A Genealogical History

Of
The Mcilwraith Family of
Auchenflower,
Drummurchie &
Knockdolian
Carrick, Ayrshire,
Scotland
By Duncan van Reijswoud February 2012

Written for my Mcilwraith ancestors who lived centuries ago

in Ayrshire, Scotland
and in special memory of
Andrew Mcilwraith of Auchinflour (Auchenflower)
who died in 1674
James Mcilwraith in Auchinflour 1691 &
also in memory of Robert Mcilraith 1755 - 1845 & Anne Mochrie

The early Mcilwraith family history is extremely confusing. The

problem is that there were several Mcilwraith’s around at the same
time in the same area with the same Christian names. The
Drummurchie & Auchenflower Mcilwraith lines are no exception, as
shall be explained in this book. Documentation has been located
from many sources and has been transcribed. This has enabled us
to reconstruct much of the Mcilwraith family genealogy. The
findings below are the result of years of research conducted by
two historians, myself in Australia and Colin McNally in Carrick,
Ayrshire.

Ancient Mcilwraith References In Carrick, Ayrshire

For hundreds of years, the surname Mcilwraith, can be found,

widespread within various parts of Ayrshire in Southern Carrick,
Scotland. During the 15th century strange variations of the name

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appear. Interestingly there is an argument that the ancient
surname ‘Makgilhaugh’ is not part of the Mcilwraith ancestry.
However I am sure that ‘Makgilhaugh’ is an old variation of
Mcilwraith, as well as belonging to a few other Scottish surnames.

My arguments being that writing back then would have been a skill
few possessed, and therefore the written word would depend on
the accent of the person speaking and how the writer interpreted
that. The spelling Mcilwraith therefore only appears in the
beginning of the 16th century. The probability is that several
Scottish surnames were formed in the 16th Century from the
Makgilhaugh spelling in the 15th Century. It would only take one
male to adapt the variation of MacIleriach, with offspring who
would continue to use that spelling and other further variations.

Some variations of the early Mcilwraith name are Darroch,

MacIlreach, MacIlriach, MacIleriach, Reoch, MacIlwraith, MacRaith,
MacIlrevie, Revie, Bowie, and many others. These surnames are
synonyms for Mac-Gille-Riabhaich.

Duncan Darroch of Gourock, chief that ancient name, the

patronymic of which is M'Iliriach ", showing that 'Iliriach was the
progenitor of this sept. The by-name of Darrach, so says tradition,
was applied to one of the MacIleriach’s, who, in some clan foray,
distinguished himself by the good use he made of an oak staff.

Darroch is a form of the name found in Islay and Jura, The late
Lord Lyon King of Arms, lists 'Darroch' among the septs of Clan
Donald proper as opposed to the other divisions of the Clan
Donald such as Clanranald, Glengarry, Glencoe, etc.

Black’s book ‘The Surnames Of Scotland’ on page 314 gives us the

above versions of the surname, among other spellings. He states
in his book Macillrick & Mcilwraith to be common in Ayrshire. Black
also stated; that a money allowance was given to Andrew, son of
John Make Gille Reue, a Scots hostage who died in Carlisle prison
in 1300. It is thought these two men maybe the earliest recorded
ancestors of the Mcilwraith family.

As seen in the Privy Council records of the 16th century, we have

one Sir Archibald McGillewray in 1539 and 1548. From the first

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part of Sir Alexander’s surname, is the spelling MCGill versus
MaKgil from Makgilhaugh. In 1539 we have record of the same Sir
Archibald, with his surname spelt McIlwray! McIlwray is very close
to Mcilwraith. Makilwraith or Makilwraite is also appearing around
this time. Mac-Gille-Riabhaich, Makgilhaugh, Makilwraith, McIlwray
& Mcilwraith are in my view all connected.

A notable coincidence connected to the surname can be found in

the Blaeu Atlas of Scotland 1653, there is a place called
‘Mackleyich’, which sits north of Auchensoul in Ayrshire. Again, this
is within the Mcilwraith heartland. The naming convention is very
close to that of the McIlwraith name. It may just be co-incidence
or it could be an area named by some of the original family.

I have tried to identify those I feel belonged to the Mcilwraith

ancestry (including the spelling Makgilhaugh) in the 15th century,
starting with these;

Finlay McGilhauch [burgess of Dumfries]; 1444 & 1454

John and Sir Walter McGilhauch, in Dumfries; both are chaplains

and witnesses and John is the notary of the document, dated
1459.

Patrick McKylwayn and Martin McMwlayn, witnesses to charter at

Sanquhar in 1465. These two men are obviously brothers. The
two brothers even have a different spelling of their surname.
These two men, Patrick and Martin are I feel most definitely
ancestors of the Mcilwraith’s in Carrick. There was a Martin
Mcilwraith more than one hundreds years later and several Patrick
Mcilwraiths around in the 17th century. I understand that in those
times, it was normal tradition to pass Christian names down
through each generation.

Written Mcilwraith histories show in 1465 that a Thomas de

Macgilhauche or M’Ylhauch was a rector of Tynwald. Note the first
spelling variation carefully equal to the document spellings from
1444 - 1459. Not many years later we find:

In 1471 a Malcolm Makgilhauch in Wigtown

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In 1490 a John Makgilhauch, a chaplain Wigtown

In 1497 again Malcolm Makgilhauch, a Baillie in Wigtown

(Baillie
means A town magistrate corresponding to an alderman in
England)

Duncan, Thomas and Neil Makilwraith – respited for the murder of

Cornelius de Machtema, Ducheman and for ‘all crime and action
that may follow thereupon; and also for the slaughter of umquhile
(deceased) Martyne Kennedy and Gilbert Makilwraith…’ This seems
to suggest that they killed their own brother Gilbert Mcilwraith
dated 18th Jun. 1526

So from this we can suggest that Duncan, Thomas, Neil and

Gilbert were brothers. Why the three of them murdered Gilbert is
not clear. More records can be found around this time;

Gilbert Makilwraith, March 1525-26, James Kennedy of Blairquhan

gets the goods of Thomas Corry of Kelwood and Patrick Mure of
Cloancard who were fugitives after slaughtering Gilbert
Makilwraith.

This below is possibly a fifth brother or a nephew being killed.

These would be revenge attacks and continued on for sometime.

Patrick McIlwrick at Cragneil ‘has been crewly slain’ at Craigneil by

the now deceased James Kennedy in Schallauch of Glentig and his
servant Neil Boyd. 24th Mar. 1537-38.

Here is another strange variation of the surname;

Donald McGillerewich denounced as a rebel with others, 4th Sept.

1547 /48. Donald seems to have been part of the battle of Pinkie.

More killings;

Gilbert Mcilwraith who in 1550 was slain by Robert Grahame of

Knockdolian and Duncan McIlwryk, who there is a reference as
being alive 27th Aug. 1550 in Colmonell. Duncan McKilleway, is
listed as murdered by 15th Mar. 1553.

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Some years earlier appearing in records is;

Donald McGilliwe & Duncan McGilliwe – both referring to the

slaughter of Duncan by Morris McCawis and Donald Dow McWeyr,
dated 31 Oct 1543 Some more name variations follow;

Sir Archibald McGillewray, rector of Kildalton, Islay 8th Jan.

1548/49. The Sir indicates he was a Chaplain.

Gilbert Makilwrayth in Trolorg fugitive for slaughter of James

Ballany, 2nd Aug. 1568

Donald and Malcolm Makilwreid respited, 12th May 1568, within

the next 50 years the Christian names Donald and Malcolm are
used in the Mcilwraith family.

(Respited means ‘a temporary stay of execution; reprieve’ vb)

John McIlwrath – witness to charter at Girvan, Ayr – 1535/6

Sir Archibald McIlwray – witness to a charter at Linlithgow –

1539/40 definitely the same man shown in 1548 but the spelling
has then changed to McGillewray.

William Makkraicht, witness to charters at Kirkbean, Kirkcudbright

in 1556

Sir James McWerarthe, of Kyngarth, witnessed a charter dated 27

May 1567. He was probably another chaplain.

The Mcilwraith’s of Drummurchie

In 1544 Rodger Mcylwrath was witness to a charter (NRS Boyd

Boxes, SC6/87/2/50/1) at Drummurchie. This is the earliest
mentions of a Mcilwraith in Drummurchie, sometime spelt
Dinmurchie. On an ancient map of South Carrick appears a
mansion house on the north Dunmurchie side. There also appears
to be a little Dunmurchie The map was drawn in 1654. On the map
in this case the farm was called Dunmurchie, not Dinmurchie. It
was a short horse ride away from Auchinflour and Knockdolian hill.

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Mcilwraith’s can be found in all the surrounding farm estates
throughout the centuries.

In 1572 we find the next Mcilwraith living at Drummurchie. In the

testament of Adam Boyd of Penkill we find Adam Boyd has died in
1572. In the long list of names is found Martin Mcilwraith in
Drummurchie being owed 1 firlot of meal or price thereof. The
name Martin as shown 100 years earlier must have been common
for a Christian name through the generations.

(Firlot means ‘The fourth part of a boll’. (a))

I should point out in these ancient times the importance of the

descriptions ‘in’ and ‘of’ when referring to a person’s position as to
land. Where you see ‘in’ Drummurchie (after someone’s name),
this refers simply to the fact that the person was living at that
estate, but not owning or renting it. However where one reads ‘of’
Drummurchie the situation is different. This would usually indicate
an owner or someone who had a heritable rent for the farm. Lastly
someone who was in life-rent of the estate would have ‘of’ and not
‘in’ after their name.

(Heritable means adj., n. Also †heretable. I. adj. Capable of being

inherited, applied in Sc. Law to that form of property, houses,
lands and rights pertaining to these, which goes by inheritance to
the heir-at-law, as opposed to Moveable (q.v.) property, personal
belongings, and the like, which descends to the next of kin. The
term corresponds to real in Eng. Law. Hence, in practice, heritable
comes to mean pertaining to houses or lands.)

It is highly possible that Martin Mcilwraith, a farmer in

Drummurchie, maybe the son of Rodger Mcilwraith who as stated,
witnessed a charter there in 1544. There is, however, no proof of
the connection between Rodger and Martin Mcilwraith’s. More than
likely they were related. In the early 1600s we find other
Mcilwraith’s about.

In modern times some genealogists seem to think that just

because they see an heir in a Sasine description, it must be the
deceased son; and or just because someone with the same
surname in the same place this means that they were father and

6
son. Many genealogist fall into the trap of not investigating the full
text of ancient documents. As a result I have seen many
genealogies incorrectly list persons as their ancestors. Just why
genealogists do this, I do not know.

There is an example of an incorrect Mcilwraith misplaced on the

family tree later in this book. The worst sin of all is just because
an author has written a genealogical history of a family, persons
copy it without authenticating the research. One must check
sources and transcribe documents properly!

Modern day internet genealogy sites are also guilty of linking

names together just because they have the same surname, at the
right time. The inexperienced genealogist simply cannot just select
a name from a list because it looks ok. Proof of a connection is
always required.

I will try my best in this book to clear up a huge genealogical error

concerning Gilbert Mcilwraith of Drummurchie who died in 1693,
and his daughter Mary. Poor Mary has been mixed up with another
Mary Mcilwraith. One author even wrote that it was world wide
accepted that the said Gilbert was an ancestor of the Mcilwraith of
Auchenflower line. I have shown in a later part of this book, that
this statement is totally incorrect. Several Gilbert Mcilwraith’s were
alive at the same time.

Now, back to early Mcilraith’s in Carrick. We find one Duncan

McGillereach in Fardenroch alive in 1503. Two years later also
found in the privy seal register is Malcolm Macklerach in Garden
20th Aug 1505. Most likely the two men were related. In the next
30 years the name Malcolm does not seem to be used among
Mcilwraith members. However we have earlier variations with the
Christian name Malcolm. Duncan was used up to as late as 1550
as a Christian name. One assumes therefore that Duncan
McGillereach has had several sons. No conclusive proof is found to
better show the relationship between Mcilwraith’s 1500 – 1550.
More than likely Duncan McGillereach is the father of the one
mentioned in 1526 therefore being the father of Neil, Thomas and
Gilbert.

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More than likely Rodger Mcilwraith in 1544 was descended from
Duncan or Malcolm. Unfortunately there is no documentation to
prove this as there were several other Mcilwraith’s about at the
time.

FARDENREOCH – located in the South Carrick map 1654 on the

right bank of the Duisk, 1 mile South East of Pinwherry. The farm
estate sits at 600 feet on Pinmore hill. On the map it is spelt
Farding and next to it is Knockbreck. Farden was home to
Mcilwraith’s from about 1503 till at least the early 18th century.
Though Duncan McGillereach was there in 1503 it is not known if
anyone earlier than Duncan was living there. With regard to the
Malcolm Macklerach in Garden, I think this maybe an error in the
Privy Seal and that the place name should read in Farden. Was
Malcolm the father of Duncan? Or were they brothers?

Another earlier mention in Carrick is found in 1485 in Cawdor,

where one Donald Makgillereoch witnessed a charter. Donald
again could be related to Duncan & Malcolm. The relationship is
not clear. There is also recorded a Michael Dow McAlereache, an
aged Highlander; who was banished from Kirkcudbright in 1508
for petty theft. Note the spelling and also his identification as a
Highlander, he possibly had a connection the Western Isle of Skye
(long thought to be the ancestral origins of Mcilwraith’s).

42 years later records show a Lasaryn McIlraith, in Kirkcudbright,

who was respited for treasonable actions – 28 Jul 1550

Lasaryn seems to have had a son called Mathew Makilwraith, who

died in May 1597, and his testament dated 23rd Jan 1601, shows
that he resided in Little Stockarton in Kirkcudbright. Mathew has
also been recorded as Mcilwrick in some documents, and had a
son called William who was born around 1570. Given the
information available it is highly likely that this is the father of
Gilbert McIlwraith of "the Blair", born circa 1600, (Hearth Tax
records 1691) who in turn is father of Mathew McIlwraith, who
died as a covenanter in 1685. He was courting Miss McEwan when
captured. His epitaph in Colmonell Kirkyard is as follows;

"I Mathew McIlraith in this Parish of Colmonell

by bloody Claverhouse I fell,

8
who did command that I should die,
for owning Covenanted Presbyterian,
my blood, a witness still doth stand
gainst all defections of this land"

(Covenanted Means ‘n. Used as in Eng., but specially applied in Sc.

to the National Covenant (1638) and the Solemn League and
Covenant (1643)’ & v. As in Eng., but the ppl. adj. covenantin(g) is
applied particularly to those who supported the National Covenant
or Solemn League and Covenant, and Covenanter generally refers
to one who supported one or both of these.’)

