The following article was published by Eddie McRorie on 11th May 2025 on the Johnstone History Facebook page and is reproduced here with his kind permission.

Death of the Oldest Manufacturer in Johnstone - 1879

On Thursday morning, Mr. William Malloch died at the age of 68 at his residence, Mount Pleasant. He had been suffering from Paralysis Agitans (Parkinson’s disease) for approximately five years.

William was associated with the cotton spinning trade in Johnstone for at least half a century. His father, also named William, is recorded as being involved in the same trade before him. He was a partner in the firm Messrs. Brown, Malloch & Co., whose mills were among the first to be built in Johnstone toward the end of the 18th century—when the town consisted of only a few houses, forming the nucleus of what would become a rapidly expanding burgh.

The mill had been purchased from the partnership Corse & Burns in 1782. Robert Corse of Greenlaw, a wealthy merchant from Paisley, was a notable figure who, along with George Houstoun of Johnstone and others, helped establish the Paisley Union Bank in Paisley and Glasgow.

It is noteworthy that Brown, Malloch & Co., which also owned the Elderslie Cotton Mill, outlasted all other cotton mills in Johnstone—where, at one time, as many as 18 were in operation. The last remaining cotton factory, Thorn Mill, was lost to fire.

William Malloch was known as a gentleman of unbounded generosity toward the poor, though he carefully concealed his acts of charity. He was a highly esteemed member of the West U.P. Church, one of its most liberal and respected supporters, and took a sincere and consistent interest in its welfare.

Politically, he was a Liberal, though he never affiliated himself with any public office or body.

His father, William Malloch Sr., had Mount Pleasant—a house and estate—constructed between 1783 and 1790, beside his mill, as was common among mill owners of the time. William (c.1810–1879), the son, later took up residence there with his wife Margaret, daughters Margaret and Isabella, and son William.

An interesting article appeared in a local newspaper in 1870, describing an incident on the estate:

Garden Theft and Malicious Mischief (1870)

David Bell, millworker; Matthew Fleming, labourer; and George White, millworker—all residing in Johnstone—were brought before the Police Court on Monday morning, presided over by Bailie Jaffray. They were charged with breaking into the garden of William Malloch, Esq. of Mount Pleasant on the Sabbath, stealing approximately three stones of apples, and causing considerable damage to a large number of flowers.

The police apprehended all the offenders that same night and recovered much of the stolen fruit in a plantation near Haig Mill. The accused all pled guilty and were each fined 7s 6d, or sentenced to five days' imprisonment.

This map shows the layout of the estate in 1860

Brown and Malloch - Old Mill