A stroll past some of my Scott ancestors’ landmarks in Bowling

In a book written by John Bruce in 1893 he makes the following reference: Dunerbuck lands were acquired by the Edmonstone family from the Colquhouns, and John Scott, tenant in Overtoun, was infeft [Officially in possession of heritable land] in them on 24th August, 1751, being succeeded by his son John, who entered into possession 24th April, 1775. John had three sons- William, James and Walter. William became proprietor of Dunerbuck, and James and Walter had a feu disposition of the east and west cottaries called The Dyke. In 1808 William Scott made a disposition  of the lands of Dunerbuck in favour of his three sisters- Marion, Janet and Mary Scott- their respective husbands being John McFarlane, William Lindsay and Matthew Clark, and by them they were sold to Auchentorlie… 

I cannot verify the above familial links. The Old Parish Registers (OPR) do not record the Scotts until James Scott (1744-1826), I believe to be the grandson of the first mentioned John Scott and it is with James, my four times great grandfather, that I begin the story of my Scott ancestors.   Tree 1.1. Page 1 and Page 2

I have tried to identify the location of the Scott properties in today’s environment but I cannot vouch for the accuracy of those that have disappeared.

My Scotts 

The Scotts owned land as well as properties, not all of them are chronicled here as I have not yet found them all! Map 1, drawn in 1844, at the end of this document, gives an indication of the Paterson land and the Scott’s land. A Return of the names of Proprietors in the Parish of West Kilpatrick dated 1845 names 16 people including Lord Blantyre, Andrew Buchanan, Mrs J Scott, Little Mill; Gabriel Scott, Bowling; John Scott, Bowling and William Scott Bowling. John Bruce states the following: The river formed the southern boundary to the Dyke lands, and the houses forming the present village are built on the ground feued off from time to time by the Scotts, who were the original proprietors. William Scott of East Dyke died some years ago, and on his demise the lands were sold. The farm-houseattached was pulled down some years ago, and at the time of its demolition it was the only thatched building in the vicinity.

I suspect that initially the Scotts were farmers and finding themselves at the end of the Forth and Clyde Canal, which was completed in 1790, moved into shipping and ultimately shipbuilding.

John who took possession of the lands in 1751, would have been my  six times great grandfather. His grandson James Scott (1744-1826) who had a feu disposition on the Dyke, appears in the OPR recording his marriage to Jean McLairn (McLearn, McLaren) (1751-?) in 1773. They had ten children, all born at Dyke. Tree 1.1. Page 1 and Page 2

The origin of the name ‘Dyke’ is from Antonine’s Wall which was thought to have run through this area but it is now recognised to have ended in Old Kilpatrick where it is commemorated. (See below). John Bruce suggests that Dyke and Little Mill are one and the same.

So James Scott (1744-1826), my four times great grandfather,  would have lived at Little Mill with their ten children all born in Dyke; my estimate of where this was is on the map ‘Bowling Sheet 1’. Following James’ death his son John inheriting the Westmost little Cottarie of Dyke in 1827. One of James’ sons, Captain James Scott (1780-1845), bought a property called Orchard which is across the main road from the LittleMill properties also shown on ‘Bowling Sheet 1’.

ORCHARD

The house of Orchard at one time formed a part of the Frisky Hall lands which were auctioned in 1795. Local historians, John Bruce and J Craig Osborne, have slightly differing accounts of the subsequent ownership. What is clear however is that the Frisky Hall Orchard was acquired by Captain James Scott in 1841. I am pretty certain that he never lived there as at the time of the 1841 census he, and his wife Agnes, together with one daughter and one son, were living at Auchentorlie Road, Little Mill. James died in 1845 and in his will he refers to property in Little Mill, the upper flat of  which he was occupying at the time; the will was written in 1842. My interpretation of where Auchentorlie Road was is shown on ‘Bowling Sheet 1’.

James’ death, recorded in the Glasgow Citizen and the Glasgow Courier on 8 Feb 1845, described him  as James Scott, Esq., shipowner, aged 62; at Little Mill, parish of Old Kilpatrick, on 2d inst. If he had lived at Orchard, a substantial house, I am sure this would have been recorded as his home.

In subsequent census records Agnes is still living at Auchentorlie Road until her death in 1874 which reinforces my belief that they never lived at Orchard.

The first Scott that I have recorded as living at Orchard is James Scott (1830-1903), the second surviving son of Captain James Scott (1780-1845). This James junior, a grandson of James (1744-1826) of the Dyke (above), had married Charlotte Wood (1827-1917) in 1853, Tree 1.1.3.2.  They had five children, two of whom died in infancy. After serving part of his apprenticeship with Thomas MacGill (1771-1829) and completing it at Denny and Rankin’s yard in Dumbarton, James became a Shipbuilder who, along with David Macgill (1804-1883) and his brother Thomas Macgill (1814-1882), established the shipbuilding firm of Scott & Macgill at Bowling (see below). David and Thomas’ father, Thomas (1771-1829) had married Jean Scott (1787-1852) sister of Captain James Scott (1780-1845) in 1800 when Jean would have been thirteen years old and Thomas was 29. Tree 1.1  Page 2

AUCHENTORLIE ROAD

Having studied old maps, I believe that before the A82 was built this road would lead to Auchentorlie Farm and to Auchentorlie House. 

