IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Stirling Road, DUMBARTON, G82 3PR

This was a garage, and then a vehicle rental centre; it is seen here from the other side of the A82 (compare Image, where part of the same building appears at the far right; my picture was taken from on foot). By March 2014, the site was again in use: a car wash and takeaway cafe were based there. The houses in the background are on Mansewood Drive.

This stone marks not only a grave, but also the end of a local tradition: as noted in the inscription, John Orme was "a Dumbarton Worthy, the last of the officially appointed Town Criers, who died 8 December 1904, aged 72. No more crying!" The stone also commemorates his wife Margaret Maitland (d. 14 May 1909, aged 79), and Dugald Campbell, "Gardener and Philosopher for fifty years in Dumbarton". An obituary of John Orme appears in the Lennox Herald issue of 24th December 1904. It is signed T.W.; the article provides no further clues to its author's identity (I suspected at first that it might have been written by Tam Watson, who had been Dumbarton's Town Drummer, but, as it happens, Watson had died long before that article was written). Much of what follows is derived from that obituary. John Orme himself was not sure of his age; at the time of his death, he had been thought to be around 67, but it may be that records later established his age as 72; that is the figure that appears on his gravestone. Orme occasionally spoke of having worked in Dumbarton's Glassworks in his youth, and it is likely that their closure deprived him of regular employment. The site of the glassworks was later occupied by Denny & Co's Engine Works, and then by Image (also shown in Image). An 1892 directory lists Orme as a billposter, based at Quay Lane in Dumbarton. While he was posting bills, youngsters would often try to play pranks on him, and he would allow them to get close before he flicked paste at them from his brush. He had not the business acumen to make contracts with large advertisers, and he therefore carried on his work on only a small scale. Nevertheless, he faithfully carried out whatever assignments he was given. Another of his roles, and one in which he took great pride, was serving as Dumbarton's official Bellman (Town Crier). Though not very clear, his voice was loud, and his messages were understood. It is said that he never forgave the Town Council for abolishing the office of Bellman; the author of the obituary writes that "at best the action was an unkind bit of economy". Though Orme no longer held the official post of Bellman, friends contributed towards the purchase of a new uniform ("regimentals") for him, and of a new and specially inscribed bell. Orme's third line of work was portering at the train station, in company with two other Dumbarton characters (whom the obituary names only as "S– W–" and "B– the Q–"); in this task he employed a rickety old barrow. Though without regular paid employment, John Orme worked hard throughout his life, and he was able to keep a roof over his head until the year before his death. When he lost his home, some suggested that he should go to the Poorhouse, but John would not accept this. Instead, he went into lodgings with a certain Paddy Corbett. During this period of his life, a successful benefit concert was held in his behalf. At around the same time, the story circulated that a rich relative of John had died, and that he had therefore come into some wealth; however, it seems that the deceased was a relative of John's wife, and that the couple did not inherit anything. John Orme had worked hard all his days to avoid the Poorhouse, but in his final days he was laid prostrate by pneumonia, and was taken to the Poorhouse Hospital.

A quiet residential area of Dumbarton.

Houses on Dumbuck Road in Dumbarton, part of West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. Seen here from Stirling Road. You will notice the "Yes" flyers in the windows for the forthcoming Scottish independence referendum.

"In memoriam Joshua Hardisty Wilkinson, M.A., a brave and noble son, 3 years war service, R.N.V.R., honours student, Glasgow University, died 14th November 1921, aged 24 years, from injuries received at Ibrox Park when playing against the Rangers F.C." "RNVR": Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. His parents, who erected the stone, are also commemorated in the inscription. Joshua went to Dumbarton Academy, where he played in the school's football team. His subsequent studies at Glasgow University were interrupted by the outbreak of the First World War. Joshua joined the Navy; during his three years at sea, he survived being torpedoed. After the war, he resumed his studies at Glasgow University. He played for Renton Football Club, and then for Dumbarton. In his last match, he was the Dumbarton goalkeeper; after this punishing game (Saturday), he became unwell. On the following Monday, he died in Glasgow's Western Infirmary, after an operation for peritonitis; he had suffered a rupture of the small intestine. The funeral, on the Thursday, was well attended. Those present included senior and past pupils of Dumbarton Academy, the players and management of Dumbarton FC, and others from outwith the area who had come to pay their respects. These events are described in much greater detail by Iain Duff at https://iainduff.wordpress.com/2013/11/19/death-of-a-goalkeeper/ (at WordPress).

The Rankin Memorial is the tall structure on the left; for a closer look, see Image The cemetery's listed building report – http://portal.historic-scotland.gov.uk/designation/LB24913 (at Historic Environment Scotland) – mentions this "tall, Gothic monument" and its architect. Donald MacLeod, in "The God's Acres of Dumbarton" (1888), does provide some biographical details of Janet Rankin, but her life is described there as being fairly uneventful. She did, however, make many generous charitable donations. "In Memory of Janet Rankin Daughter of William Rankin Shipowner in Dumbarton Born 29th March 1789 Died 1st February 1867." The smaller monument on the right, shown largely in shade here, commemorates several members of the Dixon family. The first named is John Dixon, who was born at Rock, Northumberland, but who died at Dumbarton on the 27th of October, 1858. Named next is "Allan Dixon, who died at Dunbritton, Pollokshields, 23rd January 1871, aged 19 years, from the effects of a shock to his system received in saving a girl from drowning". Five others are commemorated in the inscription. Behind the Dixon monument is a wall, a Image; see also Image

For the main description, see Image Above the inscription, a shield in a roundel bears a small symbol of a ship, surrounded by the Latin words "providentia virtute"

