Sarcophagus monument to Dr David Kinloch of Aberbothrie, 1617.
Also to Lieut Colonel William Rattray on the North panel.
The translation of the latin inscription, now partly defaced, is as follows :-
"The monument of sepulture of a man of the greatest honour, Mr David Kinloch of Aberbothrie, of great learning,
and adorned through life with many illustrious virtues ;
a most skilful Physician of the kings of Great Britain and France, by whose letters and seals the nobility of his
family and descent is amply testified and proved.
He died in the year of human salvation, 1617, and of his age 58."
Dr Kinloch was Physician to James VI., and whilst confined in one of the prisons of the Inquisition in Spain, he
cured the Grand Inquisitor of a dangerous disease, and was set free with many tokens of gratitude.
He was recognised as one of the foremost Latin poets of his time, and several of his poems were published by Sir
John Scot of Scotstarvit in the Delitiae Poetarum Scotorum.
On one of the sloping sides of the tomb there have been numerous coats of arms : many of these are now
defaced.
Dr Kinloch`s own arms still remain, and there are ribbons with the names of Ramsay, Lyndsay, Scrymgeour, and
Stewart.
On the same slab an inscription formerly stood in memory of Sir James Kinloch Nevay, who garrisoned Dundee
for Prince Charles in 1745, and whose estates were forfeited. Previous to Sir James` inscription being placed there,
there were four Latin verses commemorative of Dr Kinloch, which have been thus translated :-
"Gallant Kinloch, his famous ancient race,
Appears by this erected on this place ;
This honour great indeed - his art and skill,
And famous name, both sides of the pole do fill
Revised by Dr Mitchell 1829, claimed by Mrs Mitchell, Seagate widow of Dr
Mitchell.
The monument of sepulture of a man of the greatest honour, Mr
David Kinloch of
Aberbrothie, of great learning, and adorned through life with
many illustrious virtues; a most skilful
Physician to the Kings of Great Britain and France, by whose
letters and seals the nobility of his
family and descent is amply testified and proved. He died in the
year of human salvation 1617,
and of his age 58.
Sir James Kinloch Nevay, Baronet, died the 5 February, 1776,
aged 72. His daughter, Mary
Kinloch, spouse of John Rankine of Dudhope, died the 23 of
September, 1782, aged 41. His
daughter, Henrietta Kinloch, died the 28th December, 1791, aged
52. His daughter, Anna Kinloch,
died on the 15 October, 1793, aged 48 years
Source: Thomson.
Collection of Epitaphs and Monumental Inscriptions Chiefly in Scotland 1834 (R Monteith)
Monumentum sepulturæ, viri amplissimo honore,
præclara eruditione, & multis in vita eximiis virtutibus
ornati, D. Davidis Kinloch ab Aberbrothie, regum mag-
næ Britanniæ & Franciæ medici peritissimi; quorum
diplomatis & sigillis gentis suæ & familiæ nobilitas
luculenter testata & comprobata est. Obiit decimo
Septembris, anno salutis humanæ 1617. Ætatis suae 58.
Kinnalochi proavos & avitæ stemmata gentis
Clara inter proceres, hæc monumenta probant;
Magnus ab his cui surgit honos: sed major ab arte,,
Major ab ingenio gloria parta venit.
The monument of burial-place to a most honourable
man, David Kinloch of Aberbrothie, of most famous
learning, and in his life adorned with many singular
virtues; most skilful physician to the kings of Great
Britain and France: by whose patents and seals the
antiquity of his pedigree and extract is clearly wituessed
and proven. He died, as above.
Gallant Kinloch his famous ancient race
Appear, by this erected on this place;
This honour great indeed: his art and skill
And famous name both sides o' th' pole do fill.
