Perceton Row miners cottages and some local history

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T Hunter and D Godfrey

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Feb 3, 2012, 3:19:10 PM2/3/12
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My ancestor Andrew Hunter and his family lived in one of the miners cottages in Perceton Row, near Dreghorn.  Andrew Hunter was a mining engineer, who worked for the Mure MacCredie family of Perceton House, in their coal mine at Perceton. The cottages were built by the Mure MacCredies for their favoured or higher ranking workers.
 
In the late 1840's there was a strike at this mine, reported in a local paper (probably the Ayr Adviser), with the journalist saying that once he had been to the site and spoken to the miners, he supported them.
 
My ancestor left for what is now western Canada in October l850 as an employee of the Hudson's Bay Company,
to set up the first coal mines on Vancouver Island. This was at the end of a ten year depression in the coal areas so many of the earliest pioneers here on the island came from central Ayrshire around this time.  
 
I am interested in the history of Irvine, Dreghorn, Perceton, Fergushill, Kilwinning and Kilmarnock areas. As well, I am curious about the HBC and its recruiting efforts.
 
In l991 my husband and I were able to visit Perceton Row, and one of the residents kindly showed us around her home.  I boldy went up and knocked on the door of Perceton House, and was rewarded by a tour of the house from the corporation's receptionist.  We were also treated to lunch with the staff in the pretty canteen - the former stables. 
 
As the Irvine Development Corporation was beginning its closing down at the time, we were thrilled to be given items from the IDC archives. We were handed extra copies of the old coal mine maps and other items pertaining to the area, as they were cleaning out before making deposits to the Ayrshire Archives.
 
I would recommend anyone interested in coal mining, and miners and their families, to read The Lanarkshire Miners by Campbell, which is a gem. 
 
Anyone with similar interests, please get in touch.
 
Terri Hunter

alexandr...@btinternet.com

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Feb 8, 2012, 5:14:07 PM2/8/12
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Hi Terri

My family were miners and my grand parents moved to Perceton Row in 1906; the cottage has been in our family since then.  I grew up there and still have relatives living there.

I would be delighted to share my knowledge of the area. There were various rows in and around Perceton but Perceton Row is the only one still standing.  The other rows were denoted by No 1 Row, No 2 Row  etc etc etc.

You relatives didn't go out on the ship the Colinda by any chance?

Best regards

Alexandra Watson

From: T Hunter and D Godfrey <ta...@telus.net>
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Sent: Friday, 3 February 2012, 20:19
Subject: [Ayrshire History] Perceton Row miners cottages and some local history

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JOHN COLEMAN

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Feb 10, 2012, 10:06:11 AM2/10/12
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Hello all,try MONKCASTLE NORTH AYRSHIRE on Wikipediea for some info on Ayrshire families.

mikem...@gmail.com

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Feb 13, 2012, 4:30:45 PM2/13/12
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Terri,
 
Thank you for the post. My family is from Fergushill Rows, and I've been looking for information on that, as well as the mining history in the area. In particuar I'm looking for where the miners may be burried who passed in the rows. The wife and I are going to visit Scotland this summer, and I hope to spend some time researching in the area.
 
-Michael

Jean Bunch

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Feb 10, 2012, 1:02:31 PM2/10/12
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Thanks  I found a lot of information  on Wikipedia. Thanks for the tip.  jean...@gmail.comSubject: Re: [Ayrshire History] Perceton Row miners cottages and some local history

Jean Bunch

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Feb 10, 2012, 12:13:44 PM2/10/12
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Hello:  I am in the United States but had ancestors in Ayrshire, Galston and Sorn.  I do not know where the Miners cottages were in relation to my ancestors location. I am receiving a lot of messages through this group. I to would help to know where they are located.  Could you send a map? jean...@gmail.com
----- Original Message -----

Chris

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Sep 14, 2012, 3:20:34 PM9/14/12
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Michael,
I live just down the road from Fergushill in Bensley. I'm not sure if you got to visit the area this summer or not, but there is only one miners row left which is now used as a storehouse for the adjacent farm. I have some photos of the rows and some information on the area if you want to contact me. The likeliest place for burials is Kilwinning Borough Cemetery. I think the North Ayrshire Museum at Saltcoats has an index of Monumental Inscriptions. You can contact them by email via the North Ayrshire Council website. On the Ayrshire History website is an article about the miners rows - Fergushill is mentioned.

Chris

David McClure

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Sep 22, 2012, 1:41:43 PM9/22/12
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hello Chris,
If you email me the photos and information I will add them, with credit to you as source, to the existing material on ayrshirehistory.org.uk  I am sure it would be useful to and much appreciated by others.
David (Courtney McClure).

