I am going to complain on my blog about Canon Bubblejet Printers.

The background - I have bought four of their printers over the last couple of years.

When they are working they are really good and excepting for the extortionate and unforgivable price of ink they do produce a fine result. But ...

The first printer was an S900 it ran fine until the ink colours stopped matching and I was getting trace lines accross the page. I eventually fixed it by cleaning the ink seals and much deep cleaning but not before I had replaced it with an S820. This new printer merrily printed away on fine art paper up to 310 gsm until I decided I really needed to be able to print on CD's just like the Espon printers do. I was not going to double up on all my ink cartridges just to switch to Epson so I bought a Canon Pixma ip 8500 - the top of the range! u-beauty! rah rah and all that. Imagine my disgust when I found that this printer absolutely refuses to feed the 310 gsm paper that I had been using.

I consult the manual and find that it is only rated to 105gsm (unless you use "genuine" Canon paper). Hang on Canon this is "tissue paper" weight and I thought that this was your top of the line fine art graphics printer and it is not rated to print on even medium weight paper. It has no by-pass feed for heavier paper either. This brand new, heavily promoted, printer series is nothing other than a turkey! Surely it is not just a multi-coloured letter printer. Some other of your customers must want to print images with it on the heavier stock papers!

But I cheated - it WILL feed 170gsm gloss. But anyone who has held a 170gsm gloss print in their hand will soon let you know that even 170gsm is not heavy enough for that photogaphic "feel".

So I talked to the dealer - he promised me that he would, in turn, talk to the Canon "rep" when he called the following week to see if the printer could be made to feed the heavier paper.... still waiting two months later.

Anyway Mr Canon you are not selling anything like the amount of ink you were before - my consumption has gone right down as I can't get the confounded thing to print.

Please bear in mind that I have over AUD$1,000 worth of this 310gsm A4 size paper in stock and I can't use it.

In desperation to get a print I pressed the S820 back into service. Ha ha! (not really amusing). Been sitting for a while (two months) ... jets are blocked or something and the colours gave gone wonky. No amount of deep cleaning or re-seating of the seals or test printing is going to fix this baby. At least your ink sales are up again Mr Canon with all the ink that is being wasted. You are lucky that I can't charge by the hour for my time wasted.

Tried your Australian site but the "manuals", FAQ and Troubleshooting sections refused to load up. Got smart and tried the US site, same thing. Didn't anyone every have any trouble with this printer or ask any questions?

And you can't send Mr Canon Australia an email requesting help - you have to type it out and find a fax machine ...

My last greyscale image printed indigo blue if that is a clue and the test pattern prints wobbly lines for Magenta and very pale yellow. Photographs look b-terrible. My finger tips have become multicoloured from cleaning off excess ink. The Magenta channel did improve a bit when I replaced the cartridge even though its predecessor still had ink in it. But it still isn't right.

Oh - and the fourth printer? Its an S9000. Prints A3 no problems. Don't use it as much but it has been trouble free.

In summary - I have two printers here: the Pixma 8500 will not feed 310gsm paper and has become a white elephant. I would have thrown it at the dealer and asked for an Epson if he hadn't promised to talk to the Canon rep; the S820 was working well but after its "rest" is now not printing colours correctly but will feed the paper. Neither is a viable solution at the moment.

One small step forwards has become a giant leap backwrds.

I don't ride the bike nearly as much as I should. It is a great feeling to just meander along, obeying the road rules and smelling the fresh air. I don't get an adrenaline rush from tearing around corners at death-defying speeds (perhaps I do and that is why I don't do it).

I joined the local "Ulysses Club" which is an Australia-wide group of older bikers that gets together regularly for a bit of a ride around the countryside.

Some people go every weekend and make a big thing of it - I just go every now and then. It would be easy to spend every weekend and more gadding about the countryside but unfortunately I have a few other things to do as well. They are a welcoming bunch of people and there are only a few commonsense rules. Above all you are a free agent and they stop regularly for cups of coffee and the occasional soft drink :) So you get to meet the others in the group and you get the chance to wrestle with your bike all on your own knowing that there is a support group on the same trip.

What I intended to write about is the unwritten system of acknowledgement of other bikers on the road. I think that this must be from an instinct that is deeply bottled up in everyone's psyche. Once you are enclosed in a tin box with four or more wheels (truckie's excluded) the camaraderie of the road generally gets shut out.

