McManus 168

William Lindsay Boase, the 2nd son^[3] of George Clement Boase, a banker, and his wife Jane Smyth Lindsay, was born in 1841.^[2]

Educated at the High School, Dundee until 1856,^[3] William then spent approximately 1 year in Luxembourg.^[3] While still a teenager, he arrived in London^[13] where he held a post in the Probate Office for approximately 3 years.^[13][3]

It was at this point, just entering his 20s, that the working life of William Boase took on a markedly different direction. His father and two of his uncles were employed in the banking and bleaching industries within Dundee – doubtless with a knowledge of many contacts for young William to explore.

By May of 1861, Boase had purchased the ‘West Factory’ at Johnshaven, Kincardineshire, from Alexander Easson, a merchant/manufacturer in Dundee.^[3] In 1863, the West Factory was described as follows:

‘A large building used as a factory weaving cotton woolen and formerly linen also a course material which is spun and woven here the weaving is all done with the hand loom – the property of Mr William Boase, Dundee.’^[15]

The premises were located at the west end of the village, on the side of the road, next to the sea.^[16] By 1866, they consisted of a large spinning mill together with a detached 2 storey building, the lower flat of which was used as a storeroom for the hemp, while the upper flat served as a ‘starching loft.’^[16]

During the 1860s, William L Boase went on to purchase/tenant a number of works and, by 1865, the ‘Maxwelltown Factory,’ the ‘Jamaica Works’^[17] (proprietor) and a factory in Cotton Road^[18] (tenant) were all under his management.

In 1868, William L Boase entered the firm of ‘Boswell & Co,’ hemp spinners, Leven, Fife.^[3] The following year, his cousin, Edward Boase was assumed as a partner, the firm thereafter being styled ‘Small & Boase.’^[3] Henry Watt Small died in June of 1869 – ‘formerly of the firm of ‘Thiebault & Small’ and for some time senior partner of the firm of ‘Small & Boase,’ Dundee. He spent a considerable time in America before entering on business in Dundee. He recently resided in Leven where his firm have a considerable business establishment.’^[19]

Ten years after setting out in the spinning trade, William Lindsay Boase, in 1871, could boast of having been:

‘Manufacturer and Spinner of Hemp and Flax Yarns – Senior Partner of the firm Small & Boase and employing about 500 hands.’^[20]

The firm of ‘Small & Boase’ was also associated with ‘Rockwell Works’ in Dundee. At that time, it was mainly a single storey canvas factory.

It has been declared that:

‘On 1 Dec. 1875, he purchased from Small and Boase their factory and business at Rockwell Works, Dundee, and carries on these works, and also the factories at Johnshaven and Maxwell-town, in partnership with Mr Thomas Murdoch who was admitted a partner in 1871, under the firm of – ‘W. L.Boase and Co.’^[3]

When operated by ‘W L Boase,’ a 3 bay extension to a 3 storey factory front was added in 1875.^[21] Rockwell Works was later incorporated into the firm of ‘Boase Spinning Co,’^[21] a further development of William Lindsay Boase’s business enterprises..

Small & Boase continued until 1886 when it became the Boase Spinning Company then South Mills (Textiles) Ltd in 1968 being finally bought outright by Sidlaw Industries in 1973.^[22]

For almost 50 years, William Lindsay Boase had been deeply involved in Dundee’s spinning and manufacturing trade. He had been head of the of the firm of  ‘W L Boase & Co’ of Rockwell and Jamaica Street Works, Dundee, West Factory in Johnshaven and Managing Director of the ‘Boase Spinning Company,’ (an amalgamation of Messrs Small and Boase, Leven, and William L. Boase and Co, Dundee), the proprietors of ‘Hawkslaw Works’ in Leven.^[13]

Mr Boase’s opinion was declared to have been held in high repute and he was frequently consulted on matters affecting the jute industry.^[13]

As to his political aspirations, William Lindsay Boase ultimately failed to secure election as a member of the House of Commons although he reportedly proved himself to be an accomplished candidate and earned the respect of his political opponents.^[13]