Hector Turnbull (bleachfield developer)
Encyclopedia
Hector Turnbull was a leading Perthshire
linen
bleachfield
developer and operator.
Hector was born in 1733 on his father William Turnbull's farm Blackadder Mains near the Blackadder Water
river in southern Berwickshire
. He worked at the British Linen Company
's bleachfield in Saltoun, East Lothian
before moving in 1753 to Luncarty
near Perth
to be the business partner of William Sandeman
who was leveling 12 acres (48,562.3 m²) there to be bleachfields. By 1790, the Luncarty bleachfields covered 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) and processed 500,000 yards of cloth annually.
On 7 December 1756 he married Agnes Glas, the daughter of John Glas
, the founder of the Glasites: they had four children before she died. He married Mary Walker on 28 October 1761: they had more 16 children. Five of the children married five of the 16 children of his bleachfields partner William Sandeman
. One son William Turnbull established the bleachfield at Huntingtower
. One grandchild was George Turnbull
, the Chief Engineer building in the 1850s the first railway in eastern India. Hector died in 1788. Hector had a brother Lt Colonel George Turnbull
who fought in America.
Perthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
linen
Linen
Linen is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant, Linum usitatissimum. Linen is labor-intensive to manufacture, but when it is made into garments, it is valued for its exceptional coolness and freshness in hot weather....
bleachfield
Bleachfield
A bleachfield or croft was an open area of land used for spreading cloth and fabrics on the ground to be bleached by the action of the sun and water...
developer and operator.
Hector was born in 1733 on his father William Turnbull's farm Blackadder Mains near the Blackadder Water
Blackadder Water
Blackadder Water is a river in Berwickshire in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, forming part of the River Tweed system.Rising in the Harecleugh Forest plantation just south of the Twin Law cairns, north of the village of Westruther. The headwaters of the Blackadder join with those of the...
river in southern Berwickshire
Berwickshire
Berwickshire or the County of Berwick is a registration county, a committee area of the Scottish Borders Council, and a lieutenancy area of Scotland, on the border with England. The town after which it is named—Berwick-upon-Tweed—was lost by Scotland to England in 1482...
. He worked at the British Linen Company
British Linen Bank
The British Linen Bank was a commercial bank based in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was acquired by the Bank of Scotland in 1969 and served as the Bank's merchant bank arm from 1977 until 1999.-Foundation:...
's bleachfield in Saltoun, East Lothian
East Lothian
East Lothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy Area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Midlothian. Its administrative centre is Haddington, although its largest town is Musselburgh....
before moving in 1753 to Luncarty
Luncarty
Luncarty is a village in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, approximately four miles north of Perth. It lies between the A9 to the west, and the River Tay to the east.-History:...
near Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
to be the business partner of William Sandeman
William Sandeman
William Sandeman was a leading Perthshire linen and later cotton manufacturer. For instance in 1782 alone, Perthshire produced 1.7 million yards of linen worth £81,000...
who was leveling 12 acres (48,562.3 m²) there to be bleachfields. By 1790, the Luncarty bleachfields covered 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) and processed 500,000 yards of cloth annually.
On 7 December 1756 he married Agnes Glas, the daughter of John Glas
John Glas
John Glas was a Scottish clergyman who started the Glasite church movement.He was born at Auchtermuchty, Fife, where his father was parish minister. He was educated at Kinclaven and Perth Grammar School, graduated from the University of St Andrews in 1713, and completed his education for the...
, the founder of the Glasites: they had four children before she died. He married Mary Walker on 28 October 1761: they had more 16 children. Five of the children married five of the 16 children of his bleachfields partner William Sandeman
William Sandeman
William Sandeman was a leading Perthshire linen and later cotton manufacturer. For instance in 1782 alone, Perthshire produced 1.7 million yards of linen worth £81,000...
. One son William Turnbull established the bleachfield at Huntingtower
Huntingtower and Ruthvenfield
Huntingtower and Ruthvenfield, a village of Perthshire, Scotland, on the Almond, 3 miles northwest of Perth, and within 1 mile of Almondbank station on the Caledonian railway. Pop. 459....
. One grandchild was George Turnbull
George Turnbull
George Turnbull was a Scottish philosopher, theologian, teacher, writer on education and an early but little-known figure in the Scottish Enlightenment. He taught at Marischal College, Aberdeen, worked as a tutor and became an Anglican clergyman...
, the Chief Engineer building in the 1850s the first railway in eastern India. Hector died in 1788. Hector had a brother Lt Colonel George Turnbull
George Turnbull (soldier)
George Turnbull was a loyalist Lieutenant Colonel in the American Revolutionary War.Turnbull raised and commanded the New York Volunteers in January 1776; this regiment was renumbered in May 1779 as the 3rd American Regiment...
who fought in America.