If you find yourself riding along and someone else on a bike comes up behind then you might ride for quite a distance together. Some sort of bond develops between the riders who are unknown to each other and there is respect of each other's road space. If you come to a set of traffic lights they might even pull up alongside and the visors go up and a brief "gidday" exchanged before the lights change and you return to your solitary rides. If the other rider get tired of your slow chuffing along and decides to roar past there is usually a flick of the finger "see you later mate" as they pass, a gesture that is acknowledged.

Bike traffic going the other way however can be divided into "types": Trail Bikes, Small Capacity Bikes, Ducati's, Sensibly Ridden Other Sports Bikes, Other Sports Bikes Showing That They Can be Faster Than Ducati's, Tourers, Retro - large capacity, Genuine Harley's, Genuine Shiny Harley's, Other Large Imitation Harley's and Real Vintage. (I have probably forgotten someone - please don't be offended)

Trail Bikes, Small Capacity Bikes, Ducati's, Other Sports Bikes Showing That They Can be Faster Than Ducati's, Genuine Harley's, Genuine Shiny Harley's never wave or acknowledge anyone else, they are far too busy. Well the Ducati's and the GSH's might acknowledge each other but no one else.

The others: Sensibly Ridden Other Sports Bikes, Tourers, Retro - Large Capacity, Other Large Imitation Harley's, Real Vintage wave at everyone. Perhaps it is just because we are country hicks, or we are not quite so busy, or we don't know what macho means :)

Anyway I have given up nodding and waving at the former lot - it saves my neck muscles and a good ignore is always better than a stoney returned stare.

I am indebted to David Caldwell of Manitoba and formerly of Inchgotrick near Riccarton for this list that he posted to the http://www.caldwellgenealogy.com/forum/cgi-bin/config.cgi?read=1266 site

Posted By: David Caldwell dcaldwel@mts.net
Date: 01:49 1/6/04

I've tried to send this as a file but unsuccessfully so here goes the long way, I'll be gone for 2 month back to the old sod, "I'll be back" as the man said (hopefully with some more useless but hopefully interesting stuff.

David Caldwell, Manitoba, Canada
Farms under Caldwell ownership/tenancy in Ayshire/Renfrewshire, Scotland, with dates if I have them.

ANNANHILL (near Annandale House) Kilmarnock William Caldwell wife Beatrix Broune 1641.
Auchengowne, Lochwinnoch, Cunningham, Allan & Marg. Caldwell
Auchengowne, " " John Caldwell 1623
Balliemannoch, Straiton, Carrick, Bessie Caldwell relict (widow)of John McIlwraith 1643
Biggart, Beith, Cunningham, Adam Caldwell 1624
Blackbyres, Maybole, Carrick David Caldwell 1863
Brandokishill, Paisley, Cunningham John Caldwell 1629
Brandokishill, " " " " 1633
Barbae, Colmonnel, Carrick, John Caldwell 1635
Barclath, Coylton, King's Kyle, John Caldwell 1666
Barthorn, Beith, Cunningham, Thomas CALDWELL 1628
Batside, Stevenston, Cunningham, Caldwell ?
Beltries, Lochwinnoch, " Thomas Caldwell 1628
Berbrek ? ? Jonet Caldwell 1618
Bigholme of Beith, Cunningham William Caldwell 1748
Boglemart, Stevenston, " Caldwell ?
Brounhills, Darvel ? wife Malie Wilson & Robert Caldwell
Burnfoot, Ardsossan, Cunningham, Jeannie Caldwell 1901
Buttirwall, Largs, " Willaim Caldwell 1631
Carscadden, Kilpatrick, Renfrew Thomas Caldwell 1610
Chamberhouses, Irvine, Cunningham or Kyle Stewart Caldwell ?
Cockhill, Dundonald, Kyle Stewart, Caldwell 1800s
Costablewood,Largs, Cunningham,Barbara McKay & Allan Caldwell 1895
Corsehill,Stewarton, Cunningham, Jonet Caldwell 1618
Cornhoile, Dundonald,Kyle Stewart,Katherine Caldwell 1607
" " " William Caldwell 1609
Craighead, Dailly, Carrick James Caldwell 1877
Crosbiemains, West Kilbride, Cunningham, John Caldwell 1842
Easter Highgate, Beith, Eliz. Carswell & Allan Caldwell 1861
East Middleton, Beith, Cunningham, Allan Caldwell 1882
Fenceside, Kilmaurs, " Caldwell ?? ??
Gallane, Lochwinnoch, " James Caldwell 1631
Galrigside, Dreghorn, " John Caldwell 1622
Gaylis/Gailes/Scottischaw,," Peter Caldwell 1391
Greenhills, Beith, " Agnes Caldwell 1744
Greenend, Paisley,Renfrew, Jonet Carswell & Thomas Caldwell 1677
Greenan, Ayr, King's Kyle Caldwell 1700 ?
Hawkhill, Stevenston, Cunningham,, Caldwell ???
High Smithston,Kilwinning,Cunningham,John Caldwell 1842
Holmfauld, Beith " Marion Cochrane & John Caldwell
Kempisland/Breedsorrow,Largs,", Thomas Caldwell 1496-1610
Kertside, William Caldwell 1607
Kers ?? ?? William Cauldwell 1585-1592
Kidston, Kilwinning, Cunningham, David Caldwell 1600s
Linhead of Knockmead, Beith,", Margaret Caldwell 1706
Lochirmoss, John Caldwell 1595
Lochirmoss George Caldwell 1607
" son of above John Caldwell 1607
Low Boydston, Cunningham, ? Caldwell ???
Macawston, Kirkoswald, Carrick, John Caldwell 1846
Meikleholm, Cunningham, David Caldwell & Christian Thomson
Mekilgavin, Lochwinnoch, William Caldwell & Marg. Smith 1630
Mcdonualie, " , John Caldwell 1616
Moorfield, Dreghorn, Cunningham, John Caldwell 1800s till present
Nether Aldonnes, Andrwe Caldwell & Jonet McIlwraith
Nether Hessilhead, Cunningham, Robert Caldwell 1619
Nether Mains, Kilwiining, " , John Caldwell 1897
Thomas Caldwell of "That Ilk" Neilston, 1613 (would suggest residency in Hall of Caldwell)
Overbarfurd, Lochwinnoch, Cunningham, John Caldwell 1669
Parkfoot, Kilbirnie, " George Caldwell 1869
Quhytecraig(Whitecraig) " James Caldwell 1600s
Risk, Lochwinnoch " John Caldwell 1630
South Boig, New Cumnock, George Caldwell 1900
South Kilruskin,W. Kilbride, " , John Caldwell 1853
The Close, Stevenston, " , Caldwell ?
Thirdpart Limeworks,Kilmaurs, " , John Caldwell & Eliz Manson (my tree) 1831-1839
Todrigs, Earlston, Kyle Stewart, William Caldwell circa 1500

