Treehouse Genealogy
Building on your Ancestral Roots
New Monkland Statistical Accounts
There are a total of Three Statistical Account for Scotland.
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The first known as the Old Statistical Account was published between 1791 & 1799 & was organised by Sir John Sinclair.
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The Second which was initiated by the Sons & Daughters of the Clergy is known as the New Statistical Account was published between 1834 & 1845.
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The Third was published between 1951 & 1992.
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​The entries for New Monkland Parish have been transcribed on this page. With the exception of instances where 'F' has been replaced with 'S' where relevant, they have been copied as they are. Allowances will also need to be made for words of the time that are spelled differently than they are now. When a word is unclear or unreadable, the closest transcription will be provided in square brackets.
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Statistical Account of Scotland 1793
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Statistical Account of Scotland 1845
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Statistical Account of Scotland 1960 *Coming Soon*
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Statistical Account of Scotland (1793)
County of Lanark - Volume VII
Parish of New Monkland or East Monkland
COUNTY OF LANARK - PRESBYTERY OF HAMILTON, SYNOD OF GLASGOW AND AYR.
BY MR WILLIAM MACK, WRITER IN EDINBURGH
NAME, SITUATION AND EXTENT
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The parishes of Old and New Monkland, were formerly united, under the general name of Monkland, from the Nonks of Newbottle, to whom they originally belonged. But part of it being erected into a separate parish, about the year 1640, it was called New Monkland, and the other district Old Monkland for distinction’s sake. In most writings, however, the formers is called East Monkland, from it being situated to the east of Old Monkland. East Monkland is situated in that district or subdivision of Lanarkshire, called the Middle Ward, and is the most northerly parish in the county. It is about 10 miles in length from east to west, and 7 in breadth about the middle, but narrower at both ends.
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Surface, Soil, Agriculture, Produce, &c – There is neither hill nor mountain in the whole district, although the greater part lies considerably above the level of the sea. The highest lands are in the middle of the parish, and run the whole length of it, from east to west, declining gently on each side to the rivers Calder and Luggie, which are its southern and northern boundaries. The whole is a beautiful champaign country, agreeably diversified by cales and gentle risings. The eastern part of the parish is rather encumbered with moss – the soil is various. The north and west parts of the parish are the best, consisting, generally, of a strong clay soil, and, when properly cultivated, yield good crops. The middle and east parts are of a mossy soil, and, in early seasons, yield good crops of oats and potatoes; but, in cold late seasons, seldom ripen well. Wheat, barley, pease, beans, oats, flax, clover, and rye-grass are sown annually; but oats are the most general crop. Great quantities of flax are raised for sale, some years to the extent of above 100 acres. The flax is generally sown the second year after the lands are broken up from pasture, after a crop of oats or pease. An acre of ground let for flax, brings 5l. or 6l. Serling of rent for that year. There are 114 ploughgates of land in the parish. The ploughgates differ greatly with regard to extent; but, on an average, many contain from 70 to 80 acres of arable land, besides pasture and moss, of which laft there are some thousands of acres in the middle and eastern parts of the parish. The estates of Airdrie, Rothsolloch, Monkland, and Rochsoles, are greatly improved, well inclosed, and finely sheltered with large plantations of forest trees, which thrive well. The parish, in general, is inclosed with ditches and hedges of white thorn; but many of the hedges are bad, partly owing to want of care, and partly to the mossy soil of the higher grounds, where it is found, that thorns never thrive, and seldom live above 20 years. The best improved lands are occupied in pasture, and let yearly to graziers, for fattening sheep and black cattle. By this method, the lands are not only improved, but also bring more rent, than by letting them on leases. Manures of all kinds are rather expensive. Lime* is the most general one. Ploughs of different kinds are used, but chiefly the Scotsh plough, of a light construction, which is most commonly drawn by 2, sometimes 3 horses, it being now rare to see 4 horses, and improving the breed, in which they have made great progress. They now rear as find draught horses and milk cows kept in the town of Airdrie, which not only supply the inhabitants with milk, but have greatly improved the neighbouring fields by their dung. Potatoes** are now a general crop, and are used both for family use and feeding cattle. Turnip and cabbage husbandry are little practiced, though the few trials made, have succeeded well. The management of the dairy is well understood, and carefully attended to. Cheese, equal to Stilton, (perhaps not inferior to Parmesan), is made by some families; but this superior kind is mostly made for private use. From the vicinity of Glasgow, which is only 10 miles distant, every article the farmer can spare, finds a ready market at a high price.
