THE HAMMERMEN OF IRVINE

The Parish Church of Irvine has a stained glass window depicting the Shields for the Incorporated Trades of Hammermen, Weavers, Cordiners, Wrights, Tailors, Skinners, Coopers and the Carters Society.  Known as the Burgh Window and presented in 1975, it represents an organization with ties to the Royal Burgh since 1646.

In its early days Irvine’s merchant class was far smaller than those engaged in trades; however, much to the annoyance of the tradesmen, merchants wielded the power in burgh affairs.  To quell the rising discontent among the “trades”, the merchant-controlled burgh council granted a Seal of Cause on 3 July 1646 to the SMITH Craft or Hammermen which included blacksmiths, goldsmiths, clock-makers, saddlers, cutlers, armourers and pewterers; the WOBSTERS or weavers; TAILORS; CORDINERS, shoemakers and leatherworkers; the SKINNERS who dealt in skins, pelts and hides and the glovers and skin-breeches makers; the WRIGHTS who were the joiners, carpenters and squaremen; and the COOPERS or barrel, cask and tub makers.

The tradesmen were granted the right by the burgh to organize and govern themselves, to control those who produced goods as well as setting standards for the goods produced.  They had the authority to collect dues (called fines) and oversee apprenticeships within their crafts.

Membership in the Incorporated Trades required the submission of an “essay piece” to demonstrate skill and determine if the applicant’s work met the standards of the Trade.  Dues were paid to support the members of the group who had fallen on hard times or give aid to the widows and children of deceased members.  Because there were no banks at the time, each Craft maintained its own “box” with the keys held by members as Key-masters.  A Box-Master served as treasurer and each craft had the right to elect their own leader or Deacon.

The Incorporated Trades of Irvine exist to this day, although their activities are ‘partly convivial, partly benevolent’.  The membership is divided as follows:  Wrights and Squaremen; Skinners; Cordiners and Leatherworkers; Tailors; Weavers; Hammermen; and Coopers.  For more on each of these and information on current activities go to http://www.irvinetrades.ndirect.co.uk/trades.htm

Arnold F. McJannet’s Royal Burgh of Irvine (1933) contains a chapter on the Incorporated Trades with excerpts from the Minutes of the Hammermen meetings.  An “Arnold F. McJannet” was admitted to the Hammermen Craft in 1903, which may explain his access to the minutes.

The monopoly granted to the Trades by the Seal of Cause is apparent in one of the early minute entries, reproduced here in its original form with capitalization added.  (Hint: it’s more easily understood if read aloud.) From page 348 of Royal Burgh of Irvine:

“At James GALTIS hous being deacin wpon the fyft day of Februar 1648 it is sett down in ane act with consent of the deacin James GALT deacin and the quarter masters and utheris of the tred that no unfreeman come and enter and tak up ane booth to work into unless that they come into the craftis will of their paying of their fyn and the leist fyn that sall be payit sall be ten markis and that in present payment.”

From page 356:

“Irvine, August 5^th, 1725.  The which day the Hammermen Trade being met in the house of William CUMING, they have ordered Oughter FFAIRRIE and Robert MILLER to make and give in their say pieces gainst this day fourth days.  Oughter’s say piece is to be a copper skelet, (a small kettle or boiler), and Robert’s is to be a white iron mill, (snuff box), and Wm. RANKIN, and John MCDOWGEL is to wait upon them at making of their say pieces.”

This excerpt illustrates the Hammermen’s control over those who would be allowed to practise their craft within the burgh.  Oughter (Arthur) and Robert were given specific assignments for essay pieces, four days in which to complete them and were to be observed doing their work by William and John.

Also from page 356:

“Irvine, Janry, 7^th, 1726.  The which day the Hammermen Trade being unanimously met in the house of Hendry RANKIN they have booked John ROBINSON prentice to Samuel PATERSON, smith, and William JAMISON prentice to David FFRAZOR, smith, and Archibald CRAWFURD prentice to Thomas BIGGER, cutler, and they hereby oblige themselves to behave themselves orderly to the Trade and to their masters and to pay their dues of Ten groats as others hath done before them.”

