Born in Sanquhar, John was the eldest child of James Symington (1789-1862) and Catherine Gibson Kilpatrick Menzies.

His occupation was Journeyman Mason. [1] He married twice and fathered fifteen children. He died from chronic bronchitis at the age of 71 years at Smallburn, Muirkirk on May 11, 1888 and is buried in the Muirkirk Cemetery. [2]

In January 1869, he wrote a letter to the Glasgow Herald to the Glasgow Herald in support of his grandfather's contribution to early steam navigation (see below).

Sir Thomas Symington (see portrait below), great-grandson of John Symington, reflects in his autobiography on his early life and education in Muirkirk, where he spent his formative years. [3] He had a special interest in adrenal pathology and was Professor of Pathology at Glasgow Royal Infirmary. 

JOHN SYMINGTON Married (1) CATHERINE COULTER OR COULTHART 31 March 1839 at Sanquhar.

Catherine Coulthart died at Sanquhar on 9 July 1844.

CHILDREN OF JOHN SYMINGTON AND CATHERINE COULTHART

1. JANE SYMINGTON [4] Born 1840; died 30 January 1877 from "cerebritis" at 154 Burnfoothill, Dalmellington.

Married: James Samson, Ironstone miner, 29 November 1861 at Muirkirk

Children:

Catherine b. 15.8.1862 Muirkirk d. 1881

William b. 5.7.1864 Muirkirk

John b. 15.9.1866 Muirkirk d. 24.12.1942 Kilmarnock m. (1) Margaret Walker 31.12.1888 Muirkirk m. (2) Jeanie McCune 10.8.1925 Blythswood

 James b. 27.1.1869 Muirkirk

 Jane b. 26.4.1871 Muirkirk 

 Mary b. 27.11.1873 37 Burnfoothill, Dalmellington

 Thomas Anderson b. 25.3.1876 Dalmellington d. 1885 Muirkirk                      

2. JAMES SYMINGTON [5] Coal miner. Single. Born 1843 at Sanquhar; [6] died aged 74 from carcinoma of the liver on 24 October 1916 at Smallburn, Muirkirk.  (Robert Symington "stepbrother," witness on death certificate) Muirkirk Cemetery 3/1142

3. WILLIAM SYMINGTON [7] Coal miner. [8] Born c.1845 at Sanquhar; died at Swinehill, Dalserf, from smallpox on 15 June 1874

Married Catherine Watson on 29 December 1871 at Hill Manse, Stonehouse

His then residence was Woodside, Dalserf

[1] 1841 Census Sanquhar; 1851,1861, 1881 Census, Muirkirk; death certificate

[2] Tombstone erected by Mary Stevenson; buried in the same grave are her son David Symington killed 8.1.1890, Mary Stevenson died 23.4.1901aged 75 years, Emily Bowerman 13.11.1945 aged 78, Robert Symington 20.6.1912 aged 82 years and Mary S. McDill granddaughter died 19.2.1898 aged 3 years and 2 months

[3] Symington, Professor Sir Thomas Symington, A Chance to Remember. My Life in Medicine, 2003

[4] Domestic servant (Census 1861)

[5] Coalminer (Census 1861 and Death Certificate)

[6] 1901 Scotland Census 607/2/24

[7] Coalminer (Census 1861)

[8] 1861 Census 607/2/ 15 Muirkirk

JOHN SYMINGTON Married (2) MARY STEVENSON 4 September 1846 at Muirkirk [1]

MARY STEVENSON, daughter of John Stevenson, coal miner, and Margaret Porteous; born at Muirkirk 20 August 1827; died at Smallburn, Muirkirk 23rd April 1901 with hemiplegia

(Margaret Porteous died 10 December 1860, daughter of Gilbert Porteous, baker, and Margaret Lapraik).

CHILDREN OF JOHN SYMINGTON AND MARY STEVENSON

1. JOHN SYMINGTON Coal Miner. Illiterate (signed marriage register with a cross) Born 1847 [2] died from pneumonia and cardiac disease 29 March 1913 at Smallburn, Muirkirk.

