Tattoo Shop Sign

A friend from Switzerland sent me this photo, adding that it is probably lucky the shop is not located in a predominately English-speaking location!

The Bargain Store, Mission, BC

Store entrance with pet crates featured in the window

There are very few real second-hand stores left. I mean the old-style owner-run second-hand stores that used to be in nearly every community.  Stores run by the original recyclers, long before second-hand shopping became trendy & chic. And long before the large corporate “thrift” stores came into play, trying to gentrify the business and dominate the market.

Luckily though, one such store still remains. By far the best one I have found in many years is the Bargain Store, located in Mission, BC. It is owned and operated by Heather McCormick who has run the shop for 31 years and unfailingly manages to have the most incredible selection of goods on offer at any given time.

Heather buys and sells. Pretty much everything in the store is something she has bought for re-sale. Yet her prices continue to remain more reasonable than many stores that actually get their goods by donation. The Bargain Store is not in a shopping mall! It’s in the same place it’s always been, down on Railway Avenue - a location that has worked well for Heather and her customers for 31 years.

To me, it’s what second-hand shopping is supposed to be.  Thanks to Heather’s great eye, there is always a good collection of antiques and vintage as well as an unending selection of furniture and overall useful items. The Bargain Store is also well known for having the best selection of pet crates in the Lower Mainland.

So kudos to Heather (who just turned 80 in 2018) for all her hard work in keeping this truly authentic and wonderful second-hand store running for all these years! Your customers appreciate you more than you know!

(Update: In the spring of 2019, Heather retired from the store, passing on the name and location to new owners. As one of my friends said, "Eighty-one is probably not too soon to retire". Nevertheless, we miss you Heather!)

Heather (center) with two of her customers

Heather's famous old van

More Roberton Family History (9)

While looking for the author of The Robertons – A Noted Lanarkshire Family which appears in three previous posts (originally printed in the Hamilton Advertiser on August 7^th, 1943), a librarian at the South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture Center also found another piece on Roberton history, again from the Hamilton Advertiser, but published in July 1874. Entitled Earnock and its Early Proprietors, it is another lengthy writing that I will present in a number of postings.

Earnock and its Early Proprietors (continued)

(from the Hamilton Advertiser, July 1874)

The Robertouns (cont.)

According to Lodge, “This lady is the youngest daughter of the late Sir Francis Burdett, Baronet of Foremark, Co. Derby, and Ramsbury, Wilts (many years M.P. for Westminster), who was born 25^th January, 1770, and died 23 January, 1884, having married 5^th August, 1799, Sophia, youngest daughter of the late Thomas Coutts, Esq., banker, of London. She was born 25^th April, 1814; assumed by royal license the additional surname and arms of Coutts, under the will of her grandfather’s widow, Harriet, in 1837; and was created Baroness Burdett-Coutts of Highgate and Brookfield, Middlesex, in 1871.”

But to return from this digression.  John Gray of Auchingraymount married Jean Robertoun, second daughter of Lord Bedlay.  This John was probably a son of Professor Rae, who married on of the daughters of Archibald of Stonehall.  Their daughter, Mary Rae, was married to Robert Hamilton of Fairholm, “wrytar and Town-Clerk of Hamilton, and wrytar to His Grace the Duke of Hamilton.

Another cadet of the family was John Robertoun, Sheriff-Clerk of Lanarkshire, and brother of Bartholomew, laird of Earnock.  He married Elizabeth, daughter of John Hamilton of Fairholm, and their eldest daughter, Margaret, married 5^th September, 1706, her cousin, John Hamilton of Fairholm, writer in Hamilton, and bailie of the regality and dukedom of Hamilton.  Another daughter, Elizabeth, was married to William Cullen of Sauchs, and was mother of the celebrated physician Dr. William Cullen, as is shown by the following extract from “The Register of Births and Baptisms of the Parish of Hamilton”: - “William Cullen of Sauchs, writer and Town-Clerk of Hamilton, and Elizabeth Robertoun, his lawful married wife, had their second son brought forth on Saturday morning, about 6 of the clock, 5^th of April, 1710, and baptised William on Tuesday forenoon, the 2^nd of May, 1710, in the Kirk of Hamilton, by Mr. Alexander Findlator, collegiate minister of Hamilton.  The witness, John Robertoun, Sheriff-Clerk, and John Hamilton of Fairhom.”

Another branch of the family, engaged in mercantile pursuits in Glasgow, retained that part of the estate called Kennedies up to a recent period, when it was sold to the present proprietor, Mr. John Dunn.

This ancient and honourable family is now extinct in the district. “Their memory and their name is gone.” Still, for the antiquary and the genealogist there is a melancholy pleasure in tracing their pedigree, and musing over the changes which the vicissitudes of time and the reverses of fortune have brought about in connection with their history.

This concludes the 1874 writing.  Although lengthy and written in an old and somewhat cumbersome style that can be difficult to follow, I feel it is well worth posting to for the benefit of other Robertons who are interested in their family history.

