The funeral took place on Saturday of Mrs Helen Bennett wife of Rev George Bennett, from the Manse, Shandon, Dumbartonshire, to Wemyss Cemetery.
Mrs Bennett was well known in Wemyss parish, where her husband was minister of St George’s Church, East Wemyss, from 1916 to 1925.
Her father, the late Mr Peter Allison, was headmaster for many years of Gallatown Public School, Kirkcaldy. Mr Andrew Allison, of Messrs Barry, Ostler, & Shepherd, Ltd Kirkcaldy, is a brother of the deceased.
Gareloch, Shandon from Pier
Many ministers and friends from the surrounding district met the cortege at the cemetery gate. Rev Dr Daniel Lamont, moderator-elect of the Church of Scotland General Assembly, officiated at the graveside, assisted by Rev Thomas McGregor, Carnwath.
The pallbearers were:- Rev G Bennett, Mr Alastair Bennett (son), Dr John Allison, Rev Peter Allison, Mr Andrew Allison (brothers), Mr Thomas Melville (brother-in-law), Mr James Oswald, East Wemyss, and Mr Boyd, Greenock.
This is the eighth part in a series of Shandon hatches, matches and dispatches that have appeared in the newspapers.
I always find such finds very exciting in my own 30 years of family history research and I hope this helps anyone doing similar Shandon-based research.
(Glossary: inst/instant means of the present month, relict means widow, ult/ultimo means of last month)
BIRTHS
Renfrewshire Independent, Saturday 3rd September 1864.
At the Free Church Manse, Shandon, on the 27th ult., the wife of the Rev A M McCallum, a son.
The Scotsman, Tuesday 11th August 1891.
At the Free Church Manse, Shandon, on the 9th inst., the wife of Rev Hugh Miller, MA, a daughter.
MARRIAGES
Greenock Advertiser, Friday 28th April 1854.
At West Shandon, on the 25th inst., by the Rev Dr Napier, Graham Wilkin, Esq., London, to Isabella, daughter of Robert Napier, Esq., of West Shandon.
Dundee Evening Telegraph, Tuesday 15th September 1891.
At the Parish Church of Row, on the 9th inst., by the Rev J M Webster, MA, Captain Coldstream James Carden, the Connaught Rangers, fourth son of the late Sir John Carden, Bart., of Templemore Abbey, County Tipperary, to Rose Margaret Ponton, youngest daughter of the late David Johnston, Esq., of Croy, Shandon, Dumbartonshire, NB.
SILVER WEDDINGS
Leven Mail, Wednesday 17th March 1971.
On 15th March, 1946, by the Rev James Lee BD, William Meldrum Allan, to Elizabeth Boyter MacKenzie. Present address, 6 Woodlea Crescent, Shandon, Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire.
Shandon from the pier on the Gareloch
DEATHS
The Scotsman, Wednesday 11th May 1842.
At Shandon, Gareloch, Dumbartonshire, on the 2nd inst., Mrs Walter Buchanan.
Dundee Courier, Monday 23rd October 1865.
At the Free Church Manse, Shandon, on the 19th inst., the infant son of the Rev A M MacCallum.
The Scotsman, Friday 26th November 1926.
Miller. At the Manse, Shandon, on the 24th instant, Annie Scott, beloved wife of the Rev Hugh Miller, MA, and daughter of the late Walter MacLellan, JP, of Blairvaddick, Row. Funeral service in Shandon Church on Saturday (tomorrow) at 2.30pm. Cars will await at Helensburgh the arrival of the 1.10pm train from Queen Street, Glasgow. Friends desirous of attending please notify Waldie & Co, Helensburgh. This is the only intimation and invitation.
The Scotsman, Thursday 16th January 1936.
Bennett. At the Manse, Shandon, Dumbartonshire, on 15th January 1936, Helen Bennett, wife of Rev George Bennett. Service in Shandon Church at 10am on Saturday. Interment at East Wemyss Cemetery at 3pm. Friends please meet cortege there.
Fifeshire Advertiser, Saturday 8th September 1956
Bennett. At Glasgow, on Sunday, 2nd September, the Rev George Bennett, late of Shandon, and minister of St George’s, East Wemyss, 1915 – 1926.
