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- 10th child ,6th son.Master Butcher Barrhead. Had daughter Jean ( info from James Carswell Kirkcudbright)(www.chocs-online.co.uk)
1851 Census shows him aged 17, unmarried & a flesher living with his brother Robert in Barrhead.
1861 Census Neilston.
Main St Barrhead. Alexander Carswell Head. Married 26 Flesher born Neilston.
Elizabeth Carswell Wife 23 born Kilbarchan.
Ann Carswell Daug. 1 born Barrhead.
CountryCode GB RepCode 234 Repository National Archives of Scotland Reference Title Precognition against Alexander Carswell for the crime of culpable homicide Date 1853 Accused Alexander Carswell, Age: 19, flesher, Address: Barrhead, Neilston, Renfrewshire AccessStatus Open PlaceName(plans) /Scotland FindingAids 19th Century Solemn Database ??
Trial of Alexander Carswell
Excerpts from witness statements
Mrs Agnes Allan or Wilson, Wife of Spirit Dealer:
Andrew Easdon, weaver, residing in Barrhead now deceased was in my house accompanied by his brother James, Thomas Smith, Stewart Cochran and a man named Reoch. They came in at 7 or 8 and left shortly before 11 o'clock. They had no spirits in my house but strong ale off the butt…….. I don't think they had 2 pints each. They all appeared sober except the deceased. He was staggering and feeble -like and apparently unable to do any harm … Neither did I ever hear him quarrel with anyone in my house…….deceased went away with his brother as aforesaid, and while I was coming out of a room in my house, I saw the deceased on the street, and the accused, Alexander Carswell on horse-back beside him in the act of quickly turning the horse about. Carswell then looked at deceased and said something to him which I did not hear, on which deceased staggered back and said "Ye flesher B - r I could fight you and your horse". Carswell then rode on homeward, and deceased and his brother went away as aforesaid after having got some matches which he asked from me. After they went away a Mrs McKechnie came across to me. She said it was a pity of deceased for he was a snarly fellow whoever he was who was on horseback for she heard him say that he knew deceased and that he would be…………..
James Easdon
James Easdon, Weaver, residing in Barrhead aforesaid aged 35 years says, Andrew Easdon, Weaver, residing in Barrhead now deceased and aged 22 years past was my brother and I was in his company on the night of Monday the 13 June 1853 in the house of Mrs Wilson, a witness. Thomas Smith, Stewart Cochran and James Reoch were with us there. William McKechnie and David Easdon were also there with us. We went into Mrs Wilson's about 6 o'clock at night and left shortly before 11. We drank no whisky there. It was ale off the butt we drank. We had a good deal of it. I cannot say how much we had, but I think we might have had about 10 tankards in all. I was a little tipsy when I left, but I could walk well enough and knew what I was doing. I think that all the rest were in much the same state as myself excepting the deceased who was fully worse than rest. The deceased and Stewart Cochran went out first. I stood in the shop a little and Thomas Smith and some others including Reoch were in the kitchen of the shop at that time. David Easdon and I then left Wilson's house and went up the street together. I don't know where my brother Andrew was then. He did not go away with me from Wilson's at all and I saw no one on horseback on the road near to Wilson's.
When David Easdon and I were going up the street we met a man named McCallum and went into a public house with him, where we remained about half an hour and leaving it I saw Smith, Cochran and Reoch carrying my brother, Andrew to the…..
