been attempted, but have failed to rival the original manufacturer.

[N.B. The Mauchline ware page has more detail on Mauchline ware as it has become known.]

The places of worship are a church of the establishment, and one of the united seccession. To the parochial school, which is well attended, the sum of £25 annually, was left by Charles Duncan, esq., late merchant of London, and a native of Cumnock. The Marquess of Bute also allows the master a salary for educating twenty poor children of this parish, and pays the schoolmaster of New Cumnock and Ochiltree for the instruction of ten children in their respective parishes.

The principal part of the town occupies the site of what was formerly the church-yard; the present cemetery was, at one period, the place of execution, and contains the remains of three persons who were shot on the spot, in 1685, by a party of Highlanders, for their abherence to the covenanted work of reformation; and the corpse of Peden, a martyr of the covenanting body, who died in the parish of Sorn, was exhumed, by a party of dragoons, after being interred six weeks, and ignominiously buried at the gallows foot.

An establishment of the Ayrshire Banking Company, and two savings banks, are in the town; the first was opened in 1831, to which Messrs Crawford and Nichol are the treasurers; the other in 1835, to which Mr. Campbell is treasurer. There are also two libraries, viz. the "Cumnock Library" established in 1792 by shareholders, and the "Cumnock new public library", formed in 1832.

The castle of Terringzean, now in ruins, is in the neighbourhood - it gives the title of baron to the family of Dumfries.

The market is held on Thursday; and the fairs on the fourth Thursday after Candlemass, on the Wednesday succeeding the last Tuesday in May, and Wednesday after the first Tuesday in July, and after the third Tuesday in October, all old style.

AUCHINLECK

Auchinleck (pronounced Affleck) signifying a field of rock, is a respectable village in the parish of its name, 11/4 mile from Cumnock, three from Sorn, and the like distance from Catrine. Like Cumnock, many are employed in the manufacture of snuff boxes, and others in weaving and sewing muslins for the Glasgow houses.

The parish, which is 18 miles in length, by only about two in breadth, is watered on its northern extremity by the Ayr, and by the Lugar on the south. Coal and limestone are produced here, but the soil is for the most part mossy and unproductive.

The places of worship are a church of the establishment, and one belonging to the burghers; there is also a parochial school. The ruins of Auchinleck Castle stand in an angle formed by the Garpel burn and the Lugar; and in the neighbourhood is the Place of Auchinleck. a handsome mansion, erected in the last century by Lord Auchinleck, senator of the college of justice, and father of the eminent and amiable James Boswell, Esq., the friend and biographer of Johnson; the house is still the property of the Boswell family.

A well attended fair, for the sale of lambs, is held annually on the last Tuesday in August.

POST OFFICE:

Cumnock. Andrew Rankin, Post master. - Letters from Edinburgh and Glasgow arrive every morning at nine, and are despatched every forenoon at eleven - Letters from Sanquhar amd New Cumnock arrive every morning at half past eight, and are despatched every morning at half past nine. Letters from England arrive every afternoon at five, and are despatched to Douglas Mill every evening at 7.

Post, Auchinleck, Receiving house at Janet Dalrymple's - Letters from London arrive every afternoon at half past four, and are despatched every evening (to Sorn) at half past seven - Letters (excepting the London) arrive every morning at nine, and are despatched every afternoon at five.

NOBILITY, GENTRY & CLERGY:

Allanson, James, Esq of Glasnock

Bannatyne, Rev. Ninian, Manse

Boswell, Sir James, baronet of Auchinleck house

Brown, Rev. Robt, Bankhead manse

Bute, the Most Noble the Marquess of Dumfries house

Chrystal, Rev. James, Auchinleck manse Cunningham, William

anson, Esq of Logan and Enterkine

ACADEMIES & SCHOOLS:

Gilmour, Edward, Auchinleck

McCrae, John, Cumnock

McCrae, William, Cumnock

Parochial School, Cumnock - James Campbell, master

Parochial School, Auchinleck - William Robertson, master

AGENTS TO MANUFACTURERS:

Boyd, James, Cumnock

Gibson, Andrew, Auchinleck

Millroy, John, Auchinleck

Murdock, James, Auchinleck

Nicol, James, Cumnock

Ronald, John, Cumnock

Torrence, John, Cumnock

AGENTS TO MANUFACTURERS:
Boyd, James, Cumnock/	Gibson, Andrew, Auchinleck
Millroy, John, Auchinleck	Murdock, James, Auchinleck
Nicol, James, Cumnock	Ronald, John, Cumnock
Torrence, John, Cumnock
AUCTIONEERS:
French, Alexander, Cumnock	Hamilton, George, Cumnock
Hamilton, Thomas, Cumnock
BAKERS:
Anderson, Agnes, Cumnock	Crichton, David, (and flour and grain dealer) Cumnock
Templeton, John, Auchinleck
BANKERS
Ayrshire Banking Company, Cumnock - (draw on the Royal Bank of Edinburgh and Glasgow, Williams, Deacon & Co., London) - James Crawford, Agent
BLACKSMITHS
Drinnan, George, Cumnock	McCarrick, Thomas, Garrall and McClellan, Alex (& carrier) Cumnock
McKerrow, James, Auchinleck	Merry, Henry, Cumnock/
Morrison, David, Cumnock	Reagans (?), William, Cumnock
BOOT AND SHOE MAKERS:
Ferguson, Walter, Cumnock	Hamilton, David, Auchinleck
McClatchie, Hugh, Cumnock	McGeachin, Hugh, Cumnock
McGeachin, Hugh jnr, Cumnock/	McKerrall, Robert, Cumnock
McMillan, James, Cumnock/	Murdock, David, Cumnock
Robertson, William, Cumnock	Smith, George, Cumnock
Wilson, John, Auchinleck
CARPENTERS AND CARTWRIGHTS:
Black, William (and cabinet maker), Cumnock	Bryan, William, Cumnock
Drummond, James, Cumnock	Galbraith, Wm (& cabinet maker), Cumnock
Hodge,Andrew, Cumnock	McClatchie, William, Cumnock
Morton, William, Auchinleck	Murdock, Robert, Auchinleck
Thomson, Hugh, Cumnock
COOPERS:
Gibb, John, Cumnock	Howat, James, Cumnock
FACTORS:
Crichton, Adam, to the Marquess of Bute, Dumfries House	Gibb, Andrew, to Sir James Boswell, bart, Auchinleck house
FIRE & LIFE OFFICES:
West of Scotland (fire) and Scottish Amicable (life) Offices, James Cranford, Cumnock
FLESHERS:
Baird, Thos, (& shopkeeper) Cumnock	Clemis, Andrew, (and shopkeeper), Cumnock
Crawford, James, Cumnock	Crawford, James jnr, Cumnock/
Purdie, James, Cumnock	Vallance, Robert & David, Cumnock
GROCERS:
(marked thus * are spirit dealers) (See also Wine and Spirit merchants)
Anderson, William, Cumnock	* Baird, David, Cumnock
* Bell, Agnes, Cumnock/	* Boyd, James (and general merchant), Cumnock
* Crawford, Quinton, (and general merchant) Cumnock	Crichton, Adam, Cumnock
Dixon, Helen, Cumnock	* Eadie, Daniel, Auchinleck
Hair, John, Cumnock	Howard, William, Cumnock
* Kirkland, David, Cumnock	McCrindle, Alexander, Cumnock
McGeachin, Hugh jnr, Cumnock	* Nichol, James, Cumnock/
Richmond, Margaret, Cumnock	Simson, Mary Ann, Cumnock
Sloan, Mary, Cumnock/	* Templeton, George,Auchinleck/
* Weir, John, Cumnock
INN:
Dumfries Arms (commercial and posting) Jas McKinlay, Cumnock
IRONMONGERS:
Kirkland, David, Cumnock/	Weir, John, Cumnock
LINEN DRAPERS:
Gibb, Alexander Boswell, Cumnock	Hair, William, Cumnock
McKirrow, Andrew, Cumnock	McKirrow, Matthew, (and discounter), Cumnock
Paterson, James, Cumnock	Torrance, John, Cumnock
MASONS:
Morton, Andrew, Auchinleck	Murdock, Andrew, Cumnock
Reid, John, Cumnock	Richmond, John, Cumnock
Simson, John, Cumnock
MESSENGERS:
McCowan, Archibald, Cumnock	White, William, Cumnock
MILLINERS & DRESS MAKERS:
Burns, Jane, Cumnock/	Douglas, Mary, Cumnock
McFarlane, Janet, Cumnock	McGeachin, Jane, Cumnock
Paterson, Agnes & Jemima, Cumnock	Sliman, Sarah & Agnes, Cumnock
Williamson, Marion, Cumnock
NAIL MAKERS:
King, John, Cumnock/	McClimont, John, Cumnock
Weir, John, Cumnock
SADDLERS:
Black, Peter, Cumnock	McKinlay, James, Cumnock
SNUFF-BOX MAKERS:
Crawford, William (and original maker), Cumnock	Crichton, Adam, Cumnock
Crichton, David & Co, Cumnock	Crichton, Peter, Cumnock
Drummond & Co, Cumnock	Eadie, Daniel, Auchinleck
Findly, John, Auchinleck	Gibson John, Auchinleck
Lammie, Alexander, Cumnock	McCallum, Peter, Cumnock
McGregor, James, Auchinleck	McKie, James, Auchinleck
McMillan, Thomas,Cumnock	Murdock, David, Auchinleck
Samson & Co, Cumnock
SNUFF-BOX PAINTERS:
Douglas, John, Cumnock	Lammie, Thomas, Cumnock
McCallum, William, Cumnock	Mc ??? , John, Cumnock
Robertson, Andrew, Cumnock
STRAW HAT MAKERS:
Lammie, Janet, Cumnock	Paterson, Agnes & Jemima, Cumnock
SURGEONS:
Crichton, William, Cumnock	Gregg, Alexander, Auchinleck
Wills, Douglas, Cumnock
TAILORS:
Baird, Thomas, Cumnock	Crawford, Hugh, Cumnock
Hastings, Thomas, Cumnock	Kerr, Alexander, Cumnock
Lammie, John, Cumnock	McCartney, Francis, Cumnock
McMorland, Hugh, Cumnock	McMorland, James, Cumnock/
Wilson, Walter,Auchinleck
VINTERS:
Baird, John (Craig Head), Cumnock	Black, Peter (Eagle), Cumnock
Dalrymple, Janet (Auchinleck Arms), Cumnock/	McKerrow, William, Auchinleck/
Morton, Rbt, (Black Bull), Auchinleck	Murray, Jas, (BlackBull), Cumnock
Templeton, Andrew (Wheat Sheaf), Cumnock	Templeton,George, Auchinleck
Torrance, Agnes, Cumnock
WATCH & CLOCK MAKERS:
Moore, George, Cumnock/	Silman, Archibald, Cumnock
WINE & SPIRIT MERCHANTS:
Campbell, Hugh, Cumnock	Crawford, Quinton (and iron, wool, palm oil, butter & tar), Cumnock
WRIGHTS:	See Carpenters and Cartwrights
WRITERS [i.e. lawyers];
Rose Hamilton (and notary and procurator fiscal for the Cumnock district of the county), Cumnock	White, William (and notary and justice of peace clerk), Cumnock
MISCELLANEOUS:
Crawford, Jas., sub-distributor of stamps, Bank, Cumnock	Douglas, John, portrait painter, Cumnock
Finlay, Alexander, salt dealer, Cumnock	Gibb Joseph, tinsmith, Cumnock
Hair, Andrew, grain &c dealer, Cumnock/	King,Jas., woollen dyer & carder, Cumnock
Logan, Janet, tea dealer, Cumnock	McCarthy, Geo., millwright &c, Cumnock
McGeachin, Wm, hardware dealer, Cumnock	McKelvie, John, hair cutter, Cumnock/
Murdock, Robt, horse dealer, Auchinleck	Nichol, Alexander, seedsman, grain dealer and road contractor, Cumnock
Taylor, Robt, earthenware manufr., Cumnock	Walker, William, coal master, Cumnock
Wills, Alexander, druggist, Cumnock	Wyllie, James, gunsmith, Auchinleck