DUNDEE, PERTH AND CUPAR ADVERTISER, FRIDAY 3RD DECEMBER 1847
TESTIMONIAL TO ROBERT NAPIER ESQUIRE
Last week we had the gratification of inspecting, in the shop of Mr Muirhead, Buchanan Street, a silver salver which has been presented to Robert Napier, Esquire, by the Dublin and Cork Steam Packet Company.
Robert Napier
The salver, which is massive and beautifully chased, weighs 224 ounces, costing considerably upwards of 200L [ie pounds], bears the following inscription:
“Presented by the Dublin, Glasgow, and Cork Steam Packet Company, to Robert Napier, Esquire of Shandon, to commemorate the building of their splendid iron steam-ship Viceroy, and as a memorial of the masterly skill and untiring energy by which he was enabled to complete that noble vessel pf 700 tons burthen and 450 horse power, in the brief period of seven months, 1846. Joseph Bryce, chairman; Thomas Richardson, William Fry, Alexander Parker, Joseph Couper, Directors of the Company.”
For sale by public roup, within the Faculty Hall, St George’s Place, Glasgow, on Wednesday, 7th April, 1909, at 2 o’clock afternoon (unless previously sold privately), this beautiful residential property, situated upon the Gareloch, about ten minutes’ walk from Shandon Railway Station, the same distance from Shandon Pier, and 25 miles from Glasgow.
The mansion is commodious and occupies a fine position with southern exposure. It has an abundant private supply of excellent water, and is lighted with gas from Helensburgh. The offices include gardeners’ houses, lodge, stables, coach houses etc. The lands extend to 42 acres, and stretch fully a quarter of a mile along the shores of the Gareloch. Feu duty £85 5s 1d. Entry taxed.
Shandon on the Gareloch
Reduced upset price price, £4,250.
For further information and orders to view the property, apply to Bannatyne, Kirkwood, France & Co., Writers, 145, West George Street, Glasgow, who will exhibit the Titles and Articles of Roup; or to Walker, Fraser & Steele, Property Agents, 74, Bath Street, Glasgow.
We understand that great annoyance has been caused on one or two recent Sundays to the ordinary worshippers in the Parish Church of Roseneath by the rude and inconsiderate conduct of several strangers.
These persons – many of whom are believed to come from the Hydropathic Establishment at Shandon – apparently attend church for the purpose of staring the Argyll family out of countenance. On Sunday last, when the Princess Louise was in church, the vulgar pressure and ‘glowering’ at the close of the service and as Her Royal Highness entered her carriage was most offensive.
Shandon Hydropathic Hotel
This kind of conduct has already had the effect, in the Queen’s case, of compelling her to worship in private. It is hard that her daughters should be persecuted in the same way. In justice to what are sometimes called the ‘lower orders’, it should be stated that the offenders are people whose dress indicate that they do not belong to the working classes.
Yesterday was the second day’s sale of the second portion of this great collection, and the choice value of some of the articles drew a great number of art connoisseurs and others to the rooms of Messrs Christie & Manson, in King St, St James’.
Amongst a number of miscellaneous collections, a tortoise-shell cup cover and saucer was prominent, and fetched £16 10s; a gold watch, by Tavania, of Paris, with two dials, £32 2s; a watch, by Fevner, of Paris, in a godl enamelled case, £50; an oval gold snuff box, by Neubert, with striated Agates, the lid inlaid with a brown enamel representing a bust of Plato, £82; a ramshorn table snuff box, formerly belonging to Rob Roy MacGregor, and in possession of the late Duke of Gordon’s factor, £2 5s.
The total sum realised for the day’s sale of 163 lots, was £2024 9s.
Intimation is made of the death of Major-General Charles McWhirter Mercer of Balcraig, near Perth, which took place at Shandon, on the Gairloch, on Thursday. He had been in delicate health for some time, and left his residence at Balcraig only on Wednesday last.
The deceased gentleman was the tenth child of George Mercer of Gorthy, Dryden and Mavisbank, and his wife Frances Charlotte, daughter of John Reid, of the Bengal Medical Service. His father commenced life as a midshipman in the naval service of the East India Company, and was afterwards engaged in mercantile pursuits in India.
