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| 15th Nov 1811 - John Coubrough " a job for Willie" |  |
This letter refers to the employment of William Coubrough and is a likely example of William Borthwick using established contracts to recruit staff and, at the same time, both attract customers and distribute shares.
The letter reads as follows (N.B. Spelling, punctuation, etc. as per actual letter). To: William Borthwick,, East Lothian Bank, Dunbar From: John Coubrough, Thorn Dated: Dear Sir, I Rec’d your kind favour of the 4th Curr’t and waited on Mr. Brown as soon as convenient and communicated to him your kind offer of a situation in your Bank for Willm and he would wish much both to promote your conveniency and my sons Interest and welfare by affording him an opportunity of imbracing an appointment which promised him a fair prospect of promotion and success in life – by the terms however that Mr. Brown ingages his Clerks, 6 months previous notice must be given of their intentions to leave that Bank, of course he has it not in his power immediately to avail himself of your kind offer but Mr. Brown says he will indeavour to find out a proper successor to Willm and the moment he does so would allow him to go to you and I have no doubt but Mr. Brown will exert himselfe to find a successor to Willm as soon as possible. could you wait for a few weeks – and if you cannot wait I would wish to know as soon as possible as he would not throw himself out of his present situation – as to salary I would expect you would give him at least £70 per annum – I recd the inclosed Note and expects to hear more fully about what you mentioned in it when convenient – I saw your Father yesterday and he desired me to say they are all well – accept of my best thanks for your Friendship which will also be esteemed by me. Dear Sir Yours most sincerely. John Coubrough.
William Borthwick was the Cashier for the East Lothian Bank. In 1822 he absconded from this position with his disappearance being the trigger for the failure of the bank.
John Coubrough was also known as "John Coubrough of Ellrig" and is believed to have been a fourth generation freeholder of farming estate land in the Stirling area. He was a shareholder in the Falkirk Union Banking Company and indeed when the Falkirk Union Banking Company failed in October 1816 caused him to sell Ellrig in order to satisfy his obligations as a shareholder.
William Coubrough was the son of John Coubrough and at the time of this letter was in the employ of "Mr Brown" who was James Brown, Cashier of the Falkirk Union Banking Company. He took up the offer of employment with East Lothian Bank and was initially employed at Dunbar. In 1814 he took up the post as Agent for the branch office in Selkirk. |
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