It is clear that local collective memory in the Luss area long retained an awareness of the McAusland barons. In a book by Donald McLeod, “Past Worthies of the Lennox: A Garland of Their Droll Sayings and Doings.” (1894), the author devotes a page to one Sandy McAuslane, otherwise known as “The Baron”.

Sandy was a skilled weaver in Luss, and his heyday was the first half of the 19th century. Also employed as a porter at Luss pier, Sandy was evidently a real character. Donald McLeod writes: – “While Sandy was beyond doubt a good weaver, he had the reputation of being also a capital spinner- of a “yarn”. The neighbours put in many pleasant nights round his cheery ingle listening to his narratives regarding the sprees and splores of his younger days and other wonderful tales”.

So who was this Sandy McAuslane, otherwise known as The Baron?

The Old Parish Registers of Births & Baptisms for Luss parish in Dunbartonshire record that on Saturday 9th June 1781, Alexr. McAusland & Catherine Ewing had a son baptized and called Alexander. He was the second of their eight children and had an elder brother John and younger siblings Walter, Mary, Janet, Robert, Marjory and Elizabeth.

On 23 January 1808, Alexander married Janet Sheddan in the High Kirk parish of Paisley in Renfrewshire, however the couple are not known to have had any children.

At the time of the 1841 census, Alexander McAuslan (aged 60) and his wife (aged 50) were living in the Village of Luss, where he was working as a weaver.

In 1851, they were still living in the Village of Luss, with Alexander McAuslan being recorded as aged 67 and a hand loom cotton weaver, while his wife Janet was described as aged 62.

In 1861 they continued to live in the Village of Luss, with Alexander McAusland being described as aged 80 and a Quay Porter while his wife Janet was described as aged 72.

Alexander McAuslan died on 30 September 1865 in the village of Luss. He was described as aged 84 and the widower of Janet Sheddan. His parents were Alexander McAusland, carpenter, deceased and Catherine McAusland, M.S. Ewing, deceased. The cause of death was natural decay and was not certified.

Alexander’s death was registered by John Millar, Innkeeper in Luss. There was a John Miller, Hotel Owner, aged 60 at the Luss Hotel in 1861, who is assumed to be the same person. He may have been a relative as both Alexander McAuslan’s paternal and maternal grandmothers had the surname Miller.