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Beithite |
Comments |
| Tom Wallace |
CONGRATULATIONS ON A FINE WEB. MY
GRANDFATHER WAS WIL (WILLIAM) WALLACE & GRANDMOTHER MARY (SHERIDAN)
WALLACE. I WENT TO BEITH ACADEMY AND SPEARS SCHOOL FOR MY GRASS ROOTS
EDUCATION. I HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF SWIMMING AT THE LOCH AND FAMILY TREKS
BY TRAIN FROM THE LOWER TRAIN STATION TO THE SEA. I LIVED AT
WOODSIDE ESTATE AND THE WALLACE FAMILY LIVED AT MOSSNOOK AT ONE TIME.
THERE ARE MANY WALLACES ALL OVER THE WORLD NOW FROM AUSTRALIA (ISA),
CALIFORNIA TO THE GREAT WHITE NORTH (sometimes) CANADA. I ONLY
REMEMBER NICE THINGS. I HAVE A SON TOM ALSO WHO IS ONE OF THE
INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORS OF THE WALLACE CLAN WHICH HAS BIG CLAN
GATHERINGS OF ALL THE CLANS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. MY FATHERS NAME IS
TOM WHO MARRIED DORIS, MY OLDEST SON IS TOM, YOUNGEST SON WIL (WILLIAM)
AGAIN AFTER SIR WILLIAM AND A DAUGHTER LORRAINE SHERIDAN. I WAS IN THE
AIRFORCE AND SECURITY SERVICES FOR ALMOST 31 YEARS SO I HAVE TRAVELLED
AND MET MANY PEOPLE WHO KNEW BEITH. I WAS ALWAYS VERY PROUD OF THE
FOOTBALL TEAMS FROM BEITH AND THE RIVALRY. I SPEAK MORE THAN ONE
LANGUAGE BUT AM STILL CAPABLE OF GOING BACK TO MY AYRSHIRE DIALECT.
THANK YOU AND GOD BE WITH YOU ALL.. P.S WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BOYS
BRIGADE IT WAS NEXT TO NONE AND HAD A HISTORY.
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| Diane Wagoner | My grandfather, James Eckmeter, passed away recently but had visited relatives in Beith several years ago. I know the family name is Love and I think he said that they owned a pub. If there is anyone in town who knows the family I am talking about, I would love to hear from you. I have visited Scotland many, many times and would love the opportunity to meet these relatives. |
| Diane Brown | My GGgrandfather was one John Kerr who married a Janet Bradshaw in 1830 and I would like to trace him. he was born about 1808 and had a large family.They lived in Beith. Any more I know not. There are many Kerrs in and around Beith and I would be pleased to hear about this man. |
| Alan | I've been hunting for pictures of the old railway station that use to be in Beith. Do you know where I can source any. I'd be grateful for your help |
| Andrew Pirie | Nice web-site. I've been speaking with Willie McGuire. He grew up with my mother in Beith. Also, my father used to own the Smuggler's Tavern back in the '50s (a little before my time). I have an aunt still in Beith; Annie (Mcfarren) Michie, and a cousin Anna Marie (Mcfarren) Miller. You may know her husband Jim. He's a local "known." I'll be visiting them for a night on Thursday, 7 March. When I'm in Beith, I usually make the rounds to the pubs (the local pass-time). Let me know if you'll be around that day and I'll have a beer with you in the Tavern. |
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I attended Primary School, Beith Academy and Speirs School. My parents
Jim (the Whistler) and Jessie Ferguson, brother Hugh in Toronto, sister
Sheila in Beith and sister June in Hamilton, Ontario. I came to
Canada in 1946. I married in 1951 and recently celebrated our 50th
wedding anniversary. We have three children, 9 grandchildren
and 1 great granddaughter. I would love to hear from anyone who
remembers. I did e-mail a couple of people I thought I remembered
but the one to Claude Buchanan was returned. Just love this
webpage and the memories. Thank you.
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| Ive been searching the web for hours looking for someone who lived in Beith but have had no luck. I have recently heard that the person who i am looking for has passed away his name is Brian Mclaughlin i was wondering if you could help by telling me where i can find information. | |
| I'm Catherine ALLAN Marshall My Grandfather
Thomas ALLAN and G Grandfather Thomas ALLAN were from Beith. My G Grandfather and G Grandmother Robina Crawford were married in Beith 1836. I would like to know more on Beith. They came to USA in 1844. My G G Grandfather died about 1891 in Scotland I think it was Beith. |
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I have several references to this area of
Scotland and am trying to first understand where things are! From
a 1925 historical book I have reference to my relatives:
His genealogy has been traced back to his
great grandfather on the paternal side. William Millar, a farmer
of Ayr, a shire or county in the western lowlands of Scotland.
