Wedderburn Family plot.
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This page covers the burial area which is taken up by a group of stones, which represent the family of Wedderburn. The family were very influential in the development of Dundee, details of which can be found elsewhere on the net or from local resources. I may give a more detailed account of the family in the future. Below is a thumbnail which links to a drawing of the plot as made in 1894.
Stones are numbered here as they are above, along with their 1834 chiselled number where available. 1 - 725
Monument inscription as it appeared in 1834. Conditur Hoc Tumulo Alexander Wedderburn Dominus De Easter Powrie, Famille Su æ Princeps, Nuperrime Huic Urbi Præfectus, Ejuusdem Ad Parliamentum Primum Supremi Domini Nostri Regis Caroli II. Delegatus. Orbiit I Die Aprilis Anno Domini 1638 ætatis 66. Hic Etiam Conquiescunt Ossa Elizabeth Æ Ramsay Illius Primi Amoris Uxoris Filliæ Uniæ Joannis Ramsay Fratris Domini De Murie Hujusque Urbis Olim Prætoris, Quæ Obiit 2 Die Mensis Aprilis 1643 ætatis 22 This stone was said to of been first erected in 1626 to Alexander Wedderburn, first of Kingennie ( who married Helen Ramsay ), and re-inscribed in 1683 on the death of his namesake and grandson, who had also married a Ramsay, and to whom, therefore, the arms already on the Tomb were equally applicable. The stone itself was still described as being partly legible in 1891 and in a ruinous condition. The stone originally carried the arms of Wedderburn and Ramsay with heraldic roses as a border around the edge. James Thomson described the stone as follows :- "This has been a splendid tomb, and worthy of the ancient and honourable family whose chief was laid under it; but at present the upper surface is much decayed, being formed of Balgay stone, and rests upon several clumsy stones by way of pillars, instead of the original finely-executed work, a specimen of which -one of the ends- remains still beside it, which was dug up in 1834*. This specimen consists of a much injured figure of Death endeavouring to extinguish a candle which represents human life, while Time is arresting his hand. The design is taken from one of the hieroglyphics at the end of Quarles Book of emblems, but the execution of the stone is far superior to the plate. On the latter the words "Tempus erit" -a time will come- are placed on escroll, instead instead of which on the former there is "ane appointed time," which is the only deviation, saving the superior workmanship, from the original design. The monument, according to the family archives, was originally erected in the years 1626, over the remains of Alexander Wedderburn of Kingennie and his wife Helen Ramsay, daughter of Mr Ramsay of Brachmont; and when their grandson, Provost Alexander Wedderburn of Kingennie and Easter Pourie died in 1683, he and his wife Elizabeth Ramsay being both interred under it, the original inscription was obliterated to make way for the present one, which is nearly effaced also. The arms sculptured on the upper surface were allowed to remain, as the surnames of the gentlemen and their respective ladies were the same." * The area around the tombs was levelled and cleaned up in this year. Inscription on replacement monument. ( West Panel) 2 - 812
The Wedderburn Book 1891 has the following entry This is a plain marble slab now lying flat on the ground, but was originally raised on pillars. The date of the stone is not certain, but the inscription on it is modern, the original having obliterated. The original inscription is as follows :- Hic Jacet D. Alexander Wedderburn, Dominus De Blackness, Civitatis Taodunanæ Secretarius Dignissimus, Qui Obiit 18 November 1676 ætatis SuAE 66. The then modern inscription was taken as a rubbing in 1891, and is as follows :- Beneath this stone are deposited the remains of the following perfous Viz: James Wedderburn Esq. who died 1620 and his wife Mary Goldman Sr Alexander Wedderburn Bart who died 1673 aged 63 and his Lady Dame Matilda Fletcher Sr John Wedderburn Bart Who died 1707 and his Lady Rachel Dunemoir Sr Alexander Wedderburn Bart who died 1713 and his Lady Elizabeth Seaton Sr Alexander Wedderburn bart who died and his Lady Catherine Scott and Robert Wedderburn Esqr of Pearsie who died the 19th day of February 1786 aged 78
To whose memory this tomb is erected by his widow and family also Isobell Edward spouse to Robert Wedderburn who died the ? of January 1788 aged 70 years
The Wedderburn book contains some additional information with regards this inscription mainly the following... Margaret and not Mary was the name of James Wedderburn`s wife; he did not die in 1620, but in 1627; his son, Sir Alexander, was knighted, but was never a baronet, and he died in 1675-76 aged 66, and not in 1673 aged 63. His son, Sir John, died in 1706, not 1707, and his son again in Feb. 1710 and not in 1713, while the date of death of his cousin, the fourth baronet, left blank on the stone, should be 1744. 3 - 810
This is the Tomb of Peter Wedderburn, third surviving son to Sir Alexander Wedderburn of Blackness knt, and his wife Catherine Man or Mann. This is a flat red marble slab, now worn and quite smooth, and cracked in several places, set in a stone frame, bearing the initials P.W. and C.M. and a skull and cross bones. 4 - 815
This was a flat stone, engraved "AW. Insignium Virorum Tumulus Terra Universa."
