Gladstone/Gladson reunion in Scotland next year
Two years ago, my family and I visited Scotland to see what we could find about where the Gladson family name originated.We had the pleasure of meeting Brian Lambie who is a Gladstone descendant.We had a wonderful visit with him.I've just heard from him regarding a reunion of all Gladstone descendants next year in Biggar.Following is the text he sent:
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PROPOSED GLADSTONE FAMILY GATHERING SEPTEMBER 2007
From Brian Lambie, Albion Archive, 9 Edinburgh Road, ML12 6AX.
For over half a century, I have been pleased to welcome a constant stream of visitors who arrive in Biggar seeking information about their Gladstone forebears. They come from all over the world, seeking out the area of the Gled Stanes, which gave the family its name sometime towards the end of the thirteenth century.
The main Gledstanes family eventually moved to the Borders, leaving younger members of the family in small farms in the area around Libberton and Biggar, the principal branch being in the hilltop fermtoun of Arthurshiels from the 1430’s until levied during the Covenanting period and the early deaths of a father and son lead the family to move into Biggar and Culter parishes. Further moves, including that of 14 year old Thomas Gladstones from Biggar to Leith, established the family fortunes for at least one line of the family, although the others were mostly content to be small farmers, maltmen and shopkeepers in Biggar and district.
The family is now spread around the world; it has always been a relatively small one, and most of the bearers of the name can trace their line back to the Biggar district. A great number of descendants in the female line are also proud of their connection with Libberton and Biggar, and are among the many whom I have escorted up to Arthurshiels and other places associated with the family. Most notable of these places are the little kirk and kirkyard at Libberton, burial place for many generations of the family. The present church was erected in 1836, and at that time the Gladstone burial aisle, allegedly at the west end of the building, was built over, so there is no monument to mark the site of their resting place. The first recorded member of the family, Herbert de Gledstanes, was alive in 1296, and the last burial in the old aisle was William Gladstones, maltman in Biggar, about 430 years later. William was grandfather to Thomas, the grandfather of William Ewart Gladstone.
It has now been proposed that a simple plaque be erected on the wall of the tower at the west end of Libberton Kirk, and a brief service be held in the kirk itself.
Depending on the number of interested parties, a tour could be made of the principal sites, including the recently rebuilt Arthurshiels, which commands a fine view of Tinto Hill and the river Clyde. Nearby is the Shieldhill Castle Hotel, onetime home of the Chancellor family, which has conference facilities, and there are other places of accommodation in the area.
Because of wedding commitments in the hotel next season, the only available date for a meeting in their large marquee would be Saturday 23rd September. This costs £900 to hire, and it holds close on 200 people. If, say, 100 were to come, the charge would work out at about £9. per person, plus the cost of whatever meal was required.
The cost of a modest memorial at the church would also have to be distributed amongst the participants, so - the more people who come, the less the charge!
The main lines of the family known to me at present are
1. The original family which moved to the Borders. Several descendants are in the north of England.
2. Descendants of William Gladstone, who moved from Arthurshiels to Biggar. This line includes the 16 children of Thomas Gladstone of Leith, whose eldest son [Sir] John Gladstone has numerous descendants. Also the Gladstones of Capenoch, descended from two sons of Thomas of Leith..
3. Descendants of David Gladstones of Culter parish, a son of William Gladstone in Arthurshiels and a cousin of the above William .[2].
This is my own line of descent, he was my 4 x great grandfather. There are a great many of his line still around, including a "branch" of established millwrights formerly in Wiston and Castle Douglas.
If sufficient numbers of each branch can come, it would be quite possible to arrange different tours to include farm and burial ground sites in the appropriate places, e.g. North Leith [which is now only opened on request]. St Thomas’s church, Leith, now a Sikh Temple. The main farms are all in the district, including Arthurshiels, now occupied again after a century of dereliction.
What I am asking those to whom this e mail is being sent, is to circulate it to as many of their relatives as possible, with a request for comments about the date, which appears to be the only suitable date in 2007. If this does not suit the majority, then dates in 2008 might be considered.
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You can reach Brian at [email protected]
Or you can write to me at [email protected]
I'll pass along more info as it becomes available.
I hope everyone can come.See you next year in Biggar!
Robert Gladson