TROON
The first family
connection with Troon – The KIRBY/TAYLOR/MILLER’s
The quest for work may not have been the reason for my first Troon connection, a certain John Kirby, when he arrived in Troon between 1881 and 1883. Was he hiding trying to avoid capture as a deserter? Troon would be a fairly safe haven for such a character. This was not be his last disappearing act either ...!
There were no connections with the “Young’s” at this stage.
This tale starts to unfold in 1859 when
a John Kirby, my Great Grand father was born to Joseph and Lucy Kirby. Joseph an
ex Royal Navy Bosun's Mate married Lucy Payne in Moreton in Marsh,
Gloucestershire. Joseph had a good Naval record serving in the Crimea campaign
with the Baltic Fleet on HMS Imperieuse. The Coastguard was set up in 1856 as part
of the Royal Navy, with selected Navy personnel retained and held in reserve.
Joseph moved to South Wales in 1857 and went home Moreton shortly afterwards to
marry Lucy. John Kirby their second son was born in Pembrey, Glamorgan. John
grew up in a large family, which grew to 10. As his father was promoted they
moved to Cornwall moving round several Coastguard Stations. The two eldest boys
had to follow in their father’s footsteps Alas it would appear that neither
would stand the test. The eldest son was discharged from HMS Tamar as “an
undesirable”. Later he was to become a Policeman and a Reserve Army man. He
must have pulled his socks up.
John Kirby, after a number of ships appointments and promotions became an Assistant Ships Steward like his brother. Joining HMS Firefly in 1879. Things came to a head in 1881. Whilst visiting Uruguay, John deserted and disappeared, obviously keeping low profile was a priority.
By 1883 John had appeared in Troon but why Troon? John married an Elizabeth Taylor of Portland Street, Troon. It is believed the Taylor’s came from Ayr. Her father was Henry Taylor, born about 1828 in Ayr, a Shipyard Labourer. Her mother Christina was a year older and also from Ayr.
Although working as a seaman and a fisherman, John set to work
raising a family. By 1901 their ninth child was born. Unfortunately not all
survived and only five, all girls, were to see adulthood. Conditions were tough
in Troon and common ailments took their toll of even the healthiest. Further
tragedy struck the family in 1901 when Elizabeth died aged 36. Nine children
in such a short time span must have played its part in her premature decease.
Few people seem to have known much about
John. He was a Lay Preacher and from a Methodist background.
He was involved with the James Street Hall a Christian Brethren meeting
place in Ayr. By this time John was over 40 with a large family and a Widower at
that. He became friendly with Peter
Miller who lived in Newton on Ayr, a founder member of the James Street Hall.
Peter had a daughter Jean Miller who was single and had several admirers.
Jeanie’s mother had recently died. For whatever reason and against her
father’s advice she married John Kirby. Surprisingly she moved to 2 Barassie
Street, the home of John's former family. However I am fairly reliably assured that Jean
knew nothing of John’s previous marriage or family, save that they had grown
up and lived in England. This was not the case as I have recently
discovered. It would appear that his previous children were raised by one of his
Elizabeth’s sisters. Of these children much was to happen and descendants
still live in Ayrshire. There may be some related Taylor’s and their
descendants still in Troon for me yet to uncover.
So John and Jeannie settled down in
Troon and had three boys. John was the only one born in Troon, at 2 Barassie Street. My Grandfather Ralph. was born in West Sanqhuar Road, Ayr. The family
then moved to Green
Street in Ayr, where Alfred was born. The Troon connection is almost lost after the birth of my
Great Uncle John.
About 1910 after an argument with
Jean’s sister Agnes, who never liked John Kirby, John walked out the house and
was never knowingly seen by anyone from either of the two marriages again.
Despite extensive searching I have never traced him yet either. This caused
great difficulties to Jean Miller both initially with a young family and later
trying to prove he was dead when applying for a pension.
My mother is Ralph Kirby’s eldest child born in Glasgow but mainly raised in Prestwick.
The Irish Connection.
– The YOUNG/PALMERS/ MAHOOD/BAILLIE’s
The connections between Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man are ancient. It is family tradition that the Young’s went from Scotland to Ireland to work on the plantations. In the early 1800’s there were Young’s living on the Ard's peninsula particularly in the Portaferry/Cloughey area. The 'Young' family of Cloughey have a long history of serving on the lifeboat, a connection which some were to continue in Troon.
Hugh Young was born in 1864 in Cloughey, his parents being John Young, a labourer, and Eliza Ennis. He grew up and married Ellen McCappin. He worked for John McVea, who owned Sailing ships in Portavogie. At that time, around 1885, Troon was the most important Coal port in Ayrshire and they carried ballast to Troon dumped it at the Ballast Bank and picked up Coal back to Portavogie.
After having three children Hugh, a Sailmaker, moved to Troon in about 1896, with his family to work in the Shipyard. My Grandfather Robert Young was born in Cloughey. As previously mentioned the Young’s of Cloughey are renowned for their service to the Lifeboat and this tradition of lifesaving continued at Troon. Even today there are descendants involved in this in other places. At one point in Cloughey, nearly everyone on the lifeboat was a Young or related, at a time when lifeboats were mere rowing boats.
Hugh Young and his wife had 11 children. On arrival at Troon they lived in 31 Portland Street. By 1901 they were living in East Portland Street in the Hutcheson Buildings (which may yet be the same place) In October 1900 they were living in New Street. By October 1901 they were living 10 Harbour Row, the infamous 'The Raw'.
The family were well known for keeping lodgers/boarders who came over from Ireland working at the harbour or shipyard and it would have been home from home to those in a strange environment..
