On 27 January 1902 William Wright, millwright and joiner, Boyne Mills, near Portsoy, Banffshire, passed away. He was 60 years of age. In his lifetime he had established and run a successful millwright business which was well-known throughout the district. He was also the carpenter for the Hay Memorial, Cornhill.
The Aberdeen press and journal of 29 January 1902 carried an obituary. It wrote:
“The late Mr William Wright, Boyne Mills
There are many in the north who will see with regret the announcement of the death of Mr William Wright, Boyne Mills, Boyndie, for Mr wright was well known and was held in high esteem over a large area. He had reached the age of sixty years, and had been in delicate health for about a year. Mr Wright (says the “Banffshire Journal”) was born in Alehouseburn, Ord, where his father resided. He learned the trade of a millwright, and at 23 years of age began the construction of mills on his own account. His business soon became very successful. For 12 years he carried on his business at Alehouseburn; for rather over 12 years he was at QuarryCroft, Ord, and for the past 12 ½ years he had been at Boyne Mills. At the Boyne he was also engaged in the more general business of a joiner. Mr wright, who passed away yesterday, is survived by his widow and a family of eight.”
There are some adverts which reveal the mills that he manufactured. They included ones with bucket wheels, 8 feet diameter, another with a bucket wheel of 9 feet 4 inches in diameter, gearing for a 4 horse mill, light horse mills with peg drum, crank shaker and fan, large spur wheels and bevel wheels for horse mills.
Alongside his mills he also sold other implements. In 1892 they included manure distributors for sowing pulverised manure and in 1901 Tangyes oil engines. He noted that “these engines have now proved themselves to be the best in the market, for they are easily managed band give more working power than the makers give them out for. They are very finely finished and well fitted in every way, and the consumpt of oil is very small for the power given off. Any ordinary labourer can work them after seeing them started. For driving threshing machinery there is nothing works better for steady running; the speed continues the same, although the mill is running empty. I have had to do with a number of engines from different makers, but I find that the Tangyes engines give the best satisfaction.”
Shortly after his death his business at the Boyne Mills was put up for public sale. It provides insights into the businesses and the tools and machines he used to make his mills and other manufactures:
“Displenishing sale (from Banffshire reporter, 23 April 1902)
Boyne Mills, near Portsoy, Banffshire
There will be exposed for sale, by Public Roup, at Boyne Mills, on Saturday, 3rd May, 1902, the following subjects belonging to the Executrix of the late William Wright, millwright, carpenter, and general blacksmith, viz:-
Millwright plant:-1 new high speed threshing mill, 1 do, partly constructed, 1 large circular saw and bench, small do., moulding machines, 2 turning lathes, boring machine, wheel, checking and morticing machines, brass and metal fittings, shafting, pulleys, pinions, belting.
Carpenter’s stock-4 double benches and pertinents, tools, paints, oils, nails, bolts, large quantity of seasoned timber of good quality, comprising battens, linings, framing, moulding, boards, patterns, one pair spring cart wheels, two pairs gig shafts, large wood sheds and stores with corrugated iron roofs.
Smithy-anvil, bellows, vices, bending machine, benches, grindstone, emery wheels, old metal.
Farm stock and implements-2 horses, 2 cows, 2 stirks, single plough, scuffle, break and wood harrows, metal roller, turnip sower, manure distributor, box cart, spring cart, phaeton, box barrow, cart, plough, and phaeton harness, hand tools.
As also the household furniture, dairy utensils, &c.
Sale to commence at ten o’clock forenoon precisely.
James Badenoch, Portsoy, auctioneer.”
