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A History of Greenhead (Cambusnethan) Old Parish Church. 1650 to 1837
The main part of the Parish contributed its revenues to the Abbey of Kelso. In return for a tenth of the multure of Garrion Mill, the Lord of the Manor was allowed to maintain a private Chapel dedicated to St. Michael in his Manor House. This is the earliest place of worship known to have existed in the Parish.
At the end of the Thirteenth Century, the revenues and oversight of Cambusnethan were transferred to the Bishop of Glasgow, in whose Diocese the Parish remained till the Reformation. In each Diocese, the revenues of a few Churches were expressly granted for the Bishop’s personal expenses and especially for the maintenance of his table. Hence they were known as Mensal Kirks. Cambusnethan was of this class. Many successive Bishop’s and (later) Archbishop’s of Glasgow were thus personally interested in the Parish. Garrion Tower, (By the side of the River Clyde, below Wishaw) which was probably built at the beginning of the Sixteenth Century, was a favourite summer residence of the Archbishop’s of Glasgow.
The date of the first Parish Church cannot be exactly ascertained. It must have been at least a hundred years before the Reformation. The sole Heritor was Baron Sommerville and on him would fall the entire charges of the building. For his convenience, its situation was in a romantic spot at the south-west point of the Parish, very near the Clyde and not far from his Manor House. It however was inconveniently situated for the parish at large, many of the parishioner’s, particularly those beyond Redmyre, (Which is well above Wishaw) having to travel six to twelve miles to attend it.
A new Church was begun at Greenhead in 1650. (Just above Wishaw) This development was preceded by a long and acrimonious controversy, between the local landowners . The fortunes of Sommerville of Cambusnethan were declining, while Stewart of Allanton was in the ascent. Sommerville’s pride, however, was bigger that his Estates. When Cromwell demanded a return of rent-rolls, the laird of Cambusnethan, (Sommerville) exaggerated his, in order to increase his importance. Stewart of Allanton explained his smaller rent-roll on the ground, that although he had more land, his property was situated in a cold, moor-land district and was not to be compared with his neighbours at Cambusnethan, which lay so bonny and bield. Sommerville wished to bury his daughter in the family grave within the choir of the old Church. Stewart objected, on the grounds that the Assembly had forbidden burials
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within the Church walls. He appealed to the Presbytery, who warned Sommerville, that if he persisted with his intentions, he would be visited with the severest censures. The refractory Laird was about to set the Presbytery at defiance, but his friends persuaded him to submit. The interment took place outside the east gable of the Choir and Somerville placed a large monument with much imagery and several inscriptions engraved thereon, over the burial place.
Stewart of Allanton’s Brother, who was the Provost of Edinburgh and proprietor of the lands of Coltness, encouraged him in his endeavour to obtain a new Church.
Stewart promptly followed up his advantage. He presented a petition to the Assembly in 1649, setting forth the wretched, impassable state of the roads in the lowest part of the Parish, especially in winter, coupled with the distance of himself and others from the Parish Church. He craved the Assembly to sanction another Church in some convenient place and offering ground for a Manse and Glebe, together with a liberal contribution towards the cost of erection. The petition was refused on the ground that the teinds would not admit of two stipends being paid. Stewart then represented that the Church was becoming old and inconveniently situated at the lower end of the Parish and craved that a new Church be built in a more accessible position. Sommerville, at first violently opposed this petition, being anxious to retain the prestige of having the Church beside his Mansion House, But ultimately gave way, on condition that the Church should be at Greenhead. It was not on his land, but he found consolation in the fact that it wasn’t on his rival’s.
The parties who undertook to execute the Mason and Wright work of the new Church in 1650 were, John Miller, in Watersaugh and Alexander King. They calculated on finishing the work, in at least twelve months, for about three Thousand Merks, with the Parishioners carting the materials. The bargain does not seem to have gone into a very business manner. There were misunderstandings and heart-burnings among the Heritors, which greatly tended to retard the work and occasioned additional expense. Instead of Three-Thousand Merks, The new Church cost nearly Seven-Thousand and instead of being finished in one year, seven years elapsed before it was fit to be occupied in 1657. In the papers of that time, it is stated, that owing to long exposure to the weather, a great deal of wood was actually rotten before the Church roof could be slated.
