108 Late Mr J. R. ^\■ILsoN, Sanquhar. 



4th February, 1910. 



Chairman — Provost James Lennox, F.R.S.(Scot.), V.P. 



It was agreed that the Society record its deep regret at the 

 death of Mr J. R. Wilson, Sanquhar, wliose death took place 

 somewhat suddenly on Thursday afternoon, at the age of 73 

 years. 



" Mr James Robert Wilson, solicitor and notary public, 

 Sanquhar, was one of the best known legal practitioners in the 

 South of Scotland, and was a familiar figure in Dumfries. For 

 many years he acted as agent of the Royal Bank of Scotland, 

 and retired on pension in 1905. At the time of his death he 

 held the offices as Clerk to the Thornhill District Committee of 

 Dumfries County Council, Clerk to Kirkconnel and Durisdeer 

 School Boards, Secretary of the Sanquhar District Savings Bank, 

 Secretary and Treasurer of the Sanquhar Water Company, 

 Limited, Secretary and Treasurer of the Sanquhar Public Halls 

 Company, Limited, and Secretary and Treasurer of Sanquhar 

 Lodging-house Company, Limited. Mr ^Vilson had also exten- 

 sive agencies for several In.surance Companies, and in addition 

 to Sanquhar legal practice he was senior partner of the firm of 

 Messrs James R. & R. Wilson, Thornhill. 



" A devoted member of the Church of Scotland, Mr Wilson 

 held otfice in Sanquhar Parish as elder and session clerk. For 

 a long period he acted in the capacity of secretary of the Upper 

 Nithsdale (Thornhill) Agricultural Society with great efficiency. 

 Mr Wilson was well known as an authority on antiquarian sub- 

 jects, and had a valuable collection of antiquities, including some 

 pertaining to our National Bard, of whom he was a great admirer. 

 He was secretary of the Upper Nithsdale Burns Club (Sanquhar), 

 but his familiar figure was missed from among those present at 

 the annual celebration of the Poet's anniversary in the Com- 

 mercial Inn, Sanquhar, on Tuesday evening. Mr Wilson was of 

 a literary bent, his writings dealing chiefly with antiquities and 

 natural history. He had also a wonderful local knowledge, and 

 in a great measure assisted the late Mr James Brown in the com- 

 pilation of his ' History of Sanquhar.' 



" Mr Wilson held many honorary public offices, and was 

 chairman of Sanquhar School Board until last year, when he 



