Old Parliment Houses, Stirling Castle - Early 20th Century Postcard.
Old Parliment Houses, Stirling Castle - Early 20th Century Postcard.
MARS WARK (WORK), This etching was done in drypoint on fibrous Japan paper in dark brown black ink by SIR DAVID YOUNG CAMERON. R.A., R.S.A., R.W.S., R.S.W., R.E. 1865 - 1945.
Cameron was a prominent and prolific Scottish painter and etcher. He was born in Glasgow and studied at Glasgow School of Art. Cameron lived in Scotland where he executed most of his 500 plates. Regarded as one of the Masters of British etching.. Image size 10 x 6.5 inches / 255 x 170 mm.
The National Wallace Monument (generally known as the Wallace Monument) is a tower standing on the summit of Abbey Craig, a hilltop near Stirling in Scotland. It commemorates Sir William Wallace, the 13th century Scottish hero.
The tower was constructed following a fundraising campaign which accompanied a resurgence of Scottish national identity in the 19th century. In addition to public subscription, it was partially funded by contributions from a number of foreign donors, including Italian national leader Giuseppe Garibaldi.
Completed in 1869 to the designs of architect John Thomas Rochead, the monument is a 220 foot sandstone tower, built in the Victorian Gothic style. It stands on the Abbey Craig, a volcanic crag above Cambuskenneth Abbey, from which Wallace was said to have watched the gathering of the army of English king Edward I, just before the Battle of Stirling Bridge.
The monument is open to the general public. Visitors climb the 246 step spiral staircase to the viewing gallery inside the monument's crown, which provides expansive views of the Ochil Hills and the Forth Valley. A number of artifacts believed to belong to Wallace are on display inside the monument, including the Wallace Sword, a 5 foot 6 inch-long claymore.
Wallace Monument from Tuck's Postcard
Kings Street View - Stirling, Scotland
4060. Original Valentine's "Silveresque" postcard (220707) showing a view of The Kings Knot From Stirling Castle, Scotland.
Original r/p sepia postcard (A.582) by J.B. White Ltd., Dundee, showing a view of The Stirling Arms Hotel And New Promenade, Dunblane, Perthshire, Scotland.
This print of Stirling Castle from Abbey Craig (where the Wallace Monument stands) dates from about
the mid to late ninteenth century. The painter and engraver are unkown.
This print is titled "Stirling Church", the view is from the garden of nearby Argyle's Ludging. Our thanks to Stewart Donaldson for the information. The ruins of Mars Wark can clearly be seen between the two buildings.
Stirling Castle From Ladies Knot
North Chapel of the Holy Rude Kirk - From the Valentine Series
Stirling Castle Print by George Virtue - circa 1838.
This lithograph was printed by George Virtue & co. of London in 1838. Overall print size is 10 1/2 inches by 7 1/2 inches including white borders, actual scene is 4 3/4 inches by 6 7/8 inches.
DESCRIPTION OF PRINT:
Stirling is a royal, municipal and police burgh, river port and county town of Stirlingshire. It is finely situated on the right bank of the Forth, being served by the North British and the Caledonian railways. The old town occupies the slopes of a basaltic hill (420 ft. above the sea) terminating on the north and west in a sheer precipice. The modern quarters have been laid out on the level ground at the base, especially towards the south. Originally the town was protected on its vulnerable sides by a wall, of which remains still exist at the south end of the Black Walk.
The castle crowning the eminence is of unknown age, but from thetime that Alexander I died within its walls in 1124 till the union of the crowns in 1603 it was intimately associated with the fortunes of the Scottish monarchs. It is one of the fortresses appointed by the Act of Union to be kept in a state of repair, and is approached from the esplanade, on which stands the colossal statue of Robert Bruce, erected in 1877. The main gateway, built by James III., gives access to the lower and then to the upper square, on the south side of which stands the palace, begun by James V. (1540) and completed by Mary of Guise. The east side of the quadrangle is occupied by the parliament house, a Gothic building of the time of James IlI now used as a barrack-room and stores. On the north side of the square is the chapel royal, founded by Alexander I., rebuilt in the 15th century and again in 1594 by James VI. (who was christened in it), and afterwards converted into an armoury and finally a store-room. Beyond the upper square is the small castle garden, partly destroyed by fire in 1856 but restored, in which William, 8th earl of Douglas, was murdered by James II. (1452).
Just below the castle on the north-east is the path of Ballangeich, which is said to have given private access to the fortress, and from which James V. took his title of "Guidman of Ballangeich" when he roved incognito. Below it is Gowan Hill, and beyondthis the Mote or Heading Hill, on which Murdoch Stuart, 2nd duke of Albany, his two sons, and his~fatherin-law the Earl of Lennox, were beheaded in 1425. In the plain to the south-west were the King's Gardens, now under grass, with an octagonal turf-covered mound called the King's Knot in the centre. Farther south lies the King's Park, chiefly devoted to golf, cricket, football and curling, and containing also a race-course. On a hill of lower elevation than the castle and separated from the esplanade by a depression styled the Valley-the tilting-ground of former times-a cemetery has been laid out.
Among its chief features are the Virgin Martyrs' Memorial, representing in white marble a guardian angel and the figures of Margaret M'Lauchlan and Margaret Wilson, who were' drowned by the rising tide in Wigtown Bay for their fidelity to the Covenant (1685); the large pyramid to the memory of the Covenanters, and the Ladies' Rock, from which ladies viewed the jousts in the Valley.
With the departure of the monarchy to London in 1603 Stirling's days as a royal residence declined. But then, with the development of a Jacobite threat from the highlands, the castle was converted to a fortress guarding Stirling Bridge and a garrison came to town. A close bond was forged between the army and the burgh which continued for nearly 300 years until the eventual departure of the Argyll and Sutherland, Highlanders in 1964. Today the castle still rings with memories of its royal past, among them James V's striking Renaissance palace, the wonderfully-restored kitchens and the magnificent Great Hall.
Its walls have echoed to the sounds of many languages - kings who spoke French, queens from Denmark, soldiers who knew only Gaelic - and today the place still teems with people from all over the world. Many stop, as Queen Victoria did in 1842 and many monarchs have done since, to admire the Highland view from the castle's ramparts. It's no wonder Stirling folk are proud of 'their' castle, and the links it has given them to the world beyond.
Stirling Castle Print by Bibby - Engraved by Payne
This steel engraving dates from 1860. The artist is Bibby, the engraving was done by Payne. The print was published by Brain & Payne of London, 12 Paternoster Row. Size: Size of the image: 4 x 6; print size including blank margins: 7 1/2 x 10 1/2 inches.
Text from the original description:
The Scots lost three-fourths of their army, and retreated to Stirling, which city they reduced to ashes. Wallace resigned his office as guardian; but the subjugation of the kingdom was not complete. The English, who had left a garrison in Stirling Castle, were compelled by hunger to surrender in the year 1299; but it was retaken by the English, after a most gallant defence by Sir William Oliphant, the governor. In 1303, when Edward again conquered Scotland, Stirling Castle was again besieged, and the garrison, small in number, sustained for three months the assaults of the English, who fought immediately under the eye of their warlike sovereign. The brave Sir William Oliphant resumed the command. The walls were battered most furiously by artillery, using stones of two-hundred weight as balls, which made vast breaches in their ramparts.
The garrison, gradually diminished by the casualties of war, were insufficient for the further defence of the place; and Stirling Castle was the last fortress that surrendered in Scotland. It seems to have remained in the hands of the English until it was beseiged by Bruce in the reign of Edward II. The English advanced with an army of 100,000 men to relieve it; but Bruce, with 40,000 men, encamped between Stirling and Bannockbum, (a small rivulet flowing eastward south of Stirling, and falling into the Forth below that town. The celebrated battle ended, as is well known, in the utter defeat of the English. During the wars of Edward III. it was successively taken and retaken. In the reign of James II. the Earl of Douglas was assassinated in this castle, 1451. James VI. was crowned at Stirling, 1597, when thirteen months old, and his eldest son. Prince Henry, was born here, 1594: the baptism was performed in the Castle with great pomp.
In 1651 the fortress was besieged and taken by General Monk; the marks of this siege are still discernible in the Castle and the steeple of the church. In the last rebellion Stirling Castle was besieged in 1746, and gallantly defended by General Blakeney. General Hawley, who advanced to relieve it, was defeated by the rebels, who, however, retired on the approach of the Duke of Cumberland. It is one of the four Scottish forts (the others are Edinburgh, Dumbarton, and Black ness) which by the articles of the Union are to be constantly garrisoned.
Dunmore Park, Stirilng
Dunmore Park Print
Print comes from the book Picturesque views of seats of the Noblemen of Great Britain and Ireland. Published aobut 1880, Page is 10.3/4" high x 7.3/4" wide aprox size, including margins as shown. Dunmore Park is the site of the famous Garden Pineapple on the garden wall. Worth a visit if you are in the Stirling Area.
``xEEFuyZEulEASKvzwNT``x1134671481``xprofile_photos Stirling Castle Print By Bartlett``xmike``x
BIOGRAPHY OF ARTIST AND HISTORY OF THIS PRINT:
William Henry Bartlett, (born in London, 26 March 1809; died at sea off Malta, 13 Sept 1854) was an English draughtsman, active also in the Near East, Continental Europe and North America. He was a prolific artist and an intrepid traveler. His work became widely known through numerous engravings after his drawings published in his own and other writers' topographical books. His primary concern was to extract the picturesque aspects of a place and by means of established pictorial conventions to render 'lively impressions of actual sights', as he wrote in the preface to The Nile Boat (London, 1849). Bartlett's several views of Scotland bear the date of 1837, and as Nathaniel Parker Willis stated, "Bartlett could select his point of view so as to bring prominently into his sketch the castle or the cathedral, which history or antiquity had allowed". Most views contain some ruin or element of the past including many scenes of churches, abbeys, cathedrals and castles.. The interest in these engravings today is as much for the quality of the rendering and presentation of the architecture of the period as it is for the representation of the landscape.
``xEEFuyyAEuVpDFqgbgu``x1134669145``xprofile_castle Royal Hotel - Bridge of Allan``xmike``x
The Royal Hotel - Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire Photo Dates from about 1885
Two postcard images of Stirling California, they date from about 1910.
Train Pushing snow above Stirling, CA 1910
Card is postmarked 1905
The text below was extracted from the CD used by the Edinburgh Center for Continuing Education for its field trips.
Stirling
Stirling’s position at the heart of Scotland and its dominance of the surrounding flat countryside has made it very important in Scotland’s history. The volcanic cliff, 350’ high with Stirling Castle - dominates the carseland, and Stirling Bridge was the first place where the Forth could be bridged and was therefore of important strategic importance. There was a fort here in pre-Roman times a stronghold of the Britons, who gave the area its name, which means ‘striving’. It was earlier called Mons Dolorum - place of grief or strife. Another derivation of the name may have been from strath or valley. There are traditionally stories of King Arthur who was a British prince associated with the castle and in medieval times it was believed to be the legendary Camelot. The first clear records are of the castle of Alexander I who died here in 1124 and who had ordered the building of a Royal Chapel on the site. David I created the Royal Burgh in 1125. It was an important port by 1150.
The castle became a major Stuart residence, the birthplace of James III and James V, who called himself the Guidman o’ Ballengeich, a croft below the castle where the young princes and princesses went sledging in winter. Both Mary Stuart and James VI were taken there for safety and James VI was brought up in the castle by Earl of Mar and George Buchanan and attended the school below the castle gates.
Important courtiers built town houses close to the Castle.
The castle is situated on well-jointed dolerite (whinstone) - part of the extensive Midland Valley Sill, a sheet of igneous rock intruded into Carboniferous sediments around 300 million years ago.
The esplanade has a statue of Robert the Bruce looking towards Bannockburn.
The outer defences, Gate was built in 1708 because of Jacobite threat and includes the earlier work by Marie de Guise from the 1550’s - French spur over the ditch to the outer defences to protect the ditch. The next defence is the Forework with the James IV towers and gatehouse which would have had pepper pot towers like Holyrood and Falkland and gave the impression of a fairy castle with the romantic connotations of Camelot. The Princes Tower lies to the left of the forework and with the Palace surrounds the Queen Anne Garden
The King’s Old Building built by James IV in 1503 is in the inner close of the Castle and is joined to the Palace, completed by James V. The King’s Old Building was designed by Walter Merlin and had tiled floors and large windows. The Palace is built round the Lion’s Den and has separate apartments for the king and queen. The queen was regarded as the representative of a foreign power and had to be treated as such with her own court. The Palace was begun by James V for his French bride Marie de Guise and part of his wedding present from his mother-in-law were French masons to build it!. Interior decorations included the Stirling Heads, oak medallions. On the outside wall is a statue of James V as the Guid Man O’ Ballangeich. The lions den courtyard was used in the filming of Colditz.
The Great Hall , recently restored, was completed in the 1490’s by James IV and was used as a banqueting hall and parliament hall. The Great Hall has features reminiscent of buildings of the court of Henry VIII with bay windows, a clerestory and hammer beam roof. The English connection is because of the marriage of James IV and Margaret Tudor and the use of English masons. The Hall was used as a barracks when the Castle was the headquarters of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
The Chapel Royal, completed in 1540, was the scene of the coronation of Mary Stuart and baptism of James VI. It was rebuilt by James VI for the baptism of his son Henry in 1594 and at this time a fairy castle was built in the grounds like Camelot for jousting. At the christening banquet in the Great Hall the fish course was brought in on a ship in full sail with firing canons. The frieze round the Chapel was completed for the Scottish coronation of Charles I in 1633.
The Argyll and Sutherland Regimental Museum contains a fine collection of regimental silver.
The Castle was surrounded by a park laid out by David I for hunting and jousting tournaments took place below the Castle. These could be watched from the Lady’s lookout on the north battlements. The lookout was reputedly lowered so that the 4 year old Mary Stuart could see the events below. Close to the Castle was the King’s Knot Garden, which was laid out for Charles I in 1633.
Restoration of the Castle
The Chapel was restored because of damage caused by earlier restoration which was not regarded as being very authentic. This included a modern replica of the old oak barrel ceiling and a new oak and Caithness stone floor. The new altar cloth was completed by the Stirling Embroiders Guild. The walls were lime washed.
The restoration of the Great Hall has cost £8m over 10 years and was completed by 2000. The army had hacked off any protruding features and Mann of these were used in other parts of the building. They had also used old window openings and it was possible by detective work to draw plans of the way the building had been both inside and out. The building was originally harled and colour washed and this will be replaced. The design of the hammerbeam roof was decided from early drawings and evidence from Edinburgh Castle Hall. It was necessary to build a hut and envelope over the roof before replacing it completely. The new ceiling is made from 350 Scottish oak trees which were obtained from coppiced woods owned by Forest Enterprise. Because the site from which they came was a Site of Special Scientific Interest they had to be removed by horse. The wood was prepared by medieval methods and is not seasoned. The jointing systems of the Hall were designed for green timber which as it contracts will become tighter. Every stone of the masonry was detailed and drawn. The Hall will be furnished with hangings including a Cloth of State worked by the Embroiders Guild. The fire will be usable.
The kitchens were restored to their 17th century state.
MEDIEVAL LINKS.
By Margaret Hilton.
The 12th and 13th centuries were a time of consolidation and further settlements of Flemings in Scotland: David I's wife, Mathilda, brought with her to her new home a court of Flemish nobles. For the sake of his wife David "changed the coarse stuffs of his own land for priceless vestments and covered its ancient nakedness with purple and fine linen." Many of these new fabrics came from Flanders and the fashions of the nobles who formed the court spread throughout Scotland.
David I’s son encouraged more Flemings to come and settle in Scotland, particularly in Clydesdale, and from these early settlers many of Scotland's greatest families have come. Some of these knightly settlers were granted land and became strong supporters of the King. But there were also more humble followers of these knights and they soon resumed their agricultural pursuits and their skills of weaving. Soon these Flemings began to rise to positions of authority. We have, for example Michael Fleming as Sheriff of Edinburgh about 1200 and Gilbert Fleming, a baillie of Biggar in 1322.
David I was known as a 'sair sanct for the croon' and he certainly had a great influence on the life and organisation of the church in Scotland. He was responsible for the foundation of many abbeys, including Kelso in the Scottish Borders. Soon after, its neighbour, Melrose, was established and both these abbeys became involved in sheep farming and the wool trade. Their position near the East Coast meant that their wool was exported to Flanders. In 1 182 Philip, Count of Flanders, granted exemption of taxes to Melrose who had requested free passage to sell their wools. In 1 225 again the monks of Melrose asked permission to sell their woof in Flanders. But also in the 13th century, Guy de Dampierre confiscated the property of Scottish merchants.
The wool trade of Melrose was sometimes interrupted by the wars with England, which meant that the monks could not use the port of Berwick but must send their wool through Scottish ports such as Leith. In 1296 Melrose exported through Berwick 2.000 fleeces, 3.000 sacks of wool to Bruges.
But it was not just wool which formed the links between Scotland and Flanders in the Middle Ages. In the Melrose records we read how, in 1441 Cornelius Aeltre of Bruges; carpenter; contracted to make a set of choir stalls, after the model of a church in Flanders. He received full payment beforehand. Unfortunately, immediately after the contract there was a great financial crisis and he had to pay his workmen in good new money while he himself had been paid in the old. Moreover there had been a strike and a riot in Bruges. As the stalls were not delivered the case was pleaded before the aldermen of Bruges by John Crawford, monk of Melrose. The stalls were stored in the Franciscan house of Bruges for many years.
But it was not only the monasteries which benefited from the wool trade with Flanders. From the time of David 1 onwards the Scottish records are full of laws which were enacted to regulate the trade. In the Leges Burgorum of David I, it was said that all Flemings must treat only with burgers merchants.
In 1348 a Treaty of Fair Trade and perpetual friendship between Scotland and Flanders was made and this was renewed in 1459 and again in 1394.
Matters however were not always so friendly. In 1412 the merchants League of Flanders declined to purchase from Scotsmen either at Bruges or at any other place. Cloth, either dressed or undressed manufactured from Scottish wool and in 1 418 the Compter at Bruges was ordered to refrain from all commercial relations with the Scots.
But affairs improved in 1442 when the Scottish Parliament agreed to endow a chapel of St. Ninian in the Carmelite House at Bruges and tolls were collected from ships for its support. It was here the Scottish merchants worshipped when they were in Flanders and they had their own chaplain there. It was near to their 'Place', near to their Consular House, adjoining the Augustinian Monastery but in 1470 the merchants transferred themselves to the Place St. Martin, then called Scottenplaets. For some time in the 14th century the Scottish Staple was at Bruges.
One of the most famous of the Bruges merchants at this time was Anselm Adorne. His family was influential in Bruges and he himself was widely travelled. In 1468 he came to Scotland on a trade mission to try to re-establish trade between Scotland and Flanders and while he was in Scotland he met King James III. In 1472 he returned to Bruges and was made Conservator of Scottish privileges granted by the Duke of Burgundy to 3pursue, procure, request or defend the goods of the said merchants and their rights and actions in the said city of Bruges." He was back in Scotland in 1 474 and was made Keeper of Linlithgow Palace by James III. He ran into trouble in Bruges in 1477 and was put into prison for misuse of funds. On his release he returned to Scotland and in 1483 he was murdered. He was buried in Linlithgow and there is now a plaque in the church there to commemorate him. His heart was cut out and sent to Bruges to be buried beside his wife Margaret in the family church : the Jerusalemkerke in Bruges.
A later conservator of Scottish privileges was Andrew Halyburton (1493-1503). It was said of him that "he looked after the weal of his fellow Scots carefully and saved them much expense". In 1620 Peregrine Paterson was the Conservator and had a difficult time as he had to assist and relieve many ruined Scottish merchants.
By the 16th century the Conservator was lodging in Antwerp for that town had provided a pleasant house for the use of the Conservator in which he might also lodge Scottish traders' Merchandise. When a fleet arrived from Scotland and there were too many for that house the Burgomaster was empowered to find them other lodgings. The Government of Scotland was said to be very content with their treatment. The Famous Treaty of Free Trade was ratified at Antwerp in 1551. Mary, Queen of Scots had drawn it up on one side and Charles V on the other.
But the links between Scotland and Flanders encompassed much more than the wool trade, valuable to both countries as that was. Religion also played its part. During the early Middle Ages Europe was united by a common faith and scholars, monks and clergymen travelled freely from country to country teaching, preaching and learning (For example, a Scot, Henry de Leighton, was Rector of Louvain in 1432 and later Bishop of Aberdeen). There was frequent communication between the houses of the different Monastic orders. Travel to the Papal Court in Rome (and also in Avignon) by clergymen from every country in Europe was commonplace.
But perhaps the greatest number of travellers were the Crusaders and pilgrims who had recognised routes to Jerusalem and to the shrines of the Saints such as St. James at Compostella and St Giles at the Mouth of the Rhone. St Giles also forms a link between Scotland and Flanders. The High Kirk of Edinburgh is dedicated to St Giles, and in the 15th century it received from a Crusader, William Preston, one of its greatest treasures, an arm, of St Giles as a relic. At almost the same time the church of St Giles in Bruges also received from a Crusader, Guillaume de Grauchet, an arm of St Giles. At the time of the Reformation St Giles, Edinburgh lost the relic, but St Giles in Bruges which had had its arm authenticated by the Pope, still has its relic. When the Thistle Chapel was being built in Edinburgh at the beginning of this century, an arm in a reliquary was discovered and it was sent to Bruges for comparison to see if it could be the lost arm of St Giles. But alas, both arms were left arms so the Edinburgh discovery could not be authentic.
The Wool Trade and Religion can thus be seen to have forged close links between Scotland and Flanders, but the Flemings also had a great influence on the domestic life of Scotland. When they settled here they brought their skills particularly in weaving and agriculture. More will be said about their contribution to the textile industry in a later section of this catalogue, for this included not just wool but linen, lace and blankets.
In the houses of the Mediaeval period both the large halls and palaces, as well as in the small homes of the workers the influence of the Flemish settlers was immediately apparent. In furniture the wood working skills were seen in the Flemish Kist which was very popular. The tapestry and hangings both large and small were much admired. James V in 1 539 purchased $77-18s Tapestry Arras hangers from Flanders and in 1541 John Moffat Steward brought from Flanders furnishings for the King. Tapestries were hung in churches and in town halls and for any ceremonial processions the streets were decorated with them, as in the welcome to James III's bride, Margaret of Denmark. Margaret Tudor, coming north in 1474 to marry James IV brought "according to Flemish fashion a kirtle of satin and a long gown of crimson satin, a riding gown of black Ypres cloth and a cloak and hood of same". Where the Queen led others followed and Flemish furriers, weavers of velvet, glovers and skinners were well patronised by the ladies and gentlemen of the court. That the fashion for things Flemish continued can be seen in the will of Queen Mary Stuart, where each of her four Maries received a velvet cloak of Flemish style.
In the fields of the Arts and Culture too the Flemings left their mark on Scotland. One of the finest paintings in the National Gallery in Edinburgh is the Trinity Altarpiece of Hugo van der Goes which was commissioned by Mary of Gueldres, wife of James II, for the church she founded here. It now belongs to the Queen. Van der Goes was Dean of the Guild of Painters in Ghent from 1473-1475.
Many of the Scottish Merchants trading with Flanders brought home paintings and works of Art as did Francis Spottiswood, cloth merchant of Edinburgh who brought "ane hingand brod of oleg cullouris fra Flanders". He also brought a mirror or keeking glass from the Flemish glass-works in 1521.
``xEEkpVkpkAuDvYFizTn``x1120520294``xprofile_research The Rise of the Flemish Families In Scotland``xmike``xThe following was submitted by Rick Stirling to help all of us understand better who were the people that David I surrounded himself with. Enjoy.
THE RISE OF THE FLEMISH FAMILIES IN SCOTLAND
by Annette Hardie - Stoffelen
For the Anglo-Flemish, the half century between the Norman Conquest of 1066 and the witnessing of that Glasgow Inquisitio which brought them into Scottish affairs in 1116 must have seemed like the summit of the world. After the awe-inspiring repulse of the Vikings by their fathers in Flanders, they had gone on in their own time to reach and sustain a pinnacle of achievement never known before in the history of a nation. Nationhood itself was a very young concept. Family bonds, loyalty to a liege lord, be he count, duke or king, the honour of a sacred cause, adherence to the chivalry code - these things were what bound men together, with national borders apt to be secondary to kinship, perhaps because they were so unfixed. Those Flemings who had followed Count Eustace II of Boulogne to England in 1066 and received their territories there from William of Normandy, were now being offered large tracts of Scotland because their Lady had become that country’s Queen.
In England, Henry II’s reign was marked by acts of oppression against those Flemings who had supported Stephen of Blois. Flemish noblemen were compelled to flee back across the Channel for their own safety and many of their humbler followers were forcibly removed to farming colonies such as those in Pembrokeshire, far from both the seats of English power and the cross-Channel ports from which help might have come. The East Midlands Boulonnais instituted a second wave of immigration into Scotland, where they joined their relatives already there, and were joyfully received by their royal kinsmen, successively kings of Scotland, Malcolm the Maiden and William the Lion. The latter’s choice of heraldic device, of necessity an innovatory one since he was not heir to any Boulonnais territory, underscores the sudden fashion for lions. But the tinctures were those of Boulogne. That curious device the tressure, found only in the armorials of Flanders and Scotland must have been adopted from the former country to mark the Charlemagnic descent from Queen Maud through her grandfather, Count Lambert of Lens.
In Scotland the seed of the Eustaces had ruled untroubled since the marriage of Maud de Lens to David I. Supported by descendants of her own house of Boulogne and their kinsmen, men such as Walter the Fleming (now Seton), Gilbert of Ghent/ Alost (now Lindsay), Robert de CominesISt Pol (now Comyn and Buchan), Arnulf de Hesdin (now Stewart and Graham), the counts of Louvain (now Bruce), the hereditary advocates of Bethune (now Beaton), the hereditary castellans of Lille (now Lyle), and all their cadets and followers, her own descendants continued on the throne until the tragic untimely death of her great-great-grandson, Alexander II, in 1286, followed by the equally disastrous death at sea of his own heiress and granddaughter, the little Maid of Norway, in 1290.
It has not been sufficiently understood that the wars of the Scottish succession were intimately concerned with an insistence by the Boulonnais there that their own blood should continue on the throne. For Flemings had married Flemings and by now south and east Scotland was largely populated by men and women whose ancestors had come from Gent, Guines, Ardres, Comines, St Omer, St Pol, Hesdin, Lille, Tournai, Douai, Bethune, Boulogne. The 1290 break in the Scottish-Boulonnais succession provided the English monarchy with a heaven-sent opportunity to annul the Charlemagnic descent. Stepping in as friend and mediator, Edward I flung his armed weight behind John Baliol - a man who, although undoubtedly a Fleming, was not descended in the male line from the old comital house of the Eustaces. Nor has it been properly appreciated that the Ragman Rolls of the 1290s, by which an allegiance to Edward I had to be sworn by men described by later historians as Scottish nobles, were simply lists of important people of Flemish ancestry wherever they might be found; in fact many of the names are recognisable as belonging to Boulonnais living in the East Midlands, among them the Seatons of Rutland and descendants of the Lincolnshire Gilbert of Ghent.
The patriotic William Wallace was a Scottish Celt, unacceptable as king to the Boulonnais nobility, though his bravery commended itself to some of them. Robert Bruce, cousin of the Eustaces, directly descended by several lines from both Charlemagne and David’s Queen Maud, was eligible in every way. Robert de Bruce’s ancestor came into England carrying the azure lion of Louvain, and must have been of that house, whose Maud de Louvain was the wife of Count Eustace I of Boulogne. Members of Robert’s family may well have been granted estates in Normandy at, for instance, Brix as tradition states, by a Conqueror anxious to procure both their allegiance and their Flemish ability to provide trade. Robert de Bruce very properly gave up the Louvain lion to Jocelyn de Louvain, a senior son of the family, when that prince married the heiress to the Percys; and the saltire, in the colours of Boulogne, became the mark of Bruce. And Edward I’s rage and dismay at Bruce’s coronation at Scone on March 27, 1306, may be gauged by that curious ceremony some two months later in Westminster Hall, on Whit Sunday, May 22, when he caused two live swans with gold chains about their necks to be brought into the Hall, and laying his hands upon them, swore with all his attendant nobles before God, Our Lady and the Swans’ that he would be avenged on the Scots. It was a highly expressive action. Edward’s public vow-taking was half a defiance, half a capitulation. The swan was then, as it is still, the central heraldic mark of the arms of Boulogne. For the swan legend (in spite of Lohengrin) seems to have originated at the castle of Bouillon, which was the inheritance of Eustace II’s second son, Godfrey of Bouillon. Scottish writers have followed a Celtic tradition which preferred to allot the thistle to a legend of Kenneth MacAlpine rather than give it its true (and much more thought-provoking) significance as the personal emblem of Godfrey of Bouillon, who led so many founders of Scottish families on the First Crusade.
Investigation into the rise of the European nobility - where they came from, who they were - has only recently become a subject of interest to continental historians. These 20th-century researchers have put forward various theories; some of them are in conflict with each other, chiefly because of regional differences. But the belief that the noble families of the northern part of the Continent were sprung from marriages of Charlemagne s children with the commanders of his civil or military’ administration,
retaining at least some of that power, is substantiated by virtually all the genealogical documents that have survived those distant times.
The regions where the ruling families were of Carolingian descent embrace the comtés north of the Ile de France, east of Normandy, west of Germany, including of course the whole of Flanders - a description here used broadly to include territories like Brabant and Hainaut which, though theoretically independent, were in practice part of the political ambience of the Flemish counts, and for long periods under their direct control.
Flemish families separated by the events of 1066 and subsequent years, making lives wholly apart for themselves in a Scotland divided from Flanders by an absolute gap in both time and distance, still possess armorial devices identical with those borne by men in Flanders often of the same name. The Scottish families of Flemish origin listed below are by no means the whole of the Flemish contingent that went north at David I’s request.
BAIRD
The Baird (originally’ Baard) family are first quoted as of Loftus, Yorkshire. About 1200 Richard Bard in Scotland confirmed gifts made by his father, also Richard, to Lesmahagow Priory, Lanarkshire, an action for which he had to have the consent of his lord, Robert of Biggar, grandson of the Sheriff of Lanarkshire, Baldwin the Fleming. There can be little doubt that the Baards, or Bairds, shared Baldwin’s nationality. Their arms show, in the colours of Boulogne, one of the emblems of Guines.
BALLIOL
A number of llth- and l2th-century charters survive, signed by members of the Bailleul family, which give conclusive proof that their home at the relevant dates was Bailleul near Hazebrouck in the present-day’ Nord department of France, but then, of course, in Flanders. It appears certain that Guy de Bailleul was present at the Battle of Hastings. The date when the English Balliols first acquired lands in Scotland is obscure. But that they had an interest in the Christian advancement of Scotland is shown by the gift Bernard de Balliol made to the abbey of Kelso in the year 1153, of a fishery in the river Tweed at Wudehorn. Although they chose wives from leading Flemish families, their changes of heraldic symbols (often acquired through such marriages) tend to suggest that the Balliols themselves were not of the aid Charlemagnic nobility - an important factor when judging the lack of support John Balliol received from fellow Flemings when he was trying to acquire for himself and his heirs the crown of Scotland.
BRUCE
That Brix, in the hinterland behind Cherbourg (the place in Normandy from which the Bruce family supposedly took its llth-century’ surname) should have been called after a follower of the first Duke Robert is not impossible. The old stronghold is said to have been given to Robert de Brus’s kinsman, Adam - father, brother or son - who built his castle there, perhaps after the family had come to Normandy in the retinue of Matilda of Flanders, the Conqueror’s bride. The first arms borne in England by the Bruce family - the azure lion of Louvain - shout as loudly as anything could of their connection not only with Flanders but with Queen Maud’s grandfather, Count Lambert of Lens, who was the heir of his mother, Maud de Louvain. Maud de Louvain, who married Count Eustace I of Boulogne was the granddaughter of Count Lambert I of Louvain. Her cousin Henry’s grandson, Joscelyn, through whom the comté of Louvain descended after the failure of the senior line, followed Robert de Brus in bringing the blue lion to England. Robert (later de Bruis) must have been a younger grandson of Count Lambert I and therefore a first cousin of Maud de Louvain. When Joscelyn de Louvain came to England in the mid 12th century’ to marry the heiress of the Percys, it was natural for Robert de Brus to yield up the azure lion to him as the senior representative here of the family, and Robert adopted the device thereafter associated with Bruce - the saltire.
The saltire was a known device of Flanders and in the 12th century, it was borne by a noble family of Flanders called Praet. In the early years of the 11th century they were castellans of Bruges, known to be noble and rich though their ancestry is unrecorded. Robert de Brus himself may once have been known as Robert de Bruges, since a man of that name and title holds the castellany from 1046 and probably earlier, until he disappears from Flemish records in 1053. That was the year in which Matilda of Flanders married William, Duke of Normandy. It is certain that many nobles of her country attended Matilda into the Duchy, and there is no reason why Robert de Bruges of the princely houses of Louvain and Boulogne should not have been among them. Did one of his sons, Adam, build a castle at Brix, near Cherbourg, and another, Robert, came to England after Domesday to claim the lands awarded here to his father for loyalty to the Conqueror’s wife?
We may note that the arms of the city of Bruges, adopted by its burghers in the 13th century and said to have been taken from the bearings of its castellans, show a lion rampant azure. It is possible to trace the castellans of Bruges back in time from the family of Nesle, who took over the office in 1134. Ralph de Nesle’s predecessor was Gervaise de Praet (of the saltire), who was given the office after the murder of Count Charles the Good by the Erembalds in 1127. The Erembalds were an ignoble family who brought great scandal to Flanders, culminating in the murder of its Count. They had held the Bruges castellany from 1067, having acquired it through another murder, this time of the incumbent, Castellan Baldran. Baldran’s immediate predecessor was that Robert de Bruges who left the office in 1053, the year of the marriage between Matilda of Flanders and Normandy’s Duke William. A Hainaut family, de Carnière, bore for arms a saltire and from at least the 12th century held estates near the home of Count Lambert de Lens. No connection with Praet has so far been uncovered but de Carnière had connections with another noble family, Heverlee of Louvain, who used the same arms; and one of the lordships in their fiefdom was called Brus.
CAMERON
One would not wish to disturb the legends of this brave and chivalrous family. But it might be sensible to paint out that Cameroen (Flemish for Cambron), which is one of the earliest forms of the name, is a small place in Hainaut, less than five miles from Lens where Count Lambert, grandfather of Queen Maud of Scotland, had his home. The arms of Cameron - the famous three bars of Lochiel’s shield - were the same as those of the great frontier family of Oudenaarde, peers of Flanders, advocates (or defenders) of the abbey at Ename, East Flanders, and soldiers who worked closely with the counts of Alost to keep their country’s eastern border. Oudenaarde is about 25 miles northwest of Cambron, in a tightly knit region where all the leading families were related to each other. Gillespick, the first Cameron and usually allotted an initial date of 1057 and a Celtic parentage, is the Gaelic translation, meaning servant of the Church, of the Flemish name Erkenbald - a transformation which is said to have arisen out of a mistaken belief that the bald syllable in Erkenbald referred to a monk’s tonsure, whereas bald in Flemish means bold.
CAMPBELL
It was the 8th Duke of Argyll who used to cry: "I am pure Celt"; however, there is no doubt at all that the arms of Campbell are anciently the arms of the Baldwins, Counts of Flanders. And it has to be stressed that with the extremely strong Flemish presence at the medieval Scottish court, there could be no possibility of any arms of Flanders, but above all, the comital bearings, being borne by a man not of that blood.
The device is a strange one, rare in heraldry. It seems to have arisen out of the chequers of Vermandois. The connection with Vermandois is important because Harelbeke, the first seat of the counts of Flanders, was old Vermandois territory. When Count Baldwin I moved his seat of government to Gent about 1160, he discarded the Vermandois colours for his own famous black lion on a shield of gold.
The first Campbell of whom we have note bore the thoroughly Flemish name of Erkenbald, written in Scotland as Archibald and translated into Gaelic as Gillespic, or "servant of the Church". Gillespic Campbell married Eva, daughter and heiress of Paul O’Dwin, the native lord of Lochow. At that time the western part of the country was not in the hands of the king. Norwegians of Orcadian descent held parts of it, and the rest was controlled by Somerled, lord of Argyll. It was not until the end of the 13th century, when the Norwegian threat had been pushed back, that the Campbell name began to appear in official documents of the region. Up till then, Gillespic Campbell and his heirs might have kept a discreet profile in the west until the quarrel with the men of Lorn in the 1290s, which the Campbells won at the cost of the death in 1294 of their chief and hero, Colin Campbell or Cailean Mor. His son, Sir Neil Campbell of Lochow, married the sister of Robert Bruce.
COMYN
Robert de Comines was made Earl of Northumberland by William the Conqueror in 1069. In 1133, William Comyn, his grandson or great-nephew (the exact relationship is not known) was appointed High Chancellor of Scotland by David I. One of his nephews, Richard, received from David’s son, Prince Henry, the lands of Linton Roderick, in Roxburghshire, which were the first Scottish possessions of this great family. These men of Combines, who became Coming, Cumin, Cumming, were Fleming’s. The
town of Comines is nowadays a substantial place on the border between France and Belgium. In the l1th century it was a small manorial estate in Hainaut belonging to the Count of St Pal whose surname was Campdavene. The St Pal arms have become the famous mark of Comyn- William Comyn’s brother Richard married Hextilda, the granddaughter of Donald Bane, slain in 1097. We know from the Regesta Rerum Scottorum and other sources that a 13th-century Count of St Pal -- by then not any longer Campdavene but Chatillon had built for himself in Inverness that is in Moray a wonderful ship, so that in it he could boldly cross the sea with the Flemings.
CRAWFORD
The first adequately recorded member of the Crawford (or Crawfurd) family is John, stepson of Baldwin the Fleming, of Biggar, who was given lands near Crawford which thereafter became known as Crawfordjohn. Towards the end of the 12th century, William de Lindsay came into Crawford and made the place impregnable by building Tower Lindsay.
