Records of a family of engineers – robert louis stevenson

RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS – ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION: THE SURNAME OF STEVENSON

I. DOMESTIC ANNALS
II. THE SERVICE OF THE NORTHERN LIGHTS
III. THE BUILDING OF THE BELL ROCK

RECORDS OF
A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS

INTRODUCTION

THE SURNAME OF STEVENSON

FROM the thirteenth century onwards, the name, under the
Various disguises of Stevinstoun, Stevensoun, Stevensonne,
Stenesone, and Stewinsoune, spread across Scotland from the
Mouth of the Firth of Forth to the mouth of the Firth of
Clyde. Four times at least it occurs as a place-name. There
Is a parish of Stevenston in Cunningham; a second place of the
Name in the Barony of Bothwell in Lanark; a third on Lyne,
Above Drochil Castle; the fourth on the Tyne, near Traprain
Law. Stevenson of Stevenson (co. Lanark) swore fealty to
Edward I in 1296, and the last of that family died after the
Restoration. Stevensons of Hirdmanshiels, in Midlothian, rode
In the Bishops’ Raid of Aberlady, served as jurors, stood bail
For neighbours – Hunter of Polwood, for instance – and became
Extinct about the same period, or possibly earlier. A
Stevenson of Luthrie and another of Pitroddie make their bows,
Give their names, and vanish. And by the year 1700 it does
Not appear that any acre of Scots land was vested in any
Stevenson. (1)

(1) An error: Stevensons owned at this date the barony of
Dolphingston in Haddingtonshire, Montgrennan in Ayrshire, and
Several other lesser places.

Here is, so far, a melancholy picture of backward
Progress, and a family posting towards extinction. But the
Law (however administered, and I am bound to aver that, in
Scotland, `it couldna weel be waur’) acts as a kind of dredge,
And with dispassionate impartiality brings up into the light
Of day,

and shows us for a moment, in the jury-box or on the
Gallows, the creeping things of the past. By these broken
Glimpses we are able to trace the existence of many other and
More inglorious Stevensons, picking a private way through the
Brawl that makes Scots history. They were members of
Parliament for Peebles, Stirling, Pittenweem, Kilrenny, and
Inverurie. We find them burgesses of Edinburgh; indwellers in
Biggar, Perth, and Dalkeith. Thomas was the forester of
Newbattle Park, Gavin was a baker, John a maltman, Francis a
Chirurgeon, and `Schir William’ a priest. In the feuds of
Humes and Heatleys, Cunninghams, Montgomeries, Mures,
Ogilvies, and Turnbulls, we find them inconspicuously
Involved, and apparently getting rather better than they gave.
Schir William (reverend gentleman) was cruellie slaughtered on
The Links of Kincraig in 1582; James (‘in the mill-town of
Roberton’), murdered in 1590; Archibald (‘in Gallowfarren’),
Killed with shots of pistols and hagbuts in 1608. Three
Violent deaths in about seventy years, against which we can
Only put the case of Thomas, servant to Hume of Cowden Knowes,
Who was arraigned with his two young masters for the death of
The Bastard of Mellerstanes in 1569. John (‘in Dalkeith’)
Stood sentry without Holyrood while the banded lords were
Despatching Rizzio within. William, at the ringing of Perth
Bell, ran before Gowrie House `with ane sword, and, entering
To the yearde, saw George Craiggingilt with ane twa-handit
Sword and utheris nychtbouris; at quilk time James Boig cryit
Ower ane wynds, “Awa hame! ye will all be hangit” ‘ – a piece
Of advice which William took, and immediately ‘depairtit.’
John got a maid with child to him in Biggar, and seemingly