October 11, 2019 – These pictures (above and below) of a Peter Henderson, Edinburgh practice chanter just came to me. The instrument appears to be made of cocuswood with a horn ferrule. It’s a very exciting discovery and I’ll post more pictures and information as it comes to me. Should anyone have additional information or artifacts, please contact me as the Henderson family would like to acquire whatever is available. 
The following information came to me courtesy of Peter Henderson’s (Edinburgh) great great great granddaughter, Moraig Henderson (moraig12@yahoo.co.uk). Other information may be found in Jeannie Campbell’s Highland Bagpipe Makers and More Highland Bagpipe Makers.
Peter William Henderson was born at Shakespeare Square Edinburgh (now gone, at the end of Princes Street near where the Waverley Station stands today) on June 29, 1819 to William Henderson and Elizabeth Ronaldson. He was a musician all his life and was very active as a piper in and around Edinburgh as early as 1857. He was listed in the 1861 census as a bagpipe maker and is said to have worked for Alexander Glen at that time. Ads have been found in Edinburgh for piping lessons showing both Peter Henderson and Alexander Glen.
He married Joann (or Johan) McKay in June, 1838 in Edinburgh, his 19th birthday. She was the daughter of William MacKay the Royal Celtic Society’s of Edinburgh’s first official piper, who was on duty at the visit of King George IV to Edinburgh in 1822.
The Sterling Observer of 1st July 1857 reported on the AGM of the Stirling and Bannockburn Caledonian Society. The list of officials included Piper, Peter Henderson. The article also reported on the public examination of the boys educated by the society and on a competition for pipers organised by the Society. The competition results were: ‘To the best player of piprochs on the Great Highland Bagpipe (eleven competitors),1st a great Highland bagpipe, handsomely mounted. J McGregor, piper to Sir R Menzies. 2nd. A full mounted Sporran Morlach and half a sovereign, James Scrymgour. To the best player of Scotch reels on the bagpipe (10 competitors), 1st three sovereigns Duncan Campbell, Edinburgh, 2nd. A sovereign and a half, Donald Mackenzie, Taymouth Castle.’
Later in the day the members dined together in the Royal Hotel. The report ended: ‘We had almost forgot to mention, that the boys were marched three times round the hall, to the tunes of the “Highland Laddie” and the “Campbells are Coming.” Mr Peter Henderson, who made the prize pipes, and who has just been appointed piper to the Society, played the tunes in excellent style, the tone of the pipes, as well as the fingering, being much admired.’
The ad to the left was publish in The Sterling Observer, August 20, 1857.
On the 15th July 1858 the Stirling Observer reported that: ‘The annual trip given by the Magistrates and Town Council of Stirling, as patrons of the hospitals to the boys who are clothed and educated at the expense of the mortifications, as also the boys of the Stirling and Bannockburn Caledonian Society, took place, the scene of the excursion having been fixed in the present season for the Trossachs and Loch Katrine.’
As part of the outing, at 3pm about 60 to 70 gentlemen sat down to ‘an elegant and sumptuous dinner’ in the Trossachs Hotel. After the toasts, ‘The Society’s piper then entered, and marched round the hall three times, playing appropriate tunes on the great Highland bagpipe; and it was a beautiful specimen of that instrument.’ Later in the proceedings, ‘The Hospital and Caledonian Society boys here entered the room, preceded by the Town Officers in full uniform, and headed by the Society’s piper, and were marched twice round the hall, when the chairman requested them to stand for a few moments, and the Rev. Dr Beith would address a few words to them.’
The Stirling Observer of 21 July 1859 reported that ‘The Stirling Sir William Wallace Lodge of Free Gardeners proceeded, on the invitation of the Doune Lodge, to Callander, with their flags and insignia, on the morning of Tuesday last, and joined the procession there. They left the Royal Hotel here at half-past eight o’clock, by coach, Mr Peter Henderson, piper to the Lodge, playing on the great Highland bagpipe, in fine style, “The Campbells are Coming.”’
After describing the events of the day, the report ended, ‘We understand that Mr Henderson, for his admirable display of pipe-music, has been initiated as an honorary member of the Sir William Wallace Lodge.’
The Stirling Observer of 28 July 1859 described a presentation to Peter Henderson: ‘We understand that several pipers have subscribed and presented Mr Henderson with an elegant snuff-mull and silver medal, in appreciation of his ability as a maker of the national instrument. The testimonials bear the following inscription: – “Presented to Mr Peter Henderson, from several pipers, in appreciation of his skill in making a great Highland bagpipe of superior tone and workmanship. Stirling 1859.” Mr Henderson returned thanks in most appropriate terms and said he should always retain a lively recollection of this earnest of the good opinion and good-will of his musical Highland friends, and such a highly valued testimonial would have the effect of causing him to bestow more care than ever on the perfecting in tone and workmanship of the great Highland bagpipe.’
Peter Henderson is listed in the Stirling section of Slater’s Directory of Scotland for 1860 (right) under the classified section for Turners (wood turners), and “Musical Instrument Maker.”
An advertisement for an evening music class appeared in the Scotsman newspaper on 11 October 1860 indicates that Peter Henderson moved from Stirling to Edinburgh during that year. They lived in 2 rooms with windows on the 4th floor. Peter Henderson aged 41 by this time and probably at the peak of his craft. Charles was a 14-year-old apprentice in 1861 he would probably have completed his training by about 1868 when the firm of Peter Henderson and Son first appeared in the directory.
