Person:James Dennistoun (3)

James was son of John Dennistoun. John DENNISTOUN, 13th of Colgrain, was b. abt 1660 and d. 1756. John married Jane/Jean BUCHANAN (b. abt 1662). Jane Buchanan was daughter of Moses Buchanan, 1st of Glens (b. 1635), and Jean Hamilton, daughter of William Hamilton of Auchentoshan (web, stirnet). James Dennistoun 14th of Colgrain married (1) in 1746 (Board of Green Cloth) Janet BAIRD, daughter of John Baird of Craigton, nr Milngavie, Dunbartonshire, and Martha Graham, and (2) Mary LYON, daughter of John Lyon of Parklee (Genealogical and heraldic dictionary of the landed gentry, 1836) by whom he had 6 sons and 1 daughter (Green Cloth). Jacobus Dennistoun (No. 358, mat1733) filius Unicus Joannis Dennistoun de Cowgrain in Comitatu de Dumbarton. Of Colgrain. Glasgow merchant. Died there 27feb1796. father in law of 3542, grandfather of 5349, 6909, 8167, 8190, 8950, 9678 (matriculation albums, Glsgow University). 3542 was John Alston (1762-1835), who married Mary Dennistoun in 1790 at Glasgow (IGI). Camis Eskan House, at Colgrain, was built by the Dennistouns in 1648 and sold to Colin Campbell in 1836 (web). John Lyon of Parklee, Renfrews., was gt gt grandson of Archibald Lyon, a younger son of Lord Glamis, who came to Glasgow in 15th century, and married Margaret, daughter of Dunlop of that Ilk, see “Book of Dumbartonshire” p. 335 (1879).

From “Minute Book of the Board of Green cloth” (1891) by Colin Dunlop Donald (1848-1895): JAMES DENNISTOUN. Of Colgrain, second but eldest surviving son of James Dennistoun of Colgrain, who in like manner had been second but eldest surviving son of John Dennistoun of Colgrain, and Jean, only child of Moses Buchanan of Cumming’s Glen. The slow stagnation of country life in the last century was not to James Dennistoun, the father’s, taste, so he, like many others, came to Glasgow and plunged into business. It is not quite certain when he did so. The Dennistouns were always Church and State men, and something more; and it is said he wished to join the Pretender in the ‘45, but was dissuaded by his father. He was then a man of forty-five and though he may hive turned to business after being baulked is politics, it is not likely that he waited till he was that age before doing so. Like most men of mark m his day he was an the Virginia trade. First, with George Oswald of Scotstoun, under the firm of Oswald, Dennistoun, & Co., who are sixth on the list of Tobacco Importers of 1774, with a total import of 1,701 hogsheads. Afterwards in partnership with his son-in-law, Andrew Buchanann of Ardenconnal, under the firm of Dennistoun, Buchanan, & Co. His residence in 1789 was in Argyle Street, the second flat, first close west from Mlllar Street. Mr. Dennistoun married (1st) in 1746 Janet Baird, daughter of John Baird of Craigton, and sister of John Baird, a member of the Board. By her he had (1) John, who died young; (2) James, who succeeded him, the subject of this note; (3) Jean, who died young; (4) Jean, married in 1769, to Andrew Buchanan of Ardenconnal. and had issue. He married secondly in 1752, Mary, daughter of Jolm Lyon of Parklee, Renfrewshire, by whom he had six sons and one daughter. He died in 1796 at the great age of ninety-six. James Dennistoun, his son, was also a merchant in Glasgow. He married, first, in 1777, Margaret, daughter of James Donald of Geilston, who died in 1781 after giving birth to a son, James; secondly, Margaret, second daughter of Robert Dregshorn of Blochairn, and by her, who died in 1822, he had 4 daughters who succeeded to the fortunes of their grandfather and of Robert Dreghorn (“Bob Dragon”). Mr. Dennistoun was Convener and Vice-Lieutenant of Dumbartonshire, and Colonel of the Dumbartonshire Militia, He died in 1816

1.   International Genealogical Index. ( The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint, 1999-2008).