Married (1) Jane Wilson, handloom weaver, 31.12.1869 (d. 28.3.1878) at Stonehouse (Daughter of Thomas Wilson, joiner, and Janet K…)

Children:

Janet b. 1.3.1874 Argyle Street Stonehouse; married David Govan, [3] Coal Miner, son of James Govan, coal miner, and Jane Kilpatrick, formerly Smellie, 2.2.1894 at 16 Morningside Square (her home), Stonehouse; she died on 16 January 1915 from exhaustion following delivery of a transverse presentation, at 15 Binnie's Row, Morningside. David Govan married (2) Jane Robb, Widow, 5 May 1919, at 21 Hope Street, Glasgow; he died on 9 November 1927 aged 55 from encephalitis at 41 Hope Street, Newmans.

Children of Janet Symington and David Govan:

Jane Govan b. 29 March 1894 at 4 Binnie's Row, Morningside

James Govan b. 6 July 1895 at 30 Queen Street, Stonehouse

John Symington Govan b. 26 July 1897 at 2 Binnie's Row, Morningside; he died 26 November 1889 at 4 Binnie's Row, from pneumonia

David Govan b. 7 October 1899 at 4 Binnie's Row, Morningside; died 22 December 1901 from meningitis at 16 Binnie's Row, Morningside

John Symington Govan b. 5 February 1901 at Hilltop, Morningside

Hugh Smellie Govan b. 16 July 1903 at 15 Binnie's Road, Morningside

Janet Main Govan died 27 January 1914 aged 14 months from measles and acute bronchitis, at 15 Binnie's Row, Morningside 

Married: (2) Jane m. s. Hair, (widow of James Cranston who died 13.9.1880 aged 41 from phthisis) 23 September 1881 at Muirkirk, Evangelical Union Church (Jane Hair, daughter of Hugh Hair, watchmaker, and Margaret Hyslop); she died on 21.12.1901 at 18 Hyndford Street, Douglas Water; buried with John Symington at Muirkirk.

Children:

James Symington b. 4.7.1882 at Muirkirk; d. 16.8.1882 Meningitis.

Margaret Porteous Stevenson Symington b. 16.7.1889 at Stair Row, Glenbuck; died in infancy.

Hugh Hair Symington b. 29.6.1884 at 44 Derncomer, Parish of Auchinleck; stone sawyer; moved to Miami, Florida; from there, in 1918 enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force as a private (Reg. No. 3232804) but did not see action.

2. GILBERT STEVENSON SYMINGTON Coal Miner, Ironstone Miner, Drapery Traveller. [4] Born 1850; died from diabetes and heart disease on 23 November 1916 at Garronhill, Muirkirk.

Married Christina McCrone Begg of 2 Waterside Dalmellington 24 March 1871 at 2 Waterside; (her parents James Begg, coal miner, and Ann Stevenson; she died 9.8.1902 at Smallburn).

Children:  

John Symington Coal Miner [5] b. 30.7.1872 at 20 Clover Park Dalmellington; [6] married Sarah Rankin Miller 27.12.1901 at Muirkirk.

James Symington b. 11.9.1874 at Dalmellington; died 1875.

Mary Stevenson Symington b. 1877 Muirkirk; d. 6.5.1893 at 15 Midhouse Row, Muirkirk; Enteric fever and phthisis pulmonalis.

Annie Stevenson Symington Single. b. 9. 5. 1879 at 4 Kames Row, Muirkirk; d. 12.9.1895 at 15 Midhouse Row Muirkirk Phthisis Pulmonalis.

Thomas Maxwell Symington School Teacher. Single. b. 1881 at Douglas; [7] d. 6.1.1917 at Kirkintilloch. 

Gilbert Stevenson Symington b. 1885 d. 1957; married Mary Briscoe

Adam Begg Symington Coal Miner. Single. b. 1888 Muirkirk; died 10.8.1954 Cardiovascular degeneration.

3. THOMAS STEVENSON SYMINGTON Born 1851 Muirkirk; died in infancy.

4. CATHERINE SYMINGTON Born 5 June 1853; [8] died from consumption in Muirkirk on 23 August 1861 [9] aged 8 years.

5. DAVID SYMINGTON Driver of Pit Horse. Born 28 October 1855; died from disease of the brain on 26 June 1868 in Muirkirk.

6. MARGARET PORTEOUS SYMINGTON Born 6 July 1857 in Muirkirk; died from heart disease 6 February1933 at Stanley Place, Tarbert, Argyll.