More Roberton Family History (8)

While looking for the author of The Robertons – A Noted Lanarkshire Family which appears in three previous posts (originally printed in the Hamilton Advertiser on August 7^th, 1943), a librarian at the South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture Center also found another piece on Roberton history, again from the Hamilton Advertiser, but published in July 1874. Entitled Earnock and its Early Proprietors, it is another lengthy writing that I will present in a number of postings.

Earnock and its Early Proprietors (continued)

(from the Hamilton Advertiser, July 1874)

The Robertouns (cont.)

Archibald’s son, James, first of the House of Bedlay, was an advocate, and became on of the Senators of the College of Justice, under the title of Lord Bedlay.  He was Commissary of Glasgow in 1625.  The name of Archibald, son of James Robertoun of Bedlay, occurs in the Commissary Records in 1653. Elizabeth, eldest daughter of James Robertoun, advocate of Bedlay, married James, eldest son and heir of John Dunlop of Garnkirk, who was a member of the Faculty of Procurators.  The marriage took place on the 5^th April, 1654.  From them the Dunlops of Garnkirk and Tollcross are lineally descended; and what is not a little curious, the celebrated family of Coutts, the wealthy bankers of Edinburgh and London, are also descendants of James Dunlop and Elizabeth Robertoun, through their eldest daughter. This lady married, first, Robert Campbell of North Woodside, near Glasgow, who died in 1694, leaving an only daughter, who succeeded to his property, and became the wife of Thomas Haliburton of Dryburgh Abbey, and Newmains, Berwickshire.  Robert Campbell’s relict, in the third year of her widowhood, married a second time Patrick Coutts, from Montrose, then a “merchant burgess of Edinburgh.” She had several children to Mr. Coutts, the eldest of whom, John, was Provost of Edinburgh in 1742.  The Provost had four sons, who were the founders of the celebrated banking houses of Coutts & Co., in Edinburgh and London.  James and Thomas, the two youngest sons, originated the banking establishment in London.  On the death of James, in 1778, Thomas succeeded as sole manager; and becoming banker to George III and many of the principal aristocracy, with habits of great economy, he soon acquired an immense fortune.  By his first wife, Susan Starkie, who had been his brother’s servant, he had three daughters – Susan, married to the Earl of Guilford; Frances, married to the Marquis of Bute; and Sophia, married to Sir Francis Burdett, by whom she had Sir Robert Burdett, sixth baronet, and Angela Georgina Burdett-Coutts, who was created a baroness in 1871.  Thomas died in 1822, and the greater part of his wealth came to be inherited by his grand-daughter.  Thus the eldest daughter of James Dunlop and Elizabeth Robertoun, was grandmother of Thomas Coutts, the millionaire and banker of London, and the munificent Baroness Burdett-Coutts is her great-great-grand-daughter.

More Roberton Family History (7)

While looking for the author of The Robertons – A Noted Lanarkshire Family which appears in three previous posts (originally printed in the Hamilton Advertiser on August 7^th, 1943), a librarian at the South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture Center also found another piece on Roberton history, again from the Hamilton Advertiser, but published in July 1874. Entitled Earnock and its Early Proprietors, it is another lengthy writing that I will present in a number of postings.

Earnock and its Early Proprietors (continued)

(from the Hamilton Advertiser, July 1874)

The Robertouns (cont.)

The amorial bearings of the Robertouns of Earnock were quarterly – 1^st and 4^th, gules, a close helmet, argent; 2^nd and 3^rd, a cross crosslet, fitchee, gules; crest, an anchor, proper. Motto – “For Security.”  These arms, quartered with the three cinquefoils of the Hamiltons of Neilsland, of which family Captain Gilchrist was the representative, are sculptured on a stone above the front door of the office-houses of Eddlewood, now occupied as a farmstead by Mr. James Marshall.  The coat is considerably defaced, and the motto illegible; but the name of the Captain’s lady, “ANNA ROBERTOUN,” above the arms, is distinct and legible.

We subjoin a few particulars regarding some of the minor branches of the family, and, first, of Archibald of Stainhall, third son of John Robertoun, ninth laird of Earnock, and his wife, Margaret, daughter of James Hamilton of Torrance. In 1595, a remission was granted “To Sir Jno. Hamilton of Letterick, knight, and to several of his servants, to Quintin Hamilton of Auchingraymount , Archibald Robertoun of Stainhall, and Jno. Dalzell, for burning part of the house of Jno. Hamilton, tailor in Hamilton, in the month of April last; and also for the slaughter of the late Patrick Hamilton, brother of laird of Preston, and the late Mr. Gavin Hamilton, Provost of Hamilton, at the same time.”

