John Nimmo (1826-1895)

First name:
John
Second name:
Nimmo
Date of birth:
1826
Date of death:
1895
Occupation type(s):

Coalmaster & senior partner at Messrs John Nimmo & Son

John Nimmo set up in business as a coal master at Drumclair colliery near Slamannan in 1852, having previously been manager of the Kinneil Ironworks. His firm; John Nimmo, went on to operate Grangepans oil works and subsequently Limerigg oil works. His four sons all entered the coal trade and were involved in various firms including James Nimmo & Sons, who appear to have operated a short-lived oil works at Longrigg oil works.

Obituary

Death of a Stirlingshire Coalmaster.

The death announced of John Nimmo, coal owner, 42 Lauder Road, the age of seventy. Mr. Nimmo had been in very poor health for several months past, and suffered from complication of troubles. He was senior partner of Messrs John Nimmo & Son, coalowners, Edinburgh and Glasgow, who work several extensive collieries in Stirlingshire, Fifeshire, and Lanarkshire. He had been engaged in mineral operations since his youth, and was of a very large and varied experience in mining matters. In politics he was a Liberal, but being of retiring disposition he took no public part in either political or municipal matters, although he was repeatedly pressed to do so. By his employes, and also by business men with whom he came in contact, he was very much respected. He leaves a widow, four sons and three daughters, all of whom are married.

The Falkirk Herald, 18th March 1896

  • Newspaper references
    • A number of the friends of Mr John Nimmo, late manager Kinneil Iron Works, entertained him to dinner in the Black Bull Inn, on the 26th ult., on the occasion of his leaving the situation which he has filled for some years to direct his attention to the colliery he is now managing on his own account at Drumclair. After the usual loyal toasts had been given, the chairman, cashier, Kinneil, after having alluded to the honourable and satisfactory manner in which Nimmo had acquitted himself, and the high esteem which his services had gained him from his employers, presented him, in the name of the subscribers, with a Handsome Gold Watch and appendages. Mr Nimmo made a suitable reply for the honour conferred upon him. Mr Figg. croupier, then presented a Gold Ring for Mrs Nimmo, which was also duly acknowledged by Mr Nimmo. The evening having been spent in the most delightful manner, the company broke up at seasonable hour. The watch and appendages, valued at upwards of £40, were selected from the stock of Mr Currer, watchmaker and jeweller, Falkirk.

      Falkirk Herald 9th December 1852

      .......

      SLAMANAN. Soiree. — On New Year's evening, a soiree was held in the New School-room Drumclair Colliery. John Nimmo, Esq., proprietor of the work, occupied the chair. The room was well filled, and refreshments of tea and fruit were served during the evening. Addresses were delivered by Rev. Mr Evyal, Rev. Mr Tough, Bo'ness; Messrs Patterson and James Nimmo, Slamanan; and M'Arthur Kipps. Appropriate songs were sung by Messrs Blair, Abercrombie, and Nimmo. The children behaved well, and the proceedings of the evening gave great satisfaction.

      The Falkirk Herald, 7th January 1858

      .......

      Will of the Late Mr John Nimmo, Coalmaster.

      The will of the late Mr John Nimmo, coalmaster; who died recently at his residence 42 Lauder Road, Edinburgh, has just been recorded in the books of Council and Session. It is dated 26th November, 1892, and the trustees appointed were his four sons—James, John Thomas, Adam, and Charles —all coalmasters in Edinburgh, and Mr Thomson M'Clintock, accountant in Glasgow.

      After giving directions for the payment of his debts, he states, that whereas he had retired from the firm of John Nimmo & Sons, coalmasters, and had sold to his four sons his interest in the co-partnership in respect of bond granted by them and their firm for payment to him and his heirs of the sum of £12,000, and further of annuity of £1600 per annum payable to him, and annuity of £800 to Mrs Nimmo, his wife, he directs that her annuity shall be payable in terms of the bond, and that she shall have the use of his house Lauder Road, along with the furniture, &c.

      He next directs the trustees to set apart £4000 of the £12,000 to and for behalf of his three daughters, Mrs Agnes Mackenzie Tickle, Mrs Margaret Macdougald, and Mrs Bethea Jane Coop, and their children—that is to say £500 thereof to each daughter in fee absolutely, and £3500 to each in life-rent or her life-rent use alternately, and to her children in full. He next directs his trustees to invest one of the three sums of £3500 for behoof each of the daughters, and to pay the annual income each, and on the death of any of the daughters to pay the sum of £3500 set apart for her and her children to such children equally among them. In a codicil, dated the 16th February, 1893, the deceased directs that in the event of his wife predeceasing the residue shall wholly belong to his sons equally.

      Falkirk Herald 28th March 1896