Our maternal grandfather Hugh Weir McAusland was named after his paternal grandfather Hugh Weir McAusland who in turn had been named after his maternal grandfather, Hugh Weir.

Birth

No record of the birth or baptism of Hugh Weir has been found. According to census reports, Hugh Weir was born around 1759 in Glendaruel, in the parish of Kilmodan in Argyll.

Marriage

The first mention of Hugh Weir was in the Old Parish Register of Banns and Marriages for Kilmodan parish in Argyll when, as Hugh Wier, his marriage with Ann Ferguson was listed under the Consignations for 25 February 1797 with 7 shillings and six pence being paid. Both were listed as resident in the parish.

On the 18th February, an Ann Wier “of this parish” was listed as paying 3 shillings and nine pence for the consignation of her marriage with John Blair of Stralachlan. It seems likely that she was a relation of Hugh’s, possibly a sister.

Hugh Weir in the 1841 and 1851 census

Unusually for the time, Hugh Weir lived to a ripe old age and in 06 June 1841 he was aged 82 and of independent means living at Bridge Street in Rothesay on the Isle of Bute. Also in the household were his wife, Ann Weir, aged 60 and John Weir, aged 8, presumably a grandson.

In 1851, Hugh Weir was recorded at 12 Bridge Street in Rothesay as a widowed retired farmer, aged 90, born at Glenduruel in Argyll. Living with him was his granddaughter, Ann, aged 20, a dressmaker, born in Rothesay on the isle of Bute. Interestingly, in 1895 & 1901, the householder of number 12 was a Mrs Anne Weir – but she could not be the same person as Hugh’s granddaughter, Anne Weir died on 20 March 1855 in Glasgow.

By 1861, Hugh Weir, unsurprisingly, does not appear in the census records and as no death was found in the Statutory Register, it was assumed that he had died before 1855 when civil records began.

Hugh Weir’s Will

Hugh Weir had left a will of 19th May 1952 which was recorded at Rothesay Sherif Court on 11th September 1852 and this proved to be a goldmine and revealed the existence of previously unknown relatives.

Hugh Weir was described as “sometime farmer in Bute, thereafter residing in Rothesay at the time of his death which happened at Rothesay on the _______ (blank space) day of August eighteen hundred and fifty two.” The trustees and executors appointed were “Graham Kinloch, bank agent, Alexandria and Duncan Weir, merchant, Rothesay.” It is assumed that Duncan Weir may have been a relative but we have, as yet, been able to connect them.

Hugh Weir had taken out three deposit receipts, for £130; £173 10 shillings and 6 pence; and £160 17 shillings and 3 pence, which, including interest, the value of his household goods and cash left in the house made up a moveable estate of £491 16 shillings and six pence – a considerable sum for the time.

After any debts, sickbed and funeral expenses, and expenses of conferring, the following legacies were to be paid:

To my eldest son, Alexander Weir, twenty pounds sterling;
To my second daughter, Janet Weir, twenty pounds sterling;
and to my grandson Hugh Weir, son of my youngest son, James Weir deceased, the sum of thirty pounds sterling, which last legacy shall not be paid till my said grandson achieve majority……

The remainder of the estate was to be divided between his living children, “share and share alike” viz:

The said Alexander Weir and
Janet Weir
Duncan Weir, sailor, my second son
John Weir, travelling merchant, my third son and
Mary Weir McKinlay, my eldest daughter, wife of Brice McKinlay, cotton spinner, Rothesay and
Catherine Weir or McAuslane, wife of David McAuslane, Tanner, Greenock.

If any of those named were to die before the division of the estate, if they left issue, their allocated share was to be divided equally amongst the issue.

There was a further condition regarding the inheritance of his eldest son, Alexander:

“Declaring further that if my son Alexander Weir who emigrated to America several years ago, or if the heirs of his body, if such exist, do not claim the said Legacy and share of residue provided for him within seven years from and after the date of my death, the said Legacy and share of residue shall lapse and belong to my other children named above equally among them or to their respective issue and shall be divided by my said Trustees and Executors accordingly.“

There was also a condition regarding the inheritance of his grandson, Hugh Weir:

“Declaring further that if my said grandson Hugh Weir above named die before attaining majority and receiving payment of the Legacy promised, for him, the same shall fall and belong to my children above named equally among them or their respective issue.”

The Beneficiaries

Alexander Weir

Alexander Weir was the eldest of the seven children of Hugh Weir and Ann Ferguson. He was born as Alexander Wier at “Achadachenanmore” in the parish of Kilmodan in Argyl and baptised on 18 February 1798. He emigrated to American several years before Hugh Weir’s will was written and his fate is unknown.

On 01 January 1838, an Alexander Weir aged 47 and born in 1797 arrived in New York on the Hannibal and he may have been our Alexander Weir.