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* it is got from the lime-works in Cumbernauld Parish; but the long carriage makes it very expensive. This, however will be in some degree remedied, when the Monkland Navigation is finished, (which it is expected to be in the course of next year), as lime will them be brought by water carriage. The most approved method of using lime, is to lay it on the surface some years before breaking up. This makes the pasture more valuable, and never fails to produce plentiful crops. A considerable quantity of dung is got at Airdrie, which sells as hight as 20d and 2s the single cart-load.
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** They answer the purpose well; but there is a prejudice against the culture of them, that they weaken and impoverish the land, although the very reverse is the fact, as it has been found, by every judicious inquirer, that potatoes, next to pease and turnips, are the most enriching crops that can be put on any soil. A disease in this valuable roots has lately made its appearance, commonly called the ‘curled leaf’; but this disease chiefly affects potatoes planted in wet or low grounds.
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Heritors and Rent – There are above 100 heritors in the parish, besides the feuers of Airdrie after mentioned; and as the lands in general are farmed by the proprietors themselves, they are better cultivated than could be expected, if they were farmed by tenants on short leases. The principal heritors are Misses Isobel, Bethia and Margaret Aitchison of Rochsolloch and Airdrie, Andrew Stirling of Drumpellier, John Henry Cochrane of Rochsoles, James Dunlop of Garnkirk, Andrew Buchanan of Ardinconnal, William Hamilton of Wishaw and John Nisbet of Cairnhill, esquires, none of whom reside in the parish, but the Miss Aitchisons, and occasionally, Mr Cochrane. – The valued rent is 6822 l. 6s 8d Scotch. The real rent cannot be ascertained, as the greater part of the lands are possessed by the proprietors; but if the whole were rented, the lands might yield between 5000 l. and 6000 l. Sterling, and the houses in the town of Airdrie about 1000 l.
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Ecclesiastical State – The church was rebuilt in the year 1777. It is a very handsome country church, and contains 1200 people. The manse was built about 50 years ago, and lately got a complete restoration, with a new set of offices. The church, with the repairs of the manse, new school-house, and church-yard dike, cost near 1000l. The heritors are patrons. The stipend is 8 chalders of oatmeal, or 128 bolls, and is paid by the College of Glasgow, who are titulars of the teinds, according to the fiars of the commissariat of Hamilton and Campsie. The minister is also allowed half a chalder of meal for communion elements. The glebe, manse and garden, are worth about 15l. yearly. When oat-meal fells at 1s the peck, which is about the average price, the whole living is about 120l. yearly. The stipend has never been Augmented*. A very handsome chapel of ease was built last year for the accommodation of the town of Airdrie, by a voluntary subscription, and a meeting-house, for the people of the Burgher Association, was also lately built at Airdrie, although there are very few dissenters in the parish. Their congregation is therefore collected from neighbouring parishes.
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* The Reverend Mr Patrick Maxwell is the present incumbent; he was settled in the year 1760, and is married, but has not children. To the great concern of the parishioners, he has, for some time past been in a bad state of health, which rendered him unfit to draw up the statistical account of the parish, and induced the writer hereof to undertake the task.
