Lanarkshire connection?

[suzieq]

Dear Forum,

I live in a converted schoolhouse (circa 1876) in Motherwell, Lanarkshire. The story goes, JMB used to visit here, why and when I am now trying to research and prove. I wonder if anyone out there has any knowledge of this. I do know in my initial research that his uncle was a minister at a free church in Lanarkshire (which Motherwell did have), or was it an educational link, through his brother Alick and sisters? I would appreciate any help to add to my very limited knowledge. Somehow, the JMB story is intriguing me the more I read about him. For now, I will try and look at local records to build a record of the house here. Many thanks in advance. 

[Robert Greenham]

Bothwell (3 miles north-west of Motherwell), yes, although I don't know the address.  But Motherwell?  I don't know.

It was at Bothwell that Jamie's eldest brother, Alexander, opened a private boarding school (known, I think, as the Glasgow Academy - somebody please correct me if I'm wrong) which was attended by Jamie's fated elder brother, David, and a few years later, by Jamie himself - between the ages of 8 and 10 (so from about 1868 to 1870).

[Robert Greenham]

A little more in case it helps:

According to young David Barrie's death certificate (see Andrew's database) David died at "Bothwell Academy Crescent Bothwell".  This would therefore seem to indicate both the name of the school and its address.  However, I cannot find this address or street in modern directories, which might indicate that either or both no longer exist. 

A search of the 1871 Census for Scotland for Alexander Barrie proved of no help, either, because by then (just a year after Jamie had left the school) Alexander's occupation was "H. M. Inspector of Schools" and he was living with his parents (and some siblings) at 21 Canmore Street, Forfar.  It would seem therefore that Alexander had left the school he founded, perhaps closed it down even, in about 1870, and at the ripe old age of about 28.

In conclusion, I would suggest that Jamie might have been an occasional visitor to the school between, say, 1865 and 1868 , and he boarded there between 1868 and 1870.  This predates the date you give for your converted schoolhouse, of course.

[suzieq]

Thank you very much for your efforts Robert. It's flagged up another question mark - the date of this schoolhouse. I think by the datestone (and possible deeds) that's it's 1867 and not 1876, which may fit in better with the timings of the visit to Bothwell, a stones throw from here, and the dates you gave me. I knew of the Bothwell school, but not the name.

My next step is to get a clearer timeline for this house and see if any "names" pop up. I have two problems - one the street name has changed since those days which doesn't help with the census search, and another problem - I have a two year old who doesn't seem as interested in history as his mum! Finding it difficult to dedicate much time to this project, but I will visit the local heritage society in the next week or two.

I must say, your own personal story sounds fantastic. The more I read about J M Barrie, the more intrigued and pulled in I get. Thank you again for your valued time on this - please post anything else that you may find of interest to this quest. Yours grafeful