Adam McKendrick was a well known shopkeeper in High Blantyre who lost his life at a relatively young age.
Born in the Leadhills in 1849, he married his wife Agnes and settled initially in Carnwarth where the couple started a family. However, by the late 1880’s the family had moved to Auchentibber, High Blantyre.
Adam was the shopkeeper at the junction of Auchentibber Road and Parkneuk Road, one property along from JB Struthers Inn. In 1891, he is noted in the census as living at ‘Moorfoot’, aged 42 as a grocer. His wife Agnes Porteous was 12 years younger, aged 30 and in the household was daughter Mary (7) and three young sons aged 4 and under. According to the valuation roll, he was the owner of a house and shop and employed a servant girl Margaret Paterson (16).
Adam McKendrick quickly became well known in the area, as his store was one of the only shops in the area, serving the small community in Auchentibber. Adam was a member of Blantyre School Board and the Parish Parochial Board and took a great interest in trying to advance conditions in Blantyre and all parish affairs.
However, tragedy occurred in 1893, when 6 year old son Robert McKendrick sadly passed away and the family decided to bury little Robert in Carnwarth where he had been born. On Thursday 19th July 1894, a year later, Adam decided to visit the grave and travelled to Carnwarth meeting up with his wife. After visiting the grave, Adam decided to walk along the railway towards Carstairs, much to the plead of his wife not to. She went away in another direction, on a safer route.
Suddenly , near Carnwarth Bridge, Adam McKendrick was knocked down by the Edinburgh Express train and died there on the line. He was 45 years old.
Agnes McKendrick his widow, inherited the house and grocery shop and she became the shopkeeper, known to be hard working. She ran the shop until at least WW1 but drops off census and valuation rolls in Blantyre after that.
This previously unseen photo shows the former Auchentbber Grocery store which today is no longer there. Pictured it is thought is shopowner and widow, Agnes McKendrick (nee Porteous). The flagpole of the Quoiting green in the background indicating it is after 1908. This puts Agnes in her late 40s in this photo.
The location of the store now looks like this:
