Miscellaneous - Robert Naismith
Robert Naismith, draper, banker and historian, was born in Stonehouse
on 31st August 1832, the eldest child of James Naismith (born
28.8.1796, Glassford) and Margaret Scott (married 4.11.1831). His
forebears came from Jackton near East Kilbride. He married Bethia
Browning Paterson at East Kilbride on 17th August 1864, residing at
Crossview at the corner of King Street.
He took an active part in the affairs of Stonehouse but will be
remembered most, perhaps, for his “Stonehouse: Historical and
Traditional” published in 1885 in which he propounded for the first
time his theory on the origins of the name of Stonehouse. He also
traced the proprietors of the Barony from the earliest period down to
the time of his writing. As a historian he was responsible for several
publications including:
| The story of
Christianity in Scotland |
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| The story of
our English Bible |
pre1865 |
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| The story of
the Kirk |
1865 |
(copy in
National Library, Edinburgh) |
| Stonehouse:
Historical and Traditional |
1885 |
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| Robert and
James Haldane: Two worthy workers of bygone days |
1893 |
|
| Rev. James
Hamilton D.D.: A Memoir |
1896 |
(copy in
Hamilton Library) |
| The merchant
martyr of Stonehouse (booklet) |
1871 |
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His interest in local and religious history were researched and
documented, throwing some light on the characteristic features of a
bygone age. He was an extremely active member of the community, being
involved in many local organisations and county committees. In April
1878, the Heritable Investment Bank (Ltd.) opened under his management.
He also stood at least twice for election as our representative in
Lanark County but was narrowly defeated on both occasions.
Throughout the latter half of the 19th century Robert Naismith lectured
to various organisations, on his extensive knowledge of the church, the
village and its history. He also built the house of Westlea, Vicars
Road, where he died at 4.00pm, on Thursday 3rd March 1898. A memorial
monument to his life, and that of his wife Bethia, can be found in the
old kirk cemetery.
His son Robert Johnstone Naismith, also a draper at Crossview,
Stonehouse was Chairman of the School Board when the new infant
department at Townhead School was opened in 1912 and his son Robert
Naismith, born at Crossview, became a famous radio scientist. He was a
pioneer and inventor of automatic equipment for ionospheric
measurements and a member of Sir Robert Watson-Watt’s team in radar
research before and during the war. He was also the author of a number
of scientific publications. His death in 1973 marked the end of this
branch of the Naismith.
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