Kirkoswald

	Notes on the way through Ayrshire - 100 years ago KIRKOSWALD PARISH ON the shore, north-west of Dailly. The village of Kirkoswald stands near Milton Burn, on its north-west side, one mile and a half east of the shore, and four miles south-west of Maybole; is a graceful looking old place, having Established and Free Churches, a public school, a post office, several shops, an inn, and the businesses of joiner, mason, blacksmith, tailor, and shoemaker. Population in 1871, 302. It possesses much interest in association with Burns, who spent here his nineteenth summer, residing with a maternal uncle, Mr. Samuel Brown, at Ballochneil, a mile and a quarter south-west, down the burn, and attending Mr. Rogers’ " noted school " in the village, where he studied ‘mensuration, surveying, dialling, &c." His uncle was a small farmer and miller, and also brewed and sold home-brewed ale. Of the customers who frequented the mill were Douglas Graham, farmer in Shanter, over a hill near the shore, and John Davidson, shoemaker at Jameston, near the shore-the famous "Tam o’ Shanter and Souter Johnny." The old house at Ballochneil is extinct. In the Churchyard are the tombstones of Tam o’ Shanter and Souter Johnny, and on that of the former are the lines- " She taud thee weel thou wast a skellum, A blethering, blustering, drunken blellum." Here also are the honoured graves of a number of Burns’ maternal ancesters, which have been recently monumented anew. The Poet inherited most of his wisdom from his father, but the poetic gift-the boundless love and humour, tender pathos and music - seems to have come to him more through his mother. The credulous and superstitious old woman who resided in the family, and had in her memory such a vast collection of fairy tales and songs, which she poured into him, and which, he says, "cultivated the latent seeds of poetry," was a relative of his mother. He mentions also another relative of his mother, an old man, whose greatest enjoyment was to sit down and "greet" while she-the Poet’s mother, then a young girl-sang to him ‘The Life and Age of Man." The little village of MAIDENS, on the shore, has a new yacht-building yard belonging to the Marquess of Ailsa, whose seat of Culzean Castle stands on the edge of a high sea-cliffe, about two miles north-west of Kirkoswald. The castle was built about 1775, and has a very noble aspect. Its ornamental forest and grounds-traversed by miles of drives and walks-and its gardens are very fine and extensive. Turnberry Castle, now a poor old ruin, occupies an eminence whose rocky feet are laved by the sea waves at the Earls of Carrick. Margaret, widowed Countess of Carrick, married Robert Bruce, Lord of Annandale. Her son, Robert Bruce, born March 21, 1274, at the age of 17 became one of nine competitors for the crown of Scotland (or ten, including Edward of England). Accounts of the various means by which this most indefatigable character overcame his Scottish rivals must always be contumelious; and we shall mention only how he ultimately vanquished his English enemy by leading an army of 40,000 Scotch against an army of 100,000 English, led by Edward II. of England, at Bannockburn, June 24, 1313, when the English were ignominiously defeated and sent reeling home with their Norman King, leaving 30,000 of their number dead on the field, amongst whom were 200 knights and 700 squires; continued the war, by invading England, until that country was thoroughly subdued and a treaty of peace, on his own terms, signed at Northampton, March 4, 1328. Having thus seen the reparation of his own and his country’s