Notice of Death.

Dumfries Courier, Wednesday, February 13th 1895.

(Dumfries & Galloway Standard & Advertiser.) 13th February 1895.

When the last issue of the Standard went to press Mr Patrick Dudgeon of Cargen was apparently in the full vigour of a green old age and busied with those cultured pursuits by which he turned the leisure of a country gentleman to fruitful purpose. Today the snows of a memorable winter drape his grave in Troqueer churchyard. His fate was sudden as that of some of the noble trees that went down before the blast of the 23rd of December and still lie prostrate about his mansion. But the Angel of Death in his case did not ride on the whirlwind or the storm. The summons came in the still small voice as he sat peacefully by the hearth. It was on Saturday afternoon that he passed away, and his daughter was the first to discover the bereavement which had fallen upon the family. He had taken his accustomed walk in the early afternoon and examined the meteorological instruments, of which he had been following the record with great care during the progress of the storm. Then he sat in the billiard room, which for several years he had used as his study. Miss Dudgeon was with him until half past four, engaged in writing, and he entered into cheerful and playful conversation. Returning shortly after five to summon him to tea, she looked into the room and said, "Come along, Father." There was no response, and she advanced to the fireside, where he was sitting in an easy posture, apparently resting, with his eyes still open, his arm firm by the side, and the late Robert Louis Stevenson's stirring tale, "Treasure Island," laid down at the corner of the table, face downwards, open at the place where he had been reading. There was no outward indication that the great change had taken place; but finding him still unresponsive Miss Dudgeon fancied that he must have fainted, and summoned some of the servants. A mounted messenger was dispatched with all haste to Dumfries for medical aid; but when Dr Murray, on his arrival, could only confirm the worst fears which a closer examination had aroused. The cause of death cannot be stated with certainty. Probably it was occasioned by the bursting of a small blood vessel in the brain.

   Mr Dudgeon was in his 78th year, having been born in 1817; but his years sat lightly on him. He belonged to a family of old standing in East Lothian; and was born at Marionville, a celebrated house in the neighbouring county of Mid Lothian, which figures in the chronicles of "Old Edinburgh." He was the eldest son of Mr Robert Dudgeon, who followed a mercantile career in London, and grandson of Mr Peter Dudgeon, an officer in the Royal Navy. He was himself for a few years in business in China, as a partner in the firm of Turner and Co., which was afterwards merged in the great financial house of the Baring Brothers. In 1850 he married Cecilia Jane, daughter of Major-General William Turner, C.B., an officer who attained to high distinction in the Indian Service; and this proved to be pre-eminently "a marriage of true minds" and loyal hearts. The family had been frequent visitors to friends who were occasionally resident at Arbigland, and became attached to this district. An opportunity offering to make a permanent settlement here, Mr Dudgeon in 1853 purchased the estate of Cargen from the late Mr William Stothart, and on it he has since resided, having built a new mansion house in 1872. As a landlord he was kindly and considerate. His servants, some of whom have been in his employment for such lengthened periods as from twenty-six to thirty-five years, speak of him in terms of warmest affection, as the best of masters. He reposed the fullest confidence where he felt that it was merited, with the natural result that those whom he honoured with his trust made his interests their own. His family circle was a centre of bright and happy influence and a fountain of neighbourly offices. Mr Dudgeon may be said to have been the pioneer in this district of technical education, which has recently come to the front; for at a time when it was little thought of he used to deliver courses of lectures on chemistry and other popular sciences in the servant's hall at Cargen, which were attended by many of his neighbours and by young men from Dumfries. He also lectured on chemistry in connection with Dumfries Mechanics' Institute. Mrs Dudgeon sought by Sabbath classes and other means to influence for good the rising generation. And recently the family gave further evidence of thoughtful interest in the neighbours by establishing a little circulating library, free to all who chose to read from it. In county affairs Mr Dudgeon long took an active and influential part, as a Commissioner of Supply for the Stewartry and a magistrate both in Kirkcudbright and Dumfriesshire. He was also, since 1867, a Deputy Lieutenant of the Stewarty; and for forty years he assisted as a director of the Crichton Royal Institution in the administration of that important and wealthy trust. His magisterial influence was consistently and successfully directed to the restriction of the number of licensed premises, particularly in rural districts. When the Local Government Act revolutionised the system of county administration, he felt unable to adapt himself to the new order of things, and he did not seek a place in the County Council. He retained, however, his appointment as a visting Justice to the prison; he had the satisfaction of seeing his eldest son, Colonel Dudgeon, unanimously elected on two successive occasions as councillor for the parish of Troqueer, and chosen for the onerous positions of chairman of the Finance Committee and Vice-Convener of the Stewarty. His patriotic feeling led Mr Dudgeon to throw himself with enthusiasm into the Volunteer movement when it was set on foot in 1859. In association with Lord Henry Scott and Mr Malcolm of Burnfoot, he was chiefly instrumental in establishing the Dumfriesshire battalion, of which his son is now the Colonel Commandant: and he received a commission as the first captain of the Dumfries companies, in which several vetern officers of the regular army in the fervour of the time shouldered rifles as privates. In recognition of important services rendered in this connection Mr Dudgeon was entertained to a public dinner in Dumfries.

