AUCHINTOSHAN HOUSE, parish of Old Kilpatrick, Dumbartonshire, and distant eight miles from Glasgow, is the property of James Black, of the well known firm of Black and Wingate, of Kelvinhaugh.
The mansion house, originally built in the seventeenth century, has been repeatedly altered and added to.
The lands of Auchintoshan, formerly in possession of the Abbey of Paisley, were acquired in 1612 from James, Earl of Abercorn, by Matthew, son of Andrew Hamilton of Cochna (descended of the noble House of Hamilton in Lanarkshire), Provost of Glasgow, and Governor of Dumbarton Castle, by his wife, Agnes Crawford of Kilbirnie. Their son, William Hamilton of Auchintoshan, married Jean Stirling of Law, and was succeeded by his daughter, Jean, who married Waiter Buchanan of Moss, descended (through Drumikill), from Sir Walter, 13th Laird of Buchanan and Leny. Their son, Walter Buchanan of Moss and Auchintoshan, married in 1696 Rebecca, (with a tocher of 3,000 merks) second daughter of Gabriel Hamilton of Westburn, by his wife Margaret, daughter of Sir Robert Cunningham of Gilbertfield.
On the 6th March, 1745, George Buchanan of Moss and Auchintoshan, and Mary his wife, daughter of George Buchanan, Bailie of Glasgow, and ancestor of Drumpellier Auchentorlie and Craigend, had from "Archibald Buchanan of Drumnakiln," a Charter of Confirmation of the lands of Moss dated at the "Mansion House of Auchentoshan," in presence of the following witnesses, viz.:- "James Hamilton of Barns, James Hamilton of Hutcheson, Hew Spreull Crawford of Coudonhill, Aula M'Aula of Ardencaple, James Anderson of Stobcross, John Spreull of Milnton, and John Stirling of Law." It is no great stretch of imagination to suppose that on this occasion
"The song went round, the goblet flowed
And revel sped the laughing hours."
In 1793, Anne Buchanan, heiress of Moss and Auchintoshan, married William Cross, merchant and West India proprietor in Glasgow. On the death of their son, John Cross-Buchanan of Moss and Auchintoshan, in 1839, the estate was sold by his trustees to the late William Dunn of Duntocher, at the price of £20,000.
William Dunn was succeeded in this and other large properties by his only surviving brother, Alexander Dunn. Alexander Dunn died in 1860, and in 1872 his trustees sold Auchintoshan for £27,000 to the present owner, James Black, grandson of Mrs. Park, only sister of William and Alexander Dunn.
The Crosses are an old Glasgow race, and the following may be of some interest:-
I. - ROBERT CORSE or CROSS.
Born 1639, died 1705, was Dean of Guild and Bailie of Glasgow, 1682-85. He married Joanet, sister of James Peadie of Ruchill, Provost of Glasgow 1686-87, and had one son,
II. - JOHN CROSS.
Born 1671, died 1732, was Dean of Guild and Bailie of Glasgow 1692-95. He married first Joan, daughter of William Walkinshaw of Scotstoun, by whom he had a son
III. - ROBERT CROSS.
Married Christian, daughter of John M'Gilchrist of Easter Possill, and had a daughter, Jean, who married James Somervell of Hamilton Farm and Sorn.
John Cross (No. II.) married, secondly, Agnes, daughter of William Crawford of Crawfordland, and had:-
(1.) WILLIAM CROSS of Parkhouse, Advocate, Sheriff of Lanarkshire, and Professor of Law in the University of Glasgow.
(2.) HELEN CROSS, married Peter Blackburn, ancestor of the Blackburns of Killearn (see Househill.)
(3.) MARTHA CROSS, married Matthew Bogle, merchant, Glasgow.
(4.) JOHN CROSS, of whom afterwards.
III. - JOHN CROSS,
West India proprietor and merchant in Glasgow, born 1719, died 1778; married Lilias, only child of William Purdie, merchant, Glasgow, and Lilias Luke his wife, and had IV. - WILLIAM CROSS,
West India proprietor and merchant in Glasgow, who married Anne Buchanan of Moss and Auchintoshan, by whom he had:-
(1.) ANN CROSS, married Robert, brother of Yuille of Darleith.
(2.) MARION CROSS, married J. W. Alston of Stockbriggs (see Craighead).
(3.) JOHN CROSS-BUCHANAN of Moss and Auchintoshan, of whom afterwards.
(4.) NEIL CROSS, W.S.
(5.) WILLIAM CROSS, of Dennistoun Cross & Co., married Anna, daughter of John Wood by his wife, Elizabeth Dennistoun of Golfhill.
(6.) RICHARD CROSS, Lieutenant, 92nd Highlanders.
(7.) JOHN CROSS-BUCHANAN of Moss and Auchintoshan.
Married Jean Wardrop of Torbanehill, and had:-
(1.) WILLIAM, C.E., Virginia, U.S., married Mary, daughter of Peter King, Peru.
(2.) ANNA BOLLING, married Thomas Craig Christie of Bedlay.
(3.) JOHN, married Rosa, daughter of Thomas Jenkin, M.D., Zacatecas.
(4.) MARION.
(5.) HECTOR, married Agnes, daughter of Rev. R. C. Seaton-Blenkinsopp, Rector of Shadforth, son of G. T. Seaton-Blenkinsopp of Hoppyland Park, County of Durham.
(6.) SUSAN.
(7.) WALTER, married Amy, daughter of Robert Brown of Forest Hill, Kent.
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