James Ferguson ³⁸

  General Notes:

The Kilmarnock parish registers recorded on 15.9.1837 "James Ferguson in Low Glencairn Street and Margaret Gilmour in Grange Street, after being proclaimed the extract was called for." In 1851 a 35-year-old tinsmith employing 5 men and living in Portland St, Campbells, Kilmarnock, with his family. In 1871, he lived at 11 Dundonald St.
In 1854, James and his brother Thomas established T & J Ferguson. The Kilmarnock Standard of 10.7.1880 noted, James played a major role in the factory's expansion. "The new mill, like the older one, is one storey in height, lighted from the roof, and was built from designs prepared by Mr Thomas Ferguson, Jr ... All the works were erected under the personal superintendence of Mr James Ferguson, to whose shrewdness, industry and perseverance the success of the Nursery Mills must in a great measure be attributed, while his brothers, now deceased attended to the practical inside management."
"The works at present consist of two large weaving sheds, besides stores and a two storey building in which the warps are prepared. The machinery is of the best description, and the looms are, as must be the case in every first class factory, fitted up with all the latest improvements. They are driven by two pair of massive engines of upwards of 200 horse power ... The huge smoke stack 135 feet high, if not the highest is certainly the most handsome and best proportioned in Ayrshire. Some idea of the extent of these works can be formed when we mention that in the two weaving sheds there is a floorage of 10,000 square yards on which stand 1,083 looms giving employment to upwards of 600 girls, beside a competent staff of male superintendents ... Although other fabrics are sometimes made, the looms generally, and at present, are entirely employed in the production of grey cotton for different purposes and of various widths, ranging from 28 inches to 45 inches. The average production of cloth per day is about 25 miles."
In 1881, James was a 65-year-old cotton manufacturer living in Dundonald St with his wife Maggie, children John, Maggie and George and a servant. Margaret died in Kilmarnock in 1882 and James Ferguson on 1.1.1888. ³⁸

James married Margaret Gilmour, daughter of John Gilmour and Jean Eaton, on 15 Sep 1837 in Kilmarnock, Ayr, Scotland. (Margaret Gilmour was born on 11 Nov 1820 in Kilmarnock, Ayr, Scotland ³⁸ and died in 1882 in Kilmarnock, Ayr, Scotland ³⁸.)