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Genealogy Surprises
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Every so often something unexpected turns up when doing your family history. While researching the Hogg family of Renfrew in the late 18th and early 19th Century I came across the death of James, shown here. His father was a weaver and they lived at 114 High St, Renfrew. James died of a head…
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John Stevenson & Sons
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Have you ever walked down Weighhouse Close in Paisley and wondered what the old single-story building and yard between the Private Car park and the Mrs Coats Home for Girls used to be? After doing some investigation, I have realised that this and the associated buildings probably make up one of the last complete…
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The “Tomb” of Marjory Bruce
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Today within the Choir of Paisley Abbey sits the “Tomb” of Marjory Bruce, daughter of Robert Bruce, King of Scotland and wife of Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland. While researching Walter Stewart VI for a chapter in ‘Conquered by No One’ on the Declaration of Arbroath, my attention was once again drawn…
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Dark Events at Bargarran in 1676
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Today when the name Bargarran is mentioned, we always turn our minds to 1696/7 and the last mass witch hunt in Scotland that led to the execution of seven people in Paisley on the 10th October 1697. But the events that unfolded there in 1696 were preceded by a mysterious death in 1676. In…
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Paisley Canal Disaster 1810
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A list of those who died & survived On the 10th November 1810, 10 days after the canal opened, the Duchess of Eglington, skippered by Thomas Rhodes was returning from Johnstone with an excursion. _____ Awaiting the arrival of the boat from Johnstone, there was, in the forenoon, a large assemblage of people, mainly…
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Ferguslie – A brief history of the medieval estate
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Ferguslie A brief history of the medieval estate to the 20th Century Ferguslie today is seen as a large housing scheme – unrecognisable from its medieval origins. The name Ferguslie is most likely derived from “the meadow of Fergus” but who was this Fergus? We will probably never know. The lands that comprise Ferguslie…
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The Parish of Neilston
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Today not many people think of Neilston as being part of Renfrewshire. It sits in the modern-day council area of East Renfrewshire, which was separated from the old county of Renfrew along with Inverclyde at the last local government reform. Neilston was the orginal parish church for Barrhead, before churches were established there. It…
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A familiar Paisley building?
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So what is this building in the picture? It is on Paisley High Street, close to two Paisley landmarks, but today it is a lot different! The two canons might just give it away. This is the original Volunteer Drill Hall, between Coats Memorial Church and Paisley Museum & Art Gallery. I’m not sure…
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Paisley to Sarasota, Florida: The Browning’s
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It’s late November 1885, around one 100 Scots are gathering at the docks in Glasgow to board Anchor Lines SS Furnessia with the intention of forming a new Scots Colony in Sarasota, Florida. Amongst the 100 are two Paisley families the Lawrie’s and the Browning’s who have sold their possessions at auction and are…