William Murgatroyd

Son of Henry William, Murgatroyd, Railway Company Registrar (Glasgow) and Rebecca Senior (Yorkshire).

* Born 1847 Monk Bretton, Yorks.
* Died 10 April 1919 aged 72 at  235 Bath St. Glasgow.
* Buried Glasgow Necropolis Quartus 395.

The 1901 Census lists him as a House Factor, Property Valuator and  employer residing at 20 Doune Terrace, Glasgow. He was an amateur cabinet maker, poet, and wrote and published stories for his children.

He was a member of the 1st Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers and, through links with his wife’s forebears, was admitted to the Glasgow  Incorporation of Skinners, the Incorporation of Gardeners and the  Incorporation of Hammermen.

Married Eugenie Clarence Binnie 7 October 1893.

Eugenie Clarence Murgatroyd

Mrs Eugenie Murgatroyd c. World War I period

Daughter of John Binnie (Glasgow) Wright and Masterbuilder.

* Born 2 February 1856 Ibroxholm.
* Died  20 March 1934 aged 78 in Hertford.
* Buried Glasgow Necropolis Quartus 395.

They had three children:

William Lucian Murgatroyd
(William) Lucian Murgatroyd c.1918.

(William) Lucian Murgatroyd c.1918.

* Born 23 July 1897 Kelvinside
* Died 26 August 1923  aged 26 at Jane Street, Glasgow.   A direct result of Malaria contracted while serving with the Scottish Rifles in Salonica during the First World War.  Also buried in above plot.

Also daughters:

Eugenie Winifred Murgatroyd

(b. Kelvinside) 1899-1966: Artist trained at Glasgow School of Art 1919-23.  Married Thomas Gentleman (b. Coatbridge) 1892-1966:  Artist/Designer. Trained Glasgow School of Art 1910-23 (interrupted by 1WW service Queens Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry.) Local works include mural Possilpark Library 1914 (still extant), solo exhibitions Glasgow 1921,1924, 1926, cartoons  for Scots Pictorial, Glasgow Evening Times etc. Works in Hunterian collection.  The couple moved to London 1928 and remained in the south. [Gentleman family burial plot Old Monklands Burial Ground, Coatbridge.]

Adelaide Binnie Murgatroyd

(b. Kelvinside) 1894-1964: Moved to London 1920s, became a writer and publisher. Married (2nd) Charles Heriot (b.Glasgow) 1905-1972: Theatre Designer and Play Censor. Trained  Glasgow School of Art.

These four died and were buried in the Home Counties.

Archibald Mclellan, the founder of the McLellan Galleries, was born in Glasgow in 1795. His father’s business was as a coach-builder and was situated on a large open space fronting Queen Street and Miller Street.

He did go to University although it was still the intention that he follow his father’s occupation. He distinguished himself as a heraldic draughtsman, became a partner in the coach-building business and was appointed Deacon of the Incorporation of Hammermen.  He became a Magistrate of the city when only twenty-five years of age.

He was appointed Deacon-Convener of The Trades’ House in 1831 – an office which he held for two years, during which period he succeeded in securing for the Deacon-Convener and the Dean of Guild the position of Town Councillors ex offico, an honour which was proposed to be taken from them under the Burgh Reform Act. The members of the Trades’ House marked their appreciation of his services by re-electing him for another term in 1834, and placing in the Trades’ Hall his full-length portrait, painted by his life-long friend, John Graham Gilbert (memorial in the Necropolis).

McLellan was committed to the promotion and improvement of Glasgow, especially in arts, architecture, sculpture, painting, and music. No one can doubt his desire to improve the architectural appearance of the city. However not everyone agreed with his improvements during the restoration to Glasgow Cathedral especially the removal of the Western Tower and Consistory House.

He was the first to suggest a new western approach to the Cathedral, and acquired the ground between Weaver Street and Stirling’s Road, which was ultimately transferred to the municipal authorities and the Merchants’ House.

