The Paisley Banking Company was established on 1^st October 1783 with the nine original Partners being as follows.

Andrew Thomson of Faskin, Coal Merchant, (Andrew Thomson had also been a Partner in the Ship Bank and in 1785 he, together with his two sons, founded the Glasgow Private banking firm of  A. G. & A. Thomson which failed in 1793).

George Thomson, Merchant, Glasgow, (Son of Andrew Thomson of Faskin and also to become a Partner in the firm of A. G. & A. Thomson).

Hugh Niven, Merchant, Glasgow,

John McKerrell of Hillhouse,

Robert Fulton, Merchant, Paisley,

John Wilson, Merchant, Paisley,

Claud Neilson, Merchant, Paisley,

James Lowndes, Merchant, Paisley and

Robert Corse, Merchant, Paisley.

The subscribed capital of the Paisley Banking Company  was £10,000, divided into ten equal shares and given that there were nine Partners one of them must have held a controlling interest.

One Guinea note signed by James Hog.  According to Douglas (Scottish Banknotes) the One Guinea note was not printed until 1820 although here is is used in 1785. (image from auction catalogue)

The first Cashier was James Hog, son of Walter Hog who was for many years the Manager in Edinburgh for the British Linen Company.  Hog held this post until c. 1799 when he was succeeded by Adam Keir who had previously been a Partner in the failed Edinburgh Private Banking concern, Betram, Gardner & Co.  In 1827 Keir was succeeded in this post by Arthur Welsh with Welsh being the Cashier in 1837 when the assets and liabilities of the Paisley Banking Company were assumed by the British Linen Company on 20^th November 1837 following the expiry of the contract of copartnery.  Arthur Welsh had previously held the post as Agent for the British Linen Company in Castle Douglas and continued as their Paisley Agent after the assumption of the Paisley Banking Company.

The cessation of activities in 1837 was perhaps as a consequence of the reducing interest of the partners as in 1828 only two of the original nine Partners remained with the number of Partners having reduced to five.  These were as follows.

 William Lowndes of Arthurlie,

Robert Fulton of Hartfield,

Claud Neilson, Merchant, London,

Alexander Gardner, Banker, Paisley and

Adam Keir jun., Banker, Paisley.

Branches.

Paisley.  This was the main office of the Bank. 

Alloa.  In various books on banking history there are several references to an office of the Paisley Banking Company in Alloa although I can find no additional information.

Dundee.  Again in various books on banking history there are several references to an office of the Paisley Banking Company in Alloa although I can find no additional information.

Glasgow.  The Glasgow office was first opening in 1784 and was a small first floor, two room flat in a tenement building on the South side of Trongate and opposite the Tontine.  Business operated from this property for 44 years.  The first Glasgow Agent was a Virginia (tobacco) Merchant by name of Archibald Hamilton.  He was highly esteemed and was also collector of the Land Tax for Lanarkshire.  Hamilton acted as Agent for many years and as the firm name was later Messrs. Archibald Hamilton & Son he must have introduced the next generation to assist him.   In 1814 Alexander Brown became Agent and he continued in this position until the close of the Bank in 1837.

In 1828 the Paisley Banking Company purchased a small tenement on the corner of Wilson Street and Virginia Street with the branch being located in this new property from that date.  These premises remained the offices of the Bank until 1837 when they were sold by the British Linen Company to The Glasgow Insurance Company.  Unfortunately this insurance company failed and in 1842 the premises were purchased by the City of Glasgow Bank.  In 1851 the City of Glasgow Bank sold the premises to the National Security Savings Bank with this therefore meaning that 4 different banks had all operated from these same premises over the period from 1828 – 1851!

Irvine.  A Mr. Montgomerie was the Irvine Agent of the Bank in 1837 and was retained by the British Linen Company as their Agent in Irvine.

Stranraer.  A David Morland was the Stranraer Agent of the Bank in 1837 and was retained by the British Linen Company in Stranraer as Joint Agent with Alexander McNeil.

Officials.

The following officials have been identified from letters in the collection.  Where possible notes have been added.

James Hog, Cashier (1783 - c. 1799).  He was the son of Walter Hog who was for many years the Manager in Edinburgh for the British Linen Company.  Hog's duties included signing the Bank's notes as can be seen from the example above. (From letter of 15th September 1791).