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Monument Inscription
Has no inscription
Family History
No inscription is apparent on these monuments which are grouped together on the north wall of the Kirkyard. These imposing memorials at first provided a dilemma to the recorders. Had the inscriptions eroded or had they ever been inscribed?
The answer is to be found in A History of our Firm, a book by John Rankin, a descendant of the Rankins of Mainshouse (cf. monument K01).
Referring to the partners of Pollok, Gilmour & Co., John and Arthur Pollok and Allan Gilmour, the author writes ‘…there is further proof both of their friendship and of their kindly memory of the country parish (Mearns) from which they sprang. They seem to have arranged for and prepared their burial places, corresponding in size and position on either side of the Mearns church burial-ground. They appear also to have erected their monuments beforehand, differing in form, ample in size, and of the period sufficiently stately. Allan Gilmour senior’s heir, however, seemingly forgot to make any record of his birth, death or virtues, although three ample tablets were provided for the purpose; they stand today entirely free of the mason’s art.’
Allan Gilmour, the son of Allan Gilmour and Elizabeth Pollok of South Walton Farm, was born in 1775. With John and Arthur Pollok he founded the firm of Pollok, Gilmour & Co. in 1806 and built a very successful business trading in timber with Scandinavia and Russia and later with Eastern Canada. By the 1830s the firm had built and owned the largest fleet of wooden hulled ships in the world (about 120). Many of the ships had names with local association such as Mearns, Broom, Craigton, Fingalton and Fa’side.
Allan Gilmour owned Fingalton, Kirkhouse and several farms in addition to the estate of Eaglesham which he purchased with his brother James at a cost of £200,000 from the Eglinton family. He retired from business in 1838 and died in 1849 at Hazelden House.
Referred to above, monument Z02 commemorating John and Arthur Pollok is situated on the opposite side of the Kirkyard within sight of this memorial.