s SBI L Jj L S ^ — '^m8 H i3 Hsll m y iP !9B g ffi ^ t^ £ aA^ %S^ •^ -' fjii • -..•■■, < ^ i'V. 1 'A r 1 (^■im .x' ^«'-» mr o<^^°^ A<.' ^M^ TOPOGRAPHICAL r DESCRIPTION OF AYRSHIRE ; i, - MORE PARTICULARLY OF Cuuntiigfjanw : TOGETHER WITH A GENEALOGICAL ACCOUNT OF THE PRINCIPAL FAMILIES IN THAT BAILIWICK. By GEORGE ROBERTSON, AUTHOR OF THE SURVEY OF MID LOTHIAN, KINCARDINESHIRE, Sc. ■UULTA tENASCENIOR QUAB JAM CSCIDEB6. — •• »«(^&te«« • IRVINE: (srunningfjamr l^rrss, Printed by Ed'ward Macquistan, SOLD BY A. CONSTABLE & CO. EDINBURGH J LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME AND BROWN; SAM. HIGHLEY AND SON LONDON; WILSON AND CO. AYR; AND J. TEMPLETON, IRVINE. 1820. i ' CiueteH in ^tationer^ i^ali, ■^i:2r^f^^-'''^"t^.^ #reltminatrg Ecmarfeief. -/fyf'^'/" Q ui previous knowledge of the District of Cunning- HAME, during a residence of nine years, has enabled me to state its Topographical circumstances with a considerable degree of confidence. This know- ledge has been rendered still moro fomplete, from having gone over the whole territory in the course of summer 1819 for the special purpose of collecting information on all the points under discussion. The Extent of the different Properties, and of their com- ponent parts, has been obtained in most cases from the Proprie- tors themselves, and in all, from unquestionable authorities. Though this has not beenparticularly stated in detail, it has been carefully collected, under the various heads, in distinct sums. Parish by Parish ; and as sucli, may be depended upon. In the more minute investigation of the Nl:aiber of Acres, under the different Crops, I have been ably assisted by intelli- sent individuals in each Parish. Thcsame mode of investisja- tion was adopted respecting the detail of Live Stock. And to render the whole as correct as possible, the accounts, in these- respects, before being sent to the press, were submitted to the careful revisal of the same persons, and to other competent judges on the spot ; and to their remarks and corrections every attention has been paid. 711.S58 aV niELlMlKARY REMARKS. The Genealogical Accounts of the different Families, have been composed from sources of information furnislied by them- selves, always referring to their Charters or other Title Deeds for verification. This has been especially the case with those Families whose history is given for the first time. The account of those Families whose history has appeared before, has, in ad- dition, been collated witli former publications by Crawfurd, Douglas, Nisbet, and Wood, and with other works of acknow" ledged authenticity. 'The Statistical Notices respecting Population, State of Education, and State of the Poor, have been obtained from — the Ministers of the respective Parishes — the different Teachers of Schools — and the Records of the ParLsh Seseions. Lastly, I have to acknowledge witli gratitude, that in the pro- gress of the work I have received much benefit from the use of Books from different Libraries: more especially from the College of Glasgow; from Col. Blair of Blair; from Mr. Smith of Swine- ridgemuir; from Mr. Dobie, Writer in Beith; from the late Mr. Lauchlane in Irvine; but, perhaps, more than from all others, from the Library at Eglintoni Castle. GEO. ROBERTSON. BowER-LoDGE, Sept. 2, 1820. INDEX. Topographical Description of Ayrshire — General Description of Cunninghame—* Etymology — Climate — Soil — Surface — Hills Waters — Lochs — Minerals — Coals — ■ Limestone — Marble — Freestone— Millstone — Roads — Railways — Canals — Harbour, of Ardrossan — of Saltcoats — of Irvine — Port of Irvine — Fisheries — State of Property — Size of Farms — Houses of Husbandmen — Enclosures — Implements — Rotation of Crops — Wheat — Barley — Beans — Peas — Tares — Oats — Potatoes — Turnip — Carrot — Flax — Clover and Rye Grass — Pastures — Meadows — Weeds — Gardens & Orchards- Woodlands — Live Stock — Horsos — Cows — Sheep — Swine — Bees — Rabbits— Game —Weights and Measures. From page 12 to 44', inclusiTe. Jp>atrwi)ei0f. Ardrossan, Beith, Dairy, - Dreghorn, Dunlop, Fenwick, Irvine, Kilbirnie, Ardrossan^ Beith, Dairy, Derval, Dreghorn, Dunlop, Fairlie, Fenwick, Irvine, Port of Kilbirnie, Aikets, Sundries, - Alton, Wark, Annanhill, Dunlop, Annock-Lodge, Montgomery, Ardeer, Warner, Ardoch, Campbell, Ardneil, Craufurd, Ardrossan, Earl of Eglinton, Armsheugh, Earl of Eglinton, Ashgrove, Bowmapj Page. Page. 14B Kilbride, . 114 268 Kilmarnock, « 371 229 Kilmaurs, ... 385 393 Kilwinning, _ 184 294. Largs, . 53 S30 Loudoun, - _ 364 401 Stevenston, _ 163 254 Stewarton, - _ _ - 309 % anl 3 83inagei9(. 150 Kilbride, _ 119 270 Kilmarnock, . 373 231 Kilmaurs, - - ^ 386 356 Kilwinning, . 186 394 Largs, . 59 295 Newmills, - - - . 356 61 Saltcoats, - - - ^ 151 330 Stevenston, - - - • 165 411 Stewarton, - _ « « 313 28 Troon, port of. .. 28 256 OEiett atejef. 305 Assloss, Parker, ^ 382 305 Auchenharvie, Sundries, _ 317 382 Auchinmades, Sundries, ^ 226 398 Auchintibers, — Kilwinning • 225 178 Do. Stewaiton, » 324 226 Balgrays, in Beith parish, . 282 124 Do. in Irvine, parish, . 402 158 Baidlands, Sundries, . 248 403 Bar, in Largs parish, - 82 199 Bars, in Beith parish, - -2%5 n INDEX. Barcraigi, Ritchie, Bartonholm, FuUarton, » Birket, Crawford, Blackhouse, Campbell, Blacklaw, Sundries, Blackstone, L. J. Montgomcrie, Bhir of Blair, - Boghall, Pollock, Bogside, in Irvine, Do. in Beith parish, Bogston, Montgomerie, Bonshaw, Raid, Borelands, Sundries, - Bourtreehill, Earl of Eglinton, Boyd, Barony of Boydston, Alexander, Braid, Alexander, Brisbane, Brisbane, Braehead, Gilmour, Broadlie, Anderson, Broadlie, Montgomery, Broadstone, Sundries, ■ Brokelmuir, Duncan, - Brownhill, Craig, Broomhill, Donald, Brownhills, Gilmour, Brownhills, Do. (net Shedden) Brown- Muir, Crawford, Burnhouse, Biggart, Burnside, Lang, — Burrowland, Hyndman, Busby, Ritchie, Byrehill, Deans, Caddel, Cunnighame, Camskeith, Duke of Portland, Carlung, Alexander, - Carraai bank, Cunninghame, Cauldstream, Sundries, Chapeltons, Sundries, Clonbeith, L. M. Montgomery^, Corsehill, Kilwinning, Corsehill Stewarton, - Ccjrsbie, Crawfurd, Craig, Morris, Craighead, Brown, Craighouse, Montgomery, Craignaught, Gilmour, Craigton, Jameson, Craneberry-moss, Boyle, Craufurdland, Craufurd, Crawfield, L. M. Montgomery - Page. 280 405 '24:8 82 324. 250 233 280 409 280 282 317 306 404 246 142 127 88 305 304 249 281 305 226 198 285 291 279 285 100 220 389 204 160 382 127 390 285 317 223 226 321 129 390 305 282 804 loo 204 355—381 275 Page. Crevoch, Sundries, - - 317 Crummock, Wilson, - - 290 Cultiswray or Cutsiraw, - 325 CufF and Cowieland, Urquhart, 280 Cunninghamhead, Snodgrass, - 397 Dalgarvcn, Sundries, - - 197 Dalswraith, Sundries,- - 351 Darwhilling, Mitchel, - 351 Diddop, H.uriilton, - - 160 Dochra, Dunsmure, - - 100 Dockras, Sundries, - - 282 Doura East, jMontgomery, - 220 ■ Doura West, Crichton, - 204 Drummelling, Muir, - 129 Dunlop, Dunlop, - - 289 Dreghorn, Earl of Eglinton, - 395 Drumbuie, Patrick, • - 285 Dykehead, Brown, - - 250 Eglinton, Earl of Eglinton, ♦ 205 Fergushill, Glasgow, - 221 FuUwoods, Sundries, - S24 FuUwoodheads, Sundries, - 280 Gaimshil!, Cunningham, - 306 Galloberry, Sundries, - 324 Gallowayford, Miller, - - 326 Gate-end, Ker, - - 285 Gateside, Lusk. - - 129 Giffin, Sundries, - - 283 GifFordland, Blair, - - 248 Gill, Craufurd, - - 250 Glengarnock, Sundries, - 262 Grange, Hamilton, - - 167 Granges, Dunlop parish - 304' Grangehill, Fulton, - - 279 Grassyards, Sundries, - - 100 Gree, Sundries, - " 285 Greenhills, Sundries, - - 285 Groatholme, Burns, - ' 226 Grugar, Blane, - - 3*80 Haily, Wilson, - - 101 Hairshaw, Sundries, - - 324 Hairshaw-muir, Earl of Glasgowj 35 1 Halkets, Sundries, - - 305 Hallmoss, Miller, - - 305 Hangingheugh, Lang, - lol Hapland, Trotter, - - 303 Harplaw, Crawford, - - 100 Hawkhill, Scott, - - 99 Hayocks, Muir, - - I85f; Hazlebank, WyIHe, - - .96#.- Hazlehead, Patrick, - z 285 INDEX. Vll Page. Highgates, Biggart, - - 285 Hill, Brown, - - S06 Hillerhurst, Hamilton, - 181 Hill of Beith, Brown, - 280 Hollows, Glasgow, - - 306 Hoodsyards, Love, - - 280 Kelburn, Earl of Glasgow, - 102 Kelly, Wallace, - - 72 Kennox, M'Alester, - 317 Kersland, Sundries, - - 243 Kilbirnie, L. M. L. Craufurd, 257 Kilburn, Crawford, - - 100 Kilmarnock, Duke of Portland, 381 Kilmaurs, L. M. Montgomery, 388 Kirkhall, Weir, - - - 161 Eirkland, Hunter, - - 141 Kirklands, Dunlop, - - 305 Kirktonhall, Ritchie, - - 139 Knock, Brisbane, - - 86 Knock-E wart, Montgomery, 159 Ladyland, Cochran, - - 262 Lainshaw, Cunningham, 317-320 Laught, Cunninghame, -• — • 160 Lawhill, Brown, - - 138 Leahead, Gemmil, - - 305 Loanhead, Sundries, - - 305 Lochrigs, Sundries, - - 325 Lochrighills, Kirkwood, - 305 Lochwood, Dunlop, -- - 106 Lugton-rigs, Sundries, - 285 Lynne, Sundries, - - 248 Mains, Niel and Sundries, - 276 Marshylands, Sundries, - 282 Mayville, Cumin, - - ISiJ Middleton, Greig, - • 100 Middleton, Caldwell, - - 285 Moat, - - - 82-390 Monfode, Carrick, - - 158 Monkcastle, Miller, - - 195 Monkridden, Cunninghame, - 224 Morrishill, Shedden, - - 276 Mounlgreenan, Glasgow, - 221-317 Munoch, L. M. Montgomery, 250 Muirshields, Cochran, - - 3C4 Muirside, Shaw, - - 400 Muirston, Shedden, (not Gilmour) 291 Nettlehirsts, Sundries, - 285 Netherhills, Sundries, - - 306 Netherhouses, Sundries, . 306 Newlands, Hill, . • SOS Newton, Russel, - . 138 Newton, Muir, Alexander, Nodesdale, Lade, Orchard, Boyd, Overton, Fullarton, Parkend, Brown, Patterton, Montgomery, Peacock-bank, Deans, Pierceton, M'Reddie, Polkelly, Earl of Glasgow, Quarter, Wilson, Ravenslee, Cunningham, Reillies, Crawford, Righouse, Fullarton, Robertland, Ker, Roberton, Sundries, Rose Fenwick, Burns, Rossholme, Foulis, Roughwood, Patrick, Routinburn, Lang, Rowallan, March, of Hastings, Scotsloch, Warner, Seabank, Cunninghame, Skelmorley, Earl of Eglinton, . Skirnielands, Foulis, Smithston, Macgown, Snodgrass, Earl of Eglinton, South Annan, L. M. Montgomery, Springside, Hyndman, Springvale, Jack, Stane Castle, Earl of Eglinton, Stevenston Campbell, JE. of Eglinton, 167 Stobs, Ramsay, . , . 204- Tarbet, L. M. Montgomery, . 141 Templehouse, Gemmill, . 306 Tenements, Kilmaurs, , 390 Third part, Largs parish, . 82 Third part, Beith parish, . 285 Thorn, Gemmill, . , . 305 Thornton, Cunninghame, , 389 Threepwood, Love, &c. . 280 Todhills, Brown, , , . 205 Tower, Cathcart, . , . 390 Towerlands, Webb, . . 409 Towerlodge, Muir, . . 160 Treearne, Patrick, , , 286 Warrlx, Fullarton, . . 400 Warwickhill, Ralston, . . 296 Watersides, Sundries, . i- S05 Whitelaw, Sundries, . . 324- Whitelaw-burn, Crawford, . 100." Page. 138 100 139 127 182 220 326 399 33S 87 305 100 400 324 388 351 -400 288 88 Y330 5382 409 171 76 352 198 409 120 139 160 404 vtu INDEX. WilliamsluM', Donaldson, Willowyanls, Steele, Windyhall, Cunningham, Page. 32.5 275 226 jTainilicsf \vIiose Ealliol Family, ... 48 Bannatyne of Karnes, . . 83 Blair of Blair, . . . 234. Blair of Burrowland, . . 221 Boyd Eail of Kilmarnock, . 433 Boyd of Orchard, . . . 139 Boyd of Pitcon, . . . 247 Boyd of Portencross, . . 125 •Boyle Earl of Glasgow, . . 102 Boyle of Monfgomerieston, . 106 Brisbane of Brisbane, . . 90 Campbell Earl of Loudoun, . 359 Cochrane of Ladyland, . 264 Craufurd xjf Auchnames, . 130 Graufurd of Craufurdland, . 335 Craufurd of Kilbirnie, . 257 Cunninghame Earl of Glencairn, 434 Cunninghame of Ashinyards, 200 Cuninghame of Auchenharvie, . 172 Cunningham of Carlung, . 128 Cunningham of Clonbeith, & Monk- 1 qq. ridden, • • J ' Cunninghame of Corsehill, Bart. 321 Dunlop of Dunlop, . . 298 Dunlops of Boreland, . . 306 Fullarton of Fullarton, . 405 Fullarton of Overton, . . 1.27 Windyhouse, Shed Jen, Woodend, Burns, Woodside, Graham, Stirling, history is given. Hamilton of Grange, . Hammil of Roughwood, Hewison of Braehead, Hunter of Hunterston, Hunter of Kirkland, Hyndman of Springside, Ker of Kersland, Macgown of Smithston, Miller of Monkcastle, Montgomery Earl of Eglinton, Montgomery of Annock-Lodge, Montgomery of Braidlie, Montgomery of firaidstane, Montgomery of GifEn, Montgomery of Hazlehead, Montgomery of Lainshaw, Montgomery of Skelmorley, de Morville family, Patrick of Trearne, Patrick ofDrumbuie, Ralston of Ralston, Rawdon Marquis of Hastings, Shedden of Roughwood, Wallace of Kelly, . Warner of Ardeer, Wilson of Haily, FAMILIES OR INDIVIDUALS DISTINCT FROM THE ABOVE, Ache, King of Norway, . . 63 Alan, Lord of Galloway, . . 47 Alan de la Suche, 47, 381, 396, 404 Albany, Robert Duke of . 440 Alva, Erskine Lord . . 276 Anstrulher, .... 284 Arbuthnot, Viscounts of . 52 Arnot of Lochrig, . . 325 Ardrossan of Ardrossan, . 52 Arran, Boyd Earl of . . 300 Arran, Hamilton Earl of • 300 Athole, Duke of . . 85 Aihole, Strathbogie Earl of . 49 Ball. Dom. John, Hugh, Jocyline, 440 Baillie of Monkton, . 182, 303 Baillie of Monkland, . . 336 Baillie of Lamington, Baillies, formerly Balliols, Ballantyne of Castlehill, . Baiinatyne of Kelly, Barclay of Ardrossan, of fiusbie, of Crawfurd-John, of Kilbirnie, of Ladyland, . of Pierceton, Barrington Viscounts, . Becket, Thomas a Blair of Adamton, Blair, Sir James Hunter, Blair of Ladyland, Boswell of Auchinleck, / 320, Pagt, 282 204 276 168 289 348 121 141 139 244' 198 196 205 398 249 281 283 285 318 77 45 287 287 276 367 289 73 179 101 73 49 86 82 158 389 258 259 263 399 52 SI 399 325 263 363 INDEX. IX Page. Bowman, Provost of Glasgow, 201 Boyd, Lord - - - 318 ofBonshaw, - - 338 Margaret Mist, to James IV, 338 Boyce, Hector, - - 63 Boyle, Lord Justice Clerk, - lOY Boyvilles, - - 102-103 Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, - 367 Buchan J. Stuart, Earl of Buchan, 312 Buchanan, George - - 15 Burnet, Bishop - - 81, 137 Bute family, - - 85, 133 Caraerarius, Historian, - 190 Cameron, Mr. Richard - - M2 Campbell of Treesbank, - 320 of West Loudoun, - 321 Canmore, Malcolm - - 51 Carlisle, Lord Justice - - 339 Carmichael, Earl of Kyndford, - 363 Carr, Sir William of Etal, - 108 Carr, Earl of Somerset, - 213 Cassilis family, - - 402 Cathcart, Lord - 121, 133, 203 Cochrane of Polkelly, - 333 Conynghame, Marquis of » S2 1 Couts, Banker, London, - 346 Crawfurd of Baidland, - 173 of Fergushill, - 245 of GifFordland, - 248 Historiographer, - -132 -of Jordanhill, - 260 of Fossil, - - 248 Cumin of Logic, - - 182 Cuming of Eaniside, - - 323 Cumyn, the Black, - - 48 Cunninghame of Aikett, 211, 329 of Bridgehouse, - 320 of Caprington, - 321 of Cunninghamehead, 397, 408 of Baidland, - 173 of Glengarnock, - 262 of Mountgreenan, 222,321 of Robertland, 211,325 Dalrymple of Nunraw, - ~ 390 Darleith of that Ilk, - - 343 Deane^ General Rictard, - 173 Dempster, Historian, - - 189 Denham of West- Shields, - 301,307 •Devonshire, Duke of - - 203 Dewar of Lassodie, Dr, Henry, 157 Page. Douglas, Lotd - , 399 of Drumlanrig, - 121 of Periston, - . 398 of Springwood Park, 107-108 Dunlop of Craig, - . 390 of Garnkirk, - _ 300 of Hapland, - 304, 30S Edmeston of Newton, - 137 Eglinton of EgKnton, - 207 Elliot, Sir Gilbert of Minto, . ISO Errol, Earl of - - 108 Fairholme of Babherton, .- 84' of Craigiehall, - 84 Fergushill of that Ilk, - 343 Ferrars, William de 47, 381, 395, 404 Fishburn of Redcastle, - 48 Fleming of Barroch an, - 319 Forbes of Culloden, Duncan - 430 of Craigie-Var, Sir William 75 of New hall, - - 133 Fordyce of Ayton, - - 239 Forresters of Skelmorley, - 76 Fortesque of Stephenstoune, - 243 Fortibus, William de - - 47 Fox, Charles James - - 133 Francis of Stane, - 210,404 Frazer of Knock, - - 86 Fullarton, Col. Wm. memoir of 408 of Kilmichael, - 126 of Rosemount, 133,407 Gilbert, Thomas, M. P. - 134 Gor Stevenstoun, Munnock and Crosbie, conferred^ hy them on the Loudoun family, at different times. 2. Kilmaurs, and Villam de Cunninghame, conferred by them; on the Glencairn family. 3. BourtreehilL, Lambruchton and Grugar,, which William, de Ferrars and Alan de la Zuche acquired by marriage with the grand-daughters of the family, and probably Periston and War- rickhill, together with the lands of Dreghorn, enjoyed by John, Balliol and these two Lords,, and* forfeited by Robert Bruce. 4. Tlie lands inherited by John Balliol, himself (a great grand- son of the family,) namely, Largs, Nodesdale, Dairy, Crummock, Armsheugh, Kilmarnock great Barony, together with Bonding- ton and Hartshaw. 5. It seems at least probable, that they also possessed at on© time the extensive domains of Ardnele, Kilbride, Mount Grenan, Stewarton and Galston, that were, about the era of the Bruceair contest, enjoyed by different branches of the Ross family, — ac- knowledsed to have been the vassals of the de Morvilles. 6. Hermanston, in East Lothian, conferred by them on the ancestor of Lord Sinclair; also lands about Tranent, and the lands- of Carfrae, conferred by them on the Seton family and others. Besides their lands in Lauderdale, conferred on sundries ; and- perhaps more than any of the above, what they conferred at an- early period on the abbey of Kilwinning ; all which must have been more extensive domains, and of more value, than any Ayr.^- sbire family, at least, ever enjoyed since. OF Cunningfjame. 51 From this family being evidently not of native origin,* it be- comes a question, not easy to be solved, how it became posses- sed of such extensive domains, or acquired so much authority in the country? In these respects, however, this family was not sin- gular: In the history, of those times, during the reigns of Mal- colm Canmore and his early successors on the throne, we find aiir- influx into Scotland of foreigners, establishing themselves on the finest estates, and the best appointments, in it. How came it, that the Scottish monarchs of that age, had so many fair estates to bestow ? One would conclude, that there had been a general forfeiture, by Malcolm, of the great land-holders, for their adhe- rence to the usurper, Macbeth. History, however, records no- thing of the kind ; on the contrary, it may from it be inferred,^ that Macbeth had few hearty adherents ; and that the great body of the nation were as glad to receive Malcolm, as he himself was to come among them. The Norman Conquest will not account, for it ; for that did not extend to Scotland. Even a considerable part of the North of England remained under the sway of the Scottish monarchs, whilst the Norman princes of that kingdom lived at the same time in habits of-friendship with their neigh- bours the Scottish kings. There was also very little internal commotion in the country itself, so fruitful, in after ages, of re- bellion and forfeiture : for, of all periods in Scottish history, from the restoration of Malcom HI. in 1057, till the death of his last male descendant, Alexander HI. in 1285, this was the most peacefid ; and at no former nor after period of like endurance, was the crown worn, in greater splendour, nor justice administer- ed with more mildness and impartiality, than by those Princes of the Canmorean line. * That de Morville was an Anglo-Norman family, seems probable from this, that one of that name in the Court of Henry II. of EngLmd, was about this time concernetf in the slaughter of the haughty Priest Thomas a J'ecket in 1 ]70 ; namely a Hugh de Morville, not improbably, a relative of the de MorviUcs of Scotland, though these had J been in this country a considerable time before. 52 C.KKERAL DESCRIPTION, &C. Some have attempted to account for the many and large do- nations of land which, during the early part of this period, at- tracted so many foreigners to this country — that they were unoccupied and uncultivated, being unpossessed before, on ac- count of their original sterility. But, as nothing is more certain than that they are among the best lauds of the country, at the present time, they must have been so. originally ; and to suppose, that the more early cultivators would prefer the worst soil on which to settle, is beyond all reasonable conjecture. Respecting (he de Morvilles ; besides the three Constables of that name, I have met only with the name of one more ; namely. Sir Ingram de JMorville mentioned in the history of the family of Erskine, Earl of Marr, as having married a lady of that House about the year 1310, and who was then the widow of Thomas, .one of the brothers of Robert Bruce. The armorial bearing of the de Morville family is a-lso on record ; namely, Or, three chev- rons, Gules. Of this there is an example to be seen in the fami- ly vault of the Viscounts Arbuthnot, in Kincardineshire, in the church of Arbuthnot. There, the coat of Hugh le Blond, an an- cestor of that House, who lived in the 13th century, is emblazon- ed with that of his lady, a daughter of the House of de Morville, being three chevrons, quartered, with a star and a crescent, the paternal arms of the family. The arms of Lord Soulis were also the same, perhaps, from being descended of, or connected with them. That family toojv the Balliol side in the Brucean Contest and met with the same fate, being forfeited, and never more had footing in Scotland. The arms of th^ Viscount Barrington, in the present day, are the same with that of de Morville — three chevrons. — Collected from Craufurd's Lives of Officers of State ; NislteVs Heraldry, vol, II.; Wood's Peerage ; and Thomson's Reg, of Charters ; lately published. PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION OP Cunningfjamc, COMMENCING WITH THE PARISH OF LARGS. 3ARGS Parish is one of the most extensive in Cun- ninghame, and is situated in the most northerly part of the district. It is upwards of 8 miles in length from Kelly-burn, on the north, to Fairley-burn, or Southannan water, on the south ; and it is betwixt 4 and 5 miles broad from east to west, on its base, without re- garding the prolongation of the line that would arise in travers- ing it up and down the hills. The extent altogether is about 37t sq. miles, or, as more precisely ascertained by survey, about 19143 Scots acres. It is bounded on the north and north-east, by the county of Renfrew; on the east, by the parishes of Kilbirnie and Dairy ; on the south, by the parish of Kilbride, and on the west, by the Frith of Clyde which, in all its windings, forms a sea shore to it of about 9 miles lono;. (General ^ppfarancc. The greater part of it is a billy region. These hills (as well defined in the Statistical Account of Scot, voK O 54 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Parish of XVII. p. 504.) " begin to rise in the neighbouring parishes of Greenock, Kilmalcohn, Lochwinnoch, Kiibirnie and Dairy, and meet in a kind of general summit at the eastern boundary of Largs, from which they gradually descend, as they approach the shore, till they terminate at last in a variety of abrupt declivities, some of which are almost perpendicular, as if part of their base had been torn away by force." The greater part of these hills are covered with fine green pasture, or are sound heath land ; some of them present bare fronts of rock, whilst others, near to tlie coast, are covered with plantation. The arable land forms less than a fourth part of the whole. It is situated, either in a narrow strip along the coast side ; or in the great vale of Brisbane, by the Noddle and Gogo waters ; or in the lesser vallies form.ed by the Kelburn, and other smaller streams ; or, lastly, on some broken grounds shelving backwards from those precipitous rocks, by the sea sidcj. betwixt the town of Largs and the northern extremity of the parish at Kelly-burn. Climate. This parish having not only some high hills in it- self, towards the east, but being at no great distance from the hills of Arran and of Cowal on the west, it is pretty much sub- ject to frequent rains, and some of them very heavy. Still on the whole, these are not pernicious to the crops on the general dry soil of this parish, nor to the health of the inhabitants. The high hills are a great shelter against the cold east winds ; whilst the west winds, to which only it is exposed, are always of a genial feeling. In fact, the parish of Largs is remarked for being early in its vegetation in the spring and not less early in reaping in the harvest — whilst the air is of that exhilirating purity, that the Largs is now very much frequented by ailing people, from other parts of the country, who find their account in the change. ®Oti. — The soil along the coast is a sharp gravel, as if it had been left at some remote period by the sea ; or a thin layer of LARGS.] OF Cunmngtjamc, 55- decomposed whinstone or basaltic rock, near the greater hills ; or it is a reddish soil formed from decomposed sandstone, which last prevails from the Noddle northward, more or less intermixed with moss, as it is more or less distant from the moors. The whole may be said to be in general productive ; some of it indeed is remarkably fertile. BoatliSf, — An excellent turnpike road traverses the whole length of the parish by the shore side, affording ready access to Greenock on the one hand, and Ardrossan, Saltcoats, Irvine, &c. on the other ; besides being of vast benefit to the internal com- munication of one part of the parish with another. There has, not many years ago, been a very good turnpike road made across the parish, to the eastward from Largs, by the vale of Kelburn, towards Dairy and Kilbirnie ; and there is another in forwardness up the vale of Brisbane, towards Greenock and Port-Glasgow, which, when completed, will render the communication to this parish, from other parts, among the most accommodating of any in the County, while it will shorten the distance from Largs to Greenock about three miles. £@inei*al.0. — There has no coal been found in this parish; but the distance to the coal-works at Ardrossan being little more than 8 miles, by an excellent road, renders this want of less conse- quence. There are no limeworks erected in it neither, but the lately-made road towards Dairy and Kilbirnie has opened up a very ready access to the excellent limeworks at Howrat, at the distance of about 5 miles from the town of Largs, which is not far from the centre of the parish. CropiSlaces mentioned : San- dey, Gudey [now called Gigha], Kerz'ary, Calf of JNIull, Rauney [now Isle of Rum], Westerford in Skye, Cape Wrath, which he passed on the feast of the apostles Simon and Jude, being the 2Sth of Oct. and is stated to have fallen on a Sunday," which corresponds to the Michaelmas of that year having fallen on a Saturday, and is therefore corroborative of the date of the battle having been on the 3d of October, not the 3d of Aug. as all our own historians assert, on the authority of Hector Boece, who states, that the fleet of King Haco, arrived in the Hebrides on the 3d of August, after, which his army subdued the islands of S 70 PARTICULAK DESCRIPTION [Parish of Arran and Bute — arid took, after a long seige, the castle of Ayr, and fought afterwards at Largs, on the same third of August af- ter all. An incongruity, sufficient of itself, to discredit his whole account. Haco after passing Cape Wrath, on the 28tli Oct. as abovey " sailed next day for the Orkneys, which he reached in the even- ing, and resolving to winter there, retained with him twenty of his ships, and sent the rest home. He himself abode at Kirk- wall and lodged in the Bishop's palace. There he died on Sa- turday, the 15th of Dec. being two days after the festival of St.. Lucia, which, that year, fell upon a Thursday." This is another- proof of the accuracy of the dates of this Icelandic author. The- Michaelmas day and the 15th of Dec. being always on the same, day of the week. There seems to be one thing however in which the Norse account, and that of Llector Boece agree ; namely, that the battle of Largs was fiercely fought on both sides ; and, that the Norwe- gians were ultimately defeated, may be inferred from the conse- quences; — but that either the one army or the other was so nu- merous, as is asserted by our own historians, is utterly incredible, as well as the number of slain on the part of the Norwegians. Where was the shipping that could have brought such an army, that, after leaving 24,000 slain on the field of Largs, was yet so numerous as to be able to retreat 30 miles by land (from Largs. to Ayr,) in the face of 35,000 men, left of the victorious army, as stated by Boece ? All the navy he admits the Norwegian King to have had, from the commencement, was but 50 ships j; of which only 4 escaped the general wreck, which is itself a pre- sumptive evidence of the weakness of their construction, or ra- ther of their diminutive size. Fifty sail of British ships of the line, in the present times, could not have transported such an . army, far less could 50 such vessels as were in use in those days. . Luckily, there is a description of one of the largest of King. LARGS.] or Cunningljame. 7r Haco's ships, and the most magnificent of them all, in the Ice- landic account. It is thus : — " During this voyage King Haco had that great vessel which he had caused to be constructed at Bergen. It was built entirely of oak, and contained twenty-seven benches of oars. It was ornamented with heads and necks of dragons beautifully overlaid with gold." It is extremely proba- ble that his whole fleet consisted only of similar open vessels like this, impelled by oars, as well as by sails, and that there was not a full-decked ship among them all. Fordun, who wrote nearer than Boece, by more than 100 years, to the era of the Battle of Largs, and of course less ready to be misled by vague traditionary legends, is nevertheless led off his feet in his account of the means by which the Norwegians were repulsed, by imputing nearly the whole to the agency of St. Margaret the Queen ofMalcom Canmore,as some raving man had previously seen in a vision. The chapter in which he relates this, (being book IX. ch. 5.) is entitled, " Concerning the Battle of Largs, and the Victory by means of Margaret, Queen of Scotland." He allows Haco 160 ships, and furnishes him with 20,000 men ; and says, that, coming to the new castle of Ayr, he after- wards attacked and took the castles of Arran and Bute ; and that, the Battle of Largs was fought on the 8th Sept. 1263 : that the Scots were commanded by Alexander Stewart of Dundonald, uncle of the Noble Walter Stewart who married Marjory, daugh- ter of Kinff Robert de Brois : and that on our side there fell Peter Curry jMiles. " In the mean tim^e, by the will of God and the exertions of the Queen Saint Margaret, Protectorix of the king- dom of Scotland, there arose, on the very day of the battle, a most violent tempest in the sea, which, tossing the ships, tore up. their anchors, made their masts go by board and all their tackle give way, from the immense billows, and rage of the winds ; sa that, the ships being dashed against one another, and wrecked oiv the land arjd onjocks, thousands of the people were drowned, and ' 72 PARTlCI'LAn DESCRIPTION [ PartsJi of became the prey of the sea ; "and those who did reach the land -were immediately met by our people, and killed, or put to flight and drowned. Among the many thousands that perished, the King of Norway had to lament one noble Norwegian, his grand- son, a man of great strength and activity. The King himself scarcely effecled his escape : grieved and sorrowing, and with no small confusions he reached the Orkneys, where, passing the win- ter in the expectation of a more powerful force for the subjuga- tion of the Scots, he died." — These are all the circumstances re- garding this battle mentioned by this writer, the most ancient of the Scottish historians. In its principal features it bears a strik- ing resemblance to the Icelandic account itself ; only the great storm, which both parties considered at the time as supernatural, is imputed by the one, to the agency of evil spirits, and by the .other, to the influence of their tutelary guardian, both in confor- mity to their feelings on the occasion. As the occurrence of this great hurricane cannot well be doubtedj it is an evidence so far, that the battle took place in the stormy season, about the equi- nox, as related by the Norwegians, rather than in the beginning of August, as Boece has it, commonly the mildest season of the year. dEiStateiBf anti JFamilic^. Kelly. — Commencing from the north, the first lands to which we come is that part of the Kelly estate, belonging to Robert Wallace, Esq. which is situated in the parish of Largs, on the south side of Kelly-burn, opposite to Kelly-house. This stream- let flows through a romantic narrow dale, called from it. Kelly- Glen, which on both sides is greatly ornamented, by extensive coppice woods and plantations, so as to yield to few in richness of scenery. — Here also is set down the garden, the situation of which is peculiarly sweet and imposing. The main body, however, of this estate, is situated on the north side of the water, in the county of Renfrew, and therefore LARGS.] OF Cunningljaint. 7S does not fall within a topographical description of Ayrshire. I have only merely to remark, that it was purchased 28 years ago, from a family of the name of Bannatyne, which had possessed it for ages. — Since that time, there has been erected on it an ele- gant mansion ; the arable and the pasture lands have been much extended and improved j large plantations have been made, which are uncommonly thriving ; the pheasant has been intro- duced into the woodlands, and the black-cock among the moors ; both of which are increasing wonderfully, and spreading all over the country, where neither the one nor the other were before known. The whole of this has been the work of the present proprietor, who has rendered Kelly House one of the finest pla- ces of residence on the coast side. Those lands which Mr. Wallace has in this parish, were ob- tained in consequence of an excambion, made betwixt the late Earl of Eglinton and him in 1814. They are part of the ancient barony of Skelmorley, and consist of nearly 150 acres, partly moss, partly moor, and partly a fine bank of woodland. The moor, since that time, has been planted, and great improvements have been made on the moss land. On the other hand, his Lordship got about 40 acres of arable and woodland, which Mr. Wallace had purchased from the Earl of Glasgow for the purpose, in the immediate vicinity of Skelmorley-house ; so that this excambion has added considerably to the beauty of both properties. Mr. Wallace having thus become a proprietor in the county of Ayr, where his ancestors had formerly considerable.possessions, the pedigree of his family falls now to be brought into this account. COaliace of iS-eltg. The renowned Sir William Wallace of Eldersly, Governor of Scotland, was, according to Crawfurd, put to death by Edward I. of England, in 1305. He left issue only one daughter, who was married to Sir William Baillie of Lamingtoun, from whom is des- cended the present family of Ross Baillie of Lamingtoun, and T 74 I'ARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Pcin'sh of Others connected with that honourable and very ancient House. Tlie lands of Eldersly i-eturned to the family of Craigie, from wJience he was derived, and became the patrim.ony of John Wallace, a younger son of that House in the reign of Robert HI. in 1398*. Crawfurd traces down the succession of the Wallaces of Eldersly, from this personage, through the several generations, to I. William Wallace of Eldersly, who obtained a Charter of these lands in 1554, with whom I shall commence the regular genealogy of the family of Kelly, giving the account of it, war- ranted from authentic documents. He married Catherine, daugh- ter of Hugh Crawford of Kilbirnie, by whom he had three sons r 1. William ; 2. John ; 3. James. He was succeeded by his eld- est son, n. William Wallace of Eldersly. He had a son, HI. Hugh Wallace of Eldersly, who had a Charter in 1640, proceeding on his own resignation, from his superior, Sir Hugli Wallace of Craigie, in which he is designed " Of Eldersly Dilec- tus consanguineum nostrum." He died without issue, on which the representation of the family devolved on his uncle, n. John Wallace second son of No, I. in this account. He married Margaret, daughter of John Hamilton of Ferguslee, (descended of the family of Orbistoun), by whom he had two sons: 1. James Wallace of Lorabank, who died without issue ; 2. in. William Wallace, who married Margaret, daughter of Hugh Stewart of Neilstoun-side, with whom lie acquired the lands of Neilstoun-side and Drumgrain. He had two sons : I.John; 2. William. He was succeeded by his eldest son, IV. John Wallace of Neilstoun-side, who sold that proper- ty in 1713. He had three daughters, but left no issue male, when the representation of the family fell to his brother, * Crawford's History of F.enfrewshire, p. 61. L.iRGs:} OF Cunntngfjame. 75 IV. William Wallace, who was a merctiant in Glasgow', and acquired the lands of Overkirkton and others in the parish of Neilstoun, wliich he afterwards sold in 1690. Who he married is not mentioned, but he had two sons : 1. John ; 2. Thomas. V. John Wallace, the eldest son, married Jean, daughter of Thomas Kennedy, M.D. Glasgow, by whom he had an only daughter, Helen, who married Archibald Campbell of Succoth, to whom she had Sir Hay Campbell, Bart. Lord President of the Court of Session, and others- V. Thomas Wallace, the second son, acquired the lands of Cairnhill in. Ayrshire. In 1710 he married Lilias Cunning- hame, daughter of William Cunninghame, Esq. of Craigends, by whom he had three sons, William, John and Hugh. VI. William Wallace, the eldest son, succeeded him in Cairnhill. He married a daughter of Archibald Campbell of Succoth, by whom he had three sons, who died without issue, and a daughter, VII. LiLiAS Wallace of Cairnhill, who married Capt. Ferrier of Summerford in Stirlingshire, and by him had issue — ^three sons and two daughters. The eldest son, John, is heir apparent of Cairnhill. VI. John Wallace, the second' son of Thomas of Cairnhill, acquired the lands of Cessnock in the same neighbourhood, which he afterwards sold, and then purchased the lands of Kelly in the county of Renfrew, He married Janet, daughter of Robert Colquhoun, Esq. by whom he had two sons who survived him, Robert and James, and several daughters. He was succeeded by his eldest son, VII. Robert Wallace, now of Kelly, who married a daugh»- ter of Sir William Forbes, Bt. of Craigievar. He is the nearest heir male of the family of Wallace of Cairnhill, and also of the Wallaces of Neilstoun-side and of Ferguslee, by direct lineal- descent; likewise of the more ancient family of Wallace of Ei-- 76 IWUTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Parish 6f dersly, and as the heirs male of the original stock of Wallace of Craigie have failed in the direct line, of course I>Ii-, Wallace be- comes the nearest heir male of that very ancient House, of which sevei'al of its members besides the renowned Sir William have had the honour of Ivnighthood conferred on them, as also two ;)atents of Baronetage. Skelmorley. — Fergus Fosterso7j,mentioned in 1296, in the Rag- man Roll, among the barons of Cunninghame, Nisbet conjectures to have been of the old Foresters of AA-e/wjor/c*/, '• of whom," he adds, in 1720, "there are few now remaining." At what time they ceased to be proprie4;ors of this estate, is to me unknown. In the reign of Robert III. {inter 1390 et 1406), it belonged to Sir .William Cunninghame of Kilmaurs: and about the year 1460, it was the property of the Eglinton family, with whom it still re- mains. It is the most northerly estate, including that part as above, given off to Kelly, that is in this parish, or in Ayrshire. It extends about a mile and a half along the shore, and stretch- es backwards three miles or more : — the whole breadth of the parish in this quarter. It extends in all to nearly 2,400 acres, of which, though the greater proportion is moor covered with heath, yet a considerable part is fertile, arable land, more especially along the shore, or sloping backwards from the top of that pre- cipitous bank of rock, so beautifully masked with M'ood, in the vicinity of the coast. The woodlands, indeed, on this property, whether natural or planted, are remarkably thriving, and greatly embellish this portion of the parish. In this is included the lands of Bridgend, that were acquired to this estate, in excambion, for those given off to Kelly. These are situated on its southern march ; and, in Blau's Map of Cunninghame, published in 1648, are called S. Sckelmoili/, from which it seems probable, that they once formed part of this ancient Barony. The house or old cas- tle of Skelmorley is set down on the brink of the steep bank, where it terminates at the southern extremity of the estate, and Intercalary leaf to front puf/e "76, The Arms of Wallace of Kelly — (see opposite page)— are Quarterly; 1st and 4th, Gules, a Lion rampant, for Wallace; — 2d and 3d a Fesse, Cheque, Argent and Azure, for Lindsay : — Crest, a Dexter Arm in mail grasping a Sword erect. Motto, Pro LiBERTATE, The following view is at the bottom of the garden at Kelly House — a rustic arch over Kelly burn connecting, at that place, the Shire of Ayr with the county of Renfrew. Iflfercalary leaf connPcied with. Kdhj. No. 1. No. 2. No. 1. — Two views of a singular Chair in the possession of Mr. Wallace of Kelly, said to have been the Chair of Justice, of the last Lord Chancellor of Scotland. (Lord Seafield.) No. 2. — Representation of three wooden Spears or Prongs found in 1817 in a moss near to Kelly burn, about 4 feet below the surface, lying horizontally on the firm soil on which the moss had grown. They are of black or red oak cut out of a solid piece of wood ; each 1^ feet long — the prongs 21 inches in length and about 3 inches separated ; — very sharply pointed. The whole highly polished when found, but have since become shrunk and shriveled. LARGS.] ov Cunningijame. T" is half hid with its turrets, amid the plantations with which it is surrounded. It was built in 1502, and had an addition made to it in 1636. The late Earl of Eglinton lived some years in it, in an early part of his life, and it is still an occasional residence of some branch of his noble family. It is certainly, in point of situation, a very pleasant and most delightful place, with its old-fashioned gardens, terraces, and shrubbery. The liouse it- self, (similar to other ancient fabricks,) notwithstanding of its narrow winding stairs, and rooms passing from one to another, up steps and down steps in the same story, is possessed of con- siderable accommodation. The view from it over the Frith of Clyde, to the opposite islands of Bute, Arran and Cumbraes, is not to be surpassed in picturesque scenery by any prospect in Britain. ^ontgomeii) of ^ticimorleg. Sir Alexander de Montgomery of Ardrossan, first Lord Montgomery, married Margaret, second daughter of Sir Thomas Boyd of Kilmarnock, by whom he had issue — several sons and daughters ; [See Eglintoun •] the second son was, I. George Montgomery, to whom his father gave a Charter, ' dated 6th June, 1461, of the lands of Lochlibo-side ; Hartfield, and Colply, (since called. Oupla, or Uplaw,) in the county of Kenfrew ; and of Skelmorley in the shire of Ayr, which List be- came the residence of the flimily. He married Anne, daughter of Sir Jolm Houstoun of that ilk, by whom he had issue — two sons. He died in 1505, and was succeeded by his eldest son, II. John Montgomery of Skelmorley. He married the heiress of ^Montgomery of Lochranza, in the isle of Arran, and added, in consequence, tliat very pleasant property to his other possessions. When he died is not mentioned ; but by this Lady he had a son, who succeeded him, III. CiTHBERT Montgomery of Skelmorley. He married U 78 PARTICULAR DESCUIPTION [PaHsfi of & near relative, Elisabeth, daughter of Houstoun of Houstoun, by whom he had issue — two sons : 1. George ; 2. Alexander of Portray. He accompanied James IV. to the battle of Flowden, where he was killed on the 9Lh Sept. 1513, and was succeeded by his eldest son, IV. George MoNxcaMERY of Skelmorley, who being at this • time under age, his wardship was assigned by the Crown, to Ca- therine, the eighth and youngest daughter of Hugh, first Earl of Eglinton, by Lady Helen Campbell, daughter of Colin, first Earl of Argyle. This Lady he afterwards married, and by her had two sons : 1. Thomas j 2. Robert. The first died unmarried, be- fore his father, when he was succeeded by his second son, V. Egbert Montgomery of Skelmorley, who is so designed in 1572, in a bond of mutual defence with Lord Sempil; a com- mon practice in those ages, and all sometimes of little enough avail. He entered deeply into the family feud betwixt the two Houses of Eglinton and Glencairn, and killed Alexander Cun- ninghame, Commendator of Kilwinning, a son of the latter, in revenge for which, he was himself and his eldest son, at the same time, killed in 1584, by Patrick Maxwell of Newark, a natural-.- ally of the Glencairn family, his mother being a daughter of Cunninghame of Craigends, one of the most respectable cadets of that House, He married Dorothea, a daughter of Robert the third Lord Sempil, by Elisabeth Carlyle of the House of Torthorald, by whom he had issue — two surviving sons : 1 . Robert ; 2. George, ancestor of the Montgomeries of Kirktonholme, now represent- ed by Sir James Montgomerie Cunninghame of Corsehill, &c. He was succeeded by his eldest son, VI. Sir Robert Montgomery of Skelmorley. He came to the estate at an eventful period, in the great feud betwixt the two fa- miUes of Eglinton and Glencairn. For, in the spirit of the times, LARGS.] OF Cunning!)ame. 79 he had not only the death of his father and brother to avenge, but that also of the chief of his house, Hugh the fourth Earl of Eglinton, who about the same time was murdered by the Cun- ninghames, while on his return to Eglinton Castle from Robert- land, on the 12th of April, 1589, near to Stewarton. Sir Robert set no bounds to his wrath, but indulged in it with such eagerness, as to occasion very much bloodshed of his enemies. For this he was afterwards seized with remorse, and in expiation perform- ed many acts of charity and mortification in his latter days. He was knighted by James the VI. and was afterwards, in 1628, cre- ated a Baronet by Charles I. He married Margaret, eldest daughter of Sir William Douglas of Drumlanrig, (maternally des- cended of the House of Eglinton,) by tvhom he had a son, Ro- bert, of whom afterwards. He erected that elegant monument and funeral vault, in an aile of the old church of Largs, and which still remains entire, although the church itself has been removed. The monument forms an arch and two compartments, supported by 18 pillars of the Corinthian order, surmounted with cherubims. Above the arch is a small pyramid, finished at the top with a globe. It is very richly carved, and is highly admired for the great taste dis- played. It was built in 1636, and must have been erected at a very great expence, even in those days. — On the roof of the aile are painted the twelve signs of the zodiac, and several views of the House of Skelmoriey, with that of the premature death of a Lady of the family, who was killed by the luck of a horse. It is likewise adorned with several texts of Scripture, and various es- cutchions of the different relatives of that ancient family. — Under this is the vault, in which are two niches where, in leaden coffins, are deposited the remains of Sir Robert himself, and his Lady ' v;ho died in 1524. On Sir Robert's is the following inscription:— ■- IPSE MlHI, PB.'EMORTUUS FUI, FATO FUNEKA PR^ RIPUI, UNICUM, IDQUE C^SAKEUM EXEMPLAR, INTER TOT MORTALES, SECUTUS- 80 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Parish of Tliis plainly alludes to the Imperor Charles V. who had his •funeral obsequies performed before his death : for Sir Robert himself becoming seriously affected in the latter part of his life, among other acts of mortification, repaired hither at nights for devotional meditations, and thus, as it were, burying himself alive. He died in 1651, after enjoying the estate of Skelmorley during a period of 67 years. His son, VII. Robert Montgomery, younger, of Skelmorley, married Lady Mary Campbell, fourth daughter of Archibald seventh Earl of Argyle, by whom he had two sons: 1. Robert ; 2. Henry, an officer in the Army, who died without issue. He died in the lifetime of his father. Sir Robert, who was succeeded by his Grandson, VIII. Sir Robert Montgomery of Skelmorley, a Gentle- man in high estimation for every honourable and virtuous dispo- sition. He married Antonia, one of two daughters, and co-heirs of Sir James Scott of Rossie in Fife, and by her had four sons • I.James; 2. Hugh, of whom afterwards ; S.Archibald; 4. John; both died without issue. Sir Robert the second Baronet, died 7th Feb. 1684, and was succeeded by his eldest son, IX. Sir James Montgomery of Skelmorley, a man of a very active political character, and not unlike to some of the best po- litical characters in after times, did not stick so closely to his party, as implicitly to give up his own. opinions. He was atfirst very zealous in the Revolution of 1688, and was deputed by the -Scottish Convention in 1689, along with the Earl of Argyle and Sir John Dalrymple, to present the Crown and administer the Oaths to King William and Queen Mary. He soon after became disgusted with the measures of the new Court, and entered into a treaty with the abdicated King at St. Germains, to procure his restoration — in which a chief article was, to secure the establish- ment of Presbytery in Scotland. This plot being discovered, he lay hid for some time in London, and finding that he could not LARGS.] OP Cunningfjamt 'Si have a pardon without making a full discovery, he chose rather to go beyond sea. " His art in managing such a design," says Bishop Burnet, " and his firmness in not discovering his accom- plices, raised his character as much as it ruined his fortune." He was not even more complying at the Court of St. Germains, •where, on account of his steady adherence to the Protestant re- ligion, he was not so cordially received as he expected; and meeting with little there but disgust, he died in 1691, it is sup- posed of vexation. He married Lady Mary Johnston, sister of the first Marquis ofAnnandale, by whom he had two sons: L Robert; 2. William, a colonel in the army, who died without issue. X. Sir Robert MonVgomery of SkelmorIey, the eldest son, succeeded to his title and estates. He was Governor of a Garrison in Ireland, and died in August 1731. He married Frances, eld- est of the two daughters of Colonel Francis Stirling, of the fami- . ly of Keir, and by her, who died at Skelmorley, 9th June, 1759, had three daughters, of whom afterwards. On the death of Sir Robert, the third Baronet, in 1731, as , above, he was succeeded in the title by his uncle, IX. Sir Hugh Montgomery, fourth Baronet of Skelmorley, one of the first merchants in Glasgow, which town he represented in Parliament. He was a Commissioner for the Treaty of Union, and took an active part in the discussions that then ensued, op- posing several of the clauses. Before his accession to the title, he had acquired the estate of Skelmorley from his nephew, and made an entail of his extensive landed property in 1728. He died without issue in 1735, when, in terms of the above settle- ment, he was succeeded by the eldest daughter of his nephew. Sir Robert, who, as above noticed, left three daughters, of whom the second and third died unmarried. The eldest, XI. LiLiAS Montgomery of Skelmorley, was served heir to her grand-uncle, the above Sir Hugh, on the 4th Oct 1735, X 82 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Parish of and married, in 1738, Alexander Montgomery of Coilsfield, to whom she had a numerous issue, and died in 1783. [For the continuation of this family account, see Egllnton.] The next lands to Skehnorley on the south, are Third-part, Barr, Moat, and Auchengarth, belonging to the Earl of Glas- gow. This estate consists of about 300 acres arable land, and 500 of moor pasture and woodland. It stretches from the sea backwards about two miles, till it joins the lands of Outerwards, •and east and west Grasswards, on the summit of the rising ground that on the north-west forms the vale of Brisbane. It has been in the possession of the Glasgow family since the beginning of the last century, about which time it .was obtained from a family of the name of Crawford, who had long been proprietors of it. Blackhouse. — South from the preceding lands, are situated the lands of Blackhouse, divided into the three possessions of Dikes, Millrig and Saint Philans. These extend, in all, to per- haps 450 acres, in which are some thriving woods and plantations. The greatest proportion is ai-able land, but there is still a great portion of moor. There has been much impi'ovement made on these lands by a former proprietor, as well as by the present. The tenants too have a spirit of cultivation in them. Turnips are cultivated here, which is always a good indication of the farmer as well as of the soil. I should have taken notice of tliis in the two preceding properties also, where, in both, this mark of good husbandry is to been seen and to an equal extent. No part of this property extends quite to the sea, but.it comes very near it, and is connected with it by a good private road. It be- longed a long time to the family of Bannatyne of Kelly, (des- cended of Kames, in the isle of Bute,) and was sold by tliem about 35 years ago, to King of Drums, who, in 1795, sold it to William Macleod Bannatyne, Esq. Representive of the family of Kames, who improved it greatly, both by enclosing the lands and by erecting on them several handsome farm steads. He afterwards L4RGS:] OP arunninfifjamc, 83' sold it to the present proprietor. Archibald Cumpbcllj Esq. The family of" QBannatgnr of Earned. Though taking their Gaelic patronimick of M'Onielyne or M'Amelyne from remoter ancestors, deduce their descent from Gilbert, who lived in the reign of x\lcxandcr III. whose son, Gilbert, and grandson, John, oi)tained Ciiarters (in the possessi-- on of Lord Bannatyne) from Walter, Steward of Scotland, of se- veral lands in Bute, of which, the barony of Camys or Kames, was afterwards composed. One of these has the singularity that the King himself, Robert Bruce, appears in it as a witness, thus designed : " Illustrisimus Bex Scotiae, Edwardus Dominus Gal- lovidias fratur ejus, et Thomas Arnulph (evidently the well-known Bandolph) Comes Moraviae." This must have been prior to Sept. 1318, when Edward fell- at the battle of Dundalk. This John v.'ho appears to have held the situation of Cham- berlain of Bute, under the Steward of Scotland, besides his own and his father's lands in Bute, possessed the Dimidietas terrarum de Corsbie, in the parish of Dundonald, as appears from a Char- ter in the first year of Robert II. confirming an annual rent out of these lands " quas fuitquondara Joannes Gilbert!." (See Thom- son' Reg. Mag. Sig.) The intermediate titles being lost,, no account. can be given of the immediate successors of John, who, from the Charter last referred to, must have died before 1372; but that his lands in Bute and those of Corsbie in Ayrshire, had descended from him to Thomas Bannachtyne, or Bannatyne, of Camys, probably his grandson, or great grandson, and fifth or sixth in descent from Gilbert first named — and from Thomas to his son Ninian, and his grandson Robert — from which last the descent of the family can be distinctly traced in the titles of the estate; are instructed by the. following writs in the possession of Lord Bannatyne:. namely, 1st, an Instrument of Protest, Jan. 1400, taken by Ro~ ^18^ ■'PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Parish 6f bert In the name of his father Ninian, designed son and heir of Tliomas Bannachtyne of Camjs ; 2d, Charter from the Crown, 20th Dec. 1745, of the lands in Bute, contained in the Charters of Gilbert and John, with those of Camys, and several others, and some lands in Argyleshire, and the 40s. lands of Banna- tyne Yards in the parish of Ochiltree, Ayrshire ; 3d, Charter from Fulierton of Fullerton, of the ^10 land of Corsbie, both obtained by Robert, on the resignation of Ninian Bannachtyne of Camys, his father : and that both the lands of Corsbie and Bannatyne Yards remained in the family till the beginning of the 17th century, appears from this, that Hector Bannatyne of Karnes, on 27th Feb. 1602, is charged as an heritor for his pro- portion of repairing the church of Corsbie ; and that the same Hector was served heir to his father Ninian, in the 40s. lands of Bannatyne Yards, — See " Abbr. Inquis. vol. I. p. 44. 67." This Hector married Elisabeth, daughter of Patrick Stewart of Rosline, (a cadet of the family of Bute,) by whom he had Ni- nian Bannatyne of Karnes, who marrie4 Isabella, (whom Douglas calls Elisabeth,) daughter of Sir James Stewart of Bute, by whom he had a son. Hector Bannatyns of Kames, who was twice mar- ried : first, to Margaret, daughter of Sir George Maxwell of Newark, by whom he had several children, who all died young; — secondly, he married Marion Fairholm, daughter of Fairholm of Babberton in Mid- Lothian, brother to Fairholm of Craigie- hall, (of whom the Hopetoun family and the Hopes of Craigie- hall are maternally descended,) by whom he had several children — none of whom survived him but a son, James, and a daughter, Isabella. He was succeeded by his son, James Bannatyne of Kames, a Gentleman who was highly esteemed in his neighbourhood. He died unmarried at the very advanced age of 89 ; when the representation of the family, and succession to the remaining part of the estate, opened to his nephew, the son of his sister, Isabella Bannatyne, who married Roderick M'Leod, Esq, W. S.; for whose paternal descent from Sir Norman M'Leod of Bernera, younger son of Sir Roderick M'Leod of that Ilk, see " Douglas' Baronage." — The issue of this marriage was two sons and five daughters. Norman, the youngest son, died in early age. The eldest son, The Hon. William Macleod Bannatyne, succeeded his un- cle, as above. He was bred to the Bar, and in 1799 was appoint- ed one of the Senators of the College of Justice, and took his seat in the Bench by the stile and title of Lord Bannatyne. His Lordship is unmarried. Of the daughters, three were married, but had no surviving issue; one died unmarried, and the youngest, Anne, is married to Col. Sir John M'Gregor Murray, Bart, of Len rick- Castle, formerly Auditor General in the service of the East India Company, to whom she has issue, Evan M'Gregor Murray, C. of the Bath, Lieut.-Colonel of the 8th Regt. Light Dragoons, and Depute Adjutant General of the King's Forces at Madras. He married Lady Elisabeth Murray, third daughter of John, Duke of Athole, by whom he has two sons and three daughters. The eldest son is John Athole Bannatyne M'Gregor Murray. The other intermarriages of the Kames family have been -with the M'Donalds of Cantyre and Islay ; Campbdls o£ Ard- kinglass ; M'Cowal or M'Dougal of Raray, an ancient and ho- nourable branch of the M'Dougals of Lorn ; M'Lauchlan of M'Lauchlan ; M'Naughton of M'Naughton ; Campbells of Au- chinbreck ; Stewarts, heretable Sheriffs, afterwards Earls, and now Marquisses of Bute. Arms. — Quarterly : 1st and 4th Gules, a Chevron, arg^n^, be- tween three Mullets, Or, for Macleod— with a Star, as a mark of Cadetship ; Supporters, as carried by the Bannatynes of Kames, two Angels gardant. Crest, a demi-Dragon vert ; in his right Y 86 PARTICULAU DESCRIPTISN [Paiink t]f grasp a Diivk proper. — Motto, Nec Cito Nec Taude," and below as in the Arms of Macleod, — " Murus Aheneus."* Knock. — The next estate is Knock, the old castle of which jl now ruinous, Is situated on the edge ofa steep bank within 100 yards of the sea, and so much hid among some tall growing wood that hardly any part of it is to be seen. This property was long, possessed by a respectable family of the name of Frazer which was allied by marriage to the first families in Cunninghame. The- first of them, who pos5;e$sed it was John^.the third son of Hugh Frazer of Fuirlylrope in Tweedale, and of Lovat in the north, who got a Charter in 1402 of these lands from Robert III. His fa- mily continued in possession about 250 years- The iast of them^ Alexander Frazer, sold this property to Sir Robert Montgomery of Skelmorley, in the year 1675,. whose grandson, Sir Robert- Montgomery, disposed of it in 1696 to the Keiburn family, with • Besides the Baunatynes of Kelly, wao obtained a grant of these lands more thaiu SOO years ago, (See " Craufuvd's Hist, of Renf." p. 94-.) the Ballantines ofCastlehill near Ayr, though they spell their name a little differently, are descended from the House of Kames, by Richard, a younger son of the family, who, on marrying respec-. tably in »his county, became Ph-ovost of Ayr, a situation afterwards held by several of, his descendants. Among several branches of the family who held property in Bute, was Ninian Bannatyne of Kerrilamont, who married Lucretia Boyd, daughter of Boyd of Trochrig, by .whom he had a son, John, who married Janet, a daughter of Bannatyne of Loubas, by whom he had two sons and a daughter. The eldest son, Ninian, acquired the landi, of Gardrum in the parish of Fenwick, nc^w represented by John Bannatyne, merchant, London. The second son, the Rev. Dugald Bannatyne, was minister of Kilmory in. Arrzn, who by his wife, Helen Hutcheson of Monkwood, acquired the lands of Shields in the parish af St. Qutvox,. and isoiow represented by his grandsoli, Dugald Banna- tyne, Esq. Glasgow. The daughter was married to The Rev. Dugald Stewart, Minister of Rothsay, father of the late Mathkw Stevvart, Professor of Mathematics in the University of Edinburgh, whose son is the present Dugald Stewart, Esq. of Catrine in Ayrshire, whose literary character: is well known to the public ; and who was first appointed Professor of Mathematics, and afterwards of Moral Philosophy, in the same University ; which last situation is Still vested in his person, though, for some time past, the Lecturing has devolved upon,.; and the salary awd emoluments left to be drawn by, an assistant and successor. He tnarried 1st his own cousin, sister to the above Dugald Bannatyne, Esq. Glasgow, by »vhom he has issue — Lieut.-Col. Mathew Stewart. He 2dly married Helen D'Arcy Cranstoun, daughter of the Hon. George Cranstoun, and sister of George Cranstoun, Esq. Advoctte. LARGS:] of Cunntnn(Oamc. fcl whom it remained only a few years, when it was exchanged by David the first Earl oi' Glasgow, with the Brisbane family, for the lands of Kilhncraig and others, and it remains still the property of Brisbane of Brisbane, It extends to about 330 acres, the greater part arable, and,- chiefly, a productive soil. Quarter. — Immediately south from the last mentioned, and still bounded by the sea coast, are situated the lands of Quarter. These, with the adjacent lands of Routinburn, were originally part of the lands of Knock. They were purchased from James Fraser of Knock, about the year 1630, by John Ninian, " Merca- tor in Largs." This John Ninian had three grand-daughters, to each of whom he gave afarm.^ One of these married John Hunter of Kame in Cumbi-ay, another married John Henderson^ and the third married Fi'azer of Hanginffheugh. About the year 1780, Mr. Wilson of Haily, having sold Skixnie land, in the parish of Fenwick, to Bailie Foulds in Kil- marnock, purchased from Benjamin Henderson, grandson of the above John, one of the portions, — the North Quarter ; and about twelve yeai's ago, another portion, — the South Quarter, was pur- chased by him also, from John Baton, grandson of John Hunter: so that he now possesses both the Quarters. These lands extend to upwards of 150 acres, of which about 120 is arable land, most of it very productive. There is about 10 acres of woodland, a p^rt of which, a steep bank, extending nearly half a mile, within 100 yards of the shore, is beautifully covered with natm'al wood, greatly thickened by plantation ; whilst part of the steep lands above the bank is also planted. It is there that Mr. Wilson, a few years ago, set down a plain but very commodious mansion on, apparently, one of the most exposed situations that can well be conceived, but which, however incredible it may appear, en-r joys a warmth andasheker not exceeded by any, perhaps, in the parish; whilst it has a prospect over an extensive and highly picturesque scenery, composed of water, islands, and distant 88 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Parish of mountains, exceeded by none, or rather not equalled by any. The orchard, planted in the vicinity of the house, on the summit of this high bank (about 100 feet ahuost peipendicular above the narrow plain by the sea shore below), in the year 1819, was in full bearing at the end of June, without a shrivelled leaf on either fruit or forest tree, whilst in all the country over there was not a single garden nor a plantation that escaped damage from the se- vere frosts in the preceding month of May. To account for this exception, perhaps may not be very easy ; but it seems to be this, — that as the lands above this bank rise gradually to a con- siderable height to the eastward — ^that the rising sun never shines early on this place, but continues concealed behind the hills, for two or three hours in the mornings of even the longest day, — of course, the transition from cold frost to warm sunshine never occurs suddenly, the one being dissolved before the other is felt. This should account for -the savins; of the fruit and forest trees. The shelter from the west winds, lor that is also a fact, may be occasioned by the winds being impelled, when they strike against the almost upright bank of an hundred feet in height, to take a direct course upwards, so as not again to sweep along the surface of the earth till they are fairly past over the house and orchard on the top of the brae. RouTiNBURN. — The 3d Portion lies immediately south from the Quarter, and consists of perhaps about 50 acres, of which there may be 4 or 5 in natural woods on the sea bank, and the rest all arable, and productive land. About four years ago, the heirs of the late John Frazer of Hangingheugh and Routinburn, sold these lands (Routinburn) to Dr. Lang, the present proprietor. This property is pretty similar to the preceding, only the sea bank is not nearly so steep, nor the flat lands betwixt it and the shore quite so broad. There is no mansion on it, but many beau- tiful situations for one. These lands have a right, in common with the lands on Brisbane estate, according to the valuation. *^ LARGS.] OF Cunningfjame. 89 an undivided muir of about 1000 acres lying to the east of Bris- bane Vale, and to the north of the water of Greeto. Brisbane. — Immediately south from the lands last mention- ed, the great barony of Brisbane commences, and occupies the whole middle of the parish from the sea shore backwards to the confines of Ayrshire, with the county of Renfrew ; a stretch of about 5 miles in length, with a breadth of little less than 4 miles across that fine dale on each side of the Nodesdale water, now known by the name of the Vale of Brisbane, but including some hills on either hand. The town of Largs is also within it, and all that expanse of arable land in its vicinity. The whole is among the best lands in the parish, and occupies the largest extent. The valley itself is also among the most pleasant on the coast side, and among the most populous, as it abounds not only with the ham- lets of the tenantry, but the houses and mansions of the numer- ous small proprietors who hold in feu off the principal estate. The whole extends to upwards of 8,500 acres, of which nearly a fourth part is arable land, lying conterminous in the heart of the glen. This is probably that barony of Largs which belong- ed to John Balliol, when forfeited by Robert Bruce, and became afterwards known by other names in the progress of time. One of the most ancient families which possessed the pi-in- cipal property in this valley, was Kelso of Kelsoland, (since call- ed Brisbane), of which name, Hugo de Kelso appears in the Ragman Roll, in 1296, and Nisbet supposes the family of Kelso- land to be descended from him. Tlie last of them who possess- ed that property, John Kelso of Kelsoland, sold it to the family of Brisbane in 1671. From his younger brother, William, is descended the present family of Dankieth, whose genealogy, for about 12 or 14 generations back, may appear in the next volume of this work. Of this barony, considerably more than the half, either as to extent or value, belongs in full property to Sir Thomas Brisbane. Z 9a PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Parish o/. whilst the remainder holds ofFhim, either in long-lease or in feu,, The Mansion-House of Brisbane is pleasantly situated in the- heart of the property, on the north bank of the Nodesdale water, about two miles up from Largs. It is rather in an ancient stile^ of building, but like to most old houses, has more accomodation than shew. There is in it an old heir-loojn, a great curiosity ; — an ancient oa,ken chair, on the back of which is tlie date, 1357, as also the Arms of the family very distinctly carved. It is in- good preservation, and may last for centuries to come, as a me- morial of the family and name of Brisbane to future generations. 'Brwliane of Xxi^hmz, This family, confessedly the chief of the name, appears to have possessed Bishopton in Renfrewshire, and also lands in the counties of Stirling and of Ayr, long prior to the date of any Charters they have preserved. Crawfurd, in his " Renfrewshire," takes notice of " Bishopton, the ancient inheritance of the Bris- banes, the chief of that name>" and of " Allanus de Brysbane^ LARGS,] OF Cunningbame. 91 filius Willielmi de Brysbane, who obtained a grant of the lands of Macherach in Stirhngshire, to which Malcohn, Earl of Wig- ton, (so created in 1334) is witness." (Carta penes Burgmn de Dumbarton). Also Thomas and Alexander Brisbane, brothers, are witnesses to a Charter of date 9th Sep, 32d year of David II. (1361), and Thomas Brisbane is witness to a Charter, dated 22d Sept. 1409. (See Reg. Mag. Sig.) The designations are not stat- ed, but witnesses to such Charters were generally the great offi- cers of the. crown. Previous to all these there was a William Brisbane, Chancellor of Scotland in 1332, mentioned in " Hales's Annals," in all probability an ancestor of this family, as the armorial bearings, — the three cushions, should seem. to be borne, in allusion to such civil office. The earliest estate however, held by the family, of which the Charters still exist, appears to have been Bishopton in the coun- ty of Renfrew. They also held the lands of Ballencleiroch and others in Stirlingshire, and prior to the year 1400, they had ac- quired the ^10 land of Killincraig and Gogo, in this parish. Their possessions here have gradually increased. They acquir- ed the lands of Towergill, Harplaw, llylies, and others, called the Forty Merk land of the Chanons, that belonged to the arch-bish- op of Glasgow. They also acquired the lands of Halie and others, ■which belonged to the abbey of Paisley. In 1595 the estate in Largs was erected into a barony, called the Barony of Gogoside, and the town into a Burgh of barony, called, the Newton of Gogo. In 1650 this barony, along with the lands of Nodesdale and others, were erected into the barony of Nodesdale. Soon after, when Over-Kelsoland was acquired, the whole by Charter, in 1695, was erected into the barony of Brisbane. At the time of making these last acquisitions, the estate of Bishopton was feued out, and all the property of the femily was concentrated in the parish of Largs. The following history of the pedigree and connections of the 92 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [ Pavhh of family, is taken from Charters, and other writings still preserved, in the Ciiarter Room at Brisbane. — I. John Brisbane of Bishopton (the first who I shall state in this deduction) was succeeded by his son, II. John, who, on 1st Sept. 1407, obtained a charter from Lord Erskine the superior, for infefting him as heir of his father in the lands of Bisiiopton, and was infeft accordingly. He ap- pears to have been succeeded by his son, III. John, and he again hy his son, ly. Thomas Brisbane of Bishopton, who, in 1490, was exe- cutor to Thomas Sempil of Ejliotston, his brother-in-law. He Was succeeded by his son, V. Mathew Brisbane of Bishopton, who fell at the battle of Flouden on the 9th Sept. 1513, when he was succeeded by his brother, V. John, whose retour of service in the lands of Killinscraiff, &c. holding of the crown, relates the circumstance of his brother's death at Flouden, and his Charter, dated 4th July 1514, of the estate of Bishopton, is granted by John Lord Erskine, son of Lord Robert, who also fell at Flouden field. He was succeeded by his son, VI. John Brisbane of Bishopton, who, as heir of his father, obtained a Charter, dated 12th Aug. 1523, from John, third Earl of Lenox, of the lands of Ballencleiroch, in the district of Camp- sie in Stirlingshire. ' From a Sasine, dated in 1532, it appears that his wife's name was Elisabeth Lindsay. He fell at the battle ©f Pinkie 10th Sept. 1547. He Avas succeeded by his son, VII. John Brisbane of Bishopton, who was served heir to his father in the lands of Killingcraig, 20th May 1549. He mai-- ried 1st by whom he had two sons ; and 2dly he married Elisabeth Hamilton, daughter of John Hamilton of Broomhills, by whom he had a son, William, who became Parson of Erskine, in which he was succeeded by his son, Mathew, who LARGS.} OF Cannwiijoame. tf9 was father to Dr. Matthew Brisbane, Physician in Glasgow, a man of great learning ; also three daughters, — IVIargaret, Janet, and Marion. There is a contract of marriage, of rather a singular na- ture, dated 17th Nov. 1672, entered into betwixt John Frissa! (Frazer) of Knock, for himself, and as taking burden on him for John Frissal his grandson, a child, on the one part, and John Brisbane on the other part, as taking burden on himself for his three daughters — by which, in consideration of Brisbane redeem- ing certain debts on the estate of Knock — Frissal engages, that his grandson shall marry, at his lawful age of ?