172659

Generation: B

George Matheson, "The Merchant"

Jane Gray Matheson

Children:

• George Matheson, "The Blind Preacher"
• Jane Gray Matheson, Spinster died 1925
• Ellen Matheson, Spinster 1845-1915, Edinburgh
• William W. Matheson, Bachelor stockbroker 1855-1894
• Margaret Monteith Matheson, 1846-1922
• Colonel John Matheson, Skelmorlie 1844-1915, bachelor
• Harry Donald Matheson

NOTE: George Matheson, (B) married his cousin's daughter, Jane Gray Matheson, (C). This gives a 'generation clash', in that the married couple are not of the same generation, which upsets the 'link cards' mechanism.

"The Merchant". Born after the death of his father, in Dornoch. Glasgow University for 1 year.

Firm of Wilson Matheson and Co. 10, Claremont Terr. Glasgow. The family moved to St. Vincent Crescent in 1852, and later on to Woodside Terrace, both in Glasgow.

Married the daughter of a cousin (N.B. in generation C) in 1838. Jane was "musical, spritual". Born 5 months after the marriage of her parents!

There was only a brief funeral notice, and no biography about him in the Glasgow Herald. Both buried Zeta Vault at Glasgow Necropolis.

These were the parents of the Preacher.

When the first George Matheson was drowned at the Meikle Ferry in August 1809, he left a pregnant wife and two, possibly three, children. The mother received certainly one and probably two donations from the Disaster Fund which had been speedily established in the area. Her family name is not known to me. She may have lived with George at a croft, Fricheran, near Brea, at a rental of £1/4/0 per year. This George and a William were also "purveyors of whisky at 4/- per pint". See the Rearchar Papers. Many farmers in the area at that period had their own stills. The Diarist was 37 years old at the time of the disaster and I have little doubt that he offered help immediately, and continuously thereafter. Indeed he travelled to Sutherland only 11 days after the drowning. The first mention of the posthumous son, whom we name now "George The Merchant", is that the diarist from 1817 to 1826 paid out £173/2/2 for his board, lodging, washing, clothing and education, and by 1833 a further £38/19/5. Dr. McMillan, the biographer of the Preacher, seemed to know little of the life of his father, for all he records is: "Father was George Matheson, native of Dornoch. Came to Glasgow to be educated. Successful business man. He attended St. David's Church (the Ramshorn, Carlton Place) then was a promoter of Sandyford Church. Helped with the appointment of its first minister. Was living at St. Vincent Crescent in 1852, and later moved to Woodside Terrace, Glasgow".

I have read somewhere that George intended at first to enter the Ministry, and for this purpose attended Glasgow University for a year. He was induced by a friend, named Wilson, to go into business with him, and did so, forming the firm of Wilson, Matheson and Co., Glassford Street. I quoted a matriculation entry for the University for the year 1825 (at the end of John Matheson's diary) which I believe refers to him. Another note I have is that he also once resided at 10, Claremont Terrace.

"The Life of George Matheson D.D.", Dr. Macmillan, minister of Kelvinhaugh Parish, Glasgow, 1907, page 6:

"Mrs. Matheson's special gift was song. Music certainly was the art she cultivated most. As a pianist she was striking and brilliant, her talent was many sided. If it was from his father that the Preacher inherited his sane view of worldly matters and powers of managing business affairs which frequently surprised intimate friends, it was certainly to his mother he was indebted to his gift of imagination and spiritual insight. He was quite aware of this himself. "I was brought up on the most traditional theology" he once remarked. "My father held by the old paths, my mother had an enquiring mind and doubtless much of my speculative spirit comes from her". George the Preacher thus united in himself and in an unique degree the special qualities of both his parents".

I read the Merchant's will to see what qualities it might disclose. 8 1/2 pages of it! His executors were Sir George Coats, Wilson his partner, Readman his banker, Sir Donald Matheson, his spouse, and Colonel John, his son. He had a lot of money to dispose of: Interest on £55,000 to his wife, the rest amongst his numerous family, less whatever loans they may have received. Daughters were to get one third of their share, two thirds would be in the hands of trustees and not at the disposal of their husbands. George was nearly 80, and could not sign his name because of blindness. The whole will seemed a reasonable one to me.