Catherine Shaw, daughter of John Shaw, of Bargarron, having acquired
a remarkable degree of dexterity in spinning fine flax, conceived
the idea of manufacturing it into thread. Her first attempts were
necessarily on a small scale; she executed every part herself,
and bleached her materials on a large slate, placed in a window.
Succeeding, in her first essays, she engaged her family in the
process, and Lady Blentyre carried a parcel of the thread to Bath,
where she advantageously disposed of it to the lace manufacturers
there. This was the first thread that crossed the Tweed.
Subsequently a connection of the family went to Holland, and brought
from thence the secret of the twisting and twining machines in use
there, then carefully kept from public observation; also the art of
numbering the threads, and packing them for distant sale. The young
women of the neighbourhood engaged in it also, and it became an
object of profit and interest to the place. What, it will be asked,
became of the ingenious young woman who turned her talents to so
great private advantage, and eventually to such public utility.[6]
Surely she lived honoured, and died beloved. No! she was one of the
last victims to the imputed crime of witchcraft in the south of
Scotland! Amongst many others, she was accused of having evil agency
with spirits, and is described, in the records of those unhappy
times, as "young, handsome, and well-informed." Can it be possible
that the superior activity of her mind, and the industrious efforts
of her hands, could have involved her in the disgraceful and frantic
measures, which terminated in herself and five others being _burned
for witches_ in 1626? This unfortunate female was urged by her
friends to put in a plea to delay her execution--she replied, with
the dignity of a Roman matron. "No; my honour is already destroyed,
and my life is not worth defending!"
[6] A Mr. Pollock, of Paisley, (where this unfortunate suffered
death,) availed himself of the information of assistants in the
business, and established a thread manufactory at that place, which
is yet carried on to great extent.