DALRY BURNS CLUB

1st Anniversary

MDCCCXXVI

Members Present

hughmorris

Hugh Morris

The first Chairman. He was born in the Kirk Close, Dalry in January 1786. He was a weaver, and was extremely sensitive and refined with agreeable manners, and an inexhaustible fund of anecdote. His company was always welcome at gatherings. He was acquainted with Tannahill, the Paisley Poet, to whom he gave the toast in Dalry Bums Club many a time. He had always taken a lively interest in all things affecting the welfare, literature, art and musical science of his native town.

Andrew Crawford

The first Croupier and Secretary. Born in Courthill Street, Dalry in 1772, he was a Wright and had a good library, delighted in literature, and was noted for antiquarian and archaeological pursuits. Andrew Crawford's Kilmarnock Edition of Burns was sold at Sotheby's in London in July 1957 for £580. It had his name "Andrew Crawford, Wright, Dalry" on it.

John Montgomerie

A native of Dalry born in 1790. He was a weaver, but afterwards became a vintner, and inspector of Poor in Dalry. Burns Anniversary Suppers were always held in his inn.

Hugh Kerr

A native of Dalry, he was also a weaver, and was for many years a manufacturer of shawls in Paisley.

John Barbour

A native of Dalry, he was a weaver. He was fond of all things that belonged to antiquity. He had a good library, and was a great reader. He had a tenacious memory, was extremely eccentric and careless of dress.

John Murray

A native of Dalry and another weaver.

John Blair

From Dalry and orginally a weaver; later he became a house- and sign-painter in the town.

John Hamilton

A Dalry weaver, later a teacher in Kilwinning. He went to America, where he died.

Hugh Reid

A native of Largs, was another weaver. Afterwards he became an intinerary dealer in tea.

John Kenyon

A native of Rothesay, was another weaver. Afterwards he became a deliverer in books.

James McNair

A native of Elderslie was another weaver. He was a cheerful and intelligent man. Afterwards he became a vintner in Dalry.

John Kerr

A native of Rothesay, was another weaver in Dalry. He was a fine fat fodgel wight o' short stature. Lively and intelligent, and sang a good song. Afterwards he became a vintner.

James Steel

A native of Dalry, he was a clerk. He was a son of Archibald Steel, at one time parochial schoolmaster of Dalry. Afterwards he was a clerk at Hariet Colliery.

Malcolm McDougal

A native of Irvine, he was a shoemaker in Dalry. He always sang a good song, and was very agreeable and lively at the meeting of the club.

John McMillan

A native of Stirlingshire, he was a wool spinner to Mr. Biggart. He died of cholera about 1836.

John Smart

A native of Douglas, Lanarkshire. He was very eccentric, and at one time unsettled in his habits. He married in Dalry. Afterwards he became a wool carder at Whitehill in Largs.

William Swan

A native of Beith, he was employed in Mr. Biggart's wool factory. Afterwards he became a grocer.

William Speir

A native of Dalry, where he kept a school. He seemed to have excelled in calligraphy. In the latter part of his life he was emploved in a lithographic establishment in Paisley. His taste was extremely refined and he had a natural dexterity for copying pictures. He always sang a good song.

William Hamilton

From Dalry, he was a tinsmith and a very skillful tradesman.

Thomas Smith

From Irvine, another weaver in Dalry.

20 Members