While John apprenticed with the master blacksmith and Agnes worked as a domestic, Glasgow reeled under unprecedented social and demographic changes. The negative effects of the industrial and agricultural revolutions converged. Crofters were being forced out of the Highlands. Many occupations were becoming obsolete. Many people seeking work and new occupations flocked to Glasgow. On top of that, the economy was fickle and potato blight ravaged farmers' crops, causing the European Potato Failure in the mid-1840s.
The potato famine was worse in Ireland than in Scotland. From 1845-51 about one million Irish died, and another million left the country--of whom a huge portion went to Scotland. In the first four months of 1848, over 42,000 Irish immigrants poured into Glasgow. Even a modern city would buckle under such swelling, never mind in 1848. Glasgow had no sewers in place, so waste disposal was a major issue. Disease rampaged through the overcrowded population, especially in poor areas.
From 1842-49, John's apprenticeship stipulated he "remain single." Did the definition of single exclude courtship? We do not know. We do know, however, that during this time, he and Agnes fell in love. We have no record or family lore about their courtship, so here is a fictional account of what it might have been like. I have overlaid some social history with family history. In researching this, In a Scottish city, a wynd takes you through or between buildings, whereas a close is the dead-end of a path or street.
Agnes had a few hours off this Sunday, so she decided to take another of her usual walks around Glasgow. As she was putting on her coat, John fell in step beside her.
"Let me help you with your coat. It's cold out!"
"It's not so bad," Agnes said. "I'm used to it."
"Well, I'm not. We grew up by the ocean, and it rarely got this cold. Mind if I come with you?"
She smiled. "That'd be nice. I am walking over to see the Duke of Wellington statue."
"Aye, at The Royal Exchange Building. I know just where you mean."
They soon found themselves at The Royal Exchange Building with its imposing pillars. They approached the statue.
"Look!" Agnes said. "He is so deserving of this honour."
In a feigned English accent, John said, "You know His Grace?"
"No, you big tease. But my father speaks highly of him!"
"Ah, of course--your father was a Scots Grey!"
"Yes. His pals said the Duke was a dashing general to fight for."
"His pals? Your father didn't fight at Waterloo?"
"No, he was discharged before then. But, yes, dad was a Dragoon with the Greys."
"Wow. I'd love to meet him."
Agnes said, "I wish I could see him...and all of my family again."
"How many brothers and sisters do you have?"
"Four. But they've been scattered about ever since Mum died. It's just Father and me at home. Well, now it's just him I guess."
They walked in silence, turning down High Street past the tenement houses. As they passed one wynd, they heard a woman's voice from three floors up yell, "Gardy-loo!"
A man on the street broke into a run as he called up, "Hold yer hand!"
She didn't hold back for long, for he had scarcely scampered out of the way when a deluge splashed onto the cobblestones below. Seconds later, a large woman, chamber pot in hand, peered out of the window. "Hope I got none on ya!"
Since moving to the city, this type of exchange was not unfamiliar to John and Agnes.
Changing the subject, John said, "I've got great news. I've been asked to shoe the Queen's horses."
Agnes smiled at her opportunity for payback. With her own mock English accent, she said, "You speak as if you know her Majesty."
"Touché. I shouldn't have been so cheeky about the Duke. But on a serious note, this will be good practice for me."
Agnes knew John well enough that he was not being serious in spite of his claims. What was the joke about "good practice"?
"I don't get it. You've shod many horses. Now you'll be shoeing the queen's horses and you call it 'practice'?"
"I may as well learn how to shoe a monarch's horses, for I intend to marry a Queen."
"John Darroch, you do have big dreams!"
"And why not? Fain' heart ne'er won fair lady."
Agnes didn't respond. "Is this really happening?" she thought.
John said nothing more, either. "I can't believe I just said that!" he said to himself.
Again, I do not know how or if John and Agnes formally courted during his apprenticeship. Even if it was acceptable for an apprentice, some domestics were not allowed to date or have "followers." Last week, I called a professor of Scottish history. [3] He stated the rules varied and some employers were more lenient than others. For those who denied dating, young people usually found a way to get to know each other. As far as the other elements of the above vignette, here are some interesting background facts.
Queen Victoria was enamoured with Scotland. She and Prince Albert first visited in 1842, staying as guests at various castles of the Scottish nobility. From then on, she visited often, learned some Gaelic, and even dressed her children in tartan. Her husband purchased Balmoral Castle as a gift to her. The Royal Family has used it as a summer resort for over 170 years. Although Victoria was the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, she also joined the Church of Scotland. Due to her obvious love for Scotland, the Scots also loved her.
We know of John's assignment to shoe Queen Victoria's horses thanks to Frank Darroch's book. He wrote about John's apprenticeship and said “His proudest memory of that time was when he was chosen to shoe the horses of Queen Victoria on her visit there." [4] A company typically requires a Royal Charter to work for the monarchy, even for relatively mundane work. Someday I would like to find which Glaswegian blacksmiths had such a charter. That might give a clue as to where John did his apprenticeship.
So, from the Queen's numerous visits, which of them aligns with John's opportunity to shoe her horses? Here are some options:
In October 1844, Queen Victoria opened The Royal Exchange Building in Glasgow (pictured above). The proximity works, but the timing seems unlikely. Would a master blacksmith give such a prestigious assignment to an apprentice only two years into a seven-year program?
In August 1847, Queen Victoria arrived at Greenock aboard HMY Victoria and Albert (HMY stands for Her Majesty's Yacht). The proximity works, for Greenock is just a few miles down the Clyde from Glasgow. The timing is reasonable, for by now, John would have had five years of experience. On the other hand, there is no mention of Her Majesty disembarking to tour by carriage, hence no need for shoeing horses.
In September 1848, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert first visited Balmoral Castle. The timing works well, for John is finishing his last year as an apprentice. The location, however, is unlikely, for Balmoral is 180 km north of Glasgow.
Since the dates and geography are difficult to match, perhaps John shoed the Queen's horses at a time other than during an official royal visit. The Royal Family had a summer residence in Scotland and staff worked throughout the year. Is it possible that during a trip to Glasgow, John shoed horses from the Queen's stable while they were in the city? I expect this is another mystery that will remain unresolved for now.
The word Gardyloo has an interesting backstory, originating in France. A French monarch was walking incognito in the street when he was doused by a chamber pot, emptied from above. He thereafter legislated citizens to first call out “Gardez l’eau!” (watch out for the water) when tossing waste from above. In 1791, the Scots decreed their own "Nastiness Act," requiring the same wording, which soon degenerated to Gardyloo. If a passerby heard the warning, they could shout “hold your hand” buying time to scamper out of harm's way.
Next post we will learn more about John and Agnes's engagement and the reading of their wedding banns.
References:
[1] Statue of the Duke of Wellington on his horse, unknown photographer, 1937. Retrieved from WikiMedia Commons, unaltered, December 26, 2022.
[2] Photogravure by J C Annan circa 1900, made from negatives from the 1860s. Plate 6: Close, No. 65 High Street. (Image: Thomas Annan/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
[3] Personal phone call on January 18, 2023, with Dr. Gordon DesBrisay, who received his Ph.D. in Modern History from the University of St. Andrew’s in Scotland.
[4] Frank Darroch, A Darroch Family in Scotland and in Canada (Harriston, Ontario, 1974), 62.