EASTERHILL is situated on the right bank of the Clyde, about three miles eastward from Glasgow, on the London road. In ancient times, the lands formed part of easter Dalbeth, by which they are bounded on the west. Easterhill property extends to about seventy acres, and in the reign of Queen Anne it belonged to John Wardrop of Dalbeth.
About the middle of last century, Easterhill was acquired by Mr. Archibald Smellie, merchant in Glasgow. He was Dean of Guild in 1769, and a partner of M'Call & Smellie, importers of tobacco, of the class so well known in the olden time for its exclusiveness, as "the Virginia merchants." This lucrative business was long entirely in the hands of the principal citizens of Glasgow, and in a curious list of these, dated 1774, embracing forty-six individuals and firms, M'Call & Smellie appear. (1)
Subsequently this firm was dissolved, and Mr. Smellie assumed as a partner his son Richard, afterwards so well known in Glasgow as holding an important official position connected with the Corporation. Their firm was Archibald Smellie & Son. The father built the mansion of Easterhill, where he resided many years; and, like several of the adjacent proprietors, wrought extensively the coal, which abounds so much in that district generally. (2)
The disastrous consequences of the American war, to many of the old Glasgow merchants, led to Easterhill being sold in 1783. The purchaser was Mr. James Hopkirk, then of Dalbeth. He again, in 1784, parted with Easterhill, to Mr. Robert Findlay, merchant in Glasgow.
Mr. Findlay was son of the Rev. Dr. Robert Findlay, Professor of Divinity in Glasgow College. He entered the Merchants' House in 1778, and in 1797 was Dean of Guild. Mr. Findlay espoused a daughter of Robert Dunlop of Househill, (3) fourth son of James Dunlop (the second) of Garnkirk, and one of the original partners of the Ship Bank. (4) Mr. Findlay's town residence was on the east side of Miller Street, immediately south from the entry to Virginia Street, which entry was opened, about forty years ago, through Mr. Findlay's property.
In 1803 Mr. Findlay was succeeded in Easterhill by his son, the late well known Mr. Robert Findlay, an eminent merchant and banker in Glasgow. He was born in the Miller Street house in 1784. This gentleman married a daughter of John Buchanan, Esq. of Ardoch, who represented Dumbartonshire in Parliament a number of years, and was a leading partner in the old Ship Bank. Mr. Findlay died 27th June 1862, aged seventy-eight, and Easterhill is now the property of his son.
(1) Mr. George M'Call, of this firm, entered the Merchants' House in 1768. He was a brother of John M'Call of Belvidere, formerly referred to. He became partner of another concern of George M'Call & Co., also tobacco importers. His partners were Andrew Thomson of Faskin, who founded the private bank of A. G. & A. Thomson in 1785; John Taylor, merchant in Glasgow, and Henry Mitchell of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Mr. M'Call's residence was on the west side of Queen Street, immediately south from what is now Exchange Square. He built the house in 1771. A large garden extended behind. All this was abolished many years ago, and modern tenements occupy the site.
(2) Mr. William Fleming, member of the Faculty of Procurators in Glasgow, is great-grandson of Mr. Archibald Smellie of Easterhill.
(3) See Househill.
(4) Mr. Robert Dunlop had fifteen brothers and sisters, and his mother died in 1709, when only thirty-four years of age. She was the only daughter of Robert Campbell of Northwoodside by his first wife, who was the second daughter of John Napier of Kilmachew, an old Dumbartonshire family. "Lady Garnkirk's" aunt was the Countess of Glencairn, and her grandfather was Sir John Colquhoun of Luss, Bart.
Back to Contents