John Caldwell, the miller in Glenesland, poss. Carrick, 1616
Charles Caldwell married Christian Murdoch in Ochiltree, Ayrshire early 1800s
Alexander Caldwell, Deacon of the Guild of Skinners in Glasgow 1606
Andrew Caldwell was a hagbutter(rifleman) for the Earl of Cassilis, Maybole, Carrick 1600
George Caldwell christened in Dundonald Church 3 March 1745 son of John Caldwell
John Caldwell born 1698 at Old Tower of Elliotstown (borders?)and Margaret Caldwell born 1702 at Muirdykes
above were married 21 Feb. 1723 at Lochwinnoch, 4 children
Margaret, born 1724, Jean b. 1726, William b. 1728 and Robert b. 1730
John Caldwell, Merchant of Straiton (Carrick) was cautioned at Dalmellington 28 April 1619 ( don't know what with)
John Caldwell Christened at Dundonald Ch. Sept 1694 son of William Caldwell
John Caldwell of Kirkmichael nr Straiton, testate 26 May 1883
John Caldwell, carpenter, Largs 28 August 1846
William Caldwell, Town Clerk of Irvine 1610, 1611
William Caldwell of Acharne, Inn dweller in Balliary of Carrick 1600s
Wiliam Caldwell, a writer, of Knockentibber, Cunningham 1600s
William Caldwell married Marion Mure of Rowallan (same Mure as Caldwell House) at Kilmarnock. born 1648 & 1652.
From Dundonald Kirk Session (available through "scran")
Margaret Caldwell confession of fornication 29 March 1606
George Caldwell accused of profaning the Sabbath 11 May 1606
Simon Caldwell accused of working on a fasting Sabbath 1607
Presbitary of Ayr 1642-51:-
George Caldwell violated the Sabbath
Margaret Caldwell ordered to make public repentance of Fornication
Kristein Caldwell accused of abscence from Kirk on Sabbath Day
Some names of note:_
David Caldwell, author of "Kipper Fair and cadger races" a tale of worthies
William Caldwell, a weaver of Kilbarchan had a web in his loom destroyed by protesters 1812
Thomas Caldwell was architect for the new Kelburn Castle built 1692-
Robert Caldwell was the builder of West Church, Inverness 1837
Hamilton Caldwell, Currier was the founder of a vast leather works in Boden St. Glasgow 1873, by 1881 it became "Hamilton Caldwell & sons, tanners, curriers, leather merchants and manufacturers.
George Caldwell established Townholm Works, Kilmarnock in mid 19th c. to supply the expanding coal and iron industry, the works eventually became Grant, Ritchie & company.
Caldwell & sons of Paisley were a very well known printers 1n 18th & 19th century.
Muir & Caldwell's Scotia Engine Works, Elliot st. Glasgow founded 1865
Caldwell Paper Mills, Inverkeithing, Fife 19th century
Interestingly Caldwell of Inglis (ingleston nr Edinburgh?)
had his own coat of arms on a 1618 brass pistol, could he be the minor gentry of the "Mary" scandal???