Back to Duncan McGillereach in Fardenroch, I have shown he had

several sons. Other documents can be found for Duncan
Mcilwraith as a witness.

In 1537 one Duncan Mcilwraith witnessed a charter

(SC6/87/1/28). The charter was done in Farden, the charter
concerned Thomas Boyd and John Kennedy of Culzean. A few
years earlier in 1534 another Sasine was witnessed again by
Duncan Mcilwraith (SC6/87/1/24). This Sasine was done at Penkill
a stronghold of the Boyd family. Done In October 1537 at
Dalquharran, Andrew Mcilwraith appears as witness (NRS Boyd
Boxes SC6/87/1/29 ).

The said Andrew Mcilwraith appears to be a farmer in Pynannot

around the 1530s. ‘All and singular my lands (Adam Boyd of
Penkill) underwritten, that is to say, the 20s-land of Pynannot, now
inhabited by Andrew Makylwraith, the 16s-8d-land of
Ferdingreouth and Little Fording’ (SC6/87/1/35), dated Oct 1538
at Bargany. Whilst (NRS Boyd Boxes SC6/87/2/75) dated
November 1553 shows Gilbert Mcilwraith in Trolorg, appearing as
a witness.

Duncan Makwrarty and Katherine Leninaux his spouse, marriage

confirmation on the 10th of August 1539. This is the first real
genealogical marriage ever recorded in Carrick, for a Mcilwraith.
This suggests Duncan Mcilwraith to be born about 1518. I am
certain he is the son of Duncan McGillereach who was alive in
1503. It is therefore likely that; Duncan Mcilwraith was born about

9
1518, is the same Duncan witnessing charters and Sasines in
1530s NRS SC6/87 series of records.

Previously mentioned, was Martin Mcilwraith in 1572 . As we draw

closer to the end of the 16th century, we can find another mention
of him in this testament. I have highlighted mentions of
Drummurchie as there is a strong connection to Rodger Mcilwraith
in 1544, before mentioned.

Testament Testamentar and Inventar of Gilbert McIlwrayth, 1584

Reference CC8/8/13

Gilbert Mcilwrayt
Sixteenth of July 1584

The testament testamentar and inventar of the goods, gear,

sums of money and debts pertaining to the late Gilbert Makilwrayt
in Pinannet within the parishing of Dalry and sheriffdom of Ayr at
the time of his decease,
Who died upon the 14th day of June in the year of God 1584,
Faithfully made and given up by himself in his dwelling
house in Pinannet on the ninth day of April in the year of God
aforesaid,
Before these witnesses, Mathew Kennedy in Mulbowane,
Gilbert Makfadreishe in Knokeyne, Rodger Mcilwraith in Bliskoug
and Andro Black in Claikmollet, with diverse others.

In the first place the said late Gilbert Mcilwrayt had the
goods, gear, sums of money and debts of the values and prices
after following pertaining to him at the time of his decease
aforesaid, that is to say,
Upon the ground and lands of Pinannet, one old grey nag,
price 10 marks.
Item six mares, price of the piece overhead, 10 marks. Sum
£40.
Item two tolarent [?ie tolerable] old stags, price of the piece
£3. Sum £6.
Item one brown nag of four years old, price £6.
Item one black stag of two years old, price £4.
Item 8 drawing oxen, price apiece £6. Sum £48.

10
 Item 21 cows, price apiece £5. Sum £105.
Item five queys of two years old, price apiece 40s. Sum £10.
Item three young stots of three years old, price apiece
overhead £4. Sum £12.
Item one bull, price £6.
Item six stirks of one year old, price apiece 2 marks. Sum
£8.
Item three stots of three years old, price apiece £3. Sum £9.
Item five stots of two years old, price apiece 40s. Sum £10.
Item 12 hogs, price apiece 10s. Sum £6.
Item in pasturing and keeping with Andro Black in
Claikmollet fifteen cows, price apiece £5. Sum £75.
Item fyve young queys of one year old, price apiece 30s.
Sum £7 10s.
Item four two year old [word omitted in changing page],
price apiece 40s. Sum £8.
Item 8 stirks of one year old, price apiece 2 marks. Sum 16
marks.
Item five stots of three years old, price apiece £3. Sum £15.
Item two queys of three years old, price apiece £3. Sum £6.
Item in Farnescoll with George Rimmer two drawing oxen,
price apiece £6. Sum £12.
Item more, one stot and one quey of three years old, price
apiece overhead £3. Sum £6.
Item in Crochreg with William Mcblane, one young ox price
£6.
Item one three year old quoy price £3.
Item in [?]Livsistoun with John Mcilwraiyt, one ox price £6.
Item in Crolorg with Marteine Mcilwraiyt, one ox price £6.
Item in Auchlelland with Thomas McAlexander, one ox price
£6.
Item with James Mcilwraiyt in Lagammannie, one quey of
two years old, price 40s.
Item one two year old stot price 40s.
Item 12 sheep, price apiece 40s.
Item 12 sheep, price apiece 16s. Sum £9 12s.
Item with David Mcmullerot in Fardenroch, three queys of
two years old, price apiece 40s. Sum £6.
Item with Martene Mcilwrayt in Drummurchie, two
queys of two years old, price apiece 40s. Sum £4.
Item one cow with calf price £5.

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 Item 14 wethers price apiece 20s. Sum £14.
Item 8 ewes price apiece 16s. Sum £6 8s.
Item two hogs, price apiece 10s. Sum 20s.
Item with Moreis [?ie Maurice] Mcmirrie in Drummorrane one
flokkit [unstable, volatile] ox, price £6.
Item with Robert Mccunnull in Clathreskoag, one striped ox
price £6.
Item with Andro Mcmartene in Drummurchie, one ewe
price 16s.
Item with James Mckytnay in Over Lagammannie, 12 old
sheep price apiece 16s. Sum £9 12s.
Item with Thomas Blak in the Chayng, three ewes price
apiece 16s. Sum 48s.
Item two hogs price apiece 10s. Sum 20s.
Item with John McKie in Kairne, three ewes, price apiece 16s.
Sum 48s.
Item with the said Andro Blak, 12 hogs price apiece 10s.
Sum £6.
Item sown upon the ground and lands of Pinannet and
Claikmalloch, 20 bolls of oats estimated to the third harvest,
extending to 60 bolls of oats, price of the boll with the fodder 2
marks. Sum £80.
Item one boll of sown barley estimated to the fourth harvest,
extending to 4 bolls of barley, price of the boll with the foddir 40s.
Sum £8.
Item the said Gilbert has the sum of three hundred marks in
money.
Item in utensils and domestic items, with the apparel of his
body, estimated to ten pounds.

Sum of the inventory £826 8d

[?should be
£828 8d]

Here follow the debts owing to the deceased

Item there was owing to the said late Gilbert Mcilwrayt by

James Watsoun in Glasgow £10.
Item by John Munro in Craigarrie 13 marks.
Item by David Mcmullerot in Straban for skins 8 marks.
Item by Andro Blak in Claikmallot £3.

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 Item more by him for his Martinmas tithe equal to mark.
Item more received by him with the lands of Claikmollot 5
bolls of oats, price of the boll 2 marks. Sum 10 marks.

Item one boll of meal, price thereof 40s.

Item more by him one boll of barley for the 84 [ie 1584]
year’s crop, price 40s.
Item more by him for one quarter of the whole fodder that
grows in Claikmollot estimated to 15 thraves, price of the thrave
18d. Sum 22s 6d.
Item by John Mckie in the Cairne 20s.
Item by Andro Mcmartene in Drummurchie for one ox,
10 marks.
Item more by him of borrowit seed, 33s 4d.
Item by James Bannatyne there, 12 marks.
Item one boll of oats, price 2 marks of his crop as computed.
Item by Martene Mcilwrayt in Drummurchie £4.
Item by Henry Mcilwrayt two marks.
Item by Margaret Chalmeris, Lady Crochrog, for the Want
of Drummurchie there, two years as she [?]punttit to the
deceased each year 10 marks. Sum 20 marks.
Item by the late Walter Mctairney for one nag £10.
Item by Adam Munro in Bar 20s.
Item by Henry McIlwraith two marks.

Sum of the debts owing to the deceased £89 2s

6d

Sum of the inventory with the debts

£915 3s 2d

Here follow the debts owing by the deceased

Item there was owing by the said late Gilbert Mcilwrayt to

Roger Mcilwrayt in Balskeng 32s.
Item to John McWalker in Gamorcrowcot 13 marks.
Item to Walter Kennedy of Knockdune and his wyf £14.
Item to Moreis Mccrakane, tailor, 16 marks.
Item to callot [?ie young] Susan Mcilwrayt for her wages 16s.
Item to James Mcilwrayt for his wages 20s.

13
 Item to Adam Boyd of Pinkill for his Whitsunday and
Martinmas meal in the year 84 and for the tithes thereof £12.
Item to Gilbert Kennedy of Girvanmains for Claikmollot for
the said terms’ meals and tithe thereof 28 marks.
Item to Martene Mcilwrayt for lack of one mare, agreed on
by him with the deceased, £4.
Item to Adam Boyd of Pinkhill one boll of oats, price thereof
40s, and one boll of meal, price thereof 4 marks.
Item to Margaret Chalmers, Lady Crochrog, for one boll of
meal, 5 marks.
Item to Thomas Mcilwrayt, son to John Mcilwrayt, for his
gear, 43 marks.

Sum of the debts owing by the deceased

£108 16d
[?Should be
£106 16d]

There remains of free gear, the debts deducted

£807 22d

To be divided in three parts.

The deceased’s part is £269 7d

The quota is computed – £9

Whereof the quota is compounded for £8 £9

Here follow the deceased’s legacies and latter will

At Pinannet the ninth day of April in the year of God 1584

years.
The which day the said Gilbert Mcilwraith in Pinannet made
his legacy and latter will as follows, that is to say,
Item I make and ordain my executors Gilbert Mcilwraith my
son, Margaret McWalker my spouse, and Duncan McWalker my son
in law, equally to intromit and dispone upon my goods and gear as
they will answer to the eternal God at the Latter Day.
Item I leave my part of the whole goods, gear and corn
aforenamed, and debts owing to me, my debts and legacies being

14
paid, to be equally divided between my said son Gilbert Mcilwrayt
and the said Duncan McWalker my son in law.
I ordain the debts to be paid and carried out of the whole
head [ie out of all goods] before any division.
And in case my wife Margaret McWalker be with child, or if
there be any more children than the said Gilbert my son and the
said Duncan’s wife, I ordain that child or children that my wife be
[?]pregnant with, if any be, to be equally proportionate with the
said Gilbert and Duncan’s wife.
Item I leave to the said Duncan McWalker my lease, which I
have of the Laird of Girvanmains, of the two-mark-land of
Claikmollot, the whole right and kindness [right of tenure by virtue
of ancestral occupation] thereof,
So that he may possess and use the same after my decease,
which lease is for 11 years after Whitsunday in the year 1577,
And I transfer my whole right, interest and kindness of the
said lease and land to the said Duncan for ever.
I leave to the Laird of Girvanmains, to stand kind to the said
Duncan to whom I have disposed my lease, twenty pounds. [ie to
allow the transfer of the lease]
I leave to Adam Boyd of Penkill, or whoever falls to be his
heir, in cais he [ie the Laird] cannot [make the transfer] due to
frinitie [?frailty], to be good to my son, twenty pounds.
I leave to Margaret Chalmers, Lady Crochrog [Trochrig,
Margaret Chalmers was wife of Thomas Kennedy of Ardmillane,
she married secondly James Boyd of Trochrig] , she keeping her
promise to my wife and children concerning the merkland
of Drummurchie, twenty marks, and I discharge her that 20
marks she owes me if she keep her promise as I have said, or else
otherwise, if she keep it not, I ordain her nothing.
To Andro Mcilwrayt, steward to James Scott in Mayboll, one
two year old quey.
I leave to the said Andro’s sister one stirk.
To Andro Makmartene’s wife the two marks and one half
that her good man owes me.
Item to John Brown in Layne the black stot that is in
Claikmollot.
I ordain my executor to be my surety to Thomas Mcilwrayt,
son to John Mcilwrayt, for the price of the gear which I received
with him, 44 marks.
Item to Hector Mccaithie one ewe hog.

15
 Item to his mother Margaret Mcilwrayt one boll of meal.
Item to Henry Mcilwrayt one stot, his [?]plenth, and I
discharge him the two marks he owes me.
I leave to Martene Mcilwrayt the six marks himself owes
me.
Item to Gilbert Munro, son to Adam Munro in Bar, one quey
stirk.
Item to Gilbert Mcilwrayt, son to Martene Mcilwrayt in
Drummurchie, two hogs that his father has and owes me.
I leave and ordain my wife to have my son Gilbert in guiding
and keeping until his perfect age if she marry not, and the right
and lease that I have of my steading of Pinannet I leave to my
wife so long as she remains a widow after my decease.
I ordain my good son Duncan McWalker to oversee and
intromet with the said Gilbert my son’s gear during his minority,
and to be answerable to him therefor, and to put the sum to
profit, except one hundred marks North [ie Scots money], to
remain with the said steading of Pinannet and my wife so long as
she remains a widow.
I leave and ordain the Laird of Girvanmains, Adam Boyd of
Pinkill, and the Lady Crochrog my Mistress, Mathew Kennedy in
Mulbowane, and Gilbert Mcfadreishe in Knokeyne, to be oversmen
and overseers to my children.
I leave to my son Gilbert the said three hundred marks
money.
I leave to my said son Gilbert the inside furnishings and
insight of my house and ordain the same to remain with my wife
so long as she remains a widow, and to be sure that she deliver
the same again as good as they are now.
This was done and given up by the said Gilbert’s own mouth
on the day, year, month and place above written,
Before these witnesses above specified.

It is thus subscribed.
So it is, Gilbert Ross, notary public, required to [act in] the
premises.

We, Master Edward Henrysonn, Doctor in the Laws,

Alexander Sym and John Preston, advocates commissary of
Edinburgh, specially constituted for confirmation of testaments,

16
 By the tenor hereof ratify, approve and confirm this present
testamentar inventar, in so far as the same is duly and lawfully
made, of the goods and gear above specified only,
And give and commit the intromission with the same to the
said Gilbert Mcillwrayt, son, Margaret McWalker, relict, and Duncan
McWalker, son in law, executors testamentar to the said late
Gilbert Mcillwrayt,
Reserving that an account be made be them thereof as the
law intends,
And the said Duncan McWalker, one of the said executors,
being sworn, has made faith truly to exert the said office,
And has found caution that the goods and gear above
written shall be forthcoming to all parties having an interest, as
the law provides,
As an act made thereupon bears out.

-----------------------

(Stag means ‘tag (1640) raw, unseasoned (furs).) —

Furres called … Calaba—stag the pane vi li.’)

(Thrave means A quantity of cut unthreshed grain, straw, lint,

heather, etc. Also uninfl. pl. and pl. as sing.’)

(Nag means ‘a small horse, a pony. Also attrib. in naig-hors.

Applied to serviceable horses of smaller size and only moderate
quality, both quiet paced riding horses or ponies and work horses’)

In my view all these Mcilwraith’s in the 1585 will are related. I

suggest that the Rodger Mcilwraith alive in 1544 and witness at
Drummurchie had several children, perhaps they are Gilbert who
dies 1585, Martin and Rodger, possibly also James and Andrew
Mcilwraith. Since Gilbert Mcilwraith in his will states his want (or
promise) of Drummurchie, I feel that Martin Mcilwraith is a brother
of the deceased Gilbert Mcilwraith. Martin Mcilwraith in turns has
his son Gilbert listed and we find them mentioned later in this
book.

Mcilwraith line of Auchenflower

17
Andrew Mcilwraith who died in Feb 1674 was the first to hold the
estate of Auchenflower. Earlier records show Andrew Mcilwraith
lived in Sallochane. SALLOCHANE – 1.75 miles S.W of Colmonell,
Ayrshire, Scotland. Named after the hill immediately NE of the
farm. “The projecting hill”. A marriage contract between John
McMertein & Janet Mcilwraith on 14th May 1664 (Ayrshire Archives
60/1/5(1)), reveals that Janet was the daughter of Patrick
Mcilwraith of Drummurchie. It also states that Janet Mcilwraith had
two uncles, John & Andrew Mcilwraith, brothers of the said Patrick
Mcilwraith . Both John and Andrew Mcilwraith’s are listed as Janet
Mcilwraith’s tutors.

Andrew’s father Patrick Mcilwraith of Drummurchie was alive in

1653 but had died by 1659. He was married to Dorothy Rosse,
who was a daughter of Andrew Rosse of Chapeldonan & his
spouse Elizabeth Boswell. Chappeldonan was an ancient place in
Girvan Ayrshire. The Rosse family there were involved in salmon
fishing. As of today Girvan has great salmon fishing in the same
place the Rosse family once lived in ancient times. The Boswell’s
are descended from King James 2nd. One of the Boswell’s fought
at the battle of Hastings in 1066.

Drummurchie is a farm in Ayrshire, Carrick, Scotland, (also noted

as Dunmurchie) – Named after the “loch of the magnificent
mountain fastness”. It lies within a ring fence and extends to 440
acres (178 hectares). The farmhouse and stack yard are
positioned to the north of the farm. The majority of the land rises
gradually from 100 meters (328 feet) to a high point at circa 250
meters (820 feet) above sea-level on the southern march. In
current times Drummurchie has relatively high rainfall and mild
average temperatures, as well as two hill enclosures, fields of
rough grazing and in-bye permanent pasture, the farm is well-
suited to its purpose for the rearing of stock. The majority of the
land is in good heart and is currently in grass, with silage taken
from a number of the fields in recent years. The current farm
infrastructure is generally in a good condition.

The original formal entrance passed over a tributary of the River

Stinchar, the Water of Gregg A recently erected bridge provides an

18
alternative entrance to the house.

Close by the River Stinchar has a reliable run of sea trout and
salmon during the late summer and autumn months. The Water of
Gregg forms the northern boundary and is a tributary of the
Stinchar which is today widely held to be the best salmon river in
Ayrshire.

A Precept of Sasine exists which is dated in July 1653 and which

shows that Patrick Mcilwraith was in South Balloch and he was
delivered all the 4 merk land of Dunmurchie & the 20 shilling land
of Darlae.

I have drawn up a Mcilwraith family tree. From Martin Mcilwraith

down there is enough supporting evidence on the tree. Pre 1585 is
a most likely line, based on names and area.

Rodger Mcilwraith witness at Drummurchie 1544

Rodger Mcilwraith Gilbert Mcilwraith d 1585 Martin Mcilwraith

m Margaret McWalker in Drummurchie
alive 1572 & 1585

Gilbert Mcilwraith in Drummurchie & Balloch died June 1638

m
Margaret McCouchie

Patrick Mcilwraith formerly of South Balloch John Mcilwraith

now of Dunmurchie and Darlae in Drummurchie
married Dorothy Rosse

Patrick Mcilwraith Andrew Mcilwraith John Mcilwraith Janet Mcilwraith

of Drummurchie of Auchenflower in Milnjoan m 1664 John
McMertein

19
 James Mcilwraith in Auchenflower alive 1691

Hugh Mcilwraith of Auchenflower m 1748 to Sarah Maxwell

As shown above, Janet Mcilwraith married in May 1664 to John

McMertein. Janet’s brother, Patrick Mcilwraith inherited the farm at
Drummurchie around 1659. He is traced below. Janet’s other
brother John Mcilwraith was a farmer at a nearby farm called
Milnjoan. Records of this John Mcilwraith exist showing that he
had a son named James Mcilwraith, also in Milnjoan. This James
Mcilwraith in Milnjoan is mentioned in a Sasine by Hugh Mcilwraith
of Auchinflour which is dated March 1698. James had a sister
named Isobell Mcilwraith, she had died in Sept 1686.

Back to Patrick Mcilwraith junior, who as stated, inherited the

merkland farm at Drummurchie about 1659. I have collected much
detailed information about this man. A synopsis of events on the
Mcilwraith’s of the Drummurchie farm follows;

1653, July 26th, Sasine, appears personally Patrick Mcilwraith in

South Balloch, having in his hands a letter of disposition made to
him by Mr. James Dalrymple of Stair. Endoffers the 4 merkland of
Drummurchie to the said Patrick Mcilwraith. Witness John
McMertein a merchant in Nether Barr.

(Disposition means ‘n. Sc. law: a deed of conveyance, an

assignation of property. Also †dispositione.’)

1655, 12th April, Contract of Wadset between the Earl of Cassilis

and Patrick Mcilwraith now of Drummurchie, all of the forty shilling
land of Meikle Lane. Principle sum of 3000 merks was paid for the
farmland known as Meikle Lane.

(Wadset means ‘A consolidation of the property which was wadset

with the superiority, which remained in his person unwadset and
undisponed’)

1655, 17th November, sale of the 4 merkland of Drummurchie to

Patrick Mcilwraith by James Dalrymple of Stair who has received a
sum of money from the said Patrick.

20
1659, 11th August, Sasine, Dorothy Rosse of Nether Barr is widow
of Patrick Mcilwraith of Drummurchie. Dorothy is to remarry
Thomas Mcjorrow of Nether Barr.

(Sasine means ‘Possession, chiefly of lands or property, esp. as

held of a feudal superior’)

1666, 12th December, Inquisition Post Mortem, certain person

present swear that the late Patrick Mcilwraith of Drummurchie, is
the father of Gilbert Mcilwraith, now of lawful age.

1666, 30th October, Bond for 86 marks and 6 shillings to John

Mcilwraith in Drummurchie by John Shaw, written at Barr,
Ayrshire.

1668, 7th November, Obligation, Gilbert Mcilwraith borrows 100

marks from John Mcilwraith in Schaw.

1671, 17th June, Sasine, appears Gilbert Mcilwraith now of

Drummurchie and Darlae, holding in his hands, a precept of clare
constat, made by Sir James Dalrymple of Stair, knight and
baronet, for all the 4 merkland of Drummurchie, and the ancient
20 shilling land of Darlae all in the Earldom of Carrick.

1672, 28th November, obligation, Gilbert Mcilwraith of

Drummurchie borrows one hundred pounds from Robert Hamilton.

1673, 18th August, Bond, Gilbert Mcilwraith of Drummurchie has

lent 600 merks Scots money to John Shaw in Balloch. Witness
John Mcilwraith in Milnjoan.

1674, 17th May, Gilbert Mcilwraith of Drummurchie has borrowed

100 pounds from John Whytford, no doubt to pay the annual rent
due.

1674, 24th Sept, Sasine, Gilbert Mcilwraith of Drummurchie annual

rent of Meikle Lane in Dailly fee due of 120 pounds.

1674, December 12th, Renunciation of the annual rent of Meikle

Lane, Gilbert Mcilwraith being again mentioned as son and heir of

21
Patrick Mcilwraith of Drummurchie. Yearly annual rent 120 pounds
is uplifted.

1674, 28th December, obligation by Gilbert Mcilwraith of

Drummurchie who has borrowed 100 pounds from James
McJorrow.

1675 (no day or month given) obligation by Gilbert Mcilwraith of

Drummurchie who has borrowed 100 pounds from Gilbert
McWhirter, done at Auchinflour

1676, 25th February, obligation by Gilbert Mcilwraith of

Drummurchie who has borrowed 300 pounds from Thomas Smith,
merchant in Maybole.

1679 Gilbert Mcilwraith of Drummurchie is captured at Bothwell-

brig and is to be outlawed to Ireland

1680, complaint by Barbara, Jean and Margaret Mcilwraith’s,

daughters of Gilbert Mcilwraith of Drummurchie whose land was
now forfeited and in possession of the Earl of Glencairn.

1681, 15th September, Gilbert Mcilwraith of Drummurchie who

appears to be now present at Drummurchie has borrowed 100
merks from John Mcilwraith sometime in Fardenroch. Jean
Kennedy mentioned as spouse to the said Gilbert. Footnote, this is
confusing since other sources say Gilbert Mcilwraith went to
Ireland about this time.

1681, 30th December, tack between Gilbert Mcilwraith of

Drummurchie and David Lumdy in Darlae, tack involves lands of
Darlae.

1683, 2nd August, Precept of Poinding, Gilbert Mcilwraith of

Drummurchie, by his bond dated November 1678 obliges himself
to pay Andrew McClelland, the sum of 200 marks Scots money.

1690, 4th October, Bond by Gilbert Mcilwraith of Drummurchie,

lieutenant in the Earl of Angus Regiment indebted and owes John
Kennedy the sum of 100 merks.

22
1690, 6th December, On the Roll of Officers for The Earl Of Angus
Regiment appears Gilbert Mcilwraith of Drummurchie.

1691, 1st June, Gilbert Mcilwraith of Drummurchie owes John

Mcilwraith in South Balloch the sum of 1200 merks.

1691, 2nd June, Gilbert Mcilwraith of Drummurchie owes John

Mcilwraith in South Balloch 400 merks.

1693, 14th September Gilbert Mcilwraith of Drummurchie,

lieutenant in the Earl of Angus Regiment, now mentioned as
deceased.

1696, 1st August, Order For Arrest Of Goods, Thomas Smith,

merchant in Ayr complains an action pending against the
daughters of Gilbert Mcilwraith of Drummurchie. Namely Agnes,
Mary & Janet Mcilwraith’s. Their crops, horses, sheep’s and cattle
were arrested due to money previously owed to Thomas Smith by
the said Gilbert Mcilwraith.

From this we learn the Gilbert Mcilwraith of Drummurchie had to

borrow a lot of money to keep the farm running. He was married
to Jean Kennedy. Her father David Kennedy of Balmaclonochane
was of importance; in his will dated 1681 we find a mention of
Gilbert Mcilwraith. Gilbert was given silver rent of 12 pounds,
which was in those days a lot of money. We also know that
Gilbert Mcilwraith and Jean Kennedy had several daughters and no
sons. From the records we learn their names.

Barbara, Margaret, Mary, Agnes & Jean Mcilwraith. There is

mention above of three of the daughters in the Drummurchie
synopsis. A common mistake in every Mcilwraith genealogy I have
seen to date concerns Gilbert’s daughter Mary Mcilwraith. To set
the record straight Mary Mcilwraith was married on the 31st
October 1710 to John Stuart. This couple produced a will for
Gilbert Mcilwraith of Drummurchie, Lieutenant in the Earl of Angus
Regiment, listing Mary Stuart nee Mcilwraith as sole heir. This was
done in 1723 even though Gilbert had died in 1693. Perhaps Jean
Kennedy died around this time.

23
No marriage information has been found for Barbara and Margaret
Mcilwraith. Agnes Mcilwraith for a short time of Drummurchie,
had married 23rd March 1715 to Hugh Malcolm. This Hugh was a
writer in Maybole and his name appears on many Mcilwraith
documents. Although a marriage for Jean Mcilwraith was not
found, her baptism was. Jean Mcilwraith baptised 29th Oct 1689 in
Glasgow. Parents Gilbert Mcilwraith of Drummurchie and Jean
Kennedy. From the information we have at hand it seems that
Gilbert Mcilwraith of Drummurchie never went to Ireland as has
been previously suggested. There is documentation in Ayrshire
showing that he was still living in Ayr during the years he was
thought to have been in Ireland. Further his daughter Mary was
never married to another Mcilwraith as other researchers has
shown. Gilbert’s direct line therefore has died out.

