Around about 1720, Andrew Stein (1672 - 1743) founded Kennetpans Distillery, at Kennetpans, Clackmannanshire. Andrew was a part of a farming family that had worked the fields around Kennetpans from the neighbouring Craigton Farm.
There had historically been distilling at Kennetpans at the monastery and it is thought that a small cottage distillery may have existed there prior to 1720. Around this time Andrew built Kennetpans to be of an industrial scale however, and the site was improved over most of it’s life.
1733 - Kennetpans was by this time a huge concern. This was the year that Andrew’s son, John (1697 - 1773), took over at the distillery. Andrew was uncle to John Haig of the Gartlands (The Garlet), who had married Andrew’s granddaughter, Margaret Stein, in 1751.
The Stein Family :
1773 - John’s son, John (Jnr.) took over at Kennetpans and expanded operations.
1777 - John’s brother James Stein founded Kilbagie Distillery, just a mile away.
1780 - John’s brother Robert Stein founded Kincaple Distillery, at Kincalple, near Guardbridge in Fife. This was financed by his brother James Stein of Kilbagie and closed during the collapse of 1788. Kincaple Distillery was re-opened 1795 -1804 by William Haig.
1788 -James Stein is sequestrated and goes to Riga, Latvia to evade his creditors - His son John Stein set up a porter brewery in St. Petersburg, Russia, which is managed by his father until his death.
1790 - James’ son John buys Canonmills Distillery, Edinburgh, previously built and run by James Haig.
1791 - John buys back Kennetpans.
1793 - Robert Stein buys Kilbagie Distillery.
1795 - John (Jnr)’s son, Andrew Stein, buys Hattonburn Distillery, which was founded in 1780 by William Young.
Located near Milnathort, Kinross-shire, its products had a poor reputation. It closed in 1828. The remnants of this distillery form part of Hattonburn Farm. Andrew eventually became provost of St Andrews.
1804 - James Stein, dies in Riga, Latvia.
1813 - Andrew Stein buys Grange Distillery, Alloa.
1820 - John Stein takes over Clackmannan Distillery from Andrew Haig.
1825 - Robert Stein Jun. & Co. buys back Grange Distillery from William Young & Co.
1825 - Kennetpans distillery closed. John Stein (jnr) dies.
1825 - John Stein, MP sells Cannonmills Distillery back to the Haigs.
1825 - The Kirkliston distillery near Edinburgh, which was established in 1795 under the name of Lambsmiln, was bought by a Andrew Stein in 1825. Stein installed one of the first continuous malt triple stills in Scotland there in 1828.
1826 - James’ son Robert produced a ‘continuous’ still, developed at Kilbagie and later production tested at Kirkliston Distillery.
1877 - Kirkliston Distillery was one of the distilleries to form the Distillers Company Ltd. The distillery closed in 1920.
Notable occasions:
John (Jnr)’s daughter Janet Stein marries William Haig.
John (Jnr)’s daughter Isabella Stein marries John Jameson (Jnr).
Mary Ann Bruce Stein marries her cousin Robert Stein (the continuous still inventor)
Robert Burns was a visitor to both Kennetpans and Kilbagie.
1855 - Sunbury Distillery purchased.
By 1856, after establishing and dominating the commercial whisky industry, the Stein family, through various dealings, misfortune and even some questionable practices, were no longer involved in the industry. Their hard work in the early days of modern distilling laid the foundations for the Haigs and the Jamesons.
John Jameson was briefly a general manager at Kennetpans. John Stein had set his sights on the Irish market, founding the Bow Street Distillery, Dublin in1780 and in the same year, he purchased another Dublin distillery, Marrowbone Lane. Both would become vast whiskey manufacturing concerns.
#further research is ongoing, the family were also active in Fife and Lanarkshire, according to the "Scotch Whisky Industry Record".
Stein Owned Distilleries :
Scotland - Years of Ownership
Kennetpans - [Founded]1720 -1825 (John)
Kilbagie - [Founded]1777- 1845 (James)
Kincaple - [Founded] (c.1780) - 1788 (Robert)
Canonmills [Bought] 1788 - 1825 (John)
Hattonburn [Bought] 1795 - 1798 (Andrew) 1821-1828 (Andrew and Charles)
Kirkliston [Bought] 1825 - 1832 (Andrew)
Clackmannan [Bought] 1820 - c.1833 (John)
Grange [Bought] 1813 - 1816 (Andrew), 1825-1826 (Robert)
Sunbury [Bought] (1855 - 1856) (James)
Port Ellen, Islay
Helensburgh [Bought] (1831-1834)
Bank [Partnership] 1825 (Finlay & Stein)
Bank [Bought] 1834 (William)
Ardenistle, Islay [Bought] (1837 - 1842) (Andrew and James)
Glendown [Bought] (1830-1831) (John)
Wilsontown [Bought] (1833-1834) (John)
Linton [Partnership] ( - 1822) (Andrew)
Paisley [Bought] (1798) (Robert)
Kirkfield Bank [Partnership] (1833-1834) (Kilgour & Stein)
Ireland
Bow Street (Dublin)
Marrowbone Lane (Dublin)
Thormond Gate (Limerick)
Marlfield (Clonmel)
Stein Shipping :
The following ships were built in Kincardine by various companies:
Minerva - Built in 1786 by John Marshall of Kincardine, Minerva was a wooden sailing ship, a Brigantine used for cargo deliveries.
Cargo capacity - 121 tons.
Owner when new: James Stein of Kilbagie.
Juno - Built in 1785 by John Marshall of Kincardine, Juno was a wooden sailing ship, a Sloop used for cargo deliveries.
Cargo capacity - 94 tons,
Owner when new: James Stein of Kilbagie.
Rachael - Built in 1785 by John Marshall of Kincardine, Rachael was a wooden sailing ship, a Sloop used for cargo deliveries.
Cargo capacity - 73 tons,
Owner when new: James Stein of Kilbagie and William Scotland of Kincardine.
Neptune - Built in 1784 by John Marshall of Kincardine, Neptune was a wooden sailing ship, a Brigantine used for cargo deliveries.
Cargo capacity - 178 tons.
Owner when new: James Stein of Kilbagie.
Elizabeth - Built in 1780 by James Gray of Kincardine, Elizabeth was a wooden sailing ship, a Sloop used for cargo deliveries.
Cargo capacity - 59 tons.
Owner when new: James Stein of Kilbagie.
John & Thomas - Built in 1782 by John Marshall of Kincardine, John & Thomas was a wooden sailing ship, a Brigantine used for cargo
deliveries.
Cargo capacity - 86 tons.
Owner when new: John Stein of Kincardine and Janet Stein (relic of deceased Thomas Yelton)
Stein owned or leased farms :
Craigton, Kennetpans
Kilbagie
Lorn’s hill, Alloa [possible lease]
Family tree :
Shown below is a layout of what I have been able to find so far.
