Ardrossan - On This Day In History

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ARDROSSAN & SALTCOATS HERALD
30 MAY 1902

BOATING FATALITY AT ARDROSSAN

On Friday evening last, a harbour employee named WILLIAM KANE met his death by drowning.

The unfortunate man set sail in a small boat from the harbour and about three-quarters of an hour after he had gone, cries for help were heard proceeding from the direction of the Horse Island. Immediately, three men went out to ascertain the cause of the distressing cries and when a short distance from the island they came across the boat in which Kane had gone off, drifting and empty. On the rocks were found his clothes. It was assumed he had landed and that after a short lapse of time discovered that his boat had drifted whereat he attempted to regain it by swimming out.

A search was made therefore and the body was discovered about one hundred yards from where he had evidently entered the water.

The deceased, who was thirty-two years of age, resided in Glasgow Street.

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GLASGOW HERALD
31 MAY 1870

DARING THEFT

On the forenoon of Sunday, the house of Mr Inglis, Bute Place, Ardrossan, was entered and two silver watches, which were hanging over the mantelpiece, carried off.

The depredator must have gone about his work very quietly, as Mr Inglis himself was in the house at the time, and had just laid himself down to rest for a little, while Miss Inglis was absent at church.

The house occupies the highest flat of a building where only three families reside, and no one was heard either entering or, leaving the building during the forenoon.

In the next landing, however, a suspicious looking man was found, and on being confronted, he professed to be seeking charity. It is thought he may have been the thief; but, at all events, no trace of the guilty party has yet been obtained.

A sum of money was fortunately overlooked by the depredator.

It may facilitate the recovery of the watches to state that a hair albert, mounted with gold, was attached to one of them, while the other was numbered 40380.

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CASUALTY OF WAR
31 MAY 1916

Died at sea, at the Battle of Jutland, Mechanician WILLIAM MELVIN, (39), Royal Navy, HMS INVINCIBLE – son of the late Robert and Barbara Melvin, Ardrossan; husband of Florence Melvin, Southsea; brother of Robert Melvin, 28 Springvale Street, Saltcoats, and Barbara Melvin.

The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald subsequently reported: -

“Mr Robert Melvin, 69 Glasgow Street, Ardrossan, has been informed that his son, Mechanician William Melvin, of HMS INVINCIBLE, has died in the action on the coast of Jutland on May 31st.

Mechanician Melvin was 39 years of age, and had been in the Navy for 20 years. He took part in all the important actions of the present war. He was in the fight in the Bight of Heligoland, and was out with the squadron which defeated the Germans off the Falkland Islands.

He leaves a widow and five children, who reside at Portsmouth.

Mr Robert Melvin, his father, was a long period in the coastguard service.”

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GLASGOW HERALD
1 JUNE 1870

MARRIAGE

At 27 Montgomerie Street, Ardrossan, on the 30th ultimo, O. L. Murphy, of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, to Jessie, second daughter of the late Dougal McFee.

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GLASGOW HERALD
1 JUNE 1877

BARQUE FOR SALE

The barque ANNETTA, of Ardrossan, of 376.67 tons register, built 1865, will be exposed for public sale on virtue of the power to sell vessel in the mortgage, within the Eglinton Arms Hotel, Ardrossan, today, Friday, the 1st day of June, at one o’clock afternoon.

The barque, which is 135.1 feet long, 29.5 feet broad, and 12.5 feet deep, presently lies at Ardrossan with a cargo of coals on board, and under charter to New Fairweather, Danzig, in the Baltic.

The inventory of ship’s appurtenances and conditions of sale will be exhibited by William Symington, auctioneer, Kyleshill, Saltcoats.

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GLASGOW HERALD
2 JUNE 1873

POOR LAW ASSOCIATION

The quarterly meeting of the Ayrshire Poor Law Association was held on Saturday, in the office of the Parochial Board, Kilmarnock. There was a good attendance.

Mr Grimwood, Ardrossan, presided.

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GLASGOW HERALD
2 JUNE 1879

BIRTH

GAFF: At 1 Arran Place, Ardrossan, the wife of James Dobie Gaff, M.D.; a daughter.

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GLASGOW HERALD
3 JUNE 1873

EPISCOPALIAN SERVICES

The first of these services, which are to be continued throughout the months of June, July, August, and September, was held in the Town Hall, Ardrossan, on the forenoon and evening of Sunday last.

The officiating clergyman was the Rev. George Lakeman, B.A., Trinity College, Dublin, curate of St. Andrew’s Church, Liverpool.

A Sabbath School has been formed in connection with the Mission.

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GLASGOW HERALD
3 JUNE 1874

SHIPPING CASUALTY

Ardrossan, 2 June: The brigantine JESSIE, of Preston, which left Ardrossan yesterday forenoon, put back again last night with mainmast broken at the top. The damage is being repaired.

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GLASGOW HERALD
3 JUNE 1876

ARDROSSAN PAROCHIAL BOARD

The monthly meeting was held in Saltcoats Town Hall on Thursday evening, Mr James Fullarton presiding.

The meeting appointed Doctors Wallace, Saltcoats, and Stevens, Ardrossan, medical officers for the board for the current year.

The inspector submitted a statement of the amount paid by the board for educational purposes, from which it appeared that the total of £45 13s 9d had been expended.

The inspector was allowed £160 to meet current expenses which would leave a balance of £1813 at the board’s credit.

The meeting then proceeded to consider the various clauses of the Lord Advocate’s Poor Law Amendment Bill, and resolved to petition against the measure – the chairman to prepare and forward it to Mr Montgomerie, M.P., for presentation.

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GLASGOW HERALD
3 JUNE 1876

SHIPPING CASUALTIES

Ardrossan, 2 June: The EVA (barque), of Dublin, and the ALICE WOOD, (brigantine), of Ardrossan, collided off this port after leaving.

The ALICE WOOD proceeded on her voyage. The EVA put back damaged.

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GLASGOW HERALD
3 JUNE 1878

SOCIETY OF FIELD NATURALISTS

At the last meeting of this Society – Mr W. J. Milligan occupying the chair – a paper on the geology of the new railway cuttings near Ardrossan was contributed by the Rev. John Stewart, Ardrossan.

One of these cuttings disclosed beds of laminated clay covered by beds of sand and gravel, together with a deposit of vegetable matter, containing hazel nuts and leaves, with branches of oak and elder.