Curiosities of Glasgow citizenship

Short biographical notices of the principal merchants, manufacturers etc of Glasgow in 1783

WILLIAM SHORTRIDGE

WILLIAM SHORTRIDGE, of Todd, Shortridge & Co.- (See David Todd.) He lived "4 flat, Shortridge's Land, south side Argyle Street" (June, 1787). Shortridge's Land was the tall tenement which stood at the west corner of Dunlop Street, opposite the Buck's Head. It was removed a few years ago in widening the entry to Dunlop Street. It had been built by William's father, Bailie John Shortridge, a tough, old worthy, who fought the rebels at Falkirk, and lived to fight his neighbours in the Law Courts. He had a right to be tough, for his mother was a Spreull of the tough and worthy stock, that produced old "Bass John" and other like-minded Spreull's. "Bass John" was tried for treason and rebellion and fighting on the side of the Covenanters at Bothwell Bridge. Though acquitted on a verdict of "not proven," the Government, to prevent his treason in the future, if they could not punish him for anything in the past, detained him, and he was for six years kept a prisoner in the Bass Rock.

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William Shortridge, by his wife, Elizabeth Yuille, had a numerous family; but none of these left descendants except Margaret, wife of James Burns of Kilmahew. Their only child, John William Burns, is sole representative of William Shortridge. William Shortridge's brother, James, under the will of his cousin, Janet Spreull, "Bass John's" daughter, succeeded to Spreull's Land in the Trongate - the only entail within the burgh - and took the name of Spreull. He married Margaret M'Call of Belvidere, and was father of John Spreull, late City Chamberlain. James Black of Craigmaddie, another original subscriber to the Chamber, married William Shortridge's sister. Another sister married John Smith of Craigend.