Burial ground of Burns of Kilmahew and Cumbernauld

Image: © Lairich Rig Taken: 18 Jan 2013

On the far wall, the second panel from the left commemorates John William Burns of Kilmahew and Cumbernauld, only son of James Burns and of Margaret Shortridge of Levenfield, Vale of Leven. John William Burns succeeded to many of the lands that had once belonged to the Napiers of Kilmahew (on whom, see Image). He had a mansion house, Kilmahew House, built on the Kilmahew Estate; that house is now gone: see Image He purchased the estate of Cumbernauld (Image) in 1875. The next panel to the right (i.e., the middle panel of the far wall) commemorates John William's father, James Burns of Kilmahew. James was the first of the family to settle in the area. He was the sixth son of Dr John Burns (who was for many years the minister of Barony Parish, Glasgow) and of Elizabeth Stevenson. Also commemorated by that panel is James' wife Margaret, daughter of William Shortridge of Levenbank and of Elizabeth Yuille. James went into the steam navigation business, and he was connected with the Cunard Company. The panel at the far left is "in memory of Jane Bayly O'Halloran, widow of Gen Sir G Moyle Sherer, K.C.S.I., died 22 Nov 1887, aged 73". The dates are Jane's; she was the widow of Sir George Moyle Sherer of the Bengal Army (KCSI: Knight Commander of the Star of India).

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