Ff, this is from "Antiquarian Notes on Falkirk" by James Love 1906.
George Meek of Campfield. the Meek's have been in Falkirk since around 1750, they came originally from Fortissat in Lanark which they purchased in 1664 from the Duke of Hamilton and the present proprietor (1906) is J.Croil Meek, the ninth in succession. The first proprietor was William Meek who was succeeded by his eldest son John who married Janet Miller of Watersough, he in turn was succeeded by his eldest son. His fourth & youngest son was John Meek b.4 Jan 1738 who qualified as a surgeon and settled in Falkirk in 1756. In 1757 he married on June 30, Agnes Muirhead, dau' of John Muirhead of Burnside & Elizabeth Miller of Stirling, dau' of John Miller, merchant. Mr Meek practiced in Falkirk for forty years and was known & respected & "Uniformly upright in his dealings, posessing mild & pleasing manners." He died in 1802 and was buried in Falkirk kirkyard in the tomb of his wife's grandfather Patrick Muirhead of Rashiehill, which land be had in a sasine of Sir Charles Preston of Valleyfield, 1793.
Mrs Meek died on Sep' 9 1816 and was buried in the same tomb, she was born in 1738. Mr Meek was founder of the Falkirk Banking Company and in addition to the large profits he made, he inherited from his mother the estate of Watersough. His wife being an only daughter was the heir of her grandfather Patrick Muirhead in Mungall. John Meek & his wife purchased land in Grahamston and lived at No 66 High Street which they called Campfield House, where he died. The house which was later rebuilt had fine interiors. His wife's family house Burnside still stands & shows on a lintel JM-EM 1752, (John Muirhead & Elisabeth Miller). The house was plundered by the Jacobites in 1746 during the occupation of Falkirk and amongst articles stolen was a silver jug which had belonged to Mrs Muirhead's mother Sybil Graham 1648-1748, a niece of Graham of Claverhouse.
John Meek & his wife had two sons & five daughters. John the eldest b.1759 a merchant in Glasgow, died early Dec'2 1784. Elizabeth b.July 5 1760 , married in 1779 Michael Andrews son of John Andrews of Comber, Ireland, their descendants include Rt Hon William Drennan Andrews, judge in the High Court, Dublin. Janet b. Aug 10 1762 & died 1816. George b.1764. Marion b.1766 d.1818, married John Corbett who was a surgeon in Falkirk, they had eleven children & their daughted Janet Miller Corbett married her cousin George Miller of Frankfield. John Corbett was also buried in the tomb of Patrick Muirhead in Falkirk kirkyard. Marion Meek b.1769, died young. Ann Meek b.1770, married in 1791, John Miller of Frankfield, formerly a merchant in Jamaica, their descendants still live in the west of Scotland. Isabella Lockhart Meek b.April 1775 married 1805, George Waddell controller of customs at Grangemouth.
George the surviving son was educated at Falkirk Grammar School inder James Meek, possibly an uncle, he graduated MA at Glasgow University in 1797 and inherited his fathers estate on his geath in 1802. He married Oct 10 1819 Janet, fourth child of John Heuch & Helen Stark. John Heuch was laird of Gartcows, Falkirk. After the wedding the couple left for London then carried on to Rome where they contracted malaria, they were laid up in the Hotel Tri Mori in Bologna where they both died along with a newborn child, theur Italian courrier had robbed them but a priest wrote to Mrs Waddell saying they received a decent burial. Mrs Waddel sent money to pay for a tombstone.
In 1854 Mrs Waddell & some relatives visited the grave on a trip to Bologna and found a simple wooden cross under the name Campfield. This & the priest keeping the money is mentioned by Rev Henry Belfrage DD, Falkirk without naming the Meek's, Nov'27 1820.
George entered Falkirk Masonic Lodge, Dec'27 1802 and was Master in 1806-7 & 8.
Bests,
Skoosh.