This William was a Presbyterian of the strict Scottish type, a man
of high and rigid principles, with which his daily life corresponded.
His wife in maidenhod was Mary Brown, of an old Scotch family.
They reared a family of five sons and one daughter, namely:
William Jr., John, David, James, Robert and Margaret. Of these
John became a scholar, and obtaining a government position in Australia,
later became a successful merchant in Sydney. James, who became an
architect in stone, dies at a comparatively early age. Robert,
Margaret and William Jr., also died in Scotland. David Millar, son of
William Sr., and grandfather of this sketch, was a scientific
agriculturist and manager of a large estate owned by members of
nobility. He immigrated in 1849 to America.
I also have a reference from a relative
coming to visit Scotland in 1924:
....we went by car to Beith and drive to
Grandfather's birthplace--Forsythe/Forsyde. It is ever so much
larger than I expected it go be, having many more rooms than the "but"
and the "ben" and the farm has 100 acres.
....The same people who were there when
Emily visited it are there now--Wilson being their name--and Mrs. Wilson
showed us all through the house.
....also told us of the visit
of a man by the name of Millar from New Zealand, who came a few years
ago to show a nephew the place where his grandfather was born.
....Millar Printing company, another family.
....went to see Mrs. Robertson (age 81) who
had lived at Forsythe between the time the Millars left and the Wilsons
came. Referred to Mrs. Hendry, bridesmaid at Willie Millars
marriage. Willie Millar moved to Campbelltown his father leaving
Forsythe about 44 years ago (?1880).
I have tried to find "Forsythe" to no
avail. Is this possibly the name of the farm or estate? Is
there a place to locate who the "Laird" would have been? Estate
records?
I have found so many wonderful references to
Beith and Ayrshire and would really like to know if I am in the right
"neighbourhood". I thank you for any information you can provide.
There are so many different directions one can go in and I find myself
wandering.
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| Does anyone in Beith know a Sybil Stirrat born in Beith & now living in Danbury, CT. USA ? Thank you | |
| I was interested to read your information on the Beith site. My name is Marion Jackson nee Hamilton and my parents came from Beith. My mother was Agnes Balfour of the furniture factory and my father was Tom Hamilton from Townhead in Beith. I remember them talking about a Gemmell family (I think they were Chemists) and I am sure my father was friendly with the family. Maybe there were other Gemmell's. I also remember hearing about the Love family and the Jamiesons. I too have some old photos of Beith when my parents were young. They were born in 1905 - Dad died in 1971 and mum in 1987. I now live near Dundee, are you in Scotland? I am looking forward to investigating the Census 1901 site when it is opened. | |
| Victoria Gray | my name is Victoria Gray (nee Knox) I am 37,
lived in Beith 1964-1972 at 1, Arran Crescent. I went to Beith primary
until I was 8, then my family moved to Nottinghamshire. In August 2001 I
took myhusband & kids to see Beith whilst on holiday ...I was o upset to
see Beith primary school all boarded up & ready fordemolition...I took some
photos to remember it. Does anyone remember me from school? I used to go shopping for my Dad , one day he sent me for some fishing bait (MAGGOTS!) and I remember dropping the tin just outside the butchers shop in the main street...the butcher chased me with a sweeping brush! all the maggots spilled out on his doorway. |
| Mary Mcmillan | My name is Mary Mcmillan born 1954 have a
twin sister, my grandmother owned the sweetie shop next door to The George picture house and left BEITH in 1974 to emigrate to Canada would like to hear from the class of 1966 (that would be Primary school in1966 then went on to secondary ) or anyone that remembers me . Here are a few name that I remember ALICE SHEDDON VALERIE JOHNSTON ESTER MCNALLY LILLIAN SMITH JOHN WARK CHARLES JAMEISON GRANT KERR JEAN LORIMER WILMA HANNAH MARY PAXTON ROBERT MACDONALD ANGUS CHALMERS JOHN MACDONALD LEX MCHAUGHTON JANE SMITH (gateside) |
| Gwen Giffen | See this link for more on Giffens. And should Beith host more tourists? |
| JAMES KIRKWOOD MORSE SR | THANKS FOR THE LATEST UP DATE, DON'T FORGET THE BAG PIPES! MY ROOTS (1860'S) ARE FROM NETTLEHURST FARMS, BUILT BY THOMAS WHITE, 1837. DO YOU KNOW IF A "SADIE REID" STILLS LIVES THERE ? IF SO, WOULD YOU KNOW IF SHE HAS AN E-MAIL ADDRESS, OR POSSIBLY A NEIGHBOR WHO HAS ONE ? BEST REGARDS TO YOU, JEAN, AND ALL. JAMES K MORSE SR, BOX 12, LAKE ANN, MICHIGAN, 49650, U.S.A. |
| David Gemmell |
Spent a half hour tonight on your site. It is great. My mum
died very recently and I have come across some very old photos. I
will scan them sometime and send them on.
