Linlithgow Tanneries / Bootmakers

[tormohun]

I have ordered some newspaper articles about the Meek family from West Lothian library service. They are all from this century. Do you have any info on how they built up the tannery business? Must have started from nothing when William came from Lesmahagow. William seems to have stayed in the paper trade, and it looks like Alexander was the first one in the shoe trade
The 1861 census has him as born in 1797, then the 1871 census has him born 1817 - have you seen any actual documents? Have they read the old writing incorrectly? What were the circumstances of the deaths of William and Mary?

[Skoosh]

tormohun,  William & Mary both died on the same day of different things, (I have the details) their stone is in St Michael's, Linlithgow.
 I don't think the Meek's had a tannery, they were bootmakers. Linlithgow was a centre of bootmaking. William's father, also William, was a baker in Old Monkland but never came from there, his wife Isabel Watson was from Lesmahagow which was where there oldest was born .
Skoosh.

[tormohun]

I found this on Rootschat
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?action=printpage;topic=372610.0

[tormohun]

Have found an ordnance survey map 1856 showing Roseland Cottage. It is still there looking as beautiful as ever
http://maps.nls.uk/townplans/view/?sid=74416124&mid=linlithgow
And it is a listed buiding

[Skoosh]

tormohun, I've sent you a PM.     Skoosh.

[Skoosh]

Straddie,  a bit of movement on the origin of the William Meek who married Isabella Watson. He was the son of George Meek, miller in Whitburn East mill & Margaret Calder, both were apparently born in Muiravondale, Stirlingshire, where there were a few mills, presumably also the son of a miller as this trade tended to run in families.

Bests,

Skoosh.

[#sholto]

Hi, I have just found this topic about Linlithgow Shoemakers/Boot makers of Linlithgow, on my 5Xs gt grandfather George Douglases Marriage Certificate it states that he was a Cordiner in Linlithgow in 1706, his son James Douglas became a member of the Incorporated Shoemakers of Linlithgow in 1760.

Sholto. 

[fruitveg]

Hi tormohun from new Zealand. My mother spoke of you.  She was born Ethel Jean Gibb Meek in Liverpool in 1918 and died only recently 2013.  I believe we have the same great grandfather, Alexander Meek, a boot maker from Linlithgow.  My grandfather, John, left Linlithgow for Liverpool, possibly before your grandfather who was several years younger. Grandfather John seemed to set himself up virtually immediately with a Walter Bellis and formed Bellis and Meek, wholesale fruit and veg. This company was in existence by 1900.
I am looking into the Meek family history but have so many gaps

[Skoosh]

Fruitveg, if you make another couple of posts (about anything) I can send you a PM.

Skoosh.