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Schools and Poor – There is a public school at the parish church. The salary is 5l. 11s. 1 2/3d. with a school and dwelling -house, but no garden. This salary, being paid by more than 100 heritors, is scarcely worth collecting. The Schoolmaster is also precentor and session clerk. The emoluments of these offices, through trifling, are better than the salary, but the whole is a shameful pittance in so wealthy a parish; and it is a disgrace to the country, that so useful a body of men are, so poorly provided for in general, and calls loudly for redress. There are generally two schools in the town of Airdrie; but as they have neither school-house now salary, the teachers continue no longer than till the better place offers. If one penny upon the pound Scotch of valued rent, all over Scotland, were levied, along with the land-tax, and paid to the parochial schoolmasters, in addition to their present trifling salaries, it might make their living more decent, and their usefulness more general. This could be levied without expense, and such a trifle would never be missed by the proprietors. – The number of poor on the parish roll, are between 40 and 50. The sum distributed among them, for some time past, is about 70l. annually. The funds for supplying then do not exceed 100l. the interest of which, with the collection at the church doors, mortcloths or pall-dues, proclamations of the banns of marriage, and an extraordinary collection on the first sabbath of June yearly, has hitherto raised a sum equal to the yearly distribution. There are 4 different charitable societies in the town of Airdrie, who have about 500l. of stock, and are well managed, and increasing yearly. If such societies were established in every parish, and properly conducted, they would be beneficial, particularly in times of dearth, by laying out their flock for the purchase of grain, and felling it to the poor at prime cost, as was done her in the year 1783, upon the general failure of the preceding crop*
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* There are few or no begging poor in the parish; but no place of the country is more pestered with vagrants and gypsies, as there is neither a work-house, jail, nor resident magistrate in the parish. A set of respectable constables who understood, and could properly exercise the ample powers committed to them, might be of great use, in cleaning the country of such vagrants; but as this office is generally filled by the most ignorant and worthless, they are become a nuisance instead of a benefit.
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Minerals and Mineral Springs – Coal and iron-stone are, or may be found, almost in every farm. The Monkland coal has been long famed for the quality and richness of its seams. Twenty years ago, coal sold so low as 6d. the card load; but since the Monkland navigation was opened, it fells at 18d. the cart, weighing 12 cwt. Excellent smithy coal, and bling coal for drying grain and malt, are found in Airdrie, and fell at 2s. 6d. the cart. On account of its superior quality, it is carried 20 miles and upwards round the country. Lime has been found in the north part of the parish, but is not wrought at present. There are plenty of free-stone quarries, and abundance of whin or moor-stones in every part of the parish. There are several mineral springs, chiefly of the chalybeate kind; but the one called Monkland Well, near Airdrie, is the most famous, and has long been used successfully, in our scorbutic, scrofulous, and cutaneous cafes, and in complaints of the stomach and eyes. About 40 years ago, it was frequented by the gay and fashionable from all quarters; but now only by the poor and lame. But if the rich, who need a cure, knew of this water, they might find real advantage from it, at a small expense, in comparison of the English watering places, as every accommodation can be got in the neighbourhood at easy rates.
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Roads, Bridges, &c –The roads were in the most wretched state, till the year 1772, when the county obtained an act of Parliament for commuting the stature work for money. Since that period, the roads are generally improved, and a bridge built over almost every rivulet. The present conversion is 15s. Sterling for each ploughgate of land, and 18d. for each householder, which amounts to 100l. or thereby, annually. This fund is managed in the best manner, and as there are plenty of excellent materials, few parishes in Scotland have such good roads. An act was obtained last session of Parliament, for making a turnpike road from Edinburgh to Glasgow, by Bathgate and Airdrie, the tract of which will run through the parish for many miles, and, when finished, will be of the greatest benefit to the country in general, and this parish in particular.
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Population – The village, or, as it is commonly called, the town of Airdrie*, is the only on in the parish, and stands near the south-west extremity, on a beautiful rising ground, between two small rivulets, regularly built, with wide streets, and extends near and English mile in length from east to west. It has had very few inhabitants at the beginning of the present century; but they are much increased since. In the year 1760, there were only 300 examinable persons; in the year 1789 they amounted to 1100; and from an actual survey, taken this present year, (1792), there are 1762 souls in the town and suburbs. The number of souls, in the landward part of the parish, is not exactly known; but in the year 1789, there were found to be 1300 persons above 8 years of age, members of the church of Scotland, besides dissenters. Adding, therefore these numbers together, with that of the children below 8 years of ag, (who will amount to about 500 more), it is evident, that the population of the whole parish cannot be less than 3560, which is 847 more than it was 40 years ago, the return of Dr [Webiler] in 1755, being only 2713.