The Crawford arms are known to have been borne by castellans of Douai. The labyrinthine inter-relationships of the Flemish nobility in their own country continued into England and Scotland, and there are other clues to the origin of the Crawford arms. Baldwin of Biggar is sometimes described, apparently because of his wife, as Baldwin of Multon. The place is nowadays identified as Moulton in Lincolnshire; its first known holder the Anglo-Flemish Lambert of Multon, also held estates in the north, among them Egremont in Cumberland. Egremont derives from Aigremont, near Lille, then in Flanders though now in the Nord department of France. The lords of Aigremont were peers of Lille, advocates of Tournai, and crusaders. Their arms were identical with those of Crawford.
DOUGLAS
Although William de Douglas was the first known owner of Douglasdale, holding that land between 1174 and 1213, there is no reason to doubt that his father was Theobaldo Flamatico or Theobald the Fleming. The family’s arms indicate the kinship with Murray and a descent like that of Brodie and Innes, from a third son of the house of Boulogne. In Flanders there was a family of the Theobalds who were hereditary castellans of Ypres between about 1060 and 1127, after which their history becomes obscure. Theobald’s lands in Scotland were granted to him soon after 1150 by the Abbot of Kelso. William de Douglas, the heir, having married the sister of Friskin de Kerdale or Freskin of Moray, had by her six sons; the five younger of them all went to Moray to support their uncle there and his own heir, Archenbald, stayed in Lanarkshire to inherit the Douglas estates. He married a daughter of Sir John Crawford.
FLEMING
0f Biggar in Lanarkshire, Baldwin the Fleming was given the onerous sheriffdom of Lanarkshire by David I. He married the unnamed widow of Reginald, fourth son of Alan, Earl of Richmond, and her son John 0f Crawford was to become one of his knights. A sure guide to Baldwin’s ancestry must lie in his armorial bearings which has a double tressure. The tressure is unknown as a heraldic device in any country except Scotland and Flanders, the latter’s use being the earlier. Even there, only one family is shown in surviving records as having borne it, the mighty lords of Gavere, in the province of Gent. A Lord of Gavere married Eve, Lady of Chièvres, about 1130, and their son, Razo IV sported the double tressure on his shield. Eve’s family had been represented in the Conqueror’s army by William de Chièvres who became a powerful baron of Devon. At what date Baldwin left Devon for Scotland is not known. His descendants became the Earls of Wigton and Lords Fleming of Cumbernauld.
GRAHAM
William de Graham first appears in Scotland within a year or two of David’s accession, having been given lands at Dalkeith. He came from Grantham in Lincolnshire (spelt Graham in medieval times), bearing the escallops of Hesdin, and there can be no doubt that he .was the younger son of Arnulf de Hesdin. Arnulf’s death at Antioch had left three unprotected children. Walter, the elder boy, must have gone back to Hesdin, where he eventually inherited the comté; Avelina succeeded to her father’s English possessions; she became the wife of Alan Fitz Flaald and, by him, ancestress of the Scottish Stewart kings. One of William’s descendants was the Duke of Montrose.
HAY
The ancestor of the Scottish Hay family, William de La Haie, came to Scotland in the reign of David I and became butler to both Malcolm IV and William the Lion. His place of origin was named La Haie, near Loos in west Flanders whose lords served the castellans of Lille; their device was exactly like that of the Scottish Hay. The first castellans of Lille descended from the noble Fleming, Saswalo of Phalempin. Their charter surname, de Insula, appears many times in British history and Roger de Insula was the ancestor of the lords Lyle in Scotland. One of his grandsons married Matilda of Wavrin whose family was also of Lille and who could trace their descent from Charlemagne by several lines.
INNES
Berowald was in possession of land named after himself at Berowald’s(or Bo’ness, once the third seaport of Scotland, having a considerable trade with the Low Countries) in West Lothian in the 1150s. He was a man of considerable rank and distinction and by a charter of Malcolm IV in 1154, he was given lands in Moray at Innes and Easter Urquhart. In that charter he is described as Berowaldo Flandrensi -Berowald the Fleming. The award was made in recognition of his good services in putting down the rebellious natives of Moray, and one of the charter witnesses was William, son of Freskin, the ancestor of the Murrays. Berowald’s arms are symbolically the same as Freskin’s, with tinctures changed and tressure omitted, as would be proper for a younger member of the family founding his own dynasty.
LINDSAY
Baldwin of Alost and his younger brother, Gilbert de Ghent, companion of the Conqueror, were sons of Ralph of Alost and cadets of Guines. Gilbert de Ghent, Earl of Lincoln, was father of Walter de Lindsay, ancestor of the Scottish family of Lindsay.
MURRAY
All chroniclers agree that Freskin was a Fleming who was in Scotland in the reign of David I, and was initially allotted estates at Strathbrock in West Lothian. He took part in quelling the insurrection of 1130 in Moray, and was thereafter given the task of defending that county and awarded the extensive lands necessary to do so, his headquarters being at Duffus where he built a mighty fortress. Freskin’s arms, which have passed to his ultimate descendants, the Murray dukes of both Atholl and Sutherland, were the colours and devices of a third son of Boulogne - the family of David’s queen. (The ancient earldom of Atholl bore the colours of Flanders). As a personal name, Freskin does not appear in Flemish dictionaries. It is presumed to be a nickname, perhaps meaning the one with the frizzy hair or curly-headed.
OLIPHANT
The manor of Lilford, Northamptonshire was held at Domesday by the Countess Judith, and her under-tenant there was her nephew, Walter the Fleming. The spelling given in Domesday Book is Lilleford, but the place was also known as Holy Ford. The first Holyford, Olifard or Oliphant of Lilford of whom we have note was Roger, who witnessed a charter to St Andrew’s Priory, Norhtampton, for Simon de Senlis, first husband of Scotland’s Queen Maud. Roger's successor at Lilford was William, and the David Oliphant born there about 1120 who was godson of Maud’s second husband, David of Scotland, was William’s son.
The war between King Stephen and the Empress Maud was a difficult one for all Flemings, but David Oliphant’s dilemma was more acute than most. While fighting for Stephen at Winchester in 1141, young Oliphant became aware that his royal godfather, fighting on the other side, was in great peril. At the risk of his own life he saved the Scottish king and hid him until the way was clear for an escape over the Border. Although the Oliphants continued to hold Lilford until 1266 (when it passed to their kinsman, Walter de Mai-ay), David Oliphant followed his godfather to Scotland and spent the rest of his life there, serving him loyally and wisely as justiciar of Lothian. His heraldic device was that of a second son of Boulogne, so David Oliphant was of the family of Lens like Queen Maud.
SETON
The name derived from the Yorkshire small harbour village of Staithes, nine miles north of Whitby and was in the 1lth century called Seaton Staithes. It was a stronghold for the Seatons. After Domesday but before the end of the 11th century the family name had been drawn inland, most portentously to Rutland, where at the new manor of Seaton the Lady Maud de Lens and her sister Alice were spending the betrothal period before their marriages. Maud’s Scottish son, Prince Henry, would pass the name to Seaton, Cumbria, where he established a cell of his abbey at Holmcultram. Earlier than either of these moves, it went to the Firth of Forth where Queen Maud’s premier Flemish relative, her uncle Seier de Seton built his great place for the protection of herself and her heirs. As their own distinctive crescents show, Seier de Seton and his brother Walter sprang from a second son of the house of Boulogne, Count Lambert de Lens who was the grandfather of Scotland’s Queen Maud. On the Firth of Forth, Seier was called Dougall or the dark stranger, a nickname which was also given to his son Walter
STEWART
The descent of this family from the Breton, Alan Fitz Flaald, is well known and need not be re-told here but the significant ancestry enjoyed by his son Walter, founder of Paisley Abbey and steward to Scottish kings, came through his mother, Avelina de Hesdin. It was the blood of the counts of Hesdin which was venerated in Flanders, and it was that noble heritage which persuaded those Flemings who had made their home and their patrimony in Scotland, to allow Walter’s descendants to occupy its throne. But Alan Fitz Flaald himself possessed a thought-provoking ancestry which it would be unwise to ignore. The Breton Count of Dol appointed his forebear Flaald or Flathauld (? or Fleaunce) to the position of steward or dapifer in his Celtic household. The legend of Banquo’s murder by Macbeth and the flight of his son, Fleaunce, southward, was well known in Scotland long before Shakespeare’s day; the playwright’s information was drawn from Scottish histories. What has never been explored by this legend’s detractors is the close connection between medieval Wales, to which Fleaunce had immediately fled, and Brittany, to whose charters Flaald and his family were contributing in the second half of the 11th century. Church paths - the so-called saints’ paths between Wales and Brittany were very well trodden in the 11th century, and the inhabitants of the two countries could speak each other’s language. Alan Fitz Flaald’s descent from Banquo, thane of Lochaber, need not be summarily dismissed; its attractiveness to those who wish to retain Scotland as a wholly Celtic monarchy is understandable.
Annette Hardie - Stoffelen
Sources
Beryl PLATTS, "Origins of Heraldry", 1980; "Scottish Hazard" Vol,I, 1985, Vol.II, 1990, Procter Press, London.
J.Arnold FLEMING, "Flemish Influence in Britain", 1930, Jackson, Wylie & Co, Glasgow.
Cadder House, photographed in 1870 by Thomas Annan. The mansion was built in 1654 and greatly improved during the early 19th century. In 2004 it is Cadder Golf Club's clubhouse.
The Stirling family acquired the Cadder estate in the 12th century. Charles Stirling (d 1830) of the West Indies merchants Stirling, Gordon & Co built a new wing to the house and laid out ornamental gardens some time after 1816. Sir William Stirling Maxwell held the estate in 1870.
Reference: Sp Coll Dougan Add. 73 Glasgow University Library, Special Collections
``xEEkpVEAVyZgQdXcgDi``x1120519567``xprofile_photos Two Large Images of Stirling Castle``xmike``xTwo large format images of Stirling Castle -
1880's Print of Stirling Castle. Engraver and Printer Unknown.
Stirling Castle Print Etched by S.Middiman, finished by W.Byrne - 1781
Beautiful original eighteenth century engraving of Stirling castle. Published by T.Hearne & W.Byrne, March 1781. Size: 27.5 x 23cm
Part of the U.S. Federal Censuses from 1850-1880 included a mortality schedule enumerating the individuals who had died in the previous year. Because each of the censuses from 1850-1880 began on June 1, "previous year" refers to the 12 months preceding June 1, or June 1 (of the previous year) to May 31 (of the census year).
Researched and submitted by Rick Stirling May 5, 2005
Name Place of Death Census Birth Year Place of Birth Gender Age
Starling, Edward Janesville, Greenwood, Kansas Territory 1870 abt 1835 Minnesota Male 35
Starling, Elizabeth District 148, Vinton, Ohio 1850 abt 1771 Pennsylvania Female 79
Starling, Emaline Blackankle, Upson, Georgia 1880 abt 1877 Georgia Female 3
Starling, Emma Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan 1880 abt 1877 Female 3 6/12
Starling, Emma L Detroit Ward 9, Wayne, Michigan 1880 abt 1877 Michigan Female 3
Starling, Femie Northern Division, Sampson, NC 1860 abt 1789 North Carolina Female 71
Starling, Frank Troy, Athens, Ohio 1880 abt 1876 Ohio Male 4
Starling, Jeraldine H Polkton, Ottawa, Michigan 1860 Michigan Female 1/12
Starling, Jessee The South Side of Nurse, Wayne, NC 1850 abt 1817 Male 33
Starling, Matilda Henderson, Rusk, Texas 1880 abt 1861 Texas Female 19
Starling, Robert Horse Pasture, Henry, Virginia 1880 Virginia Male 5/12
Starling, Salice Hopkinsville, Christian, Kentucky 1870 abt 1859 Kentucky Female 11
Starling, William Subdivision 5, Burke, Georgia 1880 abt 1831 North Carolina Male 49
Starling, William Beulah, Johnston, North Carolina 1880 North Carolina Male 11/12
Sterling Knoxville, Marion, Iowa 1880 abt 1823 Ohio Male 57
Sterling Ward 3, St Landry, Louisiana 1880 Louisiana Female
Sterling Not Stated, Tyler, Texas 1860 abt 1844 Mississippi Male 16
Sterling, ??es T Austin, Travis, Texas 1860 Texas Male 3/12
Sterling, Amanda E Indian Creek, Story, Iowa 1870 Iowa Female 5/12
Sterling, Annie New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana 1880 abt 1866 Louisiana Female 14
Sterling, Byron East Liverpool, Columbiana, Ohio 1880 abt 1879 Pennsylvania Male 1
Sterling, Charles Township 12, Macoupin, Illinois 1870 abt 1869 Illinois Male 1
Sterling, Edward E Gloucester, Camden, New Jersey 1870 abt 1868 Delaware Male 2
Sterling, Edwin Toronto, Woodson, Kansas Territory 1870 abt 1836 New York Male 34
Sterling, Elizabeth District No 1, Rockingham, Virginia 1860 abt 1779 Maryland Female 81
Sterling, Emily Wakefield, Middlesex, Massachusetts 1880 abt 1845 Nova Scotia Male 35
Sterling, Emily C Wakefield, Middlesex, Massachusetts 1880 abt 1855 Nova Scotia Female 25
Sterling, Emma Pere Marquette, Mason, Michigan 1870 abt 1869 Michigan Female 1
Sterling, Fannie Not Stated, Sabine, Louisiana 1880 abt 1849 Louisiana Female 31
Sterling, Francis Newark Wards, Essex, New Jersey 1860 abt 1830 France Male 30
Sterling, Greal Knoxville, Marion, Iowa 1880 abt 1824 Ireland Male 56
Sterling, H C Not Stated, St Tammany, Louisiana 1850 Louisiana Male 6/12
Sterling, Hattie Township 12, Macoupin, Illinois 1870 abt 1866 Illinois Female 4
Sterling, Homer C Prairie, Shelby, Illinois 1870 Illinois Male 11/12
Sterling, Infant Not Stated, Troup, Georgia 1870 Georgia Female
Sterling, Infant Prairie, Shelby, Illinois 1870 Illinois Female 3days
Sterling, Jacobina District 145, Tuscarawas, Ohio 1850 abt 1846 Ohio Female 4
Sterling, James Not Stated, Grimes, Texas 1870 abt 1860 Texas Black Male 10
Sterling, Jane Lawrence, Essex, Massachusetts 1880 abt 1824 Scotland Female 56
Sterling, Jane Lawrence Ward 6, Essex, Massachusetts 1880 abt 1827 England Female 53
Sterling, Lewis Grand Rapids Ward 8, Kent, Michigan 1880 Michigan Male 3/12
Sterling, Lucy Grafton, York, Virginia 1870 abt 1856 Virginia Female 14
Sterling, Mahaly Green, Pottawatomie, Kansas 1880 abt 1879 Pennsylvania Female 1
Sterling, Maherly Green, Pottawatomie, Kansas 1880 abt 1879 Pennsylvania Female 1
Sterling, Malina Not Stated, Blount, Tennessee 1850 abt 1807 Female 43
Sterling, Margaret J Subdivision 13, Knox, Tennessee 1850 abt 1817 Tennessee Female 33
Sterling, Martha Canton, Wayne, Michigan 1860 abt 1840 Michigan Female 20
Sterling, Martha S Not Stated, Harris, Georgia 1870 abt 1863 Georgia Female 7
Sterling, Mary Militia District 36, Gwinnett, Georgia 1850 abt 1811 Georgia Female 39
Sterling, Mary Not Stated, Warren, Illinois 1850 abt 1810 Pennsylvania Female 40
Sterling, Matilda District No 1, Rockingham, Virginia 1860 abt 1830 Virginia Female 30
Sterling, No Name Greenfield, Fairfield, Ohio 1880 Ohio Female 3/12
Sterling, Rachel Franklin, Wayne, Ohio 1850 abt 1823 Ohio Female 27
Sterling, Samuel Lockport, Saint Joseph, Michigan 1880 abt 1810 Connecticut Male 70
Sterling, Sarah J Clear Creek, Stafford, Kansas 1880 abt 1844 New York Female 36
Sterling, Talitha A Greenfield, Fairfield, Ohio 1880 abt 1848 Ohio Female 32
Sterling, Thomas Not Stated, Madison, Illinois 1850 abt 1847 Missouri Male 3
Sterling, William Chicago Ward 7, Cook, Illinois 1880 abt 1876 Illinois Male 4
Sterling, William Trenton Ward 2, Mercer, New Jersey 1860 abt 1822 New Jersey Male 38
Sterling, William W Township 17, Champaign, Illinois 1860 Illinois Male 8/12
Sterling, Windsor Chicago, Cook, Illinois 1880 abt 1877 New York Male 3
Sterling, Wm B Not Stated, Cumberland, New Jersey 1880 abt 1791 USA Male 89
Stirling, Charles Ward 10, West Feliciana, Louisiana 1880 abt 1879 Louisiana Male 1
Stirling, Clara Detroit Ward 9, Wayne, Michigan 1880 abt 1863 Ohio Female 17
Stirling, Clarence M Not Stated, East Feliciana, Louisiana 1850 abt 1836 Louisiana Male 14
Stirling, Eppie Franklin, St Mary, Louisiana 1880 abt 1811 Louisiana Female 69
Stirling, Jane E Jersey City Ward 2, Hudson, New Jersey 1860 abt 1857 New Jersey Female 3
Stirling, William Brown, Linn, Iowa 1860 abt 1825 Ohio Male 35
The artist and engraver are unknown, this print dates from 1845. The size of the image is 4 3/4 x 7 1/4, overall.
An excerpt from the original description:
Castle of Doune was the theater of several important deeds, and the theme of more than one pathetic ballad. It overhangs the point of a narrow green promontory, with the Teith rolling at its base on one side, and the mountain torrent of Ardoch descending with its tribute from the other.
According to tradition, it claims for its founder the unfortunate Murdoch, duke of Albany, whose fate we have already noticed; but it is evidently of much earlier date, and belongs to the first-rate order of Scottish fortresses. At one end of the front, a spacious square tower rises to the height of eighty feet, succeeded by another of inferior dimensions from behind the opposite extremity.
The great hall, or state chamber between the towers, is seventy feet long, and that in the great tower, forty-five by thirty feet. The kitchen fire-place alone seems of sufficient capacity to have accommodated with warmth and viands a full host of retainers. The whole structure, surrounded by a back wall forty feet high, forms an ample quadrangle of massive architecture.
In the reign of James V., Sir Tames Stewart of Beath, ancestor of the Moray family, was appointed constable of the Castle; and his son obtained a charter, under the great seal, of certain lands to be called the barony of Doune. In the succeeding reign, it served as a retreat for the loyalists of that unhappy period. The demesnes of the castle having been erected into a barony prior to the abolition of hereditary jurisdiction in the year 1748, courts of law were held in it; but, happily for the Scottish peasantry, these "hereditary and exclusive privileges" were thenceforth solemnly transferred to the executive government of the country.
Queen Margaret and her unfortunate grand-daughter Mary, are said to have frequently resided here.
``xEEpEkFuuVZsCZxEkpJ``x1101234457``xprofile_photos William Stirling Parkerson Biography``xmike``xWilliam Stirling Parkerson is a descendant of Alexander Stirling of St. Mary's Parish Louisiana thru his mother Elizabeth H. Stirling.
SOURCE: Biographical Memoirs of Louisiana Vol II, 1892. Page Q Chicago Goodspeed Publishing Co.
William Stirling Parkerson, one of the leading members of the New Orleans bar, as well as one of the most brilliant orators of the South, is a native of Louisiana, he being born on the Stirling plantation, in St. Mary's Parish, on the 24th of April 1857.
His father, James G. Parkerson, still resides in the state. He was at one time an extensive sugar planter in the parish of St. Mary. The immediate maternal ancestor of our subject is Elizabeth H. Stirling, who still survives. His ancestry on both sides are natives of Louisiana. Descended from a line of ancestry in whose veins mingled the blood of the sturdy English and Scotch races, WIlliam S. Parkerson has inherited those principles of honesty and unswerving determination of purpose, the attributes of those people and which, when the time was ripe, stood out so plainly in his own career.
He attended the Rugby school at Franklin, La., until he had attained the age of seventeen years, at which time he became a student at St. Stephen's college, of New York, from which institution he graduated in 1879. During his entire school work he applied himself with such diligence that his general average was ninety-five. He had early decided upon the legal profession, and in the fall of 1879 he entered the law department of the University of Louisiana (now known as Tulane University), and graduated in May 1880, being chosen valedictorian of his class. In January, 1881, he began the practice of law in New Orleans and soon acquired distinction.
He has rapidly gathered about him a large and extensive practice, requiring his attention in the federal, state and district courts. In conducting a case in court is, perhaps, where the inexhaustible energy, the great talent and wonderful ability of the man are most vividly shown, or perhaps it were better to state, called into action. Cool, quiet and dignified, he is ever courteous and considerate toward his opponent and associates, always treating them with deference and respect, but this does not suffer the slightest point to escape his vigilance.
Carefully watching his vantage-ground, he quickly detects the points involved, and with that ability which has won so often, applies them to his case. He is a forcible speaker, and when absorbed in the interests of a case he loses sight of all else and his arguments carry conviction with them. He is, perhaps, aided in this by his knightly bearing, being a man of commanding and pleasing personal appearance.
On October 24 he was united in the bonds of matrimony with Miss Alice. P. Putnam, of New Orleans, and to them have been born three children - two sons and one daughter. Taking into consideration the age, Mr. Parkerson is one of the most prominent, influential and respected citizens of the city. Ever active in political affairs and a staunch supporter of the democracy, we find him in 1888 the president of the Young Men's Democratic association. The aim of this organization was the purification of municipal politics, and the elimination of certain objectionable factors. It entered the political arena boldly and was led to signal victory by their chosen guide. In acknowledgment of his brilliant services he was tendered the position of city attorney by the unanimous vote of the city council. This honor, however, he declined.
Her sterling qualities as an orator and leader have recently been severely tested, and the calmness and composure with which he faced the responsibility, when the confidence and respect of the better classes, who protested against the interference with the administration and the clogging of the wheels of justice by bribery. When the populace arose en masse at the refusal on the part of an intimidated or bribe-fixed jury to convict the murderers of Chief of Police Henessey, Mr. Parkerson became a leader, and they proceeded to avenge one of the most dastardly outrages ever committed in a civilized community. This test of Mr. Parkerson's courage and ability as a leader has attracted the attention of the entire country, and has brought him into prominence abroad as well as at home.
A most convincing proof of this fact is the invitation recently extended to him by the citizens of Bloomington, Illinois, to deliver the oration at the celebration of the one hundred and fifteenth anniversary of the Independence of the United States. He accepted the invitation and on July 4th, 1891 addressed an audience of over 12,000. His address, which was widely published by the press of our country, shows a true spirit of patriotism and places him among our most prominent public orators.
``xEEpEEyZuEpgxZNShIv``x1101167410``xprofile_research Auldhouse - Held by Sir William Stirling Maxwell``xmike``x
Auldhouse, in the Parish of Eastwood, near Glasgow.
The present mansion house has been erected at four periods; the latest addition to the house was built by the father of the late Sir John Maxwell, and this with former additions has made it large and commodious.
Over the fire-place in the kitchen, which was built in 1631, there is the following -
"THE BODIE FOR THE SAVL WAS FRAMD : THIS HOVS THE BODY FOR :
IN HEAVNE FOR BOTH MY PLACE IS NAMD IN BLISS MY GOD T'ADOR. - 1631."
It is supposed that this inscription was the work of Mr. George Maxwell of Auldhouse, minister of Mearns, or his son, Mr. John Maxwell, younger of Auldhouse, minister of the High Church, Glasgow, The latter, by bond dated 20th May, 1631, narrates that he and his father have founded, and are of intention to build houses, one or more, and to repair houses already built upon at their equal expenses; and Mr. John Maxwell becomes bound to disburse penny about with his father.
The lands of Auldhouse came into possession of the Pollok Maxwell family about the middle of the fifteenth century. Thomas Maxwell, the second of the family who possessed them, is designated of Auldhouse in 1517, and it is very probable that his father, Thomas Maxwell, who first appears on record in 1476, received these lands, as a suitable portion for a younger son, from his father, Thomas Maxwell, who was laird of Pollok from 1429 to 1450.
John Maxwell, seventh of Auldhouse, 1634-1666, was educated for the church, and became minister of the parish of Eastwood about 1620, where he continued to labour till 1630, when he was translated to the High Church, Glasgow. He was elected Dean of Faculty of the University in 1632, and appointed to the higher office of Rector in 1636. The office thus filled by Mr. Maxwell was also held by his son, Sir George Maxwell, who succeeded his cousin Sir John in the estate of Pollok, and by his grandson, Sir John, a Baronet of Nova Scotia in 1682, and Lord Justice Clerk in 1702.
Mr. Maxwell lived in the troublous times of the Church. He went to Ireland in 1640, where he received a clerical appointment. He continued there till about the year 1643, when, on the breaking out of the rebellion, he returned to Scotland. Having by this time modified his dislike to the Covenant, he was appointed a second time minister of Eastwood, but was still suspected by the Covenanters of a leaning to the Episcopal form of church government. At last he was ordered by the General Assembly to give forth a particular renunciation of Episcopacy.
Robert Pollok, otherwise Hutcheson, (1) of Auchingray, married Grizzel Maxwell of Blawart Hill, a niece of Sir George Maxwell of Auldhouse and Pollok. He had been very anxious to make the purchase of Auldhouse, and pressed and entreated Sir George to sell it to him, saying, "His heart and eye were in it, and God's curse be on them that shall get it, if he do not."
In 1710 the lands of Auldhouse became the property of Robert Sanders, printer and bookseller in Glasgow, as vassal to my Lord Pollok. Semple, in his history of Renfrewshire, says the house and lands came afterwards to Mr. John Wardrop, bailie of the regality of Glasgow; he was succeeded by his son Robert, who, in the year 1782, alienated the house and lands of Auldhouse to Jean Maxwell, sister of Sir James Maxwell of Nether Pollok.
This Robert Sanders of Auldhouse, 10th November, 1726, disponed to the Merchants' House of Glasgow a bond of one thousand merks, due by James Dunlop of Househill, to continue at interest until it amounted to two thousand merks, the interest of which, he directed, should be given as an apprentice fee to a poor boy, son of a burgess of the craft rank and freeman of his corporation, to be bound to any lawful calling of the craft rank. The deed is registered in the town court books of Glasgow 20th May, 1730.
On the 9th February, 1728, by another deed, he mortified to the Merchants' House the whole of his estate of Auldhouse, for the payment of one hundred pounds Scots yearly as a bursary at the College of Glasgow to a young man, a student of Divinity, for five years, and of one hundred merks as apprentice fees to poor boys, sons of honest poor burgesses merchants or tradesmen, to be bound to any lawful trade or calling within the city of Glasgow, the apprentice fee being payable year and day after admission. Subsequently he bequeathed the whole of his property to the Merchants' House for the better endowment of his mortification.
``xEEpEpEAZkkBimGuiIS``x1101019722``xprofile_maxwell The Guard Room In Stirling Castle Print``xmike``x
The Guard Room In Stirling Castle - Artist: Cattermole, Engraver: Brandard
This print dates before 1900, the size of the image is 4 x 51/8. The artist was Cattermole, the engraving was done by Brandard.
An excerpt from the original description:
It [the castle] was the birth-place of James II., and a favourite residence of the succeeding princes. The palace was built by James V. Its form is quadrangular; the exterior walls are of polished stone; and the whole is ornamented with statues, in the taste of that amorous prince. On the south angle, of which the architecture is much plainer, there is an apartment called " Douglas's Room," which is supposed to have been the scene of the murder of one of that family, perpetrated by James II., with his own hand. If the tradition be correct, this portion of the building is, of course, the most ancient. On the western side there is a low-roofed edifice, originally a chapel, and it is here that the baptism of James VI. took place. The father, although in the town, was not present; and Mr. Chambers, in his " Picture," informs us, that a house is still pointed out, where the imbecile Darnley spent the time of the baptism, "" with a few drinking companions, in riotous and ostentatious debauchery."
``xEEpEpEVpZVGlpiObBh``x1101015075``xprofile_castle Two Amazing Images of Stirling Castle!``xmike``x
Two Amazing Views of Stirling Castle - 1900's. Photographer Unknown
Stirling Castle from Kings Park - Valentine Series
History of the Quakers In Jamaica - A Stirling Connection?
Excerpt from the book "Jamaican Ancestry: How to Find Out More" by Madeleine Mitchell.
A small group of Quakers were early settlers of Jamaica from England, particularly in St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland Spanish Town and Kingston, are are recorded from 1679 in Port Royal. Most of the Friends however left the island forPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania by 1749 and only a few references to transferring lands previously owned by Quakers were record up to the 1790's.
Minutes for the Meetings for Suggerings, Minutes of the Yearly Meeting, Letters Received and Sent and as well as some miscellaneous papers may be seen in the Society of Friends Library, London. More information on the documents available in the above library, including pages and volume numbers, may be found in "Sources of Jamaican History 1655-1838 by K.E. Ingram.
American researchers who cannot make the connection between Pennsylvania Quaker families and those in England might consider the possibility that their families made a home in Jamaica before removing to the United States. Any existing records would be in London, except for land patents and deeds of land sales that are in Jamaica.
Burial grounds of Quakers in Jamaica are mentioned in letters, but it is unlikely that any monumental inscriptions survive in Jamaica. (Page 16-17)
There is some information that suggests members of the Stirling family may have been active Quakers in Jamaica during this time period. If you have any additional information about Stirling family members and their participation in Quaker activities in either England, Scotland, Jamaica or the US, please contact Clan Stirling Online.
``xEEpEpppuplYFIeOEcI``x1101000408``xprofile_research Quaker Map of New York Yearly Meetings``xmike``x
Map of the Meetings Constituting New York Yearly Meeting of Quakers (Friends) 1893
| Feature Name | St | County Equivalent Name | Type |  |  | USGS 7.5' Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starlington | AL | Butler | populated place | 314029N | 0864931W | Georgiana West |
| Starlington Church | AL | Butler | church | 314024N | 0864920W | Georgiana West |
| Starlington Lookout Tower | AL | Butler | tower | 314122N | 0864925W | Georgiana West |
| Starlington Post Office (historical) | AL | Butler | post office | UNKNOWN | UNKNOWN | Georgiana West |
| Starlington School (historical) | AL | Butler | school | UNKNOWN | UNKNOWN | Georgiana West |
| Starling Cemetery | AL | Cherokee | cemetery | 341552N | 0854134W | Little River |
| Starling Gap | AL | Cherokee | gap | 341538N | 0854256W | Little River |
| Starlings Pond | AL | Henry | reservoir | 313222N | 0850947W | Abbeville East |
| Starling Cemetery | AL | Pike | cemetery | 314523N | 0855600W | Troy |
| Starling Church (historical) | AL | Wilcox | church | 315805N | 0865634W | Pine Apple North |
| Starling Creek | AR | Lawrence | stream | 361327N | 0911458W | Imboden |
| Starling Ford | GA | Echols | crossing | 304646N | 0824929W | Thelma |
| Starling Branch | GA | Upson | stream | 324806N | 0841747W | Lincoln Park |
| Starling Branch | KY | Pulaski | stream | 370455N | 0845253W | Eli |
| Starling (historical) | LA | East Baton Rouge | populated place | 301919N | 0910745W | Plaquemine |
| Starling Store (historical) | LA | East Baton Rouge | locale | 302157N | 0910710W | Saint Gabriel |
| Starling Lake | MN | Lake | lake | 474333N | 0913622W | Slate Lake East |
| Starling Spring | MO | Camden | spring | 380201N | 0925034W | Green Bay Terrace |
| Starling Road Church | MO | Jefferson | church | 382647N | 0902117W | Oakville |
| Starling Mill (historical) | MS | Clarke | locale | 315315N | 0884439W | De Soto |
| Starling Cemetery | MS | Copiah | cemetery | 314715N | 0902329W | Hazlehurst |
| Starling | NC | Onslow | populated place | 344228N | 0771355W | Hubert |
| Starling Bridge | NC | Sampson | bridge | 351134N | 0783827W | Wade |
| Starling Junior High School | OH | Franklin | school | 395719N | 0830213W | Southwest Columbus |
| Starling-Loving Hall | OH | Franklin | building | 395942N | 0830058W | Southwest Columbus |
| Starling Run | OH | Morgan | stream | 392843N | 0815358W | Amesville |
| Starling Creek | VA | Accomack | stream | 375509N | 0754357W | Saxis |
| Starling Cemetery | VA | Henry | cemetery | 363322N | 0794324W | Northeast Eden |
| Starlings Crossroads | VA | Henry | populated place | 363328N | 0794337W | Northeast Eden |
| Starling Avenue Baptist Church | VA | Martinsville (city) | church | 364044N | 0795229W | Martinsville East |
Data extracted from the United States Geological Survey - Geographical Name Server
``xEEppFyEkpkxasSySmn``x1100361202``xprofile_research Map of Oblong, Nine Partners - Quaker Information.``xmike``x
There were two patents in Dutchess County with similar names:
The Great (or Lower) Nine Partners Patent of 1697
The Little (or Upper) Nine Partners Patent of 1706
Although they were adjacent to each other (in the northeastern quadrant of the county, see the map), they were quite distinct, having different "partners".
Extracts From Immigration and other records for James, William - STIRLING, STERLING, STARLING Arriving in the USA from 1650-1750.
JAMES -
James STARLING - none.
James STERLING - Arriving In The USA
James Sterling
Year: 1716
Place: Boston
Source Publication Code: 9750
Primary Immigrant: Sterling, James
Annotation: Excerpted from A Volume of Records Relating to the Early History of Boston Containing Miscellaneous Papers, Registry Department of the City of Boston, 29th in the series formerly called Record Commissioners' Reports, Document Number 100, published 1900. This excerpt is taken from pp. 229-317 and has a reconstructed index. Irish names excerpted are in no. 1642, Donovan.
Source Bibliography: WHITMORE, WILLIAM H., compiler. Port Arrivals and Immigrants to the City of Boston, 1715-1716 and 1762-1769. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1973. 111p.
Page: 17
James Sterling
Year: 1737
Place: Maryland
Source Publication Code: 2144
Primary Immigrant: Sterling, James
Annotation: Ministers and schoolmasters of the Church of England who went to western colonies in return for a bounty from the King. From the Rawlinson MSS. Receipt Book of Secret Service Money, April 20, 1689, to June 1691, in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, England, and from other papers in the Public Record Office, London. For additions, see no. 2120, Fothergill.
Source Bibliography: FOTHERGILL, GERALD. A List of Emigrant Ministers to America, 1690-1811. London: Elliot Stock, 1904. 65p. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1965.
Page: 57
James Stirling Arrving In the USA
James Stirling
Year: 1716
Place: Boston
Source Publication Code: 1640.10.1
Primary Immigrant: Stirling, James
Annotation: Date and port of arrival, date and place of settlement or date and place of first mention in the New World. Date and place of birth, date and place of death or burial, names of family members, occupation, name of ship and other genealogical information may also be provided. Reference to original source is also provided.
Source Bibliography: DOBSON, DAVID. Scots in New England, 1623-1873. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2002. 236p.
Page: 212
James Stirling
Year: 1737
Place: Maryland
Source Publication Code: 1640.7.5
Primary Immigrant: Stirling, James
Annotation: Date and port of arrival or date and place of settlement. Names of parents, date of birth or baptism, place of birth, occupation, place of education, place of former residence, port of embarkation, place of intended destination, and notation concerning immigrant's voluntary or involuntary transportation may also be provided. References to original records and other genealogical data are also provided. Indexers assumed family members accompanied emigrant.
Source Bibliography: DOBSON, DAVID. The Original Scots Colonists of Early America, 1612-1783. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1989. 370p.
Page: 320
James Stirling
Year: 1702-1757
Place: South Carolina
Source Publication Code: 1639.20
Primary Immigrant: Stirling, James
Annotation: Date of emigration with intended destination, date and place of naturalization, or date and place of first mention of residence in the New World.
Source Bibliography: DOBSON, DAVID. Directory of Scots in the Carolinas, 1680-1830. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1986. 322p.
Page: 300
William Stirling - Arriving in the USA -
William Stirling
Year: 1734
Place: Georgia
Source Publication Code: 1640.10
Primary Immigrant: Stirling, William
Annotation: Most are date and port of arrival. Some are date and place of first mention of residence in the New World. Date and place of birth and/or death, place of settlement, occupation, name of ship, reference to original record, and other genealogical and historical information may also be provided.
Source Bibliography: DOBSON, DAVID. Scots in Georgia and the Deep South, 1735-1845. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2000. 218p.
Page: 197
William STERLING - Arriving in the USA -
William Sterling
Year: 1735
Place: Georgia
Source Publication Code: 3388
Primary Immigrant: Sterling, William
Annotation: Over 1,000 names, with much information, including occupations and land grants accorded. Arrivals mostly in the 1730s and 1740s. Lists all persons found in the colonial records of Georgia. See also nos. 1312 and 1322, Coulter; and no. 6494, "Passenger List of the Ann."
Source Bibliography: IMMIGRANTS FROM GREAT BRITAIN TO THE GEORGIA COLONY. Morrow, Ga.: Genealogical Enterprises, 1970. 27p.
Page: 24
William Sterling
Year: 1767
Age: 28
Place: Maryland
Source Publication Code: 1229.10
Primary Immigrant: Sterling, William
Annotation: Date and port of arrival or date of conviction for transport and port of arrival. Date and place of felon runaways are also provided. Name of ship and other genealogical and historical information may also be provided.
Source Bibliography: COLDHAM, PETER WILSON. The Kings Passengers to Maryland and Virginia. Westminister, MD: Family Line Publications, 1997. 450p.
Page: 298
Wm. Sterling
Year: 1656
Place: Virginia
Source Publication Code: 2772
Primary Immigrant: Sterling, Wm
Annotation: Includes 25,000 names from records of the Virginia State Land Office. Excerpts of the Irish names from the Greer list were published in no. 6258, O'Brien, Early Immigrants to Virginia....
