Oswald, Richard; Oswald, Richard Alexander; Oswald, James; Oswald, George; Oswald, Margaret

The Oswald family of Auchincruive and Scotstoun were of northern origin, coming from Caithness and Orkney. They include Alex Oswald who had been a baillie and an elder in Thurso, 1647, and James Oswald of Kirkwall, in Orkney, who died about the year 1660. The son of the latter, also James Oswald, was one of the magistrates of Wick, and married Barbara, a daughter of Coghill of that ilk. He in turn had two sons, James and George, the former becoming minister of Watten, and the latter minister of Dunnet, in the county of Caithness.

The Rev. James Oswald, Minister of Watten, was born on 26 January 1654. He entered the ministry in 1682. He had two sons Richard and Alexander Oswald. The two went to Glasgow and went into business, becoming very successful. In 1739, they bought the estate of Scotstoun, Renfrewshire, from their fortune. Their father died on 4 November 1698.

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