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* It was, by act of Parliament, in the year 1695, erected into a market town, with the privilege of holding a weekly market on Tuesday, and two fairs annually, the one on the third Tuesday of May, and the other on the first Tuesday of November, O.S. A Lammas and Candlemas fair have been added to the number, but the town old fairs are best frequented.
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The following table will give a concise view of the state of the population, as well as of the different employments of the inhabitants:
Note:- there is no bill of mortality kept in the parish; but from the account of the mort-cloth dues, the average number of deaths, for these 3 years past, is 45 yearly, buried at the parish church, besides those buried elsewhere, which may be reckoned about 15 more. The average of marriages, for the same period, is 36 yearly. The births are not all recorded; some parents neglect it to save the expence, and some, from religious scruples against the tax. The average number of baptisms, recorded for the last 3 years, is 96 per annum, but it is supposed that 20 more yearly are not recorded.
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Manufacturers – The distillery of malt spirits, brewing of ale, malting, candle making, and iron founding, are the only manufactures of consequence carried on at Airdrie, as the weavers and tambourers are chiefly employed by Glasgow manufacturers. The distillery is carried on to a considerable amount, there being about 40,000 gallons of proof spirits made annually. It is allowed by the judges, that the male spirits made at Airdrie are of a peculiar fine quality and flavour; and although a small quantity only is used here, there is a constant demand for it from every part of the country, and some of it is exported to America and the West Indies on account of its quality. There are 7 corn mills, 6 lint mills, and 3 sets of rollers for crushing malt. The thirlage is not great hardship here, as the multures are generally small. On account, some proprietors of mills have allowed them to fall to ruin.
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Character – Considering the number of the inhabitants, and the want of the magistrates, the morals of the people are much better than could be expected. None born in the parish have ever suffered either corporal or capital punishment. The people, in general, are hospitable and sober. Dissipation is only to be found among a few of the lower rank. They attend church regularly, and are generally very clean and well dressed. As every person, who chooses to work, finds employments, the trades people, in general are in easy circumstances, and appear to be contented. Almost every tradesman is proprietor of a house and garden, which gives them a natural attachment to the place. The people of Airdrie seem to have a peculiar foible of keeping a great number of useless dogs, which are a nuisance to every passenger, and plainly points out the propriety of a tax being laid on these animals.
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Miscellaneous Observations – The parish is, on the whole, more beautiful than fertile. Its chief advantages are the plenty of coals and peats, water and free-stone, good roads, and cheap living; but on great disadvantage is, the distance from lime, which is the manure that answers the soil best. Another disadvantage is, that the College of Glasgow are titulars of the teinds, which are said to be mortified by an act of Parliament, and are therefore not saleable. This, and several neighbouring parishes, are therefore obliged, either to take leases of their teinds every 19 years, and to pay and arbitrary grassum to the college, or else to get them valued by the process before the Court of Session, which is attended with great expence. This calls loudly for redress, as it hurts the spirit of improving the lands, the College having a right to the fifth part of the rents, in case of a valuation. It would, therefore, be for the interest of these parishes, as well as of the College, to apply for an act of Parliament to make the teinds saleable, and to lay out the price upon lands for behoof of the College, by Commissioners appointed for that purpose; which would not only remedy the grievance, by secure the College revenue, encourage agriculture, and prevent many expensive processes between the College and the landholders. The parish, in general, is deemed healthy. No epidemical distempers are known here. Many persons now living are above 80 years of age, and 3 near 100. The small-pox is the most fatal disease, as inoculation, by some fatal prejudice, is not yet become general. Considering the prodigious number that Great Britain losses annually by this disease, a premium should be given by the government, for some limited time, to encourage the general practice of inoculation, amongst the middling and lower ranks of people. It appears, that the ancient Celts or Gauls one inhabited this part of the country, as many places have Gaelic names, such as Rochsolloch, Airdrie, Drumgray, Drumskioch, Ballochnie, &c. The only antiquity* worth remarking, is a large artificial cave, dug out of a bold rocky eminence, on the banks of the river Calder, in the estate of Monkland, in the most romantic and sequestered spot, and which seems to have been a very laborious undertaking. But whether it has been intended as an asylum in barbarous times, or the abode of the melancholy hermit, tradition is perfectly silent, although the former is most probable.
