Ardrossan - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
19 APRIL 1911

NORTH AYRSHIRE LICENSING COURT

Robert Gilchrist, Glasgow, applied for a transfer of grocer’s licence at present in name of Daniel Macara, 23 Glasgow Street, Ardrossan. It was pointed out that Macara was applying for a new certificate.

A petition against the transfer was intimated from the Ardrossan Branch of the British Women’s Temperance Association, and Mrs McKelvie, who appeared in support of the petition, said they were not oppressing anyone here, as the present holder was leaving the premises.

Ardrossan, she held, was over-licensed, there being 24 licensees for 5800, or one for every 235 inhabitants.

The petition had been signed by over 200 mothers in Ardrossan.

The Court suggested that the agents in the two applications might confer before the adjourned Court and see if they could not agree as to one application. The Court was not inclined to increase the licences in Ardrossan.

The following certificate by a new tenant or occupier was granted: -

Hugh Chandler, junior, Saltcoats, for a public-house in Ardrossan.

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GLASGOW HERALD
20 APRIL 1861

BANKRUPTCY – EXAMINATION

Samuel Taylor, farmer in Busby, parish of Ardrossan, and county of Ayr, to be examined with the Sheriff Court House, at Kilmarnock, 25th April, at eleven o’clock.

Creditors to meet within the offices of Mr Robert King Barbour, in Saltcoats, 6th May, at one o’clock.

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GLASGOW HERALD
21 APRIL 1845

LAUNCH OF THE FIRE FLY

We understand that a new iron steamer, for the Ardrossan and Belfast trade, in connection with the Ayrshire Railway, is to be launched from the building yard of Messrs Tod & McGregor, Glasgow, tomorrow, about one o’clock. She is a beautiful vessel of 200 horse power, and will be named FIRE FLY.

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GLASGOW HERALD
21 APRIL 1851

VESSEL SPOKEN WITH

KERELAW, of Ardrossan, Wilson, from Clyde for Ceylon and Madras, 28th February, latitude 5N, all well.

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GLASGOW HERALD
21 APRIL 1851

MINISTER FOR NEW ARDROSSAN CHURCH

The Presbytery of Irvine met at Irvine, pro re nata, on Tuesday last.

The Moderator, Mr Bryce, said that he was the first of the requisitioners to the Moderator to call this meeting, the object of which was explained in the circular addressed to each of the members, namely to expedite the settlement of a minister in the new church at Ardrossan.

The conduct of the Moderator in calling the meeting was then approved of. Compeared Major Dalzell of Ardrossan; Gavin Fullerton, Esquire, of Kerelaw; and Mr James Mack, Town Clerk of Ardrossan, and laid on the table decreet by the Court of Teinds, of disjunction and erection, quoad sacra, of the new church and parish; also, a presentation, signed by Major Dalzell, as preses of the subscribers, in favour of the Rev. James McKay, preacher of the Gospel, to said new church, which, with all the relative documents, were sustained by the Presbytery.

Dr. D. B. Campbell, Kilwinning, was appointed to intimate to the congregation on Sabbath first, that Mr McKay would preach before them on Sabbath 27th, and on Monday the 28th, before them and a committee of the Presbytery.

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GLASGOW HERALD
21 APRIL 1866

BANKRUPTCY – SEQUESTRATION

John Jameson, grocer and wine merchant in Ardrossan.

Creditors to meet in the Corn Exchange Sale Rooms, Kilmarnock, 27th April at half-past twelve o’clock.

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GLASGOW HERALD
21 APRIL 1869

DEATH - PUNTON

At 25 Montgomerie Street, Ardrossan, on the 19th instant, Miss Ann Punton, sometime at Saltcoats, and daughter of the late Rev. Mr Punton, Hamilton.

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GLASGOW HERALD
22 APRIL 1836

SHIPPING NEWS

Freswick, April 14 – The NORTHUMBRIAN, Tait, from Ardrossan to Hambro, came on shore yesterday, and it is feared will be a wreck.

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GLASGOW HERALD
22 APRIL 1850

SHIPPING CASUALTIES

The brig LAUREL, Captain Gilchrist, lately ashore in Glenluce Bay, has been got off, and towed to Ardrossan for repairs.

Belfast, April 16 – The PROSPERITY, from Ardrossan, got on shore on the Long Rock of Ballywalter, 14th March, but is expected off.

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GLASGOW HERALD
22 APRIL 1862

MYSTERIOUS CASE

On Tuesday last, Thomas Morris, grocer, Dalry, left that town, taking the train for Ardrossan.

On Thursday, a letter from him, and dated Ardrossan, was received by Mr Stirrat, writer, Dalry. In this letter, Morris stated that he had determined to destroy himself, and he intimated the mode. He was about to take a passage in a steamer for Belfast, and would throw himself overboard during the voyage. It is not yet ascertained whether or not this way had been adopted, but on Friday the corpse of Morris was found washed ashore at Troon.

Connecting this result with the previously expressed intention, it is highly probable that suicide had been committed. What could have prompted it is as present a mystery.

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GLASGOW HERALD
22 APRIL 1862

DEATH - BAIN

At Arran Place, Ardrossan, on the 20th instant, John Bain, Esquire, late of Paisley, aged 79 years.

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GLASGOW HERALD
22 APRIL 1933

WIFE MURDER CHARGE

James Fergus McMurray, (46), a bank clerk, of Grosvenor Road, Muswell Hill, appeared on remand at Wood Green Police Court, London, yesterday, charged with the murder of his wife, Mary Brown McMurray, by shooting her with a revolver, and with attempting to commit suicide by coal-gas poisoning.

McMurray is an Ardrossan man.

Mr E. Clayton, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said McMurray apparently lived happily with his wife and their two daughters, aged 12 and 15.

There was no doubt he had some financial trouble.

On the morning of April 5, a neighbour saw the two girls crying outside the door. He went inside the house and noticed a smell of gas. He called a policeman and an entry was gained. McMurray was found lying by the side of the gas oven.

In the bedroom Mrs McMurray was found dead on the bed.

When McMurray was searched a six-chambered revolver was found in his clothing. It contained two spent cartridges and to live ones.

Dr. J. Taylor said Mrs McMurray’s death was the result of being shot through the brain. He did not think the wound was self-inflicted, but it was not impossible for it to have been.

McMurray was remanded until next Friday.