McManus 168

James Prain was the son of James Prain the founder of the firm of James Prain & Sons, spinners and manufacturers, Larchfield Works, Walton St, Dundee and Barbara Sutherland.

Barbara Prain, mother of James Prain junior died on 14 December 1854 at 31 Park Wynd, aged 48, of “disease of heart”.^[16] John did not marry and moved house with his father, first to Cherryfield Cottage, Blackness Road, Dundee^[5] and then to 5 Dudhope Terrace, Dundee. This remained his home for the rest of his life.^[17] In 1871 the Larchfield Works employed 200 women, 35 men and 30 boys. James Prain senior and his two sons, John E.,32 and James Prain, 30, were all described as jute spinners and manufacturers in the census of that year.^[18] James and his father were also described as merchants in the local directory.^[19] The household also included three daughters, Elizabeth Easton, 37; Agnes, 33 and Margaret B., 19 and two female servants.^[18] John Easton Prain married Catherine Curror soon after^[20] and moved out of his father’s house to set up home at 8 Springfield^[19] before moving to 13 Albany Terrace,^[21] a little further up the slopes of Dundee Law from Dudhope Terrace. He eventually moved his family to Blackness House, Seymour Street, Dundee.^[22]

From his early days James Prain junior was an enthusiastic golfer, chess and bridge player.^[2] He was a Congregationalist and a member of the Ward Chapel, of which he was a generous supporter and “took a great interest in its affairs.”^[2] He was deeply interested in his home city. He was said to be “intimately acquainted with all its famous haunts, and his knowledge of its history, antiquities, and traditions was extensive and intensive.”^[23]

James Prain senior died in 1890^[24] and James Prain junior ran Larchfield Works with his brother, John Easton Prain until his retirement about 1900.^[25] Thereafter the business was run by John and his son, James,^[26] with his younger son, John Curror Prain, joining the firm just before the Great War.^[27] After retiring he shared his home with his sister, Agnes, and his Irish-born niece, Bessie P. Lowson.^[28]

John Easton Prain died in 1914, aged 75,^[29] and his sons continued as the third generation in the business.^[30] Their uncle died in 1929, aged 88.^[7] James Prain left annuities of £80 to two of his faithful servants, but remarkably his housekeeper, Isabella Stewart, died the day after her employer.^[31] In 1928 it is known that the “Company of James Prain & Sons has been wound up and reinstated as James Prain & Sons Ltd.” This move would have been common at the time following the Companies Consolidation Act 1908.^[32]