Craigends of the 20th Century a Renfrewshire estate remembered

Estate factor

Robert McLaren his wife Susan, their unmarried, middle-aged daughter, Helen, and a domestic servant, Annie Robertson. The factor's job was to manage the running of the estate on behalf of Mr and Mrs Cuninghame and as such it was a highly regarded position. The comparative affluence of the small family is witnessed by the presence of their own domestic servant.

Coachman

John Couper, his wife Isabella and their four adult children: Joanna, Agnes, John (grocer's assistant) and Arthur (draper). John was the longest serving member of staff at Craigends, appearing as coachman in census records dating back as far as 1871. Again all his children were born locally, quite possibly within Craigends estate itself.

Gamekeeper

Mathew Gilmour, elderly, lived in this large house with the domestic servant Elizabeth Blue. Mathew had lived in this house for over twenty years previous with his wife Agnes, now deceased.

Grooms

Andrew Couper and his wife Margaret. It is clear that having found a wife he had moved in to his own space. Andrew served as a groom.

John Morrison and Walter Weir. Both were young men and were from Glasgow and Ireland respectively.

Head gardener

Donald McBean lived here with four of his children (James, Mary, Isabella and Donald), having been widowed at a young age. The McBean family were long term residents on the estate: in 1881 Donald lived in the cottage with his wife Isabella and their five young children. The large and pleasant cottage they lived in (near the site of Crawford Road) was testament to his esteemed position as Head Gardener. His children (once again, all born locally) can be seen to be comapritively upwardly mobile by their professions: textile salesman and apprentice architect.

Under gardeners

John Murray, John Ferrier, William Gibson and Agnus McLeod. All were gardeners from the east coast of Scotland who served as assistants to Donald McBean.

Butler

John Campbell

Footman

John Smith

Mansion house servants

Janet Spence (housekeeper), Hannah Holmes (laundrymaid), Catherine Robertson (laundrymaid), Margaret Glover (housemaid), Euphemie Walker (housemaid), Margaret Meikle (kitchenmaid), Georgina Winton (scully room), Margaret Findlay (housemaid) and Janet Coupar (chef's room)

Estate labourers / handymen

John McCorkindale (ploughman) his wife, Margaret, and their four children: Mary, John, Margaret and Rose Ann. It appears that John, an Irishman, having married a local lived for some time in neighbouring Crosslee before taking the position at Craigends. Their two youngest children were born in Kilbarchan parish.

Joseph Fraser and his wife Catherine Fraser. They were long term residents of the house, appearing in the 1881 and 1891 census records. In previous years they had raised four children. By 1901 their children had left and Joseph and Catherine were an elderly couple, approaching old age.

Mr Mackay At the time of the census the husband and father of the family was not resident though his profession is indicated as joiner. Agnes Mackay lived there with her five children: John (clerk), Gilbert (apprentice joiner), James (apprentice joiner), Charles and Kate. The children, all born locally, ranged from age 10 to 28.