McManus 168

Subscriber   20 – J.J. Barrie – executor of Hugh Scott’s will

Subscriber   54 – Messrs D & W Crabb – William Crabb was father of Hugh and Alexander’s sister in law

Subscriber 204 – David Scott – the oldest brother of Hugh and Alexander Scott

Subscriber 221 – J.&W. Scott – partners in this firm were brothers of H.&A. Scott

Hugh Scott (1832-1880)^[8] and Alexander Whitson Scott (1834-1914)^[9] were two of the sons of David Scott, manufacturer,^[10] and Grizel^[11]/Grace^[12] Morrison. Their other siblings were David (b.1820),^[13] William (b.1826),^[14] James (b.1828),^[15] Patrick Whitson (b.1830),^[16] Jane (b.c.1838)^[17] and Robert (b.c.1840).^[18] The family lived at 8 Mid Wynd, Dundee and Hugh and Alex began their careers with their brothers, James & William Scott, manufacturers at the Mid Wynd Works.^[19] Hugh and Alexander decided to set up on their own and purchased a factory in Bernard Street, Dundee.^[20] The factory at 25 Bernard Street had previously been run by Mrs. J. Baxter.^[21] Alexander married Elizabeth Watson in 1860^[22] and Hugh married Jane Norie in 1861.^[17] In the 1861 census Alexander is described as a manufacturer living in Constitution Road, Dundee with his wife, Elizabeth, described as a weaver, and one female servant.^[23] At the same time Hugh must have been the Scots-born visitor described as a linen manufacturer staying with fellow Scot, George Fyfe, clerk to  a tea dealer, in the Mount Pleasant district of Liverpool.^[24]

By 1864 the brothers had moved to the Tayfield Works, Seafield Lane, Perth Road, Dundee.^[25] The premises comprised a factory and calender.^[26] At this time the brothers were concentrating on the manufacture of linen, but jute became a major part of the business as time went on. The directories described them variously as “manufacturers”,^[27] “linen manufacturers”^[28] and also listed them under the heading of manufacturers of “linen, canvas, sheeting, sacking etc.”^[29] The 1871 census described Hugh as a jute and linen manufacturer^[30] and Alexander as a flax and jute manufacturer employing 40 males and 128 females.^[31] The enterprise was deemed a “great success” by the 1914 obituarist of Alexander.^[32]

The brothers moved to new homes in the Perth Road with Hugh at the Binns of Blackness (variously numbered as 354 or 358 Perth Road)^[33] and Alexander at 220, 222 or 224 Perth Road (presumably all the same house).^[34] Alexander moved to Riversdale, 370 Perth Road, which would remain his home for the rest of his life.^[35] Both brothers started families. Alexander and Elizabeth had six daughters and three sons by 1881.^[36] Hugh’s daughter, Margaret Halley Scott, was born in 1864,^[37] but sadly her mother died in 1866.^[38] An aunt, Jane Halley, is living with the family in 1871.^[39] Hugh married Louisa Holden in 1874^[40] and moved across the river to set up home at Broadhaugh, West Newport.^[41] He subsequently moved to Woodmuir House, Newport.^[42] A son, Hugh Wilfred Scott, was born in 1879^[43] and the family moved to Duncraig, Newport shortly before Hugh senior’s death in 1880.^[44] He died on 1 September 1880 of an illness which had baffled the local medical profession for three months. He left a widow and two children, “the youngest quite an infant.” It was reported in the press that with the death of this head of a firm of canvas and linen manufacturers “a well-known face will be missed henceforth from the Tay Ferries steamboats and the Cowgate.”^[45] Hugh had also been the president of Newport Curling Club.^[46] He left an estate worth £12,732 8s. 7d.^[47]

Alexander continued to run the firm as H. & A. Scott from 1880. As well as being manufacturers, the firm was also described as merchants from 1878.^[48] The firm became a limited liability company about 1905.^[49]

Alexander managed to indulge in some sporting interests, being a keen golfer in his younger days and a bowler,^[50] serving on the committee of the Balgay Bowling Club.^[51]

Alexander was described as “an unobtrusive philanthropist”^[52] and he served on the executive council of the Dundee Charity Organization Society^[53] and became a director of the Dundee Royal Infirmary.^[54] He was an “enthusiastic unionist” in politics^[55] and an original member of the Church of Scotland’s St. Mark’s on Perth Road.^[56] He was also closely involved in the work of the Church of Scotland Labour Home, having “contributed in no small measure financially towards its success.”^[57] This is presumably the Labour Home for Men at 24 Milnbank Road, Dundee which appears in the directories under Church of Scotland social work.^[58]

He died 12 March 1914 aged 79.^[59] He was pre-deceased by his wife,^[60] but survived by one son, Alexander, who was also a member of the firm, and five daughters.^[61] Alexander Whitson Scott worked until a few weeks before his death and was described as “one of the oldest and best known men on the local jute market.”^[62] It was also remarked that he “bore a name which has been closely associated with the jute trade practically since its inception, and his death marks the departure of the last of six brothers, all of whom were in their day more or less prominent in the trade.” He left an estate worth £48,478 4s. 11d.^[63]