■'' yj^prs, the said Margaret Brisbane, whom failing, by decease, the said Janet, and whom failing, the said Marion. Accordingly, in 1583, there is a Charter granted by John Frissal (the grandson), with consent of his curators, for implementing this contract, and infefting her, his future spouse, in certain parts of the estate of Knock- John Brisbane married 3d!y Elspeth Wallace, relict of Gabriel Max- well of Stainly, by whom he had a daughter married to Adam Hall of Fulbar. He died in 1591. Many years before his de- cease he had resigned the fee of his lands to his eldest son of the first marriage, Vni. Robert Brisbane, who married, in 1562, Janet Stew- art, daughter of James Stewart of Ardgowan, the contract being dated 29th Aug. that year. Of this marriage he had two sons : 1. John his successor ; and 2. Hanibal, and a daughter, Sarah, married to Robert Hamilton, younger, of Dalserf He disponed the lands of Rossland to his son, Hanibal, whose son, HanibaJ, was served heir to him in 1636, and who, in 1638, sold Rossland to his cousin, John Brisbane of Bishopton. Robert Brisbane died in 1610, his wife, Janet Stewart, surviving him. During tlieir marriage they made large additions to the estate : for be- sides Nether-Kelsoland, Flat-Kelso, Halie, Hangingheugh, and others in the parish of Largs, they acquired lands and annual -rents in other counties besides Ayr and Renfrew, namely, in A a 94 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION lPari$7io// Linlithgow, Lanark, Stirling and Dunbarton ; so that athisdeathr a special commission was issued to foiir persons, as sheriffs, for. the service of his son, it being inconvenient and expensive to di-. rect separate Brieve's to the sheriffs of each of these counties. He was succeeded bj his son, IX. John Brisbane of Bishopton, who, on the 24th Dec. 1595, married Anna Blair, daughter of the laird of Blair, on which occasion he obtained a Charter of Resignation from his father, of the lands of Killingcraig and others, in favour of him and his said spouse, and the heirs male of the marriage ; and this Charter al- so contains a clause of erection of the lands into a free barony, of Gogoside, and burgh .of barony of Newton of Gogo, as before taken notice of. Of this maiTiage there were two sons : 1. John ; 2. Robert, who, in 1635, was married to Elisabeth, daughter of Sir Thomas Lyon of Auldbar, There were also several daugh- ters ; 1. Janet, married in 1611 to Fleming of Boghall, se- cond son of John first Earl of Wigton ; 2. Gxissel, in 1623, to Walter Dennieston of Colgrain ; 3. Elisabeth, to James Shaw of Balliegellie in Ireland, of whom afterwards ; and Sarah, to Sir William Mure of Rowallan. Anna Blair died on the 8th March, 1608; and on the 28th April 1612, John Brisbane mar- ried Jean Sempil, sister of Hugh (the fifth and great) Lord Sem- pil, who is a party to the contract. This Lady died in 1626, leaving issue — two sons, William and James, and two daughters, Ann and Barbara. Ann, in 1628, was married to James Campbell, son of Sir James Campbell of Ardkinglass. John Brisbane died in 1635, and was succeeded by his eldest son of the first marriage, X. John Brisbane of that ilk. In 1652 he sold the lands of Ballencleiroch in Stirlingshire, to Sir Mungo Stirling of Glorat. Previous to his father's death, he married Jean Chalmers, by whom he had a son, John, and six daughters : 1. Elisabeth, (of whom afterwards) ; 2. Sarah ; 3. Anna, married in J6.63 to Ro- bert Hamilton of Barns ; 4. Janet, married in 1662 to Captain William Hamilton of Woodside j 5, Marion ; 6. Jean. LARGi^.] 01- Cunningfjame. 9v5i In 1644, John Brisbane, younger, during his father's life, mar^ ried Dame Mary Mure, daughter of Sir William Mure of Rowal- lan, and relict of Walter third Lord Blantyre, who was still a minor even at this time, (though her first husband died three years before,) as her contract required to be entered into with- consent of her curators. In this contract, John Brisbane, the father, resigns his estate to his son and the heirs male of the marriage — reserving only the liferent to himiself and Jean Chal- mers, his spouse. His son, however, as above, died before him, in the year 1649, leaving issue by this marriage three daugh- ters, in infancy, one of whom, Ann, was afterwards married to William Fullarton of that ilk, and left issue. The two other appear to have died unmarried. On the death of the son, without heirs male, the estate reverted to the father, John Brisbane, elder, the time of whose death is not mentioned ; but on the 26th June 1657, a contract of marriage between XL Elisabeth Brisbane, his eldest daughter, was entered into, with her cousin, James Shaw, eldest son of James Shaw of Ballie- gellie, by Elisabeth, daughter of John Brisbane, (No. IX. in this account,) her grandfather, by which the estate of Brisbane was to be settled on the heirs male to be pro-created of the marriage, whilst James Shaw himself was to assume the surname and arms of Brisbane. On the other hand, James Shaw, the father, con- tracted to pay.a€20,000 Scots, to be applied in paying the provi- sions to the family of John. Brisbane, the younger. In 1671, James Brisbane (formerly Shaw) acquired the lands of Over-Kelsoland, now forming part of the estate of Brisbane, and about the same period he disposed of tlie estate of Bishop- ton to different people, to be held in feu of himself and heirs, so that the family have now the supeiiority only. About 30 years afterwards, the family acquired the estate of Knock ; so that theii: whole property became then concentrated in the parish of Largs., . There is a letter of remission to James Brisbane from James 96 PARTICULAU DESCRlPtrON [Paftsh of VII. dated 26tli Feb. 1686, for fines imposed on him for any ir- regularities his wife had been guilty of — no question^ in consci- quence of her attending conventicles or Presbyterian meetings,, so obnoxious to the court in those days, and considered by it as the most irregular of all conduct. Of the above marriage, between Elisabeth and James Brisbaney there were three sons : 1. John ; 2. James, who was a writer to the Signet. In 169', he married Anna second daughter of John Cranstoun of Glen ; 3. William, who was a Captain in the array and died unmarried. The eldest son, XII. John Brisbane of Brisbane, succeeded to the estate, but in what year is not mentioned. He married Margaret, daughter of Sir Archd. Stewart of Blackball, contract dated 17th and 26th Oct. 1685. Of this marriage there were two sons: 1. James ; 2. Thomas ; — and four daughters : L Prudence, and 2. Jean, both died unmarried ; 3. Elisabeth, married Alexander For- restor of Carse Cowie; and 4. Catherine, married^William Fairlie of that ilk. At what time this James Brisbane died, is not men- tioned, but probably about the beginning of the year 1727, for his eldest son, XIII. James Brisbane of Brisbane, was served heir to his fa- ther on the 2d May 1727, but died [time not mentioned] un- married. The second son, Thomas, was married in 1715, to Isabel, daughter of Sir Thomas Nicolson of Ladykirk,. by whom he had four sons : Thomas, John^ Charles, and Alexander. John, the eldest, went into the navy, and distinguished him- self highly in the American war, and rose to the rank of Admi- ral. He left two sons : Charles and James ; both distinguished officers in the navy, and have both been created Knights Com- manders of the Bath. Sir Charles is a rear-admiral of the blue, and Governor of St. Vincent ; and Sir James is a Post-Captain of date 180L — Also four daughters: 1. Margaret; married in •^ARGS'] OF cunningfjame. 97 4738, to John Mitchel of Midleton, Advocate, and had issue ; 2. D'Arcy, married to Wilham Maxwell of Pollock, died without issue ; 3. Mary, married to the Hon. George Cranstoun, and had issue ; and 4. Agnes, died unmarried. XIV. THOMAsBRisBANEof Brisbane, son of Thomas Brisbane* as above, whom he succeeded, was served heir to him on the 15th Sept. 1770. He married Eleanora, daughter of William Bruce of Stenhouse, Bart, by whom he had a son, Thomas, and a daughter, Mary. He died in 1812, and was succeeded by hit only son, XV. Sir Thomas Brisbane of Brisbane, K.C.B. F.R.S. Lond. and Edin. who early assumed the profession of Arms, and is now a major-general in the army. In 1819 he married Anna Maria, daughter of Sir Henry Hay Macdougal, Bart, of Makers- toun in the county of Roxburgh, representative of one of the most ancient families in Scotland. The variety and extent of the services of Sir Thomas Brisbane will ^pear as under : He entered the army in 1790, by joining the ^Sth regiment ia •Ireland, where he remained until the breaking out of the war in 1793 ; was then promoted to a company in the 53d regiment, proceeded to Flanders with it in the spring of that year, and was present with it in all the actions under His Royal Highness the Duke of York: viz. the battles of Famers, seiges of Valenciennes, JDunkirk, Newport, Nimegnen, and the serties from that fortress; likewise all the actions near Dunkirk, the battles of Aswin, Fre- mont, Cateau-Cambresis, &c. and in that of Tournay, where he was wounded : was present in the affairs of Newport, Boxtel, Buren, Culemburg, and Gilder-Matrin. — In the spring of 1795 •he embarked with the regiment on the army returning to Eng- land. — In 1795, purchased a majority in the 53d regiment, and embarked with the expedition under Sir Ralph Abercromby, for the West Indies. — In 1796, served at the reduction of St. Lucia, the seige and sorte of Morne-Fortune, and the affairs of Chabot, Bb 9S PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Parish of Castries, and Vigie ; also the reduction of the island of St. Vin- cent, and the whole of the Caraib war. — In 1797, was at the tak- ing of the island of Trinidad, and commanded the regiment at the seige of Porto Rico. — In 1800, purcliased a Lieut.-Colonelcy j and in 1801, joined the regiment at Jamaica, commanding it till its return to England in 1805, and during its; continuance. On the regiment being ordered to India, was recommended by me- dical advice, in consequence of labouring under a severe liver complaint, brought on by nearly a five years' residence in the West Indies, not to return to a warm climate; and being unable to effect an exchange into the Guards or Cavalry, was compelled to retire on half pay, though he repeatedly offered to serve in any part of the world out of the tropics during that period.-r-In 1810, was appointed assistant adjutant-general, in . the Kent district, and acted nearly two years there in that capacit)':.- — In 1812, em- barked for the Peninsula, and commanded a brigade in 1813, at the battles of Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Orthes, and Toulouse* where he was wounded, and for all of which he has the honour of medals : was at various affairs,., visr. Zubiere, Pamplona-^those near Bayonne, Hasparen, Sauve-terre, Vie, Bigorre, Tarbes, &c. —In 1814, embarked for North America^ and commanded a. brigade at the affairs of Platsburgh ; and also on the river Riche- Jiey, &c.; until the general peace in 1815, when he commanded under the Duke of Wellington in France, and has lately been appointed to a distinguished command in the south of Ireland, where he is at present.*- 'Vfc'yvwv^ %■» "v^ v^ >^^^>^^%^^ ^» v^ v> %■% v^ %^»^ V* w** *• Copy Patent of Arms. — ^To all and sundry whom these presents do or may- concern ; We, Thomas Robert Earl of Kinnoul, and Lord Lyon King of Arms, do hereby certify and declare, that the Ensigns Armorial pertaining and belonging to Major-General Sir Thomas Brisbane of Brisbane, Knight Commander of the most Ho- nourable Military Order of the Bath, and Undoubted Representative of the most an.- cient family of Brisbane of Brisbane, in the county of Ayr, in Scotland, being the . chief of the name of Brisbane, whose ancestors were recorded to have held lands in : Scotland pyj^rtp, .the year 1350, and one of whom is stated in « Rymer's Fsdera'* liARGS.] or Cunmnsfjamc: 99 Hawkhixl. — This large property was lately purchased from Sir Thomas. Brisbane, by John Scott, Esq. of Greenock. It is situated mostly upon the north side of the Gogo water, but partly on the south banks of that stream. Upon the north bank of the water of Gogo in a fine sheltered spot, formed by the water into a kind of amphitheatre, with a south exposure, Mr. Scott has lately enclosed a large garden with hot-houses and green-houses. This ground having once been the channel of the river, he was obliged, at a great expense, to force with earth, so that every cabbage stock will cost iaim for ten years to come at least 2s. 6d. On this estate are many good situations for a Mansion-house, and it is said that upon one of these, near his garden, he intends building very soon. It extends to nearly 1,600 acres, of which, about three fourths are fine green pasture hills ; from 200 to 300 acres of moss-land ; a considerable extent of thriving plantation ; and above 160 acres of rich arable land. to have been Chancellor of Scotland, assembled in a Parliament held at Edinburgh in the year 1333, and which Sir Thomas Brisbane, K.C.B. has for his meritorious servi- ces in the Island of St. Lucia, the Island of St. Vincent, the Island of Trinidad, and the Island of Jamaica in the West Indies, and at the battles of Vitoria, Pyrenees, Ni- velle ,Orthes, Toulouse, and Pamplona, in Spain, and France, and also in North Ame- rica, received several medals and crosses in testimony of his meritorious conduct as Commander of Brigades in these actions ; for which he was created, by the Prince Regent of England, a Knight Commander of the most Honourable Military Order of the Bath ; and now commands a division of the British Army in France, under the Duke of Wellington : are matriculated in the Public Registers of the Lyon O/Ece, and and are blazoned asonthe margin thxis viz.— Saik, a cljeveron cheque, O/- and Guies, between three cushions of the second ; in the collar point a representation of one of the Gold Medals conferred upon him by his Majesty ; above the shield is placed a helmet befitting his degree, with a mantling Gules, the doubling Argent ; -,and on a wreath of his liveries, is set for Crest, a Stork's Head erazed, holding in her beak a Serpent wav-» ed-proper; and in an escrole above the Crest, this motto, "Certamine Sumonoj" oil a compartment below the Shield are placed, for supporters, two Talbots proper; which Armorial Ensign above blazoned, We do hereby ratify and confirm to the said Major-General Sir Thomas Brisbane, K.C.B. and the heirs male of his body, as their pVoper Arms and Bearing in all time coming : In testimony whereof, these presents are subscribed by James Home qf Linhouse Esquire, our Deputy, and the Seal of our Office is appended hereunto at Edinburgh, this eighth day of February, in the year of our Lord 1816 — Lyon Office, Edinburgh, 8th Feb. 1816, this patent is duly entered in the Records of the Lyon OiBce by me, John Kerr, Herald Painter and Keeper of Lyoa Records. (Signed) JAMES HOME, 100 VARTICULAR DESCRIPTION \ Parish of Feus oft' Brisbane. — These amount to about a dozen of plea- sant possessions, with as many adequate mansions, each set down amid their own plantations and gartlens, more or less ; which, col- lectively, add greatly to the lively aspect of this cheerful valley. They are the following : East Grass- Yards ; (Mrs. Hair.) Extends to upwards of 120 acres, partly, arable, partly green pasture hills, with some moor, and some planting. West Grass- Yards, and. Const able Wood ; (Heirs of James Wilson.) These two possessions, extend to more than 200 acres, of which more than the half is arable. North-Whitlaw-Buri^ I (Robert Crawfurd.) About ISO jLcres, of which a third part is arable. Craigton ; (John Jameson.) About 100 acres, a third of which is arable. Middleton ; (James Greig.) Above 60 acres ; the greater part arable. Nodesdale ; (John Lade.) Above 120 acres ; nearly the half arable. Reillies; (Jo. and Jo. Crawfurds.) From 40 to 50 acres-, all arable. Harplaw; (Alex. Crawfurd.) 36 acres; arable and green pasture. KiLBURN, feu ; and Upper Dochra, long lease ; (John Craw- furd.) More than 60 acres — arable, planting and green pasture. BuRNsiDE and Little Hollows ; (William Lang, Esq.) About 70 acres, two-thirds arable, the rest green pasture and planting. Nether Dochra ; (Mrs. Lang, or Dunsmure.) About 5 acres arable. On this pleasant property, this Lady has lately built an elegant house, called Prospect-Hill. The whole of these possessions in feu, extend to about 970 acres ; of which about 445 are arable ; 403 green hill-pasture ; 97 moor land j and 25 plantation, This is exclusive of the scite LARGS] OP dannmsftamc. loi of the toAvn of Largs— the grounds occupied by the villas before ' mentioned in its vicinity ; some lands also there, on which villas have not yet been erected, as those belonging to Baillic Greig, Mr. Boyd and others, all feus off Brisbane, and extending to a- bout 140 acres. Hangingheugh. — This property, distinct from Brisbane, but situated in the same valley, extends to about 25 acres, chiefly hill pasture. It belongs to the above William Lang, Esq. enjoys a good commanding prospect, and where he has just now built a "^ery elegant villa. Haily ; (James Wilson Esq.) This property extends to about 70 acres, of which above 30 is arable or woodland, and about 40 of gi-een hill pasture, all of great value. It is situated on the southern extremity of the Vale of Brisbane, and extending down to- the sea coast, within half a mile of the town of Largs. There is a Charter of Resignation and Confirmation, or rather gift of marriage, in the possession of Mr. Wilson, in favour of one of his ancestors, granted by Thomas Sempil, Lord of Elliotston and Vicecomes of Renfrewshire, whereby he renounces and confirms to Gavin Wilson, and Marion, his spouse, the lands of Weetlands in the shire of Renfrew, (in Kilbarchan parish,) and Haylee, (as it is spelt,) in Ayrshire, which had been held by him in ward? during the minority of the said Gavin Wilson. The Charter is completed by appending his arms and seal thereto at Elliotston, the 20th day of Dec. 1483. The family of Sempil continued su- perior of these lands until 1668. Tlie first Chailer of the Bris- bane family, is by John Brisbane of Bishopton, to John Wilson of Haily, dated 20th July 1695. How long this property has been in possession of Mr. Wilson's ancestors, cannot now be as- certained. Tradition says, since the battle of Largs in 1263. It is evident, from the title deeds, that it has been at one time much more extensive. Maily, often spelt Heli, is thought to be derived from the old Saxon word Helle, which signifies the pit, the grave, Cc lOS? PARTicuLAU DESCRIPTION {Parish of or the burying place, and may have obtained that name from, the great number of people who have been interred there, in a tumulus. (See Antiquities.) There is a pretty good oldish mansion on this property, snugly situated in the middle of a small thriving plantation, on the summit of the rising ground which, at this place, separates the Vale of Brisbane from that of l^elburn. Mr. Wilson lias lately erected a handsome, small villa,, called the Bankhouse, on this property also, near to Gogoside. .. Kelbu^n Barony.; — This is the last estate to be mentioned,, being the most southerly property in the parish. It belongs to. the Earl of Glasgow, and has been the paternal inheritance of that Noble family for five or six centuries at least, as is well as- certained from authentic records. It extends through the whole, breadth of the parish, from the sea coast to its eastern boundary, where it joins with other lands belonging to his Lordship in the parish of Dairy. . Including the adjoining lands of Fairley, it oc- cupies more than a fourth part of Largs parish. . Of this, about from 12 to 1500 acres may be stated as arable land : there are. about 200 acres of remarkably thriving plantations, which form a great ornament to this part of the coast side ; and the remainder is hill pasture. The ancient mansion of Kelburn House with its antique turrets, imbossomed amid some fine old woods, is situat-. ed by the rivulet which gives name to the whole, about a quarter, of a mile from the sea. 'Bq))\z €arl of (0la;Sgo%o. The antiquity of this family is well established, though some of the links in the chain of genealogy, in its more remote ances-. tors, are not very distinctly known. But, as early as the reign of Alexander III. {inter 1249 et 1285,) the existence of this branch, of the Boyles (or Boyvilles, hence probably of Norman origin,) is fully ascertained, as then proprietors of Kelburn, which still re- mains in the family. For in that reign Richard de Boyle, Dom. . de Caulburn, had an acquittance from Walter Cumyn, Dom, de . XJ/5G^',] or Cunnlngtjame. iOS" Rowgallan, de qiindraginta soUdis annui reddUus, Sfc. in quUms dietus Hiccardus el anleccssores ejus, mihi ct aniecessoribus tnch- annuaivn solvere lenehunttir. (See the Peerage, by Douglas and by Wood.) In the Ragman Roll, there is a diehard de Boyville del Conie de Air, mentioned- as having submitted to Edward I. in 1296: Nisbet takes this Richard to have been ancestor of the Boyles of Raysholme, in Dairy parish in Ayrshire, and of Wam- phray in Annandale, whose heiress in the reign of James IV. married a brother of the House of Johnston — and of which branch he says the English Boyles are derived ; or, as he afterwards qualifies it — from the Boyles of Kelburn, of which there is so far a corroboration to be traced, in the affinity betwixt their respec- tive armorial bearings. Robert de Boyville, appears also in the Ragman Roll in 1296, and of him, Crawfurd expressly states that he was the son^ of Richard of Caulburn above mentioned, by Marjory, daughter of Walter Cumyn of Rowgallan as above. Nisbet asserts the same thing, and decidedly states that he succeeded him in KeL- burn. It may be observed, that about this period the name of Boy- ville (since softened down into Boyle), was to be found among" several Barons in Cumberland, as well as in Scotland ; while the same Christian names were common to both — ^from whence we may conclude that they were of the same original stock. From this time forward, there is a chasm in public records respecting this family, till about 100 years after, Avhen I. Hugo DE Boyle of Ryesholm makes a considerable dona- tion to the monastry of Paisley, dated 17th Feb. ,1399. Douglas, who states this, quotes, as his authority, " Chart. Paisley pene9 Com. de Dundona/d," and asserts him to have been, in a direct male line, an ancestor of the Glasgow family. Commencing therefore from this fixed point, as to the numeration of the ge- iierations of this family, (though wc might be well founded iii 104- rAnTicul-AR rrscsiPTiow [ Parish fjf prefixing six or eight more to tlie number,) — the next to be stat- ed was probably his son, namel) , 11. John Eoyle de Calebian, who, on the 24th June 1417, appears as one of a Jury on an inquest respecting some lands in dispute, betwixt the Burgh of Irvine, and William Frawnces of Stane ; the record of which may be seen in tlie Charter Chest of tiiat town, and of which a copy shall be inserted in the appendix.. The next in succession, who appears in the family writs, is III. Robert Boyle of Calburn, in all probability, son to the preceding; He. is witness to a Charter by Robert Boyd of Kil- marnock, to John Boyle of Wamphray, of the lands of Ryesholme, dated 11th Oct. 1446; and there is an instrument of Seisin, by the same John Boyle, (as the immediate superior,) to the above Robert of Calburn, on the same lands of Ryesholm, dated two days thereafter, namely, on the 13th Oct. in the same year; — and again — Robert Boyle [the same person for any thing that ap- pears] was infeft by the Sheriff of Ayr, as a crown vassal in the lands of Caleburn, in the year 1456, which he held blanch. (See " Exchequer Roll" of that date No. 120, in the Register Office.) That Boyle of Calburn might have been the immediate vassal " for the lands of Ryesholm" of Boyle of Wamphray, whilst the latter held them of the family of Boyd of Kilmarnock, is in per- fect conformity with the usage of that age. The practice of not admitting of a multiplication of superiors was a relief, accorded to vassals, that arose out of experience in an after period. This Robert Boyle was succeeded by his son, (as seems at least proba- ble,) the next in record, IV. John Boyle of Kelburn, who was a steady adherent to his unfortunate Sovereign James III. and lost his life with him at the field of Sauchie-Burn in 1488. (See Douglas, also Wood.) He left a son, William Boyle of Kelburn who, on account of the part his father had taken in the politics of those times, — ^by his attach- LARGS.] OF Cunningb^me. 105 ment to the unsuccesful side, found it the most prudent plan to enter as heir to his grandfather, Robert ; and under that title was retoured to his lands, and office of Mayor of Fee, &c. in 1492. Wood quotes a precept dated in 1490, for the restitution of his lands forfeited by his father, for his adherence to James III. He left a son, VI. John Boyle of Kelburn, who, in 1495, was infeft in the £5 land of Kelburn, as lawful heir of his father, William Boyle, proceeding from a precept of Chancery, holding blench of the • Crown, in payment of a pair of spurs, dated 28th Oct that year. He married Agnes, a daughter of the family of Ross, by whom he had two sons : 1. David ; 2. John, of whom afterwards. He died in 1549. His eldest son, Vn. David Boyle died in the lifetime of his father, leaving a son, Vni. John Boyle of Kelburn, who succeeded his grandfatherin 1549. By his Lady, Jean, daughter of Frazer of Knock,hehad a son, IX. John Boyle of Kelburn, who succeeded his great-grand- father in the office of mayor of fee. See Reg. of Ret. July 16. 1583 : Joannes Boyle de Kelburn, hcBres Joannis Boyll de Kelhurne, Proati, in officio Majoris de lie Mairschip of fie, infra limites Do- minii de JLargis, a torrente de Polgace ad anstralein partem de Keliihurne, ad partem horealem, infra Balliatum de Cunynghame. He adhered to the party of Queen Mary. He died in 1610. By his Lady, Marion, daughter of Crawfurd of Kilbirnie, he had six daughters, all well married, and a son who succeeded him, X. John Boyle of Kelburn, who for his attachment to the interests of Charles I. had well nigh mined his estate, besides being sent into banishment for ten years. He married Agnes, the only daughter of Sir John Maxwell of Nether Pollock, by whom he had an only daughter, XI. Grizel Boyle of Kelburn ; married to David Boyle of Hawkhill— descended from the same family, thus : — John Boyle second son of John Boyle of Kelburn (No. VI. in this account,) Dd 103 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [PaHsh of was designed of Ballahewin and Coroner of Meikle Cumbrae, in' 1536. His second son was David Boyle of Segdeth in Bute hv 1578. He married Christian Boyd, a neice of Lord Boyd, by whom he had James Boyle designed of Ilawkhill in 1617 ; who, marrying a daughter of David Crawford of Bedhmd, had a son,' David Boyle, who succeeded him in Havvkhill, and who married Grizel Boyle of Kelburn as above, about the year 1656 or before that period. He was a prudent and economical man, and great- ly improved the Kelburn' property. They had three sons and a daughter*; and were succeeded by their eldest son who, in des- cent from his mother, ranks -in this account as the twelfth gene- ration ; namely, Xn. John Boyle of Kelburn, who in 1681 represented thd Shire of Bute in the Scots Parliament. He was a man of great abilities, and he also largely increased the family estate. By his first Lady, Marion, daughter of Sir Walter Sfeuart of Alanton, he had two sons, also a daughter who was married to Sir Alexander Cunninghame of Corsehill. He died in 1685, and was succeed- ed by his eldest son, XHI. David Boyle of Kelburn. On the 8th June J 697, he was raised to the Peerage by the title of Lord Boyle, and further advanced on the 12th April 1703, to the titles of Earl of Glasgow, Viscount Kelburn, and Lord Boyle of Stewarton, Cumbraes, Fen- wick, Largs and Dairy, to him and his heirs male whatsoever. . He was a steady supporter of the Protestant succession, and had a principal share in carrying on that happy measure. The Union of the two kingdoms. He represented Queen Anne, as High Comr missioner to the General Assembly from 1706 till 1710, inclu- "S * The second son, James, married Janet, daughter and heiress of Mr. Robert Bar- clay, Provost of Irvine, (a man of great talents and much employed in public business In his day,) with whom he got the lands of Montgomerieston ; and by her had a son, James Boyle of Montgomerieston, a Commissioner of Excise, who died 1 Vth October, 1758, and is buried in Irvine church yard, where a handsome monument is erected to lu» memory— «« A gentleman of singular piety, integrity and learning." LARGS.] OF cumiingiDame. lor sive. On the breaking out of the rebellion in 1715, he most stre^ niiously supported the government of King George; and he of- fered to raise and maintain 1,000 men, on his own charges, for the suppression of thitt commotion, which though not deemed necessary to be accepted of, he had his Majesty's thanks and as- surance of favour for so seasonable and liberal an offer. He died on the 1st Nov. 173 >. By his first Lady, Margaret, sister of the first Viscount Garr^ock, he had four sons ; and by his second' Lady, Jean, heiress of Mure of Rowallan, he had two daughters: the youngest died unmarried ; the eldest, Lady Jkan, married Sir James Campbell of Lawetff, (who was killed at Fontenoy in 1745,) and was grandmother to the present Flora, Countess of Loudoun and Marchioness of Hastings. The eldest son of th& first marriage, XIV. John second Eaul of Glasgow, succeeded his father in 1733, and died in Mdy 1740j in thie 53d year of his age. By his Lady, Helen, daughter of Morrison of Prestongrange, he had two sons who survived him, and six daughters. 1. John, of whom afterwards. 2. Patkick Boyle of Shewalton, who died at Irvine Feb. 26. 1798.* Of the da;ughters five died unmarried, and the youngest. Lady Helen, was married to Admiral Sir James Douglas of Springwood-« Park, but died without issue in 1794. XV. John third Earl of Glasgow, was born' in Nov. 1714,' and succeeded his father in 1740. He was bred to the array, • By his second Lady, Elisabeth, daughter of Professor Alexander Dunlop, of the University of Glasgow, he had four sons and four daughters : 1. William, a Lieut, in the Army, died young ; 2. Col. John Boyle, now of Shewalton; 3. Alexander, in the Royal Navy, died young ; 4'. ttie Right Hon. David Boyle, Lord Justice C16rk, to which high oince he was appointed in Feb 1811. He married Elisabeth, daughter of Alexander Muhtgomery of Annock Lodge, next brother to the late Hugh, twelfth Earl of Egrpiton,. by whom he has issue: 1. Patrick ; 2. Xlisabeth } S. Helen j 4; Alexander. 1 he daughters were ; 1. Hek-n, married in 1791, to Thumas Mure, Esq^ . of Warriston, and had issue ; 2. Elisabeih, married in 1800, to John Smollet Rouetf, Esq. pf DoiihiU, afld has issue v and two who died young. 108 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Parish of and being In the battle of Fontenoy in 1745, was there wounded, and again, severely, at the battle of LafFeld in 1747. He repre- sented liis Majesty, as Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly, from 1764 till 1772 inclusive. He died in March 1775, in the 61st year of his age. He married Elisabeth, second daughter of George thirteenth Lord Ross, who became ultimate- ly sole heiress to that opulent and very ancient family, and by this Lady, who died l3th Oct. 1791, had issue: 1 . A son who died youngo 2. George, the present EarL 3. Lady Elisabeth, who was married to Sir George Douglas of Springwood Park, and died in 1801, leaving issue, a son, born in 1792. 4. Lady Jane. His Lordship was succeeded by his only re- maining son, XVL George fourth Earl of Glasgow. — Till of late Lord Lieutenant of the county of Renfrew, but now Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire, having been preferred to that more important station on the death of the late Hugh Earl of Eglinton. His Lordship was chosen a Representative of the Scottish Peerage in every Parliament from 1790 inclusive, till 1851, when he was raised to the British Peerage, by the title of Lord Ross of Hawkhead in the county of Renfrew, which had been the title of his maternal an- cestors from 1503 till 1754, and their chief place of residence from the year 1351, till the latter period, when the title became extinct on the death of William the fourteenth Lord — and on the death of the Dowager Countess of Glasgow, as above, in 1791, the mansion of Hawkhead, and lands connected with it, became the sole property of her son the present Earl. His Lordship married in Aug. 1788, Lady Augusta Hay, third daughter of James fourteenth Earl ofErrol, and by this Lady, (who succeeded ultimately in 1 81 6 to the estate of Etal in Nortluimberland, that belonged to her grandfather, the late Sir :William Carr of Etal,) had issue. ZARGS.] Of Cunmngijame. 109 1. Hon. John Boyle, Lord Kelburn, who was bred to the Royal Navy, where he distinguished himself by signal bravery, and was otherwise eminent for an honourable and a benevolent disposition. He died in March 1818, in the 29th year of his age. 2. Lady Isabella. 3. Hon. James Boyle, now Viscount Kelburn, a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy. 4. Lady Elisabeth. 5. Lady Augusta. 6. Hon. William Boyle. Chief Seats. — Kelburn House, the ancient seat of the Boyles, near Largs ; Harvkhead, the ancient seat of the Lords Ross, near Paisley ; and Eial House, the ancient seat of the Carrs of Etal, by Coldstream. VALUED RENTS SCOTS OF THE PARISH OF LARGS. Lands. Proprietors. Valued Rent. Kelburn, Killingcraig, Redlaw, ^c."} rpi, t>' i^^tr ui i? i -» Third-Part, krrf and Aucheu-f The R.ght Honourable Earn ^j2^^ „ , garth, - - - -i of Glasgow, - -^ Brisbane and Knock, - - Sir Thomas Brisbane, K. C. B. 1004. 18 Skelmorley and Bridgend, - - Right Hon. Earl of Eglinton, 381 13^ 1 Gogoside, Langherst, Flatt, part of J John Scott, Esq. - - 338 Dochra, &c " " ' J ' -i Haily, Quarters, and Park, - - James Wilson, Esq. - - 115 9 S Blackhouse, . _ _ Archibald Campbell, Esq. - 112 Burnside, Hangingheugh, &c. - - William Lang, Esq. - - 80 Constable Ward, & West Grass Yards Heirs of James Wilson, - 70 Nodesdale, ... Mr. John Lade, - - - 62 Reillies, - - - - Jo. and Jo. Crawford, - - 58 North Whitlaw Burn, - - Robert Crawford, - - 57 Kilburn and'Upper Dochra, - - John Crawford, - - 47 — — East Grass Yards, - - - Heirs of Alexander Henry, - 36 Routin Burn, . - - - Dr. Lang, - - - 31 14 8 Part of Skelmorley, - - - Robert Wallace, Esq. - - 30 Harplaw, . _ . . Alexander Crawford, - - 29 — — ■ Craigton, - - .. - John Jameson, - - - 28 Middletou, - - - - James Grcig, - - - 25 Ladeside, - .. - . John Beith, - - - 15 Part of Nether Dochra, '-- - Mrs. Dunsmure. - - 6 13, 4 Total ;£380? Eo IKT I'ARTlCtlLAR DESCRIPTION [Parish of fbeeholders qualified to vote, residing in, or connected with, the parish. Sir Thomas Brisbane, K. C.B. Archibald Campbell, Esq. of Blackhouse. John Cairnie, Esq. late of the East India Company's Service, John Wilson, Esq. of Haily. antiquitiexf. The old castle of Knock, now in ruins, was built only about 400 years ago, on what would at that time be reckoned an inno- vation in architecture, as it bears no resemblance to the dismal square towers so prevalent in ancient times ; for it was not only distinguished by a tall roimd turret in one of the corners, but the dwelling part of the fabric was an oblong square of moderate height, and as well lighted as modern houses in the present day, and not greatly thicker in the walls. Its demolition is not to be imputed to want of strength in its original construction, but to want of being inhabited and cared for, during these last 150 years. A house in these circumstances soon gets roofless, and no rooiless house of moderate thickness of wall, can long resist the blasts in this coimtry. There is on the top of Knock hill, the appearance of a small camp, with three regular entrenchments ; and directly opposite, on the other side of the valley, are the remains of what is thought to have been a fortification,, now called the Castlehill. But the Battle of Largs affords the great subject of anti- quarian research. The field where it took place is still shewn, being a large plain southward of the village. Cairns of stone were on it formed, it is thought, over pits into which the bodies of the slain had been thrown. A coarse granite slab, about 10 feet high, stood in the centre of the field, supjiosed to have been erected over the body of a chieftain. This stone is now built in the garden wall of Dr. Cairnie, at his villa, nefjr to the spot where it originally stood. Thirteen small pieces of silver, apparently jLARGS.] of Cunningtame. m ornamental, were also found hard by, in what was thought to have been a grave, and two urns were found in Dr. Mitchel's grounds adjacent ; with ashes and fragments of bone. These articles were sent to the Earl of Eglinton at the time. A Danish axe was found hereabouts too, and was sent by the late Mr. Brisbane of Brisbane to the Antiquarian Society of Edinburgh. The Earl of Glasgow had another. There are still found fragments of rusty armour, in the same field to this day. jTairleg Cattle, Formerly possessed by the ancient family of Fan-ley, said to be descended from a natural son of Robert II. is now ruinous. It Avas built in 1512, about 300 years ago. It is constructed however on the old square-tower.plan, with few lights, and very massive walls ; and, though not entire in the roof, may yet stand for ages. It is situated on a height above the village of Fairley, about half a mile from the sea, and is a very conspicuous object. It is fur- nished with gun-ports, which, independent of other notice, shews that it is comparatively modern. Haily. — This place is supposed to have had its name froni llelle, a pit or burial place ; as here a vast tumulus had been erected over the bodies of the slain, as thought, at the Battle of Largs. It was only discovered, however, about 40 years ago, by U2 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Parish of Mr. Wilson, when seardiing for stones to enclose his lands. It was till then known by the name of Margaret's-Law, and was supposed to be natural. It had long been overgrown with rank herbage and brushwood. In the centre oi" it were found five stone-coffins, or square apartments formed with flat stones set on edge ; two of them containing five sculls each, with other human bones, and sereral earthen urns. The earth and small stones at the bottom were calcined. It is supposed that the sculls and other bones witiiin these coffins were those of the chiefs ; whilst the bodies of the common warriors had been thrown promiscuously over them, and then stones, in vast quantity, heaped over all. These amounted to upwards of 5,000 cai't loads — whilst the quan- tity of bones which, on exposure, soon crumbled into dust, was immense. There is a moat or conical mound of earth, within the town of Largs, and another, at a small distance on the south-east ; and a third, four miles up the water of Nodesdale, at a place called Tower- Gill, of a similar appearance, but much larger. This last is generally thought to be natural, and only formed into that shape by the hand of man. The two first are evidently artificial throughout ; but for what purpose erected, is now only a matter of conjecture,' though probably, as tumuli over the dead, or in honour of their memory. These may all be regarded as corro- borative evidence of a battle having been fought near to the town of Largs, and not at all improbable, that it was the very battle before mentioned, fought in the year 1263, betwixt the Norwe- gians and the Scots. But when we are told of tumuli that have been ransacked, and coffins or small square apartments of stone found under them, in which were sculls of men, with urns, ashes, and other indications of burning, we must impute the time of in- humation to a much more remote period than the 13th century. At no time in any country, where Christianity has been establish- jedj has such a mode of sepulture been followed. As to the dif- ■LsiRGS,i OF Cunningljame. as. ferent places in the vicinity, that seem, from their appellation at present, to have a reference to the battle in 1263 j these are . equivocal at the best, and evidently forced in, as auxiliaries to the argument. Thus the JRow/Zwi-Burn, evidently so called from its rumbling noise over its rocky channel — but which is converted into Rout-Uanc,iiS a proof of the Danes being here routed — must be an imaginary etymon : there is even no necessity for it, as by • all accounts, the Danes, or rather the Norwegians, (for never a Dane was there,) were routed every where. The same may be said of the Kiliing-Craig, so much depended on as evidence of the battle — Sure no place was particularly appointed for that purpose ? And the Go-Go, (the name of the adjacent stream) is equally fanciful, when adduced as an evidence of the strict mili- tary watchfulness of the Scottish army, to which this word serv- ed, they say, as the counter-sign — go go, or pass pass, when chal- lenged. But are they who depend on, or adduce, such proofs as these, of this battle, aware that such terms would not have been understood in the country at the time ? The language now spoken was not then known. Thus, at the coronation of Alexander III. which could not have been more than 14 years before the battle of Largs, as his father, Alexander 11. died in 1249 — the service was performed first in Latin, (the language of the learned in those days, as it is the language still, only of the learned in the present times,) and afterwards in Gaelic, the common language of the country. The modern English did not then exist, whilst the old English or Saxon tongue could iiave been familiar only to a few. These kind of evidences, in proof of the battle with the Danes, serve only to weaken the credibility of the fact*. * One weapon pretty entire, was lately found here, in shape very much like the Ro- man sword ; and in the island of Little Cunibra, in the neighbourhood, tumuli similar to that at Haily, have been ransacked, and found to contain similar remains, as Urns and Ashes, and human bones, and pieces of arms and armour : in particular, an iron head- piece similar to the Roman Cra/po, and pieces of wood connected together with thin plates of iron on each side, rivetted tlirough and through with clenched nails— tl»« Ff 114 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION iPaHsh cf PARISH OF KILBRIDE. IL BRIDE Parish, is situated on the coast side on the south, next to that of Largs. Following out the curvature of the shore, it measures about six miles ; but in a straight line from N. to s. is oulj about 4^ miles in length ; whilst the breadth across from w. to E. is less than four. In extent altogether, it is nearly 16 square miles. More precisely ascertained, from the contents of each estate, it contains 7924 acres. (general Appearance. — This is considerably hilly, but mucli of the high ground is arable, some of it to the very summits ; whilst the hills themselves are not near so high in general, as those in the parish of Largs ;. the whole ridge of them getting lower and lower towards the south till they almost terminate in this parish. Some of them are of a roundish form and remark- ably verdant, particularly in the vicinity of the village of Kilbride, and at the promontory by Portencross. Some of them again are of a dusky hue, covered with heath, being those on the eastern boundary next the parish of Dairy, and these are also the high- est. The cultivated lands are spread out in strips of greater or less breadth along the coast side, or interspersed in like manner among the different hills or rising grounds throughout the whole. Of the wood lands part is natural, as on the estates of Southan- Very materials and mode of formation of the Roman Scutum. From all these Reliques. one might be led to suppose tliat there must have been battles hereabouts, v.ith other enemies than the Norwegians, and at a period much more remote than 1263,, KILBRIDE.] OP Cunning!)ame; ns nan and Corsbie ; but the greater proportion is planted, and is generally very thriving, and some of it remarkably so; as on the estate of Huntcrston, where some, uncommonly excellent, is to be seen growing on the face of a steep bank by the sea side. In general, the plantations are disposed of to great advantage, in belts and clumps, through the other properties, adding greatly to the beauty of the varied aspect of this parish. SgmetalSi. — Neither Coal nor Limestone are found here, but both are easily obtained at a small distance from the neighbour- ing parish of Ardrossan, on the south. There is a millstone quarry on the lands of Southannan, in great request all the coun- try over, and from it many millstones are also exported. The- general base, on which the parish stands, is of red freestone wel* adapted to building ; also some whinstone, %0i\, — In the vicinity of the coast, the soil is generally a- sand, in some places much intermixed with sea shells : an evi- dence, that the sea had onoe overflowed it. The coil among the hills, is in some places of a decomposed red freestone, and in others of basaltic rock ; in both cases, of considerable natural fer- tility, or easily rendered fertile by cultivation. • Part of the pa- rish has been recently improved from moss, on which the crops- seem to be as luxuriant as on any. On all,- the cultivation is respectable. BoatljBp. — There is a well-kept tirrnpike road that runs througli the whole parish from south to north, but is not all well direct- ed, as it presents some very steep ascents and descents in differ- ent places. It could be made nearly level the whole extent, by keeping it more by the shore side. But this would, throw it al- together out of the way of the village, which would be a loss to the parish itself, although t\^e public would be better accommo- dated. It is possible to make it much easier, even though it still came by the village ; but this could not be accomplished without such an expence a.s may occasion the alteration to be delayed » 116 rARTicuLAU DESCRIPTION [Pan'sh of long time. After a road has been om^ made and long used, it becomes a business of no mean consic'eration to alter it. The mere expence of making a new one, is only part of the difficulty. The whole fences and fields in its vicinity vill be disarranged, and will require to be altered too ; dillst the old road itself be- comes a piece of lumber, hardly app.icablf to any useful purpose; There are some very good roads of conmnication through other parts of the parish. There is also an exct-llent one formed in a hollow tract through an opening betvixt the hills, to communi- cate with the country to the. eastward, in the parish of Dairy ; but as it is not yet completed through; the latter parish, the country does not fully enjoy the benefit of it. CtCpBf CUltiDateD.r— Wheat, to a pretty large extent, .being about an eleventh part of all thelands in tillage, and as it is sown only after summer fallow, potatoes or turnips ; it is generally a good crop. Baeley, not much, hardly equal to the lands in turnip. Oats, very extensively, forming nearly two third parts of all the lands in tillage. Beans, not so many as might be expected, considering the excellent crops of them that are raised on the light gravelly soils, in drills by the shore side. Potatoes, are cultivated very extensively, seeing that there is not much demand for them out of the parish. The quantity, even at the moderate estimate of 30 bolls to the acre, will give upwards of 30 bolls to each family in the parish, at an average, yearly. But it must be remarked, that both cattle and horses partake largely of them, which will explain in some measure why Turnips are not more extensively cultivated, and yet these are grown on a greater extent of land than either Beans or Bar- ney ; and for the credit of the husbandmen of this parish, there js more turnip raised here than in any other parish in Cunning- hame. It must however be conceded, that the soil is remarka- bly well adapted to this crop, and the mild winters here admit of them being carted off almost at all times : an advantage which few of the other parishes possess. Rye, is cultivated to a small extent on the most sandy soils near the shore, and gives a good return. Flax is generally cultivated, but in small patches only, for the family use of the farmers themselves. Clover and Rye-Gkass, conjoined, are sown annually, to the extent of about one seventh part of the lands in cultivation ; and being only on ground that had been previously in a fine tilth from summer fallow, potatoes, turnips or beans, it is generally a productive crop, and leaves the land in a good state for the succeeding pasture, which, in consequence, is productive from the beuinninff, and of course maintains more cattle, acre for acre, than in the general run of the pastures of the district. Meadows. — I have not exactly ascertained the extent of these in this parish, but have conjectured them to extend to about as much as one half of the land sown annually in grass seeds. They are applied to hay-making, and, in favourable years, are little less valuable than the crop raised from seed. Pastures, from Cultivated Lands. — These extend to about seven parts in twelve of all the lands in cultivation. A great proportion of them is taken regularly up once in five or six years, but not a little remains in pasture for ten or twelve years or more together; many fields of which are noted for producing most luxu- riant grasses, which feed cattle and sheep to great perfection. Much of the pastures on the hill sides, (although completely within the reach of the plough,) are brought under tillage also at intervals of ten or twelve yeais, more for the purpose of renovat- ing the grasses, than from getting large crops of corn. Fallow does not enter much into the system, in this parish, being resorted to only occasionally. 0£ 118r PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Panshof^ ContcnW of dje ACRES. Lands in tillage, 14551 Cultivated grass land and meadow, 3302 f Total" Hill pastures, &c 2935 [ 7924' Woodlands and gardens, 232j The extent of lands under the different crops, will be seen in the Table of Crops Cultivated, near the end. 3Lii)P ©tOCU. — There are some very fine dairies of milch cows in this parish, of an excellent breed, but from the general, hill/: nature of the surface, much of the pastures are alloted to young 'stock and other j/ell cattle as being better adapted to such a range..- The higher hills are pastured with sheep, .generally o£ the black faced kind, similar to the pastures there, which have a great pro- . portion of heath in their composition. There is a considerable • number of young horses bred in this parish too, a species of stock : that is genei-ally profitable, though much more so at some times than in others ; insomuch that it is always a. very uncertain spe- culation. 9@anufactUCC)S*'^-None to any great extent beyond the ox'di- nary demand in the parish itself, unless that of weaving muslins, to the Glasgow or Paisley manufacturers, in which from 50 to 70 looms were employed. But this craft has declined much of late., JTWftenefif, — 'This was in former times a source of profitable employment to many people in this parish. In the very intelli-^ gent statistical account of it, published in 1794, it is stated, that . prior to that time there might be 150 men occasionally employed i at various branches of the fishery ; but that it had by that time , dwindled down to nothing. At present there are 7 wherries oc- casionally employed in the herring fishing, giving work during . the season to 19 hands. S)ea-'Bat|)ing, — As the sea opposite to this parish retires- pretty far back from the shore at low water — bathing is not very , convenient, and though the coast side is remarkably- pleasant, yet only a few people resort to it for bathing. The village off KILBRIDE.] OF Cunningamc. 119 Kilbride is at too great a distance from the coast, to induce strangers to frequent it for the purpose. (LtillagC Of EilbtiDe. — This clean, handsome place, laid out chiefly in a street of upwards of a quarter of a mile in length, is singularly situated in a hollow on the top of a hill — the country, on all points but one, ascending to it by very steep roads. The houses are some of them of one story, and some of them of two, in height ; but nearly the whole are covered with blue slate, and ' each has its fertile garden. Several of the landed proprietors have their mansions here, or in the immediate vicinity. It is si- tuated about 4 miles n. from Ardrossan, and about 7 s. from Largs. The public road betwixt these towns, passes by the east end, but does not run through it. The only trades' people in the parish reside here, and in number are as follows : Weavers,„ Taylors,, Shoemakers,, 24 7 11 Wrights,- Masons, _ Smiths, -^ 24 5 9 Bakers, Flesher «»- Besides 1 2^ The number of inhabitants altogether in it, is. And in the country part of the parish, is SurgeoHo 654 650 Total 1304 @c!)00lie(, — Besides the parish school, taught by Mr. Pinker- ton, , there are two private schools in the village, one taught by ■ Mr. Craig, and one by Mr. Smith. In them all, the number . of - scholars is 1 26. See Statistical Table. ipini0ter]ff— Since the Revolution. NAMES. Robert Hunter,. George Rennie, J.ohn Adam, WHEN ORD.'VINED. April, 28. 1G88. ■i February 15. 1716 Assist. & successor March 28. 1751. J. Adam, his son Arthur QughtersoiTj.-Februarv 28. 1771.1. I DIED, TRANSLATED, &c. DemittedMay3.1698' Died 1712. DiedSept. 29. 1763... Translated to the new .' parish, Greenock,-, July 12. 1770 120 PARTICULAR DESCaiPTlON [PaHsh of ©tate of tfje j^OOt.— There are 14 on the roll, of whom the greater part receive a shilling, weekly ; one gets Is. 6d. week- ly, and two, from peculiar circumstances of distress, receive each 3s. 6d. weekly. The sura bestowed annually among them all is about ^50 : 14 : 0. See Statistical Tuble. (ZEsftateiBi anti JTamilicflf. SouTHANNAN. — ^This fine estate is situated on the northern extremity of the parish, and next to that of Largs. It was long -the property of the Lords Sermpil, who had a remarkably plea- sant mansion here, now in ruins, at the foot of a steep bank clothed with wood, and within 100 yards of tlie sea. At the first breaking up of that great family, about 100 years ago, it was pur- chased by Alexander ninth Earl of Eglinton, and is at present the property of his grand-daughter Lady Mary Montgomery Bur- gess. It extends to about 2,400 acres, of which more than a third part is good arable land j a considerable portion is in na- tural wood, and the remainder is sound hill pasture. David Marshall, Esq. of Neilsland, has lately built on it, a remarkably handsome cottage or villa, in the immediate vicinity of the old ruins. HuNTERSTON ; (Huntef, Esq.) This property is situated next to the preceding, and to the westward of it, and occupies a con- siderable extent along the sea shore. It is not on record that it ever belonged to any other family, so that so far as is known, the family of Hunter may have been the original proprietors. It extends to about 700 acres ; of which there may be 70 or 80 acres in old wood, or in new plantations ; perhaps 30 or 40 acres in hill pasture ; and the rest arable land. There is agood and com- modious mansion on it, of recent erection, set down on a plain, within little more. than 100 yards from the shore and commanding one of those much varied and very extensive prospects for which this whole coast side is eminently remarkable. The old castel- lated mansion of Hunterston, is still in good preservation, but KILBRIDE.] OP Cunningfjame. I2i iiid among its surrounding ancient timber, that has been grow- ing there for ages. J^untec ot1t)uriteriBfton, The Hunters of Hunterston, or, of that ilk ; have posses- sed these lands from a very remote period. There is indeed no evidence that they ever were possessed by any other. They had also other estates, some of which they retained till little more than a century ago, when they were alienated by the grandfather of the present proprietor. It is not easy, however, to connect the line of succession, in any of the ancient Scottish families, during the more early times, though there may be no reasonable cause of doubt, that they then existed. In the present case, the first in authentic record of this family, was I. Aylmer de la Hunter, who was one of the Magnates Sco- tiae, who, in 1296, subscribed the noted submission to Edward L of England, in the question betwixt Ball iol and Bruce, relative to the Scottish crown. (See Ragman Roll, andNisbet's Remarks on it.) The next in record was II. William Hunter, who obtained the lands of Arnele, by a Charter from Robert H. in the 4th year of his reign, (1374,) .on the resignation of Sir Andrew Campbell, whence, probably, that part of the Hunterston estate, called Campbelton, received the name. Another descendant of the family, also called, III. William Hunter, nearly 80 years afterwards, obtained ,the lands of Highlees in the parish of Dairy, by a seisin I'rom Andrew Linn of that ilk, dated 4th March 1452; his son, IV. Archibald Hunter, married Jean Craufard of the family >of Corseby, by whom he had a son, V. John Hunter of Hunterston, who married Margaret, fourth daughter of John second Lord Cathcart, by Margaret, daughter of Sir William Douglas of Drumlanrig : by whom he had VI. Robert Hunter of Hunterston, who on 5th Sept. L^IT Hh 122 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Parish of was infeft in the island of Lamlash ; — he married Margaret Cf au^ furd, another of the Ladies of Corsbie, and by her had a son, VII. KoBERT Hunter of Huntersto», who married Janet Montgomery, daughter of Montgomery of Giffin ; — he acquired the island of Little Cumbra, as appears by a precept dated 31st May 1527 ; also the lands of Annanhill, as appears by a Charter dated 22dNov. 1531 ; and on the 6th Dec. 1535, he Jiad a Char- ter from the Crown of the fiye merk land of Campbelton, — which property is in the possession of the family till this day. His son, VliL MuNGO or QuiNTEGEUN HuNTER of Hunterstou, was sei'ved heir to liis father in 1540, and married a daughter of James Hamilton of Torrance;— -he was killed at the battle of Pinkie- Cleugh 10th Sept. 1547, andAvas succeeded by his son, IX. Robert Hunter of Hunterston ; — he acquired the lands of South Kames, in the Shire of Bute, by a crown Charter dated 29th Nov. 1578 ; — he married Margaret, daughter of Craufurd of Auchnames, by whom he had two sons: 1. Robert ; 2. ; and a daughter, Jean ; — ^he was succeeded by his eldest son, X. Robert Hunter of Hunterston, who died without issue ; . — ^his sister, Jean, w:as married to Mr. Robert Cunninghame, min- ister ofBarnweil, brother to Mr. Cunninghame of Carlung, to whom she had two daughters : 1. Jean ; and 2. Catherine, who married Robert Cunninghame of Auchenharvie. Jean, the eld- est daughter, married XI. Patrick Hunter of Banbury Yards, and great-grandson of Mungo Hunter as above, and son of the second son of Robert No. IX. in this account, and who of course ranks as No. XL in this genealogy, and who inconsequence of this marriage, uniting the rights of the family in his person, became laird of Hunterston, in the year 1611. The issue of the marriage was three sons ; 1. Robert ; 2. the Rev. Henry Hunter, minister of Dromore ; 3. Fiancis j and two daughters, the one married to Cunninghame KILBRIDE.] or Cunningatnr. 123- of Carlung, and the other to Kennedy of Barcluudchan ; — he was succeeded by his eldest son, XII. Robert Hunter of Hunterston. In 1674 he was serv- ed heir of conquest, of the Rev. Henry Hunter, as above, his im- mediate younger brother. Ho married Elisabeth, daughter of William Craufurd of Auchnames, (see No. 9 in that account,) by Anna, daughter of Col. Lamont of Ineryne, by wliom he had four sons: 1. Patrick 3 2. Robert, (ancestor of Kirkland ;) 3. Hugh, who was a Physician in Kilmarnock ; and 4. James, who was bred to the Bar.* He was succeeded by his eldest son, XIII. Patrick Hunter of Hunterston, who married Marion, daughter of John Cunninghame of Langmuir, by whom he ac- quired that property ; and had issue: 1. Patrick; 2. Henry, min- ister of Mearns ; and a daughter, Dorothea, married to Henry Cunninghame of Carlung; — he died in 1698, and was succeeded by his eldest son, XIV. Patrick Hunter of Hunterston, who married Marion eldest daughter of Thomas Crawfurd of Cartsburn, by whom he had issue, five sons and four daughtei-s : 1. Patrick, who died in his father's lifetime ; 2. Robert ; 3. David, who married Miss Millikin of Port-Glasgow, by whom he had Patrick Hunter, mer- chant, London ; 4. Henry ; 5. Thomas ; — the daughters were : 1. Rebecca, died unmarried ; 2. Elisabeth, married to Mr. John Hyndman of Lunderston ; 3. Marion, married to Mr. Hugh Muir; 4. Dorothea, married 1st to Mr. Kelso of Hulderhurst, and 2dlv to Mr. Hugh Weir of Kirkhall : and 5. Margaret mar- ried to Mr. Caldwell, merchant and shipmaster in Greenock ; — he died in 1733, and was succeeded by his eldest surviving son, * He married Margaret Spalding^ by whom he had General Robert Hunter, who was highly esteemed as an excellent officer and a good scholar. He died Governor of Jamaica in ns*. He married Lady Elisabeth Dalziel, only child of John fourth Ear! of Carnwath, widow of Brigadier General Lord John Hay, Col. of the Scots Greys, and second son of John second Marquis of Tweedale. His descendants, the Orby Hunter* - ofc^Croylaad-Abbey in Lincolnshircj are well known for their respectability. 124 i-ARTicuLAK DESCRIPTION [Parish of XV. Robert Hunter of Hunterston, who married Miss Aitcliison of Glasgow, by whoni lie left two daughters ; 1. Elea- nora; 2. Marion; — he died iu 1795, and was succeeded by his eldest daughter, XVI. Eleanora Hunter, who married her cousin, Robert Caldwell Hunter of Hunterston, and the issue of the marriage are three sons : 1. Robert ; 2. Patrick ; 3. Norman ; and four daughters: 1. Eleanora; 2. Marion Crawfurd ; 3. Margaret ; and 4. Janet. Arms. — Vevt ; three dogs of the chace courant, Argent, col- lared, Or: on a chief of the second, three hunting-horns of the iirst, stringed. Gules : Crest, a greyhound sejant, Argent, collar- ed, Or: Motto, Cursum Perficio. Ardneil; (Craufurd of Auchnames.) 'This property is situ- ated to the south of the lands last mentioned, and in their imme- diate vicinity. It comprehends the lands by the sea coast on both sides of the promontory of Portincross, and extends from thence eastwards to within three quarters of a mile of the village of Kil- bride. The whole amounts to about 700 acres, pf which about 30 is under plantation ; about 100 in fine, green hill pasture ; and the remainder arable land, of an easy workable soil, of various qualities, but in general of considerable fertility. Mr Craufurd has a small but neat Cottage upon it, where he occasionally re- sides, at Portincross, near to the ancient castle of the same name. On this property, over-looking the sea, are situated those grand and beautiful hills, named The Sisters, — which rise abruptly 200 feet or more, and being skirted with natural wood, they exhibit a scene of picturesque beauty seldom equalled. In the " Peerage," by Douglas, this estate is said to have been possessed by John Balliol, and forfeited by Robert Bruce, and conferred by that King on his steady adherent, Sir Robert Boyd of Kilmarnock, by a Charter dated in 1306. — Wood more correctly states these lands and the adjacent lands of Kilbrydfi KILBRIDE.] OF Cxmningibamc. 125 to have belonged to Godfrey Ross at that time, (who was of the Balhol party,) and being forfeited, were bestowed, as above, on Sir Robert Boyd ; and this appears to be the fact, from a copy of the Charter itself which was lately published at Edinburgh, in that valuable work entitled " Registrum Magni Sigili," where it is to be seen. — Sir Thomas Boyd of Kilmarnock, son of the above Sir Robert, had three sons: 1. Thomas, his successor; 2. William, who had a grant of the lands of Alichmar in the county of Dun- barton ; and 3. Robert, on whom he conferred the lands of Ar- uele or Portincross, so called, after this last, from its being the ananor place of the barony. From this Robert, who affixes his seal to a deed of his brother, William, in the year of our Lord .1372, was descended, in the direct male line, Robert Boyd of Portincross who was served heir to liis guidsire, (grandfather,) Robert Boyd of Portincross, on the 29th July 16.58, " in the five merk land of Ardneill within the parochin of Kilbride and Baily- iarle of Cunninghame : The HO sh. land of the Maynes of Hel- lingtown ; the half of the Myln of Hellingtown ; the 2 inerk land of the Muir of Hellingtown : the 46sh. 8d. land of Knockindaill: the 4 merk land of Harrickhill of old extent, within the Bailyiary of Kyle-Stewart ;" all of which are more particularly described in the Retour of his service, which will be found in the Register Office in Edinburgh. Who he married is not mentioned, but he had a son, Robert, and a daughter, Grizel ; and died betwixt the month of March 1694, and the montli of Sept. 1695, as may l>e inferred from some entries in the Parish Register of Kilbride in these two periods. He was succeeded by his only son, Robert Boyd of Portincross, who married before the year 1694, Antonia Montgomery, (daughter of Sir Robert Montgo- mery of Skelmorley, by Antonia, daughter of Sir James Scott of Rossie) by whom he had a son, Hugh, and a daughter, Lilias, both of whom died in infancy. He died previous to the year 1714, without leaving any surviving issue : upon which the representa- li 1 26 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [ Parish of tion of the family, as well as the possession of the estate, devolv- ed on the issue of his sister, Grizel Boyd of Portincross, who, previous to the year 1G80, was married to Alexander Fidlarton, Esq. of Kilmichael in the isle of Arran,* being his second wife ; to whom slie had two sons', William and Robert; and five daughters. Mrs. Fullarton died at Kilmichael on the 14th March 1722. Her eldest son William had succeeded to the estate of Portincross before the year 1714, by a special destination on the death of his maternal uncle, when he took the name of Boyd only. — In 1714 he married Grizel Campbell, only daughter of Angus Campbell, Esq. Captain of Skipness, by whom he had a son, John, and four daughters ; the eldest, Elisabeth, married Donald Macdonald, Esq. Collcctorof Excise at Campbelton, and left issue, a son, Mr; John jMacdon- aid, present Port-Surveyor of Excise at Greenock, and a daughter, Anne. The above William, about the year 1746, alienated the ancient family estate of Portincross to Patrick Craufurd, Esq. of Auchnames, and afterwards acquired the knds of Balnakill in Kintyre, where he died. He was succeeded by his only son, John, who died witJiout issue, at Skipness, about the year 1734 or 1785. Thus the elder branch of the man-iage betwixt Grizel Boyd of Portincross, and Alexander Fullarton of Kilmichael, having failed of heirs male in the person of the above John, we now re- turn to the second son of that marriage, namely, Robert, who, in the year 1723, married 1st Anna Cunninghame, youngest * It is highly probable, that the family of Kilmichael irr Arran, and that of Fullar- ton of that Ilk, in Ayrshire, are descended from two brothers, to which tradition gives the names of Lewis and James; the latter founding the family .of that Ilk, and the former that of Arran ; who to this day retain the patroniwiick of MacLewis or Mne- loy, and who are in possession of a Charter from Robert Ikuce, granting to them the above lands of Kilmichael and others, in the isle of Arran, together with the heritable office of Coroner of that island •, which office they enjoyed till the beginning of the last century, when James Fullarton of Kilraichad, aUennted the right to Anne Duch, «« of Hamilton. jULBRiDE.] OF Cunningantt. 127 daughter of Henry Cunningliame, Esq. of Carlung, by wlaom lie had two children who died in infancy : 2dly, he married about the year 1732 Anne King, by whom he had three sons and three daughters. About the time of his first marriage he acquired the property of Overton, part of the estate of Carlung, and dying in June 1750, was succeeded by his eldest son, William, who maii- ried in 1783 Mary Tarbet, and had isswe, three sons: John, Fran-- cis, and William ^ and two daughters: Mary, who died in infan- cy ; and Robina. He died in the end of the year 1794, and was succeeded by his eldest son, John Fullarton of Overton, who is at present a Lieutenant in the 71st regiment of foot. Arms. — The same with the original family of Kilmaniock, with the distinction of a suitable difference. The lands of Overton, the propeity of this Gentleman, are si- tuated in the vicinity of the village of Kilbride, to the westward. They are of a very good quality, and there is upon them a neat small mansion in a very cheerful situation. Carlung and. Braid, (Archibald Alexander, Esq.) The«e two conterminous properties are situated eastward from the lands of Arneil, and southward from those of Hunterston, beinc: bound- ed by them both ; whilst a part of them approaches close to the village of Kilbride. They extend to about 250 acres, all arable, or will soon be so, from improvements at present going on. The soil is various ; some of it mossy, but by much the greater pro- portion is a dry land upon rotten rock, which, in all cases, is fer- tile, whether it be in tillage or in pasture. Thei'e is a good mo- dern house on the Carlung property, where Mr. Alexander re- sides ; and an acre or two in the vicinity of it, of thriving plan- tations, which always improve the look of a place, as well as add ^ to the value. Carlung was for some ages possessed by a family of Cunning- iiaines, descended directly of the Glencairn family : the first of.' 12S rARTicuLAii DESCRIPTION [Parish of them being Hugh Cunninghame, tjiirdson of VV'ilJiam the fourth Earl of Glencairn, and which Earl died in the year 1547. From the second son of that Earl is descended the present family of Corsehiil ; and from the fifth son, the present Marquis of Conyoig- hame in Ireland ; from the fourtli son was descended the Cun- ninghames of Mountgrenan ; whilst from the eldest son was des- cended the late Earl of Glencairn. The whole male issue of the .1st, the Sd, and the 4th sons, are mow extinct. The genealogy is thus, of , Cunningfjamc of Carlung. HwG-H GuN'NiNGHA'ME, third son of William fourth Earl of ■Glencairn, who, as appears from Mr. Crawfurd's History of Ren- frewshire, got pogaession of (the lands of Watterstoun in the year 1538, from his father, then master of iGlencairn ; and from whom was descended in tlie -male line Alexander Cunninghame of Carlung and Watterstoun, who, in the year 1658, was served heir to his fatlier in the corn Tniln of Drummilling, &c. as appears from the Retour of Service. Whicli Alexander dying without issue was succeeded by his immediate younger brother, Joseph, who we find was served heir to his brother Alexander in said corn miln, &c. 18th March 1664. Which Joseph was succeeded by his only remaining brother Henry, anno. 1674, who married Dorothea Hunter, daughter of Robert Hunter of Hunterston, by which marriage he had nine sons and six daughters. He died about the year 1705, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Alex- ANDJER, who married Margaret Wallace, about the year 1728; by whom he had two sons, Patrick and Alexander ; they both died in infancy. Which Alexander dying about the year 1736, was succeeded in the estate of Carlung, by his only surviving brother, Henry, who also dying without heirs of his own, the lands of Carlung devolved to his only remaining sister, Marion, who had previously married John Boyd, said to have been a younger son ;of the family of Pitcon, t^ whom she had two sons, 1st John ; 2d KiL BRIDE.] OP Cunnfngftame. '1^9 '• Robert, who died unmarried, and one daughter, Dorothea, mat- vied to George Hunter of Kirkland, and had issue. The above Marion Cunninghame died about the year 1764, and was suc- ceeded by her eldest son, John Boyd, wlio married Ehsabeth Hunter, daughter of Robert Hunter of Kirkland, by -which mar- riage he had two sons : 1st John ; 2d William ; and two daugh- ters, Jean and Marion ; the sons both died unmarried, the last of ' whom, John, died in the year 1792, and was succeeded in the estate of Carlung by his two sisters as above. The eldest^ Jean, had •previously married her cousin, Robert Hunter of Kirkland, and •has issue, [see Hunter of Kirkland] Marion, married to the Rev. Robert Steel, minister of the West Parish of Greenock, to whom she had one son and eight daughters. > The above Jean and Marion Boyd, on their accession to the •lands of Carlung, assumed the name of Cunninghame, after that of Boyd ; and in the year 1 799, they alienated Carlung to Archi- . bald Alexander, Esq. of Boy dstone, whose property it now is. Drummeexing; (Mr. Muir.) This property is situated east- ward from the lands of Carlung, and is in extent from 70 to 80 acres of good arable land, an which is a neat modern house. MiLTONFORD and WooDsiDE ; (Mr. Millar.) These lands are ih the same neighbourhood, are of good soil, and the more valu- -able that they lie so near to the village of Kilbride. The extent may be from 90 to perhaps 100 acres. CowBKAESHAW ; (Hcirs of Mr. Kyle.) A small property of 30 -or 40 acres, situated by the wayside northwards, and at no great distance from the village. So is Gateside, &c- (Mr. Lusk,) still a less property, but this, as ^vell as the immediately preceding, is mostly all good workable -land, botii rendered still more valuable from their near neighbours- hood to the village. Corseby ; (Craufurd of Auchnames.) Eastward from all xhejse, is situated this extensive property, and which extends a^ Kk 130 PARTICULAIi DESCMPTION [Pai'isfl of" cross the whole remaining breadth of the parish, over hill and dale, till it joins the parish of Dairy, and in which a small part of it lies. It exceeds 1500 acres, of which above a third partis arable and meadow j more than 50 acres in natural wood or plan- tation ; a small extent of mossland ; and the remainder dry hill pasture, partly green and: partly heath land. There is an old mansion on this property, in good preservation, though not habi- table, about a mile, or a little more, north-oast from Kilbride, but is hardly to be seen through the woods with which it is surround- ed. Few places present a more inviting scitc for a modern man- sion still. This estate has long been in -the possession of Mr. Craufurd's family, whose history falls now to be introduced. CraufurD of ^udjnameiff. The very widely-sjireading family of Crawford, is purely of native origin, underived from Norman or other foreign source. It divided very early into three great branches. I. Crawford of Crawford, which failed of male issue in 1 248, when Margaret, eldest daughter of Sir John Crawford, the last chief of that house, carried half of hi&lands to her husband, Ar- chibaldusde Douglas, Dominus loci ejusdem, whilst a younger daughter, whose name is uot mentioned, married Sir David de Lindsay of Wauchopdale, and brought with her the remainder of these lands to that family, from whom de&eended the Earls of Crawford and Lindsay. II. The family of Crawf&rd-John, descended from another Sir John Crawford, and who must have enjoyed these lands as a distinct estate from those of Crawford proper. FrojQi this family have sprung the Crawfords anciently of Loudoun, of whom Craw= furdland — Crawfurds of Auchnames — of Kilhirnie — and many others, who are still distinguished by their original armorial bear- ing, Git/es, a fesse, JB^-mwze. III. Crawfurds of Dalmacgregan, whose armorial bearings iilRve always been the stag's head, in allusion to a legendary story KILBRIDE.] ©p Cunningamr. 