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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Lanarkshire => Topic started by: Sailaway9 on Wednesday 24 August 22 19:34 BST (UK)
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I am interested in the history of the Coltness sawmill and the area in general during the 19th century. Does anyone know of any publications perhaps by a local history society that I could purchase?
Thank you.
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Here is a link to the Statistical Account of Cambusnethan parish (which includes Coltness) in 1845.
https://stataccscot.edina.ac.uk/static/statacc/dist/viewer/nsa-vol6-Parish_record_for_Cambusnethan_in_the_county_of_Lanark_in_volume_6_of_account_2/nsa-vol6-p609-parish-lanark-cambusnethan?search=cambusnethan
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Not sure if you have seen this short film on youtube detailing the history of the mill?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWVvEJ_pOEk&ab_channel=RogerGriffith
Monica
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Coltness House, now demolished and Coltness mill - you saw the video!
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Coltness House, now demolished and Coltness mill - you saw the video!
I did ;D
Monica
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Thank you for the links and photographs. On the 1841 census my (possible) ancestors worked at the Coltness Lodge Sawmill. Father's occupation listed as' Sawyer' and son as a 'Wood Merchant'.
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John French, wood merchant, Coltness, parish of Cambusnethan and his spouse Mary Finlay had their 1st child, named Margaret Finlay, on 7th June 1840 and she was baptised by the Rev Peter Brown on 5th July 1840.
Peter McAlpin, mason, Coltness Bridge, parish of Shotts and his spouse Elizabeth French had their 3rd child, named Elizabeth Lorimer on 19th March 1846 and she was baptised by the Rev Peter Brown on 3rd May 1846.
So, this means that the McAlpine's did not live in Coltness but on the far side of the bridge, which is now the village of Cleland, historically always in the parish of Shotts.
I drive over Coltness bridge at least 3 days a week (over and back today) and the far side is steeply sloped, so I'm guessing that any dwellings would be at least 100 yards away from the river's edge.
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Thank you for the additional information. Thanks to you I can now confirm that Elizabeth McAlpine (nee French) was the daughter of John French and Elizabeth Lorimer.
The 1851 census shows John French (aged 74yrs) retired Wood Merchant now living in Coltness Bridge, Parish of Shotts. The next entry shows Peter and Elizabeth McAlpine and family living beside him. Peter was born in Greenock and his wife Elizabeth was born in Douglas.
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Forgot to ask where you can find the church records. Are they online?
Thank you again.
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The records are from the Wishawtown Relief Congregation Church which was founded in 1822. It was a "Secessionist" church, meaning it seceded from the main body of the Church of Scotland but it was still Presbyterian. By 1929 most of the Secession Churches were united back to the Church of Scotland. This particular church became Thornlie Parish Church and a few years ago it merged with Chalmers Parish Church in Wishaw and the beautiful, landmark Thornlie building is now home to a local firm of undertakers.
The records are with the National Records of Scotland, the archive reference is CH3/1219.
There are deaths 1835 - 1846 and baptisms 1831 - 1864.
As far as I know, the deaths have not as yet been transcribed.
Someone, I now forget who, transcribed the baptisms a few years ago and I have a copy here.
There are 2 more entries that will interest you -
Peter McAlpine, mason Coltness Bridge, parish of Shotts and his spouse Elizabeth French had their 4th child, named Helen, born 2nd July 1848, baptised by Rev Peter Brown on 20th August 1848.
Patrick McAlpine, mason, Coltness Bridge, parish of Shotts and his spouse Elizabeth French had their 4th child, named Janet Brownlie, born 20th October 1852 and baptised by the Rev Peter Brown on 21st November 1852.
I have highlighted the anomalies in the last entry, he is Patrick rather than Peter, this could have been a mistake by the original clerk or by the transcriber, or, it could hint at Irish origins for Peter.
Both children here are registered as being the 4th child. It may be another mistake or it may be that a previous child died soon after birth?
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So, this means that the McAlpine's did not live in Coltness but on the far side of the bridge, which is now the village of Cleland, historically always in the parish of Shotts.
I drive over Coltness bridge at least 3 days a week (over and back today) and the far side is steeply sloped, so I'm guessing that any dwellings would be at least 100 yards away from the river's edge.
I have looked at this old map of Coltness estate and now realise that the estate did cross the river into Shotts parish, it is marked on the map as Knowknoble, which is part of modern-day Cleland village.
https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/view-image/nrs_maps_plans/10041?return_row=0
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Very useful and interesting information, thank you. I always try to remember to note the source of all the material found. Three children are on the 1951 census James aged 8 (born Cambusnethan); Elizabeth aged 4 (born Shotts) and Ellen aged 2 (born Shotts).
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Hello Sailaway,
It's been a few weeks since you opened this thread but just wanted to let you know that I was at the National Records of Scotland in Edinburgh this week and found some death records for Wishawtown Relief Church (which subsequently became Thornlie Parish Church). There was one that you may find interesting -
"7th June 1840, Mrs J. French at Coltness".
Scant information but I'm guessing she is one of yours. I still have more to look through, I aim to be back over there in a few weeks' time.
I also found the 1847 sequestration papers for Robert and John French "wood merchants at Coltness and coalmasters at Whitehill in the county of Lanark as a company and of Robert French residing at Coltness saw mill and John French spirit dealer and flesher in Airdrie as the intended partners of that company".
Basically, they owed £51 to John Brownlee of Garrion mill and he had taken them to court.
I was allowed to handle the original documents and to take pictures. If you would like the photos please send me your email address by PM.
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Baptisms on Scotlandspeople
MCALPINE
JAMES
PETER MCALPINE/ELISABETH FRENCH
16 APRIL 1842
WISHAW RELIEF
MCALPINE
JOHN
PETER MCALPINE/ELISABETH FRENCH
5 MAY 1844
2 JUNE 1844
WISHAW RELIEF
MCALPINE
EISABETH LORIMER
PETER MCALPINE/ELISABETH FRENCH
19 MARCH 1846
3 MAY 1846
WISHAW RELIEF
MCALPINE
HELEN
PETER MCALPINE/ELISABETH FRENCH
2 JULY 1848
20 AUGUST 1848
WISHAW RELIEF
MCALPINE
JANET BROWNLIE
PETER MCALPINE/ELISABETH FRENCH
20 OCTOBER 1852
21 NOVEMBER 1852
WISHAW RELIEF