Dunfermline News 100 Years Ago: November 2015

Friday 27 November 2015

Bankrupt merchant and musical recital

In the Dunfermline Journal and Advertiser for West Fife 100 years ago this weekend (to be specific the 20 November 1915 issue)

Welcome all to my new blog post focussing on social history in Dunfermline 100 years ago!

Dunfermline Merchants Bankrupt

In Dunfermline Sheriff Court on Tuesday, Thomas Brown, sole partner of the firm of Hutchison and Brown, potato merchants, Grantsbank, Dunfermline was examined by Sherriff Umpherston in bankruptcy.

He lodged a statement of affairs and the usual oath was administered. He stated that the military took possession of his stores, he had no adequate means of carrying on his business, less interest in and in consequence failed. The statement lodged showed that book debts including a sum for army billets totalled £180. The total assets were £363 less preferable claim for rent and taxes £35 leaving for division £225 5s 1d. The liabilities cited consisting of trade debts amounted to £384 8s 5d showing a deficient of £95 2s 7d.

[The only building that now bears the name of Grantsbank in Dunfermline is a modern care home building].

Musical recital

A successful dramatic and musical recital was held in the hall of the UF Abbey Church on Wednesday evening and resulted in a contribution of about £9 being made to the fund for providing comforts for local men at the front. The programme included solos by Misses Taylor, J Hendry, M Penman, W Knight recitations by Private G S Sandilands, 2-9th HLI and Mr Tom Walters; selections by the Canmore Orchestra (leader Mr H Watson), cello solo by Lance-Corporal H R Child and part songs by a choir. Mr W Dickson acted as accompanist. The entertainment was greatly enjoyed.

Tune in next week to see what happened in Dunfermline next week 100 years ago ..........

Blog written by Jacqueline Hunter of Ancestral Research by Jacqueline, Dunfermline, Scotland. Please email me at jacquelinehunter895@gmail.com if I can help you with your family history research.

Friday 20 November 2015

Fire in High Valleyfield and Death in Donibristle

In the Dunfermline Journal and Advertiser for West Fife 100 years ago this weekend (to be specific the 20 November 1915 issue)

Welcome all to my new blog post focussing on social history in Dunfermline 100 years ago!

A property destroyed by fire in High Valleyfield

Early on Thursday morning fire broke out in the coal cellar of a house in Abbey Crescent, High Valleyfield. The house was tenanted by John Philp. The fie took a firm grip of the boxes and other material in the coal cellar and notwithstanding the efforts at extinguishing by means of pailfuls of water it obtained masonry and before it was put out Philp's house and another adjoining were totally gutted. Most of the furniture was saved. The damage is established at between £300 and £400. It is believed that the fire originated from a piece of burning paper which a woman was using in order to enable her to collect some coal. The property belonged to the Fife Coal Company.

Donibristle - the late Mr Beath

Widespread regret has been caused by the announcement of the death of Mr Robert Beath who conducted a licensed grocer's establishment in Donibristle for 35 years and who only retired from business 18 months ago. Mr Beath took a keen interest in all public affairs and acted as Chairman of Aberdour School Board for several years. He had also a long period of service on the Parish Council and was on both these bodies at his death. He superintended the Sabbath school in Donibristle for nearly 30 years and would have celebrated his golden wedding in a fortnight. Some years ago Mr Beath was elected a JP for the county and up till his last illness he took an active part all the patriotic associations. He leaves a family of four sons and four daughters. He was 71 years of age.

Tune in next week to see what happened in Dunfermline next week 100 years ago ..........

Blog written by Jacqueline Hunter of Ancestral Research by Jacqueline, Dunfermline, Scotland. Please email me at jacquelinehunter895@gmail.com if I can help you with your family history research.

Friday 13 November 2015

An accident and an assault .....

In the Dunfermline Journal and Advertiser for West Fife 100 years ago this weekend (to be specific the 13 November 1915 issue)

Welcome to the second instalment of my exploration of the 13 November 1915 issue.

The first article this week strikes me as very similar to what happens in the 21st century:

Tramway Accident Claim

In the Outer House of the Court of Session on Wednesday Lord Ormidale closed the record in an action at the instance of John Buchanan, Anchoria Cottage, Harrie Brae Park, Dunfermline against the Corporation of Glasgow for £250 damages in respect of personal injuries. On Thursday 5th August 1913 the pursuer, who was on holiday in Glasgow, boarded one of the defender's tramway cars at the Merkland Street car station. He was proceeding up the stair of the car, intending to take a seat on the upper platform when the car, he says, started suddenly and with such a violent jerk that, although he was grasping the stair rail with one hand, he was wrenched from his hold and thrown over the rail onto the street. The defenders deny fault and explain that while in the course of ascending the stair the pursuer lost his balance and fell backwards onto the street. They plead that the pursuer failed to take what was a customary precaution in the circumstances - namely a secure hold of the handrail provided or the purpose of safeguarding passengers ascending the stir while the car was moving. Issues were ordered for the trial of the action by jury.

[Harrie Brae Park is directly opposite where I live!].

Assault on a Warder

George Williams labourer was fined 7s 6d with the option of 5 days imprisonment for having assaulted Edward Meechan a warden in a Chapel Street common lodging house by striking him with his fist on the face to his effusion of blood. Accused said that Meechan had struck him on the head with a poker but the Prosecutor remarked there was no provocation.

Friday 6 November 2015

A Dunfermline divorce and pithead mischief

In the Dunfermline Journal and Advertiser for West Fife 100 years ago this weekend (to be specific the 13 November 1915 issue)

Unfortunately the issue dated 6 November 1915 has not survived so instead I will explore the 13 November 1915 issue over 2 weeks.

A Dunfermline Divorce Case

On Saturday an action for divorce by Mrs Jack, 34 Rolland Street, Dunfermline came before Lord Anderson who granted her decree against her husband with the custody of the child in marriage. The parties were married in June 1903. They took up house at Wishaw and afterwards at Dunfermline. Her husband was in a good position at Dunfermline and before the birth of the child his behaviour was all that could be desired. Afterwards, however, he remained out at night and when the child was three and a half years old he began to talk about going abroad. She was surprised as she knew no reason why he should leave the country. He went away in February 1911 stating that he was going to New Zealand to better himself. He also said he would make a home for her and her child. After beig in New Zealand for about six months he went to Melbourne, Australia. During the first 2 years he was away he never sent her anything for her support and after that he sent her £2 on 2 separate occasions. Her minister wrote to her husband in October 1914 but got no reply. She had written to her husband's employers in Melbuorne but no reply came back. After the summons in the action had been served on the defender in April of this year she had received two letters from her husband. He complained about her writing to his employers and said what was not true - that on two occasions he had sent her £5. In one of the letters he said he was coming home on 25th April. She had not heard from him nor in her knowledge had he come home.

Pithead Mischief

In Dunfermline Juvenile Court on Monday a Lumphinnans lad of 13 years of age admitted having on 25th inst on the red bing at No 1 Pit, Lumphinnans wantonly and maliciously caused two empty hutches to run down the hutch road in consequence of which one of them derailed and the other endangered another load and collided with hutches at the pithead. He was put on probation for 4 months.

[Some extra information! A hutch was a receptacle in which coals were conveyed from the pit face. Production commenced at Lumphinnans No 1 pit in 1852 and it closed in 1957. The average workforce was 182. The peak workforce was 202 and the peak year was 1951].

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