Alexander Hadden & Sons: Woollen Manufacturers in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire

In our holdings we have the collection of Alexander Hadden and Sons, part of the wider collection of solicitors Cochran & MacPherson (DD5).

Alexander Hadden and Sons was a textile manufacturer, operating factories at the Green, Gordon's Mills at Woodside and Garlogie Mills at Skene. The company was created by Alexander Hadden around the 1740s. His sons, James Hadden and Gavin Hadden, and grandson James Farquhar Hadden, were all partners in the business. In 1849, Thomas Todd became a partner, replacing then deceased Gavin Hadden. 

The parties following viz James Hadden Manufacturer in Aberdeen, Thomas Todd lately Merchant in Liverpool thereafter residing in Cheltenham and James Farquhar Hadden Manufacturer in Aberdeen, Considering that the said James Hadden and James Farquhar Hadden along with Gavin Hadden Manufacturing in Aberdeen Father of the said James Farquhar Hadden are at present carrying on in partnership the business of Spinning Wool and Manufacturing Hosiery and Woollen cloth under the firm of Alexander Hadden & Sons, And whereas it has been agreed that the said Gavin Hadden shall cease to be a partner of the said firm and the the said Thomas Todd shall be admitted as a partner thereof.

We can see this reiterated on the first page of this Partners Minute Book (DD5/5/1/1/1). The meeting shown is on the 20th September 1851. 

DD5/5/1/1/1 - Partners Minute Book 1851

By 1872, we can see the following partners of the company: James Farquhar Hadden, Gavin Thomas Todd and James Joseph Todd. The below shows this in the Cartulary titled "Messrs Alexander Hadden & Sons" (DD5/5/1/3/1). This volume only records two deeds between 1872-1899.

DD5/5/1/3/1 - Cartulary titled "Messrs Alexander Hadden & Sons"

Sites

The Green factory was built at the end of the 18th Century:

OS map 1865-1867, NLS maps

This map also shows Hadden Street located on the adjacent road to The Green. It is named for the Hadden family.

DD5/5/1/3/41

DD5/5/1/3/41

Gordon's Mill (Grandholm)

OS map 1865-1867, NLS maps

DD5/5/1/4/11

There are some fascinating place names on some of the plans, including this one of the Cruives Dykes (showing Gordon's Mills)

DD5/5/1/3/35

Garlogie Mill

OS map 1865, NLS maps

DD5/5/1/3/6

Great North of Scotland Railway Company / Scottish North Eastern Railway Company

During the late 1890s and early 1900s, there were many developments in the area surrounding the Green site, particularly related to the railway station. Below are three of the plans included in the correspondences and legal papers as the Great North of Scotland Railway Company expanded and purchased elements of Hadden & Son's Green site.

DD5/5/1/3/41

DD5/5/1/3/41

DD5/5/1/3/41

Dissolution

Business at the Green closed in 1901 and the firm was dissolved in 1902, with the company ceasing operations at Gordon's and Garlogie Mills in 1904.

DD5/5/1/1/1 - Partners Minute Book 1902

Aberdeen Press & Journal 03 May 1901 (via British Newspaper Archive)

During this period and afterwards, the company completed land valuations and had sales of machinery from all of its sites. Files include DD5/5/1/3/6 Hadden & Sons Property & Estates: Correspondence and papers related to sale of Garlogie Mills.

Aberdeen Press & Journal 25 July 1904 (via British Newspaper Archive)

DD5/5/1/3/16 - Hadden & Sons Property & Estates: Catalogue for machinery sales

It is nice to note that, even though the loss of the company would impact workers, local newspapers commented on the general happiness of the employees of the company: 

Aberdeen Press & Journal 25 March 1901 (via British Newspaper Archive)

Other business documents

There are some other interesting documents throughout the business series of this collection. DD5/5/1/4/10 is correspondence and draft precognitions relating to an incident between a traction engine and the Hadden's carriage in 1897. The precognitions are of two engine assistants David Fiddes and Arthur Stewart:

Engine Driver Alexander Elrick, Mrs Hadden and Mr M. L. Hadden's coachman also make statements. It is fascinating to see the differing perspectives of those involved with the accident in which, thankfully, nobody was hurt.

We can see that the company who owned the traction engine, James Hutcheon, Sculptor, did not think that he was liable for the incident or, presumably, the cost of the repairs of the carriage.

The records of this business can also speak to the wider activities in the local communities that the mills served. Here is a letter from 1919, years after the dissolution of the company, requesting use of the hall on the site of Garlogie Mill for the children of Garlogie School to use:

We can't see any communication to accept or deny the proposal, but perhaps our log book for Garlogie (ED/AC5/130/1/1 dated 1893 - 1934) could provide an answer.

Family Papers:

Also included in the collection are the personal papers of some of the Hadden family members, either involved in the company or descendants of those who were. These types of records are brilliant as they provide us with the opportunity to build a more focused family picture in addition to the corporate elements of the company. These records are catalogued under series DD5/5/2 and include records such as:

- DD5/5/2/2/3 - Papers of Mr and Mrs Gavin Hadden's Trust

-     List of Securities belonging to the late Gavin Hadden, Underway 1925

-     Account Charge and Discharges

-     Disposition by Henry Charles Hadden as Trustee in favour of himself and others 1925

-     Probate documents 1940 following death of Emily Hadden

-     Account charge and discharge of trustees with the Trust Funds 1936-1941

-     Renunciation of Gavin Hadden's Trust by Emily Georgina Hadden in favour of son, 1939

-     Discharge by Norman Gavin Hadden to Trustees of Gavin Hadden & Emily Georgina Hadden 1941.

