The Drumbathie Farm

The Drumbathie farm (sometimes rendered Drumbathy or Drumbathey) in Lanarkshire, Scotland east of Airdrie was the 'home place' for the John Orr family and descendents for several decades.  The earliest record of the family living there is the 1841 Census, but I suspect that they had been there for a while.  John and Magdalen Orr had lived in the Airdrie area since probably the birth of their first known child John in 1825.  This of course doesn't mean they lived at Drumbathie, but opens the possibility.   After John died in 1859 his wife Magdalen continued to live there for a while as well as son James and his family and son Richard (per the 1861 Census).  Since the census does not list any of the adults as "farmers" it is possible they were living there but not farming the land around it.  James probably continued to live there until emigrating to the U.S. in 1870.  The 1871 Census shows another child, Madeline (Orr) Armour  living there with here husband Adam.  County directories show that they lived there until at least 1878 and probably until Adam died in 1881.  I have not seen land records, but it seems the house and land passed to a couple named James and Mary Gibson after the Armours both died in 1881.  The Armour's daughter, Madeline, married a William Gibson, so it is possible that the farm house stayed in the extended family for sometime to come, but it was at this point that the farm passed out of the Orr family.  There is clear evidence then that Drumbathie stayed in the family for about 40 years and possibly more.   Using Drumbathie as the hook, we will try to fish out some of what life was like in the immediate area. 

Early mentions on Tax Rolls

Drumbathie had been in existence at least since the 1780s as there are quite a few early tax rolls indexed at scotlandsplaces.gov.uk. which contain mentions of Drumbathie.  The Cart Tax rolls of 1785-1798 contain the following mentions.

• Vol 4 (1787-88), pg 124 Wm. Forsyth in Drumbathie taxed 2 shillings for 1 cart with two wheels
• Vol 4 (1787-88), pg 127 John Muir at Drumbathie taxed 2 shillings for 1 cart with two wheels
• Vol 6 (1788-89), pg 131 Wm. Foryseth in Drumbathie taxed 2 shillings for 1 cart with two wheels
• Vol 8 (1789-90), pg 131 Wm. Forsyeth in Drumbathie taxed 2 shillings for 1 cart with two wheels

Farm life

The Lanarkshire Ordinance Survey (OS) Name Books, 1858-1861 describe Drumbathie as

Figure 1: Transcription: "A Small farm steading the property of the Messrs. Baird and occupied by John Orr."

Mr. Baird's name will appear elsewhere in this biography as he seems to be a prominent land owner in the area.
The auction advertised below from the Glasgow Herald  did not necessarily sell products from just the Drumbathie Farm, but the list of items gives an idea of the products of a farm of that time and place.  Livestock  and hay seem to dominate the list so perhaps surplus of  human consumable foods was not to be had.  Also by November, most harvested items had been sold or packed away for winter.

Figure 2: Glasgow Herald, 04 Nov 1844, pg 3, col 4

The Racetrack and Grandstand

As seen on this map, (Full map at http://maps.nls.uk/view/74427697) the Drumbathie farmhouse was less than 100 yards from the Grandstand of the race track that lay to the north of the farm.  The Glasgow Herald of 5 Sep 1851 says

The want of a proper race-course at Airdrie, which has long been felt in the district, has at length been supplied.  Last year a successful attempt at a meeting was made by some spirited gentlemen connected with the town and county, the result of which encouraged them to make still greater efforts for the present season.
A suitable field having been obtained from the Messrs, Baird at Drumbathie, immediately to the east of Airdrie, a course has been formed within the last three or four months, which promises to answer the purpose admirably

The Lanarkshire Ordinance Survey Name Books 1858-1861 describes the race course as

Figure 3: Transcription: "This Race Course is on the lands of the Messrs. Bairds of Gartsherrie Leased for 19 Years by the Race Committee of Airdrie and the days of racing Annually, 1st Thursday & Friday of August."

According to contemporary newspaper accounts, many activities other than horse racing took place at the course and at the grandstand.  These included: public dinners and balls honoring various local celebrities and institutions, the annual New Monkland Agricultural Show, band concerts and competitions.  The grounds were also a parade ground for drills and inspections of the local militia.

Race days brought large crowds of people -- according to the 29 Oct 1858 Glasgow Herald over 10,000 were in attendance.  Two ingredients made for some wild times.  First, many of the attendees were Irish Catholics, and the religious and cultural animus with the local Protestant majority made for social unrest.  Second, there were many tents set up around the race course grounds where spirit dealers from near and far offered their products liberally.  This resulted more than once in crimes of many kinds as can be seen in the following article.