Married Thomas Johnstone Maxwell, ploughman of Middle Wellwood, Muirkirk, at Muirkirk 23.11.1880 (son of Alexander Maxwell, forester, and Janet Walker, born 29.4.1858 Auchenskeoch Cottage, Drumlanrig Woods; he died 16.10.1939).

Children: 

Mary Stevenson Maxwell b. 21.4.1882 in Smallburn Muirkirk; d. 27.5.1946 in Stobhill Hospital; usual residence 643 Maryhill road, Glasgow.

 Married (1) George Kelly, house painter, 20.1.1911 at 20 Maxwell Drive, Glasgow Issue James Thomas Maxwell b. 16.12.1908 Tarbert d. June 1975 m. Margaret Paterson Kilpatrick 12.2.1934; George Sinclair Kelly b. 7.1.1912 Glasgow

Married (2) William George Cooke 8.2.1923

Alexander Maxwell b. 22.9.1884 Glasgow Road, Muirkirk

 Janet Walker Maxwell b. 17.7.1886 Muirkirk; d. 23.5.1971 Tarbert

John Symington Maxwell b. 17.8.1888 Glasgow Road, Muirkirk; d. 1.4.1959 Vale of Leven Hospital; married Mary Taylor Rankin.

Agnes Maxwell born 28.4.1890 Glasgow Road, Muirkirk; married Robert Macfarlane 4.10.1912 at 57 South Street, Greenock.

Margaret Symington Maxwell b. 28.1.1892 Glasgow Road, Muirkirk; died from tuberculous peritonitis 26.9.1892 Glasgow Road, Muirkirk. 

Elizabeth Symington Maxwell b. 7.9.1893 Glasgow Road, Muirkirk; died with cardiac failure and general paralysis of the insane on 6.10.1934 at Riccartsbar Asylum, Paisley; married Hugh Lang Brunton, plumber, 1.1.1915 at Tarbert, Loch Fyne

David Symington Maxwell Asylum Attendant. b. 5.8.1895 Glasgow Road, Muirkirk;

d. 23.12.1965 in Stobhill Hospital; married Christina Ann Monk, Mental Nurse, 18.11.1927 at Stag Hotel, Lochgilphead. 

Thomas Maxwell, Baker of Mount Pleasant, Tarbert. b. 7.8.1899 at Moss Bank Cottage, Tarbert; d. 27.1.1959; marriedMargaret Ina McCaffer 18.7.1925 at 26 High Street, Paisley.

7. ELIZABETH STEVENSON SYMINGTON Born 19 April 1859 in Muirkirk; died from chronic bronchitis and heart disease 20 January 1929 at 59 Glenburn Avenue Cambuslang. 

Married James Henderson, Iron Moulder, 11.6.1886 at Muirkirk, Established Church of Scotland; (his parents James Henderson, engineman, and Elizabeth McAulay; he died 14 July 1926).

Child: a daughter who married John B. Jenkins, 10 Glasgow Road, Cambuslang

8. THOMAS SYMINGTON Coal Miner. Born 5 April 1861 in Muirkirk; died from Pleurisy and Pulmonary Phthisis 13 June 1918 in Clark’s Buildings, Main Street Muirkirk; buried Muirkirk cemetery.

Married Mary Henderson Stitt 16.7.1886 at Muirkirk, Established Church of Scotland; the daughter of James Stitt and Mary Richardson, she died aged 79 on 3 June 1942 at 95 Main Street, Muirkirk.

Children:

Mary Stevenson Richardson Symington b. 16.11.1886 at Smallburn, Muirkirk; died from endocarditis 18.7.1937 at 97 Main Street Muirkirk; married William Shaw Coal Miner.

James Stitt Symington [10] Coal Miner. b. 23.3.1889 at Parkside, Dykeshead, Shotts; died from influenza 22.10.1918 at 47 Kames Row No. 2 Muirkirk; buried Muirkirk cemetery.

Married Margaret Steven, dressmaker, 21.12.1913 of 48 Kames Row No. 2, Iron Works Institute, at Muirkirk, Established Church of Scotland. (Margaret the daughter of Robert Steven, coal miner, and Jane Taylor.)