David (Gemmell) Speirs 1949 - 1963 (I went to the Primary as
well!)
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was trying to send you a message using the "comment" form in your Beith
website. However when I tried to submit the form, nothing happened.
that's when I started playing around with email and, well, you know the
result.
Anyway, my message was to say that I find the updated Beith website
quite an improvement. Since you have made the update I have received
emails from a nephew of mine in Largs and also from a friend in Rhode
Island (who's Mum & Dad once owned the Smugglers Tavern, which is
featured in your "pub" page). So you can see the website is being used
both at home and abroad.
Continued good luck with this. I will send a new message to the "chat"
page when I get a chance. In the meantime my compliments of the season
to you (and all Beithites).
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| I originate from Stewarton long ago, once
a runner for Beith Harriers haha....said long ago ! I cannot run for a bus these days! Been away from Ayrshire since late 60s and My wife and I want to buy a pub to have a go at being useful, we saw the Old Deer Inn in Beith advertised, we know little or nothing about it and want some local help, was it ever up and running and was it any good, what is the potential and we also specialise in good food Oriental food and good Scots tucker, any advice greatly appreciated. anything at all would help us, also is there any parking or access to the pub? Please reply to DunbeathScotland@aol.com; or DunbeathScotland@aol.com.uk |
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After a great deal of searching I have recently found out that my
greatgrandfather came from Beith. This information came from my
grandfathers Birth Certificate. His name was John Hill and he married a
girl from Glasgow, Mary Ann Martin.
The marriage took place in Dunedin New Zealand in November 1869 when he
was 29 years old and his bride just 18. I would love to hear from any
descendants of the Hill family who may know something of John Hill who
emmigrated to New Zealand probably around 1850-60.
I also know he was farming in the Waikato near Hamilton in the 1880's
when my granfather was born.
Congratulations on a brilliant website. I am just thrilled to know I
have a connection to this unique town.
27 Berkley Avenue, Hillcrest,Hamilton, New Zealand.
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| Just found your website - wonderful - and have
just returned to Qualicum Beach from a 5 week visit to your area. Have many friends still around Beith and Gateside and woud love to hear more about what you are doing. I was at Spiers from 1944 til 49. Sincerely |
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Hello.. My name is Michelle Lynde from Dallas, TX/USA. My mother
recently discovered a beautiful antique piece of furniture marked "Beithcraft"
at a neighborhood rummage sale. It is a beautiful buffet table
that has one problem-- it is missing one of the handles on a cabinet
door.
The reason I am writing is because we have been trying to find a
matching piece or some matching hardware for this buffet table and have
been unsuccessful due to its rarity here in the US. We found your
website via yahoo.com and looked through your shops pages and found the
Woodside Hardware Store. Is this, in your opinion, a place where
such an item could be found? If not, is there any place we could
possibly find some more information about the furniture or its history?
We appreciate any help you could possible offer and thank you for your
time.
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| Hi there I have just read your Beith page on the web it is so interesting to hear old names once again I was born and raised in Beith and went to Beith Primary school and then to Beith Academy left there at 15years old. I married John Muir and we now live in the USA. If any one remembers me please get in touch . I would like to hear from you. My own name was Jennifer Caldwell. Loved the web page. Does anyone remember going down The Tawney to have a fly smoke before going to school. Big Catherine Wilson, Maime Turner, Shiela Gardener, Marion Black, and little me. | |
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My name is Morag McKellar (nee Macdonald) I have just found your website and think its great. It takes me back to my time at Speirs school l958-62 or thereabouts. I have fond memories of my classmates, some of whom were: Alice Walker, Moira Johnston, Margaret Dickson, Morag Biggart, Nancy Welsh, Anne McCluckie, Margaret Wilson, Janice Baillie, Elizabeth Black, Stuart Niven, Ian McCorkindale, Ronald Simpson, Alex Jamieson, Nigel Jamieson, Matthew Smith, Ian McCallum, Lyn Knox, Anne Tichener, Margaret Kerr, all from Beith or thereabouts. I lived in Kilbirnie. Also from Kilbirnie were Maureen Saunderson, Ann Hood, Elizabeth Anne McKelvie, Hugh Halbert. And of course, the one and only light of our lives, Helen Allan! who came from halfway between. I would love to hear from anyone who remembers me. |
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I am Jacki Beith (thru marriage) as I married Steven Beith originally of England (Suffolk) but now we live in Canada ... do you know if the surname Beith implies ancestry from Beith? |
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Searching for any information on my great grandfather William Hamilton born about 1843 in Beith, Ayrshire, Scotland and married Mary Ann Murray from Aberdeen about 1866. I believe they moved to Glasgow the following year and had three boys--Bob, William, and Charles and one daughter, Annie. My grandfather, Charles, married Margaret Gilmour and had one child Alan born 13-2-1906 in Glasgow. Any help would be appreciated, including direction to continue my search. |
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Thank you so much for the site. I have visited before, but about a week or so ago I sent Hugh Ferguson and email to see if he knew my grandparents. He and his sister went out of their way for me and now I am in contact with my Burns family -Tom and Netta, and my cousin Karen. It turns out that the Greenan's (my dad's side) has been looking for me too. I have been in touch and I can't thank you enough. Much Aloha from Honolulu |