   Agricultural affairs also received considerable attention at his hands, and he was for a lengthened period a director of the Highland and Agricultural Society. In political questions Mr Dudgeon took a warm interest, and he was an ardent Conservative, extending a loyal support to the various candidates of the party in the Stewartry and to the present sitting member. He was an attached member of the Established Church, worshipping regularly with Troqueer congregation; but he was not prepared to assent to all the dogmas of the Confession, and being too honest to subscribe to what he could not unreservedly accept, he declined all invitations to undertake the responsibility of office.

  As a scientist and archaeologist Mr Dudgeon enjoyed a reputation extending far beyond the bounds of the district where he resided. He was a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and also of the Society of Antiquaries. As a mineralogist in particular he was a recognised authority. In his researches in this department he was closely associated with Professor Heddle, of St. Andrews, and Sir Archibald Geikie, the former of whom named a recently discovered mineral in compliment to him. His collection, which was one of the finest in the Kingdom, he presented several years ago to the Museum of Arts and Science in Edinburgh. As chairman of the share-holders of the Dumfries and Maxwelltown Observatory he infused new life into that institution. The series of exhibits exhaustively illustrative of the mineralogy of Dumfries and Galloway, which was added to it through his instrumentality, is now one of the finest features of the museum. The portrait gallery of eminent natives of Dumfriesshire and Galloway recently formed on its walls was also his idea, and his own persistent effort did much to realise it. By organising a loan collection of jade and numerous other special efforts he likewise did much to popularise the institution. Meterorology was another science which had for him a strong attraction, and he was one of the most trusted observers in correspondence with the Meteorlogical Society. To the learned bodies of which he was a member and to the local Natural History and Antiquarian Society he was a frequent contributor of papers dealing with the natural sciences, philological subjects, and records of folk-lore; and from his pen have issued quite a number of interesting little brochures. In 1890 he published a volume on "The Origin of Surnames," which attracted a good deal of attention. More recently he compiled a glossary for the works of Mr Crockett, with whom he had formed a warm friendship, and this has been helpful to many readers of the popular tales unfamiliar with the Galloway dialect. Mr Dudgeon had since begun the preparation of a dictionary designed to trace the relationship between the modern Scotch language and the Anglo Saxon. When death laid an arrest upon his "eident" hand, the manuscript of this work, which he had carried as far as the letter D, and several books which he had been consulting in connection with it, were spread on the table beside him. Had he been spared to complete it, this would have been a most interesting volume; the design being to give in parallel columns the Scotch word, its Anglo Saxon equivalent, and an illustrative extract. Mr Dudgeon was also possessed of a fine artistic sense and owned a choice collection of pictures with which he enriched several local exhibitions.

