The Bennett Memorials

Image: © Lairich Rig Taken: 2 Apr 2010

The two large memorials shown here commemorate the brothers Thomas and Samuel Bennett (on the left and the right, respectively). The first part of the inscription on the front of Samuel Bennett's memorial reads: "In memory of Samuel Bennett, newspaper proprietor and editor, Provost of Dumbarton, 1871-1876, born at Saltcoats 12th August 1815, died at Dumbarton 30th October 1876." The text to either side commemorates his wife Matilda, who died on the 17th of May, 1895, aged 74, their son William Henry, and their second daughter Mary Maria, who died at Coleraine, aged 75. (Also mentioned are a certain Oswald Lawson and his wife Sophia Bennett; the monument does not spell out the family relationships, but Sophia was another daughter of Samuel and Matilda.) Further information on Samuel Bennett can be found on pages 1 and 3 of "Lennox Herald – 150 Years" (2001; by Mike Taylor, edited by Grace Walker). It may be noted here that in 1851 he founded a newspaper, the Dumbarton Herald (which ceased publication in 1933), and, in 1861, another, the Saturday Dumbarton Herald, which was soon retitled the Lennox Herald, and which is published to this day. Projects he was involved in included Image scheme, and the creation of a pier at the foot of Dumbarton Castle (that pier, which opened in May 1875 – its construction began on the 2nd of May 1874 – was seriously damaged by a storm in 1900). When he was elected Provost, Samuel passed editorial control of his newspapers to his brother Thomas. As recorded on his memorial, Thomas was born at Saltcoats on the 12th of January, 1828, and died at Dumbarton on the 28th of May, 1880. The monument also commemorates his wife Mary Langlands, who was born in Dundee on the 12th of May, 1849, and died at Dumbarton on the 24th of January, 1921(?). Like his brother, Thomas actively promoted social improvement.

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