 As noted above, Captain James Scott (1780-1845) and his wife Agnes Watson (1788-1874) lived hereabouts and had nine children born here. It may even be that his father, James Scott (1744-1826) lived near here. (see map ‘Bowling Sheet 1’). Tree 1.1.3.  page 1 of page 2

Close to Little Mill Lane is the Exciseman’s House;  at that time distilleries had to provide accommodation for an  exciseman.

EXCISEMAN’S HOUSE

Agnes Scott (1821-1907), daughter of Captain James (1780-1845), who had married Agnes Watson (1788-1874) in 1811, married Mathew Dickson (1816-1895) in 1845. Matthew was the Exciseman for the Distillery which was located across the road from this property. Tree 1.1.3 2/2

From the records, it appears to have been a very grand building and was granted Grade B status. However it is now derelict and scheduled for demolition.

Close to Orchard is the location of the Slip and Shipyard associated with Scott.

SHIPBUILDING AT LITTLEMILL/BOWLING

In 1851 a partnership was formed at Bowling between David Macgill (1804-1883) and his brother, Thomas (1814-1882), and James Scott (1830-1903) to build ships. James had completed his apprenticeship at Denny & Rankin after Macgill’s yard was closed to allow the expansion of the Bowling Bay basin. This was on land owned by James’ mother and himself, which he had inherited from his father, Captain James Scott (1780-1845). James senior had bought this in 1841, at Littlemill and it was once known as the orchard lands of Frisky Hall. The company was called Scott & Macgill. Thomas Macgill (1814-1882), of the partnership, married Jean Scott (1818-1849) Tree 2.1.1.1, granddaughter of Peter Scott (1737-1808) and Mary Brock (1751-1831) of Greenland farm, Tree 2.1 page 1 of 2  page 2 of 2 (not to be confused with the Jean Scott that Thomas’ father, also Thomas, had married: see above). I am certain that Peter was a brother to James (1744-1826); while I have pretty strong circumstantial evidence that this was the case, I have not yet proved it; this is how I have interpreted it on Tree 1.

In 1858 Robert Duncan entered the partnership and the firm’s name was changed to Scott, Macgill and Duncan. That same year a second slip was laid down in the yard and ship repair and shipbuilding were carried on simultaneously. At that time it would have been a hand operated slip used to haul vessels out of the Clyde for repair. In 1861 Duncan retired and the firm reverted to Scott & Macgill. This small yard built wooden sailing vessels until in 1874 it built its first iron vessel. In 1876 Thomas Macgill retired from the firm, his brother David had retired some years earlier, leaving James Scott on his own; the name of the company was changed to Scott and Company. Because of the size of the shipyard at Bowling, the firm was limited in the size of vessel that could be built. They specialised in coastal vessels, tugs and small cargo vessels. In 1887 the yard launched its first tug, the Wybia. In 1889 more ground was acquired and a new building berth was laid down. 

A partnership was formed in 1892 between James Scott and his two sons, Charles Wood Scott (1858-1931) Tree 1.1.3.2.2 and James Watson Scott (1860-1950) Tree 1.1.3.2.1, and so the firm’s name was  changed again, to Scott and Sons. The firm continued to prosper well into the twentieth century, building in excess of 450 vessels, many of these being passenger vessels and coasters for Gardner & Stewart.  In 1901, the remaining ground to the east of the shipyard was rented from the Caledonian and Dumbartonshire Junction Railway and Frisky Hall itself, an 18th century building which the railway company had used as a workmen’s hostel, was acquired for offices and stores. 

In 1903, James Scott senior died at his home,  Orchard, and was buried in Old Kilpatrick churchyard which is where many of the Scott family are buried. His widow, Charlotte (a daughter of Charles Wood who, together with his brother John, had built the first ocean-going steamship, the Comet, in 1812 at Port Glasgow) died in 1917 and was buried alongside her husband.

The two sons carried on the business but Charles Wood Scott died in 1931 at which time James Watson Scott (1860-1950) assumed his two sons as partners; Walter Symington Scott (1897-1963) and Charles McLay Scott (1901-1973) Tree 1.1.3.2.1; together with his late brother’s two sons, James Watson Scott (1887-1963) and Charles Wood Scott (1896-1960) Tree 1.1.3.2.2.

In 1933, the shipyard built its first diesel-powered coaster for a New Zealand owner and 14 years later it produced its last steam powered coastal vessel, the Ebony, for an Irish company. On 15  December, 1950 James Watson Scott died at Glenarbuck (see below).

