Robert Burns and Highland Mary - their story

Today - the second Sunday in May - marks the anniversary of the parting of Robert Burns and Highland Mary at Failford in 1786. 

Since then, the story of the poet and his Highland Lassie has long captured the imagination of his admirers.  Numerous statues of the lovers, both as individuals and as a couple can be found all over the world.  Perhaps one of the best known statues of Highland Mary (Mary Campbell) can be found at Castle Hill in Dunoon.  Read and download a transcription of an article which appeared in the Greenock Telegraph in 1896 regarding Highland Mary and the Dunoon statue which was about to be unveiled.

130 years ago, in 1896 the Greenock Telegraph published a long, illustrated article to celebrate the unveiling of the statue by Lady Kelvin.  I have produced a transcription of that article with explanations of the various terms, poems and people mentioned in the article which you can read or download here.

cover of article

It is a lengthy work, but those interested in Greenock's local history may enjoy the pages which describe the events surrounding the laying of the foundation stone of the memorial to Highland Mary in Greenock's Old West Kirkyard in 1842.  At that time the church was at the north end of Nicolson Street.  The article also mentions local people and places which I have also highlighted - pages 26-36.  Hoepfully, the work will be of interest.

James Greenock of Gourock

 250 years ago, in 1776, Gourock got its first church.
A small chapel of ease was built in the old burial ground.

The chapel of ease was described as "a very small place of worship, with earthen floor, and only partially seated with rough benches.”  Before this was built, those wishing to attend worship had to travel from Gourock to the Auld Kirk at Inverkip.  For convenience a small place of worship was provided in Gourock, thus its name – chapel of ease.  The name is continued in the nearby Chapel Street.

Chapel Street Burial Ground, Gourock

According to Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae the first two ministers were, James Wilson minister from 1776-1777, the son of James Wilson, mariner Saltcoats and licenced by Presbytery of Irvine in 1765.  The second was Archibald Anderson minister in 1777.  The third minister, from 1780 until 1789 was James Greenock (sometimes written Grinock).

James Greenock was born in 1739, the son of James Grinock farmer in St Ninians, Stirling and educated at the University of Glasgow.  Although he had completed his theological studies, he was not ordained and was known as a licentiate of the Church of Scotland.  This was common practice for those appointed to chapels of ease rather than full time parish churches.  He was at Gourock Chapel of Ease for just 9 years before returning to St Ninian’s, Stirling where he lived a quiet life.  Occasionally he would preach when asked by other ministers.  James died in 1813 at the age of 73.

What is known about his life can be found in In a letter dated June 1813 and published in the Reports of the British and Foreign Bible Society.  The letter, written by the Rev Dr John Campbell of Edinburgh, was to highlight a donation to the Society by the Greenock family and giving an account of how that came about.

 

Of Rev James Greenock, Campbell writes that - “The life of the late Mr Greenock furnishes no incidents calculated to gratify curiosity.”  But goes on to add that he was “a pious and worthy man, eminently distinguished by that simplicity and godly sincerity, which are at once so essential and ornamental to the Christian character.  His manner was grave, and reserved to strangers, though open and cheerful among his confidential friends.  Humble, moderate, and contented, he lived much in retirement.”

James Greenock inherited the family farm at Whitehouse, Stirling after the death of his older brother John in 1810.  John’s will stated that after his brother James’ death, the funds from the estate were to be used for “pious and public purposes”.

In 1812, James Greenock issued a trust nominating several well-connected Edinburgh ministers as trustees and bequeathing the farm at Whitehouse (80 acres) and a considerable sum of money to the British and Foreign Bible Society.  Rev Dr John Campbell addressed his letter to the Right Honourable Lord Teignmouth.  John Shore, 1st Baron Teignmouth (1751-1834) was the first president of the British and Foreign Bible Society, elected at its formation in 1804.  The British and Foreign Bible Society was formed by, among others William Wilberforce to encourage the use and reading of the Bible.  It is still in existence today with the name – the Bible Society.

In the letter, Campbell assures Lord Teignmouth that James Greenock had the correct motives for the donation -  “My long acquaintance with this worthy man, and my knowledge of his views relative to his settlement, have led me to detail to your Lordship the circumstances in which this benefaction – the largest, I believe, that you have ever receive, devolves on the British and Foreign Bible Society.  It is not offered as an atonement for the crimes of a guilty life.  It is no compromise with conscience, for the enjoyment of property acquired by unjustifiable, or by questionable means.  Nor is it given as a price to purchase heaven”.

Advertisement for the sale of James Greenock's land.

The lands of Whitehouse were sold in 1819 and presumably the money received by the trustees was donated to the British and Foreign Bible Society.

James Greenock was succeeded at Gourock Chapel of Ease by John Henry who was minister there from 1789-1796.