James Sligh's Diary

One of the visitors to our stand at the family history conference in Livingston in April is the grandson of James Sligh, born 9th September 1863 in Selkirk, the son of David  Sligh, whose grocer’s shop was at 12 Market Place, Selkirk.  James had three older brothers, David, Thomas and Robert; and two older sisters, Agnes and Janet (known as Jessie).  His mother’s maiden name was Thomson and her parents ran a bakery in Dalkeith.  He was a keen churchgoer and Bible student. James' grandson has kindly sent us a transcription of James’ diary written in 1881, and has allowed us to make it available. James worked for the British Linen Bank (now part of the Bank of Scotland), and the end of his 4-year apprenticeship is recorded. There’s nothing of great importance in the diary, it is after all, an 18 year old’s diary; but there are a lot of personal names and some amusing incidents. He was a keen cyclist and often rode 60 miles a day on a ‘penny-farthing’ bicycle. Sometime after his apprenticeship he was transferred to the Queen St, Glasgow branch of the bank, and he spent the rest of his life in Glasgow. The diary transcript (25 A4 pages) is also available to read at our archive in Old Gala House, Galashiels.  If you want to be put in touch with the donor, please contact us via our Contacts page using the contact type 'Contact the Webmaster'.