In 1958, following the retirement of James Watson Scott junior (1887-1963) Tree 1.1.3.2.2, the firm became a limited company, trading under the name Scott and Sons (Bowling) Limited. In 1959, the last steam tug to be built at Bowling, The North Wall, was launched. More land was rented from, the now, British Railways and a new set of offices was erected in 1961. In June 1965, the company was taken over by Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company of Greenock and in the same year Walter Symington Scott retired, followed two years later by Charles McLay Scott. This brought to an end the Scott family’s connection with the Bowling yard; three generations from 1851 to 1967.

In 1968, the shipyard became part of the Scott-Lithgow Group; the same year as the last riveted vessel, the Chieftain, was launched. Despite an order from the Mexican Government for five fishery protection vessels in 1973, orders were harder to obtain and the last vessel to leave the yard was the Laggan built for Forth Tugs Limited of Grangemouth and the yard was closed by August 1979.

The map titled ‘Bowling Sheet 1’ shows the position of the Littlemill Slip Dock; there is no longer access to this while re-development of the land from Littlemill to Dunglass  takes place.

Crossing Dumbarton Road there is another Scott home:

 OAKBANK

Captain Robert Scott (1817-1888), the first surviving son of Captain James Scott (1780-1845), owned Oakbank and lived here after his marriage to Margaret Lang (1815 to 1851); Margaret died shortly after their marriage and Robert married secondly Marion Wilson (1819-1889) in 1857. Robert and Marion had three children: James (1857-1929) who went on to be a Marine Engineer;  Margaret (1859-1926) who married John Thompson (1851-1938) a widower and a Foreman Ship Joiner; and Robert Watson Scott (1864-1944) who became a Ship’s Draughtsman. Tree 1.1.3.1.

 

Robert’s brother, James (1830-1903), rented a part of the property until his marriage and his subsequent move to Orchard, see above.

There is a sad report of Robert’s demise:

Edinburgh Evening News 15 September 1888

Fatal Railway Accident at Bowling.- Captain Robert Scott, of Oakbank, an old retired shipmaster, was fatally injured yesterday at the crossing at Bowling Station. It appears the captain had been at the slip, and on coming out to cross the railway, and while watching a fast train passing, he did not observe a goods train which was stopping to shunt, and walking in before it he was knocked down, and so severely injured that he only survived about twenty minutes.

Robert’s son, James (1857-1929), took over the house with his wife Violet Boyd (1867-1944). After James’ death, Violet lived on at Oakbank until at least 1940, she died, however, at Falkirk in 1944.

AUCHENTORLIE TERRACE

Jane Scott (1806-1873), widow of Gabriel Scott (1808-1848) a grandson of James (1744-1826), lived at 1 Auchentorlie Terrace at the time of the 1871 census and died here in 1873. Possibly she was also living here in 1861 when it was recorded as Scotts Land. Prior to that she lived at Woodside (see below). Tree 1.1.2.1.  

At No 2 Auchentorlie Terrace Thomas Macgill (1814-1882), who had been married to Jean Scott (1818-1849), died in 1882. It was he who joined with James Scott to form the shipbuilding firm of Scott & Macgill. What is odd about this is that on the 1881 census, No 2 was not  occupied and at this time Thomas was recorded as living at Thornton House which would be near the Sutherland Arms Hotel.

At the time of the 1871 census, William Burrell and his family were living at No 2 Auchentorlie Terrace prior to their move to Elmbank (see below).

Interestingly at number 4 Auchentorlie Terrace there lived Robert Chambers, aged 27 years, and his wife, Mary aged 20 years. He was a shipbuilder employing 307 men and 59 boys; there was a shipbuilder of that name in Dumbarton.

The land was owned by James Paterson.

The architectural historian, Sir Nikolaus Bernhard Leon Pevsner, gave the following opinion: the older Dumbarton Road is lined intermittently with tenements of varying material and date but consistently indifferent quality…Numbers 89 to 95, Auchentorlie Terrace, [built] about 1885, is more pleasantly residential, though rigorously regular in its window spacing. A two-storey-and-basement range bridged to the road, its entrance doors have wide cornice tables bracketed and railed with decorative ironwork.  Raised on a high plinth the five-bay front of numbers 76 to 78 has ashlar dignity; a central shouldered chimneystack stresses the symmetry, eaves cornice, stringcourse and pilastered doorways provide the ascetic classical detail. But there is little else to remark.

WOODSIDE

On the 1841 and the 1851 censuses John Scott (1774-1858) Tree 1.1.1 page 1 and page 2 is recorded as living at Scott’s Land while on his death record of 1858 he is recorded as living at Woodside. Strangely though, Agnes Macgill (1823-?) and her husband, Robert Macgill Mercer (1810-?) were living at Woodside at the time of the 1851 census, I think the terms were interchangeable as the area of the land on which Woodside was built was land owned by John Scott (Scotts Land). Agnes was the daughter of Thomas Macgill (1771-1829), shipbuilder, and Jean Scott (1787-1852). Also on the 1851 census Jane Scott (1806-1873), widow of Captain Gabriel Scott (1808-1848) Tree 1.1.2.1 was also living at Woodside. According to the land valuations, Woodside consisted of five homes and there is a further entry for Woodside for 20 homes, as noted above, one of the occupiers was John Scott junior (1819-1895) following his return from Glasgow, probably between 1856 and 1858, where he and his brother Walter had a ship broking business.