Source Bibliography: GREER, GEORGE CABELL. Early Virginia Immigrants, 1623-1666. Richmond [Va.]: W.C. Hill Printing Co., 1912, 376p. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1978. Repr. 1982.
Page: 313
Wm. Sterling
Year: 1694
Place: Virginia
Source Publication Code: 6221
Primary Immigrant: Sterling, Wm
Annotation: Date and place where land was patented and record was created listing those transported/imported. Only the names of those to be transported were indexed. Abstracted from Patent books 6 through 8, from the Land Office records located at the Virginia State Library. Volumes 1 and 3 were indexed as nos. 6220 and 6223 respectively in PILI 1984.
Source Bibliography: NUGENT, NELL MARION. Cavaliers and Pioneers: Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants. Vol. 2: 1666-1695. Indexed by Claudia B. Grundman. Richmond, VA: Virginia State Library, 1977. 609p.
Page: 386
Willaim STARLING -
Wm. Starling
Year: 1647
Place: Virginia
Source Publication Code: 2772
Primary Immigrant: Starling, Wm
Annotation: Includes 25,000 names from records of the Virginia State Land Office. Excerpts of the Irish names from the Greer list were published in no. 6258, O'Brien, Early Immigrants to Virginia....
Source Bibliography: GREER, GEORGE CABELL. Early Virginia Immigrants, 1623-1666. Richmond [Va.]: W.C. Hill Printing Co., 1912, 376p. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1978. Repr. 1982.
Page: 311
Wm. Starling
Year: 1663
Place: Virginia
Source Publication Code: 6220
Primary Immigrant: Starling, Wm
Annotation: Record of 20,000 very early immigrants, with much relevant information. Taken from Patent Books 1 through 5. Title page states, "In 5 volumes," but up to 1979 only three had appeared. See nos. 6221 and 6223 for second and third volumes, published in 1977 and 1979. Issued originally by Nugent in parts between 1929 and 1931; the parts were then largely incorporated in this work, no. 6220. Stewart, item no. 9025, compiled the article, "Ancient Planters [1607]," pages xxviii-xxxiv.
Source Bibliography: NUGENT, NELL MARION. Cavaliers and Pioneers: Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants, 1623-1666. Vol. 1. Richmond [VA]: Dietz Printing Co., 1934. 767p. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1983.
Page: 435
William Starling
Year: 1685
Place: Virginia
Source Publication Code: 1219.5
Primary Immigrant: Starling, William
Annotation: For the majority of entries, date and port reflect date of the transportation or apprenticeship orders and the intended destination. Information was extracted from English records of apprenticeship bindings or criminal transportation orders and from port books.
Source Bibliography: COLDHAM, PETER WILSON. The Complete Book of Emigrants: A Comprehensive Listing Compiled from English Public Records of Those Who Took Ship to the Americas for Political, Religious, and Economic Reasons; of Those Who Were Deported for Vagrancy, Roguery, or Non-Conformity; and of Those Who Were Sold to Labour in the New Colonies. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. 1661-1699. 1990. 894p.
Page: 532
The following maps are of the Parish of Baldernock, Scotland. The Estate of Cadder is just south of Baldernock, less than a mile.
Stirling Castle Print - Artist Unknown. If you know who created this print, please contact Clan Stirling Online.
From The Valentine Series
Roger STARLINGE
Biography
Name: Roger STARLINGE
Gender: Male
Primary occupation: medical surgeon (Ex-servant of Dunnington, surgeon)
Period of medical practice: 1629-1649
Address: Lincolns Inn Field 1639
Other notes: Accused 1639. Defended by Frear & dismissed.
Known London address: Lincolns Inn Field
Date: 1639
Censorial hearings
4 Oct 1639
Entry:
'John Yardley dwellinge in Milford lane in or neare the tennis-courte and his wife' said that STARLINGE, 'a dweller in Lincolns Inn feild, some-times servant to Mr. Dunnington' (232, surgeon, qv), had treated Mrs Y for the pox about Michaelmas 1638. He had fluxed her for 20 days and then sweated her, but she worsened and Mr Y had to call Dr Moore. STARLINGE had had 40s. STARLINGE said he had consulted Dr Frear & had paid him.
Initiator of the complaint: patient
Second initiator of the complaint: spouse of the patient
Attitude of the accused: made an excuse
Action taken: To reappear with Dr Moore and Dr Frear.
Number of crimes: 1
2 Nov 1639
Entry:
STARLINGE and Yardley appeared. Dr MOORE would say nothing. Dr FREAR said that he sometimes directed STARLINGE.
Initiator of the complaint: spouse of the patient
Attitude of the accused: made an excuse
Action taken: Dismissed without further censure.
Verdict: innocent
Number of crimes: 1
Source: STARLINGE, Roger. Physicians and Irregular Medical Practitioners in London 1550-1640, Margaret Pelling, Frances White (2004).
Letter from James Stirling Esq. Consul at Genoa, to John Bidwell Esq. dated 30th November 1828.
Sir,
I have the Honour to acknowledge the Receipt of the Circular Letter of the 13th Instant, received on the 24th; in answer to which I have to acquaint you, for The Earl of Aberdeen's Information, that the Annual Consumption of Tea in the Sardinian States (on the Continent) is about 2,500 Kilogrammes, equal to 5,625 Pounds English Weight. The Duty of Entry is 2 Francs 50 Cents per Kilogramme, which, at the Exchange of 25 Francs per Pound Sterling, is 2 Shillings per 2 Pounds 4 Ounces English Weight.
The Re-exportation of Tea by Sea is 2,000 Kilogrammes, equal to 4,500 Pounds English Weight, which pay 1 Franc 20 Cents per Decimal Quintal, or 1 Shilling per 225 Pounds English Weight.
The actual Price of Pearl Tea is from 3 Livres 10 Sous to 4 Livres, or from 2 Shillings and 4 Pence to 2 Shillings and 8 Pence Sterling per Genoa Pound.
The Price of Hyson Tea is from 2 Livres 16 Sous to 3 Livres 5 Sous, or from 1 Shilling and 10 Pence to 2 Shillings and 2 Pence per Genoa Pound.
The Price of Green Tea is from 1 Livre 10 Sous to 2 Livres, or from 1 Shilling to 1 Shilling and 4 Pence per Genoa Pound.
The Price of Black Tea is from 1 Livre 5 Sous to 1 Livre 10 Sous, or from 10 Pence to 1 Shilling per Genoa Pound.
The Deposit in Port France of the different Qualities of Tea does not exceed 150 Cases; containing each 90 Genoese Pounds, or 64½ Pounds English Weight.
No Drawback is allowed in this Port, all Goods being admitted in the Port France free of Duty; and when withdrawn from thence they pay the Duty of Entry, if such Goods are for the Consumption in the Sardinian States; the Transit Duty, if they are re-exported by Land; and the Duty of Ostellaggio, if they are re-exported by Sea.
I have the Honour to be, &c.
John Bidwell, Esq. (Signed) James Stirling, Consul. &c. &c. &c.
``xEEppkEZFlpXozMeRjz``x1100217380``xprofile_research Sir Samuel Stirling - House of Commons - 21 Nov 1670``xmike``xLunæ, 21 die Novembris, 1670.
Prayers.
Boston Port.
ORDERED, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to preserve the Port of Boston, in the County of Lincolne.
Fitz James' Estate.
A Bill to enable the Daughters and Coheirs of Sir John Fitz James to sell Lands, to pay their Father's Debts, was read the Second time.
Resolved, &c. That the Bill be committed to Sir Edward Harlow, Sir Charles Wheeler, Mr. Crouch, Sir Thom. Higgons, Sir Anthony Irby, Mr. Hungerford, Sir Thom. Allen, Sir John Birkenhead, Sir John Barneby, Sir John Pettus, Mr. Hobby, Sir Robert Carr, Sir Hugh Windham, Sir Will. Lowther, Sir Edw. Masters, Sir John Talbott, Sir Gilbert Talbott, Mr. Trenchard, Sir Adam Browne, Mr. Hampden, Mr. Streete, Colonel Sandys, and all that serve for the several Counties of Dorset, Somerset, and Wiltes: And they are to . . . To-morrow at Two of the Clock the Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber: And to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.
Sir J. Prettyman.
Ordered, That the Matter touching Sir John Prettyman be taken into Consideration on Wednesday next: And that such Witnesses as can give Testimony in that Matter, do attend at that Time.
Kidderminster Stuffs.
An ingrossed Bill for regulating the making of Kidderminster Stuffs, was read the Third time.
Resolved, &c. That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for the regulating the making of Kidderminster Stuffs: And Colonel Sandys to carry up the Bill to the Lords.
Duke of Albemarle's Estate.
A Message from the Lords, by Sir William Child and Dr. Baldwin;
Mr. Speaker, The Lords have sent you down a Bill, intituled, An Act to enable Christopher Duke of Albemarle, to reconvey several Manors and Lands mortgaged to George late Duke of Albemarle his Father; to which they desire the Concurrence of this House.
Forged Deeds against Pitt.
A Bill to null and make void certain forged Deeds, Bonds and Judgments, set on foot against George Pitt Esquire, and others, to Sir Geo. Pratt, was read.
Resolved, &c. That this Bill be read a Second time.
Obstructing Act against Conventicles.
The House then resumed the Consideration of the Report of Sir John Knight, touching libellous Books; and the Matter concerning Mr. Hayes and Mr. Jekell; according to former Order:
And the Matter relating to Mr. Hayes being first moved, and coming into Question and Debate; concerning his Violation of the Act against Conventicles, and the Attempts by him used on Sir Samuell Stirling, whilst he was Lord Mayor of London, to corrupt and divert him from the Execution of the Act: Upon which, and his Refusal to give Security for the good Behaviour, a Commitment ensued:
And Sir Samuell Sterling attending near the Door; and being, by Order, called in to the Bar of the House, to give an Account of this Matter, did testify to the Effect following; viz.
That about Thirteen Days, or a Fortnight before the Act against Conventicles took Place, Mr. Hayes came to him, upon Pretence of a Visit; and after some other Discourse told him, that he and his Friends had advised with good Counsel upon the Act; and that they were clear of Opinion, that there was but One hundred Pounds Penalty, if the Magistrate should totally forbear the Execution of the Act; and that That One hundred Pound should be paid, and Two hundred Pounds more secured to him. Sir Samuell Starling replying, that he was advised there was Nine hundred Pound Penalty for every Default. Hayes made Answer, that it there were, he and his Friends would bear him out in what he should do. Upon which, Sir Samuell telling him, that it was very ill done in him to attempt to bribe a Magistrate to neglect his Duty; Hayes replied, Sir, you have an Estate to lose: You must take care what you do; for you shall be sure to answer it. Sir Samuell did also deliver a further Narrative and Account of the whole Proceedings in the Matter.
Sir Samuell Sterling withdrawing; and being again called in; and owning This (upon the Reading of it) to be the Effect of what he had testified;
Mr. Hayes was also called in to the Bar of the House; And what Sir Samuell had testified, being read to him; who denying the whole Matter of Fact, and pretending he had Two Witnesses at the Door, which could speak on his Behalf, to clear him;
Sir Joseph Sheldon, Sir Andrew King and others of the Lieutenancy of London also attending near the House; all the Parties were again called in:
And, upon hearing all the said Parties; as also the Witnesses of Mr. Hayes; the House being very well satisfied with the Truth of the Testimony and Account given in by Sir Samuell Sterling;
Resolved, &c. That this House doth give Approbation to what was done by the late Lord Mayor Sir Samuell Sterling, and the Lieutenancy of London, in committing of Mr. Hayes; and that it was done, in order to the Preservation of the King, and Peace of the Kingdom.
The House then proceeded to the Examination of the Matter concerning Mr. Jekell;
And Sir Samuell Sterling, and the other Persons of the Lieutenancy of London, and Mr. Jekell, being called in to the Bar of the House; and the Matter being fully heard;
Resolved, &c. That the Commitment of Mr. Jekell by the late Lord Mayor and the Lieutenancy of London, was in order to the Preservation of the King, and Peace of the Kingdom.
Conventicles, &c.
Resolved, &c. That a Committee be appointed to inspect the Act against Conventicles; and the Act of the Militia; and to see wherein either of them are defective; and how they may be supplied; and report the same to the House.
And it is referred to Sir Job Charleton, Lord Cornbury, Sir Thom. Lee, Sir Thom. Allen, Colonel Sands, Sir Allen Apsley, Sir Char. Wheeler, Sir Hugh Windham, Mr. Phillips, Sir Thom. Dolman, Sir John Birkenhead, Sir Solomon Swale, Sir John Barneby, Col. Birch, Sir Winston Churchill, Sir Will. Coventry, Mr. Garraway, Mr. Coleman, Sir Adam Browne, Sir Robert Carr, Sir John Duncombe, Mr. Williamson, Mr. Cheney, Mr. Buscowen, Sir Anthony Irby, Lord Fanshaw, Sir Will. Lowther, Sir Thom. Higgons, Sir Francis Goodricke, Sir Edw. Masters, Sir John Shaw, Mr. Hungerford, Mr. Milward, Sir Edw. Thurland, Mr. Cholmley, Mr. Hampden, Sir Nicholas Carew, Lord Richardson, Sir Tho. Meeres, Mr. Seymour, Sir John Heath, Mr. Devereux, Sir Gilbert Talbot, Mr. Daniell: And all that come are to have Voices: And they are to meet To-morrow at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber: And to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.
Ordered, That Mr. Attorney General do draw up and prosecute an Information against Mr. Hayes, in his Majesty's Court of King's Bench.
And then the House adjourned till To-morrow Morning, Eight of the Clock.
The following excerpt about the Le Cropt Parish was taken from The Topographical, Statistical and Historical Gazeteer of Scotland, Vol. 2 Page 234.
LECROPT, * a parish of compact form, having about two-thirds of its extent in Perthshire, and about one-third in Stirlingshire, and lying, at its nearest point, within 1 1/2 mile of the town of Stirling. It is an oblong, stretching north-westward and south-eastward; and is bounded on the north-east by Dunblane; on the east by Logie; on the south by St. Ninians; on the south-west by Kincardine; and on the west of Kilmadock. Its mean length is about 2 3/4 mile; and its mean breadth about 1 3/4. The Teath traces the whole of the boundary on the south-west, a distance, in a straight line of 2 1/4 miles, and then falls into the forth; the united stream, or the Forth, traces the whole of it on the south, a distance of 1 mile in a straight line, but of about 2 along the channel; and the Allan traces the whole of it on the east, a distance, in a straight line, of 1 1/3 mil. The streams produce Salmon, trout, pikes, and perches.
Across the Forth, after it begins to touch the parish, extends from bank to bank a ledge of rocks which terminates the flow of the tide and the navigableness of the river. On the rocky ledge are the well-known cruives (curves) of Craigforth, which, when kept in proper repair, produce a great capture of salmon. All the rivers, but especially the Allan, wear here richly ornamental dresses; and just after the Allan comes down upon the parish, are the sweet scenes of the Bridge of Allan and the circumjacent country. See ALLAN (Bridge of).
Through the middle of the parish, lengthways, and almost from end to end, extends a beautiful bank. All the surface south and south-west of this is rich carse ground, without a single stone or pebble, tastefully enclosed, and in the fullest and most luxuriant cultivation. From the bank north-eastward the surface rises with a gentle ascent, partakes the character of what, in the vicinity of carse lands, is called dry field, is all enclosed either with stone walls, or hedge and ditch, and exhibits many opulent results of agricultural improvement. A great variety of thriving planted trees shelter and adorn the dry field; and a large remnant of an ancient natural forest, consisting chiefly of oaks, is cut twice in 24 years, and affords a plentiful supply of timber for the various purposes of husbandry. The carse is too valuable for grain crops to be more than very thinly sprinkled with trees. From the bisecting bank, and from the points of upland beyond it, magnificent prospects are obtained of the rich flat basin of the Teath and the Forth, and of the zone now of low heights, nof of bold hills, and now of grand mountain-summits which encinctures it.
The parish is conspicous for the produce of the orchard and the ariary; and it has several grain mills, and mills for the manufacture of coarse paper. An artificial eminence on the east side of the parish seems to have been a post of the Romans, near the great road to the church at Ardoch. Near the elegant mansion of Kier, 3/4 of a mile north-west of the church, is one of the chain of rude forts, all called Keir's, whcih run along the north face of the strath of the Teath, and were built by the Caledonians to watch the motions of the troops stationed on the great Roman wall. In the immediate vicinity of the church are those very marked monuments of feudal times and jurisprudence, a Court-hill and a Gallow-hill.
The road from Stirling to Callander traverses nearly the extreme length of the parish. Population of the Perthshire part in 1801, 260; in 1831, 189. Houses 33. Assessed property, in 1815 L1,790. Population of the Stirlingshire part in 1801, 248; 1815, 254. Houses 41. Assessed property in 1815, L3,383. Lecropt is in the prebytery of Dunblane, and synod of Perth and Stirling, Patron, Stirilng of Keir. Stipend L147 13s 8d;l glebe L16 10s. The church is a very beautiful modeern Gothic edifice. Schoolmasters salary L34 4s 4 1/2d, with about L12 fees, and about L3 other emoluments. There is an infant school.
* Lecropt - or Lecroch, Letcroch, the half of the hill, in allusion to the configuration of the surface-anciently belonged to the monks of Cambuskenneth.
``xEpAVZElFyVyyBiVwcz``x1095718365``xprofile_research Guild Hall In Stirling``xmike``x
Guildhall, Stirling Scotland - Near St. Ninians Parish Kirk.
Murray Place, Stirling, Scotland Post Card Image From the 1930's.
The Beech Walk at Kippenross about 1900 - Part of the Stirling Family
for many centuries.
Ray E. Sterling
Born in Miami County, Indiana on Dec. 6, 1921
Died May 23, 2004 and resided in Canyon Lake, TX.
Visitation: Wednesday May 26, 2004
Service: Wednesday May 26, 2004
Funeral Home: Porter Loring Mortuary North
Cemetery: Fort Sam Houstion National Cemetery
Funeral Home and Cemetery both in San Antonio, Bexar County, TX.
Ray E. Sterling, Lt. Col, USAF Retired, born December 6, 1921, passed into eternity on May 23, 2004 at the age of 82.
He was born December 6, 1921, to Marvin and Mary Sterling in Miami County, Indiana.
He began his exemplary thirty-one year military career by serving in the South Pacific during WWII. After completing navigation training at Selman Field, LA, in 1945, and pilot training in 1948 he served as a navigator with SAC for thirteen years. During the four years that he was assigned to Personnel at the Pentagon, he also navigated with the SAMS group and had the honor of serving as an aide to President John F. Kennedy during his inauguration.
Colonel Sterling had two accompanied overseas assignments: He was in Erlangen, Germany, 1945-1947, and was Chief of Personnel at Wiesbaden Air Base 1964-67. Since his retirement from the Air Force, he has been actively involved in civic and community affairs and is a life member of the San Antonio Retired Officer’s Association and VFW 8800.
He will be lovingly remembered by his surviving family: wife of sixty-three years, Rosalyn Beeson Sterling; two daughters, Rayla-Jeanne Klepetko and husband Ronald and Rebecca Gourley Cunningham and husband Larry; three granddaughters, Elizabeth Kathleen Gourley Spencer, Teresa Gourley Martindale, and Ronda Klepetko Silliman; three grandsons Randall, Richard and Ryan Klepetko; and nine great-grandchildren; sister, Mary Jane Haller of Ft. Wayne, IN; and brothers, Robert Sterling of Indianapolis, In and J. Paul Sterling of San Bernardino, CA also survive him.
Submitted by Joe Ocho
Note from Editor: Ray E. Sterling appears to be a direct descendant of William Sterling of Haverhill, Mass according to data on Rootweb.Com
``xEplAukyAEyuNdOfMEA``x1089426916``xprofile_memorials Dunblane Cathedral from the Square``xmike``x
From the Valentine Series.
Stirling Castle, Scotland
Artist: Campion, Engraver: Appleton
Published by James S. Virtue Co., London in 1836
Size: Size of the image: 4 3/4 x 7 ; overall, including margins: 8 x 10 1/2 inches.
Stirling and its castle are of great, but unknown antiquity. The latter was an important fortress in the days of Bruce, when it was besieged by Edward I. in person, and reduced with great difficulty. During the reigns of "the Jameses," it was the favorite seat of Scottish royalty. In a room which still exists, James II., in 1452, stabbed the Earl of Douglas with his own hand, from rage at his refusing to give up a league which he had formed against the government. James III. erected a parliament-hall, and a chapel-royal, the former of which still survives. James V. was reared in this castle, under the care of Sir David Lyndsoy, and, in mature life, added to the former building the palace above alluded to. Queen Mary also spent a portion of her youthful years in Stirling castle. Her son, James VI., who was baptized here, resided in the same palace, with his preceptor, Buchanan, during the whole of his minority. Prince Henry was also born, baptized, and reared in Stirling castle.
The palace of James V - The general style of the architecture is heavy, and that of the decorative parts purely whimsical and grotesque. All round the building there is a series of oddly twisted buttresses or pilasters, bearing ungainly statues, chiefly of mythological personages, with much fantastic ornament besides. here is not, as far as we are aware, anywhere in Scotland, any specimen of architecture in the same peculiar taste. Its inferiority is the more remarkable, as the parts of Holyroodhouse and Linlithgow erected by the same monarch, are very elegant. The historical and antiquarian interest of Stirling Castle, great as it is, bears no proportion, in the eyes of most strangers, to the beauty of the views commanded from its battlements.
``xEpluFpEZpZEuuLwnqC``x1084301707``xprofile_castle Kilmahog Village - Stirling``xmike``x
This view of Kilmahog Village dates from the 1900's.
It is number 44636 in the Firith's Series of Post Cards.
Duddo, a township situated ten and a half miles north-west of Woolen, the poperty (sic) of Thomas Friar, Esq., comprises an area of 1,651 acres; its rateable value is L1,554; and the tithes amount to L305. It consists of two farms, a chapel of ease, a public-house, and a few cottages. the manor of Duddo was anciently held by the Stryvelings, from whom it passed to the Claverings, and subsequently to the Greys.
Population in 1801, 231; in 1811, 201; in 1821, 285; in 1831, 356; in 1841, 276; and in 1851, 286 souls. THE CHAPEL OF EASE is a neat stone building; the Rev. _________ Walters, B.A. curate. There is also a school which is well attended, Samuel Boak, teacher.
On an eminence here called Grindon Rigg, are the remains of Duddo Tower, near to which are six stones, placed there in commemoration of a victory gained by the English over the Scots in 1558.
DIRECTORY - George Carr, Esq., Greenlaw Walls; Samuel Boak, school-master; Isabella Hogg, vict. Swan Inn; the Trustees of Alexander Laing, farmers; Oliver Walter, draper and grocer; Robert Robertson, blacksmith; and James and Robert Tully, joiners.
Source: Northumberland History and Directory, 1855, Northamshire, page 932.
``xEplEZApuFVZlJXwHQB``x1081790435``xprofile_research Stirlingshire Militia Information``xmike``xThe Stirlingshire Militia
For those researching the Stirlingshire Militia, the following books and other records are available:
"Records of the Stirlingshire, Dumbarton, Clackmannan, and Kinross Militia, Highland Borderers Light Infantry, now 3rd Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's)" compiled by A. H. Middleton, Colonel Commanding, with portraits and other illustrations.
A limited edition of 100 numbered copies on deluxe laid paper were produced by Eaneas Mackay, 43 Murray Place, Stirling in 1904. The only known copy to CSO is located in the Central Libraries in Scotland.
There are also a number of lists and articles published in "The Transactions of the Stirling Field and Archaeological Society", located in the public reference section of the Stirling Public Library, Stirling, Scotland.
If you know of more information available for the Stirlingshire Militia, please let us know.
This postcard image dates from before 1900. It is from the Tucks series of postcards, and shows a tranquil scene on the river forth near the Wallace Monument.
This image from Stirling Castle towards the north is from the Underwood series of Stereoview Cards. It is number 7535, Underwood & Underwood Publishers, New York, London, Toronto and Ottumwa Kansas.
On the front of the card is has the following caption: "Looking from Stirling Castle on the cliffs northward twoard rugged Highlands of Scotland. Copyright 1905 by Underwood & Underwood."
On the back of the card is more information about the image and surrounding area: "We are facing northward toward the Grampian Hills and the picturesquely rugged Highlands.
This fertile valley of the Forth (we can see the windings of the river farther up there beyone the green fields) is one of the most beautiful parts of all Scotland. Ages ago there must have been right here a stream vastly wider and deeper than the pretty stream which now runs through, and this height where we are now perched was doubtless a rocky island.
More than seven centuries ago some Scottish prince built his fortress here, where it could be defended with bow and spear, and ever since it has been a place where history has been lived and wrought. Three times the English seized if from the Scots; three times the Scots beseized it back at the price of brave men's lives. Six hundred years ago (1304) a little garrison of Scottish soldiers shut themselves up here and held the ground for three months against the assulting army of England led by Edward I; it almost broke their hearts when they were overcome at last. Since 1330 no foe has besieged the citadel, though in 1746 Prince Charlies men made a gallant attempt to gain for him the old home of his fathers, the castle here, where so many Stuarts had been born and baptized and crowned, but that uprising came to its tragic end away over the horizon hills, at Culloden Moor, a hundred miles away near Inverness.
See histories of Scotland, Scott's Waverly gives a romantic account of the Jacobite uprising of 1743-6. Sterograph 7530 shows the Castle brm below. (From Notes of Travel, No 27."
The caption is then listed in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Russian on the bottom of the card.
``xEpZyppFulFUGiGdBvz``x1076003483``xprofile_castle Kings Knot, A Herd of Sheep, Stirling Castle``xmike``xThis image comes from the Valentine series of cards, but has been hand coloured. It shows a rare image of the castle from the west side, with the Kings Knot gardens, and a herd of sheep in the foreground. Dates from about 1900.
After fighting at the battle of Long Island, James Stirling of Cornwall returned to Cornwall. The family had lands in Mohawk mountain, just to the west of Cornwall. These large scale TOPO maps date from 1889-1890, they show the outlying areas and roads of the time very well. If you are a descendant of James Stirling and Hannah May, you should visit this beautiful area of Connecticut. Make sure and enjoy some of the ancient covered bridges in the area.
Abandoned in the 18th century, Duntreath Castle was a stronghold of the Edmonstones whose lands lay within the powerful earldom of Lennox. The family returned in the 1860s and restored the building which lies in Strathblane, Stirling Council Area, a mile (1½ km) to the northwest of Blanefield.
Duntreath Castle - circa 1930.
Crest of Sir James Edmonstone of Duntreath - located on Castle wall.
Falkirk Steeple
Falkirk has had a Steeple for around 400 years, the present structure being the third to occupy the site. Little is 
known about the first Steeple, but by 1697 it had fallen into disrepair and a local mason, William Stevenson, was given the task of demolishing it and building a replacement.
It was from the upper floors of the second Steeple that a number of of townspeople are said to have watched the Second Battle of Falkirk in January 1746, at which the Jacobite army under Lord George Murray defeated a force of Government soldiers. Local legend has it that the commander of the Government army, General Henry Hawley, broke his sword in disgust against the Mercat Cross as his troops fled through the town and on to Linlithgow. The site of the Cross is marked in the cobbles a few yards west of the present Steeple.
In 1801, a Mr William Glen, who owned property to the east of the Steeple, was given permission by Forbes of Callendar to make use of the ground floor of the Steeple provided he did nothing to endanger the structure of the building. Despite this agreement, Glen began digging around the foundations of the Steeple which, as a result of this, began to subside. By 1803, this had become so bad that the building had to be demolished and, for the second time in just ove 100 years, Falkirk found itself without a Steeple.
By 1812, the Stentmasters, a group of men from the town who were responsible for raising money for the upkeep of public buildings and services, decided it was time to build a new Steeple. The architect David Hamilton designed the new structure and, in December 1812, a local builder named Henry Taylor began the construction. The new Steeple was 140 feet high, and built of Brightons sandstone. The work cost £1460 and was completed in June 1814.
The only major work done on the exterior of the building since then was the replacement of the topmost 40 feet of the tower whch was blown off by a lightening strike in June 1927. Luckily, a heavy rainstorm had cleared the streets and the falling masonry claimed only a Barr's delivery horse, named Irn Bru, which was standing below. Stonework from the damaged tower was found as far away as Bank Street and Vicar Street.
The damage to the Steeple after being struck by lightening in 1927 Internally the Steeple has four levels. The ground floor was inteded to be the town office and is today the site of the Information Centre and Box Office. In the upper floors, there are two prison cells and a jailers room. The Steeple has not been used as a prison for a great many years, and one of the cell doors has been removed to Falkirk museum. The doors above the cells contain the Clocks, the bell and a large number of pidgeons ! A system of ladders give access to the top of the tower.
Falkirk Steeple is today listed as an ancient monument and as such is protected against external alteration. A few years ago the sandstone was cleaned and restored to it's natural honey colour, which did much to improve the building's appearance. Standing in the middle of the town, the Steeple will remain a symbol to all Falkirk's Bairns worldwide for many years to come.
These wonderful views show some of the charm and character of Gargunnock, Stirlingshire. The Stirlings of Gargunnock are an important branch of the Stirling Clan.
The English publishing company of Rafael Tuck & Sons printed some of the highest quality cards from the early 1900's until 1920. Hundreds of thousands of their cards were exported to the U.S. and Europe. The cards were popular with collectors then and still are today
This map of the Tower of London dates from 1597, but was just recently located. A famous engraving of the tower had been made much later using this drawing, but an original copy hadn't been seen for centuries.
An assistant curator at the Tower of London found an old photograph in an archaeological journal, the caption said the image was frm the well-known engraving, but the curator knew it wasn't. Not too long after she found a 1712 copy of the image which had been copied directly from the original 1597 image.
The map provides valuable new information about the tower.
The Tower is an infamous part of Clan Stiling's history, as several Lairds of the Stirling family were imprisoned there during the many battles between Scotland and England.
View Larger PNG version of the map - (875k)
View Full Size Version of the map - (1.22 meg)
``xEpZuyFZpZAZwIOgdnq``x1074637079``xprofile_maps Mary Sterling of Hudson (1917-2004)``xmike``xMary Sterling (1917-2004) age 86 of Hudson died Monday Jan 12, 2004 at the Regional Med Ctr, Bayonet Point(Hudson). Born in New York city she came here 26 years ago from Long Island New York she was a homemake and a member of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church Survivors are her daughter Joan Sterling of Port Richey. Contributed by the Prevatt Funeral Home, Hudson.
``xEpZuulyVlFdHMDHMzm``x1074486583``xprofile_memorials Stirling Bridge In Color - circa 1907``xmike``x
Part of a series of 12 images from a set called "Ancient Monuments & Historic Buildings. Price was 3 shillings.
Rare Image of Barton Street Stirling.
Long part of the MacGregor clan, it is not far the west from Stirling ancestral lands. There are many ties between the two families, DNA research is starting to show a few of them in more detail.
This oil painted card dates from about 1910 and is part of the Valentine series of cards. This particular image is quite rare!
In the beautiful and historic village of Doune is a small pistol factory. Doune is just 8 miles from Stirling, which was the capital of the country during the reign of the Stuarts. The Stirlings of Keir estate is just up the hill to the east 
from Doune.
In the 17th century Doune was an intersection of the routes used for droving of highland cattle from the Highlands to the markets in Stirling and beyond. In those days, its streets were packed with swaggering Highlanders eager to buy shoes, sporrans and firearms, and to enjoy a "wee-bit-of-the-drop".
During the early 17th Century, fireams were reasonably turned out by Continental gunsmiths, and Scotland was no different. This was to change after 1646 when a certain Thomas Caddell, perhaps a refugee Fleming, arrived in Doune from Muthill, further north in Perthshire, and set up business as a gunsmith.
Fleming developed his own method of construction, similar to that used by Vikings almost 700 years before. The end result was an uniquely Scottish, all-steel pistol some 14 inches long that flowed from a Ramshorn butt to the slight, subtle flaring of the muzzle. The emgravings chiselled into the metal are a curious mixture of Celtic and Oriental design, and have a poetic power of expression.
Caddell designed the pistols initially for the quick-tempered Highlanders and for this reason they had no trigger guard or safety catch. The weapons fired a half-inch lead ball with deadly accuracy and were sold in pairs fashioned for left or right hand use. They were made for rough conditions and the centre knob of the butt could be unscrewed to act as a pricker for the touch hole, the latter being able to hold the varying sizes of flint that might be picked up in a Highland burn. The cost was £4 a pair, a fortune to the average Highlander.
Doune pistols became renowned and more expensive models, costing fifty guineas, were ordered by the nobility.
In 1745 the Highland army of Prince Charles Edward Stuart passed through Doune on its way south. The subsequent crushing of the '45 Uprising and the passing of the Disarmament Act signalled the end of the traditional market for firearms.
Doune pistols were the finest gift one head of state could bestow on another. Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick had a pair, as had William, Duke of Cumberland. A superb medallion encrusted pair was given to Lord Cornwallis by George III, and such presentation pieces can be identified by the decoration being "applied" to the guns rather than being part of them.
Doune pistols are now displayed in almost every museum in Europe, marking the route of the Scots mercenaries, and the oldest such weapon is one of 1678, made by Thomas Caddell, in the Neuchatel Museum in Switzerland. The finest of all is the gold encrusted pair in the Armoury of Windsor Castle whose silver stock is engraved "Totum Hoc Opus Sua Manus Perfecit Joannes Christie". These were probably made for George III around 1760.
Doune pistols have featured greatly in history. The Earl of Argyle was carrying a pair when he was captured crossing the river Cart in 1685. It was a Doune pistol, sold to a Major Pitcairn, which fired the first shot in the American War of Independence. George Washington's staff presented him with a pair of Doune pistols that he bequeathed on his death to Major General Lafayette.
Caddell's old workshop is still standing in Doune. It is occupied by FSS Group who from such historic surroundings provide Facilities Management and Information Technology support to business across the UK. Nearby, the graves of generations of pistol makers lie in the ancient graveyard of Kilmadock. The beauty of the guns they created lives on and anyone fortunate to have one and perhaps read on the plaque "Jno. Campbell Duni Fecit" - made by John Campbell in Doune - has indeed found a treasure.
Back in June of 2003 Rick Stirling received the following email from Steve Stirling about the origins of the surname Stirling. It provides some very interesting information. If you have more information about the orgins of the name, please send it along so we may add to the growing historical database. Cheers.
(Edited for content)
What started me on this binge for the etymology of our mutual last name was a visit to my sister's home last night.
She and another sister of mine just returned from an over-seas trip which included a visit to Stirling Castle. One of the booklets they brought back has on its cover an aegis with the Latin motto "Nemus et hoc in se Castrum continet Strivelinse." As former passionate student of the language, I couldn't resist the urge to translate it.
Using an old dictionary, (one without declensional paradigms, unfortunately) I was able to translate everything except for the last word. Then it occurred to me that Strivelinse was the genitive (possessive) form of a surname.
The root had to be Strivelin and Strivelin had to be the Latin version Stirling. The motto thus translates loosely as, "Stirling Castle controls this grove and all herein."
Then I did a search through Dogpile on Strivelin. Dogpile returned both rickster and clanstirling websites. I was delighted with the contents of both sites.
And since the linguistic epiphany, I have reached a further conclusion. That the final "g" in the modern version of the name means that the original Latin surname would have been Strivelins, since only an "e" would be necessary to render it into the genitive inflection.
I admit I am more of a dilettante rather than an expert but I did study linguistics and I did study, if only superficially, European languages. All continental languages use some variation of the same alphabet used by the Romans. Some of those languages use letters of similar shape to mean different phonemes. And there are some languages which use the same scripted or printed letter to denote completely different varieties of vowels and consonants.
So how does the final "S" in Strivelins become a final "G" in Stirling? I suspect that its by the same process as occurs in contemporary German. The pronunciation of words like "Leipzig" and "fertig" is subject to dialectic variation. Some dialects pronounce them as exactly as English speakers would. But in the formal German that I studied, when "I" precedes "G" in the final syllable of a word, it is rendered as "SH." And by that process over time, Strivelins, with complete eventual dropout of the "ue" or "ve" diphthong, could become Sterling, Sturling, Stirling, etc. Kinda makes you say GEE--It does me anyway.
I hope I haven't bored you with this pedantry. Thanks for all the information your website will provide.
``xEpyAZkVuAAXAsrbUiL``x1069725499``xprofile_research Some Edmonstone-Stirling Connections.``xmike``xSir William Edmonstone, 5th of Duntreath. 1513-1580.
m. 1stly Lady Agnes Stewart, youngest dau. of Matthew, 2nd Earl of Lennox (also killed at Flodden), by whom he had 1 son Archibald (feeble-minded) who predeceased him.
m. 2ndly Margaret, dau. of Sir James Campbell of Lawers (great-grandson of Lukas Stirling of Keir and ancestor of Earls of Loudon)
by whom he had:
1 Sir James Edmonstone 6th of Duntreath his heir.
His daughters were :
1 Marjorie
m. 1stly Sir John Maxwell of Pollock.
m. 2ndly Mungo Graham of Orchill, 3rd son of James, 2nd Earl of Montrose.
2 Sibylla, m. John Stewart of Barscube, Renfrewshire.
3 Annabella, m. John Stirling of Glorat, Stirlingshire.
4 Marion, m. David Semphil of Noblestown, Dumbarton.
5 Elizabeth, m. John Stirling of Ballagan (brother of Glorat)
6 Janet, m. Luke Stirling of Baird (brother of Laird of Keir)
Sir William died c.1580 & was succeded by his son James
The Stirling family of Keir Muniments are available for researchers at the Mitchell Library in Glasgow. Luckily Diana Rigg was instrumental in placing the records there before her divorce from Archibald Stirling of Kier.
If you are in Scotland researching the Stirling family, this archive is a MUST SEE. You will need to make advance arrangements to access the archive.
