Notes on the way - Through
Ayrshire - 100 Years Ago
Stewarton Parish
NORTH-EAST of Irvine.
The town of Stewarton stands on Stewart
Clan at Stewarton, whose chief was
crowned King; and if we mistake not, its name should be the Royal or
Stuart bonnet, and should have a Stuart tartan rim, and be worn as an
indispensable part of the Clan Stewart garb. Its unity with the kilt would
harmonize completely with the unity of Lowlander and Highlander under the
Stuarts. In the fifteenth century Stewarton was the private property of the
Stewart kings. Their castle
here, as well as the old Church of St. Mary connected with
it, is now extinct. The Kilmarnock bonnet, doubtless that of the
Clan Boyde,
was very broad. With antiquarian research, it might be possible to
reproduce most of the old clan bonnets. They would make an interesting
exhibition - a stimulus to trade.
David Dale,
philanthropist, and founder of the political system called Socialism,
was born at Stewarton, January 6, 1739. He was bred to handloom
weaving, at which he worked till he was 32 years of age, when he went into
Glasgow, commenced business there, and made a large fortune in 20 years.
He formed a benevolent scheme for the improvement of the condition of the
working classes; and, to carry it into effect, in the year 1784 feued the
site for a village and extensive cotton mills on the Clyde, about a mile
from Lanark. In April, 1785, he began building the first mill; and
in 1793, when four mills and ‘the
village of New Lanark had been built, the number of people employed
was 1334, which afterwards increased to 4000. Mr. Dale’s system was to
give to his workers the whole value of their labour, by dividing the
profits amongst them periodically. They were engaged for a term of years,
during which they were supplied only with a sufficiency of the necessaries
of life - as food, clothing, houses, schooling &. - and at its
termination received in a lump sum the accumulated surplus profits. An
anecdote is told by Lord
Kinloch
which illustrates in some measure the terms of familiar equality that
subsisted between Mr. Dale and his workers. His Lordship says:-" My
father had been in the counting-house of the well-known David Dale, the
founder of the Lanark Mills, and eminent for his benevolence. Mr. Dale,
who, it would appear, was a short, stout man, had a person in his
employment named Matthew. One winter day Mr. Dale came into the
counting-house, and complained that he had fallen on the ice. Matthew, who
saw that his master was not much hurt, grinned a sarcastic smile. ‘I
fell all my length’ said Mr. Dale. ‘
Nae great length, sir,’ said Matthew. ‘ Indeed, Matthew, ye need not
laugh,’ said Mr. Dale; ‘I have hurt the sma’ of
my back.’ ‘I wunner whaur that is,’ said Matthew." The
new Lanark Mills were, during a lengthened
period, under the management
of Mr. Dale’s son-in-law, Robert
Owen, a native of Wales. On the
death of his father-in-law, Mr. Owen,** who was formerly one of the
employees, became the owner of the mills, and extended still further Mr.
Dale’s system of " Liberty, Equality, Fraternity." ’ With
the view of obtaining more favourable conditions for its nationalization
or universalization, Owen sold the New Lanark Mills? and bought a large
tract of land in America, where he formed a community which he called
" New Harmony." This proving unsuccessful, he returned
home, and established a community at Orbiston, Lanarkshire, and
another at Tytherley, Hampshire, and also a Labour
Exchange in London; but all were unsuccessful. He also wrote vigorously on
the subject; but his judgment was overpowered by his enthusiasm, and,
after departing from Mr. Dales well-established footing, he succeeded in
nothing but expending the large fortune. Dale was elected a magistrate of
Glasgow in 1800, and also preached there, to a congregation of his own
forming. Died in Glasgow, 1806, aged 67.
Robert Watt,
M.D., author of " Bibliotheca Britannica; or, a General Index to
British and Foreign Literature," produced, besides that great
laborious work, other important works on the nature and treatment of
diseases; and was president of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons,
Glasgow. Born at Stewarton, 1774. Died in Glasgow, 1819, aged 45.
The parish contains
limestone and coal. The surface is agreeably figured with the courses of
rivulets, and rises north-east by gentle terraces to moorlands of no great
height, is decked with the seats of Kennox, Robertland, Lainshaw,
Girgenti, many pleasant farmers’ houses, and several ruined
castles. Its length, north-east, is fully nine miles, and its greatest
breadth four miles-comprising 13,626 acres. Population in 1871, 5019; in
1881, 4309.
** Informed by Geoff Palmer
CGPG@bigpond.com that [Mr Robert
Owen was acting for a consortium of Manchester mill owners who wished to
purchase the Lanark mills of David Dale. This purchase was arranged before
Mr Robert Owen became engaged to Anne Caroline Dale, daughter of David Dale.
He was not a “former employee” who obtained ownership of the mills by marrying
the owner’s daughter.]
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