Distilling various accounts, predominately from Osborne and Bruce, I believe that Woodside was located to the east of the School / Public Hall. The location is between 434 and 438 on the 1862 map shown below. It may be the property adjacent to the ornamental garden and perhaps this is where the name “Woodside” came from, alternatively, in early maps the quarry ended at the side of the main road and perhaps this was wooded, lending itself to the name. The valuation report of 1865 shows that there were five tenants living at Woodside and then again another entry for 20 Tenants at Woodside; a different property. The map of 1862 shows a property next to what I think is Woodside and possibly this became Woodside Place in the 1905 valuation report after the Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire Rail Company bought some of the Woodside properties following John’s death in 1895; John’s estate owned some properties and James Paterson also owned a few. Later reports appear to show that all the Woodside properties were bought by the railway company which is a puzzle as why would they want them? My guess is that as they had sold Frisky Hall to Scott’s shipbuilders, a property they used as a workmen’s hostel, they bought the Woodside properties to provide accommodation for their employees. The properties passed into the North British Rail Company by 1915 and by 1925 until 1940 (when records end) to LNER as rail amalgamations took place. I imagine that the property next to the railway line and below Woodside could be Woodside Cottage.

John’s (1774-1858) household included his wife, Janet Scott (1776-1857) (daughter of Peter Scott and Mary Brock of Greenland), his son Peter Scott (1816-1859), my two times great grandfather, and their servant Margaret Martin (1829-1865). Janet died at Woodside on 16 January, 1857 and on 19 March, 1857 Peter and Margaret, who had married in 1851, had a daughter (their third child) Janet Scott (1857-1932). Peter farmed in Bowling, see below, but lived at Woodside and I suspect his two earlier children, Margaret (1851-1887) and John (1853-1921) (my great grandfather) were also born at Woodside. Tree 1.1.1.2.

Peter’s brother, John Scott (1819-1895) tree 1.1.1.3  who had inherited his father’s land and property, married Ann McDonald (1841-1904) in 1865 and their first son, also John Scott (1866-1955) was born at Woodside in 1866. Three children followed, all born at Woodside.

At the time of the 1871 census Woodside Cottage was home to Mary Scott (1804-1893) Tree 1.1.1.4 page 1 and page 2, who had married Stephen Wallace (1798-1865) in 1828 and was now widowed. Stephen had been a cashier at the nearby Duntocher Cotton Mill. Mary lived at Woodside Cottage until her death in 1893. Mary’s eighth child, Agnes Balderston Wallace (1844-1921) married Matthew Mason (1840-1871), a Doctor of Medicine and Master of Surgery, in 1868 at Woodside Cottage. Their two children were born at Woodside Cottage, although Matthew died six months before their second child was born; Mary Scott Mason (1869-1930) and William Matthew Mason (1872-1953).  Indeed while Mary lived there, her daughter, Agnes, and husband, Matthew and their two children also lived there. After Mary’s death, at the time of the 1901 census, the grandson William and his mother Agnes, widowed in 1871, lived in Woodside Cottage.

Clearly, the Woodside properties played an important part in the Scott family history. The map above comparing that of 1896 to the present day indicates that Woodside itself is now a park, Woodside Place is now a car park and Woodside Cottage had been removed prior to 1896 probably as the railway lines expanded.

BOWLING QUARRY

Although the quarry appears on an Admiralty chart of 1846, the first reference that I have found to it is contained in John Scott’s (1774-1858) will which indicates that he took rent for the quarry from the “road Trustees for the County of Dumbarton”. So I conclude that he did not operate the  quarry himself and rented it to Dumbarton County; John described himself as a Shipmaster and House Proprietor. On John’s death the quarry was taken over by his son, John Scott (1819-1895), who lived at Woodside. He had a ship broking business, along with his brother Walter, at 17 Gordon Street, Glasgow, funded by his father. They appeared in Glasgow directories until 1856. John appears to have returned to Bowling around the time of his father’s death in 1858 and  took a more active role by managing the quarry himself.

On maps of Bowling surveyed between 1857 and 1861, the Quarry extended down to the main Dumbarton Road. However on later maps the quarry is cut off from the road by the ‘upper’ railway line and station built by the Lanarkshire and Dumbarton Railway Company to whom John sold the land.

The quarry was visited by a group of Glasgow geologists in 1854 who found a rare type of rock there and named it “Bowlingnite”. The stone was used for street paving at Glasgow and presumably, Dumbarton.

John worked at the quarry until his death in 1895; a provision in his will gave his trustees instructions as to its future: in preference to letting [renting] said quarry should employ a good and careful superintendent who shall be able to continue the operation in said quarry…. for the benefit of my estate so long as they consider the same profitable. However by the time of the 1895 Valuation Roll some of the Woodside homes and the Quarry were owned by the Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire Railway Company and the quarry was sub let to Robert McAlpine & Sons, Railway Contractor.