131 of their common ancestor, Sir Gregan, having interposed betwixt David I. and a stag that had dishorsedhim while hunting. From this family descended the Cravvfurds of Torringzean — of Kerse — Liffnores, &c. All these carried the stag's head, and all arc now extinct with the exception of Kerse and Drumsoy, now united with Auchnames, as shall presently be shown. In Prynne's History of the Submission of the Chiefs of the Scottish Nation to Edward I. of England, there is mention made of nine Barons of the name of Crawford, which shews that they must have been very numerous at this period. But as in that roll there are no designations added to the names, it cannot be known who they were ; only we may be- assured that they were the heads of the different families of this name, who are known to have existed at that time : For example, the families of Lou- doun— of Auchnames-^— of Ardach, or Crawfurdland — of Kerse — Drongan, &c. Many of the ancient Charters and other papers belonging to the families of Kerse and Drumsoy, being in the hands of Ronald Crawfurd, Esq. W. S. perished in a fire, which, on the 9t'h May 1741, burnt his house in Edinburgh. On that account the fol- lowing genealogy of these families is longer of commencing than it. otherwise would have done. It is however compiled from well-vouched autliorities, and such papers as were preserved; and is connected thus : I. EsPLiN Craufurd of Kerse. From . a Charter dated in 1488, it appears that he married. Sibella Little, by whom he had • his successor. II. Alexander Craufsrd, mentioned in a Charter dated in 1505. Dying Avitliout issue he was succeeded by his brother, II. Bartholemew Craufurd. He married Anne, second daughter of Andrew, third Lord Evandale, directly descended of Eobert II. King of Scots. By this Lady he hadXraufurd of Kerse, He had Charters in 1526" ,1J2 rARTieULAR DESCRIPTION [Parish of ■Aiid 1539, of various lands in Cavrick, He married Catherine* .dauphter of Hamilton of Sanquhar, by whom he had two sons, IV. David, the eldest son succeeded. He appears to have •been twice married: 1st to a daughter of the first Lord Campbell vof Loudoun, and2dly to a d of Auchnames, which appears from a Charter of confirmation by Robert HI., dated at Arniel, on the 24th Oct. 1401. He was succeeded by his eldest son, II. AacHiEALD CuAUFURD, as appears from a Charter dated in 1427. He was succeeded by his son, Robert Ckaufued of Auchnames, who was twice married : 1st to Margaret Douglas, daughter of George Master, of Angus, (and sister to Archibald the Great Earl, who married the widow of James IV. daughter of Henry VII. of England,) by whom he had a daughter married to Semple of Noblestoun. He next mar- ried Marion Houstoun, daughter to Houstoun of that Ilk, by whom ~ he had three sons ; James, Henry, and Robert, — in whose fa- vour he granted a Charter, in 1483, and in 1484 gave seisin of bis whole lands to his eldest son, James, reserving his own life^ - 136 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Parish of vent, and was killed in I5l3, along with James IV. at the battle of Floudoun and was succeeded by his son,* IV. Jajies Craufurd of Auchnames, who had a Charter of the lands of Corsbie and Munnock in 1498, and appears in other Charters dated in 1526, and 1533. He was succeeded by his son, V. Thomas Cbaufurd of Auchnames, who in 1539 obtained a gift of the non-entries of the lands of Auldmuir, said to have been 100 years in arrear. He married Marion, daughter of Montgomery of Hazelhead, by whom he had three sons, all in succession lairds of Auchnames. He died in 1541, and was suc- ceeded bv the eldest son, VI. John Craufurd of Auchnames, who was killed at the bat- tle of Pinkie, 10th Sept. 1547, and was succeeded by lus brother, VI. William Craufurd of Auchnames. He married An- nabella, daughter of Chalmers of Gadgirth, by whom lie had a fion, James, who died before himself, but who had previously married Elisabeth, daughter of William sixth Earl of Glencairn, by whom he had a daughter, Jane, on whom was settled the lands of Corsbie, and of whom afterwards. On the death of William Craufurd, he was succeeded in the barony of Auchnames, by his brother, VI. Patrick Craufurd, and who succeeded also his nephew, James, in the lands of Auldmuir and Whiteside ; both in 1585. He married Frazer, daughter of the Laird of Knock, by whom he had his successor. • This account is taken from Nisbet's Heraldiy, Vol. II. p. 95 of the Appendix. I suspect much its accuracy. George Master, of Angus, who fell himself at Floudoun, could not have been such an aged man, as, that his youngest daughter of six (so says Douglas) could have been married at such an early period to this Baron of Auch- names, that the sons of his second wife could be of age, or even have been born, in 1480, (three of them by liSS,) 33 years before 1512. Instead, therefore, of Robert, tJte father, having been the son-in-law of George Master, of Angus, it must have been Robert, the son, that married the Lady Margaret, or as others say, the Lady Isobel Douglas. Robert, the father, too, in all probability, was dead long before 1513. He must have been an aged and a frail man in 1484, when he resigned all his lands to his son, James, who we see also was getting Charters in his own name of other lands in 1 498. KILBRIDE.] OF Cunningame, isY VIL William Craufurd of Auchnames, who about the year 1600 married Margaret, daughter of Sir Patrick Houston of that Ilk, by whom he had a son, VIII. Patrick Craufurd of Auchnames, who, about 1626 married his cousin, Jane Craufurd, heiress of Corsbie, she then being 28 years of age and he 18 ; by which the ancient estates of Auchnames and Corsbie were re-united. They had a numer- ous issue, of whom one of the daughters was married to Frazer of Knock. IX. William, the eldest son, succeeded his father, and was infeft in 1649 in the ^12 land of Auchnames. He married An- na, the daughter of Col. Sir Lamont of Ineryne, in Argyle- shire, by whom he had a son and four daughters, married respec- tively to Houstoun of Houstoun ; Hunter of Hunterston ; Ken- nedy of Killichangie ; and Boyd of Trochridge. He was succeed- ed by X. Archibald Craufurd, his only son ; the twelfth Baron or Laird of Auchnames, of whom the genealogy has been ascertain- ed. His Retour is dated 20th April 1676. He married 1st Margaret, second daughter of Porterfield of Duchal, or of that Ilk, by whom he had a son, of whom afterwards ; and three daugh- ters, the eldest and the youngest of whom, though married, died without issue — the second daughter, Jane, married, as be- fore stated, Patrick Craufurd of Drumsoy. He married 2dly a Lady connected with the Shaw Stewart family of Greenock, but of this marriage there was no issue. His only son, XI. William, married Helen, daughter of Sir Thomas Burnet of Crimond, Physician to King William, and brother to Bishop Burnet, by whom he had only one daughter, Helen, who married Patrick Edraonston of Newton : (and had issue, Colonel James Edmonston ; — a daughter married to Kennedy of Dunure ; ano- ther married to Buchanan of Am prior ; and several sons and daughters, who died unmairied.) He died in 1695 before hi." Mm 138 PAHTICULAll DESCRIPTION [Pansh qf father ; and as the direct male line of this family ended, an ar- rangement was made, by which the estates of Auchnames and Corsbie were retained to Jane, the second daughter of his father, Archibald, and to her husband, Patrick, the male representative of the families of Craufurd, descended of Sir Grcgan Craufurd, and derived (there is reason to believe) from the same original stock : and which Patrick, in a judicial proceeding, was decerned and ordained heir male to Archibald and AVilliam ; so that the representation of Craufurd of Dalmagregan, as well as of Auch- names, centres now in the issue of that marriage, as already de- duced. AnMs. — Quarterly, 1st and 4th Argent; a Stag's head. Gules; for Kerse and Drumsoy : — 2d, Argent, two spears— in Saltier be- twixt four spots of Ermme, for Auchnames :— and 3d Gules, a fesse, Erinine — supporters, two Bulls, ^flZf/Cj^rmed and enguel- led, Or. — Crest of Kerse, a Stag's head erazed. Gules, with a cross- croslet fitchee between the attires; motto, Tutum te Robore Reddam ; — and of Auchnames, a Phoenix^ rising from the flames; motto, God-Shaw the Right. Newton-Muirj & Blackshaw; (Mr. Alexander ofBoydston.) These lands, situated to the southward of those of Corsbie, extend to about 240 acres ; partly arable, partly hill pasture, and some thriving plantation. Lawhill ; (William Brown, Esq. of Parkend.) This proper^ ty extending to more than 200 acres, nearly all arable, with some plantation ; approaches on the east near to the village of Kilbride. The hill itself, one of the prettiest natural objects to be met with, rises in a conical forifl, perhaps 600 feet above the level of the sea, and overlooks the whole country. Newton ; (Mr. Francis Russel.) This is situated southwards from the last, and extends to nearly 100 acres of arable land; deep and fertile, but lies under the disadvantage of bad access, through bad roads. There is a belt of planting along one 9f its sides. It was purchased in 1797 from Mr. Tod in Irvine. KILBRIDE.] OF CunmngTjamc. 139 Springside. — This is situated north from the Lawhill, and within a quarter of a mile of the village ; extends to perhaps 200 acres, including a few acres of thriving plantation. From the house, hid almost amid its own woods, there is a remarka- ble fine view of the Frith of Clyde, and isle of Meikle Cumbra with its pleasant town of Millport, hardly to be surpassed. This property was acquired in 1790, from Mr. James Fairie in Irvine, by the late Mr. Robert Hyndman, of the Hyndmans of Lunder- ston in Renfrewshire, a family of pretty long standing and very respectably connected. He married Jean, daughter of Thomas Boyd of Orchard, and dying at an early period, left a son, John Blair Hyndman, W. S. of Springside and Burrowland, now repre- sentative of the Lunderston family; and two daughters ; 1. Elis- abeth and 2. Marianne ; which last, died in the bloom of life* 29th Dec. 1819. Orchard. — This pleasant small property, with its house and garden is situated betwixt the lands of Springside and the village. It extends to about 50 acres. On a corner of it stands the ancient ILato Coto^r, (to be taken notice of in an after section,) and from which probably this place takes its name, as having actually been the Garden or Orchard of that great mansion, when inhabited by its ancient Lords, the Boyds of Kilmarnock. It belongs to the Misses Boyd, daughters of the late Thomas Boyd of Orchard, son of Robert Boyd of Dykchead, who actjuired it in 1759 from the Misses Baillie, whose predecessor, William Baillie, acquired the whole barony of Kilbride, from Major Buntein, in 1710, and who had purchased it in, 1670 from the Kilmarnock family, who acquired it by a gift from Robert Bruce, [inter 1308 et 1316,) on the forfeiture of Sir Godfrey de Ross, for his adherence tothe party of John Balliol. Kirktox-Hall ; (Francis Caldwell Ritchie, Esq.) The man- sion which gives name to this property, is situated in the town^ ©f Kilbride. The lands extend southwards from it, and west to- 140 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [PaiHsh oj wards the sea. They amount to more than 130 acres of arable lands, besides 4 or 5 of plantation. It was purchased in 1789 from the representatives of the late Professor Robert Simson, the Restorer of Euclid, who inherited this place from liis ancestors, who first acquired it about the year 1640.* Small Possessions in the vicinity op the village. — These belong to sundry proprietors : as Alexander Ritchie, Wm. Kino*. John Brown, James Bartiemore, &c. The Nether-Mill, which belongs to the last> extends to 24 acres or more, and is equal in «xtent perhaps, to all the other put together, including even the little gardens of the villagers. The whole is highly productive land, as may be conceived froan the situation so near the town, and having been in cultivation time immemorial. * In this retreat he spent the first years of his Hfe, a period he often recollected with pleasure. He was born here in the year 1687, and u-as a. younger son of the fa- mily. He was educated in the College of Glasgow, and when about the age of 25, he was elected to the Mathematical Chair in that University. He went, soon after his appointment, to London, and there formed an acquaintance with some of the most eminent literary characters of the time, p»ticularly with the celebrated Dr. Edmund Halley, to whom, he said, it was in a great measure owing that he so early directed hi» efforts to the restor.ition of the ancient geometers. Returning to his academical chair. Dr. Simson discharged the duties of a Professor for more than 50 years, with great ho- nour to the University and himself. He had the respect, and still more, the affection of his scholars. He published the Elements of Euclid in 1758. In these, and in his ■Conic Sections, and other Mathematical works, he has left a monument of great genius and intellectual ability. Dr. Simson was of an advantageous stature, with a fine countenance ^ and even in his old age, had a graceful carriage and manner, and always, except when in mourning, dressed -in white. He enjoyed a long course of uninterrupted health ; but towards the close of life, suffered from an acute disease, and was obliged to employ an assistant in his professional labours, for a few years preceding his death, which happened in 1768, at the age of 81. He left to the University his valuable library, which is now arranged apart from the rest of the books, and the public use of it is limited by parti- cular rules. It is considered as the most choice collection of Mathematical Books and Manuscripts in the Kingdom, and many of them are rendered doubl/ valuable by Dr. Siroson's notes. Dr. James Moore, Professor of Greek in the University of Glasgow, put the fol- lowing apposite inscription below a portrait of Dr. Simson. GEOMETRAM SUB TYRANNO BARBARA S^VA SERVITUTE DIU SQUALENTEM, IN LIBERTATEM ET DECUS ANTIQUUM VINDICAVIT UNU5. KILBRIDE.] OF Cunninfiljamf. 14] Tarbet or Tarbaut. — Southward about halt' a mile from Kil- bride, the barony of Tarbot commences, and stretches from thence Etill farther south a mile or more in length along the shore, and inland at a various breadth. With the exception of a pretty high hill, partly green pasture and partly naked rock, the whole is either fertile lands well cultivated, or sound moor pasture. The extent in all is about 500 acres. This property in ancient times belonged to a branch of a family of Ross that were once very po- tent in Cunninghame, possessing among them not only these lands, Portincross and Kilbride in this parish ; but Stewarton, Cunninghamhead, Mountgrenan, Armshcugh, and others. Most of them were forfeited in consequence of taking part with their neighbour, Balliol, against the Bruce — ^Ijut Ross of Tarbet preserv- ed his land till the year 1450, (see Renfrewshire Hist. Appen- dix, page 515,) when he alienated it to the family of Ross of Hawkhead. It belongs now to Lady Mary Montgomery Burgess, as also the lands of Hapland on the eastward, extending to about 160 acres arable and moorlands. KiRKLAND. — Eastward and adjacent to Tarbet, the lands of Kirkland are situated ; they consist of 140 acres, of which 115 acres are arable. They belong to Robert Hunter, Esq. (a cadet of the family of Hunterston,) whose anc£;stor purchased them nearly 150 years ago, from Craufurd of Craufurdland. This •Gentleman has also a portion of the lands of Drumraelling, about 32 acres, situated close to the village on the north side, and his mansion is set down there, near the town. Jpuntcr Of i&irUIant!. I. Robert Hunter, second son of Robert Hunter of Hun- terston, was the founder of this family, (see p. 123). In 1675 he married Margaret, daughter of John Hamilton of Grange. He bought the lands of Kirkland in 1686, from Craufurd of Craufurd- land. He was succeeded by his eldest son, II. Robert, who purchased that portion of Drummelling N n 142 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Parish of which still remains in the family. He married Margaret, daugh- ter of Bailie George Monro of Irvine, by whom he had a son, and two daughters ; 1. JNIargaret, married William Cunninghame, son of Cunninghame of Monktonhill ; 2, Elisabeth, who married John Boyd of Carlung. He was succeeded by his son, in. George, who married 1st Dorothea, daughter of John Boyd of Carlung, (who was son to lioyd of Pitcon, descended from Thomas, brother of the third Lord Bo^d,) by whom he had several children, who all died young, except his- son who suc- ceeded him ; 2dly, he married Mary, daughter of Cunninghame of Monktonhill, by whom he had several children, none of whom now survives but one daughter, Dorothea. His son, IV. Robert Hunter, now of Kirkland, succeeded him. In 1791 he married his cousin, Jane Boyd Cunninghame, oldest daughter of John Boyd of Carlung, by whom he has two «ons and two daughters living: I.George; 2, Robert; S.Jane; 4, Marion. BoYDSTON. — This is the last property remaining to be taken notice of in the parish. It is the most southerly of any, and has on that account been annexed quoad sacra to the parish of Ar- drossan, as being supposed to be nearer to the church there, than to its own parish church of Kilbride. This estate consists of about 200 acres all of excellent quahty, whether situated on a flat of sandy soil by the coast side, or rising into steeper and heavier lands above the sea bank. There is on the upper part of it, a very good and commodious farmstead, where Mr. Alexander, the proprietor, himself dwelt, till within these few -years, that he re- moved with his family to Carlung, and has now let this capital farm to a tenant. KILBRIDE] OP CunninQljamc. TABLE OF VALUED RENT. H3 Properties. Prepr'tetors. Valued Rent, £ /. d. Southannan, - - Ladjr Montgomery, - - 619 Tarbct, - - Ditto, . _ _ - 411 Corsbic, - . 1 John Craufurd, Esq. > 430 Portincross, - . 5 of Auchnames, . 333 6 8 Hunterston, _ _ Robert Caldwell Hunter, Esq. - 396 10 Boydston, - - T A. Alexander Esq. jfil 30 ^1 ) Carlung and Braid^ - - . ^ of 266 10 « ■ 451 14 3 Blackshaw and Newton-Muir, . 3 Boydston, - 55 4f 35 \ Kirkland, - . 1 Robt. Hunter, Esq. 77 13 *1 1 Drumnielling, part of enclosure Y of - 32 OS ■ 111 13 4 and residence, - . y Kirkland, 2 0] \ Kirkton-Hall, - - _ Francis Caldwell Ritchie, Esq. - 100 Lawhill, &c. . . William Brown, Esq. • 90 Drummelling, part of . . Mr. James Muir, . 74 4 Woodside, &c. • _ Mr. James Millar, . 63 6 8 Newton, . . Mr. Francis Russel, . 5% 8 Springside, - - John Blair Hyndman, Esq. W. S 54 Orchard, . - Misses Boyd, - - - - 35 Cowbraeshawj . • Heirs of the late Mr. Kyle, • 35 Overton, - - Lieut. John Fullarton, 71st Regt. 32 Gateside, - - Mr. Robert Lusk, . 31 Nethermill, - - Mr. James Bartlemore, •J Alex. Ritchie, - - 5 10 h 13 1 9 Three small properties in I the village^ , [-William King, - - 2 of 9 .John Brown, - - 1 10 0^ Total £ 3346 .0 portincrojSiSf Caieftle, H^e npxf parjp. J44 PARTICULAU DESCRIPTION [Parish of Antiquities. There are the remains of several ancient barons' castles in tills parish, some of which have already been mentioned ; the most ancient, however, of them all, is probably tliat of Pobtin- Cijoss, situated at the point of land of that name, on a bare rock almost close to the sea even at lowwater, but completely within .its reach at high water, or in stormy weatlier, when the waves dash furiously against its walls. It has a dismal aspect, with a very scanty supply of light, from a fevi narrow slits or windows in its exceeding thick walls ; yet it seems to have been an occa- sional seat of royalty, at least in the time of Robert II., as no fewer than seven Charters granted by him are on record during the first nine years of his reign, (from 1371 to 1380,) dated apud Arnele. This must have been at Portincross, as being the ma.- nor place of that barony, though not the usual place of his resi- dence, but merely at times, when he might be there on a visit to his relatives the Boyds ; his own general place of residence being Dundonald, at no great distance. That it is fully as ancient in its construction as those times, may be inferred from the circum- stance, that though there are several slits in the walls for the flight of arrows, there are no apertures that can be construed in- to gun-ports for fire-arms : though these were invented before this period, and would assuredly have been introduced into all places of defence erected afterwards. Lately its antiquity has been broken in upon, by modern windows having been struck out to give adequate light to some store-rooms that have been fitted up in it. Law Tower of Kilbride. — This stately fjibric, though it is now roofless, seems more entire in other respects than most of those high square-formed edifices than are to be seen in many other places in this part of the country ; — neither has it been so dismally deficient in light : in one of its sides there are eight windows, and considering the size of the apartments, many mo- KILBRIDE.] OP Cunningfjamc- 145 dern dwellings are not so well accommodated. It is evident- ]y of a more modem date than Portincross. It is even fur- nished with gun-ports 4 or 5 in the lower story, which decidedly shews that it was built after the introduction of cannon. In point of situation too, nothing could have been better chosen, even to the taste of modern times — as it enjoys the finest prospects, on three sides at least, that the highly picturesque scenery of th.is part of the country exhibits. This conjoined with tradition that it was built by the family of Kilmarnock, makes it not improba- ble that it was erected when that aspiring House was in its great- est splendour, about the the year 1468, when Thomas, the Mas- ter of Boyd, married the Princess Mary, sister to James IIL, and was then created Earl of Arran. It is so for certain, that there is a Charter on record, dated the 14th Oct. 1482, of the lands of Kilbride, Dairy, Nodesdale, Kilmarnock, &c. to that Princess, in liferent, and her son, James Lord Boyd, in fee. On none of which places was there a house equal in magnificence to this, or in which a Lady of her rank could have resided. lalD Cotuer, 40 feet lonjQr— 30 feet broad — 40 feeit high, to the cornice, exclu- sive of the bastions, which are 6 feet more — Walls 6 feet thicks — 28 windows^ — Inside area 28 feet by 18, divided into 4 stories— iVom all which an idea may be formed, of the accommodation. Oo . 146 ''ARTICULAIl DESCRIPTION [ Pan'$k &£, PARISH OF ARDROSSAN |RDEOSSAN parish is situated next to Kilbride on the south. It has a sea coast o*f about three miles in length, in a course bending from n. w. to s. e. end- ing at the town of Saltcoats, half of which is situat- ed within it; and where also is the- parish church. Its greatest length, is irom s. w. to n. e. being about five miles ,* whilst in a direction across to this, it is about three miles broad. Altogether it comprehends about 11 square miles, or, more pre- cisely, 5520 acres. (B^cneral Appearance— -There are some hilly lands in its nor- thern quarter, bounding with Kilbride. These are separated by a deep, narrow valle^'. Those on the south side of it, are of va- rious elevations, less or more, to about 400 feet above the sea- level, and are arable to the' top, and all incultivation. Those on the north side are cultivated only in part : one in particular, Knock-jargon, is 707 feet high, and from the remains of a circur lar rampart, or ditch, around its top, seems evidently to have been an exploratory station. As these hills do not extend quite across the parish, the arable lands are connected in one continu- ous expanse through the whole : the surface of these rises with a considerable ascent from the coast side on the south, to the middle ; and from thence declines, in nearly a& great a degree to the north, towards the parish of Dairy. The climate in gene- ral temperate, for though this parish is much exposed to the winds from the v^^est and the south, yet these are commonly mo- derate in force, and always mild in their influence. Tiie great ARDROSSAN.] of Cunmngljame. in resort of valetudinary people here in the season of bathing is an evidence of the general opinion of its salubrity. 90ineral0.— Coal is found throughout nearly the whole parish, and is wrought to a considerable extent. The best is supposed to lie in the quarter next to Dairy ; and it is found at a moder- ate depth of from 8 fathoms to 20, with many workable seams still lower; so that the quantity seems to be inexhaustable. Lime- stone abounds also, and frequently in strata above the coal. Free- stone too, both red and white is very abundant. In a stratum of this last, in the town of Ardrossan, petrifactions of wood are to be met with ; apparently fix- — in some cases with the bark en- tire. There, also, various kinds of hard (or basaltic) whinstone are found; likewise some very small layers of coal, and of iron* stone, and of limestone, all in contact with each other, almost in- termixed, in every dii-ection, and so twisted in the strata in many n varied form, as would puzzle the most profound geologist to account for. Even balls of pyrites as large i of offices, in a stile conformable to it, is ample.andcommodiousV;* with 28 stalls for horses, and.7 stances for carriages. The whole, . including it,^ elegant furnitui^e, cost Lord Eglinton, at least, ^10,000. The Baths, (a separate concern,). ai'e constructed on . the best plan, antl fitted up in the most correct stile ; the basins are of marble, and are supplied with water of any required degree • of temperature ; the house itself is an ornament to the place,. TheLodging-Houses,belonging to LordEglinton and two or three subscribers, in shares, are mi.ost elegantly furnished, and let out, by the week,, the month, or the season, which extends from the middle of May to the end of October. Besides these, there are many good lodgings, let on moderate terms, belonging to the ■ different inhabitants of -the town. There are also Bathing-Ma- chines, which ply on each side of the tov/n, on those fine smooth sands, which form so pleasant an accompaniment to sea-bathing. > Every thing, in fact, conspires to. make this one of the finest ba- ' thing quarters on the coast.* Villas. — Distinct from the town, but in its^ vicinity, there is a tract of ground laid off, on which to erect a range of villas, where each are to be set down amid its own pleasure grounds and gardens ; uniform only in line, but varied in stile, according: to the taste of the respective proprietors. One can hardly con- • ceive a more beautiful situation, (the sea in immediate fronts- of a crescent more than half a mile in base,) nor a more im- posing spectacle, than it will exhibit when filled up. At present: there are only three erected : one by the late Lord Eglinton him-- self, and now belonging to Lady Jean Montgomery ; one hy> Mathew Brown, Esq. in Paisley ; and one by James Hamilton, Esq. of Holmehead, and where he generally resides. ARDROSSAN.] op Cunningljamc. ISI The town itself comprehends about 400 inhabitants, among whom are 50 Weavers, 8 Shoemakera, 3 Taylors, 4 Grocers, 7 Masons, 1 Baker, 1 Fisher, and 1 Flesher ; — besides those ma- sons and others still employed about the harbour. There is here a Friendly Society of 28 members ; and two private schools in which about 120 children are taught — many of these are from the country. Saltcoats. — Respecting the origin of this town, the follow- ing transcript, from the Statistical Account of the Parish of Ste- venston in 1793, is very distinct and well authenticated : " There were leases of houses and gardens granted to a few families, as long ago as the year 1565. But it is certain, from unquestionable traditionary testimony, (that of parents to their children now liv- ing,) that a century aiter that time, or about 130 years ago, there were only Jour houses in Saltcoats, which now consists of about 400. Yet, ,at a much remoter period, salt was made there, which ^ appears not only from tradition, but from the remains of consi- derable heaps of ashes, south and north of the present town. It was then made by poor people in their little pans or kettles. They digged up the coal near the surface of the ground at a very small expence, and lived in huts on the shore. Hence, probably, the names &'e, preceding. account was written. The number of houses is probably more now than 600. It is ascertained that ■ the number of. people in it at present (i;i 1819) is 3413, of whom 1950 are. tin the parish of Ardrossan, and. 1463 in that of Ste- venston; In extient,-it:seems. to be even larger than that popu- lation would indicate ;, owing,. in some degree, to the great ex- . tout of garden: ground, included within its precincts. In this re- spect, it is peculiarly happy, as almost every house has its gar- den, .and all remarkably productive. The form of the town also is^ apt to give an enlarged idea of its magnitude. One street is littler'- 152 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Parish of less than three quarters of a mile on a stretch, from the Windmill on the west, to the farther end of Canal Street, on the east.; whilst from the Harbour on the south, to the upper end of Raise Street on the north, is nothing short of that .distance. In this last street the houses are laid off on a regular plan, and are among the most handsome in the town, except, perhaps, those in Ha- milton Street, more recently erected, which areinferior to few in the countj, on the same scale, either in outward symmetry or in- ternal accommodation. Canal Street, and a few houses at the harbour and saltpans, belong to, or hold of, the estate of Sea- bank j all the rest of the town is the direct property of Lord Eg- linton, either on long lease of 99 years, or for very short periods. Of the population, 3,000 at least are his Lordship's tenants. This town is greatly resorted to for sea-bathing. The salt water here is uncommonly pure, no freshwater stream of any note being nearer to it than Irvine, .five miles distant by the shore. 9@anufactUrt0. — The weaving of muslins and other fine fa- brics for the Glasgow or Paisley manufacturers is "by much the most prevalent of any occupation in the town. The maiking of Salt, to which the town owes its origin, is still continued, and to an extent greater than ever. There are two set of pans ; one belonging to Mr. Cuninghame of Seabarik, which has been in constant employment for more than 120 years, having been first erected on an augmented scale and more scientific arrangement by that enterprising RobertCuninghame of Auchenharvie, who succeeded to the property in 1678, and has been continued, and still further enlarged, by his successors, to the present time. The other set of pans belongs to Lord Eglinton— which after having been disused for a considerable time, was renewed about five years ago, and is in full operation since. The great abundance of small, or refuse coal, that can at all times be had from the coaleries in the vicinity, operates as a great inducement to ma- nufacture salt, as the fewel required in the evaporation of the sea ytRDROSSAN.] OF Cunningbantr. 153 water, Is obtained on very moderate terms. The salt pans also afford a use for this refuse coal which otherwise could hardly be disposed of at all. The quantity ^f salt manufactured in the course of the last year, was 6125:^ bolls, and gave employment to about 20 people; 25 years ago it was 3262^. @'f)ip=tlUilDing was till lately a regular business here, and at the time the Statistical Account was published in 1793, there were three building-yards which, from 1775 till 1790, had built 64 vessels from 20 tons to upwards of 220 — in all 7096 tons, being at an average above 110 tons each. Unhappily that inge- nioivs branch of mechanics has now dwindled down to merely the repaJ/iH^ of vessels, and 20 hands now do all that is required, where 60 were formerly employed. Eopemafeing. — That branch, so intimately connected with ship-building, has also suffered in its decline. Where 25 hands were "then employed, 12 now are all that are required. IBtetDCrg. — About 40 years ago a Brewery was estabKshed here, and continues still successful — supplying the country, in part, for several miles round, betwixt Irvine and Largs inclusive, with small beer. A Distillery was begun about the year 1788, but soon after was given up. JTi0ljCtg. — There are two boats permanently employed at the white fishery, and from 15 to 20 employed in tlie season at the herring-fishery. In this last, the boats are generally manned by weavers or other tradesmen, assisted by a few seamen who may happen at the time to be disengaged. Ci)2niica,l ©Llork. — This ingenious manufacture was set up in 1802, by Mr. William Burns. The articles composed are chiefly Magnesia and Epsom Salts — from the bittern or pan-oil left in the salt pans after evaporation. They were the first works in which Epsom Salts were made from such materials. The prin- x-ApaX markets are London, Dublin and Glasgow ; from Alienee Qq 154 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Parish of ^ they are distributed in the country, or exported by the wholesale druggists. There are usually from eight to ten hands employed. CaninOtfet — -This has been established for a considerable time. Though not on a great scale, it gives steady employment to three men besides the master. Commerce anU @>fjipping. — Though this is stated in the ge- neral remarks, (see p. 28.) an abridgement of what regards Salt- coats in these points, shall be here stated, as in 1818. I Number of Vessels, Tonnage, from 31 to 195, Number of Seamen, - SS 3324. 234 Tons of coal exported, Do. Coastwise, Quarters of grain imported. NUMBER- OF PEOPLE IN THS DIFFERENT OCCUPATIONS. Weavers, - Taylors, Shoemakers, Wrights, - Masons, Smiths, Coopers, Bakers, Coaliers, Surgeons, - Writers, Watchmakers, 420 24 37 31 14 18 18 11 50 4 2 2 Booksellers, Fleshers, Shipcarpenters, - Ropemakers, Seamen, Retail Merchants, Grocers, Brewers, Saltmakers, Fishers, Chemical Workers, Tanners, 13,105 1241 2047 2 10 20 12 234 10 30 3 20 6 10 4 \ Total 2684 population rr::rofS:2.!^"'?^^'^'i of tljeParWlj.^ Country part ... Circulating Libraries — Three ; — of which one of 190 vo- lumes is appropriated to the Sabbath Schools. Benefit Societies. — These highly praise-worthy institutions, for the credit of this place, are very generally established. There are 10 altogether. Of these, 7 are called Penny Societies, from the contributions being a penny, or in someof them ahalfpenny^^ in the week, from each of the members concerned. The num- ber of members is 510, and the average distribution to the dis- tressed among them, during the last 5 years, was ^84:9:5 Tliere is a Society, the oldest of all, being instituted 4Q years ARDROSSAN.] OF Cunningtjame. 155 ago, for the relief of poor people only. The number of contri- butors is not stated ; their present stock, £27, is said to have de- clined. Another, called a Stock Society, instituted in 1818, con- .sists of 31 members ; each contributes one shilling quarterly, and give, or rather propose to give, 3s. weekly to any of their num-. ber unable to work, but not bedfast, and 6s. weekly to those who are confined to bed. The last Society to be mentioned is that of the ship-carpenters, instituted in 1793, and consists at present of 26 members, and liaving a stock of ^125. This Society gives 2s. 6d. in the week to unwell members who are able to walk about, and 5s. weekly to those who are bedfast. Savings Bank. — This institusion, which only the dissipated or unprincipled can find fault v.'ith, was entered into here, at the suggestion of the Rev. Mr. Hendrj'^, under the name of the Saltcoats and Stevenston Society, on the lOth March 1815. Tlie balance on hand June 1st, 1816 was ^£222 Do. 1817 454 4 8 Do. 1818 439 14 Do. 1819™ 705 10 9 The Paisley Bank, Irvine, allows 5 per cent, per ann. on the sums deposited. Number of contributors, 68 males, .and 47 fe- males, in all 11 5. Education. — Though there is a parish school, — for reasons unexplained, it seems there are no scholars, but in the private schools, taught by Mr. Keir, Mr. Thomson, Mr. Chalmers, Mr, Smith, Mr, Cowie, and Mr. M'Glashie, and in that taught by Miss Macdonald ; there are altogether 476 children. See Statis- tical Table, Miss Macdonald has the most numerous- school of the whole, including 24 scholars whom she teaches gratis. She has, besides> a sewing school for young girls, in which 42 are taught the dif- ferent brandies of plain-seam and coloured work. Sunday. Schools. — There are 400 children, or youths, assera-» 156 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Parish of bled on Sabbath evenings to receive religious instructions and to exhibit their attainments in religious knowledge. In this num- l)er, many of the scholars as above are included. Besides these there are about 100 assembled at the same time in the new town of Ardrossan. The expence of lights and of small books for prizes is defrayed bv collections, made twice in tlie year at the parish church, at sermons on two Sabbath evenings for the pur- pose. State OF the Poou. — There are 21 on the regular roll, who iU'e paid once in two weeks about £2 18s. among them, amount- ing to about L.75 a year. There are about 40 more that get an occasional relief from time to time to the extent among them of L25 yearly ; and in 1818 there were in all L.122 2s. 8d. distri- buted. See Statistical Table. 9@inijJtcr0 — since the Revolution. NAMES. WHEN ADMITTED. TRANSLATED, &c. Ralph Roger, was minister in 1658*. John Rail, 1688 '. Demitted Oct, 24. 1688. Thomas Clerk, April 1691 Died Nov. 20. 1737. Robert Dow,. Aug. 23. 1739 Died July 28. 1787. John Duncan, Aug. 27. 1789 Died January 31. 1819. assist, and success. T , TT 1 { assist, and succes John Hendry, | June 5. I8l0. * This appears from a Retour dated that year — Mrs. Margaret Wryttoune, spouse of the Rev. Ralph Roger, minister of Ardrossan, as heir to her father in a tenement in Kilwinning. Church of Relief. — The meeting-house here was built in 1 784, when the Rev. David Ewing was settled, and who conti- nues still the minister. It is a commodious place of worship, capable of holding easily 500 sitters. The stated congregation consists of 320 communicants ; of which about one half are from this parish, and the remainder from the neighbouring parishes of Stevenston and Kilbride, in the proportion of three out of the first and one out of the latter. ardrossan:] op Cunningtjame. 157 Burghers. — Their meeting-house here was built in 1792, and holds commodiously 556 sitters, at ■which it is now let ; but can accommodate 700 without being much crowded. The number of communicants was last summer .336. Their first minister was tlie Rev. James Borland, a native of Kilmarnock, who was ordain- ed in.Nov. 1792, but being of a delicate constitution he officiated only 15 or 16 Sabbaths, and died in the summer of 1793. Their next minister was the Rev. Henry Frazer, (son of the late Rev. John Frazer, minister at Auchtermuchty,) who was ordained in Feb. 1796. In the course of the year, he succeeded to the estate ofLassodie in Fife : inconsequence of which he assumed the name of Dewar, the name of the former proprietor, and resigned his charge in November following. He is now Dr. Henry Dewar, author of several medical and literary tracts, some of which have been published separately and others in the periodical works of the day. The article " Grammar," in the Edinburgh Encyclo- paedia, was written by him. He was in Egypt with the British army under Sir Ralph Abercromby, and published a treatise on the Egyptian Opthalmia. The next in succession was the Rev. Robert Forrest, who was ordained in Feb. 1798, but resigned his charge in 1802, and emigrated to the United States of America. He was succeeded in the ministerial chai'ge here by the Rev. James Ellis, who was ordained on the 21st March 1804, and is now the minister of this congregation. Antiburghers. — Their meeting-house was built about the year 1800, and is calculated to hold 400 sitters. The present congregation amounts to about 150, of whom about 100 may be communicants — of these one half is made up from this parish, and nearly the whole of the other half from the parish of Ste- venston — there being only 4 more that come from the parishes of Kilbride and Largs. Their first minister was the Rev. John GifFord, who resigned in 1811, when, soon after, the present mi- jaister, the Rev. David Ronald, was ordained. His congregation R r 158 rARTlCULAR DKSCRlPTlON [Parish of has builta , small but handsome house in Hamilton Street, as a manse for him, and his successors in office, to reside in for the time to come. It is gratifying to observe the harmony that subsists betwixt these three seceding ministers, and the minister of the establish- ed church, the Rev, John Hendry. Thc}'- most cordially co-ope- rate together in every thing relating to the interests of religion and public decorum in the town, even to having the celebration of the Sacrament on the same Sabbaths, and correspondent week- days of worship at the same time. (B^mtts anti JFamiliCiB. MoNFODE. — ^This property is the most north-westerly in the parish, being situated on the coast side next to that of Kilbride. It extends to upwards of 300 acres, nearly all arable, and of good quality. It continued for many ages in a family of the same name, MoNFODE of MoNFODE. It passcd from them more than 120 years ago, and their very name seems to be extinct. Agnes de Monfode was married to a Sir John Douglas, in the reign of David II. [inter 1327 ct 1371.) This is the earliest notice that I have seen of them. In 1417, Finlam de Monfode de eodem, ap- pears on an inquest at Irvine. The last time that any of them is found in any record that I have seen, is in 1661, when John de Monfode of Monfode is named among the Commissioners of Supply for the Shire of Ayr. The property belongs at present to Robert Carriek, Esq. Banker in Glasgow. Ardrossak, Barony.— This extensive property has belonged to the Eglinton family for well nigh 500 years. It is supposed to have come to them by marriage with an heiress of its former Lords — the Ardrossans of Ardrossan ; or, as Crawfurd, in one passage, calls them, the Barclays. [See Renfrewshire, old edi- tion, page 88.] The times in which they flourished is a period of uncommon obscurity in the history of this country. Previous to the reign of Alexander III., the notices respecting any Scottish AnDROSISAX] oi €m\m\Qi)^mt. 159 family arc remarkably scanty : not only few in number, but meagre in circumstances. Of this family, in particular, the his- tory is very limited. The first of them, that has come under my notice, is Dom. Fergus Ardrossan de eodem, who is incidentallv mentioned in a cause betwixt Dom. Godfrey de Ross, and the town of Irvine, in 1260. In the reign of Robert Bruce, several of them are mentioned, more particularly a Sir Fergus de Ardros- san, who, in 1316, accompanied Edward Bruce on his expedi- tion to Ireland. The last of them mentioned in any record that I have seen, is Godfrey de Ardrossan, who is witness to an unda- ted Charter in the reign of David 11, to the Abbot of Kilwinning, to which also John Stewart of Periston is witness; and this must have been after 1333, for James Stewart, the first of Periston was killed that j^ear at the battle of Halidownhill, of course, there could be no John Stewart of Periston till after that battle. Should this Godfrey have been the last of the Ardrossans, it may be in- ferred that either his sister or his daughter carried this estate, by marriage; to the Eglintons of Eglinton, from whence it came soon after to the Montgomery family, by marriage of the heiress of Eglinton. The lands extend to upwards of 3500 acres nearly all arable. It is separated into two divisions : Ardrossan proper in the south, and Drumastle in the north end of the parish — the lands of Caddel intervening betwixt them. Knock-Ewart. — This property, extending to nearly 400 acres, is situated on the north side of the new road which leads from Ardrossan through the narrow valley among the liills towards Dairy. About a third part of it is fertile land, spread out along the skirts of a hill of considerable height — the remainder is sound hill pasture, with a small proportion of marshy and mossy land at the back of the hill, originally a loch, not yet fully drained. It belongs to Miss Mary Montgomery—was bought by her father, Mr. Robert Montgomery, shipmaster in Irvine, in 1787, from the representatives of fche late Professor Simson, the Restorer of - 160 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTiqN [Parisfi of Euclid; whose predecessor had acquired it in 1713, from Mure of Caldwell, in whose family it had previously remained for a long period. Caddel.— This property, consisting of several farms, is situa- ted in the northern division of the parish, interposed betwixt the baronies of Ardrossan and Drumastle. It is altogether arable land, although of an adhesive nature, and not very kindly to work. It belongs to Colonel Cunninghame of Thornton, and may extend to perhaps 500 acres or more. Little Laught, belonging to the heirs of Robert Gemmil, and Bankend, belonging to the heirs of Colonel Morris, are situ- ated to the south and eastward of the lands last mentioned. They are of a soil similar to the above, and may extend, the first to 50 or 60 acres, and the other to 80 acres or more. LocH\T0OD. — This property extends southward from those last mentioned, and is of a quality not much different, and fully equal in extent to them both. It belongs to Major-Gen. Dun- Jop of Dunlop, in whose family it has been for perhaps 100 years. DiDDOP. — Adjacent to the last, but still farther south, and in a lower situation, is situated this property belonging to Colonel Hamilton of Grange ; and being situated conterminous to his other lands, has the benefit of the general shelter arising from his plantations. It may extend to about 90 or 100 acres of good arable land. There are still three smaller properties that remaiij to be mentioned. Tower Lodge — Consisting of about 6 acres, belonging to James Muir, is situated in the middle of the farm of Meikle Laucht, belonging to Colonel Cunninghame, about a quarter of a mile up from the high road from Saltcoats to Dairy, There is a small house on it, and the whole is well enclosed with a thriving thorn-fence. It seems to be a very pleasant spot. It holds of tliQ Knights Templars, or their representative. Springy ALE, situated about half a mile north from Saltcoats, AiiDiiOSSAN.] 01. Cunningf)ame. 161 with a handsome small mansion and about 35 acres of good ground belongs to Mr. John Jack. KiRKHALL — Is situated about a mile north-east from Ardros- san, on the right banks of the Stanley-burn — extends to about 20 acres of fertile land, with a small mansion. This property has been occupied by the present family exactly 100 years: — first by Robert Weir, as a tenant, from 1719 till 1748, when he purchased it from the former proprietor, James Whyte. Robert was succeeded by his son, Hugh Weir, who died in 1800, and was succeeded by his son, Robert Weir, the present proprietor. It was purchased originally by Andrew Whyte, in 1697, from the Earl of Eglinton. TABLE OF VALUED RENT. Properties. Proprietors. Valued Rent, £ J. d. Ardrossan proper. - The Earl of Eglinton, . _ 1973 4 8 Caddel, &c. - Colonel Cunninghame, • • 240 16 8 Monfode, - Robert Carrick, Esq. . , 213 3 6 Knock-Ewart, - Miss Montgomery, . . 126 13 4 Lochwood, Gen. Dunlop, • . 115 Diddop, - Colonel Hamilton, » _ 50 Bankend, - Colonel Morris's heirs, _ • 50 Little Laucht, - Mr. Gemmil's heirs, .. » 30 12 Kirkhal), - Mr. Robert Weir, - . _ 26 Springvale, - . . - Mr. John Jack, Total d 15 6 8 :2840 16 10 ^ntiquiticsf. The most ancient edifice, perhaps, in all Cunninghame, of which there are any remains, is that of Akdhossan Castle, belong- ing to the Earl of Eg-linton, which was of old, during a length of time unascertained, the residence of his collateral ancestors, the Ardrossans of Ardrossan, and continued to be an occasional resi- dence of the Earls of Eglinton, till the time of the democratic despot, Oliver Cromwell, who caused it to be deraohshed. The remains of it consist of only two small fragments, of which a S s 162 r ARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Parish of: view is given. In these there are no gun-ports, but arrow-slits only, an evidence itself of considerable antiquity. It is situated; on a small hill close by the town of Ardrossan. MoNFODE old ruins, are still prominent, and may stand for a? longtime. The situation will be seen on the map. There are neither gun-ports, nor slits for arrows, in these, but what remains of them is evidently but a small part. Old Kirks of Ajrdrossan. — Near to the old Castle, on the top of the hill, there is still a church-yard full of monumental stones —and in it the remains are to be distinctly seen of the foundati- on of the original parish-kirk, which was overthrown in a high storm of wind in 1694 or 1695. A new church was erected lov/-» er down, in a situation more^ centrical to the parish, near to the old manse, (part of which still remains) in the vicinity of Stain- ley-burn, in the neighbourhood of Kirkhall. In 1714 this new church was taken down, and rebuilt at Saltcoats. The remains of the church at Stainley are hardly now to be traced. There still is to be seen there the stone over the grave of Thomas Clerk, the last minister, who died at the old manse ; and the burial-place of the Weirs of Kirkhall, adjacent to it, is retained in good pre^ servation. arliroie(0an Cattle. 3TEVBNST0N.] OF cunning|)Qme. 163- PARISH OF STEVEN8TON. TE VENSTON Parish is situated next to that of Ar- drossan and eastward from it. It is of a triangular figure. The side next the sea is about 4 miles long; J]J f hat next the parishes of Irvine and Kilwinning, a- f^oMM ijoiit 5 miles ; and the last side, being that next the parish of Ardrossan, is 2-h- miles long. The whole extends to a- bout 6 square miles of surface, of which nearly two parts in five are sand hills by the sea side. The rest is all arable — in culti- vation or in wood. (5cnerp4l « 80 Rabbits, (see page 43,) about... 4800 BoaDiBf. — The great turnpike road from Irvine by Kilwinning to Largs, &c. passes three miles through this parish, which opens up a ready access to it all — sfiU further extended by means of different parish roads branching off, all well kept. ^anufaCtureiBf. — A considerable number of weavers are em- ployed in the village of Stevenston in the weaving of muslins, &c. for Paisley or Glasgow. The other manufactures as well as trade are included in the account of Saltcoats. See Ardrossan. Town of Stevenston. — This populous village is situated a- bout 2^ miles west from Kilwinning on the great road, about half a mile east from Saltcoats. It is nearly half a mile long. Part of it is very ancient. It is mentioned in a Charter of the Lou- doun family as far back as 1240, and again in 1318. This part of the town is situated on a shelving bank on each side of a very narrow, high-laid, slippery .causeway, and is held of the estate of Ardeer. The wester part of the town is on a level tract, not •quite so narrow in its road way, and is held of the estate of Sea- bank. The small burn of Stevenston passes betwixt them. A third quarter is formed on a narrow street also, leading north- wards up to the church, and holds of flie estate of Grange. The houses, nearly all, are of one story, and the greater part of them are covered with thatch. Some however are of two stories, and a few of them are neatly enough constructed of good mason work and slate roofs. The whole are accommodated with valuable little gardens. With the exception of its old, vile, narrow street, which no pains will ever make commodious, Stevenston is a T t 166 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Parish of cheerful enough place, with an industrious population in 1819 of 1777 inhabitants. In this are — Weavers, 173 Coaliers, 175 Quarrymen, 15 Masons, 18 Wrights, 12 Shoemakers, 8 Blacksmiths, 7 Taylors,... 5 Baker, ..................... 1 Flesher, 1 Surgeon, (self-taught) 1 population of tfte Pan0f).— Stevenston as above, 1777 Part of Saltcoats, (See Arflross;in,) .^...^ ^... 1463 In towns, — . , 3240 In the country ^ ^ , ...„, 367 Totali- 3607 9^iniSitZV0 — since the Revolution. NAMES, YV^HEN ADMITTED. TRANSLATBD, &e. Robert Young, Removed to Ireland. William Reid, Died in 1743. T-» T) u i. T?- ji 7 Ordained August T Translated to Galston Dr Robert Findlay, | ^S. 1744. [ April 30. 1745. Thomas M'Kindlay,... April 24. 1746.. Died May 22. 1758.' Dr. James Wodrow, |/"'''oct "i8!T7^9! '^' { ^''^ ^^'' ^^- ^^^^' Dav. Landsborx) ugh,.. Sept. 26. 1811 State of the Poor. — Considering, the great population of this parish, there must be few in the kingdom where the pro*- portion of indigent people is so small, or where less is required for their relief. The number of poor on the permanent roll ia about 29, and those who get relief occasionally about 54, and the whole sum required for their support does not much exceed 3^130 a year. See Statistical Table. State of Education. — Besides two schools situated in this parish in the town of Saltcoats, included in the account of Ar- drossan, there are three, in the village of Stevenston, .viz. the STEVBNSTON.] of Cunningljamc. 167 parish school, taught by Mr. Crawfurd, and two private schools, one taught by Mr. Baillie, and another by Mr. M'Gregor. L^ these three schools are 232 Scholars. See Statistical Table. €ieftatc0 anH JFamilieiff. Stevenston-Campbell, (part of) — This was purchased about the beginning of the last century, from Mr. Cunninghamc of Auchenharvie, by Alexander, ninth Earl of Eglinton, in whose family it remained till 1814, when it was acquired from his grand- daughter, Lady Mary Montgomery Burges, by the late Earl of Eglinton. It does not much excedd 30 acres, including part of the to\vn of Saltcoats built upon it : but in few places is there to be found better land. Grange. — This fine property, which comprehends more than the half of the arable land in the parish, occupies the whole of the northern part of it, and extends as far south in one quarter as the Garnock water, and also the village of Stevenston, part of which it includes. It is enclosed altogether with ditch and hedge, and is otherwise highly embellished with plantations, extending to perhaps 80 or 90 acres, arranged in great taste, in groups, clumps and hedgerows ; and no where is better yoimg wood to be seen. Nearly the whole has been the work of the present pro- prietor, in the course of the last 30 years. This property belonged at an early period to the Earls of Glencairn, at the time that this great family resided in Ayrshire, and when Kerelaw, the manor place, was their occasional resi- dence. The whole parish went then under the name of the Ba- rony of Stevenston, (including also different other lands- at a dis* tance,) but was subdivided into two distinct properties, Steven- ston- CaOT/)6e// and Steveuston-Cunnin^Jianie. The first was re-' tained by the oldest proprietors of the whole, — the Campbells of Loudoun ; the latter was acquired from them by the Kilmaurs family, and so distinguished from their own sinname of Gun- ninghame. Both became the property of Doctor [afterwards] iS8 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Parish of Sir Robert Cunninghame of Aucheiiliarvie, about the middle of the 17th century. His nephew, and ultimately, his successor, Robert Cunninghame of Auchenharvie, about the end of that century, sold this part of the Stevenston barony to John Ha- milton of Grange near Kilmarnock. Keuelaw, after this, became the principal residence of the Grange family, till about 30 years ago, when Col. Hamilton, oa a gentle eminence, in the immediate neighbourhood of that old Gothic pile, erected the present House of Grange — a stately fabrick, and one of the most commodious mansions in the country, enjoying, from amid its surrounding woodlands, an uncommon- ly rich prospect, whether with regard to land, or to maritime scenery, An account of this family falls now to be introduced. tpamilton of (Grange* This family was originally designed of Camskeith, and Ladie- town, thereafter of Grange. The mansion-house of Grange, af- terwards called Kilmarnock-House, adjoining to the town of Kil- marnock, (within which parish and neighbourhood a consider- able extent of land belonging to the family was situated,) was originally the family residence, and remained so till the purchase of the lands in the parish of Stevenston, as already mentioned. The lands in the parishes of Kilmarnock, Loudoun and Fenwick, were sold off at different periods, with the reservation of the su- periorities of part of what was so disposed of An addition was made to .the Stevenston estate by the present proprietor, within these 30 years, by the purchase of some lands lying conterminous to it, in the parish of Ardrossan. This family is among the most ancient cadets of the House of Hamilton, being descended from Sir David Hamilton of Cad- zow, who flourished in the reign of David H^, and died in 1374. He was great-grand-father of the first Lord Hamilton, of whom is the present Ducal House, directly descended from the eldest son, David, whilst the family of Grange is derived from IValterf ■^I'EVENSTON.] OF Cunning!)ame. 1C9 the second son. This is attested by Cravvfurd, in his " Peerage,'' who not only states that Walter, the second son of the above Sir David of Cadzow, (by Margaret, daughter of Walter Lesly, Earl of Ross,) was the ancestor of Camskeith, but tiiat Hamilton of Grange in Ayrshire, was the representative of the Hamiltons of Camskeith. Both Douglas and Wood, in their respective Peer- ages, derive also the Plamiltoms of Camskeith from the same Walter Hamilton, the second son of Sir David Hamilton of Cad- zow, ancestor of the Duke of Hamilton, The first notice that has come under my own observation of the Hamiltons of Cambuskeyth, or Camsketh, or Camskeith, (for it has been spelt in all these ways,) is in the Scots Acts of Parliament, lately published, vol. H. p, 428, 434, and 438, where John Hamilton of Camskeith appears as one of the curators of James Hamilton of Fynart. This was in 1542. From this per- sonage the line of succession can be traced downwards with some degree of certainty. Let him therefore be stated as the first in this deduction, without tracing them individually farther back. I. John Hamiltox of Camsketh, curator of Fynart, in 1542. II. ■ his son, name not mentioned, but III. John Hamilton of Cambuskeyth, on the 1st May 1572, is retoured heir to his grandfather, John Hamilton of Cambus- keyth, in the lands of Pophill, Burnhill and others, lands near Craufurdland and castle of Kilmarnock — [See Retour of that date, lately published.] Pie was succeeded by his son IV. John Hamilton of Cambuskeyth, who, on the 3d Nov. 1603, is. retoured heir to his great-grandfather, John Hamilton of Cambuskeyth, in the lands of Overmure and Carlincraigs. V. David Hamilton of Ladletown, from what follows, ap- pears to have been the son of the preceding and the connecting link in the family of Camskeith afterwards called Grange ; for VI. Alexander Hamilton of Ladietown, on the 10th Jan, 1616, is retoured heir to his father, David Hamilton of Ladieton, U u 170 paBI'iculau description [Parish of in the lands of Grange in the Bailhewick of Cunninghame. He was succeeded by his son, VII. Robert Hamilton of Grange, who, on the 19th Dec; 1661, was retoured heir to his father, Alexander Hamilton, iir the lands of Grange. He was succeeded by his son, VIII. John Hamilton of Grange. He married Elisabeth Craufurd, daughter of John Graufurd of Craufurdland, by Janet £!unninghame, daughter of the Laird of Craigends, and had issue, a son, John, and a daughter IMargaret who,-in 1675, was married to Robert Hunter of Kirkland, second son of Robert Hunter of Hunterston. Ke was succeeded by his son, John Hamilton of Grange, who, in 1677, was retoured heir to his father,. John Hamilton of Grange, Pie married Rebecca Cunninghame, daughter of Alexander Cunninghame of Craig- ends, by Janet daughter of William Cunninghame of Ashenyardsi by whom he had issue, a daughter, Janet, married to William Warner of Ardeer, and an only son, X. Alexander Hamilton of Grange, who succeeded him', and married Elisabeth Pollock, daughter of Sir Robert Pollock of that Ilk, by Annabella, daughter of Walter Stewart of Pardo- van, by whom he had issue, nine sons and two daughters : 9° T? 1 \ \ successively Lairds of Grange, 3. Alexander, of whom afterwards. 4. James, a proprietor In the West Indies, and father of Ge-» neral Hamilton, the celebrated Statesman, and Patriot in the United States, who fell, greatly i-egretted, in a duel with a Mr Bun\ 5. Walter ; 6. George — both died unmarried. 7. William, married Jean, daughter of Robert Donald, Esq. and had issue, 8. Joseph ; and 9. William who died in infancy ; one of the daughters also died in infancy ; the other, Elisabeth, was married to Alexander Blair, Esq. surveyor of the Customs at Port-Glas^ gow, and son of William Blair of Blair, and had issue. srnvENSTOX.]' ' of Cunninglf&nie. 171 Alexander Hamilton (Nc. X.) was succeeded by' his eldest son, John Hamilton of Grange, who died unmarried, when he was succeeded by his brother, Robert Hamilton of Grange, who dying also unmarried, was- succeeded by his nephew, the son of XI. Alexavder Hamilton the third son, who married Ra- chel Ciuinij)ghame, daughter of James Cunninghame of Collellan, by whom he had a son, Alexander, and four daughters, 1 Elisabeth, married Robert Cuninghame of Auchenharvie, and had issue. [See Auchenharvie.] 2. Margaret, married the Rev. Thomas Pollock, minister of Kilwinning, and has issue, 3. Joanna, married Edward M'Cormick, Esq. Advocate, late sheriff depute of Ayrshire, and had issue. 4. Jane, died mimarried. On the death of Robert Hamilton of Grange as above, which happened in 1774, his immediate younger brother, Alexander, having predeceased him, he was succeeded by the only son as above. XH. Alexander Hamilton of Grange, Advocate, and Lieut. Colonel of the late 2d Regiment of Ayrshii-e Local Militia. Arms. — (Ui'es, a Lion Rampant, Argent (for Ross); betwixt three cinque foils, /r«/ene, (for Hamilton); Crest, an Oak tree proiK-r ; Motto, in an escroll above, Viridis et Fructifera. Seabaxk. — This property is situated betwixt the lands of Grange and the Sea, and extends to between 400 and 500 acres, of which upwards of 300 is fertile arable land, and the remainder, plantation or pasture. This was also included in the original barony of Stevenston, and afterwards in that of Stevenston- Campbell. It made part of the purchase in 1656, by Sir Robert; Cunninghame of Auchenharvie ; and in 1708, when other parts of the barony of Stevenston were alienated, this was retained by 172 PAKTICULAR DESCRIPTION [ Pom/t o/ Mr. Cuninghame, and under the name of Seabank, remains still the property of his descendants. The house of Seabank is plea- santly situated, on the south side of a steep bank covered with thriving woods, and fronting the sea, at the di itance of half a mile, it was built more than 100 years ago, and like to other Tnansions of the same era, more regard has been paid in its con- struction, to conveniencies on the whole, than to exact symmetry in its parts. CantngJjamc of auc!)en|)atbie. Alexander, first Earl- of Glencairn (who was killed at the battle of Sauchieburn 11th June 1448,) had four sons by his Lady, a daughter of Adam Lord Hales ; 1. Robert, his succes- sor; 2. William, ancestor of the Craigends family; 3. Alexan- der ; 4. L Edward of Auchenharvie, the first of this family, as may be inferred from Retours dated 27th July 1545, of Margaret, Janet, Elisabeth, and Helen, heirs portioners of Edward Cun- ninghame of Auchenharvie, their father. The next male suc- cessor mentioned, is '11. Adam Cuninghame of Auchenharvie ; but under what title does not appear, perhaps by marriage of one of the above co-heiresses, ^nd probably a son of Graigends who is stated, by Crawfurd, to be the ancestor of the present family of Auchen- harvie. From Adam, it came by succession to his grandson, IV. Robert of Auchenharvie, who, on the 27th March 1606, is retoured heir to his grandfather, Adam, in these lands. He married Catherine Cuninghame, a grandchild of Hunterston. [See page 122.] The next in succession appears to be V. Sir David Cuninghame of Auchenharvie, whci, in 1633, was created a Baronet. He was probably son-in-law, or, it might be, nephew, to the preceding, being son of Patrick Cuninghame of Kirkland of Kilmaurs, as appears from the progress of writs of the lands adjoining of Balgray, which he acquired from Sir Wm. STEVENSTON.] of Cunningbame, lis Mure of Rowallan on the 6th Nov. 1630. He was succeeded by ■Robert Cuninghame, second son of John Cuninghame of Baid- land, but how connected does not appear — probably from his mother having been the sister or the daughter of Sir David. This VI. Robert Cuninghame, who succeeded Sir David in Au- chenharvie, was brought up to the study of medicine, and became eminent in the profession, and was appointed Physician to Charles II. for Scotland. Being much employed at Court, and having great practice otherwise, he acquired very considerable property, and in 1656 purchased the barony of Stevenston, which at that time comprehended the whole parish. He purchased sundry other lands besides, both in the parish of Kilbride and in the parish of Stewarton. From Scotland he attended his Majesty to England, and was present at the battle of Worcester, (3d Sept. 1651) where William, second Duke of Hamilton, was so severely wounded in the leg, as to die in eleven days after, notwithstanding of all D\\ Cuninghame's care. The Doctor, with many other Gentlemen, was soon after sent to the Tower, but from the passes* as below, it should appear that he must have been in Scotland in less than six months after. On the Restoration in 1660, he was reinstated * 1. " Permit the bearer, Dr. Robert Cuninghame, with his servant, horses, and ne- cessaries, to pass to Glasgow and retorne himself to the Commander in Chief, with- out trouble or molestation, within six weeks, he acting nothing prejudicial to the af- fairs of the Comnionwealth of Ingland, their forces or garrisons. — Done at Dalkeith the 6th of Feb. 1651. J- LAMBERT." To all Officers and Souldiers. '2. « I do continue this paroll to the said Doctor Robert Cuninghame for two months longer, from the present day, and to give him leave to pass to and again about his emplovment as a Physician, he acting nothing prejudicial to the btate, and rendcr- iiicr himself up to the Commander in Chief at ye two months end. March 16, I654.. RI. DEANE." 3. " I do hereby continue the pass for three months longer from the date hereof, given under my hand at Dalkeith, 19th June 1652. HI. DEANE." 4. " I do hereby lengthen the p.iss of Doctor Cuninghame, for following his praCr tice of Physic and lawful employment for three months longer than the time above li- mited. Given under my hand the ISlli day of Dec. 1652. RI. DEANE." All these passes are hlogreph of these Commomveulth Generals. X X 174 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION- [Parish of in the situation of his Majesty's Physician, (in which office he re-^ mained during Hfe,) and continuing in the favour of his Sove-^ reign, he was raised to the hereditary dignity of a Baronet of Nova Scotia, in the year 1673. When in England he married an Enghsh Lady, whom he brought to Scotland, on his return as above, but who died not long after. He married, 2dly, Elisa- beth Henderson of the family of Fordel in Fife, by whom he had issue. He died before the year 1674, and was succeeded by his only son, VII. Sir Robert CuNiNGHAJfE of Auchenharvie, who enjoyed clie honours and estate for only a short period. He was succeed- ed by his only sister, VII. Anna Cuninghame of Auchenharvie. All this is in- structed, by the " Inquisitionesde Tutela," lately published. This Lady was daughter, by the second marriage, of the first Sir Ro- bert. Who was the mother of the second Sir Robert does not appear. Anna of Auchenharvie lived but a short time also, when the estate, by a special deed of entail, at her death fell to the nephew of her father. Sir Robert the Physician. His Re- tour commences in these terms — (dated 10th Jan. 1678.) VII. Robertus Cynynghame, pliarmacopola, burgensis de Edinburgh; hertes tallife, Ann^e Cunynghame, filiie legitimae Tiall, Bogend, Ardeer, Hullerhirst, Saltcoats-Campbell, Patronage of the parisli church of Stevenston ; Chapelton, Bonshaw, Crevoch-Lindsay, Fairley Crevcch, Balgray, Cassilton, Orer-Lochrig, Horsemuir, Middleton, Caprinstone, Dreghorn and W?.rrix: Barony of Stevenston, Corsbie, Minnock and Gill, and Diummellicg- a^'/a. i-.v-oTOiV.] OF Cunningljamer 175 Mr. Cunlnghame being endowed with a very active mind, began, soon after liis accession to the estate, to make improve- ments on the various subjects of which his property consisted. This was more especially the case with the coal on the lands of Stevenston — the working of which he brought to a degree of per- fection never before known, as also the harbour of Saltcoats, as already noticed, (pages 26 and 152). He also made great im- provements on the Saltworks there, all, at no little expence. It is too often to be observed, that those individuals who, by their ingenious and enterprising exertions, confer the greatest, benefit on the public at large, or on the particular society amongj which they live, do so with very little advantage to themselves, or rather, it turns out as often, that their own private interest suf- fers in consequence. The result to himself, of this Gentleman's operations, will form no exception to this remark ; for in conse- quence of the great expence incurred by him in these works^ (conjoined however with some old incumberances left on the es- tate by the first Sir Robert,) he was obliged at last to alienate a great part of bis landed property, and this not merely the more distant possessions, but the greater part of this parish, v/here he had fixed his residence, as has already been, and will be, noticed in the course of this narrative. He died on the 10th of July 1715,^ and was succeeded by his eldest surviving son, VIH. James Cuxinghame of Auchenharvie, who, about four years before, was married to Marion Fullarton, daughter of Ful- The following cimracter of this •worthy^Lientleman is fr»m tlie pen of a descendant. * «' He was a devout man, and one that feared God. A book of considerable size, in his ov/n hand-writing, containing a great variety of pious aspirations and earnest prayers, arising from a deep sense of his own unworthiness, connected with his hope in God through Jesus Christ, is still preserved among the Records of the family. Love to God his Saviour, submission to his dispensations, unfeigned humility of mind, de-* pendance on divine providence under his own particular circumstances, connected with the state of the times in which he lived, together with love and kindness to his brethren of mankind, are conspicuous throughout the whole. His memory is still held dear to his descendants, even though his exertions were rot accompanied at the time with all that affluence or worldly prosperity which, from his ingenuity and application to busii - ness, might have been expected." 176 PARXrCULAR DESCRIPTION [Parish of larton of that Ilk, by whom he had a son and three daughters, of whom afterwards. In the sale of the lands now composing tlie -extensive properties of Grange and Ardeer, in this parisl^ about •1708, the whole of the coal, in both, was reserved for a period of 57 years thereafter — but the works, at this time, at a very low ebb, were now conducted with a more cautious spirit, and mo- derate success. One thing however, is worthy of remark, that about this time tlie iire or steam engine was invented, and in 1719, the second one in Scotland was erected here, with a cylin- der bi-ought from London, of 18 inches diameter, not much lar- ger than the present pumps. He died in Dec. 1728, and was succeeded by his son, IX. Robert Cuninghame of Auchenharvie, who died in Dec. 1733, in consequence of a brain fever, in the 16th year of his age. He was succeeded by his three sisters — Anna, Elisa- beth, and Barbara Cuninghame of Auchenharvie, heirs portion- ers. Elisabeth died unmarried, Barbara married Mr. William Cuninghame in Kilwinning, and IX. Anna, the eldest, carried on the line of the family. In July 1737, she married John Reid, second son of the Rev. Wm. Reid, minister of Stevenston. (The eldest son, Thomas, was father of the present William Reid of Adamton.) The children of this marriage were 1. May, married to Robert Baillie, Esq. of Mayville, and had issue, two daughters: 1. Leslie, married to Mr. Gumming of Logic ; and 2. Grace. 2. Robert, of whom afterwards. 3. Elisabeth, married to Mr. Andrew Donald, m€rchant Greenock, and had issue, Anne ; and Christian, married to Mr. Learraont, merchant in India, and has issue. 4. Anne, died unmarried. 5. Sarah, married Alexander Cuninghame, Esq. Collector of Customs Irvine, and had issue, Anne, married to Mr. Anthony STEVENSTON.] op Cunningfjame. 177 Dunlop, son of John Dunlop of that Ilk, and had issue : Jane, married to William Smith of Jordanhill ; and William, in the service of the East India Company. 6. John, married Miss Boileau in India, died there and left a numerous issue. X. • Robert, the eldest son, became possessed of the estate of Auchenharvie, in consequence of a special agreement with the heirs portioners in 1770, and hence added the name of Cuning- HAME to his own. Inheriting a due portion of the spirit of his maternal great-grandfather, Robert (No. VII.) of Auchenharvie, he prosecuted his schemes with judgment, perseverance, and with success. The exclusive right to the coal in Ardeer, &c. being now expired, he entered into a copartnery with Mr. Warner, for a long -period, to work the coal remaining on their respective properties. After amost expensive operation, in sinkiug a shaft of a vast width, through a bed of running sand, more than 35 feet deep; they -succeeded at last in finding an excellent coal under strati of clay and other firm materials below. From this coal-work he brought a canal (the first in Scotland on which any business was done, see page 23,) to the harbour of Saltcoats, and at an expence, which though very great, was still less than was at first calculated upon. Some essential improvements he also made on this, his own harbour, and extended it in capacity be- yond its original construction, as left by his great ancestor, Ro- bert of Auchenharvie, about 100 years before. He also improv- ed ther lands, and greatly embellished the estate of Seabank in other respects. He died in the end of Nov. 1814. He was twice married ; let to Elisabeth Hamilton, sister of Colonel Alexander Hamilton of Grange, by whom he had one daughter, Elisabeth, who was married to Major George Vanburry Brown of Knock- marloch. She died at Tours in France, and left a son, John; and three daughters ; Elisabeth, Hamilla,^nd Mary. 2dly, he mar- .Y.y 1*IS PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Parhh of Tied Annabella, daughter of Mr. Thomas Reid, merchant in Salt- . coats, and by her had issuer 1. John, died unmarried in India. 