Back to Andrew Mcilwraith of Auchinflour

On 16th January 1665 Andrew Mcilwraith in Sallochane was

delivered Sasine and possession of the 2 merkland of
Auchenflower (Auchinflour) & the merkland of Balrassie, lying
within the Parish of Ballantrae. On 1st June 1667 Andrew
Mcilwraith in Sallochane & also now of Auchenflower was delivered
a further Sasine for all the 40 shilling land of Auchenflower this
time including the Mansion house, lying within the Parish of
Kirkcudbright. A witness to this Sasine in 1667 was Gilbert
Mcilwraith in Sallochane, later to be in Auchenflower and son of
the said Andrew Mcilwraith of Auchenflower. A third Sasine to
Andrew Mcilwraith dated 24th July 1668 shows Andrew paying £92
rent for the 10 merkland of Glentig 4.

Bond, Andrew Mcneillie to Andrew Mcilwreath, 1665

NRS RD4/22/58

Obligation: Mcilwreath from Mcneillie

In [the] presence [of the Lords of Council and Session]

appeared Mr John Anderson, proctor for Alexander Mcneillie and
Mr William Eccles, principal and cautioner after-designated, and
gave in the bond underwritten, whereof the tenor follows.

24
 I, Alexander Mcnillie in Auchinflower, grant me to have
borrowed and received from Andrew Mcilwreath in Sallochane the
sum of 250 marks money of Scotland, whereof I grant the receipt,
The which sum aforesaid, together with half a year’s annual rent
thereof until the term of payment underwritten, I as principal, and
with me Mr William Eccles of Kildonan as cautioner, surety and full
debtor for me, bind and oblige ourselves, jointly and severally, our
heirs, executors, successors and intromettors whomsoever,
To content, pay and deliver again to the said Andrew
c
M ilwreath, his heirs, executors and assignees, at Martinmas next,
1665,
With fifty pounds money aforesaid of liquidated expenses in
case of failure,
Together also with the ordinary annual rent thereof, conform
to the Act of Parliament, yearly and termly, so long as the same
remains unpaid after the term of payment aforesaid,
Without prejudice of the execution thereof without any
premonition,
Like as I, the said Alexander, oblige me and my foresaids to
free, relieve and skaithless keep my said cautioner and his
foresaids of all cost, skaith and expenses that he shall happen to
sustain or incur there-through,
Consenting [that] these presents be registered in the books
of Council and Session, [in order] that letters and executorials of
horning and other [things] needful may be directed there[upon]
on one simple charge of six days’ only,
And [I] constitute Mr John Anderson the proctor.
In witness whereof, written by John Paterson, Notary, they
have subscribed these presents at Kildonan, 12 July 1665,
Before these witnesses, David Cathcart in Glend’ and the
said John Paterson.
It is thus subscribed: Alexander Mcnillie, William Eccles, David
Cathcart witness, J Paterson witness.

Bond, Fergusone to Mcilwrath, 1669

Obligation: Thomas Fergusone To Andrew Mcilwrath

In [the] presence of the Lords of Council and Session

appeared William Zeman, advocate, as proctor for Thomas

25
Fergusone after-designated, and gave in the bond underwritten,
whereof the tenor follows.

I, Thomas Fergusone in Troach[?], grant me to have

borrowed and received from the hands of Andro Mcilwrath in
Sallochane the sum of 100 marks money of Scotland, whereof I
grant the receipt,
The which sum of 100 marks money aforesaid, together with
the ordinary annual rent thereof from the term of Candlemas last
past until the term of payment underwritten, I, the said Thomas
Fergusone, bind and oblige me, my heirs, executors and
successors,
Thankfully to content, pay and deliver to the said Andro
c
M ilwrath, his heirs, executors or assignees, upon the feast and
term of Martinmas next to come, 1669,
Together with the sum of twenty pounds money for
liquidated expenses in case of failure in the premises,
Together also with the ordinary annual rent of the aforesaid
principal sum after the aforesaid term of payment,
To be paid yearly, termly, continually [and] proportionally
enduring the not-payment of the aforesaid principal sum, without
prejudice to the said Andro or his foresaids to suit execution upon
these presents, either at the aforesaid term of payment above
written or at any time or term thereafter, without requisition,
notwithstanding the clause of annual rent,
Consenting [that] these presents be inserted and registered
in the High Court books of Justice, Justice or any other court
book[es] within this nation [in order ] that letters and executorials
of horning and other [things] needful may be directed upon one
simple charge of six days’ only,
And [I] constitute William Zeman, advocate, my proctor.
In witness whereof (written by John Patersone, Notary) I
have subscribed these presents as follows at Knokdaw the twenty
eighth day of February 1669 years,
Before these witnesses, Gilbert Mckeir in Pentrig, Gilbert
Mcteir in Colmonell.
It is thus subscribed: I, John Patersone, Notary Public, subscribe
for the aforesaid Thomas Fergusone, because he affirms he cannot
write, as witness my subscription, Gilbert Mckeir witness, Gilbert
Mccallone witness.

26
 Tacks, Andrew Mcilwraith of Auchenflower, 1674

NRS RD2/36/619

Tack, Mcilwraith to Mcconnell

In the presence of the Lords of Council and Session

appeared William Yeman, advocate, as procurator for Fergus
Mcconnell under-designated,
And gave in the tack underwritten, whereof the tenor
follows.
At Craguntoune, 20 April 1669, it is appointed, agreed,
finally contracted and ended betwixt Andrew Mcilwrath of
Achinflour, tutor to John Adam of Glentig, on the one part, and
Fergus Mcconnell, miller at the Mylne of Tig, on the other part, in
manner following, that is to say,
The said Andrew, as tutor aforesaid, sets in tack and
assidaunce, and for the farm and duty underwritten lets to the
said Fergus Mcconnell, his heirs, executors and assigns, of no
higher degree than himself,
All and the whole the aforesaid Mylne of Tige, with sucken
[obligation of tenants to use that particular mill], mulctures [fines,
probably for using a different mill] and services thereof presently
possessed by the said Fergus, lying within the parishing of
Ballantray and Baillierie of Carrick, for all the days, space, years
and terms of 11 years next and immediately following the term of
Whitsunday next to come in this instant year of God, which shall
be his entry in and to this present tack, and from thenceforth to
endure to the end of the 11 years, and be wrought, laboured and
manured by the said Fergus and his foresaids with mulctures,
knaveships [customary due of meal paid to the under-miller],
bonnock [small quantity of meal due to other employees], sucken
and other commodities used and wont [customary], with lands,
waters, dams and watergates, houses, yards, corn land and all
other privileges conform to, used and wont of before,
For the which mill, with the appurtenances belonging
thereto, the said Fergus Mcconnell binds and obliges him, his heirs,
executors and successors whatsoever thankfully to content, pay
and deliver to the said Andrew Mcilwraith, his heirs, executors or
assigns, the yearly duty after-specified, viz,

27
 Nine bolls of good and sufficient Anssheilt [threshed,
winnowed] meal yearly, and that the said Andrew shall have
liberty to send and wind [winnow] the shilling [grain separated
from husk] that the said meal be made of, and if the said meal
please not the said Andrew he shall have seven pecks of sufficient
shilling for each boll of the said nine bolls of meal,
And the first year’s payment thereof to be and begin betwixt
Yule and Candlemas next to come, and so forth during the said
space, together with six hens in January and twelve capons at
Easter yearly, with duty and due service, and to be answerable to
the courts of Glentig conform to use and wont,

Tacks, Andrew Mcilwraith of Auchenflower, 1674

NRS RD2/36/619

And the said Andrew is obliged to furnish timber to the mill

as she stands in need,
Which tack the said Andrew obliges him and his foresaids to
warrant this tack to the said Fergus and his foresaids during the
aforesaid space,
Consenting these presents be inserted and registered in the
books of Council and Session or any other court books within this
kingdom, that letters and executorials of horning and other things
needful may follow hereupon on a simple charge of six days only,
and constitutes William Yeman advocate their procurators etc.
In witness whereof written by Samuel Paterson, writer in
Cragintoun, they have subscribed these presents as follows on the
day, year, month and place aforesaid,
Before these witnesses, Andrew and Samuel Patersons in
Craigintoun, and the date and witnesses inserted by John
Paterson, notary under-written,
And thus subscribed, I, the foresaid Fergus Mcconall, with my
hand at the pen led by the Notary at my command because I
cannot write.
So it is, James Paterson, Notary Public, required in the
premises by the command of the said Fergus, he not knowing how
to write, as he asserts.
Witness my own hand, Andrew Paterson witness, Sa.
Paterson witness.

28
 Tacks, Andrew Mcilwraith of Auchenflower, 1674

NRS RD2/36/621

Tack, Andrew Mcilwreath to Fergus Mcconnell

In the presence of the Lords of Council and Session

appeared William Yeman, advocate, as procurator for Andrew
Mcilwraith, on the one part,
And similarly appeared James Brown, advocate, as
procurator for Fergus Mcconnell, on the other part, both under-
designated,
And gave in the tack underwritten, whereof the tenor
follows.
At the Forty Penny Land of Glentig, 14 March 1671, it is
appointed, agreed, finally contracted and ended betwixt Andrew
Mcilwraith of Achinflour, tutor to John Adam of Glentig, on the one
part, and Fergus Mcconnell, miller at the Milne of Tig, on the other
part, in manner, form and effect following, that is to say,
The said Andrew Mcilwreath, as tutor aforesaid, sets in tack
and assurance, like as he by the tenor of these presents, for the
years, farms and duties underwritten, lets to the said Fergus
Mcconnell, his heirs, executors and assigns, of no higher degree
than himself,
All and the whole the aforesaid Mylne of Tig, with suckin,
mulctures and services thereof presently possessed by the said
Fergus, lying within the parishing of Ballantrae and Baillery of
Carrick,
Together with the Upper Forty Penny Land which he
presently possesses, with houses, yards and appurtenances
belonging thereto, lying as said is,
For all the days, space, years and terms of five years next
and immediately after the feast and term of Whitsunday next to
come, which is hereby declared to be the said Fergus’s entry in
and to this present tack, and from thenceforth to endure to the
end of the same,
And from thenceforth to be laboured, wrought and manured
by the said Fergus and his foresaids during the aforesaid space,
with mulctures, knaveships, bonnock, suckin and other
commodities used and wont, together with all easements and

29
liberties and commodities of the said Upper Forty Penny Land used
and wont, with leads [millraces], dams, water gates, houses,
yards, corn land, grass and all other privileges and liberties used
and wont of before,
For the which mill, with the appurtenances belonging
thereto, and the aforesaid Upper Forty Penny Land, with the
appurtenances belonging thereto, the said Fergus Mcconnell binds
and obliges him, his heirs, executors and successors and
intromettors with his goods and gear whatsoever thankfully to
content, pay and yearly deliver to the said Andrew Mcilwraith, his
heirs and successors and assigns, the yearly rent and duty after-
specified, to wit,

Tacks, Andrew Mcilwraith of Auchenflower, 1674

NRS RD2/36/621

Nine bolls of good and sufficient twysesheilled [twice-sheilld]

meal yearly, and that the said Andrew shall have liberty to send
and winnow the said shilling yearly whereof the same meal be
made,
And if the said meal please not the said Andrew he shall
have seven pecks of sufficient shilling for each boll of the said
meal nine bolls of meal,
And the first year’s payment thereof to be and begin betwixt
Yule and Candlemas next to come, and so forth to endure yearly
during the aforesaid space, with six hens in January and twelve
capons at Easter yearly, similarly sixteen pounds money Scots
yearly to be paid at two terms in the year, Whitsunday and
Martinmas, proportionally for the rent of the said Upper Forty
Penny Land yearly,
Beginning the first term’s payment thereof at the feast and
term of Martinmas next to come, 1671 years, and the second
term’s payment thereof to be paid at the next term of Whitsunday
ensuing, and so forth to endure yearly and termly during the space
of his tack, with duties and due service, and to be answerable to
the courts of Glentig conform to use and wont,
And the said Andrew is obliged to furnish timber to the said
Mylne of Tig as she stands in need,

30
 And lastly the said Andrew obliges him and his foresaids to
warrant this tack to be valid and sufficient to the said Fergus and
his foresaids during the aforesaid space,
Both the said parties obliging them and their foresaids, each
to the others in the surest manner,
Consenting these presents be inserted and registered in the
books of Council and Session or any other judicatory competent
within this realm, with their authorities interponed thereto, that
letters and executorials of horning, warning and poinding may be
directed hereupon on a simple charge of six days only, and to that
effect makes and constitutes William Yeman and James Broun
advocates their procurators, promising to ratify etc.
In witness whereof these presents, written by Andrew
Thomas, Notary Public, they have subscribed these presents with
their hands as follows on the day, place, month and year of God
above written,
Before these witnesses, John Mcchartor in Saifer[?] and John
Wilson in Forty Pence Land.
Thus subscribed, I, Fergus Mcconnell, with my hand at the
pen led by the Notary and written at my command because I
cannot write myself.
So it is, Andrew Thomas, Notary Public, required in the
premises by the command the said Fergus Mcconnell, he not
knowing how to write, as he asserts.
Witness my own hand, Andrew Mcilwraith, John Mcilwraith
witness, John Wilson witness.

Footnote, the witness John Mcilwraith is Andrew Mcilwraith’s

brother

In the 1650s Andrew Mcilwraith was living at Kilkerran estate. This

estate was a strong hold of the Ferguson family and it is thought
that Andrew’s spouse may have been connected to the Ferguson
clan. Kilkerran Tower had been with the Ferguson’s from as early
as 1512.

Hugh Mcilwraith became heir to Andrew Mcilwraith in February

1674, when Andrew died. Andrew Mcilwraith’s estate by 1674 had
consisted of 6 cows with their followers, 10 sheep, 5 black cattle &
two horses. Also the mansion house at Auchenflower, Andrew paid
100 pounds at the time of his death to John McCubbin of

31
Knockdolian for annual rent. There was a castle on the lands of
Knockdolian and this was a strong hold for the Mcilwraith’s.
Perhaps Andrew was considered gentry in those days.

