Wedderburn book > History

THE MACLAGAN-WEDDERBURNS OF PEARSIE. 327
(second son to Alexander Read of Torbeg and Elizabeth Wedderbum, ante p. 262). 1 She Part in.
died s.p. 20 Nov. 1789, and was buried in the Howff of Dundee, under a stone bearing an cha P- IX -
inscription and some lines in her praise. 2 When, on his death, her husband was laid beside
her, no addition was made to the inscription.
ii. AtFintry, in the parish of Monifieth, co. Forfar, 5 Dec. 1797 (J.W. 50 ; Gent. Mag.,
p. 1129; Scots Mag., p. 930) 3 to Eliza Rattray, daughter of David Rattray, M.D., of
Coventry, co. Warwick, and niece to Colonel William Rattray of Downie Park, co. Angus,
of the family of Rannagulzion, co. Perth. She also died s.p., 25 Feb. 1823, at the house
of her brother, Dr. Charles Rattray, at Daventry, co. Northampton (J.W. 52 ; Gent. Mag.
ciii., p. i., p. 286).
Charles Wedderbum thus dying without issue, was succeeded in Pearsie by his
nephew and heir of entail,
David Graham or "Wedderbum, 4 born 15 Dec. 1784, who was retoured heir general
to his uncle 4 May 1829 (R.H. 51). He was a deputy lieutenant for Angus, and long
resided at Pearsie, where he died unmarried 25 Dec. 1858, and was buried in Dundee
{Gent. Mug., N.S., vi., p. 218).
John Graham or Wedderbum. 5 born in 1787. He succeeded his brother in
Pearsie, and died unmarried 20 July 1870, and was buried in Dundee.
Sect. I. — The Maclagan-Wedderburns of Pearsie.
John Graham or Wedderbum, dying unmarried, was thus succeeded by
Katharine Stormonth or Maclagan-Wedderburn (elder of the two daughters of
Alexander Stormonth of Kinclune by Elizabeth Stewart, and consequently grand daughter
of two of the daughters of Robert Wedderbum of Pearsie), who was born at Dundee 1 Nov.
1814, and died at 3, Glencairn Crescent, Edinburgh, 25 April 1891, when she was buried
in the Dean Cemetery there. 6
On her succession to Pearsie she was retoured heir of tailzie and provision general
to her cousin, John Graham-Wedderburn, 27-29 Sept. 1870 (R.H. 57), and at once, in
accordance with the provisions of this entail, assumed the name and arms of Wedderbum,
and thereupon a similar change of name was adopted by all her children, although not so
required by the entail, which imposes the condition on the heir in possession only. Hence
the various members of the family of Maclagan-Wedderburn, now of Pearsie and elsewhere.
She had married at Broughty Ferry 3 March 1834, theBev. James Maclagan, D.D., and
by him, who died 29 Oct. 1852, had issue six sons and four daughters,
1. James Stuart Maclagan, bom at Kinfauns 11 Nov. 1836. Died at Aberdeen
18 Sept. 1855, and is buried there. He never bore the name Wedderbum, his
mother not succeeding to Pearsie till after his death.
2. Alexander Stormonth Maclagan, afterwards Wedderbum of Pearsie. See
post p. 328.
3. Patrick Dugald Maclagan, born at Kinfauns 31 July 1842. Died at Glendoick
19 July 1854 ; buried at Kinfauns. He, like his eldest brother, and for the same
reason, never bore the name of Wedderbum.
4. John Maclagan-Wedderburn, born at Pitlowie, co. Perth, 20 Aug. 1844. Married
at Montreal, 25 Aug. 1881, Helen Forrest. Living 1898 at Roden, Manitoba,
Canada, and has issue,
1. James Maclagan-Wedderburn, bom 1882.
2. Alexander Stormonth Maclagan-Wedderburn, bom 1884.
3. John Maclagan-Wedderburn, bom 1886.
1 Thus Charles Wedderbum of Pearsie was first cousin to his wife's father.
2 See Qent. Mag., p. 1,150, where, however, the date is wrongly given as 30 Nov., and Scots Mag., p. 571.
For the epitaph on her tomb see post s. the chapter on the Howff.
z See Monifieth Parish Register. " 1797 Nov. 30, Captain Charles Wedderbum of Powry (sic) and Miss
Elizabeth Rattray of this parish were proclaimed."
4 See also two letters from him to J.W. in 1825 and 1830 (J.W. 54, 56). He is a legatee in the will of
James Webster (D.C. 105).
5 These two brothers, " neither of whom ever married, were in the habit of spending the winter in Dundee,
and they frequently visited that town at other times. While they both lived, wherever they went,
they went together ; they bore considerable resemblance to each other and the same mind seemed to
animate both. Indeed, they were so loving and so loveable that they were generally known as the
' cheerable brothers ' " (Warden's Angus, iv., p. 42).
* The headstone bears this inscription, " In memory of our mother Katharine Maclagan-Wedderburn of
Pearsie, daughter of Alexander Stormonth of Kinclune, and widow of Rev. James Maclagan, D.D.
Born 1st Nov. 1814. Died 25 April 1891."