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*There are also to be seen, a few years ago, the remains of a Roman Catholic chapel, at a place called Kipps, which was destroyed at the Reformation. At this chapel, the abbots of Newbottle, held annual courts, for levying the rents and feus of the hundred pound land of the barony of Monkland, then belonging to the abbey of Newbottle; but this venerable monument of antiquity is now demolished, a more than rustic farmer having lately removed the walls, and turned the scite of it into a corn field. Upon rising ground, there is still to be seen an upright granite stone, where it is said, in former times, they burnt those imaginary criminals, called witches.
The New Statistical Account of Scotland (1845)
Volume VI - Lanark
Parish of New Monkland, or East Monkland
PRESBYTERY OF HAMILTON, SYNOD OF GLASGOW AND AYR.
THE REV. JAMES BEGG, D. D., MINISTER.
I - TOPOGRAPHY AND NATURAL HISTORY.
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Name - The parishes of Old and New Monkland were formerly one parish, under the general name of Monkland,—a name derived from the monks of the Abbey of Newbottle, to whom the lands belonged. The parish was divided into two in the year 1640,— the eastern division being named New Monkland, and the western Old Monkland.
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Boundaries, Extent - The parish is in the middle ward of Lanarkshire, and forms a part of the north boundary of the county. It is nearly ten miles in length from east to west, and seven in breadth near the middle, but narrower at both ends; bounded on the south by the parishes of Bothwell and Shotts; on the east by those of Torphichen and Slamannan; on north by those of Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch ; and on the west by those of Cadder and Old Monkland.
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Soil and Climate - The soil is various. That in the north and west parts of the parish is the best, consisting partly of a strong clay, and partly of a dry soil; which soils, when properly cultivated, are capable of bearing any kind of crops. The middle and east parts are of a mossy soil, and, in early seasons, yield good crops of oats, flax, potatoes, and rye-grass hay; but in cold late seasons the oats do not ripen well. There are no hills nor mountains in the parish, though the greater part of it is high. The highest lands are in the middle of the parish, and run the whole length of it from east to west, declining gently on each side to the rivers Calder and Loggie, which are its south and north boundaries. These high lands may be from five to six or seven hundred feet above the level of the sea, and a great part of them are covered with mosses, which in that elevated situation are not capable of improvement, except at a very great expense.
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Owing to the elevated situation of the country, the weather is, on the whole, rather cold and wet. For a great part of the year the winds are from the west and south-west; but in the months of April, May, and part of June, generally from the east. The severest weather, with heavy falls of snow, is in general from the north-east. The common nervous fever, or typhus fever, seems to be the most prevalent disease. It is very frequently in some part of the parish. Consumptions, inflammations, and rheumatisms, are also frequent.
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Hydrography - The large reservoir for supplying the Monkland Canal, and the Forth and Clyde Canal, which covers about 300 acres of land, is partly in this parish, and partly in the parish of Shotts. There is a mineral well near Airdrie, which in former times was much frequented, but is now neglected. The water is strongly impregnated with iron and sulphur.