Hugh Mcilwraith had been born around 1655 at Kilkerran, probably

he was born in the Tower at Kilkerran. Ten years later Hugh and
his siblings moved to the adjacent estates of Auchenflower and
Knockdolian in Ayrshire.

The Modern day House at Kilkerran

32
 Auchenflower Cottage in Ayrshire

Hugh Mcilwraith was a young man of 19 years when he inherited

the Auchenflower estate, from his father Andrew. As a young boy
Hugh wrote that he had been seduced (by words and teachings)
by some field preachers to haunt and frequent their seditious
conventiclers, so he became so debauched with their rebellious
principles (being made believe by them that there was no
salvation but by following their doctrines), that when he was a
young adult he was persuaded by them to engage in the late
horrid rebellion against his Majesty at Bothwell-bridge. He was
outlawed and listed as a Covenanter as a result, when he was
captured.

Covenanters were those people in Scotland who signed the

National Covenant in 1638. They signed this Covenant to confirm
their opposition to the interference by the Stuart kings in the
affairs of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland. The Stuart kings
harbored the belief of the Divine Right of the Monarch. Not only
did they believe that God wished them to be the infallible rulers of
their kingdom - they also believed that they were the spiritual
heads of the Church of Scotland. This latter belief could not be
accepted by the Scots. No man, not even a king, could be spiritual
head of their church. Only Jesus Christ could be spiritual head of a

33
Christian church. Therefore the Covenanters were opposed by
Royalty, especially British Kings. In 1679 most of the men who
fought at the battle of Bothwell Bridge were Covenanters,
including several Mcilwraith’s. Hugh Mcilwraith of Auchenflower
being one of them.

Hugh Mcilwraith had been captured at Bothwell-Bridge by

Government forces led by John Graham of Claverhouse, the Duke
of Monmouth and the Earl of Linlithgow, and was sentenced to
death. Hugh petitioned the King in an attempt to try to reduce his
death sentence and succeeded. His sentence was reduced to being
banished to Ireland. In his petition Hugh stated he was life rented
annually with his mother. She must have been of great
importance. Indeed Jean Kennedy was heiress of Drummurchie
and may have been called Lady Drummurchie.

Eventually Hugh Mcilwraith was sent to Ireland but returned back

to his home in Ayrshire in about 1689. Some genealogists believe
or have stated Hugh to have married an Irish lady. However the
Old Parish Register of Scotland has his marriage to a Scottish lady
in 1694:

24th Nov 1694 Hugh Mcilwraith of Auchinflour & Jean Kennedy

(who will be talked about separately, she was the widow of Gilbert
Mcilwraith of Drummurchie who had died in Sept 1693). This
means the information of Hugh Mcilwraith marrying an Irish lady is
incorrect.

Andrew Mcilwraith of Auchenflower died Feb 1674

Hugh b 1655 James Gilbert Andrew Margaret Thomas

Bothwell-brig in Auchenflower

34
Another son of Andrew Mcilwraith, James Mcilwraith in Auchinflour
first appears in records on 8th June 1691, when he witnessed a
bond for 80 merks, by Gilbert Mcilwraith of Drummurchie (not to
be confused with Andrew Mcilwraith’s son Gilbert Mcilwraith in
Auchenflower).This bond states that James Mcilwraith was brother
German to Hugh Mcilwraith of Auchinflour. We may perhaps
therefore conclude that James was also born at the old tower of
Kilkerran.

Signature of James Mcilwraith in Auchenflower dated 8th June

1691
[Signature was extracted from a Sasine found at Kilkerran]

James Mcilwraith in Auchenflower was an elder in the Ballantrae

Kirk during 1720’s & early 1730’s. James appears in several
documents in the early 1700’s. From these we learn he had
several children. Of interest is the Inquisition made at the time of
James Mcilwraith’s death and dated 4th Aug 1731.

Partial Extract Dated 4th August 1731; Who, having been sworn,
say upon their great oath that the late James Mcilwraith in Auchinflour,
father of Andrew Mcilwraith, bearer of these presents, And that the said
Andrew Mcilwraith is the lawful first born son and next heir of his said
late father…..

Interestingly, here Andrew Mcilwraith is mentioned as the eldest

son, so by right, should have been heir. This did not eventuate. A
document dated at Ayr on the 3rd December 1746 states that
Andrew Mcilwraith, was the 1st born son of James Mcilwraith from
James’ first marriage. And Hugh Mcilwraith was the 1st born son
by the 2nd marriage of James Mcilwraith. Andrew was relieved of
his debts and the lands passed to Hugh Mcilwraith.

35
 All the two merkland of Clashlochan and the two merkland of
Balrassy, which are parts of the ten-mark land of Glentig, otherwise
called Schallochan, the three merkland lying between the parishings of
Kirkcudbright Innertig alias Ballantray,

The above document is the last mention we have of James

Mcilwraith in Auchenflower. What happened to the eldest son
Andrew Mcilwraith has not been discovered.

The next son of Andrew Mcilwraith of Auchenflower that we have

knowledge of is Gilbert Mcilwraith in Auchenflower. There were
two men named Gilbert Mcilwraith who lived in close proximity
more or less contemporaneously and previous researchers and
writers have confused them. The other man, Gilbert Mcilwraith of
Drummurchie, is not Andrew Mcilwraith’s son. This is an example
of a common mistake made when researchers just look at a Sasine
and do not transcribe the document. The result of not transcribing
a complete Sasine is that an heir gets listed as a son, when in
many cases the heir is a younger brother of the deceased.
Because transcriptions were not done in the past this has caused
incorrect lineages for the Mcilwraith of Auchenflower line.

Gilbert Mcilwraith in Auchenflower was an attorney for the family.

He bears witness to a document dated in 1700 at Auchenflower. A
Sasine dated that same year, states that Gilbert Mcilwraith is
brother german of Hugh Mcilwraith of Auchenflower. Gilbert
Mcilwraith seems to have had three daughters and no sons, and
these daughters would later be caught up in a long court battle
over various lands.

As stated before, Gilbert Mcilwraith in Auchenflower had witnessed

a document in September 1700. Not only had he witnessed the
document but he is also mentioned as an attorney. He seems to
have married and had three daughters; Mary, Margaret and Agnes
Mcilwraiths. They appear in a Testament Dative Qua Creditor in
1722:

debts and sums of money which were indebted and owing to umquhile
(deceased) Hew Mcilwraith of Auchenflour within the Parish of Barr the
time of his decease

36
Note that Hugh, as mentioned, had died in 1718. The document
goes on to say that it was,

faithfully made and given up by Agnes Mcilwraith lawful daughter to the

deceased Gilbert Mcilwraith late in Auchinflower now spouse to John
McCaull writer in Mayboyle and the said John McCaull for his interest.

As mentioned earlier previous genealogists of this family have

easily confused this Gilbert Mcilwraith in Auchinflour and his three
daughters, with Gilbert Mcilwraith of Drummurchie and his five
daughters who have been revealed earlier in this book.

The said umquhile (deceased) Hugh Mcilwraith thereby bound and

obliged him and his heirs against the first Tuesday of April then next, to
grant bond with a sufficient caution for the sum of one thousand pounds
Scots money principal with two hundred pounds of penalty, payable to the
said three daughters, Margaret, Agnes and Mary Mcilwraith

There was indebted and owing to the said umquhile Hugh Mcilwraith of
Auchenflower the time of his decease by Hugh Mcilwraith in Darlea the
sum of fourscore pounds Scots money resting yearly for each year of four
years and proportionally for half a year due by him to the defunct for the
rent of the lands of the upper part of the four merk land of Dinmurchie
(Drummurchie) called The Fell and Ferture belonging to the defunct and
set by him to the said Hugh Mcilwraith in Darlea conforming to a tack
passed betwixt them dated the twenty-third day of December 1717

Mentions of Agnes, Mary and Margaret can be found in several

other documents, many such documents were found at Kilkerran
House by Colin McNally in Carrick. At Kilkerran house the
documents revealed many sums of money for land estates and
many Mcilwraith names. However, before we start looking at those
documents, we should further discuss the siblings of Jean Kennedy
mentioned before as mother of 5 daughters to Gilbert Mcilwraith of
Drummurchie, her spouse.

Jean Kennedy was a daughter of David Kennedy of Barclanachan

(former Kilkerran estate). As stated the testament of David
Kennedy shows in 1680 payment silver rent of 12 pounds to
Gilbert Mcilwraith in Barclanachan. This Gilbert Mcilwraith was
actually of Drummurchie and had married the said Jean Kennedy,
the couple had 5 daughters. David Kennedy had also two sons,

37
James Kennedy and Robert Kennedy. David Kennedy was
descended from the Kennedy of Girvanmains line, his ancestor
being Sir Hew Kennedy, knight who had died in Feb 1577 and was
buried in the south end high alter of the church at Maybole. Sir
Hew had married Lady Janet Stewart, a descendant of Robert the
Bruce. Jean Kennedy or Lady Drummurchie seems to have had a
life rent in various lands including Drummurchie and Auchenflower.
Trouble occurs around the time of her death, with huge sums of
money being owed on the various farm estates.

Now the Kilkerran documents have revealed (after transcription by

Colin McNally & Brooke Westcott):

In 1673 David Kennedy of Barclanachan provides a life bond to

Jean Kennedy of 2200 merks – held with the Earl of Glencairn. In
1691 Jean Kennedy (on the death of her husband) is given life
rent to Drummurchie. Agnes Mcilwraith as eldest daughter had
actual ownership of the property.

Before 1711, Hugh Mcilwraith (son of Andrew Mcilwraith of

Auchenflower died 1674) borrows 1000 merks from John Stewart,
the father to Lord Kilmarnock. In 1712 Agnes Mcilwraith the eldest
daughter of the now deceased Gilbert of Drummurchie sells all her
father’s debts and the lands of Drummurchie and Dalrae to Hugh
McIlwraith of Auchenflower for the sum of 5500 merks. To fund
this purchase circa 1711, Hugh, borrows under heritable bond
2500 merks from his cousin James Mcilwraith in Balcletchie,
mortgaged on Auchenflower, Clashlochan and Balrazie.

In 1714, there is a note that James Hamilton, Sheriff in Ayr is

named as Tutor to Mary, Agnes and Margaret Mcilwraith’s. In turn
a further £100 bond was given by James Mcilwraith in Balcletchie
to Hugh Mcilwraith mortgaged on Drummurchie. About the same
time period, Sir John Ferguson gathers in all the debts owing by
Gilbert Mcilwraith of Drummurchie which totaled around 13,000
merks.

Sir James Ferguson pays off the debt to the said James Mcilwraith
in 1722, making Hugh and Mary McIlwraith of Auchenflower
debtors to Sir James Ferguson. In turn, they have also heritable
debts which they purchased from Agnes Mcilwraith in 1712, which

38
Sir James Ferguson has gathered and is now looking for payment.
It is doubtful that by 1717 Agnes Mcilwraith had received any of
the money owed, and as Hugh Mcilwraith of Auchenflower was
now married to Jean Kennedy he makes good this payment in
1717.

However William Stewart, with representation of Kilkerran, pursues

Hugh Mcilwraith for 2444 merks – which will have been part of the
debts gathered in by Sir James Fergusson, and followed up by his
son Sir John. It is probable that the Fergussons gathered in debts
valued at 13000 merks – including those owed to Stewart and
James Mcilwraith and used these as leverage to own Drummurchie
and associated farms.

In 1718, Hugh Mcilwraith of Auchenflower dies and his heirs by

1722 who were Agnes Mcilwraith and Mary Mcilwraith, daughters
of Gilbert in Auchenflower, are now burdened with the past.
Therefore a court case begins to settle the previous decades’
disputed debts between Agnes Mcilwraith of Drummurchie and
Agnes Mcilwraith of Auchenflower.

By 1724, Agnes Mcilwraith (daughter of Gilbert in Auchenflower)

has died and Mary Mcilwraith (the remaining daughter of Gilbert
Mcilwraith in Auchenflower) starts the process of reconciling with
Lord Kilkerran. By 1729 James – Sir John Ferguson’s son is now
attempting to resolve the issues.

It took until 1738 to fully complete the transaction as Hugh

Mcilwraith died in 1718 and the continuing claims went against
Hugh’s other brother Gilbert Mcilwraith in Auchenflower, and then
onto his daughters. In the meantime, James Mcilwraith in
Balcletchie became the owner of Auchenflower for a short period.
Documents easily confuse James Mcilwraith in Balcletchie with
James Mcilwraith in Auchenflower. By 1748 Hugh Mcilwraith (son
of James Mcilwraith in Auchenflower) purchased Auchenflower
from James Mcilwraith in Balcletchie.

In November 1729 Mary Mcilwraith, daughter of Gilbert Mcilwraith

in Auchenflower, married Hugh Mcilwraith, the son of James
Mcilwraith in Auchenflower. Mary & Hugh Mcilwraith were cousins

39
and it is probable the marriage was just to try to secure the lands
in the court case.

Extract from marriage contract 1729

Matrimonial Articles to be Extended between Hew McIlwraith, son
of James McIlwraith in Auchinflour, with consent of his said father,
and the said James for himself in manner underwritten, on the one
part, and Mary McIlwraith, daughter of the deceased Gilbert
McIlwraith there.

In contemplation whereof the said James obliges his heirs and

successors to pay to his said son the sum of one thousand pound
Scots within year and day of the marriage, with annual rent
thereafter, and suitable penalty in case of failure, which sum the
said Hew obliges himself, his heirs and successors to lay out upon
sufficient security, heritable or moveable, and to conceive the
rights and securities thereof in favour of himself and his said
future spouse and longest liver of them in liferent and conjoint fee,
and the bairns to be procreate between them, which failing, to the
said Hew, his nearest heirs and assigns whatsoever

There were no children from Mary and Hugh Mcilwraith’s union. By

1738 Mary Mcilwraith has died, Hugh Mcilwraith got the lands
back. On 26th June 1748 Hugh Mcilwraith of Auchenflower married
Sarah Maxwell.