Dr DAVID KINLOCH was one of that wide circle of literary men that served to
give Dundee a very eminent place in the world of letters during the reign Of
JAMES VI. He was descended from the Fifeshire family of KINLOCH of that Ilk, and
claimed as his ancestor a certain JOHN DE KYNDELOCH, who held lands in Fife
circa 1165. His grandfather, SIR GEORGE KYNDELOCH of that Ilk, had four sons,
the youngest of whom was bred to the sea, and settled at Dundee about the middle
of the sixteenth century. Genealogists have differed as to the name of this
youngest son, but the entry on the Burgess Roll affords contemporary evidence on
the best authority that he was called JOHN KINLOCH, and not WILLIAM as
frequently stated. Dr DAVID KINLOCH seems to have been his only son, and he was
born in Dundee in 1559 60. Having studied medicine at St Andrews University he
went abroad, like many of the students of his time, to complete his education on
the Continent; and he returned to his native land with an established reputation
as a physician of exceptional skill. His merits were brought under the notice of
the KING, and when he purposed departing on another journey to France he
obtained a special letter of introduction from JAMES VI, recommending him to the
fostering care of those Monarchs through whose dominions he might pass. That
letter is now in the possession of his descendant and representative, COLONEL
JOHN KINLOCH of Logie. During his second voyage it was his misfortune to fall
into the hands of the Spanish Inquisition, by whom he was condemned to death as
a heretic. The consistent tradition still current in the family relates that his
execution was delayed for some time, and that when he inquired as to the cause
of his protracted imprisonment, he was informed that it had been intended to
make him one of the victims of an auto da fe, but that the illness of the Grand
Inquisitor had prevented the accomplishment of this purpose. He then disclosed
the fact that he was a practitioner of medicine, and discreetly suggested that
it might be within his power to bring about the recovery of this high official.
As the case was a desperate one, his suggestion was adopted, and, through the
exercise of his skill, he was enabled to restore the patient to health. The
grateful dignitary not only set KINLOCH at liberty, but also loaded him with
marks of special favour, and procured for him one of the Orders reserved for
nobles of the higher rank. The portrait of Dr KINLOCH, which is now at Logie
House, shows him in his robes as a physician, bearing the decoration which he
had thus gained by his ability.
The exact date of Dr KINLOCH’S return to Dundee is not
recorded, but there is every likelihood that it was shortly before his admission
as Burgess, in 1602. His house stood on the west side of Couttie's Wynd, near
the spot where Union Street has been opened up, or, as it is described in some
of the Council Minutes, "his foreland lay foreanent the wind mill" at Yeaman
Shore. It has been stated that this property belonged to WILLIAM KINLOCH, in
1581, who is described as the father of the Doctor, though the entry in the
Burgess Roll contradicts this theory. It is certain, however, that he was in
possession of this tenement in 1610, as the Council took proceedings against him
at that date for an alleged encroachment upon the public road. He survived till
1617, at which period he was buried in the Howff of Dundee.
The literary fame of Dr KINLOCH rests principally upon a
Latin medical poem, which he wrote in two books, entitled De Hominis
Procreatione, and De Anatome, et Morbis Internis, and which was published in
1637 by SIR JOHN SCOT of Scotstarvit in the Delitae Poetarum Scotcotorum.,
beside the works of other three eminent Scottish Latinists PETER GOLDMAN,
HERCULES ROLLOCK, and DAVID WEDDERBURN. This poem is useful as showing the
physiological theories then accepted by the most eminent scientists. The year
before his death Dr KINLOCH acquired the estate of Aberbothrie, and also of
Balmyle in Perthshire, which was afterwards called Kinloch, and still gives the
territorial title to his descendants. By his marriage with GRIZEL HAY, daughter
of HAY of Gourdie, he had two sons and one daughter. The latter was married to
THOMAS FOTHRINGHAM of Powrie, and from the two former the KINLOCHS Of Kilry and
the KINLOCHS of Gourdie are descended.
Source E.B.
On the North Side Panel
Sacred to the memory of
Lieut Colonel William Rattray
? of the Honourable East India Company Bengal
who died 20th December 1819 aged 67 years
And of Janet Henrietta Rankine his wife
Second daughter of John Rankine ?? of Dudhope
?on the 13th May 1860
William Rattray was originally buried in the
grounds of Downie Park, near the confluence of the South Esk
and Prosen. A decade after Rattray's death, a period of heavy rain caused
the River Prosen to burst its banks and flood waters entered into where Colonel Rattray
was buried and washed out part of the tomb, after this event his body was then
moved to the churchyard of Kirriemuir. Some Thirty years or so later, Rattray's
widow moved his remains again, to their final resting place in the Howff. |