John Strawhorn in his book "Ayrshire - the story of a county" makes mention at page 23 (in relation to early Royal Charters of the 12th and 13th century granted in Ayrshire):

"For King's Kyle. grants were made by the king himself to lesser barons who owed direct allegiance to the crown. We have reference only to Philip de Colville (Ochiltree) and Thomas Colville le Scot (Dalmellington)."

I wish to argue that the writers of the Charters were Norman influenced and Norman French was still not far away at the time. Caldwell might easily become Colville in this instance. They would know the undoubtably Norman name "Colville" but perhaps the local Scots "Caldwell" was just too hard. Notably the Ragman's Roll of Edward I lists two Thomas Colvyle's and an Adam Colvyle in Ayrshire but no Caldwell's.

I would like to argue that the writer of the charter's (they may have been different writer's of course) understood that the Colville family was of Norman extraction and therefore went to pain to differentiate the other "Colville" as being of Scots extraction and not Norman. Colville is not an ancient Ayrshire name and I believe that this "Colville" was really "Caldwell" and the appellation "le Scot" acknowledges the difference even though the writer could not pronounce it in Scots they have used the closest equivalent French pronunciation.

"Dalmellington Motte was probably constructed when Dalmellington was under the control of Sir Thomas Colville le Scot in the reign of David I or William I (William the Lion)." (Dalmelligton site) http://dalmellington.com/motteheritage.htm

This particular Caldwell might have been the owner of Lessnessock. However this seems highly unlikely as the current farm "Lessnessock" is not far to the south west of Ochiltree and quite some distance from Dalmellington. It also does not seem to be in a position of any particular strategic purpose. In that case the original feudal occupier of Lessnessock was no doubt a Colville as commonly believed.

He may well have been a Caldwell from the "Caldwell" area in Renfrew transported to the borders of what is now Carrick but which was then the frontier of the turbulent area of Galloway.

This family populated southern Ayrshire from Straiton to Maybole, Coylton, Ayr and Prestwick. They were obviously the family from whom John Caldwell the progenitor of the Castle Caldwell family sprang.

Family names seem to have been George, William, Thomas, Charles, Francis and, above all, John. The latter four are in my family tree at my first known ancestor and I think I might be able to claim to be in this loop somewhere.

The following will is one of several in my possession and part of it is reproduced to illustrate the difficulty of extracting information from wills. Getting a copy of the will is only the first 1% - extracting anything intelligible from it is 99% sweat and frustration.

Part of the will of George Caldwell, Merchant Burgess of Ayr (Tobacco, cotton, etc) Testament 1663
Copyright Scottish Record Office - used here for academic illustrative purposes only

I am illustrating the difficulty in reading these wills in their archaic script and vernacular Scots language. The late Mrs Lesley Anne Gordon sought out a good number of these wills pre the 1980's and, during her lifetime, asked me to publish her "translations". It is a burden that has worn heavily on me and I think the solution is publication of the internet. I think, in time, and with a lot of practice, I could school myself to extract the information from the wills. Luckily The Late Mrs Gordon has done a magnificent job already and I can use her completed work as a guide. To make things worse each "writer" used a different "hand" and all have their own flourishes. I might suggest that they were very interested in keeping the secret of being actually able to read what they had written very close to themselves :)

This is a summary prepared by Mrs Gordon - she also has handwritten "translations".

It appears that the Caldwell's of Dalmellington must have become very involved in trade out of the port of Ayr and may even has initially sought to rival the port of Glasgow in trade with the Americas.

I have seen a fanciful family tree claiming to link the Caldwell's of Worcester through Caldwell's in Ayr to Castle Caldwell and then to Caldwell's in the United States. The English, Scots, Irish and US families are there but the links are rather tenuous and speculative.

If they can be proved I will be the first one to acknowledge this but:

Fo my part I think the Caldwell family is a very ancient Ayrshire family and for the moment I am putting my efforts into finding out just what they were up to in the Doon Valley form the 12th century on (right about the time of first adoption of surnames).