STRATHDYKE/STRATHCLYDE

There is a reference made by D McLeod: then there was the thatched house opposite the Bay Inn, and the Dykehouse now occupied by Mr James Scott and Mrs Sinclair. The original house, however, stood more into the field than the present edifice does. After this house there was Little Mill village, in which there has been very little alteration during the present century, the only  addition being a dwelling house of Mr James Scott shipbuilder.

James Scott (1860-1950) married Marion Strang (1861-1946) in 1892 and they lived at Strathdyke at the time of the 1901 census with their sons James Wood Scott (1894-1915), William Strang Scott (1895-1983) and Walter Symington Scott (1897-1963). Tree 1.1.3.2.1. The census returns for 1911 and 1921 record the house name as Strathclyde House (1911) or Strathclyde (1921). The family acquired Glenarbuck around 1902 and various members lived there until 1983; James died there in 1950. In addition to the family in 1901 there was a servant named Maggie Sinclair, she is only 23 and it is not recorded whether she is married or single. It is “thin” evidence but I wonder if it is accurate to consider that their home was opposite the Bay Inn. The reference to Little Mill puts them a long way from the Bay Inn however.

RED ROW

 Red Row is a row of tenement houses owned by James Scott for the shipyard workers. There are twelve houses in the tenement. Pevsner had this to say: Numbers 15 to 17, Red Row, [built]1894 is unusual if scarcely attractive; a flat three-storey range of English bond common brickwork with stone sills, lintels and  quoins.

Built around 1894 it was first owned by Lord Blantyre, followed by Sir (Captain) David Baird and finally by 1920 it was owned by James Scott (1860-1950), Shipbuilder, until at least 1940 when records cease.

 

 

 

ELMBANK

At  the time of the 1871 census, James Scott (1834-1897) Tree 1.1.4.1, Iron Broker, son of Captain Peter Scott (1796-1872), lived here with his family. By the 1881 census they had moved to Glasgow. In their place were William Burrell and family. West Dumbartonshire Council describe the location of the house as the 1895 bridge over the track-bed at Manse Road…nearby stands the house once occupied by the ship-owner and art collector William Burrell, donor of Glasgow’s magnificent Burrell Collection. I don’t think there is a home there any more though. Prior to living at Elmbank, William lived at 2 Auchentorlie Terrace (see above).

PETER SCOTT’S BYRE AND BARN

Peter Scott (1816-1859) brother to John Scott (1819-1895), Quarry Master, and grandson of James Scott (1744-1826) and Jean McClairn (1751-?) rented a Byre and Barn and a House from his father for £8 per annum as well as “land” for £15 per annum. He described himself as an ‘Agriculturist’ which suggests he was part of the movement of the time to improve yields from the farmland at the latter part of the Scottish Agricultural Revolution. Tree 1.1.1.2

In his father’s will (John died in 1858) Peter was left the House together with the Byre and Barn.  He was also left two parcels of land referenced in a map drawn up by Thomas Kyle, Surveyor, Glasgow; unfortunately I have not been able to find a copy of this map. I cannot be sure, but from reading various texts and studying old maps, I think the picture on the left is the location of Peter’s farm, now a park.

At the time of the 1851 census, Peter was living with his parents and their Domestic Servant, Margaret Martin. Later that same year he married  Margaret Martin (1829-1865) who was the daughter of Hector Martin (1803-1887), a renowned and respected Land Overseer for the Darroch family at Drums Estate at Erskine. Margaret was the sister to Susan Martin (1834-1859) who married the Lock Keeper of the canal. (See below).

Peter and Margaret had three children: Margaret (1851-1887), John (1853-1921) and Janet (1857-1932). Sadly Peter died in 1859, a few days short of his 43rd birthday and Margaret died in 1865 aged 36. This left three orphans aged 14, 12 and 8. Somewhat surprisingly, they were not not taken in by the extended Scott family in Bowling. Margaret trained to be a Milliner and lived with Hector Martin, her maternal grandfather, together with John (my great grandfather). Janet went to live with her maternal Aunt Jane Martin (1838-1915) in Glasgow, who had married Alexander Whyte (1836-1915) in 1860.

Peter did not leave a will but Margaret, his widow, testified as to his assets which included ‘dairy stock’. In addition to inheriting the House, Byre, Barn and land, Peter had also inherited three properties in Bowling. Following Margaret’s death all of this was left in trust to their son, John. In later years on the Valuation Rolls he is referred to as John Scott, Merchant, Maryville, Cardross, which is where he settled with his wife Mary Park (1852-1931) and became a successful import merchant after training as a Drysalter. On this John’s death, he left all his Bowling properties to Peter Martin Scott (1880-1971), my grandfather.

WAR MEMORIAL 

Set in what I think were fields for Peter Scott’s farm and is now parkland, is a war memorial erected in 1920. The first name on this memorial to the British Expeditionary Force for the 1914-1919 conflict commemorates 2nd Lieut. J.W.Scott Cameronians 8th Rifles. This is  James Wood Scott (1894-1915), eldest son of James Scott (1860-1950), the Shipbuilder, and Marion Strang (1861-1946). Only twenty years old, he fell at Gallipoli and is buried at CWGC Send el Bahr, Turkey. He was reported as missing in 1916. Tree 1.1.3.2.1.

