McManus 168

Subscriber no.160 – William Moon – James Shaw had worked for Moon, Langlands & Co.

The original partners of this firm were James Shaw (c.1830-1909) and David William Baxter (c.1837-1911), commencing in business around the time of the subscription to the Albert Institute in 1863.^[1] They were also joined for a few years by John W. Moon and the firm became Shaw, Baxter & Moon, c.1867-1879 but reverting to Shaw, Baxter & Co after Moon’s departure.

James Shaw was a native of Forfar and had started his career at the firm of Moon, Langlands & Co.’s office in Nethergate before working for T. & J. Thomson.^[5] The partnership with David William Baxter was as spinners and linen manufacturers but, at the time of their deaths, it was their pioneering work in jute carpet manufacture at Annfield Works, Hawkhill, that was remembered.^[5][6] The firm also purchased the Temple Mill and carried on business there as well for a considerable time.^[5]

By the middle of the 1880s, the partnership was dissolved and the firm of James Shaw & Co., manufacturers and merchants, was to be found at 57 Meadowside, while the Annfield Works and Temple Mill were occupied by D. W. Baxter & Co.^[4] James Shaw was the sole partner in James Shaw & Co., manufacturers and merchants, 74 Commercial Street at the time of his death.^[5] David William Baxter moved his carpet making business to Verdant Works.^[6]

James lived at Viewbank, Blackness Hill/Blackness Road^[7] before moving to 12 Constitution Terrace^[8] and then had Adderley built in Monifieth.^[5] He moved to Cliveden, Forfar Road, Dundee in his later years, which was his home at the time of his death on 23 December 1909.^[9] James spent over fifty years as an elder in the Church of Scotland, being first connected with St. John’s Church before Monifieth and then Mains Parish Church.^[5] He was survived by his widow and a grown-up family.^[5]

David lived at Westfield Lane before moving into Waterloo Cottage, 77 Annfield Road close to the works for many years.^[10] In later life he lived in Wormit.^[6] He died while on holiday in Glenisla with his son-in-law, George H. Halley.^[6] He was 74.^[11] He had taken no interest in public life but had been a member of the Chamber of Commerce.^[6] He was a longstanding member of Lindsay Street Congregational Church and served as a deacon and treasurer.^[6] His wife pre-deceased him and he was survived by a family of nine.^[6]

James Shaw was also a partner in Messrs William Duncan & Co., Cape Town^[5] and one of David William Baxter’s sons, William Duncan Baxter, served as Mayor of Cape Town and as a member of the colony’s Legislative Assembly.^[6]