James Muir family: from Cumnock Manse to Alexandria, Virginia

By Scott Daily

Rev James Muir

The Reverend James Muir, would go from  being one of at least 6 children born in the Manse of Old Cumnock Parish Church to the Rev George Muir and Isabel (Tibbie) Muir, to becoming a well-known minister in Virginia in the United States, associated with several key figures in US history, including George Washington.

The Rev George Muir, James's father, was born in the village of Spott, in East Lothian, in 1724.  He had intended to enter into the legal profession, but after attending the famous revival in the Cambuslang region in the summer of 1742, he felt a call to the ministry. He became ordained on 30 November 1752, becoming the minister for theCumnock Parish church (now called the Old Church).  On 12 September 1753, George married Isabel (Tibbie) Wardlaw, who was born in Dunfermline. 

George served for 14 years in Cumnock before accepting a call to serve the High Church in Paisley. He passed away while serving in Paisley. He had an accident that injured his foot, which led to an infection, eventually he became unable to walk and was carried into the church on a sedan chair and would preach from a specially made elevated seat. After suffering for a time, his doctor felt that the best choice was to amputate, the operation appeared to be a success, but the following night as he slept an artery burst and he passed away on 20 July 1771. 

To quote from the Cumnock Chronicles article about him, "Of the work of Muir in Cumnock and the spirit he showed in carrying it on, we happen to know more than of the work and spirit of any other of this time. The session records testify that after his settlement, new life came into the Church and new methods were adopted for the progress of religion in the parish. The sin of drunkenness begins now to be frequently referred to, and the ordinary discipline of the Church, apparently long in desuetude for this sin, revived. But the sessional discipline was only part of the effort of the Church to redeem guilty persons from insobriety. The private dealing of the minister, of which we can read between the lines of the formal minutes, would go far to win offenders back, and would be a work into which Mr Muir would throw himself with all the earnestness of his faithful spirit."

Grave of James Muir

Of the children of George and Isabel, the most famous, or at least most written about, was the Rev James Muir. He was born in the manse in Cumnock on the 12th of April, 1757. Just like his father he had planned to go into law, but (to quote from his biographer William Buel Sprague) "under the preaching of his excellent father, his mind became deeply impressed with the importance of eternal things." And so "his thoughts, which had previously been directed to the profession of the Law, were now fixed upon the Christian ministry."

After studying in Glasgow and Edinburgh, he travelled to London to further study under his cousin Rev Henry Hunter, where it is possible he also began preaching in one of Lady Glenorchy's chapels. 

Sometime around 1781 he was ordained as an evangelist to Bermuda. While in Bermuda he became the principal of an academy, and became the acting pastor for Christ Church in Warwick, Bermuda. In Warwick he met Elizabeth Wellman, who was from one of Bermuda's most respectable families. They were married on 29 February, 1783.  After serving for eight years in Bermuda, the Muir family intended to move back to Scotland, but due to bad weather their ship had to sail for the United States instead, where they would end up settling.

In 1789, James accepted a call to serve as minister at the Old Presbyterian Meeting House in Alexandria, Virginia, where he would serve for 31 years until his death in 1820. To quote from an Old Presbyterian Meeting House site "Rev. Muir’s influence extended far beyond the confines of the pulpit. As a leader in his community, he demonstrated compassion by spearheading Alexandria’s Poor Relief Committee, ensuring the welfare of those in need. Muir held the role of Chaplain at Lodge No. 22, the very lodge George Washington belonged to." And "recognizing the transformative power of education, Rev. Muir took on the role of the president of the Alexandria Academy, founded in 1785 with an endowment from George Washington. This commitment to nurturing young minds and advancing knowledge underscored his dedication to progress and intellectual growth. His influence in shaping the minds of future generations continues to echo through time, reminding us of the enduring impact of dedicated educators."

As for his preaching, many wrote he was a powerful preacher, however apparently his Scottish accent was so strong that it was felt he would never be an overly popular one. But he was certainly respected for what he did say. I like the quote of one United States Senator, who after having listened to one of Muir's sermons, remarked that he was "a short man, of short sermons, of short sentences."

A close family friend was Rev John Witherspoon, president of the College of New Jersey (later to become Princeton University) and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. It was probably in part due to Witherspoon's backing that Muir was awarded an honorary degree of Doctorate of Divinity from Yale University in 1791.

As for children, Sprague records: "They had had seven children ; but, at the time of his death, only four were living, —one son and three daughters. The son Samuel was, for some years, a post surgeon in the United States army, stationed on the south-western frontier. He had, however, resigned his commission, and, having married a daughter of one of the chiefs of the Sacs or Fox tribe of Indians [now called the Sauk and the Meskwaki tribes], was, for several years, regarded as one of the greatest men of the nation. About three years before his death, he had settled in an extensive medical practice at Galena,  and, during, the Black Hawk war, when the cholera broke out in our army under General Scott, with such terrible violence, he boldly went out, as a volunteer, to endeavour to stay its ravages. But, after saving the lives of many in the army, he was attacked by the disease himself, and in twentyfour hours was numbered among its victims. He was educated at Edinburgh, was a highly accomplished man, and a skilful physician."

His daughters, are listed on this linked site as Jane, Mary, and Elizabeth, and are thought to have remained unmarried, devoting themselves to teaching in the Sunday school set up by their father. 