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Geology - This parish, so interesting to the student of geology, affords ample opportunities for studying the relations of the two grand series of rocks, the Neptunian and Plutonian. It is well supplied with whinstone or trap and sandstone. These are found in various places, and are convenient for building and making roads, &c. The parish also abounds with coal and ironstone of the best quality. In many places, different seams of coal are wrought, such as the ell coal, the pyatshaw, the humph, the main coal, and the splint. These seams are generally above the black band of ironstone, and below that there is the Kiltongue coal, and other sediik not yet sufficiently explored. In some places the seams are thin, not exceeding two or three feet in thickness; in other places of the parish, as Moffat, Whiteridge, and Ballochnie, the seams of coal are nine feet thick, of excellent quality, and very valuable. Smithy coal and blind coal are also wrought in some parts of the parish. Many of these coals are carried to Glasgow by the MonkIand Canal, and from thence many are carried to the highlands, and to Ireland. Many of them are also carried by the Ballochnie and Kirkintilloch railways to Kirkintilloch, and from thence by the Forth and Clyde Canal to Edinburgh.
The ironstone is found partly in balls, and partly in seams; the seams most common are the muscle band and the black band. The black band is by far the most valuable, and is generally found about fourteen fathoms below the splint coal. All the iron-works of Carron, Clyde, Calder, Gartsherrie, and Chapel Hall, are partly supplied with ironstone from this parish.
Limestone is also wrought in some parts of the parish, particularly on the north side of the parish, and at the west end, but not to any very great extent, as the Cumbernauld lime is of excellent quality, and generally used in this parish. Where the lands in the parish lie in the vicinity of the canal, or railway, or good roads, the minerals are considered of equal value, sometimes of more value than the surface. On the south side of the parish the metals in general dip to the south or south-west, towards the Clyde; but on the north side of the parish they in general dip to the east and south-east.
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II -CIVIL HISTORY.
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Land-Owners - The chief land-.owners of the parish are, Robert Buchanan, Esq. of Drumpellier; John Campbell Colquhoun, Esq. of Killermont; Robert Haldane, Esq. of Auchingray; Sir William Alexander of Airdrie-House; the Honourable William Elphinstone of Monkland; Alexander Gerard, Esq. Rochsoles; George More Nisbet, Esq. Cairnhill; Robert Jamieson, Esq. Arden; Thomas Falconer, Esq. Brownieside; Dr William Clerk of Moffat; Dr James Tenant of Bredinhill; William Steel, Esq. Annathill; George Waddel, Esq. Ballochnie; James M'Lean, Esq. of Medox. There are a great many other heritors in the parish. Few of the largest heritors are resident.
Modern Buildings - The chief mansion-houses are those of Airdrie, Monkland, Rochsoles, Auchingray, &c.
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A very neat town-house has been lately built in Airdrie, containing a prison, police-office, and a good town-hall. The Mason-Hall in Airdrie is also a very good room. The foundation of a very large cotton-mill has been newly laid near Airdrie, which, when finished, will employ a great number of people, in teasing, carding, and spinning cotton.
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III - POPULATION.
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The population of the parish has been progressively increasing for a number of years past, both in the country part of the parish and in the town of Airdrie. The return of the population to Dr Webster, in the year 1755, gave 2713. The population at the time of the last Statistical Account, in the year 1792, was 3560. The following table exhibits the progressive increase of the population.
This progressive increase of population has been owing to the coal-works in the parish, and the iron-works in the vicinity, having been greatly extended, and to the weavers of cotton cloth for the Glasgow manufacturers having greatly multiplied,—although at present they are very ill paid, and have poor wages.
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In the year 1833, there were in the parish 125 marriages. In the same year there were 238 children born in the parish, and registered; and 153 deaths, reckoning from the number of mortcloths used. The number of proprietors of land above L. 50 of yearly rent is 68; there are, besides, a considerable number of smaller proprietors.
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In Airdrie, there were in 1831, 669 weavers above 20 years of age; 223 coal-heavers, the number of whom is now greatly increased; and 160 ironstone miners, the number of whom is also greatly increased.