2. Anne, married to Colonel Alexander Robertson, of Hall- craig in Lanarkshire, and has issue, six children; 1. Annabella; 2. Marion; 3. Georginiar-Graham- Victoria; 4. Arthur Wellesly? 5, Anne ; 6. Roberta . 3. Robert, of whom afterwards. 4. Thomas, who 'Was an officer in the Royal Navy, and died at Chatham in March 1818 — an excellent young man, highly es- teemed by all who knew him; and 5. Marion. He was succeeded by his (now) only surviving son, XL Robert Cuninghame of Auchenharvie, proprietor of the iands, and representative of the family. The old castle of Au- chenharvie is situated about four miles north from Irvine, in the parish of Stewarton, where a view of it will be given. It has not been habitable for long. The family seat is at Seabank, a small but pleasant mansion, on the coast side, betwixt the towns of Stevenston and Saltcoats, set down amid some thriving planta- tions, as already noticed. Arms, matriculated in 1673, are. Argent, a Shake-Fork be- twixt two Lozenges in jFesse sahhy with the Badge of Nova Sco- tia ; Crest, a Dexter Hand )3rojoer, presenting a Lozenge, Or, Motto on an Escrole above, Gura et Condore. Ardeer. — Conterminous on the east, to the lands of Seabank, those of Ardeer are situated. In point of extent, this estate con- tains more than half of the parish, but in this is included the sand hills already mentioned. There is, however, comprised in it, nearly 30G acres of arable land, of which a great proportion is remarkably fertile, ranking among the very best in the parish, or perhaps in the district. The House of Ardeer is situated nearly close upon the east end of the village of Stevenston, but is well STEVEXSToy.] OF Cunningljamc, i79 skreened by pfcritations, and pleasantly, set down under the shel- ter of a steep bank, on the north, on which are spread out to the south its fine sloping and terraced gardens. The house itself is ratlier in an ancient stile of building, but has of late been mo- dernised in some of its parts, and on the whole is a comfortable residence. This property, forming also part of the ancient baro- ny of Stevenston, was acquired in 1708, from Mr. Cuninghame of Auchenharvie, by the Rev. Mr. Warner, the history of which family falls now to be inserted. COarner of HrDeer, I. The first of this family of whom I find any mention in the Title Deeds is John- Warner, who, in 1656, purchased a tene- ment in the Burgh of Irvine, together with the Braid Meadow adjacent, from John Mure. He liad two sons, both of whom were eminent Ministers of the Church of Scotland, and both were sufferers for their principles in the persecuting times of Charles -II. The eldest son, Thomas, was minister of Balmaclelan in Gallov.'ay, whence he was ejected in 1679, for attending conven- ticles, but seems to have been restored again at the Revolution. He died on the lOtli Sept. 1716. The second son was II. Patrick Warner. He was educated at the University of St. Andrews, and licensed a preacher of the Gospel about the year 1667, by the dissenting ministers in London, and was by them recommended to the Easir* India Companj', who, in 1669, appointed him minister of Fort St. George, on the coast of Co- romandel. He returned to Scotland in 1677, and preached in various conventicles in the fields, particularly in Galloway, along with the celebrated Mr. John Welsh. After the battle of Both- wel Bridge in 1679, he found it prudent to retire to Holland for a short time. Returning again he renewed his field preachings in different places in the west of Scotland, and in Dec. 1681, he married Mary, one of the daughters of that eminent divine, the Rev. -William Guthrie, minister of Fenwick^. 180 i-A-RTicuLAU DESCRIPTION [Parish of After this he underwent a long imprisonment and a variety of persecutions on account of his unbending adherence to his principles, which at Inst forced him to leave the country, altoge- ther and go to Holland again, to which he soon after brought his wife and fam ily. In 1 687, he took the advantage of King James's indulgence and returned to Scotland, and on tlie 24th March 1688, he was ordained minister in Irvine, wdiere he officiated a- -bout 20 years, as .he resigned in 1709, and retired to his own House of Ardeer, where he lived till after the year 1722, being then the oldest minister of the Church of Scotland, according to -Wodrow, from whose -History much of this account is taken.* In 1691, he purchased from Walter Scott of Clonbeith, the .lands of Scots-Loch and the Trindleraoss, in the vicinity of Ir- vine, whicli he improved so effectually, by a large drain still cal- led The Ministers Cast, thatfrombeing a swampy field of little value, it has become among the most valuable land in the parish, and continues the property of the family till this day. In 1692 he bought the lands of Hallbarns, in the parish of Ivilmaurs, from Sir Robert Barclay of Peirceton, and in 1708, he acquired the lands of Ardeer and Dowcotehall, from .Robert Cuninghame of Auchenharvie, and the House of Ardeer has been the family re- sidence ever ^ince. He was succeeded by his son, * The following extract from the Pre^sbytery Records, is worthy of observation, not merely as relating to this worthy minister, bat as an honourable testimony of the . respect the church was held in at the time. Irvine, April ^3. 1695. Sederunt, Messrs. John Wilson, James Osburn, Robert Stirling, Andrew Fowlis, Alexander Orr, Robert Hunter, John Glasgow, John Jameson, Thomas Clark, John Andrew elder from Kilmarnock. The Presby terymet this day, jiro re nata, being advertised by reason of a letter from the commission of the church, advising this Presbytery therein, to elect one of their number to attend the Parliament, which is expected to sitt shortly, and some affairs relating to the church, will be. in before it, uppon which the Presbytery did elect Mr. Patrick Warner, to go to Edinburgh, and to join with his brethern there, for the good of the church, and to continue for tliree weeks, and if the Parliament happens to sitt : longer, then Mr. Osburn is t© succeed him. Extracted from the Records of Presbytery by ROBERT URQUHART, Pr^%/fr^ C/f/^, STEVENSTON.} ov Cutiningljame. 181 William Warner of Ardeer. He married 1st Janet, daugh- ter of Alexander Hamilton of Grange, by whom he had issue ; and Sdly, Mary Mowat, widow of James Rea of Walstone in the parish of Kilmarnock, with whom he acquired that property, but without any issue of that marriage. He died before the year 1764, and was succeeded by his sowj * IV. Patrick WArner of Ardeer. He married Helen, daugh- ter of ^ Russel, shipmaster in Saltcoats, by whom he had two sons: 1. Patrick; 2. John, a surgeon in the service of the East India Company ; and three daughters : 1. William, married to Alexander Miller, Esq. of Monkcastle ; 2. Agnes ; 3. Helen, married to Robert Hunter, Esq. He was succeeded by his eld- est son, V. Patrick Warner, now of Ardeer. He was bred to the Royal Navy, in which he was a Lieutenant ; and has seen much service in the West Indies, the Mediterranean, and the North Seas. He married, on the 21st Oct. 1816, Catherine, daughter of Quintin Johnston, Esq. of Trolarg, and has issue, a son, Patrick, and a daughterj Catherine. Arms. — Jzur^^ a Fesse, argent, betwixt three Boars' Heads crazed — two in chief, and one in base. Crest, over a Helmet befitting his degree, an Open Bible. Motto, Manet in ^Eternum. HiLLERiiURST. — TIiis property, consisting of 70 or 80 acres of good arable land, with an adequate mansiouj is situated east- ward from the lands of Grange, and on the northern boundary of the parish in that quarter. It seems, from the Retours, to have belonged in 1631, and before that time, to a family of the name of Campbell. It was afterwards acquired by a family of the name of Kelso, who have enjoyed it for several generations ; and now belongs to Alexander Hamilton Hamilton, Esq. of the Retreat in Devonshire, who in 1809, on the death of his maternal uncle, the late Sir William Hamilton, assumed his name, (instead of Kelso,) and succeeded hira in that property, where he now- reoides. Z z 182 TARTICULAU DESCniPTION" \fParish of Hayocks. — This smaller property, of perhaps 40 acres of good land, is situated betwixt the lands of Hillerliurst and Ardeer. ; belongs to two joint proprietors, John and Thomas Muir. There is nothing of the shape of a mansion on it; even the farm houses seem to be ruinous. There remains still to be noticed, one or two Villas: 1. Mayville, in the vicinity of Stevenston, on the north-west. It extends to 12 or 14 acres of very fertile land, and on which there is set down a pleasant small mansion, overlooking a great extent of country, across the Bay of A}^r, from a com- manding site, well sheltered by its own rows of trees. Itbelongs to Mrs. Cumin, of Logie. of the family of Baillie of Monkton, that was of great respectability for a long period in this part of the country. 2. Parkend, the seat of William Brown Esq. of Lawhill. It is a commodious, mansion, with a few acres adjacent, situated close on the town. of Saltcoats, at the north back of Ca- nal Street. 3. On the same side of that street, at the east end, ^v&. Mackinlay has a neat, snug mansion and garden. TABLE OF VALUED RENT. f ■Properties , Grange, Ardeer, - Seabank, Saltcoats part, Hillerhurst, Hayocks, Proprietors. Valued Rent j £ /. rf. Colonel Hamilton, - . 428 Patrick Warner, Esq. • ♦ 17 Robert Cuninghame, Esq. - 210 Earl of Eglinton, - 85 William Hamilton, Esq. . 44 John and Thomas Muir, ari0!). 186 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Parish of Eglinton parks; and about 4 acres at an average on the lands in the north-east wing of the parish, whilst it was observed that the size of the cows was respectively in the inverse ratio of these num- bers. Thus while in Eglinton parks, the average weight of a milch-cow might be about 28 stones of 24 oz. to the lb.; the; weight of those on the meagre pastures in the north-east quarter of the parish, would not exceed 17^ stones. r Horses of all descriptions, 240 £it)e^tOcLJ Rattle ditto, 1514. j bheep, 396 LSwine, 280 lRoaD0. — The great road from Irvine, by the coast side ta Greenock, passes 3 miles through this parisii, and is well kept. There is a road from Kilwiiming to Dairy, &c. on the west side of the Garnock, and another on the east side of the Garnock, to- Beith, both well kept, but the last is remarkably ill-directed, up- hill and down-hill very steeply. There is a good road from Kil- winning eastward, falling in to the great road from Irvine to Glas- gow. The other parish roads are, in general, very bad — but great exertions are now making in improving some of those most ne-. cessary. Town of Kilwinning. — This place, which is set down on the summit of a pretty steep bank on the west side of the Garnock, is partly very ancient, and partly of modern erection. In the first, the houses are generally of two stories and covered with thatch. In the more recently built quarter, the houses are covered with slate, and most of them of one story and an attic only. They have, nearly all, remarkably productive small gardens, well-stored with pot herbs and the smaller fruits. It consists chiefly of one street from east to west about 350 or 400 yards long, and the number of inhabitants is about 1934. In this is included those who dwell in the adjacent quarters, Corsehill and Bridgend, on the east, and Bfres on the west All may indeed be considered as in one tov/a RILWINNING.] OP Cunningftame. lar • — the intervals betwixt them being very little. The numbers ju= the respective occupations are as under — \Veavers, 420 Taylors, 11 Shoemakers, 15 Wrights, 25 Masons, 20 Flesher, 1 Bakers, 4 Tanners, v^™. 4 Smiths, ,: 9 Millers,.,^ . 2 Writers, 2 Surgeons, 2 Coaliers, 45 in the Parish. Girls flowering muslin, said to be more than 500. Population. — In the town, 1934 In the country parts, 1326 Total 3260 Manufactures, — From the above list of trades' people, it may bis seen that the fi[reat mass of the inhabitants are in the weaving line, or derive their subsistence fi'om it. These are employed by the Paisley and Glasgow Manufacturers, and are affected in their circumstances by the state of Commerce in these great seats of ma- nufacture ; whether it be in a prosperous, or in an adverse way, and they accordingly participate in every popular feeling as it arises in these towns. From Glasgow and Paisley, there are about twenty different agents residing here, giving work out to the peo- ple of this place and other neighbouring towns. The Tannery is in a very prosperous state. Other trades' people find their em- ployment in the ordinary demand of the neighbourhood. Education. — Tlaere are seven schools in the parish. Mr Ramsay in. the established school, and Mr. Connel and Mr. Banks in the town itself. Mr. Armour in Corsehill, Mr. Blair at Bul- lerholes ; Mr. Gibb at Bensley ; and Mr. Templeton at Dalgar- von. The number of scholars is 325 among them all. State of the Poor. — The number of poor on the permanent ' roll, in the course of the last 16 years, has increased from 33 to- 5Q, and who have received in this period from £63 10s. yearly^: to ^145 17s. 6d. The occasional poor have received, in the' same time, at the Tate of ,^11 1 4s. 3d. yearly. The- suras ex- 18ii PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [PaHsh of pended on both classes, in 1818, was ^322 18s. 6d. The funds are managed by a Kirk Treasurer, who, for this very teazing of- fice, has a salary of five guineas a year, included in the above general expenditure. The means from whence all this arises, v/ill be seen in the Statistical Table. Only, one is from land rents. The poor have Two Farms under the charge of the Kirk^ Session. The best of them, till of late, had been under along lease of 76 years, at a yearly rent of £li. It is now let at more than L.200. This should operate as a great relief, either to the poor themselves, or in deduction of the yearly donations, which from time to time have been found necessary. 9gini0ter0 — since the Revolution. NAMES. ADMITTED, &c. TRANSLATED, &c. George Meldrum, 1688,., Translated to Edin. ' Trans, to be Princi- George Chambers, Ord. Sept. 2. 1696,.... ^fege!Ab^rdlen,^oJ^ J tober 29. 1717. Alexander Ferguson,. Ord. March 14. 1721. Died Feb. 16. 1770. Thomas Pollock, Ord. Sept. 20. 1770,..Died May 4. 1798. TA TxriT T)-x 1,- 7 Nov, 8. 1798, adm. 7 Trans, to Glasgow, Dr. Wilham Ritchie,, j ^om Torbolton. j Oct 1. 1802. i March 24. 1803, adm. Dr. James Steven, > from the Scots Chapel, J Crown-Court, Lond. DijetiBtentcrief. Antiburghers. — A meeting-house was built here by this class of Seceders about the year 1758, of which the Rev. William Ja- meson was the first minister. He died in , and was suc- ceeded by their present minister, the Rev. Robert Smith. The house is a plain building of moderate size. The congregation may amount to about 400, of whom about 200 are in full com- munion ; and is composed from different parishes. They have provided a neat, small manse for their minister. KlLiviNMNG] OF Cuitningljaine. 18*) Baptists. — There is a small congregation of these that was erected in 1804, consisting of about 120 individuals. They are under the pastoral charge of the Rev. George Barclay, who also officiates in the Baptist chapel in Irvine, generally on alternate Sabbaths. [See Irvine.] ^OnaStrp of Eiltotnning. — There is a discrepancy among authors as to the origin of this Monastry, Keith in his Catalogue of Scottish Bishops, and Grose in his Antiquities of Scotland, say, that it was founded by Hugh de Morville in 1140 ; whilst Craw- llird in his History of Renfrewshire, asserts, that it was founded in the reign of Malcolm IV. which could not be earlier than 1153, the year in which he succeeded his grandfather, David 1. But it should appear, that Kilwinning was celebrated as a place of religious institution at a much more early period than either of these. Dempster, an author of acknowledged authority and a man of great research, and who, after teaching at Paris, died Professor at Bologna in 1625, left behind him some learned works relative to Scottish affairs, particularly to its ecclesiastical histo- ry. A Coenobium, or Monastry, at Kilwinning, is incidentally mentioned, as existing in an early part of the 7th century, 500 years before the time stated by either Keith or Crawfurd. It is in an account of a St. Chronanus or Chronianus where this ap- pears. His words (translated) are — He was " a very celebrated Bishop and Confessor of Cuninghame in Scotland, where, both in sacred and in civil matters, he had great authority and influ- ence. Many of the people he reclaimed from scandalous vices ; many also he converted from a worldly to a religious life, and of whom many, not satisfied with an ordinary character for piety, consigned themselves to the permanent seclusion of religious community ; — particularly in the Monasteries [Ccenobii] of Kil- vanning, and of Faill, which were in very great repute in Cuning- hame* 'He died in the above mentioned Cuninghame, a Province m Scotland, about the vear of our Lord 640." Dempster quotes 3B 190 PARTICULAR DEscnirxroN [Parish of David Camerarius as his authority — and Dempster himself on different occasions is quoted hy Lord Hales, who was not accus- tomed to repose confidence on slight grounds. The works both of Dempster and of David Camerarius (or Chambers) are to be found in the Advocates' Library at Edinburgh. It seems not improbable that this Coenobium, in the 7th cen- tury at Kilwinning, might have been one of the religious estab- lishments instituted by those early apostles of Christianity in Scot- land, the CuLDEEs, to one of whom of the name of Winnin, the late Rev. Mr. Pollock, in his excellent Statistical Account of the Parish in 1794, imputes the etymology W the name, still retain- ed in Winning's Well in the vicinity of this town and in WiN>- ning's Day, on which an annual fair on the 1st day of February is still held. The more magnificent establishment in the middle of the 1 2th century of an Abbey or Monastry here, would have its usual effect of causing a relaxation in the manners of the brother- hood, alienating their minds from that simplicity of life, and holy and pious demeanour for which they had formerly been distin- guished ; and in place thereof, lead them, step by step, to assume all that pomposity of worldly grandeur, together with a taste for luxurious living, that made the country sick of sucli establish- ments at last, and brought on their utter ruin in the end. . In 1560, Alexander Earl of Glencairn, a zealous promoter of the Reformation, in consequence of an order from the States of Scotland, demolished nearly the whole fabrick of this renowned Abbey. A few years afterwards, part of the Abbey church was repaired and converted into a parish church, which remained till 1775, when it was taken wholly down, and the present modern church was erected in its place. There was still left standing a steeple and a gable. This last remains nearly as entire as origi- nally, after a lapse of 250 years. The steeple which was a huge, unseemly square tower 32 feet on a side, and 103 feet high,, fell with a tremenduous crash on Tuesday the 2d August 1814, a few K1L wiNNiyc] OF Cunnlng!jamc, 191 minutes before a band of masons were to have gone up to its top to malcc some repairs that were thought was all that were requir- ed to keep it standing. It was rebuilt on a much more scienti- fic plan in the following yoai*, of about the same height, but only 28 feet square. A very just view of it and of the beautiful old gable is inserted in the map given in this work. The revenues of this great establishment, at the time of its dissolution, exclusive of property lands, amounted to ^80 3s. 4d. Scots ; 8 bolls wheat ; 14 chalders 1 boll and 15 pecks of bear ; 67 chaldors of oat meal; 13 stirks, HO capons, 100 hens, 268 cheeses, and 9 fathom of a peat-stack ; also the teinds and patro- nages of the following parishes : — Kilwinning, Irvine, Kilmarnock, Loudoun, Dairy, Ardrossan, Kilbirnie, Kilbride, Beith, Dunlop, Dreghorn, Stevenston, and Stewaiton, all in Cunninghame; Kil^ maronock and Dunbarton in Lennox; South and North Knapdale in Argyle; and, Kilmory and Kilbride in Arran. Those who know the extent of its property lands, have estimated the full re- venue as equal to ^£20,000 sterling, yearly at present. These well-fed fathers, however, had the burden on them of keeping the respective parishes in regular clergy, but the gift would al- ways be to some of their own community. That there was a Chartulary of the Monastry at one time in existence, cannot well be doubted, though now it seems nowhere to be found. The demolition of the buildings ia 1560 probably involved in it the destruction of the Abbey records. Tlie list of Abbots is only to be ascertained incidentally from other circum- stances, and is extremely deficient. Only the following have come to my knowledge : In 1210... Nigellus. 12G8 Joannes. Bernard. 1367 Robert. 1449 Willielmus Inter 1460 et 1488, Wm. Boyd, second son of Sir Tlios. Boyd of Kilmarnock, if he be not the Willielmus before mentioned. 1513_ William Bunsh, killed at Floudoun. 15\6^ Hamilton, 192 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Parish of In 1538, James Bethune, Archbishop of Glasgow. On his death, that year, he was succeeded by Gavin Hamilton, and who was killed in the Cannongate, Edinburgh, 28th June, 1571. There is some doubt as to both of the last mentioned, as it is ascertained from the date of. a Charter, (the best of evidence,) in the posses- sion of Mr. Miller of Moncastle, in which the Abbot, who grants it, in 1539 is called Alexander. This seems to have been the last of the Abbots, after which, the power was lodged in a Commen- DATOR, to which office Alexander Cunninghame, third son of Alexander fifth Earl of Glencairn, (who demolished the Monas- try,) was the first that was promoted. Previous to this time, the practice of alienating the Abbey lands, had crept in at least as aarly as in 1539. For, the Abbots sagaciously foreseeing the fall of their ojrder, took care to provide for the good of their own connections by parcelling out corners here and there of the Ab- bey lands among them. Their successors, the Commendators, were nothing behind them in following out this good custom. The first of them, the above Alexander, conferred, in 1583, the valuable estate (at that time part of the Abbey lands) of Mont- grenan, on his own son Alexander, in whose family it remained lor some generations. On the 17tli May, 1592, the whole re- maining Abbacy (or Halidome) was erected into a temporal Lord- ship, and granted by James VI. to William Melville of Rait, then Commendator, who soon after disponed the whole to Hugh Earl of Eglinton, who, on the 5th June 1593, expede a Charter from the Crown, in which all this appears — and it remains in the fa- mily of Eglinton to this day. [See Eglinton genealogy.] SgaSOnrg. — This mystery is thought to have been introduced into Scotland at the time of the building of the Monastry of Kilwinning, about the middle of the 12th century, by an archi- tect or master mason from the Continent, who brought over a number of operative masons with him to carry on the work. He resided here, and, being a gude and true mason, was chosen mas-r KiLJViyyiXG.] OF cunningibame. 193 ter of the meetings of the brethren, all over Scotland ; laying down rules for all the Lodges, and deciding in all appeals from them. From this time down to the middle of the 15th century, tradition has recorded little else on the subject, than merely that the head meeting of the whole was held at Kilwinning. James I. King of Scots, so eminently distinguished for his taste in the fine arts, patronised the Mather Lodge (as it was then called) of Kilwinning, and presided as Grand Master till he settled an an- nual salary from every Lodge in Scotland, to be paid a Grand- Master, chosen by the brethren, and approved by the crown t and who had deputies in the different counties and towns in Scotland. In the reign of James II. William Sinclair Earl of Orkney and Baron of Rosslin, was appointed Gi'and Master, an office which, by the same King, was made hereditary in his fami- ly. This Earl and his successors held their Head Courts, or, in the style of masonry, assembled their Grand Lodges, in Kilwin- ning. The most brilliant era of the order seems to have been in the 16th century, when an uncommon spirit for masonry existed in the country, emanating from the highly respected Lodge of Kilwinning, whose original acts and constitutions w^ere adopted, renewed, or confirmed, and continue to be adhered to, invariably to the prts -nt times. The Grand Lodge of Scotland was insti- tuted in 1736, and has the precedency, being composed of depu- tations fi-om every Lodge in Scotland; but Kilwinning still ranks as the first and Mother Lodge of them all. The brethren have an elegant Lodge in the town of Kilwinning, built nearly 20 years ago on a piece of ground obtained from the late Archibald Earl of EgHnton. Their Records extend back a long period, and con- tain a succession of the Grand Masters ; Charters of erection to the other Lodges, daughters of the Mother Lodge, &c. [See Sta- tistical Account of Kilwinning, also Appendix.] Hrctcr^. — [Extracted from the Registerof the Company of Archers, dated Sept. 4. 1688:] — " Shooting with Bow and Arrow 3C 194 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTrON • [ l*iirish »/" at Butts and Papingo has been used and practised at Kilwinning by the inhabitants thereof, for the space of two hundred years and upwards. The prize shot for at the game of the Papingo, in :>former times, was a piece of fine Persian taffetie, three ells long and three quarters broad, of several colours, red, blue, green, scar- let, &c. to the value of twenty pounds (Scots) at least, which they termed a Benn. The person who gained the same, by shooting down the Papingo upon the day appointed for that effect, had the said Benn tied about his waste as a badge of honour, and was thereupon denominated. Captain:, and making a parade through the town attended by the formei" Ciiptains, each wearing about their wastes the Benns they had gained, and accompanied by the rest of the Archers; Each changekeeper brought forth to them ale and other liquors to drink the Captain's- health, &c. The said ancient game turning into disuetude for some few years, was restored and again renewed at Kilwinning on the fourth day of September Javi, (1600) and eighty-eight, by William Blair of that Ilk, I Francis Baillie. Hugh Montgomerie of Coilsfield 1 John Ewing writer in Edin. WilHam Hamiltoun. James Maxwell. JNIr. William Rodger. Mat. Frew, mer. Kilwinning. James M'Bryde, writer. Edin. And John Logan. As appears by the original constitution, who turned the prize, formerly used as above mentioned, into a piece of silver plate, and erected themselves into a society, and kept a register of their acts and customs, their several meetings, proceedings, &c. Since that erection several Gentlemen of note and distinction, through many places of the kingdom, have been admitted members of the said society, of which the index in the following pages gives a particular account." So far the Register. — It farther appears, that Hugh Montgomerie of Coilsfield presented the Society with the first prize at the butts in the year 1694; and down to the pre- Wm. Baillie, mercht, Edinburgh H. Stevenson, of Mountgreenan. J. Ferguson, writer, Ediriburgh. Mr. James Stevenson, Advocate, KiLfrjyyiyG.] op Cunnlngljamc. 195 sent time the annual prize is given by tlie senior member of the Society who has not before been put to the honour of the ex- pence. It is generally some useful ornamental piece of plate, seldom of much value. By the new regulations, the prize for shooting down the Papingo (the representation of a Parrot in wood, affixed on a pole on the towor, above 100 feet in height,) was paid by the gainer of the preceding year, and was provided to be not less than 32 shillings in value. But in 1724, on a sil- ver arrow (worth much more than that sum) being given by Da- vid Mure, (an original restorer of the society,) taylor in Kil- winning, and then Baron Baillie of the Regality, and won by him- self, which of course subjected him to provide or put forth a si- milar prize for the ensuing year ; it was enacted by the society, that in all time coming,^the same arrow should continue to be the prize, and that the gainer thereof yearly should affix to it a badge of silver or gold, of the value atleast of five shillings, ster- ling, and which from that time forward has been done; the first badge being that of the said Baillie David Mure. It was further enacted, that if any person gained the Papingo six years in suc- cession, the abtohite property of the arrow with all its badges should belong to him for ever, on paying five pounds, sterling, to the Society. This contingency has however never occured, so far from the same person gaining it six years in succession, it has never been gained two years together by any. Both theseprizes continue to be shot for annually. The Company of Archers is still respectable, but is not so numerous as in ancient times. > OBiBftatejaf anD jTamiliciff, MoNKCASTLE. — This estate is situated in the north-west cor- ner of the parish. It extends to upwards of 360 acres, part of it rising into pretty steep banks, but nearly all arable. There is- more than 20 acres in wood, some of it very fine old timber, and the rest very thriving young plantation. The old Manor-place still remains,, almost hid among its coeval old trees, but a new 196 PAnxicuLAR DESCRIPTION [Parish of mansion has lately been erected by the present proprietor, in a more modern and elegant stile, in a very commanding situation, overlooking a great extent of country. This property belonged in former times to the Abbey of Kil- winning, Jis might be inferred from its name. The first lay pro- prietor on record, tv'as James Duke of Chattelherault, who, on the 20th July 1552, got a Charter of the Over and Nether Monk- castles, which continued for some time in his family — but how long, I have no information. Only it should seem, they became afterwards thepifoperty of a family of the name of Hay. In 1666 John Hay of Monkcastle conveyed these lands and the adjacent lands of Craigmill (that had also belonged to the Monastry) to Jolm Wallace, minister of the Largs. In 1703, George Wallace conveyed them to Adam Cuninghame, Advocate, whose sister, Jean, with consent of her husband, David Forrester of Denovan, alienated them in 1723 to I. Alexander Miller, merchant in Glasgow, the first of the present family who had these lands. He died soon after, and was succeeded by his brother, II. William Miller, who was served heir of conquest to him On the 26th August 1725. About the year 1730 he married Jean, second daughter of William Nimmo of Bridgehouse, in Linlithgowshire, by whom he had two sons; (the second son, Alex- ander, was a merchant in London and died unmarried in 1760.) He died in 1757 at the age of 97, and was succeeded by his eld- est son, III. William Miller of ^Monkcastle, who, about the year 1773, married Agnes, eldest xlaugluer of George Cuninghame, of Monkreddin, by whom he had an only son, IV". Alexander Miller, who, on his father's death, in Dec. 1802, succeeded him in Monkcastle, and is the present proprie- tor. In 1800 he married Miss W. J. Warner, eldest daughter of tlie late Patrick Warner, Esq. of Ardeer, by whom he has three KiLWiXMyG.] OF Cunntngbame. 197 sons : 1. William ; 2. Alcxander-Cuninghame ; 3. Patrick : and six daughters: 1. Agnes; 2. Helen- Warner; 3. Jane-Nimmo; 4. Janet ; 5. Catherine-Anne ; 6. Rebecca-Henrietta. He is proprietor also of the lands of Nether Hillhouse, in the parish of Torpichen, West Lothian, in right of his grandmother, Jean Nimmo. And likewise of the following lands in Cunning- hame : 1. Hill of Auchintiber in this parish, and superiority of Megsvvell, purchased in 1756 ; 2. Bedland-Hill, purchased in 1765; 3. Windy-edge, purchased in 1810, both in Dairy parish. In 1797, he was admitted a member of the Faculty of Advocates in Edinburgh. This Gentleman retains a considerable portion of his lands iu his own cultivation. Ever since his accession to the estate, he has been in the practice of breaking up his old leys, not by the plough, but by the spade, and this to the extent, sometimes, of 8 or 10 acres in a season. The expence is from £2 15s. to £3 10s. an aci'e, the first year, and from 36s. to 2 guineas the second year, after which he considers the plough as equally eiFectual in pulverising the soil. The crops, from delving^ have been uniform- ly good, doing much more than compensating* the additional ex- pence, pi-oducing double, or from 60 to 70 bushels an acre from the spade, where from the plough little more than 30 could have been expected. This practice, were it to become general, would involve in it most important consequences. It would not only have an effect to increase the general produce of the soil, but would increase that class of the population, whose religious prin- ciples and consequent habits of industry and sobriety have been the least contaminated ; and the remuneration for whose labours, so congenial to the human constitution, has been the least sub- ject to fluctuation of any. Dalgauvan. — This property is situated next to Monkcastle on the south, and extends to upwards of 200 acres. It is all good land. The Earl of Glasgow has about the half of it. There is 3D 198 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [ Pariah of here a pleasant small village, in which, or adjacent to it, the less- er proprietors have their respective habitations. This also be- longed to the Monastry of Kilwinning, High Smithston. — Southwards from the preceding these lands are situated ; belong to Mr. Duniop, and extend to about 50 acres of good land, as also is Broomhill adjacent, extending to 30 acres or more, belong- ing to Mr. Donald. This last does not appear in the Cess Roll or Valued Rent. Both have suitable houses. Smithston. — This property is situated next south from High Smithston just mentioned, and stretches more than a mile in length from the high grounds marching with the parish of Ardrossan, to within a mile of Kilwinning, touching upon the Garnock water. It extends to upwards of 400 acres, nearly all good arable land, with a considerable portion of ornamental plan- tation. The present manor-place lately erected on the lower ex- tremity of the lands, though a plain-looking mansion, possesses great accommodation. It belongs to the representatives of the late Alexander Alacgown, Esq., who died in the prime of life, a- bout five years ago, amid the regrets of every person who knew him. This family is descended from a worthy Presbyterian min- ister in Galloway, who lived in the reign of Charles II., and was possessed of considerable property in Burrough acres, and Houses in the town of Dumfries, and from wiiom is descended, mater- iially, the families of Corsan of Meikle Knox and Copland of Collieston. His son, I. Thomas Macgown was sometime Provost of Irvine, and in 1690 purchased this estate of Smithston, from John Millerj the former proprietor. In 1673 lie married Margaret, daughter of the Rev. Mr. Shaw, minister of Irvine, by whom he had a son and tivo daughters. The youngest daughter, Anne, was married t© John Gumming, M.D. Irvine ; the other died unmarried. He died in 1711, and was succeeded by his son, KiLfVjyyiyG.^ of Cunningftamc, 199 IT. Alexander Macgown of Smithston. He married, in 1710, Miss Maxwell, daughter of James Maxwell, Esq. of Barn- cleugh in Dumfries-shire, (of whom the present family of Barn- cleugh,) by whom he had issue, four sons and three daughters. He was succeeded by liis eldest son, HI. Thomas Macgown of Smithston, who was born in 1718, and died on the 21st Dec. 1791. He was thrice married: 1st to Katherine Lorimer, daughter of Lorimer, shipmaster in Saltcoat§, by whom he had no issue; 2dly, in April 1782, to Helen, daughter of the Rev. Robert Baird, minister of Dunlop, by whom he had a son and a daughter ; 3dly, to Agnes, daugh- ter of Howie, shipmaster in Saltcoats, without issue. He was succeeded by his only son, IV. Ar.EXAXDEU Macgown of Smithston, who was a Captain in the 2d or Irvine llegt. of Ayrshire Local Militia ; resided generally his estate, which he improved, and beautified considerably with plantations, and built the present house. He died on the 9th Nov. 1815. He married on the 7th May 1801, Janet Tod, fourth daughter of Robert Tod, Esq. of Knockendale, banker in Irvine, by whom he had 1. Marion ; 2. Thomas; 3. Alexander; 4. He- len ; and 5. Robert. V. Thomas, the eldest son, is now, of Smithston. AsHGROVE — Is situated southwards of the last mentionedlands, and The Wooo, to the eastward of them. They belong both to Miss Bowman, and extend to from 300 to 400 acres. The latter is remarkably good land, and being situated near to the town of Kilwinning, renders it still more valuable. The former is situa- ted about a mile westward from Kilwinning, on the confines of this parish with those of Ardrossan and Stevenston, and though not altogether so fertile, naturally, is well cultivated, and in pro- gress of further improvement. The house, though at first intend- ed for a suit of offices only, has been, by some judicious alterati- ons, converted into a commodious residence ; whilst the surround- £'00 PAUTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Parish of ing lands are sheltered and ornaTiented with a considerable ex- tent of well-arranged plantations. This was the ancient Ash- mvAP.DS, long the residence of a branch of the Craigends family, from whom is descended the present proprietrix and represen- tative of the .family of Cunningtanic of a^ftinparl!©. From Alexander the first Earl of Glencairn, (and 13th gene- ration,) who was killed in 1488, at the battle of Sauchie-burn, was directly descended the family of Cunninghame of Craigends; the second in descent of whom was Gabriel Cunninghame of Craigends, who was killed at the battle of Pinkie in 1547. By his Lady, a daughter of Livingston of Kilsyth, he had two sons. The eldest, William, succeeded him in Craigends ; the 2d son, I. James, was ancestor of the family of Ashinyards. [See Crawfurd'e Hist, of Renfrewshire, article Craigends]. What fol- lows in this deduction is from the family writs — in which he is designed Camevarius de Kilwinning, and acquired, in 1567, the lands of Fisenzeards from John Russel, the former proprietor. He was succeeded by his son, H. Alexander, to whom in his lifetime he executed an in- strument of resignation, and in favours also of Marietta Fleming, spouse of the said Alexander, dated in 1594. The next in suc- cession mentioned is James Cunninghame of Eissenyards, brother and heir of the late Alexander. He must have died before the 2dth July 1627, for on that day HI. James Cunninghame of Eissenyards is retoured heir to his father, James of Eissenyards; and in 1637, the same James has a Charter to him, and his spouse, Jean Campbell, of the lands of Eissenyards and others. The next that appears in the family papers is IV. William Cunninghame of Ashinyards and Whitehirst, who in 1664 received a discharge from Hugh Earl of Eglinton^ KiuviNMNG.] or ^uttningljame, 201 of some encumbrances affecting both these properties. On the 25th Jan. 1671 he was retoured heir to his fatlier, James Cuning- harae of Ashinyards and other lands. In 1673 he was appoint- ed tutor to Sir William Cunninghame of Cunninghamehead. In 1712 he disponed his whole lands to his son-in-law, Andrew Martin of Clochridge ; the date of the disposition being the 5th of May in that yeai-. He had a son and two daughters. Adam Cunninghame who in 1709 is designed younger of Ashinyards, in the Archery records of Kilwinning. It should seem that he died soon after this, and before his father, probably unmarried. The daughters were, 1. Elisabeth, of whom afterwards, and 2. , who was married to the above Andrew Martin of Clochridge, who afterwards bj purchase, or probably in part by dowry with his wife, became sole proprietor of that estate, and various other possessions, as Whitehirst, Nether Mains and others attached to it, consisting of several houses and yards and crofts in Kilwinning, Corsehill, Beith and elsewhere. Andrew Martin of Ashinyards, died before the 20th February 1739, as on that day his son, Arthur Martin of Ashinyards was retoured heir to his father in these lands. He left a son and two daughters. The son went to the West Indies ; was married there, and had two children who died young, and he died there himself at an early period of life. The daughters were 1* Margaret, who married a Mr. Glasgow, and 2. Magdalane, who married a Mr. Sommerville. They became co-heiresses of Ashinyards, but both their fa- milies being in straitened circumstances, their trustees, by a ju- dicial sale in 1766, disponed the lands to a near relative of the, family, John Bowman, Esq. Lord Provost of Glasgow, who was descended, maternally, from the family of Cunninghame of Ash^ inyards, thus 3E 202 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Ptinsh of V. Elisabeth Cuntninghame, eldest daughter of the last Mr,- Cunninghame of Ashinyards, married in 1695. John Bowman, Esq. an eminent merchant in Glasgow^ and who was afterwardsi chief Magistrate of that city in the year 1715. Their son, VI. John Bowman, who was also at one time Lord Provost of Glasgow, married in 17.34 Miss Houghton of Dublin, by M'hom he had two sons and two dauo-hters* li John, the eldest son, went to North America about the commencement of the contest betwixt Great Britain and her co- lonies, where he married a Lady of fortune, and died there, leav- ing a family in affluent circumstances. 2. Houghton, the second son, married Miss Vere, a Lady from Dominica. 1. Anne, the eldest daughter, of whom afterwards. 2. Elisabeth, the second daughter, married first John Weir Vere, of the island of Dominica, uncle of Miss Vere above men- tioned ; and secondly, Robert Tennent, Esq. of Glasgow ; but has no family alive. John Bowman, Esq. of Ashinyards, (altered, in his time, to AsHGROVE,) bought also the lands of JNIountgrenan in this parish, in 1778, from Stevenson, and sold them again in 1794 to Robert Glasgow, Esq. the present proprietor. He died in 1796, when by a special destination he was succeeded in Ashgroveand other property in the parish, by his eldest daughter, Vn. Anne Bowman, who married Miller Hill Hunt, a Cap*, tain in the 6th Regiment of Foot, who served under the Duke of Cumberland against the Rebels in the year 1746, at the battle of Culloden, where he received an wound. ^ He died in 1783. His grandfather, Lieut.-Colonel Hunt, was an officer of distinguished abilities and great zeal for tlie service, which he manifested, par- ticularly atone time in Spain, under the renowned Earl of Peter- borough, where, from his own private fortune, he joined the other officers of the Regiment in advancing pay to the troops, when KlLfriNXJAG.] OF Cunrfingftamc. 203' neglected bv the Ministry at home. He died Lieut. -Colonel of" Dormer's Regiment. His own father, Captain Abraham Hunt, ivas bred also in the Army, and saw a great deal of service, like- wise in Spain under Lord Peterborough and General Wade,, having been in the severe actions of Almanza, Brihuego, and Sarragossa ; as also at the seige of Barcelona, and the taking of Minorca. After serving long as a subaltern, and having seen not fewer than 16 junior officers promoted over his head, he present- ed a memorial to the Duke of Devonshire at that time Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, which had the desired effect, as his Grace introduced him personally to the King (George H.) who at once appointed him to a company, and when the Regiment was order- ed to embark with the expedition to Carthagena, under Lord Cathcart, his Majesty caused it to be signified to him, that on ac- count of his long services and worn out constitution, he would excuse him from going to so bad a climate, and provide for him : at home. But Captain Hunt declined to accept of this indul- gence, as being inconsistent with. his ideas, of honour and duty^ to have received pay so long and then to flinch in the hour of danger ; so he embarked accordingly, and died in that disastrous expedition, tlirough the influence of climate, at Carthagena in 174L Anne Bowman, who married as above Capt. Miller Hill Hunt^ had three daughters to him : 1. Maria, who died young. 2. Margaret Anne. 3. Eliza Ballantyne, married the Hon. Roger Rollo, brother- to Lord Rollo, and has issue. And she herself died in 1811, when she was succeeded by her eldest remaining daughter, Vni. Margaret Anne Hunt; who in consequence of her mother's destination, takes now her grandfather's name of Bow- man, as also his Arms, and is now proprietrix of Ashgrove, &c.- 204 I'AUTicuLAR DESCRIPTION [Parish €f formerly Ashinyards, when possessed by her maternal ancestorsj, the Cunninghames. The Arms are Or, a chevron betwixt two Bows braced in chief, for Bowman ; and a shakefork in base, ISable, for Cunninghame. Crest, a quiver of Arrows in pale, proper ; motto, Sublimia Cures.* Eastward from Ashgrove are situated the lands of White* ^HiRST Park, Laigh Smithston, Woodside, Bellsfaulds, Town- head OF Byres, and sundry pendicles around the Byres and Kil- winning, with part of these towns, belonging to Lady Mary Montgomery Burgess, and extending to 300 acres, all good land. Nether-Mains and Longford, (lately purchased ;) Black- lands, Delgaw, Mlirside and sundry pendicles around Kilwin- ning, together with a great part of the town itself, belong to the Earl ol Eglinton, extending to about 300 acres of very fertile landc West Doura, and the Dubs, belong to Messrs. Crighton, and extend to above 180 acres good land. Woodend, part of Woodside, Pattiston, and part of White- hirst, extending liom 60 to 70 acres, all excellent land, belong to Mr. Burns. Byrehill, on the south extremity of the parish, belongs to Wm. Dean, Esq. in Stewarton, consists of about 70 or 80 acres, partly sand and partly marsh land, greatly improved of late by the tenant, William Logan, Stobs, adjacent to this, belongs to W. and A. Ramsay, con- sists of nearly 40 acres of good land. Craneberry Moss, nearer to Kilwinning, is good land, far bet- * There appears to have been two distinct branches of this family, proprietors, during the same time, of different parts of the property. Namely, Cunninghnme of Ashinyards as above, and Cunynghame of Qufytehirst. 1 he existence of the \\ hite- hirst family appears, from two different Retours, one in 1614, of Robert Cunnings hame as heir to his mother, Marietta Fleming, (which lady appears alto in the Ash" jnyards papers about the same period), and another in 1636, of Robert Cunynghame as heir to liis father, Robert of Quhytehirst. In 1664, Whitehirst appears to be con- joined with Ashmyards, and pari of the lands of Whitehirst is still comprehended in the estate of^shgrove. KiL WINNING.] OF 'Cuntiiugljamc, 205 ter than the name would indicate. It belongs to Wm. Boyle, Esq, Tod-Hills, (John Brown, Esq.) partly sandy and partly a mar- shy soil, about 30 acres in extent, and is now undergoing great improvement. Tliere are many other small possessions in the vicinity of Kilwinning, (for which see the Table of Valued Rent,) almost all very fertile. Eglinton. — This great property is the most southerly on the east side of the Garnock, and extends to upwards of 1700 acres in this parish, of arable and woodlands, within the park of Eglin- ton, or in its immediate vicinity, exclusive of more than 1000 acres, conterminous, situated in the parish of Irvine. The park itself extends to upwards of 1200 acres, there are upwards of 400 acres in it of woodland, and is situated in both parishes. The Castle is situated in the parish of Kilwinning. A description of this magnificent seat of the Earls of Eglinton, with all its woods, its gardens, its waters, its walks, and its approach roads, is what I shall not attempt : suffice it to say, that it is equalled by few pla- ces in Scotland ; perhaps surpassed by none. 90ontg;omcrg OBart of <2Bglinton. This family is among the most ancient of the Scottish Nobili- ty, and is of Norman origin. Roger de Montgomery, cousin to William the Conqueror, commanded the van of his army at the battle of Hastings, 14th Oct. 1066. He v.- as afterwards raised to the dignities of Earl of Arundel and of Shrewsbury, and obtain- ed immense possessions in the south and west of England, more especially in Shropshire ; and also in Wales, where he acquired that fine tract of country on the upper banks of the Severn, since called the Shire of Montgomery, from himself In the after con- tests betwixt Robert the eldest and Henry the third son of the Conqueror, the Montgomery family adhering to the party of Ro- bert, which was unsuecesful, lost the greater part of their posses- sions. The first of the family who came to Scotland, Douglas says, 3F 206 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Partsh of was Philip, the fourth son of Roger Earl of Shrewsbury — ^but this seems rather doubtful. It is at least better ascertained that I. Robert de Mundegumbri, who accompanied Wulter the High Steward from Wales, was the founder of the Eglinton fa-^ mily. This was in the reign of David I. {intei' 1124: et 1153) and from the High Steward he obtained the valuable estate of Eagles- hame iathe county of Renfrew, which has continued ever since in the family. It is supposed that Walter also conferred on him his daughter Marjory to wife, being the only assignable reason for the above great donation of land. He died in 1177. His successor, II. John de Montgomery is supposed to have been his son. He married Helen, one of the daughters of Robert de Kent, with whom he obtained a third part of the lands of Innervvick in East Lothian. III. Alan de Montgomery, his son, succeeded him in the lands of Innerwick and in Renfrewshire. He is a witness to se- veral Charters betwixt the years 1208 and 1232. IV. Robert de Montgomery, his son, succeeded him, and appears as a witness in a donation to the Monks of Coldingham, in 1258. He was succeeded by his brother John, who died in 1285, who had four sons : John, Murthaw, Thomas, all mention- ed in the Ragman Roll, and Alan, ancestor of the Montgomeries of Stahare. He was succeeded by his eldest son, V. John de Montgomery, designed del conte de Lanark in the Ragman Roll in 1296 — but this, in those days, comprehend- ed Renfrewshire. VI. Alexander de Montgomery is the next of whom any record makes mention. In 1358 he obtained a passport from England to go abroad, with a retinue of 60 horse, which shews him to have been a man of considerable rank. It is not improbable that he was the grandson of the preceding, but as no other ap- pears betwixt them, he shall be here held as the son. The next in succession is jCitwiXJSiNG.] OF cunningftame, 207 VII. John de Montgomery of Eagleshame. The year of his succession to the lands is not known, but he is greatly renowned in the history of the times, and for his signal bravery at the battle of Otterburn (the Chevy Chace, in legendary lore,) on the 21st July 1388, where he took the redoubtable Henry Percie prison- er, and with whose ransom, it is said, he built the Castle of Pul- noon, now in ruins, at Eagleshame. He married in 1361, (ac- cording to Nisbet,) Elisabeth, daughter and sole heiress of Sir Hugh de Eglinton of Eglinton, in the county of Ayr, through which marriage the great estates of Eglinton and Ardrossan were acquired to his family. By this Lady he had three sons: 1. John; 2. Alexander, who, in 1387, got from his mother, the lands of Bonnyton in the county of Edinburgh, with the consent of her eldest son, John, designed, dui'ing his father's lifetime, " Of Ar- drossan;" 3. Sir Hugh, who attending Earl Douglas at Otter- burn, fell gallantly at that battle.* The Eglintons of Eglinton v/ere a fiimily of great distinction, and of ancient date. In 1205 Rodolphus de Eghnton appears in a contract with the town of Irvine, and it should seem was the son and heir of Hugh the son of Bryce, the son of Eglun Lord of Eglinton in the reign of Malcolm King of Scots. Probably * It is stated by Douglas, that the Lady Elisabeth de Eglinton, was the daughter of Sir Hugh de Eglinton, by Giles or Kgedia Stewart, half-sister to Robert II., who, previous to her marriage with Sir Hugh, was the widow of fSir James Lindsay of Crawfurdi who, he says, died in 1370. It would be impossible, however, that this Lady could have been the mother of Elisabeth de Eglinton, who was married to ?)ir John Montgomery in 13G1. Wood agrees so far v/ith Douglas, as to state, that this sister of Robert II. was the widow of Sir David Lindsay of Crawfurd, who died in 1356. But neither will this account for her daughter by Sir Hugh de Eglinton being marriageable in 1361, nor will any date of the marriage, at a latter period, account for Sir John Montgomery having by her a son, in full manhood, at the battle of Otterburn in 1388. The solution of the whole seems to be this — that 8ir Hugh de Eglinton had been twice married; 1st to the heiress of Ardrossan, by whom ho had issue, EUsabeth, who in 1361, was married to Sir Jolm Montgomery. 2dly to Lady Egedia Stewart, after the death of her first husband Sir James^ or rather Sir David Lindsay, by whom he had no issue. He himself died not long after 1 374-, the last year iji which he appears in record — and this will also account'how his daughter, the heiress - o£Jier mother-in -Ardrossan, had such an interest in that part of tlie property. 208 -I'ARTicuLAii DESCRIPTION [Parish of Malcolm Canmore who reigned from 1057 till 1093. See Craw- furd's Peerage. In 1296 there is a Rodolphus de Eglinton among the Magnates Scotise, who submitted to Edward L; and the last of them mentioned, the above Sir Hugh de Eglinton, was Justici- ary of Lothian in 1361. [For the family of Ardrossan, see p.l58.] VIII. John de Montgomery of Eagleshame, Eglinton, and Ardrossan, succeeded to his father soon after 1392. In l'!!23he was one of the hostages for the ransom of James I., at which time his revenue is set down at 700 merks, whilst that of Hamilton is rated at 500, and of Gordon at 400. In 1429 he appears among the Lords in Parliament. Nisbet says he was advanced to that dignity in 1427. He married Margaret, daughter of Sir Robert Maxwell of Caerlavrock. From the second son of this marriage are descended the Montgomeries of Stanhope and of Macbeth- hill, the eldest Cadets of the family. The Glencairn and the Kilmarnock families, descended from his two daughters. He was succeeded by his eldest son, IX. Alexander second Lord Montgomery, who was in high consideration during the reigns of James I. and James II. and held several public offices or employments. He died about the year 1461 or soon after. He married Margaret, daughter of Sir Robert Boyd of Kilniarnock, by whom he had three sons and three daughters. From the second son, George, descended the Montgomeries of Skelmorley. The daughters were married : the 1st to the Earl of Lennox ; the 2d to Lord Kennedy ; and the 3d to Cunninghame of Glengarnock. His eldest son, X. Alexander, (Douglas calls him Andrew,) died before his father, in 1452. He married Elisabeth, daughter of Sir Adam Hepburn of Hales, and by her had issue, three sons and a daugh- ter. Robert, the second, was ancestor of the Montgomeries of Braidstone, afterwards Earls of Mount Alexander ; Hugh, the third son, was ancestor of the Montgomeries of Hazelhead — both families are now extinct. The daughter was married to Lord KfLtviNNiNG.] OF Cunning!)ame. 209 Home, at that time Laird of Lainshaw and other lands in the neighbourhood. The eldest son, XL Alexander, succeeded his grandfather, and was third Lord Montgomery. In 1465 he had a Charter of the lands of Bonington and Pilton in the county of Edinburgh. He married Catherine, daughter of Lord Kennedy, by whom he had two sons; the second, James, was designed of Smithston. The eldest, XH. Hugh, fourth Lord Montgomery, was born about the year 1460, was created Earl of Eglinton in 1507, and died in a good old age after the 3d Oct. in 1545, the last time he is men- tioned in Parliament. In his time began the great feud betwixt the families of Eglinton and Glencairn, which seems to have been carried on with much animosity on both sides for more than 100 years, and attended with the loss of many lives. The first great exploit recorded was the sacking of the House of Kerelaw and carrying off the goods, by this Lord, for which he got a remission from the Crown, in Oct. 1488. This was one of the principal messuages belonging to the Earl of Glencairn. The Cunning- hames do not seem to have been able at the time to retaliate, but they did not forget the visit ; but treasuring it up in their minds till about 40 years after, they took th^ opportunity, and burnt the Castle of Eglinton to the ground, and with it all the family papers and Charters. This appears in a new Charter granted in 1528 by James V. This Earl appears to have been implicated also in a feud against die Laird of Lochleven in Fife. In this he was joined with Lord Sempil, Sir Neil Montgomery, and Sir John Stirling of Keir, and for which they were all includ- ed in a summons for treason, dated 21st June 1526. Keir only was forfeited, as he was probably the principal in the transaction, but, in a short time after, was restored. The Earl married Lady Helen Campbell, daughter of Colin Earl of Argyle, by whom he had issue, six sons: 1. Alexander, Master of Montgomery, who tiied before his father was advanced to the dignity of ^arj ; 2. 3G 210 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Parish oj John, Master of Eglinton ; 3. Sir Neil Montgomerv the first of Lainshavv ; 4, William of Greenfield, who married Elisabeth, the daughter of Robert Frartces of Stane, by which he acquired that property near Irvine ; 5. Hugh ; and 6. Robert, who, in j.E. through the middle. On the western side the grounds rise, by various gradations, to the summit of that ridge of hills which divides this parish from those of Kilbride and Largs. These are from 700 to 1200 feet above the sea, and are little less above this valley, which at an average is hardly 100 feet above high-water mark. On the eastern side, the grounds rise from 150 to 200 feet, in the course of half a mile from the Gavnock ; after which the surface in the distant view seems to be a level plain in its whole extent, but on a nearer inspection, is found to be greatly varied in heights and hollows. This eastern wing of the parish is skirted for about six miles by the Garnock, in all its windings, whose sloping banks, on that side, are ornamented with the plantations of Blair, and by those of about ten or a dozen of Jesser properties, the mansions of which, are set down within a 3M 230 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Parish of* short distance of that water. The western side of the valley is also much beautified with plantations, less or more, around the seats of the numerous proprietors there; whilst the stately vil- lage of Dairy, set down on the summit of a considerable emi- nence in the heait of it>. forms itself an interesting part of the general view. Minerals?. — Coal, LiJvi.ESTO.Nje, aad white Freestone, abound greatly in the eastern division. The strata of 'them all lie fair, approach near the surface, and are easily wrought. In the wes- tern division, the sub-stratum is generally hard whin rock. There is also some coal, and one of the best limestone quarries in the country is on this side, at the Ilourat. ©oil. — In the eastern division the soil is genei-ally clay, pretty stiff or adhesive, unless where, from long continued cul- tivation, it has been converted into loam — but is still ready, on being neglected, to revert into its original nature, so productive of sprits, rushes, and other coarse herbage. There is also a con- siderable extent of mossy land in this quarter^ and this more readily yields to cultivation, and has in fact been cultivated very extensively and with great success. On the west side, the soil, generally incumbent on whin-stone, is naturally of a more kindly quality, yielding more readily to cultivation. IRoaDiBf, — This extensive parish is well accommodated with roads, both turnpike and parochial, and they are in general well kept, though from the great inequality of the surface, it is hardly practicable, in some cases, to conduct them so nearly on a level as could be desired. But great improvements have been made and are still making in this respect. Crop0 CultiiJateD. — Wheat is hardly grown any where, but In the Holme lands in the valley. — Turnip is little known as a field-crop. — Flax is more cultivated here than in any parish yet described : for, in addition to the usual patches for home use, it is very generally raised in larger parcels for sale ; especially in JjALRY] OF Ciinnin^ijamc. 231 the eastern division, where two or three acres of it together are in different parts to be met with. Other crops are cultivated In much the same proportion, as in the preceding parishes. 'In tillage, 17771 Contents Cultivated grass land, 5509 Total Of ti)e <^ Hill pasture, 5515 }> 14700 JPan.Si). Moss land, &c 1345 I acres. .Woods and gardens, 554 J ILifte @)tOCfe. — From the great extent of sound hill-pasture, in addition to the usual proportion of arable land in grass, there is in this parish, besides the milch-cows, a considerable num- ber of grazing cattle kept, as well as of sheep. Of these last, about two-thirds are of the black-faced I^inton breed, so celebra- ted for the excellency of their mutton, and so noted for their wild and restless disposition. Horses of every description,..,. 221 Cattle ditto, 2528 Sheep ditto, 2669 Swine, 402 TownofDaluy. — This pleasant village is situated about 7 miles N.w. of Irvine and about 44- miles s.w. of Beith. The streets, crossing or falling into each other, meet, as on a common centre, at the highest part of the hill on which the town is set down, where there is a small square. The houses are some of them of- one story, and some of them of two, but all are well built, of good masonry, and covered with slate. It contains about 1265 inhabitants ; among whom are Weavers,. Taylors,„ Shoemakers,— Wrights, Masons, _™^___. Wool-carders, . 5 Saddler, Retail shops- 454 Smiths, .9 Stocking weavers 4 14 Bakers, 2 14 FIcshers, 2 6 Flaxdrcssers, 2 6 Coopers, 3 One Church, two Meeting-houses, a Post-office and a Printing Press. ' Inns& alehouses Surgeons, Writer .^^ 1 12 6 2 1 232 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [ Parish of i^anufacture0.--ln the town the chief manufacture is weav- ing of cotton and other soft fabrics for the Glasgow and Paisley employers. There is also wool-carding and wool-spinning ; tow- carding and tow-spinning. lu the country parts there are the •ibllowing trades' people ; Weavers 42, Wrights 10, Smiths 8, Taylors 2, Coaliers 42, and Quan-ymen 15 : some of these last two reside in the village. The population of the country parts is, 1760 In the town as above, 1265 Total in the parish,.. .3025 S>Ci)OOl0. — Besides the Parish School, taught by Mr. William Harvey, there are six private schools in the various parts of this widely-spreading parish. The number of scholars in all is 450. [See Statistical Table.] JPOOr, — There are on the ordinary roll 28, and 12 more who get relief occasionally, among whom is distributed yearly about ^160. [See Stat. Table.] 00ini0tcr0 — since the Revolution. [Prior to this, in 1636, John Cunninghame of Bedland was minister, as appeaYt from a Retour. He was succeeded by Robert Bell, who obtained an augmentation, as appears from a decrete in 1650, fixing the whole stipend at four chalders of meal, one •chalder of bear, and j£300 Scots, together with j650 Scots for communion elements.] NAMES. ADMITTED, &c. DIED. Robert Bell, Before 1650 Before 1693. John King, Ord. April 25. 1693... 1713. .John Fullarton, Ord. April 25. 1717... April 17. 1761. John Fullavton, 7 Trans, from Dunlop, 7 y ^q lorvo Son of .he preceding. | April!. 1762. j Jan. ^d. 1»U^. T 1 rrii 7 Trans, from Camne- John Ihomson, > , -.-r ,„ lorwci ' j than Nov. 18. 1802. £)i00Cntcri6l. — In 1785 the Burgher Seceders erected a meet- ing-house here, which holds about 300 hearers, the supposed a- mount of their present congregation. The Rev. George Russel is their minister, being the only one they have yet had. DALRY.] OP Ctinningbame. ^3b There is another congregation of Dissenters, but under what denomination, not known to me. It is not numerous. The Rev. Mr. Gemmil, who had before he came here, a Seceding congre- gation at Kilmaurs, is their Pastor. He also practices Physic, and likewise keeps a Printing office. OEjStateiBt anD jTamilieiEf. There are about 80 different land-proprietors, and many more distinct properties in this parish, A description of the whole would, itself, fill a volume, and might after all excite not much interest beyond its own limits. An endeavour shall therefore be made to generalize this part of the subject, by arranging the es- tates into classes, according to the natural divisions of the parish as separated from each other by the different streams. I. That part, which is situated to the eastward of the water of Garnock. The principal property in this is The Bakony of Blaik. — This comprehends considerably more than 3,000 acres, including, in this account, part of the lands of Lessons, lately sold to Mr. Glasgow of Mountgreenan ; and those of AucHiNSKEiTH and Jameston, purchased about the same time by Col. Blair. This portion is situated next to the parish of Kil- winning, while it stretches from the Garnock on the west, to the boundary of Dairy parish with Beith on the east, occupying a space of more than G square miles. It is nearly all arable land. The woodlands on this property extend to about 400 acres, and are greatly ornamental to the country. The House of Blair is an ancient structure of considerable size, has been erected at different periods and in different stiles of building, but is still a commodious mansion. It is set down on a rising bank about a quarter of a mile up from the Garnock, — well sheltered among its ancient timber, of which some Spanish Chesnuts are among the largest size, of perhaps any in Scotland. This Barony has re- mained a very long time in the family of the same name. ;. 3N 234 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [ Parish of VMv of OBlair. This is a veiy ancient family, connected by intermarriages with the best in the west of Scotland, and have enjoyed a high rank in Ayrshire for more than six hundred- years. They were the chief of all the Blairs in the south and west country ; but ia- nother family of the same name, who settled in the north, in the counties of Fife, Perth and Angus, namely Beair of Balthyock, always competed with this- family for the cliiefship, till at last James VI. (than whom, none more fib to decide a question of tiiis kind,) determined " that the oldest nvan for the time being, of either family, should have the-pi'ecedency." Both families seem to be equally ancient, but it is doubtful if they be of the same origin, though of the same name. [See " Douglas' Baronage" 1st edit. p. 186 and 194.] Their Arms have no affinity. The succession of this family is well authenticated. ' I. William de Blair, . He is mentioned in a contract be- tween Ralph deEglinton and the town of Irvine in 1205, and is said to have died in the reign of Alexander II. betwixt the years 1214 and 1249. He left a son, II. William, who, in a Charter of Alexander III. to the Ab- bey of Dunfermline, about 1260, is stiled Willielmus de Blair, JDominns de eodem, or o£ that l\k. He left two sons : 1. Bryce ; 2. David. He was succeeded by the eldest^ III. Sir Bryce Blair of that Ilk, who nobly jointed' Wallace in defence of the liberties of his country, and lost his life in the cause, having been taken prisoner by the English, and executed' at Ayr ia. 1296. Having no issue, he was succeeded by bis hrotherj III. David Blair of that Ilk, Avho was compelled, with almost the whole magnates Scotiae to submit to Edward I. in the same year 1296. In the critical remarks on the Ragman Roll p. 36, he is particularly mentioned as the progenitor of this family. He. was father of DALRY.] OF Cuuningtjame. 235" IV. Roger de Blair of that Ilk, who was a steady adlierent cflloberL Bruce, from whom he got a Charter Rogero de Blair dileclo elfiddi nodro of four chalders of victual yearly out of the lands of Bourtrees in the Shire of Ayr. (Chart, in Pub. Archiv.) He died in the reign of David II. and was succeeded by his son, V. James Blair of that Ilk, who got a grant of several tene- ments of land in the vicinity of Ayr, which had fallen into the King's hands by forfeiture. This is confirmed by a Charter by David I. Feb. 3, 1368; [King David's Book of Charters.] He left two sons: I. James; 2. John,- progenitor of the Blairs of Adamton — a family that has come down to almost the present day. He was succeeded by the eldest son, VI. James Blair of that Ilk,' who got a Charter from Robert II. dated 8th May 1375, confirming a Charter granted to his father by David IL of the lands of Corshogyll, &c. in Dumfries^ shire ; and another, dated 23d July same year, of the lands of Hartwood, &c. He died in the reign of James I. and left a son, VII. David Blair of that Ilk, who was succeeded by his son, VIII. John Blair of that Ilk, who was served heir to his father, James, and from James III. got a Charter Johanni Blair de eodem ,nepoti et hteredi Jacobi <^'c. terrarum baroniiBde Blair, t^^e. in Ayrshir£, 19th Jan. 1477. He left issue a son^ John ; and two daughters : 1. Egedia, mai'ried to James Kennedy of the fa-< mily of Cassilis, which appears by a Charter 18th April 1515,. Egidice Blair, rcHclai quondam Jacobi Kennedy, anntii reddilus^ levan, de terris baroniae de Unnure. 2, Elisabeth married to Niuian Stewart of Bute, which r^ppears- by a Charter, Elisahpl/iae Blair, Sponsce JMniani Stewart, et Ro- berto Stewart eorumfnio, tcrrarumde Ambriore^ <^c. 15th August. 1529. IX. John Blair of that Ilk, succeeded his father in the reiga. of James V. He had a Cliarter i2ih Aug. 1540, of the 5 merkv laud of Dalquhonein Ayrshire, and another 12th March 1544 of- 2S6 • rARTiouLAU DESCRIPTION [Parish of the 9 nieik land of Bogton, Holmhead, and two third parts of the Mill of Cathcart in the Shire of Renfrew, and which lands con- tinued in tlie family at least till 1679, when part of them was sold to Hamilton of Aikenhead, ancestor of the present James Hamilton, Esq. of Holmhead. [See Renfrewshire Hist edition 1818, p.p. 30. 264.]— He died in the reign of Queen Mary. He married Lady Elisabeth Montgomery, daughter of the Earl of Eglinton, by whom he had his successor, X. John Bi.air of tliat Ilk, who married Margaret, daughter of Cunninghame of , and on the resignation of his father, got a Charter of the lands of Tunybankhead and Blair- Ardoch, &c. in Ayrshire, 23d Nov. 1546. He died in the be- ginning of the reign of James VI. and was succeeded by his son, XI. John Blaiu of that Ilk, who married Grizel, daughter of Robert the third Lord Semple, [misprinted 2d in Douglas' Peerage,] and got a Charter Johanni Blair de eocfem et Griseili- decB Sen pie, John Crawfurd of Crawfurdland, Thomas Neveine of Monkred- den, and William Montgomery, writter hereof. Blair's own sig- nature is in one word, " BLAfROFTHATILK" Who he married is not mentioned, but he died in ]^ 1609, and left three sons, and a daughter : 1. Bryce, who succeeded him. 2. James, stiled in a Charter dated June 1615, de Malsmure et Annabellce Stewart ejus Spons, wiio married another daughter of Sir John Dalmahoy, (sister to his father's second wife,) by whom he had only two daughters — one married to George Winram, Esq. of Eymouth, and the other to Robert Kennedy, Esq. Comptroller of the Customs at Borrowstonness. Dying without issue male, the representation of the family now devolv- ed on V. John, the eldest son of the 2d marriage of Sir William/ who got in patrimony from his father the lands of- Milenie or Malleny — a beautiful property in Mid Lothian, on the south banks of the Leith water, seven miles west from Edinburgh— and which has ever since continued to be the chief title of the family. He married Anne, daughter of Sir Thomas Nicolson of Cockburnspath, by whom he had two sons and two daughters : 1. Thomas, who carried on the line of the Malleny family. 2. William, who married the heiress of Blair as above. Of the daughters, one was marrj^ed to Sir William Calderwood bi' DALRY] • OF Cunningljame. 24S Polton, a family (united to that of Durham,) of great respectabi- lity still in Mid Lothian — and the other married to her cousin-, Laurence Scot of Bavelaw, To return now to the family of Blair — XVIII. Hamilton Blair of Blair, on the death of his bro- ther in half blood, William, in 1732, as before, succeeded to the whole lands and baron)^ of Blair. He entered early into the Army, and in 1 760 was Major of the Royal Scots Greys. He died in 1702. He married Jane, daughter of Sydenham Williams, Esq. of Herringston in the county of Dorset, by whom he had 1. William, of whom afterwards. 2. Agatha, married to Lieut.-General Avarne, 3. Jane, married to Robert Williams, Esq. XIX. William Blair of Blair, succeeded his father in 1782J and is the present proprietor. He was Colonel of the Ayrshire Reg. of Fen. Cav. He married Magdalane, eldest daughter of the late John Fordyce, Esq. of Ayton in the county of Berwick, by whom he had five soire and seven daughters. (She died in 1817.) 1. Hamilton, who died in March 1815, a Lieutenant in the R.Ni 2. John-Charles, a Midshipman in the R.N. ; 4. Henry ; 5. Au- gustus. The daughters, 1. Catherine, married to Mathew Fortescue of Stephen stown in the county of Lowth, Ireland ; 2. Magdalane ; 3. Jane-Louisa^, married Col. Jackson of Enniscoe, in the county of Mayo, Ireland — she died in 1817; 4. Elisabeth j 5. Charlotte ; 6. Jane; 7. G^oi^giana. - Arms. — 1st and- 4th Argent, on a Saltier, Sable; 9 Masclea of the first ; for Blair ; — 2d and 3d 8 " ^\ I Heath, moss land, &c i25S \ p&ml). Woods and gardens, 109 L Water, 450 J j ACRES Otic ©tOCfe, — In addition to the dairy, the great staple of the country, the husbandmen pay not a little attention to" th6 rearing of young stock. Considerably more than the half of the cattle grazed, are of this description, and it may be observed that in this parish there are more cattle of all kinds grazed in propor- tion to the extent of range, than in any other yet taken notice o£ . 25G PARTICULAU DESCRIPTION [ Parisk of Horses of all descriptions, 132 Cattle ditto, 1411 Sheep, 1100 Swine, ,. 