Five short estate descriptions as listed by Colin McNally in Carrick

AUCHENFLOWER – “the fertile fields”; situated 2.5 miles east of Ballantrae. (Andrew
Mcilwraith, 1661). In later records this also included the Glentig, Balrazie and Clashlochan
(Hugh McIlraith, 1718)

BALCLETCHIE – “The steep hill ridge”; 4 miles E.S.E of Girvan. (James McIlwraith, 1691)

DALRAE – 4 miles east of Barr, (Gilbert McIlwraith, 1666)

DINMURCHIE (also noted as Drummurchie) – Named after the “loch of the magnificent
mountain fastness”. (Martin McIlwraith, 1572)

KILKERRAN - Originally known as Barclannachan. “The cairn surmounted grave”. 2.5 miles
NE of Dailly. The Fergusson family is descended from Fergus who obtained a charter of the
lands in Ayrshire from King Robert the Bruce. Possible Great Grandson of Fergus McDowall,
Lord of Galloway. (Gilbert McIlwraith, 1681)

40
26 Jun 1748 Mcilwraith, Hugh, Marriage

Hugh Mcilwraith of Achenflour was married to Sarah

Maxwell in the Parish of Leswalt
(having been orderly Proclaim'd
in [... ...] June 23d 1748

Andrew Mcilwraith of Auchenflower died Feb 1674

Hugh b 1655 James Gilbert Andrew Margaret Thomas

Bothwell-brig

Andrew Hugh Mcilwraith m 1st Mary Mcilwraith Agnes Margaret

m 2nd Sarah Maxwell

Now we have talked about three of the sons of Andrew Mcilwraith

of Auchenflower who died in 1674. What about his son Andrew
Mcilwraith? It is possible he was the one who fought at Bothwell-
brig in 1679 with Hugh, for we find this mention:

Disposition and Warrant, Edmonstone to Fergusone,

re Andro McIlwraith’s goods, 1680

41
 NRS GD109/2582

Be it known to all men by these present letters that I, James

Edmonstone of Broith,
Forsomuch as the Lords of his Majesty’s Treasury, by their commission
dated and recorded duly in their books upon 14 March last past,
Have given and granted to Mr. Wm. Fergusone, and others in his
name, for whom he is to be answerable,
Warrant and commission to seize upon, secure and sequestrate all
money, farms, profits, rents, duties of lands, debts, sums of money and other
moveable goods and gear whatsoever, in whose hands or wherever the same
can be apprehended,
Pertaining or belonging to any heritor or landed person within the
shires of Landrick and Ayr, Stewartries, Royalties and Baillieries therein, and
that were in the late rebellion in the west or did join with the rebels before or
at the time they were defeated at Bothwell Bridge in the month of June
last,
And also to seize upon, sequestrate and secure the whole moveable
goods and gear of all the persons in the bond above specified as are not
heritors and who are declared fugitive for being in the late rebellion,
Which commission is to endure during the said Lords’ pleasure,
containing several other clauses and conditions, as the same, duly recorded
as said is, in itself more fully bears.
And because the said Mr. William Fergusone could not conveniently
attend the trust and commission in both shires, he did make, grant and
subscribe and deliver to me, the said James Edmonstone, a deputation
bearing a full power for him and in his name to seize upon, sequestrate and
secure the whole moveable goods and gear belonging to the persons above
mentioned, conform to the principal commission in all points,
Which deputation is dated at Glasgow 20 March 1680, passed and
registered in the Sheriff Court Books of Ayr upon 30 April 1680.
And now, seeing that David Fergusone in Barlae has made good and
lawful payment to me of the sum of £40 Scots money, and that in satisfaction
of the whole moveable goods and gear belonging to the said Andrew
Mcilwraith in Barbae, a rebel,

I have disponed, like as by these presents dispones, (with the burden

of the stipend payable forth of the said lands to the orthodox minister in the
parish), to and in favour of the said Burnett for the son[?] & Andro
Mcilwraith in Barbae, the whole movable goods and gear belonging to the
said rebel,
With full power to him to intromet therewith and dispone thereupon at
his pleasure, and to do, use and exercise everything needful for recovery of
the said goods and gear,
And I, by these presents, bind and oblige me not only to warrant these
presents from my own proper fact and deed, but also that the present
commission, whereupon these presents follow, granted by the Lords of his

42
Majesty’s Treasury to the said Mr. Wm. Fergusone, shall be forthcoming to
the said David Ferguson upon his own proper charges and expenses,
And for the more security I am content and consent that these
presents be inserted and registered in the books of council and sessions or
any other court books ordinary within this kingdom, therein to remain for
conservation,
And to that effect constitutes David Ferguson [blank] my proctor.
In witness whereof these presents, written by William McKinlay, notary
public, I have subscribed the same with my hand at Harthill, 9 June 1680,
Before these witnesses, George Edmonstone and the said William
c
M Kinlay.

W McKinlay witness J. Edmonstoune

G. Edmonstoune witness

There was a legend told that three Auchinflour brothers fought

and were captured at Bothwell-brig in 1679. We know already
Hugh Mcilwraith was one of the brothers, it is thought Andrew
Mcilwraith in Barbae was another and possibly a John Mcilwraith.
Irish Mcilwraith descendants who know this history believe they
are descended from one of the three brothers. As shown Hugh
returned to Scotland by 1689 and married in 1694 his cousin’s
widow. This Andrew Mcilwraith in Barbae seems to have vanished
out of records. It is possible he settled and stayed in Ireland.
During 1700’s this author has seen records of an Andrew
Mcilwraith, being born to a Hugh Mcilwraith 1698 – 1772 in
Ballyclose, Down, Ireland. Old Andy Mcilwraith lived at Ballyclose
and had married a Mary Ann King. Was Andrew Mcilwraith in
Barbae the founder of the Ballyclose Mcilwraith line? It is very
possible.

And what of Margaret Mcilwraith the only known daughter of

Andrew Mcilwraith of Auchenflower d 1674? I have found
mentions of her in 1712. Translation and Disposition Margaret
Mcilwraith to her daughter Margaret Shaw. Margaret Mcilwraith
stated she was the wife of the deceased Archibald Shaw of
Kilmore. She mentioned that her daughter Margaret Shaw was
spouse to William Kennedy, younger of Daljarrock.

Earlier in 1691 we find a life rent of the lands of Daljarrock to

Margaret Shaw, daughter of Archibald Shaw and Margaret
Mcilwraith. In this document Hugh Mcilwraith of Auchenflower is

43
mentioned as appearing as baillie for Margaret Shaw and received
into his hands a marriage contract.

22 December 1688,
Whereby, for the marriage then contracted and thereafter solemnized
between the said William Kennedy and Margaret Shaw, the said Hew and
William Kennedy bound themselves to enfeoffe the said Margaret Shaw in life-
rent in all the 30s-land of Barnhill, Mylnholme and Craigan Crea, the 5s-land
of McAllanstoune, the 5s-land of Aillhouse and the 6s-8d-land of Tyreaker, all
part of the 9½-mark-land of Dalgarock, in the parishing of Colmonell,
bailiwick of Carrick and Sheriffdom of Ayr, being the principal lands,
And in the 20s-land of Aikermadie and 20s-land of Glassill, parcel of
the same 9½-mark-land of Dalgarock, being the warranty lands, to be held
and in manner specified in the marriage contract,

The youngest son of Andrew Mcilwraith of Auchenflower, Thomas

Mcilwraith, in Auchenflower appears as witness in a document
dated March 1698. Further this mentions him to be brother of
Gilbert Mcilwraith in Auchenflower & Hugh Mcilwraith of
Auchenflower.

Sasine of Hugh Mcilwraith of Auchinflour 10th Mar 1698

Hugh McIlwraith is the lawful and next heir of the late Andrew
c
M Ilwraith of Auchinflour his father of the 40s-land of Auchinflour, and is of
lawful age,
And that these lands are held of me as superior lord (Fergus McCubine
of Knockdolian), in fee farm and heredity, to hold in chief for the sum of £8
10s p.a., By these presents we order you to deliver estate, sasine and
corporal possession of the 40s-land of Auchinflour to the aforenamed Hugh
McIlwraith as lawful son and next heir. After the reading which precept of
sasine James McIlwraith the baillie delivered sasine of the 40s-land of
Auchinflour with the appurtenances to the aforenamed Hugh McIlwraith.
Witnesses present: John Adam of Glentig, William Baird in Fallachen,
Thomas Mcilwraith and Gilbert McIlwraith brothers to the said Hugh
McIlwraith of Auchinflour.

It is possible that Thomas Mcilwraith, before mentioned is the

farmer in Brunston mentioned in 1691 in the Hearth Tax.

26th Nov 1704 Thomas Mcilwraith in Brunston has a child called

A?? Unfortunately the Old Parish Register is unreadable for this
entry. One imagines that Thomas may have named his son
Andrew Mcilwraith after his father.

44
 BRUNSTON - ½ mile SW of daily, “The castle by the bends of the winding river”; (Thomas
McIlwraith, 1691)

Also, between the period of 1678 until at least the year 1700
another Thomas Mcilwraith farmed an estate at Newton on Ayr. It
is not clear if this is the Auchinflour Thomas Mcilwraith. We find
the baptisms of some of Thomas Mcilwraith’s children there, for he
married Galis Reid daughter of John Reid, a baillie in Newton of
Ayr. Their children are:

1. John Mcilwraith bp 24 May 1678 - c1697

John Mcilwraith, son lawful to Thomas Mcilwraith in Newton of Ayr
& Julian Reid spouse was born on Thursday 24th May 1678
Witnesses: John Reid

2. Mary Mcilwraith bp 2 Aug 1679 Mary Mcilwraith daughter

lawful to Thomas Mcilwraith husbandman in Newton & Gillos Reid was born on
Saturday 2nd Aug 1679 Witnesses: John Reid, grandfather to the child & John ???
Uncle to the child

3. Alexander Mcilwraith bp 31 Mar 1681 -

Alexander Mcilwraith, son lawful to Thomas Mcilwraith, labourer in
Newton of Ayr & Joals Reid was born on Thursday 31st March 1681
Witnesses: John Reid & James Paterson

4. Thomas Mcilwraith bp 26 Feb 1685

Thomas Mcilwraith son lawful to Thomas Mcilwraith
land labourer in Newton & Gilos Reid his spouse was born on
Monday 26th Feb 1685 Witnesses: John Reid, grandfather
to the child Later Thomas Mcilwraith was in Dalquharran he possibly married
2 Feb 1715 to Jannet Baird or possibly Thomas married
02/09/1708 MCLWRATH THOMAS JONAT MURCHIE /FR149 M BARR/AYR
2nd Sept 1708 Thomas Mcilwrath & Jonat Muchie gave their names in proclamation

5. Margaret Mcilwraith bp 6th Feb 1687 Ayr

Margaret Mcilwraith, daughter lawful to Thomas Mcilwraith in Newton of Ayr
& Geilis Reid spouse was born on Tuesday 6th Feb 1687 Witnesses: John Reid

45
6. John Mcilwraith bp 10th Oct 1698 m 6th Dec 1721 Margaret Boyd
John Mcilwraith son lawful to Thomas Mcilwraith land labourer in Newton
& Gilos Reid his spouse was born on Thursday 10th Oct 1698 Witnesses:
John Reid, grandfather baillie in Newton

Thomas Mcilwraith born in 1685 m Jean Thomson and they had issue:

1. Jean Mcilwraith baptised 6th June 1714

2, John Mcilwraith baptised 8th July 1719

John Mcilwraith son lawful to Thomas Mcilwraith, carrier in Newton upon

Ayr and Jean Thomson his spouse, born Tuesday 13th day of June 1719 and
baptised on Wednesday 8th July 1719.

Lastly in the period 1704 – 1720 appears another Thomas

Mcilwraith who also could be the Auchinflour Thomas Mcilwraith.

46
 The old estate of Dalquharran where Thomas Mcilwraith
born 1685 was a tenant farmer.

Lillias Mcilwraith baptised 8th Jan 1716

Jan 1716 Lilias lawful daughter to Thomas Mcilwraith in the old castle of
Dalquharran

Anna Mcilwraith bp 10th Mar 1721

47
Mar 1721 Anna lawful daughter to Thomas Mcilwraith in the castle of
Dalquharran

DALQUHARRAN (Old Castle) - .5 mils north of Dailly. “The valley of the memorial Cairn”. A
vast pictish burial ground surrounds the castle. (Thomas McIlwraith, 1714)

Dalquharran Castle, as originally built, pre-1880. The

castle was executed with a much smaller courtyard than
existing plans show,

So was the Thomas Mcilwraith in Auchinflour alive in March 1698

one of the three Thomas Mcilwraith’s mentioned? We have one in
Brunston, another in Newton of Ayr and lastly one in the old Castle
at Dalquharran. Researchers have tried to link various lines to
Thomas Mcilwraith in Dalquharran saying he was the Auchinflour
Thomas. Unfortunately this author feels there is currently a lack of
documentation to prove which Thomas was the one born at
Auchinflour. Further investigation is needed.

48
There was mention earlier of a John Mcilwraith possible rebel at
Bothwell-brig in 1679. One of three brothers captured at the
battle. There is a John Mcilwraith in Darlae who died in Oct 1707.
Since Darlae was one of the lands involved in the court battle it is
likely this John Mcilwraith was born in Auchinflour, as another son
of Andrew Mcilwraith of Auchinflour. This could indicate the said
Andrew Mcilwraith had married twice to produce so many children.
Sadly Old Parish Registers do not reveal any baptisms or marriages
to reveal this.

Andrew Mcilwraith of Auchenflower died Feb 1674

Hugh b 1655 James Gilbert Andrew Margaret Thomas

Bothwell-brig
John d 1707

Andrew Hugh Mcilwraith m 1st Mary Mcilwraith Agnes Margaret

m 2nd Sarah Maxwell

Mentioned in the diary of Jane Deans (who died in 1911) was that Hugh
Mcilwraith (the one who married Sarah Maxwell) had no known brothers.
[Jane Deans was a descendant of Hugh Mcilwraith & Sarah Maxwell,
Jane’s descendants can be found in New Zealand to this day].