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just starting to have a look at where i grew up in the 50's |
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Having been away since 1969, it snice to see the town on the map |
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Hi.. My name is Jean Turner formerly LEE. I was born in Beith and grew up there until 6 years old before moving to Australia.. it has been wonderful looking back at beith and memories came flooding back.. I remember a Toy shop and the Dentist was upstairs from it.. I will never forget the dentist as before we left to come to Australia my mother took me to see him and he pulled out all my teeth .. I think she thought there was no dentists in Australia.. ( probably why I don't like dentist now. !!!) I also remember the sweetie shop and Nestie's fish and chip shop...I had friends called Hannah's Tom and Wilma..and I would love to hear from them again..and maybe one day come back for a visit. if anyone remembers the Lee family they can e-mail me |
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HI, I THINK THE BEITH WEB SITE IS GREAT. MY GREAT GRAND FATHER, JOHN WHITE, WITH HIS YOUNG WIFE(ELIZABETH WILSON) AND THEIR INFANT DAUGHTER MARGARET , AND HIS MOTHER JANE KIRKWOOD CAME TO AMERICA IN 1862. AFTER SETTLING IN OHIO, THEY CAME TO MICHIGAN AND RAISED 5 SONS AND 2 DAUGHTERS. I VISITED BEITH IN 1976, INCLUDING THE FAMILY HOMESTEAD,CALLED NETTLEHURST FARMS, AND APPARENTLY STILL HAVE DISTANT COUSINS IN THE BEITH AREA. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM SOMEONE IN BEITH, OR WHO MIGHT KNOW OF A SADIE REID WHO LIVE ON THE OLD WHITE FARM. WE HAVE THE ANNUAL "WHITE-KIRKWOOD"FAMILY REUNION ON JULY 28,2001 HERE IN LAKE ANN. WE ARE SURROUNDED BY MANY LAKES AND STREAMS,HILLS, TREES,SMALL TOWNS AND GREAT HUNTING AND FISHING. SOMEONE PLEASE GET IN TOUCH. THANKS, |
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I think this is one of the best pages we have seen in Scotland. We have been esearching for over a month and have looked at a lot. Certainly enjoy the history sections also. I know you are very busy but would certainly like the name of the music that also comes on with the page. Thankyou. Can anyone recognise it? |
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I know my request may seem a little odd or even rude, please forgive. Our Grandfather, William Lennox bought and ran the Beith Supplement { newspaper }, roughly 1922 and the last edition was 1965, he bought it from a Miss Millar, along with shop when her father died and she didn't feel she could keep it going. There is a book , recently written on it , with mention of the Lennox ownership. William McN. Lennox did not change the name from Millar's. We have a photo of Millar's paper shop, unfortunatley with a great big tree infront of it !!. William started off with the business in the main street then moved it to the cross - beith. Would you have any photos of this, or know of any other site where we might find one ? . We have Williams Ancestry back to roughly 1750 in Perthshire, we like to have as much knowlegdge as possible on the places / businesses rather than just on their names. William was born in stirlingshire, his father in Dunblane and his father in Dunblane, his father Hopefully somewhere in Perthshire !!. Please help if you can, |
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Just to let you know that the old 'Garnock Valley' site (lapis.ndirect.co.uk/valley) disappeared some time ago. I have bought the ka25 domain and now that my web design company has been bought out I can use the domain for something fun in a while. As soon as its decent I'll swap links Best wishes www.ka25.co.uk |
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What a wonderful website - all those memories, names, stories. I was born in 47 and lived in Beith until 68 when I moved South - still there. I went to Beith Academy (53-59) and Speirs (59-65) so it's fair to say my roots are in Beith. My father was a big football man and for some reason I can remember a Beith team announced at Bellsdale Park some time in the early 50s:Coogan; Meechan, Hogg; McLeod, Richmond and A. Wark; Garret, McReadie,T.Wark, McGlynn and Grindlay.School friends I remember: Isabel McTurk, Colin Fiford, Billy Johnston (BJ and BG), Brian Fielding, Anne Arthur, Diana Lyon, Janette Miller, Billy Martin, Sandy Millen, George Bell, Sheena McMillan, Drew Blair. Anyone remember the great Knocknbuckle scandal of 1965? |
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I just found you on the Ayr genuki site. This is the first time I've found a Shirlaw outside of Quebec and the state of VT in the mid to late 1800's.Sometimes the name is written as Skerlan or Skerlaw or Sherlaw. Do you have any data on the family who may have emigrated to the US or Canada? The earliest one I know of is a Francis and Susan Sherlaw who had a son Peter born about 1814 in the eastern townships of Canada (specifically the part of Quebec above the VT border).I found them on old church records filmed by the LDS church. Peter had two marriages and children who married and had families. If you have a clue to any of these people please let me know.Kind regards, |
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We live in Oregon and purchased an Antique Armoire from a dealer here. I would appreciate it if you could give me any information on this piece or direct me to someone who can. It is a mahogany color armoire, the inside says West of Scotland Furniture, Beith, Ayrshire- Beithcraft Furniture. This is the first Antique I have really even boughten, and would just like to get some more information on it. |
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Just found it, looks great, takes me back 40 years |
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i WAS BOARN I BEITH MY GRANDFTHER MANAGED CO OP I WAS VERY HAPPY TO FIND THIS SITE GREAT |