Example of the use of "Le Scot": John le Scot, Earl of Huntingdon and a member of the Scottish Royal house.

A popular pastime to test the teenage nerve in the warmer months

The direct ancestors of our family include Morton's (great-great-great-grandmother) Walker's (great-great-grandmother) and Wilson's (great-grandmother). These are common names, especially in Ayrshire. It is interesting ot note that several families of humble beginnings made good in the Kilmarnock area. Amongst them:

Thomas Morton of Blackwood and Morton Axminster carpet fame the maker of carpet looms
"Thomas Morton was the son of a brick manufacturer, who had served an apprenticeship as a turner and wheelwright, and then set up in this business on his own account. He was responsible for several innovations including a new improved carpet loom."

"It was built in 1818 by the late Thomas Morton, who was born at Mauchline in 1783, and died at Kilmarnock in 1862. Mr. Morton was a famed constructor of telescopes and other optical instruments, and was also an ingenious machinist. He conferred a great boon on carpet manufacturers by inventing the "barrel" machine for carpet manufacture, and by improving other pieces of mechanism in connection with the trade."

Johnnie Walker of "Kilmarnock" whisky fame - John Walker grew up on a Caldwell farm near Kilmarnock

Alexander Morton (1844-1923) of Darvel bought a lace-making machine in 1876 and set up the Darvel lace-making industry

Andrew and John Barclay who set up locomotive building firms had a Walker mother and a Wilson grandmother (John Barclay's second wife was a Caldwell)

Our Morton relationship is from Galston in the same general area where the other two "famous" Morton's came from

Joseph Caldwell was a "Lemonade Manufacturer" in Kilmarnock and for a while lived at "Wee Inchgotrick" (formerly "Inchgotrick Mains") which is effectively the "gatehouse" of "Treesbanks House" that became the residence of the Morton's of Blackwood and Morton. I don't think it is part of the same property.

A George Caldwell had an engineering works in Kilmarnock. Taken over by Grant & Ritchie when he retired.

Alexander Jack made agricultural machinery at Maybole - I know there is a Caldwell relationship to the Jack family in Ayr

None of these notable people who "made-good" is known to be a relative other than Joseph Caldwell who was my Great Grandfather and his sons Thomas and Adam and daughter Jean who also were involved in the "Lemonade business".

Just a whiff of indirect fame gently blowing around in an era when it first became possible for ordinary people to actually benefit from the use of their ingenuity, talent and hard work.

This is a quote from a book called "Ramble Round Kilmarnock : Chapter 2" (Written in 1875)

RAMBLE ROUND KILMARNOCK
WITH AN INTRODUCTORY SKETCH OF THE TOWN.
BY ARCHIBALD R. ADAMSON.
__________________

“Still o’er these scenes my memory wakes,
And fondly broods with miser care;
Time but the impression stronger makes,
As streams their channels deeper wear.”
_____________________

KILMARNOCK:
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY T. STEVENSON, “STANDARD” OFFICE
MDCCCLXXV

http://www.electricscotland.com/history/kilmarnock/part1c2.htm

"Turning down Bentinck Street, I pass Kay School, a Gothic building similar to the one already noticed in Wellington Street. It is surrounded by a spacious playground. In 1872 Bentinck Street was extended to East Shaw Street. This was a much-needed improvement, for it cleared away an unsightly old printwork, and opened what yet will become a handsome thoroughfare.

Arriving in East Shaw Street, I turn down in Glencairn Square. East Shaw Street has not an elegant appearance; the houses are, with few exceptions, one-storyed and covered with thatch. Environed with pleasant grounds, in this neighborhood is Shawbank, the handsome villa of Mr James Wilson, Irvin, and beyond it there is a fine view of an extensive tack of open country. There also stands the hydraulic engineering works of the Glenfield Iron Company; they employ about one hundred and fifty hands , and carry on a large export trade.

Entering Glencairn Square, I pause to look about me before turning my face toward the Cross. The square is spacious, but the building in it, with two or three exceptions, are thatched, low-roofed, dingy dwellings. Four streets branch off it, viz., High Glencairn Street, Low Glencairn Street, and East and West Shaw Streets. These streets are parallel to each other. High and Low Glencairn streets form part of the main artery of the town. Intersecting Glencairn Square, the thoroughfare passes through the adjacent village of Riccarton and on to Ayr. In Low Glencairn Street are situated the works of the Water Meter Company; they employ about one hundred and thirty hands, and carry on an extensive business in the manufacture of meters alone. At the foot of the same street are the Holm Foundry and the engineering works of Messrs Barclays & Co. At the foot of West Shaw Street is the carpet and rug factory of Mr John Wilson. The works, which are pretty expansive, are situated near the Kilmarnock Water, and close to the residence of the proprietor."

