The Apologist had nine children, and was succeeded by his second son, Robert; the first son, David, having died on a voyage to East Jersey, at the age of fifteen. After the family of Ury had embraced the tenets of the amiable society of Friends, it is not to be expected that it could make any conspicuous figure in the transactions of the times. The pursuits of the Quakers being solely directed to objects of benevolence, they are precluded by both principle and practice, from interfering in civil or military contests. During the turbulent periods of 1715 and 45, the Barclays, therefore, took no concern in public affairs, but remained silent spectators of the passing events.
The Apologist’s son, Robert, had seven children, and died anno 1747. He was a man of such polite manners, that he obtained the appellation of the Gentleman, and was distinguished among his cotemporaries by his good sense and affability. He was succeeded by his eldest son,
Robert, who had three sons and one daughter. The grandson of the Apologist was known in the county by the title of the Strong, having possessed great muscular power. He died in the year 1760, and was deemed the richest commoner in the county of Kincardine, having left a free estate and a considerable sum of money to his family. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Robert, the father of Capt. Barclay.
From these three families a numerous race has sprung, and the descendants of the Apologist, at the present time, exceed three hundred. The late Mr. David Barclay of Walthamstow in Essex, (the grandson of the Apologist,) says, “I believe there are more than three hundred of you who call me uncle or cousin.” Those respectable families which claim their descent from the Apologist, are principally settled in England; and, while they have enriched themselves by their industry, they maintain the highest respectability of character.
It does not, however, suit our object to follow the family of Ury through all its branches: it is enough that we take notice of the heir of succession; and the late Mr. Barclay deserves to be particularly mentioned, on account of his great celebrity as an agriculturist.
He was born anno 1731, and succeeded his father, 1760. He received a liberal education, and was an excellent Greek and Latin scholar. He was a noted pedestrian, and frequently walked to London. On one occasion, he walked from London to Ury, (510 miles,) in ten successive days; on another, he walked 210 miles in three days, or at the rate of 70 miles a day. He also went 81 miles in about 16 hours. He never walked to London after he was elected a member of parliament, as erroneously reported; but he had frequently done so before that time. His ordinary pace was six miles an hour. His height was six feet. He was athletic, and of the handsomest form. The vigour of his mind was conspicuous throughout a laborious and active life; and his improvements in agriculture, entitle him to the warmest eulogy of his countrymen.
Mr. Robertson, the intelligent author of the ‘Survey of Kincardineshire,’ has devoted 27 pages of his work to illustrate Mr. Barclay’s agricultural improvements; and, from his account, as there can be no better testimony, we shall extract the following particulars.
‘The man,’ says Mr. Robertson, ‘who exerted himself most for the improvement of the county—whose labours were the most strenuous and best conducted—and whose example had the most extensive influence—was the late Mr. Barclay of Ury. His, indeed, were no common powers. Endowed with the most ardent, energetic, and comprehensive mind, he employed his great talents as an agriculturist with unwearied perseverance, and to the most beneficial results. The subject he had to improve, or rather to subdue, was of the most obdurate nature; but difficulties tended only to excite his activity, and, adhering tenaciously to his own pre-conceived and well-adjusted plans, he was ultimately successful.
‘The estate of Ury, the chief object of his improvements, lies on both sides of the rivulet of Cowie, and extends from Stonehaven in a north-westerly direction, for nearly five miles. The mansion-house is situated about a mile and a half from the efflux of the Cowie, on its northern bank.—When Mr. Barclay succeeded to the estate, there was scarcely a shrub of any value on the whole property, excepting a few old trees around the house.