Searching John Logan, Master Tallow Chandler of Dumfries, 1840s and 1850s

(this page will be update as new information arises)
John Logan
b. between 1811 to 1813, reportedly Leith, Midlothian, Scotland
work: Dumfries from at least 1841 to 1856
d. 14 May 1857, Birkenhead, Cheshire, England (Birkenhead is located across the Mersey from Liverpool).

Origin and Birth: is still a mystery.

He died in Birkenhead and due to limitations with English records, his death certificate does not provide names of parents. The parish record of marriage in Dumfries doesn't list his parents. Without names, it is difficult to identify our John Logan's origins.

Most of the search databases result with a John Logan born in Midlothian whose future life can be tracked - therefore not our John Logan.

Hints by Scottish naming tradition: first son John Smith Logan (clarifying this is after Helen's father), second son James Logan (is this therefore John's father's name?). No daughters recorded and future sons appear to be named after uncles on Helen's side (Francis Smith, Wm Ronald, Rbt Anderson).

Areas for research:

1. Currently pursuing information from apprenticeship records -- he must have apprenticed somewhere and with a master.  This may reveal something.
2. could have been a mason
3. Other records in Dumfries.

Career in Dumfries:
The first concrete reference to John is the 1841 census:

1841 census: a Master Tallow Chandler, unmarried, not born in Dumfriesshire.
1851 census: Master Tallow Chandler with own shop, married, born in Leith.

Valuation roll 1855 shows more than one address for John Logan in Dumfries. Shop in High Street: now its a Thornton 's:

March 23 1855: John Logan voted in favour of Adoption of the proposed General Police Act as reported March 28 1855 in the Dumfries and Galloway Standard article "State of the Poll".

The general politics of the Police Act is seen in this excerpt from book on Dumbartonshire (a similar situation): " (It) demanded that those having the conduct of municipal
  affairs should be possessed of enlarged police powers for protective,
  no less than sanitary purposes. In 1853 the progressive party made
  a strenuous effort to get the provisions of the General Police Act
  of 1850 adopted in the burgh ; but a strong opposition was formed
  of parties opposed to any increase of taxation, and at the public
  meeting held for the purpose of deciding the question, the measure
  was rejected. During the two years which required to elapse before
  the attempt could be renewed, the necessity of adopting some such
  Act became more evident than ever ; and parties who had formerly
  opposed it turned out warm advocates in its support. In regard to
  the water clauses particularly, a very general feeling was manifested
  in favour of their adoption in the burgh. The statutory period
  having elapsed, a second meeting of those concerned was again
  held on the 8th of May 1855, to consider the propriety of adopting
  or rejecting the measure. The opposition seemed to have dwindled
  into insignificance — not a single objection was raised, and the Act
  was adopted in its entirety without a dissentient voice."



Building in Dumfries at the time:

Buccleuch Street has undergone a wonderful mutation of late; the United Presbyterian Church, and more recently the new County Buildings, or Court-house, having done much to alter and improve its appearance. The Court-house was founded in the autumn of 1863, and opened at the spring assizes on the 17th of April, 1866. It is, we think, the noblest architectural achievement in the whole town; but its effect would have been much enhanced if, instead of occupying its present low site, it had stood on a piece of rising ground. Constructed in the beautiful Scottish Baronial style, from a design by Mr. David Rhind of Edinburgh, it has at once, with its tall, peaked towers and open Italianized parapets, the bold characteristics of a castle and the graceful features of a palace. Wherever these turrets of the structure are seen mingling in the sky-outline of this part of the Burgh, they look exceedingly striking and picturesque ; and the entire building has really a superb appearance, whether looked up to from the street or surveyed from a distant height. The line of thoroughfare-which begins at the head of Buccleuch Street, crosses along the new bridge into Maxwelltown, and thence along the Galloway road past the new Free Church, and numerous villas on the same side-is now one of the finest that is to be seen in the town or its environs.

As seen in other posts, John's in-laws were pretty stern Secessionists.


Certainly the Smiths used notices in the journals to announce life events.
John used business advertising in the same Dumfries paper over years:

     general sales of candles and soap
     later adds coffees and teas
     March 1856 public auction of shop's contents and equipment - address is auctioneer's


Career in Birkenhead:
from Spring 1856 to May 1857

Helen Smith Logan's mother, brother and sister(s) came here earlier in mid-1840s to open a bakery at corner of Market and Argyle.

One directory listing suggests a tallow chandlers shop is started but John dies suddenly.

Their last son, Robert Anderson Logan (my Great Grandfather), is born after John's death -- 22 June 1857 at 76 Market Street, Birkenhead. This is the location of the family bakery, by this time run by Helen's sister Jessie (Janet) Smith Stuart (also widowed).


Death:
John's death is well documented because it was sudden.  The death certificate gives "Visitation by God" as the cause of death. As spooky as it sounds, this is just the Victorian way of pronouncing "unknown natural causes". He dropped dead at the Anchor Brewery. It was reported in the Liverpool Mercury and the Dumfries and Galloway Standard wrote a very nice obituary (but no mention of a life before Dumfries).