THE property of the Rev. John Erskine Campbell Colquhoun, is situated in the parish of New Kilpatrick and county of Dumbarton.
In the fourteenth century the lands of Garscadden belonged to the Flemings of Biggar, from whom they passed by excambion to Robert de Erskyne of that Ilk, Knight. The Galbraiths, who were a great Dumbartonshire and Stirlingshire family, afterwards held them till 1611, (1) and from them they were acquired in 1655 by William Colquhoun, writer in Glasgow, who was descended from a younger son of Robert Colquhoun of Camstraddan, living in 1540. He was succeeded by his son Andrew, merchant in Glasgow, whose second son acquired Killermont. Andrew Colquhoun of Garscadden's descendants by his eldest son having failed through want of heirs to carry on the line, Archibald Campbell Colquhoun of Killermont, their relative, succeeded, (2) and thus the estates of Garscadden and Killermont were merged into one.
In former days the Kilpatrick lairds were famous for their convivial meetings, and it is told that on one of these occasions, after a long course of hard drinking, some one observed, "Is na Garscadden lookin' unco gash?" "Deil mean him," said a brother laird; "he's been with his Maker this twa hours. I saw him slip awa, but didna like to disturb good company by saying ought about it."
This story shows the manners of the gentry some century and a half ago. Times, however, are now changed, and the gentlemen of this parish, and none more so than this family, through many of its members, have won distinction alike in the senate, at the bar, and in literary pursuits. The late proprietor, John Campbell Colquhoun, was an accomplished scholar and most excellent man. He was returned to Parliament in 1832 for the county of Dumbarton, and was afterwards member for other constituencies. The present proprietor is his son.
Garscadden has, at times, been occupied, since the family ceased to live there, by leading Glasgow citizens, among others the late Alexander M'Gregor, who was formerly well known among the Glasgow West Indians, and more recently, though now a good many years ago, the late William Connal of Virginia Buildings was the hospitable and genial tenant of this fine specimen of a good old-fashioned comfortable and solid Scottish house.
(1) Irving's Dumbartonshire, p. 489.
(2) See Killermont.
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