Burial in St David's, Glasgow - lair of Baillie

[ardchronie]

Hello all. I was digging around trying to find out more about my Barclay ancestors from Glasgow, and found, unfortunately, that many of the family died young.  They are in the Register of Burial as being buried at St David's "in the lair of Baillie".  I think St David's refers to the Ramshorn churchyard, as the family lived in this area in John Street and Duke Street, but I'm not sure what the Baillie bit means.  There is no-one in the family of that name, so, seeing as they were not very well off, I wondered if it referred to some sort of charity or paupers' burial plot.

Does anyone have any info?

Thanks very much
Archronie

[MonicaL]

Hi Archronie

Sorry, can't help with the issue of the lair and its ownership 

Not sure if you are local. If not, thought you might like to see some photos and notes from the cemetery http://urbanglasgow.co.uk/archive/ramshorn-glasgow-merchants__o_t__t_555.html

Monica 

[apanderson]

Hi ardchronie,

Presumably you've got an image of the whole page?

If so, check down the rest of the 'Lair Owners' and see if there's any references made to Common Ground.

I've got a page which sounds similar to the one you have and it also has a reference to 'Baillies'. The page I have is from 1841 and the lady in question was Elizabeth McLachlan, wife of Alex. Cameron.

On the same page, there are (more than) a few entries listed as as 'Comm' - presumably Common Ground, so this possibly indicates that the Baillie Lair was privately owned?

Not helping you much though!

Anne

[ardchronie]

Hi Monica and Anne

Thanks very much for your replies.  It was great to see some photos of the area and where my ancestors ended up. 

I will have a closer look at the other entries on the page, Anne.  I did wonder if "Baillie" meant the equivalent of "Council" or something.  Haven't found anything concrete on Google (or elsewhere) yet though.

One more question to add to my family history list!

Thanks for both your help!

Tessa

[Lodger]

Glasgow & West of Scotland Family History Society produced a small book of Monumental Inscriptions and lair records for the Ramshorn Burying Grounds and the crypt of St David's back in 1983. According to that, there is only one Barclay mentioned - Elizabeth Barclay died 12th December 18(61) aged 6 years. She is mentioned on the stone belonging to the Fleming family. Another stone on the same plot mentions the surnames of Scott, Reid, Seth and Lawson.
The name Baillie only appears once, as a wife's maiden name - married name Robertson.
Baillies of the town are mentioned quite often, as witnesses to the lair purchases and transfers, then they are recorded as "John Smith, baille" or "John Brown, baillie". Always baillie is in lower case. There is also mention of "Town Ground" "Common Ground" and "Public Ground" but no mention of "Baillies Ground".

[DMHolden]

Hello Lodger - would it be possible to ask for a check for any Menzie/Menzies burial in the book you have about St David's church ?  I have a burial for John Menzie on the 3rd March 1840 in Baillie's Lair there and wondered if there was any way to find out if there was a headstone or any other details available about him?  Thank you ! 

[Lodger]

DMHolden,
There is only one mention of that name, the stone reads -
"The burying ground of John Robertson, merchant, Glasgow & Katherine Menzies his wife & children 1794".
(This was wrongly indexed in the book as being entry 50 - 4. I found it as entry 58 - 4).

[DMHolden]

Lodger, thank you so much for such a speedy reply - I wonder now if perhaps John was related to Katherine and they had a family plot with space for another burial.  Much appreciated and thank you again for your kind help.

[Skoosh]

Glasgow has more than a dozen baillie's at present, honorary title of senior councillors!

Skoosh.