Scholarly to a high degree - The story of the Clark family

 Scholarly to a high degree - The story of the Clark family

by Roberta McGee

William Clark and Elizabeth Thomson were married at Ayr Road, Cumnock on 7/6/1858. William was a tailor/clothier, Elizabeth was a domestic servant and both were born in Cumnock. William was a great believer in education and for many years he was a member of the School Board. They had ten children all born in Cumnock. He impressed upon them the importance of education and they in turn grew up to be a credit to their parents. Their uncle James Thomson, brother of their mother Elizabeth, was also highly intelligent. He was born on 3/5/1845 in Cumnock and died of consumption on 3/8/1876, aged 31 years old, in Badenweiler, South Germany. He was described in his obituaries as "Cumnock's most distinguished son" and "scholarly to a high degree".

Marble tablet erected over the family pew
in the Established Church of Cumnock

 

William and Elizabeth's firstborn child Adam Clark was born on 19/12/1857 at Ayr Road, Cumnock. He showed great promise and became a lawyer's clerk. Tragically, he was only 19 years old when he died on 30/4/1877 at Barrhill Road, Cumnock of acute meningitis. 

Five of their children became doctors - William, James, George, John and Jeannie.

William Clark, who was born in 1860, took his BSc. and M.A. in one session at University and for a time taught at Dollar Academy before making a career change into medicine and graduating M.D. at Glasgow University. He then moved to a medical practice in Dundonald, Ayrshire.

His brother George Clark, who was born in 1871, was studying medicine at Glasgow University when his health broke down. In 1898 he decided to leave Scotland and emigrate to South Africa in the hope that the climate there would improve his health. William decided to give up his practice in Dundonald and accompany him. George's health did improve and he was able to continue his studies there. Four years later in 1902 George, again accompanied by his brother William, returned to Scotland where George passed his final exams at Glasgow University. The brothers then returned to South Africa.

In South Africa George was affectionately called Dr. George. He practised in the town of Lady Frere and in 1906 he moved to Tarkastad, which has one of the healthiest climates in the world, where he died on 11/1/1913. He left a widow and two children. An Appreciation which appeared in "The Queenstown Review" on 18/1/1913 quoted a line from Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' to describe George -

"He was a man; take him for all in all, we shall not look upon his like again"

William continued to practise in South Africa but during WW1 he returned to London to take over his brother John's practice. After he retired he would visit South Africa regularly, sailing as ship's surgeon both ways. Dr. William, who never married, died on 29/2/1940 at 52 Airlie Street, Glasgow, the home of his sister Jessie.

Robert Smith, Ochiltree to Eastern Cape Province

By Elaine Corbett

Robert Smith  was a farmer’s son from Whitehill Farm, Ochiltree.

Follow this link to the farm post for Whitehill on our blog Ploughing Up Our Past.

Robert was my 2nd great grand-uncle, brother of my great, great grandfather, David Smith.

He was the third son of Robert Smith and Jane Guthrie born in 1835, and must have been recognised as being a bright lad and encouraged to pursue his studies. The remaining sons all stayed farming. 

The 1851 census finds him in Ochiltree village with, (we think) his great-aunt, Elizabeth Wallace so it is evident he was sent away from the distraction of his siblings to get on with his book learning.

In 1861 he was living in Aberdeenshire as a teacher, and in 1862 he married Margaret Anderson, in Binns Farm, Urquhart. Margaret’s family were interesting, as her father was a farmer and ship owner. Her uncle was a sea captain before he too bought into a shipping company and settled in Glasgow with his Danish wife.

The 1871 census sadly, shows that Robert had gained two sons, William and Robert, but Margaret had died from complications of childbirth. His occupation was now Bank Agent. 

In 1872 he married Mary Mather and they set up home together in Union Street, Aberdeen. They had four children before Mary died in 1888 from Tuberculosis. 

Despite his personal tragedies, Robert’s career seems to have been doing well, and by the 1891 census, he had decided to emigrate to King William’s Town, East Cape Province, South Africa and had become the manager of the Bank of South Africa there. The children were staying with family getting ready to join their father and begin their new life.

The younger boys David Guthrie Smith, and John Ogilvie Smith, and daughter Jessie MacLean Smith were staying with Mary’s sister in Glasgow, while Mather, the oldest of Mary’s children was with Uncle Hugh at Whitehill Farm. The sons from his first marriage seem to have left home and were building their own lives. Their names were Robert Smith, and William Anderson Smith.

Robert stayed in Scotland and qualified as a doctor, and found a medical practice in Assam, India, but unfortunately died there aged just 30.

William Anderson Smith was studying Arts in Aberdeen University, but no trace after that in UK records, until the very last clipping posted here.

There was also an adopted daughter called Elizabeth Anderson, but I can’t find any trace of her, or even who her mother and father might have been.

Of the remaining family, it seems they had an exciting life in South Africa.

The Smith family had not long been in South Africa before the Second Boer War began. Although a relatively short war, from 1899 to 1903  it was quite brutal. Much of it was conducted under guerilla tactics, sieges, and was the first war we saw mention of concentration camps. It was fought using cavalry swords, rifles and bayonets, and cannon. All three of Robert’s sons who were with him immediately signed up to fight.

Mather joined the 1st Battalion, Imperial Light Horse and his record shows he earned four clasps to his medal for seeing action at the relief of  Mafeking, the Transvaal clasp, the Relief of Ladysmith, and Tugela Heights.

He was wounded at Acton Homes 19th January 1900, where 40 Boers were captured, recovered from his wounds then returned to service. He was finally discharged from service 12th October 1900.

When he was staying with his Uncle, before going out to Eastern Cape, he had been studying engineering. When he married Nellie Sweeten, a Cumbrian girl from Penrith in 1911, he was described as being from the Worcester Gold Mining Company, Barberton, so it seems his engineering studies had come to fruition.

Cumberland and North Westmorland Herald 17th June 1911

Arthur Sweeten was publisher of a newspaper in Penrith, and one of his sons was out in South Africa, so perhaps Nellie met Mather in South Africa.