307 APRIL 2020 - Gryffe Advertizer

Local history
14
Semple Stories
Lochwinnoch’s Glories is Searching for The Past.
It is extraordinary just how much hidden history there
is within the community and long may it last and be
treasured.
I was contacted on Facebook by a man who found a
Struthers American cream soda bottle while exploring
underneath his house. Resplendent with an image of a
Native American Chief in full-feathered headdress and
tunic, the bottle, stopper and label were in near perfect
condition.
I reposted the images on the project Facebook page –
Lochwinnoch Glories – and other people began sharing
their family heirlooms. Other designs of Struthers
bottles, glass milk bottles for Lochwinnoch produced
milk, curling stones handed down through the family,
furniture, rugs and even a Struthers bright orange crate
for holding half-a-dozen
bottles. All of this, the
evidence of a wee village’s
big industrial past. It was
like a regular Antiques
Roadshow!
People have so generously
opened their homes and
lives, to share memories
of people, events and
family treasures and
I am very grateful for
this contribution to the
project.
Semple
Stories,
Lochwinnoch’s Glories
is a project funded by
the Renfrewshire and
Inverclyde LEADER and
the Heritage Lottery
Fund.
Johnstone History Society
We now move onto our April meeting which will be held
on the 11th of the month in the Masonic Hall in Collier
Street at 7.30pm.The speaker on this occasion will be
Graham Fulton and his subject is “The Paisley Civil War”.
Graham Fulton is a poet from Paisley and he has had
several books published .At our meeting he will be telling
how the American Civil War impinged on Paisley .A good
attendance is hoped for by members and visitors. All will
be made welcome and may stay and enjoy a cup of tea
or coffee..
The Museum continues to open Wednesday Friday and
Saturday from 10.30am to 4pm .We have a wide selection
of books pamphlets and maps on sale ,these can also be
purchased online from our website at johnstonehistory.
org and an be paid for via PayPal. If you have not been in
recently you will find we may have had display changes
so another visit may be interesting.
William Cuninghame, 8th Laird of Craigends
Over one hundred years before John Cuninghame, 13th Laird of Craigends
kept a diary (see March issue), William the 8th Laird, too, kept a diary. Unlike
the 13th Laird’s very personal diary, William Cuninghame’s diary was mainly
in the form of an account book of his household expenses, but it still gives an
interesting insight into his life and activities.
At the time of writing, William was heir to his father, Alexander, and was
known as Master of Craigends. He married his first wife, Anne, daughter of
Lord Ruthven, in April 1673. William and Anne lived in the old Craigends House
with Laird Alexander and his wife. Although the couple had no children,
William was trustee to Anne’s son, William, from her previous marriage to
Cuninghgame of Cuninghamehead.
William’s diary is complete from November 1673 until December1680. Every
item of William’s household expenditure is meticulously itemised and dated.
He regularly paid his father the cost of boarding in the household. Boarding
expenses ‘for horses and all’ amounted to over five hundred pounds sterling
each year. William also gave money to his wife, ‘the lady’, for her expenses,
and paid his own personal servants. William and Anne made regular visits to
Anne’s family at Freeland in Perthshire and William, on occasion, travelled to
Edinburgh to attend to legal matters on behalf of Anne’s son. The expenses
incurred on these ‘voyages’ are recorded in detail, including board and
lodgings, cost of servants on the journey, stabling and feed for his horses and
gratuities given to servants at inns. At home, William frequently gave money
to beggars and to ‘poor men at the gate’.
William was a frequent visitor in Kilbarchan village. In 1675 he appointed
James King, to erect a ‘leaping-on-stone’ (used to assist in mounting a
horse) close to the Parish Church. He gave regularly to the Parish Church,
paid for repairs, and contributed to the parish schoolmaster’s salary. As
staunch Presbyterians, the Cuninghames were opposed to the imposition
of Episcopacy on the Church of Scotland. William’s diary entries include
financial support given to Presbyterian ‘outed’, ministers expelled from the
church for their beliefs.
Like all country lairds, William went hunting. This pursuit entailed expense
for saddles, bridles and shoeing horses. His other leisure pursuits included
bowling, curling, tennis and the ancient game of bullets. With the exception
of tennis, which was played in Paisley, he appears to have engaged in these
sports with his servants or tenants. His main expense was the money he lost in
wagers, including twelve shillings ‘lost in tennice with Rossyth, in September
1675.
William dressed well and made numerous payments to tailors and shoemakers.
His wardrobe included, a coat and breeches of purple cloth, fixed with ties
made from fifteen ells of purple ribbon; suits adorned and fastened with
silver buckles and buttons, and silver-buckled shoes. He wore a periwig and
used bone and timber combs, a little pocket brush and a supply of sweet hair
powder for his hair. His sword and scabbard were held in place by a belt.
William became the Laird on the death of his father in 1690. He married his
second wife, Christian, the daughter of John Colquhoun of Luss, and had five
children, including a daughter Lilias (b 1791). Lilias, is still celebrated in the
village today in the annual historic pageant known as Lilias Day. William died
in 1727 and was succeeded by his eldest son Alexander.
© Helen Calcluth, Renfrewshire Local History Forum
Our next lecture “Clyde Defenses and Clyde Burials” by Tam Ward,
North Clyde Archaeological Society, will be held in the McLean
Building, Room D137/9, University of the West of Scotland, on 9th
April at 7.30pm. Visitors welcome.