When at last the building was completed, further difficulties arose, over the allocation of the pews. The burning question was, who would occupy the pews facing the pulpit, this was answered in different ways by each of the Heritors. Cambusnethan claimed it, because he was Patron. Coltness claimed it, because he had been a large contributor and had personally supervised the work, Allanton claimed it, bcause without his initiative no new Church would have been built. Only by certain structural alterations was a compromise secured, which satisfied the rival claimants.
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In 1672, a north aisle was added and it is said that a Bell Cott was built. There is an inscription on the lintel of the 1672 door which reads: All my vain thoughts stay ye here, because my God I now draw near and on another doorway, can faintly be seen, the date of 1656. On January, 22nd. 1721, in the Session records, there is an item which states, that for making a window at the Pulpit. 3lb and for glass 2lb.
Minister’s of Greenhead Parish Church.
The Minister of Cambusnethan at the period of the erection of the Church at Greenhead, was Mr. James Hamilton, brother to the first Lord Belhaven.
In 1669, an indulged Minister, Mr. William Vilant was Minister, till the year 1684, when he was imprisoned by order of the Privy Council and obliged to find caution to remove from the Kingdom within a month. In 1687, a toleration was granted to the banished Minister to return home. His name appears on the records of the Presbytery of Hamilton for the last time on 21st. April 1791, after this he was installed, Professor of Divinity at St. Andrew’s, which office, he continued to occupy during the remainder of his life.
On the 15th May 1692, a call was given by the parish of Cambusnethan in favour of Mr. John Muirhead, a Preacher of the Gospel, who was ordained on the 1st.September, 1692 and after a Ministry of forty-one years died in 1733, he is buried in the old Graveyard.
On 15th. January 1734. Mr. Lockhart of Cambusnethan requested the Presbytery to indite Mr. Craig to preach before them at the next meeting. The opposition in the Parish of Cambusnethan to Mr. Craig was very formidable, as he seems to have been unacceptable to the people. After much bickering back and forth between the Presbytery, the General Assembly and the Elders of the Church, the issue was partly resolved on 25th.January, 1737, when the Presbytery at last agreed to admit Mr.Craig. Seven of the Elders gave in a protestation to the Presbytery, but Mr. Craig was ordained on 20th.April, 1737. The said Elders were declared to be no longer Elders of the Parish. Their names were, John Bell. David Downie. Robert Kedder. Alexander Cleland. James Prentice. George Russell and John Steill, all these names can be found in the old Graveyard.
Mr. Craig’s incumbency at Cambusnethan was brief, as on the 1st.January 1738, a call in his favour was laid on the table of the Presbytery, by the Magistrates of Glasgow Town Council and General Session, to be their Minister. Mr. Craig accepted the call on 28th. February 1738.
On 28th. November 1738, a formal and largely subscribed call was given to Mr. Thomas Cleland and he was ordained at Cambusnethan on, 1st. March 1739. He continued in the Parish until 1757.
Mr. Cleland was succeeded by Mr. Gray, a Minister of very popular talents, but after a very brief Ministry, circumstances led to his demitting his charge. Mr. Gray was succeeded by Mr. Howieson, whose Ministry, owing to ill health, continued only a few years.
The successor of Mr. Howieson was Mr. Rankin, who was ordained on the 17th. August 1781 and removed to the North-West Church, Glasgow on, 8th. September 1785.
Mr. Rankin was succeeded by Mr. Lockhart, who was ordained at Cambusnethan, on 28th. June 1786 and was removed to Blackfriars Church, Glasgow, on, 30th.September 1796.
Mr. Lockhart was succeeded by Mr. Archibald Livingstone, who was ordained on 13th.May 1803 and died on the 26th. January 1852.
In 1837, the General assembly ordered the 17th.century Church at Greenhead to be closed and another one built. The Minister of the new Church, (Cambusnethan Parish Church) was the Rev. Robert Hutton. Mr. Hutton died in 1891 and is buried in the old Churchyard.
The Old Church Bell.