 

Two of his cousins, Charles Maclay and Ebenezer Maclay, were also killed in WWI. Charles at Gallipoli in 1915 and Ebenezer at Aras in 1918.

His first cousins twice removed, Walter Park Scott (1892-1949) and John Innes Scott (1896-1966), were fighting at the Somme at this time. Walter and John were sons of John Scott (1853-1921) and Mary Park (1852-1931) of Maryville, Cardross (see above). Thankfully, they both survived the war. Tree 1.1.1.2.1 page 1 and page 2.

 

 

SCOTTS LAND

I can’t be certain but again from texts I think that Scott’s Land may have extended from the Sutherland Arms Hotel in the east, to about 87-85 Dumbarton Road and probably up to the present A82 to take in the Quarry. This however is pure speculation and requires further research.

 Turning toward the canal basin there is the 

HARBOUR MASTER AND LOCK KEEPER’S HOUSES

Robert Lyle (1801-1872) was the Harbour Master at Bowling living in this grand house. His son,William Lyle (1826-1906), was a Lock Keeper on the canal and lived in the Lock-Keepers House next door. William married Susan Martin (1834-1859) in 1854. Susan was the sister-in-law of Peter Scott (1816-1859) (see above). William succeeded his father as Harbour Master probably after his father’s death in 1872.

The house was built in the style of Arts and Crafts.

 

THOMAS Macgill’S SHIPYARD

When the canal was completed a graving dock was constructed suitable for the repair of vessels passing through the Navigation. According to research by Derek Findlay, the minutes of the Committee of Management of the Forth and Clyde Canal Company dated 10th April 1800  – “read a letter from Thomas Macgill, shipbuilder at Broomielaw of date 24 February making offer for a 7 years lease of the Company’s dock at Bowling Bay as follows …. Resolved that the above offer be  accepted.”

John Bruce records the following: The rent paid by Mr Macgill for the canal graving dock was £25 for the first year, rising to £40 at the seventh year. For several years repairs only were executed, but in 1804 the sloop “Active” was built for and sailed by Captain John Scott who was the first of the Dunerbuck family to become a shipowner.

Thomas married Jean Scott (1787-1852) a daughter of James Scott (1744-1826) and Jean McClairn(1751-18??).

In late years Mr Thomas Macgill was assisted in his business by his sons David and Thomas. When the Canal Company extended the harbour, necessitating the removal of the dock, a slip was constructed at Little Mill in 1851, and the business carried on under the style of Scott and Macgill. [See above Shipbuilding at Little Mill/ Bowling] Mr Thomas Macgill [junior] retired in the year 1880. The business is now carried on by Messrs Scott and Sons, the partners being Mr James Scott, Orchard Cottage, and his two sons, Charles Wood and James.

The extension of the harbour was undertaken in 1846 and caused the closure of Thomas Macgill’s yard. At this time James Scott (1830-1903) was an apprentice with the Macgills at Bowling and following the closure he completed his apprenticeship at Denny & Rankin’s yard in Dumbarton.  Soon after James had completed his apprenticeship in 1851 he formed a partnership with David (1804-1883) and Thomas Macgill (1814-1882); Scott & Macgill (see above).

In 1851 a new partnership was formed at Bowling between Thomas Macgill’s two sons, David and Thomas,  and James Scott (1830-1903), whose father, Captain John Scott (1774-1858), owned land which he bought in 1841 at Littlemill and was once the orchard of Frisky Hall. The company was known as Scott & Macgill. Thomas Macgill (1814-1882), of the partnership, married another Jean Scott (1818-1849), granddaughter of Peter Scott (1747-1808) and Mary Brock (1751-1831) of Greenland.

BOWLING BAY

According to the story-board at the Bowline Track (the former Lanarkshire and Dumbarton Railway Company line that passed John Scott’s Quarry), in the early 1800s you would have jostled for space here as crews loaded and unloaded cargoes- coal, timber and fish among them. The air must have been filled with their sounds and smells. The Scott family were heavily involved in shipping. James Scott (1744-1826) and Jean McClairn (1751-?) had five sons and five daughters who all lived to adulthood, which in itself was an achievement for these times. According to Osborne, the five sons: John, Gabriel, James, Walter and Peter formed a shipping company  called Scott & Co.

Some of the brothers, I think, plied their crafts on the canal while others ventured further afield. Reports of the time record destinations such as Rio de Janeiro, Parnambuca -Brazil, Cronstadt – St Petersburg, Hamburg, Antwerp, Cadiz, Oporto, Gibraltar, Malta, Charente -France, Trinidad, St Thomas, Antigua, Bhaia -Brazil and more locally Dublin, Drogheda, Londonderry, Liverpool, Leith, Dundee, Pittenweem and Falmouth. Cargoes included Olive Oil, Brandy, Salt, Vinegar and Meat Pies from France!