PLACES OF WORSHIP

Established Church, Cumnock - Rev Ninian Bannatne.

Established Church, Auchinleck - Rev James Chrystal.

Original Seccession Chapel, Auchinleck.

Seccession Chapel, Cumnock - Rev Robert Brown.

COACHES:

To Ayr - the "Independant" (market coach) from the Dumfries Arms, every Tuesday and Friday morning at seven.

To Carlisle - the "Independant" (from Glasgow), calls at the Dumfries Arms, every morning at eleven; goes through New Cumnock, Sanquhar, Thornhill and Dumfries.

To Glasgow - the "Independant" (from Carlisle), calls at the Dumfries Arms, every afternoon at two; goes through Mauchline and Kilmarnock.

CARRIERS:

To Ayr - Alexander Findlay and David Smith, every Tuesday and Friday: James Findlay, every Tues & Saturday, and Alexander Simson, every Monday and Thursday.

To Dumfries - John & William Robb, every Tuesday and Thursday, and Thomas Ferguson, every Wednesday.

To Edinburgh - Robt Lath every Saturday.

To Glasgow - John & William Robb, every Monday and Thursday; Thomas Ferguson, every Friday; and Elizabeth Bryan and David Weir every Monday.

To Kilmarnock - John & William Robb, every Monday and Thursday; Thomas Ferguson, every Friday; John Kerr every Wednesday and Saturday; Elizabeth Bryan and David Weir every Monday; and Hugh Findlay occasionally.

To Sanquhar - John & William Robb, every Tuesday and Thursday, and Thomas Ferguson, every Wednesday

This transcript was kindly provided by Keith Muirhead from the Sunshine Coast of Queensland.