David Taylor (1768-1843)

An humble upbringing

Capt. David Taylor was born at Broomhill, in the parish of Arbirlot, some two miles from the Royal Burgh of Arbroath, on the 4th Nov. 1768, the eldest son of David Taylor (handloom weaver) and Ann Christie. The Taylors had lived for generations in the parish.

The present-day farmhouse of Broomhill, near Arbirlot village

Even when records began in 1632, there were already families of that name established in the area. Little is known of Capt. Taylor’s early years, but in the 1790s he married Janet Hay. The Hays were an important old-established family in the town. Her father John Hay (a ship’s master and master mariner) was heritable proprietor of lands in the Copegate (the lower High Street) which he had acquired in 1745.

Although the preparations for building the lighthouse actually started in August 1807, it wasn’t until the November of that year that Capt. Taylor entered the service of the Northern Lighthouse Commissioners. The records suggest that Stevenson was in need of a locally-based sea captain, who, after the lighthouse was complete, would be needed to supply the lightkeepers with provisions and stores to maintain the light.

Capt. Taylor commanded the “Sir Joseph Banks” tender, the vessel used to house the artificers during the progress of the works. Afterwards he became the first Superintendent of the Shore Establishment based at the Signal Tower in Arbroath.

Effects of the seas on the lighthouse

Whilst the lighthouse was under construction there was a continual stream of Correspondence between Stevenson and Capt. Taylor; invariably instructions and queries, which the captain answered dutifully by return; and this continued long after the lighthouse was completed. One interesting letter from Stevenson concerned the effects of adverse weather conditions upon the house.

On 15th Dec. 1813, he wrote to Capt. Taylor:

“Upon receipt of this letter, or as soon thereafter as possible, you will be so good as to favour me with all your remarks regarding to, or interesting about, the Bell Rock lighthouse after so long a stay upon it in the depth of winter. I mean that your remarks should be extended at some length and that they should embrace whatever may have appeared to you as interesting to a stranger either regarding the effects of the sea upon the rock or lighthouse. Likewise that you take notice of the chief conveniences or disadvantages connected with the building or the condition of the Lightkeepers.”

To which Capt. Taylor duly replied on the 30th December:

"The Bell Rock Lighthouse" - by J M W Turner Courtesy of the National Gallery of Scotland

“Owing to the state of the weather being so very fine for the most part of my stay there, I have no remarks of any consequence to inform you of. Have had several strong breezes from the south and eastward but these chanced to be in the time of the neap tides and there being but little water on the Rock, the force of the sea was always broke before it came to the building. After these breezes began to take off and the weather became more moderate, the sea then came rolling along the Rock in a solid body and broke in full force upon the house about the upper part of the granite, and the spray sprang up from 70 to 80 feet and had a most beautiful appearance as ever I beheld in my life when looking down from the top of the house, and several times when sitting at the kitchen fire when these heavy seas struck the east side of the house clouds of spray swept round the north and south sides of it and darkened the windows - by that time you may depend upon it our lower and middle deck ports were all shut in. As to the conveniences or conditions of the Lightkeepers. In my opinion everything is as well as possible can be to make them comfortable which I really believe they are - as for my part I took very well with it and time passed away very pleasant by what it was wont to do on board the Float rocking and tumbling about . . . "

Stevenson replied characteristically:

“I duly received your letters giving me a very interesting account of your stay at the Bell Rock, which I have read oftener than once with great pleasure . . .”

Not all Capt. Taylor’s duties revolved round the Bell Rock and its well-being. Correspondence shows him at various times to be in Peterhead, Aberdeen, Newcastle, Greenock and the Orkneys on lighthouse business. He also was responsible for supplying provisions to Inchkeith, Isle of May and Kinnaird Head lighthouses.

By 1819, Capt. Taylor’s health was giving problems. In the Engineer’s Report of that year - under Shipping - “And having taken into consideration the case of David Taylor, the master of the Pharos, who is stated to be the subject of gout, the Commissioners Remit to the Standing Committee, to consider whether he could be employed in any situation in this service in which he would suffer less from exposure.”

In 1821, Capt. Taylor was appointed Lighthouse Storekeeper at Leith, a move very much opposed by his wife and family, who understandably had no great desire to leave Arbroath. This post, however, also gave him the position of Ship’s Husband to the Regent Yacht.