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ancestry

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Sep 14, 2014, 5:50:26 AM9/14/14
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Hi Terri,
 
I was interested in two of your postings which I came across today. My Hunter ancestors were from the same area. My grandfather was George Loudon Hunter who was one of six brothers . Agnes Hunter was my great grandmothers on the other side of the family. So I have two different Hunters who are both from ayrshire but so far have not found a common link between them.
I will check out your Andrew to see if he is connected in any way.
 
Ellen

Isobel Colquhoun

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Jul 23, 2018, 4:29:10 AM7/23/18
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My mum was brought up in Perceton Row - from 1933.  I think No. 2 but I could be wrong.  She used to walk to school in Dreghorn with her sister, Marion.

Isobel Colquhoun


On Friday, 3 February 2012 20:19:10 UTC, T Hunter and D Godfrey wrote:

alexandra watson

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Jul 23, 2018, 4:36:36 AM7/23/18
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My father's family moved to Perceton Row in 1906 and the house was still in our possession until 2012. 

We lived at 1 Perceton Row.

A Watson nee McGuire

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Ellen Archibald

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Jul 23, 2018, 5:37:35 AM7/23/18
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Hello Isobel,


What was your mums surname?

Ellen

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alexandra watson

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Jul 23, 2018, 10:58:51 AM7/23/18
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Re Terri Hunter and the HBC

There is a very interesting story re recruitment of miners from Ayrshire by HBC. Following the American goldrush many experienced miners left Canada to seek their fortunes. A HBC ship the Colinda took Ayrshire miners to Vancouver to ease the shortage but things didn't quite work out and the majority of the families ended up in Chile. For more info see:  http://blackwoodchile.blogspot.com/

A Watson

Isobel Colquhoun

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Jul 26, 2018, 4:48:10 AM7/26/18
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My mum was Irene (Catherine) McAulay and her sister was Marian.   My grandmother was Isa (Isabella) and my grandfather was Wullie (William).

Isobel

On 23 July 2018 at 10:37, 'Ellen Archibald' via Ayrshire History <ayrshir...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

Hello Isobel,


What was your mums surname?

Ellen

On ‎Monday‎, ‎23‎ ‎July‎ ‎2018‎ ‎09‎:‎36‎:‎38, alexandra watson <mugh...@gmail.com> wrote:


My father's family moved to Perceton Row in 1906 and the house was still in our possession until 2012. 

We lived at 1 Perceton Row.

A Watson nee McGuire

On Mon, 23 Jul 2018, 09:29 Isobel Colquhoun, <isobelco...@gmail.com> wrote:
My mum was brought up in Perceton Row - from 1933.  I think No. 2 but I could be wrong.  She used to walk to school in Dreghorn with her sister, Marion.

Isobel Colquhoun


On Friday, 3 February 2012 20:19:10 UTC, T Hunter and D Godfrey wrote:
My ancestor Andrew Hunter and his family lived in one of the miners cottages in Perceton Row, near Dreghorn.  Andrew Hunter was a mining engineer, who worked for the Mure MacCredie family of Perceton House, in their coal mine at Perceton. The cottages were built by the Mure MacCredies for their favoured or higher ranking workers.
 
In the late 1840's there was a strike at this mine, reported in a local paper (probably the Ayr Adviser), with the journalist saying that once he had been to the site and spoken to the miners, he supported them.
 
My ancestor left for what is now western Canada in October l850 as an employee of the Hudson's Bay Company,
to set up the first coal mines on Vancouver Island. This was at the end of a ten year depression in the coal areas so many of the earliest pioneers here on the island came from central Ayrshire around this time.  
 
I am interested in the history of Irvine, Dreghorn, Perceton, Fergushill, Kilwinning and Kilmarnock areas. As well, I am curious about the HBC and its recruiting efforts.
 
In l991 my husband and I were able to visit Perceton Row, and one of the residents kindly showed us around her home.  I boldy went up and knocked on the door of Perceton House, and was rewarded by a tour of the house from the corporation's receptionist.  We were also treated to lunch with the staff in the pretty canteen - the former stables. 
 
As the Irvine Development Corporation was beginning its closing down at the time, we were thrilled to be given items from the IDC archives. We were handed extra copies of the old coal mine maps and other items pertaining to the area, as they were cleaning out before making deposits to the Ayrshire Archives.
 
I would recommend anyone interested in coal mining, and miners and their families, to read The Lanarkshire Miners by Campbell, which is a gem. 
 
Anyone with similar interests, please get in touch.
 
Terri Hunter

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