On 02 April 1871, the Canadian census for Puslinch in Ontario, Canada listed an Alexander Weir, aged 72 a farmer, a member of the Presbyterian church and from Scotland. Ten years later at the same place Alexander Weir was then aged 84, a farmer, a member of the Presbyterian church and from Scotland.

This line’s fate is uncertain and it may have died out.

Mary Weir

Mary Weir was born at Ardacheranbeg in Kilmodan parish in Argyll and baptised on 12 January 1800. On 08 February 1827 at Rothesay on the isle of Bute, she married Brice McKinlay, son of James McKinlay. The couple went on to have three sons, James born 09 December 1827, Hugh born 13 December 1829, and John born 06 February 1832, all at Rothesay. Like her father, she was long-lived. Mary Weir died aged 85, on 10 June 1885 at Rothesay, of Bronchitis and old age.

Janet Weir

Janet Weir was born on 23 June 1802 at Ardacheranbeg in Kilmodan parish in Argyll. On 06 June 1841 she was living at Rothesay on the Isle of Bute and was female servant to Peter McBride, Minister of the Gospel, while on 30 March 1851 she was House Servant to William Buchanan, Merchant. It is not known what happened to her after she received her bequest but at the age of fifty she is unlikely to have married and had children.

This line is believed to have died out.

Duncan Weir

Duncan Weir was born on 23 January 1805 at an unspecified place in Kilmodan parish. On 5th December 1828, Duncan Weir, seaman, son of Hugh Weir, tenant Gortans, and Catherine Wilson “son” (sic) of the late John Wilson, seaman, both in the parish of Rothesay, booked their wedding and they were married on the 8th. Duncan was not found in the 1841 or 1851 census, presumably having been at sea, but is assumed to have been alive on 19 May 1852, when the bequest was made.

His only known child, Anne, was born on 09 December 1830 in Rothesay. She was living with her aunt, Janet Weir, on 06 June 1841, so her mother is presumed to have died. On 30 March 1851, she was living with her grandfather, Hugh Weir. She married John McLaren on 30 July 1852 and they had two children. John was born on 23 May 1853 in Paisley and died of Croup aged 2 1/2 in Glasgow on 05 September 1855. Annie Jane was born on 07 March 1855 in Glasgow and died there aged three weeks on 31 March 1855 of Inflamation of the abdomen. Anne herself died on 20 March 1855 in Glasgow, aged just 23, of Phthisis and Bronchitis, and Bruising from childbirth.

This line is believed to have died out.

Catherine Weir

Our great (x3) grandmother, Catherine Weir was born on 17 October 1807 at Auchinleithlevis in Kilmodan parish in Argyll. On 02 December 1840 she became the second wife of David Stewart McAusland, a tanner, in Greenock, and had two children: our great (x2) grandfather who was born on 21 February 1842 in Greenock and named after his maternal grandfather and Margaret Muir McAusland who was born on 21 January 1846 in Greenock and went on to become the mother of four children including Sir Andrew Agnew, CBE.

This line has living descendants.

John Weir

John Weir was born on 16 October 1811 at Brengortan in Inverchaolain parish in Argyll and baptised on 28 October 1811. When his father Hugh Weir wrote his will on 19 May 1852, he is said to have been a travelling merchant. He has not been identified in the census records and it is not known whether he married and had children.

This line may have died out.

James Weir

James Weir was born on 08 June 1818 at Rulicheddan in the parish of Rothesay on the isle of Bute and baptised on 29 June 1818. He had died before Hugh Weir made his will on 19 May 1852, leaving a son and heir, also called Hugh Weir, after his father.

Hugh Weir’s grandson has yet to be positively identified and the status of this line is unknown.

Duncan Weir, Trustee and Executor

It is not known if Duncan Weir was a relation of Hugh Weir. His birth and baptism, like that of Hugh, has not be found.

On 06 June 1841, Duncan Weir was living at Shaw Place in Greenock. He was recorded as being aged 40 a merchant, and having been born in Renfrewshire. The other member of the household was Helen Ireland, a female servant, aged 25 and also born in Renfrewshire.

In the 1847 Post Office Directory, Weir, Duncan & Co., Merchants, ship owners & agents are at 71 Rue-end Street. In the 1857 directory, Weir Duncan & Co. , Merchants, are at 67 Hue-end street.

By 30 March 1851, he was living at Brougham Street in Greenock and was aged 55, unmarried, a merchant and J.P., who had been born in Greenock There were also two house servants, Agnes Crawford, aged, 35, born Port Glasgow and Catherine Law, aged 15, born Greenock.

On 19 May 1852, he was named as Executor and Trustee in the Will of Hugh Weir and on 11 September 1852 he took up his appointment. He was described as Merchant in Greenock.

It is assumed that Duncan Weir died before 09 November 1853 as on this date the inventory of Duncan Weir, merchant in Greenock, was recorded at Paisley Sheriff Court.

Duncan Weir’s gravestone in Inverkip Street Burial Ground in Greenock reveals that Duncan Weir esq merchant here was born on 3 June 1798 and died on 7 July 1853.