Under the heading ‘Bagpipe Music’ this stated, ‘An evening class will be opened for instruction in Bagpipe Music on Monday 15th inst. For particulars apply to Mr Alexander Glen, 30 St Andrew Square or to Mr P Henderson, 485 Lawnmarket.’
Peter was listed in Edinburgh directories as a Bagpipe and Bowling Ball maker as Peter Henderson & Son, first at 97 West Bow street from 1868, then at 354 Castlehill as large premises next to the Edinburgh castle gate in the early 1870’s. There is an advertisement in the Edinburgh Post Office Directories for 1868.
The 1871 census lists him as a wood turner. Among their children were , Peter (b. 1846), Charles (b. 1847), and James, (b. 1855)
Peter Henderson was involved in a murder trial when he was called as an expert witness. The trial was reported in the Glasgow Herald on 12th April 1873. Henry Reid, a strolling piper and spoon maker had been to Ayr races with his bagpipes and on the night of Friday 20th to Saturday 21st September 1872 on the road between Cumnock and Ayr had become involved in a quarrel with William McCallum who was later found on the road with a stab wound from which he later died. At the scene a rosette from a bonnet and a piece of green cord were found. Several witnesses reported seeing the men on the road or witnessing the quarrel. Peter Henderson, bagpipe maker, Edinburgh, was shown the piece of green cord, and stated that it was his opinion that it had been on bagpipes. The bagpipes shown to the court had the necessary cords. Reid admitted to the fight but claimed that McCallum was also to blame as he had started the quarrel. Despite this Reid was found guilty and sentenced to be hanged.
From 1873 to 1875 the Henderson’s lived at 22 Bread Street, Edinburgh. They were not listed in the 1875‑76 directory – most probably due to the untimely death of his wife Joan in 1874. Everything went downhill for Peter after this. He lost his shop on Castlehill as a row of shops were demolished to build the new Castlehill School in the late 1870s. I believe he may have sold his stock to Thomas Glen (brother of Bagpipe maker Alexander Glen) as his father, William Henderson, worked for Thomas Glen as a music teacher and flute maker.
After which, he seems to have moved to Glasgow. He re-married again in 1883 to a Catherine McIntyre. Things got worse when he suffered from a stroke or similar ailment sometime in the latter 1880s or 1890-91 when first admitted to the poorhouse. He went to the poorhouse due to an inability to work. His record shows he had Hemiplegia (sometimes called hemiparesis), a condition that affects one side of the body. It is caused by injury to parts of the brain that control movements of the limbs, trunk, face, etc. This may have been caused by injury, illness, or stroke. It most certainly affected his ability to work with his hands and to play the bagpipe. Catherine’s whereabouts is unknown at this time.
His days ended in 1897 at Govan Poorhouse (application 1182) Glasgow. It is stated on that death certificate that he was a musician. William, Peter William’s father is listed as a music teacher on Peter’s poorhouse record.
Peter Jr. married Maggie Thomson on June 18, 1872 in Edinburgh. The marriage records (at the right) indicate that his occupation was “Wood Turner”. He was 26 years old at that time, placing his date of birth as 1846. Peter William Henderson is listed as his father, occupation “Wood Turner). There is good reason to speculate that he was working with his father in the bagpipe making business that was established 1868.
In the images below, it is interesting to note the similarities between the “P Henderson EDIN” stamp and that of “P Henderson Glasgow” stamp seen on those instruments. To the claim that Peter Henderson Bagpipes (Glasgow) was established in 1868 is puzzling. The Peter Henderson that is presently associated with Peter Henderson Ltd. Glasgow would have been 17 years old at that time. Also, I find it equally puzzling that the census reported this Peter Henderson living in Fife in 1901 and that his occupation is listed as “farmer”.
We know that Peter William Henderson moved to Glasgow in the late 1870’s, following his wife’s death. Is it possible that his son, Peter Jr. and wife moved to Glasgow as well at that time? Is it possible that this is the Peter Henderson that took over Donald MacPhee’s business in 1880?
I don’t have answers to these question and refuse to speculate past what has already been researched. 
Update May 19, 2020 – There is significant evidence that Peter Henderson (Glasgow) actually had his beginning in Edinburgh! Ancestral records and documents confirm that Peter William Henderson was born in Edinburgh on June 29, 1819. His father worked for Thomas MacBean Glen making flutes. There is also evidence that Peter William Henderson learned his bagpipe making skills from Glen, according to words written by D. R. MacLennan as reported in Jeannie Campbell’s outstanding book Highland Bagpipe Makers. Thomas MacBean Glen retired from the business in 1867, so it is somewhat curious that Peter William Henderson established his own bagpipe making business in Edinburgh in 1868.
As we read above, Peter William Henderson was admired as both a bagpipe maker and as a musician. He also enjoyed a relationship with Alexander Glen. As already mentioned, Henderson established his own business in 1868. Following the closure of the shop ca 1874 Peter William Henderson moved to Glasgow, where he later died in 1897.
Peter William Henderson is known to have had three sons, Peter Henderson Jr. having been born in 1846. The information that we have uncovered seems to identify this Peter Henderson as our Glasgow bagpipe maker who took over from Donald MacPhee. We are continuing to dig for further proof (or contrary information) and submit the signatures below for your consideration. The one signature is from Don Bradford’s 1895 receipt. The signature embedded was found on birth records for a child born to Peter and Margaret Henderson in 1877. Peter’s occupation is “wood turner” and they were living in Edinburgh at that time. The signature of PM Peter Henderson is contained in a music book belonging to Jim McGillivray that was the property of Peter Henderson.