IDENTITY STATEMENT AREA
Reference code(s): T-SK
Title: Stirling family of Keir Muniments
Date(s): 1338 - c-1940
Level of description: Fonds
Extent and medium of the unit of description: 44m
CONTEXT AREA
Name of creator(s): Stirling of Keir Family
Administrative/Biographical history: Keir in Perthshire was first acquired by the Stirling family in 1448. In 1534 or 1535, Sir James Stirling of Keir married a distant relative, Janet Stirling, heiress of Cawder (now Chadder) in Lanarkshire. In 1541, they were divorced, but Cawder remained with Sir James, and the two estates were conjoined thereafter. The Stirlings of Keir (or Keir and Cawder) were usually regarded as the senior branch of the family. In 1708 James Stirling (1679 - 1749) was unsuccessfully prosecuted for Jacobite activities arising from the abortive invasion plan of that year, and was later forfeited for having been at Sheriffmuir. The estates were purchased by friends of the family. Stirling and his wife Marion Stuart had twenty-two children, several of whom became merchants in India or Jamaica. A younger son, Archibald Stirling (1710 - 1783), who inherited Keir in 1757, had already shown considerable financial ability, and thereafter supported relatives as planters on various Jamaican sugar plantations. The Jamaican connection lasted until around 1850, although by then the estates had long ceased to be profitable.
On the death of Archibald Stirling, the estates passed to his brother William (1725 - 1793). Charles Stirling (1771 - 1830), a younger brother of William became a very successful West India merchant in the Glasgow firm Somerville, Gordon & Co. He purchased the estate of Kenmure, adjoining Cawder, and for a time occupied Cawder itself, making substantial alternations to the house to designs by David Hamilton.
IN 1815 Archibald Stirling of Keir and Cawder (1769 - 1847) married Elizabeth Maxwell, daughter of Sir John Maxwell of Pollok, Renfrewshire. Their son, William Stirling (1818 - 1878) inherited the Pollock estate and the Maxwell baronetcy on the death of his uncle in 1865. Sir William Stirling-Maxwell, as he now became, was conservative MP for Perthshire, but was primarily a historian and art collector, whose writings did much to create a taste for Spanish art in Britain. He married Lady Anna and had two son John and Archibald. The estates of Keir, Cawder and Pollock were held in trust for the two sons and eventually the elder son John chose Pollock and the Stirling estates were passed on to his brother Archibald, who resumed the Stirling surname. The estates of the family were mainly in and around Keir, which lies in the border between the parishes of Lecropt and Dublane, Perthshire, and in the parish of Cadder, Lanarkshire.
See William Fraser, The Stirlings of Keir and their Family Papers (Edinburgh, 1858); Alan L Karras, Sojourners in the Sun: Scottish Migrants in Jamaica and the Chesapeake, 1740 1800 (Cornell UP, 1992) on the Jamaica Estates and the entries on Sir William Stirling-Maxwell and Caroline Norton in the Dictionary of National Biography.
Archival history:
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer:
CONTENT AND STRUCTURE AREA
Scope and content: Collection comprises of titles, tacks and inventories of titles (1338 - 1924); volumes of bound correspondence; transcripts of marriage settlements and other family papers; accounts and other financial records, correspondence, letter books and related papers; estate account books, cash books and papers; diaries and memorandum books (1833 - 1878); historical works, household accounts and miscellanea.
Records of note include: Correspondence of Sir William Stirling-Maxwell (1818-1878) which consists of 17,000 items and is mostly arranged in original bundles. The subjects covered include the disposal of the Jamaica estates. Other records of note include a letter book of James Stirling in Jamaica, 1764-72, accounts for the sale of rum and sugar and valuations of slaves, 1764 - 93 and plans of the Hampden Estate (Ref: T-SK, 24669/1); letters relating to business affairs and plantation in Jamaica, 1793 - 1829 (Ref: T-SK, 24669/2); and letters about plantation in Jamaica (Ref: T-SK/16/10/2 , 22/1-15, 9/8/10,11,13,15-19,29 & 32).
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:
Accruals:
System of arrangement:
CONDITIONS OF ACCESS AND USE AREA
Conditions governing access: Members of the public have full access to the collection on completion of a requisition form.
Conditions governing reproduction:
Language/scripts of material: English; early writs in Latin; some material in French, Spanish and Italian among the papers of Sir William Stirling-Maxwell
Physical characteristics:
Finding aids: Printed catalogue
ALLIED MATERIALS AREA
Existence and location of originals: Glasgow City Archives, The Mitchell Library, 210 North Street, Glasgow G3 7DN
Existence and location of copies:
Related units of description: GB242 T-PM ( Maxwell of Pollok Manuscripts)
Publication note:
DESCRIPTION CONTROL AREA
Recorder's note: This record was amended and indexed June 2002 MR
Rules or conventions: Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Date(s) of descriptions: August 2001
Interest: Caribbean
Specific group:
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INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects
Colonialism
Colonial countries
Sugar plantations
Trade
Slavery
Personal/Corporate names
Places
Jamaica
Maryland, United States of America
Virginia, United States of America
Glasgow, United Kingdom
Caribbean
website -
http://www.casbah.ac.uk/cats/archive/183/GCAA00006.htm
``xEpyAZEZVVEfXciBlab``x1069717551``xprofile_research Holy Rude - 1870's ``xmike``xIt was also known as the east-west Kirk at this time, the parish had split into two factions - a wall was built to seperate the chapel into two sections. Cooler heads finally prevailed and the wall was torn down.
Holy Rude Kirk - 1870's (from Stereoview)
JOIN THE STERLING Y-CHROMOSOME DNA PROJECT
Some of you may be aware of a project underway to genetically analyze the distribution of families with names that sound like "St*rling". Several participants have now been tested and received results back from the lab, and so we have successfully identified the "genetic signature" of the Starling/Sterling line that arrived in Accomac County, Virginia in the late 1600s.
We need to recruit people from all the St*rling lines: Sterlings from the Lyme, Connecticut branch, Scottish Stirlings, Starlings in the UK and Australia. We welcome all comers, especially people with well-fleshed-out family trees.
The purposes of this effort are several:
The restrictions are two-fold:
A site has been set up with the results and additional information.
St*rling DNA Project
You can submit a request to join the project here:
http://www.familytreedna.com/surname_join.asp?code=Q12782&special=True
Please consider joining! The more participants, the better the results.
Rick Stirling, St*rling DNA Project Administrator
O. Stirling was a passenger on the A.R.M. Cleopatra, it left Plymouth England on 7 Sep 1852, went to St. Vincent, arrived on 21 Sep 1852, went to Table Bay, Capetown South Africa on 25 Oct 1852.
There is not a great deal of information on the Stirlings in South Africa, if you have more, please let us know.
``xEpyuppuuZuMneYvWbP``x1064004474``xprofile_research Mars Wark - circa 1920``xmike``x
This image of Stirling shows a view from Gowan Hill. The original image is part of the Davidson silver tone series of cards.
This color image of Abbey Craig and the Wallace Monument is part of the Tuck series of Postcards.
This photochrome print of Stirling Castle from Abbey Craig was taken about 1890.
This is a wonderful antique view of the castle in the Scottish city of Stirling. The image comes originally from an original lithograph by T. Nelson & Sons of London. Image measures about 4.75" by 3", total sheet is 5.5" by 3.75". Heavy paper
MORE INFORMATION -
Often considered the greatest of Scotland's castles, Stirling naturally dominates the sky-line of the town, the lowest crossing point and the highest navigable point of the River Forth. The castle is therefore at the cross-roads of strategic and trade routes and has been called 'the key to Scotland'.
Its possession has been a focus of considerable contention, with battles such as Stirling Bridge (1297) and Bannockburn (1314) fought nearby. Dating its original foundation is difficult because Robert the Bruce destroyed the castle after Bannockburn so that the English could not exploit it again. However, it was used by King Malcolm III in the 11th Century and its chapel, founded by King Alexander I, who died in the Castle, is mentioned in the year of his death, 1124.
William the Lion also died in the castle (1214). After Bruce's destruction, Edward III of England rebuilt it in 1333, although the present castle dates mainly from the 15th and 16th centuries when it was the principal royal residence.
Maintained and strengthened as a garrison fort from early in the 18th C., it held out during the 1715 and 1745 Jacobite Risings. Thereafter, the castle was used as a barracks but the army left in 1964, the only reminder being the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum.
``xEpyEpyVkFAqiyrSrVh``x1061065239``xprofile_castle John Eliot Sterling (1922-2003)``xmike``xJohn Eliot Sterling,81,of Clarks Summit,died Monday at Mercy Hospital after an illness. He was born Jan.9,1922 in Greenwich,Conn.son of the late Theodore Weld and Marion Bridge Sterling.
Surviving are three sisters,Helen Montgomery,and Sarah Swanson both of Buckingham,and Janet Murphree, Beaufort, N.C. He was also preceded in death by a brother,Theodore Weld Sterling Jr.
The funeral was private at the convenience of the family.Internment, Greenwood Cemetery,Brooklyn.(PA.) Arrangements,Jennings-Calvey Funeral Home Inc.,111 Colburn Ave. Clarks Summit.
``xEpyplEupFuUCdeVISc``x1060814034``xprofile_memorials Causewayhead & Tram - Stirling``xmike``xFrom the Valentine Series of postcards, this is number 5250. The Wallace Monument can be seen in the distance.
This postcard image is part of the Valentines series, numbered 5255. It's titled "Causewayhead and Wallace Mon."
Images date from the 1870's to the 1950's. Enjoy!
Dunblane Cathedral
Dunblane Hotel Hydro & Spa.
Hotel Hydro - Dunblane, Scotland.
This fine lithographic print by artist G.F. Robson dates from the 1870's. It is approximately 6x 9 inches in size, printed on parchment paper.
The royal burgh of Stirling, sometimes called the Windsor of Scotland, and the comity town of Stirlingshire, is delightfully situated on the southern bank of the river Forth, and, like the old town of Edinburgh, occupies the ridge and sides of a hill which rises gradually from the east, and terminates in an abrupt crag towards the west, on the top of which stands the castle, two hundred and twenty feet above the level of the plain. The view from the castle is of vast extent, and comprehends the richest variety both of the beautiful and the grand in natural scenery. The field of Bannockburn lies below; there also are the battle-fields of Stirling Bridge, Sauchieburn, Sheriffmuir, Falkirk, and Cambuskenneth. High antiquity is claimed for " Grey Stirling with her towers and town." The oldest existing charter of the burgh is dated in 1120, but it bears to be a confirmation of former grants; and the fort or castle was a place of importance a considerable time before this. Historians repeatedly mention it in the ninth century. It has undergone innumerable sieges.
In the annals of Scotland, indeed, Stirling bears a conspicuous part. William the Lion died here in 1214 ; here James IV. was born in 1474. His son James V., born here, was crowned on 21st December, 1513, being then five months and ten days old. His daughter Queen Mary was also crowned here, December 9, 1543. James VI. spent here the years of his minority, under the celebrated scholar and historian George Buchanan. The same monarch was crowned by John Knox in the Greyfriars Church, July 29, 1567, when about thirteen months old. The Palace was built by James V., who adorned it with a good deal of grotesque statuary. The building is now used as barracks. James III., whose favourite residence was Stirling Castle, built the Parliament Hall, now a riding-room. The apartment is shown on the west of the quadrangle, where James II., who was born here, slew the turbulent Earl of Douglas on 13th February, 1452. The population of Stirling in 1871 was 14,279.
This mid 19th century print of Dunblane Cathedral is over 100 years old. The original artist was G. Cattermole. The print is approximately 6 x 8 1/2 inches, printed on heavy parchment paper. If you look closely you can see the Cathedral roof is missing, the roof was not repaired until the late 1890's.
An excerpt from the original description of the print:
THE cnrioug, old, decayed, and "dirty" town of Dunblane, in Perthshire, situated on the eastern bank of the Allan Water, seven miles from Stirling, and nearly four from the Bridge of Allan, deriving its name from St. Blane, is celebrated for its Cathedral, and was anciently a seat of the Culdees,the earliest Christian clergy of Scotland. The bishoprick of Dunblane, of limited extent, was founded by David I., in 1142. The half-ruinous Cathedral, with its lofty square tower and long line of arched windows, a view of which is given in an accompanying plate, stands on an eminence overlooking the town. It is not known who built the first church but dement. Bishop of Dunblane, restored, or rather rebuilt, the Cathedral about 1240. The western doorway ia surmounted by a magnificent lanceolated window of three compartments. Two rows of stupendous columns, still entire, extend along the interior, affording a promenade on the top of arches, surmounted by others. The figures of Michael Ochiltree and Finlay Dennott, Bishops of Dunblane of the fifteenth century, lie recumbent under window arches. The latter built the narrow bridge of one arch, by which the town is entered by the Stirling road. Full-length figures of Malise, Earl of Strathearn, and his Countess (1271), are cut in alto relievo on a gritstone block in the lobby of the vestry. he choir is kept in repair, and used as the parish church. Its magnificent oriel window is the finest object of the ruin.
The length of the building is two hundred and sixteen feet, by seventy-six; the wall fifty feet high; and the tower, probably built at three successive periods, is one hundred and twenty-eight feet in height. Thirty-six seats were appropriated to the choir; and those of the bishop and dean, with thirty-two others, displaying curious oak-carvings, still remain, while in the nave most of the prebendal stalls are entire. Three blue marble slabs in the choir cover . the graves of Lady Margaret Drummond, a mistress of James IV., and her sisters Euphemia and Sybilla, daughters of the first Lord Drummond, who were poisoned at breakfast in Drummond Castle, in 1501—it was thought by design of some of the courtiers, to prevent the marriage of the eldest with the King. The Cathedral sustained great damage from the mistaken zeal of the Reformers in 1559. The grand entrance, above which is a splendid window, now repaired, has suffered Tittle injury. At least twenty-six prelates occupied the see before the Reformation, and seven Protestant bishops from that era to the Revolution. The bishop's palace, now only distinguishable by some vaults and part of its western wall, stood immediately south of the church, and overlooked the river. Its remains served as materials for building a house in the main street, near the Cathedral, for the valuable library, about one thousand four hundred volumes, bequeathed to the clergy of the diocese by "the good Bishop," Robert Leighton, Bishop ofDunblane, from 1662 to 1670, and afterwards Archbishop of Glasgow. The library has been considerably augmented by various additions.
Murray Place Scotland about 1890. Today the large building on the right has been replaced by the entrance to Stirling's Shopping Mall, and a Burger King occupies the spot. Is that progress?
From Keystone Series -
This image of Stirling Castle is quite interesting! The photo was taken about 1900 from the tower of the nearby Holy Rude Kirk, but unlike other images from the same location, a telephoto type lens must have been used as the detail is quite a bit larger and in more fine detail. The open area with the tent is known as the Queens garden.
This print of The Battle of Stirling Bridge was done by MW Ridley. Stirling castle can be seen in wooden form in the background. The battle was not actually fought on the bridge as depicted here. Dates from the mid 1800's.
This early 1900's image of Stirling Castle's King James Audience chamber is very interesting. Today all of the furnishings, wall hangings, weapons, etc are gone. This is a rare glimpse to what this magnficent room might have looked like. Original Image from Valentine Series.
This is a rare turn of the century view of Stirling Castle from Dean Crescent. Taken from a Valentines Series Postcard.
This postcard shows Dunblane Cathedrahl from the nearby Allan Water. Taken from a Tuck Series postcard from about 1900.
Port Street, Stirling, Scotland.
From an old 1920's Postcard, an image of the old public school in Stirling, New Jersey.
This picture of the Guildhall in Stirling is part of the Craig Series of postcards.
John T. Sterling
Distinction: Civil War Medal of Honor
Additional Notes:
With one companion captured 14 of the enemy in the severest part of the battle.
Rank: Private, Company D, 11th Indiana Infantry.
James E. Sterling
Distinction: Civil War Medal of Honor
Additional Notes:
On board the U.S.S. Brooklyn during successful attacks against Fort Morgan, rebel gunboats and the ramming of the Tennessee in Mobile Bay, on 5 August 1864. Although wounded when heavy enemy return fire raked the decks of his ship, Sterling courageously remained at his post and continued passing shell until struck down a second time and completely disabled.
Rank: Coal Heaver, U.S. Navy.
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List of Pearl Harbor Casualties
Civilian and Military Deaths on Oahu, Hawaii
Source: United States Department of the Interior,
National Park Service, USS Arizona Memorial
*****************************************
Name (Last First) STERLING, Gordon H. Jr.
Rank / Branch 2LT / US Army
Location WHEELER FIELD
Name (Last First) STERLING, Otis Delaney
Rank / Branch MATT1c / US Navy
Location USS WEST VIRGINIA
Webmaster Rick Stirling found this map recently - it shows the population density of persons of Scottish Ancestry in the United States. It's quite interesting! What is the concentration in your area? If you look closely at the south eastern corner of Idaho, you'll see a very small red dot along the Utah-Idaho border.... (Rick & Mike's home county!)
Enjoy!
``xEpuAluAFEpYClDjiZe``x1049849310``xprofile_maps Matthew Sterling - Gary, Indiana``xmike``xAge 93, of Gary, and formerly of Buffalo, New York, passed away Thursday, April 3, 2003 at Methodist Hospital Northlake. He is preceded in death by his parents, Matthew and Julia Sterling; sisters, Carrie Young and Julia Childs; brothers, Merton and Leroy Sterling.
He is survived by devoted nephew Edward Young of Gary; 2 nieces, Joyce Joyner of Indianapolis, IN and Carolyn (Theodore) Jackson of Powder Springs, GA; devoted friend, Pearl Gordon; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Visitation Tuesday, April 8, 2003 from 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. Family Hour 1:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M. Funeral services at 2:00 P.M. All services at the Guy & Allen Chapel, 2959 W. 11th Ave., Gary. Professional services rendered by Guy & Allen Funeral Directors.
``xEpuAlkuZuuhhLYIISK``x1049824744``xprofile_memorials Stirlings in the NARA "Irish Famine" Database``xrickster``xThe Irish Potato Famine of 1846-50
It began with a blight of the potato crop that left acre upon acre of Irish farmland covered with black rot. As harvests across Europe failed, the price of food soared. Subsistence-level Irish farmers found their food stores rotting in their cellars, the crops they relied on to pay the rent to their British and Protestant landlords destroyed. Peasants who ate the rotten produce sickened and entire villages were consumed with cholera and typhus. Parish priests desperate to provide for their congregations were forced to forsake buying coffins in order to feed starving families, with the dead going unburied or buried only in the clothes they wore when they died.
Landlords evicted hundreds of thousands of peasants, who then crowded into disease-infested workhouses. Other landlords paid for their tenants to emigrate, sending hundreds of thousands of Irish to America and other English-speaking countries. But even emigration was no panacea -- shipowners often crowded hundreds of desperate Irish onto rickety vessels labeled "coffin ships." In many cases, these ships reached port only after losing a third of their passengers to disease, hunger and other causes. While Britain provided much relief for Ireland's starving populace, many Irish criticized Britain's delayed response -- and further blamed centuries of British political oppression on the underlying causes of the famine.
The Irish Famine of 1846-50 took as many as one million lives from hunger and disease, and changed the social and cultural structure of Ireland in profound ways. The Famine also spurred new waves of immigration, thus shaping the histories of the United States and Britain as well.
The combined forces of famine, disease and emigration depopulated the island; Ireland's population dropped from 8 million before the Famine to 5 million years after. If Irish nationalism was dormant for the first half of the nineteenth-century, the Famine convinced Irish citizens and Irish-Americans of the urgent need for political change. The Famine also changed centuries-old agricultural practices, hastening the end of the division of family estates into tiny lots capable of sustaining life only with a potato crop.
Embarking at Waterloo
Many emmgrated to the USA by way of Waterloo
National Archives & Records Administration Data sorted by arrival date
| Last_Name | First_Name | Age | Sex | Occ | Dest | Month | Day | Year |
| STERLING | GEORGE | 60 | M | MCHT | CANADA | 7 | 1 | 1846 |
| STERLING | MARY | 60 | F | MCHT | CANADA | 7 | 1 | 1846 |
| STIRLING | M.L. | 27 | M | MCHT | GT.BRITAIN | 3 | 18 | 1847 |
| STERLING | MGT. | 40 | F | NN | USA | 4 | 15 | 1847 |
| STERLING | ARCHIBALD | 22 | M | LABR | NEW YORK | 4 | 26 | 1847 |
| STERLING | ROBERT | 25 | M | LABR | NEW YORK | 4 | 26 | 1847 |
| STERLING | ROBERT | 24 | M | LABR | NEW YORK | 4 | 26 | 1847 |
| STERLING | ISABELLA | 26 | F | NN | USA | 6 | 18 | 1847 |
| STERLING | PETER | 24 | M | MECH | USA | 6 | 18 | 1847 |
| STIRLING | K. | 45 | M | NN | USA | 6 | 23 | 1847 |
| STERLING | BGT. | 22 | F | NN | USA | 7 | 2 | 1847 |
| STERLING | JAMES | 18 | M | PNTR | USA | 10 | 28 | 1847 |
| STIRLING | JOHN | 28 | M | MECH | USA | 11 | 26 | 1847 |
| STERLING | JOHN | 18 | M | LABR | USA | 4 | 26 | 1848 |
| STERLING | ALEXR. | M | INF | USA | 7 | 3 | 1848 | |
| STERLING | JAMES | 40 | M | LABR | USA | 7 | 3 | 1848 |
| STERLING | MARGT. | 30 | F | SMSTS | USA | 7 | 3 | 1848 |
| STERLING | MARGT. | 8 | F | CH | USA | 7 | 3 | 1848 |
| STERLING | SABINE | 3 | F | CH | USA | 7 | 3 | 1848 |
| STERLING | SARAH | 20 | F | SMSTS | USA | 7 | 3 | 1848 |
| STERLING | HENRY | 34 | M | LABR | USA | 8 | 5 | 1848 |
| STERLING | DAVID | 20 | M | U | USA | 9 | 15 | 1848 |
| STERLING | VILAS | 40 | U | U | USA | 9 | 15 | 1848 |
| STERLING | LOUISA | 20 | F | FMR | USA | 11 | 8 | 1848 |
| STERLING | SAMUEL | 20 | M | LABR | USA | 11 | 20 | 1848 |
| STERLING | ISABELLA | 21 | F | W | USA | 12 | 11 | 1848 |
| STERLING | ISRAEL | 24 | M | SVNT | USA | 12 | 11 | 1848 |
| STERLING | JAMES | 15 | M | SVNT | USA | 12 | 11 | 1848 |
| STIRLING | ELLEN | 5 | F | CH | USA | 1 | 26 | 1849 |
| STIRLING | GEORGE | 3 | M | CH | USA | 1 | 26 | 1849 |
| STIRLING | JANE | 27 | F | W | USA | 1 | 26 | 1849 |
| STIRLING | MARY | F | INF | USA | 1 | 26 | 1849 | |
| STERLING | DOMINICO | 21 | M | MUSN | USA | 3 | 5 | 1849 |
| STERLING | MARY-ANN | 20 | F | SVNT | NEW YORK | 4 | 18 | 1849 |
| STERLING | WILLIAM | 22 | M | LABR | NEW YORK | 5 | 1 | 1849 |
| STERLING | ANN | 23 | F | U | USA | 7 | 12 | 1849 |
| STERLING | BRIDGET | 55 | F | U | USA | 7 | 12 | 1849 |
| STERLING | JAMES | 23 | M | ENGR | USA | 7 | 12 | 1849 |
| STERLING | JOHN | M | INF | USA | 7 | 12 | 1849 | |
| STERLING | THOS. | 30 | M | U | USA | 8 | 14 | 1849 |
| STERLING | ROSE | 18 | F | HSMD | USA | 8 | 18 | 1849 |
| STERLING | ELIZABETH | 26 | F | U | USA | 9 | 4 | 1849 |
| STERLING | ALEXR. | 12 | M | CH | USA | 9 | 18 | 1849 |
| STERLING | JOHN | 4 | M | CH | USA | 9 | 18 | 1849 |
| STERLING | JANE | 25 | F | U | USA | 4 | 4 | 1850 |
| STERLING | ROBERT | 28 | M | SMER | USA | 4 | 4 | 1850 |
| STERLING | ROBERT | M | INF | USA | 4 | 4 | 1850 | |
| STERLING | ALEXANDER | 28 | M | LABR | USA | 5 | 28 | 1850 |
| STERLING | MARTHA | 40 | F | WI | USA | 5 | 28 | 1850 |
| STERLING | JANE | 20 | F | U | NEW YORK | 7 | 1 | 1850 |
| STERLING | ALFRED | M | U | USA | 7 | 15 | 1850 | |
| STERLING | JANE | F | U | USA | 7 | 15 | 1850 | |
| STERLING | GEORGE | 35 | M | SHMK | USA | 10 | 10 | 1850 |
| STERLING | ANDREW | 30 | M | LABR | NEW YORK | 11 | 13 | 1850 |
| STERLING | ELLEN | 27 | F | U | NEW YORK | 11 | 13 | 1850 |
| STERLING | JOHN | 6 | M | CH | NEW YORK | 11 | 13 | 1850 |
| STERLING | MARY | 3 | F | CH | NEW YORK | 11 | 13 | 1850 |
| STERLING | MARY | 21 | F | FMR | USA | 6 | 3 | 1851 |
| STERLING | JOHN | 40 | M | LABR | USA | 6 | 9 | 1851 |
| STERLING | AGNES | 43 | F | U | USA | 7 | 5 | 1851 |
| STERLING | AGNES | 14 | F | U | USA | 7 | 5 | 1851 |
| STERLING | ANN | 12 | F | U | USA | 7 | 5 | 1851 |
| STERLING | ELIZABETH | 2 | F | CH | USA | 7 | 5 | 1851 |
| STERLING | FANNY | 10 | F | U | USA | 7 | 5 | 1851 |
| STERLING | MARGARET | 6 | F | CH | USA | 7 | 5 | 1851 |
| STERLING | SAMUEL | 45 | M | CBTMKR | USA | 7 | 5 | 1851 |
| STERLING | SAMUEL | 8 | M | CH | USA | 7 | 5 | 1851 |
| STERLING | ELIZA | 50 | F | U | USA | 7 | 12 | 1851 |
| STERLING | ELIZA | 15 | F | U | USA | 7 | 12 | 1851 |
| STERLING | JOHN | 20 | M | U | USA | 7 | 12 | 1851 |
| STERLING | SAMUEL | 60 | M | FMR | USA | 7 | 12 | 1851 |
| STERLING | ANN | 19 | F | U | USA | 8 | 1 | 1851 |
| STERLING | JOHN | 34 | M | WVR | USA | 8 | 21 | 1851 |
| STERLING | CATHN. | 30 | F | SVNT | USA | 10 | 7 | 1851 |
| STERLING | THOS. | 21 | M | U | USA | 10 | 13 | 1851 |
| STIRLING | WILLIAM | 20 | M | AUC | NEW YORK | 11 | 12 | 1851 |
This image shows the Silk Factory in Stirling NJ, around the turn of the century.
This image of Stirling Castle comes from an antique steel engraving from 1836 through 1838.
The image was engraved by Bartlett. His engravings are well known for their incredible sense of atmosphere in the skies and the genuine sense of almost a 3D feel to his landscapes.
Stirling Castle - 1891 Color Lithograph
This antique chromolithograph is a view of "Stirling Castle." This is a print, on paper, published in an 1891 book of Scottish scenic views.
This is a wonderful antique view of the famous castle in the Scottish city of Stirling. Lithograph by T. Nelson & Sons of London. Image measures about 4.75" by 3", total sheet is 5.5" by 3.75". Heavy paper, blank on the backside.
Often considered the greatest of Scotland's castles, Stirling naturally dominates the sky-line of the town, the lowest crossing point and the highest navigable point of the River Forth. The castle is therefore at the cross-roads of strategic and trade routes and has been called 'the key to Scotland'.
Its possession has been a focus of considerable contention, with battles such as Stirling Bridge (1297) and Bannockburn (1314) fought nearby. The castle was used by King Malcolm III in the 11th Century and its chapel, founded by King Alexander I, who died in the Castle, is mentioned in the year of his death, 1124. William the Lion also died in the castle (1214). After Bruce's destruction, Edward III of England rebuilt it in 1333, although the present castle dates mainly from the 15th and 16th centuries when it was the principal royal residence.
Maintained and strengthened as a garrison fort from early in the 18th C., it held out during the 1715 and 1745 Jacobite Risings. Thereafter, the castle was used as a barracks but the army left in 1964, the only reminder being the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum.
This image shows Stirling's Municipal Buildings, Burn's Statue and War Memorial. It was done by R T W Dennis.
This early view of Allan Water & Bridge, Dunblane, Scotland was done by Valentine.
The church of Balfron belonged to the Abbey of Inchaffray. It was held with Killearn in 1567. The church was rebuilt in 1832.
Ministers of Balfon -
1560 Alexander Callendar
1569 James Hunter, reader
1569 John Snell, reader
1574 John Porterfield, reader
1574 William Russell, reader And again in 1580?
1st July 1619 John Galbraith MA Educ. Univ St Andrews. Pres. to the vicarage by James VI. Transferred to Bothkennar 17th Feb 1629. Married daughter of John Norwell.
1629 – c1642 John Norwell MA Transferred from Bothkennar. Died in Stirling Sept 1671, aged 87. His daughter married his predecessor.
11th June 1656 William Stirling MA Son of minister of Baldernock. Transferred to Drymen, 15th Dec 1663
12th July 1664 Alexander Cameron Pres. 3rd Mar 1664 by Charles II. Transferred to Roseneath 25th Apr 1665
8th May 1666 James Buchannan Pres. By Charles II 18th Apr 1666; deposed 13th Aug 1690 for contumacy. He married at Holyrood 29th Apr 1668 Bessie Johnstone of parish of Inniscailloch.
1691 David Fleckfield Ed at Uni of Glasgow 1676. Ord. 23rd Sep 1691. Married (1) 8th dec 1692 Janet nee Dunlop, widow of James Hamilton. (2) Janet Paterson. (3) Jean Callendar, who survived him and married again.
1731 George Sinclair Of Upper ward, Lanarkshire. He was ordained (in Parish of Biggar?) by a committee of the Commission of Assembly with one member of the Presbytery after 6pm 23rd Apr 1731, under the protection of the military. He was employed to assist at the Communion at Cardross in 1731, but so obnoxious was he, that when he preached on the fast-day and the greater part of the people left the church. He was also to have assisted on the Lord’s day, but the elders refusing to serve if he did so, he withdrew, and returned home. He married 11th Dec 1747 Jean Baine, dau of minister of Bonhill. He died 5th Mar 1756.
1760 Hugh Gourlay Grandson of David Fleckfield, born 1732. Ed Uni of Glasgow; ordained 25th Sept 1760 (in Stirling?). Married (1) Margaret Lauder (2) 30th Jul 1782 Elizabeth Colquhoun.
1787 James Jeffrey MA Born 1750. Ed Uni of St Andrews 1770. Pres by Thomas, Earl of Kinnoul 23rd Feb 1787. Married Margaret Bathie, of Auchtermuchty. He got a new church built in 1793. He died 10th Feb 1824 (in his 75th year and 37th minute!).
1825 Alexander Niven MA Born 8th Jan 1798, 3rd son of minister of Dunkeld. Ed Uni of St Andrews 1817. Pres by Thomas, Earl of Kinnoul 19th Jul 1824. Married 22nd Sept 1829 Eliza Brown, dau of minister of St John’s Glasgow. His 2nd son became minister of Pollockshields; his 3rd son became minister of North Parish, Paisley. Died 14th Feb 1872. He rebuilt the church.
1872 James Ballingall MA BD Ordained 16th May 1872. Transferred to Rhynd 24th Jan 1878.
1878 Alexander Slessor Born Rathen, Aberdeenshire. Ed Uni of Aberdeen. Ordained 14th May 1878. Married 6th Aug 1878 Elizabeth Ross. He died 17th July 1904, sp.
1905 James Black MA Born Elgin 8th Nov 1870. Yr son of Provost of Elgin. Ed Uni of Aberdeen 1891. Ordained 5th Jan 1905.Married 5th Jul 1905 Roberta Cecilia Williamson of Edinburgh. Res. 6th Feb 1912 on appointment to Scottish Church, Simla. OBE 1919. He died sp.
1912 William John Sym MA BD Ordained 5th June 1912. Transferred to Broughty Ferry 20th Oct 1915.
1916 Alexander Cameron Campbell Born Glasgow 1873. Ed Uni of Edinburgh. Ordained to st Mark’s, Glasgow, 2nd Sept 1914. Capt RAMC European War 1917-18. Married 31st Oct 1901 Helen Buchannan.
1919 Archibald MacKenzie Born in Alexandria, 30th Mar 1882, son of minister of Polmont. Ed Uni of Glasgow. Ordained 14th Dec 1919. Married 24th Aug 1918, Frances Theodora Philips, of Bearsden.
Two images of Stirling Bridge. The first is from a Reliable Series Postcard that dates from about 1910. This image has been reproduced many times in many formats over the years.
The Second card is titled "Old Bridge Stirling" and is a oil painted Postcard by Tuck & Sons. It also dates from about 1910. If you look closely you can see a couple enjoying the view from the top of the bridge. If you are in Stirling, visit the bridge - there are wonderful views of the castle and Wallace Monument there.
The Royal Highlanders Marching out of Stirling Castle.
Stirling Castle's Great Hall - It was "remodernized" in the late 1990's.
The Flag of St. Andrews isn't there.... But it's a nice detail image of the castle entrance.
W.H. Watts was a famous miniature and landscape painter, who accompanied T Garnett M.D. on his tour of Scotland. This printed engraving was taken by Watts at Stirling.
The print is from the book From Observations of a Tour through The Highlands and Part of the Western Isles of Scotland, particularly Staffa and Icolmkill; to which is added, A Description of the Falls of the Clyde, of the Country round Moffat, etc. by T. Garnett, M.D., Published in London, printed by Luke Hanfard for T. Cadell, Junior & W. Davies, In the Strand, 1800.
This two hundred year old print is a beautiful example of a oval plate style, and is approximately 10.5 by 8.5 inches in size.
``xEpulEEVApkgRbcWMYE``x1048115902``xprofile_castle Stirling Castle - Valentine Series``xmike``x
Two Images of Stirling Castle from around the turn of the century. These images are part of the Valentine series of images. The first picture was taken from the Tower at the Holy Rude. The second was taken From the Kings Garden below.
Stirling Castle From Holy Rude Tower.
Stirling Castle From Kings Knot.
``xEpuZZpZppVhbsmZpOR``x1047707005``xprofile_photos Bridge of Allan - High Quality Image``xmike``x
This image is quite large, but is an excellent photo of the Bridge of Allan Waterway about 1900-1910. The original image comes to us from Valentine. If you look closer at the image near the light pole, you can see two lassies out for a walk!
Three images of Stirling Castle, and the views from the castle, done in the early 20th century by Cassell. If you have more information on Cassell, please let us know.
Stirling Castle - Cassell
View of Stirling Castle From Abbey Craig - Cassell
Mars Wark, Castle Hill, Stirling - by Cassell
These two images of Dunblane come to us from old postcard images, taken about 1907. The first is a rare view of Dunblane Cathedral, the second is an peaceful image of the dunblane waters. Enjoy!
Rev James Stirling (1935-2003)
by The Rev Gary J. McIntyre.
JAMES Stirling died on the morning of Sunday, February 2, 2003. His passing, after a period of illness, brought to a close the life of a man who was dedicated to the service of Jesus Christ and His Church.
Jim was born at Kirkintilloch on January 6 in 1935. He was educated at Lenzie Academy and at the University of Glasgow, from which he graduated in 1958 with an Honours degree in pure science.
Called to the ministry, Jim then studied divinity at Trinity College, graduating as a Bachelor of divinity in 1961, the year in which he was licensed by the Presbytery of Glasgow. It was on October 23, 1962, that Jim was ordained by the Presbytery of Stirling and Dunblane and inducted to the then pastoral charge of Alloa St. Andrews.
There he made his mark as a gifted and conscientious young minister.
On June 4, 1969, Jim was translated to the large pastoral charge of St Ninians Old in Stirling. He worked tirelessly for the cause and from there he retired on February 28, 1998, his early retirement being brought about by the onset of Alzheimer’s.
To this day, Jim is remembered by his former congregations with love and affection. He had a deep and enduring faith which he made it his life’s work to share.
Jim was an able preacher who approached the worship of God with great dignity and solemnity. He also had a deep and genuine pastoral concern that often went beyond the rigorous demands for his vocation. Indeed, numerous people will testify to the outstanding support they received from Jim, not least in times of sickness or sorrow.
Truly, he was one who shared in both the highs and lows of this earthly life and in Jim, his people knew they had a true friend and support, his wise council always being listened to and valued.
A familiar figure in the parish and unlike a number of ministers today always smartly turned out in his clerical collar, Jim was also unstinting in his service in the courts of the church. He was active on various Assembly Committees and in the Presbytery of Stirling where he served for a time as Assistant Presbytery Clerk and as Convener of the Maintenance of the Ministry Committee and of the Business Committee.
He also served as Moderator of the Presbytery from 1975-1976.
One of Jim Stirling’s great gifts was his sharp and incisive mind. He had an amazing ability to think on his feet and I am told that often he helped the presbytery to clarify its position on a number of difficult issues. His voice was indeed a welcome voice, for those who heard Jim speak realised that he did not do so in order to attract attention to himself, but always because he was concerned for the good name of the church and the spiritual well-being of its members.
In his life, Jim touched the lives of a great many people. He had a delightful pawky sense of humour; he had a real concern for people and an abiding interest in the church and its history.
He was a man who said what he believed and believed what he said. People would not always agree with him, but I believe they respected him as an individual of unquestionable integrity and one who brought to bear on all his work, a deep sense of dedication and devotion; truly the hallmarks of a good and gracious man of God.
As well as being well known in church and community, Jim being a member and past chairman of the Board of Trustees of William Simpson Home in Plean was truly a family man.
He was a devoted husband to Jessie whom he married in 1961. He was a loving father to Gregor, Rhona and Fraser. He was also a loving grandfather and a dear brother to Jane.
In them Jim experienced real happiness and from them he derived the strength that he needed in order to give so freely of his time to others.
Members of Jim’s former congregations in Alloa and St Ninians and his many friends, join with the family in gratitude for the life of a good and upright man, a man with a strong living faith that has surely won him the well-merited approbation: Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord.