150 Tov.'N OF KiLBiRKiE. — Tliis village is pleasantly situated on the Garnock, about 4 miles n.e. of Dairy and 2^ miles n. w. of Beith, in the heart of a very pleasant part of the country. The houses are handsomely built, and are in general covered with blue slate. The number of inhabitants maybe about 700, of •whom, there are, Weavers, , 92 Ta V lo rs , . 7 Shoemakers, 8 Bakers, „ 2 Masons, 8 Wrights 8 Smiths 4 Flesh ers, . 2 The Population of the Parish is altogether 1191. There is no other village in it. The country people are all occupied in husbandry. There are employed in the country however, 21 coaliers, and 8 quarrymen, but nearly all these reside in the vil- lage. Q^anUfaCtUrW. — About 4-5ths of the weavers are employed by the Paisley Manufacturers in working up cottons, &c. There is also a Bleachfieid j the other trades'-people are employed in the customary or ordinary work required in the parish. State of Education. — There is only one school, being the Parish School, which has been successfully taught for about 45 years by the present teacher, Mr. William Paton. The number of scholars is about 130; and the branches of education are — English, or Reading j Arithmetic ; Book-keeping, and Mensura- tion. State of the Poor. — There are about 14 poor on the per- manent roll, who receive each from 5s. to 10s. monthly or about ^60 a year among them. There are several other necessitous people who get relief occasionally to the extent in all of about ^15 yearly. — From whence this arises, see Stat. Table. KiLBJiiNiE.] OF Cunningfjame. 2.^/ S0m0ttX& — since the Revolution. NAMES. ADMITTED, &c. DIED. William Tullidaffe,... Ejected John Glasgow, ....Aug. 16. 1688 Died in 1721. James Smith, May 2. 1723..... Died Feb. 12. 173^. Malcolm Brown, January 30. 1734...... Died Dec. 21. 1794. Robert Urquhart, August 6. 1795........ aB0tate0 anD JTatniUeiBt. This parish is at present possessed by 24 different heritors^ It was in former times possessed by three only, and is still dis- tinguished into three baronies, as anciently possessed by three distinct families. The most extensive barony is that of KiLBin- NiE, which has been possessed by, and continues still in the sam6 family, by marriage or by succession, since the year 1397 down to the present times, a period of 443 years. This Barony is situ- ated on the western side of the parish, and occupies very nearly one half of the whole — extending to more than 4700 acres, of which nearly 1800 arc arable, meadow and woodland. There are upon it the remains of a very stately castle and manor-place, of which some notice will be taken under the head of Antiquities. It belongs to Lady Mary Lindsay Crawfurd, heiress of line of the very ancient and noble family of the Earls of Crawfurd and Lind- say: but as it is only -in her capacity of lineal descendant of Crawfurd of Kilbirnie, that she is connected with Ayrshire, the ■deduction of her pedigree shall be limited to that family. [Abrid- ged chiefly from Douglas.] - x: CratDfurti of Eilbirnic. I. GuaLterius de Crawfurd, the most remote that is known of the family, is witness to a Charter to the Monastry of Colding- ham inter 1189 et 1202, He was succeeded by his son, II. Sir Reginald de Crawfurd, sheriff of Ayr, His eldest son, Hugh, was ancestor of the family of Loudoun. His second son 5 . 3T 258 PARTICULAH DESCRIPTION [l*un'lsfi '.\f III. Sir John Crawfukd, was designed of Crawiurd-Johiij from having acquired a portion, so called from himself, of the great Barony of Crawfurd in Clydesdale, another part of it being about the same time called Gi'awfurd-Lindsay, in consequence of the estate of Crawfurd being divided among the daughters of the last Sir John Crawfurd of Crawfurd, to one of whom it seems probable either this Sir John, or his father. Sir Reginald, was married ; — there was one married to Sir D< Lindsay of Wauchope- dale; whilst another was married, to an ancestor of the Douglas family. He had a son, Reginald; and a daughter, Margaret, mar- ried to Sir Walter Barclay of a family of great respectability in this country about that time, to whom she brought half of the lands of Crawfurd- John, His son, s IV. Sir Reginald de Crawfurd succeeded to the remaining half of Crawfurd- John. He was a steady adherent to Robert Bruce, and from whom lie got the lands of Crumshuc (Crumock?) in Cunninghame, that had belonged to John Balliol. H^ was suc- ceeded by his son, V. Roger de Crawfurd. He was taken prisoner at the bat- tle of Durham in 1346. He was succeeded by his son, VI. Malcolm de Crawfurd. He married one of the co- heiresses of Galbraith of Greenock, by whom he had a son, VII. Roger de Crawfurd, his successor ; whose son was VIII. John de Crawfurd. He had a Charter in 1445 of lands in Kyle, He was succeeded by hi& son, IX. Malcolm de Crawfurd of Greenock, who married Mar* jory, heiress of Sir John Barclay ot Crawford-John, lineally des- cended from Sir John Crawfurd, No. HI. in this account; whose daughter, IV. Margaret, was married, as above, to Sir Walter Barclay, They left issue a son, V. David Barclay, who we find possessed of half the lands of -Crawfurd- John in 1357. He was succeeded by his son, KILBIRNIE,] OF Cunftingftame. 2^59? VI. Sir Hugh Barclay designed of Kilbirnie as well as of half the lands of Crawfurd-John in 1397. He was succeeded by his son, VII. Sir Adam Barclay, stiled, in a Charter in 1429, Adam JiUiis domini Hvgonis de Kilhirny Miles. He left issue a son, VIII. Sir John Barclay of Kilbirnie and Crawfurd-John, who died without issue male in 1470, and whose only daughter Maijory was married to IX'. Malcolm Crawfurd of Greenock as above (see No. IX.) ■whereby the heirs male and heirs of line of this family became united. He got a Charter from James IV. in 1499, Malcolm Cratefurd de Greenock, terrarinn de Kilbirnie, dimidictat baronies de Crawfurd-John. There were four sons and a daughter of this, marriage, (which daughter married Sir Adam Cunninghame of Captington) ; he married 2dly Marian, daughter of the first Lord Crichton. They were succeeded by their eldest son, X. lloBERT Crawfurd of Kilbirnie and Crawfurd-John. He married Margaret, daughter of Semple of Eliotstoun, and died ia 1513, and was succeeded by the only son of the marriage, XL Laurence Crawfurd of Kilbirnie. He exchanged the lands of Crawfurd- John, with Sir James Hamilton of Fynart, for the lands of Drumry, in 1528. He married Helen, daughter of Sir Hugh Campbell of Loudoun, by whom he had six sons and two daughters ; of the sons, Thomas, the sixth, was ancestor of the Crawfurds of Jordan-hill. He died in 1547, and was suc-^ ceeded by his eldest son, XII. Hugh Crawfurd of Kilbirnie, "who-fought in theb^ttle of Langside, May 13th 1568, on the side of Queen Mary. He married 1st Margaret, daughter of Colquhoun ofLuss, by whom, he had a son who succeeded him ; 2dly, Elisabeth, daughter of Barclay of Ladyland, by whom he had a son and three daughters. He died in 1576, and was succeeded by his son of the first mar- riage, 260 rxnTicuLAn description [Parish of XIII. Malcolm Gkawfurd of Kilbirnie, who married Mar- garet, daughter of Cunninghame of Glengarnock, by whom he had two sons and a daughter. He died in 1592, and was suc- ceeded by his eldest son, XIV. John CRAWFURD-of Kilbirnie, who married Margaret, . daughter of Blair of that Ilk, by whom he had three sons and two daughters. He died in 1622, and was succeeded by his eld- est son, XV. John Crawfurd of Kilbirnie, who rebuilt the house of Kilbirnie in 1627. He married Lady Mary Cunninghame, daugh- ter of the Earl of Glencairn, by whom he had two -sons and two daughters. He died in 1629, and was succeeded by his eldest son, XVI. Sir John Crawfurd of Kilbirnie, who was Knighted by Charles I. and took a part in the civil wars. He married 1st a daughter of Lord Burleigh by whom he had no issue ; 2dly Magdalane, daughter of David Lord Carnegie, by whom he had two daughters : 1. Anne, married to Sir Archibald Stewart of Blackball, from which marriage is descended the present family of Blackball and Ardgowan ; 2. Margaret, who married Patrick, second son of John the 15th Earl of Crawfurd and first of Lind- say, on whom Sir John settled the whole of the family estate. Sir John dying in 1661, the representation of the family fell on Cornelius Crawfurd of Jordan-hill, as heir male (see No. XI. above) ; but in the estate of Kilbirnie, &c. he was succeeded by his youngest daughter, XVII. Margaret Crawfurd and her husband Patrick Lind- say, who now, in consequence of the entail, assumed the name of Crawfurd of Kilbirnie. Of this marriage there were three sons and three daughters. Margaret died in 1680; when Patrick died is not mentioned, but they were succeeded by their eldest son, XVIII. John Crawfurd of Kilbirnie, who came early into KiLBiRNiE,] OF Cunningfjame. "261 the Revolution, and in 1693 was chosen Member of the Scots Parliament for the Shire of Ayr, and again in the first Parlia- ment of Queen Anne. In 1705 he was raised to the Peerage by the title of Viscount of IMount-Crawfurd, which afterwards he got altered to that of Garnock. He married Lady Margaret Stewart, daughter of the Earl of Bute, by whom he had five sons: 1. Patrick; 2. John; S.James;* 4. David; 5. Charles; and three daughters. He died in 1709, and was succeeded by his eldest son, XIX. Patrick second Viscount Garnock. He married Miss Home, daughter of George Home, Esq. of Kelly, by whom he had two sons, and three daughters. His eldest daughter, Mar- garet, was married to David first Earl of Glasgow, of whom the present Earl is descended. He died in 1737, and was succeeded by his only surviving son, XX. George third Viscount Garnock, who succeeded to the honours of Crawfurd, &c. on the death of John the eighteenth Earl. He married Jean, daughter of Robert Hamilton, Esq. of Bourtreehill, by whom he had three sons and two daughters : 1. George, of whom afterwards. I Butt''' I ^^^d """^^^"^'^ 4. Lady Jean, married in 1772, to Archibald Earl of Eglinton, but died in 1778, in her 21 st year, without issue. 5. Lady Mary, of whom afterwards. *: The following paragraph appeared in the Edinburgh papers«of 26th April 1810. « We are informed that John Lindsay Crawfurd, Esq. from Ireland, is in the course of establishing his propinquity as heir of the title of Crawfurd and Lindsay. He it igreat-grandson of James third son of John the first Viscount of Garnock, who was eldest son of Patrick Lindsay second son of John fourteenth Earl of Crawfurd and first of Lindsay. He resides at present in Ayr." This cause was afterwards brought be- fore the proper Courts at Edinburgh about 7 years ago ; but Mr. Crawfurd, in the course of exhibiting evidence of his relationship, was convicted of producing some pa- pers that were forged, for which he was sentenced to 14 years banishment, and was transported to Botany Bay accordingly. 3U 262 PARTICULAU DESCRIPTION [Paifsh of His Lordship died in 1781, and was succeeded by his eldest son*, XXI. George Lindsay Crawfurd fourth Viscount Garnock, twentieth Earl of Crawfurd, and sixth Earl of Lindsay, Lord Lieutenant of Fife, and a Major-Gen. in the Army. His Lord*- ship died unmarried in 1808, and was succeeded in his estates in Fife, Dunbartonshire and Ayrshire, by his only remaining sis" ter, XXL Lady Mary Lindsay Crawfurd ; of- Crawfurd, LinJ*- say and Garnock, &c. Next eastward from this is situated the Barony of Glengar- nock. It extends over about 1500 acres, on both sides of the Garnock, of which more than 1 100 is remarkable good arable land, and the remainder moor pasture. Of this. Lady Mary Lindsay Cxawfurd possesses nearly 700 acres of the arable land, together with the superiority of all the rest. Mr. Cochran of Lady land is proprietor of above 150 acres of the arable land, and eight dif- ferent lesser pi-oprietors (all resident) possess among them about ^70 acres, whilst the moorlands of it are occupied in common by them alL This very valuable Barony was, at a very remote period, possessed by a family of the name of Riddell, the heiress of which was married about the year 1265 to Henry Cunninghame of Kil- maurs, according to Douglas, but according to Wood, to Galfridus, the son of this Henry ; but which Galfridus, according to both, was the immediate ancestor of the family of Cunninghame of Glengarnock, a family that continued in great splendour tiH. little more than 150 years ago, when it seems to have declined. The last Barony to be mentioned of the three, is that of La- dyland. It is situated in the north-eastern quarter of the parish, and extends over about 2000 acres, of^which nearly the half is arable, and the rest sound hill pasture and moor. Of the arable lands, about 400 acres are possessetl by 12 different heritors, in various portions from 15 acres, up to 116, which is the largest that any of them possess, the general extent being from 20 to 40 KILBIRNiE.] of Cuunillgfjame. 205' acres each. They are all resident. They have all a servitude of pasture over the moor. The great body of this Barony however be- longs to Wm Cochran, Esq. of Ladyland, who resides upon it, in a handsome mansion recently erected in the vicinity of the an- cient seat, situated on a bank- in a hollow, among surrounding iiigh grounds, about a -mile and a lialf north from the village o£ Kilbirnie — but yet commands, to different points, some beautiful views of the country towards the south and the sea. This Barony has been possessed by different families at dif- ferent periods. Douglas refers to a Charter dated in 1426, to- shew, that David the next eldest brother of James the first Lord Hamilton, was ancestor, among other descendants, to Hamilton of Ladyland. How soon this might have taken place does not appear, but we find from the preceding genealogy No. XII. that it was possessed by a family of the name of Barclay before the- year 1576; and again in 1629 David Barclay is retoured heir to his father. Sir David Barclay of Ladyland and Auchinhuiff, (in the vicinityv) united to it in one dominium. It should seem, that it soon after passed from this family ; for in 1 G31 John Blair is retoured in these lands. The fii-st of the name of Hamilton, that appears in these retoursy as proprietor of Ladyland, is in 1690^ when John Hamilton is retoured heir to his father, Capt. William Hamilton of Ladyland, in the 5 merk lands of Over and Nethei; Ardochs in the regality of Kilwinning. This family of Hamil- ton of Ardock had been possessed of that property, in the vici- nity of Kilwinning, for some generations previous to this. I» 1633 Maffister /Gavin Hamilton was retoured heir to his father, James Hamilton, of Ardoch and other lands near Kilwinning, and of Rouchbank and Crumtnock near Beith, In 1637, James Hamilton is retoured heir to his father, Gavin Hamilton, in these different properties, and who was still stiled Magister, probably from having been a Clergyman, as it was usual in those times so to distinguish a churchman. Whether this last James was the 264 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [ Palish of father of Captain William Plamilton of Ladyland, does hot quite appear; but that this William was of the same family of Ardoch appears incontestable, and in all probability the direct lineal des- cendant of Magister Gavin. Though the first retpur that is published of the HamiltoniB of Ladyland is dated in 1 690, yet they were in possession of it a considerable time before, as is apparent on part of the old man- sion still remaining, in which their name is inscribed of date 1669. John Hamilton who was retoured in Ladyland in 1690, sold the property to Alexander the ninth Earl of Eglinton, a few years before the year 1718, and the Earl sold it soon after to Wra. Cochran of Edge, parish of Lochwinnoch, whose seizin was put on record in the -Sth Jan. 1718. He married Margaret Orr, of Easter Gaven and others, by whom he had issue, William, and five daughters. He died 21st Dec. 1765, and was succeeded by his eldest son, William Cochrane of Ladyland, who in 1756, married Janet Glasgow, daughter of Robert Glasgow, Esq. of Pudvenholme, part of the estate of Glengarnock, sister to Robert Glasgow, Esq. of Mountgreenan, by whom he had six sons and four daughters. He died 13th Feb. 1803, and was succeeded by his eldest son, William Cochrane, now of Ladyland, who on the Sth Sept. 1815, married Catherine Hamilton, great-grand-daugh- ter of the last Hamilton of Ladyland, (and sister to William Ha- milton, Esq. of Craighlaw, Lieut, in the 10th Regt. ofDragoonff, or Prince of Wales' own Regiment of Hussars,) and has issue « daughter. KILBIRNIE] OF Cunningbame. TABLE OF VALUED RENT, 26/ Propertits. Barony of Kilbirnie, Do. Glengarnock, part Bashaw or Barshaw, Blackbarn and Birkhill, Bridgend, south, Bankside, - • Gierston, Wattieston, - Burnside, Chapelston, - - Ballieston, North, - Bridgend, North, Leadside, Total of Glengarnock, Ladyland proper, Glengarth, Rashlygate, Whiteridden, Gateside, Gateside, Langlands, North, L>anglands, South, "Wallast, Redheugh, Baillieston, South, - Auchinhove, North, Auchinhove, South, Total of Ladyland, Total of the parish, Proprietors. - Lady M. L. Crawfurd, Do. - William Cochran, Esq. Do. Do. - Mr. Brodie, - - Mr. Barclay, - Mr. Fife, - Mr. Peebles, - Mr. Jameson, - Mr. Walker, - Mr. Allan, - Mr. Montgomery, - William Cochran, Esq. - Mr. Brodie, - Mr. Walker, - Mr. Allan, - Mr. Barr, - Mr. Allan, - Mr. Gemmel, - Mr. Walker, - Mr. Wilson, - - Mr. Allan, - Mr. Logan, - Mr. Robertson, - Mr. Barclay, Valuid Rent. £. i. d. £ s. i 1373 10 631 10 40 6 90 7 30 31 31 31 35 20 18 13 22 O 4 987 3 * 125 3 2 92 16 10 4S 9 3 24. 18 \% S6 36 36 36 4 3 3 6 6 6 6 6 4 4 8 8 8 8 10 7,10 31 2 11 31 2 11 545 9 «e2905 14 1 jfiDirj Cattle of (^lengarnocfe, 266 PAKTICULAK DESCEIPTION [ Paihh of HntiquitiCief, — The old Castle of Glengarnock is perhaps a- mong the most ancient and most stately i-uinous fabrics in Ayr- shire. It is pitched on the top of a high precipitous rock, in a peninsula formed by the Garnock, about 2 miles north-west of thfe village of Kilbirnie. To look down from it is awful. The rock on which it is erected, appears to be from 80 to 100 feet in height, altogether perpendicular, whilst the building itself is of great elevation. The deep chasm with which it is nearly sur- rounded, is dismally dark, the waters being almost hid by the overshadowing woods, springing from both sides of the stream. There is no account, nor tradition, at what tim« it was erect- ed, nor by whom — whether by its last Lords of the family of Cunninghame, or by the Riddels who preceded them. It has no affinity in its architecture to the sombre squai-e towers so fre- quent in this part of the country j .and yet it is fully as ill accom- modated with lights. There is no appearance of v/orks of defence, neither gun-ports nor arrow-slits. It is indeed so inaccessible, that confidence might be placed for security in its natural situa- tion. It is at present much delapidated j — the out buildings in particular can be traced only by their foundations. It belongs to Mr. Cochran of Ladyland.*' Kilbirnie Castle. — This ancient seat of the Crawfurd family, Viscounts of Garnock, is situated about a mile west of the village of Kilbirnie. It is composed of two distinct edifices, erected at- two different periods. The most ancient is a huge square tower of great height, with very massive walls, and a very scanty supply of lights. Though evidently built for defence, yet, as it has no gun-ports, it must have been erected before the invention of fire- arms ; and, of course, in the days of the Barclays, its most ancient proprietors. The other, which is adjacent to it, and forms a r.%'wv^v%.%%%«v««^%^v*%-v-w%^v%^^vkw«.^%%%vww«^%^>>'v^'v«-v%% * There i» a tradition in the neighbourhood, that Glengarnock Castle is the an- jient castle of Hardyknute, of equal legendary fame in the Battle of Largs, See some •tiotice of this taken, in an article in the appendix. KiLBiRNiF.] OF Ctmningfjame. 2€7 right angle with it, is not only much more modern, but has been a very commodious and elegant mansion. It was built in 1627, by John Crawf'urd of Kilbirnie (No. XV. in the genealogy) who died two years thereafter. It underwent a great repair about the year 1756, by George the nineteenth Earl of Crawfurd, and tTie first of this house ilutt enjoyed that title. In the very time that it was undergoing this renovation, it was burnt to the ground by accidental fire, and from a cause which remained long unaccount- ed for. The carpenters bad nearly finished their operations. They were working in the garret story. They had no fire there, and by way of precaution, they locked the doors of the apartments in the evenings when they left off work, and carried the keys with them. They had left, however, the garret or sky-light windows open. It was through these that the fire found access from a foul chimney, that was set on fire, by one of the Ladies of the family, having inadvertently thrown the melted grease in the socket of a candlestick, into a grate in the lower story, about the time she retired to bed. Even the firing of the chimney, was not at the instant discovered, as the flame did not issue from be- low, but altogether at the top of the vent. This circumstance which was known to only one of the female servants, or rather to a nurse, at the time was carefully concealed, and the burning was always accounted supernatural, till about 24 years after, when, on the death of the Earl, it was divulged. This house has still a dig- nified appearance, even in its ruinous state. At the period of its destniction, it was among the best mansions in the county of Ayr. It would make a good mansion still. The walls are quite entire ; the architecture is in a respectable style, and the situation i ia remarkably good. 2©8 PARTICULAU DESCJIIPTION [Parish fff PARISH OF BEITH. EITH Parish is situated south-east from that of Kil- birnie and next to it. It is otherwise bounded, by part of Renfrewshire on the north-east ; by the pa- rish of Dunlop on the south-east ; and by those of Kilwinning and Dairy on the south and westerly points. It is about 5 miles long from s.w. to n.e. whilst its great- est breadth from nw to se is about 3 miles and a half. The ex- tent in all is about 16 square miles, as will more precisely appear from the contents in particular, to be after stated. This parish may be considered under two grand divisions, which, prior to the Reformation, appear to have been two sepa- rate parishes ; or, as still distinguished by the names, of the Bar- ony of Belth occupying the north-west quarter, and the Lord- ship of GiFFiN, on the south-east. There is also the territory of Shitterflat on the north-east side, but that making part of the Shire of Renfrew, is not included in this account. S^incral0, — Coal has been partially wrought ; but not being of a very promising appearance, the works have been discontinu- ed: but may be, renewed, wlien that mineral becomes scarcer in the neighbourhood. — Limestone is very plentiful, and has been long wrought extensively, more especially on, the lands of Broad- stone, from whence a great tract of country is supplied with lime. In one part there, it is full of petrified shells of a non-descript species, and as it takes a fine polish, it is now used as a marble .in ornamental work, as chimney-pieces, &c. and is certainly very BEITII] OF (JTunningfjame* 269 applicable. It is uncommonly rich ; exhibiting an endless va- riety in the combination. — Freestone for building also abounds. — Whinstone too, is very general ; much of the parish being in- ' cumbent on it. ©oil. — This is as various, as are the minerals under it, from which most of it is derived. There is some mossland also and clay ; but a great proportion is of a loamy nature, especially in the vicinity of the town, where it is remarkably fertile, and fit for every agricultural purpose. Boatl0, — Few parishes are better provided, and access to every estate almost in it, is had in various directions and at con- venient distances. Road materials abound every where, and though the surface of the country is much diversified into heights and hollows; yet, as in the modern science of road-making, these are carefully avoided, travelling is becoming every day a work of less labour ; notwithstanding tliat there may still remain a few awkward pulls, to which improvement has not been fully extended. CropiEf CultiiJatcU. — Wheat, very sparingly, though the pro- duce is generally good, and the soil, through a great part of the parish, is well adapted to it. — Fi,ax is grown pretty extensively, there being many small fields of it raised for sale, whilst there is a very general sowing of it in small patches, for family use. Turnip has long been introduced, but the cultivation of it is far from being general, and in no place to any considerable extent. Potatoes are cultivated on a large scale with great attention, and the returns are very liberal, — Oats are the great crop here, as in all the district x)ver, while Bean6 and Barley are m-own in small proportions only. fin tillage, 1590") Contents i Cultivated grass land and meadow, 4240 of the J Hills and other natural pasture, 1260 ^ Moss land, 200 Woodlands and gardens...... 256 ^Roads, &c 124. SY iE>aci0t. Total 7676 acres 210 PARTICULAn DESCRIPTION [ Parish of £itiC ^tOCfe. — A considerable number of young horses are bred here, and the race is very good. The dairy stock is still the most prevalent among the cattle and of the same good kind, as already noticed. Sheep are only to be found in small parcels, but all over the parish. Horses of all descriptions, 217 Cattle ditto, 1680 Sheep, 520 Swine, 340 Town of Beith. — This place, which in i-^spect to population, ranks as the fourth in Cunninghame and the sixth in Ayrshire, has attained to this distinction, in modera times. About the era of the Revolution in 1688, it contained only five dwelling-houses, besides the kirk and minister's manse. In 1752, when the late Rev. I)r. Webster collected an account.of the population of Scot- lahd, this town and parish was returned at 2064 souls, of whom, it is supposed, there might be about 700 in the town. In 1792, it'contained 1754, and in the last census, which was taken in 1814, the number was 2408 in the town, and 1411 in the coun- try parts of the parish. It has continued on the increase since that time, so that it may be fairly estimated now at 2600 souls ; and as there are about 1400 in the country, hence the popula- tion in all will be about 4000. 0@anUfactUte]6i.- -About lOO years ago, the chief manufacture in the parish was a kind of coarse linen, which was also bleached here before it was sent away. This gave place to a spinning of fine yarn, and that again was superseded in a great measure by a white-thread manufactory, about the yeai-^ 1760. The w:eaving of silk was also introduced about that time, and continued for some years to increase so much as to bring in ^100 weekly to this town, but being overdone, or rather the fancy in Ladies' dress taking different turn, it declined rapidly about the year 1793, but was succeeded by the muslin trade, which for a time flourish- BEITIL OF Cunninigbame. 271 ed greatly, till it, too, got beyond its natural bounds, so as to end about 10 years ago in a kind of general bankruptcy among the speculators, who in excuse for their own imprudence might lay the whole blame on the taxes and national debt, which indeed has long been the scape-goat of every overstretched adventure. The weaving of muslin and other soft fabrics for the Glasgow and Paisley Manufacturers is still the chief occupation in Boith — there being hardly any other crafts but such as are required every where for the resident population, unless it be a small tan- nery. The employment at present of the inhabitants will appear as under. There bein^j of Weavers, Taylors, „ Hosiers,™ Hecklers, Dyesters, Threadmakers- 242 22 20 4 2 7 Me 20 26 25 5 9 Saddlers, Watchmakers, „ Wigmakers, ™„ Tanners, Bakers, Fleshers, 6 3 2 2 12 5 asons,-, Wrights, Shoemakers, Blacksmiths,, Tinsmiths, Nailers, Surgeons 5, Writers 12, Booksellers 2, Druggists 3, Inns and dram-shops 33, Grocery shops 34, Cloth shops 8, Iron-mongery shops 2. Also in the country parts, 3 Smiths, 4 Wrights, 2 Ma- sons and 2 taylors. The town itself is pleasantly situated on a hill side, which occasions a ready descent to the waters — washing the streets on evei'y shower. The streets are some of them spacious enough ; many of the houses are handsome and elegant, and the place it- self is the residence of many genteel families. It is situated on the great road betwixt Irvine and Paisley, at about 11 miles of distance from each. Ecclesiastical St ate. — From the recoras of the church, it ' appears that in 1556 Thomas Boyd was- " Reidar at Baith, his stipend xx. lib. with the Kirk land to be pay it out of ye thrid of Kilwynyng, 1 ch. iiij bollis meill." In 1593, IMr. John Young . was minister ; and his stipend, " tiie haill parsonage of Baith, • xl. iij li. V. s. money ix. bollis iij fer. ii pecks meill with the vicar- - 2t2 PAitTicULAii DESCRIPTION [Parish of age thereof and mans and gleib." About this time, the Earl of Eglinton, then the principal heritor, feued out the five4iousGS, mentioned before, for the accommodation of those persons who travelled to hear sermon. These still exist under the name of the " five feus," and are all the property that the Earl of Eglin- ton now has in the parish. In 1603, Hugh the fifth Earl, ob- tained the patronage. of this parish, along with that of many others, in consequence of his grant from the Crown of the Abbacy of Kilwinning. In 1633 there passed an Act of the Scots Par- liament for reedifying the Kirk of Bey the, in some more conve- nient place for the parishioners, " who cannot (at that time) good- lie address and convene thameselffs thairto be reason of the stormes of weather and of the deep and evil wayes." The Kirk, however, was never removed but stood in its old site (where its ruins still remain,) till in 1807 when a new church was founded in a more elevated station, and which was finished in 1810. It is 81 feet by 54, over walls; about 32 feet, the side walls in height, - and cost £2^55 including a high square steeple, in which there is an excellent bell, a gift from Robert Sheddon, Esq. of London, a native of this parish. In 1645, Mr. Fullarton, a man of distin- guished abilities, was minister of Beith ; in 1672, Mr. Maitland, an indulged minister, who in 1676 had a Mr. Creighton conjoin- ed with him ; in 1681 a Mr...Bobison a Curate was put in, to the great dissatisfaction of the people, who could hardly keep their hands off him. In 1691 Mr. Orr, a genuine Presbyterian minis- ter was placed, in whose time the weekly market-day was chan- ged from the Saturday to the Friday, on which it still continues. The succession, &c. of the ministers from that period, will appear as arranged below. ^ini0tcr0 — -since the Revolution. NAMES. ADMITTED, &c. TRAN'SLATED or DIED. Alexander Orr, 1691 .Trans. 1700 to St. Quivox. Robert Cameron, 1701 Died 1735. BEITH.] OF Cunningt)ame» 27?^ NAMES. ADMITTED, Sec. TRANSLATED or DIED !Adm. Prof, of Div, College of Glasgow Jan. 3. 1744. Trans, to the Laigh Church, Paisley, June 16. 1757. David M'Lellan, August 4. 1758 ...Died Oct. 22. 1796. Robert M'Vey, | Feb 25. 1796, assist- | ^ied July 3. 1811. •" [ ant and successor. 3 -^ James Muir, April 23. 1812 In 1727, the old glebe, consisting of 3^ or 4 acres, was ex- changed with Lord Eglinton, for the present one, consisting of more than 40 acres — no reason assigned, except that this last was waste land, supposed to be unimprovable. It has, however, been improved, and is now considered to be among the best land in the parish, of which the circumstance, that it lets from £3 to a£6 an acre, is no small evidence. State OF Education. — There are 13 schools in the parish, ta *^J»i^ V^^.*%W% V» Vfc ^^ v^^% w^^^ • He was a lineal descendant of the renowned JoKn Knoxj the Scottish Reform- er, and wa3 born at Tester in East Lothinn, where his father was minister, who was a man eminent not only for piety, but for literature, and for a habit of great accuracy in all his writings and' discourses. Hence tlie example of the father may be supposed tahave had an influence on the son, in forming that taste and correctness for which he was all his lifetime distinguished — combined with a firmness and decision of character, that may be said he had a hereditary tendency to exert. Thus when the Rebellion of 1745 broke out, he took a decided part in support of Government, and though hardly yet known to his parishioners in Beith, he animated them so effectually to enrol them- selves as Volunteers in the cause of King George, that he prevailed on a considerable number of them to march, along with himself, to Glasgow,, to join the Royal' Forces. But here — from that false confidence which so often becomes pernicious to even the best of causes — they were informed thnt their services were not required, and weiJe ordered home. He himself however continued with the army, and being at the dis- astrous Battle of Falkirk, w.ts there taken prisoner, and confined by the rebels in the Castle of Doun, till the result of the Battle of Culloden enabled; him and others to re- gain their liberty. He left Paisley in 1768, and went to America, where he was ap- pointed President of the College of Princeton in New Jersey — There he introduced in- to their philosophy all the most liberal and modern improvements of Europe ; and learning received an extension that was before unknown in the American seminaries. After having been 7 years a representative of the Province of New Jersey, in the Con gress of the United States, he died on the 15th Nov. 1794, in the 73d year of his age. His works, in 9 vols. Svo, were- published at Edinburgh in 1804. 32 274 PARTICULAll DESCRIPTION [Parish of of which 8 are in the town. The number of scholars in all is 495, which is among the greatest proportional number in any parish of the district, to the population ; and shews the respect that is paid to education here. State OF the Poor. — In such a populous parish many indi- gent people may be expected, more especially with such a manu- facturing town in it. The number on the regular roll is 46, who get from 14s. to 2s.- 6d. each, per month, according to circumstances. The average is about 6s. a month or £3 12s. yearly. Besides these, there are perhaps as many more, in the course of a year, that get occasional relief according to their various necessities^ The sum paid in all is nearly ^300 a year. Friendly Societies. — There were 3 of these benevolent in" stitutions for mutual relief, that were in use to distribute about ^50 yearly among sick or indigent members j but the stress of the times has much reduced their funds. ^iSStntZVfl, — Antiburghers. The first erection of their meeting-house was in 1760, and Mr. Laidly their first minister- was settled in 1761, but he withdrew from their communion in 1763. He was succeeded in 1765 by Mr. Andrew Mitchel, a- man much esteemed by his own ^sxity and by all good meuyrand, was highly respected in the parish and neighbourhood — visiting the sick and afilicted, of every sect without distinction. The pa- rish minister at the time, Mr. David Maclellan, was a man of a similar benevolent disposition, and they lived together in ha- bits of great friendship and intimacy. Mr. Mitchel died in 1812, after a lingering nervous disorder, which prevented him from' preaching for some years before his death. He was succeeded by their present minister, Mr. Meikle, who was ordained in Sept. 1812. The meeting-house was rebuilt in 1816, and is a commo- dious place of worship capable of holding easily about 500 people. The number of communicants is about 140 — a few of whom are irom the neighbouring parishes, but only 5 of these not in the BE ITU.] OF Cunningtjame. 275" county. The minister has a handsome manse, built in 1812, to-- gether with a good garden, all at the expence of the congregation. Church of Relief. — The Dissenters of this class (forced by the abuse of Patronage alone, fronVthe establishment, )erected their meeting-house in 1784. Their first minister, Mr. Thomson, was placed in 1788, but left them in 1800, and went to Glasgow. He was succeeded in 1802 by their present minister, Mr. Anderson. Faik. — On the 30th Aug. yearly there is a great fair in Beith, chiefly for horses, where many fine young horses, bretl mostly in Ayrshire, are to be seen ; these attract dealers from the neigh- bouring counties of Renfrew and Lanark, through whose hands they are passed to the Lothians, Fife, Angus, and more distant' parts. This is the famed lemient's day, so called from a legend- ary Saint of that name. €0tatejef anD Mmilitg, This parish is parcelled out among 163 heritors, having indi- •fidually from ^670 Scots of valued rent, down to 10s. or less, including houses and yards in the town of Beith. To describe, or even to name all these possessions^ is a task not to be undertaken; —I shall therefore limit the remarks to the principal' estates. Crawfield. — This property, which is separated from the pa-- rish of Dairy, by the Polgree burn, extendi to upwards of 360 " acres of various quality of soil, much of it t>f an adhesive nature, whilst part of it is derived from moss. It is all arable. It was purchased more than 100 years ago from a family of the name of Peebles, by Alexander the ninth Earlof Eglinton, and is still in b-is family, being the property of Lady Mary Montgomery Bur-^ gess, his grand-daughter.' WiLLOwYARD. — Adjacent to this on the north and east,' this- small but pleasantly-situated property, is spread out on the south' side of the Loch of Kilbirnie, and extends to upwards of 120;- acres. It belonged some time to the late John Neil, Esq. of Edinburgh, who improved it greatly, particularly by belts of' gtS PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Parish of planting, which occupy several acres, and are so judiciously disposed, as to confer a beauty on the subject, as well as consi- derable shelter. The house is cheerfully placed, in full view of the Loch, and is the occasional residence of the proprietor, Robt. Steele, Esq. of Port-Glasgow. MoRRiSHiLL ; Mr. Shedden. — This house, about a quarter ot a mile west from Beith, is pleasantly situated amid its own trees and gardens, and overlooking, from a small eminence, a great ex- panse of country. The lands, incumbent on whinstone rock, are very fertile^ Mains-Neil, Mains-Marshal, Mains-Hamilton, &c. are all situated to the north of Beith, sloping down toward the Loch of Kilbirnie, and are all good lands. On a corner of the last, near to the town, there has lately been erected a goodly-looking house, built by Mr. Dun, but belonging now to Mr. Houstoun. WooDsiDE. — This valuable property, extending to perhaps 400 acres of arable land, of good quality, is situated in the same quarter, but more northerly, on the south side of the Roeburn, or Moorburn, which is here the boundary betwixt the Counties of Ayr and Renfrew. This property (as indeed the whole Baro- ny of Beith,) belonged at one time to the Monastry of Kilwin- ning ; from which it was a feu, at an early period, to Ralston of Ralston, and continued many generations in that family. These lands, as well as those of Auchingown-Ralston adjacent, in Ren- frewshire, were alienated in 1772, by the late Gavin Ralston, to Dame Jean Stirling, Lady of the late James Erskine Lord Alva, of whom the present proprietor, Lieut.-Gen. A. G. Stirling of Duchra, is the representative. This family of Ralston of that Ilk, having long-been highly respectable in this part of the coun- try, a concise account o£ it shall here be given. -Baljston Of BaliSton. Crawfurd in his History of Renfrewshire, p. 38, says, this fa- mily is descended from a younger son of the (Macduff) Earls of BEiTii,] OF Cunningfiame. 277 Fyfe; and refers to Charters to which they are witnesses in' 1272 and 1346. The first of them however, from whom I shall here •deduce the family, was I. John de Ralston, or Ralphston, who flourished in the iieisn of James II. and rose to the hightjst honours both in Church .?-nd State. In 1444 he %vas made keeper of the Privy Seal ; in 1448 Bishop of Dunkeld; and in 1449 Lord High Treasurer, and -v/as sent the same year Ambassador to England, and again iu 1451. He died in 1452. See "Keith's Catalogue of Scottish ^Bishops" — where he calls him the representative of a small but very ancient family of the same designation, in the Shire of Ren- frew. He was succeeded by his nephew, II. William Ralston of that Ilk, who married Elisabeth, daughter of Sir John Mure of Caldwell. To him succeeded hip son, III. Thomas Ralston, who in 1505 obtained a Charter of the lands of Ralston. He was succeeded by his son, also called IV. Thomas Ralston, all which is instructed by a Charter of these lands, and also of those of Rossholme near Irvine, and of Dunlop-hill near Dunlop — ^dated 9th July, 1527. He died with- out issue, and was succeeded by his brother, IV.' Hugh Ralston of that Ilk, who married his cousin Janet, daughter of Adam Whiteford of that Ilk; and this marriage being within the degrees forbidden bv the Church of Rome, he after- wards obtained atlispensation for it, from the Chancellor of Dum- blane, who had obtained authority to grant 20 such dispensations. This one is dated 7th July 1534. He fell at the Battle of Pinkie on the 10th Sept. 1547, and was succeeded by his son, V. Hugh Ralston of that Ilk, who acquired the lands of Woodside and Turnerland in this parish, from Gavin, Commen- dator of Kilwinning in 1551. He married Janet Hamilton, of the family of Torrence. His eldest son, 4A 278 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION - [Parish of VI. Gavin Ralston, married in 1575, Jean, daughter of Robert Ker of Kersland ; and predeceasing his father, left a son, VII. William Ralston, who on his grandfather's death, (who was living in 1609,) became Ralston of that Ilk. He married Barbara, daughter of John Hamilton of Kedston, (ancestor of Lord Belhaven,) and had a son, William ; and a daughter, Catherine, married in 1643 to Hugh Hamilton of Roughwood. About this period, or rather before, the family had left their ancient mano- rial place-of Ralston, (about 2 miles east from Paisley,) and taken up their residence atWoodside, in this parish, about a mile north from the village. He was succeeded by his son, VIII. William Ralston of that IlL He acquired in 164S, from James Hamilton of Ardoch, (ancestor of Ladyland,) the lands of Roughbank and Crummock in this parish ; and also the lands of Auchingown in the parish of Liochwinnoch, from Lord Abercorn. He was married : 1st to Ursulla, daughter of William Mure of Glanderston, by whom he had a son, Gavin, and two daughters : 1. Ursulla, married in 1668 to John Hamilton, eld- est son of James Hamilton of Hallcraigs ; and 2. Jean, married to Alexander of Newton (ancestor of Southbar) ; 2dly, he mar- ried Jean, daughter of James Dunlop of that Ilk, in Nov. 1674. IX. Gavin Ralston, his son; married Jean, sister of Sir Wm. Mure of Rowallan, (paternal ancestor of the present family of Lou= doun) — his father then resigning to him the estatCo The marriage contract, dated 25th Feb. 1671, is witnessed by Sir H. Campbell of Cessnock, Sir John Shaw of Greenock, Dunlop of that Ilk, Hamilton of Wishaw, and Montgomery of Hazelhead — all con- nections of the family. He died in 1692, and his widow after- wards married John Boyle of Kelburn, without issue. X. Gavin Ralston, the only son of the marriage, succeeded Ms father as Ralston of that Ilk. He married in 1697, Anna, daughter of Wm. Porterfield of that Ilk, by Annabella, daughter of Sir Archd. Stewart of Blackball j by whom he had a son, William^- 1 BEITR.] OP Cunningljame* 279 and four daughters : 1. Ursulla, married to Robert Barr of Tree- ame; 2. Annabella, married to James Maxwell of Willi am wood; 3. Jean, married to John Shedden of Roughwood, (of whom af- terwards); and 4. Katherine, married to the Rev. John Fullarton of Dairy. In 1 705 he sold the estate of Ralston to the Earl of Dundonald — from whence it has passed through different hands, and is now possessed by a family of the name of Orr. He was succeeded by his son, XL William Ralston, (still continuing the stile of that Hk,) who married Marion, daughter and co-heiress of the Rev. David Ewing, minister of Calder, near Glasgow, by whom he had one son, Gavin, and two daughters : 1. Margaret, married the Rev. John Fleming, Kilmalcolm ; 2. Anne, who married W. Caldwell of Yardfoot, and both left issue. He died about the year 1745, and was succeeded by his son, Xn. Gavin Ralston of that Ilk. He married Annabella, daughter of James Pollock of Arthurlee, (by Jean, daughter of Sir Robert Pollock of that Ilk#) by whom he had issue, two daughters: 1. Annabella, married Hugh Crawfurd, Esq.; 2. Jane, married Major Studdert, and both have issue. He died, at a very advanced age, in June 1819, and was buried in the tomb of his ancestors at Beith. His widow still survives. Abms^ — Argent, on a bend; azure ; 3 Acorns in the seed, ^r; Crest, a Falcon proper ; Supporters — dexter, a Man in Armour j ; Sinister, a Horse rampant ;— Motto, Fide et Marte. Grangehill. — This property, conjoined with Bigholme ad- jacent, is situated near to Beith, on the right hand side of the road to Paisley, The house was built in 1 804 by the present pro- prietor, Mr. Fulton, who has improved the lands greatly, and em- bellished them much — rendering this one of the^^most pleasant > places in the parish. Brown Moor (or BnuMEMintE) — is situated eastward from thfe last mentioned, stretching upwards among the adjacent hills, butt 280 ■ PARTICULAR DEScniPTioN [Parish oj containing some good soil. It was acquired by the family of Wishaw, through the marriage of an heiress of a former family of the name of Hamilton, and was alienated about the year 1796, by the late Lord Belhaven, to Hugh Crawfurd, Esq. in Greenock, •whose heirs now enjoy it. Bakcraigs, a small property, is situated among the hills in the same quarter, but still contains some good soil. TiiREEpwooD. — These lands are situated still farther east, a- niong a range of green hills, in a corner of the parish, and con- nected with Ayrshire only on the west side. They extend to considerably more than 300 acres, all of a kindly soil, incumbent on whinstone-T— as far as soil can be had, — some of it being thin enough. It has undergone much improvement of late, through draining, enclosing, and planting of wood. There are three dif- ferent proprietors, of whom Mr. Love has the best share, either v.'ith respect to extent .or valued rent His family is the oldest in the parish, except one — his ancestors having had these lands in feu, from the Abbot of Kilwinning, as far back as 1554. There is a Bleachfield here in considerable repute. Cuff and Cowieland. — This hilly property is situated adja- cent, on the west, to the preceding. The lands are good, where of sufficient depth, as they are incumbent on whin rock, which in some places rises to the surface. The extent is above 100 acres. BoGsiDEs, Boghall, Hoods- YARDS and the Fullwoodheads, are all situated not far from each other, west from the Cuffhill, and east from the lands of Grangehill. They extend to upwards of 200 acres, all good lands, chiefly on. a rocky bottom. Hill of Bexth. — rThese lands, situated near to Beith, belong- ed at one time to a branch of the family of Cunninghame of Caddel ; and after being sold different times, they now belong to IJugh Brown, Esq. of Broadstone, who has several other lands. He resides on them, in a very cheerful house, almost within the town. Braidstane or Broadstone. — This ancient barony is iiituated southward from Beith, and at a small distance from it. It ex- tends over nearly 300 acres of good land, incumbent on lime- stone, which is in some places open to the view, and in all it; easily come at, and lying in very fair strata,, admits of being wrought with great facility. Hero also is marble. It appears from a Charter dated in 1452, that this estate be- longed then to " John de Lyddale, Dominus de Bradestane;" and as this refers to prior Charters in favours of his family, it seems probable, that they might have had them at a period still more remote. These lands, soon after the above date, were the property of the Eglinton family. Robert Montgomery, second son of Alex- ander third Lord Montgomery, is designed of Broadstane. One of his descendants acquired from the Monastry of Kilwinning, prior to the Reformation, the lands of Eoghall and others in the Barony of Beith, which lie adjoining to Broadstone, About the year 1600, Hugh Montgomery of Broadstone, who had acquired great estates in Ireland, carried over a Colony of Protestants there, from this neighbourhood, wlierc their descendants still re- main. In 1620 he was created Viscount of Ardes, and his Pa- tent bears to be granted " on account of the many and great de- ** serts, and the assistance strenuously afforded by our dear and " faithful Hugh Montgomery of Bredstane in our kingdom of *' Scotland, Knight, in pacifying of Clandebora after rebellion in " the tumults of the peasants of Ulster ; also in pacifying of '* Ardes, in our kingdom of Ireland, a colony of Scots being " brought, in ^\& beginning of our reign, over Great Britain into •' Clandebora and Ardes, towards the en crease of the restored " Religion, and towards the obedience of the peasants towards " us." One of his descendants was created by Charles II. Vis- count Mount Alexander, and afterwards, Earl Mount Alexander. The family became extinct in 1758. 4B 2§2 PARTicuLAU DESCRIPTION {Parish (^ The aaid Hugh Montgomery married a daughter of John Shnw of Greenock ; and soow after settling in Ireland, he grant- ed a Mortgage over these lands to John Shaw, his brother-in-law-, to whom afterwards, about 1644^ he granted a conveyance of the absolute property of this estate. The family of Greenock continued occaslonaily to reside art the old Castle here, till after nOOi, when they gradually alienated the estate in feus, till the whole was disposed of, except the farm on whiclj the old mansion stood, of which there is hardly a ves- tige now to be seen. Sir Michael Shaw Stewart, Bart, still refc tains this farm, together with the superiority of the whole. His own valuation, by which parish-burxiens are paid^ is still the largest ; Mr. Sheddon of Morrishill is the next in extent — There are 7 other proprietors,, whose valued rent, in cumulo, is only as 3 parts in 7 of the whole, , some of them having very small por^ tions. CBAiGHOusE.-^These lands were feuedj-at an early period, by the Monastry of Kilwinning, to Robert Montgomery, from whom they came by regular descent to Robert Montgomery of Craigr house : on whose death in 1789, they were inherited by his daugh- ter, Mrs- Jean Montgomery,, spouse of Robert Montgomery, Esq. Banker in Irvine, whose eldest son, Robert Montgomery, Esq. is nov/ Banker there. They extend to upwards of 1 30 acres of arable land of good quality, and are situated about a mile southwards from Beith, on the west side of the road leading to Dunlop. In the same quarter are situated- the difierent possessi- ons of Marshylands (nearer Beith) Gillsland, Scoop, Bogfauli?, and WiNDYHOusE, (these more southerly,) of various quality o£ soil, but generally productive. Near to these are the Dochas, 2 possessions ; and southward from them, the Balgrays, 4 posses*- aions ; all well laid out, and well cultivated lands. Bogston. — This property, extending to about 100 acres of fertile lands, with an adequate mansion, amid some thriving liEiTB] OP Canmng|)am«, 28& plantation, is situated about 2 miles southward from Beitb, It forms part of the ancient barony of Giffin, and is the most nor- therly lot of that^reat estate when it was parcelled out about 100 years ago. Lordship op Giffin. — There happens to be preserved in the Cartulary of the Abbey of Dryburgh, copies of some Cliarters,r which throw light on the ancient proprietors of this great estate. One in particular contains a grant by Alexander dte Nenham of half a caracut of land, in his territory^ of Giffin, to the IVIonks of Dryburgh," proanimabis Dominorum meorum Biccardi de Mor- ville," and others of that family, which corroborates the opinion of Lord Hales, that Hugh de Morvilley who founded the Abbey of Kilwinning, was the founder also of that of Dryburgh; of which I was not aware, in the enumeration of the different estates pos- sessed by the de Morville family, page 50, In ail probability this Lordship of Giffin had^at one time, belonged to them also-, a? it is certain, that the lands of Cruminock, in the neighbour- hood, belonged to their descendant, John Balliol. From the personages mentioned in this Charter, it must have been granted l>etwixt the years 1209 and 1233, The lands conveyed in it are so accurately described and pointed out by natural boundaries, that any person may recognise them at the present day. They are on the estate of Treearne, which was tlien part of the Lord- ship of Giffin. In 1371 Hugh de Eglinton obtained a Charter of the lands of Giffeyn from Robert II,, as they had previously fallen to the Crown through forfeiture, but, of whom,- is not men- tioned. John Montgomery of Eagleshame having married the heiress of Eglinton, Giffin among other lands became his proper- ty. His son, John, first Lord Montgomery, gave this estate to his second son, Robert, and who was pucceeded in it by his soir. Sir Adam. Montgomery of Giffin, and he again by his descend- ants in succession, Alexander, Adam, and Troilus the immediate ancestor of the Montgomeries of JMacbeth-hili, &c. [See Douglas.' 284:' PAUTicuLAR DESCRIPTION- [Parish of Baronage]. As however there appears a Chjirtei* of date 1452, (about the aera of Sir Adam, as above,) in which the Laird of Giffin is distinctly called William Montgomery, it should seerfi that either the estate (as from its e^ttent it well might,) was par- celled out among different branches of the family ; or, Uketothe titles in a German principality — all the branches used them-in common. However this may be, it is certain >that the whole was resumed by their chief, Hugh, first Earl of Eglinton, who in 1505 has it all comprehended in a special Charter to'himself, dated at Stirling on the 23d of April that year. After this, it was at dif- ferent times given off, -as. a portion to younger branches of the Eglinton family; as in the reign of Queen Mary, when Hugh, the third Earl, gave Giffin to his second son,. Robert, who failing of male issue, it returned again to the main House where it re- mained till Alexander the sixth Earl gave it to his second son, Sir Henry Montgomery of Giffin; and fallmg back again for want of issue male, it was finally, alienated by Hugh the seventh Earl of Eglinton, to his second son, Francis Alontgomery of Giffin, prior to the year 1669, the year in which the Earl died. This Francis was a Privy Counsellor and a man of abilities and con- siderable influence. About the year 1680 he acquired the lands of Hazlehead from Robert Montgomery the last male represen- tative of that family, a branch ako of Eglinton, and which estate on his son's marriage (with Laxly JMary Carmichael, daughter of the Earl of Hyndford,) he made over to him, as well as the fee of the estate of Giffin. This son, John Montgomery, was, after the Union, Member of Parliairient for the county of Ayr, but being a man of expensive habits, his estate of Hazlehead as well as the reversion of Giffin, was disposed of, by judicial sale in 1722, and purchased by Sir John Anstruther Bart, as well as the superiority of the old feus of Giffin, and soon after he parcelled out the remainder in 30 or 40 lots to the ancestors (or authors) .of the present proprietors. Even the venerable old Castle itself, BEITH.] v.v V, OF Cunningtame. 285 which not being from that time inhabited, has become ruinous. Of this a view is given in this work, as a memorial of its present appearance ; for it cannot, v.ithout some pains be taken to keep it up, remain long in existence. The family of Montgomery of Giffin seems to be extinct. This great Lordship included originally, besides GifRn of the present day, the lands of Hazlehead, Broad- stone, Ramshead, Treearne, and Roughwood, extending in all to ^3788 9s. lOd. of valuation ; which is considerably more than half the valued rent of Boith parish. As it now stands, the valued rent is ^1400, and the extent nearly 2000 acres of among the best lands in it. The principal portions of it, are the North and South Barrs, situated on both sides of the road, which leads through the heart of the property from Beith to Dunlop: the Nettlehiusts and Lugton Rigs, as also Blrnhouse, the Bore- STOXE, Drumbuie, Gate-end, &c., with the Foreside (reckoned one of the best farms in the parish), all on the south side of that road ; the lands of Greenhills, Tandlehill, Third-part, Brown- hills, and Burnside, on the north side. But the best portion of the whole is perhaps the lands of Gree on the west side of Lug- ton water, upwards from the great road. This fine wing of the lands of Giffin extends to upwards of 250 acres of a deep fertile soil fit for wheat or any crop, and is parcelled out among 6 dif. ferent proprietors. Adjacent to these, on the north, (but not in .Giffin Lordship,) are situated the lands of Mtddleton, High- gates and Cauldstream, all of excellent quality, extending to a* bout 400 acres. The whole of these last seem to be incumbent on limestone, of which there are some quarries extensively wrought. Hazlehead. — Westwards from the lands last mentioned, is situated this valuable estate. It was given off in the fifteenth century as an appanage to a younger son of the family of Mont- gomery : Douglas, in his Peerage, says, to Hugh the third son of Alexander (or Andrew) the third Lord JMontgoraery ; but in his Baronage, he says, Sir Adam Montgomery of Giffin gave it 4C 286 PARTICULAR DESCRH'TION [Pal'tsJl of to his second son John. However this niaj be, it remained with the family of the original grantee, till Robert Montgomery, tho last male representative, sold it in 1680 to Francis Montgomery of Giffin — and it followed the fate.of that estate, when it went to ■wreck about 100 years ago. It was then purdiased at the judi- cial sale in 1722, by Col. Patrick Ogilvie of Inch-Martin, who was maternally descended of the original family of Montgomery of Hazlehead. In 1746 he feucd out about two-thirds of it, and sold the remainder to Ilobert Brodie of Calderhaugh, who by his wife, the widov/ of William llalston of that Ilk, had an only daughter, Marion, married ta the late Mungo Smith of Drongan. In 1752 he soldthis estate to Miehael Carmichael, second son of Thomas Carmichael of East-end. He was succeeded by his son, Maurice Carmichael of East-end, wlio in 1807 sold it to Dr. Ro- bert Patrick of Treearne, of whom afterwards. '•»/ • About the time that this estate was acquired by Francis Mont- gomery of Giffin, the manor-place consisted of an old square castle, to which he made a great addition in a more modern stile, intending it for the residence of his only son, he himself residing at Giffin. He also made considerable-plantations around it in form of a cross, according to the taste of the times. To these plantations great additions have lately been made by the present proprietor. Dr. Robert Patrick. — The house is now roofless and in ruins, but he intends to erect a new mansion in its yicinity, and not far from it, he has already laid down the garden. The situation is remarkably pleasant. Treearne. — Adjoining these lands on the west, this property is situated, consisting of very productive land, incumbent, as well as the preceding, on limestone. Tlie old mansion is situated on a considerable eminence, from whence a very extensive prospect might be had, were it not for its own woods with which it is so closely shut up, as to see, nothing from it,- nor is itself seen -from any place. It belongs to the proprietor of the preceding estate, and where he generally resides- JBElTH] OF Cunningtianm 261 It has already been traced as above, to the Lordship of Giffin. Prior to 1500, it belonged at one time to Eobert Ker, a younger branch of the family of Kersland. From whose family it went to Robert Bar, whose descendants sold it in 1748, to the Tutors of John Patrick of Waterside, father of the present proprietor. jpatncfe of Creearne. It appears that the ancestors of this family were early settled about the Monastry of Kilwinning: one of them in particular, John Patrick, is a subscribing witness to a Charter connected with that Abbey, dated 19th July^ 1459. On the approach of the Reformation, they acquired some lands from the Abbot, si"- tuated in the vicinity of Kilwinning, as Dalga, &c. and some of the family are still in that neighbourhood. The first of this fa- mily connected with the parish of Beith, was I. Robert Patrick, who in 1643 acquired the lands of Wa- terside in the Lordship of Giffin.* He died in 1676, and wae succeeded by his son, II. Hugh Patrick, who died without issue in 1682, when his brother, II. Robert Patrick, succeeded him in Waterside. He mam ried Janet Shedden, by whom he had a son, III. Robert Patrick, who predeceased him in 1736. He married Barbara Conn, daughter of John Conn,proprietor of one half of the lands of Pitcon in the parish of Dairy and others, by whom he had a daughter, Janet, who was married to her cousin Jolin, son o£ Hugh Patrick of Drumbuie ; and a son, IV. John Patrick, who in his infancy succeeded his gransi^ * His brother, John Patcick, was proprietor of the lands ofDrumbuic. In 17IC he was succeeded by his son, Robert ; and in 1730 Hugh, tlie son of Robert, suc- ceeded his father in Drumbuie. His eldest son, John PStriclc, married Janet, the eldest daughter of Robert Patrick of Waterside. His eldest son, Robert, married' Janet, the daughter of James Maxwell of Braidieland. The eldest son of this mar- riage. Captain James Patrick, is now proprietor of Drumbuie. He was sometime Captain in the Ayrshire Militia j afterwards in the 70th Rcgt. and is now on half-par . 288 PARTICULAII DESCRIPTION [PaHsJi of father, and through his mother inherited the lands of Pitcon, and also part of the l^inds of Gree in the Lordship of Giffin : and far- ther, his Tutors in 1748 purchased for him the lands of Treearne, as already stated. He married Marion, daughter of John Shedden of Roughwood, by whom he had three sons and two daughters ; the second son, John, is at present a merchant in New- York ; the third son, William, is a writer to the Signet in Edinburgh, and a considerable proprietor, both in this parish and that of Dalrj', The eldest son, V. KoBERT Patrick now of Treearne, entered into €he Army in a medical capacity in 1789, and served at the seige of Toulon; also in Corsica at the seige of Calvi ; afterwards in Elba ; in Por- tugal ; and, in 1798, at the taking of Minorca. In 1800, he was appointed Inspector of Hospitals, in which capacity he acted till the peace in 1801. On the renewal of the war in 1802, he was appointed to the middle district of England j and in 1805, he went with the expedition which was sent to the assistance of the Austrians, but which returned, in consequence of the sudden peace, soon aftei*. He remained on the staff in England till the peace in 1815. In 1805, he married Harriet, second daughter ,of the late General William Gardiner, brother of the late Luke^ I-iord Mountjoy, by Harriet, daughter of Sir John Wrottesley, by whom he has two sons, John and William. . - In 1807, when, in conjunction with his brother William, he purchased the estate of Hazlehead, he transferred to him the lands of Roughwood, (to which he had succeeded as heir of his uncle, William Shedden), in exchange for his share of the former. Arms. — Argent^ a Saltier ^ahle ; on a chief of the last, 3 Roses of the first : Crest, a Dexter Hand proper, holding a Saltier Sable. — Motto, Ora et Labora. Roughwood. — This property is situated on the western side .of the parish, south from the lands of Crawfield first mentioned. The soil is various, ge;ierally damp originally, and much of it pure BEITH.] OF €utmj«g!bamc. 289 moss. It has undergone great improvements by the present pro- prietor, William Patrick, Esq. more especially by converting the moss into arable land ; — by draining ; by road-making, to an ex- tent of more than 2 miles ; and by plantations — rendering the whole quite a different subject. This estate appears to have been separated from Giffin by a grant to a very ancient family of the name of Hammil, at a pc- riod prior to the acquisition of Giffin, by Sir Hugh de Eglinton in 1371. In 1452, there is also a Charter from John de Lyddale, Dominus de Bradestane (before mentioned), to Robert de Hom- myl of Roughwood, containing a confirmation of previous and older grants, to that family. This estate in 1600 belonged to hi? descendant, Hugh Hammil, some of whose family accompanied Hugh Montgomery of Bradestane, to Ireland, and settled there, and of these are descended several respectable merchants in Dub- lin at this day ; and Dr. Hammil, Physician to the Emperor of Russia, is understood to be descended from the same. Hugh Hammil of Roughwood, in 1643 married Catherine, daughter of William Ralston of that Ilk, by whom he had a son, Math ew, and a daughter, Anna. Mathew sold this estate about the year 1690, to Robert Shedden, and afterwards died unmarried. Anna married Robert Montgomery of Craighouse, whose great-grand- son, Robert Montgomery, Banker in Irvine, now represents the family of Hammil of Roughwood. @)J)cDlicn Of JRoug]^tooolJ. I. Robert Shedden, who had previously acquired the lands of Millburn in the parish of Tarbolton, and-the lands of Coal- burn in the parish of Dairy ; bought, as above, in 1690, the lands of Roughwood. He left two sons, John and William ; and a daughter, Elisabeth, married to George Brown of Knockmarloch^ of whom Major George V. Brown, now of Knockmarloch, is des- cended. He left his lands of Roughwood, Milburn,.and Co^l- burn, to his eldest son John, and certain other lands to his second son William, 4 D 290 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [ Pariah of 11. John, married Jean, daughter to Gavin Ralston of that Ilk, (by his lady, Anna, a daughter of Porterfield of that Ilk,) by whom he had two sons, John and William, and a daughter, Ma- rion, married to John Patrick of Treearne, of whom afterwards. John, the eldest son, was a Surgeon in the Army, and died at the seige of Havanna in 1763. The second son, IIL William, went to Virginia, as a merchant, where his cousin, Robert Shedden, eldest son of his uncle William as above, was also settled. They took the Royalist side, at the commence- ment of the American war, and were obliged to lly from the country, where their property was forfeited. They went to the West Indies and remained till the peace in 1783, when Robert Shedden settled in London, and is now a merchant thereof great ■wealth and of the first respectability. He has a large family. William Shedden went to New- York, where he settled, and died without issue in 1798, and was succeeded by Dr, Robert Patrick, the eldest son of his only sister, Marion Shedden, and who, in consequence of an arrangement, as already stated, with his bro- ther William, made over this property to him^ so that it belongs^- now to William Patrick, W. S. There are several small possessions omitted in this list, situa- ted chiefly in the neighbourhood of the town. Among others are the lands of Crummock, particularly noticeable, as having been the property at one time of the Balliol family. They are valuable lands, but as known under that name at present, are not very extensive. They are situated on the east side of the town and close upon it, part of Beith being set down upon them, and one of the best villas about Beith, Mr. Wilson's of Crummock, is in the immediate vicinity. There is part also of the Caldwell es- tate of which no notice is taken. It is situated in the north-east corner of the parish. The great body however, of that property, >'i«s in Renfrewshire. BEITU] OF Cunninsljame. TABLE OF VALUED RENT. 291 Prepert'tes, Treearne, Hazlehead, &c. - Ramshead, Highats, Biggar, &c. Woodside, Crawfield, &c. - Rbughwood, &c. Brown-muir, Grangehill, &c. Broadstone, &c. Craighouso, &c. - Middleton, Threepwood, Willovvyards, Gree, part of - Morrishill, Highgate, Broadstonehall, ■ CufF, - - _ , Gate-end, Balgray, part of Stirlings Highgate, Netherliili, Bogston, Marshal Land, part of - Brownhill, Muirston, part of Drumbuie, Gree, part of - • Third-part, part of Balgray, part of - . Shotts, &c. Foreside, Feu Duties, - - Southbur, - _ . Threepwood, part of - Ditto, Diuo, Lugton Rigs, part of — Highgate, part of Auldmiil, - - . Nettlehirst, part of - Third-part, part of - Nettlehirst, part of - Bogside, - . _ Newhouse, - Deepstone, part of - Lugton-Rigs, part of - l)£«pstone, part of - - Proprietors, Valued Rent. £ s. d. . Dr. Robert Patrick, - » ^ 662 11 8 Part of Caldwell, . . 520 General A. G. Stirling, . - 290 1 - Lady Mary Montgomery) ► - SS-t - William Patrick, Esq. W. S. . 263 12 4 . James Crawford, Esq. - . 186 1 . John Fulton, Esq-. . . 170 16 8 . Hugh Brown, Esq. . ■ 170 16 . Mrs. Montgomery, - - 165 . WilUani Caldwell, - - - 150 . John Love, . . 136 16 9 . Robert Steele, - . 114. . Mrs. Brown, - . . 86 John Shedden, - ^ S2 18 . Robert Biggart, - . 80 16 8 Sir Michael Shaw Stewart, Bi jrt. 74 John Urquhan, - . 71 17 6 Hugh Ker, - . 67 John Stevenson, . - 66 13 4 Robert Biggart, - - 62 10 John Wilson,' - - 60 5 8 Robert Montgomery, - ~ 60 Robert Speir, - - 58 18 2 John Sheddon, . . 58 11 9 John Gilmour, . - 58 IS 4 James Patrick, - . 57 John Gilmour, . . 54 WUliam Wilson, . . 52 Robert Muir, - - 47 6 8 Margaret Patritjk,- - - 46 13 6 Robert Glasgow, Esq, - - 46 Earl of Eglinton, - - 45 Hugh Ker, - - 45 Robert Shedden, - . 44 12 3 Hugh Stevenson, - - 43 12 3 R. King, - - 42 13 . 4 M. and M. Harvey, •• - - 41 IS 4 Thomas Biggart, - 40 6 8 Mrs. Fulton, - - - - 40 John Stevenson, . • 39 John Ker, - - . 37 10 John Fleming, - - 37 Thomas Pollock, . - 37 John Gemmel, - - 37 John Gcramel, . . S7 « Mrs. Speir, - - 37 £92 PARTICULAU DESCRIPTION {Barish of Properties. Balgray Muir, Lugton-Rigs, part of Mains, &c. Fullwood-head, Barcraips, Giflin-Castle, - Gree, part of - Nevvlands, Muirston, part of Nettlehirst.part-of Bank - Boghall, Bogfauld, Bottoms, HazleheadrtowH, Gree, part of - Dockra, part of - Dockra, part of - Burnside, Lugton-Rigs, part of Drumbuie, part of Marshal-land, part of Mains-Hamilton, part of Gatehead, Nettlehirst, part of Sidehead, Burnhouse, Laigh Mains, Broadstone, part of Moss-end, Hoods-yards, Mains-Hamilton, part of Crummock, &.c. Lochfauldsj Proprietors, William King, Tiiomas Snodgrass, Andrew Marshal, James Ker, John Ritchie, 'i'homas White, John King, R. and D. Snodgrass, Robert Graig, , John Cochran, ■ Robert Carrick; Esq. Mathew Pollock, John Smith, William Stevenson, John Wark, James Gilmour, ■ George Ker, Francis Wark, ■William Stevenson, J. Ker, . R. Biggart, Mrs. Gibson, . Alexandar Ramsay, William Brydon, John White, Kirk Session, R. Biggart, R. Gillies, John Barr, Bryce Ker, Robert Love, Robert Houstoun, William Wilson, .Heirs of William Stewart, 80 Subjects as above, having in all . . . 17 Subjects from j613 5s. 56. to jfilO inclusive, in all 30 Ditto, under L.IO, haying in all . . . 29 Ditto, in the town, having in all . . . Total of the parish, in Ayrshire 3 in Shitterflatt, in Renfrewshire, 159 Total of Beith parish, . . . . FREEHOLrESS QUALIFIED TO VOTE. £ ;•• d. 33 6 8 32 32 30 28 27 27 27 26 16 4 26 10 26 25 10 25 25 23 16 8 23 8 22 10 22 10 22 20 10 20 20 19 15 6 18 16 8 18 8 18 18 -0 18 t) 17 o 16 13 * 16 15 17 15 11 lo 15 . 5704 11 10 182 IS 7 . 191 7 3 S6 19 5 . . 6115 14 2 16* 13 4. 6280 7 6 of Caldwell. Robert Patrick of Treearne. William Patrick, W. S. Lt.-Gen. Stirling of Duchra. Hugh Brown of Broadstone. H. Crawfurd of Brownmuir. Sir M. S. Stewart of Greenock Capt. A. Montgomery of Giffin BKITH] OF Cimningljamf. Hntiquitiejy. 29S On a hill on the estate of Hazleliead, there is one of thoje Urge Rocking Stones, of several tons weight, generally ascribed to the times of the Druids. Tliis was wont to be set in motion by the smallest force, but has now, in a great measure, lost that faculty, from having been disarran^^ed in its position, by attempts, in digging under it, ft) ascertain the manner in which it was poized. Not far from it, there has also been several tumuli, composed of heaps of stones, under which, in square cells formed with flat stones set on edge, were found human bones. Some of these heaps have been re- moved entirely. Part of one, of -uncommon largeness, still remains. It had been 30 or 40 yards in length, from 21- to 30 feet broad, and from fi to 8 feet in height above the surface of the adjacent ground. In this, the cells for depositing tlie dead were each about 6 or 7 feet in length, about 3 feet wide, and about 30 inclies deep. The stones that formed the sides and roof of each were huge unshapely slabs, of a ton weight, or more, — so long, that one served for each side, and one as a covering at top. The side stones rested on the solid ground, at bottom. These receptacles, were ar- ranged like catacombs, in two regular lines (lengthways in the middle of the tumulus) fronting each other, with a passage between, of about i feet in breadth. In each, were found the bones extended of a man : the scull resting on a stone at the inner end, while at the feet, were the bones or skeleton of a dog, lying across. This points evidently to man, in his Hunter state ; — who knows, how many ages gone i Perhaps in the Fingalian times ; — not only before the era of Christianity, but that of the first Roman invasion. These sepulchral caverns were concealed by the thick covering of loose stones laid over the whole ; filling up not only the passage in the middle, but extending 6 or 8 feet beyond the cells, on each side of the tumulus. The cells were so nearly laid together, that there was little interval between the side stones of one, and the side stones of those next it. It was in removing the loose stones, a few years ago, to form a road in the neighbourhood, that the discovery was made. About 30 feet in length, in the middle of the tumulus, is still entire, and, no doubt, contains some more of these singular depositations of departed heroes. Dr. Patrick has enclosed it with a wall to prevent further delapidation. A single bead, and a small bit of copper like a piece of defaced coin, were the only extraneous things found. tiffin Castle, From the North. 