Following in Tannahill’s footsteps
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One of Renfrewshire’s most remarkable citizens was inspired by Paisley poet Robert Tannahill and his weaver friends.
John Fraser was a Radical Reformer who achieved undying fame as a scholar, musician, writer and philanthropist.
His zeal for knowledge was ignited by Tannahill’s poetry, which he memorised within a few weeks.
Working in Johnstone’s Hagg cottonspinning mill, he was further encouraged by Paisley weavers walking along nearby Kilbarchan Road.
The weavers discussed politics, religion and literature with their Kilbarchan counterparts in village taverns.
Young John envied weavers who worked at hand-looms three days a week, enjoyed three days off for intellectual pursuits and devoted the seventh to religious worship.
So he attended music lessons at Middle Church, Paisley, and apprenticed himself to a weaver at Low Auchenlodment Farm to learn the trade.
John was born at Pinkerton’s Burnt Corner, between Johnstone and Linwood, in 1794. Derek Parker knew many of Paisley’s secrets — the grimy and the good.
He wandered every corner in search of the clues that would unlock Renfrewshire’s rich history.
These tales were shared with readers in his hugely popular Parker’s Way column.
We’ve opened our vault to handpick our favourites for you.
After education at Paisley Grammar School and acquiring his weaving skills, he taught at Johnstone, Kilbarchan and Kilmacolm schools.
A social justice campaigner, he was falsely accused of being a ring-leader in the 1820 Radical Rebellion.
He was imprisoned for three months in Paisley Jail before being liberated after a trial at St George’s Church.
John moved to Edinburgh and founded the New Scotsman journal. This promoted electoral reform and better working, living, health and educational conditions for all citizens.
He attended concerts at Paisley Abbey, where he was impressed by precentor and composer Robert Archibald Smith, who trained the choir.
He befriended the abbey’s Radical minister, the Reverend Patrick Brewster, and unsuccessfully contested the Roxburghshire Parliamentary seat in 1841.
John and his son James and daughters Jane and Margaret formed the Fraser Family music group.
They sang and played violin and piano at concerts across Britain. They visited America and Canada, where they entertained huge audiences with nostalgic melodies, including Tannahill’s Jessie The Flower o’ Dunblane.’
Following Jane’s death and burial in Canada, John returned to Newfield House, Johnstone. He spent the remainder of his life reading, gardening, teaching and lecturing about the evils of alcohol.
He died on March 3, 1879, and was buried at Kilbarchan Relief – now Kilbarchan East – churchyard.
His funeral cortege travelled the same inspirational road walked by Tannahill and Paisley’s weavers 80 years earlier.
John Fraser followed in Tannahill’s footsteps in death as in life.