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James TANNAHILL

Male 1771 - 1843  (71 years)


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  • Name James TANNAHILL 
    Born 17 Sep 1771  ,,,Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 20 Mar 1843 
    Notes 
    • Copy of letter from Mr. James Tannahill (1771-1843) in Paisley to his relations in America. Transcribed by Carmen Johnson.
      James, the third son, was named after his father. The fourth son was Robert, the Paisley Poet who had died in 1810.

      Dated Paisley, N. Britain
      5th, April 1824
      Respected, but unknown friends: The name Tannahill was so rare in Paisley when I was born, that from my earliest recollection I thought it an odd and singular name. There were not any in the town of that name save my father and my uncle Thomas and their families. I was yet very young when I began to take notice of its uncommonness. I noticed when boys were calling over each other's names in the course of their youthful games that Tannahill was often repeated with a sort of muttering as if it sounded strange in their mouths. It was a very common thing in those days for boys to invent nicknames for one another and in many cases that nickname was an alteration or an addition to their proper name. My name being so rare in the place I had my known share of this sort of nickname, namely a play on Tannahill. On this account in course of time I began to feel ashamed to tell it, when it happened I was asked it by a stranger. I was perhaps twenty years of age before this feeling left me.

      Previous to about sixty years, the name Tannahill was unknown in Paisley. About that time four brothers, James, Thomas, Robert, and John Tannahill for the sake of their business removed from Kilmarnock to Paisley, a distance of about 22 or 24 miles. In course of time the two elder brothers James and Thomas married and settled in Paisley.

      A few years after their marriage the property of the British American attracted a particular attention and from reports of the easiness of making a fortune there and enjoying all the comforts of life many people migrated from this part of the country to America in the hope of bettering their circumstances. Such accounts as these could not fail to draw the attention of the four brothers. At this time I was too young to know anything about it, but I understand it was resolved that the two younger brothers Robert and John being unmarried should go out first and pave the way for the two elder brothers following with their families.

      I cannot say that I have any distinct recollection of my uncles Robert and John. At most it is so faint that the recollection of them is but a dream. At the time they went away I could not have been more than three years of age. Anything at that age makes but a faint impression. Still the remembrance of them is one of my earliest impressions. This might arise from having heard of them often spoken of, not only in my father's family, but by members of their old acquaintances who associated with them before they left the country. I am now sensible that when I was very young I got rather proud of my uncles who were in America, because every one spoke of them with respect as being honorable, clever and ingenious men.

      Several instances of their ingenuity, are yet in my recollection, particularly a time-piece left with my father which my uncle Robert made with his pen-knife. Some few years before they went to America the weaving business came to be almost the sole trade in Paisley and being in an improving and progressive state, the trade of Paisley resolved to give to the world some expression of their respect for their business, and of their loyalty to their King and Country. Accordingly a weavers procession or parade was chosen to take place on the 4th of June, the birthday of George III. This was to be done with as great show and splendor as possible. Among other parts of ornament proposed was cockade to be worn on the caps of those who joined in the procession. Accordingly the whole town was invited to exert their ingenuity in planning he most appropriate and most elegant cockade. Many specimens were given in for the approbation of the public. But the one planned and executed by my uncle Robert, was the one that pleased best and was adopted, and so long at the parades were kept up in Paisley, this cockade was the universal badge, and though time changes almost every custom, and our parades have been for many years done away, still there are some of these cockades to be found in possession of some people in the town who preserve them as a remembrance of their once loved parade, and of their old acquaintance Robert Tannahill.

      Whether my father or my uncle had any serious intention of going to America I cannot say, but by the time I could join in deliberation on such a subject, it ceased to be one in my father's family. But so long as I live the impression made on my young fancy of going to America to see my uncles, will never be eradicated. This must have been caused by conversations on the subject which I frequently heard when I could not take a part in them. It is probable that the war that took place between Britain and the Colonies helped to put a stop to their going to America. Still they felt a brotherly interest for their relations in America and a correspondence by letter was kept up by the brothers which served to promote a feeling of kindness and relationship so long as they lived this feeling (though so far separated) is not yet extinguished in the breasts of their children here, and often when the brothers and cousins meet they talk of the relations they have in America of the name of Tannahill.

      Whether it was owing to the singularity of the name of Tannahill, I do not know, but I always felt nearer of kin to a relative of that name than to a relation of the same degree, who was of another name. Although there were originally only four brothers of that name in Paisley and two of them left it, now there are a great many of that name in it, all spring from my father James and my uncle Thomas.

      Although a number of their children are dead, and some removed to other places there are perhaps not less than fifty of the name in Paisley. Of six sons and one daughter which my father had, who all came to maturity, there are only my brother Matthew and I who are alive. Two of our brothers, Thomas and Robert died without being married. Our sister, and brothers Hugh and Andrew all married and left children. I have three sons and six daughters all unmarried, my brother Matthew is married and has seven children.

      The two families of James and Thomas always lived in the most friendly and agreeable terms. The cousins when they met were like brothers. But there are few of us now, and we are getting up in years. When we chance to meet we frequently talk of our cousins in America, whom we have never seen. We are informed that both of our uncles left families and we often wish that we were somewhat acquainted with them, though but by letter. Not long ago while we were met in a friendly and social way, speaking our friends in American, we thought it a pity that such near relations should be unknown to one another. Three of us agreed to write each a letter to our friends in America and send them all out at the same time, soliciting a correspondence in return with an account of what sons and daughters were alive of our uncles, Robert and John, with any particulars concerning them which they might be pleased to communicate. Should this be complied with we shall be very happy in the correspondence and shall not fail to write you in return and answer any enquiry that may be made with regard to the name of Tannahill.
      Yours Respectfully (Signed) James Tannahill

      (James has nine children: three sons and six daughters. None of James' children are married)
    Person ID I2968  Brian's Family Tree
    Last Modified 31 Jan 2010 

    Father James TANNAHILL,   b. 9 May 1733, ,,,Kilmarnock, Ayr, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 9 May 1801, ,,,Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 68 years) 
    Mother Janet POLLOCK,   b. 1738,   d. 19 Aug 1822  (Age 84 years) 
    Married 29 Aug 1763  ,,,Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Photos
    Queen St Paisley
    Queen St Paisley
    Family ID F911  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Mary BARR,   b. Abt 1770 
    Married Dec 1796 
    Children 
     1. James TANNAHILL,   b. 1800
    Last Modified 10 Nov 2009 
    Family ID F920  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Sources 
    1. [S677] The Poems and Songs of Robert Tannahill by Robert Tannahill and FSA David Semple (Hardcover - 1874).