My Grandfather, Thomas Caldwell, had a "Lemonade factory" at Shawbank in East Shaw Street at a guess from sometime in the mid to late 1930's to 1949. Again there is a Wilson connection in relation to this site but is is from many years earlier and I do not rate its siignificance anything other than coincidental.

The engineering works of "Messrs Barclay & Co" at the foot of Low Glencairn Street is the locomotive manufacturing works of John Barclay in Greenholm Street and known as the "Riverbank Works". As I have mentioned, John's second wife was a Caldwell and after his death the business was liquidated. After a short spell when the works were operated as an engineering factory by a William Caldwell it was acquired by Joseph Caldwell for his "Lemonade factory".

The carpet and rug factory of John Wilson may have been an antecedent of Blackwood and Morton, but I will have to do some more research before I return to comment further.

There seems to be considerable cross references to my family creating a little smoke but I have no found any fire at this point in time.

I believe that this reference comes from the "Kilmarnock Standard" Newspaper:

http://icayrshire.icnetwork.co.uk/news/localnews/kilmarnock/content_objectid=13280022_method=full_siteid=73592_headline=-Local-drinks-companies-remembered-name_page.html

"Local drinks companies remembered

A RECENT item in the Memories page featured the old Kilmarnock firm of Rankin and Borland.

This was a local chemist's shop which dominated the scene for many years.

Mention was made that among their many products was a range of their own aerated waters.

Now, a reader has written to say that in the years before the Second World War there were at least two other important makers of soft drinks.

Turner and Ewing, which had been established in 1810, was based at Tannock Street, Kilmarnock, and then there was Caldwell's which was located at the bottom of East Shaw Street.

Caldwell's bottles were usually a penny cheaper than their rivals and they also sold small bottles.

Most of the shops in the area sold drinks from more than one of the manufacturers and lorries used to go round the doors selling crates of either six or 12 bottles.

Caldwell later moved to Low Glencairn Street and was eventually taken over and renamed Adams."

As correction I would mention that the "Caldwell's" of East Shaw Street was the business of Thomas Caldwell, my grandfather. His sons: Joseph, James and Thomas worked in the business until it was sold in 1949. The business mentioned as "Adams" in Lower Glencairn Street was a quite separate soft drink business operated by Thomas' brother Adam and his family. This business was operated until the 1960's when it was closed down and is now apparently the site of a "Tesco" Supermarket. I am fairly sure that the business operated by Adam Caldwell did not take over the business of Thomas Caldwell (although I can understand the apparent confusion).

Perhaps I should also note that the business of Soft Drink manufacture was carried on by Joseph Caldwell from perhaps sometime in the 1870's until his death in 1917 when it continued to be operated by some of his children at "Riverbank" Greenholm Street (Moved to Riverbank in the 1890's). Sometime after that the sons Adam and Thomas split with their sister Jean and set up their own factory in Lower Glencairn Street (about 1925/26) as "Caldwell Brothers". Jean closed the Riverbank factory. Some years later Thomas and his sons left the Lower Gelncairn Street business (which continued as "Adam Caldwell") and set up his own business in East Shaw Street (date not known but sometime before WWII). The name "Hendry's" has been mentioned in relation to this business and I do not know if my grandfather actually bought out an existing business on that site or whether this is a red herring. Certainly I do know that he traded as Thomas Caldwell & Sons.

I have since found out that the Scottish Wholesale Co-operative Society who purchased my Grandfather's business ran a chain of Soft-Drink factories over Scotland that traded under the common trading name "Hendry's".

This area at the upper end of the Irvine Valley in Ayrshire must always have been a defence point for the people of Ayrshire. This commment may well be worth exploring further.

The Roman's had a fort there but no trace of a road into Ayrshire has been found. It is thought that one must exist but perhaps the reason for the fort was to bottle up the "head of the glen"? and prevent the tribes of Ayrshire bursting out and cutting Roman lines of communication up the Clyde valley to the Antoninine Wall.

Both Wallace and Bruce fought small battles here and Drumclog is not far away. There are more than likely many other instances of conflict in this area which is a defendable spot in a main route between Ayrshire and Lanark.

