John was baptized on April 6, 1823. Witnesses were James Braidwood and John Liddle. His father Andrew worked as a joiner.
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Birth record for John Braidwood |
I have been unable to find John in the 1841 census. He was not living with his family.
John married Margaret Robertson on June 21, 1850 in Barony, Lanark, Scotland. John and Margaret were blessed with seven children—Mary Braidwood, Andrew Braidwood, James Braidwood, John Campbell Braidwood, John Robertson Braidwood, Margaret Robertson Braidwood, and Willian Ronald Braidwood. Sadly, several would not survive infancy/childhood.
The 1851 census record shows that John, Margaret, and a three-month-old daughter named Mary lived at 19 Oswald Street in the St. George parish of Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. At the time, John worked as a journeyman millwright. I am confused by Mary. The Scotland census was taken on March 30, 1851 so that means since she was three months old, she would have been born about January 1851.
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1851 census record |
Yet, when John’s son Andrew was born at 8 Greenhill Street Christmas day 1852 in the Barony Parish of Lanarkshire, Scotland, the parish register notes it was “their 1st child.” His birth was witnessed by Alexander and John Robertson. I do know that Margaret had a brother named Alex.
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Birth record for Andrew Braidwood |
Son John Campbell Braidwood was born April 18, 1855 at No. 8 Greenhill Street in Anderston, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. John worked as an engineer.
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Birth record for John Campbell Braidwood |
Son James Braidwood was born September 28, 1857 at 27 Roxburgh Street in Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland. John worked as an engineer.
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Birth record for James Braidwood |
Sadly, he only lived for nine months. James died at 27 Roxburgh Street in Greenock of whooping cough on June 30, 1858. He was buried at Greenock Cemetery.
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Death record for James Braidwood |
Son John died on July 27, 1858 from gastric fever in Greenock at the age of three. He too was buried at Greenock Cemetery.
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Death record for John Braidwood |
Son John Robertson Braidwood was born August 27, 1860 at No. 8 Ingleston Road in Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland. John worked as an operation engineer at the time.
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Birth record for John Robertson Braidwood |
In 1861, John and his family lived at No. 8 Ingleston Road in Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland. John worked as an engine fitter. Mary and Andrew were both scholars. There was a 22-year-old lodger named James McNee living in the home with the family. James also worked as an engine fitter. A Liddell family lived two houses from John's consisting of a 270-year-old male named Robert, his wife Elizabeth (23), daughter Lillias (1), and brother David (19). I have yet to determine if he connects to the maternal side of John's family. Going back to daughter Mary’s age, she enumerated as 10 years old here which fits with the 1851 census.
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1861 census record |
On May 30, 1861, John’s nine-month-old son, John Robertson Braidwood, died at Hay Peak Cottage on Florence Street in Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland from ulceration of fauces (throat). The infant had suffered with the ulceration for six days, along with croup for two days prior to his death.
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Death record for John Robertson Braidwood |
Daughter Margaret Robertson Braidwood was born April 24, 1862 at Hyde Peak Cottage in Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland. John worked as a practical engineer (journeyman).
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Birth record for Margaret Robertson Braidwood |
John was killed at age 40 when a building he was working on collapsed on top of him on February 27, 1865 in South Leith, Midlothian, Edinburgh, Scotland. The death register noted that he was “accidentally killed by the falling of [unreadable] of a building.” His brother-in-law Alex Robertson was the informant on the death register.
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Death record for John Braidwood |
John was buried on March 2, 1865 at Edinburgh and Leith Cemetery in Edinburgh, Scotland.
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Burial record for John Braidwood |
The Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser published the details of the building collapse on March 4, 1865:
Dreadful Accident at Bonnington Sugar Refinery: Four Persons Killed and Several Injured, The Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser, March 4, 1865.
On Monday afternoon, about four o’clock, a calamitous occurrence took place at the extensive sugar refinery at present in course of erection at Bonnington, whereby four workmen lost their lives and several were severely injured. The accident occurred in the main building, which is 82 feet in length, by 44 in breadth and right storeys high. The flats are supported by large malleables iron girders and massive columns, with fireproof arches, composed chiefly of brick, between each storey. The disaster was caused by one of the foundation stones on which the pillars rested giving way. The column was at the north end of the building; and when it slipped from its place almost the whole of the internal structure fell with a loud crash, burying a number of men in its fall.