4E 294 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION r Parish of PARISH OF DUNLOP. iUNLOP parish is situated on the south-east side of that of Beith, and Is separated from it by the water of Lugton, the whole wav. On the n.e. it is bound- cd by tlie county of Renfrew, and every where else by the parish of Stcwarton. The length from s. w. to N.E. is about 4 miles, and the breadth, in a direction across to this, is little more than 2 miles. The whole extends to 4462 acres, exclusive of that partof it, in the cout)ty of Renfrew, to which this account does not apply — only so far, that it extends to about 700 acres. (general Appearance. — This is so Tvell described by the Rev. Mr. Brisbane, in the Statistical Account of this parish, in 1793, that I shall quote his words. " It may be said to consist of a. great variety of hills. None of them remarkable for height, but many of them for beautiful and extensive prospects, and all for the rich grass they produce ; — and though hilly, is of easy access and well adapted to the purposes of pasture and agriculture." I may add, that none of these small hills rise above 100 feet above the surrounding hollows — and that several of them present steep fronts of naked rock, more especially those in the vicinity of the village. Q^incratiS. — There is an excellent bed of limestone on the lands of Gameshill on the southern boundary of the parish, which continues to be wrought to a considerable extent. There is little more wrought in the parish, though it is found in other places. There is no coal at all. The great body of the parish stands on basakick rock, and this mineral and coal are never found in con- tact. g)0il. — The substratum as above being either limestone or rotten rock, the soil is excellent, even though it should bo of slender depth. In no parish yet described, is there so great a pro- portion of fertile soil, or so small a proportion of barren, as in Dunlop. Crop0 CultibateD. — Wheat very little : yet every other kind of grain is cultivated with great success. But the dairy is the predominant object here, and every thing must give place to pas- ture, or be subservient to it. — Even Tukmp, to which the soil is peculiarly applicable, is very little known as a field production. Potatoes are preferred to it, by all dairy people here, as having less tendency to give a taint to the milk, and are grown exten- sively. Contents f^^t^^^g^ - 876 Oft?c J Cultivated grass land, 3200 TfC^aftefi I Natural pasture, &c.., 332 FarWD. [Woods and gardens, 54. £ibC ^tOCfe. — Milch-Cows, with tiie young stock required to keep up the number, form the chief br-anch. There are some grazing cattle laid on the old pastures of the two largest estates, but almost none of such, any where else. — Slieep are kept only in three's or four's, on any possession, for wool for family use ; generally of an excellent kind. Horses of all descriptions, 103 Cattle ditto, 1074 Sheep, ., 150 Sv;ine, 240 £)Unlop CfjCCSr. — Though this parish has long obtained a ce- lebrity for cheese, vet» neither is tiie breed of Urileh-cows- better- Total V 4462 ACRES .296 I'AUTrcuLAR DESCRiPTrON [ Pariah of here, than in the rest of Cunninghame, nor the mode of cheese- raaking different. All Ayrshire cheese goes by the same name and, through it oil, the quality is remarkably similar. Dunlop indeed had the merit of first bringing this cheese into notice owing, it is said, to a Barbara Gilmour who, about 120 years aoo, had acquired, in Ireland, a particular knowledge of makino- cheese from the lohole milk, in&tead of shimmed milk, which till then had been the usual practice in this country. This gentlewoman returning here to her native country, paid more than usual at- tention to the making of cheese, and it soon acquired a name, and with it the practice extended by degrees over the whole neighbourhood. — Her descendants now enjoy a considerable ex- tent of property in the parish. I enter into no discussion as to the mode of manufacturing this cheese, only, so far as I have ob- served, there seems to be no peculiarity in it, further than what may be supposed to arise from dexterity in consequence of long- continued practice. It seems to be the general richness of the milk, which forms the basis of the whole. It may even be ob- served, that there is still something in the quality of this cheese, that originates in chance. For, it is obvious, that even in the same dairy, cheese made all in the course of the same period, are not all alike good — some being more excellent than others. There are even some dairies, from whence it is in better repute, than in others, without any observable difference in the pastures — or in the cows — or in the manner in which they are fed. The different agricultural societies would do well to institute an annu- al premium for the best cheese. J7aiy, — Dunlop Hallow-Fair is among the best in Cunning- hame ; especially for dairy stock. ilRoalJ0. — This parisli is remarkably well accommodated with roads, in all directions. The materials for road-making are, in every part of it, had in abundance, and of the best quality. Town of Dunlop. — This pleasant village consists chiefly of DUN LOP.] OF Cunningtjame. 2SP7 a single street, inhabited by about 200 people. It is situated on the road from Beith to Stewarton, about five miles from the first and three miles from the latter place. The water of Glazert winds round it, on the south, from east to west ; — the banks of which exhibit, in various places, a picturesque scenery of craggy rocks, of considerable height, almost perpendicular. The soil a- round it is excellent, and every villager has his nice little garden, It is too small a place to have any manufactures, beyond the usu- al demand of the neighbourhood. There are in it "o Shoemakers, 10 Masons, 8 Weavers, 6 Smiths, 6 Wrights, 5 Taylor, 1 no Baker — no Flesher — and so few complaints among the peo- ple, that there is not a Surgeon in the parish — nor a Writer in it all. Neither are there any Dissenters. The population in the parish amounts to about 1010. ScHooi-. — None but the parochial one, taught by Mr. Bryce> at which there are about 70 scholars at an average in the year— considerably more in winter, when the grown up boys and girls can best be spared from field operations. State of the Poor. — In such a healthy parish as this is, and uncontaminated with the dissipation and vices of mechanics, con- gregated into crowded towns, there must be but a small propor- tion of indigent people. Tiie poor on the permanent roll amount to only seven, and three or four more that get occasional supply. Among the first there is distributed yearly about ^45, including their house rents ; and among the last £5, making £50 in all. ^iniiStCrfif — since the Revolution. NAMES. ADMITTED, &c. TRANSLATED or DIED. John Jameson, Sept. 21. 1692 James Rowat, Translat. to Jedburgh. Robert Baird, March 28. 1734 Died March 27. 175a Dr. James Wodrow,.. September 1. 1757. ] '^"octoberT'LSS 4F 298 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Parish cf. NAMES, ADMITTED, TRANSI-ATED, John Fullarton, September 25. 1760; -j ' ',-> 17^9' , , ^ , Tvi 10 i-£!o t Trans, to Kirkinnerj. John Graham, May 12. 1 ,60 | j^^^^^ g^ ^^^^^ Thomas Brisbane, April 27. 1780 aEs;tate0 anU jTamilicsf. There are 55 distinct properties in this parish, possessed by nearly the same number of heritors, of whom 44 are resident, besides the principal heritor, who resides occasionally. These occupy their own lands as husbandmen, and all having a portion of wood, less or more, around their respective mansions, at no great distance from each other, gives the country a cheerful and cultivated appearance. The extent of these properties is, each from 12 acres or less, to 150 or more, but more generally from 20 acres to 60. The principal estate is that of Dunlop proper. It is situated chiefly on the eastern side of the parish, having only two or three farms west from the village. The whole ex- tends to upwards of 1000 acres of excellent land, including more than 20 of very thriving wood, some of it very ancient, and some more recently planted. The manor=place of this barony is sefe down in a hollow, by the side of a small rivulet, which divides this parish from that of Stewartoii on the east. It is a stately fabric of pretty ancient standing, having the date 1599 over the main door. It has been a fortified place, in the spirit of ancient times, but nevertheless is possessed of great accommodation, with several elegant apartments. It is the occasional residence of Lieut-General James Dunlop of Dunlop, the representative of a family of considerable antiquity. , Dunlop Of Dunltsp. Of the first establishment of this family, no authentic account appears. But in the Charter chest of the Burgh of Irvine, is to be seen a notorial copy of an inquest taken in 1260, respect- ing some lands in litigation between Dom. Godfrey de Ross and that Burgh, in which the name of Dom. William de Dunlop \s incidentally mentioned. Thirty-six years after this period, namely in 1296, the name of Neil Fitz-Robert de Dalop is to be met with in the Ragman Roll, whom Nisbct conjectures to have beea of Dunlop. [See vol. II. p. 38. app.] About the middle of ihe following centnry, James Stewart of Bute, great-grandson of Robert II. is stated to have married a daughter of Dunlop of that Ilk. [See Brown's Genealogical Tree.] From this time forward, the existence of the family is well es- tablished bv their title deeds and other authorities. III. Thus in 1483 Constantine Dunlop of that Ilk, has a transaction respecting the entry of the lands of Hunthall, that had been in arrear since the time of his grandfather, Alexander Dunlop, He may therefore be stated as the third link in this chain of genealogy, without going farther back in the precise de- duction.* IV. In 1489 Alexander Dunlop, in all probability the son of Constantine, was appointed by Parliament (among other Lords as they are termed) to collect the byegone rents and casualties of the Crown, in Stewarton and Kilmarnock, along with Alexander * Might I hazard a conjecture as to the cause of tliat chasm in the history of this house from 1260, till the time of the grandfather of Constantine, who appears in l^SSi, it would be this, — That the family of Dunlop had taken part with Balliol in die con- test with Bruce for the kingdom about the beginning of the fourteenth century, and had been forfeited by the latter in consequence, and their lands attached to the Crov/ix It is so far certain, that diis barony belonged to Robert III. in 1:390, as it was then conferred by him on his sonin-law, Archibald, fourthEari bf 'Douglas, along with the forfeited Lordship of Stewarton, in the vicinity, tliat fell- to the Crown in the rciga of Robert Bruce, on the attainder of a potent branch of the family of Ross for »dher- jng to the Balliol interest. This Earl of Douglas conferred these lands, among other*, on his own son-in-law, John, Earl of Buchan, in 1413, and who being slain at the battle of Vcrnuill in 142 i, without leaving issue male, it is probable that these lands would return again to the family of Douglas. That they actually did so, appears from this, that on the 26th Oct. 1451, James II. renewed a charter of them to \Viiliam the eighth Earl of Douglas, and whose brother and successor, James the ninth Earl of Douglas being .forfeited in 1455, the lands of Dunlop would again revert to the Crown • — which might then restore the ancient patrimony of the Dunlops to the descend-^- ants of its original Barons — who appear, as here instructed, to have been the proprie=.» tors about this very period. , 300 PAUTicuLAU DESCniPTioN [Parish of Boyd, Unquestionably of the Kilmarnock family. [See the Rec. of Par. lately published.] V. In 1537 Alexander Dunlop, (son it is to be presumed of the preceding) is in possession of tlie lands of Hunthall, alias Dunlop, and of the presentation of the parish clerkship of Dun- lop and patronage of the church. By a Charter under the great seal, in the reign of Queen Mary and protectorship of the Earl of Arran — he settled his estate on his five sons in succession — James, William, Constantine, Robert and Andrew. He was succeeded by his son, VI. James Dunlop of Dunlop, whose retour is dated in 1549. He was succeeded by his son, VII. James Dunlop of Dunlop in 1626. He married Jean, daughter of Somerville of Camnethan, by whom he left three sons; 1. James; 2. John, afterwards of Garnkirk; 3. William, afterwards of Bloak. He was succeeded by his son, VIII. James Dunlop of Dunlop in 1617. He married Mar- garet Hamilton, said to have been the widow of a Bishop of Lis- more, by whom he had a son, James, that did not immediately succeed him, as the estate, through some family arrangement not explained, went on his father's resignation in 1633 to his uncle, John of Garnkirk, but it should seem in trust only, for IX. In 1638 James Dunlop, son of James, obtains a Charter under the great seal of the lands of Dunlop, on his uncle John's resignation in his favour. He married Elisabeth Cunninghame, by whom he had two sons, Alexander and John, He seems to have been a warm supporter of the Presbyterian cause, and to have had his share of sufferings accordingly, being often, not on- ly heavily fined, but thrown into prison in those execrable times. [See Crookshanks' Hist.] For some family reasons, not men- tioned, this gentleman also made a temporary alienation of a considerable part of his lands to the Earl of Dundonald in life- rent and his son Lord Cochrane in fee, — in all probability as a DUNLOP.] OF Cunningfjame. 301 skreen from forfeiture, this happening about the Pcntl and -hills- time in 1667. When he died is not mentioned, but his son, X. Alexander Duxlop, married Antonia Brown, daughter of Sir Brown of Fordel, by Dame Scott, (afterwards Lady Rowallan,) in 1667, on which occasion his father made over to him the valuable possessions of Muirshields, Over and Ni.iher Oldhalls, Galloberries, and barony of Peacock-bank. By this Lady he had a son, XI. John Duklop of Dunlop, who in 1684 got a disposition ^o the lands that had been settled on his father, Alexander, and in 1685 the Earl of Dundonald resigned to him those lands of which he had got a conveyance ; and in 1687 he had an adjudi- cation against his grandfather, James, by which he got possession of all his estates. In 1688 he had a part of them erected into a free barony, by the name of the Barony of Dunlop. It should seem that he died about the year 1713, 'without issue, or proba- bly unmarried, when he was succeeded by XI. Francis Dunlop of Dunlop, hia youngest brother out of six. There were also two sisters.* He married 1st Susan, daughter of Leckie of Newlands, by whom he had three sons: 1. John, of whom afterwards ; 2. Hugh, who died a student at Glasgow College in his 17th year ; 3. Alexander, Major of the Inniskillings which he commanded on the unfortunate expedition to Carthagena in 1741, from which, on account of bad health there contracted, he was obliged to retire, and died on his return * Of the fcur other brothers nothirg is known but that one cf them went out in the unfortunate expedition toDarien and was never rtwre heard of. The eldest sister Elisabeth, was married to .Sir Robert Denham, Bart, and ieft two sons ; 1. Robert, who succeeded to the title and estate ; went into the Royal Navy, and had the com- mand of a ship against the Spaniards, and fell in action, early in life -, 2. Alexander, went into ilie Army — v.-as sent to the West Indies — fell in:o bad health there, and lived only to land iu Britain. The youngest married an English 'Gentleman of the name of Brewster, who was forfeit in the »// timf/. She likewise left two sons, both of whom were put into ihe church, and lei't familieo. These four boys, losing t)>eir parents in infancy, were educated at Dtinlop, with Francis Dunlop's own sons. 4G J02 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION^ [ Pan'sh of. to Britain unmamod ; and a daughter, Antonia, married to Sir Thomas Wallace, Bart, of Craigie, but died with issue. 2diyy He married a daughter of Sir Kinlocli of Gilmerton and widow of Charles Campbell, bj wJiom he had two daughters : L; Magdalane, married to. Robert Dunlop, an Officer in the ILNj (and left two children, — a son^ Robert, a Lieut, in the R. N. has a family ; and a daughter, Frances Utiiigdalanc, married to her cousin, John Dunlop. Sec below) ; 2. Frances, who died nnraar^ ried. His last, Lady, Mrs. Gampbelly had a daughter by her first marriage, who was married to Sir Robert Myrton, Bart. Xn. John Duni-op of Dunlop, on the resignation of his fh-t ther, Francis,, in 1748, was.infeft in the estate. He married Frances Anne, daughter of Sir Thomas Wallace of Craigie, Bart.- (by his first wife, a daughter of Colonel Agncw of Lochryan,) b}" whom he liad seven sons and six daughters: 1. Francis, died, young; 2. Sir Thomas, who succeeded to the estate of his ma- ternal grandfather, and took the name of Wallace of Craigie ; 3.. Alexander, died young; 4. Andrew,and 5. James, both of whom af- terwards; 6. John, was in the Army, but early retired on half-pay? married his cousin Frances Magdalane, as above, (by whom he ha& had seven sons and.four daughters ; I.John-Andrew, writer in In- dia; 2. Robert, in the West Indies ; 3. Henry, advocate; 4. Wallaco Francis, a Lieut, in the East India Company's Military Service; 5. Anthony, a merchant in Bombay, — and two boys who died- young. The daughters are unmarried) ; 7. Anthony entered tha Navy early in life. (He married Ann, daughter of Cun- ningham, Esq. brother of Sir William Cunningham, Bart, of Fairley, by whom he. has four sons, and three daughters still in, childhood.) The daughters, besides one who died young, are, 1. Agnes Eleanora, married to Joseph Elias Perochon, a Londoa merchant, son to the very eminent Lisbon merchant of that name^ and brother to Edward Perochon, many years British Consul at Lisbpn J 2, Susan, married to James Henry, a French. Gentle- jDUNJLOP] OF Cunningfiamf. 303 man, had a son Avho possesses his father's property near Bour- deaux — is married, and has- one child, a daughter; 3. Frances, married to Robert Vans Agnew, Esq. of Barnbarrow (had five sons and four daughters; 1. Robert, an Officer in the Guards, went to the West Indies as his uncle's aid-de-camp, and died a few days before him : see below ; 2. John, the present represen- tative of the family ; S. Jam-es, was in the R. N. and perished in the Queen Charlotte, when she was burnt off Leghorn on the 17th Mai'ch 1800, only 24 officers and 144 seamen escaping ; 4. Patrick, Major in the East India Company's Service; 5. Henry Stewart, advocate. One daughter- died in infancy, and three re- main unmarried) ; 4. Rachel-, married to Robert Glasgow, Esq. of Mountgreenan ; and 5. Keith, unmarried. The fourth son, XII [. Andrew Dunlop succeeded in 1784 on his father's re- signation to the estate of Diinlop ; (his only remaining elder brother. Sir Thomas the second son, having succeeded to the es- tate of Craigie.} He served in the American war, during which lie attained to the rank of Major; in 1795 he raised a Regiment of Horse, called the Ayrshire Fenciblef Cavalry, which he com- manded till they were reduced in 1800. He was afterwards sent to the West Indies, and died a Brigadier-General in command of the troops, in the island of Antigua, in the year 1804. He was succeeded in the estate by his next brother, XIV. James Dunlop, the present Laird of Dunlop, or of that Ilk, a Lieut.-General in the Army, and representative in Parlia^ ment, for the third time, of the County of Kirkcudbright. He married Julia, daughter of Hugh Baillic, Esq. a younger son of "Baillie of Monktoun,'by-whom he had three sons and two daugh- ters, still in childhood. Arms. — Argent-, an Eagle with two heads displayed. Gules i^ Crest, a Dagger in a dexter hand, erect — motto, Mekito. Hapland, is the next in extent. It consists of more than 450-acres,. belonging ta different proprietors, and issitiiated north^^ 304 PARTicuLAn DESCRIPTION [Parish of wards from the village. The whole is valualle land. The house is situated amidst some thriving plantation and has a good ap- pearance. This in ancient times was probably a psrt of the estate of Dunlop, as it certainly v/as possessed at one time by a branch of the family. In 1573 John Dunlop is retoured heir male and heir of entail to his uncle, Adam Dimlop, in these lands. In 1600 David Dunlop of Hapland exchanged this property with Patrick Cunningham e for the lands of Borelajid, in whose family it probably remained, till it came to a branch of the Porterfields of that Ilk, which was in possession of it in 1648, when John Porterfield was retoured heir to his father, Gabriel, in this estate and other lands in this parish, of which Hapland, in particular, belongs to his descendants till this day. Alexander Porterfield, the last Laird of Hapland of that name, succeeded his father, Gabriel, sometime betwi^ct the years 1750 and 1760, and was unfortunately killed, a few years after, by a fall from his horse, in returning one night from Stewarton. Dying unmarried, the estate became the property of his three sisters, co-heiresses. The eldest, Johanna, was married to Thomas Trotter, Esq. who in 1763, on the death of his brother Henry, became Laird of Mor- tonhall, near Edinburgh, representative of an ancient family there, and enjoying considerable possessions both in Mid Lothian and in Berwickshire. The manor-place of Hapland, and about 200 acres of lands adjacent, belong now to her son, Lieut.-General Alexander Trotter. The second sister married Hamilton of Barr; the third sister married Sommerville of Kennox, and her daughter married Col. M'Alester (of the family of Loup,) now of Kennox, and also proprietor of the remainder of the estate of Hapland. The lands of Grange, of Craignaught, of Tail-end, of Ha2le- EANK, of Broadlee, and of Muirshields, are situated contermi- nous to each other in the north-east corner of the parish. They extend to about 660 acres, of which above one third-part is hiU- BuyLOP.] OF CunningTjame- SOS pasture or moorish lands, being almost tlie only lands of this description in the whole parish. They belong to 8 or 9 different proprietors. [See Valuation Table.] DouNiFLAT, Waterlands, Lochhig-hills, Halkets Easter and Wester, together with Craighead, are situated westward from tlie preceding, and extend to the water of Lugton, the western boun- dary of the parish. The last in particular are pleasantly situated, as well as being all good lands. The whole extends to about 700 acres, and belongs to 5 different proprietors. See the Table. South from these, and lying betwixt them and the lands of Hapland, are situated the lands of Hall-moss, Brokelmuir, Al- ton, and Hapland-muir, extending tonibout 160 acres of land of different qualities. They laelong to 4 proprietors. Conterminous to the lands of Haplahd, on the south, there are three farms belonging to the Dunlop estate, and which extend westward to the water of Lwgton — all partaking of the general good quality of the lands of that Barotey. Southwards from these, and chiefly extending downwards to the Lugton, are situated the remarkable good lands of Oldhall, consisting of 6 possessions— ^three on the north side of the road to Beith, and three on the south side of it. They belong to 6 different proprietors, who have all very pleasant dwellings set down on them respectively. They extend to about 250 acres. -Next to these, and extending southwards, betwixt the Lug- ton and the Glazert waters, the whole remaining length of the parish, are situated the following possessions in the order here stated, from north to south ; namely, Loanhead, Upper Aiket, and AiKETMiLL, Braehead, Watersides, Leahead, Tho^rn, Ra- VENSLiE, and Nether Aiket, extending in all to about 450 acres of good fertile lands, each with their respective comfortable habi- tations, belonging to different proprietors. In the vicinity of the village, on the north-side, are situated SxEUTHERS, Newlanbs, and Kihklands — and to the southwiuids> 4H 306 PARTICUliAR DESCruPTION [Pai-hh oj. but a little farther off, Hapland-mill, Templehouse, Borelanc- HILLS, Mains, Netherhouses, and Hill, extending in all to about 350 acres, possessed by 9 proprietors,. of whom one is non-resi- ietit. They have all suitable houses; On the last, is perhaps the best seat of a small proprietor in the parisli. Towards th(3 south end of the parish are situated the remaining possessions oi' Netherhills, Hollows and Gaimshill, all fine properties, pos=' aessed by 5 proprietors of whom 2 are non-resident The extent in all of this class, is about 236 acres, including in it, some of the most fertile lands of the whole. At a short distance, lower down, from Dunlop Tillage, are situated the lands of Boreland, consisting in general of fertile soil, and now divided, among sundry proprietors, most of whom are non-resident. The Dunlops of Boreland have been among the most ancient proprietors in the parish. They acquired this property A,D. 1600 by an exchange as already stated, with Cun* tiinghame of Boreland, for their original possession of Hapland, where they had before resided for several generations. The fa- mily has lately diverged into two branches, through marriage of two heiresses portioners. Mr. Thomas Reid of Balgray, who married Jane, the youngest, has recently erected a handsome mo- dern house on his- part of the property. Mr. Andrew Brown of Craighead, who married Mary, the eldest, has the original man- sion, lately rebuilt, which is romantically situated by the Glazert, as it winds along among its small hills, some of them verdant with the finest pasture, and others presenting a face of rock of the rudest form. There is some fine wood on this property, part- ly ancient, and partly younger plantation. Other ancient pro* prietors, are Andersons of Aiketmill and of Eroadley ; Craig of Boreland-hills ; and Gilmour of Grange. HnttquttiejeF. — In the church yard there is a tomb erected a* bout 180 years ago, to the memory of a, minister of the parish. On a flagstone, in the floor is the following, inscription; " Heir BvyLOP.] OP oTimninG'bame; 30^ lyis Hanis Hamiltoune vicar of Dunlope, quha deceist ye 30 of Maii 1608. ye aige of 72 zeirs, and Janet Denham his spous." Under a marble arch, with two marble pillars of the composite ©rder in front, are two statties- kneeling on a marblb monument HI the attitude of devotion, and habited according to the fashion ef the times. There is ako a long inscription on a marble slab in the wall, stating that he was son of Archibald Hamilton of Raploch, and that his wife was daughter of James Denham of West-Shields — that they lived together 45 years, during which period he served the Cure at this church ; — that they had six sons, and one daughter, Jean, married to William Muire of Glan- derstoun — and other particulars. It appears to have been erect- ed by their son, James the first Vise. Clandebois of the kingdom of Ireland, from whom descended the Harailtons, Earls of Clan- brasil, a family whose honours became extinct in 1798. It is, on the whole, a piece of fine workmanship, but from neglect, it is getting into a ruinous state, as there seems to be no person who feels a concern to- keep it in repair, thoughnot for want of direct descendants in this part of the country. Old Castle of Aiket — was for long, the residence and title of a considerable branch of the Glencairn family, being descend- ed from Sir James, the second son of Sir Edward Cunningham© of Kilmaurs who -flourished in the end of the 1 3th century, about the time ofthe Brucean contest. The representative of this fa^ aiily appears to be Cunninghame of Monkridden, through Clon-^ beith, (as stated p. 224.) This old fabric is situated about a mile Below the town of Dunlop, on the riglrt bank ofthe Glazert. It was originally one of those square towers, so common in ancient times in the country — of great height and 30 feet of a side, di- vided into 4 stories, and abundantly dismal in its disposition of lights. It has been greatly altered of late, so that it has lost- much of its ancient aspect. The last retour that I have seon of " its. anqient Lords, the Gunninghames, is dated in 1695; $os PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION .*iiParish^ TABLE OF VALUED liENT. fT ■•..tt ^'^ft-.'I Pfopfrties, Dunlop, proper Hapland, part of Do. = - Do. Muir and Mill, Dounieflat and Waterlands, Grange and Muirshields, Grange, 3 other parts, Craignaught, - Hazlebank, Tailend, Broadlee, Halket, Easter, Do. Wester, Craighead, Lochrighills, Hall-moss, Brokelmuir, Alton, Newlands, Struthers, Kirklands, Pendicle, Oldhalls, 5 subjects from ^643 to jeso each. Hill, - - . . Boreland, part of - - 3 more subjects, and, the Hill, Aiket, 3 subjects, Loanhead, 2 subjects, Braehead, = - = Leahead and part of Aiket, "Waterside, 2 subjects. Thorn, - - _ - Ravenslie, - » - Templehouse, Netherhouses, 2 subjects, Mains, .... Netherhills, 3 subjects. Hollows, i _ . Gaimshill, - - - Total in Ayrshire, - In Renfrewshire, Total in Dunlop parish. Proprietors. ■\ 'io 6 8 General Dunlop, Gen. Trotter, - j£266 Colonel MtAliester, 179 17 Wark, Logan, - 4S 6 Part of Caldwell, . . Mr. Cochrane, - '; l, Gilmour, Gilmour, Rev. Mr. Clark, John Gilmour, Alexander Wyllie, Heirs Portioners^ John Anderson, John Wyllie, - - « John Robertson, Andrew Brown, David Kirkwood, WiUiam Miller, Robert Duncan, Wark, Hall, Gilmour, - 7 Dunlop, Bar, - - \ Wark, Morris, Gilmour, - Cochrane, Fergusson, John Brown, Robert Glasgow, Esq. - Brown, Reid, Campbell, Craig, Gibson, Logan, Anderson, Cochran, Calderwood, - John Gilmour, John Gemmill, ■ ■ .. -* > - Gemmil, Stewart, (_ - .:■■ - David Gemmil, - David Cunninghame, John Genimil, - - - Mrs. Gemmill, A. Brown, Esq. Robert Carrick, Esq. ^s. ! .^j ;", ' J. Anderson, R.Anderson, Stevenson Robert Glasgow, Esq. - William Cunninghame, Esq. Valued Rtnt. £ J. i. 761 € • .492 4 292 18 127 6 92 46 25 33 6 66 13 50 66 13 58 13 92 13 13 '66 IS 52 109 132 6 6 44 70 4^4 300 6 27 53 6 39 IS 50 St 44 19 O O 2 6 8 O 8 4 « 4 4 SO 13 % 185 6 9 8 8 8 t ■4- o o 9 . 3581 9 % .;n ,R&'-iO).; i 4115 17 .» m FREEHOLLE ::& yUALltltD TO VOTE. H. Trotter of Mortonhall. — Lieut.-Gen. J. Dunlop of Durift^i * Supposed to be so, from being reijuii cd to complete the total $um of the valsatioii. STEWAKTON] of Cunningfwme* ^09 PARISH OP STEWARTON TEWARTON parish is situated southwards from that of Dunlop, and is otherwise bounded by part of Renfrewshire on the north-east ; by the parishes of Fenwick and Dreghorn on the south ; and by those of Irvine and Kilwinning on the West. Its greatest length is from east to west, in which it is nearly 10 miles, whilst its breadth in a direction from s. to n. varies from 4 miles to lit- tle more than one. It extends in all to about 20 square miles. (Bmtval appearance. — This parish rises gradually from s. w. to N. E. till it terminates on the boundary line with the county of Renfrew, where the lands are of a considerable height, and get diversified into small hills. It is intersected also, through its whole extent, by several streams of considerable size, as the Annock, the Swinsey, the Corsehill-burn, and the Glazert ; some of which flow in very deep channels. The surface, of course, is very unequal ; and though there is not a great expanse of wood- land to be met with in any one place, yet as the numerous body of residing heritors have all of them plantations, less or more, around their respective mansions, the face of the country has a cheerful and sheltered aspect ; while even the climate itself is the more genial in consequence. SgineraliSf. — Coal is to be met with in many places in thin strata under the beds of limestone, and, so far as access may be thus got to it, is applied on the spot to the burning of that limej 41 310 pahticulak description [Parish of' but no where has it yet been found so thick in the. seam as to ad- mit of being wrought by itselfl — Limestone abounds greatly in the eastern division of the parish, near to Stewarton, where it lies near the surface, very level and easily wrought. — Freestone, well adapted to building, is also abundant. — Basaltick Rock, commonly called Whinstone, is the general mineral towards the march of the parish with Renfrewshire on the cast and north. @)Oii. — This in general is a fertile clay, or easity converted into such by cultivation ; some also is derived from moss, which, from the recent improvements, bids fair to be as productive as any; but much remains still to be done. IKoaDjef. — It is remarkably well accommodated with turnpike roads as also parish roads in all directions, though the access from these, to the interior of the different properties, is in many cases not very good, and in some very bad. Cropjfi CUftiUateD. — Wheat is not regularly introduced into the system of rotation, neither Summer Fallow nor Turnip, ex- cept in the Policies of Lainshaw and the lands of Peacockbank. Neither can the Green Cropping system, become general on tn^ adhesive clay soil of this parish and general datapness of the cli- mate, though it is in some degree introduced on a small scale through the whole parish — and may in time be extended to a greater breadth. — Potatoes are raised however universally, and on a considerable scale, and much pains are bestowed on their cultivation, by every class of husbandmen from the greatest pro- prietor to the meanest occupier of a kale-yard. ■ rin tillage, 15121 Contents | Cultivated grass land,. 6320 Total' Of tlje 4 Natural pasture, 1346 i> 10,145 ParilSt). Moss land, &c 825 I acres. [.Woods and gardens, 142j JLitJC @)tOCfe. — Milch-rCows form the chief class of the cattle, but with rather a larger proportion of young stock rearing than in the preceding parishes, There are but few sheep. STEIVAJITON.] OF Cunningftanic. sn Plorees of all tlescriptions, 261 Cattle ditto, 2262 Sheep, 270 Swine, 474 lorDjs!f)ip Of ©tetoarton. The extent of this ancient Lordship is nowhere defined, though -often mentioned in old Charters ; but seems to have extended beyond the parish, or at least to have comprehended lands that are not at present in it. The name itself is perhaps coeval with that of the surname of Stewart, which was first used, as a family distinction, by Walter II. the third High Steward, who succeed- ed to the office in 1 204, as previous to this, the designation of Stewart was limited to the person in office. The Lordship of Stewarton was the proper inheritance of James the High Steward, who succeeded to the office in 1283: though at the same time a potent branch of the family of Ross had a part of the lands : — then of Walter III. the sixth Steward: then of Robert II. King of Scots r and afterwards, of his son Robert III. — all High Stewards in succession. [See Hume's Preface to the History of the Douglasses]. We shall find that the Lordship of Stewarton was vested in the crown at different eras much lower down. Stewarton, Armsheugh, ami Dunlop, in Cunninghame — and Trabuage in Carrick — were given as a dowry by Robert IIIl with his daughter Margaret to the renowned Archibald^ surnamcd Tyneman, the fourth Earl of Douglas. The secoml of these ba- ronies, Armsheugli, belonged at one time to John Balliol, King of Scots, and was forfeited by Robert; Bruce, after ins successfui assumption of the Crown in 1306, and probably at that time was conferred on his son4n-la\7i Walter the High Stew^ard, as his share in the spoils of the Balliol family. - The above Archibald, Earl of Douglas, when he gave Elisa- "betlv in marriage to John Stewart, Earl of Buchan, the second 312 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [PaHsh of son of Robert Duke of Albany — bestowed on him, at samd time, the lands of Stewarton, Armsheugh, and Dunlop, in Cunning- hame ; Trabuage, in Carrick ; and Tullyfrazer, in Stirlingshire, The Charters for all these were confirmed by the Governor, Duke of Albany, in the eighth year of his governmentship ; cor- re>sponding to the year 1414. This Earl of Buchan, Constable of France, and the most he- roic of the whole Stewart family, was killed, along with his father- in-law, Earl Douglas and Duke of Touraine, at the battle of Vernueil on the 27th August 1424. He left only one child, a daughter, Margaret, who was married to George Lord Seton, whose father. Sir William Seton, was also slain at the battle of Vernueil. The earldom of Buchan reverted to the crown, but it should seem that the lands of Stewarton at least, and Dunlop, returned again to the family of Douglas. It is certain so far, that a Charter of confirmation of these lands, as already noticed in the account of the family of Dunlop, was granted by James 11. in 1451 to the then Earl of Douglas ; and on his forfeiture, about 3 or 4 years after, they would revert once more to the crown. The next account I find of the Lordship of Stewarton, is in the Records of Parliament, dated 21st June 1526, when there is a ratification by Parliament of a gift by James V. to his " familiar " servitor Henry Kempt of the lands of Dowyra, Patterton, Ro- " bertland, Cultiswra, and Clarklands, in the Lordship of Stewar- " ton." The two last, called the " 6 markland of Clarklands and " Mill thereof, and AOs. worth of the lands of Cultiswra," had afterwards been granted to Mungo Muir of Rowallan, but his Charter of them,.^fter infeftraent taken, was set aside by Parlia- ment on the 20th Nov. the same year, " Hi« Majestic havin been " circumventit thereintill, the samen havin been befor set in feu *' ferme to his lovat familiar Henry Kempt." It should seem, however, that these lands and Lordship had reverted to the crown again: for on the 19th April 1567, a Charter was granted by STEJVARTON.] op Cunntn^fjame. 31 s"- Q.uEen Marie, and ratified by Parliament, (besides many otlier possessions, " of all and liaill tlie landis and Lordship of Stewar- *' ton with the feu maills, &c. in the Baillierie of Cunninghame "' to her daylie and familiar servitor John Semple, son to Robert' " Lord Semple, and JNIarie Levingstoun (daughter to ^^■ illiam " Lord Levingstoun) herhienes flimiliar servitriee, to Knit thame' " togidder in lauchful marriage', with provision of an reasonable' " leving." These two well-endowed spousfes, were " John the Dancer, and Marie the Lusty" of John Knox, who were ancestors of the respectable family of Semple of Beltrees and of Third-part in the* County of Renfrew, which last was retained by their posterity- till the year 1758, when it was sold to Macdowal of Castlesemple, by Robert Semple the sixth generation in succession, who died in 1789, at the extraordinary age of 103 years, after having been upwards of 80 years in the commission of the peace, and seeing^ 3 generations of his descendants. How long this family retained the " Lordship of Stewarton" is to me unknown, only, I see that there was a ratification in Parliament of the infeftment of " Sir James Sempell in the lands of Stuarton" in the year 1612. Village of Stewarton. — This pleasant and thriving town is situated on the banks of the Annock, about 4 miles n. from KiW inarnock and 7 n.e. from Irvine. Till within these 150 vears it consisted of but a very few houses around the church; now it extends nearly half a mile in length, with several cross streets- or lanes : — has in it many handsome buildings, and contains, in all, a population of about 1800 souls. The country around it is fertile and populous, which gives employment to tradesmen and labourers of every description ; whilst provisions, of every kindr are supplied in abundance. £^anufacture0.— There are about 300 weavers' looms of one kind or other, of which about 250 are employed in the musli/V and silk fabrics, for the Glasgow and Paisley merchants, and a.w 4 IC. 314 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Parish of bout 50 for the more steady customary work of tlie neighbouring - population. But the manufacture for which Stewarton is most famed, is that of blue bonnets. Ahnost the whole of the regi- mental bonnets, (which even the English Dragoons and other English soldiers, when in undress, now wear,) are made here, as well as the common Scatch bonnet for the country people. This branch gives employment to from 40 to 50 families, in which women and girls, as well as men and boys, are employed. The bonnet-makers of Stewarton were, till of late, considered to be a corporation; and minutes, recording their transactions inthatcapa- city, have existed for a long period back. Their Deacon had even the honour of being stiled Princeps Pileorum Artifex, of Scotland. One manufacture is almost peculiar to this place ; namely, that of Clockwork, which is in demand over almost all Scotlandc There is a manufacture, too, of Spindles for Cotton and Woollen Mills, which gives employment to 14 hands. There have been of late erected various water-mills for card- ing wool and tow, and also for wanking (fulling) of bonnets, at some of which there are also machinery erected for spinning wool ; and it is supposed that these works, as connected with both the bonnet trade in Stewarton, and that of carpets at Kil- niarnock, might be still flirther extended, as the water of An- nock here is equal to several such establishments. But while ma- ny people would hail such increase of trade as beneficial to the country, and consequent increase in the manufacturing population; there are others, (who seem well justified from experience,) that would deprecate them, as being vastly more prejudicial to the ge- neral interest, from the vice and bad dispositions they engender in the minds of the operatives, than all the wealth and seeming prosperity that would arise from them, could counter balance. Friendly Societies. — There are several in the town, and which give liberally to the sick and indigent members connected with them, and all are supposed to be in a prosperous state^ STEJVARTOX.] OF Cunningfiame. 315 though, as they have not been of very long standing, it may hap- pen, that the annual disbursements have not yet reached their maximum. Savings Bank. — This was attempted some years ago to be established — but at that time, the spirit of Reform, or some spe- cious thing under that namcj prevailed against it, under the pre- textj-that such an institution could be of advantage to the heri- -tors only — as these, it was asserted, were bound to support the poor. So long as the labouring part of the community allow such a notion to possess their minds, as it annihilates industry, they will remain poor, even to the end of time. There is a Justice of Peace Court held regularly once a month here. There is no other Magistracy, and no Police. There is a weekly market on Thursdays, but is not well at- tended, as the country people prefer tJieir weekly market, to 1be on the Fridays at Kilmarnock. But the town is nevertheless . well supplied with Butchers' meat and other provisions, in vari- ous shops, that are daily kept open for the pui'pose. There are also some stated fairs. There is a daily Coach, passes through it from Kilmarnock to Paisley, to the great accommodation of this part of the country. There is a Post twicc-a-day, both to and from Kilmarnock. But there is no Bank nor bank-agent established in Stewarton ; the more surprising, that there was once one that did a deal of busi- ness here for 3 years together from the year 1793 — transacting to the extent of ^30,000 each year. Their agent, John Black- wood, though placed in the humble station of bell-man of the parish, was of a character so well established for accuracy and integrity, that no security was required of him — and on this oc- casion he fully supported the reputation he had previously ac- quired. In this town are the following tradesmen, &c. Weavers, . 275 I Masons, 31 Bonnet-makers, 100 Grocers, 26 Fleshers, 7 316 PARTlCfULAU DESCRIPTION [PaHm of Shoemakers, 49 Saddlers, 2 In u-keepers, 2 1 Taylors, 21 Smiths,-,,,,, 14 In the Law department 10. — Medical 3. Note. — Apprentices are included : women and girls not in- cluded among the Bonnet-makers, but boys are. Population.— In the town, 1800 In the country parts, 1600 Total, 3400 Schools. — Besides the parish school, taught by Mr. Duncan Macfarlane, there are six more. The number of scholars in all is about 400. PooK. — There are about 30 on the permanent roll, who get, weekly, each from Is. to 3s.; besides these, there are 7 or 8 who get occasional assistance, some less and some more, as they may require. Altogether there is about ^140 yearly distributed txy. the poor. S^iniSUt0^-s'mce the Revolution. NAMES, ADMITTED, DIED, ' Alexander Forbes, May 9. 1693. Robert Paisley, 1711. » Montgomery. September 9. 1713.. ..Sept. 27. 1757.' Thomas Maxwell, September 28. 1758... Mar. 13. 1796. T T^ 1 (May 13. 1793. assist. 7 James Douglas, i j c >=> ' I and successor. j S?i005ntCti8f. — Antiburgheks. Their meeting-house was e- rected in 1776, and holds commodiously 600. Tiie congregation' amounts at present to about 200 examinable persons. Their present minister is the Rev. James Methven, who was admitted' on the 5th July 1803, from Ballmula in Fife, where he had offi- ciated 6 years before. Tiiere are about 110 other dissenters of different classes, in the town — but are included in those parishes "where their respective places of worship are situated. CiSttatCiS anD Mmilizg, This parish is possessed by upwards of 70 land proprietors, having nearly 8000 acres of arable land among them, besides the STEWARTON.] of Cufiningijame. 3n many small possessions or feus in the town of Stewarton. MouNTGREENAN. — This IS the most westerly estate in the p*- rish. The larger part of it, together with the manor-place, is in the parish of Kilwinning. [See p. 222.] There is still more than 400 acres of it in this parish, much of it good land, and some of it unreclaimed moss. AucHiNHARViE — IS situated next eastward from the preceding. It belongs to different proprietors. The old castle, now ruinous, is all of it that still remains to the family of Cunninghame, its ancient possessors ; [see p. 172.] The soil in general is good, but there is still a part of it moss. Crevoch ancient barony is situated betwixt the lands last mentioned and the water of Glazert. It is now possessed by 8 different proprietors. The principal part, now called Kennox, belongs to Col. M'Alester, in right of his Lady, heiress of the late Wilham Somerville, Esq. There is a modern mansion on this, on the banks of the Glazert, and a considerable extent of woodland. The whole extent of Crevoch is about 1000 acres, oi which more than a tenth part may be stated moss. BoNSHAW, or BoLiNSHAW — is situated on the east side of the Glazert. It belonged before the year 1470, and for a considera- ble time after, to a branch of the Kilmarnock family. In 1592, Barbara Lawson was retoured to these lands, as heir to her father, John Lawson, stiled Carbonum Magisiri Jacohi quinti Regis. In about a centm-y afterwards, it became the property of a branch of the Dundonald family. The old mansion is in utter ruins. It seems probable that this property once comprehended the lands adjacent of Sandielands and Bankend, and the 'High and the Laigh Chapeltons. The whole of these, with Bonshaw proper, extends to upwards of 400 acres of remarkable good land. Lainshaw. — This fine property extends from those last men- tioned, eastward to Stewarton, part of which town is built upon it. In 1450 this estate, as well as that of Eoberton, Macbeth-hill, 4IL 318 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Parish of^' and others in the neigh'^ourliood, was granted in a Charter by, James 11. to Sir Alexander Home, father of the first Lord Home, whose eldest son Thomas, by iiis second Lady, was stiled Thomas, of Lainshaw, and had possession, accordingly, of these lands. How long they continued in this fauiiiy does not appear; — per- haps they might be lost by forfeiture soon after the battle of. Floudoun in 1513, when the Honres fell into disgrace. It is so far certain that, soon after this period, Lainshaw belonged to Hugh the first Earl of Eglinton, who gave it to his second son^, Sir Niel Montgomery, whose descendants retained it down almost, to the present times. S^ontgomerp of lainsljato, L Sir Niel Montgomery, second son of Hugh first Earl o£ Eglinton, by Lady Helen Campbell, daughter of Colin first Earl of Argyle, married first Margaret Mure, only daughter and heir- ess of Quintin Mure of Skeldon, by whom he got that. estate also. By this Lady he had two sons : L John the eldest, who died without issue; 2. Niel, of whom afterwards. 2dly, He married Margaret Boyd, only daughter of Robert third Lord Boyd, a mar^ riage which seems to have bred an unnatural animosity betwixt the two families, which arose to-such a height, as to be the cause of his d6athj for he was killed in the town of Irvine by the same Lord Boyd, and Mowat of Busbie and others, which occasioned afterwards much bloodshed in Cunninghame. This was in 1547, when Sir Niel was far advanced in years. This feud was after-, wards composed through the mediation of the Earls of Eglin-, ton, Cassilis, Argyle, and other mutual friends. Sir Niel had also three daughters: L Christian, Lady Luss ; 2. Elisabeth^ married to Hume of Fast Castle; 3. Helen, married to Maxwell of Newark". II. Niel Montgomery of Lainshaw, Esq. his second son, succeeded him. He married Jean, only daughter of John fourth 3ind last Lord Lyle, (by Grizel, daughter of David Beaton of I ^TEWARToy.1 OP Cunningtamt 319 Crelch,) and whose only son, James, Master of Lyle, died un- married about the year 1556 ; on which the estate of Lyle came by a special deed of entail to the above Niel Montgomery, ia right of his Lady, the Hon. Jean Lyle, and who in consequenca quartered the Arms of Lyle with his own. He was succeeded by his son, HI. Sir Niel MoNTGOMERYof Lainshaw, who by a contract dated in 1599, resigned all claim to the estate of Duchal (or of Lyle) and others, for a certain sum of money paid him by Wm. Porterfield of that Ilk-, according to a Decrete Arbitral pronoun- ced by John Blair of that Ilk, William Mure of Rowallan, and Alexander Fleming of Barrochan; but he still assumed the Arms of Lyle, as heir of line to that noble family. He married Elisa- beth, daughter of Cunningham of Aiket, by whom he had three sons : 1. Niel ; 2. John ; 3. William, of whom descended the ^lontgomeries of Bridgend j and two daughters, the eldest mar-r ried to Graham of Grugar; the other to Johnston of Wamphray. He was succeeded by his eldest son, IV. Niel Montgomery of Lainshaw, who married Marion^ daughter of Sir William Mure of Rowallan, by whom he had a son, Niel, who seems to have predeceased him, as he was suc- ceeded by the son of his- brother John, V. David jMontgomery of Lainshaw, by Jean, daughter of Captain Daniel Forrester of the House of Carden. He married Marion, daughter of Jaiuea Dunlop of that Ilk, by whom he had a son, James; and a daughter, Jean, married t(3~ the Rev. Mr. Laing,.Parson of Donnachadee. . He appears in the commission of supply for- Ayrsliire in IGGl. He was afterwards concerned in the insurrection in 1679, along with many other respectable Gentlemen in Cunninghame. For this he was forfeited by James II. in 1685, and his wiiole property declared by a general act of attainder, to be vested in the crown. By a similar authority, hi& rights and his lands were restored to him in- 1690. He died be-r fore 1696, as in that year we find his son. . .' ■ 820 PARricuLAk DEScniPTiON i [Parish of VI. James Montgomery of Lamshaw, as a Commissioner in the act of Supply. About the same time he was made Clerk of Justiciary for life. He assumed the title of Lyle, and bore it till his death as representath^e of that noble family. He married Barbara, daughter of John KenHcdy of Craig, or of Barclanachan in Carrick, (by a daughter of Hunterston,) and had issue a son, who succeeded him- after 1716; when Crawfurd wrote his Histo- ry, from whence the preceding account is chiefly taken. This son was VH. David Montgomery of Lainshaw. He married Boswell, daughter of the late Lord Auchinleck, by whom he had a son James, and three daughters : 1. Elisabeth, married to Cap« tain Alexander Montgomery Cunningham of Kirkton-holme, and had issue ; 2. Margaret, married to James Boswell, late of Auchinleck, and had issue ; 3. Mary, married to Campbell of Trees- B^nk, and had issue. He was succeeded by his son, VHI. James Montgomery of Lainshaw, who married Jean, daughter of Sir John Maxwell of Nether Pollock, but dying with- out issue, the family is now represented by Sir James Montgo- mery Cunninghame, Bart, of Corsehill, son of Elisabeth the eld- est sister. (See Corsehill in tlie next article.) This estate was afterwards sold to Cunninghame of Bridgehouse, merchant in Glasgow, whose son, William Cun- ninghame, Esq. is now proprietor, and aL«o of the lands of Mac- beth-hill, of Kirkwood and of Bloak, &c. in the neighbourhood ; extending in all to more than 2500acres, of which about 2400 is among the most productive land in the parish. The ancient house of J^ainshaw, near to Stewarton, is the manor-place. It is formed of two ojd square towers, with a more modern building interposed between them and connecting them together ; con- stituting a mansion of great size, and not incommodious consi- dering the discordant stiles of the different fabrics of which it is composed. There is a considerable extent of old timber grow« ing around this ancient habitation. i 8TEWART0N.] op Cunningljame. S2i: CoRSEHiLL. — Immediately to the east and northward of Stew- arton, is situated the ancient and extensive Barony of Corsehill, of which Sir James Montgomery Cunninghame, Bart, is proprie- tor of part, and superior of the whole. This barony comprehended the several farms known by the names of Corsehill, Meikle and Little Corsehill ; Nether Robertland, Kirkford, Cultiswra Meikle and Little ; and at one time Hairshaws, Blacklaws, Corsehouse, and several smaller possessions, were included in ito The farm of Corsehill proper, on which stands a venerable frag- ment of the old Castle of Corsehill, is all of this ancient barony, of which the family now holds the Dominium utile. Cunningfjamc Of CowetiU, William fourth Earl of Glencairn, and sixteenth generation of the family from their first settlement in Scotland about the year 1110, died in 1547, and by his second Lady, Margaret Campbell, daughter and heiress of John Campbell of West Lou- ds>un, had issue five sons and one daughter. The eldest son;, Alexander, succeeded him as Earl of Glencairn ; the second son, Andrew, was ancestor of this family ; the third son, Hugh, was ancestor of the Cunninghames of Carlung; the fourth son, Ro- bert, was ancestor of the Cunninghames of JMountgreenan ; the fifth son, William, was Bishop ofArgyle, and ancestor of the Marquis of Conynghame in Ireland ; and the daughter, Elisabeth, was married to Sir John Cunninghame of Caprington, but died without issue. I. Andrew Cunninghame, the second son, got three Char- ,ters dated in succession, 1537, 1538, and 1541,* in which he is designated son of Sir William Cunninghame, Knight of Kilmaurs, (afterwards Earl of Glencairn,) in which the two Corsehills are particularly specified. He was succeeded by his son, II. Cuthbert Cunninghame of Corsehill, who died betwixt J Sjec Register of Retours, Lib. xxvi. p. 128— Lib. xxvii. 12. — Lib. xxviii. 54, 4M 322 PARTICULAR DESCRH'TIOU [Parish of the 16th of May and 21st Dec. 1616, as appears from the tenor of two public records of these dates.* He was succeeded by his son, III. Sib Alexander Cunninghame of Corsehill. That he was grandson of Andrew the first of the family, and son and heir male of Cuthbert as above, appears from a Charter of confirma- tion dated 11th Dec. 1622.t He died in the month of May 1646. He married Anne, daughter of John Crawfurd of Kilbir- nie, by Lady Mary Cunninghame, daughter of the Earl of Glen- cairn, by whom he had a son, IV. Alexa DER Cunninghame of Corsehill, who married Mary, daughter of Sir Patrick Houstoun of that llk,t and had issue a son, V. Alexander Cunninghame, who died before him, leaving a son, VI. Alexander Cunninghame of Corsehill. All this is in- structed by a Charter dated 13th April 1663, and a confirmation dated 26th Jan. 1672. |( On the 22d February 1672, he was by Charles II. created a Baronet of Nova Scotia. Pie married Mary, daughter of Jolm Stewart, Master of Blackhall, by Mary, his Lady, daughter of Sir James Stirling of Keir^^ by whom he had his suc- cessor, VII. Sir Alexawder Cunninghame of Corsehill, the second Baronet. He was retoured heir to his lather in May 1685,** and took Charters to the lands, of date 26th Feb. 1686. ff He mar- ried Dame Margaret Boyle, sister to the Earl of Glasgow,|:j: by whom he had issue, his successor, VIII. Sir David Cunninghame of Corsehill, the third Bart He married Penelope, daughter of George Montgomery of Kirk- • See Retours, Lib. vii. fol. 154.. f See Privy Seal Records, Lib. 1. No. 77. I See Crawfurd's Hist, of Renf. p. 72. || See Great Seal Records, Lib. 64.. No. 254. § See Crawfurd's Hist, of Renf. p. 39. ** Retours, No. 38. fol. 24. et 30. tt Recorded at Ayr, 24;th Sept. 1686^ Jt Douglas's Peerage, p. 285. ftoiiHolme, by Easter Kilbride in the Shire of Lanark, descended of the jMontgoraeries of Skehuorley, by whom he had a son, IX. Captain Alexander Montgomery Cunninghame. The first surname he took in consequence of inheriting the lands of Kirktonholme, in right of his mother, the heiress of that estate. He married Elisabeth, the eldest daughter of David Montgomery of Lainshaw, by whom he had fire sons j 1. Walter of whom ■ afterwards ; 2. David, of whom afterwards ; 3. Alexander, bred to the Army, and served as an officer in the Duke of Hamilton's Regiment, during the American war ; and died unmarried in 1782; 4. James, of whom afterwards; 5. Henry, bred to the Navy ; was a Lieut, on board the Alfred, in Rodney's great en- gagement, J 2th April 17S2. Died unmarried in 1785. — There was also a son who died in infancy, and two daughters who died unmarried. — He di 'd in January 1770, before his father, Sir Da- vid, who survived him only a few months, dying at Corsehill ia the same year ; when he was succeeded by his grandson, X. Sir Walter Montgomery Cunninghame of Corsehill, son of Capt. Alexander, as above, who died unmarried in March 1814, and was succeeded by his brother, X. Sir David Montgomery Cunninghame of Corsehill, who died in November the same year, also unmarried, when he was succeeded by his only remaining brother, now X. Sir James Montgomery Cunninghame, the sixth Baronet of Corsehill, and who combines in his person the honours, also, of the family of Glencairn, being the first heir male in successions as likewise those of Lyle Lord Lyle, so far as transmissable by a female, in direct lineal descent. In 1802, he married Jessie, daughter of the lati Thomas Cumming, Banker in Edinburgh, representative of tha family of Cumming of Earnside in the shire ef Nairn, by whom he has five sons: 1. Alexander; 2. Thomas; 3. James; 4. George j 5. Henry; and two daughters : 1. Jessies 2. Grace Matilda, " * " ^' 324 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Parish of Arms. — The Armorial Bearings of the families of Corsehill, Kirktonholm, Montgomery of Laiusbaw and Lyle, emblazoned in due order, in their respective quarters : Supporters two Leopards ; Crest, an Unicorn's Head erased. — Motto, Over Fork Over. Galloberries. — These lands are situated northwards from those of Corsehill, though not quite adjacent. About 4-5ths of them belong to Gen. Dunlop, and one-fifth to Mr. Wyllie. Ad- jacent to them, on the east, is JMerryhill, part of the ancient estate of Robertland. Eastwards from the last mentioned, are the lands of Auchintybers, possessed hy five different proprietors ; ' — north of these are the FyLLWooDs, belonging to three proprie- tors; and still more northerly, the Gabrach Hills, belonging to three different heritors also. On each of these last three men- tioned, the houses of the proprietors are congregated into town- ships together. The whole extend to about Q50 acres, incum- bent, nearly all, on whinstone, and containing a great proportion of good land, but having also some moorish soil — more espe- cially in the last mentioned. In 1452 all these three are contained in a Charter to Gilbert the first Lord Kennedy, ancestor of the CassilHs family. Eastward from them all, are the lands of Whitelaw and of Blacklaw, extending to more than 700 acres, and in each the proprietors live also together in townships. Beyond them still, to the boundary of the parish with the county of Renfrew, are the lands of Corsehouse, all of a similar nature, good soil, incum* bent on hard rock, and with a portion of moss land. The whole are situated on the north side of the water of Annock, which Tuns here in a deep valley. The Hairshaw is situated opposite these, on the §outh side of that water — -extends to about 250 acres of deep arable land, not unfertile, and about 600 acres of moss land : Is divided among 6 proprietors, of whom 3 are non- resident and 3 reside on their respective portions separately. IloBERTLA>D.— -This great Barony is situated lower down tha^ STEWARTON.] op €«nni'ng!)am«. 525 the last, and extends to both sides of the Annock. It compre- hends about 1000 acres, nearly all arable, of different quali- ties, as might be expected, in such an extent, but is generally deep and fertile. It belonged for ages to a great branch of the family of Cunninghame, of no little renown in its time. It was in alienated from this family to sundry purchasers, among .whom the principal was the late Sir James Hunter Blair, Baronet of Dunskey, who acquired the manor-place and nearly the half of the whole estate. This has since been acquired by Alexander Kerr, Esq. a native of Stewarton, who has recently erected on it an elegant mansion in a commanding situation on a high point of land betwixt the Annock and the Swinsey waters, in the vici- nity of the very high old ruinous castle, which ia about to be re- moved altogether. The rest of this ancient estate has been par- celled out into five other possessions, [see Table of Valued Rent,] of which Williamshaw is the most extensive, and on which a shewy house is erected. Nether Robertland, nearer to Stewarton, extends to about 130 acres, and is parcelled out among sundry occupants. CuLTiswRAY, (or, as now called. Cut-straw,) is situated also in the vicinity of Stewarton j extends to nearly 180 acres of good land, belonging to 7 or 8 different proprietors. LocHRiG and Horse muir:;— are situated on the boimdary of the parish, south from the village, and extend to about 300 acres of valuable land, on which there is an old mansion of suitable di- mension, well sheltered amid its old woods. Lochrig belong- ed long to a family of the name of Arnot, of whom the present j)roprielor is the representative, as his grandfather, son of Major Mathew Stewart of Stewarthall, acquired it by marriage of the heiress of the Arnot famil}'. OvER-LocHKiG — is situatcd eastward from the preceding, on the boundary with the parish of Fen wick. It belongs to CoL Barns, who has part of Aucbinharvic and the lands of KirkJand 4N 326 PARTlCULAli DESCRIPTION [ Parish of in this parish, as also some lands near the town of Fenwick ; all valuable property. Peacock-bank — is situated in the vicinity of both the Locli- rigs, but nearer tiian any of them to the town. It is of consider- able extent, and is remarkably well cultivated. There are seve-" ral other small but valuable properties situated chiefly in the vi- cinity of the town ; only Gallowayford is situated on the left hank of the Glazert, opposite to the lands of Kennox. Properties. Mountgreenan, Auchiuharvie, - Ditto, part of Crevoch, now Kennox, - Fairley-Crevoch, Barnahill, Scrogie Mill, Thrasher- house, Hays-Muir, Water Meetings, Stakeleyhill, Total of the ancient Barony TABLE OP VALUED RENT. Proprietors. - Robert Glasgow, Esq. - Colonel Barns, £90 - Burns's heirs, - 63 10 Colonel MuFi', situated in the property of Mr. John Dean of Peacock- bank near Stewarton. there is a large, collection of stones which has always been looked upon as a sepulchral monument. The proprietor having some time ago caused a part of this cairn to be opened up, three urns containing bones and ashes were found deposited in small cells near the original surface of the ground. One of the urns, which was unfortunately broken before it was taken up, appears to have been about a foot in diameter; the other two measure about 5J- inches in diameter and nearly 6 in- ches in height. They appear to have been formed of very coarse clay, but some taste has been exercised in their formation, and tsigzag lines have been drawn or cut all round the edge or rim of the vessel. One of the small urns was found lying on its side in a cell about 30 inches square, forrned with coarse flags. It was filled with loose earth mixed with burnt bones and ashes. The two other urns were inverted. The urns, as well as other jsmall cells in the clay, containing burnt bones and ashes, appear to be placed in a circle, about eight yards from the centre of the lieap and near its extremity. On or near this circle there are 3 number of small coarse flag-stones placed on the original surface of the ground ; and the earth at the bottom of the cairn near the centre, appears to have been very much burnt, even to the depth of some inciies, and is mixed with ashes and small frag- ments of bones. The height of the cairn will not in the middle exceed 5 or 6 feet ; but it is probable that many of the stones iiave been carried off in former times for making roads, or other STEWARTON] of Cunningfjamc, S2& purposes. It is chiefly composed of what are called whin-stones, and they are mostly of a large size. No stones bearing the mark of a hammer or chisel hare been discovered. The whole heap is grown over with turf, and has been planted with trees thirty or forty years ago. There is every reason to think that it contains a great many more urns, as not more than a fourth part of it has yet been examined. MuKDER OF Hugh, FOURTH Earl of Eglinton ; [see p. 211.] This young Nobleman was murdered on his way homewards, returning from Robertland, by Cunxingham of Aiket,on the 12th April 1589, near to the village of Stewarton ; the Laird of Ro- bertland, and others of the Cunninghames, being accompMcea. The traditionary account of it here, is, that his Lordship being on a visit to the Laird of Robertland, called, on his way from Eglinton Castle, on his near relative, Sir Niel Montgomery of Lainshaw, who endeavoured to dissuade him from going to Ro- bertland, but could not prevail. After he had left Robertland, he was waylaid on his return homewards, and shot at a place near to Stewarton, then called the AVindy-path, but, since that time, has been called the Mourning-path. — That he sat for some time in the saddle after he received the shot, but galloping as fast as he could — till he came to the Annock, when he fell from his horse into the water, close to the village, and died immediately. ^uci)enl)art)ic Cajsitl^, 330 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Parish of' PARISH OF FENWICK. ^ENWICK parish was originally included in that of Kilmarnock. It was separated from it in 1642, and was then called New Kilmarnock, but soon after- wards acquired the name of Fenwick, from the name of the principal village, near to which the church was set down. This is called Fenwick-town ; another village that lias arisen still nearer to the church, is called the Kirk-town of Fenwick : both, together, contain about 300 inhabitants, and are situated from 4 miles to 4^ miles from Kilmarnock on the road to Glasgow. The parish is situated s.e. from that of Stewarton ; n. from that of Kilmarnock; n. w. from that of Loudoun; and on the n.e. is bounded by the Shire of Renfrew. In length from s.w. to n.e. it is about 7 miles, and from n. w. to s. e. about 5. The extent altogether is about 27 square miles; the number of acres being 13,548. (General ^pearance. — Though there is hardly any part of it tliat rises into hills, (unless those moderate heights near to Kings- wells may be so called,)yet as the surface rises pretty sharply, with one continued ascent from s.w. to n.e. it becomes considerably high at last, and gives the whole an open exposure to the western winds. Neither is it under a general shelter from plantations ; but it is still far from being unfavourable to the health of the people, or to the growth of the crop. d^inzvSilS. — There is not much appearance of Coal. — Lime- stone is plentiful and excellent j some of it is full of shells.— 4 « PEN WICK.] OF €unningf)ame, SSI Fkeestone abounds too, in many places : but the greater part of tlie parish is incumbent on hard Wiiin-rock. @)Oil. — Tiie soil is in general deep and productive, but is somewhat backward in the spring time, from humidity, and being more or less affected Avith moss. In mild seasons the crops how- ever are generally abundant. drops CultitatcD. — Hardly any grain but Oats — and a little Beau. — Fi.ax thrives, but the cultivation is limited to the home consumpt of the hnsbandmen.— Wood thrives greatly, though not much planted, as there are few resident heritors. — Meadows abound greatly, and very heavy crops of natural Hay are got from them, by the sides of the various streamlets that subdivide the moorish uplands of the parish. — Potatoes are cultivated exten- sively, and nowhere are better crops to be found. fin tillage, .'..... 1388T (ZTontenW Cultivated grass and meadows, 5983 Total Of tl)C - cient branch of the Craufurds, one of the main stems of that widely-spreading and genuine Scottish family, is taken from its own title deeds and other MSS. CraufurD of CraufarDlanD. The ancient surname of Craufurd arose from the Barony of Graufurd in Clydesdale, being one of the largest in the kingdom while it was entire — some 3 or 400 merk land, possessed from very ancient times by Barons of the same name — from whom, by marriages it devolved to the Douglasses, the Barclays, and Lind- says, betwixt the years 1100 and 1200. — Part of the Barony of Graufurd-John remained with the Earls of Douglas till their for- feiture, being most part divided amongst vassals. The Barony of Craufurd-Lindsay (a 100 merk land) was given in excambion by Alexander Earl of Craufurd in the reign of James II. to George .Earl of Angus, and is now called Craufurd-Douglas. — The lands of Friarmoore were given to the Abbey ofNewbottle. Before this time sundry gentlemen, younger brethren of that house, had settled themselves by marriage in competent estates, ^xetaining the ancient siirname, of whom many ancient families rare, descended ; namely, (besides the House of Loudoun in the county of Ayr, Craufurdstoun in Clydesdale, and Craufurdstouu in Carrick, and other houses, of old turned to other surnames,) these twelve ancient families : — Craufurdland, Baidland, Liff- rris, Drongan, Feime, Fetherhead, GifFardland, Haning, Kersc, 336 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [PoHeh of Kilbirnie, Auchnames, and Baillie of Monkland : the latest of which is not much short in antiquity of the days of King Robert the Bruce. I. John Craufurd, often mentioned in the Register of Kelso and Lismahago, had many lands in Clydesdale. Cir. 1140. II. Robert Craupurd, his son, lived about the year 1180 or 1200, mentioned oftentimes in the same Registers. III. Sir Reginald Craufurd, his son, sheriff of Ayr, some- time inter 1200 and 1220, married Margaret de Loudoun, heiress of Loudoun, and had by her four sons: 1. Reginald; 2. William; 3. John, of whom afterwards ; and, 4. Adam. From the second and fourth sons are descended many femilies in the shires of Ayr, Renfrew, Lanark, Stirling and Aberdeen ; also in the Lo- thians. — Sir Reginald, his eldest son and successor, also sheriflf of Ayr, who, and his posterity of the same name and title, enjoy- ed the said lands down to Sir Reginald Craufurd of Loudoun 4vho was murdered by the JEnglish in the Barns of Ayr 1297.— This Sir Reginald left an only son, Reginald Craufurd, who was also murdered by Edward Longshanks, King of England, 1306; and an only daughter, Susanna Craufurd, who married Sir Do- venald Campbell, son to the Lord Lochow who was sister's son to King Robert Bruce j of whom are descended thepresent house of Loudoun. IV. From John Craufurd the third son, the house of Crau- furdland is descended. This John, by his father's donation, had many lands in Clydesdale, and in right of his wife, Alicia DE Dallsalloch, posscsscd, if, not all, at least a good part of that Barony, all which, (sometime pQssessed by his eldest son,) by marriage of his daughter, came to the Cumins, who gave to his second son, called John Craufurd, the lands of Ardach or Crau- furdland, in contentation of his right to the whole, as heir male to John Craufurd, his father, or to his elder brother. V. John Cbaufuiid, first Laird of Craufurdland, second son TENJVICK.] OF Cunningtamc, ss? of the above John Craufurd, and grandson of Sir Reginald Ctau- furd, sheriff of Ayr, lived in the days of King Alexander 11. (inter 1214 et 1249,) and was succeeded in the said lands by his eldest son, VI. John Craufurd of Craufurdland, who lived in the days of Alexander III. (inter 1249 et 1285,) and was succeeded by his eldest son, VII. James Craufurd, wlio was a follower of Sir William Wallace, his cousin, and is one of those who are marked to have "been present in 1297, at Wallace's election to be Warden of Scotland, at the Forrest-kirk in Selkirkshire. He was succeeded by his eldest son, VIIL Craufurd of Craufurdland, who died about the year 1350, and was succeeded by his eldest son> IX. John Craufurd of Craufurdland, who acquired a new confirmation of the lands of Ardoch, alias Craufurdland, from King Robert Hi. which Charter is dated at Dundonald in the year 1391, in the 2d year of his reign, he having succeeded in anno 1390. Of this John Craufurd are descended the families of Giffordland and Eirkhead in the shire of Ayr. He was suc- ceeded by X. Craufurd of Craufurdland, his eldest son, who died without issue, and was succeeded by his brother, X. Sir William Craufurd of Craufurdlaadj son of the a- bove John Craufurd, a man of great bravery and fortitude, who had the honour of Knighthood conferred upon him by King James I. This Sir William was at the siege of Crevelt in France in the year 1423, where he was sorely wounded and ta- ken prisoner, and was one of the captives released with King James I. of Scotland, 1424. He was succeeded by his eldest son, XI. Rankine Craufurd of Craufurdland, who married, about the year 1430, , by whom he had three sons ; 1. William, his eldest son and successor ; 2. Robert, who was 4Q ^S$ PARTICULAK DESCRIPTION [Pavisk nf bred a churchman j and 3. Andrew. He was succeeded by his eldest son, XII. William Craupurd of Ctaufurdland. He lived in the- days of King James II. and naarried Janet Hamilton, daugh-^ ter of the Laird of Bardowie, by whom he had three sons: 1, Archibald, his successor ; 2. William, who married Nisbet, the heiress of Cultness and author of the Craufurds of Dean ; 3. Thomas Craufurd of Aralaird. He was succeeded by his eldest son, PI x>fiK Y7 XIII. ARCHIBALD Craufurd of Craufurdland. He lived xa the reign of King James III.; was twice married: first to Jeaa Kennedy, daughter of Gilbert Kennedy, second Laird of Bargen- ny, by whom he had a son, Robert, of whom afterwards. He married 2dly, Boyd, widow of Hugh Muir of Pokelly, eldest daughter to Archibald Boyd of Narston and Bonshaw, by ■whom he had two sons and a daughter : 1. Tliomas Craufurd, from whom are descended the Craufurds of Classlochie and Pow- mill in Kinross-shire ; 2. William Craufurd, Secretary to the Earl of Morton, who settled in Tweedale, and of whom the Crau- furds in that country are descended. His daughter Jean, wa& married to Cathcart of Waterhead. His father-in-law, Archibald Boyd of Bonshaw, had three daughters — The Lady Pokelly above-mentioned was the eldest; the second was Elisabeth, Lady Lochleven, of whom the Earl of Morton is descended ; the third was Margaret Boyd, who in her youth was Mistress to King James IV. and bore to him Alexander ■Stewart, Archbishop of St. Andrews, and Jean, Countess of Morton. She being a great favourite in the Court, and cousin to Dame Elisabeth Boyd daughter to Thomas Lord Boyd, and Countess of Angus, whose husband Archibald Earl of Angus, '(then Chamberlain,) had the greatest power in the state — She, the said Margaret Boyd, by his means and her own, brought her cousins the Boyds into the Factory of the Lordship of Kilmar- FENfVlCK] OP Ciinningbame. 