William Carswell
William Carswell, Flesher, residing in Barrhead aforesaid, aged 29 years says, About 11 o'clock of the night of Monday the 13 June 1853 my brother, Alexander came home on horseback and put the horse into the stable. He did not come in after putting up the horse but went out the close to the street and I heard him speaking to Garroway outside. I went to bed. I heard a quarrelling and noise on the street then I went out in my shirt and found my brother and Garroway in front of the shop and three men lying on the opposite side of the road. I knew none of them. I put on my trousers and went out again. I saw one of the three men attempting to lift another of them but did not succeed and he stepped aside from the others, on which the other got up and staggered towards the middle of the road and fell both of them in each others arms and made a noise. I then heard an expression as to how they would get up, or if nobody would help them up or something, to that effect. On which Garroway said that if they got a lick on the leg it would do better than helping them up. On which one of them looked up and swore Garroway and said that he was his man and asked him if Garroway thought he could do it. He then threw off his coat, came running forward and in place of striking Garroway he struck my brother on the face, a blow with his fist. On which my brother struck him a blow with his fist about the face which knocked him down. The man then seized my brother by the legs and attempted to pull the legs from him. I then caught my brother by the arm and pulled him back and kept him. The man then got up and came running towards us when my brother gave him a shove with his hand he fell all his length. I took my brother into the house then and I saw no more of the man. I did not know him. I seized no one but my brother back from the man. I heard a person say there was no use meddling with a drunk chap. I said that he ought to take him away if he was drunk. The above is all that I saw. I saw no kicks and had there been any such I must have seen it. All which is truth. William Carswell
Declaration of Alexander Carswell at Paisley the 16 June 1853 in presence of Robert Robertson, Glasgow, Esquire, Advocate Sheriff Substitute of the County of Renfrew, Com..? a Prisoner, who, being examined Declares as follows, My nane is Alexander Carswell. I am a flesher and reside at Barrhead. I am 19 years of age. I knew Andrew Easdon by sight. On Monday last, I was up at Broom and returned to Barrhead about eleven at night, I was trotting along the street, when Easdon came out of Wilson's public house, and struck my horse on the face with his bonnet. The horse was a young animal and started back. He ran at the horse again and tried to get me off and fight with him. I got past him at last and rode home. I put up my horse and went into the house. I was going to bed when I heard a noise in the street. I opened the door to see what it was. I saw Easdon and another man rolling about on the road as if they were drunk. A man who was passing lifted up Easdon twice, but he fell down again each time, as if unable to stand. I continued looking at them and was joined by William Garroway, Baker, and my brother, William. The two men rolled to about the middle of the street. Garroway said to them that the best way to send them home would be to give them a good beating. Easdon looked up and asked if he thought he could do it. Garroway said he thought he could, upon which Easdon jumped up and rushed at him. Garroway stepped back and Easdon ran at me, and struck me with his fist on the side of the head. I struck him about the face in return. He came against me with his head and tried to throw me over his head. I gave him another blow which knocked him down, and I went into the house leaving him there. I did not kick him. All which I declare to be truth, three words deleted.
(Signed) Alexander Carswell, R Robertson, Glasgow, David McFarlane, D McPhee and Thos. McArthur.
Copy Medical Report. Paisley 20 June 1853
He the undersigned, on the afternoon of 16th Instant, in a house occupied by George Easdon, weaver in Newton Ralston, vicinity of Barrhead, made a post mortem examination of the body of Andrew Easdon, weaver aged about 23 years.
The lips, cheeks and front of the chest and belly were lived and in parts greenish from progressing decomposition, at the back part of the left elbow…….
Concluded Sequestration Processes under 1856 Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act Concluded Sequestration Processes under 1856 Act CountryCode GB RepCode 234 Repository National Archives of Scotland Reference Title Alexander Carswell, Strathbungo, Renfrewshire, Butcher Date 1881 Description Start date: 10/06/1878 AccessStatus Open DeptCipher A10885 ??
Alexander Carswell Flesher Strathbungo mrntioned in Thomas Carswell (1798-1879) Neilstonside Will.
