In memory of William Neilson, wife Isabel Brown,
daughter Isabel born Twynholm 10 Aug 1766, died Dornal 5 Nov 1771 interred here,
son Samuel born Dornal 5 Aug 1768, died Quebec 12 Jan 1793, interred there.
(Side 2) Janet Neilson born Dornal 12 Aug 1774, died Gatehouse of Fleet 1 Nov 1853, relict of Chas McKeand.
Agnes Neilson born 20 Jan 1779, died Palnackie 7 Feb 1860, relict of Alexander Ross.
(Side 3) The Hon John Neilson, member of the Executive Council of Canada, born Dornal 17 Jul 1776, died Cape Rouge, Quebec 1 Feb 1848, interred Valcartier
Margaret Neilson, born Kirkchrist Twynholm 16 Jun 1768, died Shankfoot 16 Nov 1851, relict of William Palmer.
(Side 4) In remembrance of William Neilson, the erector of this monument, was born Meikle Dornald 22 Sep 1772, died Gatehouse of Fleet 8 Sep 1857, interred here,
his days were spent with care and industry in his native land and in America, being ever a zealous advocate for civil and religious liberty;
he left a donation of £5 per annum for the education of poor children on the pauper list of this parish.
This gravestone is more of a memorial to a family than a burying place. It is probable that only the son William and, possibly, the child Isabel were buried at this spot. Two of the three adult daughters are buried with their husbands within the graveyard, the third is in Girthon Cemetery at Gatehouse. The parents were buried in one of a series of Neilson family graves at Buittle.
The gravestone is a four-sided obelisk and, unfortunately, the order in which the sides were transcribed in the published source is confusing. The presenter has taken the liberty to revise it.
Dornal and Shankfoot were within easy walking distance of the church and graveyard.
