Rev JOHN DRYSDALE AND HIS DESCENDANTS, 1681-1991 by D C L Drysdale, is
the story of Rev John Drysdale (1681-1726), Minister at Kirkcaldy from 1712-1726, and
his famous descendants, by his wife, Anne Ferguson, daughter of William Ferguson,
Provost of Kirkcaldy. His third son, Rev John Drysdale (1718-1788), minister in
Edinburgh, was twice elected Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of
Scotland. Another son, William Drysdale (1717-1757), was merchant and Treasurer of
Kirkcaldy, and through his wife, Katherine Robertson of Gladney, the family was related to
the famous Adam brothers, architects. Two other sons, Robert and George, were Town
Clerks of Kirkcaldy, and George also served two terms as Provost (1763-1765 and
1771-1775). The office of town clerk of Kirkcaldy seems to have been almost an
inherited position, the last recipient being John Drysdale, who held office from 1811-
1873. William's (1717-1757) son, William Drysdale (1745-1825), was also Town Clerk of
Kirkcaldy, and acquired the estate of Pitteuchar, in Kinglassie parish, in the early 1800s.
He was succeeded there by his son, Sir William Drysdale (1781-1843), Writer to the
Signet, who was knighted while City Treasurer of Edinburgh, 1841-1843. The latter's
sister, Ann Drysdale (1792-1853), emigrated to Australia per the "Indus," ex Leith, Oct
1839, arriving Melbourne, 15 March 1840, and there formed a squatting partnership with
Caroline Newcomb of London. Her brother, John Drysdale, farmed Kilrie Farm in Fife,
and married a cousin and sister-in-law of George Russell of Golfhill. Frequent mention
to both the latter Drysdales is to be found within the 7-volume "Clyde Company Papers,"
edited by P L Brown. Later Australian Drysdales were engaged (from 1883 onwards) in
sugar cane refining in Queensland, and their story can be found in "John Drysdale and
the Burdekin" (Sydney, 1964) by Roy Connolly