Dumbarton West Kirk: the MacAuslan Memorial

Image: © Lairich Rig Taken: 14 Jan 2013

"Erected to the memory of John MacAuslan, timber merchant, Dumbarton, born 4th April 1804, died 17th February 1875, etc. .... Mark the perfect man and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace – Psalm XXXVII 37". Also named are Janet Leitch (his mother), several children, Margaret Ure (his wife), and a later descendant. The memorial is one of the very few that remain of those originally associated with Image For context, see Image; this memorial stands beside the building that is at the far left in that picture. It is only a few feet from Image (as a comparison of the background of that and the present picture makes clear). The MacAuslan Memorial was sculpted by Mr Young (Image). John MacAuslan, first-named in the inscription, was the son of James MacAuslan, farmer at Hawthornhill (that farm is long gone, but it was located in the area shown in Image, to the right of the far end of the hedge-lined path). John was apprenticed to Daniel Taylor in 1821. In 1834, he began business as a joiner and timber merchant. For a short time, he was also a shipbuilder; his premises were near here (this area is called West Bridgend). After Dumbarton's Glass Works had closed (see Image), he bought that site, and went on to build Woodside Crescent and Woodside Saw Mills there. He married Margaret, daughter of the ironfounder John Ure, in 1843. They had fourteen of a family. John MacAuslan was a councillor for many years, and he also served as Dean of Guild. [Biographical details summarised from Donald MacLeod's "The God's Acres of Dumbarton" (1888).]

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