Patrick Hamilton, one of the individuals for whose slaughter this remission was granted, was the youngest son of Sir David Hamilton of Rossaven and Preston, and captain of the island of Arran.  “His career of violence and oppression,” says Anderson, “has been hardly equalled even in the fictions of romance.  Outlawed for the slaughter of James Inglis, tutor of Murdieston, and of David Stewart of Bute, he tooks refuge in the Isle of Arran in 1582.  He was again denounced for carrying off and retaining in captivity Thomas Inglis, the young laird of Murdieston, his brother’s ward (1594), and soon after met a tardy retribution of his crimes, being slain in an encounter by Sir Jno. Hamilton of Letterick, in the town of Hamilton, 2^nd April 1595.”

Archibald Robertoun married Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Ballie of Jervieston, by whom he had James, founder of the House of Bedlay, in the parish of Cadder. He had also several daughters, one of whom, Margaret, was married to John Rae, also a professor in Glasgow College, and had issue.

More Roberton Family History (6)

While looking for the author of The Robertons – A Noted Lanarkshire Family which appears in three previous posts (originally printed in the Hamilton Advertiser on August 7^th, 1943), a librarian at the South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture Center also found another piece on Roberton history, again from the Hamilton Advertiser, but published in July 1874. Entitled Earnock and its Early Proprietors, it is another lengthy writing that I will present in a number of postings.

Earnock and its Early Proprietors (continued)

(from the Hamilton Advertiser, July 1874)

The Robertouns (cont.)

16. Major John Robertoun of Earnock married Elizabeth, eldest daughter of James Hamilton of Dalziel (by Margaret, his wife, daughter of Sir Archibald Hamilton of Rosehall), by whom he had a son James, and three daughters – Anna, Marion and Violet.

 Anna married Captain James Gilchrist, R.N., of Annsfield, whose mother was Grizel, only daughter heiress of Patrick Hamilton of Neilsland.  They had issue – two daughters, co-heiresses – Grizel, married to Mr. Boyes of Wellhall; and Anna, married 17^th Oct., 1774, to Archibald, ninth Earl of Dundonald, and was mother of six sons, the eldest of whom was Thomas, tenth Earl – the celebrated Lord Dundonald, who was born at Eddlewood house, 14^th December, 1775.  Another son was the Honourable William Erskine Cochrane, major in the 15^th Dragoons, who served with distinction under Sir John Moore in Spain.  After retiring from the army, he lived for some time in Eddlewood House, and farmed Annsfield, which he inherited, but latterly sold it along with Earnockmuir to Mr. Dixon.

Marion, second daughter of Major John Robertoun, was married 12^th January, 1759, to James Hamilton, of Aitkenhead, Cathcart, Renfrewshire, and had issue, two sons – James, heir and successor, and John , who went to India as a merchant. They also had four daughters – Elizabeth, Marion, Mary and Anne, the latter of whom married, in 1803, David Marshall of Neilsland.  This venerable and much-respected lady died at Neilsland House on the 17^th of February, 1865, in the ninety-sixth year of her age.

The estate of Earnock was sold by the Robertouns towards the end of the last century to a Mr. Semple, who resold it, about 1810, to A. Millar, Esq., who died without issue, and was succeeded by his sister, Mrs. Williams, who sold it to John Watson, Esq. Of Neilsland, reserving, however, a life-rent of the mansion-house.

More Roberton Family History (5)

While looking for the author of The Robertons – A Noted Lanarkshire Family which appears in three previous posts (originally printed in the Hamilton Advertiser on August 7^th, 1943), a librarian at the South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture Center also found another piece on Roberton history, again from the Hamilton Advertiser, but published in July 1874. Entitled Earnock and its Early Proprietors, it is another lengthy writing that I will present in a number of postings.

Earnock and its Early Proprietors (continued)

(from the Hamilton Advertiser, July 1874)

The Robertouns (cont.)

12. This Bartholomew succeeded as twelfth Laird of Earnock.  On the 17^th October, 1608, with the consent of his father, he was contracted in marriage to Margaret, lawful daughter of John Law of Waterfoot, Mearns.  She was sister to Mr. Andrew Law, minister of Neilston, grandfather to John Law of Lauriston, who was Governor-General of the Finances in France, and who made such a prominent figure in Europe as a financier.  By Margaret Law he had issue,

13. John Robertoun of Earnock, his successor, who married Christian, eldest daughter of Sir John Hamilton of Orbieston, one of the Senators of the College of Justice, and Lord Justice Clerk.  Sir John appears to have acquired part of the lands of Provan, near Glasgow, for his daughter Agnes, along with her sister Christian (Lady Earnock) had a charter under the great seal of an annual rent furth of the lands of Provan, 24^th July, 1567.  John Robertoun had issue by his wife Christian Hamilton – John, his successor; and Anne, married to James, son and heir of Robert Chancellor of Shieldhill.

14. John Robertoun of Earnock married Bethia, daughter of Sir John Henderson, first Bart. Of Fordell, in Fifeshire, by whom he had a son, John, his heir, and a daughter Christian, who married Archibald Robertoun of Bedlay.

15. John Robertoun, next of the family, married Anne, only daughter of William Hamilton of Raploch, by whom he had John, his successor, and William, a fine young gentleman of great merit and virtue, who died, unmarried, to the grief and regret of all who knew him.