Archibald McGlashan(d) and Agnes Kirk were married December 15, 1827 at Dumbarton in Dunbartonshire. Their daughter Mary was baptized there on October 27, 1828 and their son John on August 13, 1831.
John McGlashan and Elizabeth McFarlane were married at Tradeston, Glasgow, on July 28,1870. John, then aged 38, was a widower. His occupation was wine and spirit merchant. His wife, Elizabeth, age 32, was the daughter of John McFarlane and Mary McAdam. The records show the births of the following children:
John, born October 18, 1870
Archibald, born November 23, 1871
Mary, born November 14, 1872
James, born July 4, 1874
Agnes, born 1881, according to the correspondence below
In the 1891 census, the McGlashan family were enumerated at Old Kilpatrick, at their home at Strathclyde Villa, Bowling, in Dunbartonshire, as follows:.
John McGlashan, Head of Household, Living on Private Means. Age 58
Elizabeth, Wife, Age 53
Archibald, son, unmarried, Student of Medicine
Mary, dau, Student of Art,
Agnes, dau, age 10, Scholar
Correspondence from Cousin John McGlashan (1869-1887)
John McGlashan (address not shown but probably Glasgow) January 28, 1869 to Jacob and Mary Mitchell,
Dear Uncle and Aunt: As my Aunt wanted me to come out this week, I find it impossible to do so. For an hour or two I can get away at any time but for a day I find it hard to get out of Glasgow but as soon as I can get time I will come out. Knowing you are not your own master and your time is not your own, things cannot be always as you wish them.
I have got a stable for the pony near where I am for a month, so if you know of any one coming in to Glasgow, make a bargain with them to bring the pony, and whatever you promise to pay them, I will give them when they come in. Give them a line along with them with the amount marked on it that I am to pay them for taking it to Glasgow. If you have more turnips than you think you will need, send a bag or two and I will make my mother boil some and give them to it at night. Do not pay the carriage on them. I will pay it when they come. Direct them to Stobcross Street. And when Charlie comes out, if you would let him know what you were out for grass this last six months, I will be obliged to you. Whether I get much or little for the beast, I will see my Aunt gets something for her trouble, and whether they got too much meat or too little, she I believe did the best she knew, and the best could no better. I remain yours, J. McGlashan
John McGlashan Sabbath April 5/74 to Jacob and Mary Mitchell
Dear Uncle and Aunt: I am sorry to inform you my mother died here this morning at 2 o'clock. Let my aunt come when you receive this. O I am sorry. O I am sorry. And I am in very bad health at present. I am Remain Yours, John McGlashan
John McGlashan, 6 Macintyre Street, Glasgow, June 16, 1874 to Jacob and Mary Mitchell
Dear Uncle and Aunt: You see I am still living to write to you. I am a little better. I have been in Glasgow this two last weeks. I will give you a call out soon - and stop a day or two - I have hopes of getting all right again but it will take a time. It's what they call a nervous shock and it affects the stomach and I don't digest my meat well. Some day I will tell you the cause of it. The doctor has been very anxious I would go to Moffat, but if I keep anything at all well, I would like to remain in Glasgow for a time. Things don't go on well when I am away. I hope Charles' wife and family is well and William is in good health. I remain your friend. John McGlashan.
John McGlashan, Strathclyde Villa, Bowling June 21, 1882
Dear Uncle and Aunt: I received your letter. Charles called here about a month since and remained two days. He left then. I have not seen him since. I met his wife a week since. She said her brother had sent her a free passage to America. I asked her if Charles was going with her. She stated she did not know, but I thought from what she said that he would go. I asked her down here for a day or two before she left. She promised to come but I have not seen her since.
No doubt Charles is changed since he was a young man. In fact I could not bleaved (sic) the change. Then he was a hard working lad, anxious to save money and do well. I had the chance of seeing him and his wife both while in the shop. She was by far the most anxious to do well. When he opened the shop he had a man, and kept him against his wife and me both. And to the very last, had one when at times there was not much more meat in the shop than they both could have eaten. The next shop to him there was a man and lad. And a very large shop near kept by two women. They had that man's wages to pay and they did little themsleves but quarrelled. They led a very bitter life when in the shop. They might have done well. One of the worst faults Charles has: He will not tell the truth. And he would not stand in the shop. In fact, he had a good chance of doing well and did not do it. The shop is kept now with a man and girl and they are doing well. If I had not seen it, I could not bleaved (sic) he had turned so careless for he was quite different when he was at the mason trade. There is no doubt things at home with him is not pleasant but still he might do better.
We are all well here. We have three children, one boy and two girls. The youngest is 13 months old. Her name is Agnes. I will see and get to see you this year. I heard from Mrs. Mitchell that your young son has got married. Now you are both as you started at first, your family is all away. I remain, your friend, John McGlashan.
From John McGlashan, Strathclyde Villa, Bowling July 9, 1882
Dear Uncle and Aunt: I am truly sorry at the death of your daughter Elizabeth. I hope God will be near you both to comfort you. and you will be able to say, O God, thy will be done. You have had a large family. Some is married, some dead. In few years we will be all away. And I hope this death will bring us nearer to God and farther from the world. May it make us faithful to Him, the giver of all good. And I do hope at the present time God will be merciful to you both. May His everlasting arms be around you both. And when there is none near to comfort you, may your words be: Nearer to thee, O God, nearer to thee. You must be both glad to learn she died in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. She will be to meet you when your turn comes. In a few short years we will be all gone. I hope this death will draw us nearer to God and farther from the world. I hope God will take you both under his love and care. Little I can say can do you much good at present. I ask our Lord and Saviour to give you that comfort that the world knows not of. May He abide in you and you in Him. I remain your friend. John McGlashan.
From John McGlashan, Bowling, December 2, 1887 Two letters (similar) to his cousins on the death of his Aunt.
Excerpts: "I received your telegram of my Aunt's death. I am glad I saw her before her death. My work is nearly finished now as far as she is concerned. All I want of hers is a good likeness if there is one and any small thing as a keepsake. Something that she used often."
"Now that your mother is dead, I hope you will agree amongst yourselves what little money she has left."
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