Strathendrick, and its inhabitants from early times

204 HISTORY OF STRATHENDRICK
James Napier of Ballikinrain and Janet Blair, his wife, had one son, John,
aftenvards of Ballikinrain, and two daughters, Susanna and Agnes. He died in
1754. His wife had died in 1748.
JOHN NAPIER, THIRTEENTH OF BALLIKINRAIN, AND JANET EUCHANAN HIS WIFE.
John Napier of Ballikinrain succeeded his father in 1754. His wife was
Janet Buchanan, daughter of Moses Buchanan of Glinns. In early life he had
chosen law as his profession, and he was accordingly, on 7th December 1733,
bound apprentice to Robert Spreull, writer in Glasgow, " in his Art and Science
of Writting and Procuring"; but he does not seem to have persevered, for in
1747 he was living at Ballikinrain, as his father says, "in a half idle way."
After his marriage and his father's death he lived at Ballikinrain in the usual
manner of a country gentleman.
In 1756 John Napier bought Ballochairn from William Napier of Culcreuch.
In 1 761 John Napier purchased the lands of Balglass from Major Cunninghame.
John Napier and Janet Buchanan had only one daughter, Janet, who married
Robert Dunmore, afterwards of Ballindalloch, etc.
John Napier of Ballikinrain died in October 1784.
JANET NAPIER, FOURTEENTH OF BALLIKINRAIN, AND ROBERT DUNMORE,
AFTERWARDS OF BALLINDALLOCH, HER HUSBAND.
Janet Napier of Ballikinrain succeeded her father in 1784. She had married,
in 1776, Robert Dunmore, merchant in Glasgow. He was the only surviving
son of Thomas Dunmore of Kelvinside, merchant in Glasgow, and Helen Wilson
his wife. He was born 23rd November 1744. Robert Dunmore was a very
rich man and besides possessing Kelvinside and Gilmorehill, which were made
over to him by his father, he owned Bankeir, Newlands, Blairskaith, Bahvill,
Ballindalloch, and other lands. Mr. Dunmore was a very public-spirited,
excellent man, and Strathendrick is much indebted to him for many improve-
ments. Through his means public roads were made and bridges built, manu-
factures on a large scale set on foot, and an extensive system of planting
introduced. In December 1792 the British Government, alarmed by the
threatening attitude of the Revolutionary Government of France, called out the
militia throughout the country and summoned Parliament. These proceedings
were unfortunately the cause of a most severe commercial crisis in the spring
of 1793, during which many of the banks and greatest mercantile houses in
Scotland failed. Mr. Dunmore was involved in this widespread disaster, and
the extensive estates which he held in his own right were sold. He died in