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I have just read the latest of the books published about Beith and now I believe I have all but one of them, as I appear in some of them I am very interested in reliving some of the past and recalling my growing up years. When I read the book on the Supplement I was immediately reminded of an obituary note which I have in my possession and concerns the death of my Great Grandmother. Apart from the fact that it is regarding family, I was very interested in the old fashioned descriptive language used, something I must say is missing from the newspaper articles today. The Notice is headed: Beith Supplement & Advertiser, Saturday, November 25, 1922 Death of Beiths Oldest Inhabitant, We regret to have to record the death of Mrs., William Ferguson, Beiths oldest inhabitant, which took place at her residence in Main Street on Sunday, at the advanced age of 92 years. Mrs. Ferguson, who was a native of Beith was born in Laigh Road and has resided all her life in Beith. Her husband Mr. Wm. Ferguson, baker, was also a native of Beith and predeceased her over 30 years ago. After her husband's death Mrs. Ferguson carried on the business which has been in existence for over forty years. Notwithstanding her advanced years, Mrs. Ferguson up till a week before her death, when she took a stroke, continued to take an interest in the business. Deceased who had a wide business connection was well known and highly respected through- out the whole district. Mrs. Ferguson was a high pricipled Christian woman, was very intelligent, and was possessed of a kindly and friendly disposition. She enjoyed the society of many attached friends who valued her for her own worth. Mrs. Ferguson was an authority on the early history of Beith and having a retentive memory could discourse with her many friends on some interesting by-gone events. The funeral took place on Wednesday to Head Street Church Cemetery and was largely attended. Thanks again for the opportunity to reminisce and contribute |
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It is really nice to see a picture of a church my ancestors attended. |
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Very interesting. Do you advise or help others to emulate your site? |
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My name is William A. Love and my ancestors came from Beith about 1640. I am interested in the property called Threepwood. I have a John Love b. 1704 Threepwood. I also have a John Love and Jean Barr who had 14 children in Beith and Kilwinning ( 1748-1779 |
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Your web site address was just jiven to me by a friend in Providence, Rhode Island and I look forward to spending some time on it. ( I was born and raised in Beith and visit the town annually.) Would you please send me any local news bulletins. |
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I think that this web page is excellent yous definately have a lot of information on the town. |
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I am so thrilled to hear from HOME online.Thank you and may God bless all involved. Hi! This was a wonderful experience to visit Beith where my life story began in 1951 when I went to work in Beith Co-op grocery on the Main Street, I believe it's a hardware store now.? It was situated in the little 'jog in' part in that little narrow street.I met a young man called John Brandon he was a journeyman baker with patterson's bakery at the bottom of the folly, next to the Cross Keys.Of course all these buildings are gone now. We married in 1954 and had 5 children between then and 1968 when we left home to settle in the USA. After all these years the connection to home is still strong.I still have family living in Beith and Kilbirnie. I expect Beith would have it's Burns Supper this past week .We celebrated Rabbie's birthday last night and my son John gave the " Immortal Memory" It was a lovely evening! Thank you so much for the blessing of visiting you today .God Bless! Louise. |
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Great site had a look around like it. Read the guest book but the contributers are all obviosly older than me! |
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Comments: It is really nice to see a picture of a church my ancestors attended. |
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ex 31 Main St Beith In 1955. I'm afraid I don't really know you, but I have looked at a lot of photos of former Beith with great interest. I was born in 18 Townhead on 28 Nov 1921 and went to Speirs school till 1939. I was speaking to my sister in law who lives now in Aberdeen Her name was Mary Campbell until she married my brother John Kerr. Both were gym teacchers and Mary was gym teacheer at Spiers school post war. I wonder if you knew her. I left Beith in 1956 and I wonder if you were around at that time. If you have a photograh of yourself, perhaps you could send me a copy by e-mail. I have a new website and I intend to put a photo of me on it soon I lived at 31 Main St till 1956 and I am now in Edinburgh, Hope to have a reply e-mail from you. |
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My Dickies hail from Beith and Dalry, circa 1857. Love seeing what they saw. |
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I just found your website, very nice job of making it ! I'm working on my family history (like many others) and am trying to find some infomation about the Giffen family of Beith/Giffen. I was wondering if there is somewhere I could look for records in the area. Any and all help would be greatly welcomed !! Thank you very much !! |
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very enjoyable seeing names and bringing back memories |
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We received several copies of an article written about the renovation of the Witherspoon manse in Beith. John Witherspoon is an ancestor of my husband, James Wardlaw Witherspoon, Jr. Wardlaw is a contractor and specializes in the restoration of old homes in New Orleans, LA. We are going to London in early November and we have decided to go to Beith to see John Witherspoon's home and the restoration plans. |