Figure 4: Glasgow Sentinel, 18 Nov 1854, pg 3

The jury unanimously found the three guilty of mobbing and rioting, but did not find the charge that it was motivated by religious hatred (essentially it wasn't a 'hate crime').  In sentencing the judge had particularly harsh words for the race committee for allowing so many spirit-dealer tents and allowing them to be open all night.  He said, "I am the more inclined to notice this, because the amusements of the people can go on quite as well without the sale of spirituous liquors, and I am anxious to point out how easily such scenes may be prevented by the committee of management."  Lest you think of race days as uninterrupted brawling, here is a calmer account from 10 years later.

Figure 5: Glasgow Herald, 5 Aug 1864

Parade Grounds for the Militia

As I mentioned before, The Race Course was sometimes used as parade grounds for the local militias as illustrated in the following clip.

Figure 6: Glasgow Herald, 26 Jun 1867, pg 4.

Accidents were bound to happen with the volunteer soldiers.  The following tale is not connected with the Orr family, and is perhaps apocryphal but I find it humorous and it gives a taste of an entire book of poems written by a long time Airdrie resident.  William McHutchison (1814-1879) a stonemason, sculptor and poet, published a book of poems (appropriately titled "Poems") in 1868.  If you are interested it is available in Google Books and gives a unique view of life in Airdrie during his lifetime.  This bit of prose in the middle of a poetry book is titled 'Jock's Vision of "The Rifles" on the Airdrie Race-Course'

It was at that hour when the labourer ceaseth from his toil.  the dying sun of a June day still recclined in peace and beauty in the far west -- his beams tinging wood, hill, flower, shrub, and tree with a golden hue.  The evening birds sang their requiem to departing day.  It had been one of June's loveliest days.  The bird, the bee, and the butterfly had each been on their lightest wing; the lowing herds now reposed up amid the hills and the green pasture.  All was peace and beauty!  But around the Grand Stand the din of arms was heard, and the sound as the mustering of a great army.  And so it was.  It was the RIfle Chorps turned out to drill.  "How proud they look! -- how noble, and how free!"  They had gone through their evolutions in an unwonted grand style, and a smile of self-satisfaction played on every warrior's countenance.  Oh! ye brave band of untried heroes!  And bayonets, swords, and muskets, glittered in the evening sun-lit.  Grey-haired fathers stood and looked on, and inwardly smiled at the martial bearing of their sons, who were pacing the grass of the Race-Course, behind the moustache, whiskers, and imperial.  Oh! how their young and ardent spirits caused their bosoms to swell and heave, as they thought of an engagement with the enemy! -- as they strolled, how they speak of their own and the daring deeds of their fathers!  Yes, O, yes-- "They long'd to follow to the field some warlike lord!"  "How proud they look! -- how noble, and how free!"  "Ye are the things that tower -- that shine; whose smile makes glad -- whose frown is terrible."  Well may the prayers of aged mothers for their safety be wafted on the evening breeze, as they conjure up to their own imaginations all the horrors and bloody carnage of a battlefield, in which so many brave youths may, ere long, mingle, fight, bleed, and die -- and maidens' sighs, too, fall, like angels' whispers, around the footsteps of those martial youths.  Heroic band! whose names are now enrolled among the sons of the brave! -- how apt is man to ape the truly glorious, "and play at sodgers!"  An inaudible whisper passeth from rank to rank -- one awful sentence, though short "The French are come!"  Each brave soldier is now seized with dismay!!!  A suspension of breath ensues, and looks of fear.  The man in command observes the change.  Commanding the Serjeant, who calls "Attention!" -- "But it is no go."  At length, the Doctor devines the cause, states the disease to be "palpitation of the heart," &c.  "Low murmuring sounds along their banners fly" -- "Hookit, chaps, and fly,"  "their watchword and reply."  The sound as of a foreign trumpet to the east is heard, as from the top of Airdrie-hill -- so long, so loud.  'Twas as the bellowing of a bull in wrath.  It was enough.  The terror-stricken ranks quaked and reeled.  " 'Tention" was again and again given -- "Eyes right!" -- "Eyes left!"   But no -- it was all up.  One simultaneous rush! -- as the deadly simoom sweeps the sandy desert, so swept this brave and gallant band the Airdrie Race Course.  The Aul' Biggar Road soon became gorged -- soldier upon soldier, warrior upon warrior -- till one vast heap was formed at the Aul' Toll.  Oh! what a band of heroes! -- how they lie, one on top of other!  How vast!!!  Bakers, barbers, grey-paper clerks, swords, guns, belts, counter-loupers!  Oh! what a mass of living and dead material!  'Tis no inglorious heap; no, 'tis a mound of immortal ones, who had dressed, drilled, and volunteered to defend their country, and who would be as a rock of defence in the hour of danger; and whose deeds and names shall go down to latest times.  But there they lie -- that is a glorious resting-place! Jock has discovered that the strange trumpet heard by the terror-stricken corps, was neither more nor less than Rawyards' Prize Bull!!!
We are not responsible for Jock's vision, as he is troubled with lunacy, and oft sees what never had existence.