This author has found the following possible brothers of Hugh;

Knockdolian October 14: 1764

Two days after date pay to James

Mcilurath or order the some of
One hundred pounds sterling for q[uhi]lk
debit my Cash Account with John McAdam
William Ferguson William Campbell and
company bankers in Air for vallore Received.

To Mr. James Hendry John Cathcart

Their Cashier

49
As Hugh Mcilwraith’s father died in 1731, the above James
Mcilwraith in Knockdolian must be another son of James Mcilwraith
in Auchinflour who died as stated 1731.

A further record was found in the death register

James Mcilwraith in Poundland died 31 Mar 1793 aged 75 years

This James Mcilwraith would have been born around 1718. It is

not clear if he is the same James Mcilwraith mentioned in
Knockdolian 1764.

Never the less, the Mcilwraith line continues for Hugh Mcilwraith of
Auchenflower & Sarah Maxwell of Monreith had issue as shown in
the Old Parish Register:

1. unnamed child baptised 1st March 1750 in Ballantrae, Ayrshire.

This is the eldest son Hugh Mcilwraith’s baptism, a detailed family
tree by James Mcilwraith in Poundland says this Hugh Mcilwraith
was born 30th March 1749

2. Helen Mcilwraith bp 9th Oct 1751 in Ballantrae, Ayrshire.

3. Mary Mcilwraith bp 12th April 1753 in Ballantrae, Ayrshire.

4. Robert Mcilwraith bp 18th Nov 1755 in Ballantrae, Ayrshire.

5. Alexander Mcilwraith bp 9th Oct 1758 in Ballantrae, Ayrshire.

6. Andrew Mcilwraith bp 30th Oct 1761 in Ballantrae, Ayrshire.

7. Elizabeth Mcilwraith bp 17th Apr 1763 in Ballantrae, Ayrshire.

The manuscript by Jane Dean also states that Hugh and Sarah
Mcilwraith had a son named James Mcilwraith who died at Tobago
on the 2nd Sept. 1778. Another son named Alexander Mcilwraith
who also died at Tobago on the 17th Jul 1782. The last son Andrew
Mcilwraith (born 1761) died at Knockdolian 27th June 1824. It is
not stated if Andrew Mcilwraith 1761 – 1824 had family. The dates
came from the bible which belonged to Hugh Mcilwraith and that
was commenced in 1753. It states Hugh Mcilwraith died in Oct

50
1770, and that his wife Sarah Maxwell of Monreith died New Years
Day 1772. Jane Dean wrote she had no prior records of the
Mcilwraith’s prior to those names listed in Hugh’s bible. But she
said the Mcilwraith name was known for over 400 years in The
Stinchar Valley.

Mary Mcilwraith born in 1753 married James McNider and

apparently had no children. The sons of Hugh and Sarah
Mcilwraith as young men they went to Tobago to make money as
planters there. Andrew Mcilwraith born 1761 seems to vanish from
records, whilst the eldest son Hugh Mcilwraith died in 1784. Robert
Mcilwraith born 1755 succeeded the estates. He had lived at
Tobago for some years on a plantation. War broke out with France
and it is written that Robert Mcilwraith fought against them, and
barely escaped with his life. Robert swam to another island and
eventually came back to Scotland on a vessel. He was rather ill
following this but eventually recovered.

As Auchenflower was divided into tenant farms it was not

necessary that Robert Mcilwraith lived on it. Knockdolian estate
being only two miles away, was quiet an easy distance to walk or
ride. Knockdolian was a very pretty snug and cosy place, built
against the old tower (which still stands) on the point of the
northeast spur of Knockdolian hill.

51
Knockdolian Hill as it stands today, photo by Colin
McNally
KNOCKDOLIAN – A conical Hill of 890 feet which is the prominent landmark in the lower
valley of the Stinchar. “The hill of the winds”. (Robert McIlraith, 1755)

Knockdolian House in 1907

52
 Knockdolian Castle Ruin

Paragraph and Poem extracted from the manuscript of Jane Deans;

In the month of May, practically nothing could exceed the beauty

of the prospect from the front of Knockdolian house, with the
hawthorn hedge in bloom round the bottom of the park in front
enclosing plantations, the laburnum trees with their yellow tassels
planted in the hedge at about a chain apart, and looking over the
tops of the trees down the strath of Tig between Ganphar hill
cultivated and Mains hill covered with heather, to Knockdolian Hill
clothed with Ash and Hazel half way to the top. Or even in the
dark and dreary months of winter it is not without its charms – to
see the “spirit of the storm” driving its “cauld sleaty clouds” down
the glen of Tig is something to remember, or again, a clear calm
frosty morning after a snow storm, when all nature is clothed in

53
white robes of “beautiful snow” to watch the sunrise tinging the
tops of Knockdolian hills, and looking over its shoulder beyond the
tops of Goatfell in Arran, with rosy crimson hues.

Breathless there a man with soul so dead

who never to himself have said
This is my own, my native land!!
Whose heart have never within him burned
As his footsteps he have turned
From wandering on a foreign strand.

Land of my sires, what mortal hand

Can ere untie the filial band
That knits me to the rugged strand

---------------------------------------------------

Robert Mcilwraith’s elder brother Hugh took a land tack out in

1779 a few years before he died on the Knockdolian estate which
included the parks. In 1784 Robert took over this land tack which
was to be renewed every 19 years. The property was actually
owned by the Cathcart family.

By this time he was Robert Mcilwraith esquire of Auchenflower a

Laird as had been his father before him. They were one of the
main heritable families in the area, and had frequently visited
gentry around the area. Ann Mochrie was a daughter of the
minister at Colmonell Church, it was Ann Mochrie who Robert
Mcilwraith married in 1785.

Children of Robert Mcilwraith & Ann Mochrie:

1. Jean Mcilwraith bp 18th Nov 1786 m Edward Wallace
2. Hellen Nelly Mcilwraith 1788 – 1864 m Alexander McTier
3. Elizabeth Mcilwraith 1790 – 1875 m John Jamieson
4. Sarah Mcilwraith 1792 died the same year
5. James Mcilwraith of Auchenflower, born at Knockdolian 1793 –
1875 married twice 1st to Agnes Caldwell & 2nd to Agnes Gillies
6. Mary Mcilwraith 1795 – 1869 m Dr David Dick
7. Ann Mcilwraith 1797 – 1882 m Thomas Haldane
8. Marion Mcilwraith 1792 – 1822

54
9. Sarah Mcilwraith 1802 and died the same year

Death of Robert Mcilwraith

Robert Mcilwraith of Auchenflower who married Ann Mochrie

M'ILWRAITH, Robert – Died 2nd Oct 1845 - At Auchenflower

House, on the 2d inst., Robert M'Ilwraith, Esq., of Auchenflower, in
the 90th year of his age - highly respected and deeply regretted.
Mr. M'Ilwraith succeeded to his estate in 1784, on the death of an
elder brother, and during his long possession he has enjoyed the
universal esteem of the district for the integrity of his character
and his exemplary life; and it is believed that he has left the world
without an enemy.

Inventory of Robert Mcilraith

At Ayr the fifth day of October one thousand eight hundred and forty six
years compeered William Brown writer in Maybole who produced
inventory of the personal estate of the deceased Robert Mcilraith after
designed & also extract disposition & settlement by said defunct & of
which inventory & extract disposition and settlement the tenor follows. _

55
Inventory of the personal estate which belonged to the deceased Robert
Mcilraith Esquire of Auchenflower in the parish of Ballantrae who died
at Auchenflower upon the second day of October eighteen hundred and
forty five given up by James Mcilraith Esquire in Auchenflower executor
nominate conform to disposition & settlement dated the thirteenth day of
May eighteen hundred & twenty three & coincides thereto annexed and
registered in the sheriff court books of Ayrshire the twenty second day of
October eighteen hundred and forty five.
Cash in the house at death ___________ £12,,7,,10½
Bill by James Mcilraith to the deceased dated 9 January 1838 at one day
after date __________________________£450,,_,,_
Interest on D. from 14th September 1844 to date of decease 1 year and 18
days at four percent _________________£18,,17& £468,,17,,8
The following rents due to the deceased
James Mcilraith for Auchenflower& part of the Balrazie from
Whitsunday last to 2nd October ________£61,,17,,_
Alexander Wallace for Balrazie Hill from Martinmas last to
2 October _________________________£51,,4,,1
James Drynan for Matthews Croft from Martinmas last
to 2 October _______________________ £8,,10,,9,,& 121,,11,,10
The following debts on sums advanced to members of the deceased family
Edward Wallace in Balrazie and
Mrs. Jane Mcilraith spouses ___________£170,,_,,_
Mrs. Helen Mcilraith & Alexander McTier
in Straid, spouses ____________________£100,,_,,_
Mrs. Elizabeth Mcilraith & John Jamieson
teacher in Colmonell spouse __________£150,,_,,_
Mrs. Mary Mcilraith & John Blair
in Daily spouses _____________________£135,,9,,_
Mrs. Ann Mcilraith & Thomas Haldane
in Kilmarnock ______________________£100,,_,,_ & £655,, 9,,_
Household furniture books body clothes & other effects per inventory and
appraisement of William Mc Morran licensed
appraiser Girvan ____________________£17,,4,,1
£1275,,10,,5
This is the inventory referred to in my affidavit hereto annexed (signed)
James Mcilraith, Thos D Notch Commissioner at Girvan the twenty
eighth day of September eighteen hundred and forty six years in presence
of Thomas Dixon Notch Esquire one of her Majesty’s Justices of the
peace for the county of Ayr Commissioner appointed by the Commissary
Deputy of Ayrshire for taking the disposition James Mcilraith farmer in
Auchenflower to the verity of the personal estate of the said deceased
Robert Mcilraith Esquire of Auchenflower appeared the said James

56
Mcilraith who being solemnly sworn and examined depones that the said
Robert Mcilraith died upon the second day of October eighteen hundred
and forty five leaving a disposition and settlement executed by him and
the late Mrs. Ann Mochrie his spouse of date the thirteenth day of May
eighteen hundred and twenty three and three several codicils annexed
there dated respectively the tenth day of April eighteen hundred and
twenty nine the twenty fourth day of April eighteen hundred and thirty
seven & the twenty second day of October eighteen hundred and forty
three and registered in the sheriff court books of Ayrshire the twenty
second day of October eighteen hundred and forty five of which an
extract is herewith exhibited & is documented and signed by the deponent
& Commissioner as relative hereto by which settlement the deceased
conveyed his whole personal estate to the deponent and appointed him
his executor that the deponent does not know of any settlement or writing
relative to the disposal of the deceased personal estate other than the
foresaid settlement. That the inventory hereto prefixed and which is
docqueted & signed, by the deponent & Commissioner as relative hereto
is a full and complete inventory of the whole estate & effects of the said
deceased Robert Mcilraith wherever situated and belonging to or due to
him at the time of his decease in so far as the same has come to the
deponents knowledge and that the whole of the deceased personal estate
and effects situated in Scotland in so far as the same has come to the
deponents knowledge is above the value of one thousand five hundred
pounds sterling all which is truth as the deponent shall answer to God.
Signed James Mcilraith, Thomas D Notch JP.
Written by George D Bruce

Settlement of Robert Mcilraith

At Ayr twenty second day of October one thousand eight hundred and
forty five years in presence of Archibald Bill Esquire Advocate Sheriff of
Ayrshire Compeared James Morton writer in Ayr as procurator for
Robert Mcilraith & Ann Mcilraith after designed and gave in the
disposition & settlement with Codicils there to all after copied desiring
the same to be registered in the sheriff court books of Ayrshire conform to
the clause of registration contained in the said disposition and settlement
and Codicils which desire the said judge found reasonable and ordained
to be done accordingly whereof the tenor follows __ ”I Robert Mcilraith

57
of Auchenflower with consent of Mrs. Ann Mochrie otherwise Mcilraith
my spouse for all right and interest which she has or can pretend to the
subjects herein after conveyed do by their presence give grant & dispose
to and in favor of James Mcilraith my only lawful son and to his heirs
and assignees whomsoever heritably and irredeemably but with and
under the burdens provisions and reservations after mentioned all and
whole the forty shilling land of Auchenflower the two merk land of
Clashlochan and the one merk land of Balrazie extending to a four pound
land of old extent with the mansion house, houses, building yards,
orchards, parts pedicles annexes, convexes
dependencies and pertinents thereto belonging, lying within the parish of
Kirkcudbright-Innertig now of Ballantrae, Bailliary of Carrick &
Sheriffdom of Ayr and I do farther under the burdens and provisions after
mentioned hereby give, grant, assign dispone and make over to and in
favour of the said James Mcilraith and his foresaids all and sundry other
lands Houses tacks and other heritages wadsets adjudications and other
heritable debts. As also all and sundry personal Estate goods gear debts
and sums of money presently belonging or which shall belong and be due
to me at the time of my death together with the whole rights title deeds
and securities thereof; Bonds Bills and other grounds of debt and all
following or competent to follow thereon. And for carrying these presents
more effectually into execution I do hereby nominate and appoint the said
James Mcilraith to be my sole and only Executor and intromitter with my
moveable Estate with power to him to expedite confirmation and all other
necessary titles and generally to do every other thing in the premises
competent to an Executor but declaring always that these presents are
expressly granted under the conditions burdens provisions and
reservations following. First that out of the first and readiest of my
means and estate hereby conveyed he the said James Mcilraith shall pay
all my just and lawful debts & deathbed and funeral expenses. Secondly
that he shall pay to the said Mrs. Ann Mochrie my spouse the sum of
Fifteen pounds Sterling of Jointure and that at two terms in the year
Whitsunday & Martinmas by equal portions beginning the first payment
thereof at whichever of these terms shall first happen after my death and
thereafter & c.

thereafter yearly “termly” and proportionally during all the days of her
natural life and that over & above her life-rent of Mathews Croft
formerly possessed by Hugh Syme and now by David McJannet the
Parkhill the Ward the Whitewood & Tinklerholm provided to her by my
Disposition bearing date the eighth day of October Eighteen hundred and
sixteen. And farther the said James Mcilraith shall deliver over to the