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Character of the People - In the country part of the parish, the people are in general strong and robust; but in Airdrie many of the weavers are feeble and small in stature. Both in town and country, the people are in general neat and clean in their dress, particularly on Sabbath when they go to church. The dress of the women is perhaps finer than is suitable for their situation in life. Many of the people are intelligent and sober, but some of them are rather fond of litigation. Smuggling, at no great distance of time, prevailed to a certain extent, but has now almost entirely ceased.
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There have been 52 illegitimate births in the parish during the last three years.
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IV - INDUSTRY.
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Agriculture - Some of the land in the north-west corner of the parish is very good and fertile, and may bring L. 2 or L. 3 per acre of rent yearly; but the land from the church eastward is not so good, being of a poorer soil, and much in want of shelter, and may vary in yearly value from 10s. to L. 1, 10s. per acre. The rental of the landward part of the parish is about L. 12,000, and of Airdrie about L. 6700. If there were belts of planting running from north to south, at regular distances, to protect from the north-east winds in spring, the advantage would be great. The improvement of the parish is, however, gradually advancing, and many acres of waste land have been ploughed within these twenty years past; but the price of agricultural labour is too high, compared with the very low price of the produce of the land at present, and if some change does not soon take place, agriculture must greatly declinp, and the poor soils be entirely neglected. Several ploughing matches take place in the parish yearly, by which much emulation among the ploughmen is excited, and those who obtain a first or second prize generally afterwards expect, and get higher wages. Much attention is paid to improving the breed of cattle; and the Ayrshire breed is preferred, and generally prevails in the parish. During the late war, flax brought a good price, and many acres, from 500 to 800, were cultivated yearly; but the price is now so low, that it will not yield a profit to the farmer, and is therefore now little attended to.
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Rate of Wages - Common Iabourers at present receive 10s. or 12s. per week; but masons, carpenters, slaters, &c. receive 15s. or 18s. per week.
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V - PAROCHIAL ECONOMY.
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The only market-town in the parish is Airdrie, one of the new Parliamentary burghs, having all the privileges of a royal burgh, and along with Lanark, Hamilton, Falkirk, and Linlithgow, sending a member to Parliament. Its population still is rapidly increasing. The villages of Coltston, Clerkston, Greengairs, and Kiggend, are also thriving villages. The post-office is in Airdrie, and there is a post twice in the day.
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Means of Communication - The turnpike-roads in the parish are the one from Edinburgh to Glasgow by Bathgate and Airdrie, which intersects the south side of the parish, and the new road from Car- lisle to Stirling, which intersects the whole parish from south to north. These roads have afforded a very great facility to the improvement of the lands in their neighbourhood. The I3alochney rail-road, which is in this parish, connects itself with the Kirkintilloch rail-road, and the Garnkirk rail-road, for carrying coals to Glasgow, and the Forth and Clyde Canal at Kirkintilloch, from whence they are carried by the canal east to Edinburgh, and west to Greenock and Ireland,—the canal joining the Clyde near Old Kilpatrick.
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Ecclesiastical State - The parish church is situated about two miles from the west end of the parish, on an eminence, and is seen at a great distance from the west and north-west; it is far from the people in the east end of the parish, some of whom attend other churches more contiguous. The church contains 1200 sittings, and was built in the year 1777, and much repaired in 1817, and is at present in tolerable condition. One-fourth part of the sittings belongs to the people of Airdrie, which is situated about a mile and a-half or two miles from the church. The manse was repaired and enlarged in the year 1819, and is now in a comfortable state. The glebe contains ten Scotch acres of land, but it is of inferior soil. The stipend is 17 chalders, half meal, half barley, paid according to the fiars of the county, besides L. 10 for communion elements. There is a chapel of ease at-Airdrie connected with the Established Church, which contains about 650 sittings. The minister's stipend is L.120, raised from the seat-rents. There is another chapel built in Airdrie, fitted to accommodate 1200 sitters. There is also a small chapel at the village of Clerkston, occupied by a preacher of the Established Church, who preaches on Sabbath, and visits and examines the people in the village and vicinity through the week. The parish church, and these chapels, are in general well attended. The average number of communicants in the parish church is between 1000 and 1100: and those of the Airdrie chapel are about 400 more.