A few minutes before the catastrophe took place Mr.Wm. M’Geachin, the inspector of the works, and Mr. Butt, the manager, happened to be in the building, when they observed a number of rents in the stone on which the pillar rested. Orders were immediately given to get the pillar shored up, and workmen began to collect material for that purpose. In the meantime the inspector examined some of the other columns; and at the opposite end of the building he observed another foundation stone giving way. Shortly afterwards the pillar at the north end at which the workmen were employed, slipped from its rest, and the whole of the flooring, brick arches, and iron beams, with the exception of a small part at the south end, fell to the bottom. The walls, which are built of brick, and varying from two to three feet in thickness, remained almost uninjured. As soon as the alarm was given, the workmen who were on the ground floor endeavoured to make their escape. Some who were in the upper flats made for the staircase, and others took refuge in the window sills, which, on account of the thickness of the walls, were comparatively safe. Several providential escapes were made. One man was working in an upper storey when he was struck by a beam and thrown upon the staircase, and his life was thereby saved. Another jumped into a window still in the third storey, and was rescued by the people below. The interior of the building presented a most extraordinary appearance. The weight of the whole mass could not be less than several thousand tons; and the iron girders and columns were twisted and, to a great extent, destroyed. The uppermost portion of the ruin was a large cast-iron cistern, four feet deep, capable of holding 10,000 gallons of water, and which was also very much smashed. When the workmen in the neighbourhood had recovered from their surprise, they entered the premises in search of the missing bodies of workmen known to have been in the building at the time of the accident. After examining the ruins carefully they came upon the bodies of Alexander Mackay, a bricklayer, belonging to Glasgow; and John Braidwood, an engineer residing at Redhall. The bodies were fearfully mangled and disfigured, and scarcely recognizable. The injuries had been sustained chiefly about the head. Mackay was married, and has left a family. Braidwood, who was also married, left Hawthorne’s Foundry on Saturday, and commenced work at the refinery on Monday, being employed in putting up the machinery. At the time of the fatal occurrence he was on the top flat fitting up a winch for a hoist. It is ascertained that the other two workmen killed are a bricklayer belonging to Glasgow, named James Cook, and an old man, a mason, residing in Edinburgh, whose name is Peter Christie. It was understood by his fellow workmen that he has hitherto been much engaged in laying pavement in Edinburgh. One of the men who were injured was so slightly hurt that he was conveyed home; but two others, named Thomas M’Gough, a labourer, residing in Giles’ Street, Leith, and John M’Kay, a bricklayer, belonging to Glasgow, were seriously injured, and were taken to the Hospital. M’Gough sustained a fracture in the shoulder bone, and was cut and bruised about the face and legs. Mackey’s left hand was dislocated, and his left foot fractured. The thumb of his right hand sustained a compound fracture; there were five wounds on his head; and his neck, back, and legs were considerable bruised. Mackay and M’Gough state that when they saw the building begin to give way, they endeavoured to get out, but were knocked down before they could make their exit. Mackay fell immediately above M’Gough, and their lives were saved by a large beam bearing up the mass and preventing them from being crushed. One of those who escaped states that as he was leaving the building, he heard groans proceeding from some person near him, but he was unable to render any assistance.
KILLED: Alexander Mackey, bricklayer, belonging to Glasgow. John Braidwood, engineer, Redhall. James Cook, bricklayer, belonging to Glasgow. Peter Christie, mason, Edinburgh.
INJURED: Thomas M’Gough, labourer, Leith. John Mackay, bricklayer, belonging to Glasgow, and several others slightly injured.
The accident is attributed to the insufficiency of the stone under the pillar to bear the great weight of the superincumbent mass; and there is every reason to believe this, considering that the stone was found rest in several places. The block is four feet square, about 12 inches in depth, and a ton and a quarter in weight. The pillars are from 9 to 10 inches in circumference; and besides being girded firmly together with large iron tin rods, are jointed into one another at the ends. A cast-iron sole plate is sunk into the stone; and a piece of iron rises up around the base of the pillar from the height about 1 ½ inch to 2 ½ inches at the centre. We have not ascertained from what quarry the stone was obtained, but there is no doubt full inquiry will be made as to whether it was of the proper description. The loss sustained by the proprietors will be probably not under £5000 or £6000.
The architects are Messrs. Blake & Barclay, engineers, Victora Works, Greenock; the contractors for the brickwork, Messrs. Allan & Mann, Glasgow; for the machinery, Messrs. Blake & Barclay; for the iron beams, columns, tasks, and metal roofs, Messrs. Cowden & Brodie, engineers, Paisley. The inspector of the works is Mr. William M’Geachin; and the manager Mr. Butt—both of whom were formerly connected with large sugar refineries in Greenock. The architects, builders, and others engaged in the erection of the refinery have had great experience in the construction of similar works, and have a high character for ability and skill. It was estimated that the probable cost of the Bonnington Refinery would excel £80,000 and the works were expected to be completed about the month of June.
This would have been a horrific death for John. One can only pray that he died instantly. Sadly, Margaret was pregnant when John died. Their seventh child, a son she named William Ronald Braidwood, was born in South Leith, Midlothian, Edinburgh, Scotland, on October 14, 1865. An aunt named Jessie Ronald was the informant on the birth record, noting that she was present at the birth. Since we know John had a sister named Jessie, this is my most likely her but I have not found a marriage record yet to confirm her last name was Ronald in 1865.