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Just discovered it and look forward to many more visits. It is so nice to find this informtion source on my home town. |
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I am looking for any Aitken in beith. I WOULD LIKE TO BE PUT IN TOUCH WITH ANY AITKEN FROM BEITH OR SOMEONE WHO COULD DO RESEARCH IN BEITH. I HAVE HAD THREE GENERATIONS OF FAMILY MEMBERS FROM BEITH |
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I enjoyed your website. We lived in Beith from 1976 to 1988, in what was known as "The Painter's House" at 1, Boghead (photo). Before us were the Allens and before them was a house-painter who lived upstairs and used downstairs as his offices. The house dates from approximately 1850 and was for many years a dairy - if you look at the side of the house as you come down Townhead you can see that there was originally a large opening for carts where now there is a window. We had moved there from Manchester. My children, Jean, Alec and Catherine, attended Beith Primary School and Garnock Academy. I taught at Beith Primary for about six years. In 1988 we left for Delaware, USA, though Jean stayed and now lives in Burntisland. |
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I am sixteen in two weeks and have lived in beith all my life, I really like the site, I saw the ad in Bee Gee's and thought it was cool how sombody had all these excellent photos and had a great site. I will let my friends from all over the world who I keep in touch with by e-mail to vivit the site and see what the town in which I live in is like. |
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Please note that my website has been extensively updated to include much more on Beith. There is now a photo section on Spier's School together with a short history of the furniture trade in the town. There are also many new photos of Beith taken on my recent visit. More to follow soon. Donald L Reid's new book 'Beith Supplement & Advertiser - The Story of Beiths Newspaper' has just been published. A review of the book together with ordering details are on my website. It's a great read with lots of old photos. All proceeds from the sale of this book go to Beith Old Peoples Welfare and the Beith Duke of Edinburgh Open Award Group. |
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My name is Allison Bandman formerly McConnell. I attended Spiers from 1959-1965 (Miss Tait and then Miss Rose)and I lived in Reform Street. My Grandfather James Logan was the Caretaker at the cemetery. We then we emigrated to Aust. I now live in Lara about 3/4 hour from Melbourne, Victoria, Aust.I was trying to make contact with anyone I went to school with eg John O'Connell, William Ovens, Alan Thompson or Murray Duncan. Is there a site you know of that could accomodate me.Allison |
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I am very interested as most of my Douglas' lived in Beith ..Thankyou |
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This is great - how do I add to it? I have loads of Beith ancestors: Robertson, Lennox, Crawford, Stewart, Armour, Kerr, etc Hi, I know that the Glengarnock Iron Works are in Kilbirnie but my 2Xgreat grandfather James Robertson lived in Beith until he was killed at the iron works in 1869. His son James was born a few weeks later in Beith to James's widow Jeannie nee Lennox. The baby was baptised at Kilmaurs where I can only guess that his Robertson grandparents lived. |
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Excellent. Ferguson and Fulton Are family friends and are truly Beithites.I'm from Kirkland Lake about 3 hours north of Fulton.I'm a brother of the Jim and Colin that John and Hugh mention in their letter. I lay in bed last night thinking of all the family names from Mains Ave, where I was born, and the names of school chums like Rab Harris Jimmy Kilpatrick,Wullie Kennedy,Hughie Millan,Dougie Whiteman,the list goes on and on.It's a great wee toon. : Hope they get the Golf Club website finished soon so that I can check on some of those handicaps before I make the next trip. I had a great time playing in the Snr events,I think it was on Tuesday mornings.Very enjoyable, and Id like to thank the members for their hopitality. No wonder they have little groups dropping in to play a round from north England and other places.The past and present members should be proud of what theive accomplished up on that Bigholm Hill. I was a member myself when it was a wee shack and you dropped your sixpence in the wee red box for a bottle of lemonade.My brother Dave is the Club grouch I believe, ha ha ,hope he never reads this.But no doubt Hughie Ferguson, John Fulton or Adam Johnston will let him know.I'd like to hear from guys like Garth Clark,Arthur Mathews,Bill Buchanan,Peter Nesti, Fiona Boyd.If you're out there ,lets hear from you through the Beithite website,and lets hear more from Ferguson and Fulton. I know these guys have great stories to tell. |
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Also grateful for any information on the West of Scotland Furniture Company.Thank you. |
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Do you have any links to the Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald? |
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Congratulations on an excellent site! |
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Congratulations on a fascinating site. My grandmother, Nell Mimi
CRAWFORD, came from Beith. I will not say born there yet, though I
suspect there or Glasgow, because I still have to find proof. She was
born in 1888. |
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I have enjoyed visiting your site and will certainly be visiting
Beith in the northern Spring of 2001. My great great grandfather
David Wark was baptised at Hessilhead in the parish of Beith in 1803.