A further note indicates that John, William and Archibald paid their ten groats that very day. Presumably they behaved themselves and brought no shame to the Trade or their masters.

In 1909, a booklet was printed in Irvine by Charles MURCHLAND, Herald Office.  The cover bears a seal, with crown over hammer, and the words “of all Mecanicks of Renoun The Smith Above The Hamer Wears His Crown 1646”.  The booklet contains the text of the Seal of Cause granted in 1646, the Charter of Confirmation of 1 October 1756 and the  “Bye Laws of the Incorporation of Hammermen”.  The last pages list the “Membership of the Craft of Hammermen as at 4 March 1909”.  ( A “Charles MURCHLAND” appears on the list admitted in 1890 and a “C. MURCHLAND, Jr.” in 1906.)

For those in search of ancestors, all of the names from the booklet are listed here in chronological order with surnames in all caps.  Archaic spelling and punctuation have been retained.

From the Seal of Cause granted 3^rd July 1646

“James BLAIR, Proveist, Johne GUTHRIE and Johne REID Bailleis of the burghe of Irwine…”

At the end of the text is the following difficult to decipher entry and list:

 “In witness qrof wrn be George GARVEN seruitor to Robert BROUN our comoun clerk  We haif sbt thir pntis wt our hands our comoun seall is heirto appendit  At the said burt the thrid day of July Jaj vjc (a corruption of IMVIC) fourtie sex zeiris Before thir witness the said George GARVEN Willia THOMSONE seruitors to Jon WYLLIE armourer and Thomas ZOUNG brut offir of Irwing”

Hew LINE deane of gild                         
James BLAIR  proveist
John REID thesowrer                            
John REID  Baillie
R BROWN clerk
George GARVEN  witnes
Williame THOMSUNE  witness
Robert CUNYNGHAME  conselor
William WISHEART  counseller
Johne WRICHT counsellor
Williame GALT  couseler
John MUR  counseller           
Jo DEANE  counseller

From the Charter of Confirmation dated 1^st October 1756

 
“BE IT KNOWN to all Men by these presents We James CAMPBELL Provost John GRAY and William WATSON Baillies and Mr. John CUMING Dean of Guild of the Burgh of Irvine and other members of the Town Councill of Irvine…”

Following the body of the text:  “…In Witness whereof we have subscribed these presents / written upon stampt parchment by John BOYD Apprentice to James GEMMILL our Town Clerk / and we have ordered the Common Seal of the said Burgh to be hereunto affixt at Irvine the first Day of October Seventeen hundred and Fifty Six years before these witnesses the saids James GEMMILL and John BOYD being the Thirtyieth Year of the Reign of our Sov: Lo: George the Second by The Grace of God King of Great Brittain France & Ireland Defender of the Faith &c”

Fr CUNNINGHAME  Do        
James CAMPBELL
John MCFIE  Do
John GRAY
John SMITH  conslor                      
Willm WATSON
Ro KEIR  Do                                     
John CUMING
John GEMMILL Do                                   
James ALISON  Trsr
Robert JACK Do                              
Arthur GRAHAM  Councilr
Hugh GALT  Do                              
Will CUNINGHAM  Do
James WEYLLIE  Do                       
Adam DICKIE  Do
Alex EDWARDS Do
Robt CRAIG  Do
Jas GEMMILL  Witness               
John DEAN  Do
John BOYD  Witness                     
James WYLLIE

From the Incorporation of Hammermen of Irvine, 4^th March 1909

MASTER COURT 1909  (Hammermen Officers)

Deacon
Robert YULE

Late Deacon
Thomas HALL

Collector
A.R. WILSON, Burgh Chambers, Irvine

Late Collector
E. BANNATYNE

Clerk
William HALL, 154 High Street, Irvine

Court Member
Harry LUMSDEN

Deacon’s Master
James MURCHIE

Auditors
J. Graham PATERSON, H.R. BOWER

List of Members of the Craft as at 4^th March 1909 

(Date of Admission, Name and Residence appear as follows)