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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Renfrewshire => Topic started by: dunvr on Sunday 13 September 09 12:56 BST (UK)
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Hi
Can anyone give me information specifically referring to Robert Steel being a Shawl manufacturer in Paisley?
This is the details I have from his death cert and a census:
Death cert transcription:
ROBERT STEEL (Shawl Manufacturer) married to Sarah McInnes
then it looks like formerly to Margaret Leslie, previously Margaret
Saunderson. Died December 25th 1871 at 52 Caledonia Street, Paisley,
aged 78 looks like Bronchitis. Parents given as Robert Street and ......
Steel m.s. Stewart - death registered by his son James Steel.
1861 Census:
52 Calediona Street, Robert Steel age 68, head (Shawl Manufacturer).Sarah ? Wife age 50, (Laundress).
Can anyone let me know of any text article from any source that talks about Robert Steel manufacturing Shawls in Paisley?
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Hi dunvr
I think you need to consult trade directories if he was a manufacturer in his own right. At the time you are looking for weavers tended to work in groups in different parts of the town and sell their cloth on to those who then made it up into clothing.
I have several ancestrors who were shawl manufacturers at the same time but they weren't factory owners or anything grand- they were one man bands or employed a couple of guys.
The two big mills in the town were J&P Coats (counded by the Coats brothers) and Clarks Mills (known today as Anchor Thread - tho not a mill left in Paisley). They took over shawls and pretty much everything else so the weavers worked for them.
Worth contacting the Paisley Library at
locstuds.els[at][/blue]renfrewshire.gov.uk (replace [at] with @)
They should be able to give you an overview of weaving history in the town.
Ann :)
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It's not much, but there's a listing for Robert Steel in Pigot's Directory of 1837.
Just google 'Pigots Commercial Directory Paisley' and look on pages 720 and 725 (or search for 'Robert Steel Caledonia')
Eddie
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I have this family in my tree.....get in touch if still interested......
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I sent you a pm so you can email me directly. Thanks