Thomas Christie (1861-1943), Printer and Stationer from Stevenston

On the 29th of March, 1943, Stevenston Printer and Stationer, Thomas Christie died. Thomas’s obituary in the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald, dated 23 April 1943, contained information gathered from a small booklet in which he had kept a record of his employment since leaving school in 1875.

Thomas Christie was born 30 January 1861, 6.30am at 130 George Street, Paisley, Renfrewshire, the third of four children born to parents Robert Christie and his second wife, Mary McNeil.  His siblings were Thomas (1857-1858), James Colman and Mary.  Although his parents were both living in Paisley prior to their marriage, his mother came from Ardrossan and the couple were married on 02 December 1856 at the Ardrossan Old Parish Church, Kirkgate, Saltcoats by the Rev. John Campbell Bryce.  His father Robert was employed as a Warper (which means that he was the person responsible for loading thread onto a weaving loom).

Upon leaving school in 1875, at the age of 13, he started work as a message boy with Alexander Gardner, Bookseller and Stationer at Moss Street, Paisley.  He began a seven-year apprenticeship to become a printer-compositor, earning 30 shillings a week, and took night classes to learn Pitman’s shorthand.  Circumstances outwith his control forced him to look for work elsewhere and he took jobs in Edinburgh, Dumbarton and Glasgow before returning to Paisley where he found work with “The Paisley and Renfrewshire Gazette”.  About 1892 he moved to Ayrshire where he was employed on the staff of the “Irvine Herald” and in 1893 Charles Murchland asked him to become a newspaper correspondent, covering the areas of Stevenston, Dalry and Kilbirnie, at which point he moved to Shore Road, Stevenston.

Thomas Christie and Janet Murchie were married by Rev. David Scott, D.D., on 05 April 1895 at the Lesser Town Hall, Countess Street, Saltcoats according to the forms of the Free Church of Scotland and they began their married life in Park Road, Stevenston.  Their daughter Agnes Arnott was born in 1903.

Deciding to start his own business, he purchased the printing business of J. H. Mearns at 70 Princes Street, Ardrossan and by 1903 had opened a ‘Stationers and Toy Shop’ in New Street, Stevenston. 

In 1909 Thomas transferred his printing business from Ardrossan to New Street, Stevenston, where he printed the “Stevenston Press and Saltcoats Advertiser” which had a print run of seven years.  The newspaper was sold ‘free’ of charge, the advertisements paying for the cost of printing.

The 1915 valuation roll reveals that he owned property at 91-93 New Street, Stevenston which consisted of several flats, a shop and a printing office at the rear.  He lived in one of the flats and rented the rest out.  By 1920 the properties had been renumbered 121-125 New Street.

Upon moving to Stevenston, Thomas Christie joined the Stevenston Free Church and in 1896 was elected and ordained as a deacon, and later became an elder of the church.  He died on 29 March 1943, 2.50am, at Glencairn Street, Stevenston, aged 82.  His daughter Agnes registered his death, his wife having died in 1928.

Further Reading

  • Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald
  • www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk
  • www.familysearch.org
  • 1903 Slater’s Royal National Commercial Directory of Scotland
  • Kilwinning Heritage Facebook – ‘Newspapers and Magazines’ (Info taken from ‘The Inquirer’ 1968, written by Owen Kelly.
  • https://www.facebook.com/178749765498636/posts/heres-another-article-from-the-inquirer-in-1968-this-time-written-by-owen-kellyn/3484540774919502/