honour and independence, King Robert I. died June 7, 1329, aged 55 years. He was interred in the Abbey of Dunfermline. Crossraguel Abbey, a magnificent fabric in ruin, stands two and a half miles from Kirkoswald, on the road to Maybole. It was founded in 1260. The surface of the parish is charmingly diversified with little hills and hollows, woods and scattered trees, corn, green crop, and grass fields, intersected by the courses of brilliant burns, here and there deepening into shrubby glens. Its length, along the shore to a little south of Dowhill, is seven miles; and from Kilkerran Sawmill, on the Girvan, westward by the acid works in Glenshalloch Wood, to the shore, its greatest width is fully six miles. Area, 14,861 acres. 1846; in 1881, 1751. Population in 1871, KIRKOSWALD KIRK SESSION 20^TH JANUARY 1812 Inhabited houses in the parish of Kirkoswald 310 Uninhabited houses 14 Houses and buildings 2 No of families in the parish 338 Families employed in agriculture 184 Families employed in trades 79 Families having no fixed employment 75 No of males in the parish 785 No of females in the parish 903 Total Population of the parish 1,688 The session order the above list to be recorded in the book of records of session for preservation in the book of records of the session for preservation conform to act of parliament. Kirkoswald 7^th August 1836 Session being met and cond present Mr Inglis Modr. John McLachlan, John Davidson, John Dick, David Orr and Robert McMillan elders. They unanimously agreed that Wednesday first be the fit as a day of fasting and prayer and the same to be intimated to the congregation on that afternoon. Closed with a prayer. Afternoon, the Modr read over to the session the young communicant roll all which being approved the roll was delivered to D McCubbin Session Clerk to be inserted in the session records which was as follow. Young Communicants 1836 1. Agnes Mc McIIwraith - Burnfoot 28. Thomas Murray - Dunnymurk? 2. Quinten Blair - Carshallan 29. William Clark - Duppall 3. William Ramsay - -N. Mains 30. Willm Couperwhaite - Lagdarry 4. Elizabeth Walker - Village 31. Isabella Guthrie - Turnberry 5. Robert Gray - Village 32. Catherine Campbell - Ballochillie 6. Mary Davidson - Dalziellzee 33. Marion Fulton - Glentern 7. Robert Smith - Drumbain 34. James McMillan - Ballochillie 8. Jean Kennedy - Howshear 35. James Orr - Turnberry 9. Catherine Smith - Drumbain 36. Catherine McIIwraith - Village 10. Margaret Murray - Dunnymuch 37. Ann McMurtie - Drumbeg 11. Janet Galloway - Thomaston 38. Henry Corrie - Cullean Farm 12. Elizabeth Galloway - Thomaston 29. John Hannay - Wildholm? 13. James Gemmell - Greenwills 30. Elizth Spiers - Monkland 14. Margaret Gemmell - Greenwills 31. Hugh Roy - Dunnymuch 15. John Gordon - Wearynock 32. David ………? - Glenhead 16. Isobell Gordon - Wearynock 33. Grace Gray - Village 17. Helen Bodan - Douglaston 34. James Tweed - Rochram 18. William Murray - Blackquarter 35. James Currie - Ballochneil 19. Helen McFergous - Village 36. Robert McMaster - Village 20. James McIIwraith - Ardolchan 37. Willm Mc Clatchie - Village 21. Thomas McFadyen - Ardlochan 38. Robert Nutt - Dalwhat 22. Mary Galloway - Hogton 39. Andrew Sloan - Belvaird 23. James Rae - Lagonhully 40. David Campbell - Village 24. Janet Rae - Lagonhully 41. Agnes Bodan - Ardlochan 25. Jean Muir - Chapeltown 42. John Ross - Rapede 26. Agnes Cowperwhaite 43. Jean Davidson - Douglaston 27. Mary Marshall - Seafield 44. William McDougall from Dailly. Kirkoswald 11^th August 1833 Wednesday first was appointed the fast day, and the modr having read over the young