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Jamie Foyer and Baker Brown's wellMost Lennoxtown residents will be aware of the story of Jamie Foyer. Jamie, was a weaver, who was called up to the militia, and had no alternative but to serve since he could not afford to pay for a substitute. (see Militia Act) From the militia, he volunteered into the 42nd regiment, and in 1812 was sent to Portugal, where, on July 22nd the regiment took part in the battle of Salamanca. The regiment also took part in the assault and capture of Fort St Michael, Burgos on September 19th, where its loss was 228 officers and men. During the battle, Jamie was shot in the chest, and as he lay dying, he wished for a drink of water from Baker Brown's well in Lennoxtown. An unknown author commemorated the incident in song. "Oh! if I had a drink of Baker brown's well, My thirst it would quench, and my fever would quell;" But life's purple current was ebbing so fast That young Jamie Foyer soon breathed his last.
They took for a winding sheet his tartan plaid, And in the cold grave his body was laid; With hearts full of sorrow, they covered his clay, And muttering "Poor Foyer," marched slowly away. Locals sang the song in the streets of Campsie, especially in front of a shop owned by Mr. James Jack, who usually rewarded the singer. In 1887, Mr. Jack told of two strangers arriving in Lennoxtown, looking for the well. They wanted to fill bottles of water to take with them to Spain, where they intended to drink it as near as possible to the spot in Burgos where Jamie died. Baker Brown's well was down Well Lane, just off the Main Street, opposite the Health Clinic.
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