ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS AND RELICS
A CATALOGUE OF ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS AND RELICS RELATING TO WILLIAM SYMINGTON HELD BY HIS DESCENDANTS AND IN PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
ARTEFACTS HELD BY WILLIAM SYMINGTON 1802-1867 OF BACCHUS MARSH, VICTORIA.
A veritable treasure trove of important relics and documents relating to William Symington was kept by his son William, who emigrated to Melbourne in 1855 and later settled at Bacchus Marsh in rural Victoria. This catalogue summarises the contents of his collection.
William was the eldest son of William Symington and Elizabeth Benson of Larbert. He brought a model of the Charlotte Dundas and other relics to Melbourne when he emigrated in the John Bright. These artefacts were passed on to his own son William 1840-1929 who gave on loan to the Melbourne Museum the Charlotte Dundas model, a plaster bust and an extract from William Symington's 1801 patent; other items were passed on, by descent, to his grand-children. His last surviving grandchild at Bacchus Marsh was Nancy Symington who died in 1987 aged 93.
A MODEL OF THE CHARLOTTE DUNDAS
Built by Andrew Symington in 1851, this model is now to be found in the Melbourne Museum.
Dimensions: length 30 inches, beam 7 7/8 ins., width 7 3/4 ins. at smokestack and 6 inches at the stern; depth from top of rail 6 1/2 inches, from deck about 5 3/8 ins. and from presumed waterline 4 3/8 ins. The wheel well measures 5 1/2 by 2 1/2 ins. at the deck. Smokestack, one-inch diameter and height overall 13 7/8 ins., above deck 8 1/4 ins. The boiler measures 6 1/4 ins. long by 3 1/4 ins. wide by 3 1/2 ins. high.
The cylinder measures 2 ins. long (joint to joint) and diameter one inch, estimated bore 3/4 inch. The crank is 3/4 inches and the connecting rod 6 1/2 inches.
The paddle frame is 5 1/8 inches diameter and 1 1/2 ins. wide, with eight paddle blades which measure 2 1/8 by 7/8 inches.
Andrew Symington’s model is painted black with the name “Charlotte Dundas” inscribed on a panel across the stern. The horizontal cylinder is placed below deck, the piston rod guided by rollers and articulating with the paddle wheel by a connecting rod and crank.
The hull is fashioned from a pale softwood, which was cut away on the port side to demonstrate the engine. Although this is not a working model, there is a hole in the starboard side of the hull to accommodate a key which could turn the axle of the paddle wheel and operate the engine mechanism.
A PLASTER DEATH BUST OF WILLIAM SYMINGTON
The bust which is now held in the Melbourne Museum stands to a total height of 26 inches, the pedestal measuring five inches to the base of the bust. The head circumference is 24 inches; measurement over the vertex of the skull, from nasion to inion 13 ½ inches.
AN OFFICIAL EXTRACT FROM HIS 1802 PATENT
This document is written in Latin on parchment, 30 cm by 27 cm., and comprises two leaves secured at the central fold by a red and yellow woollen thread. There are six pages of script, each page signed at the foot by James Dundas and A. D. Wilson. William Symington left this patent extract with his son-in-law, who passed it on to William Symington junior, who in turn brought it to Australia (see letter from W. Symington to WH Rankine dated 2 April 1910). This item was also given on loan to the Melbourne Museum by William Symington of Bacchus Marsh (Museum Item Number ST 017853).
PICTURES OF WILLIAM SYMINGTON
MINIATURE PORTRAIT
This miniature bust-length portrait in profile, drawn in pencil, ink and wash and framed in standard "cabinet" format, measuring 2 ¾ by 3 3/8 inches. The portrait is not signed or dated. The identity of the artist is unknown. The ebonised frame with gilded clasp relates to the early Victorian or late Georgian era. Composed of black papier mache, the frame measures 4 5/8 by 5 3/8 inches; the ornamental brass hanger has a grape and vine leaf design.
AMBROTYPE PHOTOGRAPH OF THE POST-MORTEM BUST
The ambrotype plate measures 2 7/10 by 3 2/10 inches; the black frame 5 by 5 1/2 inches.
THE "BACCHUS MARSH" DRAWINGS
A collection of coloured drawings prepared for William Symington in 1828, together with original plans by James Watt dating from 1785 and 1792, were kept by William Symington's son who took them to Australia when he emigrated in 1855. These drawings and plans had been stored in a cupboard in a brown paper wrapping, undisturbed for decades until I allowed the privilege to view them on Nancy Symington's kitchen table in 1976. This material provided the basis for much of my subsequent research into William Symington. Overall, the drawings were in excellent condition but some of the drawings had begun to deteriorate. The sheet depicting the Charlotte Dundas was brittle and breaking away. On behalf his descendants, in 2000 I donated the drawings to the Melbourne Museum for conservation and safekeeping.
