Monument Details V05

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Forename
Surname
Date of Death
Age
Place Name
Mary
Bell
02 June 1909
67
Balgray House
Andrew
Taylor
01 March 1935
91
Pollok Castle
John
Taylor
03 October 1916
53

Relatives: Wife of Andrew Taylor Stone Condition: Sound Material: Marble Height: 1.56 Breadth: 0.84 Depth: 0.3 Inscription Condition: Clear but worn Inscription Technique: Incised Mason: G. Mellon, Hawkhead Pre 1855 no. N/A ( What's this? )

Monument Inscription

Erected by
ANDREW TAYLOR
GAMEKEEPER POLLOK CASTLE
IN LOVING MEMORY OF HIS WIFE
MARY BELL
WHO DIED AT BALGRAY HOUSE 2ND JUNE 1909
AGED 67 YEARS
ALSO THEIR SON JOHN
DIED 3RD OCTR 1916 AGED 53 YEARS
THE ABOVE
ANDREW TAYLOR
DIED 1ST MARCH 1935 AGED 91 YEARS


At Rest

Family History

This particularly ornate monument was erected on behalf of Andrew Taylor, a local gamekeeper, to commemorate the death of his wife and a son. He himself was included on the inscription after attaining the very advanced age of ninety-one years.

Little is known of the past life of Andrew and his wife Mary Bell. Working as he did as a gamekeeper would indicate the likelihood that he came from a rural background but no trace of his birthplace has been discovered. Equally unknown is his wife Mary, and surprisingly no record is extant showing details of their marriage. This lack of information may be caused by their being associated with one of the religious sects that were prevalent during the times concerned.

It has been established that Andrew was the son of a builder, also named Andrew, and his wife Catherine Ewing. Catherine is shown as having worked as a hand loom weaver. Again no indication as to where they were based has been discovered.

As a gamekeeper on the largest estate in the Mearns district, Andrew initially may have been one of several holding such a position. Responsible for the culling of pestilent species he would have undoubtedly been a good shot with a rifle. Many such experts were seconded to local militia to be called upon when needed. The outdoor life experienced through his work may have contributed to his longevity and he was living in his retirement at Warlock Brae, Newton Mearns when he died in 1935.

His wife Mary had predeceased him by twenty-six years. She was shown to have died at Balgray House. This Georgian mansion house was owned by the same family as owned Andrew Taylor’s employer’s estate of Pollok Castle. It is possible that Andrew and his family were living in accommodation around the precincts of Balgray House to which his duties may have extended.

John, the son of the family also commemorated on this stone, never married, and lived with his parents throughout his life. He was employed as a Factor’s Clerk, possibly on the estate where his father worked. He had not enjoyed good health through his lifetime having suffered a neurological problem. The cause of his death on 3rd October, 1916 was a pulmonary oedema. He was fifty-three years of age when laid to rest alongside his mother in Mearns Kirkyard.