The surrounding moors of the Upper Irvine may well have been ideal to be traversed by smaller bands of local men but more difficult for a formal army with baggage. Consequently a slow advance down the Irvine Valley by an invading force may have been difficult and supplying them fraught. No harder than many another campaign perhaps but possibly considered not worth the effort.

14 February 2005 8:15pm

Heavy fall of rain last night but it is fine today. Still 29C inside. Barometer 75.8, Humidity 48%.

Grass has gone mad as we have had a reasonable amount of rain this month after a long "dryish" spell. Weather is pretty good really, just a trifle hot, but not too bad. 22-26C is about "perfect" - over 30C uncomfortable - pushing 40C is b-hot. Another 3/4 months of this before it cools down for winter, find it a bit hard to take really ...

15 February 2005 7:15 am

A few small black clouds studding the sky, once the sun really gets going they are like to disappear, doubt if it will rain. Not going to be hot enough to bring up a storm this afternoon. Very nice outside with a slight sea breeze. 23C inside and very pleasant. Barometer 75.8, Humidity 64%

15 February 2005 10:30 pm

Didn't rain - pleasant sunny day. 27C inside right at the moment. Barometer 75.6, Humidity 58%

16 February 2005 7:10 am

Fine and sunny, no cloud, slight chill in a very soft breeze this morning - "good to be alive" feel. Going to be hotter today I think. At the moment 25C inside Barometer 75.6, Humidity 66%.

16 February 2005 9:55 pm

Hot and sticky 29C. Barometer 75.4, Humidity 66%. Those 4 degrees make a big difference.

17 February 2005 8:30 am

There is a cyclone near the Cook Islands and some generally nasty weather out there in the Pacific Ocean. We don't seem to get the winds here but the flow on clouds and rain are here. Have had rain overnight but it is not raining at the moment. Heaviily overcast and cooler - when it rains it sure is gunna rain ... Cool and very pleasant none the less. 27C inside, Barometer 75.7, Humidity 72%

3:10 pm I was right - been pouring on and off all day ..

Official weather today : COFFS HARBOUR Thu, Feb 17 Fri

min: 19°C max: 26°C 21.6°C Last updated: 5:00:00 PM
Wind: 11.1 kph 180° S
Rain: 57.4 mm (2.25")
Sunrise: 06:29 Sunset: 19:34

Our house is very weather efficient and our inside temperature more constant than that outside.

17 February 2005 11:25 pm

Stopped raining for now : 27C (work that out), Barometer 75.6, Humidity 72%

19 February 2005 2:15 pm

Hot and sunny, wouldn't know it had been raining - great day outside 30C inside, Barometer 75.7, Humidity 60.2%

Only nut-cases are sitting behind a computer at the moment

"Oor hoose" corner Portland & Fullarton Roads Kilmarnock, my home 1945-1950. My bedroom was in the attic.

My ancestor's in Galston were John Caldwell and Mary Morton

There were a number of Morton's in the Newmilns and Darvel area and especially around Darvel. Birth details in the IGI are a bit shy on the mother's names so there is a bit of guessing going on. Using the basis of "family names" I know that John & Mary used the conventions.

I know that John's parents were Alan and Janet and duly enough the first boy was named Alan and the third son was John after his father. Applying this technique the second son should be named after the wife's father consequently the second son "Mathew" is a good indication of Mary's father's name.

John kept this up after his second marriage naming the eldest children by that marriage David and Agnes after his new wife's parents.

The girls are a bit harder. The first was recorded as Mary when it should have been Janet. The second was Janet. However there is a 2 year gap between Mathew and Mary which might indicate the loss of an unrecorded child. Furthermore I don't know when John and Mary married so it is possible that there was a girl before Alan, the first son.

Following convention there would have had to have been two unrecorded early infant deaths for the first surviving female child to have been named after the mother.

Another reason could be that "Mary" was also the name of Mary's mother. This might indicate the infant death of one child only (a "Janet") and there is a "gap that fits". Every death would be a tragedy and the fact that there was a name-gap indicates that the child survived long enough to be christened. There is another later daughter Jean and they had six recorded children (the last was John 1811). John snr remarried to Agnes McClanachan in 1815 and I presume that his first wife, Mary Morton, had died between those two dates.

Two unrecorded infant girl deaths who had been christened, is possible, but missing just one might be more probable. The matter is complicated by not finding the marriage details so I might conclude that they had moved between marriage and Alan's birth.

There are several Mary Morton's who could possibly have been born to a Mathew (single "t" was the Morton spelling) at about the right time. I am guessing that "Mary" was in fact her mother's name. Although "Jean" is also possible, by tradition it should have been "Mary" but in fact it is the name of one of John's sister's - correct in chronology as "Janet" had already been "taken". "Jean" may well have been John's paternal grandmother's name.