ORIGINAL PLANS BY JAMES WATT
William Symington and his brother George retained Boulton and Watt's plans for the Watt steam engine built for the Wanlockhead Mining Company in 1785. Identical plans are held in the Watt Archive at the Birmingham Library. William also kept Watt's plans for an engine house for the Humby Mine at Leadhills.
1785 STEAM ENGINE FOR MINE AT WANLOCKHEAD
Three original plans for the Pumping Engine at Wanlockhead dated June 1785:
"No. 1 General Section of Wanlockhead Engine" 1/3 inch to the foot 44 by 32 cm., displays the engine and beam.
"No. 4 Inside Front View" 42 by 46 cm. This drawing depicts the boiler and the engine house.
"No. 7 Wanlockhead Drawings" (depicts various engine components, including the cross-head of the air pump) 44 by 64cm.
1792 ENGINE HOUSE FOR THE HUMBY MINE AT LEADHILLS.
Two drawings dated 1792 for the Engine House on the Humby Mine at Leadhills:
"Front Section of Humby Vein Engine House 10 May 1792" 25 by 43 cm.
"….. Humby Vein Engine ….. 1792" Inscribed on back "Watt's" 38 by 47 cm.
ORIGINAL DRAWINGS PREPARED FOR WILLIAM SYMINGTON IN 1828
STEAMBOAT EXPERIMENTS FOR PATRICK MILLER
“Original Steam Boat Invented by William Symington Civil Engineer in the year 1787, and exemplified by him on the Lake of Dalswinton, Dumfrieshire (sic) in the Autum (sic) of 1788 and at Carron, upon a more extended scale in 1789 for Patrick Millar Esquire” Pen and watercolour, 43 by 55 cm. Watermark: J Whatman Turkey Mill 1828.
STEAMBOAT EXPERIMENTS FOR LORD DUNDAS
“Steam Boat Invented by William Symington Civil Engineer in 1800 and exemplified by a series of Experiments on the Forth and Clyde Canal near Carron Iron Works in the Years 1801, 2 & 3 under the Patronage of Lord Dundas.” Pen and water colour, 44 by 56.5 cm. Watermark 1828.
DRAWINGS SUBMITTED TO THE ADMIRALTY IN 1828
This series of coloured pen and watercolour drawings was sent to the Admiralty with William Symington's submission and later returned to him:
DESIGN FOR A PADDLE WHEEL
"No 1 Wheel of machinery for rapid motion." Signed W.S. 39 by 51 cm. Watermark J Whatman 1823: black and white depiction of a paddle wheel.
SHIP OF WAR
“Lateral Section of a Ship of War, 1828” 40 by 31 cm. Watermark J Whatman Turkey Mill 1828: coloured drawing in cross section of a ship of war propelled by "valved" oars.
“No. 4. Longitudinal View of Steam Engine and Valved Oars calculated for Navigating Ships of War during an Engagement, by William Symington, Falkirk. 1828” 30 by 57 cm. Watermark obscured.
BREECH LOADING CANNON
"No 5. " Signed W.S. 32 by 44 cm. Watermark J. Whatman): two coloured drawings, side and top elevations, of a breech-loading cannon.
DRAWINGS TO ILLUSTRATE VARIOUS OTHER INVENTIONS
CHRONOMETER
The Primum Mobile of an Auletic Chronometer, Invented by William Symington, Civil Engineer, Falkirk August, 1828
39 by 47 cm. Watermark J Whatman Turkey Mill 1827
DIVING BELL
Diving Bell & Apparatus Invented by Willm. Symington. Falkirk 1784
44 by 57 cm. Watermark J Whatman 1827
BLAST FURNACE
A Section of Blast Furnaces by William Symington. March 1821. NB A Furnace, constructed and provided with Tewers, agreeably to the annexed Sketches will require only one Third of the Mechanical power to blow it of those in Common form The dotted lines show the figure …built in Common Form”
39 by 49 cm. Watermark J Whatman Turkey Mill 1827
MINE VENTILATION
Unlabelled drawing signed W.S. (A method of ventilating a mineshaft)
31 by 37 cm. No watermark
PRINTED PAMPHLETS
SYMINGTON TESTIMONIAL
This undated pamphlet was printed to support a Testimonial which had been set up by Dr. Bowie. The first version comprises eight pages, with a second printing which contains another three pages of evidence, including letters to Dr. Bowie dated 1833 and 1834. Some of this material was reproduced by John Rankine in his 1862 Biography of William Symington.
LEAFLET
A single page leaflet, reproducing a letter dated 30 November 1844 by William Symington and Robert Bowie (subsequently published in the Fife Herald on 16 January, 1845), with an excerpt from the Times headed "Inventor of Steam Navigation…"
CORRESPONDENCE
A LETTER FROM WILLIAM SYMINGTON, DATED FALKIRK 10 June 1829, TO HIS SON WILLIAM, in which he requests a measure of mercury (from Dr. Bowie) for use in his auletic chronometer.
