The families of frances wilson osborne and g. W. Osborne, jr

When We Were Greers, Part XXX

by Glenn N. Holliman

To Capenoch, the Home of my 8th Great Grandfather

Approximately 20 miles north of Dumfries and five miles west of Thornhill, Scotland is the stately manor home of the Gladstone family.  Prior to their purchase of this hill top home near Pen point, a nearby village, another dwelling, one hundred or so yards further up the property, was the birthplace of James Grierson, born ca 1627 who in 1674 emigrated to Maryland.  The former house, long since destroyed, served as the site of a prominent family in the area, a branch of the Griersons, one of whom served as the Lord of Lag.

 Above a detail of the Gladstone family seal on an exterior wall of the current Capenoch edifice.  Several generations of my Grierson grandfathers called this property their home in the 1600s.  These photographs were taken in June 2011.

When We Were Greers XXXI

By Glenn N. Holliman

The Parents and Grandparents of James Grierson, our Maryland Ancestor


Below is the parish church at Glencairn, north of Dunscore and Dumfries, Scotland, and located not far from Cape Noch.  Numerous Griersons and Maxwells are buried here. Our interest in the Scottish place of worship results because one of my generation's 10th great grandfathers was the clergy here in the late 1500s and early 1600s.  His name was The Rev. John Browneand  his wife's name was Sara Hope. John Browne held an M.A. and was the first pastor at the parish after the Protestant Reformation, hence he could be married.

Bear in mind, Elizabeth I is on the throne of England, and Mary, Queen of the Scots, had been deposed by her nobles due to her erratic love life and Roman Catholic beliefs.  In 1603, the year before my generation's

 In 1604, John and Sara Browne had a daughter, Mary Browne, who in 1625 had a short marriage to Thomas Greer .  However, Thomas died young, and in 1625, Mary married for a second time, in this case to a cousin of her first husband.

It remains a puzzle how James of Maryland became an indentured servant when he appears to be the first born of a well-to-do family?  Is our primary source incorrect, and was our James a Covenator, that is one who wished to worship as a radical Presbyterian?  Was he captured and transported to the New World for his transgressions as were other Griersons in the area?

Above the church sign at Glencairn, a village a few miles north of the Maxwell home and a few miles west of Cape Noch, a home of the extensive Grierson family and our great grandfathers.

POSTED BY GLENN N. HOLLIMAN AT 7:54 AM 0 COMMENTS  

When We Were Greers, Part XXXII