Gareloch from above Shandon
The deceased early entered the Royal Bengal Horse Artillery, in which he served for upwards of thirty years, returning home about four years ago. His genial nature, agreeable manners, and social disposition gained him many friends, by whom he will be sadly missed. He occupied the position of R.W.M. in the Royal Arch Lodge of local Freemasons, the annual social meeting of which was to have been held last night, but, in consequence of the General’s death, has been indefinitely postponed.
It may be interesting to add that the deceased was a descendant of the younger branch of the Mercers of Adie and Meiklour, a family whose remote ancestor, John Mercer, Provost of Perth, dying about 1350, was interred in the vault under the Middle Church of Perth, and concerning which the rhyme runs: ‘Sae sicker ’tis than onything on earth, The Mercers aye are aulder than auld Perth.’
This is the seventh part in a series of Shandon hatches, matches and dispatches that have appeared in the newspapers.
I always find such finds very exciting in my own 30 years of family history research and I hope this helps anyone doing similar Shandon-based research.
(Glossary: inst/instant means of the present month, relict means widow, ult/ultimo means of last month)
BIRTHS
NATIONAL ADVERTISER AND EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW GAZETTE, SATURDAY 8TH APRIL 1848
Mrs James Dunlop, a son; at West Shandon, on the 1st inst.
GLASGOW HERALD, THURSDAY 30TH JANUARY 1868
At Shandon, Gareloch, on the 28th instant, Mrs Alex McCallum; a son, still born.
DUNDEE EVENING TELEGRAPH, WEDNESDAY 22ND AUGUST 1894
At West Shandon, Dumbartonshire, on the 20th inst., Mrs Charles Neaves, of a son
MARRIAGES
STIRLING OBSERVER, THURSDAY 29TH OCTOBER 1846
At Shandon, on the 29th instant, Charles Wilson Browne, Esq., to Ellen, daughter of Walter Buchanan, Esq., of Shandon, Dumbartonshire.
DUNDEE EVENING TELEGRAPH, TUESDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER 1891
At the parish Church of Row, on the 9th inst., by the Rev J M Webster, MA, Captain Coldstream James Carden, the Connaught Rangers, fourth son of the late Sir John Carden, Bart. of Templemore Abbey, County Tipperary, to Rose Margaret Ponton, youngest daughter of the late David Johnstone, Esq., of Croy, Shandon, Dumbartonshire, NB.
DUNDEE COURIER, WEDNESDAY 19TH NOVEMBER 1902
Twaddle-McTaggart – At UF Curch, Shandon, on the 14 inst., by the Rev Hugh Miller, MA, George Twaddle, son of Thomas Twaddle, Cathkin, to Maggie Isabella, youngest daughter of Alaexander McTaggart, The Schoolhouse, Shandon.
(Also see next entry).
THOMSON’S WEEKLY NEWS, SATURDAY 22ND NOVEMBER 1902
Geddes-McTaggart – At UF Church, Shandon, on the 14th inst., by the Rev Hugh Miller, MA, JohnGeddes, eldest son of the late James Geddes, Boharm, Banffshire, to Grace, eldest daughter of Alexander McTaggart, The Schoolhouse, Shandon.
(Also see previous entry).
OBAN TIMES AND ARGYLLSHIRE ADVERTISER, SATURDAY 5TH NOVEMBER 1938
MacDonald-MacGillivray – At the Manse, Shandon, on the 19th November 1938, by the Rev George Bennett; John Roderick, eldest son of the late Mr Angus MacDonald and of Mrs MacDonald, Balmaqueen, Kilmalung, Skye, to Annie, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs John MacGillivray, Ballymeanach, Gribun, Mull.
The Gareloch near Shandon
DEATHS
STIRLING OBSERVER, THURSDAY 6TH MAY 1852
At Brandon Place, Glasgow, on the 28th ultimo, Christina Laura, wife of Walter Buchanan, Esq., of Shandon, and eldest daughter of Jas. Smith, Esq., of Jordanhill.