339 fiock, their ancient patrimony — lately fallen to the crown by- forfeiture; in the possession whereof they continued upholden by the Earl of Angus, till such time as they were restored again by the Duke of Hamilton, Governor,.^fter the battle of the field of Glasgow in 1545. She procured to herself the ward of the Laird of Rowallan, John Muir, and married him. — She brought about the marriages of her other sisters to the Lairds of Loch- leven and Craufurdland. In consideration of which last marriage, she, douator in presence of the said Archibald Earl of Angus, ehamberlain, " apud Boghall prope Biggar 17m. Decembris 1493," disponeth to Archibald Craufurd of Craufurdland her kinsman (as she calls him), the ward of the lands of Craufurd- land. The words are " Honorabili viro Archibaldo Craufurd de Craufurdland, consanguineo meo wardam terrarum de Ardach, et omnium terrarum infra dominium de Craufurdland, tarn proprie- tatis quam tenendrice per donatianem S. D. N. Regis." — She procured Elisabeth Muir, daughter of her sister the Lady Po- kelly, to be married to Robert Craufurd, young Laird of Crau- furdland, for which cause she procured to him tKe kindness and tack of the lands of Walston, from the said Archibald Earl of Angus, anno 1494, which Walston lands are part of the Barony of Kilmarnock, and then belonged to the crown, and were after- Tfvards possessed by the said Robert's successor. There had also been a long feud betwixt the Lairds of Crau- furdland, and the Laird of Rowallan, their superior of the lands' of Ardoch, during which the ancient evidents of both these hous- es were destroyed ; and we find anno 1472 or 1476 [for the last figure is obscure], in a Justice Eyre holden by John Lord Car- lisle (Chief Justice of Scotland on the south side of the Eorth) at- the Burgh of Ayr, Robert JVJuir of Rowallan and John Muir his. son, and divers others their accomplices, indicted for breaking the King's peace against Archibald Craufurd of Craufurdland. This feud, by means of this Dame Margaret Boyd, was at length ea> 340 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Pcwiih of tinguished, and a new Charter upon Resignation granted to the Liaird of Craufurdland of the lands of Ardoch, — at the first th« whole holding ward, — thereafter, a five merk land of the Mains, holding blanch; the rest ward. XIV. Robert Ckaufurd the eldest son, in Craufurdland, diiring his father's life was stiled of Auchencairn in Nithsdale. He stood also infeft in the lands of Redhall in Annandale, hold- ing ward of the King. He married Elisabeth Muir, daughter to «the Laird of Pokelly, by whom he had three sons : 1. John, hh successor; 2. William, Laird ofWalston, married -"' Mowat, daughter to the Laird of Busbie, by whom he had John Craufurd of Walston who married Isabell Craufurd heiress ©f Giffardland, and also of William Craufurd of Beanscroft; 3. James Craufurd, (afterwards Sir James,) vicar of Kilbryde. — The above Robert Craufurd of Auchencairn died, before his fa- ther, of the wounds he received at the Wyllielee in company with his father attending James Boyd, Earl of Arran, who was killed there by the Earl of Eglinton. This happened in 1484.* XV. John Craufurd of Craufurdland, eldest son of the said Robert Craufurd, succeeded his grandfather, Archibald Craufurd. He, by his prudent conduct, composed the feud betwixt the Boyds and Montgomeries, and received in marriage Janet Montgomerie, daughter to the Laird of Giffin, by wh&m he had two sons : 1. John Craufurd, his successor; 2. Archibald, born after his fa- ther's death, was Parson of Eaglesham, a Lord of Session, Secre- tary and Almoner to Queen Mary of Guise Regent, with whose corpse he was sent to France anno 1560 to see it deposited in the Benedictine Monastery of St. Peter at Rheims, where his own sister Renee was then abbess. When in France, he got a com- mission from her daughter, the unfortunate Mary Queen of Scots, renewing to him his office of Secretary and Almoner, and ex- * Douglas states the death of James Earl of Arran, to have been in 148*) Isut ^ays notlung of the manner how. £E^lrfCK.] OF Cunningfjame. 341 pressive of her obligations for his great services rendered to her late mother; which commission, supposed to be the first granted to a Scotsman, is dated at Joinville in France the 17th April 1561. [See appendix for a copy of the original which is preserv- ed among the family papers.] Queen Mary, after her arrival in Scotland, August 1561, was permitted to hare Popish worship in the chapel at Holyroodhouse. Some French noblemen, who had accompanied her in her voy- age, were then with her, and many of her servants were natives of France. The Sacristan, or Keeper of the sacred utensils, wa» Sir James Paterson, who probably was one of her officiating chap- lains, and one of the Popish Knights. Riotous attacks were sometimes made upon the chapel, and there was danger of its being rifled at any time when she should be absent from Edin^ burgh. It was probably therefore upon this account, that the Queen, Jan. 11. 1561-2, directed Sir James Paterson to deliver to her valet de chambre, Servais de Conde, the furniture of her chapel, to be kept by her respectable Almoner, Mr. Archibald Craufurd, in the wardrobe of her palace at Edinburgh, from whence it could be easily conveyed as often as was uecessarjp. (See appendix for a copy of the Inventory of these curious oraa» snents at the time they were delivered over. The origioal of which Inventory, with the signatures, is still preserved by the Craufurdland family.) In June 1567, the Queen was conducted in the night time and in a disguised dress, as a prisoner to the castle of Lochlevem She was spoiled of all her princely ornaments, and clothed with, a warm brown cassock. " The Lords took an Inventory of all the pl{^, jewel's, and other moveables v;ithin the palace of Holyrood- house ; and yet this was not all, for we are likewise informed, that they spared not to put violent hands on her Majesty's cupboard, melted the specie thereof, and converted it into coin, thereby to forge a staff to break lier own bead. The Queen's cupboard amounted to sixteen stone weight."— Keitli, page 404^ 407. 4R 342 PARTICULAIl DESCRIPTION [PtO'ish Of It appears however, from the CraufurJland papers, that she. found m^aiis to pat iato the hiuij of Mr. Archibald Craiifurd her Almoner, certain pieces of plate for the service of her table,: which he faithfully kept in his possession till November 1567 ; at which time they were demanded from him, by the Treasurer. Mr, Robert Richardson, and on the 13th of that month were de- livered by the said Treasurer to Jilmes Stewart Earl of Murray^ Reo-ent of the Kingdom, who granted his acquittance for the same to Mr. Archibald Craufurd ; (see appendix for a copy of this ac- quittance ;) the original paper being in the possession of the Crau- furdland family. The above Archibald Craufurd, among the many acts that, distinguished his life and proved him so worthy of Royal confi- dence, built the. West Church of Glasgow, and the Bridge of Eaglesham. He died unmarried. The before-mentioned John Craufurd of Craufurdland was a. youth of a noble spirit and great resolution. He accompanied James IV. to the fatal field of Floudoun where he lost his life in. the flower of his age with his Royal leader, anno 1513. His widow, Janet Montgomerie, married Robert Hunter of Hunters- ton, of whom the present family of Hunterston are descended.. He was succeeded by his infant son, XVI. John Craufurd of Craufurdland, v/ho married Marga- ret Blair, daughter to John Blair of that Ilk, by whom he had three sons and five daughters: 1. John, his heir ; 2. Thomas, who married Margaret Craufurd, heir portioner of GifFardland,. sister to Isabel Craufurd spouse to John Craufurd of Walstoun ; 3- Robert, died imniarried ; — 1st daughter, Janet, married to. James Auchencross of that Ilk; 2. Agnes, married to Hugh Montgomerie of Smithston, Baillie of Kilwinning ; 3. Elisabeth, married to Alexander Arnot of Lochrig ; 4. , married. ' to Archibald Dunlop of Auchenskeith ; 5. Marion, married to John Currie in Gardrura. He got a Charter under the Great FtiSiriCK] OP Cunninijijatne. 34S Seal from King James VI. Jolianiii CraufurJ tie CraufurdlantI, terrarum de Giffardland, &c. in Ayrshire, dated 27th March 1576. He died anno 1583,- ia tlie 71st year of his age, and was succeed- ed by his eldest son, XYII. Jon.v Craufuro of Craufurdland, who upon his fa- ther's resignation got a Charter under the Great Seal, Johan- ni Craufurd juniori de Craufurdland, terrarum ecclesiasticaruni de Kilbride, &c. in Ayrshire, dated 12th Feb. 1581. — He also, during his father's lifetime, got from Mary Queen of Scots- a gift of the ward of the lands of ReidJiall lying within the Stew- artry of Annandale ; — the deed of gift having the Queen's sig- nature attached to it, is dated at Edinburgh the 26th December 1561, and is in possession of the Craufurdland family. [See ap-* pendix]. — He married Margaret, daughter of Hugh Wallace of Cairnhill, by whom Ire had four sons and three daughters: 1. John, his heir ; 2. Hugh, portioner of Rutherglen, was married and had several sons who all went to Germany and settled there; 3. Robert of Howrat, died unmarried ; 4. Archibald, Constable of Dunbarton Castle, and one of the Baillies of that Burgh ;— The daughters were 1. Janet, first married to George Campbell of Stevenston and Ducat-hall ; 2dly, to Mungo Campbell of Cow- fauldshaw; 3dly, to John Darleith of that Ilk; of all which mar- riages she had issue who iieired all their families. — 2. , married Robert Fergushill of that Ilk ; and 3. Marion, married William Shaw of Mainholm, who died without issue. He had also a natural son Robert, for whom he purchased the lands of Nethertown of Kilmarnock, then belonging to the crown. This Robert was at the battle of Pinkie, and died of the wounds here-- ceived there. This Laird of Craufurdland v/as a man of eminent abilities, and great spirit ; and though he lived in a most splendid manner, yet he did not encumber his paternal estate. He died anno 160.^ aged 70, and was succeeded by his eldest SOD, 344 I'ARTicuLAii DESCRIPTION [Parish (^ XVIII. John Ckaufurd of Craufurdland, who married 1st in 1590, Helen, daughter to James Chjalmers of Gadgrrth, by whom he had a son John, his successor ; and three daughters : 1. Janet, married to Alexander Cunningham of Waterston and Carlung; 2. Agnes, married to Thomas Craufurd of Walstoun, portioner of Giifardland ; 3. Helen, married to William llankine of Shcil. — He mra-ried 2dlj, Christian Wallace, daughter to the Laird of Auchans, then widow of I\Ir. James Ross of Whiteri^ffs and thereafter Lady Dreghorn, by whom he had a son and a daughter, Robert and Catherine. Robert got from his father the lands of Alonkland, and married Catherine Davidson, daugh- tej; of Patrick Davidson of Sheil, burgess of Ayr. Their only son John dying soon after his father without issue, the lands of Monkland returned to the family of Craufurdland. His daugh- ter Catherine married Robert Stewart of Barskimming. In con- junction with John Craufurd his father he gave contentation to the Laird of Rowallan in 1602 for the pretence of wardholding of the 14 merk land of Ardach, alias Craufurdland, which originally held blanch of Rowallan as superior, (but of late had been taken to hold ward,) at the reconciliation betwixt the families in 1511. He died in 1612 aged 42. His son, XIX. John Craufurd, in 1610 married Elisabeth Cunning- ham, daughter to Alexander- Cunningham of Corsehiil, who bore him two sons : 1. John, of whom afterwards ; 2. Alexander died an infant. He was a youth of great life and spirit. He died of a hurt he received at foot-ball a little before his father, anno 1612 aged 21. His widow married Sir David Barclay of Lady- land, and his infant son, XX. John Craufurd of Craufurdland, born in 1611, suc- ceeded his grandfather in 1612; and June 15. 1613, was served heir to both his grandfather and great-grandfather. In 1630 he married Janet Cuninghame, daughter of the Laird of Craigendsj by her he had seven sons and five daughters ; 1, John, his heir? rFENWfCK.] OF Cunningljamt -345 3.- Alexander CraufurJ of Fergushill, (who married 1st Elisabeth (Maxwell, daughter of John Maxwell of Southbarr, by whom he .had two sons and three daughters. — ■2dly, he married Isabell • Henderson, daughter of Henderson of Baikie and relict of Bryce Boyd of Pitcon, by whom he had a -son and daugiiter); 3. William was a merchant and burgess of Glasgow. (He married Martha Miller, daughter of John Aliller, of the Barskimming family, by whom he had four, sons and a daughter: 1. Anthony; 2. Mathew [married 1st Agnes Stewart daughter of Alexander Stew- . art of Torrence, and 2dly, Esther Fletcher, co-heiress of Crans- toun, by whom he had seven sons and one daughter, of whom more afterwards] ; 3. John ; 4. James, and a daughter;) — 4. James, was a surgeon ; 5. Archibald, died in Africa aged 20 ; 6. Robert; 7. Thomas. — The daughters were: 1. Elisabeth, married John Hamilton of Grange, by whom she had two sons and six daugh- ters ; 2. Agnes, married John Campbell of Kingcleugh, to whom i.she bare two sons and a daughter ; 3. Isabella and Anne, died in infancy ; 4. Janet, married William Craufurd of Dalleagles, »to whom she bare five sons and two daughters. He married .2dly, Margaret Skeene, daughter of — ■. — Skeene ^ofHallyards and relict of William Fairley of Bruntfield ; and - again for his third wife,, married Elisabeth Jnglis, daughter of • Inglis of Ingliston and relict of Dundas of Breastmiln, but had no issue by these last two marriages. He died 1686 aged 71, and was succeeded by his eldest son, XXI. John Cbaufukd of Craufurdland, who in 1667 married Anna Stuart, daughter of Sir Archibald Stuart of Castlemilk, by whom he had three, sons and^ibur daughters; 1. John ; 2. Ar- chibald ;, 3. James.-r-'The daughters all died young. He died in 1693, and was succeeded by his eldest son, XXII. John Craufukd of Craufurdland. He married Elisa- beth Kerr, daughter of Mark Kerr of, Morrieston, by whom he had five sons and three daughters : 1 , John, his heir ; the 2d and 4 S 346 TARTICULAU DESCUIPTION [Parish of 3d died without issue ; the 4th, William, was a writer in Edin- burgh, died also without issue. Andrew the 5th sOn, was surgeon iin Lord Mark Kerr's Dragoons, afterwards settled at Preston in England, but died at Edinburgh Dec. 1762, without issue. The 1st and 3d daughters died unmarried ; the 2d was Elisabeth, of ^whom afterwards. He died in 1744, and was succeeded by his son, , XXIII. John Craufurd of Craufurdland, who in 1719 mar- tied Ilobina Walkinshaw, daughter and heiress of JoTm Walkin- shaw of that Ilk, Laird of Bishoptoun, upon which marriage he added the name and arms of Walkinshaw to his own, and by her he had several children who>all died young excepting John Wal- kinshaw Craufurd, his eldest son and successor. He afterwards married Elenora Nicolson, daughter of Sir Thomas Nicolson of Carnock and relict of the Honourable Thomas Boyd, advocate, brother-german to the last Earl of Kilmarnock, by whom he had . no issue. He died at Newcastle the 10th Jan. 1763, and was succeeded by his son, the said XXIV. John Wabkinshaw Craufurd of Craufurdland, who early entered into the army. He was an intimate friend of the unfortunate Earl of Kilmarnock, who suffered with others for the attempt to restore the house of Stuart. He attended him to the scaffold, and it is said, held a corner of the cloth to receive his head ; he afterwards performed the last sad ofSc6 of friendship by getting him interred. For the public exhibition he then made, he was put to the bottom of the army list. H^i roseto be Major Commandant of the 115th Regiment of Foot, and latterly to the rank of Lieut. Colonel in the army. He was present at the bat- tles of Dettingen and Fontenoy, where he distinguished himself. He died at Edinburgh unmarried aged 72, Feb. 1793, settling his estate, by a deed made on his death-bed, upon Thomas Coutts, Banker ia London. His aunt and nearest heir, however, Mrs. Elisabeth Craufurd, instituted an action of reduction of this set- FENfVICK.] OP Cunniugfjamc. 347 tlfement, and after a long litigation carried on by her and' her suc- cessor, the deed was reduced by a decree of the House of Lords in 1806, by which the succession- to this ancient estate returned into its natural channel. XXIII. Elisabeth Craufuhd of Craufurdland, daughter of the before-mentioned John Craufurd of Craufurdland and Elisa- beth Kerr of Morrieston and aunt to the last John Craufurd, mar^ ried 1st William Fairlie of that Ilk, by whom she had a daugh- ter who died in infancy. She afterwards married, 3d June 1744, John Howleson of Braehead in Mid Lothian, head of one of the most ancient families in that county, by whom she had two sons, William and John, who died in infancy, and two daughters : L Elisabeth; 2. Margaret, who died unmarried in 1801. The said Elisabeth Craufurd died at the advanced age of 97, at Braehead in Mid Lothian in 1802. ■ XXIV. Elisabeth Howieson CraufitRd of Craufurdland eld- est daughter of the above EKsabeth Craufurd and John Howieson, unites in her person the representiition of the ancient families of Craufurdland and Braehead, which had always been in the male line till the former came to her mother and the latter to herselfl The origin of the family of Braehead, as handed down by tra- dition, is as singular as it is honourable. It is said one of the Kings of Scotland (one of the James's) hunting at Cramond, hav- ing strayed from his attendants, was attacked by banditti, who might have murdered him, but for the timely assistance and in- trepidity of a husbandman of the" name' of Howieson, who with ^ his son were thrashing grain in a barn hard by. Hearing the cries of a man in distress^' the father and son ran out' with their flails,' which they used so manfully as to put the ruffians to flight, and brought the King, without knowing his rank, into their house, where he washed the blood from his face occasioned by the wounds he received ; and they gave him eveiy refreshmenfwhich their habitation afforded. His attendants soon after arriving, ' ' 34S PARTicuLAn DESCRIPTION [Parish of their Rojal guest took his departure, desiring the husbandman to enquire at Edinburgh Castle for a person of a certain name, giving a feign ec^ one, and on doing so the husbandman to his ut- ter dismay was ushered into the Royal presence ; when the King expressed his gratitude for the "great services rendered him, and bestowed upon his deliverer the lands of Braehead, then crown lands, and which the husbandman at the time occupied. It is said the condition attaciied to the gift was, that the proprietor ©f Braehead shall, in all time coming, attend at Cramond Bridge with a basin of water and napkin, for his Majesty to wash his hands as often as he passes that way. The supporters of the fa- mily are allusive to the above tradition, being two husbandmen, one holding a basin and napkin, and the other holding a flail. .'The Reddendo in the Charter of this family, being Servitium Lavacri, is also allusive, and seems to confirm the above story.* *The following notices of this family are extracted from Wood's Antient and Mc^^ dern State of Cramond Parish, published in \1^\ ; one of the best local Histories that has yet appeared. «< The Uowisons of Brae/iead axe hy far the most ancient family of the parish, hav- ing subsisted there upwards of 350 years, a longer period than any other of the nume- ■ rous families that have had interest in this district have done." From the pedigree which he afterwards adduces of the family, it appears, that I. John Howison, was a Burgess in Edinburgh in 1450. That his son, II. James Howison, had a Charter of Cramond-Regis in. H65. His son, III. George Howison, was witness to a Sasine of bir John Moubray of Barn* ■ bougie, 9th Oct. 1511. His son, IV. Andrew Howison, of Cramond-Regis, had a Charter dated 10th Feb. 1555* He .Tiarried Elisabeth, daughter of Bathgate. His son, V. John Howison of Braehead, in Cramond-Regis, had a Charter dated 13th Dec. 1575— died in 1618. He married Janet, daughter of Alexander Moubray in Dalmeny, (descended of the ancient family of the Moubrays, Dukes of Norfolk), by ■ whom he had a son, VI. Alexander Howison of Braehead, who died in 1637. He married a daugh- ter of James Haldane in Saughton, by whom he had a son, VII. James Howison of Braehead, who was buried at Cramond 20th March 1680. He married Alison, daughter of Ramsay of Blackcraig, by whom he had a ■ daughter Agnes, married to James Dundas in Southfield — 4 children who died young .—and a son who succeeded him, VIII. Alexander Howison of Braehead, who died 18th April l703j aged 67, ■ He married Martha,'daughter and heiress of William Young in Craigleith, by whom-he had several children who died young, or without issue, and a son who succeeded hiro* FEN WICK] OP Cunningfiame, H^ The above Elisabeth Howison Craufurd married the Rev. James Moody, late one of the ministers of the gospel at Perth, who nov/ assumes the name of James Howison Moody Craufurd, to whom she had seven children : 1. John Craufurd Howison, died in infancy ; 2. Alexander born 1780, died 1796 ; 3. William Howison Craufurd. Daughters: 1. Elisabeth Beatrix, died in in- fancy ; 2. Margaret ; 3. Elisabeth Craufurd, died in infancy j 4o Isabella. Her only remaining son, is XXV. William Howison Craufurd of Craufurdland. He in 1808 married Janet Esther Whyte, only daughter of James Whyte of Newmains and his wife Esther Craufurd. The father of the said Esther Craufurd was the lineal male descendant of William the third son of John Craufurd of Craufurdland and Janet Cunninghame of Craigends his wife, before mentioned. It is a remarkable coincidence, and worthy of record, that a female descendant of this collateral male branch of the family, is now united to the only male descendant of a female, on whom the representation devolved, upon the failure of the direct male line of this very ancient family. The descent of the said Janet Esther Whyte is as follows. William [No. XXI.] third eon of the before mentioned John Craufurd [XX. and Janet Cunninghame, who lived in the days of the unfortunate Charles I. married, as has already been stated, Martha Miller, daughter of John Miller, ■by whom he had four sons and one daughter. Mathew, [XXII. j the second of these sons, with whom only we are at present inter- ested, married 1st Agnes Stuart, daughter of Alexander Stuart of Torrence, by whom he had one child a daughter, married to Sir William Dalrymple of Couslant^ 2dly, Esther Fletcher, co-heir- IX. William Howison of Braehead, who died of a fit of apoplexy, on his way home from Cramond church, 20th Feb. 1729, aged 63. He married Margaret, daugh- ter of John Mitchel of Alderstcne, by whom he had a daughter married in 1735 to Mr. William Dauling ; a son Charles (the 6th of the family,) who died in 1 780, s.m, p.; and 5 more children, who died young — besides his eldest son, who succeeded him, X. John Howison of Braehead, who died 12th May 1787, aged 74. He nar° tied, as already stated. Ftde supra. 4T 350 PARTICULAR DESCIiIPTn)N iPaHsh cf ess of Cranston, whose mother v/as Esther Cunnlnghame, a daush- ter of the Laird of Enterkuie, and she herself grand-daughtei: of the Bishop of the Isles. By her he had seven sons and one daughter : Mathevv, the eldest son, was a man of singular worth and merit. John [XXIII.] his second son, possessed of similar endowments, was a physician ; and got his diploma at Leyden. He married Janet Orr, daughter of John Orr of Barrowfield and Grugar, then a family of great wealth and consequence in Glas- gow, by whom he had two sons and five daughters. Martha, on- ly daughter of the above Mathew Crauiurd and Esther Fletcher, married John Orr of Barrowfield and Grugar, (brother of the a- bove Janet Orr,) to whom she had several children. Mathew, eldest son of John Craufurd and Janet Orrj died unmarried at Edinburgh 1815. John, second son of John Craufurd and Janet Orr, married Mary Johnston of New- York, by whom he has one son John, and two daughters. Esther Craufurd, (XXIV.) the only one of the before-mentioned five daughters of John Craufurd and Janet Orr, who was married, has by her husband, James Whyte of Newmains as already stated, three sons, and one daugh- ter ; which daughter Janet Esther, [XXV.] is the wife of thfe present William Howison Craufurd, as above, to whom she has one son and two daughters: XXVI. 1. John Reginald Craufurd, born 30th August 1811 ; and is the twenty-sixth generation by both parents record- ed in this genealogy; 2. Ehsabeth Constantia,born 18th Oct. 1813 ; 3. Winifred Janet, born 29th June 1817. Arms of Craufurd of Craufurdland. — Gules, a fesse ermine. Crest, a Marble Pillar supporting a Man's Heart proper. Motto, Stant Innixa Deo. Arms of Howison of Braehead. — Argent,, a Heart proper, on a Chief, Azure, three Fleur de Lis, Or. Supporters, Two Hus^ bandmen in the dress of the fourteenth century : one holding a Flail, and tire other a Basin and Napkin. Crest, a Dexter Hand erect and couped at the wrist. Motto, Sursum Corpa, JPEMVWK.] OP Cimningfjame, 351 Hairshaw-Muir, or HARTsiiAw-INIuin. — This very extensive property is situated in an eastern quarter of the parish, bounding with the county of Renfrew. It is larger than some wliole pa- rishes; — containing above 10 square miles of country, or more than 5000 acres, of which about one-fourth part is arable meadow, or green pastui*e ; the rest moor and mosses. It made part of the ancient Lordship of Kilmarnock^ and as sucl), was part of the great domains of John Balliol that were forfeited by Robert Bruce, and conferred on his own adherent. Sir Robert Boyd. There was a Hartshaw also, in this part of the country, that was for- feited at the same time, as having belonged to the unfortunate Balliol, which I should suppose to be the Hairshaw of Stewart- on-; so calkd by corruption, in the same manner as Hairshaw- Muir, instead of Hartshaw-Muir, both indicative of the original meaning the Deerwood and the Deerwood-Muir. Of the suc- cession of proprietors in this estate, I have no knowledge, further than, that it appeai-s in 1687 among the Retoursof the Glasgow family, to wliom it still belongs. Tliere is no mansion-house upon it, and probably never was. Dalswraith, or the ien pound latid of Darwhilliug, is situated southwards from the preceding, and lower down, bounding with the parish of Kilmarnock. It extends to more than 1000 acres, of which, about 800 is arable ; 200 moss and 6 or 7 in wood. It is possessed by 14 different heritors. The most valuable portion of it is Darwhilling, which extends to more than 200 acres of Va- luable land, and has on it an adequate mansion, with some thriv- ing plantation. But Raithnioor and Grassyards, in one property is more extensive. The names and relative values of them all ■i^ill be seen in the Valuation Table. Rose, or Ross-Fen wick, (anciently Ross-Fynick and Wattis- fynick.) — The only remaining grand division of the parish, is si- tuated on the right banks of the. water of Fen wick, and on whicli the two- towns of Fenwick are set down. It extends in all to 352 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Parish of 335 acres ; the whole fertile land, and in full cultivation ; and is possessed by 14 proprietors also. The Skirnie lands, with Croilshaugh, is the largest of these, next to which is Gardrum. Both have adequate mansions ; and both have some wood upon them, more especially the first, where it consists of a belt of planting by the way-side, which is remarkably thriving, though set down in a very exposed situation. TABLE OF VALUED RENT. Properties. Proprietors^ Valued Rent. £ s. d. l^owallan (in Fenwick,) . Marchioness of Hastings, • 2355 Polkelly, ■ - = Earl of Glasgow, . 1112 Hartshaw-Muir, <= Do. - - . 716 Craufurdland, - * m William H. Craufurd, Esq, > 678 12 DarwhiUing, a James Mitchel, Esq. ^6189 Raithmuir, &c. • Mr. Boyd, - 11* 16 Raitli, proper, - m Dr. Macknight, - 88 Beanscroft, m Allan Brown, - - 70 Raith Mill, „ Sir William Miller, 49 Hillhouse hill and Cottage, . Captain Whyte, - *7 4 Brae, . - = . John Fergusson, - 40 Roading-dikes, - o James Fergusson, - 33 Hillhouse hill, - - John Baird, - 32 IS 4 Nether Raith, - „ Mrs. Mure, - 32 I 8 Horsehill, . David Dickie, - 30 High Grassyards & 2 other subjects i Brown, Young, Mure, 37 18 Total of Dais wraith or the j£ 10 land, - - - - 763 IS Skirnielands, &c. . Alex. Foulds, Esq. £iS 15 Gardrums, 2 subjects, - o Dunlop, Shedden, 74 7 Moorend, _ James Love, - 32 13 Rose Fenwick, proper - . Colonel Barns, - 30 ,9 other subjects. .. Sundries, - - 121 10 Total of Rose Fen^ ivick, - - - - - Total of the Parish, - - - • 342 5 £5967 10 O FREEHOLDER QUALIFIED TO VOTE. W. H. Craufurd of Craufurdland. Ilia ^i0ce!lanie0.*— E MiNENT Character. — Mr Wi m Guthrie, the first minister who was settled in the parish, was justly famous * Abridged chiefly from the excellent Statistical Account of this parish, by the pre- sent minister, Mr. Boyd — published in 1795. \FENfriCK.] or Cunningham p> -55s 'in his time. He was ordained, as before stated, in 1644, but was ejected in 1662 for non-compliance with the powers which then were, and died in 1665. He was great great-grandfather to the present Sir William Millar, Lord Glenlee. He was eldest son of the Laird of Pitforthie in Angus; but resigned his paternal estate in favour of a younger brother, that lie might be more at leisure to prosecute the functions of the sacred office to which he was attached. He was a man of great erudition, but was pe- culiarly eminent for piety, and a fervent indefatigable zeal for .promoting the interests of religion. His little treatise entitled " The Trial of a Saving Interest in Christ," was much thought of ^at the time it was written, and continues still in high estimation: It was translated Into several foreign languages, and had a great circulation through all the Protestant churches abroad. Dr. Owen, a celebrated divine of the same age, said of this treatise, " I have written several folios, but there is more divinity in this than in them all." From him is also descended, maternally, the family of Warner of Ardeer in this county. Ancient Family of Husbandmen. — -Far up among the moors in the Barony of Rowallan, there is a large sheep-farm called LocHGOiNE. It ha5 been possessed for many generations by a family of the name of Howie, which, from their own account, fled here as refugees from the persecution raised against the Walden- ses in France, and have resided in this place for some hundred years. They met with their share of troubles here also in the persecuting reigns of the two last Kings of the Stuart line; for with the same unbending spirit of their ancestors, they resisted encroachments on their religious liberties. There are still preserv- ed here, the colours that the covenanters of this parish carried with them to the battle of Bothwell Bridge which some of them had the address to carry off safe ; and they shew also here the sword of a Captain Paton (of Meadowhead), and some other things which are considered as precious relicks, 4U f- •SSyc PARTICULAR fi£SCRZP7(0H \Vamh of PARISH OF LOUDOUN. OUDOUN Parish is situated in the south-east cor- ner of this division of Ayrshire, and separated from Kyle, the next division, by the water of Irvine. It is of a triangular figure. The longest side is from E. to w. about 7 miles along the Irvine: the side next the county of Lanark, on the east, is about 4^ miles ; it ends in a point in the s. w. where the Irvine receives the Polbeth Burn, which separates it from Kilmarnock parish. It extends to about 23 square miles of surface. (E^encral Appearance. — Part of one of the finest vallies in Ayrshire is situated in this parish, being the northern half of that narrow dale, about 6 miles in length, stretching from Gal- ston upwards, to Loudoun-Hill, on each side of the water of Ir- vine. It is the most fertile of the parish, the most embellished with plantations; and where about three parts in four of the whole population reside. The lands rise from it towards the north on a pretty sharp acclivity for about half a mile or more, ending in a kind of Table land at the height of from 300 to 400 feet above the level of the stream. From this, backwards to the northern confines with the parish of Fenwick, there is a great ex- panse of benty and moorish, lands with a considerable proportion of moss, but having some strips of good corn-land even there, by the sides of the lesser streamlets. Loudoun-Hill, at the head of the vale, is a beautiful object. It is of a conical form, occupying LOUDOUN,) OF Cunninstjame, 355 but a small base and not rising above 500 or 600 feet in height, yet is seen at a great distance. It is cultivated almost to the top, or rather altogether, for vi^hat is not under the plough is planted vi'ith wood, except on the south side, where it is bare and steep rock from top to bottom. ^inccal0. — There is some Coal wrought in the west end of the parish. — Limestone is in great plenty. — Basaltic Rock forms the basis of Loudoun-Hill, and the substratum of a great propor- tion of the lands. There is also some very good White Freestone. S)Oil. — This is in general of a kindly nature, yielding readily to cultivation. In the vallies by the Irvine and other waters, it is remarkably fertile. Koatljaf, — An excellent road, remarkably level, goes through its whole length, from east to west, nearly by the water-edge. There are different other well-made roads across, from south to north. There is indeed great attention paid to this subject, on the part of the noble family, to whom the greater part of the pa- rish belongs. Ccop0 CuItitJateD. — Wheat, is sown to a considerable ex- tent in the bottom of the large valley by the Irvine water, and no where in Cunninghame with greater success. — Oats here, as every where else, is however the chief crop cultivated, and gene- rally two years in succession with undiminished luxurianc}'. — Turnip is little known. — Flax, as usual, in small patches, for fa- mily use. — Potatoes, largely, and in great stiloo fin tillage, I590-) iZTontentS Cultivated grass and meadow, 4610 j Total Of tte 10,543 panel). Moss land, &c 1214 acres. tWoods and gardens,. 504, libe ©tOCfe. — The dairy cows are still the chief object with the husbandmen, and the breed is equally good with that in the other parishes described. There are but few cattle kept here ^oi feeding, but there is a pretty large rearin;:: stock, and many young 356 i^An'ricuLAU description [Parish of cattle arc sold annually to other places. There are some flocks of black-faced shdep among the moors. The Live Stock of all kinds appears to be as under : Horses of all descriptions, 156 Cattle ditto, 1151 Sheep, 960 Swine fed yearly, 240 Cotonis 0ntJ ^Jillagc^. Newmills. — This town is pleasantly set down on the north banks of the Irvine, about the middle of the most populous part of the parish, and vi'hich circumstance occasioned the removing of the parish church to it, about years ago, from the place where it was formerly situated near the west end of the parish, where a burying-ground still remains around the ruins of the old kirk. In 1491 on the 9th Jan. it was erected into a Burgh of Barony, now governed by 2 Baillies and a Council of fifteen. It has a town-house, and also a prison for the temporary confine- xnent occasionally of delinquents. The town consists of a main street, about a quarter of a mile in length, and two or three lanes leading off from different places. The number of inhabitants in •1819 was 1290. The chief manufacture, or almost the only one, is weaving, for the Glasgow merchants. Derval. — This thriving village, is situated in a similarly- pleasant part of the valley, about a mile farther east. It consists of a street much longer and broader but without any lanes branch- ing ofi*. In 1792 it contained about 400 inhabitants, and now upwards of 700, employed chiefly, as the other, by the Glasgow manufacturers, in weaving muslins and other slim fabrics. There has been lately erected here an elegant school-house, through the munificence of the Most Noble Proprietrix the Marchioness of Hastings, set down in a handsome square now forming near the west end of the town. In this school, taught by Mr. Thomas Mitchel, there are upwards of 160 scholars, at the various classes yLGUDOl^N.] OF Cunningfjatne. ^'s'J of reading, writing, arithmetic, English grammar, and the ele- ments of Latin and Greek. This of itself bespeaks Derval to be a •place of no mean importance. Population. — In 1792, Newmills contained about 1000 in- habitants, and the parish altogether 2308. At present the num- bers are respectively as under : Newmills about 1290 7 Total Derval, 718 [^3170 In the country parts, llG2jsotJLS Occupationis. Shoemakers, 18 Taylors, . 8 Bakers, 5 Coaliers, 8 Wrights, 15 Smiths, 12 Masons, 10 Surgeons, 2.^ Writer, 1. State op Education. — The school of Derval has already been mentioned. The parish school, under the able administration of Mr. Andrew Campbell, is very respectable. The number of scholars in both, being 325, is creditable to the general disposi- tion of the peoplco State of the Poor. — From the great increase of people in the manufacturing classes, the number of the indigent has also been augmented. Insomuch, that, as formerly in 1791, when ^48 was all that was required yearly, for the poor, both permanent and occasional — there is now required 5^240. In the former period, each of the 12 poor then on the roll got from Is. to 2s. a week, or about £3 15s. annually. How many poor at jjresent on the roll, and what each may receive weekly or yearly — and how the funds are constituted for their support,. will ap- pear in the Statistical Table at the end. 00inii6ter0— since the Revolution. NAMES, ADMITTED, DIED, Sec. Hugh Fawsidcs,.. Sept. 26. 1^95 Jan. 10. 1752. A" T T^Tcrr' 1 r From the 2d charge T Dr. Jas. M'Kinlay.. I p^^^^^ j^. 1809. j Second Charge. James Osburn, Ord. Aug. 9. 1688..... Rem. to the North, tn-ii- Axr • w XT . .• 1 ^ Tr. to the 1st charge \^ilham Wright, Not mentioned, j May 3 1711 George Peden, Ord. May 3. 1711 Died in 1722. T TLTMi rv 1 T\r ^ T-off f Translated to tliG Ist Laurence Hdl, Ord. May 6. 1 /25,.. | ^^^^^^^ -^ j^g^^ Robert Hall, Ord. April 11. 1739.. Died June 5. 1762. WilHam Lindsay, Ad. fr. Cumbrae 1763. Died April 30. 1774 John Mutrie, Ord. March 8. 1775... Died June 2. 1^85. Dr. Jas. M'Kindlay,.,Ord. April 6. 1*&6.. | '^''•p^j^^^jg^jgQg^^®' r Admitted from the f Dr. John Macleod,. < parish of Kilmoden < Trans, to Dundonald X Nov. 23. 1809. i Feb. 15. 1816. Hobert Stirling, Ord. Sept. 19. 1816... Jp>OpUlation.— In the town, about 10,240 And in the country parts, about........ 2,000 In all, 12,240 The Poor. — There are about 140 on the roll, who get among 'them about ^£650 annually, besides about £500 given to the oc- casional claimants. The whole amovmts to about ^1175. Benefit Societies. — No fewer than 42 such societies of malesj and 5 of females, existed till 1817, when, on account of general distress, some of them failed. These societies, in the years afJ under, distributed as follows : In 1813 j£602 14 1 181* 646 8 2 1815 728 19 1 1816 1122 12 2 There has hitherto no Savings Bank been established. State of EDucATioN.-~There are 13 schools in the town, 4 5C 378 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION- [Pgnah 6/ of which are on the establishment, and one, a charity school, in which from 90 to 100 poor children are educated gratis — the rest are private schools. In the whole, the number of scholars amounts to about 1340. There are 4 Sunday schools, at which 356 young people attend for religious instruction. ^iSSZntZXS, — Cameronians. — About the year 1775 a con- gregation of these genuine whigs was established at the pleasant village of Crooked-holme in this parish. In 1785 they erected their present meeting-house there, which is calculated to accom- raodate easily 400 sitters, but which is sometimes crowded to the extent of nearly 600. Prior to this time (1776) there were only four established ministers in this community in Scotland; and the minister of Crooked-holme, the late Rev. William Steven, sup- plied three different congregations besides this — namel}', one at Paisley, one at Kilmalcolm, both in Renfrewshire ; and one, as as before noticed, at Derval in the parish of Loudoun ; all of whom have now ministers of their own. The congregation at Crooked-holme consists of about 150 communicants, (having a- bout 90 examinable children in their families) — besides occasion- al hearers, and is made up from many different parishes in the western parts of Ayrshire. The present minister, the Rev. Adam Brown, was admitted to this charge in 1802. The congregation have erected for him a small, but neat and commodious manse? to which a good garden with a small piece of land is attached. Burgher Seceders. — In 1772 there was a Burgher Seceding ; meeting-house erected, and was filled with a respectable congre- gation. These in split among themselves, on some po- lemical question of little public importance, which occasioned another meeting-house to be erected, with a separate congrega- tion. In the first of these, the Rev. George Lawson is the pre- sent minister, with a congregation of about 1000 souls. In the second the Rev. Peter Campbell is the present minister, whose congregation amounts to about 350, In both the examinable diildren are included. KILMARNOCK.] ot CunningTjame. S7o Antiburghers. — In 1775, this class of seceders erected a meeting-house, which was also attended with a respectable con- gregation. They amount at present to about 800 under the pas- toral charge of their present minister, the Rev. John Ritchie. Church of Relief. — This class, which differs in no one ar- ticle of faith, from the established church, but flies to this re- source, to be relieved from the ill-managed domination of Patro- nage, erected a meeting-house here in . It consists at pre- sent of a respectable congregation of about 700 under the charge of a minister of their own choosing, the Rev. William Limont.*' Methodists. — This conscientious sect of religionists, which is the butt of aspersion in a neighbouring kingdom, and the cause there even of some alarm, has never been viewed in a bad light in Scotland. Nor indeed are they numerous. In this town thete is a small circle of them, not exceeding 55 or 60 — among ■whom presides occasionally in their devotions. Baptists. — Of this pious and very unassuming sect there are about 25 members in this town. Whether they hold precisely the same religious tenets with those of the same denomination in Irvine, Kilwinning, and other towns in this part of the country, I do not quite know : nor is it of importance to be known. The whole body of Scottish Dissenters are among the best props to the cause of civil as well as of religious liberty. The impolitic abuse of the right of presentation may thin the desks of the es- tablished kirk. It may do worse : — 'it may weaken, or even anni- hilate, the religious principle among the people — it may loosen the bands of civil society, as weU as shake the pillars of the church. But those who betake themselves, from a conscientious motive, to a dissenting or seceding meeting-house, will be the very first * One good efFectj liowever, it must be acknowledged, results from patronage, even in its harshest form — That though it may increase the number of Dissenters, it gives those who prefer tlie established church the opportunity of exhibiting, decidedly, their attachment to it, by remaining under its communion ; and thus shew, that they have friade fheir election as conscientiously as the Seceders themselves ; — for in most case* it is as convenient and as cheap to attend a Meeting House as tlie Established Churcb.:. 380 PARTICULAU DESCRIPTION \^Pai'ish of to oppose the unprincipled demagogues in their daring attempts at what they call a Reform, — the eradicating of Christianity alto- gether. It is more from those who are indifferent about these matters, or who care for none of. these /Amg-s, than from Dissen- ters, that danger is to be apprehendedo Miscellaneous Subjects. Bank. — In 17?5 a branch of the Bank of Scotland was estab- lished in Kilmarnock, but was withdrawn in 1801. In the year following, an association of monied men was entered into here for establishing a, bank of their own, which was carried into effect accordingly ; and, under the name of the Bank of Kilmar- nock, has done a deal of business since : whilst their notes have a wide circulation, and are with confidence received. Post-Office. — Letters are received and delivered twice a day both to the north and south, including a bye-post to Irvine and other towns to the right and left. Town- House. — This is erected on the east side of the main street about the middle of the town. It is a stately structure, with capacious rooms for the different public offices, and Court- Rooni. It was built in 1805. Coffee- Room. — This is placed near the centre of the town too, at a point where several streets meet. It is appropriated as a reading-room,. general lounge — and occasional place of rendez- vous. It is 32 feet long, 22 wide, and 12 feet high. It is in the second floor of a handsome building erected in 1814. Libraries. — There are three circulating Libraries and two maintained by private subscription, in which the number of Books is considerable and well selected. <2BiB!tatej8 anD jTamiUesf. Grugar. — This fine property is situated in the eastern side of the parish, marching with that of Loudoun. It extends to considerably more than 2,000 acres, nearly all arable land, of the best quality. This about the time of the Brucean contest, be- KILMARNOCK] of Cuttningfjatnc. 38i longed to William de Ferrars and Alan de la Siiche, in conse- quence of their marriage with two co-heiresses. [See p. 47.] Be- ing partizans of Balliol, they were of course forfeited, and this part of their possessions was conferred by Robert I. on his steady adherent, Sir Robert Cunninghame of Kilmaurs, by a Charter dated 1319. In 1576, it belonged to Logan of Restalrig, whose other large possessions in the Lothians and Berwickshire were soon after forfeited, and probably this place also. The next who appears as Laird of Grugar, was Graham of Knockdolian, in 1606 : then Campbell of Loudoun, in 1613; — Boyd of Kilmarnock, in 1616, down to 1699, and how much longer is not to me known. It has been in various hands since, of whom the Orrs of Earrowfield had it a considerable time ; then the representatives of Sir Geo. Colebrook ; and lastly, the present proprietor, Mr. Blane. It does not appear that there was ever upon it amansion-house. Kilmarnock Barony. — This valuable property, (including the lands of Bondington, now Bonniton adjacent,) extends to upwards of 2350 acres, ^nd was the patrimonial possession of John Balliol King of Scots, onwhose forfeiture by that mote energetic Prince, Robert Bruce, it was conferred on Sir Robert Boyd, by Charters from 1308 till 1316, and remained with his descendants, with little intermission, till the Glencairn family acquired it from them, sometime after 1752^; — ^from whom it was purchased in 1785 by the Commissioners of Miss Scott, and is now the property of her husband the Duke of Portland — with the exception of about one-eighth part that is parcelled out among different owners. [See Table of Valued Rent.] It is situated in the heart of the parish, on both sides of the water of Kilmarnock: — that town itself being set down upon it. The -soil is remarkably good. Craufurdland. — See Fenwick parish, where the greater part of this estate is situated. About 400 acres, of the best of it, how- ever, are in this; as also is the manor-place, Craufurdland Castle, part of which was erected about 8 or 10 years ago, in au antique 5D 2S2 ?ARy;cuLAn,, DESCRIPTION [Parish of style, to comport with the ancient fortalice included within the same mansion. It is in a fine situation, on the steep banks of a rirulet, amid much woodland, and has a very picturesque and stately appearance. AssLOss — With its mansion, a plain low edifice — is pleasantly set down among some very tliriving plantation, on the east side of the water, on the summit of its shelving banks. It belonged for long to a family of the same name, or of x\sslois of that Ilk: then in 1702 and 1708, to a branch of the Montgomery family. The present proprietor is William Parker, Esq. On the east side of the water are situated also the lands of Walstone j — the Blackwoods ; the Berryhill ; and Sneddon-hall 5 which last is situated pretty fiir up among the moors, and com- prehends almost the only moorish lands in the parish. The lands of Braehead are on the same side of the water, but situated ' lower down, being close upon the town. Altogether these 5 or 6 properties contain among them, nearly about 1000 acres. RowALLAN. — Part of this ancient Barony is also in this parish,^ and on the west side of the water, and in the most northerly quarter. The manor-place is in this parish too, but so near is it to the borders of the parish of Fenwick, that part of the offices are included in it. Annanhill — Is situated also on the west side of the water, as are the Langlands, and Bonniton, all belonging to Mr. Dun- lop, and all good land — in the immediate vicinity of the town. A considerable wing of the Annanhill lands is situated adjacent, in the parish of Kilmaurs. The lands of Hillhead, situated on the same side, lie northwards from the town, and belong to Mr. Tough. Camskeith ; now called the Mount; and the lands of Grange, conterminous to each other — are situated from the town westward and still lower down, extending t6 the water of Irvine. The first was,, at a long time back, the property of the family of Hamilton^ KILMARNOCK.} OP Cunningfiame, S83 afterwards of Grange, from whom it went to a branch of the Cnn- ninghames, and latterly to the Dunlops, from whence in 1787 it was purchased hy the Commissioners of Miss Scott. The other was the property of the Hamiltons, after they sold Camskeith, and remained with the family till 1792, when the present Colonel Ha- milton of Grange sold it to Miss Scott also ; and thus they have both become the property of the Duke of Portland. They ex- tend to more than 260 acres of excellent land, incumbent on some of the finest working coal in Ayrshire. TABLE OF VALUED RENT. Properties, Prep^tetors, Valued Rent, £ /. d. Lordship of Kilmarnock, '. Duke of Portland, ^62032 8 6 'Bonnyton, &c. - - Mr. Dunlop, - - 153 8 4 TS Broombrae, &c. . Craufurdland, - . - 52 19 11 'B. Boreland, - Mr. Fergusson, - - 40 Vi HiUhead, - Mr. Tough, . - - 73 6 D4 Struthers-hill, - - Wilson — Robertson, - 11 18 £ __ 1 i BS63 13 « Camskeith, Grange, Braehead,.?!!-? T^ ■ r t> .i j verwood. Lawhill. Loanfoot &c. i °"''= ^^ P°'''='"''' - • 774 2 8 Grugar, with Caprickhill, - > William Blane, Esq. - - 1531 18 8 Rowallan, . Lady Loudoun, . . 819 Craufurdland, part of, k Munkland J. H. Craufurd, Esq. . . 376 1 4 Langlands, ^ James Dunlop, Esq. 165 4 Annanhill, " Ditto, 64 10 229 14 Assloss, e. William Parker, Esq. ^ „ 166 2 5 "Walstt ne. . Mr. Warner of Ardeer, - . 96, 6 8 Blackwood, Laigh, <. Mr. William Mitchel, . . 74 14 Burnt hill, m Mr. Barr, . . 40 Sundry parts, _ Mr. Foulds of Skimieland, . 34 5 3. Blackwood, . Mt. Boyd, - - 26 11 Berryhill, - .. - - Ditto, 28 3 54 14 C Gillsburn, . Mr- Andrew, - . . 27 15 6 Templeton, - Mr. Steven, . - 26 Kingshill, > Mr. Gregory, - . 21 1 I Sneddon-hall, - . Mr. Thomas Mitchel, . . 20 Town of Kilmarnock and sundry small subjects in the vicinity, - 306 6 I- Total, aii^-iiiae. ^£6961 15 384 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION iPansk of FRHE HOLDERS QUALIFIED TO VOTE. William Blane of Grugar.— William Parker of Assloss. HntlQUitieie/. — Dean-Castle; the ancient residence of the once potent family of Boyd Earl of Kihnarnock, is situated about half a mile up from the town, in a hollow near the margin of Kilmarnock water. It consists of three edifices, in very different styles of building. Two of them are square piles of great height, with extremely few lights, and apparently very ancient. Tlie other is comparatively modern : forms two sides of a square, of two stories in height, and remarkably well furnished with win- dows, so, as it must, when entire, have been a very cheerful habi- tation. It was accidentally burnt to the ground in 1735, through the carelessness of a maid-servant, in the handling of some flax. This happened at a time when the unfortunate Earl (who was involved in the Rebellion in 1745,) was in France, and on his way homeward received the first intimation of it, by seeing an account in a newspaper of a Dean Castle in Scotland being con- sumed by fire — without stating in what part of the country, so that he was not aware that it was his own, till he arrived in England. See a concise account of this family in the appendijf. Dean Cojettlc* KILMAUHS.] OP €unning?)Qme. 385 PARISH OF KILMAURS. TLMAURS parish is situated betwixt that of Kil- marnock on the east, and Dregliorn on the west, terminating in a point betwixt them on the north- east ; and on the south it is bounded by the water of Irvine, which separates it from 'Kyle. The letrgth of it, from sw. to ne. is about 6 miles, and the greatest breadth across, to that direction, is about 2 miles and a quarter. It ex- tends to nearly 9 square miles of surface. 90incral0.— Coal is wrought to a considerable extent in the lower end of the parish, near to the village of Corsehouse ; and in that quarter too there is a Freestone quarry on the lands of Woodhill and Greenhill, of among the finest quality of any in Scotland. It is much used in ornamental works in building, and is even applied to the purpose of coolers and other vessels for the dairy. g)Oil — Deep and fertile throughout, there not being an acre of bad land in the parish. JEoatljef< — It is well accommodated with turnpike and other public roads, all well kept — though it requires much attention in the Trustees, as road-metal, especially fine gravel, is scarce, and the soil so apt to get niiry. Cropjet CultitiatCD.— The strong -soil of this parish is much adapted to the production of Wheat and Beans, but still the Dairy predominates, and Tillage here, as every where else in Cunninghame, is subservient to pasturage. 5 E d«<» PARTICULAR DESCIiIPTlO>? [Pansh of Content oftftc m tillage, 14081 ,p . , Cultivated grass land, 2960 I i^qi Woods and gardens, , 56 [ Roads, &c ...e eej ""^^^^ 3Lit)e S>.tOCll, — Little to remark — except merely that the milch-cows are among the best kept in the District, not from any peculiarity in the breed, but from the general warmth of this low- lying parish, and abundance of provender, they are little liable to suffer from either cold or hunger. The numbers respectively of the Live Stock are as under :=~ Horses of every description, ,«..... 147 Do. of Cattle, 944 Do. of Sheep, 150 Swine fed yearly, r 260 Town of Kilmaurs — Is pleasantly situated on the right bank of the small water of Carmel, about 6 miles ne. from Irvine, and 2 miles nw. from Kilmarnock. It consists chiefly of one streets about 500 or 600 yards in length, having a small Town-house in the middle with a steeple and clock. It was erected into a Burgh of Barony by a Charter from James V. (inter 1513 et 1542) in favour of Cuthbert Earl of Glencairn, which contains a right also to a considerable territorial possession that shall be afterwards taken notice of. Suffice it here to state, that this town from be- ing once famed for cutlery-work, has now no tradesman in that art— the predominant craftsmen at present being weavers and shoemakers. The number of inhabitants in 1793 was 514, since that time it has increased more than 200, among whom are, Weavers, 90 Shoemakers, 42 Wrights, 10 Baker, 1 Flesher, 1 Surgeon, 1 Smiths, 5 Taylors, 4 Mason, 1 In the country parts of the parish there are 24 quarrymen, 20 Coaliers, 5 Masons, 5 Smiths, 2 Wrights, and 2 Taylors. The population of the town is,. ., 719 7 {445 And in the country,.,n„iM...M.... ,»*^,„,„,„ 726jsoui}8; KJLMdURs:\ OF cunningljame. 387 Education. — There are three schools in the parish ; — the pa- rochial in the town, a private one in the same, and another ia the village of Corsehouse, having in all 205 scholars. Poor.— There are from 14 to 20 on the permanent roll, be- sides 6 or 8 that get occasional relief. The sum expended an- nually on them is about £5% In cases of great pressure the heritors are never backward to contribute ; but nothing in the shape of a rate, or assessment, is known, ^miitZV0 — since the Revolution. NAMES, ADMITTED, DIED, &c. David Brown, 1688. -■ Hugh Thomson, July 21, 1691. Demit. Nov. 12. 1712, John Millar, September 25. 1718. Died 1721. Hugh Cochran,,. March 7. 1723 « = 1733. Samuel Fergusson,..,.March 27. 1734 1735. William Coats, .....May 3. 1739 , Died May 2, 1777. Alexander Gillies,.... March 11. 1778 Nov. 26. 1786. Alexander Millar,.. ..May 8. 1788 Dec. 22. 1804, John Roxburgh, «March 20. 1806. 2!)ij0!0enter0. — The only class of these, who have a meeting- house in this parish, are the Antiburghers. They have been here since 1740 — almost as far back as the commencement of the Secession. Their present minister, the Rev. David Robert- son, was admitted in 1810. They have a neat place of worship, built in 1789, capable of holding 450 people, together with a handsome manse for their minister. The congregation consists at present, (besides occasional hearers)^ of 250, of whom 230 are communicants.* * The Rev. D. Smytane was the first that was established here, or iudeed in Ayr- shire. This was in 1740. The congregation was then scattered over a great extent: of country, 12 or 14; miles around. The congregations of Kilmarnock, Stewarton, Kilwinning, Newmills, and Ayr, were, originally, Ijranches of that of Kilmaurs, and were'm succession disjoined from it — so soon as, from the increase in their numbersj they were enabled so to do, though still continuing in the same communion. Some question of a polemical natujre, supposed generally to be of little importance, arose to disturb their unanimity ; and in 1783 Mr. Smytane renounced his connextion with the- ' 33^3 rAIi^ICULAn DESCniPTION l^Pai'ilffl of Barony of Kilmaubs. — Tliis very valuable property is situat- ed all around the town of Kilmaurs, but extends more widely towards the east, the north, and the west sides. It contains up- wards of 2300 acres, all of a deep and fertile soil. Of this, more than 1500 acres are in the parish of Dreghorn, and the rest in this — exclusive of what is called the Tenements, to be afterwards Jioticcd. Before it was reduced by different alienations by the Glencairn family, it was still more extensive, as it comprehended the lands of Cunnlnghamehead and other distinct properties in Dreghorn parish, being originally one of the best Baronies in the west of Scotland, when it was conferred by the de Morville fa- mily on the fast of the Gunninghames, in the beginning of the 12th century. The manor-place is supposed to have been at first about a mile se. from Kilmaurs where some ruins can still be pointed out on the farm of Jock's Thorn, probably the origi- nal Villam de Cunningham the first possession of the family.* — The present mansion of Kilmaurs Place, though partly in ruins, is comparatively modern. The whole Barony now belongs to Lady Mary Montgomery Burgess, whose grandfather, Alexander ninth Earl of Eglinton, purchased it from the Glencairn family about 100 vears ago. BoBERTON. — This Barony extending to more than 1300 acres all rich land is situated southwards from the town at the distance of nearly a mile, and stretching southwards still further, to the. Irvine water, which bounds it more than two miles. It belonged Antiburgher Synod, which occasioned a schism in his own congregation, in which the party that adhered to him declined in numbers daily, till his death in 1788 — when it failed entirely. The other party chose the R ev. George Paxton in 1 789 to be their Pastor — a man of distinguished abilities, who being chosen in 1808 by the General Associate Synod, to fill their Professor of Divinity's Chair in Edinburgh,was succeed- ed by Mr. Robertson, as above, in 1810. * A short notice of the Glencairn family will appear in the Appendix, including a concise account of the Campaigns of William the Great Earl in 1653 and 1 65*3 itom, a ^genuine MS. only part of which has hitherto been published. KiLMAiRS] oi^ Cunningbame* 38& for ages to the Eglinton family, but with the exception of about 300 acres, has lately been parcelled out among a number of pro- prietors, as may be seen in the Table of Valued Kent. There is no manor-place upon it, and perhaps there never was. Probably it had been at one time a wing of the more ancient barony of Kilmaurs, and dismembered from it on some occasion of urcent pressure, to which great estates ai'e just as liable as lesser posses- sions. Busby. — This property belonged for a long period before the year 1600 to a family of the name of Mowat : the last of whom that I find in any Retour, is in 1626. It was afterwards possessed by a family of Barclays for a long time also. Both were allied by intermarriage, with the first families in the countr)^ The ancient house is still standing, but is roofless and seems to be in a state of rapid decay. The style of building seems to be- long to the middle of the 14th century — having both gun-ports and arrow-slits in the walls as means of defence. The antique decoration o^ the twisted cable in the architraves, indicates the same era. The extent of this barony is from 700 to 800 acres. The southern part of it belongs to the Duke of Portland — part of the barony of Roberton is interposed betwixt this and the northern division of it, belonging to Henry Ritchie, Esq. mater- nally descended from the Eglinton family. This portion is more than two thirds of the whole. There is no mansion upon it, (Mr. Ritchie residing on a separate small property in the vicini- ty); but from the different clumps of beautiful plantation, arran- ged with great taste on the highest part of the lands, it should seem that a more suitable mansion either is, or has been, in con- templation, and no where could a finer site be chosen. Thornton. — Adjacent to Busby, on the west, this property is situated. The extent is nearly 300 acres. The mansion is a modern handsome edifice, on a height surrounded with consid- erable plantations, overlooking a great expanse of country, 5 F 390 i'ARTiCULAK DESCRiniON [ Parish of: In former times It belonged to a branch of the family of Mont- gomery, descended of Murthaw, who appears in the Ragman Roll in 1296. They lost it by forfeiture in the reign of James* V. at which time the only daughter of the family was married to- Sir Alexander Hamilton of Innerwick. [See Nisbet.] It belongs' now to Colonel Cunninghame of Caddel. Craig. — Southward from this, and extending to the Water of Irvine, this property is situated, belonging to Robert Morris^ Esq. Including some lands adjacent, lately purchased, the extent is more than 300 acres, besides some thriving woodland. In 1575^ it belonged to William Dunlop, heir to his grandfather Adam Dunlop of Craig, stated to be part of the barony of Roberton.. In 1618, David Mylne, goldsmith in Edinburgh, is retoured in it- as heir to his brother, called also David Mylne, minister of Dun- donald. In 1780 it was acquired from Dalrymple of Nunraw in East Lothian, by Captain John Morris, brother to the present proprietor. The House was soon after burnt, when the pre-: sent mansion was erected at a little distance west from the site of the old one, and is pleasantly set down on the top of a pretty steep bank on the north side of Irvine Water, and commanding- a very fine prospect over the country to the west and south. . Cabmel Bank — A snug residence, on a pleasant small pro- perty, is situated on the left banks of the Carmel, in the near, neighbourhood of the last two houses mentioned. It was an- ciently called the Moat. It belongs to John Cunninghame, Esq.. Tower. — This very pleasantly-situated property lies at a short distance south-east from the town. There is an elegant small, mansion on it, of modern erection. It belongs to Wm. Cathcart Esq. who is proprietor of part of the lands lately sold, of Rober-- ton barony, and of other subjects in the parish. There are many lesser possessions belonging to sundry proprietors. See Table. The Tenements of Kilmaurs. — These singular sort of pos-- sessigns are connected with the town of Kilmaurs itself as a. KiLMAVRS.) OF Cunningbame, ijdi Burgh of Barony. By a Charter from the Earl of Glencairn, and his son Lord KiimaurSj dated 15th Nov. 1527, it appears, that the £5 land of Kilmaurs, consisting of 240 acres, (280 in fact,) was disponed to 40 diiferent persons in feu-farm, on payment of 80 merks (Scots) yearly, or 2 merks for each lot, with an exclu- sive privilege to these feuars, " of buying or selling, of brewing " or making malt, and of all other art, or trade, as that of shoe- " makers, skinners, carpenters, woolsters, &c" This erection seems to have been intended to bring into this place as many tradespeople as possible, and the conferring on them of these lands at such an easy rate, to have been meant as a help and aa encouragement unto them; But it does not appear to have had that effect. Giving them two distinct occupations — husbandry and handicrafts— ^wz?, putting them under two masters, neither of which would be well served, and such in fact has it turned out — • while their husbandry has been very indifferent, and some of their original trades have failed altogether. 3ntiquitie0. — There is an old pile of building, near to the church, on the lands of Tower, seemingly a very ancient erec- tion — but for whose residence, even tradition has little to say. The burial aisle of the Glencairn family, close by the church, has in it an elegant monument erected to the memory of the Chan- cellor, William tlie ninth Earl, which may be mentioned as a spe- cimen of beautiful ancient sculpture, to which little regard is now paid by his representatives, being exposed to the delapidations of every thoughtless or ill-disposed intruder. Busby Castle is already taken notice of. The view of it given, possesses at least the merit of being a fair representation uncontaminated with fictici- ous accompaniments. FREEHOLDEnS QUALIFIED TO VOTE. Robert Morris of Craig William Caxhcart of Tower Henry Ritchie of Busby John Cunninghame of Caddel 392 PARTICULAU DESCRirXION TABLE OF VALUED RENT. lPari$h of' PropertUs. Kilmaurs, part of Gatchead, Sec, &c. Woodhills, Muirfields and Corsehousc, Plann and Hayside, Fardelhiil, Greenhill, Windyedge, Rash-hill Park and Milhon, Alton-Hill, Knockintyber, Total of Roberton, Craig, Busby and Annandale, - Busby, Thornton, Langmuir, Tower, - - South-hill, Tower-hill, Hallbarns, &c. Carmel Bank, - Bogside, part of Ditto, - - Habbie Auld, Annanhill, part of Braehead, Bairdside, Lindsaylee, Brux, - > ,40 Tenements of Kilmaurs, Proprietors. ' Lady Mary Montgomery Earl of Eglinton, - - . William Cathcart, Esq. Duke of Portland, - . • Gilchrist, Esq. Mrs. Foulis, - - _ Fulton, Esq. Alexander Smith, - . Robert Morris, Esq. Mr. James Kirkwood, Mr. Robert Brown, Robert Morris, Esq. - Duke of Por|tland, - Henry Ritchie. Esq. John Cunninghame, Esq. Mr. George Cunninghame, William Cathcart, Esq. Ditto, - _ - Cornet Ralston, Patrick Warner, Esq. John Cunninghame, Esq Heirs of John Boyd, Peter Cochrane, James Cuthbertson, James Dunlap, Eiq. John Lcudoun, William Brown, John Cunninghame, Mrs. Armour, About 30 proprietors, Valued Rent £ s. 4 Bit rgess. 1153 8 C ;e264 . 216 . 144. . U4. . 100 - 97 . 64. . 52 - 40 - 16 1137 • * 338 6 8 . _ 4.14. - . 580 . . 300 '» . 152 7 6 . 126 4 10 . . 43 15 1 _ - 77 10 2 a - ^S - 92 6 8 _ . 43 19 1 _ _ 43 19 1 . . 3.5 m • 30 15 -0 . - 13 - - 10 - - 6 . - 6 - - 480 t Total L.5188 J2 \ 'Buiffbp CaiStle* liRBGHORN] or Cuntiingliamf, ^^ PARISH OP DREGHORN jHIS Parish is separated from the parish of Kilmaurs on the east, through its whole extent, by the Gaw- reer burn. It touches upon the parish of Fenwick in the north-east ; on the north it is bounded by the parish of Stewarton, and the Annock Water, which water also separates it on the west from the parish of Ir- vine, except in a small corner in the south-west, where the lands of Tarrjholme in that parish are situated on the left banks of that stream : on the south the water of Irvine separates it from the parish of Dundonald in Kyle. In extent it is from 7 to 8 miles in length from sw. to ne. the breadth is from 2 miles to little more than half a mile. The extent is about 9 square miles. In this is included the ancient parish of Peirston, annexed to it in 1688. 0©incraIief. — In the lower end of the parish, from the village westward, Coal abounds, and till of late was wrought pretty ex- tensively, — from 10,000 to 12,000 tons a year being put out. A Freestone of excellent quality is wrought on the lands of An- nock Lodge; and on the lands of Buston, in the utmost extre- mity of the parish, in the north-east, a Limestone quarry of good quality has long been opened, and supplies a tract of country in that quarter. ©oil. — ^In the vicinity 6f the village of Dreghorn the soil is, in general, a very fertile loam. North-eastward from thence, through the whole extent of that long wing of the parish, the soil is heavy and deep, and generally very productive. In -the 5 G 394 fARTlCULAE DESCRIPTION [Parish oj lower end of the parish, west and south from the village, the soil is very various. In some places it is a very fertile loam, and in others a poor, hungry gravel, of very little natural worth — not graduating, these two kinds, into each other,but scattered through- out in separate distinct patches. JRoaDjBt, — The turnpike roads, and principal parish roads, are commodiously directed and well kept Some of the private, or rather, less frequented tracts, remain still very bad, but are all in progress of improvement. Crop^ CultitJatCD. — Potatoes are more generally grown in this parish than are commonly done in tlie others j owing to its vicinity to the town of Irvine, as many of the inhabitants there raise their family supply in this. — Wheat of course, as succeeding in rotation, is somewhat more extensively sown too. 'In tillage, 1490-) ,r, , Cultivated grass land, 2774 t ^°^^^ Contents ^^"^^' L Roads, &c...r. 1 6lJ ^^«^^ EitJC ©tOCll, — Nothing peculiar to be remarked. The whole appears to be as under : Horses of all descriptions, 170 Cattle ditto, 843 Sheep, „ 136 Swine, fed yearly,.... 224 Village of Dreghorn— Is situated about 2 miles east from ' Irvine, on the road to Kilmarnock. It is a long straggling place, built without order or design, and contains about 190 inhabitants, . The church here is a neat octagonal buildingj calculated to hold commodiously 427 sitters. Population. — The number of people in the country parts amounts to about 608, to which, adding the number as above in the village, makes the whole amount to about 798, all of whom may be considered as country people, or belonging to the class of i jfREGHOKN.] OP Cunniugfjame. 395 husbandmen, there being no more trades people than such as are required in the parish itself for country purposes, namely Smiths, 7 Wrights, 7 Masons, 5 Shoemakers, 3 Millers, 3 Taylors, . ^ Weavers, . 2 Coopers, 2 State of Education. — The parish school is the only one in it. In this the number of scholars varies from 40 to 63. In a great part of this long-extended parish, the distance is too far for children to attend the parish school. They are much nearer to Stewarton and Kilmaurs. State of the Poor. — The pauper- list generally contains from 12 to 18 names, including occasional reliefs. The distributions take place monthly, and the ordinary allowance to each pauper is varied according to their particular circumstances from 4s. to 10s. per month — one blind man gets 6d per diem — but the poor are increasing in number. There is about ^50 yearly distri- buted among them. ^inwfterjaf — since the Revolution. NAMES, ADMITTED, DIED, &c. John Spalding, 16871 Trans, to Kirkcudbright^ Robert Young, September 6. 1692... Alex. Cunninghame,. September 17. 1695.. Died 1712. James Semple, May 7. 1718 Died Feb. 9. 1752. Andrew M'Vey,. May 10. 1753 July 4. 1769. Michael Tod, April 5. 1770 Aug. 15. 180L Andrew Haldane, May 13. 1802 Jan. 21. 