Grampian Club > Monuments and monumental inscriptions in Scotland > Volume 1

380 AYRSHIRE.
Hugh (Jampbell, of Loudoun. A brave and enterprising officer, lie
in 1571 performed the extraordinary feat of storming the nearly-
impregnable Castle of Dumbarton. Tor this and other services
he received a grant of lauds in the neighbourhood of Glasgow;
hence his title of Jordanhill. He spent the last twenty years of
his life in retirement. His wife was heiress of Kersland. A vault
in the church was the burying-place of the ancient house of the
Craufurds of Kilbirnie.
In the churchyard several flat stones, each bearing the figure of a
sword, are believed to commemorate certain Knight Templars
supposed to have been buried at the spot.
An altar tombstone commemorates Lucres Scrimgeour, wife of
the Eev. William Eussell, minister of the parish, who died 3rd
September, 1637. Mr. Eussell was minister of Kilbirnie from
1619 till 1661. As a preacher he was not very acceptable ; he
caused one of his parishioners to be rebuked by the Presbytery
for characterizing his doctrine as " dust and grey meal."
The Eev. James Smith, who died minister of the parish, 11th
February, 1733, is on a tombstone, erected by his widow, celebrated
in these lines : —
" Buried here lys a worthy man,
Whose life, alas ! was but a span ;
He pleasure took by God's command,
To lead us to Emmanuel's land.
He was a blessing to our place.
Where he did preach by power of grace.
Bidding us Jesus' footsteps trace,
And from all sinning strive to cease.
To us, alas ! he is no more,
His soul triumphs in endless glore ;
Why should we then his loss deplore,
Who joined has the heavenly choir ?
To make his character complete,
Nature blest him with temper sweet.
Kind to his own, to all discreet.
All who do love his memory
Must like him live, and like him dy,
Then ye'l enjoy eternity.
In ever praising the Most High."