``xEpuyupupVEVEsMnKSE``x1046404051``xprofile_memorials Stirling Castle Print - 1907``xmike``xStirling Castle Print - 1907
This engraving and print was printed in 1907 in the book "Short History of The English People". The book was published by George Newnes Ltd, Southampton Street, Strand, London. The original print dates from 1693, Slezer's Theatrum Scotia.
The Approximate size of the original image is 4" x 2 1/2".
When two Stirlings married, they joined two prominent branches of the Stirling Clan.
Lt. James Stirling was the son of ...
SIR ARCHIBALD Stirling, Knight, 2nd of Garden, 7th of Keir, and 4th of Cawder, Senator of College of Justice as the Honourable LORD GARDEN 1661 a prominent Royalist, seized his father in Garden 1643, and his 1st cousin, Sir George Stirling of Keir, in Keir and Cawder 1667; born 9 June, 1617; married 1st, 9 July, 1637, Honourable Elizabeth Murray, 2nd daughter of 1st Lord Elibank, and had issue, with two sons and a daughter. Sir Archibald was a direct descendant of Thoraldus de Strivelyn through the Stirlings of Keir.
Mary Stirling was the daughter of ...
Sir George Stirling of Glorat, 1st baronet of Nova Scotia also a prominent Royalist, married firstly in a contract dated 11 July 1657, Mary, daughter of Sir George Seaton of Hallis and Anne Montgomery. Sir George was a direct descendant of Thoraldus de Strivelyn through the Stirlings of Cadder.
Just who was Thoraldus Vicecomes de Strivelyn?
Thoraldus was born before 1147 - probably ca 1070-1090. The Sheriffs of Stirling, afterwards Stirlings of Cadder and Ochiltree, and their representatives, come from this man. His sister Eve married Alan Fitz Walter 1st High Steward of Scotland, founder of the Royal Stewart line. Here are the relationships of the Stewart kings to Sweyn, Thoraldus' father ...
King of Scotland, Robert I 'the Bruce' 3rd great grandson
King of Scotland, Robert II 4th great grandson
King of Scotland, Robert III 5th great grandson
King of Scotland, JAMES I 6th great grandson
King of Scotland, James II 7th great grandson
King of Scotland, James III 8th great grandson
King of Scotland, JAMES IV 9th great grandson
King of Scotland, JAMES V 10th great grandson
King of Scotland, JAMES I & VI 11th great grandson
Thoraldus is held to have been one of the 'distinguished strangers from the south', who were brought by King David I. to civilize his native country; and from the names of the other witnesses to David's charter, must have been a person of the highest rank. He was named in a charter by David I, granting to Kelso Abbey a salt pit in Carsaak, dated "apud Strivelin."
John, bishop of Glasgow, one of these witnesses, having died in 1147, according to the Chronicles of Melrose and Holyrood, Thoraldus thus flourished at that early date.
Source: The Stirlings of Craigbernard and Glorat. Page A.
In the Chartulary of Kelso there is a charter by David I, "to the abbey of Kelso, of a salt-pit in Carsaak, dated "apud Strivelin" which is witnessed "Roberto Sancti Andrea Episcopo; Johanne, Glasguensi Episcopo, Edwardo Cancellario; Duncano Comiti; Herberto, Camerario; Toraldo, Vicecomite; Alwino MacArchile, Uctredo filio Fergusii. All the above witnesses were persons of the highest rank and consideration, holding great public offices; and besides the first two Bishops of the Kingdom, the Chancellor, and Chamberlain, there is Duncan, Earl of Fife, Alwin MacArchile, held by antiquarians to be ancestor of the Earls of Lennox, and Uchtred, son of Fergus, the Lord of Galloway. Thoraldus is held to have been a Saxon chief or leader, whom, with various Saxons, Normans, and Strangers, David I, during what Chalmers styles the Scoto-Saxon period, imported into Scotland to colonize and civilize it.
From the date of the above charter at Stirling, taken with what will follow, we may conclude that the Sheriffdom he undoubtedly held was that of Stirling. This charter must have been signed in or before 1147, that being the year when, according to the "Chronicles of Melrose and Holyrood" John, Bishop of Glasgow, a witness thereto, died.
Source: The Stirlings of Cadder & Dumpellier Page 13.
Here is a presumed ancestry and descent for Thoraldus ...
1-Duke Alypsius of East Devon (before 897-)
.2-Ordgar of Devon Ealdorman Of Devon ( -971)
. 3-Aelfthryth (Elfrida) of Devon Queen of England (0945-1000)
. .4-Ethelred II., the "Redeless" King of England (968-April 23,1016)
. 3-Edulph of Wessex (-)
. .4-Leofwine Earl of Mercia (950-1023) [great-grandson of Alfred the Great, King of England]
. . 5-Thorlongus Leofwinson (-)
. . .6-Sweyn Thorlongusson (-) [grandfather of the Stewart Kings]
. . . 7-Thoraldus de Strivelyn Vicecomes de Strivelyn (abt 1070-aft 1147)
. . . .8-Sir William Filius Thoraldi Vicecomes de Strivelyn Knight, Sheriff of Striueling (bef 1214-aft 1214)
. . . . 9-Sir John Strivelling Dominus de Ochiltree (bef 1214-1270)
. . . . .10-Sir William de Strivelling Knight, Sheriff of Striveling (1270-1295)
. . . . . 11-John de Strivelyne of Rathoran in Lorn (1295-1339)
. . . . . .12-William of Strivelyn of Rathoran (1339-1393)
. . . . . . 13-Lukas Striveling of Rathoran, Ratherne, Boquhumbry a (bef 1370-bet 10 Dec 1449 and 13 Apr 1452)
. . . . . . .14-Sir William Striveling Knight, of Ratherne and Keir (-)
. . . . . . . 15-Sir William Striveling Knight, of Kere (-)
. . . . . . . .16-Sir John Striveling Knight, of Keir (-bef 6 Oct 1545)
. . . . . . . . 17-Sir James Striveling Knight, of Keir and Cawder (-)
. . . . . . . . .18-Sir Archibald Stirling Knight, of Keir (-)
. . . . . . . . . 19-Sir John Stirling Knight, of Garden (bef 30 Sep 1595-)
. . . . . . . . . .20-Sir Archibald Stirling of Garden, of Keir, and Cawder (9 Jun 1617-23 Apr 1668)
. . . . . . . . . . 21-Lieutenant James Stirling (29 Jun 1652-bef 21 Apr 1699)
. . . . 9-Alexander de Strivelyn of Ochiltree and Cadder (-)
. . . . .10-Alexander Strivelyn (-bef 1304)
. . . . . 11-John de Strivelyn (-1333)
. . . . . .12-Sir John de Strivelyn of Cadder (-bef 1408)
. . . . . . 13-William Strivelyn of Cadder (-abt 1434)
. . . . . . .14-Gilbert de Strivelyn ( Buchanan ??? ) (-)
. . . . . . . 15-John Stirling of Cragbernard (-)
. . . . . . . .16-Sir John Stirling of Cragbernard (-)
. . . . . . . . 17-William Stirling of Glorat (-)
. . . . . . . . .18-George Stirling of Glorat (-)
. . . . . . . . . 19-John Stirling of Glorat (-)
. . . . . . . . . .20-John Stirling (-)
. . . . . . . . . . 21-Mungo Stirling (-aft Jan 1669)
. . . . . . . . . . .22-Sir George Stirling Baronet of Nova Scotia (-aft 7 Mar 1693)
. . . . . . . . . . . 23-Lady Mary Stirling (bef 1659-after 1724)
Lt. James Stirling #21 and Lady Mary Stirling #23 married April 1681
It is very possible that James Stirling of Cornwall, Litchfield Co., CT is a descendant of that marriage. Research continues.
These images reagarding the battle of Bannockburn show the borestone and statue of King Robert The Bruce. The battle of Bannockburn was fought in midsummer in 1314. The battlefield is two miles from Stirling. The traditional site is marked by a memorial Cairn erected in 1957. Nearby is the borestone on which Bruce's standard is supposed to ahve been planted. You can see a large area of the burn from the borestone.
This statue of King Robert the Bruce is located near the entrance to Stirling Castle. The extensive iron works you see in this image was removed a number of years ago.
The History of Stirlingshire by William Nimo.
Chapter IV. Ancient Monuments
There is another remarkable piece of antiquity the ancient building that went by the name of Arthur’s O’on. Henry Sinclair, Dean of Glasgow about 1560, calls it "Arthur’s Huif"; and Gordon speaks of it as "Julius Hoff." Its site was a few yards to the north-east of the Forge Row, Carron, at the corner of an enclosure about 50 feet square, on the estate of Stenhouse. The destruction of this rare though rude relic of architecture by Sir Michael Bruce, in 1743, for the purpose of repairing a dam-head with the best of its stones, roused the wrath of all antiquarians.
Maitland has inserted in his History of Scotland a poem on the demolition of what Dr. Stukely considered a Roman edifice, dedicated to Romulus; and, in a fit of resentment, the latter drew a caricature of Sir Michael carrying off a lapful of stones, with the devil goading him along, which was engraved by the Antiquarian Society of London.
In 1862, we were shown a very tasteful sketch of the O’on as it appeared immediately before its demolition, and the form it took was that of a beehive. Gordon has given a very good illustration of it in his Itinerarium. It was a perfect dome, with a circular orifice at its apex, built in double courses of finely-hewn stones, laid on each other without mortar. Or, as Dr. Stukely says, its shape is not unlike the famous Pantheon at Rome, before the noble portico was added to it by Marcus Agrippa. Still, the building was small, to have been so famous. The perpendicular height, from the bottom to the top of the aperture, was 22 feet; the external circumference at the base, 88 feet; internal circumference, 61 1/4; external diameter at the base, 28 feet; internal diameter, 19 feet 6 inches; circumference of the aperture, 36 feet 1 inch; diameter of the aperture, 11 feet 6 inches; height of the door from its basis to the top of the arch, 9 feet; breadth of the door at the base, 6 feet 4 inches; height, from the ground to the top of the key-stone of the door, 10 feet 6 inches; breadth of the wall at the base, measuring at the door, 4 feet 3 inches; thickness of the wall where the arch springs, 3 feet 7 inches; and height of the basement on which the building stands, 4 feet 6 inches.
As to the builders of this structure, Nemus, an old monkish writer, argues for the Emperor Carausius; Hector Boece for Vespasian; Sir Robert Sibbald for Septimus Severus; and Dr. Stukely for Julius Agricola. If the initial letters J.A.M.P.M.P.T. were really engraved on a stone in this little temple, it may be considered not unlikely that they should bear this reading: - Julius Agricola Magnae Pietatis Monumentum Posuit Templum.
Antiquarians are also greatly at variance with respect to the purpose which the building was intended to serve. Stuart, in his Caledonia Romana, is of opinion, that the word O’on may be no other than the Pictish term for a house, or dwelling, as we find that the words Pict-Oon denoted the Picts’ dwelling-place, or settlement. The prefix "Arthur," he further holds, may be a corruption of some Attic word. Sir William Bentham, the learned author of the "Gaul and Cimbrii," suggests that the name "Arthur’s O’on" is probably derived from the old Gaelic words Art, a house, and Om, solitary meaning a retired dwelling. Gordon takes the derivation from Ard nan Suainhe i.e., the high place, or temple of the standards; as Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh, is Ard nan Saidhe, the hill of the arrow; and Arthur’s Seir, between Ross and Moray, is Ard nan Seir, the height from which to launch ships. Dr. Stukely’s theory, as to Julius Agricola having been the founder of the building, is perhaps the most reasonable of all; and if this is accepted, we cannot but regard the humble fabric as a sacellum, or little chapel, in which the vexilla, or ensigns of the legion, were kept. That it was never designed for public worship is plain from its dimensions. Gordon adds that it may have been also used as a mausoleum, or depository, for holding within its hollow basement the ashes of some illustrious Roman. But a truce to banter. We now know as much as ever shall be known of this interesting relic interesting only on the page of history. Nothing is left us of the O’on but the memory of its existence, and the green sloping bank on which it stood. Demolished, too, for the repair of a petty dam-head. "The pity of it, Iago; the pity of it."
Three miles westward upon the north bank of the Carron, stand two beautiful mounds called the hills of Dunipace, which are taken notice of by most of our historians, as monuments of great antiquity. Their whole structure is of earth; but they are not both of the same form and dimensions. The more easterly one is perfectly round, resembling an oven, and about fifty feet in height. The other, at the foundation, is nearly of a triangular shape, but the superstructure is irregular; nor does the height of it bear any proportion to the extent of the base. Buchanan calls the western mound the smaller. His memory here, however, had quite failed him, for there are at least four times the quantity of earth in it than is in the other. These "hills" are unmistakably not artificial. But in times long past, they may have been put to some military use, as from their form and isolated position they are eminently fitted for fortification. Here and there for miles along the banks of the Carron are many steep gravel knolls, cut out by the action of its waters; and these Dunipace mounds have in all probability been similarly isolated, as here the short but impetuous river, whose upper course is a rapid descent, sweepingly strikes a plain.
The common account given of these, not three-clad mounds, is, that they were erected as monuments of a peace concluded in that place, between the Romans and the Caledonians, and that their name partakes of the language of both people; Dun signifying "Hill" in the ancient language of the country, and Pax "Peace" in the language of Rome. The compound word Dunipace, according to this etymology, signifies "Hills of Peace." We find, in history, notice taken of three treaties of peace that were, at different periods, concluded between the Romans and Caledonians; the first by Severus, about the year 210; the second soon after, by his son Caracall; and the third by the usurper Carausius, about the year 286. Others, again, favour the etymology Duinna-Bais which signifies hills, or tumuli, of death believing the earthen structures sepulchral monuments over the ashes of warriors slain in battle. Tuiams, similar to those in question, are somewhat numerous throughout the neighbourhood of Stonehenge, in Salisbury Plain; and from the fact of human bones having been discovered in several of such mounds, they are popularly regarded as the graves of ancient Britons.
Dunipace is taken notice of in history, as a place where important national causes have been decided, and that more than once, by great monarchs in person. We find Edward I. of England, at Dunipace upon the 14th of October, 1301, where he signed a warrant to his plenipotentiaries, who were at that time in France, authorising them to consent to a truce with the Scots, as a necessary preliminary towards a peace with their ally, the French King, between whom and Edward an obstinate war had long raged. At the chapel of this place too, Robert Bruce and William Wallace are said to have had a second conference the morning after the battle of Falkirk, which effectually opened the eyes of the former to a just view of his own true interest, and that of his country.
Then in the background lies the Dunipace mansion, which formerly belonged to the Primroses, but who forfeited the estate in 1746. The story, or drama rather, is brief. Government hearing that Primrose, on the occasion of the second battle of Falkirk, had led the Highlanders to the ford across the Carron, seized his property, and afterwards had him beheaded. Immediately on the back of this unhappy event, the bereaved family located themselves in Edinburgh. After the lapse of a few years, however, they thought of steps for the repossession of the property, and with that view engaged a Mr. Spottiswood, as agent, to purchase it from Government in their behalf. The honest lawyer took the business sharply in hand; but finding the bargain struck a thorough catch, he put down the transaction to his own account, and speedily settled himself as proprietor. The felling of the oak on the estate, we have been assured, was more than sufficient to meet the purchase-bill. Lady Primrose was also an enthusiastic Jacobite. It was she who protected the Miss Macdonald, celebrated for her concern in the escape of Prince Charles Stuart after the battle of Culloden; and so popular became this heroic gentlewoman that eighteen carriages, all belonging to visitors of distinction, have been seen ranked up before her door.
At Torwood lies the Tappock, now so well known in antiquarian circles from the stronghold which was discovered there in 1864. The hill has a gentle sweep towards the valley of the Carron on the south side, and that of the Forth on the north and east; but to the west it presents a bold precipitous front, on which the building stands. The following are its dimensions: - The area of the inner circle is 33 feet in diameter at the lower part of the wall, and 35 feet in the upper portion. After rising to the height of 8 feet, the regular masonry of the wall retires 1 foot all round the building, and then continues perpendicularly 5 or 6 feet more. The circular bend in the remaining steps of the stair in the wall indicates an upper storey to which it led. The stair is 2 feet 6 inches wide, and the length of the passage leading to it is 11 feet. The wall is 21 feet thick, and the lintels of the door are formed by stones of sufficient size and strength for its support. The inner half of the entrance, which is roofed with large stones reaching from side to side, is oval shaped, the outer half quite straight, and the whole of it is 23 feet. Around the outer side of the walls, upright stones, 4 feet high and 2 feet broad, are inserted at regular intervals to strengthen and bind the masonry. At the distance of 30 feet from the innermost wall, occurs another wall, now only semicircular, the two ends of which terminate on the brink of the precipice; part of it is still 10 feet high and 15 feet broad. Again at the distance of 30 feet outward, another semi-circular wall is at one part about 4 feet high and 10 feet broad. The wall of the central tower, or broch, is a solid mass of stone, and there still remain about 13 feet of its height. The entrance to this stronghold led apparently in a straight line through the three walls in a north-easterly direction. Within the underground chamber two interesting stones were found, covered with eccentric rings. But there were also got querns, cups, whorls, portions of pottery, and charcoal; an iron hammer, with orange-shaped head; and a hatchet, in form somewhat similar to that in present use.
On the south, and close to the base of the Tappock Hill, there still remains about a mile of the Roman road, leading to the north of Scotland, with its walls and ditches distinctly marked. About two miles westward is a rocky knoll about 100 feet high, on which there are megalithic remains. Here, too, undoubtedly once stood a circular fort, and one of larger dimensions than those of Tappock. The hill, however, on which it stood being of easy ascent, its stones have been more thoroughly removed, and now only very faint and uncertain traces of its walls remain. On the north side of the knoll there is a piece of masonry still very entire. It is a circular chamber descending from near the top of the knoll 12 feet down. It is 10 feet wide at the top, and 6 feet wide at the bottom. A well-built covered way, 2 1/2 feet wide, leads out from the bottom of this curious structure, 30 feet of which remains, and 8 feet of its length has the original roof. This "way" has probably led from the fort to the water supply which is near its outer end.
With regard to the date of these circular buildings, that is an involved mystery. They lie beyond the province of our earliest British history. They are older than Druidism; older than sun or serpent worship; old as the necessities of primeval man. And it is absurd to connect those upright stones in circle either with the sepulchres or temples of our ancestors. At least, the connection does not necessarily follow from the mere circular form of building. The stability of all walls constructed without cement or mortar demanded that.
Near the parish church of Logie, two miles north from the town of Stirling, are several large stones standing erect, as also some near the church of Alva, which appear to have been fixed there in very ancient times, and were no doubt intended to perpetuate the memory of an important transaction which had happened in those parts. It is well known to have been a custom of the old Scots, to erect large stones in fields of battle, either as memorials of victories, or to preserve the knowledge of the spot in which any of their eminent warriors had fallen. This is often mentioned in the works of Ossian. That bard himself, and Toscar, one of his brothers, were sent by Fingal their father, to raise a stone upon the banks of the stream of Crona, in order to perpetuate the memory of a victory which he had some time before obtained there. Such monuments are still to be seen in almost every shire. Two stones stand to this day in the field near Stirling, where Randolph, Earl of Murray, and Lord Clifford, the English general, had a sharp rencounter, the evening before the great battle of Bannockburn; and, so late as the battle of Killiecrankie, the Highlanders reared up a large stone on the spot where Claverhouse, their commander, fell. Of what special event the stones at Logie and Alva are monuments, cannot now be determined. On Craigmaddie Moor, in the parish of Baldernock, anciently Cartenbenach, another remarkable antiquity is found. It consists of three long stones of grayish grit, taken from the neighbourhood, and laid from north to south, two of them close to each other below, and one, in the middle, above. The higher is found to be 18 feet long, 11 broad, and 7 thick. Those underneath are somewhat smaller, but cannot easily be measured, as they are considerably sunk in the soil. They are in a plain about 250 yards diameter, surrounded with rising grounds, which form an amphitheatre, and are called "The Auld Wives’ Lifts." The tradition connected with this ludicrous name is, that three old women having wagered which should carry the greatest weight, brought hither in their aprons the three stones of which the Lifts are constructed, and laid them as they now are. The place appears to have been Druidical, and the ancient Celtic name Gart-na-Beannachd, signifying "Field of Blessing," might have originated from this circumstance. The plain exhibits the roots and stocks of such oaks as might have formed the sacred grove. The aged females, according to Tacitus and Pomponius Mela, lived in sisterhoods, devoting their time to the offices of religion; and the tradition would seem to refer to their supposed preternatural power. Camden mentions a Druidical stone in Ireland called "The Lifted Stone"; and some in France are known as "les Pierres Levees." Not far from this spot were two cairns of an elliptical shape, which, however, have been carried away. The largest was 60 yards in length, and 10 yards in breadth. Through the whole length of it were two rows of broad stones set on edge on the ground, and 4 feet asunder. Between the rows the dead were interred, having flagstones laid over them. The heap raised above them was mostly of large stones quarried from the adjoining rock. The other cairn had been more recently laid open and found to be of a similar construction; which, in the intelligent Statist’s opinion, is Danish. Some of the stones in the foundation were of considerable size. Among the contents, on opening, were found fragments of human bones, and urns. One of the fragments of the urns is ornamented near the mouth with two hollow grooves; and the diameter of the circle of it is a segment of at least 20 inches. Tradition speaks of a battle with the Danes in the neighbouring moor of Craigmaddy. It is also worthy of note that in 1878 an interesting discovery of ancient British remains was made in this same parish. While excavating for sand, Mr. Mitchell, farmer, Hillend, came upon three jars, or urns, surrounded with charred wood. Two were full of human bones, and the third contained a burned substance. The urns were found 3 feet below the surface, and were placed about a yard apart, bottom up. They are fully 12 inches in diameter, at the widest part, and taper to the top and bottom. They are composed of hard-burned clay of a very coarse consistency, about three quarters of an inch in thickness, the outer surface being almost black, and the inner of a brownish or yellowish colour.
Another ancient stronghold, called the Peel of Carfarran, "Castle of Vexation," and evidently a Roman castellum, presents itself in the utmost possible state of preservation, on the north bank of a small rivulet on the north-east side of the parish of Drymen, called the Burn of the Ward. This military work is nearly square; and measures, within the trenches, towards 50 paces either way. It has two ramparts, and one ditch; which, with the ramparts, measures 20 paces across. The circumference of the work is 320 paces. It is about a mile from the hill of Gartmore, which is conceived to be a corruption of the Celtic Caer-Mor. There is also on the farm of Finnich-Tenant in the same parish, a sepulchral cairn, about 20 paces long and 10 broad. A row of Kist-vaens, or Stone Coffins, seems to form the body of the tumulus, and is covered with a heap of large stones, obviously rounded by attrition, and, therefore, brought from some river. The nearest is the Burn of Carnock, distant more than half-a-mile. Some remains of this sort occur in the north-east corner of the parish, a short way from Aberfoyle.
We may now pass to another remarkable antiquity, which, like the last mentioned, has, hitherto, so far as is known, been unnoticed in print "the Peel of Buchanan," about 200 paces in front of the mansion of His Grace the Duke of Montrose. The Enric had had its course in this direction, though now flowing considerably to the southward. The ditch around this ancient fort was filled by the river, and crossed by a passage, probably a draw-bridge, from the north. By whom it was occupied, we cannot venture to say.
Another antiquity of this class is "the Peel of Gargunnock," the etymology of which, perhaps from its shape, seems to be Caer-Guineach, "Sharp, or Conical, Fortress." Its site is 50 or 60 yards east of the rivulet which bears its name, and within 50 yards of the Forth, where the latter takes an acute bend towards the north. The ground is now under crop; but old men in the neighbourhood remember a considerable number of large stones forming part of a building there, and carried off, from time to time, by the farmers for building. A ditch, south of the Peel, and joining the Burn of Gargunnock, seems to have contributed to the security of a fortress, the use of which is conceived to have been the defence of a ford in the Forth. The "knock," or hill, on which stands the Keir, is a conically-shaped rock of the reddest sandstone, soft and damp; but the ancient builders were too wise to use any of it for their masonry, so they have brought all the stone for their walls down from a stratum of basaltic rock which lies about a mile up the steep mountain side to the south. Although the material of the fort is now almost wholly gone, those walls must have been great, for the bed of a mountain stream which flows on the south side is filled with the large grey boulders of basalt, of which they had been formed.
``xEpuuAkEVypvAYpoada``x1044921560``xprofile_research Queens View Pass of Killiecrankie``xmike``x
On 27 July 1689, the hills surrounding the Pass of Killiecrankie echoed with the sound of battle cries and gunfire when, nearby, a Jacobite army led by 'Bonne Dundee' defeated the government forces under General Hugh Mackay.
One soldier evaded capture by making a spectacular jump across the River Garry at Soldier's Leap. The spectacular wooded gorge, much admired by Queen Victoria in 1844, is tranquil now, and is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest because it is a fine example of an oak and mixed deciduous woodland.
The Visitor Centre exhibition features the battle, natural history and ranger services. In the Centre, visitors can now watch birds nesting, via a remote camera in the woodlands.
We've recently received a large number of images of Loch Lomond here at Clan Stirling Online. Loch Lomond borders many Stirling lands on the west. It's an important part of the history of the area, particularly Clan Gregor, and Rob Roy. These images date from the 1860's to about the 1950's. Enjoy!
The village of Luss is located on the western shore of Loch Lomond at the entrance to Glen Luss. It is protected by a group of small, beautiful islands at the southern end of the loch. The Church at Luss contains a wonderful 14th century effigy of the 6th century Saint, Kessog.
Luss & Loch Lomond, Dumbarton
Loch Lomond - Ben Lomond In The Disance
Loch Lomond - Ben Lomond
Swan Island, On Loch Lomond
Tarbet Pier, Loch Lomond, Scotland
Inchtavannach, Loch Lomond, Scotland
``xEpuuAkpkuZmIzJOTXH``x1044920247``xprofile_photos Nimo's List of Landowners In Stirlingshire``xmike``x
The History of Stirlingshire by William Nimo
Chapter XXXVII - Landowners
Editor's Note: The third edition was published in two volumes in 1880 (the first edition was publised in 1777), by Hamilton, Adams & Co in London, and Thomas D. Morison in Glasgow. Most of the revisions date from 1817 when Minister and Stirling family member Rev. William MacGregor Stirling revised and updated the book.
This next chapter of Nimo's account of Stirlingshire is focused on Landowners. Many members of the Stirling Family owned extensive lands all over the shire, and were related thru marriage to most of the other large landowners in the area.
The values expressed here are over a century old. The values today are MUCH greater.
There are several extensive estates in the county, but property is very much divided. Farms in the lower districts vary from 20 to 300 acres. In the hilly and mountainous districts, however, they are considerably larger.
THE CALLENDAR ESTATE (William Forbes, Esq.), which is one of the most extensive and valuable, stretches from the vicinity of Slamannan on the south and east to Greenhill on the west, falling down upon the river Carron at Camelon and Larbert, a length of about 15 miles. In Muiravonside parish, Mr. Forbes own the farms of Myrehead, which, in the valuation roll of the county for the year 1880-81, is valued at 380 pounds; Haining, &c., at 397 pounds; Waulkmilton, at 277 pounds; East Manuel, at 245 pounds; Avondale, at 170 pounds; Gilmeadowland, at 150 pounds; Manuel Haugh, at 83 pounds; and Snabhead, at 67 pounds. In Falkirk parish, he owns 40 farms; West Carmuirs, valued at 520 pounds; Mumrills, &c., at 520 pounds; Randieford, at 250 pounds; Woodburn, at 221 pounds; Middlesfield, at 200 pounds; Carmuirs, at 200 pounds; Loanfoot, at 200 pounds; Kilbean, at 192 pounds; Craigieburn, at 190 pounds; Lochlands of Carmuirs, at 180 pounds; West Newlands, at 164 pounds; Bogton, at 152 pounds; Muirhouses, &c., at 133 pounds; and Bantaskine, at 105 pounds. His grass parks are valued at 180 pounds; woods, copse, and underwood of Callendar, at 400 pounds; and mansion house, at 550 pounds. Pirleyhill and Standalane colliery is fixed at 1,264 pounds; and Loanfoot ironstone, at 846 pounds. In Larbert parish, he has Broomage Mains farm, which is valued at 146 pounds; in Dunipace parish, property valued at 2,735 pounds; and in Denny parish, lands and minerals, at 5,078 pounds. The total annual value of Mr. Forbes’ possessions in the county is as under:
Parish of Muiravonside 1,984 pounds
Parish of Falkirk 9,868 pounds
Parish of Larbert 146 pounds
Parish of Dunipace 2,735 pounds
Parish of Denny 5,078 pounds
19,811 pounds
Callendar, as we have previously stated, was purchased by William Forbes, Esq., of London, in 1783, for 85,000 pounds.
The Right Hon. The Earl of Zetland, of Kerse estate, is another large proprietor in the shire, holding property to the annual value of 10,850 pounds. In Falkirk parish, he has 16 farms, and amongst these, West Mains and West Thorn, valued at 290 pounds; East Thorn, at 334 pounds; Fouldubs, at 263 pounds; Walton, at 193 pounds; Dalgrain, at 178 pounds; Kerse Mains at 166 pounds; Dorrator, at 157 pounds; Cauldhame, at 155 pounds; Eastend, at 145 pounds; Seabegs Place, at 116 pounds; Westfield, at 131 pounds; and part of Thicket, at 108 pounds. His lordship’s grass parks at Kerse are valued at 370 pounds. In Bothkennar parish he also owns the following farms: - Heuck Island and Crofthead, valued at 290 pounds; Town Croft, at 209 pounds; Newtonplace, at 149 pounds; Carronflats, at 105 pounds; and lands of Crofthead, Towncroft, Thicket, and part of Newtonplace, at 266 pounds; while 2,076 pounds are set against the Zetland pit colliery. In Airth parish his lands of Halls of Airth are valued at 485 pounds; and those in Polmont parish at 1,830 pounds.
The Stirlingshire possessions of the Right Hon. The Earl of Dunmore, which lie in the parishes of St. Ninians and Airth are valued at 8,133 pounds. His lordship’s grass parks in hand are put down at 1,356 pounds, and the Dunmore Home farm, at 900 pounds.
William Graham, Esq. of Airth Castle, has an annual valuation of 2,601 pounds. His farms in the parish are Eastfield, valued at 235 pounds; South Greens, at 230 pounds; West Westfield, at 229 pounds; North Greens, at 230 pounds; Airth Mains, at 207 pounds; Dougalshole, at 189 pounds; and South Westfield, at 182 pounds. He also owns the farm of Auchentyre, in Bothkennar parish, which is valued at 116 pounds.
The Carron Company, who hold property in nine parishes of the county, are down on the valuation roll for 8,890 pounds. In Airth parish, they possess 4 letham farms, valued at 681 pounds; in Bothkennar parish, West Mains, valued at 92 pounds; in Muiravonside, Crosscroes, valued at 88 pounds; Kendrieshill, at 95 pounds; and Gateside and Shankend, at 40 pounds; in Polmont parish, Bellsrig, valued at 75 pounds; Burnside, at 50 pounds; Muirpark, at 40 pounds; and Wallacerig, with freestone quarry, at 214 pounds. In Falkirk parish they have 7 farms, and among these Jaw, valued at 250 pounds; Mungalmill, at 122 pounds; Middlethorn, at 104 pounds; and Mungalhead, at 96 pounds. In Larbert parish, the year’s valuation of their property is 5,191 pounds, 3,870 pounds of which is placed against the iron-works. In Dunipace parish they possess Herbertshire farm, valued at 102 pounds; in Denny parish they are down for 515 pounds; and in Kilsyth parish, for 657 pounds; of which 338 pounds is against ironstone.
The trustees of the late William Dawson, Esq. of Powfoulis, appear for 3,921 pounds. In Airth parish they have the farm of Mains of Powfoulis and Saltgreens, valued at 414 pounds; and Greendyke, &c., valued at 196 pounds; in Bothkennar parish, the farm of Middlerig and Stonehouse, valued at 362 pounds; Backrow, at 230 pounds; Upper Gairdoch, at 212 pounds; and Pinfoldbridge, at 176 pounds. The coal and iron-stone of South Mains is valued at 1000 pounds. In Falkirk parish their farms are Dalderse, valued at 425 pounds; Carronside and Langless, at 219 pounds; Coblebrae, at 143 pounds; Yonderhaugh, at 102 pounds; and Millflats, at 90 pounds.
Against the property of Thomas George Dundas, Esq. of Carronhall, there is a total valuation of 3,220 pounds. In Bothkennar parish, farm of Kirkton and Closs, at 355 pounds; Carronhall farm, at 169 pounds; Carronhall Colliery, at 300 pounds; and harbour, &c., at Carronshore, 95 pounds. Under Larbert parish, the mansion house and policy of Carronhall is valued at 207 pounds; and the farm of Kersebrock and Powleys, at 209 pounds. For the lands in Dunipace parish the amount is 573 pounds.
The lands, &c., possessed by the Right Hon. Lord Thurlow, of Kinnaird, are valued at 1,981 pounds. The farm of Halls of Airth and Bellsdyke, at 340 pounds; Drum, at 340 pounds; Back o’ Dykes, at 205 pounds; Cuttyfield, at 200 pounds; Grass parks, at 163 pounds; and coal at Kinnaird, 173 pounds.
John Bell Sherriff, Esq. of Carronvale, appears for 1,256 pounds the farm of Kersie Mains being valued at 650 pounds; South Kersie, at 356 pounds; and Carronvale, at 250 pounds.
For Mrs. Ann. C. Stirling, of Glenbervie, the amount is 1,256 pounds the valuation of the farm of Shields being 170 pounds; of Hamilton farm, 145 pounds; of Grass parks, 344 pounds; and of her possessions in Dunipace parish, 439 pounds.
The sum against the lands, &c., belonging to Joseph C. Bolton, Esq. of Carbrook, M.P., is 2,234 pounds for Wholeflatts, in Polmont parish, 290 pounds; for property in Dunipace parish, 523 pounds; and in St. Ninians parish, 1,421 pounds.
Next to Mr. Forbes, of Callendar, His Grace the Duke of Montrose is the wealthiest proprietor of the county lands. His yearly valuation is as follows: -
Parish of Buchanan 8,259 pounds
Parish of Drymen 4,000 pounds
Parish of Fintry 2,852 pounds
Parish of New Kilpatrick 105 pounds
Parish of Strathblane 361 pounds
Parish of St. Ninians 296 pounds
Parish of Kilsyth 688 pounds
16,561 pounds
His Grace owns the whole of the parish of Buchanan, which is about 29 miles long and 5 miles broad, with the exception of what belongs to the School Board and the minister’s manse and glebe, valued in all at 77 pounds. He has here 17 farms, with an acreage of 41,598 so that the estate only averages 4s. per acre. The lands and farm of Gartfarren are valued at 35 pounds; Cobrach, at 320 pounds; Benlomond and Blairvockie, at 1,100 pounds; Cashell and Sallochy, at 360 pounds; Corriearklet, at 270 pounds; Inversnaid, at 250 pounds; Gartincaber, at 170 pounds; Creityhall, at 165 pounds; Auchmar, at 160 pounds; Cailness, at 120 pounds; Grass parks, at 443 pounds; Woods, at 328 pounds; Rowardennan shootings, at 300 pounds; and Inversnaid shootings, at 250 pounds. In Drymen parish his Grace holds 14 farms, valued as above; in Fintry parish, 5; in Strathblane parish, the farm of Quinloch, and Mugdock castle; in New Kirkpatrick parish, Drumcloy and part of Milton, Milngavie; St. Ninians parish, the farm of Kirk-o’-Muir, and part of Todholes; and in Kilsyth parish, Slachristock, and a portion of Binns, Carronbridge.
In the parish of Drymen there are 76 farms its extreme length being 15 miles, and breadth 10. Here there are numerous proprietors, but of the farms William Cunningham Bontine, Esq. of Gartmore, possesses 19, valued at 2,053 pounds.
The whole lands of Fintry, which are about 6 miles long by 5 broad, may be said to be owned between the Duke of Montrose and Sir George Home Speirs, Bart. There are 9 farms in the parish, and of this property Sir George holds a value of 1,465 pounds.
In Killearn parish there are 35 farms, and the chief proprietors are Archibald Orr Ewing, Esq. of Ballikinrain, M.P., 2,395 pounds; John Blackburn, Esq. of Killearn, for the trustees of the late Peter Blackburn, Esq., 2,373 pounds; Vice-Admiral Sir Wm. Edmonstone, Bart., C.B., of Duntreath, 884 pounds; John James Pollock, Esq. of Auchineden, 831 pounds; David M’Larn Bryce Buchanan, Esq., Boquhan, 540 pounds; Michael Connal, Esq., Glasgow, 245 pounds; and Sir G.H. Speirs, Bart. (Glenboig farm), 210 pounds.
Strathblane parish is fully 5 miles long by 4 broad. Its farms number 19. The principal landowners are Sir William Edmonstone, Bart., 1,940 pounds; Sir Andrew Buchanan, Bart., Craigend castle, 858 pounds; Miss Janet Gloriana Graham, 715 pounds; Allan G.B. Graham, Esq. of Fereneze, 587 pounds; John Cameron Graham, Esq. of Ardwell, Gatehouse-of-Fleet, 380 pounds; Misses Mary and Agnes Aitken, Lomond Lodge, Killearn (farm of Auchengillan) 230 pounds; Major Charles Campbell G. Stirling, of Craigbarnet (lands and farm of Broadyett and part of Hillhead, &c.), 576 pounds; Trustees of the late Ellis Wood, Esq. (printfield and land, Blanefield) 350 pounds; Ebenezer M’Allister, Esq., 332 pounds; Trustees of late Alexander T. Russell, Esq. (farms of Easterton and Bankhead) 240 pounds; and Trustees of Moses Provan, Esq., C.A., Glasgow (lands and farm, Townhead of Auchengillan), 108 pounds.