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There are four Dissenting or Seceding meeting-houses in the parish, two of which belong to the United Secession, one to the Old Light Burghers, and one to the Old Dissenters or Cameron- inns. Some of these meeting-houses are considerably loaded with debt, and some of the ministers are but poorly provided for.
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Education - The parish schoolmaster has a dwelling-house and garden, and about L.30 of yearly salary; his emoluments from school fees may amount to L. 30 per annum: and for collecting road-money, &c. he may have other L. 30. Besides the parish school, there are four other schools in the parish, built by subscription, viz, at Airdrie, Clerkston, Greengairs, and Coathill. At Clerkston and Greengairs there are also dwelling-houses built for the schoolmasters, but none of these have any salary. There are also eight other schools in the parish taught by private teachers, who depend entirely on their own exertions. In the parish school there are taught reading, writing, arithmetic, book-keeping, mensuration, Latin, and Greek; but in all the other schools, reading, writing, and arithmetic only are taught. The general rate of wages is 3s. per quarter for reading, and higher for the other branches of education. There are about 800 scholars generally attending all the different schools. Besides these week-day schools, there are three Sabbath schools,—so that there are very few but may be able to read if they choose to attend to time means of improvement within their roach.
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Library, &c - In Airdrie there is a circulating library, and also a public reading-room, where the newspapers of the day, and various tracts and pamphlets are exhibited.
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There is an Orphan society, supported by donations, subscriptions, and collections at the churches and meeting-houses occasionally, for clothing and educating orphans and other destitute children.
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Poor and Parochial Funds - The number of poor on the roll is about 190 on an average, and the sum distributed monthly is between L. 50 and L. 60 Sterling, in sums to each individual of from 2s. to 10s. according to the circumstances. The money is raised by collections at the parish church and chapel of Airdrie, from mortcloth dues, proclamation of marriages, and assessments to make up the deficiency. The assessments may amount on an average to L.467. The Dissenters give no part of the collections at their meeting-houses to the poors funds of the parish, although their poor are supplied from these funds equally with others. Among the agricultural part of the population, there is a great aversion to come on the poors funds; they consider it degrading; but that spirit is almost extinct among the manufacturing and mining population.
Prison - In Airdrie there is a prison consisting of five cells or small apartments, which are dry, and in good order, and well secured; and in which riotous and disorderly people are confined, as a punishment for their criminal conduct.
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Fairs - There are two fairs yearly in Airdrie for the sale of cattle; one of them is held in the end of May, the other about the middle of November; there is also a weekly market every Tuesday. The number of inns and alehouses is by far too great.
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MISCELLANEOUS OBSERVATIONS.
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Since the time of the former Statistical Account, the population and trade of the parish have greatly increased, and much of the land is better cultivated. Besides the toll-road and rail-road formerly mentioned, the statute labour roads of the parish have been greatly extended and improved. The quantity of dung now raised in Airdrie is considerable - which, with the Cumbernauld lime, and improved roads, affords the means of improving the land. Still, however, in the east and north-east parts of the parish, there is a great want of planting, and much of the land is very bare and naked, and far from being fertile. If summer fallowing were practised, it would also be a great improvement; but it is difficult to persuade farmers to deviate from the practice of their fathers.
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The frequent associations and combinations which prevail here, and are connected with similar combinations in different parts of the country, to raise the price of labour, are very hurtful. They interrupt trade, and attempt what is impracticable, as the price of all labour must be regulated by the demand. They keep trades' people in a constant state of agitation, and make them spend much of their time and money in attending their frequent meetings. These combinations prevail most among the colliers, and the weavers. The great number of inns, alehouses, and spirit-shops that abound in Airdrie, and other parts of the parish, affords great temptations to idleness, and dissipation, which involve many families in poverty and misery. Licenses on these houses should be greatly increased, so as greatly to reduce their number.​​
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July 1835