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

PAEISH OF GREENOCK. 411
" In memory of James Watt, merchant in Greenock, a benevolent
and ingenious man, and a zealous promoter of the improvements
of the Town who died 17 2 aged
" Of Agnes Muirheid his spouse who died 1733 aged 50, and of
John Watt their son who perished at sea 1765 aged 25. To his
revered parents and to his brother, James Watt has placed this
memorial."
Thomas Watt, the engineer's grandfather, was born in Aberdeen-
shire, where his family had previously resided. His father, the
great-grandfather of the engineer, farmed a little property of his
own. He was killed while lighting on the side of the Covenanters
against the Marquis of Montrose.
A memorial slab in tlie interior of the old church commemorates
Thomas Crawfurd of Cartsburn, who died 3rd February, 1743.
This branch of the house of Crawfurd descends from the family of
Crawfurd of Kilbirnie. George Crawfurd, author of the " Genea-
logical History of the Eoyal Family of Stewart," "A Description
of the Shire of Eenfrew," and other works, was a member of the
family.
An elegant monument has by public subscription been erected
at the grave of INIary Campbell, celebrated by Burns. It contains
a sculpture representing the parting of Burns and Mary, surmounted
by a figure weeping over an urn, with these lines beneath : —
" My Mary dear, departed, shade.
Where is thy place of blissfid rest 1"
Within a railed enclosure a small tombstone is thus inscribed : —
"This burying-place belongs to Peter McPherson, ship car-
penter in Greenock, and Mary Campbell his spouse, and their
children, 1787."
Burns became acquainted with " Highland Mary " about the
year 1785, when she was serving his friend Gavin Hamilton at
Mauchline. She is described as a sprightly blue-eyed girl, pos-
sessed of true modesty and real worth. She was a native of
Dunoon ; her father, who was a sailor in a revenue cutter, after-