communicants names to the session, they approved of them and delivered the toll of them to the clerk to be inserted in the records viz Margaret Bodon Bogside James Douglas Village Jean Blane Carscallean Mary Merton Village James Blane Carscallean Martha McMahon Belvaird John Ferguson Carscallean Alexander McHutchison Curvuston David Ramsay Howshear James Paton Fordencallenn Jean Stevenson Murray Village Elizabeth Campbell Village James Graham Dalwhat Janet Tait Durmmuch Charles Davidson Glenhead William McLaw Ardlochan Barbara Thomson Dunnymuch Rossana Davidson Pathhead Margaret McFadzean Ball? Jane Bodan Wearynoak Ann Caldwell McCartown Elizabeth Campbell Turnberry Mary Thomson Dunnymuch Richard Stewart Ballochneil Agnes Murray Drumhill Hanah Davidson Village William Crawford Stepind Ann Mayfield Village Agnes Blain Bone Helen Hanah Douglaston James Muir Bone James Davidson Douglaston Agnes McClatchy F. Lote? Hugh Underwood Traduncohe? Mary McClatchy Dowhill Kirkoswald 10^th August 1834 Session being met. & Constituted present the Revd. James Inlgis Modr, John Dick, Robert McMillan, William Herron and John Davidson Elders. The following persons elected by the session and having been duly served with an Elect on sabbath the 27^th July last, and no objections having been offered by the congregation, they were ordained elders and their names are this day ordered to be added to the list of session members, namely John McLachlan esq Blair, John Hardy wright Duppal and David Orr merchant Village …. The session concluded with a prayer. 10^th August 1834 Communicants John Davidson Glenhead Sarah Ross Broadshian Mary McJannet Village James Boyle Village Jean Findlay L. Glensure Robert McCulloch Croftengee Mary Ann Hector Drumrow James Gilmore Belchrister John Brown Kirkoswald Margt Gibson Auchinblain Peter Murdoch Kirkoswald Mary Kennedy Village Marion Hendry Blainfield John McCall Culleen garden Janet McClure Littleton Janet Nichol Village Matthew McMaster Village William McCormech Croftengee John Fuller Dalzellee Farm Dalry Mary McJanet Cullean Janet Eaglesome Village John Hendry Auchinblain Agnes McFadgean Dalzellzer William Dick Village Jean Hector Mauston Alexander Leggat Village Robert Eaglesome Broadshian Janet Paton Barsloan Ann Merchant Muirhead James Leggat Woodhead Communicant Roll 1835 James Fulton Jameston Anne McJannet Cullean Entry William Ross Sandhouse Andw Stevenson Laffenwyne John Stewart Bone Walter Stevenson Laffenwyne Hugh Ross Sandhouse John Love Village Janet Wright Orchard Hill Mary Wright Glenshalloch Elizabeth Smith Hollowshear Grace Alexander Glenlon? James McMillan Dowhill fm Balantrae Hugh McReddie? Ballochilen Agnes Ferguson Middlerig Alexander Bryce Glencose Margaret Stewart Hogston Helen Bodan Wearymuuh Sarah Ross Belvaird Allan Boyle Village Gilbert Cooper Orhardhill Alexander Cook Village fm Kilmore Agnes Blackwood Dowhill Andrew Bryson Dalzelzie James Blackwood Dowhill James Bryson Dalzelzie Thomas Smith Kirkoswald James Gray Ardlochan Jane Ramsay H Mains Peter Caldwell N Cawston Katherine Ramsay S Mains KIRKOSWALD 13^TH MARCH 1813 We the under subscribers taking into our consideration that it would be advisable to raise a fund by subscription to be applied for reducing the price of oatmeal to poor householders within this parish. That the Heritors, tenants and other respectable inhabitants should be required to join in the subscription and when the same is closed that the fund be put into the hands of a committee to lay out in the purchase of meal and who should also direct the distribution of it in quantities of not more than two