This imposing structure is situated at the western edge of Dumbarton Cemetery. For a closer look at the memorial, and for details of those who are commemorated here, see Image

This imposing structure is situated at the western edge of Dumbarton Cemetery (near what was at one time the north-western extremity of the cemetery, before the latter was expanded). For a view of the structure from a distance, see Image The memorial commemorates the Campbells of Barnhill (Image), some of whom served in the capacity of Sheriff, and their relatives. There are five panels within the monument, each listing several names, so that, in total, upwards of twenty individuals, too many to discuss here, are commemorated. Instead, only a few prominent individuals will be discussed, as well as the marriages by which particular surnames entered the family, since these are key to understanding what would otherwise be a rather confusing list of names. Those listed here are descendants of the Colquhouns of Barnhill, and the Colquhoun surname appears several times in the inscriptions. The association of the Colquhoun name with the lands of Barnhill began sometime before 1543. In that year, John Colquhoun of Luss granted a feu charter of the western half of the lands of Barnhill to another John Colquhoun (perhaps a relative) and to his wife, Janet Lang. In the 1730s, their descendant Humphrey Colquhoun (separated by five generations from the above John and Janet) came into possession of the lands of Barnhill. Humphrey was a bailie of Dumbarton, and, by his second wife Margaret Williamson (d.1802), had a son, Walter (his heir), and two daughters, Margaret and Janet. This Janet married James Oliphant, who became the minister of Dumbarton Parish Church (his gravestone is located there, in the adjacent churchyard: Image). As for Walter, the heir, he died, unmarried, in 1827. The other sister, Margaret Colquhoun, married Neil Campbell, the Sheriff-Substitute for Dumbartonshire, and the lands of Barnhill passed to their children. It was by means of the marriage of Margaret Colquhoun and Neil Campbell that the Campbell surname entered the family, and it is with their children that the names on the inscription begin. ● The first of these is Alexander Campbell of Barnhill, who next came into possession of the Barnhill estates. He was born on the 4th of May, 1776, in Dumbarton. He went on to study at Glasgow University. After that, he went to Edinburgh, where he served his apprenticeship with Mr James Ferrier, Writer to the Signet, and studied law under Baron Hume. In 1802, he was appointed Sheriff-Substitute of Renfrewshire, and he served in that capacity for nearly 45 years. He retired from office in 1847, and took up residence in the mansion of Barnhill. He died on the 2nd of October, 1862. He was married to Fanny Orr, daughter of Robert Orr of Lylisland, and left two sons and six daughters, on whom more is said below. ● Next to be noted on the inscription is Humphrey Walter Campbell of Crosslet, the brother of Alexander. He was born at Dumbarton on the 4th of March 1782, and was educated at Dumbarton, then at Edinburgh. He began his professional career as Parliament House Clerk to Lord Stonefield, a Lord of Session. He was admitted Procurator in Dumbarton on the 21st of August, 1802. He managed Lord Stonefield's estate of Levenside (these lands were later renamed Strathleven; see Image). He was appointed Registrar of Sasines for the counties of Argyll and Dumbarton in 1810, and was created Sheriff-Substitute for Dumbartonshire in 1820 on the death of Sheriff Gray. He married Jane Isabella, the eldest daughter of John Dixon of Levengrove (see http://www.geograph.org.uk/snippet/5911 for more on the latter family); she died in 1837, and he did not marry again. In 1839, he resigned from the post of Sheriff, and spent his remaining years at, first of all, College Park House (see Image), and then at Image (both of which are in Dumbarton). He died at Crosslet House on the 15th of May, 1864, aged 82. ● A sister of Alexander and Humphrey Walter Campbell is also mentioned in the inscription, namely, Elizabeth Anstruther Campbell (c.1792-1872). She married Robert Mackenzie of Caldarvan (c.1792-1872), father of the R.D.Mackenzie who is discussed in the item Image It is by reason of this marriage that many Mackenzies are also listed in the inscription. ● Returning to the aforementioned Alexander of Barnhill, the eldest of his two sons was Neil Colquhoun Campbell of Barnhill, who was born on the 17th of October, 1813. He was appointed Sheriff of Ayrshire. He married Mary Paterson, daughter of William Orr Paterson of Montgomerie, Ayrshire. Neil Colquhoun Campbell died on the 3rd of April, 1883, and the Barnhill estate passed to his daughter, Annie Colquhoun Campbell, nine generations removed from the John and Janet who were originally granted the lands of Colquhoun. ● Of the six daughters of Alexander Campbell of Barnhill, one of them, Fanny Campbell, married the industrialist James White of Overtoun: Image Their son, James Campbell White, would became Baron Overtoun, better known as Lord Overtoun. Elsewhere in the cemetery, they are also commemorated by the Image ● Another of the daughters of Alexander Campbell, Susan Campbell (c.1815-1856), married R.D.Mackenzie of Image (see that item for further details). Consideration of the family tree (see comments, above, on Elizabeth Anstruther Campbell) shows that she was his cousin. - - • - - References (apart from the inscriptions themselves): Joseph Irving: "The History of Dumbartonshire", second edition (1860), pp477-478, for genealogy from John Colquhoun and Janet Lang of Barnhill (c16) to Annie Colquhoun Campbell (c19). William Fraser, "The Chiefs of Colquhoun and Their Country", Volume 2 (1869), pp263-264, covers the same period, and sets out the family tree visually, including some additional information. Donald MacLeod: "The God's Acres of Dumbarton" (1888), for biographies of the Campbell sheriffs. Donald MacLeod: "The Clyde District of Dumbartonshire" (1886), pp142-146, for additional biographical information.