“Big Tom” Ferguson – Old School Lawman

Listed below is the obituary for my great grandfather Chief Constable Thomas Ferguson as posted in the Stirling Observer, Stirling Scotland on Saturday October 19th 1918. 

What’s interesting about this account of his life are the descriptions and references to a time and place when Scottish law and order were still largely entrusted to a local constable and magistrate. 

Those who choose to break the law were not rewarded and society was not asked to accept their blame. The law required offenders take responsibility for their actions. 

It seemed a simpler form of governance than what we have today…follow the law and the law is your friend …break the law and “Big Tom” will get you in the end … 

OBITUARY FOR THOMAS FERGUSON
1847 to 1918

In the person of ex-Chief Constable Ferguson, a figure well-known in the Burgh of Stirling for many years, passed away on Monday at his residence at Causewayhead.  He took ill at Grangemouth, where for the last six months he had been in charge of the Admiralty Police guarding the docks there, and was brought home on Saturday suffering from pneumonia, but got worse, and passed away as stated.  He was 72, and is survived by a widow and family.

As Sergeant Thomas Ferguson of the Glasgow Police, the deceased was transferred with the same rank to the Stirling Burgh Constabulary in 1873, and the office of Chief Constable (then called Superintendent)  falling vacant the year after, he was unanimously appointed to the post.  Thirty seven years altogether was his period of service in Stirling, and he had a previous ten years’ service to his credit in the Lanarkshire and Glasgow Forces, so that his total police career was 47 years.

When he took over the charge of the Stirling Burgh Constabulary matters were different in many respects to what they are now.  There were 109 licensed premises in the town, public houses closed at 11 o’clock, and there were a good many shebeens* where illicit trafficking in liquor went on;  whist in addition a considerable rowdy element in the population inhabited the upper part of the town.  When he retired on pension in 1910, the number of licensed houses had been reduced to 70, despite an increase of 6000 in the population of the burgh, the shebeens had been rooted out, and the law-breaking section of the inhabitants had been greatly reduced in numbers.  Of tall and commanding appearance, “Big Tom” as he was called, because of his statue, was a fine figure of a man, and he was a capital “Chief”, who’s renowned yeoman service to the burgh at a time when an exceptionally strong personality was required to deal with habitual offenders against law and order.  His method of doing so was of the kid glove description; sterner methods were needed; and the result was the hooligan types of offenders treated him with the respect born of fear, and this kept them in order when gentler ways of dealing with them would have had little effect.  To those who got into trouble more through accident than intention, he was however kind and considerate where they had a meager record behind them.

  On his retirement eight years ago Ferguson received a public testimonial in the form of a suitably-inscribed sporran containing a cheque for £50, whilst Mrs. Ferguson got a gold watch.  The late Provost Bayne handed over the former on behalf of the subscribers, and Mrs Ferguson’s gift was presented by Rev Robert Primrose then of the Erskine Church, of which Chief Constable Ferguson was a member.  In his remarks “the Chief” stated that he had served under several Provosts and thirty-three Magistrates.  The members of the Police Force also gave a farewell token of respect in the shape of a walking-stick, with an umbrella for Ferguson

  After he retired Mr. Ferguson took over a tobacconist’s business in Glasgow but carried it on for a few years, and then left to reside at Blairlogie, subsequently returned to Causewayhead.  Six months ago he was offered and accepted the post of superintendent of the Admiralty Police at Grangemouth, and as has already been mentioned was filling that position when he took ill and passed away as stated above.

Rest in Peace Grampa Tom….  And Thank You for your service…

* A Shebeen is an unlicensed establishment or private house selling alcoholic liquor and typically regarded as slightly disreputable.