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Birth record for William Ronald Braidwood |
In a newspaper article published by The Caledonian Mercury on July 4, 1866, we learn that John’s wife Margaret sued the Bonnington Sugar Refining Company for his death.
Court of Session—Saturday, Second Division: Braidwood vs. Bonnington Sugar Refining Company and Others, The Caledonian Mercury, July 4, 1866.
In February 1865, the building which was being erected at Bonnington by the Bonnington Sugar Refining Company (Limited) fell, and John Braidwood, engineer, was in consequence killed. His widow and children now sued the company and Black, Barclay, & Co., engineers, Greenock, for damages, on the ground that the fall of the building was owing to its imperfect construction, attributable to the fault of the defenders.
On the previous Saturday the Court held that, as against the sugar-refining company there was no relevant case. The company had employed persons of proper character, not alleged to be unqualified, and they had entered into contracts with tradesmen to execute the work, and in these circumstances, on the authority of the case of Russell & Macnee, no liability attached to them. And although it is here said that the company had not, as in the usual case, separated themselves from the work, but had an inspector looking after their interest, that made no difference. The inspector was not there to attend to any interest of the deceased, and did not fail in any duty with regard to him, and if he failed in his duty at all, he failed to the company. He might be personally liable, no doubt, for his own delinquency, but could not bind the company. As against the other defenders, the Court were of opinion that a relevant case was stated.
After some delay in adjusting an issue, the following issue was approved of by the Court:—“It being admitted that the pursuers are respectively the widow and children of the said John Braidwood; and it being also admitted that the said John Braidwood was killed by the fall of a sugar refinery at Bonnington on the 27th February 1865: Whether the defenders undertook to furnish the plans and specifications for the said building and to superintend the erection thereof? And whether the fall of the said building was caused by the insufficiency of the foundations arising from a defect in the plans and specifications, or from the failure of the defenders duly to superintend the execution of the work; to the loss, injury, and damage of the pursuers? Damaged laid at £1200 sterling.”
Counsel for the Pursuers—Mr. F. W. Clark and Mr. Black; Mr. D. Forsyth, S.S.C., agent. Counsel for the Refining Company—Mr. A. R. Clark and Mr. Guthrie Smith; Messrs. Murdoch, Boyd, and Henderson, W.S., agents. Counsel for Barclay and Co.—the Solicitor General and Mr. Thoms; Messrs. Lindsay and Paterson, W.S., agent.
Today, £1200 sterling would be $1539 in U.S. dollars.
To finish my thoughts on Mary’s birth year, she died at age 69 in 1922. The death register records her parents as John Braidwood and Margaret Robertson so I feel certain this is her. If the age is correct, that would make her birth year about 1853. Unfortunately, I have been unable to find a birth record for Mary. For all I know, I could have it all wrong. If you can shed any light on this discrepancy, I would love to hear from you.
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Death record for Mary Braidwood McKay |
Note: Click images to enlarge.
References
- Andrew Braidwood, Old Parish Registers Births 622/Barony), National Records of Scotland, 1852.
- Court of Session—Saturday, Second Division: Braidwood vs. Bonnington Sugar Refining Company and Others, The Caledonian Mercury, July 4, 1866.
- Dreadful Accident at Bonnington Sugar Refinery: Four Persons Killed and Several Injured, The Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser, March 4, 1865.
- Fauces (throat); https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fauces_(throat).
- James Braidwood, Statutory Registers Births 564/3 731, National Records of Scotland, 1857.
- James Braidwood, Statutory Registers Deaths 564/3 323, National Records of Scotland, 1858.
- John Braid, Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950.
- John Braidwood, Edinburgh and Leith Cemetery Record of Mortality, 1865.
- John Braidwood, Scotland Census 564/2 14/2, National Records of Scotland, 1861.
- John Braidwood, Scotland Census 644/1 36/11, National Records of Scotland, 1851.
- John Braidwood, Statutory Registers Deaths 564/3 3623, National Records of Scotland, 1858.
- John Braidwood, Statutory Registers Deaths 692/2 124, National Records of Scotland, 1865.
- John Robertson Braidwood, Statutory Registers Births 564/2 390, National Records of Scotland, 1860.
- John Robertson Braidwood, Statutory Registers Deaths 564/2 110, National Records of Scotland, 1861.
- Margaret Robertson Braidwood, Statutory Registers Births 564/2 212, National Records of Scotland, 1862.
- Mary Braidwood, Statutory Registers Deaths 685/11 670, National Records of Scotland, 1922.
- William Ronald Braidwood, Statutory Registers Births 692/2 888, National Records of Scotland, 1865.
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