one hundred years.
Following Thomas’s death, his eldest son John P. Weatherly took over the business. Born in 1851 in Berwick, John’s middle initial was for Patterson – his mother’s maiden name.
John married Margaret Thomson Winter and the birth of four children followed in Earlston - sadly eldest son, also named John, born in 1894 died at the age of only nine months; Ellen Sarah Patterson Weatherly was born in 1889, Margaret Thomson Weatherly in 1891, and Edward William Sprott Weatherly in 1893.
A Man of Many Parts:
John was soon involved in the family business, described
in census returns as Bookseller’s Assistant, and Postmaster/Stationer
Advert in Berwickshire News: 31t December 1889
But John. along with his postmaster role, also
gained renown as a local photographer and proved to be an owner of four properties
in the village.
As Photographer
The official opening of the rebuilt church in Earlston in 1892 featured in a lengthy article in “The Berwickshire News” of 12th July and ended with the paragraph:
“Through the great kindness of Mr J. P. Weatherly, photographer, Earlston, we are enabled to give a portrait above of the church, from a photograph specially taken by Mr Weatherly for the purpose.”
John also produced a series of local postcards entitled the “Weatherly Leadervale Series” - with three examples shown below.
The
postcards are all labelled on the reverse as “Weatherly’s Leadervale Series”
This charming photograph was gifted to Auld Earlston by a reader who had bought it off Ebay. The only information was the fact it was produced by John P. Weatherly of Earlston – no name of the little girl, no date, but thought to be printed around 1900.
The photograph is in the format of a “carte de visite” - a small photograph mounted on thick card, which originated in France but some became popular elsewhere, as people exchanged them to foster friendship and family bonds.
Following his death in 1907, “The Berwickshire News” paid tribute to John P. Weatherly in this role:
“For some years he gave a good deal of his spare time to photography in which he acquired considerable skill – his views of Earlston and district being well known and appreciated by the public”.
As a Property Owner
John appears to have developed a portfolio of property. The 1905 Valuation Roll for Earlston shows John owning:
As proprietor & occupier: A house and shop on the High Street, and a washhouse.
As proprietor & landlord: A smithy with the tenant Robert Waldie, blacksmith, and a house & stable, with the tenant Thomas Wilson, labourer.
**********
John P. Weatherly continued to hold the position of Post Master until his death in 1907, with obituaries appearing in a number of newspapers.
Southern Reporter: 14th November 1907
John was buried in Earlston Churchyard, with “Earlston Monumental Inscriptions”, published by the Border Family History Society, recording the details of his gravestone:
“In loving memory of John Patterson Weatherly, beloved husband of Margaret T. Weatherly who died 11.11.1907 aged 46 years; also the above Margaret Thomas Weatherly 23.10.1914, aged 53; also their son John Patterson who died 24.9.1895 aged 9 months. also their daughter Ellen Sarah Patterson Weatherly 21.1.1970 and Margaret Thomson Weatherly who died 10.12.1970.”
Postscript:
Following John P. Weatherly’s death in 1907, his wife Margaret took on the role of Postmistress, until her death in 1914, with an obituary appearing in “The Berwickshire News” of 27th October 1914.
“The death of Mrs Weatherly, Post Mistress, which took place on Friday morning, caused surprise and regret in the town and district, where she was well known and much respected. Mrs Weatherly succeeded her husband, Mr John P. Weatherly, who died in 1907, in the management the Post Office, the duties of which she performed the great satisfaction of the community, who appreciated her business competence, her obliging disposition and courtesy. Mrs. Weatherly for very many years has been Agent for “The Berwickshire News,” a position held for a long time by her late husband; and both Mr and Mrs Weatherly were highly esteemed and valued representatives of the County Newspaper Earlston. Mrs Weatherly’s illness was not generally regarded as of a serious nature, and her death naturally came as a shock to the general public. Much sympathy is felt under their severe bereavement for her family consisting a son and two daughters, all grown up.”
Sources of Information:
- · Ancestry.co.uk – records of births, marriages & deaths, and census returns
- · ScotlandsPeople - valuation rolls
- · British Newspaper Archive
- · FindMyPast – Newspapers
- · Earlston Monumental Inscriptions, published by the Borders Family History Society
Just to note that John Patterson Weatherly [1894-95] is the youngest son, not the eldest. Otherwise a wonderful article.
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