Mary Hill of Gairbraid facts for kids
Mary Hill (born 1730, died 1809) was an important woman who owned a lot of land. The town of Maryhill, which is now part of Glasgow, was named after her.
Mary inherited a large area of land called the Gairbraid Estate from her father, Hew Hill. Her father had no sons who lived, so Mary became the owner.
Mary's Marriage and Adventures
In 1763, Mary married Robert Graham. People often called him Captain Graham. Robert had an amazing story. He was once captured by pirates from Algiers and held as a prisoner for some time. When he returned home, many people were interested in his adventures. It is said that Mary was so impressed by his exciting story that she chose him to be her husband.
Mary and Robert lived in a house called Gairbraid House. It looked out over the River Kelvin. The first house was built in 1688. Mary and Robert built a new house on the same spot about 100 years later. This house was later taken down in the 1920s.
Building the Town of Maryhill
The Grahams faced some money problems. They tried to mine coal on their land, but it was too wet, and they lost money. However, their luck changed when the government approved a plan for the Forth and Clyde Canal in 1768. This canal was going to be built right through their estate.
Mary and Robert received money for the land used by the canal. Once the canal was finished around 1790, their land next to it became much more valuable. A small village started to grow there. The Grahams then rented out more land for buildings. They made sure that this new area, "from Glasgow to Garscube Bridge," would "in all times be called the town of Mary Hill." This is how the town got its name.
Passing on the Estate
Mary and Robert also did not have any sons. Their oldest daughter, Lilias, never married. She inherited the Gairbraid Estate when Mary passed away. Their younger daughter, Janet, married a merchant named Alexander Dunlop. When Lilias died in 1836, the estate went to Janet's son, John Dunlop. He later sold off much of the land.
