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Author: Train, Joseph

Biography:

TRAIN, Joseph (1779-1852: ODNB)

He was born at Gilminscroft, Sorn, Ayrshire, but no birth or baptism records have been located and the names of his parents are not known. His father was a land steward. In 1787 the family moved to Ayr where he had a limited education before being apprenticed to a weaver. He continued his education and studies privately. In 1798 he joined the 7th North British regiment of militia and served for four years before returning to work as a weaver in Ayr. In 1803 he married Mary Wilson, the daughter of a farmer; they had five children. One of the subscribers to his 1806 Poetical Reveries was his former commander, Sir David Hunter Blair, and he secured a position for Train with the Scottish excise in 1808. This led to some unsettled years for the family as his work demanded frequent moves. They eventually settled in Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire. His 1814 Strains of the Mountain Muse brought him to the attention of Walter Scott (q.v.) and a mutually beneficial friendship. In a series of long and meticulously documented letters, Train supplied Scott with antiquarian materials and Scott helped to advance his career in the excise office. Promotion led to another series of postings in various locations. In 1819 Train was admitted to the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. In 1836 he retired to Lochvale Cottage on Carlingwark Loch in Castle Douglas where he had been living since 1827. He began work on two publishing projects: Historical and Statistical Account of the Isle of Man (1842-5) and The Buchanites from First to Last (1846). He died at home after a brief illness. (ODNB 30 Nov. 2020)

 

Books written (2):

Glasgow/ Edinburgh/ Paisley/ Greenock/ Ayr: J. and A. Duncan, and Brash and Reid/ A. Constable and Co./ H. Crichton/ T. Stewart/ John McIlraith, 1806
Edinburgh: for the author by George Goldie, 1814