McManus 168

Subscriber 4 – George Armitstead Esq., merchant, Panmure Street – fellow MP of Frank Henderson

The company was founded by Henry Henderson, leather merchant, in October 1827 who was married to Anne Lindsay.^[3] They had at least five children, namely James (born about 1831), Christian (born about 1832), Henry junior (born about 1834), Francis (born about 1837) and Ann (born about 1842).

By the time of the 1851 census they were living in 29 Baltic Street, Dundee.^[4]

According to a recollection of his son, Frank, at the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the firm, Henry senior started the business with his small savings and £30 lent to him by his mother.^[5]

Following Henry Henderson’s death in 1860,^[6] the company was continued by his sons James Henderson, Henry Henderson junior and Francis (Frank) Henderson;^[5] daughter Anne held one quarter share in the company following a marriage contract to George Halley on 7 June 1863.^[7]

The company consisted of Ladybank Leather Works,^[8] Tanwork at Laigh Dudhope Park and at Meadowside.^[5]

Some of their goods and prices can be found in a pricelist (see image attached) which is part of the Lamb Collection in Dundee Central Library, Local History Section.^[9]

Of Henry senior’s five children, the eldest, James Henderson, seems to have been the one most involved. He was a senior partner in the company and in the 1881 census he was described as a tanner, currier and boot merchant, employing 350 males and 63 females.^[2] James Henderson and his wife Anne Stephen had at least 7 children (Ann, James Lindsay, Henrietta, Robert Stephen, George, Isabella and Frederick W).^[2][10] By 1901 James was still alive, living with his wife, three adult children and two servants at The Gows, Invergowrie.

The second son Henry junior was in 1861 living with his brother Francis and sister Anne and two servants at Dudhope Place, Dundee. He died on 20 November 1871, aged 37 years^[11] at the family home The Gows, Invergowrie.

Frank Henderson, the third son, was admitted burgess in right of his father. In 1868 he entered the Town Council and served as a councillor for eleven years.^[12]  Frank was a Scottish Liberal^[13] politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1880 to 1885, at the same time as George Armitstead, a fellow subscriber.^[14] Frank did not stand for re-election and died on 21 July 1889, only 53 years of age.^[15]

There are a number of newspaper articles describing the company entertaining their employees at various occasions, but there is one article in the Dundee Courier on 6 April 1901 which mentions that 60 operatives went on strike which was though quickly settled.