   He is survived by Mrs Dudgeon and a family of four sons and two daughters. To them the news of his sudden demise came as a painful shock. Colonel and Mrs Dudgeon (the latter a daughter of the late Mr Maxwell of Glenlee), whose residence is at the Grange, near Kirkcudbright, were apprised by telegram that he was seriously ill, and hastened to obey a summons which foreshadowed the worst. The road was impassable owing to the snow; but engaging a special train to Castle Douglas, they reached there in time to catch the night express. The second son, Mr William Le Geyt Dudgeon, and his wife (a daughter of the late Lady Anne Ewart) travelled from London by the night mail, and reached the desolate home early on Sabbath morning. His third son, Commander Patrick Dudgeon, R.N., is in the East Indies with his ship the "Bonaventure." His youngest son, Mr Charles Dudgeon, is resident in China, where he is a partner in the mercantile house of Ilbert and Co. Miss Dudgeon is resident at Cargen; and her sister is the wife of Mr Charles H. Maxwell, of Dalruscan.

It was characteristic of the simplicity of Mr Dudgeon's taste that he should desire his obsequies to be as quiet as possible, and of his exact business habits that he should have left explicit instructions on the subject. These were contained in a memorandum written nearly twenty years ago, and of the whereabouts of which he had informed Colonel Dudgeon. It was in these terms:

    Cargen, Dumfries, 27th May, 1875. Being convinced of the many abuses which the unseemly attempts at pomp and ceremony attending the funeral of the dead as generally conducted lead to, and being desirous of doing all in my power to breakthrough the absurd conventional observances on these occasions, I direct my own funeral to be conducted in the simplest manner possible. No printed announcements of my death except a notice in the newspapers are to be sent to anyone. A few relatives and friends may receive written invitations to assemble at the burying ground. As plain a hearse as possible to be procured, without feathers or plumes, and no mourning coaches to be employed. The funeral to take place not more than three days after my death. The coffin to be made of the lightest material, no silver or brass plates and mountings to be put on it. And the suggestions made by F. Seymour Haden in the enclosed paper, which appear to me most sensible, and if generally adopted would be of infinite benefit to the country, to be carried out on the occasion of my own funeral as far as possible. Patrick Dudgeon.

   The extract referred to is from The Times of 20th May, and another of 17th June in the same year had also been enclosed in the packet. The system of burial therein advocated is that termed "earth to earth," the body being placed in a wicker coffin in order to hasten decomposition, in the interests of public health, where the graveyard is situated amid a crowded population. To give the effect as far as possible to the wish of the deceased in this respect the coffin was made (by the joiners on the estate) of only light wood, unlined and perforated, so as to leave the body open to the action of the air, but covered with black cloth and with simple black mountings. The funeral was fixed for yesterday afternoon, intimation being made in the daily newspapers of the hour of its arrival at the church.