Dwelling: Campvale Cottage 1881 Census Census Place: Cathcart, Renfrew, Scotland Source: FHL Film 0203567 GRO Ref Volume 560 EnumDist 7 Page 41 Marr Age Sex Birthplace Alexander CARSWELL M 46 M Thornliebank, Renfrew, Scotland Alexander Carswell & Elizabeth Purdon? with children Alex ,Jean & Elizabeth. Rel: Head Occ: Butcher (Master) Elizabeth CARSWELL M 43 F Milliken Mill, Renfrew, Scotland Rel: Wife Alexander CARSWELL 14 M Barrhead, Renfrew, Scotland Rel: Son Occ: Scholar Allan CARSWELL 9 M Strathbungo, Renfrew, Scotland Rel: Son Occ: Scholar Matthew CARSWELL 7 M Strathbungo, Renfrew, Scotland Rel: Son Occ: Scholar Annie CARSWELL U 21 F Barrhead, Renfrew, Scotland Rel: Daur Occ: Shopkeeper Jane CARSWELL U 19 F Barrhead, Renfrew, Scotland Rel: Daur Occ: Shopkeeper Elizabeth CARSWELL U 17 F Barrhead, Renfrew, Scotland Rel: Daur Maggie CARSWELL U 12 F Barrhead, Renfrew, Scotland Rel: Daur Occ: Scholar Agnes CARSWELL 5 F Strathbungo, Renfrew, Scotland Rel: Daur Jessie CARSWELL 3 F Crossmyloof, Renfrew, Scotland Rel: Daur William MACALISTER M 24 M Barrhead, Renfrew, Scotland Rel: Serv Occ: Butcher (Assistant)
Alexander Carswell, spirit dealer, married to Helen Hutcheson, died September 5, 1891 at 38 Argyle Street Rothesay, usual residence, Travellers Rest Neilston. Male age 57 yrs, Allan C Farmer Decd (Father) Jean S Decd (Mother) Cause ? of Liver & Jaundice and more. John Anderson Son in law Present
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16 March 1886 at 21 Grafton Street Glasgow after banns etc Alexander Carswell Spirit Merchant Widower age 51, Main Street Neilston Allan C Farmer etc to Helen Hutcheson or Curtis, Spirit Merchant Widow age 40, 9 garden street Glasgow daughter of James Hutcheson Spirit Merchant decd and Janet Campbell previously Hutcheson nee Young (decd) witnesses Thomas Anderson and Janet Hutcheson.
And
on 6 October 1886 at Broadlie Neilston, John Anderson, Writer age 31 to Elizabeth Carswell age 23, daughter of Alex C and Eliz Purdon (Decd). etc
Dear John,
had a great day in Edinburgh, I have had 10 pages (excerpts from Witness statements mostly) photocopied and will scan them and send them on, not this evening though. In short:
Alexander rode home one night on his young horse and met with a few drunks near his home. There was some sort of altercation and one drunk was heard to say " Ye flesher B - r (Bugger?) I could fight you and your horse" After Alex put the horse in the stable he went back onto the street where there was a set to (my description). During the quarrel Alex's brother, William came out onto the street, wearing only his shirt. He went back indoors and put his trousers on, and back outside was instrumental in separating his brother from the other man, who was Andrew Easdon age 22 and a weaver. Unfortunately Andrew Easdon died less than 2 days later from his injuries to his belly. I think Andrew Easden probably threw the first punch and that was maybe why Alex was found not guilty.
The bankruptcy papers were not available, I will need to order them ahead the next time I visit. The trip was worthwhile if only for the quote made by Andrew Easdon! Poor soul, didn't know who he was meddling with. You will get the photocopies eventually Cheerio for now Johan
Monday, went to the archives.
I can't pretend to understand all that I was reading but it looked like Alex Carswell, Butcher, Strathbungo, owed money to an Archibald Hamilton, Butcher, Gallowgate Glasgow, who took action against him. He could have gone to prison over the debts. There was a mention of William L Bruce, Farmer, Glenkiln, Lamlash, Arran, who may have helped him out. That was in June 1878
Other creditors then came into the picture: There was a William Stevenson, Househill Quarry, Nitshill, Glasgow, and a John McIntyre, Fruiterer, Glasgow. In 1878 Alex offered to pay 2/6 for every pound owed.
There was then a big list of creditors, including horse trainers, spirit dealers, farmers (even his uncle Thomas from Wraes), cattle salesmen, horse dealers, and the William Bruce, above.
In May 1879 he offered to pay3/4 per pound on his debts and to pay expenses. There was then a statement "He undertook to grant in their favour an assignation of his whole right and interest under the trust deposition and settlement of his late uncle, Thomas Carswell, Farmer, Wraes in the parish of Neilston to be held and any sums they may recover there."
(So it looks like Thomas didn't leave all his estate to his young wife.)
Then there was more from 1883, Flesher, Barrhead and Wine and Spirit Merchant, Neilston. Sequestration was awarded. This time the creditor was David Riddell, Dealer in horses, Kennedy Street, Glasgow. Source Johan Lochridge fron NAS Edinburgh.
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1833 - 1891 (58 years)
