Memorial to George Burns

Image: © Lairich Rig Taken: 7 Dec 2012

This obelisk is located near the eastern boundary of the cemetery. The main inscription is as follows: "George Burns, in memory of his beloved wife Agnes Melville Burns who died at Dumbarton July 9th 1883 in the 62nd year of her age. Also the above George Burns, for many years J.P. and A.S. for the County of Dumbarton, who died at Dumbarton June 12th 1884, aged 85 years". ["J.P. and A.S.": Justice of the Peace and Assistant Sheriff; specifically, he became an Honorary Sheriff-Substitute of Dumbartonshire.] The inscription goes on to commemorate Mary Burns, sister of Agnes Melville Burns. On the side of the monument, it is recorded that George's parents and sister "are interred in the churchyard of Dumbarton"; that refers to the kirkyard, now largely cleared away, of the parish church: http://www.geograph.org.uk/article/Dumbarton-Cemetery#the-parish-churchyard George was born in Renton in 1799; he was the nephew of the shipbuilder James Lang, by whom he was employed for a while. George later went into business for himself as an ironmonger. Despite some financial reverses (caused by failures of banks in which he had invested) George was soon able to leave off his work, and to live quite comfortably for many years on the proceeds of his properties and other investments. He married his cousin, Agnes Melville Burns.

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