1820. i^"""' Smith. {^:;;rb;ritmal Csftatesf anti jFamniciBt, DREGHORN-proper. — The extent of this barony in the more ancient times, cannot now be traced ; but prior to the Brucean contest it belonged to " John de Ball. William de Ferrariis, et Alan la Suche." The whole estates of these personages having been forfeited at that time by Robert Bruce, this was confered'; .'396 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [ Parish tf on a trancli of the Stewarts of Bonkill, — Sir Alan Stewart of Dreghorn, who was killed at the battle of Halidovvn-hill m 1333. It continued in his family (afterwards Earls of Darnly and Len- nox) till 1520, when it was acquired by Hugh first Earl of Eglin- ton, in whose familj it still remains. It extends to more than 603 acres. KiLMAURs Barony. — Of this great barony — as already stated in the account of the preceding parish — more than 1500 acres are situated in this. It occupies the most distant quarter of the whole — extending to the borders of the parish of Fenwick, be^ yond the town of Stewarton, — a small part of it also being in- cluded in that parish. It is all fertile land. Part of it, the Lam« bruchtons, is among the best of the whole. This part belonged also in the end of the 13th century to the ill-fated William de Ferrariis and Alan la Suche, who are always conjoined in the game lands in the forfeitures of those times. Warwick-hill. — This property is situated betwixt the baro» ny of Kilmaurs and the lands of Dreghorq. This also was part of the lands forfeited from John Balliol, and his relatives de Fer- rariis and la Suche, [see pp. 47 and 50,] and conferred on " James the Steward" by Robert Bruce in an early part of his reign. He was a younger brother of Sir Alan of Dreghorn, and along with him was killed at the battle of Halidown-hili. He had also the lands of Periston (now Peirceton) in the vicinity. He was sue* ceeded by his son John, whose daughter and heiress carried the Peirceton lands, in particular, to her husband a Sir William Douglas, from whom it went, by marriage also, to the Barclays, There appears to have been two Warwick-hills : one called the 4 Merk Land, and the other the 5 Merk Land. The first be« came at an early period the property of the Cunningharahead family, at least as far back as 1524, when William Cunninghame is retoured heir to his father Robert in it. The 5 Merk Land .was latterly the property of Montgomery of Bourtree-hill, but at DREGHORN] op Cunntngljame. S9^ how early a period, my information does not reach ; but in the course of the last 100 years the succeeding proprietors in both appear to be thus : — In 1721 Sir W. Cunninghame of Cunning- hamehead, sold the 4 Merk Land of Warwickhill, and the supe- riority of some of the Dreghorn lands, to John Edmestone after- wards minister of Cardross. In 1737 Patrick Montgomery of Bourtree-hill sold the 5 Merk Land of Warwick-hill and others to the same Mr, Edmestone. In 1778 John, the son of the above Mr. Edmestone, sold both the Warwickhills and others to Jona- than Anderson, merchant in Glasgow, who in 1790 sold them to the present proprietor, William Henry Ralston, Esq. with the exception of Muirside, previously sold to John Fairlie, and now purchased by Captain Shaw ; and a small pendicle, adjacent to the Holm-mill lands, sold to Archibald Earl of Eglinton ; both part of Warwick-hill. The lands of Warwick-hill, as now known under that name, extend to upwards of 350 acres of remarkable good, heavy soil. There has lately been erected on them a hand- some mansion, set down on the highest ground of the whole, •which, though' of very moderate elevation, commands an exten- sive prospect, while it makes itself a fine appearance in the coun- try. There does not appear to have been any mansion previous to this, on these lands. Where the Stewarts had their Dwelling, is not known — pethaps Peirston, or, it may be, the ancient For- talice of Cunninghamehead might have been the manor-place of the whole. Cunninghamehead. — This fine property is situated adjacent to the preceding, and lying betwixt it and the Water of Annock. It consists of about 300 acres of excellent land. A family df the name of Cunninghame enjoyed this property more than 300 years. The first of them, was a second son of the Glencairn fa- mily, that branched off" from that potent House about the year 1400. It was originally called Woodhead, but the name was changed by this family, to Cunninghamehead, in allusion to their own— not as it would indicate— the head of the Bailliwick. Th^ 5U 398 tarticulah DESCRIPTION [Parish of. made a very distinguished appearance in their time, and had al-- 30 other very extensive territories, spread abroad through the country. The family failed of issue male, nearly a century since. Colonel FuUarton of Fullarton, is the lineal representative. About 100 years ago, the last of them, Sir William Cunninghame, get- ting embarrassed, sold off, parcel by parcel, his extensive do- mains. This place, the seat of the family, and the last he alie- jaated, was purchased in 1728 by the grandfather of the present proprietor, Niel Snodgrass, Esq. There is a most commodious mansion on it, erected in 1745, which, at the time, would be es-. teemed among the most elegant in the country. The fashion,^ since then, of building, has altered greatly, without adding much however, to the accommodation- It is set down on the top of the steep banks of the Annock,. overlooking from amid its ve-r nerable woods a great expanse of country. Annock Lodge* — That portion of this pleasant possession* contained in this- parish, is situated adjacent to the preceding^ and westward from it, in the angle formed by the Annock, as it bends-from flowing westward, to south. A considerable portion of it is situated in the parish of Irvine on. the opposite side of the water. The house, formerly called Greenvale, is delightfully set down, in an opening holme, amid its woods, with a fine pros- pect southwards, in the flow of the stream. It belongs to Wnij Montgomery, Esq. son of the late Alexander Montgomery who was next brother to the late Hugh twelfth Earl of Eglinton, and was in the naval service of the East India Gompany. He died in 1802. By his Lady, Elisabeth, daughter of John Taylor, Esq; of Townhead and Abbot-hall in Westmoreland, he left issue j 1. William, in the naval service of the East India Company ; 2; Alexander, a Captain in the Royal Navy ; 3. Hugh, in the civil department of the East India Company ; 4. Thomas, in the mi^ litary department of the East India Company; 5. Archibald; 6. Elisabeth, married in 1804, to the Right Honourable David Boyle, liord Justice Clerk, and has issue: 7, Hamilla^tnarried in 181^ jjREOHDRN.] OF Cunningta«iP. SOO to Alexander West Hamilton, Esq. ; 8. Charlotte ; 9. Frances.- Peirceton; — South iVom the last two properties mentioned, this very valuable property is situated— extending to more than 500 acres. It is already stated, that this estate was included a- mong other lands, in a grant from Robert Bruce, on the forfeiture of John Balliol and his adherents, to Sir James Stewart of the house of Bonkill. From -him descended the illustrious families of the Stewarts of Lorn, Innermeath and Athol ; also Stuart of Grantully, from whom is the present Lord Douglas. His eldest son, Sir John Stuart, succeeded him' in Peirston and appears as a witness in a Charter to the Abbey of Kilwinning,, date uncer- tain, but thought, from other circumstances, to be 1356. His only daughter married Sir William Douglas, who appears in a Charter of the Fullarton family, as Dominus de Peirston in 1391. He left his lands to his three daughters ; — the eldest was married to Blair of Adamton ; — the 2d to Crawfurd of Third-part; and the youngest to Robert Barclay of a potent family, in those times, in the west of Scotland, and who in her right became Baron of Peirston atid Warwick-hill.. [See Nisbet vol. H. app. p. l8l.] The Barclays continued to enjoy this property for well nigh 300 years, in considerable- splendour, and were allied through inter^ marriage with the first families in the country, and are now re- presented by the direct male descendant, Sir Robert Barclay of Peirceton. The property they alienated in 1720 to the grand- father of the present proprietor, John JM'Credie, Esq. whoTe«- sides on it in an elegant and commodious mansion, built 40 or 50 years ago, set down near to the Annock among some rcmar!;- ably large old timber. The ancient mansion was situated clo.se on the Annock, adjacent to the present fine old garden. BouRTREE-HTLL lands, part of— is situated in this parish ; but the house and the greater part of the property is in I-rvine par- ish, where it' shall be taken notice of. Langlands, Lambertonhead, Altonhead ; ail good lands,. (the first of considorable extent, the others less) — arc situatedi 400 PAHTICULAR DESCRIPTION \^Pat'i&h of eastward from CunniHghamehead, by the Annock water, or marching with tlie lands of Lainshaw. In the lower end of the parish, \vestward from the village, are the lands of Righouse, of Montgomerieston (or Montgomeryfield), of Warrix and of Koss- holme, all pleasant properties, and generally good soil. This last belonged long to the Lord Ross of Hawkhead in Renfrewshire, (from whence probably it had its name) as appears from several retours about the year 1600. There are a few smaller places still, as v/ill be, seen in the Table of Valued Rent — Few of them present a finer site for a villa, than that of Muirside about half a mile east from Irvine, approaching to the Annock Water. TABLE OF VALUED RENT, Pr(>perties. Kilmaurs (part of the Barony) Dreghorn, proper - o.:;i Bourtree-hill, part, = t Peirceton, Warwick-hill, Part of Kirkland, Gunninghamehead, Langlands, Lambertonhead, Altonhcad, Warrix and Righouse, Warrix, Rossholme, Annock-Lodge, Montgomeryfield, Bankhead, Middlepart, Paperfaulds, Temple Lands, Proprietors. Valui s. ert • Lady M. Montgomery Burgess, 208S 7 JB Earl of Eglinton, . > 359 12 _ Ditto, _ . 458 7 8 . John M'Credie, Esq. _ . 741 18 6 _ William Henry Ralston, Esq. - 454 • Ditto, _ . 32 2 1 - Niel Snodgrass, Esq. » - 400 . Andrew Gemmil, Esq. . - 168 . William Orr, Esq. . - 118 _ Heirs of David Dale, ii'-w* 'i 32 • Colonel Fullarton, . . 100 • Heirs oi Mr. John Bryce, . 68 5 _ Archibald Foulis, Esq. . - SO . William Montgomery, Esq. _ j, - 90 - Heirs of Dr. Fleming, m *• - •" 32 . John Auld, » -' 32 3 H ^ Archibald Kirkland, . - 8 3 u . Colonel Cunninghame, - - 8 - Colonel Hamilton, Total i 6 13 4 65247 11 10 FREEHOLDERS QUALIFIED TO VOTE, Neil Snodgrass of Cunninghamehead. William Montgomery of Annock Lodge. A. Gemmil of Langlands. W. R. Ralston of Warwickhill. J. Gemmil younger of Langlands- tRTiNE^ OP Cunninsfjame, , 401 PARISH OF IRVINR ,9T;j:l?i.>u I^B S^ ^ K I'll H P 1 1 R VINE Parish is situated betwixt that of Dreghom on the east ; Stevenston on the west ; and those of Kilwinning and Stewarton on the north. On the south, the Water of Irvine separates it from Dun- donald parish in Kyle. The main body of it [see the Map] is nearly of a square form, of 2^ miles ffom sw. to ne. and about as much from se. to nw. which would indicate an area of about 5 square miles. The whole extent, being ascertained from the contents of each property to be 2644 acres, will make ■up for any projecting corners in the actual figure— a square mile being about 500 acres. (General 3ppearisnce.— Nearly a level surface throughout ; and bounded on almost all sides by diflferent waters ahd brooks, QgineraliBf*— • Coal is found under the whole surface — has been wrought in various places, and may continue workable for ages. There is an excellent Hard-stone quarry in the vicinity of the town, being a species of granite, devoid of quartizand having but a very small glistering of mica in its composition* It is excel- lently adapted either for house-building or for causeying of streets. - - S)Oil^ — In the lower parts of the parish nighest the town, the soil, originally of blowing Sand, has been mostly converted into a fertile loam, through cultivation. Further Inland, tov/ards the parish of Stewarton, a heavy and adhesive Clay prevails, on which also great improvement has been made by the same means. "is; .Crop0 CuItiiJateU.— Owing to having such a great population on the spot, Potatoes arc very exteoslvely cultivated j 'and frdln 5 I 4(^ PARTICULAU l>ESCR•lPTIO^? [Parisk oj the sandy nature of the soil, Rye to a certain extent is sown, in place of Wheat. — Turnip too, from the latter cause, enters also into the system. See general Table of Crops Cultivated. fin tillage, 798^ Contentflf I CultivHted grass land,. , 1415 Total Oftfje ^ Natural pasture, 210^2644 Ipamf). Woods and gardens, » 169 acres IRoads, &c 52^ fLi\iZ ©tOCfe, — Horses of all descriptions, 165 Cattle ditto, 510 Sheep, 90 Swine, fed yearly, rf'rv ^^ Population — Poor, &c. &c. — will be seen in the account of the Town of Irvine^ c2E0tate]S anU JTamilie^. Balgray. — This is the most northerly property in tlie parish* It extends to 300 acres of arable land, of a heavy and not unfer- tile soil, and is at present divided into. 4 distinct possessions. [See Table of Valued Rent] On them all, there are suitable man-, sions, each, amid its own plantations, and making a good appear- ance in the comitry, over which they all command an extensive prospect. This ancient barony in 1361 is contained in a Char- ter, along with the conterminous lands of Armsheugh, Dowra and Patterton, to Sir Hugh de Eglinton of Eglinton, and would' pass of course, with the rest of the property of that potent Baron, to Montgomei-y of Eagleshame, who married his only daughter and heiress in the same year^ The succession of proprietors ioi these lands appears from the progress of writs, to the present time, to be as under : — 1. In 1452 they are contained in a- Charter to Gilbert first Lord Kennedy. 2. In 1540 ditto. to Gilbert third Earl of Cassillis..- 3. In Nov. 1600 they were conveyed by John fifth Earl of CassiUis to Neil Montgomery younger of Lainshaw— who^ , IRVINE.] OF Cunmngftamc, 40.3 4. In 1602, conveyed them to William Mure of Rowallan. 5. In 1630 disponed by Sir William Mure to David Cun^ ninghame, afterwards L'iv David of Auchenharvie. See p. 172. 6. In 1684 sold by Robert Cunninghame of Auchenharvie- to Hamilton of Grange— \ of the Charters above mentioned, fi-om Robert 11. in 1371. He was himself knighted in England, by David II. in 1344, and was . one of the hostages left there for that- King's ransom. His son, VI. Reginald Fullarton de Fullarton, is mentioned in an. Indenture, dated at Irvine in 1399, as heir to his grandfather Sir Adam. His son was Vn. Rankine Fullarton of Fullarton. Pie married Marion, - daughter of Wallace of Craigie, by whom he had three sons ; the 2d and 3d sons, Adam and William, were provided for in the- lands of Dreghorn, by a particular. Indenture dated in 1412. He was succeeded by his eldest son,.., VIII. George Fullarton of Fullarton; In a Charter in 14^6^ of confirmation to his two brothers, of the lands of Dreghorn, he- is stiled Lord of Corsbie. His eldest son Paul, died before him, without issue. He was therefore succeeded by his second son, IX. John Fullarton of Fullarton, whose retour is dated in- 1471. His son was X. John Fullarton of Fullarton, whose retour is dated in- 1494. His son was XL John Fullarton of Fullarton, whose retour- is dated in 1507. He married Catherine, daughter of John Maxwell of Nether- Pollock, by whom he had his successor, XII, John Fullarton g>f Fullarton, whose retour is dated in mri^'E.I OF Cunningfjaine;- i07 1538, and he was living in 1564. He married Catherine, daugh- ter of David Blair of Adamton, by whom he had his successor, • XIII. David Fullarton of Fullarton. He married — 1st, Chris- tian, daughter of James Hamilton of Bothwellhaugh ; -dly, Jane, daughter of Lockhart of Boghall; and in 1593 he resigned his lands of Fullarton and others in favours of his son, who succeeded him, XIV. James Fullarton of Fullarton, who in 1593 married- Agnes, daughter of Fullarton^ of Dregborn, by whom he had a son who succeeded him^- XV. James Fullarton of Fullarton, who in 1624 married Barbaraj eldest sister of Sir William Cunningharae of Cunning- hamehead, by whom he had two sons (and a daughter, Barbara^ "ivho was married to Patrick M'Dowal of Freugh, and had issuey from whom is descended the present family of Bute and Dum- fries). He was succeeded by his eldest son, XVI. William Fullarton of Fullarton, who married, 1st in* 1662, a daughter of Wallace of Elinton ; 2dly a daughter of Brisbane of Bishopton^ and Sdly a daughter ofDunlop of Dun- }pp-y but dying without- issue, was succeeded by his brother, XVI. George Fullarton of Fullarton^ vhose retour is dated 1710. He married Elisabeth, daughter of James Grav oi' War- xrston, by whom he had two sons ; 1. Patrick ; 2. Bobert, of whom afterwards. The eldest son, XVII. Patrick Fullarton, Advocate, married Elisabethy daughter to Cleland of that Ilk, by whom he had two sons : 1. William ; 2. Patrick, of Rosemount. The eldest son, XVIII. William Fullarton, succeeded his grandfather George/ as Fullarton of that Ilk,- (his own father dying before the succes-' sion opened,) in consequence of a disposition in 1711. He married Barbara, daughter of Wm. Blair of that Ilk, by whom he had a son, XIX. Colonel William Fullarton of Fullarton, who suc- eeeded him in 1758. He married Marianne llamiUon, daugh- 408 PARTicuLAU ©EscuiPTioN [Famfc af t^ of George Lord Reay, (by Elisabeth, daughter of Fairley of .Fairley,) but died in 1808 without male issue,* when he was suc- ceeded by his second cousin S. M. Fullarton, descended thus ; XVII. KoBERT Fullarton, second son of George Fullarton of Fullarton (2d No. XV7 ) as above — -was a Writer to the Signet, and proprietor of i3artonholm. He married Girzel, daughter of John Stewart of Ascog, by whom he had a son, XVIII. GtOKGE Fullarton of Bartonholm, an Officer in the Army. He married Barbara, sister of James Innes of Warrix, by whom he had a son, XIX. Stewart Murray Fullarton, Colonel of the Galloway Militia, who ou the death of his cousin, Colonel Fullarton, suc- ceeded to the representation of the family of Fullarton of that Ilk, and to the remaining part of the estate. He married Ros- etta, daughter of the above Colonel Fullarton, his predecessor, by whom he has issue, five sons ; 1. George : 2. James ; S. John; 4. Robert; 5. Stewart — and three daughters: 1. Barbara, married to Alex. Manners, Clerk to the Signet ; 2. Marianne ; 3. Mar- garet. He is also representative of the family of Cunninghame of Cunninghamehead, that family having, about SO or 90 years igo, failed of male issue, when the representation devolved on the descendants of Barbara Cunninghame, who was married to James Fullarton of Fullarton. (See No. XV.) His own immediate pre- decessor, the late Colonel Fullarton,. was in consequence served heir to that family, December 17th, 1791. * He was Secretary to the Embassy of Lord Stormont, at the Court of France, in 1775. — He raised the 91st Regt. of Infantry, and served with it on board Commodore Johnston's Fleet, and with it went to India ; and in May 1783 got the command of the Forces, Forts, and Countries south of the river Coleroon, and commanded the Southern Army on the coast of Coromandel, successfully, and with much honour to himself and advantage to the Company. — In 1795 he raised the 23d Dragoons and 101st Regt. of Infantry. — He frequently had a seat in Parliament, and twice repre- sented his native county — the last time he was unanimously elected : — In 1802 he was appointed First Commissioner (or Governor) of the Island of Trinidad.«— He wrote " A View of the English Interests in India," and his " Campaigns of 1782, 1783, and HS*." — He gave also an yccellent Report of the Agriculture of Ayrshire, IRVINE.] OF Cunningljame. 409 There are many other properties still, and of considerable va- lue, in the parish ; as Toweklands, consisting of 70 or 80 acres of fine land, situated near to Bourtreehill house and surrounded by its land on all sides ; Chalmers Houses, nearer Irvine, very rich land ; as also is Lochwards in the same qiuirter ; Holm-mill on the Irvine water; Scotsloch on the north side of the town. There is also Bogside and Snodgrass, along the Garnock — ex- tensive lands, belonging to Lord Eglinton — partly very valuable — ^partly sandy soil — all incumbent on coal. The Burgh itself is a great heritor in its own parish, having 500 acres, or more, in full property. Of this a portion of the best, called the Knaggerhill, seems not to have been included in any Royal Grant, but has been a purchase. In 1634 it belonged to a family of the name of Peiblis which appears to have had, at one time, many possessions in this part of the country, as besides the above, they had the Brumelands both in this parish and in Dreghorn ; Rossholme in Dreghorn parish — also Mainshill, Morrishill, and Crawfield, in Beith parish ; and Bloak, in that of Stewarton. The name of Peebles continues still very respectable in this town and neighbourhood. ©tane Cajstle, 5 L 410 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Parish ctf TABLE 0£ VALUED RENT. Properties. Proptielor.s. Valued Rent £ s. d. Armsheugh, Stane Castle, Egliii ton Policie, •I Earl of Eglinton, - -, 498 10 4. Bogside, .. _ Ditto, •■ • . 110 6 8 Snodgrass, _ . Ditto, . _ *^ b5 Bourtreehill, _ « . Ditto, - , - _ 477 16 8 Balgray, south part . - Robert Dunlop, *eHo Do. east part, . . Thomas Reid, - 100 Do. west par: . .. . Robert Reid, - - 73 Do. north part, . _ William Reid, - 4,5 13 4 358 IS 4. Annock-Lodge, part of . William Montgomery, Esq. . 40 Towerlands, - • Mr. Webb, « _ _ 129 Bartonholm, - • Colonel Fullarton, - « « 72 13 4. Chalmers Houses, - - Robert Glasgow, Esq... „ 73 12 How-mill, - . John Hoggarth, - - 67 Milgarholm, . _ Ditto, - . 78 16 8 Friars'-Croft, (in Kyle) «■. The Burgh, » _ 27 3 Tarryholme, - Duke, of Portland, (no valued rent) T^ , V 1, J°''^ 1"'^""''°"' H " „ '. " ' - U.19S8 12 By which Cess, &c. is actually collected, - - - \ Which corresponds with the County Books in the general sum, but differs materially in the three articles Bourtreehill, Annock-Lodge,. and Friars'-Croft, also in a small degree with Eglinton. The folloiuing proprietors pay no Cess, having no valuation, but holding in Burgage of the Bur^i. The Burgh itself, - - - Under the charge of the Magistrates Scots Loch, - » . . Mr. Warner of Ardeer Lochwards, - - - - Dr. M'Kenzie & Mr. Robt. Rankin Dalrymple Wards, &c. - - Baillie Stewart - - - And the following proprietors of various nameless suhjects, and of various entent from 20 acres downwards to half an acre and less — namely^ Messrs. Paterson, Mr. Alex. Campbell (Greenfield), Mr. John Campbell, Col. Reid, Bailie Finlayeon, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Robert Montgomery, Mr. John Montgomery, Mr. Richmond, Mr. Orr, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Gemmil, Mrs. Fairie, Mr. Peden, Mr. Salmon, the Glebe, the Poor, and perhaps 20 or 30 more in still smaller portions. The whole of these Burgh lands extend to 750 acres or more. FREEHOLDERS QUALIFIED TO VOTE. S. M. Fullarton of Fullarton. D. Campbell, Writer in Irviae. XliVINE.} OF Cunninsliame, 411 CJ)e Coton of Jv\iim S situated near the influx of the Waters of Irvine and Garnock into the Frith of Clyde, in 55" 36' 52" N, lat. and 4° 38' 9" w. Ion. from Greenwich. It is about 11 miles due north from Ayr, the county town, and about double that distance in a straight line sw. from Glasgow, to which the most direct road, by Stew- arton, does not, in all its windings, exceed three miles more. This town is built on the summit of a gently rising ground on the north side of the Water of Irvine. It consists chiefly of a main street about 5 furlongs in length, of which about one half is extended in a direction almost due east, leading to Kilmarnock, and the other in a direction almost due north, leading to Kilwin- ning. Nearly in its whole extent, it is from 60 to 80 feet in width, no part of it less than 24, and that, in one place only, op- posite a single house about the middle. Many of the houses are constructed in a handsome stile, and nearly all have cxcelloiit cardens in the back ground. There are several lesser streets or Janes in various directions v/hich are narrower, but the buildings in general not incommodious, whilst they also have each their gardens attached. In the immediate vicinity, some elegant villas have lately been erected, more especially on that sloping bank to the southward, near the river, from whence the prospect is de- lightful. On the south side of the water, there are several streets: the principal of. which ^re Fullavton-street, on the road to Ayr i 412 rAUTICULAll DESCRIPTION [Piin'ith of and Halhvay-streot, on the road to the harbour. These arc ge- nerally composed of low houses, but erected on a regular plan, and each house has also its garden, which makes them so far cheerful ; but from the lowncss of the situation, they are apt to be damp. This quarter of the town is neither within the lloy- alty nor in the parish, except quoad sacra, but is still considered as part of Irvine, while its population is more than a third part of the whole. Royal Ghauters. — Irvine is among the. most ancient of the Royal Burghs in Scotland. The first Charter, however, is not extant, but Robert I. by a Charter dated the 12tii May, in the 17th year of his reign (1322), confirms a former Charter to it by Alexander II. who began his reign in 1214, and died in 1249, so that this Charter must have been granted in an early part of the 13th century, beyond which date, ^ew of the Burghs of Scot- land have any writs to shew. Before this period, however, Irvine must have been an incorporation ; for there is a contest recorded betwixt the Town of Irvine and Sir Ralph de Eglintoun that was accommodated in 1205, from which it must be inferred, that it had a Charter previous to that date. The following are in its Charter-Chest : — 1. Notorial copy of an Indenture dated 1260, betwixt Dora, Godfrey de Ross and the Burgh of Irvine. [See App.] 2. Precept under the Great Seal of Robert I. 14th Feb. in the 2d year of his reign, confirming privileges that had been called in question. 3. Charter by the same, 12th May in the 17th year of his reign. [See App.] 4. Charter by Robert 11. 8th April, in the 2d year of his reign. 5. Charter by the same, 22d Oct. in the 16th year of his reign. 6. Charter by Robert III. confirming No. 2. 7. Decrete by the Duke of Albany, 14th July 1417, against ^William Fraunces of Stane. [See Appendix.] i IRVINE.] OF Cunningfjame, 41^ 8. Charter by James IV. 8th August 1511. 9. Charter by James VI. 20th March 1573. 10. Donation by James VI. of certain revenues for erecting a school. 11. Instrument of Sasine following on the preceding. 12. Charter by James VI. May 1. 1601. 13. Act of Parliament, Nov. 17. 161'!!, ratifying Numbers 3, 8, 10 and 12 of the above, and another Act similar in 1641. Set of the Burgh. — The Council consists of 15, under the name of Merchants ; in which are included, the Provost, 2 Bailies, a Dean of Guild and Treasurer, together with 2 Trades' Coua- sellors ; in all 17, — elected thus: The old Council elect 2 new Merchant Counsellors, and 2 Trades' Counsellors, and must change the latter yearly, as also 2 out of the number of the former. The remainder of their num- ber may, or may not, be changed at the pleasure of the Council itself The old and new Counsellors elect the Magistrates (Pro- vost and Bailies) out of the leets (lists) of their own number, made by themselves ; but these cannot continue in office longer than two years in succession ; but after an interval of a year, may again be elected. The Dean of Guild and Treasurer are chosen on the Friday after the election of the Magistrates, from among the body of the Council. The Dean of Guild, whose office it is to preside over the Police of the Town, chuses a Council to him- self, to advise with in all matters of moment. In this body, al- ways twelve in number, he takes care to include a tradesman in each of the different departments of house-building, as much of his attention is required in settling differences betwixt contermi- nous house-owners, so that they neither encroach on each other's premises, nor on the public: — and to see that their respective habitations are upheld in a state of sufficiency. The Provost, the two Bailies, the Dean of Guild, and the two oldest Counsel- 5 M 414 PARTICULAR DESCIlIPTION • [Pansh of lors, are ex-ofRcio Commissioners of Supplv for the Burgh and. Parish, and also Commissioners for the Assessed Tax Acts. Incorporated Trades. — These consist of — 1. Squaremen — (Masons, Wrights, Slaters, Plasterers and Coach-makers.) 2. Hammermen, — (Blacksmiths, Tinsmiths, Silversmiths. Coppersmiths, Sadlers and Watchmakers.) 3. Weavers ; 4. Taylors ; 5. Shoemakers ; and 6. Coopers, . There are many other occupations in this town, of essential importance, though neither incorporated into crafts, nor combined into societies.. The numbers respectively in the different occut pations are as under : — Weavers, 602 Seamen, 517 Shoemakers, 73 Wrights, 42 Masons, ! 41 Taylors, 34 Carpenters, 30 Blacksmiths, 20 Ropemakers, 33 Bakers, 12 Fleshers 11 Coopers, — ,..., G There are 49 shop-keepers, and 53 houses of entertainment; There is a Printing-Office and two Booksellers' shops. There is a silver-smith, who also draws in landscape and engraves in wood. There are many in various other occupations, as house-painters • — plasterers — dyesters, watchmakers, wigraakers, dress-makers, haberdashers, &c. and in the country part of the parish there are employed 186 coaliers, most of whom reside in the town. Of the Clergy, there is the established minister, and two con- nected with the Secession. The medical department consists of one physician, and five surgeons, of whom some are apothecaries. In the law department, there are eight. Of the remaining inha^ bitants in genteel life, they are either in — public office — in the banks — teachers of various sciences — connected with trade or maritime commerce ; — ship-owners— living on their rents — or Ladies living on their annuities. The two Head Inns, as they are called,' are very respectable. Both have post-chaises, and both have large rooms for public IRVINE.] OF Cunningf)amc. 415 meetings. A stage-coach passes and repasses, three days in the week, through this town, betwixt Ayr and Greenock ; and one goes every week-day to Glasgow, and returns the same night. The post, from Glasgow, &c. by Kilmarnock, arrives here, and departs twice a-day. Population. — By the last enumeration in the town and pa- rish in 1811, the population was found to be — 1. In the Burgh, or north side of the water, ►... 35S5 2. In the suburbs, south side of ditto, 1781 3. In the country parts, 441 4. Militia not included, 160, and seamen afterwards as- 7 p,^ certain ed 450 — together ...». 3 Total,. 6370 But as the parish of Irvine, quoad civili, consists only of the Burgh and the country part — the numbers respectively, after proportioning the militia and seamen absent among the three divisions of the parish, will be thus : — 1. In the Burgh, or north side of the townj ,.. 3910 2. In the country parts, , 486 Total in the Tparish, quoad civili, 4398 3. In Fullarton-street, Ac. ^uocc? socra,. 1972 Total, .6370 Again, — In the town on both sides of the water,... 5882 In the country parts, » 488 Total....... 6370 Lastly, — It was ascertained that there were, Males, 3090 Females, 3280 Total,.. 6370 It. is believed that the town has had a small increase in its population, and this chiefly in its southern suburbs, where seve- ral additional houses have been built since 1811. ,,.,.Taxe^. — From a Ilepprt of a Committee of the House of 416 PAUTICULAU DESCRIPTION [ Parish of Commons, printed in 1793, it appears that the town of Irvine (on an average of 10 years preceding 1789,) paid annually into the Exchequer, in name of Cess, the sum of ^80 and 4 pence, sterling : that sum has since been reduced, by the convention, to ^50 lOsh. and this, with the necessary expence of collecting it, is all that the inhabitants have to pay toward Borrough Taxes ia Irvine. All public expences, in every other respect, are defrayed from the Town's funds: such as — the buildinfj of edifices — church — school — prison, — bridge, — &c. and keeping them in repair— the causewaying of the streets — tlie public wells — and the pub- lic lamps — even the minister's stipend, and school salaries, are all furnished free to the inhabitants. Circumstances, it is be- lieved, not to be paralleled in any other Burgh Royal or other town in the kingdom. From the above Report it further appears, that the Burgh of Irvine at that time ranked as the 14th in Scotland (out of 66) in point of Revenue, and the 13th in Taxation. The following ex- tracts, in form of a Table, from that Report, on these points, it is presumed, will not be esteemed uninteresting. TOWNS. REVENUE. 1 CESS. 1 TOWNS. REVENUE. 1 CESS. 1 £ \S. d.\ ^ \s. d. Lj s. /. L 1/ d. Edinburgh, 1335513 7:284910 4 Ayr, . . . . 1 672 ^ 6 66 4 Glasgow, - - 7239 ly 7! 1528 Dunbar, - . 66e 17 43 4 Perth, - . - 364619 2 28016 8 Montrose, - - 606 10 9 228, 9 Aberdeen, • - 2849 19 9 487 6 4 Haddington, 55y 18 6 10818 *l Dundee, - - - 2S20| 8 8 425 19 4 -Mnlithgow, . - - 39: 8 96, 6 o! Dumfries, - - 1480 15 2 122 5 C [nverness, - - 55' 16 128 8' Stirling, - - 1224 18 I( 165 4 ( ivirkaldy, . - 284 11 11 80 9 8 Arbroath, - - 864 1 / 43 If* 4 [rvine, _ _ . 55^ 15 3 80 ' 4 Irvine is conjoined with the Royal Burghs of Ayr, in the same county, Campbeltcn and Inverary in Argyle, and with Rothsay in the shire of Bute, in the electing of a Member of Parliament. In the General Assembly of the Church, it is represented by a Member of its own. It is the seat of a -Presbytery, consisting of 17 parishes with 19 ministers, which includes the whole of Cun- ninghame, and the parish of Cumbra in Buteshire. This Pres- 'jRViNtrJl OP Cunningftanw* 417 bytery forms part of the Synod of Glasgow and Ayr, which once in 3 years holds its half-yearly meeting in this town. Public Edifices. — Tiie Town- House, situated near the middle of the town, is a stately fabric about 80 feet long, 27 feet broad, and two stories in height, with a steeple at one end rising about 80 feet high. In the ground floor is the Ordinary Council-Room, and the office of the Town-Clerk ; in the upper story is the Great Council Room, and the Prison. In the Steeple is a Guard-Room. This house, built at the expence of the Burgh, must have cost a considerable sum. It is constructed with some taste, and in a substantial manner. The Town's Arms are a Lion rampant, guardant, with a Sword in one Paw and a Sceptre in the other ; motto, Tandem bona Causa triumphat. — The Church — is si- tuated on a rising ground southward of the town, near the river. It is 80 feet long, and 60 feet broad within, and holds easily 2000 people. It was erected on the site of the old church in 1774. The Burgh paid 3-4th parts of the expence, and the landed pro- prietors the other. The Steeple is very elegant. It is of a square form in the lower parts, 24 feet by 18, and rises in 6 or 7 stages, tire above tire, each contracted to less and less diameter till it ends in a point about 120 feet in height. In it there is an excellent clock, with 3 dials to as many distinct directions. The bell was the gift of the late Earl of Eglinton, and is certainly one of the fullest and finest toned in the country. — The Bridge, across the Irvine, was built by the Burgh in 1746. It consists of 4 well- turned arches, each 40 feet span; but the road-way, however well it might suit the times in which it was built, is too narrow now for the increased intercourse. — The Academy is set down in a cheerful well-aired spot about 100 yards north-west of the town. It is an elegant structure, from a plan by Mr. David Ha- milton, Glasgow. The foundation stone was laid on the 22d April 1814. The principal teaching-rooms, 4 in number, are each 36 feet long, 24 broad, and 12 feet high. The expence w*b 5 N 418 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION [Pdrtsh of. ' about jg2100, of which the Burgh paid ^1633 4s. 6d. The rest was obtained by subscription. The two principal teachers in the Academy are, the Rector, Mr. J. L. Brown of the grammar-school, who has a salary of ^30 from the Burgh ; and Mr. William Clark, English teacher, who has a salary of L15. Roth are of the first respectability in their line, and eminently successful in their labours. Under both, there are from 300 to 400 scholars. A class for drawing has lately commenced in it, which may ultimately be of great benefit to the town. It is taught by Mr. Bruce. Free School — For indigent children, who had otherwise little chance for education at all, was opened in March 1814. The present teacher, Mr. Craig, has about 80 under his care. They are taught reading, writing, .and arithmetic; and much profit ciency is shewn in all th^se classes. The salary is L40, and about L. 10 more is required for school-rent and coals. The whole is defrayed by subscription or donations. Sewing-School. — In this establishment, patronised by the Magistrates, there are from 20 to 30 girls taught plain-seam and coloured work— under the care of Mrs. Tarbet, who has a salary of Ll 2 yearly from the Burgh, in addition to the fees for teaching. Boarding ScHooL*~For young Ladies, was lately established here by the Misses Crichton, which is giving great satisfaction. . Private Schools. — There are 5 or 6 of these, in which about 260 children receive good education in reading, writing and aritit- metic, though the respective masters have no salaries nor other emoluments than the-very moderate school fees which they receive from their scholars. In all the schools combined, the number of scholars in the various literary classes is ascertained to be 768. Sunday Schools. — Theore are 527 young persons, who attend in various schools, on the Sunday evenings, to receive religious instruction. They read portions of the Bible — repeat questions and psalms, or collate parallel passages of scripture. Many q£ lUVIi^.^ OF Cunningfjattte. 4ld these, though so far grown up as to have left tlie schools, attend here to refresh their memories in the sacred writings — confirm their rehgious principles, and to join in these pious exercises— ^^ ■which are superintended by many well-disposed elderly people of various religious persuasion, as also by the ministers of the townj who visit them from time to timei Friendly Societies. — The number of these appears to be 16t the members connected with them 1113: the sums expended yearly ^385 5s. 3d. This is in general distributed to the sick and indigent of their own number; but some 2 or 3 societies es»- tablished among the higher classes, are for the relief of thos6 poor people who are unconnected with any society. — There is a Sailor Society, under the direction of the ship-owners, who assess themselves at so much per ton per voyage, in addition to a small per centage on the seamen's wages, for the relief of widows, chil- dren, and the sick or disabled of the seamen. In Jan. 1817 their funds amounted to ^800, and in 181 8 there was L178 paid from it, among 63 annuitants and 87 other applicants. Bible Society — Was instituted here in Oct. 1812. In 1820 the number of members was about 60. It is sustained by yearly subscriptions — occasional donations, and collections. In August 1820 the sums till then collected amounted to L359 Is. 6d. of which, after various items of expenditure, chiefly in donations in aid of the funds of other distributive Societies, there remained a balance in the Treasurer's hands of Ll7 12s. 4^d, Savings Bank. — This happy device of converting pence into pounds, has been extensively adopted in Irvine. It was institut- ed on the 2d Oct. 1815, and by the 31st- Dec. that year, there had been L133 deposited. This laudable spirit evinced itself still more strongly by the great increase of deposits in the suc- ceeding years, being at an average rate of about L400 annually — the whole amounting on the 31st Dec. 1819 to L1717 4s. 6d. besides L.74 14s. 6d. of interest that had been acquired by that J ''t 420 PARTICULAK rESCRIPTION [Parish of time. In the same period, there had been of these sums repaid to depositors L551 10s. 5|d. leaving a stock still on hand of LI 240 Ss. 6^d. Of this L592 has been lodged in the Ayr Bank in the name of depositors in sums of L.10 when it amounts to as much from any. Thenumberof depositors from the com- inencement have been 219, of whom 93 are males and 126 fe- males. The number of deposits have been 1969. ^anufactUrCiff. — The manufacturing interest does not appear to be in a prosperous state ; on the contrary it seems to be de- clining. Some establishments that existed about 25 years ago have failed altogether: in particular a tambour work, that em- ployed about 70 girls, and a spinning-jenny that employed 80 without there being, for those who lived by this last, {machinery work,) any substitute in its place. The weaving manufacture too, depending almost wholly on the Glasgow or Paisley merchants^ has declined along v.'ith them in their over-stretched speculations. The other trades people of Irvine, as Smiths, Wrights, Masons, Taylors. &c. whose labours were limited to the natural demand oi' the neighbourhood, remain in nearly their usual circumstances^ Ship-building was wont to be carried on by 3 distinct companies to a considerable extent, and with the reputation of being well conducted. The size of shipping- built here was from 30 tons to 240. This too has declined, there bein» only one building-slip at present employed. There are two Ropeworks and two Tan- neries, both well established, but neither of them on a great scale. Sj^iniStZTgi — since the Revolution. iJAMES, ADMITTED, DIED, &c. n , . , „. r Settled here March ("Resigned in 1709, Patrick Warner, | ^4. 1688. | (see p. 1^0.) 'William Macknight, Ord. Apr. 24. 1 709.. Died Apr. 30. i750. Charles Bannatyne,... { ^r- (v. KiJ"^«"e in j j^.^^ ^ 27. 1773. •' (^ArranAug. 8. 751 I * Dr. James Richmond,... Ord. Mar. 15. 1774..Died July 16.180*. James Henderson...... ...Ord. May 2. 15-05.. .Died Feb. 3« 1820, , , ,,.., V Admitted from South- f John Wilson, | gj^j^j^^^ j^,^^ 22. lo2u { IRVINE.] OF Cuniungbanie. 42i" ^iffStnttva, — Relief Church. This was first erected in 1776, and afterwards enlarged in 1818. It is an elegant and commo- dious place of worship, seated to hold 930 hearers : tlie congre- gation at present consists of that number, of whom 600 arc in full communion — the rest occasional hearers. The first minister here was the Rev. James Jack, ordained on the 29th April 1777, and died on the 20th Jan. 1782. He was succeeded by the Rev. Hugh White on the 3d July the same year, who was deposed by his Presbytery, on the 8th Oct. 1783, for errors in his doctrine: having got himself bewildered in- the extravagant notions of a Mrs. Buchan, who gave out, that neither herself nor her adher- ents were ever to taste of deathv — The late Rev. Peter Robert- son was ordained on the 2d Nov.. 1784, and died on the 30tb Jan. 1819, highly esteemed for unremitting attention to his min- isterial functions, the orthodoxy of his doctrine, eminent piety, and unassuming simplicity of manners. He was succeeded by the Rev. Archibald JNlaclaren, who was ordained the minister of this congregation on the 23d March 1820. Baptists. — Their meeting-house was erected in 1808. It is a plain, but commodious place of worship, capable of holding a- bout 450 hearers, though the number in actual communion ia this parish does not exceed 40 ; but it is generally well filled with, occasional attendants from other churches, and adherents from other parishes. It is under the pastoral administration of the Rev. George Barclay, who resides at Kilwinning, where he has also a place of worship, and officiates on alternate Sabbaths in both.. Burghers. — Their meeting-house — a very elegant fabric — was erected in 1809. It holds easily 800. The Rev. Alex. Campbell' is: their minister, and is the first that was settled, of this persua- sion, in Irvine. Methodists — There are^ a few ; perhaps from 20 to 30. ■ The Poor — Have increased greatly of late. In 1807 there were 34 onthe permatient roll; in 181G, 50; and now in 1820,' 80. Besides these, there are always as many more who gee re- 5 422 PAUTICULAll DESCRIPTION, &C. lief occasionally. In 1807 there was distributed among bot^ classes, in conjunction, ^269; in 1810,^338; and in 1819, ^460. [See the General Table,] Besides aJl this, there are from SO to 35 who receive badges, authorising them to beg over the town and parish one day in each week. These are supposed to be not the worst provided for of any. ^ntiquitiCiEf. — The Sea-Gate C!astle in Irvine (as above)is a ruinous fabric, of considerable antiquity. It belongs to the Earl of Eglin- ton, and is supposed to have been intended as the jointure house of the Dowager Ladies of that family. There is no date upon it ; but from the circumstance of the united arms of Montgomery and EgJinton being engraved upon a central stone in a vaulted chamber in the lower story, it must have been built since the union of these two families by marriage in 1361; and that it could not be much later than that period, may be inferred from its structure as a house of defence, in which are many arrow-slits for bows, but no gun-ports for cannon or other fire-arms, which were introduced into Scotland about nearly the same era, and were never omitted in fortified places erected after that time.— In this old castle there remains still, quite entire, one of the most perfect specimens of the Saxon or Norman round arch (see p. 14) that is perhaps now to be met with in Britain. It is erected over the principal gate-way into the house. A square tower in ,one of the corners is .evidently much more ancient, as may be con- cluded not only from the stile of building, but from the stone i^s^ngjreatly more decayed from the action of the weather. i STATISTICAL TABLES. 42ii TABLE I.— oBrtent ann Kent, I. 11. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. IX. PARISHES. Sq. m. Acres Acres Valued licnt Keal Rent, Time Arab't fir. Hills, Total. Scots JSJS Sterling, 180 "6098 18 9 more Itent per Acre. Ardrossan, 11 4436 1084 5520 2840 16 10 "0 25.7 22 1 27 -6 Beith, 15 6092 1584 7676 6115 14 o 9002 12 17.6'23 29 6 Dairy, 2y 7840 6860 14700 6538 14 I 10611 4 ]9.4;i4 5 27 Dreg horn, 9 4386 61 4447 5247 11 10 8753 6 20.2,39 4 40 Punlop, 9 4130 332 4462 3581 9 5 5931 5 19.8 26 6 28 8 Fenwick, 27 7419 6129 13548 5967 10 7116 5 0|14.3 10 4 19 2 Irvine, r 2382 262 2644 1988 12 3256 7 19.6 24 7 27 4" Kilbirnie, 19 3843 5615 9458 2905 14 1 3644 14.7 7 8 18 10 Kilbride, 16 4989 2935 7924 3346 5098 10 18.2 12 10 20 4. Kilmarnoc k, 15 7000 450 7450 6961 14 8 9057 5 15.6 24 3 25 10 Kilmaurs, 9 4424 66 4490 5188 V2 2 7492 9 ( 17.3 33 4 34 Kilwinning, IV 7389 1141 8530 6729 16 3 9789 5 c 17.6 23 26 6 Largs, 3S 485014293 1914:5 3802 5019 (1 15.8 5 3 20 8 Loudoun, 21 6704 3839 1054S 5696 2 5698 12. 10 10 i7 4 Stevenstoi), 6 1936 1246 3182 1206 4536 17 8 45. 28 48 Stewarton, 20 7974 2171 10145 8114 12 10 12907 3 19. 25 5 32 4 Totals and ? _ 17 — averages, ^ 263 85794 48068 133862 76240" "■■■-■ "4|rr40l2 6 8 18. 26 61. UEMARKS. I. Square miles is set down at the nearest number to the actual extent in Scots acres, accounting 509 to the square mile ; 263 is the number, if taken at one operation. II. Under .^rable, &c. is included also meadows, woods, and gardens. III. Under Hills, &c. is included natural pastures, mosses, roads, &c. V. The valued rent was taken in 16 52 and 1653 by order of Cromwell, in order to the levying of a Property Tax on land, and being taken by his own people, and liable to be certified on oath, may be considered as a pretty just return of the actual rent at the time, in Scots money, VI. The real rent, in sterling money, is taken from tlie returns in 1809, and may be depended on, with considerable confidence, as a fair exhibition. The rents increas- ed considerably after that time till 1815, wKen they became depressed, and are pro- bably not much higher now than in 1809. VIJ. Shew^ the number of times more, that the rents amounted to in 1809 than they were 156 years before, in 1653 — being at an average 18 times more — which has arisen partly frqm the depreciation in the value of money — but more from the circum- stance pf the Japds being betj;er cultivated. VIII, Shew;s the present rent at an average per acre of the whole surface. IX. Shews tJ^e ssme, supposing the rent to he derived from the cultivated lands ©nly. "' " ^ ' ■...•.,..,. 424 STATISTICAL TABLES/ 5 &•? 2 " 3 £ s' s* n ? S 3 to, 3 " R 3 — p 3 P. n> a "^ _^ •J — . 5j si S M s c n. »» "> 2 " 5. • " a- to* r* Ei; »J ^ — U r* IT) cr„ 3 5 a '-' o «^ ^ ;5 o ^ a n> 3 S.» 3 fD " 3. 0» 3^ w O " " "^ II CB 6) O ^ en 'B fD O 2 »2 9 9 06 O tfl „^ =f 3 W ~ - '^ a. 3 a O -. - o S " 9> r>.Z . CA 2 o O 3 ^ O M U) tn w p « cr 3 >-H ft — g O -1 ^"S ^ n o T} t "t o •- ai-, " g- E-3 " ni n> 3 re '^ S X H- ■ c p n o _ 3 O 2, g-|-3- e 3 ^ T3 O Ardrossan, Beith, - > s* 2 tn 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 1 1 I M H I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 , 1 1 1 I 1 o !-♦ fi^ cn v« ' 1 ' 1 1 1 1 t 1 1 1 1 1 .1 1 1 »w ts ^ ^ Oi -^ to c« *— J Cl 00 O tjO to to to »- *■ tc O •-H to ►>1- Oi to o to Cn 00 tj) Ci Cn CO 0> 00 O Ci ii ►-* ^ o 1— • t— ' 1^ ^^ h^ !£) w ►-J to w 00 b— Ci Cn H-' >u 05 1^ to *. Oi >-' n" ►—1 ■<- a, UJ o •f- ^^ o_ Cl -9°. Oi to _2l O CT CJ5 Ct CO ^ ^M ? ^^ 1^ *— t fr^ ^ H-* ? ^T o to 1—* ^I M to o to 05 *■ to '-^J to t<» O 00 1—1 to 4^ <» *. .Cn o o >f>- CO O 00 o 0\ •*» ^ 00 00 F 1— < JO^ ^ » -21 o _±L _±. _21 CO o Jfe. o =5 t£3 to O to t— t H- to a; ^^ K5 cc CjS o h-< tjS 05 ~j 05 tJl to ►^ C5 03 t^ 3 < *— 00 c; o SI *—' o _oi O m ■T^ CO o> O ■f' CT Oi l>0 ^ to ^^ to K- ►— . . to — 1 5? < a-. CO Oi to r— • 0\ 00 K-> tJi CO 0\ 00 to (35 to ►— CO ' 2 5 -±. -I c o •— 0-. CTi •«>■ o CC Oi 4>- K> p> 00 >~. >— i to to )»• !_• o CO 1.^ to >-* <; *■ !» Cji >{>• to tn O 0^ ~4 CO to o *■ •4^ CO CO to 2. * ►3IW ►ilw o>— ow t« to t« >{>■ 00 to 00 05 -I 00 ^ *■ to <,s en -^ 3 a. < »jH (J^H *jH t^H t*H »iH ' to c""^ < to >{^ to k^ t— • *• oc *; CO 1— ,^^ 5 H. >— t o to o o o 05 o ■~~ _*_ iC - I rf^ »— . N5 ■"^ ^ to t— • *■ •*>■ CO to r— "- Oi k_l ■^ S 00 05 tj3 o> to CO •t>- 05 to o. to CO .•~ to ^ >{^ o o. t^ 00 JiL o »o o c- 00 ^ 00 o o Q- . ' a ^ ■ ►— i ^O t^ to Ol to *■ w OS to to ta- t-^ >_1 to b^ '- to K- CO ° 7 O) 02 JbS g) _2L m Jfe. o _05_ cc cc o OP '■c Ol 05 C5 00 ^. *■ Cji H- ^ to a> Oi — to CO to (Ji CO ^^ _ *_ Oi J?L ±5_ to 05 CO to O to o Q ^ O -4 - *-< tox CO t^ to ,_, ^^ ^ CO to to ^3 X to o CT t-0 •f' CO o" ^ Ol to to ht> -i ? ? »^ o o Ci o> ^ CO O) o 05 Ol o to -J c« H-» tJO to >f^ to VJ to to ^^ tjO to to *■ CO to _, g^ ^ 00 to to o 00 CO 'ja Ci QO *- to 00 •<>■ o ■c to t;-. < IT. in t— tJl -4 ^- ai c to CO (35 o Oi -4 •{>• o. t— 1 a> 'P' o J£2. C: '-"> cc o to 'r Cjn C-i ^ oc ry T ^' X , . IM to 0\ to „ to tn _, a» tj3 (O 05 »«< Cj» ^ to to vf' to tn to CCi ^ CD ■f^ o to ■t' o CO Oi t— ■ CO Oi Ol -~1 _P?_ CT> o tJI Cn J*L J^ SL to s. ^J o. Cn o ^ y_ "^ ' to 1— t an CO CO »— < 5-a ^ o o M to tn •^ ^^ to •- " o to -4 Ol t~^ -4 •*» (D 00 tjO o to P-S o tji .£. o ^^ ""~ o to o K-i O o o * * lO M ~K-4 o 1— 1 1— • to 1— ^-1 wrf 1-^ to to h-l S^o n o tn .^ Ol 00 to (35 >{>■ to >!>■ tn ^ o> ^ to (C O to < o o o> o oa -^ t7> o CO to »— • to •— tn ^ o ' O- ^-1 s t_ ,^ ^__^ ,_ t g oe O CtO o to oo *■ -^ -4 to to tjO p{>- >J»^ *• ^I Cn 00 >— fc— ■ 0\ ^- Oi .4^ *■ to *■ O) Oj •!> *. -J Oi Zj\ Ol *• 05 *■ *. CO to Cn to Oi *■ •!>■ CD i? o -I to l-H to tn i2. ^ 03 o O o *. 00 ^ 00 to -4 O Oi o 1 o o O ^ :z; tfl sr- CO c« O ft> "re <-t- P >— • 3- a 3 c 3 3; GO SO STATISTICAL TABLES. 425 TABLE IIL—libe @)tOcft. PARISHES, Ardrossan, Beith, Dairy, Dreghom, ' Dunlop, Fenwick, Irvine, Kilbirnie, KUbride, Kilmarnock, Kilmaurs, Kilwinning, Largs, - Loudoun, Stevenston, Stewarton, Totals, HORSES. I. Is 114 130 112 9'/ 115 54 76 170 10.^ 134 71 94 40 20L IL 42 53 31 25 3 10 83 26 24 64 14 61 43 Hi iiLiy. 13, 17 is; 32 20 40 12 21 3 5 10\ 18 10, 18] 12| IS 18 26 9' 16 10' IS 15 29 17 2S 15 2S 6 12 14 27 V. Milc'i CoW£. vr. Other Cattle VII. 151 217 221 170 103 153 165 132 162 259 147 239 159 156 114 261 635 1176 1178 625 724 1294 266 653 601 840 704 832 571 719 248 1497 169J 5652003532809 12563 8991 21554 16482 3975 Total. VITI. 522 504' 1150l 218 350; 726; 244 758 794 440 240 682 992 432 174 76a 1157 1680 2328 843 1074 2020 510 1411 1395 1280 944 1514 1563 1151 422 2262 Sliccp. IX. 254 520 2669 136 150 2360 90 110( 2373 350 150 396 4559 960 14 270 Swine X^ 89 420 402 224 240 336 92 150 218 280 260 280 190 240 80 474 Explanation of the first five columns I. Horses in Husbandry. — II. Other Horses iii the Tax-OlHce lists. — III. Foals rearing. — IV. Other young Horses unbroke V. Total Horses. The number of acres in tillage, see the preceding Table, being 30,400, makes a- bout 18 Scots acres to each Horse employed in husbandry — about sSi acres English, T A BLE IV.— population. country TOWNS. TOTAL- PARISHES. 1755 1792-8 1819 1819 1819 Ardrossan, - - 1297 1518 324 2360 2684 Beith, ..... 2064 2872 1400 2600 4000 Dairy, - - - - 1498 2000 1760 1265 3025 ' Dreghorn, --v ^ p,- 887 830 608 190 798 Dunlop, . - . - 796 779 810 200 10 iO Fenwick, . » - . . 1113 1281 1300 300 1600 Irvine, .... 4025 4500 441 5929 6370 Kilbirnie, - - . . . 651 700 491 700 1191 Kilbride, _ . « 885 698 650 654 1304. Kilnnrnock, .... 4403 6776 20<0 10240 12240 Kilmaurs, ... 1094 1147 726 719 1445 Kilwinning, - - - - 2.541 2300 1326 1934 3260 i.args, - - - -- • - . Il«4 1025 1172 1100 2272 Loudoun, - • - . - - - 1494 2308 -1162 2008 3170 ■ Stevenston, ... 1412 2425 367 3240 3607 Stewarton, - -^ - 2819 3V,00 1600 1800 3400 Totals, - 28143 34219 16137 35239 51376 6 r '42o STATISTICAL TABLES. TABLE v.— BeligiouiSf Pecjafuagion. This Table is composed from the returns made on the subject under the head of Dissenters — which was obtained most readily, and in the most candid manner. In a few cases where the information was not quite full, the estimate has been formed by general averages from the others. To these returns is ^dded the number, of Chil- dren from 7 years old and undei:, that o,ught to be included in making up an exhibit of the whole. This has been calculated from a Table of the Probabilities of Life a- dapted to Scotland, by the late Rev. David Wilkie, minister of Cults; and published in his valuable Treatise, The Theory of Interest, p. 138. DISSENTERS. Places of Worship In full General conimu- hearers nion. addicional. Chil- dren. Total, ^"418 3118 2937 833 480 101 When intro- duced jjurghers, - _ _ _ Antiburghers, - _ _ _ _ Relief Church, Camcronians, - _ _ _ . Baptists, - - _ . •Methodists, - - . - -- 7 7 4 2 4 2 26 2300 1572 1530 312 221 80 ' 1506 1128 1000 438 200 612 418 407 83 59 21 1780 1758 1776 1638 Total 6015 4272 1600 11887 Note. — Examinable children are included in general hearers. The whole population of the District being . - - Deduct for Dissenters as above, - - - - - - . - - 51,376 - 11,887 Remains for the Established Church, - - - - - 59,489 Bating however, those who attend no place of worship, or who may be of no religion at all ;— while these acknowledge no church, they can be identified with none. .. e TABLE VL— ig)rofe0]8;ional Dccupation. . In the whole Sixteen Parishes there are — Coopers, » S4 Salters, - - 20 Pract. in Law, 57 Do. Medicine, 40 Supposing one-third ef the trades* people and manufacturers to be married men, with families, and that each of their families consists of five souls — then there would be— Weavers, 5881 Wrights, - 381 Bakers, 89 Seamen, 794 Masons, - 292 Fleshers, 77 Shoemakers, - 762 Taylors, - 228 Ship Carpenters 57 Coaliers, 632 Smiths, - 192 Ropemakers, 45 In trades and manufactures. Country people or husbandmen. In other professions or employment. - 22,128 - 16,137 - 13,111 Total as bjr Table IV. 51,37* STATISTICAL TABLES. 427 TABLE VII.— ©tatc of (JBtiucation. 2: .SCHOLARS AT tJ "« 2 M • ei. ?i "> 2 5 en n ^ 5.0 S s Z PARISHES. Read- Writ- .Arith- Latin \'arious ing ing. metic. or otiier Total. ' S 51' 3 -J -, only. ~60 fircel Srlcnccs §^o-^lL Ardrossan, / 327 88 M 38 430 B^^^^^ Beith, . . - - 13 304 138 92 15 16 495 2 5- »> ? S 3 ft> p 1 3^ XJahy, 7 267 152 76 12 1.3 450 v< M re < 6 < "^ H5 S} Dreghorn, _ - - J 40 10 ^ 2 3 60 ^ r J^ ° 5i 5' Dunlop, - - - .Fenwick, - _ - 1 4 32j .20 126, 54 12 35 2 9 10 4 70 204 as Scienc cs, Geom some one jplying — s le does no the schola Irvine, - - - - 10 358,. 280 13C 48 36 768 Kilbirnie, _ - - 1 96i 30 16 4 13(1 Kilbride, - 2 84. 32 19 126 S!gg.|S5 Kilmarnock, - - - ,13 785[ 488 226 60 52 1340 w 9 "-^ '^ 5 "' cr*" 3' Kilmaurs, . 3 1 10 65 30 20 5 206 Kilwinning, - - 7 196 115 42 4 6 325 Largs, . - - 6 152 V6 titi 8 48 228 last gatio thes( be d wi ever; Loudoun, 2 172 96 52 12 14 325 Stevenston, 3 151 7S 3C 2 2 232 SI. 5, -1 " 3 r> _ =^ re cf. - Stewarton, 6 260 18C 76 20 20 396 tT CT » n) c 86 3460 1902 930 232 269 5884 TABLE VIII.— Of the poor and State x)f their. Funds. Number Weekly Incidents 1 3: re w 3 tJ -TJ ^ w 3 P ST I" allowanc l^oUcc. Donations 9 fS a- 3 • 3 n in I\nce. :ions ai the Interest of ;iccumula- marriage? and ,, =""*, 1 Total Contnlju- PARISHES. '^j S M u 3 3- 2- n s ~2T 5' rt z a. ii ~i6 c 3 d. 12 lo d. 24 ■liurcli ted nioneylmortclotl] 1 &c &c tions TE.— -Ab nt roll c ere may the Boo few cas J those c >s fatliers 73 L. s. L. s 25 5 L. 24 s. L. s. 122 5 Ardrossan, Beith, 46 45 v^ 42 79 86 10 27 105 0I297 10 • "-S ^Z" g Dairy, 28 12 Vz 30 75 19 6 16 ■ 49 14'l60 i^s^s-r: Drcgliorn, J 2 6 12 30 25 10 16 3 10 10 14 50 ( ^.: sg!?^ Dunlop, ... 1 4 12 30 21 26 10 2 10 50 ( arts in 5 occassiona t one fifth consists rphan fam timate chi Fenwick, 8 4 12 24 18 4 3 11 35 Irvine, Kilbirnie, 80 14 80 7 12 15 84 30 95 28 92 9 10 52 3 JO 221 34 460 75 Kilbride, 14 12 42 40 7 5 1 10 2 50 15 f theP Ily relle , thoug! • widow ily. Tl dren, a Kilmarnock 140 140 12 36 275 50 25 850 1200 Kilmaurs, IS 6 30 60 42 5 5 52 ( Kilwinning 56 60 12 24 75 233 15 323 g^ re "> < S.3 w Si^-"- Largs, 32 IS 12 24 82 52 -16 10 I50 10 Loudoun, 47 30 12 36 30 13 5- 192 240 isl^-^s- Stevenston, 29 54 12 24 80 21 7 8 13 20 130 ^ re ;^ m & Stewarton, $0 8 12 36 100 8 32 140 , _. 3t „ 4 G, 1 < 3 Totals, - 582 514 13 1138 625 4 '2 16 8 1556 8 3536 the du- one ren, sivc heir APPENDIX, ADDITIONAL NOTICES RESPECTING MASONRY— (see p. 193. J Communicated by Baillie Crav/furd, Secretary to the Mother Lodge, Kilwinning 'T^HIS Lodge, (Kilwinning,) is acknowledged to be the Mother of Scottish Masonry, •*■ (it is even doubted if it is not more ancient than York Lodge in England,) and has been carried down with respectability to the present day, and countenanced by the inost eminent Noblemen and Gentlemen of the Kingdom. This is established not only by the records of the Mother Lodge, but also by the following document which :tands upon the records of the Grand Lodge of Scotland ; Mutual Contract and agreement, amongst the worshipful brethren of the Mason Lodge of Pearth and Scoon :— «< In the name of God. Amen. To all and sundrie «' persons to whom these presents do belong, witt ye us the persons under subscribers, " masters, freemen and fellow-craft Masons, residenters within the Burgh of Pearth ; *< that forasmeikle as we and our predecessors have and had from the Temple of "Temples built on this earth (ane uniforme community and union throughout the " whole world,) from which Temple proceeded one in Kilwinning in this our nation " of Scotland, and from that of Kilwinning, there proceeded the abacy and Lodge of ''< Scoon, built by men of airt and architectry, where they placed that Lodge as the se- " cond Lodge within this n.ition, which is now past memorie of many generations and '« was upheld by the Kings of Scotland for the tyme, bot!i at Scoon and the decayed «' city of Pearth when it stood, and now at Pearth head Burgh of the Sheriffdom " thereof to this very day, which is now four hundred three score and five years or *' thereby;" which deed contains a number other clauses, and concludes with the foh lowing attesting clause ; — " In testimony whereof we have subscribed the samen with «' our hands at Pearth the twenty-fourth day of December 1658, signed by all the " members consisting of forty brethren-" It may well be conceived by what a variety of accidents and causes, the records of any society may be lost, destroyed or neglected ; and these causes are not lessened when that society has existed for many centuries in a small country village j indeed it would have been matter of wonder if they had been preserved through tlie various re- volutions in the state and church, and in the decay of the seat of their deliberations and the destruction of the Monastery, when all the records were carried off. Part of them, however, have been since recovered in France. The right exercised by the Mother Lodge, of granting Charters of erection for so many centuries to many Lodges in Scotland, Ireland, America and the West Indies, is a strong proof of Kilwinning being the Mother Lodge of Scotland, "William St. Clair, Earl of Orkney and Caithness, &c. got a grant of the ofhce of , Grand Master from James II. He countenanced the Lodges with his presence, pro- pagated the Royal Art, and built the Chapel of Roilin, that master piece of Gothic Architecture. Masonry now began greatly to flourish through the country, and ir.any noble and stately buildings were reared by the Prince and Nobles during the time of this Grand Master. — By another deed of the same King this office was made hereditary to the said William St. Clair, and his heirs and successors in the Barony of Roslin, The Barons of Roslin proved themselves great patrons of Masonry, in countenancing the Lodges, determining ?U mstters of difference among the brethren, and supporting APPENDIX. 429 with becoming dignity the character of Grand Master Majcn all over Scotland — Tftey held their head court or Grand Lodge at Kilwinning. The brethren met here with hospitality and protection; their peaceable behaviour and generous dispositions, recom- mending them to the notice of the country, they were soon joined by the great and wealthy from all parts. The Lodge of Kilwinning continued to grant Charters of erection to the brethren in other parts, to form themselves into regular Lodges, under proper restrictions of ad- hering to the principles of true old Masonry, and preserving among themselves tlia: harmony and union which ought and always has subsisted among the fraternity. This continued to be the state of Masonry in Scotland till the year 1736, when St. Clair of Roslin, hereditary Grand Master over all Scotland, assembled thirty-two Lodges in and about Edinburgh, and resigned into their hands, all right, claim or title whatever, which he or his successors had to preside as Grand Master over the Masons in Scot- land. The brethren accepted of said resignation, and took under consideration the proper rules and regulations to be observed in the election of a Grand Master on St. Andrew's Day then next. The Grand Lodge of Scotland was then constituted and erected on the 30th day of November 1736, and v/as composed of representatives oi all the Lodges in Scotland, electing office-bearers annually ; so that in fact the Grand Lodge is merely a deputation from all the other Lodges, to legislate for the whole. The Mother Lodge of Kilwinning not having acquiesced in the erection of the Grand Lodge, continued to hold an Independent Lodge as formerly, and grant Char- ters as usual to other Lodges of Masons. Several attempts were made to bring the parties together and to unite in one body the whole Free Masons of Caledonia, but failed till the year 1807, when a committee of five brethren was appointed on die part of the Grand Lodge, and a committee of equal number on the part of Kilwinning Lodge, to bring about so desirable an object, and vested by their respective constitu- ents with full power for the adjustment of their masonic differences. — These met at Glasgow on the 14th day of October 1807, and having exhibited and exchanged their respective powers, and considered the matters in dispute, agreed as follows, viz; — I. That the Mother JCilvviniiing 1 odge shall renounce all right of granting Charters and come in, along with all the Lodges holding under her, to the bosom of the Grand Lodge. II. That all the Lodges, holding off the Kilwinning Lodge, shall be obliged to obtain from the Grand Lodge, confirmations of their respective Charters, for which a iee of three guineas only shall be exigible. III. That the Kilwinning Lodge shall be placed at the head cf the roll of the Grand Lodge, under the denomination of the Mother Kilwinning ; and her daughter Lodges shall, in the mean time, be placed at the end ot the said roll, and as they shall apply for confirmations ; — but under this express declaration, that so soon as the roll sh.ill be arranged and corrected, which is in present contemplation, the Lodges holding off Mother Kilwinnii:g, shall be entitled to be ranked according to the dates of their original Charters, and of those granted by the Grand Lodge. IV. That Mother Kilwinning, and her daughter Lodges, shall have the same interest in, and management of, the funds of the Grand Lodge, as the otlier Lodges now holding off her. The Kilwinnii'g Lodge contributing annually to the said funds, a sum not less than two shillings anil six pence sterling for each en- trant ; and her daughter Lodges contributing in the same manner as the present Lodges holding off the Grand Lodge. -V. That the Master of Kilwinning i^odge, und his successors in office in all iime coming, shail be Provincial Grand' Master over the Ayrshire district. These five articles of agreement by the Commifces have been solemnly ratified and approven of, by both the Grand Lodge of Scotland and the Motlier Kilwinning Lodge, which puts at final rest all masonic schism on the subject. Besides the Mother Lodge, Kilwinning, there are the following Lodges at preserri inord Keniiuiir joined him with 40 horse from the West. Colonel Blackadder also came witli about 30 horse that he had got in Fyfo. The Laird of IM'Naughton came with 12 horse. There were between 60 and 80 of the Low Country men without horses, but well pro- vided with arms, under th? conduct of Captain James Plamilton, brother to the Laird of Milnburn — thoy were called to a niclcnanie Cravats. << Colonel Kydd, Governor of Stirling, being informed that the King's forces were come so near, marched with most part of his regiment of foot and troop of horse to Aberfoil, within three miles of Lord Glencairn. His Lordship having intelligence, did march with the small force he l>ad to the passage at Aberfoil, and drew up his foot very advantageously, and the horse which were commanded by Lord Kenmurc formed the wings. He gave orders for Captain Hamilton's Cravats and Deuchrie's men to receive the first charge, which they did very gallantly, and at the very first made the enemy retire. The General perceiving this, commanded the Highlanders to pursue, as also Lord Kenmure's horse. On this the enemy began to run in earnest. They lost about 60 men on the spot, and it was said about 80 in the pursuit ; — no prisoners were taken on either side. «» His Lordship received reinforcements daily, and then marched tb Lochearn, and from that to Loch Ranoch, where at the Hall in the isle of the Loch, the Chiefs of the Clans met him. From thence he dispatched commissions to the Lowlands for men and horse and for seizing ail the arm* they could find. — Several of the Clans joined him here. The Laird of Glengary brought 300 men ; Cameron of Lochiel 400 ; the tutor of JNI'Grigor 200 ; Sir Arthur Forbes, and Gerard Irvine his Lieut.- Coloncl, and several ofiicers, came with about 80 men on horseback. The Earl of Athol likewise brought- 100 horse, and a regiment of brave foot consisting of 120O men, commanded by Andrew Drummond, brother of Sir James Drummond of Ma- hany, his Lieut.-Colonel. — ^Those Noble persons gave commissions to several of their friends to go to the Lowlands and levy what men they could. The army then march- ed down towards the Marquis of Huiitlie's bounds, where several Gentlemen came in. —The Laird of Invery had a rendezvous in Cromar for uplifting a regiment. General Morgan, who lay at Aberdeen, being informed of the day of their meeting, drew out of the several garrisons 2000 foot and 1000 dragoons, and marched with these against us day and night, we not having intelligence. He fell in with our outer guards, and pursued them so hotly that our forces had much ado to draw up ; but John Graham of Deuchrie, with 40 of his men, gave the enemy a smart fire, and by good fortune killed the OfEcer who commanded this party, which would have entered the glen be- fore us, but the loss of their commander checked their career. « In the mean time Lord Kenmure, who commanded the van, marched witlr great haste to our relief. The foot took the glen on both sides, which led us to the Laird of Grant's ground, called Abernethy Wood. Morgan having now gotten up his> foot, ordered them to march up the glen after ours, he himself charging at the moutli of the glen. Lord Glencairn seeing him pursue so hotly, kept the rear witii some- Gentlemen, and would not change his horse, though he was mounted on a nag not worth 100 merks Scots. Those who waited on him were the Laird of M'Naughton; Sir Mungo Murray, who killed one of the enemy's ofScers as tkcy entered the pass ; Nathaniel Gordon's son, a brave Gentleman ; Major Ogilvic ; Captain Ochtrie Camp- bell ; Captain John Rutherford, who wants a leg ; Colonel Blackadder ; the Laird of Glengary; Lord M ; horse ; « and I hope," says he, " you will fight me on foot."—" You carle," says the Earl, « I will let you knov/ that I am, a match. for you, either on foot or horseback ;" and, at the first bout he gave Sir George a sore stroke on the brow about an inch above" his eyes, which bled so much that he could not see. His Lordship was going to thrust ' him through tht body, when Johji White his man pushed by his sword, and said, " you have enough of himmy Lord." His Lordship in a passion gave John a slap- over the shoulders, and then mounted his horse and rode home, whilst Munro had' much to do to get to his qur.rters on account of the bleeding Middleton being in- formed of this, instantly sent Captain Ochtrie Campbell, and put Lord Glencairn un-- der arrest, and took his parole not to disobey. , This happened on a Sunday niorning. — Soon after this a Captain Livingston, a partizan of Munro, had a quarrel with a Gentleman named James Lindsay, on the part of Lord Gkncairn. They met and' fought, when Lindsay Jiilled him on the spot ; and notwithstanding of all Lord Glen- cairn could do to save him, he was shot by a sentence of a Court Martial. 'J'hisren- ' dered the breach wider and wider betwixt the parties. Hisiordship therefore came to the resolution of retiring from Middleton altogether. So his Lordship on that dSy : fortnight, after the duel was fought, set out for the south. He took no more than - his own troop with, him, and some Gentlemen volunteers that were not allotted to any particular corps ; in all about 100 horse. . We marched by the Laird of Essen's bounds ' (Assint); Middleton having notice of this^ seat a strong- party to bring him back or to fight him ; but the Laird of Assint offered his services to secure the passes so that no ' army could come near him that night. . His JiOrdship accepted of the favour — and' making no delay in his march proceeded next day for Kintail, where be was very ' kindly received by the Gentlemen of Lord Seaforth's name, and stayed there some days to refresh his men and horses. From this he proceeded to J,,och Brune ; from ' thence to Lochaber ; and next to Loch Ranach ; and then to Killin, at the head of Loch Tay, where he rested for eight days, till Sir -George JMaxwell, his own l»ieut.-^ Colonel, had brought him about 100 horse. ♦' The Earl of Selkirk here joined him with .about 60^ horse, and Lord Forrester, with little Major Strachan ; and one who was under the name of Captain Gordon — but whose real name was Portugus, an Englishman—with 80 horse : he was afterw.ards hanged at the Cross of Edinburgh, by the Commonwealth men, for having formerly - deserted from tliem. Several more joined him with .their men, but his Lordship thought fit to send them to Gen. Middleton, that the King's service might not suffer, and they went accordingly. He continued to travel by easy journeys, being weakly in his health, with none with him but his own servants and some few Gentlemen that had commissions. He came at last to Leven, and took up his quarters with the Laird of Luss at Rosedoe, He again levied some men in the Lowlands, and within a month ' had got together about 200 horse.— General Middleton, whom we left in the end of April, in Sutherland, marched into Caithness, expecting reinforcements from Lord Seaforth and Rae, that Munro had assured him of, but was disappointed. From this he marched south.-r-Monk now commanded in Scotland; and had a considerable force..- APPENDIX. 439 Calling out what men could be spared from garrisons, he gave part of his army to Morgan — and both set out from Aberdeen by different roads, but still near each other, for the Highlands, in search of Middleton. <« Middleton marched to Lochgarie, -where there was a small town' at which he meant to encamp all night, but Morgan who had the same intentron, got there be- fore him, neither of them having intelligence of the other. The two van guards got immediately into action. There was no ground f»r drawing up — the glen being so very narrow, that hardly could two or three march abreast. Middleton finding this, commenced a retreat, his van then becoming the rear, and that being the place where the English Gentlemen in his army were posted, they behaved most gallantly. Morgan pursued very close, till at last he made himself master of the General's sumptuary where his Commission was and all his papers — and pressed so hard that the King's army ran as fast as they could and in great confusion. There was no great slaughter, as night came on soon after they were engaged. Every man shifted for himself and went where he best could. Some few kept with the General, but where they went I can give no account. He appeared in arms, no more after this, but went over to his mas-- ter in Flanders. " Many of Lord Glencairn's men who were in this engagement returned to him and offered their services at Rosedoe j but he told them that the King's interest was now broken in Scotland, by the shameful flight at Lochgarrie, and that he now intend- ed to capitulate for himself and those that were with him, and if they pleased they might be included. They, after deliberation, agreed to his proposal ; and which, af- ter some negotiation with General Monk, was accomplished on the 4th Sept. 1654, aiKl that same night Lord Glencairn returned to his house of Finlayston." FROM THE CHARTER CHEST OF THE BURGH OF IRVINE.— See p. 4I2o 1. ROBERT by the Grace of God King of the Scots, To all good men of this • -whole country, Greeting. Know ye that -w e have granted and by this our present Cliarter confirmed to the Burgesses of Irwyn and to their successors living in the said ' Bufgh, that they be free and acquit from paym.ent of all toll- and custom on their chat- tells carried through our v/hole Kingdom, as is moire fully contained in a Charter granted for that purpose to the said Burgesses- by Lord Alexander the second of ven- erable memory formerly King of the Scots our predecessor. We have also added and granted and by this our present Charter do confirm for ourselves and our heirs tothe said Burgesses and their successors, that they be altogether acquit and perfectly free from the toll which they v/ere wont to pay in our Burgh of Are before this our present Charter. Therefore, we strictly order under pain of full forfeiture, that no one contrary to this our grant- presume to vex oppress or disturb the said Burgesses or their successors. In testimony of which we have caused our -seal to be appended to this our present Charter. Witnesses, Bernard Abbot of Arbroth our Chancellor, Walter, Steward of Scotland j James Lord of Douglas, Gilbert de Ha>ye oar Constable, and Robert de Keth our Marischal Knight. At Glasgow the twelfth day of May in rtie seventeenth year of our reign. 2. In the name-of God. Amen. Let it evidently appear to all men by this public Instrument, That in the year from the incarnation of our Lord one thousand ' foiir hundred and forty -four, lii the se'.cnth Indiction on the twelfth day of May and in' the -fourteenth year of the Popeship of the most Holy Father in Christ Lord Euge- nius IV. Pope, In presence of me Notary Public and of the -witnesses subscribing- being personally ^constituted, a good man John Spens Baillie of the Burgh of Erwin publically shewed certain evidents or Indentures made betwixt the Burgesses of the' said Burgh of Erwin and Lord Godfrey de Ross, sealkd by the seal of the said God— • frey de Ross and delivered them to be re^d over, of which the tenor follows in thcso-- 440 APPEVDIX, words, '