Person:John Maxwell (118)

John Maxwell Esq. of Williamwood

• A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Landed Gentry of . . ., Volume 1, Page 585.

John Maxwell, Esq. of Williamwood, sheriff-depute of Renfrewshire, is mentioned by Crawford, in his history of that county, as descended from the Maxwells of Aldhouse, who were sprung from a son of the ancient family of Pollock, and gives for his armorial bearings the coat of that family, viz., Argent, on a salter, sable, an annulet, or, stoned, azure, within a border, sable, for difference. Crest – A stag’s head, cabossed. Motto – Propero sed curo. – Lyon Register, 1698. He m. in 1691 (see Robertson’s Continuation of Crawford, p. 270), 1st, Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Woodrop, Esq. of Dalmarnock and Dalbeth, by whom he had issue,

1. John Maxwell, of whom presently;

2. Henry Maxwell, sheriff-depute, of Renfrewshire, who d. without issue;

3. John Maxwell, who d. without issue;

4. Anna Maxwell, m. William Thomson, Esq. of Corsehill, d. also without issue.

He married 2ndly, Anne Semple, daughter of Sir William Semple, of Cathcart, but had no issue by that marriage.

1.   The Development of Linn Park
   The development of the park began with changes to the lands in the 1650s. The water and mineral resources began to be exploited in a more organised fashion, giving the lands a value, over and above farming. The land making up the park moved back and forward between the leading estates surrounding it, and between owners who often had mercantile interests in the growing city of Glasgow and its overseas colonies.
   The initial trigger was the genesis of a new estate in the wider area. The originators were the Maxwells of Bogton. Bogton estate covered much of Cathcart on the west side of the River Cart, from Cathcart up to Netherlee, and from the river across to Braidbar and Merrylee. Traditionally Bogton had a castle on the hill west of Muirend Station. When John Maxwell of Bogton died in 1683, his lands passed to his sons. The youngest son got the portion around what would become the entry to Linn Park at Netherlee, and most of Cathcart cemetery.
   The middle son James was more ambitious. He took the southern part of Bogton, including woodland called the William Wood (the modern area around the hill topped by Netherlee Church). James began developing a new estate, which he called Williamwood. In 1668 James Maxwell became the first Maxwell of Williamwood. His son married Anne Semple, daughter of William Semple of Cathcart and acquired Castlemains in the 1720s.