Ardrossan - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
27 MARCH 1854

SHIP NEWS

The PLANET of Preston, Hasketh, was run into by the steamer FIREFLY, on Monday evening, about a mile from Ardrossan harbour, and lost bowsprit and jibboom, besides sustaining considerable damage otherwise.

Captain Brown turned back the FIREFLY to know if the PLANET was taking water, but she reached the harbour without assistance.

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GLASGOW HERALD
28 MARCH 1864

PECULIAR CASE OF THEFT

On Wednesday last, while a daughter of the Rev. Mr Finlay, Free Church minister of West Kilbride, was passing through the village, she dropped a purse containing two sovereigns. It was picked up by a woman, but a biscuit van driver from Greenock, named Allan, who saw her doing so, claimed the purse as his, and after obtaining it, drove off to Ardrossan.

The loss having been announced, the woman told her story, and Allan was apprehended by the Kilbride policeman in Ardrossan the same afternoon.

At Kilmarnock Sheriff Summary Court on Saturday, he pleaded guilty to the theft, and was sentenced to twenty days’ imprisonment.

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GLASGOW HERALD
28 MARCH 1865

SHIPPING CASUALTY

Milford, March 24 – The CLAUDIA, Begg, from Ardrossan for Barcelona, will have to be discharged and go on the patent slip, being leaky.

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GLASGOW HERALD
28 MARCH 1866

SHIPPING CASUALTY

The brig HARRIETT, of and from Ardrossan, for Bordeaux, foundered 40 miles from Scilly, 24th March; master, mate, and two men drowned; three saved by the brig TIBER, of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

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GLASGOW HERALD
28 MARCH 1869

MARRIAGE

At the Mill Farm, Ardrossan, on the 26th instant, by the Rev. J. Hallinan, Ardrossan, George Muir, HMS CUSTOMS, to Elizabeth, fourth daughter of Matthew Henderson, Mill Farm, Ardrossan.

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CASUALTY OF WAR
28 MARCH 1918

Died on service, Private JOHN KERR PROVAN, (34), 1/4th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers – Theatre of war, France and Flanders – Born at Ardrossan; son of Hugh B. and Agnes G. Provan, 10 Bellevue Crescent, Ayr.

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GLASGOW HERALD
29 MARCH 1873

GENERAL SHIPPING ITEMS

The JEANIE ARMSTRONG, got off beach at Largybeg, South Arran, at 10 a.m. on the 26th, and arrived at Ardrossan yesterday, with assistance.

The barque MARY LAWTON, reported ashore on Rathlin Island, arrived at Ardrossan yesterday afternoon, in tow of the Clyde Shipping Company’s steamers FLYING METEOR and FLYING DUTCHMAN.

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CASUALTY OF WAR
29 MARCH 1918

Died on service of wounds, Private ANDREW KEAN, (26), Gordon Highlanders – Theatre of war, France and Flanders – only son of Mr Andrew and Mrs Isabella Kean, 72 Glasgow Street, Ardrossan.

The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald subsequently reported: -

“Word has been received by Mr Andrew Kean, 72 Glasgow Street, Ardrossan, that his only son, Private Andrew Kean, Gordon Highlanders, died of wounds on 29 March.

On Friday last an official message stated he was wounded, but on Sunday a further wire intimated that he had succumbed.

A letter from the nurse received later showed that he had been severely wounded in both legs, and amputation of one had been found necessary.

Private Kean, who was 26 years of age, had been nearly three years in the Army and nearly two years at the front. He was home on furlough in October last.

Previous to enlisting he was employed with the Co-operative Society, and was well known and respected in the town. He belonged to Ardrossan, and was educated at Eglinton School.”

[glenshena]

How very sad.

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GLASGOW HERALD
30 MARCH 1866

BARQUE FOR SALE

There will be sold by public auction within the Eglinton Arms Hotel, Ardrossan, upon Saturday the 31st March, at quarter-past three p.m., the barque HARVEST HOME, of Ardrossan, 380 tons per register, and classed AI at Lloyd’s.

This is a very desirable vessel for the timber trade; carries a large cargo on a moderate draught of water; has just undergone a substantial overhaul, and has a very full and complete inventory, and requires nothing but provisions to proceed to sea.

For inventory and further particulars apply to Barr & Shearer, shipbuilders, Ardrossan.

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GLASGOW HERALD
31 MARCH 1877

BIRTH

At Princes Street, Ardrossan, on the 30th instant, the wife of William Comrie, schoolmaster; a daughter.

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GLASGOW HERALD
31 MARCH 1879

SHIPPING CASUALTY

Ardrossan, March 29 – About two o’clock this afternoon the MOONLIGHT, from Ardrossan to Fairlie, very deeply laden with coals, foundered about three-quarters of a mile from this harbour, between the shore and the Horse Island.

So suddenly did the steamer settle down that the men, of whom there were three on board, had barely time to save themselves. They contrived to get into the small boat attached to the steamer, and the accident having been observed from the shore, a small boat and the harbour tug put off, the latter bringing in boat and men.

Only the mast of the steamer is visible at high water.