   At Cargen yesterday a short service was conducted by the Rev J. A. Campbell of Troqueer, the only person present outside the family circle being Mr Maxwell of Munches, the close friend of Mr Dudgeon for many years, who at considerable risk to his health paid this last tribute of affection, but was constrained not further to expose himself to the inclemency of the weather by proceeding to the grave. The mourners who accompanied the remains were: Colonel Dudgeon and Mr William Le Geyt Dudgeon, sons of the deceased; Mr Patrick and Mr Robert Dudgeon, The Grange, grandsons; Mr C. H. Maxwell, Dalruscan, son-in-law; Mr Scott, W.S., Edinburgh, cousin; Mr Peacock, gardener at Cargen; Mr McNaught, gamekeeper; Mr Stephen Brown, butler; and Mr W. Gourlay, coachman. A considerable company awaited their arrival at the churchyard, including Mr Herries of Spottes; Colonel Shortt, Fairgirth; Captain Yorstoun of East Tinwald, Mr Wellwood Maxwell of Kirkennan, Mr T.A. Lyon, Dumfries; Colonel Witham of Kirkconnel; General Stewart, Carruchan; Mr Wellwood H. Maxwell, The Grove; Mr Sydney Mitchell, Edinburgh, representing his father, Sir Arthur Mitchell, commissioner in lunacy; Mr Stewart Lyon of Kirkmichael, Mr Walker of Nithside; Dr Murray, The Rev W.Andson, Mr Ferguson, Milnhead; Mr Anderson, bookseller; Mr Kerr and Mr Blackstock, Flatts of Cargen; Mr Orr, Barbush; Messrs Wylie, Pleasance of Cargen; Mr Ballantyne, Conhuith; Dr Rutherford, Crichton Royal Institution; Mr John Henderson, solicitor; Mr Allan, chemist; Mr R. Barbour, Belmont; Mr John Maxwell, inspector of poor; Mr Hutton, Rosslyn; Mr R. Service, nurseryman; Mr McKinnell, Islesteps; Mr Walter Wallace, Kirkcudbright; Mr Symington, teacher, Drumsleet; Mr Alexander, St Mary's Isle estate office; Mr Steel, joiner, Maxwelltown; Mr Carmont, British Linen Company Bank; Mr Handley, foreman at Islesteps; Mr W. Biggar, Laurieknowe; Mr Herries, joiner, Islesteps; Mr C. Scott, Cargen Lodge; Mr Truckell, Maxwelltown. The coffin, which was covered with wreaths, was borne by the tenantry into the church, and was placed on a platform in front of the pulpit. Rev Mr Campbell read several apposite passages of Scripture, and the Rev Mr Weir, of Greyfriars, engaged in prayer. The mournful procession was then formed, and proceeded to the north-east corner of the burial ground, where the grave had been prepared and partly lined with ivy. The body was there committed to the ground by the hands of the loving relatives and attached retainers.

Information on Dudgeon Memorials in Troqueer churchyard.

(The Times: Complete extract) 16th February 1895. p.12 col. C

Patrick Dudgeon: Obituary.

The Athenaem says: We regret to learn that Mr P. Dudgeon, born at Marionville, near Edinburgh, in 1817, died suddenly on Saturday, the 9th instant, at his house Cargen, Dumfries. Mr Dudgeon lived for many years in China, and made a valuable collection of Chinese curiosities, and also of minerals, which he brought together from every part of the world and lately presented to the Edinburgh Museum of Science and Art. He was a distinquished meteorologist, and contributed reports to the meteorological societies. In 1890 Mr Dudgeon published, with Mr David Douglas of Edinburgh a short introduction to the Origin of Surnames which followed a pamphlet on the Macs of Galloway. His last work was the compilation of glossaries to the novels of Mr S. R. Crockett, published by Mr Fisher Unwin, which were first added separately to new editions of The Raiders, The Stickit Minister, and The Lilac Sunbonnet, and afterwards combined in bookform so recently as last January. Mr Dudgeon's knowledge of Galloway dialect was, in fact, remarkable.

(Summary Extracts from The Scotsman.) 11th February 1895.

Sudden death - "from flow of blood to head"; Died Saturday, February 9th just after 4.30pm.; 78 years old, savant and country gentleman; Widely known in scientific and antiquarian circles; Recognised authority in mineralogy; Published numerous papers on family and placenames in Galloway, e.g. in D. & G. N. H. & A. S.; Since 1867 Deputy Lieutenant of Kirkcudbright, and a magistrate in Kirkcudbright and Dumfries; He exercised a powerful influence in securing a diminution in the number of public houses; 40 years a trustee of Crichton local asylum; Established a circulating library at Cargen free to all residents in the vicinity; Eldest son of Mr Robert Dudgeon, merchant, London; Purchased Cargen in 1853 from the late Mr Stothart; He married in 1850 Cecilia Jane daughter of Major-General William Turner, by whom he is survived; His eldest son Mr Robert Francis Dudgeon is factor on the estate of St Mary's Isle, Colonel of the Dumfries Volunteers and Vice Convener of the Stewartry; He is survived by two other sons and two daughters.