In 1628 on the instruction of the Will of Mr. James Hamilton, of Udston, (Burnbank) a Church Bell was purchased for ane hundred pounds, (Scots) the Bell was for the original Church at Cambusnethan. (Near the River Clyde. Now called Carbarns) After this Church’s demise in 1649, the Bell was removed and installed in the new Church at Greenhead, whether it firstly, hung on the wall of the Church, is not known, but it seems that later on, it was installed in a Bell Cott. When the Church at Greenhead became ruinous after 1837, the Bell continued to remain in its place for quite a few years, however it became necessary to remove it from its old Belfry and was laid aside in safety. It now resides in Cambusnethan and Morningside Parish Church, under the care of Mr. James Torrance, Kirk Beadle.
When seen by members of Motherwell Heritage Society, the Bell was noticed to be in a very good condition. It is approx.1ft.6in. in height and approx 14in. in diameter at its base, it has a yoke which is made of Oak, this is held together with iron straps and has survived surprisingly well, with jus a trace of woodworm. At the edge of the yoke, there are two iron collars, one on either side, with iron spindles to let the Bell swing. On the front of the yoke a square hole has been drilled straight through, this would probably have held a bar, in which to attach a rope or chain. Later on when it was installed in the Bell Cott., a wheel with a groove was attached. It is documented in the Parish records of repairs to the wheel and to the bar of the padlock that kept the chain secure on the wall.
The clanger is made of iron and hasn’t weathered well, being quite pitted, but the tone of the Bell is still very clear, with not a hint of distortion. The make up of metal used in the making of a Bell in 1628, was two parts copper, to one part tin, in later Bells, this was increased to three parts copper.
In the new Cambusnethan and Morningside Parish Church, there is kept, two Pewter Communion Flagons, two Pewter Communion Plates and two Communion Cups, all dated 1805. One of the Flagons has been badly repaired at the joint of the handle, while the other is in good condition. The two Plates are in good condition, considering their age and wear. The Communion Cups are replacements, the original silver Cups being lodged in a Bank safe. The old 1790 Bible, which is kept in a glass case, hasn’t survived quite as well, it has some pages missing at the front and there is also water damage, the covers seem to have been saved from any hardship by someone in the past enclosing the cover with green felt, therefore, it is not possible at this stage to see if there is a date on the Bible.
Repairs
Wednesday 11 July 1711. 14/- was given for the iron to the Bell house and for putting it up. January 3 1714. £10 Scots, to the Bell man for his yearly salary.
July 17. 1714. 7/- for mending the Bell chain and 15/- for putting up the Bell chain.
Wednesday 2 January 1715. The Session order for the mending of the Bell chain and wheil of it. 34/-.
Cambusnethan Parish Church School.
Unfortunately, no very early Kirk Session records of the Parish of Cambusnethan are extant and the volume dealing with the first part of the 18th century is in a very dilapidated condition, dirty and composed largely of loose pages, closely covered with illiterate, almost indecipherable writing. This covered the period when Thomas Nisbet was Schoolmaster and Session Clerk.
Clearly, in 1704, the Schoolmaster was no novelty, since one of the first entries refers to 20/- given to the Schoolmaster as quarter wages. By then Thomas Nisbet was also established as Session Clerk and in 1705 became keeper of the Mortcloth, though he was not always responsible for it. His accounts for succeeding years, until his death 31 years later, contain very few references to payments to him. There are unusually few entries relating to payments of poor scholar's fees and those which did come his way were very small. Until 1726, Nisbet was responsible for the collection of the money for Proclamation of Banns, ranging from 40/- to £6 13s 4d and the impression is given that he handed these dues over to the Kirk Session at the settling of the Treasurer's accounts. In 1726, however, Nisbet was given the proclamation money (For teaching poor scholars and other things, as writing and going errands) For some time after, the Session continued to give him Proclamation money for teaching poor scholar's which was a very unusual use of the money. By this action, the Session unwittingly sowed the seeds of future dissention.
During Thomas Nisbet's long term of office, the Heritor's and Kirk Session showed scant interest in education, true they paid their dues regularly for the support of the Presbytery Bursar, they contributed the impressive sums of £46 in December 1714 and £46. 16s in October of that same year "For Schools in the north". In 1719, they gave David Murray, "a scholar, £6 Scots". Yet Thomas Nisbet was compelled to struggle along on a very small income, with apparently no prospect of a School or dwelling house. The indications were that he taught in the homes of pupils and the parents gave him board and lodgings. Judging by his illiterate handwriting, poor phraseology and uncertain arithmetic, shown in the Session records, he seems to have been poorly equipped for the task of teaching, which may explain in part the indifference of his employers to his condition of service. Certainly, the Heritors in Cambusnethan appeared to have had a lively sense of their obligations in other respects and never failed to attend the joint Heritors and Kirk Session meetings or to stent themselves for the relief of the Parish.