This tomb was the resting place of Sir Alexander Wedderburn, fourth baronet of Blackness, who died in 1774. 5 - 723
This is the tomb of Charles Wedderburn of Pearsie and his first wife Anne Read. This is a slab of Sicillian marble, and originally stood on six pillars. It was erected by Charles Wedderburn to his first wife, who died 1789, and he had the inscription given below, but now obliterated, placed on it. When he died, in 1829, he was buried in the same grave, but nothing was added to the tomb. The inscription was as follows :-
Sacred to the memory of Ann Read Daughter of John Read Esq of Cairney Wife of Charles Wedderburn, Esq of Pearsie. Married September 11th 1787, who died November 20th, 1789.
Take, Holy earth, all that my soul holds dear, Take that best gift which Heaven so lately gave. She died. Does Youth, does Beauty read the line ? Does sympathetic fear their breast alarm ? Speak, dearest Anna, breathe a strain devine, Even from the grave thou shalt have power to charm.
Bid them be chaste, be innocent like thee, Bid them in duty`s sphere as meekly move; And if so fair, from vanity as free, As firm in friendship, and as fond in love; Tell them, tho' 'tis an awful thing to die (`Twas even to thee), yet the dread path once trod, Heaven lifts its everlasting portals high, And bids the pure in heart behold their God. 6 - 726
Tomb of Wedderburn of Idevies, erected by his wife Margaret Balfour. This tomb was a plain slab which formally sat on six pillars. It once bore this inscription (which was obliterated by 1891) :- I.M. Joannis Wedderburne M.D. ex famillia de Blackness oriundi viri artis medicæ peritissimi comis et amabilis omnibus virtute illustris, Margarita Balfour vidua mæstissima in testimonium veri erga conjugem affectus monumentum hoc extruxit. Orbiit 3 Julij 1751 ætatis 72. To the memory of John Wedderburne, Doctor of Medicine, descended from the family of Blackness, a most skillful physician, and a man gentle and loving to all, and adorned with every virtue, Margaret Balfour, a sorrowing widow, raised this monument as a testimony of true affection towards her husband. He died 3rd July 1751, aged 72. Source: The Book of the Howff, ©Libraries, Leisure and Culture Dundee, Local History Centre & is 7 - 811
This is the tomb of Lady Margaret Ogilvy, first wife of Sir John Wedderburn, sixth baronet of Blackness. Details are as follows :- This monument consists of a tall stone pillar standing on a large pedestal raised on two steps. One side of the pedestal consists of a fine bas-relief by Schumacher, the tutor of Nolleken. Inscribed as follows :- Memorle sacrum dominæ Margaretæ Ogilvie, sponsæ domini Joannis Wedderburn de Balindean militis baronetti, obiit die XXIII Martii anno MDCCLXXV ætatis suæ XXVII. Sacred to the memory of Lady Margaret Ogilvie, wife of John Weddserburn of Balindean, Knight Baronet, who died 23rd March 1775, and of her age 27. The white marble had for some reason was originally painted with white lead paint, the attempts to remove it by scrubbing the plaque and daubing it with boiling turpentine has left it looking more like Aberdeen granite. 8 - 811/2
Tomb of Sir John Wedderburn who died 1803 Joannes Wedderburn de Balindean, sextus miles baro de Blackness, suæ gentis ornamentum et non degener princeps. Nat 21 Feb 1729. Ob 13 Junii 1803. John Wedderburn of Ballindean, sixth Knight Baronet of Blackness, the ornament of his family and an undegenerate Chief, was born 21st February 1729, and died 13th June 1803. 9 - 724
Tomb of David Brisbane who died 1752, son of Mr James Brisbane and Matilda Wedderburn.
Details from 1891 are as follows :- Stone slab, now lying on the ground, but originally on six pillars. The Brisbane arms - a cheveron between three martlets or cushions - are carved in a medallion at the top, and below and below was this inscription, no longer legible, Here lies David Brisbane of Bullion, Esquire, Writer in Dundee, son to Mr John Brisbane, Advocate, by his fathers' side of the Brisbane, and by his mother's side of the Wedderburn family. 10 & 11
These two stones are marked J.W., and were put up by John Wedderburn of Auchterhouse.
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Details from Wedderburn Book are reproduced courtesy of Dundee City Archives.