Miss Oswald, Founder of the Oswald Schools.

“The laird of Kincaid had a son and two daughters. One daughter was married to Mr. Oswald, writer, Glasgow, who became connected with the parish on being appointed clerk to the Woodhead Baron* Bailie Court in 1775, and they had two daughters. On Mr. Oswald's death his widow came to reside in Kirkintilloch, in a two-storey thatched house at the foot of the Crofts, popularly known as the ' Old Phoenix,* from the insurance label on it. After having resided here for a number of years, she returned to Glasgow, and had the house in Kirkintilloch taken down and rebuilt. It is now the property of Mr. James Wood, who resides in it.

“Mr. Wood’s mother, Jean Dollar, was for many years Mrs. Oswald’s faithful and devoted attendant.

“Mrs. Oswald and her daughters afterwards removed to Viewfield Cottage, above Kincaid House, which the laird had built for his sister. After the death of her sister and mother, Miss Oswald made a will, bequeathing all her means to build schools in Campsie and Kirkintilloch, which in due time were built and named after Miss Oswald. After erecting these buildings there was not enough left to endow them. They have now been handed over to the respective School Boards of Campsie and Kirkintilloch (burgh). In the latter case, the kirk-sessions made certain reservations in their own favour, in order that they might have the use of them whenever they wished, when not required for educational purposes. Many who are familiar with the name Oswald School, know nothing of the kind-hearted lady who founded them to promote the educational interests of the two parishes she was connected with.”

EDUCATIONAL ENDOWMENTS SCHEME.

This arose from the “Educational Endowments (Scotland) Act, 1862,” under which the Commissioners by an Order in Council, 27th June, 1885, decreed that the following endowments should be consolidated, and amalgamated, and the whole funds and property vested in a new governing body to be called “The Governors of the Kirkintilloch Educational Trust, viz.:—

“I. The Cowgate School Fund, hitherto held and administered under agreement, dated 23rd and 24th October, 1876.

“II. The Kerr Street School Fund, presently held by James Calder, Esq., treasurer to the subscribers.

“III. The Gartshore Endowment (1) hitherto held and administered under Deed of Mortification by Miss Marjory Gartshore, dated 15th October, 1807, and recorded in the Books of Council and Session 19th January, 1814, and Disposition by the said Miss Marjory Gartshore, recorded in the Books of Council and Session 19th January, 1814.

“IV. The Gartshore Endowment (2) hitherto held and administered under Settlement of the said Miss Marjory Gartshore, dated 29th September, 1810, and recorded in the Books of Council and Session 19th January, 1814, and Conveyance by Sir Patrick Murray of Ochtertyre, in favour of himself and another as trustees, dated 24th and 26th May, 1875.

“V. The Badenheath Endowment, hitherto held and administered by the kirk-session of Kirkintilloch, under the settlement of Mr. Boyd of Drum.”

The governors are to consist of five persons.
One to be elected by the Burgh School Board of Kirkintilloch,
One by the Landward School Board.
One to be the Chief Magistrate of the police burgh.
One to be elected by the Kirk-Session of the parish.
One to be appointed by the proprietor of the estate of Gartshore.

To be elected for five years, to hold at least two meetings each year, and keep minutes and accounts. To have full power to sell, feu, or lease the property, and invest the funds.

I. They are to expend a sum not exceeding £25 yearly in paying, at public or State-aided schools, the fees, with books and stationery, of poor and deserving children, who have resided for a year in the parish of Kirkintilloch, and have passed in the third or higher standards of the Scotch Code, and whose parents or guardians, not being in receipt of parochial relief, are in such circumstances as to require aid in providing elementary education, and are persons who, in the opinion of the governors, should not be required to apply to the Parochial Board for aid in paying school fees. These free scholarships to be awarded on the result of a competitive examination, or as a reward for regularity of attendance, industry, general merit, and good conduct, all to be ascertained by the report of the teachers and otherwise as the governors may determine. Any payment under this clause to be withdrawn in the case of children who fail to give regular attendance, or make satisfactory progress at school. The governors may expend the sum of £10 yearly on the maintenance or clothing of the most necessitous of the free scholars.

II. The governors to establish a bursary for university or technical education, to be called “The Gartshore University Bursary,” of the yearly value of £25, to be awarded by competitive examination among those who have been resident for a year in the parish of Kirkintilloch, and during that period have attended for at least six months before the date of examination, or who have obtained one of the bursaries aftermentioned, and whose parents or guardians require aid in providing higher education, to be tenable for such a period, not exceeding four years, as the governors may determine, at a university or technical school to be approved by the governors. If in any year no suitable candidate appear for this bursary, the amount for that year to be applied to the Gartshore school bursaries aftermentioned.

III. The governors to establish three bursaries for higher education, to be called “The Gartshore Bursaries* each of the yearly value of not less than ^10, nor more than ,£15. These bursaries to be awarded by competitive examination among children who have been resident for a year in the parish of Kirkintilloch, and during that period have attended public or State-aided schools in Kirkintilloch, or one of the adjoining parishes, whose age at the date of the competition shall not exceed fourteen years, and whose parents or guardians require aid in providing higher education; to be tenable for such period, not exceeding three years, as the governors may determine, at such schools as they may approve. If in any year no suitable candidate appear, the amount to be applied to school bursaries.

IV. The governors to apply the remainder of the free annual income of the endowment in establishing school bursaries, to be called “ The Gartshore School Bursaries,” each of the yearly value of not less than £$, nor more than £\o. These bursaries to be awarded by competitive examination among children who have been resident for a year in the parish of Kirkintilloch, and during that period have attended public or state-aided schools in Kirkintilloch, or one of the adjoining parishes, who have passed the fifth standard of the present Scotch code, or such standard as may from time to time be fixed by the Scotch Education Department, pursuant to the Education (Scotland) Acts, as that entitling children to total exemption from the obligation to attend school, and whose parents or guardians are in such circumstances as to require aid for giving them higher education, to be tenable for two years at public or state-aided schools, in which efficient instruction is given in the higher branches.

Under the present Education Act the following gentlemen have officiated:—