It was not always plain sailing, reports of three of the voyages are that James Scott (1780-1845) on 16 August, 1844 The “William & Friends”, of Belfast, from Clyde for Dublin, was fallen in with, on the evening of 16th inst., off Lambay Island in a sinking state, and the crew taken off, by the Kitty, Maithias, arrived at Whitehaven. On March 30, 1846 it was reported for the “Albion” got under way , but her crew refusing duty, the master was obliged to ship an extra hand here, and she still remains. [in Falmouth]. On the 22 December, 1848 for Gabriel Scott and “Woodside” a report read Arrived in the Clyde, yesterday, the Woodside (126 [Tons]), Scott from Malta; sailed 15th November, and from Gibraltar 7th December, with a cargo of olive oil for Glasgow. On the 15th December, lat. 48, long, 10W., encountered a hurricane from S.S.W.; the vessel hove to under close-reefed main topsail; at 11p.m., shipped a sea, which carried away bulwarks, stanchions, hove the vessel on her beam ends, and damaged cargo.

 Cargo ships associated with the Scotts.

In 1803 the Sloop ‘Active’ was built by Thomas Macgill for John Scott of Dunerbuck to carry cargo; 69 tons, 54′ 2″ length, 17′ 7″ breadth, 7′ 7″ Depth.

In 1808 Thomas Macgill built a cargo vessel,  ‘Brothers’, for John , Gabriel and James Scott and David Donald ( an Old Kilpatrick seaman but not a relative, I think). A Sloop of 72 tons, 55’6” length, 17’6” breadth and 5’7” depth.

In 1812 ‘Acorn II’ was built by Thomas Macgill for John Scott and Captain Gabriel Scott. A Sloop of 78 tons, 58’4” length, 17’11” breadth and 8’4” depth. Acorn had a Lloyds certificate of seaworthiness: she was of a single deck, the owner was John Scott and the Master was Gabriel Scott built from Hazel and Cedar and had a Lloyds class E (2nd).

In 1818 the Brig ‘Albion’ was built by Thomas Macgill for John and Gabriel Scott and others. It was 90 tons, 59’2” length, 17’6” breadth and 10’2” depth.

The ‘Osprey’ was built in 1822 by Thomas Macgill for Walter Scott, the Scotts and others. It was a Schooner of 86 tons, 59’6” length, 18’6” breadth and 10’0” depth.

Captain Peter Scott took delivery of ‘Eagle” in 1825, a Schooner built by Thomas Macgill. It was 94 tons, 61’10” length, 19’4” breadth and 10’7” depth. According to Lloyd’s it was owned by Scott & Co and was made of Mahogany and Cedar and had a classification of AI.

In 1827 Thomas Macgill built ‘Amity’ for Captain Ebenezer Roy and others. A Brig of 116 tons, 69’0” length, 20’0” breadth and 12’ 1” depth. Captain Ebenezer Roy (1795-1837) was married to Jean Macgill (1801-1879), a daughter of Thomas Macgill (1783-1829) and Jean Scott (1787-1852).

The ‘Swan’ was built in 1829 by Thomas Macgill for Walter Scott, the Scotts and others. It was a Schooner of 94 tons, 60’4” length, 19’4” breadth and 10’7” depth.

David Macgill in 1831 built for the Scotts and others a Schooner named ‘Alert’ which was 75 tons, 57’3” length, 17’9” breadth and 9’1” depth.

Captain Ebenezer Roy, the Scotts and others had ‘Rosebud’ built by David Macgill in 1834, a Brig of 174 tons, 82’2” length, 21’11” breadth and 14’6” depth.

In 1838 ‘Rainbow’ (Lloyd’s official number: 19421) was built by David Macgill for Thomas Buchanan junior, James Macgill and others including Captain Peter Scott. It was a Brig of 167 tons, 73’6” length, 20’0” breadth and 13’8” depth. Lloyd’s records the owners as Scott & Co. It was part sheathed with yellow metal with a Classification of A1.

‘Woodside’ was built by Scott & Sons Greenock for Gabriel Scott in 1839.

In 1842 ‘Bowling’ was built by David Macgill for McBrayne, McIndoe, Captain Robert Gentle and others. This was a Barque of 253 tons, 93’1” length, 22’0” breadth and 14’7” depth. Captain Robert Gentle (1806-1863) was married to Mary Macgill (1814-1882) another daughter of Thomas Macgill (1783-1829) and Jean Scott (1787-1852).

The Schooner ‘Agnes’ was built by David Macgill in 1846 for Thomas and James Macgill, the Scotts and others. A Schooner of 80 tons, 61’1” length, 17’3” breadth and 9’6” depth.

Lloyd’s list has a reference to the Sloop ‘William and Friends’ owned by G Scott & Co with John Scott as the Master. It was berthed in Leith and was built of Cedar. Its classification was E (2nd).

OLD KILPATRICK 

REPLICA OF A ROMAN DISTANCE STONE

At one time it was thought that Antonine’s wall ended at Dunglass and the area in Little Mill built near what was thought to be the wall was known as Dyke.

