Who was Wullie Wylie?

[Hughie]

Wullie Wylie was a prolific writer of letters to the editor of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald in the early 1900s. His letters were accepted and published in the vernacular and in the main related to our district.

I'll post some of these letters which I'm sure will interest and perhaps amuse readers. They will be posted in our Three towns - this day in history forum on the anniversary of the original publications. The index below will be added to as each is posted.

Now, this leaves the question - who was Wullie Wylie?

Wullie Wylie's Letters to the Editor

Wullie Wylie makes more suggestions.
Reminiscent.
Wullie Wylie - On the School Board.

[Penny Tray]

This was my first thought when I read the letter posted today on the "On This Day in History" topic, and wondered if he was the William Wylie whose death was posted in the Ardrossasn & Saltcoats Herald on the 26th of January 1923 - husband of Elizabeth Sillers or Wylie, 7 Wellpark Road, Saltcoats.

Also, possibly the father of William Wylie who was killed in action on 27 August 1917; - and the William Wylie who stood in the Municipal Election in Saltcoats in 1919; - both topics previously posted.

Maybe 'Wellparkno9' might know something of this person?

[sweet caroline]

WO 97/1005/145
Description:
WILLIAM WYLLIE
Born ARDROSSAN, Ayrshire
Served in 91st Foot Regiment
Discharged aged 44
Date: 1794-1816
Held by: The National Archives, Kew
Legal status: Public Record(s)
Language: English
Closure status: Open Document, Open Description

Find this interesting

SC

[sweet caroline]

Wylie
William
02 07 1897
23, Harbour Place, Ardrossan.
D
77yrs.& a shoemaker

Wondering why the date is written in BLUE

SC

[Hughie]

Adverts around the same time as the letters to the editor in the Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald for "Wylie's for shoes" 15 Dockhead Street Saltcoats.

[sweet caroline]

the 91st foot William Wylie although not the letter writer.

Name:
Wm Wylie
Birth Year:
abt 1772
Birth Place:
Ardrossa, Ayr
Rank:
Color Sergeant
Regiment:
91st Regiment of Foot
Residence Date:
6 Mar 1816
Document Type:
Regimental Registers of Pensioners

SC

[sweet caroline]

William Wylie
Age:
70
Estimated Birth Year:
abt 1821
Relationship:
Head
Spouse's name :
Janet Wylie
Gender:
Male
Where born:
Kilmory, Buteshire
Registration Number:
576/2
Registration district:
New Ardrossan
Civil Parish:
Ardrossan
Town:
Ardrossan
County:
Ayrshire
Address:
23 Harbour Pl
Occupation:
Shoemaker
ED:
5
Household schedule number:
104

SC

[hahaya2004]

Perhaps Susan gave us a link to a photo of Wullie Wylie in her post "A Stroll round 1960s Saltcoats" in 2011:
https://digitool.abdn.ac.uk/view/action ... ePid2=true

I found a William Wylie who died at Saltcoats in 1923 aged 85 and another who died in 1928 aged 55.

The business still existed in 1928.There was an entry in a commercial directory:
Wylie, William, bootmaker 15 Dockhead st.

[Penny Tray]

HAHAYA,

In his latest letter of 1905 he describes himself as an "auld buddy" with "rhoonmtticky in the banes" which would, I think rule out the William Wylie who died in 1928, aged 55. This leaves the William Wylie of 7 Wellpark Road, Saltcoats, whose death is intimated in the A&S Herald on 26 January, 1923. If we could see that newspaper or the one from the following week, I'm sure such a character will have got a worthy obituary outlining his life.

[Hughie]

Thanks, Irene. Here's what I found following that lead. But at this stage we don't know for sure who Wullie Wylie the writer of the letters was - we'll get there.

15 Dockhead Street Saltcoats.

[hahaya2004]

Well, it wasn't the 85 year old. He was a seaman. The other one was a boot & shoe maker and merchant.

[down south]

That isn't 15 Dockhead Street, Hughie, because that address was on the corner of Dockhead Street and Green Street, opposite to Ross' . The business must have moved. The picture shows it in about 1895, when W Wylie, bootmaker, was listed at No 43 Dockhead Street in Clarke's business directory, next to Agnes Maule's glass and china shop at no 45.

In fact the business seems to have moved more than once. In Slater's directory of 1903, Wilson Wylie, bootmaker, is listed at No 83 Dockhead Street. I would guess he may have been the father of the William Wylie who died in 1928. And it occurs to me that he just might have been our man : Willie , or Wullie, could be short for Wilson just as well as William.

Susan