GEORGE BARTY (1767)
GEORGE BARTY (1767)
Snuff mill owner and tobacconist
George Barty was born in Blairgowrie on 12 July 1767. His parents were Patrick Barty and Alison Soutar.
George Barty operated a snuff mill at Lornty until it was taken over by Charles Grimond and converted to a lint mill around 1803 Lying on the military road from Coupar Angus to Bridge of Cally, Lornty was ideally located for the delivery of raw materials and the dispatch of the finished product. The Lornty Burn provided water power for the mill.
To produce snuff tobacco leaves were dried before being ground into powder. The practice of taking snuff became popular in the 17th century.
Scottish Highlander sign
After selling the Lornty Mill, George Barty moved to Perth where he opened a tobacconist shop at 55 High Street.
George Barty’s death in 1839 was sudden as was reported in the Perthshire Advertiser on Thursday 6 June 1839:
Sudden death
Whilst Mr George Barty, late tobacconist, was sitting at his kitchen fire, on Friday evening, in his ordinary health, he sent his servant out a message; and on her return, she found her master lying across the hearth-stone, quite dead. It would appear he had felt himself ill after her departure, as a pillow was lying beside him on the floor.
The Barty Mortification
This appeared in the Perthshire Courier on Thursday 27 June 1839:
The Late Mr George Barty – This respectable citizen, whose sudden death we announced some weeks ago, has, it appears, left a holograph deed by which he has bequeathed one third of a considerable personal property to nephews and nieces of his own name, a like share to similar relatives of the name of Falconer, and the residue to be laid out on heritable security, to be devoted to the education of children of poor families in the contiguous parishes of Blairgowrie, Bendochy, Rattray and Kinloch, the names of Barty and Soutar to have a preference. The deed has a singular proviso that the pupils so benefitted shall yearly walk in procession to the grave of the deceased, in the burial ground of Blairgowrie, on the 12th of July the testator’s birth day, where each will receive a small gratuity and be allowed a holiday.
The Barty Headstone in the Hill Kirkyard
The inscription reads:
Erected by George Barty Merch. Perth, in 1839 founder of the Barty Mortification in memory of his Mother and Father
Patrick Barty died 9th Augt 1789 aged 73 Alison Soutar died 10th Sept 1820 aged 90 also their children
James Barty died 9th Augt 1789 aged 27 Isobel Barty died 15th Octb 1790 aged 21
Margaret Barty died 22nd Decb 1790 aged 34 William Barty died 20th Augt 1794 aged 28
Alexander Barty died 21st Decb 1796 aged 45 Ann Barty died 12th April 1798 aged 35
Janet Barty died 8th Novb 1824 aged 52 George Barty died 1839
When free education became available, the Trustees of the Barty Mortification agreed to offer bursaries of £4 and upwards to pupils attending schools in Blairgowrie, Rattray, Bendochy and Kinloch.