DD5/5/2/3/5 - Martin Lindsay Hadden - papers related to sale of estate of Binghill, Peterculter

DD5/5/2/5/1 - Henry Charles Hadden - contract of marriage between Henry Charles Hadden and Miss Helen Adamson

Potted history of the Haddens:

Alexander Hadden (1721-1793) married to Elspeth Young (1737-1804) in 1757. Alexander Hadden became a City Baillie and went on to create the manufacturing firm Alexander Hadden & Sons. See business records above.

His eldest son was James Hadden (1758-1845), who was Provost of Aberdeen four times and became known as "The Father of the City": 1801-1803, 1809-1811, 1813-1815 and 1830-1832.

Former Lord Provost Alexander Hadden's portrait in the Town House, Aberdeen

Alexander Hadden's fourth son Gavin Hadden (8 May 1770 - 12 June 1857) and younger brother of Provost James Hadden also became Provost four times: 1820-1822, 1824-1826, 1828-1830, 1832-1833. He was married to Hope Innes and died at his house on Union Grove.

Former Lord Provost Gavin Hadden's portrait in the Town House, Aberdeen

James Farquhar Hadden (25 April 1809 - 10 Dec 1879) was the youngest son of Provost Gavin Hadden and nephew of Provost James Hadden). [Reference DD5/5/2/1]. These three men (sons James, Gavin and grandson James Farquhar) all worked alongside Alexander Hadden in the family firm. 

James Farquahar Hadden's were siblings were Gavin Hadden Junior, Margaret Hadden (Todd) and Hannah Eliza Hadden. He married Elizabeth Violette Lindsay (1821-1860) in 1842 and had 6 children. James was buried in Saint Nicholas Churchyard, Aberdeen.

James' children and grandchildren, who's records are included in this series, were as follows:

1. Gavin Hadden - born c. 1845/6 and died 13 February 1925 (Empire Nursing Home, Vincent Square, London). He married Emily Georgina Hadden (maiden name also Hadden?) of Queensborough Terrace, Kensington Gardens in 1877. His wife died 31 Jan 1940. They had one child called Norman Gavin Hadden. Land included Hammerfield Avenue and Duthie Terrace Ground, as well as 'Underway', property in West Porlock, Somerset. [Reference DD5/5/2/2]

2. Martin Lindsay Hadden of Binghill, Myrtle (born c. 1847, died 19 June 1903) married Alice Leslie (1856-1910). They had 6 children, 4 of which are listed below. Martin was a 'great fancier of hackney and Exmoor ponies, and was a very successful exhibitor at leading shows, including those of the Highland and Agricultural Society' (British Newspaper Archive). He was also the owner of the famous hackney stallion-pony Christopher. Martin from pneumonia age 55 and was buried in Allenvale Cemetery. [Reference DD5/5/2/3]

Sale of Binghall, near Aberdeen 1903

Martin's wife Alice Hadden, nee Leslie, was born c. 1858 and died 2 Jan 1910 at Baillieswells, Beildside, Peterculter. Her parents were Louis Leslie (Doctor of Medicine - surgeon, b. Banff) and Harriet Ann Leslie. Alice died from a brain tumour.

a. Captain Cyril Martin Hadden (11 November 1881 - d. 28 March 1918). Member of the Society of Advocates in Aberdeen 1906. Enlisted in the Public Schools Battalion Royal Fusiliers September 1914 and commissioned to the 1st Royal Scots Fusiliers, 11 June 1915. He was attached to the 1st Battalion Royal Fusiliers. In November 1916, he was severely wounded but returned to France and served with 3rd Royal Scots Fusiliers in February 1917. He was killed in action near the Menin Road aged 37, and was buried or commemorated at Arras Memorial, France (Bay 5).

TNA via Ancestry

b.    Violet Alice Leslie Hadden (1882 - ) married John Freeman 1907 at St Nicholas, Shepperton, Surry. Lived 30 Devonshire Place, London

c.    Margaret Aileen Hadden (1892 - 1955) - spinster, Sandycroft Dorman's Park, Surrey

       d.    Doris Jean Hadden - (c. 1899 - )

3. Elsy Helen Hadden (b. 1851) married William Griffith  

4. Emma Hadden (1854 - 1934) and was the 4th child of James Farquhar Hadden. She lived at Craigie Park [see DD3319/2] but appears to have moved to East Grinstead. [Reference DD5/5/2/4]

5. Louisa Hope Hadden (1856 - 1873)

6. Henry Charles Hadden (b. 1859) married Helen Adamson (or Anderson?) in 1885. Henry died on 27 October 1931 & Helen died on 17 December 1930. Helen's sister was Margaret Ann Adamson and is mentioned in some of these documents. [Reference DD5/5/2/5]

Final arrangement before & after:

To conclude, here are a couple of photographs of some collection arrangement 'in progress' and complete:

You can view the catalogue for this collection online here: https://archives.aberdeencity.gov.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=DD5%2f5&pos=1 

Or make an appointment to visit us to view the records in person: archives@aberdeencity.gov.uk

Kimberley Smith, Archivist