Stirlings of Keir

ARCHIBALD STIRLING, &c, 1738-1856. 89
V. Archibald Stirling of Garden. He was baptized on 13th January
1738. When he was boarded with a friend in his youth, his aunt, Mary,
wrote to his father that ' he is a gentle sweet lad.' x He succeeded his father
in Garden about the year 1760. At that time and previously, he assisted
his uncle James in the management of the mines at Leadhills, and on the
death of his uncle, he became sole manager. He purchased the estates of
Arnmore, Arnfinlay, and Arngibbon, all adjoining Garden. He executed an
entail of the estate of Garden on 22nd November 1816, and recorded in the
Kegister of Entails on 21st December following. After James Stirling, his
only son, and Ann Stirling, sister of the granter, he nominated the second son
to be born to Archibald Stirling of Hampden, in the Island of Jamaica, after-
wards of Keir, and also William, John, James, Charles, and Sylvester, the
second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth sons of John Stirling of Kippendavie, and
the second or other younger sons of Patrick Stirling, his eldest son. In the
event of there being only one son existing for the time in any degree or genera-
tion, it is provided by the entail, that such only son may enjoy both estates of
Garden and Keir, or Garden and Kippendavie, during his life, or until he had
a second son who should attain the age of twenty-one years, when Garden
should devolve on him. From the terms of the destination in this entail,
it is clear, that at the date of it there were no nearer heirs-male of the
Garden family, known to the maker of the entail as then existing, other-
wise they would have been nominated preferably to the younger sons of
the Keir and Kippendavie families. Archibald Stirling married in 1772
his cousin, Christian, daughter of James Stirling the Venetian. He died
at Garden in January 1824, aged eighty-seven, and was succeeded by his
only son —
VI. James Stirling of Garden. He was born on 3rd September 1772.
He piu'chased the estate of Arnprior, adjoining Garden. During his posses-
sion of the estate of Garden, he greatly increased its value by extensive and
judicious improvements, having expended nearly £40,000 since his succession
in 1824. He was regarded by his tenants as one of the best landlords in the
district. He died on 20th June 1856, aged eighty-four, having married in
1 Letter at Garden.
M