A patron of the Fine Arts he enjoyed the friendship of Sir David Wilkie, Sir Francis Chantrey, Sir Daniel Macnee (memorial in the Necropolis), R. A. Smith, William Motherwell (memorial in the Necropolis), and most of the distinguished painters, sculptors, musicians, writers of his day. He purchased paintings and sculpture of the highest class, which along with his fine library, and his collection of gold and silver plate, he bequeathed to the city.

At the time of his death, various investments and the erection of the galleries in Sauchiehall Street, incurred debts to the banks and his intention of bequeathing his whole property for the benefit of art was frustrated. However, this was an opportunity for forming the nucleus of an Art Gallery for the city and the Town Council acquired the Sauchiehall Street buildings, with the pictures, sculpture, and other works of art, for the sum of £44,500 (equivalent to £2,187,620 in 2007). This was a controversial decision but the value of the McLellan Collection far exceeds what was paid both for the property and the pictures and whatever the difference of opinion may have existed at the time there can be no question as to its value to the city of Glasgow.

Mr. McLellan died at Mugdock Castle, a favourite residence of his during the summer months, on the 22nd October, 1854, aged 58.

More might have been written about McLellan at the time of his death, but Britain was in the throes of the Crimean War – newspaper space was taken up on the day his obituaries were printed with accounts of the Battle of the Alma. His funeral, by his own request, was to be quiet and private. He was buried in the Cathedral cemetery, but due to re-locations there, his grave was marked only by a number.  However, in June 2004, a Memorial Trust organised by interested citizens accumulated funds to erect a Memorial stone in the Necropolis Graveyard, on the slope facing appropriately towards the Cathedral. It was designed and erected by Mossmans. The Lord Provost unveiled the memorial, and paid tribute to McLellan’s achievements.

Credits: A portrait of Archibald McLellan (1795-1854)
by Robert Cree Crawford after John Graham-Gilbert
(c) Culture and Sport Glasgow (Museums), reproduced with permission

Obituary of James A R Main:  Farmers Gazette  15 Feb 1896

Mr James A R Main died suddenly at his beautiful residence Craig-na-Huille, Skelmorlie, NB on Saturday 1st inst.  He was the founder and senior partner of the well-known firm of A and J Main and Co, Glasgow, and by his perseverance and energy had established very successful branches of his business in London, Edinburgh, Dublin and Calcutta.  The deceased was born at Dalhousie, Edinburgh, his father being for many years agent on the Whitehall estate.  Early in his life Mr Main exhibited a taste for engineering, and was not long in starting a manufactory in Glasgow, which, although of small dimensions at first, quickly grew as the business developed.  Soon the well-known Clydesdale Ironworks had to be built, and as the remarkably large trades in hay barns, iron roofs, bridges, fencing and gates rapidly increased these have been added to from time to time.

Mr Main had a very long connection of upwards of 36 years with this country and became one of the pioneers of iron hay sheds.  Seeing the necessity for such structures in this moist climate he turned his special attention to their manufacture, and by his engineering skill has so perfected the design that Main’s hay barns are now well-known to agriculturalists all over the country.  By exhibiting at the Royal Dublin Society’s shows in Kildare Street, as well as the Agricultural shows in the provinces, he became very intimate with the people. He was also an old member of the Royal Dublin Society, and for many years back was a regular and well-known figure at the Dublin spring shows.

As one of the oldest members of the Scottish Agricultural Engineers’ Association he was also well known, and seldom missed the shows of the Highland and Agricultural Society.  When at the North East Agricultural Society’s shows in Belfast he used to point out the place where in years long gone by the stage coach from Drogheda arrived, and by which he often travelled, and he would remark on the great changes that had taken place since then.  Some years ago Mr Main visited India and spent some time there establishing the now very successful and increasing Calcutta branch.  Owing to ill health Mr Main retired some little time ago from active control of the business.  He was a magistrate, and at one time a leading member of the School Board and County Council.

