Person:James McNair (18)

James MCNAIR was a Glasgow coalmaster and mined on his property adjoining Greenfield House, Shettleston, Lanarkshire. His mine “Auld Prickly” was finally lost by flooding (information from B. Larsen). James McNair of Greenfield (either this James or more likely his father) bought the lands and Manor House of Greenfield from Isabel Luke, wife of George Bogle, daughter of Robert Luke, a Glasgow goldsmith, in 1759 and in 1762 Shettleston House from Robert Bogle, merchant in Glasgow. Shettleston House was built in 1703 and demolished in 1929 (source unknown). From glasgowhistory.co.uk: Shettleston House, as the former Mansion of Shettleston, had a door lintel on which was carved the date 1793. It was probably built by the McNair family who from 1759 were the proprietors of the adjoining estate of Greenfield and who developed and worked the coalpits on both estates over several generations. The house was situated on the north side of Old Shettleston Road almost opposite the present Etive Street. It was demolished during the construction and expansion of this area by the North British Bottleworks.

The family crest, a demi-negro holding over his dexter shoulder a sugar cane, and in his sinister hand a bunch of tobacco leaves, all proper, was established 1761 in Glasgow, probably by a relative of James (according to the military record of his grandson James Stanser MCNAIR (born 1825) at the archive of the Royal Green Jackets). A William McNair (born 6feb1739, married to Jean Robertson or Roberton), presumably related, received a grant of arms in 1761 (information from B. McNair). James McNair, Laird of Greenfield, had 7 daughters and 2 sons (“McNair, McNear, and McNeir genealogies”, compiled by James Birtley McNair, 1923 supplement). A student matriculating at University of Glasgow in 1765 was James McNair (numbered 2443) filius natu maximus Jacobi de Shettlestoun in Parochia Glasguensis (“McNair, McNear, and McNeir genealogies”, compiled by James Birtley McNair. Published 1923, supplements 1928, 1955, 1960. The information in the 1923 supplement is from Dorothy M. T. McNair and George H. S. McNair. The information in the 1960 supplement is from James Birtley McNair. The matriculations are in the 1955 supplement). James McNair, Laird of Greenfield, matriculated in 1765 as the oldest son of James McNair of Shettleston (McNair book 1955 and 1960 supplements). James (laird of Greenfield) apparently married Margaret Barton. This branch of the McNairs considered themselves as a sept of the MacGregars (McNair book, 1960 supplement). According to “A directory of Landownership in Scotland c. 1770” Jas. McNair owned “part Shettleston” valued at 182 pounds 4 shillings and 3 pence. James MCNAIR claimed to have been related to Patrick Miller of Dalswinton (1731-1815). The Trust disposition and Settlement (11pages) and Inventory (3 pages), dated 1835, of Margaret, widow of James, is in Scottish Archives, as is a will, registered on 11dec1829 of James MCNAIR residing at Greenfield (5 pages). From “Decennial indexes to the services of heirs in Scotland 1700-1859”: Reg. 12feb1830. James McNair, Major 52nd Regt. to his father James McNair of Greenfield, heir in gen. The information about the children of James comes from Frances Eleanor McNair’s copy of a copy from the McNair family bible made by Mrs. Margaret Barton Kinnear nee McNair. The bible was presumably in the possession of Robert McNair (b. 1827) at one time. From “Statistical account of Scotland” 1799: The value of the coal produced from the different mines (in Barony parish9 may amount to about 30,000l. annually. Those belonging to James McNair, Esq. of Shettleston, produce from 5000l. to 6000l. Sterling annually. On his colliery, the first steam-engine for drawing off the water from the coal-pits, was erected, in the year 1764. Since that time near 20 steam-engines have been set up in the neighbourhood of Glasgow. Greenfield House: http://bulgar12.tripod.com/family/index.album/greenfield-house?i=9&s=1 Shettleston House in 1900: http://bulgar12.tripod.com/family/index.album/shettleston-house?i=66&s=1

1. ↑ Will or testament, Scotland.
2.   International Genealogical Index. ( The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint, 1999-2008).
3.   International Genealogical Index. ( The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint, 1999-2008)
   Batch #: M119856, Sheet #: 00, Source Call #: 0993527, Printout Call #: 6900815, Dates: 177.
4.   various. Family letters (2).