Campsie parish, which is 7 miles in length and 6 in breadth, has 45 farms. The chief proprietors are the Hon. Charles Spencer Bateman Hanbury Kincaid-Lennox, 8,217 pounds; Sir Charles Elphinstone Fleming Stirling of Glorat, Bart., 2,080 pounds; Lady Agnes J. Gordon, 1,345 pounds; Capt. John Warden M’Farlane of Ballincleroch, 1,179 pounds; Major Charles Campbell Graham Stirling of Craigbarnet, 1,043 pounds; James King, Esq. of Campsie, 1,042 pounds; Messrs. Hurlet and Campsie Alum Co., 850 pounds; Thomas Reid, Esq. of Carlston, 617 pounds; John Reid, Esq. of Hayston, 614 pounds; Alexander M’Nab, Esq. 589 pounds; J.S. Fleming, Esq. of Balquharrage, 491 pounds; James Ferrie, Esq., farmer, 269 pounds; Samuel M’Farlane, Esq., 259 pounds; Robert Dunlop, Esq. (Watshod and Balfleurs farm), 206 pounds; Mrs. James Laing (lands of Broadleys, Todhills, Sandyfaulds, &c.) 205 pounds; James Maitland, Esq., farmer, West Balgrochan, 160 pounds; Robert Buchanan, Esq., Blairquhosh (Crosshouse farm), 85 pounds; and William Simpson, Esq. (farm of Carlston), 60 pounds.
In Baldernock parish there are 14 farms. The principal landowners are Robert Ker, Esq. of Dougalston, 1,408 pounds; John Buchanan Hamilton, Esq. of Leny House, Callander, 911 pounds; Hugh Bartholomew, Esq., 650 pounds; Trustees of late Sir William Stirling Maxwell, Bart. (farms of Back o’ Hill and Redbog), 403 pounds; Robert Moyes, Esq. (Easter and Wester Bogside farm), 536 pounds; Hon. C.S. Bateman Hanbury Kincaid-Lennox, 337 pounds; John Marshall, Sen., Esq. (Laverockhill farm), 230 pounds; William Johnston, Esq., Barraston, 200 pounds; Robert Ronald, Esq., farmer, 200 pounds; Trustees of late John M’Culloch, Esq. (East Blairskaith farm), 200 pounds; Mrs. Janet Colquhoun (Upper Blochearn farm, Torrance of Campsie), 180 pounds; Robert Watson, Esq. (farm of Bardowie and West Blairskaith muir), 178 pounds; George Donald, Esq., farmer, 160 pounds; Walter Craig, Jun., Esq., 112 pounds; The Old Man’s Friend Society, Glasgow (Blairnile farm), 75 pounds; Andrew Winning, Esq. (Balmore farm), 72 pounds; James Bowie, Esq. (farm of Whitefauld, Torrance of Campsie), 85 pounds; James Maitland, Esq. (farm of Balmore), 60 pounds.
There are 11 farms in the portion of New Kilpatrick parish that lies in Stirlingshire. The chief proprietors are the Trustees of Sir George Campbell of Succoth, Bart., 1,683 pounds; Robert Ker, Esq. of Dougalston, 1,342 pounds; John Craig, Esq., Allander paper mill, 600 pounds; Messrs. Allander Printing Co., 600 pounds; Archibald Campbell Douglas, Esq. of Mains (farm of Keystone and lands of Craigdow), 577 pounds; Representatives of the late Alexander Dunlop, Esq. of Clober, 484 pounds; Rev. John Erskine Campbell Colquhoun of Killermont, 450 pounds; Mrs. M’Intosh’s Trustees (farm of Lower Barloch), 195 pounds; and James Wier, Esq. (lands and farm of Barrachan, Milngavie), 100 pounds.
Balfron parish has 28 farms. Its length is 11 miles, and breadth 3. The chief landowners are Henry Ritchie Cooper, Esq. of Ballindalloch, 6 farms, 889 pounds; Archibald Orr Ewing, Esq. of Ballikinrain, M.P., 3 farms, 706 pounds; Sir George Home Speirs, Bart., 4 farms, 694 pounds; James Galbraith, Esq. of Balgray, 2 farms, 675 pounds; William C.G. Bontine, Esq. 4 farms, 461 pounds; and Major Charles C.G. Stirling of Craigbarnet, 1 farm, 299 pounds.
In Gargunnock parish, which is 6 miles long and 4 broad, there are 26 farms. The principal proprietors are the Tutors of Alastair Erskine Graham Moir of Leckie (minor), 3,077 pounds; Capt. Henry John Fletcher Campbell of Boquhan, 1,783 pounds; John Stirling Stirling, Esq. of Gargunnock, 1,426 pounds; Patrick Francis Connal Rowan, Esq. (Meiklewood estate), 541 pounds; and Trustees of late John Gowans, Esq., Park Terrace, Stirling (East Culmore farm), 222 pounds.
In Kippen parish there are 30 farms, over a length of 8 miles and breadth from 2 to 4 miles. The largest holders of property are W.C.G. Bontine, Esq., 1,929 pounds; Michael James Jamison, Esq., 916 pounds; Captain Henry John Fletcher Campbell, of Boquhan, R.N., 879 pounds; James Stirling, Esq. of Garden, 764 pounds; Thomas Littlejohn Galbraith, Esq., sheriff-clerk, Stirling (farms of Blackhouse and Little Kerse), 429 pounds; and Moses Buchanan Scoular, Esq. (farm of Middle Kerse), 280 pounds.
In the parish of Stirling, which is only 2 miles in length and 1 1/2 in breadth, there are 3 farms. The chief proprietors are Cowan’s Hospital, 545 pounds; The Crown (part farm of King’s park), 364 pounds; Right Hon. Lord Balfour of Burleigh (Burghmeadow), 229 pounds; Messrs. James Sinclair & Co., Forthbank, 115 pounds; and Rev. George Alexander, D.D., minister first charge (fishings in Forth), 75 pounds.
There are 7 farms in Alva parish, all of which are possessed by James Johnstone, Esq. Strude, 503 pounds; Balquharn, 414 pounds; Myreton, 365 pounds; Burnside, 364 pounds; Carsiepow, 250 pounds; Boll, 170 pounds; Greenhead, 146 pounds; and lands of East and West Bank, 74 pounds annual valuation in all, 2,286 pounds.
The principal landowners in Logie parish, where there are 12 farms, are the Right Hon. Lord Abercrombie of Airthrie Castle, 1,925 pounds; Sir James Edward Alexander of Westerton, 1,102 pounds; Bridge of Allan Hydropathic Company (Limited), 450 pounds; Trustees of late James Robertson, Esq. (farm of Cornton, Causewayhead), 283 pounds; Bridge of Allan Water Company, 245 pounds; General Trustees of the Free Church of Scotland (farm of West Haugh), 200 pounds; and Right Hon. Lord Balfour of Burleigh (part lands of Dunmyat and Blairlogie), 142 pounds.
The 6 farms of Lecropt parish belong to the Trustees of the late Sir William Stirling Maxwell of Pollok, and are valued at 1,810 pounds.
In St. Ninians parish, which has the highest valuation of the county, there are 140 farms. The chief proprietors are John Murray, Esq. of Touchadam and Polmaise, 9,824 pounds; Sir James Ramsay Gibson Maitland, Bart., 5,700 pounds; Sir Henry James Seton Stewart, Bart. of Touch and Allanton, 2,586 pounds; Trustees of the late William Simpson, Esq., 2,286 pounds; George Frederick William Callander, Esq., 2,160 pounds; Major Herbert Buchanan of Arden, 1,943 pounds; Michael Hugh Shaw Stewart, Esq. of Carnock, 1,670 pounds; Rev. James M’Gibbon Burn Murdoch, vicar of Riverhead, Seven Oaks, Kent, 1,077 pounds; Allan’s Hospital, 968 pounds; Trustees of late William Wilson, Esq. of Skeoch, 924 pounds; Cowan’s Hospital, 850 pounds; Alexander Wilson, Esq. of Alford, Dunblane, 696 pounds; Captain David Stewart, London, (farm of Stewarthall and Balfornought), 653 pounds; John Dick, Esq., Stirling, 635 pounds; Alex. Binning Munro, Esq. of Auchenbowie, 627 pounds; Alex. Bennet M’Grigor, Esq., Glasgow, 575 pounds; Alexander Henry Murray Menzies, Esq., 350 pounds; Trustees of late Edwin Sandys Bain, Esq., 350 pounds; John Saunders Muschet, Esq. of Birkhill, 318 pounds; Mrs. Anna Bow, or Monteath (farm of Small Burn, Bogside, and Kermock), 315 pounds; Robert M’Brayne, Esq., Glasgow (farm of Craigannet and Kirkburn), 300 pounds; Mrs. Elizabeth Honyman Gillespie of Torbanehill, 283 pounds; Adam Smith, Esq. (farm of Meikle Canglour), 273 pounds; Sir Robert Stewart, Q.C., Allahabad, India (Glenhead farm), 255 pounds; Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge (farm of Whitehouse), 230 pounds; Peter Lennox, Esq., of Oakfield, Helensburgh (farm of Muirhill, Glendales, and Briglandsteal), 230 pounds; Trustees of late John Christie, Esq., 210 pounds; James M’Pherson, Esq., Townfoot of Dundaff (grass lands), 185 pounds; Right Hon. Lord Balfour of Burleigh, 180 pounds; Mrs. Elizabeth Dobbie (farm of Easter Craigannet, Denny), 145 pounds; Robert Buchanan, Esq., 183 pounds; Trustees of the late Alexander Munnoch (farm of Wester Cringate), 124 pounds; and James Turnbull, Esq., Hallquarter of Canglour, 118 pounds.
In Kilysyth parish there are 32 farms. The principal proprietors are Sir William Edmonstone, Bart., of Duntreath, 6,783 pounds; Trustees of the late John Wilson, Esq. of Hill Park, 429 pounds; including farm of Berryhill, 150 pounds; Auchinreroch, 135 pounds; and Auchenvalley, 85 pounds; Joseph Wilson, Esq., Glasgow, 395 pounds; Heirs of the late Andrew Walters, Glenample (lands and farm of Inchterf), 197 pounds; John Christie, Esq. of Slafarquhar (lands of Slafarquhar and Bentend), 300 pounds; Henry Morrison, Esq., Orchard, 120 pounds; John Wilson, Esq. of Banknock, 95 pounds. The minerals on the Kilsyth estate (Messrs. William Baird & Co.) are valued at 2,823 pounds; and Banton coal and iron (Henry Caddell, Esq. of Grange), 879 pounds.
Denny parish has 70 farms. The principal landowners apart from Mr. Forbes of Callendar, are William Wilson, Esq. of Banknock, 960 pounds; William Ritchie, Esq. (farm of Knowehead, &c.), 280 pounds; Peter Lennox, Esq. (farms of Overton and Easter Langhill), 230 pounds; A. M. Monteath, Esq. (farm of Greenburn), 154 pounds; Mrs. John Laing of Leys, 154 pounds; Thomas Keir, Esq. (lands of Linns), 119 pounds; Trustees of Mrs. Campbell (farm of West Thomaston), 115 pounds; Executors of the late Robert Millar, Esq. (Bankhead farm), 110 pounds; Mrs. Agnes M’Farlane (farm of Broadside), 105 pounds; D.W. Paterson, Esq. (farm of Garvauld), 110 pounds; Trustees of the late William Wilson, Esq., W.S., Edinburgh (farm of Cowdenhill), 95 pounds; and John Hay, Esq. (Glenhead farm), 90 pounds. The Banknock colliery (J.W. Burns, Esq. of Kilmahew) is valued at 423 pounds.
In the parish of Dunipace there are 30 farms, and the chief proprietors, in addition to those already mentioned, are John Harvie Brown, Esq. of Quarter, 1,604 pounds; Messrs. William Baird & Co. (Denovan farm), 143 pounds; and the Representatives of Alexander Duncan, Esq. (farm of Risk, Denny), 130 pounds.
Larbert parish has 18 farms. The property of Sir William C. Bruce, Bart., of Stenhouse, is valued at 1,685 pounds, of which 285 pounds is placed against the Tryst ground; that of Henry Cadell, Esq. of Banton, at 336 pounds; Larbert House (John Hendrie, Esq.), with Broomage farm and grass parks, 722 pounds; and the Stirling District Lunacy Board, 670 pounds 40 pounds of that valuation being against the farm of Gowkhill.
In Airth parish there are 34 farms Bellsdyke farm (Robert William Gillespie Stainton, Esq.) is valued at 396 pounds, and the minerals at 125 pounds; Pocknaive farm (Charles Edward Walker Ogilvie, Esq.), at 213 pounds; farm of Neuck (the Hon. Lady William Godolphin Osborne Elphinstone, of Bantreath), at 100 pounds; and Brackenlees (Mrs. James Foord), at 82 pounds.
Bothkennar parish has 16 farms farm of Westerton (Guardians of Henry Callendar, Esq. of Prestonhall) is valued at 280 pounds, and the colliery at 150 pounds; lands of Thislet, Howkerse, and Pinfoldbridge (Alex. Nimmo, Esq., Falkirk), at 146 pounds, and the coal at 576 pounds; farm of North Newton (Trustees of the late Alex. Bell, Esq.), at 137 pounds, and the coal at 168 pounds; farm of Springfield (Messrs. J.S. & G.G. Mackay), at 120 pounds, and colliery at 100 pounds; farms of Orchardhead and Hardilands (Charles E. Walker Ogilvie, Esq.), at 193 pounds, and minerals at 230 pounds; farm of Bellsdyke (R.W.G. Staniton, Esq.), at 134 pounds, and colliery at 125 pounds; Land of South Mains (Mrs. J. Watt or Beveridge, Culross), 41 pounds, and minerals 80 pounds.
There are 107 farms in the parish of Falkirk farms of Redbrae, Lippy, and Glenrig (Mrs. Eliza G.W. Ralston), valued at 276 pounds; part of Merchiston and Mungal (Mrs. J.G. Stainton), at 240 pounds; Mid and Easter Newlands (Thomas S. Maccal, Esq.), at 190 pounds; farm of Newhouse (Trustees of William Marshall, Esq.), at 172 pounds; Dyke (James Haldane, Esq., and others), at 155 pounds; Jaweraig (Trustees of William Scott, Esq.), at 105 pounds; Oakerdyke (Mrs. Margaret Thomson Rankine), at 73 pounds; farm of Strathavon (J.S. Douglas, Esq. of Polmunckshead), at 70 pounds; lands of South Bantaskine, &c. (John Wilson, Esq.), at 396 pounds; Summerford, &c. (Ralph Stark, Esq.), at 151 pounds; and colliery pit, Redding (His Grace the Duke of Hamilton), at 350 pounds.
Many of the resident proprietors in the parish of Polmont, though the value of their lands be not great, are possessed of independent fortunes from other sources; and for several generations the same estates have been held, in various instances, by family succession. There are 39 farms in the parish. Abbotsgrange (Charles Stirling Home-Dummond Moray, Esq. of Blair Drummond) is valued at 700 pounds; Bowhouse (D. S. Robertson, Esq. of Lawhead), at 510 pounds; Polmonthill and Middlerig (His Grace the Duke of Hamilton), at 395 pounds; Inchyra Grange (Finlay Anderson, Esq.), at 307 pounds; Reddock (G.K. M’Callum, Esq. of Braco), at 242 pounds; Saltcoats (James Aitken, Esq.), at 191 pounds; Crossgatehead (William Napier, Esq.), at 160 pounds; Awells (William Hodge, Esq.), at 150 pounds; Powdrake (Miss M.B. Ferguson, Rivalsgreen), at 140 pounds; Overton, Polmontside, Loanhead, Candylands, Oxgang, and lands of Polmont house (Major John Kincaid Smith), at 512 pounds; Candie (Alexander Robertson, Esq.), at 120 pounds; and Powdrakes (Trustees of the late Henry Aitken, Esq. of Darroch), at 107 pounds.
Westquarter estate (T.L. Fenton-Livingston, Esq.), is valued at 1,026 pounds; Millfield (Thomas Hinton Campbell, Esq.), at 522 pounds; Parkhall (Thomas Livingstone Learmonth, Esq.), at 308 pounds; Lathallan, including farm of Nicolton (Mrs. Henrietta O’Valiant or Spens), at 209 pounds; Whiteside (Trustees of Duncan M’Millan, Esq.), at 162 pounds; and Meadowbank (Trustees of the late Matthew Waddell, Esq.), at 324 pounds.
In Muiravonside parish there are 54 farms. Andrew Stirling, Esq., whose valuation is 1,034 pounds, owns, in addition to the Drumbowie minerals (500 pounds), the farms of Castlehill, West Bowhouse, East Bowhouse, and Muirland, with grass parks valued in all at 336 pounds. William Stirling, Esq. of Tarduf, who possesses the lands of Greenknowes and Lochhead, with the farm of Gillanderland, has a valuation of 321 pounds. Henry Cadell, Esq., owns the farm of Melon’s place, valued at 101 pounds; Woodside, at 65 pounds; and grass parks, Quarter lodge, at 18 pounds; Thomas Newton, Esq., the farm of Parkhill, Burnside, and Eastfield of Wellshot, at 378 pounds; Alexander Dick, Esq., Knowhead and Haugh of Craigend, at 151 pounds; George Gray, Esq., Windy-yett and lands of Hareburn, Avonbridge, at 225 pounds; Andrew Stevenson, Jun., Esq., Whiterig, Manuelrig, etc., at 221 pounds; the Trustees of the late James Russell, Esq. of Arnotdale, whose valuation is 1,164 pounds, own the farms of Bogo, Blackbraes, Craigmad, Wester Blackrig, etc.; Alexander Peddie Waddell, Esq., W.S., Kaemuir and Hillhead, valued at 148 pounds; the Trustees of Alexander White, Esq., Glenhead, Glenend, East and West Hirst, and Hirst Park, at 250 pounds; N.W.J. Strode, Esq., the farm of Candie, at 90 pounds; Robert Clarkston, Esq., Toravon lands, at 100 pounds; John Calder, Esq., the Hill farm, at 70 pounds; John Boyd, Esq., the lands of Greencraig, Hillhead, Beedyke, and Harestanes, at 114 pounds; Andrew Bryce, Esq., Blackstone farm, at 120 pounds; Miss Ann Black, grass lands and farm of Hillend, at 132 pounds; and George Bayley, Esq. of Manuel, grass parks and lands valued at 488 pounds.
There are 39 farms in Slamannan parish. James Rutherford, Esq., M.D., Woodielee, Lenzie, owns Easter Loanrig, valued at 110 pounds; Mrs. Eliza G. Waddell Ralston, Balmitchell, at 120 pounds; Alexander Reston, Esq., Easter Whin and Wester Burnhead, at 115 pounds; Miss Aitken, Darroch lodge and Newfield dyke, at 120 pounds; Mrs. Margaret T. Rankin, Southfield, at 110 pounds; Binniehill, at 95 pounds; and Thrashiehill and Blackrig, at 160 pounds; James Gowans, Esq. of Gowanbank, Edinburgh, East Burnhead, at 106 pounds; Andrew Aitken, Esq., and others, Drumclair, at 145 pounds; Matthew Cleland, Esq., Crosshill and Whitehill, at 70 pounds; Alexander Watt, Esq., Roughrig, Todsbuchts, at 100 pounds; and James Paton, Esq., Edinburgh, lands of Avonhill and farm of Craigend, at 164 pounds.
Mere acreage means nothing, as showing the monetary value of the districts of such a county as Stirling. Few shires are so much diversified in the productive quality of their lands. All along the thinly-populated line, from Buchanan to Gargunnock, for example, there is a preponderance of bare rocky uplands and barren moss or heath, of which the yearly average value per acre scarcely reaches the sum of ten shillings. In Strathblane, however, there is an acreage of 9,068, with a valuation of 9,236 pounds; in Baldernock, 4,322, with 6,610 pounds; in the portion of New Kilpatrick, 2,747, with 11,859 pounds; and in Campsie, 17,872, with 27,834 pounds. Here, the residential estates, too, although not so extensive as several of those farther west, are on the whole of richer quality in their soil, and more generally wooded.
The tract of country along the foot of the Ochils is well known for its rare fertility. The acreage within the shire, from Stirling on to Alva, is 9,176, with a valuation of 48,670 pounds, being an average of about five guineas per acre. Airthrie castle and Westerton are naturally rich estates. Their grounds are not only finely-wooded, but the deep verdure of their pastures are in complete harmony with the prolific yieldings of the outlying fields. The average value per acre of Logie parish, in which they lie, is fully 7 pounds 10s.
On the south side of the Forth, eastward, the soil is also exceptionally good in quality, in spite of the general presence of minerals. The Sauchie estate has been long noted, both for its fine timber and the luxuriance of its grass. It stretches for about three miles from north to south, with the old and new mansion-houses lying concealed in the woods on the east. All the ordinary wild fruits rasps, brambles, blaeberries, sloes, and nuts are very abundant over the grounds. Indeed, we have seen the first-mentioned berry so rich and numerous in one of the copses, as to fully justify the local simile of "soldiers’ coats outspread." Along the eastern portion of the estate, from the old "Black Row," runs the public road to Loch Coulter and Fintry.
Polmaise, too, with Airth and Dunmore although a considerable area of moss lies throughout this tract are not less valuable in fertile fields and extensive plantations. None of the estates, however, are of any great length; but they are highly cultivated, and most tastefully kept.
More than one-third of Bothkennar parish belongs to the old estate of Kerse (Earl of Zetland). Here coal is extensively wrought and continues a leading industry south through the Grangemouth, Redding, Muiravonside, and Slamannan districts. Many of the farms or lands were originally purchased and are, in many instances, now held, for the value of the minerals underground. The residential estates over this eastern portion of the shire are of no account, with the exception of the few small but picturesque policies in the neighbourhood of Polmont. We have already referred to those further west the most interesting of which, within a distance of ten miles, are West Quarter, Callendar, and two Bantaskines, Larbert, Dunipace, Glenbervie, Torwood, and Carbrook.
In Muiravonside parish, which has an acreage of 7,963, with a valuation of 11,507 pounds, Mr. Stirling, for the minerals of Drumbowie, is down on the roll for 500 pounds; His Grace the Duke of Hamilton, for coal work, 398 pounds; Mr. Strode, for coal and ironstone, 160 pounds; the Trustees of Mr. Alex. White, for Craigend brick work, 180 pounds; and Mr. Alex. Dick, for free-stone quarry, 168 pounds.
Slamannan shows by far more waste ground than any parish in the county, and whatever soil is clear of moss is generally inferior and cold. It is, however, a valuable mineral field. Mr. John Watson’s colliery has a valuation of 2,119 pounds; Drumclair, 1,031 pounds; Mr. Matthew Clelland’s minerals, 150 pounds; and Southfield (Mrs. M.T. Rankine), 971 pounds.
Westquarter estate (T.L. Fenton-Livingston, Esq.), as we have shown, is comparatively small, but its beautiful glen and romantic linns render it very attractive. It possesses, too, the mellower charms of antiquity in various phases, such as are associated with its historical stones, and relics of ancient armoury.
In the adornment of Millfield grounds, the late proprietor, Mr. Miller, took a special delight. Scarcely a stranger, in days bygone, came to the district who was not taken to the sweet little estate for the enjoyment of the principal local treat. At that time the clever engineering of the demesne into romantic features was a novelty, but these are still carefully preserved in all their original picturesqueness.
Callendar estate (Wm. Forbes, Esq.) is one of the largest as well as one of the most interesting properties, historically, in the county. Its woods cover several hundreds of acres, and its fields, for the most part, are fairly fertile. In its ancestral mansion both Queen Mary and Prince Charles Stuart found hospitality; while General Monk had the house for a home while his troops remained in Scotland.
South Bantaskine (John Wilson, Esq.), in its northerly grounds, which rise with some boldness from the banks of the Union Canal, consists of a succession of gentle "hillocks" and hollows stretching about a mile in length from east to west. An inviting plantation surrounds the nobly-situated house. And impressive is this woodland for the genuine lover of nature. Now, as the day-light fades, the sweet melodies of the birds are momentarily hushed. Extreme is the silence. But hark! the stillness is suddenly broken by the blackbird’s song. The brilliant burst of music, however, is like the flicker of a dying light. Along the southern boundary of the estate runs a public road called "Standalane," from which is seen one of the grandest landscapes that any portion of the country presents a valley, indeed, tempting one to think that not in all Italy could a finer vale be found. And besides its rare beauty, its connection with historical incident, has turned it into classical ground. It formed one of Wallace’s battlefields in the stirring times of the Wars of Independence, and the spirit of Prince Charles still hovers around it. Not yet has it had any tribute from the poetic muse, but the spell which the great Scottish knight threw over its fields will remain, so long as patriotism is a ruling feature of the national character. A considerable part of the country to the south and west of Standalane is very bleak, and the barren character of the district is shown by the scantiness of its human habitations. Those that are to be seen are either farm-houses or labourer’s cots; but, when Bonny bridge, Dennyloanhead, and Castlecary appear in the valley, the landscape loses much of its dreary appearance. Patches of cultivated ground and stretches of undulating pastureland, with occasional pieces of woodland scenery, covering some rounded knoll, is the pleasing prospect which meets the eye. Still, all through this moorland strath, from Glenfuir westwards, the antiquarian with a taste in this direction may find great scope for the exercise of his science. There are, for instance, the Roman wall and its fort-vestiges.
North Bantaskine (James Wilson, Esq.,) is fully entitled to a place of some consideration among the notable estates of Stirlingshire. The grounds contain some of the finest specimens of the yew, larch, plane, and chestnut in the county, together with a fine fragment of the Roman wall. The lawn in front of the mansion is in beautiful condition, and the garden and green-houses are also in a very perfect state. Mr. Wilson, who only became proprietor of the place about two years ago, has not only enlarged, but greatly improved his residence.
About a mile east of the Larbert Tryst-ground lies Kinnaird house (Lord Thurlow)
"A rural mansion on the level lawn
Uplifts its ancient gables, whose slant shade
Is drawn, as with a line, from roof to porch,
Whilst all the rest is sunshine."
Here Robert Bruce, the preacher, and James, the Abyssinian traveller, spent their latter years, and both died within the grey old building. There are still veterans in the parish who have a vivid remembrance of the traveller’s physique sturdy champion as he was of his name and tell with zest many amusing stories of his home-life: of Bruce, when he rode out one day, having been pitched from horseback into the heart of a plot of whins at the Goose-muir; of the profound pity, too, that existed all over the country-side for the steed he rode, whose back was strikingly "howed" from the man’s extraordinary weight; and of "daft Jamie Wilson’s" services on the occasion of the great funeral marching in front of the burial procession with drawn sword and open Testament. The lands of Kinnaird, which consist chiefly of farms, are rented at from 4 to 5 pounds an acre. Coal, however, of good quality, both for domestic and foundry use, is also extensively wrought over the estate; and beyond the immediate surroundings of the shaft-bottoms the pits are comparatively dry. Their air-currents are likewise so thorough as to render the remotest excavations
"Those caves whaur vent’rous men
Hae houkit mony a fathom ben."
fresh and cool, even though several of the passages are not more than 2 feet square.
Any reference to the estates of the shire would be imperfect without allusion to that of Stenhouse, the property of Sir William C. Bruce, Bart. The mansion, in part, is one of the oldest in the county, and within the grounds stood that puzzling piece of antiquity, Arthur’s O’on. An avenue, breaking off from the main one between the two lodges, and lined on either side with trees of great size, leads to the baronet’s residence, which, however, has been let for some years to a Glasgow brewer. The property, with its other fields, or farms, has the widely-known old Tryst-ground a common of about 80 acres. Stenhousemuir was also feued off the estate. The village does not present any special features of interest to the stranger, but it has a sturdy and independent look for all that, and numerous handsome villas are growing up around. Its position is certain to insure its success, as well because of the fine open character of the neighbourhood, as because of the rapid and frequent railway communication it enjoys to and from Glasgow.
Larbert estate is one of the smaller sort. Snugly embosomed among trees, it has, however, many features of beauty. Pasture lands, wood, and a lovely sheet of water, much prized by the local curlers, all combine to form a pretty property. Originally, it was possessed by Sir Gilbert Stirling a perfect type of old noblesse from whom it passed into the Chalmers family, and was latterly purchased by John Hendrie, Esq. Opposite the south-eastern extremity of the grounds lies the parish grave-yard, where repose alike the ashes of the men of yesterday and of those who fought the battle of life hundreds of years ago. Many of the tomb-stones which lie scattered about are very old, and exhibit the sculpture marks of a rude and unlettered age "arms, angels, epitaphs, and bones" such as are not uncommonly seen in country burying-grounds.
"You ask me where I would be laid,
In what beloved spot
I would repose my life-tired head
It matters not.
"You ask me if this heart would like
Some one to trace my name
On the memorial-stone of grief
‘Tis all the same.
"But stay! methinks I’d like to sleep
By Carron’s gentle flow
I’d like to have an humble stone
Well! be it so."
Dunipace estate, which belongs to John Harvie Brown, Esq., is rich in historical interest. It is situated in a vale of great beauty, falling back northwards from the banks of the Carron; while the two mounds referred to in an earlier chapter stand out boldly in the foreground of the mansion. Close by their base is an "auld kirkyard," into which not a jarring sound enters to break the dead silence of the sleepers, nor a breath of wind gets admission to wave the long rank grass that hides many a neglected grave. A dyke, 5 feet high, conceals while it surrounds the burial-ground; and out of the walls grows the sweet-eyed feather-few an herb, from its stimulant virtues, popular with the botanist. At the east corner an aged elm outspreads its massive branches; while a plane opposite, like some hoary saint with uplifted arms, seems ever imploring a blessing on the hallowed wild. Within the enclosure are also the barberry, the henbane, the bracken, and a variety of common shrubs. About forty years ago a chapel stood close to the churchyard, in which Dr. Knox, who was at that time minister of the united parishes of Larbert and Dunipace, occasionally preached. An old friend of the writer’s, who was present at several of the meetings, says, further, that so numerous were the bats throughout the building the young folks used to catch them during divine service and bring them out of church in their handkerchiefs and pockets.
The property of Dunipace formerly belonged to the Primroses, but was forfeited through a service done the Highlanders on the occasion of the second battle of Falkirk. Here Edward I., in 1301, signed a warrant to his plenipotentiaries for a truce with the Scots, and Sir William Wallace was also familiar with the finely wooded strath. But two thirds of the arable lands in the parish lying partly of a substratum of sandstone, and partly on whin-rock, is rendered of a very inferior quality. Jean Livingston, at whose instigation, her husband, John Kincaid, of Wariston, Edinburgh, was cruelly murdered in 1600, was, by birth, connected with Dunipace. She was young and he was old. The ill-fated marriage form, the subject of an old Scottish ballad: -
"It was at dinner as they sat,
And when they drank the wine,
How joyful were laird and lady
Of bonnie Waristoun!
"But he has spoken a word in jest;
Her answer was not guid;
And he has thrown a plate at her,
That made her mouth gush bluid."
Murderer and accomplice having been caught while still bearing unequivocal marks of guilt, were immediately tried by the magistrates of Edinburgh, and sentenced to be strangled and burned at a stake. The lady’s father, the laird of Dunipace, who was a favourite of James VI., used all his influence to procure a pardon for his unfortunate daughter; but all that could be obtained from the king was an order that she should pass away by decapitation, and at such an early hour as to make the execution as little of a spectacle as possible.
We had almost omitted to mention the Stirlingshire poet, William Cameron, author of "Dinna cross the burn, Willie," who was born in this neighbourhood, December 3, 1801. Like David Gray, the Merkland bard, whose life was "but a piece of childhood thrown away," he was, in earlier life intended for the ministry, but ultimately became, through the death of his father, one of the schoolmasters of Armadale. His first song, "Jessie o’ the Dell," had its origin in Miss Jessie Harvey of the Mill. Then followed into equal popularity, through drawing-rooms, nurseries, concert halls, workshops, and farm steadings, such beautiful melodies as "Meet me on the Gowan Lea," "Bothwell Castle," "Morag’s Fairy Glen," "Far may ye roam," "My Willie and me," &c.
Carbrook estate, the property of J.C. Bolton, Esq., M.P., lies on the very edge of all Torwood’s historical traditions and incidents. Nature may be seen in wilder aspects, but the scene of quiet beauty which meets the eye both within the grounds and in their surroundings cannot fail to linger in the visitor’s memory. Nothing could be finer than the golden tints imparted to the contiguous heights and plantations as the wave of ebbing day recedes towards the west. The Glen is situated a few yards distant from the famous old thorn on the estate. Its dell, as may readily be imagined, is thickly covered with brushwood and brackens, but it has also a musical burn in its rocky centre, which in spate seasons bounds with real Cascadian passion over the Sheep’s Linn that lies a short way down. The streamlet has a tenantry of trout, too, and by the angler, with the freedom of its waters, many a decent lot of "beauties" must be basketed. Not a few local Waltonians take the liberty occasionally of an hour’s cast, and the finny folk (all praise to their considerate courtesy!) take as frankly to the bait of the trespasser as to that of the proprietor.
Buchanan house, on the east side of Loch Lomond, near the right bank of Endrick water, a mile west of Drymen village, is the seat of the Duke of Montrose. It succeeded a previous mansion which was accidentally burned in 1850, and has extensively-wooded grounds. Strathendrick, opening fully to the view at the adjacent shores, extends away to the east like a vast landscape garden, with George Buchanan’s monument standing like a sundial in its centre, and the Lennox hills engirdling most of it like a grand defensive barrier. Under the name of Sweet Ennerdale it is celebrated in the old song of the "Gallant Grahams."
Finnich Glen, which lies about two miles distant, is a romantic gorge through sandstone rock, with mural sides nearly 100 feet high, but not more than 10 feet wide; and has, in one part, a large tubular mass of rock called the Devil’s Pulpit.
Gartness house was a favourite residence of Napier, the inventor of logarithms; and at the Pot of Gartness is a cauldron-shaped cavity, with a picturesque cataract, in the course of the Endrick. Killearn house, Carbeth house, Boquhan Place, and Ballikinrain, all interesting mansions, are in the vicinity of Killearn village; while a short distance south are Dualt Glen and Carnock Glen two romantic wooded ravines, with traversing streamlets and waterfalls. Duntreath castle, adjacent to Blane water, was long noted for its dungeons, stocks, and other appurtenances of strong feudal domination. Balglass castle, on the left bank of the Endrick, claims a high antiquity, and is said to have given refuge to Sir William Wallace.
Flander moss, which extended formerly about 14 miles from the vicinity of Gartmore to that of Stirling, is an extensive, but flat and uninteresting territory, rising no higher at the very watershed between the river systems of the Clyde and Forth than 240 feet above sea level. It was formed partly by the decay of the Caledonian forest, and underwent modern reclamation to the aggregate of nearly 10,000 acres, chiefly by means of channel cuttings to the Forth. The improvement operations resulted in excellent meadow and arable land, and yielded several interesting Roman relics, now preserved in the antiquarian museum of Edinburgh.
Leckie house, near the base of the Lennox hills, is an elegant mansion in the old baronial style, and has charming grounds, commanding brilliant views of the upper basin of the Forth, and of the frontier Grampians. Touch house is the seat of Sir Henry J.S. Stewart, Bart., and stands in a picturesque ravine, traversed by a brook with a fine waterfall. Craigforth mansion takes its name from a bold, bosky crag of similar formation to Stirling Hill and Abbey Craig. If the disembodied spirits of the old marauders of the Highlands could revisit the scenes of their power and their feuds, and see the change that time has wrought on this meet nursing ground for a brave and energetic race, it is difficult to imagine with what kind of feelings they would be seized. Would they not endeavour, all sinewless though they are, to beat back the invader civilisation? Would there not be an aerial wail of all the Macgregors, "We’re landless, landless, Gregalach?"
The annual value of the real property of the shire, as assessed in 1812, was 189,626 pounds; in 1815, 218,761 pounds; in 1842-3, 272,634 pounds; and in 1880-1, 406,153 pounds.
``xEpuupZFVFkEcIYgcyF``x1044073532``xprofile_research Butt Well - Stirling``xmike``xThe Butt Well is located in Stirling. Stewart Donaldson wrote Clan Stirling Online and shares with us "...I can remember playing there as a child many years ago, you could even drink from it then, the water was always cold!"
These wonderful images of Dunblane date from about 1910.
Dunblane Cathedral - River Allan.
Glen Road - Dunblane.
These Nocturnes were written by Frederic Chopin in 1843 and published in 1844. They were dedicated to Jane Stirling, the daughter of Sir William Stirling-Maxwell
Nocturne #15 Opus 55 no. 1 F dim
Nocturne #16 Opus 55 no. 2 E flat
In this recording we hear Vladimir von Pachman (27 Jul 1848 Odessa, Ukraine - 6 Jan 1933 Rome, Italy) in a very early recording circa 1910 playing the E flat Nocturne #16
The History of Stirlingshire by William Nimo 3rd Edition
Chapter XXVI. Old County Families
This chapter gives any researcher a great view of the Old county families in the Stirling area. The Stirling family is listed here in several sections. If you continue your Stirling research you'll quickly find the alliences between families were deep: most had younger daughters and sisters that married into the other families of the area. Go back another few generations and you'll find many more links. If you have additional information, please send it along so we can add to it.
James, the first Earl of Callendar, was a staunch adherent of King Charles, and became a commander in the army which marched to relieve him when a prisoner in the Isle of Wight, being attended by a body of his Falkirk retainers. His army having been discomfited, the earl retired to Holland; but his Falkirk troops valiantly forced their way through the victorious republicans. Alexander, the second earl, was a zealous covenanter, and a copy of the Solemn League is still preserved, bearing his signature, with that of many others. On two different occasions, the troops of government took possession of his house; but, in the last of these, in 1678, a mob from Falkirk put the intruders to flight. The other branch of the Livingstone family adhered to the royal cause, and members of it were engaged at the battle of Bothwell Bridge, and otherwise against the covenanters.