For eight months after Thomas Nibet's death. The Parish was without a Schoolmaster. Heritors and Kirk Session alike appear to have been content with the situation, as a joint meeting to find a new Schoolmaster was not held until six months had passed. Thereafter the position was speedily filled by Mr William Gibb. He came from South Leith, highly recommended by the Kirk Session and Presbytery where, as well as by various Professors of Edinburgh University, where he had trained.
Within two years, he had petitioned the Heritors and Kirk Session for a School House and dwelling house and, at a joint meeting. it was recommended to the Heritors to give directions about the same "as soon as possible". In fact the matter was dropped and since by the following year, the Church was vacant and remained so until March 1739, the Heritors and Kirk Session probably felt that they had more pressing duties awaiting their attention. It is unlikely that they were able to avoid building a schoolroom for much longer than this. Mr Gibb married. The following year he had his first child and in l740, his second. As a qualified Schoolmaster, University trained, he would have had little difficulty in finding a position with at least a schoolroom and accommodation for his family. Although the records say nothing on that point, since he remained until 1753, it can safely be assumed that a schoolroom was built shortly after 1739. In 1775, the Heritors and Session planned to enlarge the School. As there is a blank in the records, from 1753 until 1775, little is known of the parochial School for more than twenty years. In 1775, John Calvin, the Schoolmaster, became Precentor and Session Clerk. He had been engaged as Schoolmaster in 1773, an office which he held for over 60 years. In 1787, the Heritors and Kirk Session were warned that "some little repairs may be necessary about the Schoolmasters house".
The School is described thus, "while the building was not large, being only 24 feet long by 14 feet wide, it was sturdily built of stone and lime; had walls 7 feet high; a roof thatched with straw, four windows, two and half feet square with fixed frames and glazed with Cram glass. Inside, the pupils had the comfort of a wooden floor, while the inside roof and rafters were of Scotch fir.
The School was situated in the front street and was two storey’s in height with a steeped roof, which was thatched. A watercolour drawing of 1885 shows the School on the left hand side of the painting, which doesn’t coincide with the previous paragraph.
Many changes took place in Cambusnethan after 1802, when the school was still under the care of John Calvin, 1773-1835. Following the Act of 1803, he had the maximum salary, a house and garden, but only a small room in which to teach 93 pupils.
Early in the 1800s, the schoolmaster ceased to be given the appointment of Session Clerk, not by mid-century was he Precentor and a close association between Minister and teacher was lost. The new Church built in 1839 was in keeping with ancient practices, erected immediately opposite the Schoolhouse, so that the Minister could keep the School under surveillance, but when a new School was built in 1867, just across the road at Braehead, the distance between the two was physically and spiritually greater. After 1849, there are no references to Church inspection of the schools of Cambusnethan. In 1835, when Coltness House was being sold and all of the various property's were being listed, it states that the Parish Schoolmaster 's salary for the last seven years was, £10 8s 2d.
The Houldsworth Family
After the Church was abandoned, the prominent Houldsworth family, who owned the Coltness Iron works in the vicinity and had a family pew in the new Church, opened up the interior of the old building, by cutting a larger entrance door, just adjacent from the original one and made it into a mausoleum, in which to bury the members of their family. Above the new doorway there is an inscription, which reads: "Without holiness no man shall see the Lord". The Houldsworth's may have gone from the area but the memorials for the family lairs can still be seen around the walls . (See the story of the Houldsworth's)
Ron. Porteous. (Secretary) Motherwell Heritage Society, 2005.
St Patricks at Dalzell Estate
Jerviston
Baille Of Jerviston
The Baillie families in and around Bothwell Parish were a cadet branch of the Baillie family of Lamington.
John Hamilton of Orbiston had a marriage contract of 1548 with Janet Hamilton, a daughter of John Hamilton of Boggs and Janet Hamilton of Calderwood. John Hamilton of Orbiston and spouse Janet had 6 sons and ten daughters. One of their daughters is said to have married a Baillie of Jerviston.