John Symington Insurance Agent. Single. Born 1891; died 18.7.1940 in Glasgow Royal Infirmary with Pyloric Stenosis; Residence 95 Main Street Muirkirk; buried in Muirkirk cemetery.

David Symington Insurance Agent. Single. Born 1896; died 13.6.1928 at Main Street Muirkirk from acute Miliary Tuberculosis of the lungs; buried in Muirkirk cemetery.  

9. CATHERINE SYMINGTON Born 18 April 1863 at Muirkirk

Married (1) James McDill, ploughman, son of James McDill, shepherd, and Janet Allen, 17.11.1893 at Muirkirk; he died 10.2.1897 aged 26 from phthisis pulmonalis 

Child: Mary McDill died 19.2.1898 aged 3 years Suppurative inflammation of larynx

Married (2) David Loggie, estate labourer, son of John Loggie and Elizabeth Blyth, 

10. ROBERT AITKEN MUIR SYMINGTON Coal miner. Born 3 April 1865 in Muirkirk; died with hypertension, arteriosclerosis and heart disease on 20 June 1952 at Kirklandside Hospital; buried in Muirkirk cemetery.

Married Emily Bowerman 10 June 1898 at Muirkirk, Congregational Union of Scotland; daughter of Richard Bowerman, sailor, and Mary McTurk; died 13 November 1945 aged 79 at 4 Smallburn, Muirkirk

Children:

John Symington Coal Miner. b. 17.12.1900 at 27 Hyndford Street, Douglas Water; [11] married Susan Gordon Cunningham, hosiery worker, 18.3.1927 at 51 Glebe Road, Kilmarnock (her parents Frederick Cunningham, skinner, and Jane Gordon). 

Richard Bowerman Symington Railway Engine Cleaner. b. 21.12.1903 at Smallburn Muirkirk; married Margaret Steele Bell 2.6.1927 at Masonic Hall, Muirkirk; (daughter of Charles Paterson Bell, schoolmaster, and Margaret Steele; she died 14.4.1929)

Mary Stevenson Symington b. 29.1.1904 at Smallburn 

William Symington

11. MARY SYMINGTON Born 5 August 1868 in Muirkirk; died from whooping cough 26 June 1870 at 10 Clover Park, Dalmellington.

12. DAVID SYMINGTON Single. Born 20 July 1871 at Dalmellington, Ayrshire; died 8 January 1890. Killed in the Lightshaw Pit. Concussion of Brain followed by asphyxia.

[1] O.P.R. Muirkirk 607/3 page 59

[2] Coalminer (Census 1861)

[3] Private, D Company, 3rd Battalion H.L.I. (from death certificate of his wife Janet who died 1915)

[4] 1901 Scotland Census 607/0 2/00 24

[5] 1901 Scotland Census 607/2/24

[6] Address Sanfy Road Renfrew in 1916

[7] 1901 Scotland Census 607/2/24

[8] GPRO OPR Muirkirk 607/00 0030 0287

[9] Died from consumption (tuberculosis) 607/00 0037

[10] Father of Sir Tom Symington

[11] Informant on father’s death certificate-address given as 2 Craigie Road …ford

John Symington was a grandson of William Symington and the eldest son of William's illegitimate son James. He was a stonemason in Muirkirk, where he raised a large family. In January 1869, he wrote to the editor of the Glasgow Herald to refute claims which had been made on behalf of Patrick Taylor as the "inventor" of steam navigation. [1] Some errors of fact are evident in his letter reproduced below (notably the date for the Charlotte Dundas trial; read "Fulton" in place of Bolton; Fulton inspected the vessel at Falkirk, not Grangemouth, etc.), but it is noteworthy that he reports that his father James, who would have been about fourteen years old at the time, was on board in at least one of the Charlotte Dundas trials.

EARLY STEAM NAVIGATION -SYMINGTON AND TAYLOR.

To the Editor of the Glasgow Herald.