He came to South Australia in the 1840s. His mother Barbara Wark
owned a property at Aulton (or Auldton) in the parish of Dunlop (can
anyone tell me where Aulton is/was?). His father Francis Wark (they
were cousins) had a farm |
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I lived in Beith from 1941-1945. My parents left London to avoid the Blitz and as an evacuee I gained immediate admittance to Spiers School. Among my school mates were Ellen McLean, Roland Golightly and Bertie Roberson.I wonder what became of them. Beith in war time was very bleak but they were happy times for me and my parents who lived in lodgings and were made very welcome where ever we stayed. Robert Burns figured prominently in the curriculum at Spiers and I was completely mystified by his broad Scots accent. The teachers were very understanding and I must have been given some credits for my pathetic efforts at "English" because I always given good marks. Equally, I was bad at French. This too was forgiven. Being a Londoner I did not have an affinity with France like the Scots so who could expect good French from a poor Englishman? |
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My friend John Fulton & I are both from Beith, John from the Bottoms Farm at Gateside and I am from Wardrope Street. John now lives in North Bay, Ontario and I live in Toronto.We were talking a couple of weks ago about the many nicknames there were in Beith in the 40's and early 50's and thought you might like some of the results we came up with. You may even wan't to publish the nicknames and see how many people can put names to them or vice-versa. Here Goes a few:
Well theres 42 to be going on with and I am sure there are a lot more
which we haven't been able to recall.Continued good luck with your site. I have all kinds of memories of Beith and all of them good and I would like to impart some through your site.but not today,if you are interested Please let me know and I will give you a look at some of the happenings from 1938 to 1953.
I got you site through Gordon Robertson who also has an excellent
Home Page. |
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Do you know anything about The West of Scotland Furniture Manufacturing Company, Ltd? We have an antique table and chairs that has a label on the bottom stating that it was made by this company in Beith, Ayrshire. We would appreciate any information you might have about the history of this company. Thank you. |
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I'm writing to you from Atlanta, Georgia, USA. I came upon your wonderful Beith website about 7 weeks ago when I decided to try to date a dining table and chairs that I own that is labeled Beithcraft LTD., Beith, Scotland. I contacted a couple of people on the web: Gordon Robertson, who was going to show the photos I e-mailed him to one of the Beith furniture makers. I also e-mailed photos to Vivienne at Garnock Lodge, her father was one of the Directors at Beithcraft, but unfortunately is in his 90's now and could not help. They've both been very, very nice to have corresponded with me in my seemingly impossible search. Gordon said that Beithcraft burned down when he was young - I wonder if you have a more exact date than that. This is becoming something of an obsession now. If you have any of the old furniture contacts, I'd sure appreciate a lead. Vivienne was showing the photos to a Mr. Richardson, and Gordon to someone named Simmie (that was some weeks ago, though - I'm learning that Scotland lives at a different pace than America!) If I could even nail down the decade my dining set was made in, I'd be thrilled. Hope to hear from you, thanks very much |
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My father was born in Beith (Matthews) and lived at Braehead with his brothers and widowed mother. I have very happy memories of spending holidays with my cousins at grandmother's house and specially remember the pies she used to get for me since I then lived in England and missed them and the wonderful morning rolls. The house at Braehead still stands (Grade11 listed) although neglected now but we don't know who the present owner is. In spite of that we still feel it belongs to the family! Thank you for the 'site' it has awakened many happy memories.Regards, Christina. |
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(Tasmania) |