Robert Baillie of Jerviston witnessed the last will and testament of Stevenston of that ilk in 1615.
James Baillie of Jerviston died in 1623. In his latter will he thus decreed -- I commit my soul to God and ordain that I be buried within the Kirk of Bothwell, in my own burial place. I have made my spouse Janet Robertsoin tutrix testamentrix to James Baillie and Robert Baillie my lawful bairns.
James Baillie younger of Carfin is a curator in the last will and testament of James Baillie of Jerviston in 1623.
The Reverend Robert Baillie, descended from the house of Jerviston, was a renowned protestant minister and chaplian to the Covenanter armies in 1639.
His daughter, Margaret, was to marry a Walkinshaw of Barrowfield, ancestor of the celebrated Clementina Walkinshow, the mistress of Prince Charles Edward Stuart, the "Young Pretender". In 1649 was chosen by the church to go to Holland to invite Charles II to accept the crown and covenant of Scotland. Robert Baillie of Jerviston died in 1644. This Robert Baillie was a son of James Baillie of Jerviston who died in 1623.
James Baillie younger of Carfin died in 1661. His testament was faithfully made and given up by Mr John Baillie of Jerviston, brother german to the defunct, and executor dative.
John Baillie of Jerviston, formerly of Carfin*, is recorded in the register of sasines for the country of Lanark, volumes (RS42) III,IV, V and VI. His spouse was recorded as Margaret Baillie.
Margaret Baillie is recorded in sasine volume (RS42) VI as the spouse of John Baillie of Carfin*. She was a widow by the time (1591-92) the Bothwell Parish Hearth Tax Lists were recorded, and thus named as "the lady of Jerviston". In sasine volume (RS42) XI she is recorded as Margaret Baillie of Jerviston spouse of John Hamilton of Boggs.
Dalzell Parish Register of Burials records that John Hamilton of Boggs died at Jerviston in 1729. He was said to have been 96 or 97 years old.
Baille Of Park
Jean Hamilton, a daughter of Archibald Hamilton of Raplock, was married (in 2nd half of 16th) to Robert Baillie of Coltness (later of Park). He is said to have been a brother of the Laird of Carfin.
The register of sasines for the county of Lanark records Robert Baillie of Park in volumes (RS40) II B.
James Baillie of Park is recorded in volumes (RS40) II B, III A and V. His spouse is recorded as Catherine Hamilton.
Some further information regarding Baillie families in or near Bothwell Parish
The register of Sasines for Lanarkshire recorded William Baillie of Hattonhill in volume (RS42) III. His spouse is recorded as Bethia Baillie. He may have been the William Baillie who had a daughter Margaret baptized at the Kirk of Dalzell in 1655. He was recorded in the Dalzell Parish Register of Baptisms as son-in-law of the Laird of Carfin. The Baptism was witnessed by William Baillie elder of the Carfin and William Baillie younger of Carfin.
William Baillie of Hillhead is recorded in sasine volume (RS42) VI.
James Baillie, son of Troylus Baillie in Gartness, is recorded in volume (RS42) X.
William Baillie, son of Troylus Baillie in Gartness, is recorded in volume (RS42) X.
Robert Baillie of Carderoch is recorded in volumes (RS42) XI and XII.
James Baillie* in Broomside, formerly in Airbles, is recorded in volumes (RS42) XIX, XX ahnd XXI.
This James Baillie was born in 1731 at Airbles Farm within Dalzell Parish. The Dalziel Parish register of Baptisms records that he was a son of John Baillie in Airbles and spouse Janet Mackie.
The Dalziel Parish register of Proclamation of Banns and Marriages of 20th June 1730 reads as follows - John Baillie in Airbles, an elder of the Kirk, and Janet Mackie lawful daughter to James Mackie in Broomside, both in this parish, were allowed proclamation of Banns in order to marriage, having paid their proclamation money.
Dalziel OPR records that John, son lawful to Lieutenant Andrew Baillie, of the 30th Regiment of Foot and C. Bosschaert of Antwerp was born at Broomside 30th Nov? 1816 and baptized by the Rev. James Clason 19th Dec
Dalziel House
