Greenock, till lately, was divided into what are called the old and new parishes. Certain lands disjoined from Innerkip and Houston, in the year 1636, by virtue of a petition from the proprietors to the lords of commission for plantation of kirks, &c. which received the name of Greenock when erected into a parish. There are different opinions entertained respecting the origin of the name, but the most probable opinion is, that it is derived from the Gaelic *Grianeg,* which signifies the *bay of the sun.* It lies in the north-west part of the county of Renfrew, in the presbytery of Paisley, and synod of Glasgow and Ayr, with the frith of Clyde on the north. Greenock was erected into a burgh of barony in 1575, and is governed by two bailies and a council.
The parish of Greenock is hilly, with the exception of a small strip of level ground of various breadths, stretching along the shore. It abounds with peat for fuel to the inhabitants, vast quantities of which they can afford to dispose of to the neighbouring towns and villages.
The soil upon the shore is full of gravel, light and sandy, which needs much rain to produce even a tolerable crop. It produces, however, large quantities of excellent potatoes, and by the assistance of sea ware, much good barley and oats.
As far as is yet known, the parish of Greenock produces no minerals which are in the least remarkable. Freestone is the most common; while limestone, which has been but lately discovered, has been found in very small quantities. No traces of coal have yet been met with.
In descending from the hills, there are some rivulets which form beautiful cascades, and appear like wreaths of snow, when seen from the shore. The chief of them bears the name of Wallace, the celebrated champion of the liberties of Scotland.
On the west side of the bay of Greenock and Crawfordside, formerly denominated the bay of St. Lawrence, from a chapel in the vicinity consecrated to that saint, lies the new town of Greenock. In the beginning of the 18th century it consisted only of one row of houses covered with thatch, and had no vestige of a harbour for vessels; but at present it extends along the Clyde rather more than an English mile, but not more than a furlong in breadth. Before the year 1745, a new parish was erected in Greenock, by the permission of Sir John Shaw, who gave up to the heritors and elders the right of patronage; and lately a third parish.
Both the parishes did not contain more than 4000 persons about the year 1745, and in 10 years after, they had suffered a diminution of 142 persons, as appears from the return transmitted to Dr. Webster. The increase of population has been rapid since that time, the number of inhabitants being 19,042 in 1811.
Improvements have kept pace with the progress of wealth and population. An infirmary was erected in 1828, and a bridewell in 1809. And in 1815 a new customhouse was begun, which was finished in 1817. It is a fine building, 172 feet long and 100 feet deep, and has a handsome Doric portico in front. About a third of the building is occupied by the excise. Two newspapers are published at Greenock, and for some years past there has been an annual exhibition of paintings and drawings. There are two commercial banks in the town, a provident bank, and a number of benefit societies. The harbour which has of late years been greatly enlarged and improved, has from 16 to 26 feet water at high tides, and is capable of receiving 500 sail of merchant vessels. There are three established churches in the town, a Gaelic chapel, and meeting-houses. The town of Greenock is governed by a council of nine members, of whom two are bailies. It is a burgh of barony, erected by Sir John Shaw in the year 1757, who was at that time superior. The inhabitants of Greenock petitioned the Scotch parliament in 1700, for a fund to build a harbour, which was absolutely and unaccountably refused. This made them enter into a contract with Sir John Shaw, paying a voluntary assessment of sixteen pence on each sack of malt brewed into ale within the limits of the town. In the year 1740 the whole debt was extinguished, and a surplus remained of 27,000 merks.
In Greenock there are several distillery manufactories, three soap and candle works, one saddle and shoe manufactory, and two sugar-houses, all carried on for exportation to a great extent.
In the year 1784, after peace with America, 436 vessels British and foreign, including outward and homeward bound, carrying 149,911 tons, were entered at the port of Greenock; and in 1791, there were 1962 vessels, the tonnage of which amounted to 31,704. In 1818, the registered shipping amounted to 40,195 tons. In the same year the duties of customs amounted to £51,587l. and those of excise to £29,000l. The revenues of the town and harbour were £10,000l.