7th of June

St Paul, Bishop of Constantinople and martyr, 350. St Colman, Bishop of Dromore, confessor, about 610. St Godeschalc, Prince of the Western Vandals, and his companions, martyrs, 1066. St Meriadec, Bishop of Vannes, confessor, 1302.

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Born. – John Rennie, engineer, 1761, Prestonkirk, Haddingtonshire.

Died. – St Willibald, 790, Aichstadt; Robert Bruce, King of Scots, 1329, Cardross Castle, Dumbartonshire; Bishop John Sage, religious controversialist, 1711, Edinburgh; William Aikman, Scottish portrait-painter, 1731, London; Frederick William III., King of Prussia, 1840; Sir John Graham Dalyell, Bart., naturalist, antiquary, 1851, Edinburgh.

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On this Day in Other Sources.

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The 7th of June this year, 1329, died that valiant and famous prince, King Robert I., at Cardross, in the 24th year of his reign, and was interred at Dunfermline in the sepulture of the kings. The King’s corpse no sooner entombed, but immediately the estates, conform[ing] to the deceased King’s will, make Thomas Randolph, Earl of Moray, Governor during the prince’s [minority]. 

– Historical Works, pp.88-104.

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King Robert had now accomplished the great object for which he had struggled and fought so long. A year later, on the 7th of June, 1329, he died at Cardross, near Dumbarton, and was buried in the Abbey of Dunfermline. In his times of trial he had vowed, that if God gave him opportunity he would carry his arms against the infidels in the Holy Land. On his death-bed he charged the good Lord James Douglas to carry his heart to Jerusalem and bury it there. 

– A History of Scotland, Chapter III. 

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In the month of June, this year [1515], the Duke of Albany lands from France, at Ayr. He is honourably received, and comes to Edinburgh, [on] the 7th of this same month, where he is welcomed with triumph and pageants; and in a convention of the estates, takes on him the government. 

– Historical Works, pp.238-275.

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Besides the possession of a toft, residence was necessary to confer the privileges of a burgess, and every burgess was bound to render the services of watch and ward. He might, however, become free from these and from other burgal obligations by renouncing his freedom and the privileges of a burgess, and this was occasionally done.¹ After selling his property the granter in all cases ceased to be a burgess, and in the royal burghs, as I have already mentioned, he was at liberty “to go where he will.” 

– Old Glasgow, pp.80-83.

¹  Burgh Records of Aberdeen, 7th June, 1596.

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About this time, [Charles Blount] the Lord Mountjoy returns from Ireland, and with him the famous rebel (that kept England so long [at] work) Hugh O’Neill, Earl of Tyrone, who was admitted to the King’s favour, by the Lord Deputy’s means, and pardoned, and proclamation of the 7th of June [1603], the said Earl of Tyrone was restored, and order given for his honourable usage. 

– Historical Works, pp.340-416.

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This bold step inspired the royalists with confidence, and in a short space of time a considerable force rallied round the royal standard Lewis Gordon, third son of the marquis of Huntly, a youth of extraordinary courage, on hearing of his brother’s arrival, collected his father’s friends and tenants, to the number of about one thousand horse and foot, and with these he entered Aberdeen, on the seventh of June [1639]. These were succeeded by a hundred horse sent in by the laird of Drum, and by considerable forces led by James Grant and Donald Farquharson. Many of the covenanters also joined the viscount, so that his force ultimately amounted to several thousand men. 

– History of the Highlands, pp.314-341.

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Born in Paisley 7th June 1772. Wilson practiced as a solicitor. But after the death of his wife of only 18 months he went traveling in the Middle East, subsequently writing ‘Travels in the Holy Land’ and other books. No wood, iron or lead has been used in making this monument, all joints are concealed. The family arms of Rae and Wilson are depicted in white marble inside. Wilson adopted the middle name of Rae when he inherited money from an uncle of the same name. 

– Glasgow’s City Necropolis. (Guest Article)

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In 1758 Robert McNair bought the lands of Little Hill of Tollcross from Patrick Tod for £100, reputedly paying the transaction in cash, with notes kept in an old satchel. McNair was a successful grocer in 18th century Glasgow. He married Jean Holms, who took an active part in the business which became known as ‘Robert McNair and Jean Holms in Company’. 

The couple built a dwelling-house on the lands, and enjoyed a nursery garden with pear trees. McNair was noted for his meanness and declined to appoint an architect to oversee the building of his house. It was a two storey structure and upon completion became known as ‘Jeanfield’ to honour his spouse. It was an odd looking structure and caught the attention of travellers passing along Gallowgate en route by coach to Edinburgh. 

McNair died in his seventy sixth year at Jeanfield on 7th June 1779. The property remained within the family until 1797 when printer John Mennons purchased the estate. 

– Glasgow’s Eastern Necropolis. (Guest Article)

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Once more has the fire been kindled in Sutherland, to carry out the exterminating theories of the Loch policy. Confessing most heartily that notwithstanding all the antecedents of that system in Sutherland, we are not prepared for this recent case, we proceed to lay before our readers its leading facts:-

     “It will be remembered that on the 7th of June last an industrious cottar named Don Murray, with his aged sister, and two little motherless girls were ejected from the hut which they had occupied for many years. After lying for sometimes in the open air, the Rev. Mr. MacKellar, parish minister of Clyne [1855], gave them the use of a cart shed, which they continued to occupy from the date of eviction till Saturday the 17th of this month, their little bits of furniture meanwhile lying in the open air. In the meantime it was found that the Duke of Sutherland had no right to the cot from which Murray and his family were ejected; and that it stood on glebe land, and a case was entered in the Court of Session. Acting under advice, Murray and his family again took possession of the hut, along with part of their furniture, on the date referred to, and immediately on this being done the machinery was set in order for a second eviction. Accordingly, on the forenoon of Tuesday last, public attention was attracted to a dense volume of smoke rising from the neighbourhood of the manse of Clyne, and it was soon found that Murray’s cabin was on fire and that workmen were actively employed in the demolition of its rude walls, the Magnus Appolo of the patriotic and humane labour of love being Mr. Patrick McGibbon, Golsie, who, with crowbar in hand, and with a heart of will, wrought in the good cause with astonishing energy, assisted (?) by a John Thomson, cartwright in Golspie, and a youth of some fifteen summers, glorying in the name of Mackay. The worthy three persevered in the ducal mission till the miserable hut was razed to the ground. Part of the poor creature’s furniture was scattered here and there. A correspondent who witnessed the most part of the proceedings says:- “I stood for a brief period, surveying the progress of the flames and the torch-bearers, and then turned away in disgust from the scene, with the reverbration of H.M.S. Pembroke’s guns ringing in my ears, and thoughts occupying my mind that my pen fails to describe; but thanking my Maker that I was not born a Duke and left to tarnish a ducal coronet by such a deed of inhumanity. I again passed the spot when the work was finished. The walls were completely levelled, and the timbers were still burning; while the master of the ceremonies was retiring to a streamlet hard by, to wash his dirty hands. The outcasts had again to betake themselves to the cart shed, kindly given to them by the minister of Clyne, every other person in the district being afraid to do anything for them, or show them any kindness, dreading that for the simplest act of humanity towards one of the family they would be similarly treated. I may add that the blankets that Murray’s sister had lying on her straw pallet were burned.” 

– Gloomy Memories, pp.204-212.