McManus 168

Hector Turnbull was the son of Hector Turnbull and Margaret Jacobina Walker, having been born at Mains & Strathmartine in 1814,^[1] although apparently not baptised until 1821.^[2] His father would set up the firm of Turnbull & Co., bleachers and calenderers, Cowgate and Claverhouse^[16] about the time of the young Hector’s birth.^[17] It has been recorded that there had been a Bleachfield at Claverhouse from the end of the 18th century, having been operated at the time by Thomas Collier & Co.^[17] By 1814, the firm of Turnbull & Co. was founded by Hector Turnbull, in partnership with William Baxter.^[17] Henry Samuel Boase’s arrival in Dundee in 1838 saw him enter into partnership, as managing partner, within the bleaching company of Messrs Tunbull & Co, at Claverhouse.^[18] It was reputed to have been the largest Dundee bleachfield of the early 19th century and was fed by a system of lades, ponds and dams.^[19]

Hector Turnbull’s son, John, then the managing proprietor of the works, died in 1847. Hector Turnbull junior, the subscriber to the Albert Institute, retired in the early 1860s.^[10] In 1865, Turnbull & Co., described as ‘bleachers of Claverhouse, yarn millers at Trottick and calenderers in Dundee,’ was then owned by the co-partnery of Sir David Baxter and Henry Samuel Boase.^[20] By December of 1865, the name of the firm changed to ‘Boase & Co,’ with Sir David Baxter owning half the company – the other half was held by Henry Samuel Boase and his 2nd son, Alfred.^[20]

Hector Turnbull junior married in 1860^[3] had Ardle Cottage built^[10] and named, presumably, in honour of his wife’s Perthshire roots. She was the second daughter of Patrick Small Esq. of Dirnanean.^[21] Hector seems to have spent the next forty years in retirement in Broughty Ferry.^[8] The couple provided a home for two nieces, Emily and Mary Brown, who had been born in New South Wales, Australia.^[22][23]

His wife pre-deceased him in 1890, aged 60.^[24] Their nieces remained with Hector through his old age.^[25] He died at Broughty Ferry on 26 July 1901, aged 87,^[9] and left an estate valued at £10,523 11s. 3d.^[26] He was described as being of “a retiring disposition” and took no part in public affairs.^[10] He was a Liberal in politics, being an admirer of Mr. Gladstone.^[10] He was also described as “a staunch churchman” who was a member of Broughty Ferry Parish Church.^[10]