Memorial to the teacher James Peddie

Image: © Lairich Rig Taken: 7 Mar 2014

For context, see Image, where its shape makes it easy to recognise the same memorial in its position in the wall on the near side of the church halls. For the main description of the church and the kirkyard, see Image Click on the end-note title for related images. On this flaked mural tablet, it is possible to make out "Mr James Peddie", and a few other parts of the text, but most of the inscription is now illegible, which is a pity. The original text was as follows (I was able to consult Mary Ann Semple's manuscript, made c.1850, in which the text of this and many other gravestones is recorded): "As a memorial of departed worth this stone is erected near the burial place of Mr James Peddie, teacher in Paisley for the long period of 46 years, by a number of friends who enjoyed in youth the advantage of his tuition and in more advanced life the pleasure of his society and intimacy. Died 16 December 1832 aged 70." Additional information not recorded in this inscription: "Mr Peddie was born at Chapelhill, Logiealmond, Perthshire, his father being land steward on the Logiealmond estate". He "first commenced to teach an English school in Paisley at the West Steeple (Wee Steeple) in 1787, and was, by the Town Council, transferred to the English School, then newly erected in 1788, in the Grammar School Wynd; which post he filled till his death" [The remarks in the preceding paragraph are quoted from page 151 of "Paisley Burns Clubs" (Robert Brown, 1893). Note, though, that the brief account given in that work, while perhaps correct in broad outline, is marred by errors: it manages to give two different dates (11th and 13th of December) for his death in the space of single paragraph, neither of them in agreement with the inscription.] For the "Wee Steeple", mentioned above, see the last part of the description of Image, which is located elsewhere in the same kirkyard.

Images are licensed for reuse under creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0