He was highly respected in business and private circles, and the esteem in which he was held by his numerous employees was very marked by the large and impressive attendance at his graveside in the Glasgow necropolis on last Wednesday week, the different works departments and branches each placing wreaths on his grave along with those of his sorrowing wife and family.  He leaves a grown-up family, and a son a partner in the firm.

Duncan Macfarlan was born in the Manse at Townfoot (Auchengray) 27th September 1771 and followed both his father, also Duncan Macfarlan (1708-1791), and maternal grandfather, John Allan (1737-1812), into the Ministry.

He lived in the village until the age of 12 and then went to Glasgow College (University). He specialized in Philosophy and Literature and he gained an MA in 1788 before transferring to a Divinity course. After eight years of study he was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Dumbarton 28th June 1791 at the age of nineteen and two days before his father’s death at the age of eighty three.

Despite being so young he succeeded his father and was finally ordained at Drymen in February 23rd 1792. He continued to study at Glasgow University gaining a Doctor of Divinity in 1806.

He did not, however, neglect his pastoral role and was a popular preacher supporting the four schools in his parish. In 1796 he married his cousin Anne Allan of Row parish (adjoining Cardross) when he was 25 and she was 21. His wife died fifteen years later having given birth to 9 children, 5 boys and 4 girls.

He became Principal and Vice Chancellor of Glasgow University in 1823 at the age of 52 and resigned his post in Drymen. He had to delay taking up the offer the living at Glasgow Cathedral as, in principal, it was unusual to hold two such important public posts. This problem was resolved and he eventually officially took up that post in 1824. He held both these posts until his death some 34 years later.

He was popular man in Glasgow and received a testimonial dinner in 1842 “in admiration of the manner in which his various duties were discharged.” One of these duties was to welcome Queen Victoria to Glasgow Cathedral in 1849 and this ceremony is recorded in a bas relief on the pedestal of the equestrian statue to Victoria standing in George Square.

When he died in Glasgow, 25 November 1857 he held the title “Father of the Church” and his funeral on 1st December was a public affair with a procession of all the great and good of Glasgow at the time headed by the Lord Provost and the streets were lined with crowds. The monument, which stands close to that of John Knox, was erected by public subscription.

• Duncan Macfarlan 1771-1857, Principal, University of Glasgow, 1823-1857.
• Minister, Church of Scotland, Drymen, 1792-1823;
• St Mungo’s Cathedral, Glasgow, 1824-1857.
• M.A., University of Glasgow, 1788;
• D.D., 1806. Dean of Faculties, University of Glasgow, 1806-1808, 1810-1812.
• Dean of Chapel Royal, 1820-1824.
• Moderator, General Assembly, Church of Scotland, 1819 and 1843.

[See: W.I. Addison, The matriculation albums of the University of Glasgow from 1728 to 1858 (Glasgow, 1913); D.N.B. (under Macfarlane, Duncan); Memoirs and portraits of one hundred Glasgow men (Glasgow, 1886), pp 189-190 and portrait; Hew Scott, Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae: the succession of ministers in the Church of Scotland from the Reformation (New ed., Edinburgh, 1915- )]

This information was supplied by Ann Masding 4 times great granddaughter of James McQuade.

Born Ireland but exact location uknown between 1804-1806. Died Glasgow 17th October 1859. His wife was Elizabeth McQuade nee Wallace born Ireland, date unknown. This couple appear to have married in Ireland (date unknown) and arrived in Glasgow between born of a daughter Matilda in 1835 in Ireland and 1837 when a son was born in Glasgow.

Six chidren have been located so far:-

1. Helen born 1833 Ireland. Married first to 1851 to Terrence Sweeney. Secondly to Benjamin Davidson 1869 both marriages. Died in Glasgow 31st January 1851

2. Matilda born 1835 Ireland

3. William born 1837 Glasgow

4. Elizabeth born 1842 Glasgow

5. James born 1844 Glasgow

6. Mary born 1851 Glasgow

After arriving in Glasgow, James worked as a Coal Porter. He living at 381 Garscube Road, Maryhill at the time of his death in 1859 when his age was given as 53 yrs. He was buried in Eta in a single sepulchre.