The Coal and Ironstone Pits

The above mentioned map shows a number of mines in the area.  These were shafts dug in fields and in close proximity to living areas.  The map shows both a coal pit and an ironstone pit in a wooded area to the east of the Drumbathie farm house.  An ironstone pit  lay in the infield of the race track less than 100 yards from the grand stand with the road to it crossing the track at one point.  There was also an ironstone pit (labeled 'Old Pit') across the North Biggar Road  from Drumbathie.  All of these probably within a tenth of a mile from the Drumbathie farmhouse.  Many other pits dotted the surrounding communities.
James Orr's (son of John) occupation was listed as pitheadman on several different documents from 1857-1867 including while he lived at Drumbathie.  I have been unable to determine at which mine(s) he worked.
The scottishmining.co.uk web site has a great deal of information on mining in Scotland including an extensive list of mining accidents.  For instance they show over 100 fatal mining accidents in Scotland in 1859, including ten "near Airdrie"
Many non-fatal accidents happened as well such as the following one reported in the 28 May 1859 Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser.

Serious Accidents From Fire Damp – An explosion of fire damp occurred on Friday, 20th inst., in No 5 ironstone pit, Rawyards, by which Thos. Baird, drawer, and Robert M'Geoch, a putter – both residing in Hallcraig Street – were severely burned. It appears that they were passing along one of the roads with a full hutch, when the gas was ignited at the roof, and caused the explosion. M'Geoch is so severely burned that little hope is entertained of his recovery. Baird is in a more hopeful condition. Another explosion occurred this forenoon in an ironstone pit at Drumbathie, by which William Brown, a drawer, was much injured.

An account of another accident in the area the following year.

Figure 7: Glasgow Herald, 11 Jun 1860, pg 5, col 

The Sebastopol pit was also called #2 pit at Colliertree per The Morning Journal, May 15, 1863 (Colliertree is east of Rawyards.)  The engine-keeper was eventually found not guilty.  It is safe to say that although day-to-day farm life was happening, the family living at Drumbathie could not escape the harsh and sometimes deadly life of mining, but I have no record of the Orr family members being injured or killed while mining.

A Tragedy of a different kind.

A little over a year before the family of James Orr emigrated to the United States, they apparently had a young teacher named William Beers living with them.

Figure 8: Edinburgh Evening Courant, 08 Dec 1868, pg 5, col 2

An Early Golf Course

There is one more piece of interesting trivia connected with Drumbathie.  Apparently it was host to the first Airdrie Golf Club as noted in this historical account snipped from the airdriegolfclub.co.uk web site.

In the year 1876, ten prominent Airdrie business men met to discuss the forming of a golf club. So active and dedicated were they that by 14th June 1877, a field had been acquired at Drumbathie Farm from Mr Armour and the laying out of six holes completed. The first Captain of the new Airdrie Private Golf Club was a Mr Robert Watt and the Watt Medal which he presented in that year is still one of the club’s principal competitions. The entry fee for the new club was fixed at 10s 6d with an annual subscription of 7s 6d. The income for the first year of 1877 was £14 2s 6d.
Even in these early days there were lease problems and the course had to be moved to a new piece of ground on the old Race Course, also in Drumbathie Road. This was in April, 1878. Six holes were again laid out and the game went on undisturbed except for the problems caused by horses being exercised on the golf course, golf balls being lost down a pit-shaft near one of the holes and cattle grazing on the fairways.

Conclusion

Drumbathie lent its name to several entities in the area including a small bridge, a road (which is still called that to this day), the Drumbathie Iron Works, and the Drumbathie Coal Co.  Much can be gleaned about the area from searches on the name.  No doubt more could be unearthed with access to land records, and more newspapers such as the Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser and perhaps the Glasgow papers from the 1830s and early 1840s.