There was a Mary Christened in Galston on 3 March 1779 who would be the correct age to be "our" Mary and her father's name is Mathew but the mother's is not recorded. Mary Richmond was born about 1755 and would have been in the right age range to have been "our" Mary's mother.

If my guessing is correct then there is an outside chance that her parent's were Mathew Morton and Mary Richmond of Gowersbraehead farm. It is less likely when I found the farm on an 1856 ordinance survey map the other side of Darvel (but still not a great distance from Galston). On a more modern map it is shown as Gorsebraehead.

Newmilns and Darvel are in Loudoun Parish but Gowersbraehead is south of the Irvine and in Galston parish although the former two villages are closer to the farm.

I will continue looking in the Loudoun Parish records.

(Possible parents of Mary Morton married to John Caldwell)

"Richmond Deaths in Loudoun Parish"

Feb 25, 1845 Mary Richmond or Morton Wedow of the Decessed Mathew Morton of Gawrsbreaheade She is intered in the northmost Graff in the Lair belonging to John Broun in dyke & Morton Writer in Glasgow on the east end of the Lair She was above 90 years old

(note "Dyke" is a farm just south of Darvel on the map)

From: "George M. McCaig" casagem@sympatico.ca
Subject: Ayrshire Deaths
Date: May 2001

Margaret Donald, 71, October 18, 1860 at Loudoun,
Widow of an Agricultural Labourer,
[parents] Mathew Morton, Landed Proprietor (dec) and May Richmond (dec),
[informant] John Donald, Son
(note "Margaret" is not a family name)

Thomas Morton, 81, January 11, 1866 at Galston,
Married to Margaret Wilson,
[parents] Matthew Morton, Farmer (dec) and Mary Richmond (dec)
[informant] Mathew Morton Son
(note "Thomas" was not used as a family name although there was a Thomas on John's side of the family)

Matthew Morton, 76, May 16, 1868 at Galston,
Road Surfaceman, Married to Janet Morton,
[parents] Matthew Morton, Farmer (dec) and Mary Richmond (dec)
[informant] Thomas Morton, Cousin.
(note "Mathew" is a family name)

Mary Richmond was born aboout 1755 (or earlier)

Thomas b about 1785 (mother then aged about 30+)
Margaret b about 1789 (mother then aged about 34+)
Mathew b about 1792 (mother then aged about 37+)

All had same parents. "Our" Mary was born 1779 - her father was Mathew her mother's name not stated. (If her mother was Mary Richmond she would have been about 24+ when Mary jnr was born). Thomas, Margaret and Mathew look like the last of a large family. It is unusual for a late son to be named after his father but perhaps he was just the third son and there was a whole "tribe" of girls in between :) Therefore Thomas would have been a sure bet for the next son if Mary (Morton) Caldwell survived. I might guess that perhaps she died in childbirth bearing a "Thomas". It was strange that John did not name one of his children by his second wife "Thomas" as he had a brother Thomas as well. Perhaps this is the reason why Thomas was not used in our family for another three generations. He did name another son Francis after one of his other brothers. All this is conjecture and I realise this but by recording it I can demonstrate a methodology of clues that might help others.

I think that there is a reasonable case for Mary to be a daughter of Mathew and Mary Richmond eve though there is no proof at this stage - I think I should keep looking.

In an amazing way how history reinvents itself I should note that my Uncle Mathew Caldwell married another Mary Richmond.

An alternative: Mathew Morton married Mary Cameron Loudoun Parish 23 March 1770 but I can find no children.

Map: Part of Ordinance Survey Landranger Series 1:50 000 Lanark & Upper Nithsdale Sheet 71 (used for academic illustrative purposes only - copyright is acknowledged)

Note: the site of an Roman Fort near Loudoun Hill also the site of an early successful "ambush" battle of Robert the Bruce nearby. The site of Drumclog is in the top right hand corner. "Henryton" is another Morton farm (also "Ladybrow")

"Francis FINDLAY b. 17 Oct 1781 Galston, Ayr, Scotland (father William FINDLAY)
m. Agnes MORTON chr 29 March 1780 Galston, Ayr, Scotland (parents Thomas MORTON of LADYBROW and Helen MILLER)"

Ladybrow is next to Gowersbraehead and the child Agnes Morton is christened in Galston and about the same vintage as our Mary Morton. Is it possible that the respective parents: Thomas Morton of Ladybrow and Mathew Morton of Gowersbraehead were brothers?