John Cuninghame

Diary (1814 - 1815)

These diaries published in 1919 paint the picture of a simple, relaxed and pleasurable lifestyle. As James Durnham says in the preface, "at Craigends they lived lives of plants warmed by the sun and bedewed by the rain."

Family

John Cuninghame had a large family. At the start of his 1814 diary he was the proud and grateful father of nine children: Lillias (Lilly), 13; William (Willy), 12; Ann (Nancy), 12; Margaret, 10; Alexander (Sandy), 9; John (Johnny), 8; Francis (Fanny), 5; Janet and Wilhelmina, 1. In the course of the diary he is begotten a tenth child, Boyd Alexander. His eleventh and final child, Robert Charles, was born the following year, 1816.

For most of the year the elder children stayed at a boarding school in Edinburgh. The children returned to their family at Craigends for the summer months and, in the first week of 1814, Mr and Mrs Cuninghame visited Edinburgh for ten days and happily reported: "all the children well". Time with the children seems to be something that Mr Cuninghame enjoyed, and wished to make the most of. In the summer of 1814 he rented a house in Largs for the children to spend some time by the sea (quote?).

Mr Cuninghame was much concerned for the wellbeing of all his children and when marking their birthdays in his diary he is ever thankful for their continuing health. He is also caring, and when his eldest daughter, Lilias, "got a bad fall against the corner of a chair which bruised her cheek and cut it a little" he closely observes her treatment and recovery over the following days. On another occassion he is alarmed to hear "that Johnny had got a bad fall through the ceiling of the coach-house". At the time of receiving the news he was dining at Torrs (near Quarrier's Village). He quickly rushed home, to find that, thankfully, " was not mateially hurt", for which he thanks God "who has preserved him"(18/6).

Though affectionate towards all his children special favour is clearly held for his first son, William Cuninghame. He spent a great deal of time with "Willy" while he was returned from Edinburgh: riding alone with him on a number of occasions - "Rode to Torrs with Willy"(21/5), "rode with Willy to the Kennels"(28/5). William succeed his father as the 14th Laird of Craigends in 1822, and it seems that, during the course of these diaries, Mr Cuninghame is introducing his son to some of the responsibilities of his future position: "Took Willy with me to Paisley"(11/5/15).

At one point he mentions gifting a watch to Willy: special treatment not shown to his other children. And when Willy left Craigends, in August 1815, for a school in England Mr Cuninghame records being "very much affected at the parting of our dear boy".

Mr Cuninghame also left a touching account of the birth of his fourth son, Boyd Alexander. On the 3rd of April 1814 Mrs C first mentioned her anxiety over her "approaching confinement", and over the following week Mr Cuninghame recorded her growing uneasyness. On a couple of occasions the doctor was sent for prematurely. But on the 11th of April 1814 the child was safely born: "Mrs C awaked about 3 o'clock with her labour pains and at 20 minutes past 4 she was safely delivered a fine boy."

The birth appears to have passed without complication but concern arises the following day when Mrs C, complaining of "an uneasiness in her breasts", is unable to provide the child suck. Much to their concern the nurse, Christian Wark, who is on hand for this eventuality proves "deficient in milk". The following day a replacement is sent for and in the meanwhile a lady who lived on the estate, Mrs Barr, was able to deputise. However, Mrs C became increasingly anxious, as the nurse's replacement failed to arrive the following day. All was well on the 15th, though: "The nurse arrived - a fine body. The child has got a most abundant provision and well he can take it."

Over the next couple of weeks Mr Cuninghame recorded his son's progress and his wife's recovery. On the 5th of May the child "was baptised by the name of Boyd Alexander". And later that month Mrs C appears to have made a full recovery: attending church for "the first time since her confinement". We are also told the child is "thriving to a wish"(17/4).

Mr Cuninghame continued to make note of Boyd's development throughout his first year. He started teething at 7 months (25th August), and was weaned at 10 months (3rd November).

Hunting

In 1814 and 1815 John Cuninghame was an active member of the hunt in Renfrewshire. During the hunting season (approx. January to March) "hunting with the hounds" became one of his major occupations. He also kept a pack of hounds and had a keen interest in their care and breeding.

In February 1814 he records hunting at Barochan (?/2), Kilmacolm (?/2) and Formakine (?/2). Throughout March he hunted at Formakin, Barochan and "coal field" (near Craigends). The 25th of that month signalled the "last day of hunting for the season". In 1815 his outings were restricted to January. He was "in the field" on the 2nd, 4th, 7th and 14th.

It is clear that Mr Cuninghame was reluctant to go outdoors in bad weather and this is the likely explanation for his absence of the hunt for most of the season. He records on a number of occassions seeing the hounds from the house, and you can a sense of fondness in his comments: "came in sight of the house in full chase".(9/2) "The hounds were out and came past the house in full cry."(9/3).

The society of the hunt is often unreported but on the 2nd of March he records that "J.C (John Cuninghame succ. in 1837 as Sir John Cuninghame Fairlie 7th Bart), Johnston (?), Napier (of Blackstoun and Milliken)" were in the field. In the 1815 season, he mentions "hunting with the Harriers" (?). The Harriers, appear to have been, a predecessor to a hunting club: a Gentlemen's agreement between members of the local gentry to give joint financial commitment to the costs of the hunt. The named subsribers were Mr Napier (of Blackstoun and Milliken), Col Fulton and Mr W Lownds and Mr Cuninghame himself. At a meeting on the 2nd of February 1815, all members commmited to continue for the following year.

Though referring to his "Fox Hounds", rather surprisingly Mr Cuninghame never makes mention of foxes. He mentions instead the chasing and killing of hares: "killed one hare and had a severe run with another"(11/2), "killed 2 hares" (2/3). He also reports on many days the disappointment of not getting a kill at all, but still enjoys a "fine chace (sic) with the Hounds" or "good running".

On ?/Feb 1814 Mr Cuninghame describes an incident where their party encountered other Fox Hounds "out the same way" (near Formakine). This drove one of his servants, the hound master, William Walker, in to "a violent passion" in which he was so impertinent Mr Cuninghame "resolved on his dismissal". A suitable successor for his role could not be found for some days, though, and during this time Mr Cuninghame personally oversaw the care of the dogs. He obviously took particular interest in this and provided an especially detailed account of the feeding of the dogs (1/4). Indeed it is the longest entry in his diary: several times longer than the account of the birth of his fourth son, Boyd Alexander (11/4) the following week (!!).

His interest is also reflected by the inclusion of this rather charming list of the hounds names and descriptions in his diary. It was given over by William Walker on leaving his position, 31st March 1814:

Mr Cuninghame's involvement with the managing of the hounds continues throughout the year. On (??) he ordered the return of Duster and Dexter, from Lochermill and Johnston. And on the 27th of May he notes the arrival of new hounds from England: "Whirligig - a pied bitch - ears rounded. Lady Bird ditto. Wanton - much like our own hounds. Dairymaid, a large white bitch." (27/5) He concludes that these "handsome" new hounds would "be good to cross with strong short-legged dogs such as Drummer and Clinker." (28/5)

Frustratingly there is no explicit mention of where these Kennels are. I find it unlikely that they were in the Craigends estate, as Kennels - in my experience - are very loud places (not in fitting with the peaceful retreat of his private estate). He also mentions riding there which indicates they were at a more considerable distance to the Mansion House. I consider it likely that they were housed at one of the neighbouring farms, the majority of which, he owned.