My Name is Alan Cunningham, my Grandmother lived in Beith in 1881, an adopted daughter of of Allan Johnstone, a cobbler who lived and worked in your main street. In my visit to your town in 1993 the shop was shown to me by my cousin who now lives in Barrhead. What I trying to find out is;- I have traced my Grandmother then known as Ellen Johnstone aged 10. However, in the census the dwelling was stated as "Clay Holes" the census place was shown as "Beith". The part I cannot understand that a lot of people with different names and occupations lived in this area. I have been unable to find any more information about the area. Can anyone in your town assist with the question? Its hard for me as I live in Tasmania, Australia a long way from you. My name is Alan Cunningham, and I have found my Grandmother in the 1881 Census. My problem is that the Census gives the Census place as "Beith" but the dwelling as "Clay Holes" Now, I have looked for this and cannot find it. The dwelling contains a number a families, mostly in the wood turning and finishing trade. My Grandfather was a woodturner, and my Grandmother was a French Polisher. I have looked at an 1851 map, but cannot find any reference to it. I have been to Beith 7 years ago, but at that time not interested in family history. Would it be possible to find out what "Clay Holes" was or still is. I do hope that you can help me. |
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I have stories about the Wylie family who had Wylie Ropeworks at Meadowside, Beith. My grandmother (born 1889) left hand written stories of her memories of life in Whang House in Beith. Are these stories of interest to you? Do you have any more information that might interest me? Would be very grateful. |
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Greetings from Clinton, Connecticut, USA. My 23-year-old daughter, Robin Burgarella will be spending a week in Scotland in June (leaving June 2nd for England-France, Ireland & Scotland), and she will look for the grave of a child, perhaps under 4 years old when he died, who would have been my uncle. This child was left behind, buried somewhere in Beith, when my grandmother and grandfather took their children to America. My cousins and remaining aunts and uncles long to locate his resting place and spritiually bring him home to us. His name was John Jamieson and it is said he fell off a "dray" or horse-drawn flatbed, and slipped under the wheels where his life came to an untimely end. Curiously, the next child born to his parents in the "new country" America, they also named John. Parents of John are William Jamieson, born 1-18-1874, and Margaret Stevenson born 6-6-1875. They came to American around 1912, and had sons William, Robert and Thomas (my father who was born 11-6-1911), and daughters Margaret (Maggie) and Mary. With such scant information, where should Robin start looking to find this orphaned gravesite of John? I would appreciate any information you could provide, and would be grateful if you could respond a.s.a.p as time is running out and Robin will be leaving soon. Thank you. Judy (Jamieson) Burgarella. PS - The name Meek and Carew are also ancestral relatives' names. |
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granny was born in Barrmill and went to school in Beith |
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I AM AN AITKEN IN AMERICA. I HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH A RELATIVE FROM BEITH, A.Y. LEADBETTER@PALM.A200.NL. I THINK SHE MAY HAVE CHANGED HER E-MAIL ADDRESS. COULD YOU CHECK FOR ME, OR ANY OTHER AITKENS FROM BEITH. I MADE A CONTACT WITH AN AILAS LEADBETTER IN BEITH, HER MOTHER WAS AN AITKEN, BUT I LOSS CONTACT WITH AILAS.I ASSUME HER MOTHER DOESN'T USE A PC. HER MOTHERS NAME IS ANITA DOROTHY AITKEN, LEADBETTER.PRESENTLY LIVING IN BEITH. |
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I LIVED IN BEITH FOR APPROX FIVE YEARS AND I WENT TO BEITH ACADEMY MY FATHER OWNED THE OLD DEAR INN AT THE TOP OF REFORM STREET OPPOSITE THERE WAS A SWEET SHOP I THINK THE NAME WAS RICHARDSON NEXT DOOR WAS A CHIP SHOP OWN BY MR NESTI HE HAD A SON CALLED PETER WHO WAS MY PAL I USED TO USE THE PUTTING GREEN NEAR THE PARK THIS WERE THEY LITE A BON FIRE ON THE DAY OF THE QUEENS CORONATION 1952 I THINK THIS IS ALSO THE TIME WHEN THE GOERGE CINIMA BURN DOWN AND TURNED THE ORANGE HALL INTO A TEMPORARY CINAMA WHILE A NEW ONE WAS BEING BUILT I ALSO REMEMBER A HORSE THAT PULLED THE COOP BAKERS VAN IT USED TO BE PARKED OUT SIDE THE COOP ON THE HIGH STREET I HOPE THIS HAS BEEN OF SOME USE TO YOU |
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Hi, Congrats on your Beith site. I came accross it through finding the Garnock Rugby Club site where I found a photo of the team (Old Sperians)including my father and brother! |
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