SIR, - Having read in the Herald of January 21st an article on steam navigation by Mr. Frazer, I think Mr Frazer must have got his information from some old wife about Old Cumnock, as regards Mr Taylor being the inventor of steam navigation. William Symington had shown to the world a steam engine running on the turnpike road at Wanlockhead, Dumfriesshire, in the year 1786, he being employed by the Marquis of Bute and Mr Mason, at that time fitting up a water engine for the works there. James Taylor's brother was manager of the lead mines there at that time. I have had the pleasure of talking to an old man, named John Black, who was employed by Symington in putting up the water engine. He told me he was on the small engine when first run on the road. James Taylor got the information of Symington's invention from his brother, the manager. When Mr Taylor and Mr. Millar could go no farther with their invention by manual power, Mr Taylor suggested Symington's invention to Mr Millar. Mr Millar immediately went to Symington, at Falkirk, to see if his invention would be available in propelling vessels on water. Symington explained to Mr Millar how the object could be attained. Immediately Mr Millar employed Symington to get castings fitted for the boat he had prepared with paddle wheels. Symington commenced fitting up the engine at Dalswinton. Mr Taylor, having little to take up his time as tutor, attended Symington daily whilst fitting up the engine. When ready the engine was first put on Dalswinton Loch, amidst hundreds of spectators, and proved successful, in the year 1788. The next trial of Symington's was from Lock 16, Falkirk, to Port-Dundas, in 1812. She proved too large for the banks

of the canal; my father was at the helm along with his father (the inventor) on that trip. The boat was next chained up at Grangemouth for some time, until it got into use as a tug-boat. When lying at Grangemouth, Bell and Bolton inspected her, whilst Symington gave them all the information respecting the invention. Mr Fraser shows Mr Symington not to be the inventor. Mr Fraser must have been in a dormant state when Mr Taylor's friends used all their influence to have the claim to the invention, in having it brought before Parliament. He could not substantiate the claims brought forward to steam navigation. He was deterred by Symington, being defeated. They next made claims of being the inventors of the paddles, as Mr Millar had given up his claim. I think £50 was a good salary for a borrowed invention. I would like to know where Mr Taylor's surviving relatives were 15 years ago, when a few gentlemen in Glasgow brought forward a claim for Mr. Bell's family before Parliament; when Mr Symington's son brought before the Board of Trade testimonials and proofs to lay all other claims aside as to steam navigation, and published in public prints for three months successively, defying the world to having any claim to steam navigation, which the testimonials belonging to the late Mr Symington clearly show by sworn witness. I can justify "Old Burgess' " statement. Thankful for his kindness, and hoping you will find space in your valuable paper for these lines -1 am, &c.,

JOHN SYMINGTON,

Grandson to the Real Inventor,

Muirkirk, 25th Jan., 1869.

[1] The Glasgow Herald, Wednesday 27 January, 1869 (also, note letter to Falkirk Herald, 28 January 1869 page 2)

ERECTED BY

MARY STEVENSON

IN MEMORY OF

HER HUSBAND

JOHN SYMINGTON

WHO DIED 11TH MAY 1888

AGED 71 YEARS

DAVID SYMINGTON

HIS SON WHO WAS ACCIDENTALLY 

KILLED 8TH JAN 1890 AGED 18 YEARS

ALSO THE ABOVE

MARY STEVENSON

DIED 23RD APRIL 1901 AGED 75 YEARS

EMILY BOWERMAN

DIED 13 NOV 1945 AGED 78 YEARS

AND ROBERT SYMINGTON

HUSBAND OF ABOVE

DIED 20 JUNE 1952 AGED 82 YEARS

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

MARY S MCDILL THEIR GRANDDAUGHTER

WHO DIED 19 FEB 1898

AGED 3 YEARS AND 2 MONTHS 

IN

LOVING MEMORY OF

THOMAS SYMINGTON

WHO DIED 13TH JUNE 1918

AGED 57 YEARS

ALSO JAMES, HIS SON,

BELOVED HUSBAND OF MARGARET STEVEN

DIED 22ND OCT. 1918, AGED 29 YEARS

ALSO DAVID, HIS SON

DIED 13TH JUNE, 1938 AGED 31 YEARS

ALSO JOHN HIS SON

DIED 18TH JULY 1940 AGED 49 YEARS

MARY STITT

WIFE OF ABOVE THOMAS SYMINGTON

DIED 3RD JUNE 1942, AGED 79 YEARS

ALSO MARGARET STEVEN

WIFE OF ABOVE JAMES SYMINGTON

DIED 21ST APRIL 1967 AGED 77 YEARS