Author: Gerrond, John
Biography:
Gerrond, John (1765-1832: Wikipedia)
Details of his life are known only from the autobiography published with his 1812 Poetical and Prose Works. He was born at Kirkpatrick Durham, Kirkcudbrightshire, to Andrew Gerrond, a blacksmith, and Jean (Halliday) Gerrond. His only education was at local schools before he began working with his father after the family moved to Causewayend (now Castle Douglas) in about 1775. Gerrond’s mother died in 1776 and, on his father’s remarriage, he was apprenticed to a blacksmith. He then worked as a journeyman in England for a year before returning to Scotland to set up his own business. In 1791 he married Elizabeth McMin. Gerrond then seems to have suffered an illness which, treated with mercury, led to psychosis. On his recovery, he decided to emigrate to America, sailing out in 1793 and settling mainly in Philadelphia before travelling further up the east coast to Halifax. His autobiography gives a lively and detailed account of life in America at this time. He returned to Scotland in 1798 and rejoined his wife (who had provided for herself in his absence by working as a mantua maker) but he was unlucky with the various occupations he tried. The preface to his Poetical and Prose Works insists upon the loyalty of the subscribers and readers of his books of poetry. Nothing is known of his later life. He died in the Dumfries cholera outbreak of 1832. (John Gerrond, Poetical and Prose Works [1812]; Kirkcudbright Advertiser 19 Nov. 1880)