pecks in a fourtnight to any one family till towards the next harvest, when the committee may increase the quantity if they see the funds will admit of it. The committee to consist of the Minister the members of the Kirk Session, and William Fergusson of Littleton, John MCCroll Kirkoswald, William Caldwell in Morriston, John Niven Balochneil, John Rodger Dalwhat, Jean Niven Belchusten?, Alexander Kennedy SMains, David Law Drumbain, Thos Fulton Jameston and David McCubbin Schoolr to be Clerk. Name of subscribers of meal gratis Boll Fer p Revd Mr James Inglis Kirkoswald 1 2 - pd James Fergusson of Littleton 1 2 - pd William Caldwell in Morriston 1 2 - pd John McCroll Kirkoswald 1 - - pd David Law Drumbain 1 - - pd Mr Caddel of Ladybank 1 1 2 pd David White Turnberry 1 - - pd John Niven Ballochneil - 1 1 pd Alexr H--vion ? Howshear - 1 1 pd In all 11 - - Distd by Com Names of subscribers at 1/- per peck David Ramsay in Downhill…………………………. 1 - - Distd by John Crawford in Airds …………………………….. - 2 - ? George Samson in Glenshalloch …………………… - 1 - to poor in Quinten Fergusson Carrkalloch ……………………. - - 2 Kirksowald ? 1 3 2 Names of subscribers of Money £ s d John McKelvie E Drumbain ……………………. - 10 6 pd Alexr Kennedy S. Mains ……………………….. - 10 6 pd John Murray Drumurkan? ……………………… - 10 - pd Robert McFadzean S. Thrave ………………….. - 10 6 pd John McHutcheion Glentice …………………… - 10 - pd John Muir Chapeltown …………………………. - 10 - pd John Rodger Dalwhat …………………………… - 10 - pd William Fergusson Drumdow ………………….. - 10 - pd James McNab Glentice …………………………. - 10 - pd John Caldwell Ballochneil ……………………… - 5 - pd John Murray Drumoch ………………………….. - 5 - pd John Cathcart Dallylung ………………………… - 2 6 pd Robert Wilson Drumbeg ………………………… - 10 - pd James Crawford Cairnhill ……………………….. - 4 - pd John Sloan McQuirton ………………………….. - 10 - pd Mrs McKinnon Park ……………………………. - 10 - pd Names of subscribers of Money £ s d Alexander Kay Village. ……………………………… - 5 - pd Gilbert McCroll Village ………………………… - 8 - pd John McQuater Caldwelltown …………………... - 5 - pd David Dickie Rollinmop………………………. - 10 6 pd William Ramsay Mains …………………………. - 2 6 pd John Ross Broadshear …………………………… - 10 - pd James Eaglesham Markland ……………………. - 10 - pd Thomas Fullon Jameston ……………………….. 2 - - pd John McLaw ? ……………………….. 1 - - pd William Gray Bogside …………………………. 1 - - pd David Bodan Douglaston ………………………. 1 1 - pd Mrs Hamilton Ballochillie ……………………… 1 - - pd Thomas Wright Stepinds ……………………….. - 2 6 pd Adam Niven Belchurlen ……………………….. 1 1 - pd Alexr McMaster overseer Cullean …………….. - 5 - pd Marion McCrindle Servt Cullean ……………… - 1 - pd John Limont plowman Cullean ………………… - 2 6 pd John Newcastle plowman Cullean …………….. - 3 - pd John Kennedy wright Cullean …………………. - 3 - pd Andrew McKinnon ? Cullean ………………… - 3 - pd John Lochart ? …………………………………. - 3 - pd William Reid Servt Cullean …………………… - 4 - pd Richd Wallace Servt Cullean ………………….. - 3 - pd 18 1 - David Newcastle Tradunock? …………………. - 5 - James Fullon Glenlice ………………………….. 5 - £ 18 6 -
	1791-99 and 1845 Statistical Accounts
	Map of Kirkoswald today This Link takes you to the MULTIMAP website where you will find a map of the town and the surrounding area as it is today. You can zoom in and out and move around in all directions.
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	Old Maps of Ayrshire Place Names This link goes directly to the OLD MAPS website for an Ayrshire Index to detailed old maps of most Ayrshire Towns around 1860. You can explore out to all sides by using the arrows at the top of the page. These maps are ideal for finding the locations of areas such as farms.