By 1900 there was a very strong Irish community in Troon particularly from the Ard's Peninsula, Co Down. The families were very close with fairly strong ties back to Ireland. The sea was to play such an important part in these peoples lives.
| Born | Died | Spouse | Born | Died | ||
| 1 | Jane Young | 5 December 1887 | 12 October 1983 | Alexander Bailie | 4 October 1879 | 19 November 1931 |
| 2 | David John Young | 30 March 1890 | 4 May 1984 | Annie Aitken Smith | 15 April 1888 | 3 September 1970 |
| 3 | Helen Young | 1 June 1893 | 18 November 1974 | Christopher Husband | 1893 | 2 March 1926 |
| 4 | Robert Young | 8 April 1896 | 12 December 1971 | Mary Jane Palmer | 2 October 1898 | 21 June 1980 |
| 5 | Sarah Young | 27 April 1899 | 04 January 1900 | Did not marry | ||
| 6 | James Young | 18 October 1900 | 01 July 1960 | Margaret Stewart White | 25 March 1905 | 13 May 1964 |
| 7 | Sarah Young | 12 November 1901 | Not known | Hugh Thompson | 29 May 1897 | |
| 8 | Thomas Young | 08 February 1904 | 11 June 1961 | Eileen Jean Wyllie | 20 March 1916 | 2004 |
| 9 | Ann Young | 06 June 1906 | 22 January 1998 | John Mahood | 25 May 1906 | 15 February 1973 |
| 10 | William Young | 27 December 1908 | 21 October 1997 | Isobel Dewar Gray | 29 January 1908 | 12 August 1985 |
| 11 | 26 January 1911 | 28 March 1916 | Did not marry |
This generation are now no longer with
us and it would not be fair to identify those individuals and families who are
still living. Needless to say if you recognise any of these people or think you
are related, I welcome any emails on the subject. If you click on the individual
you will get more information.
The photograph below probably shows more of the men of this generation than any other together
Top row left to right
William Mahood, James Mahood, Andrew Reid, John Mahood
Bottom row left to right
Mr.Wyllie, Tom Mahood, Hugh Thompson (Minister), Tommy Young, Robert Young
Old Seamans Bethel Sunday School 1931
Rows 1 (top)
Left to right1) ?
2)
3) ?
4) ?
5) ?
6) ?
7) ?
8) ?
9) ?
10) ?
11) David Bailie
12) Robert Young
13) Tommy Dunlop
14) David Gordon
15) ?
16) ?
17) ?
Row 2 Left to right
1) ?
2) ?
3) ?
4) Letty Kerr
5) Jenny McClure
6) Jean Mahood
7) ?
8) ?
9) ?
10) ?
11) ?
12) ?
Row 3 Left to right
1) Hetty Upward
3) Chrissie Cargill
4) Mr Willey
5) Flora Lindsay
6)
7) Sarah Young
8) an Upward sister
9) ?
10) ?
11) ?
12) ?
Bottom Row
Left to right1) Hugh Young
2) ?
3) ?
4) ?
5) ?
6) ?
7) ?
8) ?
10) ?
11) ?
12) ?
13) ?
14) ?
Another photo full of characters from the old Seamen's Bethel (approx 1938/39)
Some names are as yet unknown.
Rows 1 (top)
Left to right1) ?
2) Geordie Lambie
3) Mrs Gordon ?
4) ? Mollie
5) John Milligan
6) ?
7) ?
8) Nellie Lambie
10) Peggy McCall
11) Jean Mahood
13) ?
14) Peggy Dunlop (Willie Dunlop's wife)
15) ?
16) Ellen (Ella) Hughes, Daughter of Christina Taylor and J. Hughes (Portavogie)
17) ?
Row 2 Middle
Left to right1) ?
2) Mrs Dunlop
3) ?
4) Andrew Reid
5) Robert Taylor b1864
6) Robert Young
7) William Mahood
8) John McAuslane (Ellen Young's husband)
9) ?
10) ?
11) Annie Aiken Smith (Davy Young's wife)
12) Ann Young (Eileen Mahoods Mother)
13) Jean Yates
Bottom Row
Left to right1) Lizzie Leith, (Harry Leiths Auntie)
2) ?
3) Mrs Cargill
4) ?
5) Aunt Nellie Young (Husband)
6) ? with boy on lap
7) Mary Jane Palmer (wife of Robert Young)
8) ?
9) Alex (Sandy) Marr - succeeded Hugh Thompson as Minister
10) Helen (Fergusson) Taylor b1871
11) Agnes (Taylor) Thornhill
12) (previously thought to be Flora Lindsay?) Mattie (Hodgson) Taylor
13) Jane McVea (Mahood)
14) ?
The Seamans Mission at Christmas
The
lady seated on the extreme left (dressed in black) is
Aunt Annie Young (Uncle David's wife). The girl on the front (on Aunt Annie's
left) is
one of Uncle Will's daughters - probably Margaret. The girl on her left, I do
believe,
is Ellen Young Graham (Aunt Jane's granddaughter). The lady on Ellen's left
(seated on the bench in light colored clothing) is Mrs. Marr, the Minister's
wife. Two along on Mrs. Marr's left (i.e. third from the right on the front)
is my Aunt Mary McClure Mahood (Uncle James' wife).
Info from Eileen Malloch (Mahood) May 2003
A third connection
John Carson another Great grandfather, was born in Monkton in 1876. He was a Stone Mason to trade. His last job before retiring was working on the Marr College construction. He would walk from Ladykirk daily to and from work