The earliest record we have of John is an advertisement in the Belfast Newsletter dated 10th October 1862. In this he was starting his own small business as a hairdresser at 10 Bridge Street. He also indicates that he had been living and working in Belfast for at least 9 years. Based on other records John was born in approximately 1835 and so he worked at R Herron’s hairdressing establishment from the age of 18. H e also strictly observed Sundays and later we discover he was a Presbyterian. This was the start of his career as an independent business man which came to a sad end in insolvency and prison some 9 years later in 1871.
Note also his pricing in 1862 a 3d for a haircut and Curling was 3d more.
Business initially seemed to do well and John expanded hiring at least one assistant in 1866. he also upgraded premises first to 12 Bridge Street and then to the much larger 39 Donegall Street and finally to 49 Donegall Street. The last advertisement is from the Belfast Street Directory of 1870 held by PRONI. The prices John was charging has not changed since 1862 but he appears to have added services to include ladies as well as gentlemen.
It is John’s ability to change prices which may have lead to his downfall in 1871 as the probable expenses of such a large establishment, staff and a growing family would have put pressure on him as his sole means additional revenue was more customers – always hard to do. In any case the next newspaper record for Jonhn is unfortunately him in jail as insolvent in February 1871. 