PORTRAIT OF A BOY
An unsigned portrait in oil of a red-headed lad holding a book (believed to be Dr. Bowie as a youth). Oil on canvas, UNFRAMED, 62 by 72 cm. The period of his costume is in keeping with the 1790's, possibly a little later; the double breasted coat was introduced in the early 1790's; perhaps a school uniform.
ITEMS FROM WILLIAM SYMINGTON JUNIOR
OIL PAINTING OF WANGYE HOUSE
BOX OF DRAWING INSTRUMENTS
Mathematical instruments by Piggott of London used by William Symington junior which date from after the lifetime of William Symington senior.
ALBUM OF CARTE-DE-VISITE PHOTOGRAPHS
MEDAL awarded to William Symington at the 1866 Intercolonial Exhibition for his invention of granulated potatoes. The bronze medal, designed by Charles Summers, is mounted on a circular wooden frame. The medal was hung in the hallway of Nancy Symington's residence at Bacchus Marsh. Also, a sample of his desiccated potato in a paper bag.
ARTEFACTS FROM JOHN RANKINE 1812-1870 OF HIGH PLEASANCE, FALKIRK
John Rankine was a grandson of William Symington, the son of his eldest daughter, Elizabeth. He built a fine model of the Charlotte Dundas which, with other relics, was passed down by inheritance to his son, W.H. Rankine of Falkirk and, by descent, to his grandson Colonel Robert Rankine D.S.O. of Melbourne.
A MODEL OF THE CHARLOTTE DUNDAS BUILT BY JOHN RANKINE IN 1862
Dimensions: Length 27 1/4 inches. Beam measures 9 inches maximum toward bow, tapering by ½ inch to the stern. Depth of hull toward bow 4 3/8 inches. This model bears a wooden mast measuring 18 ½ inches. The brass cylinder measures 2 inches by 13/16 inches. The stroke of the engine is 1 15/16 inches. The steel arm is 5 ½ inches and crank 1 inch. The copper boiler, measuring 6 ¾ inches by 2 ¾ inches, lies below deck. The paddle wheel is of brass and measures 6 inches by 2 inches with eight ¾ inch blades. The smoke stack is of brass and measures 8 ½ inches above deck. The cover for the paddle wheel measures 7 inches by 3 inches externally.
THREE ETCHINGS FRAMED IN TIMBER FROM THE CHARLOTTE DUNDAS:
"Lateral Section of The Original Steam Boat, Built in 1788"
Allan & Ferguson, Lithographers, Glasgow
Printed inscription on front of frame: "N. M. 1817" (The Rankine Model of the Charlotte Dundas is inscribed on the keel likewise) The frame measures 27 cm by 22 cm.
Labelled on verso "Property of W. Rankine Esq. Temp: Ship Regn/88 Folio 84" and with a tiny circular label affixed: "SCOT. ARCH & HIST. I.E.G. No. 59 3.
"Lateral Section of the Charlotte Dundas, Built 1801"
Allan & Ferguson, Lithographers, Glasgow
Printed on front of frame: "N. M. 1817" The frame measures 27cm by 22 cm.
Labelled verso "Property of W. Rankine Esq. Temp: Ship Regn/88 Folio 84", with a tiny circular label affixed: "SCOT. ARCH & HIST. I.E.G. No. 59 2.
"William Symington The Father of Steam Navigation Died 22nd March 1831"
Portrait, 1834 engraving by Roffe, taken from the post mortem bust and published in the Mechanics' Magazine. On the back of the picture is inscribed: "Mrs Symington died 30 June 1844".
Clumsily mounted in a hardwood frame measuring 26 cm by 19.5 cm, with a gilded surround 13 cm by 19 cm. The cedar backing board is inscribed in pencil: "This Frame is made from parts of the Charlotte Dundas"
ARTEFACTS FROM WILLIAM HENRY RANKINE OF FALKIRK
PORTRAIT IN OIL OF JOHN RANKINE 1812-1870 (now held in storage in the Melbourne Museum).
SUNDIAL on Doric column (now lost) sent to Robert Rankine in Melbourne by W.H. Rankine in or after 1910 from residence in Maggie Woods Loan, Falkirk
W.H. Rankine's copy of John Scott Russell's "On the Nature, Properties, and Applications of Steam, and on Steam Navigation", from the seventh edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, Edinburgh 1841.
Ambrotype image of William Henry Rankine in a case measuring 6 by 7.5cm. and an ambrotype of his younger brother James Anderson Rankine, paired with a portrait of his wife, in a case measuring 8 by 9cm.
CORRESPONDENCE
From David Bell of Glasgow to W. H. Rankine in Falkirk 1909-1912.