“These lands, with those contiguous on the west belonging to John Scott, Esquire, Cardross and John Scott, Esquire, Woodside, belonged formerly to Dunerbuck Estate and received the appellation of the Dyke from the tradition that the Roman Wall ran that way westward to Dunglass.” 

James Scott (1744-1826) and Jean McClairn (1751-?) lived at Dyke: his death record shows this as his residence. Their children were born at Dyke. Opposite the Buchanan Institute was West Dyke.

 

It is now believed that this replica stone marks the western end of the Antonine Wall. There was a Roman fort near here and it is reckoned that this was an important site with possibly a harbour nearby to receive supplies for the garrison.

 

 

 OLD KILPATRICK CHURCH

This church was built in 1812, with 1897 additions, to replace an earlier church on the same site.

 

 

Many of the Scott family were baptised here and the churchyard contains many graves of the Scotts.

 

 

 

LANDS OF LUSSET

The part of the Lusset lands now belonging to Gilbert Scott [1836-1914], Esquire, Grangemouth, were, in 1780 possessed by James Brock, son of James Brock of Little Overtoun, who sold them in that year to James McClintock,  Merchant in Kilpatrick, from whose descendants Gabriel Scott [1776-1850] acquired them in 1839.

In the year 1866 Walter Scott [1812-1880], master mariner, took possession as the nearest lawful heir,  and having died without issue, Mr G Scott succeeded to the titles on the death of Mrs Walter Scott his aunt. Captain Walter Scott laid out the Lusset on a feuing plan, and the first villa, built in year 1868, is owned at present by DC Paton Esquire…”

In 1802 Gabriel Scott (1776-1850) tree 1.1.2 page 1,page 2, page 3 and 4 was assessed for Land Tax amounting to £14 for half of Lusset. (The other half was owned by Lord Blantyre). So there is a discrepancy between the tax records showing Gabriel Scott already in possession of the lands and the record of John Bruce recording Gabriel acquiring them in 1839.

Gabriel was a son of James Scott (1744-1826) and Jean McClairn (1751-?). It is just possible that James Brock was known to Gabriel Scott as Peter Scott (1747-1808), brother to James Scott (1744-1826), was married to Mary Brock (1751-1831) and farmed at Overton before moving to Greenland farm. However, Brock was a well established name in the area and James may be from another branch.

On Gabriel’s death he left the land to his grandson Gabriel Scott (1834-1860) and failing him to his third living son, Walter Scott (1812-1880). Grandson Gabriel (1834-1860) died in Mauritius but his will was not proved until 1866 when the land was inherited by Walter. Walter himself died in 1880 leaving his estate to his widow, Agnes Mclay (1815-1886), who in turn left the land to Walter’s nephew, Gilbert (Gabriel) Scott (1836-1914), who at that time lived at Grangemouth. Gilbert left his estate to his second wife, Agnes Smellie (1864-1955), which included a house named Lusset House, but there was no mention of the Lusset lands.  I guess about 1858 the Glasgow, Dumbarton & Helensburgh Railway Co acquired some of Lusset Glen to build its railway to connect to the Bowling to Balloch line; in Gabriel’s (1834-1860) estate there is reference to a sum of money owed to him by the railway for them having taken some land. 

 

Walter laid out a feuing plan for Lusset Glen with the first house, a villa for D.C.Paton, being built in 1868, on what is now Lusset Road; there are two very smart villas on Lusset Road, one being Lusset House.

 

 

 

There is also a row of houses called Mount Pleasant Place on Lusset Road in which James Filshie lived (1850-1911), son of Alexander Filshie (1808-1852), distiller at Auchentoshan, and grandson of Gabriel Scott ( 1776-1850), the original owner of the Lusset Lands. 

 

 

The land (Lussett Glen) came to be owned by West Dunbartonshire Council but precisely how and when the land came into Council ownership is not clear.

GLENARBUCK

Sitting above Bowling is the grand property of Glenarbuck bought by James Scott (1860-1950) in 1902. This was built in 1804 for Gilbert Hamilton, provost of Glasgow in 1792. It is a Category B Georgian mansion.  

The Valuation Roll for 1920 records James as owning the property but it was empty at the time; James was living in Glenarbuck Cottage. However, from a report in the Glasgow Herald, it appears that William Strang Scott (1895-1983), James’ eldest living son, lived there for 80 years, selling it in 1983. James’ death is however recorded as taking place at Glenarbuck House in 1950.

Maps of Bowling.

The first map is of Bowling Bay in 1844 showing Frisky Hall and the properties of James Paterson, John Scott and William Scott.This map was drawn by Thomas Kyle in 1844; the same Thomas Kyle whose map of the Scott lands was originally annexed to John Scott’s will. (see above at Peter Scott’s Byre and lands).

Bowling Sheet 1 is a 1939 map of part of Bowling with my interpretation of where some of the Scott properties might be located. Some locations are guesswork and so are open to dispute.

Bowling Sheet 2 is also a 1939 map; further east from the first. The same caveat applies.