Gingham manufacturer, renowned antiquarian and a popular Border fiddler - all the accomplishments of Thomas Gray. of Earlston, known in his day variously as "Gingham Tam", "Tam of Earlston", "Earlstoun Tommy", and "A Modern Thomas of Ercildoune".
The photograph above from the Auld Earlston collection is captioned:
"Thomas Gray, (1856-1910), Manufacturer of Gingham - a cotton fabric originally made in India Gray. He lived in Earlston and was a well-known Border fiddler"
"Thomas Gray, (1856-1910), Manufacturer of Gingham - a cotton fabric originally made in India Gray. He lived in Earlston and was a well-known Border fiddler"
Often mentioned in connection with gingham production in Earlston are the Whale sisters, Christian and Marion, whilst Thomas Gray is a much less
well-known figure.
Who was Thomas Gray?
The dates in the photograph caption posed an immediate question, as no record could be found on the standard ancestry research websites of a Thomas Gray with those dates, and the conclusion is drawn that they must be incorrect.
The first record which offered some clue was an entry in the 1881 census which listed a Thomas Gray, a gingham manufacturer born in Earlston, unmarried, and living on his own at Kilnknowe Head, Earlston, aged 85, so born c.1796.
Given Thomas's late age, his death was soon traced and newspaper articles gave an indication of his life and character.
Who was Thomas Gray?
The dates in the photograph caption posed an immediate question, as no record could be found on the standard ancestry research websites of a Thomas Gray with those dates, and the conclusion is drawn that they must be incorrect.
The first record which offered some clue was an entry in the 1881 census which listed a Thomas Gray, a gingham manufacturer born in Earlston, unmarried, and living on his own at Kilnknowe Head, Earlston, aged 85, so born c.1796.
Given Thomas's late age, his death was soon traced and newspaper articles gave an indication of his life and character.
The Berwickshire News of 8th January 1884 announced:
The death certificate was traced on the ScotlandsPeople
website and gave the information that: Thomas Gray, gingham manufacturer
died on 5th January 1884 at Salt Green, Eyemouth, following a fall;
aged 88, son of Thomas Gray weaver and Margaret Runciman; the informant was his nephew William Brown of Earlston.
An obituary in "The Kelso Chronicle: 1st February 1884 gave the fullest account of his life - in an article that first appeared in " The Haddingtonshire Courier."
"With the passing away of his life, this "ancient man" and finely curious character, another link past and present is severed; and notably figures ceases from the round to long and faithfully trodden........ The family of which he was the last survivor had some note in their day, as manufacturers, in a small way, of ginghams; and Thomas's chosen part was to traverse the country distributing these wares. His beat at one time was quite an extensive one embracing customers in the three Lothians as well as the counties on both sides of the Borders....mostly on foot, he did not disdain a lift by rail.......His well known antique figure with a pack behind and the fiddle slung in front, was a familiar object in our streets....and his appearance never failed to excite interest."
Thomas was also listed as a gingham manufacturer in "Rutherfurd's Southern Counties Register & Directory,published in 1866, and in Slater's Directory of 1882.
Following Thomas's death, local newspapers threw further light on his interests, with references to the sale of his books and antiquities which took place in February 1884.
In July the same year, his property on Kirkgate was sold.
Fourteen years later, in "The Border Magazine" of 1898, Robert Anderson of Edinburgh wrote a tribute to Thomas Gray.
The author wrote that Thomas went on
"his regular rounds with his pack and his fiddle to dispose of his ginghams, the quality of which was proverbial........Many a lady of high degree did not think it beneath her to purchase a dress piece from the old worthy and to get in return a blessing and tune on his fiddle.
With only the early education which the parish school of that day afforded, he managed by diligent application to cultivate his intellect to such an extent that he became known in his own neighbourhood and far remote for his learning and intimate knowledge of of the leaders in literature. He possessed upwards of 2000 books. .......His capacious pockets used to hold at least two or three favourite volumes, on which he might be seen poring over while resting by the way."
,,,
An Earlston street name sign reminds us of the village's past, in which
Thomas Gray "this remarkable man and grand old Borderer"
played a part.
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Note:
Much of this information was traced using standard reference material of census returns and directories, conducting a Google search and accessing searchable British Newspapers that are available online and feature Border titles:
The Heritage Hub at Hawick holds microfilm copies of old Border newspapers. However these are not indexed and you do need to have a good idea of a date to search for a specific item i.e. month and year.
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