From Robert Rankine to his father W.H. Rankine.
Letter from William Symington 1840-1929 of Bacchus Marsh to Robert Rankine, dated 2 April 1910.
DOCUMENTS HELD IN PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY ENROLMENT
University of Edinburgh Library, Special Collections Repository, Album Academia, Volume II 1786-1803.
Records William Symington's enrolment for Dr. Black's Chemistry lectures, with his signature.
ORIGINAL PATENT SPECIFICATIONS AND DRAWINGS
William Symington's Patent Number 1610
A copy is held in a parchment roll in the National Archives at Kew. NA C210/30
Patent 1610 William Symington 1787, Chancery: Petty Box Office: Specification and Surrender Rolls 17 November 1786-17 August 1787
William Symington's Patent Number 2544
A copy held in the Scottish Record Office, General Register House, Edinburgh NRS GD1/17/23
A copy is also held in a parchment roll in the National Archive at Kew. NA C73/22/1
WILLIAM SYMINGTON'S MEMORIAL TO PARLIAMENT AND PETITION TO TREASURY
National Archives, Kew; Treasury Board Papers MPD 1 T1/2424
Submitted in 1826; comprising his Memorial, dated 1 December 1824 and Petition, dated 1826, and accompanied by the following illustrations:
"No. 1st The method projected by William Symington Civil Engineer then residing at Wanlockhead Dumfriesshire, for propelling Vessels by means of a Steam Engine. Agreeably to this plan experiments were made by him at Dalswinton in August 1788".
"No. 2nd An improvement, by William Symington, upon No. 1, which was put in execution at Carron Iron Works in 1789."
N.B. The above schemes were performed under the patronage of Patrick Miller Esquire of Dalswinton.
"Nos. 3rd & 4th Other methods, which were found better adapted for producing the above effect, also projected by William Symington. These were tried on the Forth & Clyde Canal, under the patronage of The Right Honble. Lord Dundas of Kerse in the years 1801-2 & 3."
"Nos. 5th 6th & 7th Three different modes of sculling Vessels by the power of Steam Engine, projected by William Symington in the year 1814, from suggestions by Lord Dundas and Thomas Bruce Esquire of Grangemuir Fifeshire ".
DOCUMENTS SENT BY WILLIAM SYMINGTON TO JAMES WALKER, CIVIL ENGINEER
These documents are held in the Boulton and Watt Archive at the Wolfson Centre for archival research at the Library of Birmingham, Reference Number MS 3219/6/3/1/6
1. Letter dated Falkirk 11 November 2022 from William Symington to James Walker, requesting his assistance and financial aid.
2. Document "No. 2" Statement of expenses William Symington incurred in his steamboat experiments.
3. Document "No. 3" Copy of the Carron Company invoice to Patrick Miller for the 1789 steamboat.
4. Document "No. 4" Account from James Gibson, Edinburgh lawyer, for the preparation and lodging of patents.
5. Document "No. 5" Account of Gibson, Christie & Wardlaw 1814 & 1815 MS 3219/6/65/6a
6. Document "No. 6" Opinion of John Clerk relating to the validity of the 1801 patent, with a brief comment made by Alexander Irving MS 3219/6/65/5
7. William Symington's "Authentic Account" (of his contribution to steam navigation), 7 pages; and a second copy, in a different hand, with the same content, 14 pages) MS 3219/6/65/3
Also,
A brief note dated 4 December 1822 from James Walker to James Watt junior. [1] MS 3219/6/65/5
[1] Birmingham Library, Boulton and Watt Archive MS 3219/6/65/5
WILLIAM SYMINGTON'S SUBMISSION TO ADMIRALTY 1828
National Archive, Kew; Admiralty Papers, Admiralty Secretary, In-Letters Promiscuous (1828-9: s)
ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE
PROPOSAL TO RAISE THE ROYAL GEORGE
National Maritime Museum, MID/9/14. Correspondence on the question of the raising of the Royal George.
William Symington's letter dated 30 January 1787 to Sir Charles Middleton, Comptroller of the Navy, with his proposal to salvage the Royal George.
WILLIAM SYMINGTON'S LETTERS TO WILLIAM FORBES OF CALLENDAR
Forbes of Callendar Papers, Falkirk Council Archives:
A727.794 (items 1,2,4,30); A727.802 (9, 13, 22); A727.806 (31,32,35); A727.808 (27); A727.823 (29); A727.839 (12,13); A727.853 (10,25); A727.857 (7); A 757.868 (7,16,36,38); A757.882 (1); A757.884 (1,2,29); A727.897 (1); A727.1023 (32); A727.1070 (4)
Letters relating to the lease of the Callendar coal fields; rental in arrears; and, notably, an invitation dated 1 June 1807 to the funeral of his son John. A727/171/882-1