The powerful race of Seton was the parent stock of the Edmonstone family. In the middle of the fourteenth century, Sir John Edmonstone of Edmonstone appears a person of considerable importance, and was appointed by David II. coroner to the shire of Edinburgh in fee, accompanied by grants of lands in the county of Banff. His son, of the same name, was a person of still greater eminence, and was named a commissioner for negotiating with England, on three different occasions, during the captivity of James I. in 1407. He married the Lady Isabel, daughter of Robert II., and widow of James, Earl of Douglas and Mar, who was killed at the battle of Otterburne. By the marriage he had two sons, Sir David, who succeeded him, and Sir William Culloden, ancestor of the family of Duntreath. Sir David left two sons, of whom Sir James, the elder, died without male issue, and John, the younger, in whom the elder line of the family was continued, till the middle of the last century, when it became extinct by the death of the last male heir. This branch of the family continued in possession of Edmonstone, in Mid-Lothian, till late in the seventeenth century, when it was sold to the family of Wauchope; it resided, likewise, at Ednam, in Roxburghshire, a grant of Robert III.
To revert to the family of Duntreath, Sir William Edmonstone of Culloden, second son of Sir John, as above, married the Lady Mary, daughter of King Robert III., who had been married three times previously; first, to George Douglas, Earl of Angus; secondly, to Sir James Kennedy of Dunure, ancestor to the Earls of Cassilis; thirdly, to Sir William Graham of Kincardine, ancestor to the Duke of Montrose; and, lastly, to Sir William Edmonstone. By all four marriages she had issue; and, from the last, the present family of Duntreath are lineally descended. For the next century, the house of Duntreath continued in the highest degree prosperous. Its wealth and possessions had considerably increased, and appanages were bestowed on many of its junior branches, nearly all of which are now extinct. A succession of honourable alliances, too, had greatly tended to keep up its respectability. Sir William (the fourth in descent from the first Sir William of Duntreath), who was killed at the battle of Flodden, with James IV., and the flower of the Scottish nobility and gentry, had been appointed steward of Menteith, and constable of the castle of Doune. His son, of the same name, was continued in the same offices by the Regent, John Duke of Albany, which he held for eighteen years; but an heritable grant of them having been conferred by James V. on Sir James Stewart (ancestor of the Earl of Moray), Sir William and his brother Archibald were much irritated at being thus deprived of what had now for so many years been in possession of their family, and a fray ensued in the High Street of Dunblane, in which Sir James was killed. This event occurred on Whitsunday, 1543. A pardon for this offence was afterwards granted to the two brothers under the Great Seal by the Regent, Duke of Chatelherault, and being connected with the royal family, in consequence of his marriage with Lady Agnes Stewart, daughter to Matthew Earl of Lennox (grandfather to Henry Lord Darnley, the unfortunate husband of Queen Mary), Sir William was made one of the Privy Council during the queen’s minority.
His son, Sir James, was appointed justice-deputy under the Earl of Argyll, justice-general, and in 1582 was named one of the assessors on the trial of the Earl of Gowrie, for the celebrated conspiracy against the liberty of James VI., called the Raid of Ruthven; but he appears himself implicated in a similar plot soon after. He was accused, together with three others of the names of Douglas, Cunningham, and Hamilton, of a design to convey the king to some place of confinement, till those lords who had left the country in consequence of their concern in the above conspiracy should be advertised. It was believed to have been little more than an idle conversation; however, the four were seized and indicted for high treason. Sir James pleaded guilty, and threw himself on the king’s mercy. The others convicted of having held this treasonable design were executed. Sir James seems to have acted an unworthy part in this business; and, being pardoned, he retired to Duntreath, which he considerably enlarged. A stone with his arms and cipher, but without a date, mark this. The estate, however, was mortgaged by his son and successor, William, to Sir William Livingstone of Kilsyth, and considerable estates purchased in the counties of Down and Antrim, in the north of Ireland. But, fortunately, his next successor, Archibald, resold part of the Irish purchases and redeemed the estate of Duntreath, though the family residence continued to be, for above a century, chiefly at Red Hall, in a district called Broadisland, in the county of Antrim. This Archibald was a strict Presbyterian, and being returned member for the county of Stirling in the parliament which met at Edinburgh in 1633, in presence of Charles I., he strongly opposed every effort made by that monarch for the establishment of Episcopacy in Scotland. He had two sons, William and Archibald. Of these the elder, known as the Dumb Laird of Duntreath, was disinherited, and put under the tutelage of his brother, on account of having been born deaf and dumb. He was, however, a person of great vivacity and cheerfulness, with a very retentive memory; and, according to a portrait which exists of him, of a handsome and intelligent countenance. It is recorded, moreover, that he had a strong sense of religion; and a tradition is preserved that he was endowed with the faculty of second-sight. He lived to a very advanced age. A tower at Duntreath, which he is said to have occupied, still preserves his name. The inheritance, in consequence of the infirmity of the elder, devolved upon the younger brother, Archibald. This gentleman followed the same line as his father, in opposing the tyrannical acts of the government in their endeavour to establish Episcopal jurisdiction, and was fined and imprisoned for holding a conventicle in the private chapel of his house at Duntreath. After his release he retired to Ireland, and died in consequence of his exertions in defending the fort of Culmore, contiguous to Londonderry, at the famous siege of that city by James II., in 1689. He was succeeded by his son and namesake, who appears to have resided chiefly at Red Hall, so that Duntreath fell into decay. He married, first, The Honourable Anne Erskine, daughter to David, Lord Cardross, ancestor to the Earl of Buchan, by whom he had one daughter; and secondly, Anne, daughter of the Honourable John Campbell of Mammore, second son of the unfortunate Earl of Argyll who was beheaded in 1685. Her brother, John, succeeded to the dukedom of Argyle, on the death of his cousin, Archibald. By this marriage he had three sons and three daughters, and was succeeded by his eldest son.
Sir Archibald, created a baronet in 1774, married, first, Susanna, daughter to Roger Harenc, of Footscray Place, in Kent, by whom he had five sons and three daughters; and secondly, Hester, daughter to Sir John Heathcote of Normanton, in Rutlandshire, by whom he had no issue. Sir Archibald sat for above twenty years in Parliament for the county of Dumbarton and the Ayr and Irvine district of burghs. He very judiciously sold the estate in Ireland, and purchased that of Kilsyth, in 1783, which had been forfeited by the Livingstons, Viscounts of Kilsyth, in 1715, and thus established and concentrated the family in their native country. He likewise began a liberal system of improvement upon his estates, which was carried on to a greater extent and completed by his successor. Sir Archibald died at the advanced age of eighty-nine, in 1807, and was succeeded by his eldest surviving son, Sir Charles, who married, first, Emma, daughter of Richard Wilbraham Booth, Esq. of Lathorn House, in the county of Lancaster. By her he had a son and daughter. His second marriage was with the Honourable Louisa Hotham, daughter to Beaumont, second Lord Hotham, by whom he had four sons and two daughters. Sir Charles represented the county of Stirling in parliament for several years previous to his death, which took place on the 1st April, 1821, in the fifty-eighth year of his age. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Sir Archibald, the late baronet, who married, in October, 1832, his cousin Emma, daughter of Randle Wilbraham, Esq. of Red Hall. Sir William, the present baronet, to whom we have already referred, is thirteenth in lineal descent from Sir William of Culloden, the first of the branch of Duntreath.
The founder of the family of Buchanan was Anselan, a native of Ireland, who is said to have arrived in the eleventh century. His descendants originally bore the name of M’Aslan, a corruption of Anselan, and were chamberlains to the Earls of Lennox. At an early period, they obtained a grant of part of the lands of Buchanan, which afterwards became the family name. In 1225, they received from Maldwin, Earl of Lennox, a charter for Clarinch, an islet in Lochlomond, which was adopted as the war-cry of the clan. In 1296, "Malcolm of Boughcanian" appears in the list of proprietors in Stirlingshire who swore fealty to Edward I. of England. In 1482, a younger son founded the house of Drumnahill, from which sprung, in 1506, the celebrated George Buchanan. In 1519, "Walterus Bucquhanan de eodem" conveyed to his son, Walter, the lands of Spittal. In 1682, the direct line of male succession became extinct; and, in the absence of other competitors, the late Dr. H. Buchanan, of Spittal and Lenny, claimed, in 1826, to be chief of the family. The Buchanans are a numerous clan in the Lennox and adjacent counties. Beside the M’Aslans, already mentioned, they recognize as clansmen some other branches, whose names are common in the district, particularly the Zuils and the Risks originally soubriquets of individuals, but afterwards surnames of their descendants. The one was so called from the day of his birth, Yule (Christmas); Risk (a bare knoll) of Drymen. Many of the Buchanans have settled and prospered in Glasgow, where they have established a charitable society for the poor members of the clan, which distributes the interest of their capital, amounting to upwards of 500 pounds per annum, among all their branches, whatever be their name. The family of Buchanan, though it flourished for upwards of 500 years, while Scotland remained a separate kingdom, was never distinguished in political transactions. One evident cause was the smallness of the family estate, which included only the lower part of the present parish. Their fame rests on their literary eminence. Besides the classical Buchanan, they can boast of Dr. Buchanan, already mentioned, celebrated for his valuable works on the civil and natural history of India (obiit 15th June, 1829); and Dr. Claudius Buchanan, who is entitled to respect and gratitude for having, by his writings and labours, excited the British nation to send the blessing of education and religion to their Indian empire. Dr. Claudius died 9th February, 1815.
At the death of the last Buchanan of that ilk, in 1682, the estate was sold by his creditors, and purchased by the family of Montrose. They, too, claim high antiquity. Without asserting the existence of the Caledonian who, in the fifth century, is said to have broken down the wall of Antoninus, and to have given it his own name of Graham’s Dyke, it may be stated that the present Duke of Montrose is the twenty-first lineal descendant from Sir Patrick de Graham, who fell, regretted by friend and foe, at the battle of Dunbar, in 1296. This family, unlike their predecessor, is famed for their military achievements; and numbers among their sons, Sir John de Graham, the companion of Wallace; the Marquis of Montrose, who flourished in the civil wars; the Viscount Dundee, who fell bravely, though vainly, attempting to support the tottering throne of James II.; and the late Lord Lynedoch, who distinguished himself by his chivalrous exertions in the wars of the French Revolution. The late duke, who died 30th December, 1836, must be mentioned as an able and persevering patron of agriculture. During a long life, he was unwearied in embellishing his residence at Buchanan, in improving and extending his plantations, and in introducing superior breeds of farm stock.
According to tradition, the founder of the ancient and noble house of Drummond was a Hungarian, named Maurice, who came over from Hungary in the train of Margaret, queen of Malcolm Canmore, and obtained, in reward of his services, a grant of certain lands, and, among others, of Drymen, in Stirlingshire. It is not certainly known in what part of that parish the Drummonds had their residence, but it was probably somewhere near the Endrick. It is equally uncertain how, or at what period, the family ceased to be connected with the county. In the year 1360, in consequence of a feud which had long subsisted between them and the Earls of Menteith, a compact was entered into at a meeting on the banks of the Forth, in presence of the justiciaries of Scotland, by which Sir John Drummond resigned certain lands in the Lennox, and obtained in lieu of them others of greater value in Perthshire. Shortly after this, and probably in consequence of it, their residence seems to have been transferred to Stobhall, in Perthshire, which, along with other extensive estates in that county, had some years before come into possession of the family by marriage. Previous to this change of residence, however, Annabella, daughter of Sir John Drummond, married Robert, Earl of Carrick, high steward of Scotland, who afterwards succeeded to the throne by the title of Robert III. The fruit of this marriage was two sons, one of whom afterwards became James I. Thus Drymen parish may lay claim to the honour of having produced a lady from whom descended the royal House of Stuart; and who was not more distinguished for rank and station, than for the many virtues which adorned her character.
The estate of Alva was anciently possessed by the Stirlings of Calder in Clydesdale. According to Nisbet, in his first volume of Heraldry, "Sir J. Menteith, son of Sir Walter Menteith, of Rusky, married Marion Stirling, daughter and co-heir to Sir John Stirling, of Calder in Clydesdale, and with her he got ye lands of Kerse and Alveth (Alva), for which ye family carried ye buckler for the name of Stirling, and flourished for many years." Sir William Menteth or Menteath, of Alva, married Helen Bruce, daughter of the laird of Airth, and his son, Sir William Menteth, married Agnes Erskine, daughter to Alexander, Lord Erskine, whose successors afterwards, through right of their mother, inherited the earldom of Mar. The Countess of Mar and Kelly is a descendant of the family of Menteth of Rusky. By the intermarriage before alluded to, it is highly probably that the Alva property went to the Bruce, and afterwards to the Erskine family. In 1620 it went to Sir Charles Erskine, fifth son of John, sixth Earl of Mar. His great grandson, Sir Henry Erskine of Alva, father to the late Earl of Rosslyn, sold it in 1759 to his uncle, lord justice clerk, called Lord Tinwald, whose son, James Erskine, a senator of the College of Justice, inherited it, with the title of Lord Alva. He was one of the most energetic proprietors, with the exception of the Bruces, who founded the present mansion and church. Lord Alva sold the estate in 1775 to John Johnstone, Esq., son of Sir James Johnstone, Bart. of Westerhall, Dumfriesshire, brother to Sir William Pulteney. Sir John and Sir Charles Erskine, two of the Alva proprietors, were both killed when abroad in 1746.
There are several very old families in Campsie parish, the principal of which are the Lennoxes of Woodhead, the Kincaids of Kincaid, the Stirlings of Craigbarnet, the Stirlings of Glorat, and the M’Farlans of Kirkton, who are derived, by the female line, from the same stock from which the Lennoxes of Woodhead claim descent. M’Farlan of Kirkton, or Bancleroche, came into possession of that estate in 1624. Antermony was purchased by Captain John Lennox, a younger son of the Woodhead family. The claim of this family to the Lennox peerage has been brought down to her own time by Margaret Lennox, late of Woodhead; from which case it appears that Askill, a powerful Northumbrian baron of that age of William the Conqueror, having found it necessary, with many other northern barons, to flee into Scotland, was kindly received by Malcolm III., and his son, Alwyne, was by Malcolm VI, created Earl of Lennox, the name being derived from the river Leven, and the estate extending over Dumbartonshire, great part of Stirlingshire, and parts of the counties of Perth and Renfrew. The earldom continued in this family down to the time of Earl Duncan, who, with the Duke of Albany and his two sons, was executed at Stirling, May 1425. After this, Isabella, his eldest daughter, enjoyed it many years, and she having died without issue in 1459, the earldom, without any forfeiture having taken place, but by reason of the feudal incident of non-entry, fell into the hands of the sovereign as superior. Donald, son of Earl Duncan, by a second marriage, was the ancestor of the Lennoxes of Ballcorach. John, the sixth of Ballcorach, came into possession of the lands of Woodhead about 1520.
The Kincaids were in possession of Kincaid in 1280, as is proved by a charter extant. In 1421, Duncan, Earl of Levenax, conveyed to his son, Donald, ancestor of the Woodhead family, the lands of Balcorrach, Balgrochyr, Bencloich, Thombay, and others in the parish of Campsie. His son, John, was served heir of his father in said lands in 1454, and seems to have been also proprietor of the estates of Kilmordining and Caillie. The estate of Bencloich was sold to Edmonstone of Duntreath in 1660, and was by Sir Archibald Edmonstone sold to Charles Macintosh, Esq., and William Macfarlan, Esq., in 1834. Glorat was a part of the earldom of Levenax, and Isabella, Duchess of Albany, eldest daughter of the last earl of the old line, was in possession of it, as appears from the Exchequer Rolls, in 1456. John, Earl of Lennox, in the Darnley line, gave a grant of the lands of Inchinnan in Renfrewshire, "delecto consanguineo suo Gulielmo Stirling de Glorat et Margaretae Houstoun sposae suae," in 1525, which is the first trace to be found of the family; but very probably Glorat was acquired by the Stirlings about 1470, after the death of Isabella. In 1550, George Stirling of Glorat was captain and governor-in-chief of Dumbarton castle. The arms and motto, "semper fidelis," were granted to the family for their loyalty to their sovereigns Charles I. and II., and in the year 1666, the family was honoured with the dignity of knight baronet.
Both the Glorat family and the Stirlings of Craigbarnet are descended from the Stirlings of Calder or Cadder, whose name appears in the Ragman’s Roll, 1279. John Striveling or Stirling of Craigbernard (Craigbarnet) is witness to a deed in 1468. Kincaid, "Laird of Kincaid of Stirlingshire," for his valiant services in recovering Edinburgh Castle from the English, in the time of Edward I., was made constable of the castle, and his posterity enjoyed that office for a long period, carrying the castle in their armorial bearings. There is an old broad sword belonging to a branch of the family, upon which are the arms, gules on a fesse ermine, between two mullets-in-chief or, and a castle triple towered in base argent, with these words, -
"Wha will pursew, I will defend
My life and honour to the end"
The ancestor of the Macfarlanes of Kirkton was George Macfarlane of Markinch, second son to Andrew Macfarlane of that ilk, in the reign of James V. George having sold the aforesaid lands of Markinch, went afterwards and settled in the north Highlands amongst his namesakes the Macfarlanes, promiscuously called in the Irish language, M’Allans, Allanich, or Clan-Allan i.e., the posterity of Allan, because of their descent from Allan Macfarlane, younger son to one of the lairds of Macfarlane, who settled in Strathdown, Aberdeenshire, several centuries ago. From him are descended the families of Auchorrachan, Balnengown, Lismurdie, &c., as also several others in Braemar and Strathspey. His posterity continued in the north for several generations, until the time of Patrick Macfarlane, the fourth descendant in a direct line, who, returning again to the south, purchased the lands of Kirkton. He married Christian Blair, daughter to Blair, commissary of Glasgow, who was younger son to Blair of that ilk, an ancient family in the shire of Ayr, by whom he had James Macfarlane of Kirkton, his successor, and a daughter, Christian, married to Sir Hugh Wallace of Wolmet. James married Mary Keith, daughter to John Keith, younger son to the Earl Marischal, by whom he had Hugh, his successor, who married Elizabeth Doig, daughter, and ultimately sole heiress to Paul Doig of Ballingrew, a very ancient Perthshire family. Hugh, by this marriage, had, besides William his heir, a numerous issue both of sons and daughters. The armorial bearing of the family is quarterly first and fourth, argent, a saltier wavey, cantoned with four roses, gules, as a cadet of Macfarlane of that ilk; second and third, gules, a cheveron between two cinquefoils in chief and a sword pale-ways, argent, hilted and pommelled, or, in base, for Doig of Ballingrew; crest, a demi-savage proper, holding in his right hand a sheaf of arrows, and pointing with his left hand to an imperial crown, or. Motto "This I’ll defend."
The Dunmore family is a branch of the house of Athole, springing from John, first Marquess of Athole, and his wife Ameliana-Sophia, daughter of James, seventh Earl of Derby, through their second son, Lord Charles Murray, master of the horse to Queen Mary II. of England, who was elevated to the peerage of Scotland 16th August, 1686, in the dignities of Lord Murray, of Blair. Monlin, and Tellymot, Viscount Fincastle, and Earl of Dunmore. His lordship married Katherine, daughter of Robert Watts, Esq., and had three sons and three daughters. He died in 1719, and was succeeded by his eldest surviving son, John, one of the representative peers in 1713, and colonel of the 3rd regiment of footguards, a general officer in the army, and governor of Plymouth. His lordship died unmarried, 18th April, 1752, when the honours devolved upon his brother, William. This nobleman married Catherine, daughter of his uncle, Lord William Murray (who became Lord Nairne by marrying the heiress of that family), by whom he had two sons and two daughters. His lordship having been involved in the rebellion of 1745, was arraigned at the court held at Southwark for high treason, in 1746, and pleaded guilty, but obtained the king’s most gracious pardon. He died in December, 1756, and was succeeded by his eldest son, John, one of the representative peers from 1761 to 1784. His lordship married, 21st February, 1759, lady Charlotte Stewart, daughter of Alexander, sixth Earl of Galloway, by whom he had two sons. We have referred in a following chapter to the later members of this noble family, the fifth Earl of which was created Baron of the United Kingdom in 1831. Their motto is "Furth fortune and fill the fetters." The present earl, in addition to his excellent qualities as a landlord and country gentleman, is a man of distinguished gallantry and bravery. A year ago near Harris he, at great risk, when a very heavy gale was blowing, put out in a boat, which other three men and himself pulled for eight hours, and rescued the crew of a yacht. Nobody would face the storm but the earl and the three men who went out along with him, and but for their heroic assistance the ladies, gentlemen, and children in the yacht must have perished. For this act of bravery, the noble earl was awarded the medal of the Royal Humane Society; while a sum of money was distributed amongst the three men who courageously accompanied him. His lordship is also well known as an accomplished musician, both in theory and practice. His concerts in London attract great attention. The Prince of Wales is generally present, and the earl conducts the music himself. These concerts are the most select gatherings that society furnishes. They are, moreover, the only respectable ones at which smoking is permitted, and where good wine is given to the audience free of charge. They usually break up about two o’clock; and are, of course, the occasion of all the gossip of the week.
The Bruce family of Stenhouse claims a common ancestor with the noble house of Elgin. Sir Alexander Bruce, of Airth, lineally descended from Sir Robert Bruce, Knt., of Clackmannan, married Janet, daughter of Alexander, the fifth Lord Livingstone, and had several sons, of whom the eldest, William, was ancestor of the Bruces of Airth, now extinct. Robert, the youngest, became progenitor of the Bruces of Kinnaird; and William, the second son, obtained from his father the lands of Stenhouse, &c., in a charter, dated 28th June, 1611. This gentleman, who was created a baronet of Nova Scotia, with remainder to his heirs male whatsoever, 26th June, 1629, married, first, the heiress of Lothian, by whom he had an only daughter; and secondly, Rachael, daughter of Joseph Johnston, Esq., of Hiltoun, by whom he had two sons, and was succeeded at his decease, in 1630, by the elder, William. As we have stated elsewhere, the present representative of this house is Sir William Cunningham Bruce.
The family of Livingston has figured in the history of Scotland. Sir Alexander Livingston of Callendar became governor to James II. on the death of the late king. Sir Alexander and the Chancellor Crichton are accused of confining the queen mother, for the sake of usurping the power committed to her by her deceased lord. Both were concerned in that act of cruelty to which, in the presence of the youthful monarch, William sixth Earl of Douglas fell a victim in Edinburgh castle; by which James was trained to the assassination of another of the Douglasses; and which brought down on the two principal actors the vengeance of the house of Douglas. Livingston was, afterwards, at the instigation of the eighth Earl of Douglas, impeached, sentenced to the loss of his estate, and imprisoned in Dumbarton castle. He was afterwards restored to the royal favour, recovered his estate, was a member of the Privy Council, ambassador to England, and justice general. His son and successor, James, was created Lord Livingston, was master of the household, and, afterwards, lord great chamberlain. Sir Alexander’s younger brother, Sir William, had founded the house of Kilsyth, having got the estate from his father. His representative in the sixth generation, Sir William of Darnchester, who, at Prince Henry’s baptism, had been knighted during his father’s lifetime, was eminent as a lawyer; and, in 1609, was appointed a senator of the College of Justice, and, afterwards, a member of the Privy Council and Vice-Chancellor. He died in 1627, and was succeeded by his son and grandson, but at length, in 1647, by his brother, Sir James Livingston of Barncleugh, who, having maintained his loyalty during the civil wars and usurpation, was, on the restoration of the House of Stuart, created Viscount Kilsyth, Lord Campsie, &c. His second son, William third Viscount Kilsyth, having engaged in the insurrection of 1715, was forfeited. He married first, Jean, daughter of William Lord Cochran, and widow of the Viscount Dundee, who brought him a son; secondly, Barbara, daughter of Macdougal of Mackerston, by whom he had a daughter. Both children died early, and were buried in the family mausoleum at Kilsyth.
Neither the Airths or the Mores have attained to the dignity of the peerage. The first had the baronies of Airth, Carnock, and Plean; which, in the reign of James I., came to heirs female, and, by marriage, to the Bruces, Drummonds, and Somervilles.
The Napiers of Ballikenrain were an ancient family; but the male line is now extinct. They are treated under the head of Eminent Men.
The History of Stirlingshire
Chapter XI. Battle of Sauchieburn (1488)
The following account comes to us from William Nimo's 3rd Edition of "The History of Stirlingshire." This battle is of particular interest to Stirling Family members as William Stirling of Keir was heavily involved, the battle took place not too far from the Keir estate, and most important of all, all the family charters and their tower were burned. After the battle James IV granted new titles, and created the Stirlings of Keirs holdings into a Barony. Also of note to Stirling researchers is Sir John Napier, 3rd of Merchiston was killed at this battle.
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Never was any race of kings more unfortunate than that of Stewart. Their reigns were generally disastrous, and their end tragical. Of six successive monarchs, the immediate predecessors of James VI., not one had died a natural death. James III. came to an untimely and unnatural end in the county we are surveying.
A misunderstanding had subsisted between this prince and several of the chief nobility, during the greater part of his reign. James did not possess those talents for government which had distinguished several of his predecessors; for, though sundry wise and useful regulations were established in his reign, and his errors have, no doubt, been much exaggerated, yet it cannot be denied, that marks of an imprudent and feeble mind are visible in the general tenor of his conduct.
A natural timidity of temper, together with a foolish attention to astrology, had filled his mind with perpetual jealousy and suspicion. He had no warrior’s heart; rather that of a coward, a most unhappy reputation for a Scottish king. The impression, during his reign, was that, among Cochran’s Satanic influences, it had been prophesied he should die by the nearest of his kin; and, to defeat this, he put to death his brother Mar. With his son, however, to whom the prophecy had never been applied, he saw its fulfillment coming. A fondness, too, for architecture, music, and other studies, or amusements, which, though innocent and useful, were too trifling to engage the whole time and care of a prince, had rendered him averse to public business. Indolence, and want of penetration, had also led him to make choice of such ministers and favourites, as were not considered qualified for the trust committed to them.
The ministers of state had usually been chosen from amongst the nobility; but, in the reign of James, the nobles, either from his fear or hatred of them, or from a consciousness of his inability to maintain proper dignity, were seldom consulted in affairs of government, and often denied access to the royal presence.
This could not fail to excite the displeasure of the Scottish barons, who, in former reigns, had not only been regarded as the companions and counsellors of their sovereigns, but possessed the great offices of power and trust.
Displeasure developed into indignation, when they beheld every mark of the royal confidence and favour conferred upon Cochran the mason, Hommil the tailor, Leonard the smith, Rodgers the musician, and Torfifan the fencing-master; whom James always kept about him, caressed with the fondest affection, and endeavoured to enrich with an imprudent liberality.
To redress the grievance, the barons had recourse to a method of corresponding with their characteristic ferocity. Unacquainted with the regular method, adopted in modern times, of proceeding by impeachment, they seized upon James’s favourites by violence, tore them from his presence, and, without any form of trial, executed them. James Hommil, scissor (the old name for tailor), did not suffer on this occasion. He was, however, afterwards prosecuted by the Parliament of 1488, for attempting to bring in the English to the king’s aid. Another of the royal suite, James Chisholme, page to his majesty and subsequently chaplain, escaped the fate of his companions; and this youth, son of Edmund first Chisholm of Cromlix, was, in 1487, consecrated Bishop of Dunblane. But so gross an insult, as the executions referred to, could not fail to excite some degree of resentment, even in the most gentle bosom; though true policy would have suggested to a wise prince, so soon as the shock of passion had subsided, the necessity of relinquishing measures, which had given such offence to subjects so powerful as the then Scottish barons. Their influence, indeed, had, by a concurrence of causes, become so predominant, that the combination of a few was able to shake the throne. The attachment of James to favourites was, notwithstanding, so immoderate, that he soon made choice of others, who became more assuming than the former, and consequently objects of still greater detestation to the barons, especially those, who, by residing near the court, had frequent opportunities of witnessing their ostentation and insolence.
Matter came at length to an open rupture. A party of the nobility took up arms; and having, by persuasion or force, prevailed upon the king’s eldest son, then a youth of fifteen, to join them, they, in his name, erected their standard against their sovereign. Roused by the intelligence of such operations, James also took the field. An accommodation at first took place, but upon what terms is not known. The transactions of the latter part of this reign are variously related by historians, and but darkly by the best. Such as lived the nearest to the time, and had the fullest opportunities of information, probably found that they could not be explicit without throwing reflections upon either the father or the son. The malcontents, according to some accounts, proposed that James should resign his crown in behalf of his son. This accommodation, whatever the articles were, being attended with no mutual confidence, was of very short duration. New occasions of discord arose. James, it was asserted, had not fulfilled his part of the treaty. Ignorance, indeed, of the articles prevent us from forming any certain judgment of the truth of the charge. There are, however, strong presumptions in its favour. The Earls of Huntly and Errol, the Marischal, the Lord Glammis, with several others who had hitherto adhered to James, now left him, and joined the disaffected. And, in an Act of Parliament, framed soon after the king’s death, and entitled "The proposition of the debate of the field of Stirling," his receding from certain articles to which he had formerly consented as the foundation of peace, is expressly assigned as the reason which had determined these lords to that sudden change. This document sets forth that the late king, by perverse counsel of divers persons, who were then with him, had broken certain articles which he had subscribed and consented to; and that, therefore, the Earl of Huntly, and others of the king’s lieges, had forsaken him, and adhered to his successor. The confederacy now began to spread wider than ever, so as to comprehend almost all the barons, and consequently their military vassals and retainers, on the south of the Grampians.
James, having crossed the Forth in a vessel of Sir Andrew Wood’s, proceeded to Aberdeen, when the northern counties eagerly poured forth their hands in defence of the royal cause. In April, he advanced by Stirling to Blackness, where an undecisive skirmish took place, and a reconciliation was hastily patched up. The king gave his uncle, the Earl of Athole, to Hailes, as a hostage, while the Earl of Crawford, who had distinguished himself here, was created, as the reward of valour, Duke of Montrose. Lord Kilmauris was, for the same reason, created Earl of Glencairn.
With the prospect of new hostilities before him, James now shut himself up in Edinburgh castle, till, by the arrival of his northern subjects, whom he had summoned to his assistance, he should be in a position to take the field. As, however, Stirling was reckoned more convenient for the rendezvous of the northern clans, he was advised to go thither. Upon his arrival, he was excluded from the castle by Shaw the governor, who favoured the other party. While deliberating what step to take on this unexpected reception, intelligence was brought him that the disaffected lords, at the head of a considerable army, had advanced to Torwood. The only alternative was, either to make his escape by going on board Admiral Wood’s fleet, stationed in the Forth, near Alloa, or engage the enemy with what forces he had collected. Though not distinguished for courage, he resolved upon the latter course, and prepared.
The two armies met in a tract of ground, which now goes by the name of Little Canglar, upon the east side of a brook called Sauchie Burn, about two miles south of Stirling, and one mile from the famous field of Bannockburn. The royal army was drawn up in three divisions. Historians differ about their numbers. Some make them amount to above thirty thousand. The Earls of Menteith and Crawford, the Lords Erskine, Graham, Ruthven, and Maxwell, with Sir David Lindsay of Byres, were each intrusted with a military command. We are not authentically informed how these leaders, with their several divisions, were arranged. Nor is it agreed in what part the king had his station; only, we are told that he was armed cap-a-pee, and mounted on a spirited grey horse, presented to him by Sir David Lindsay; and that Sir David told his Majesty he might at any time trust his life to the animal’s agility and sure-footedness, provided he could keep his seat.
The malcontent army, amounting to eighteen thousand, and mostly cavalry, was likewise ranged in three divisions. The first, composed of East-Lotian and Merse men, was commanded by the Lords Home and Hailes, whose discontent had arisen from the king having annexed to his chapel-royal at Stirling the revenues of the priory of Coldingham, to the disposal of which they had claim. The second line, made up of the inhabitants of Galloway and the border counties, was led by Lord Gray; and the prince had the name of commanding the main body, though he was entirely under the direction of the lords about him. Showers of arrows from both sides began the action; but they soon came to closer engagement with arrows and swords.
The royalists at first gained an advantage, and drove back the enemy’s first line. These, however, being soon supported by the borderers, who composed the second, not only recovered their ground, but pushed the first and second lines of the royalists back to the third. Fighting there was, but no battle.
Any little courage of which James was possessed soon forsook him. He put spurs to his horse, and galloped off, with the view, as is conjectured, of getting on board Admiral Wood’s fleet, which lay in sight five miles distant. As he was on the point of crossing the Bannock, near the village of Milton, a woman happened to be drawing water, and, observing a man in armour gallop full speed towards her, and being alarmed for her safety, left her pitcher, and ran off. The horse, starting at sight of the vessel, threw his rider, who was so bruised with the fall, and the weight of his armour, as to faint away. As the disaster had happened within a few yards of a mill, the miller and his wife carried the unfortunate horseman thither; and, though ignorant of his name and station, treated him with great humanity, and administered to him such cordials as their house afforded. When he had somewhat recovered, he called for a priest, to whom, as a dying man, he might make confession. Being asked who he was, he replied, "I was your king this morning." Thunder-struck at the announcement, the poor woman ran out, wringing her hands, and calling loudly for assistance to the king. Some of the rebels, who happened to pass at the moment, heard her cries and, according to tradition, one of them, a follower of Lord Gray, a priest by profession, exclaimed, "I am a priest. Where is the king?" He was led into the room where the king lay, and, kneeling down beside him, asked if he thought he might recover by the aid of surgery. "I believe that I might," answered James; "but let me have a priest to hear my confession, and to bring me the eucharist." The traitor, it is said, heard his confession, and then basely stabbed him.
The ground where this regicide was perpetuated is full of heroic memories. The place itself is well-known by the name of Beaton’s mill, and stands on the east side of the Bannock. It is no longer a mill; just a small old dwelling-house, with crow-stepped gables. The lower parts of the walls are still the same which received the unfortunate monarch. The stones wear the marks of antiquity, being much mouldered by the weather in the lapse of ages. The upper part of the fabric has been renewed; and the repairs it has undergone seem to have had no other design than to perpetuate the memory of a wretched business, the circumstances of which have been so carefully handed down by tradition, that they are still related by the inhabitants of the village, and correspond to the accounts we meet with in the best historians. Pity that events of a more illustrious character have been denied the same interest and attention by succeeding generations.
After the king’s flight, his troops continued to fight with great bravery; but, at last, finding themselves unable to stand their ground, and discouraged by an uncertain rumour of his death, they began to retreat to Stirling. Well, too, might they feel in vain to defend a cause thus betrayed by its patron; while the adverse ranks, no doubt, shrunk from the horrors of mutual slaughter. They were not hotly pursued, for hostilities had immediately ceased. The army of the confederates lay that night upon the field, and next day marched back to Linlithgow. The number of the slain is uncertain, though it must have been considerable; for the action had lasted several hours. Some of high rank fell on the royal side, among whom were the Earl of Glencairn, and Lords Ruthven and Erskine. This battle was fought on the 11th June, 1488; and was called by diplomatical authority, "The field of Stirling." "The battle of Sauchieburn" is a better name, as distinguishing it from the action between Wallace and the English in 1297. Bannockburn has a better claim to be called the battle of Stirling than either, and probably would have had that title, but for Wallace’s victory which had the start of it in point of time.
The prince, who before the battle, had given strict charge regarding his father’s safety, heard the rumour of his death with great emotions of grief. It was not till some days after, that he obtained a certain account; for, if any of the confederate lords were in the secret, they had kept it carefully from the prince, and from the rest. A report was spread that the king had gone on board Admiral Wood’s fleet, and was alive. The admiral, being called before the young king and the council, declared that he knew nothing of his late master. So little had this prince been accustomed to his father’s company, that he was almost a stranger to his person; for, when Wood had appeared before him, struck with his stately appearance, or perhaps with some resemblance, he seriously exclaimed, "Sir, are you my father?" The admiral, bursting into tears, replied, "I am not your father, but I was your father’s true servant." On the 18th of March, 1483, the property of Largo was granted to this Andrew Wood, of Leith, for his services by land and sea, chiefly in the English war; and confirmed about 1497, with the addition, that the most eminent service had been the defence of Dumbarton, when the English navy came to besiege it. Sir Andrew Wood’s fleet consisted of two ships, viz. ‘Flower’ and ‘Yellow Carvel.’ They compensated their want of numbers by courage, skill, and success. They took five English vessels, which had made an inroad upon the Scottish trade in the Forth. Henry VII. offered a large pension to any one who should kill or capture Wood. Many had declined, when Stephen Bull ventured against him with three stout ships completely manned and equipped, and anchored off the back of the Isle of May. Wood, though not expecting him, fought him hard two days, during which they had drifted to the Tay. At length, Wood captured the three English men of war, and brought them into Dundee. Presenting Bull to James IV., he was handsomely rewarded. The monarch gave presents to the English sailors, and sent them and ships as a gift to Henry, who muttered thanks, and disguised his chagrin. Sir Andrew formed, between Largo House and the church of that name, a canal along which, in a barge, with the appropriate naval honours, he proceeded to and from divine service.
At last the corpse of the king was discovered, and carried to the palace in Stirling castle, where it lay till interred with all due honour, in Cambuskenneth abbey, near the body of his queen, who had died not long before.
The confederate lords endeavoured to atone for their treatment of their late sovereign by their loyalty and duty towards his son, whom they instantly placed on the throne. They also deemed it requisite, for their future security, to have a parliamentary indemnity for their proceedings. Accordingly, in a parliament that met soon after, they obtained a vote, by which everything done in "the Field of Stirling" was justified, and declared "lawful," on account of the necessity they had lain under of employing force against "the king’s evil councillers, enemies of the kingdom." This vote is, in the records, called "The proposition of the debate of the field of Stirling."
The majority of the nation, south of the Tay, soon acknowledged the new king, and the castles of Edinburgh and Stirling surrendered to him. Sir John Lundie was made governor of the latter, instead of James Shaw, whose late treachery had rendered him detestable even to the party whose interest he had intended to serve.
The northern clans, who had adhered to the late king, did not so speedily submit to his successor, but combined to avenge the death upon those who were thought to keep his son still captive among them. Early next year, Lord Forbes made a tour through the northern counties, to excite the inhabitants, and accompanied his arguments with an address to their passions, by displaying the bloody shirt of the murdered king upon a lance. The Earl of Levenax, or Lennox, who had espoused the same cause, raised 5,000 vassals and retainers, and marched northward, to form a junction with Forbes. As, however, the king and confederate lords held Stirling, he crossed the Forth some miles above, and at night encamped in a field adjoining to Tilly-Moss, now called Moss-Flanders. Having no suspicion of danger, and intending to march early next morning, he lay in a careless posture, and had not even set a regular watch. This tempted one MacAlpin to act treacherously. He stole away to Stirling, and gave information of the place where the earl had encamped, and the insecurity of his posture. Lord Drummond, a chief of the confederates, quickly setting out with a considerable force, surprised the earl, and, with little bloodshed, dispersed his army.
