Melodies and memories

THE BLACKS OF BREICH WATER. 207
his cart. The orphan girl was brought to Burnside, where
she assisted her grandfather, and in course of years became
Mrs John Sommerville. She is now in her widowhood,
living with a son in Greenock. Another son is in Edin-
burgh, and there are also two daughters. It ought, in strict
justice, to be told that much of the information in this
history was gleaned by her during a lengthy lifetime, she
being now over eighty years of age.
Alexander, third son of James, of Burnside, is highly
entitled to very honourable mention, because, at the cost of
his own, he saved the life of another man from drowning in
the Forth near Stirling. His wife's name was Mary
Galbraith. They had four sons and one daughter.
James, eldest, a baker in Glasgow, went with his family
to Melbourne. He and his wife died in Dunedin several
years ago. Alexander, second son, was formerly a tannery
manager in London, afterwards going to Belgium. Peter,
the third son, was a baker, and became a successful
colonist. John, the youngest son, who had hard times in
his youth, being orphaned when only four years of age,
knew life as a herd-boy at Liltie-co-kee and at Craighead.
He became a cooper, a musician, and, in manners and
morals, a man worth knowing. With his family of sons
and daughters he now lives in Glasgow. Janet, the hero's
only daughter, with husband and family, went abroad, and
worked themselves into comfortable circumstances.
Of the Burnside daughters, Agnes became Mrs Wm.
Mungall, Helen became Mrs Peter Thornton, Rashiehill,
and, in both cases, these families emigrated to America
many years ago.
Margaret Thornton, Rashiehill, was married to Robert
Thomson, Stonemains, near Knowton, and had several
children. One son, Peter, lives in Whitburn, and another,
James, lives in Bathgate. There are also several female
descendants at various other places. Isabella Thornton