DUNDEE COURIER, SATURDAY 15TH MARCH 1884
At Shandon, Gareloch, on the 13th inst., Major-General Charles MacWhirter Mercer, Royal Artillery (Bengal) aged 55.
DUNDEE EVENING TELEGRAPH, TUESDAY 22ND APRIL 1890
At Shandon, Gareloch, on the 18th April, Charles Leslie Gordon, beloved third son of Major-General Grant.
THE SCOTSMAN, THURSDAY 18TH JUNE 1903
Brown – At Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, suddenly, on Sunday, 14th June, William Lochore Brown, of Linnburn. Shandon, in his 64th year. Friends please accept this (the only) intimation.
ABERDEEN PRESS AND JOURNAL, MONDAY 13TH AUGUST 1945
MILLIONS OF PEANUTS ABLAZE
Firemen had nothing to eat but peanuts when they fought an alarming outbreak of fire in the cargo ship Wairuna in the Gareloch, off Shandon, at the weekend.
Millions of peanuts in the hold of the vessel began to sizzle and roast as the fire, which broke out early on Saturday afternoon, gradually spread.
For hours firemen fought the fire, pumping tons of water into the forward hold.
An Army fire service unit was called in, but could not cope with the blaze, and a fire-fighting float was summoned from Greenock.
Early on Saturday night N.F.S. men and pumps from Garelochhead took over and another firefloat was called in from Glasgow.
The fire was got under control last night.
‘The firemen did heroic work, and they had very little to eat but hot, roasting, and wet peanuts’ stated an eye-witness.
The Gareloch at Shandon
DUNDEE COURIER, TUESDAY 14TH AUGUST 1945
THREE-DAY FIGHT WITH BURNING SHIP. FIREMEN’S ORDEAL AT THE GARELOCH.
For three days Scots firemen have been ceaselessly fighting the fire on the 9000-ton cargo ship Wairuna on the Gareloch.
Last night, while the ship was still blazing, it was decided to beach her at Helensburgh and have the millions of peanuts and palm kernels which comprise her cargo unloaded.
The hold has been battened down, sealing off the blaze from the rest of the ship, and welders were called in on Sunday to cut holes in the side of the Wairuna so that the firemen’s hoses could have easier access to the hold.
This, however, proved of little avail, and while the firemen carry on pumping tons of water in the forward hold the cargo will be unloaded, enabling the men to get inside and bring the flames under control.
The Wairuna is well down by the bows because of the inflow of water.
A special meeting of the Bellfield Trust was held in the Town Chamberlain’s office, Kilmarnock, on Wednesday afternoon for the purpose of appointing a head gardener. Provost Gemmill presided. There were 33 applications received for the post, and after these had been carefully considered, the Trust appointed Mr William Heughan, Auchans, Dundonald.
Mr Heughan, who is 42 years of age, was employed for four years at Shandon House, Helensburgh; six years at Lilliehill House, Dunfermline; for some time at Garthland, Lochwinnoch; and was head gardener for four years at Broomfield, Shandon; for several years at Craig, near Gatehead; and for the last seven years at Auchane. Mr Heughan is well known among horticulturists, and has frequently officiated as a judge at flower shows in the county.
Shandon Hydropathic and Shandon from the Gareloch
CALLANDER ADVERTISER, SATURDAY 1ST FEBRUARY 1930
PRESENTATION TO LOCAL GARDENER
On the occasion of his leaving his post as head gardener at Buchanan Castle, which he has occupied for the past six years, Mr William Davidson was met by a number of his friends in the district and presented with tokens of their esteem and regard. Mr Duncan Brown, Balfunning Gardens, occupied the chair, and referred to Mr Davidson’s many good qualities.
Mr George Parker, gardener at the Park of Drumquhassie, handed to Mr Davidson a clock bearing the following inscription: ‘Presented to Mr Wm Davidson by his friends in Drymen, 18th January, 1930’. Mr David Rhind, Gateside Gardens, in name of the subscribers, handed over a handbag for Mrs Davidson. A pleasant evening was spent.
Mr Davidson has now gone to his new situation as head gardener to Mrs Macfarlane, Belmont, Shandon, Helensburgh.
Shandon People and History 