The northern clans, hearing of Lennox’s defeat, immediately submitted to the new king, and the whole kingdom soon united in acknowledging his authority. As a penance for the unnatural part he had acted towards his father, he wore, ever after, an iron girdle next his skin, adding a link every year.
The county of Stirlingshire is divided into twenty-four parishes.
Airth - The figure of Airth resembles that of a parallelogram, and is consequently somewhat irregular. Its length, from north to south, is about 7 miles, and its breadth, from east to west, about 3 1/2 miles, the whole comprehending a surface of 30 square miles. It is bounded on the north by the Firth of Forth, on the east by the same firth and the parish of Bothkennar, on the south by Bothkennar and Larbert, and on the west by the parish of St. Ninians. The church was first opened for public worship on 20th February, 1820, and is built for the accommodation of 800 persons. The population of the parish in 1841 was 1,498; in 1851, 1,319; in 1861, 1,194; and in 1871, 1,395.
Alva - Alva belonged in ancient times to Clackmannanshire, which it has been politically incorporated since the passing of the Reform Bill. Since the beginning of the seventeenth century, however, it has been attached for judicial purposes to Stirlingshire, although upwards of four miles distant from its nearest point. The barony is surrounded on all sides by the shire of Clackmannan, except on the north, where it is bounded by a part of the county of Perth. From the chartulary of Cambuskenneth, we learn that Alva was a parish nearly 600 years ago, although it does not appear certain when the building of the village was first started. In the year 1795, the latter only contained 130 families, including a few single persons, each of whom occupied part of a house. The population of the parish in 1791 was 611; in 1801, 787; in 1811, 921; in 1821, 1,197; in 1831, 1,300; in 1836, 1,479; in 1841, 2,136; in 1851, 3,204; in 1861, 3,618; and in 1871, 4,296. For a considerable period prior to the Reformation, Alva was in the diocese of Dunkeld, and under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the bishop of that see. By an extract taken from the chartulary of Cambuskenneth, it appears that it was a mensel church (de mensa Episcopi), belonging to that abbacy; and that the monks, who were of the order of St. Augustine, performed duty there, from want of a sufficient fund to maintain a resident and regular clergyman in the parish. In 1260, Richard, Bishop of Dunkeld, made a donation to the monks of the church of St. Mary, at Cambuskenneth, of "the church of Alva with all its legal pertinents," and dispensed with their employing a vicar to officiate statedly. From 1581, till 1632, this parish was united to the neighbouring one of Tillicoultry – the minister of Alva officiating in both. The fabric of the present church was erected in 1632, by Alexander Bruce, proprietor of Alva, who afterwards, making a small addition to the stipend, procured its disjunction from Tillicoultry. In the year 1815, at the expense of Mr. James Raymond Johnstone, it was wholly built, and fitted up so as to accommodate 600 sitters.
Baldernock - Baldernock, in shape, is a very irregular, three-sided figure. It is bounded, on the west side, by New Kilpatrick and Strathblane; on the south, by the rivers Allander and Kelvin; and on north and east by Campsie. The first records of session bear date 1690; but the present church was not built till 1795. It is still in good repair, and is seated for 406. The population of the parish in 1794 was 620; in 1801, 796; in 1811, 806; in 1821, 892; in 1831, 805; in 1841, 809; in 1851, 801; in 1861, 729; and in 1871, 616.
Balfron - Balfron parish, which runs very nearly east and west, is about 11 miles in length, and 3 in breadth. It is bounded on the east and southeast, by Gargunnock and Fintry; on the south and north-west, by Killearn and Drymen; and on the north and north-east, by Drymen and Kippen. The church was rebuilt in 1833, and seats 700. The population in 1841, was 2,057; in 1851, 1,900; in 1861, 1,836; and in 1871, 1,502.
Bothkennar - Bothkennar is bounded on the north, by the parish of Airth; on the east, by the Firth of Forth; on the south by the river Carron; and on the west, by the parish of Larbert. Its population in 1811, was 821; in 1821, 895; in 1831, 905; in 1841, 849; in 1851, 1,179; in 1861, 1,565; and in 1871, 2,377. Since the last census was taken, Grangemouth has been formed into a police burgh partly from the parishes of Bothkennar, Falkirk, and Polmont. In that year (1871) the population of the Bothkennar part of Grangemouth was 651; and what is now the landward part 1,726. It is worthy of notice that, while in every other parish in Scotland there was a great aversion to episcopacy, this parish was so much attached to it that they kept their minister, Mr. Skinner, a most worthy man, from 1688 till 1721; and had he not resigned his situation it is probable he would have died among them in the full exercise of his ministerial functions. There have been only six Presbyterian ministers in this parish, of whom Mr. Nimmo was one, since episcopacy was abolished.
Buchanan - Buchanan has not yet been measured. It is supposed, however, to be about 24 miles in length, and 5 in breadth; while its area, including the islands and mainland, may be stated at 120 square miles. It is bounded by Loch-lomond on the west; by the parish of Arrochar on the north; by Loch Katrine, and the parishes of Aberfoyle and Drymen on the east; and by the river Endrick on the south. Its population in 1755 was 1,699; in 1793, 1,611; in 1801, 748; in 1831, 600; in 1841, 619; in 1851, 632; in 1861, 622; and in 1871, 591.
Campsie - Campsie (Lennoxtown) was reduced to its present dimensions, in 1649, by the annexation of its eastern extremity to Kilsyth, and of its southern extremity to Baldernock. Its length is about 7 miles, and its breadth about 6. It is bounded by the parish of Fintry on the north; by Baldernock and Strathblane on the west; by Cadder and Kirkintilloch on the south; and on the east by Kilsyth. The "clachan" has been treated ecclesiastically in a previous chapter. The population of the parish in 1789 was 1,627; in 1793, 2,517; in 1836, 5,653; in 1841, 6,396; in 1851, 6,918; in 1861, 6,483; and in 1871, 6,739. The great increase of inhabitants, during the first decade noted, arose from the establishment of the Lennox mill and the Kincaid printfields.
Denny - Denny is 6 miles in length, and, on an average, 4 in breadth. On the west, it is bounded by Darroch hill; on the east by Dunipace; on the north by the river Carron; on the south by the Bonny; and on the south-west by Kilsyth. As already mentioned, this parish was originally part of the parish of Falkirk. The parochial registers commence about 1679. The minister of Polmont draws from the heritors, in Temple Denny, the equivalent for his grass glebe – a satisfactory evidence that both parishes were at one time portions of Falkirk. The population in 1755 was 1,392; in 1790, 1,416; in 1801, 1,967; in 1821, 3,364; in 1831, 3,843; in 1837, 4,300; in 1841, 4,428; in 1851, 4,754; in 1861, 4,821; and in 1871, 4,993.
Drymen - Drymen is bounded on the north by Aberfoyle and Port; on the east, by Kippen, Balfron, and Killearn; on the south, by Killearn, Kilmaronock, and Dumbarton; and on the west, by Buchanan and Kilmaronock. Its extreme length is 15 miles, and breadth 10. It contains about 50 square miles. The church was erected in 1771. It is a plain substantial building, and affords accommodation for about 400. The population in 1755 was 2,780; in 1791, 1,607; in 1811, 1,500; in 1821, 1,652; in 1831, 1,690; in 1841, 1,523; in 1851, 1,481; in 1861, 1,469; and in 1871, 1,405.
Dunipace - Dunipace, in form, approaches to that of a triangle. It is bounded on the west and north by the parish of St. Ninians; on the east by Larbert; and on the south by the parishes of Falkirk and Denny – the Carron separating it from the latter for nearly 5 miles. It is a curious fact that forty years ago there was neither a medical man nor a clergyman, a smith nor a wright, nor even a resident beggar in this parish; and it was only in 1838 that there was either a baker or a tailor. In the latter part of the thirteenth century an uncle of Sir William Wallace was parson of Dunipace, which was originally a chapel of the parish of Ecclis, now St. Ninians. At the time of the Reformation Dunipace and Larbert were erected into two separate parishes – the former then being both the more populous, and by far the more wealthy of the two – so much so, that the latter could not maintain a minister. A union, therefore, with Dunipace was desired, and accomplished under the authority of two Acts of the Scottish Parliament in 1617 and 1624. The present church stands on top of one of those little knolls with which the whole district abounds. It is built in the Gothic style, with a tower, in which there is a fine bell. It is seated for 604 persons, and was first opened for worship on the 29th June, 1834. The old church stood a mile and a half to the eastward. The population of the parish in 1831 was 1,278; in 1841, 1,578; in 1851, 1,472; in 1861, 1,601; and in 1871, 1,733.
Falkirk - Falkirk is situated in the eastern division of the county, and is separated from the Firth of Forth by a small part of the parish of Polmont. It extends about 9 miles in length, and from 2 to 5 in breadth. It is bounded on the east by the parishes of Polmont and Muiravonside; on the west by Cumbernauld and Denny; and on the north by the river Carron, which divides it from Dunipace, Larbert, and Bothkennar. The parish is of an oblong shape, stretching from the north-east to the north-west. Ancient documents show that at one time Denny, Slamannan, Muiravonside, and Polmont formed parts of the then existing parsonage of Falkirk. Of the period when the first three of these parishes were disjoined no record has been found; but Polmont was created a distinct parish in 1724. Here the parochial records are voluminous, and have been regularly kept until the present time. The date of the earliest entry is 4th January, 1594. The old church, which was founded by Malcolm, in 1057, and rebuilt in 1810, with sittings for 1,500 hearers, has already been mentioned. Falkirk is the only market town in the parish, and in 1841 contained nearly 5,000 inhabitants; but the population of the parliamentary burgh, in 1835, was ascertained to be 7,445. At the last census, in 1871, it was 9,547; and, on the lowest calculation, it must now be over 12,000. The population of the parish in 1755 was 3,932; in 1792, 8,020; and 1801, 8,838; in 1811, 10,395; in 1821, 11,536; in 1831, 12,748; in 1835, 13,037; in 1841, 14,108; in 1851, 16,438; in 1861, 17,026; and in 1871, 18,051.
Fintry - Fintry, irregular in figure, extends from east to west about 6 miles, and its breadth, from north to south, is 5. It contains nearly 20 square miles. The parish is bounded on the north by Balfron and Gargunnock; on the east by St. Ninians and Kilsyth; on the south by Campsie; and on the west by Killeran and Strathblane. The parochial registers belonging to the session have been kept from a remote date. The oldest is dated 1632. The Established Church, which is a plain but neat building, with a tower on the west end, was erected in 1823, and contains 500 sittings. The population in 1755 was 891; in 1791, 348; in 1801, 958; in 1811, 1,1003; in 1821, 1,002; in 1831, 1,051; in 1851, 823; in 1861, 685; and in 1871, 499. After 1755 the farms of the parish were enlarged by the union of several small farms; and the consequence was, that many of the tenants were ejected, and had to seek a subsistence for themselves and families elsewhere. Accordingly, in 1791, there is a decrease of population to the extent of 543. About this time, however, a change of an opposite nature caused a great increase. Mr. Speirs built a large cotton factory; and, to accommodate the many hands employed, a village was erected which, in 1841, contained about 650 inhabitants.
Gargunnock - Gargunnock contains about 20 square miles. Its length is 6 miles, and breadth 4. It is bounded on the east and south by St. Ninians; on the west by Fintry, Balfron, and Kippen; and on the north by Kincardine and Kilmaronock. The earliest entry in the parish registers is dated 1615. Although built in 1774, the church is still in a state of good repair. It accommodates 500 sitters. The population in 1755 was 956; in 1793, 830; in 1833, 908; in 1841, 826; in 1851, 754; in 1861, 729; and in 1871, 675.
Killearn - Killearn contains 27 square miles. Its length is 12 miles; and its breadth, where greatest, 4; but at an average 2 1/2. It is situated in Strathendrick, now the western district of Stirlingshire. It was originally, however, a part of Lennox or Dumbartonshire. The population in 1755 was 959; in 1769, 948; in 1794, 973; in 1831, 1,206; in 1841, 1,187; in 1851, 1,176; in 1861, 1,145; and in 1871, 1,111. A temporary diminution was also occasioned here by the union of small farms.
Kilsyth - Kilsyth, in form, approaches to an irregular oblong. It runs for 7 miles along the north high road from Edinburgh to Glasgow, and its mean breadth is fully half its length. It contains nearly 24 square miles. The natural boundaries are the Carron, on the north; the Kelvin and the Bonnyburn, on the south; Inchwood burn on the west; and the Bush burn on the east. The population in 1801 was 1,762; in 1811, 3,206; in 1821, 4,260; in 1831, 4,297; in 1841, 4, 683; in 1851, 5,346; in 1861, 5,828; and in 1871, 6,313.
Kippen - Kippen lies chiefly in Stirlingshire, but in different places is intersected by portions of Perthshire which run across it from north to south, for nearly a third part of the parish. Its greatest length is about 8 miles, and its breadth from 2 to nearly 4 miles. It is bounded on the north by the river Forth, which separates it from the parishes of Port and Norriestown; on the east by Gargunnock; on the south by Balfron; and on the west by the parish of Drymen. The church was built in 1825, and seats 800. The population in 1793 was 1,777; in 1801, 1,722; in 1811, 1,893; in 1821, 2,029; in 1831, 2,085; in 1851, 1,892; in 1861, 1,736; and in 1871, 1,568.
Larbert - Larbert parish proper is nearly elliptical in form – the measures of the transverse and conjugate axis being about 3 and 2 1/2 miles; while the superficial extent is close upon 4 1/2 square miles. The river Carron is the boundary on the S. & S. S. E., for 2 1/4 miles; Dunipace on the west and north-west for 2 1/2 miles; the little rivulet the Pow, of Airth, on the north; and for 1 1/4 mile, on the north-east and south-east, the parishes of Airth and Bothkennar form the marches. On account of its early poverty, Larbert, as we have already said, was united quoad sacra to Dunipace; but the establishment of the iron works at Carron changed matters entirely. Its population in 1831 was 4,262; in 1841, 4,411; in 1851, 4,606; in 1861, 4,999; and in 1871, 5,280.
Logie - Logie is bounded on the north by the parish of Dunblane; on the south by the river Forth, which divides it from Stirling and St. Ninians; on the west by Lecropt and Dunblane; and on the east by Alva and Alloa. Its extreme length from north to south, is between 6 and 7 miles; and its extreme breadth, from east to west, about 6. The present church, which was built in 1805, is a plain unpretending structure, but neat and commodious. It is seated for 644 people. Its situation is peculiarly romantic and beautiful; and that of the old kirk (now an interesting ruin) still more so. The population in 1831 was 1,943; in 1841, 2,198; in 1851, 2,551; in 1861, 3,468; and in 1871, 4,553.
Muiravonside - Muiravonside, or Moranside, is about 7 miles in length and its irregular breadth may average 2. The river Avon descending towards the north-east, till it turns to the north and west nor far from Linlithgow Bridge, bounds its extreme length on the south-east, and forms the border of its breadth on the north-east, separating it from the parishes of Slamannan, Torphichen, Linlithgow, and Bo'ness. It is said to have been, in ancient times, annexed to the parish of Falkirk; but we find it named a separate parish in 1606, the date of the oldest presbytery record. In several returns, too, of the earldom of Linlithgow, which were made in the seventeenth century, Muiravonside is reckoned amongst its patronages. The population in 1801 was 1,070; in 1811, 1,330; in 1821, 1,678; in 1831, 1,540; in 1851, 2,644; in 1861, 2,662; and in 1871, 2,653.
Polmont - Polmont is about 6 1/2 miles in length, and its utmost breadth is nearly 3. It is bounded on the north by the firth of Forth; on the east, partly by the river Avon, which separates the county of Stirling from the county of Linlithgow, and partly by the parish of Muiravonside; on the south by Muiravonside and Slamannan; and on the west by the parish of Falkirk, from which it was disjoined in 1724. Its name, however, must be at least of long standing, for among the titles of the Duke of Hamilton, he is called Lord Polmont. The population in 1755 was 1,094; in 1791, 1,400; in 1801, 2,194; in 1811, 1,827; in 1821, 2,171; in 1831, 3,200; in 1835, 3,107; in 1841, 3,412; in 1851, 3,764; in 1861, 3,892; and in 1871, 3,910. In 1801, the colliery at Shieldhill was in active operation, and hence the large increase at that period compared with the census in 1791. In 1811, work there was almost discontinued: consequently the decrease. Again, from 1821 to 1831, the Redding Colliery was conducted on an extensive scale; and in 1835, the diminution was occasioned by fewer men being employed.
St. Ninians - St. Ninians once comprehended the whole district between the Forth and Carron. With the exception of the small space occupied by the parish of Stirling, the Forth is still its northern boundary for many miles, by which it is separated from Kincardine, Lecropt, Logie and Alloa. On the east, it is bounded by Airth; on the west by Gargunnock and Fintry. The Carron on the south, for nearly 6 miles, separates it from Kilsyth and Denny; while Dunipace and Larbert form the remainder of its southern boundary. A parallelogram of 10 miles by 6 is more than the parish would fill up. 11 miles by 5 is nearer the mark. It contains about 55 square miles. From the church to Randieford, on the west, is a distance of fully 11 miles; and to Powbridge, on the east, about 7, though in a direct line the distance between these extreme points may not be over 15 or 16 miles; but owing to the windings of the Forth and other causes it is very irregular, and at both extremities is not more than 3 miles. The church was built in 1750, and contains upwards of 1,500 sittings. The population in 1645 was 4,760; in 1745, 5,916; in 1755, 6,491; in 1792, 7,079; in 1801, 6,849; in 1811, 7,636; in 1821, 8,274; in 1831, 9,552; in 1841, 10,080; in 1851, 9,851; in 1861, 8,946; and in 1871, 10,146.
Slamannan - Slamannan is bounded on the north-west by the parish of Cumbernauld; on the west and south-west by New Monkland; on the east and south-east by Torphichen; and on the north and north-east by Muiravonside, Polmont, and Falkirk. At the north-western extremity, there is a point where three counties meet, viz., Stirling, Dumbarton, and Lanark; and on the south there is another point where the counties of StirIing and Lanark meet with the county of Linlithgow. The parish lies on the south of the water of Avon, and is from 5 to 6 miles in length, and about 3 in breadth. In 1724, when Polmont was disjoined from Falkirk, a considerable portion of the former, which lies on the north of the Avon, was annexed quoad sacra to Slamannan, making the whole parish upwards of 6 miles in length and nearly 5 in breadth. The church, which was rebuilt in 1810, accommodates upwards of 700 persons. The population in 1801 was 923; in 1811, 993; in 1821, 981; in 1831, 1,093; in 1851, 1,655; in 1861, 2,916; and in 1871, 4,164.
Strathblane - Strathblane lies in the south-west corner of the shire, and is bounded on the east by the parish of Campsie; on the south by Baldernock and New Kilpatrick; and on the west and north by Killearn. Its average length is rather more than 5 miles, and breadth about 4. The surface comprises nearly 20 square miles. The church, which was built in 1803, is a handsome edifice of modem Gothic, and is seated for 450. The population in 1755 was 797; in 1795, 620; in 1811, 795; in 1821, 748; in 1831, 1,030; in 1841, 1,045; in 1851, 1,010; in 1861, 1,122; and in 1871, 1,235.
Stirling - Stirling parish is 2 miles in length from west to east, and 1 1/2 mile in breadth from north to south. Its figure is very irregular, depending in some places on the waving line of the Forth, in others on the deep indentations made in it by the parish of St. Ninians. By the latter it is bounded on the west, south, and east, by Logie on the north-east, and north, and by Lecropt on the north. The population in 1755, was 3,951; in 1792, 4,698; in 1801, 5,256; in 1811, 5,993; in 1821, 7,333; in 1831, 8,499; in 1841, 8,860; in 1851, 12,837; in 1861, 13,846; and in 1871, 14,279. With the Reformation, came the abolition of the Popish ritual, and the establishment of the Protestant worship. From this period, until 1607, the parish was under the spiritual charge of one minister. A second minister was then appointed, but it was not till 1643 that a fixed endowment was given by the magistrates and others. In 1731, upon an application from the inhabitants, the third charge was created, when consent was granted to a multure, which had been levied for some years, being perpetuated for its support. From this time, the ministers of the first and second charges were colleagues together in the east church, the minister of the third charge preaching in the west, until, upon the deposition of Ebenezer Erskine, in 1740, for whom this charge had been instituted, that church was disused as an ordinary place of worship, and only opened on sacramental occasions for the accommodation of those who could not find access to the east church. This state of things, notwithstanding petitions from the inhabitants, continued till 1817, when the third charge was revived, and the west church re-opened with Archibald Bruce ordained and admitted as minister. The arrangement, in other respects, continued the same down till 1825, when the then minister of the third charge being appointed to the second, remained in the west church, instead of being transferred to the east, and on being appointed in 1829, to the first charge still remained in the west. After that date, the minister of the first charge was fixed in the west church, the minister of the second charge in the east, while he of the third charge preached in each church alternately as colleague to both the others. The first person who appears to have occupied any ministerial office in the parish was Thomas Duncanson, Reader, who was, for uncleanness, suspended by the General Assembly, December 31st, 1563. The earliest appointment of a second minister was, as we have already said, in 1507, when Robert Mure was admitted coadjutor to Patrick Simpson. The dissenters from the national religious establishment were, seventy years ago, perhaps more numerous, proportionally, in Stirling than in most parts of Scotland. It was here, indeed, that, in 1738, that secession began which afterwards spread over the country under the name of "The Associated Synod," and, ten years after, branched into burghers and antiburghers. The prime mover, however, in a party which has been considered as unfavourable to loyalty, where the reigning prince has not signed "the Solemn League and Covenant," Mr. Ebenezer Erskine, eight years after his expulsion from the bosom of the national church, demonstrated his attachment to the civil government, by assuming the military character in the defence of Stirling against the insurgent army in 1746, when he gallantly headed two companies of his affectionate flock.
A census table, dry as the look of it may seem, tells an interesting tale of its own. The social history of a district may, in part, be read from it. An increase of population means industrial prosperity. A decrease, industrial depression. In the previous pages of this chapter, we have given the number of inhabitants in each of the parochial divisions of the shire. We close with the population of the county itself, at intervals from 1765 till 1871.
1765 39,761
1768 47,373
1801 50,825
1811 58,174
1821 65,376
1831 72,621
1841 82,057
1851 86,237
1861 91,926
1871 98,179
Source: The History of Stirlingshire, by William Nimo. 3rd Edition, with notes
Clan Stirling Online received word this afternoon that Jon Sterling's wife of four months Denise Carol Gregg-Sterling tragically passed away on Wednesday the 22nd. Jon is the 4th Great Grandson of James Sterling of Cornwall Connecticut and Hannah May.
Denise was born on 15 Sep 1954 in Yipsilanti Michigan. The couple married on the 22nd of September 2002 in Sterling, Michigan, which pleased them both greatly.
The news has hit all of us here at Clan Stirling Online hard. Jon was the first distant Stirling cousin I had the chance to meet in person. In 1998 Jon and I spent a memorable weekend together traveling from his home in Connecticut to Eastern Pennsylvania visiting cemeteries, libraries, and other Stirling cousins. His big smile and warm heart burned even brighter after we received news of his pending marriage to Denise. Our hearts and prayers go out to Jon and all of his and Denise's family.
The family held a private service on Thursday. Internment is to take place at Nepaug Cemetery, which is right next to Jon and Denise's house in Connecticut.
You may contact the family by email at sterling15@mindspring.com
``xEpuFuVZyAElgZkYfCd``x1043457691``xprofile_memorials Stirling Library - Part of the Carnegie Legacy``xmike``x
The Stirling library is a superb example of Scots Baronial architecture by Harvey Ramsay Taylor of Edinburgh. The intentionally asymmetrical design is cleverly balanced, with the main feature being the massive round tower at the corner. The remainder of the façade is highly decorated with many intricate details. This building illustrates the attempts by many of the architects of the time to revive the older Scottish style, and to move away from classical influences. Taylor's use of Ionic columns at the doorway, however, shows how ubiquitous classical elements could still be.
The foundation stone was laid by Mrs Louise Carnegie on 11th October 1902, after Andrew Carnegie had received the freedom of the burgh. The library was officially opened on 6th February 1904 by Provost Thomson, who then sent a cablegram to Mr. Carnegie in New York City.
Its current use is as the central library for Stirling Council.
A river of central Scotland, the Allan Water rises in the Ochil Hills to the south of Blackford in Perth and Kinross. After its descent from the hills into Strathallan, it flows south westwards and southwards into Stirling Council Area where it joins the River Forth immediately south of Bridge of Allan. Its total length is 22 miles (35 km). It is a beautiful location, steeped in history.
Here are three wonderful images of Bridge of Allan about 1910. Enjoy!
Bridge of Allan - about 1910.
Sir William Stirling-Maxwell was born at Kenmure, in Lanarkshire on the 8th of March 1818. He was the only son of Archibald Stirling of Keir and Elizabeth Maxwell, daughter of Sir John Maxwell of Nether Pollok.
Sir William Stirling-Maxwell (1818-1878)
He was educated in the private school of Mr. Langley, Vicar of Olney, in Buckinghamshire, and at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated in 1839.
After leaving Cambridge Mr. Stirling spent some time abroad, visiting the Levant and various parts of Europe. He returned from Syria in 1842, and four years later he printed privately some of his Songs of the Holy Land, of which a larger collection was published in 1848.
This new section of the Clan Stirling Library is dedicated to Sir William and his writings.
``xEpuFuVVyuERisBvJDM``x1043455641``xprofile_maxwell Print of Bowling Green & Church, Stirling``xmike``x
This etching of the Bowling Green and Chapel near Stirling Castle was done by a A.G. Murray.
This map of Stirlingshire dates from about 1790 - use the link below to download a larger version of the map.
View Large Version of Stirlingshire Map (997K in size)
``xEpuFuuFZkFrXofEXZj``x1043443723``xprofile_maps Stirling New Jersey - 1907``xmike``xThis image of Stirling, New Jersey, USA dates from 1907.
Here is a PDF file with over 600 Starlings, Sterlings and Stirlings listed in the Federal Census for the State of New York for the years 1800 through 1870. The entries are sorted by NAME - YEAR - COUNTY. Please contact Rick Stirling at 'rickster @ rickster . net' if you find any errors or missing data.
New York State Census Index 1800 - 1870
``xEpukAAZZpVdBFWjFSX``x1042997705``xprofile_research The Stirling Range - Australia``xrickster``x
The brooding beauty of the mountain landscape, its stunning and unique wildflowers and the challenge of climbing Bluff Knoll have long drawn bushwalkers and climbers to the Stirling Range National Park. At 1,095 metres above sea level ( 4000 ft ), Bluff Knoll is the highest peak in the south-west of Western Australia. The main face of the bluff forms one of the most impressive cliffs in the Australian mainland. It takes three to four hours to complete the six-kilometre ( 3.6 mile ) return climb.
The jagged peaks of the Stirling Range stretch for 65 kilometres ( 40 miles ) ( from east to west. The rocks of the range were once sands and silts deposited in the delta of a river flowing into a shallow sea. Deposited over many millions of years, these layers of sediment became so thick and heavy that, in combination with unimaginable forces stretching the Earth's crust in the area, they caused the crust in the area to sink. As the surface subsided, still more sediment was deposited in the depression which was left. The final thickness of sediment is believed to be over 1.6 kilometres! As the sediment built up, so did the pressure on the layers below. The water was forced out of these layers, which solidified to become rocks known as sandstones and shales.
Buried deep in the Earth's crust, the rocks which form today's Stirling Range were gradually exposed over millions of years as the surrounding rocks were worn away by the forces of weathering (chemical breakdown) and erosion (physical removal of material by water, wind and gravity). It was during this process that the current form of the range was sculpted.
The Qaaniyan and Koreng Aboriginal people originally lived around the range. In cold weather they wore kangaroo skin cloaks reaching nearly to the knee. They also established small, conical huts in wet weather. Sticks were placed in the ground and bent to form a cone, then threaded with paperbark, rushes or leafy branches. They told many stories about the Stirling Range and in many of them the range is hostile and dangerous.
Bluff Knoll was called Pualaar Miial (great many faced hill) by the local Aboriginal people. This was because the rocks on the bluff were shaped like faces. The peak is often covered with mists that curl around the mountain tops and float into the gullies. These constantly changing mists were believed to be the only visible form of a spirit called Noatch (meaning dead body or corpse), who had an evil reputation. 
The range was first recorded by Matthew Flinders in 1802. In 1831, Surgeon Alexander Collie recorded the Aboriginal name of the range, Koi Kyeunu-ruff, which was provided to him by his Aboriginal guide Mokare. Surveyor-General John Septimus Roe travelled to Perth with Governor Sir James Stirling in 1835 and glimpsed "some remarkable and elevated peaks". Roe called them the Stirling Range. The area was declared a national park in 1913, at a time when the dominant culture was bent towards clearing the bush and converting it to farmland.
``xEpukllEEZlRdFiKIdu``x1042881178``xprofile_research Susquehanna County Townships 1790 to 1853``xrickster``xDate Erected | Township | Erected From |
|---|---|---|
1790 | The area that would become Susquehanna County was Tioga and Wyalusing Twps., Luzerne Co. | |
March Session 1791 | Willingborough | Northeast corner of Tioga Twp. (included present-day Harmony, Oakland, and Great Bend Twps.) |
Aug 1795 | Nicholson | Southeast parts of Wyalusing and Tioga Twps. |
Jan Session 1798 | Lawsville | Tioga Twp. (included present-day Liberty and most of Franklin Twps.) |
1799 | Braintrim | Wyalusing Twp. (also part of Tunkhannock Twp., Luzerne Co., but that portion never became a part of Susquehanna Co.; it remained with Luzerne when Susq. Co. was formed. Braintrim Twp. included present-day Auburn Twp.) |
Nov Session 1801 | Rush | Tioga and Wyalusing Twps. Also called Rindaw by some. {Included all of present-day Middletown, Choconut, and Apolacon Twps. and western parts of Jessup and Forest Lake Twps.) |
Apr Session 1806 | Clifford | Nicholson Twp. {Included present-day Gibson and Herrick Twps. and the southern parts of Jessup and Forest Lake Twps.) |
Nov 1806 | Bridgewater | Tunkhannock, Braiintrim, Nicholson, and Rush Twps. (Included all of present-day Brooklyn, Lathrop, Springville, Silver Lake, and Dimock Twps.; eastern parts of Jessup and Forest lake Twps.; and south part of Franklin Twp.) |
Aug Session 1807 | New Milford | Tioga Twp. (has changed very little) |
Jan Session 1808 | Harford | North part of Nicholson Twp. (and also known as "Nine Partners"; has changed very little) |
1809 [5] | Harmony | Willingborough and New Milford. (Included present-day Oakland, Jackson, and Thomson Twps. and north part of Ararat Twp.) |
Oct 1812 | Susquehanna County was formed from Luzerne County, with the preceding 10 townships | |
27 Apr 1813 | Silver Lake | North part of Bridgewater Twp. |
Aug Session 1813 | Lenox | New name of Nicholson Twp. (with a small part of Harford Twp.) |
24 Nov 1813 | Gibson | North part of Clifford Twp. |
27 Apr 1813 | Choconut | Rush Twp. |
Jan Session 1814 | Middletown | Rush Twp. |
Apr Session 1814 | Springville | South part of Bridgewater Twp. |
Apr 1814 | Waterford | South part of Bridgewater Twp. (name changed to Hopbottom Twp. in 1823, to Brooklyn Twp. in 1825) |
Apr Session 1814 | Auburn | New name of Braintrim Twp. |
Nov Session 1813 | Great bend | New name of Willingborough Twp. |
Dec Session 1815 | Jackson | South part of Harmony Twp. |
1823 | Hopbottom | New name of Waterford Twp. |
1825 | Brooklyn | New name of Hopbottom Twp. |
20 Apr 1825 | Herrick | Gibson and Clifford Twps. |
Dec Session 1832 | Dimock | Springville Twp. and south part of Bridgewater Twp. |
Apr Session 1833 | Thomson | Jackson Twp. |
May Session 1835 | Franklin | South part of Lawsville Township and north part of Bridgewater Twp. |
4 May 1836 | Forest Lake | Bridgewater, Silver lake, and Middletown Twps. |
10 Sep 1836 | Liberty | New name of Lawsville Twp. |
27 Apr 1846 | Lathrop | South part of Bridgewater Twp. |
27 Apr 1846 | Jessup | West part of Bridgewater Twp., east part of Rush Twp., and a small part of Middletown Twp.; it was later adjusted by the addition of 80 rods more from Rush Twp. |
27 Nov 1846 | Apolacon | Choconut Twp. |
21 Aug 1852 | Ararat | Herrick, Thomson, and Gibson Twps. |
3 Dec 1853 | Oakland | West part of Harmony Twp. |
This summary is based on the information in Stocker's Centennial History of Susquehanna County, Pub. Phila. 1887``xEpuklZlAykgonRzoFS``x1042878962``xprofile_research Cambuskenneth Abbey Post Card - circa 1910``xmike``x
This image comes to us from a W., and A.K. Johnston postcard. The company was based in Edinburgh and London.
Beaton's Mill, Whins of Milton,Stirling, Scotland.
Legend has it that on this location King James III of Scotland was dispatched (some say it was murder) after the Battle of Sauchieburn. Sir William Striveling of Kere supported the nobles against King James III and was knighted by James IV after the battle of Sauchieburn.
Genealogist David Stirling from Denny adds - "James Shaw of Sauchie and Patrick Gray of Kynef were close friends and allies of William Stirling of Keir, who was knighted by James IV, shortly after his accession to the throne, and when a new Charter of Barony erection was granted. Hugh Borthwick (his real name was Bean) was an apostate monk, who according to James Grant, Scottish Historian, was rewarded by the grant of an annual rent from a tenement in Stirling for his part in the deed."
Prior to his death Stirling Historian Bob McCutcheon took me to this site, and said the mill could not have been the location of King James III's murder. The building was rethatched in the mid 20th century (1950's as I remember) and when they removed the thatch the building walls contained a headstone with the date 1696. A Late 17th Century building, built well after the demise of King James III.
``xEpuklupVEEwyUhxGGm``x1042840511``xprofile_photos Starlings-Sterlings-Stirlings Wisconsin 1820-1890``xrickster``x| Surname | Given | Year | County | Township | Page |
| STARLING | ELIZA | 1860 | Clark | Pine Valley | 078 |
| STARLING | WILLIAM | 1860 | Clark | Pine Valley | 079 |
| STARLING | WILLIAM | 1860 | Green Lake | Berlin | 797 |
| STARLING | SAMUEL | 1890 | Green Lake | E.D. 125 Berlin | 001 |
| STARLING | WILLIAM | 1855 | Marquette | Berlin | 066 |
| STARLING | PHILO | 1855 | Marquette | Berlin | 066 |
| STERLING | LEWIS | 1855 | Bad Ax | Bad Ax | |
| STERLING | LEGRAND | 1860 | Bad Ax | St. Erling | 372 |
| STERLING | LEWIS | 1860 | Bad Ax | St. Erling | 372 |
| STERLING | WILLIAM | 1890 | Barron | Rice-Lake | 002 |
| STERLING | JAMES | 1855 | Columbia | De Kora | |
| STERLING | JAMES | 1850 | Columbia | De Kora | 173 |
| STERLING | CYRUS M. | 1850 | Crawford | Prairie-Du-Chien | 250 |
| STERLING | CYRUS M. | 1855 | Crawford | Prairie-Du-Chien | |
| STERLING | GEORGE | 1850 | Crawford | Prairie-Du-Chien | 245 |
| STERLING | GEORGE | 1855 | Crawford | Prairie-Du-Chien | |
| STERLING | HARVEY | 1850 | Crawford | Prairie-Du-Chien | 249 |
| STERLING | HARVEY | 1855 | Crawford | Prairie-Du-Chien | |
| STERLING | LOUIS | 1850 | Crawford | Prairie-Du-Chien | 249 |
| STERLING | LOUIS | 1855 | Crawford | Prairie-Du-Chien | |
| STERLING | WILLIAM T. | 1850 | Crawford | Prairie-Du-Chien | 245 |
| STERLING | WILLIAM T. | 1855 | Crawford | Prairie-Du-Chien | |
| STERLING | ELIZA | 1855 | Crawford | Utica | |
| STERLING | WILLIAM T. | 1860 | Crawford | Utica | 924 |
| STERLING | JOHN W. | 1860 | Dane | W. Madison | 434 |
| STERLING | RACHEAL | 1860 | Dane | W. Madison | 434 |
| STERLING | J.W. | 1850 | Dane | Madison | 332 |
| STERLING | WATSON | 1850 | Dane | Madison | 321 |
| STERLING | J.W. PROF. | 1850 | Dane | Madison Village | 332 |
| STERLING | WATSON | 1850 | Dane | Madison Village | 321 |
| STERLING | WILLIAM T. | 1840 | Dane | Not Listed | 134 |
| STERLING | THEODORE | 1850 | Dodge | Hubbard | 175 |
| STERLING | THEODORE B. | 1855 | Dodge | Hubbard | |
| STERLING | W.D. | 1860 | Dodge | Hubbard | 504 |
| STERLING | JOHN | 1855 | Dunn | Menomine | |
| STERLING | SAMUEL | 1855 | Grant | Muscoda | 001 |
| STERLING | ROBERT | 1860 | Green | Clarno | 131 |
| STERLING | JOSEPH | 1860 | Green | Lake Berlin | 829 |
| STERLING | WILLIAM | 1890 | Green | Lake Mackford | 001 |
| STERLING | WILLIAM | 1860 | Green | Lake Markesan | 1053 |
| STERLING | LEVI | 1840 | Iowa | Eastern Division | 065 |
| STERLING | SAMUEL |