58
said Mrs. Ann Mochrie for her full use and enjoyment, during all the
days of her life the whole of my household furniture Books plate China
Bed and table linen and the whole of my farm stocking Crop and
Husbandry Implements. And which several provisions above conceived
in favour of my said spouse I hereby declare to be in full satisfaction to
her of all claim of [terce] half or third of moveables or other claim
whatever competent to her by and through my death and which
provisions I the said Mrs. Ann Mochrie hereby accept of in lieu of all
claims competent to me against the said Robert Mcilraith my husband
and his Estate & hereby discharge and renounce the same. Thirdly the
said James Mcilraith shall pay to his five sisters Jean, Helen, Elizabeth,
Mary and Ann Mcilraith’s and to the survivors of them their heirs
executors or assignees the sum of Twelve hundred and fifty pounds
Sterling in name of Provision which sum shall be divisible equally among
them and their foresaids share and share alike and be payable by the said
James Mcilraith twelve months after the first term of Whitsunday or
Martinmass occurring after my death with interest thereon at the rate of
four per cent from the period of my decease till the said term of payment.
But declaring that One hundred pounds of each daughters share of the
foresaid provision shall be secured upon herself in liferent, and her
children in fee exclusive of the jus marital of her husband, and
unaffectable by his acts or deeds or the claims of his creditors and which
sum of One hundred pounds shall either remain upon a security to be
granted by the said James Mcilraith or & c.

or shall be properly secured elsewhere with his approbation in the terms

before conceived. And farther declaring that whatever sums I may have
already paid or may hereafter pay to any of my daughters to account of
their provisions shall be imputed in part of their share of the foresaid sum
of Twelve hundred and fifty pounds. Lastly upon the death of my said
spouse the whole of my household furniture Books Plate China Bed and
table linen farm stocking & husbandry Implements life-rented by her
shall be disposed of by my said son as follows. In the first place he shall
retain for his own exclusive use my set of silver table spoons and divider
and my large mirror in the Dining room. Secondly He shall set apart to
his unmarried sisters such portions of the Furniture as shall be equal in
value to what he and his married sister received at their respective
marriages. Lastly he shall divide the remaining furniture stock and
Husbandry Implements into equal shares retaining one share for himself
and giving the remaining shares to his sisters & their Heirs declaring
that the foresaid provisions in favour of my said daughters is over and
above their liferent after their mother of Mathews Croft the Parkhill the
Ward the Whitewood, and Tinkerholm provided to them by my

59
Disposition before mentioned which several provisions in favour of my
said daughters I hereby declare to be in full of all legitim bairns part of
gear or other claim whatever competent to them in law by and through
the decease either of their said mother or me. In which lands and others I
bind and oblige me my heirs and successors duly and validly to infeft and
sease the said James Mcilraith and his foresaids to be holden either of
and under me my heirs and successors in free blench for payment of a
penny Scots money on the ground of the said lands at Whitsunday yearly
if asked only and relieving us of the duties and services payable to our
superiors or from me and my foresaids of our immediate lawful superiors
thereof, in the same manner and as freely as I hold or might hold the
same myself and that either by resignation or confirmation or both and
for accomplishing the said Infeftment by Resignation I hereby Constitute
and appoint jointly & c.

jointly and severally to be my lawful and irrevocable Procurators with

power to them for me and in my name lawfully to resign surrender up
give over give and deliver all and whole the lands and others above
described with all right title and interest which I have or can pretend
thereto. In the hands of my respective immediate lawful superiors thereof
or of their commissioners in their names having power to receive
Resignations and to grant new infeftments of the same to be made given
and granted to the said James Mcilraith and his foresaids in due and
ample form as affairs. But always with and under the foresaid burdens
and provisions acts Instruments and documents in the premises to ask
and take and generally to do ever other thing which I could have done
myself if personally present or which to the office of Procuratory in such
cases is known to belong all which I promise to hold firm and stable.
And father I hereby assign and convey to the said James Mcilraith and
his foresaids the rents and duties of the lands & others foresaid with the
whole title deeds and securities thereof whole clauses and effects thereof
and all action and execution competent thereon. And I do hereby revoke
cancel & annul all former Dispositions & Settlements executed by me but
excepting always the foresaid Disposition bearing date the eighth day of
October Eighteen hundred and Sixteen which is to subsist entire and not
to be affected in any manner by the presents. And I do hereby reserve full
power and liberty to me at any period of my life or even on deathbed to
after innovate or revoke these presents in whole or in part & to revoke
cancel or annul the same as I shall think proper. But declaring that the
same so far as not revoked or altered by me shall be a valid and effectual
Deed altho found lying in my repositories or in the custody of any person
to whom I may entrust the same undelivered at the time of my death with
the delivery whereof & c.

60
whereof I have dispensed and hereby dispense forever. And I consent to
the registration hereof in the Books of Council and Session or others
competent therein to remain for preservation and for that effect
Constitute James Morton, writer in Ayr my Procurators & c. and
moreover I hereby desire and require you [blank] and each of you jointly
and severally my Baillies in that part hereby specially constitute. That in
sight hereof ye pass to the grounds of the lands and other above disponed
respectively and successively and there give and deliver heritable state
and sasine actual real and corporal possession of all and whole the lands
and others foresaid lying and described in manner above written to the
said James Mcilraith or his foresaids and that by delivery to him or them
or to their certain attorney or attorneys in their names Bearers hereof of
earth and stone of the ground of the said lands and all other symbols
usual and necessary. But always with and under the conditions provisions
and reservations above written and this in no way ye leave undone which
to do I commit to you jointly & severally my full power by this my precept
of sasine directed to you for that effect. In witness whereof these presents
written upon this and the two preceding pages of stamped paper by John
McWilliam, Clerk to John Donaldson, and David Ramsay Writers to
the Signet are subscribed by us the said Robert Mcilraith and Mrs. Ann
Mochrie otherwise Mcilraith at Knockdolian the thirtieth day of May
Eighteen hundred and twenty three years before these witnesses:
Alexander McDowall, schoolmaster in Auchenflower and James
McNider, Housewright at Knockdolian (signed) Robert Mcilraith, Ann
McIlraith, Alexander McDowall, witness, James McNider, witness.
(Follows codicil written on the back of the foregoing Deed) “I Robert
Mcilraith within designed considering that Mrs. Isabella Caddell of
Ladybank has bequeathed to me five hundred pounds Sterling and I being
desirous that this sum under deduction of legacy duty should be equally
divided share and share alike among my children. Therefore, I hereby
direct and ordain James Mcilraith my son and Executor to retain one
share of said free sum to himself and to & c.

to divide the remaining shares equally among his sisters and their
respective heirs payable the said sum at the first term of Whitsunday or
Martinmass after my death if the same shall have been received by me
and if not when the same shall be received by my said Executor. And I
consent to the registration hereof in the Books of Council and Session or
others competent for preservation and Execution. In witness thereof I
have subscribed these presents written upon the back of the foregoing
Disposition and Settlement by the before designed John Donaldson at
Auchairne the tenth day of April Eighteen hundred and twenty nine years

61
before these witnesses, the said John Donaldson and Gilbert McKenna
his tenant, residing here (signed), Robert Mcilraith, John Donaldson,
witness, Gilbert McKenna, witness”. (follows two codicils written on a
sheet of stamped paper apart from the foregoing Deed).“I Robert
Mcilraith of Auchenflower, Esquire, considering that by Disposition and
Settlement executed by me with consent of Mrs. Ann Mochrie my
deceased wife on the thirtieth day of May Eighteen hundred and twenty
three I conveyed my whole Estates heritable and moveable to and in
favour of James Mcilraith my only son under burden inter alia of
payment of the sum of twelve hundred and fifty pounds Sterling of a
provision to my Daughters declaring that One hundred pounds of each of
their shares shall be secured upon themselves in liferent and their
children in fee exclusive of the jus mariti of their Husbands and
unaffectable by their acts and deeds or the claims of their Creditors as
also that whatever sums I had paid or might pay to my said Daughters to
account of their Provisions should be imputed in part of their share of the
foresaid sum of Twelve hundred and fifty pounds Sterling as the said
Disposition and Settlement which reserves full power to me to alter and
innovate the same more fully bears. And farther Considering that by
Codicil annexed to the foresaid Disposition and Settlement dated the
tenth day of & c.

of April Eighteen hundred and twenty nine I directed the said James
Mcilraith to divide equally amongst himself and my said daughters share
and share alike, the legacy of Five hundred pounds left to me by the
deceased Mrs Isabella Caddell of Ladybank under deduction of Legacy
Duty. And farther considering that upon the twenty fifth day of October
Eighteen hundred and sixteen I advance to Edward Wallace, Farmer in
Balrasoy husband of Jane Mcilraith my eldest daughter One hundred
pounds Sterling to account of her share of the foresaid provision and
being now resolved for certain good causes and considerations to settle
and secure upon my said daughter Jane Mcilraith in liferent and her
children in fee the balance of her share of the said Provision and Legacy
Therefore in exercise of the foresaid reserved power to alter I do hereby
provide and declare that the whole balance due of the said Jane
Mcilraith’s share of the foresaid provision and Legacy shall be settled
and secured by my said son upon her in liferent and her children share
and share alike in fee exclusion of the jus mariti of her present or any
future husband and shall not be affected by their acts and deeds nor be
attachable by their Creditors. And I consent to the registration hereof in
the Books of Council and Session or others competent therein to remain
for preservation and for that effect I Constitute James Morton, Writer in
Ayr my Procurators. In witness whereof I have subscribed these presents

62
written upon this and the two preceding pages of stamped paper by John
Donaldson, Writer to the Signet at Auchairne the twenty fourth day of
April Eighteen hundred and thirty seven before these witnesses: the said
John Donaldson & David Craig his servant (signed), Robert Mcilraith,
John Donaldson, witness, David Craig, witness.” I the before designed
Robert Mcilraith Esquire Considering that in addition to the within
mentioned sum of One hundred pounds advanced by me on twenty fifth
October Eighteen hundred and sixteen to the within designated Edward
Wallace now farmer at Balkissock, husband of Jane Mcilraith my eldest
daughter there was also paid by me to them on eleventh January last,
farther to account of the within written provision the sum of seventy
pounds Sterling and considering also & c.

also that in consequence of the said Edward Wallace having become

insolvent the said James Mcilraith my son interponed his Credit on his
behalf, along with Alexander Wallace in Cruise not only for obtaining a
Settlement with his Creditors but also for the building of Balkissock Farm
house and that the said James Mcilraith and Alexander Wallace are still
in advance for the said Edward Wallace in the sum of One hundred and
sixty pounds and the father sum of Fourty pounds contained in a Bill
drawn by the said James Mcilraith upon and accepted by the said
Edward Wallace dated the sixteenth day of January last payable four
months after date and negotiated with the Ayrshire Banking Company at
Girvan which Bill is still unretrired and in the second place considering
farther that my daughter Mary Mcilraith presently the wife of William
Blair residing in Dailly has received from me to account of her share of
the within Provision the sum of Two hundred and thirty five pounds nine
shillings and being now resolved in consequence of my said sons advance
and liability in the foresaid sum on account of the said Edward Wallace
to alter the destination of the Balance of the share of the foresaid
provision payable to my said Eldest daughter therefore in exercise of my
reserved power contained in my former settlements I hereby provide and
declare that the said James Mcilraith and his heirs executors and
successors shall after the death of his said sister Jane have right to the
fee of the foresaid balance remaining due to her of said provision and
that protanto of his advance and liability for her said husband, Declaring
that with this provision and alteration the destination conceived in favour
of the said Jane Mcilraith and her children shall be good and valid for
any surplus not claimable by my said son. And in the second place being
also now resolved for certain good causes & considerations to settle and
secure upon my said daughter Mary Mcilraith & her children in fee the
Balance of her share of & c.

63
of the foresaid provision and Legacy under deduction of the sum of One
hundred pounds of the foresaid sum of two hundred & thirty five pounds
nine shillings paid to her as aforesaid, and which sum of One hundred
pounds I hereby provide and declare shall be repaid by the said Mary
Mcilraith & divided equally among her and all my other children share
and share alike. Therefore in virtue of my said reserved power to alter I
do hereby provide and declare that the balance of the share of the
foresaid provision payable to the said Mary Mcilraith shall be settled
and secured by my said son upon her in liferent and her children share
and share alike in fee exclusive of the jus mariti of her present or any
future husband and shall not be affected by their acts and deeds nor
attachable by their Creditors. And I consent to the registration hereof in
terms of the clause of registration contained in the foresaid Codicil. And
for that purpose Constitute James Morton Writer, in Ayr my
Procurators. In witness whereof these presents written upon this and the
preceding page of stamped paper by Thomas Richmont Anderson, Clerk
to John Donaldson, Writer to the Signet are subscribed by me at
Auchenflower the twenty second day of April Eighteen hundred and forty
three years before these Witnesses: Samuel Hannah and John Muir,
servants to the said James Mcilraith. The place and date of subscription
and the Witnesses names and designations being inserted by my own
hand (signed) Robert McIraith, Samuel Hannah, witness, John Moore,
witness.”

Extracted upon this and the twenty two preceding pages of stamped paper
By me Sheriff Clerk Depute of Ayrshire (signed) Gilbert McNab Dep. At
Girvan the 28 September 1846. This is the Extract Settlement referred to
in my affidavit of this date (signed) James Mcilraith Thomas D Rotch
Commisar & Justice of the Peace.
Written by George D Bruce. Collated by Charles [Paton].

M’ILWRAITH/JAMIESON, Elizabeth – 18th Feb 1875 - At

Auchenflower, Ballantrae, on the (18)th inst., Elizabeth M'Ilwraith,
widow of Mr. John Jamieson, teacher, Colmonell, aged 54 years.

I descend from Ann Mcilwraith 1797 – 1882 and her spouse

Thomas Haldane, they are my great great great grandparents and
are described below:

Thomas Haldane.
Born: 11th Jun. 1796, at Carleton Mains, Ayrshire, Scotland.

64
Occupation: Draper and Silk Mercer. Immigrated: 1852, on the
clipper ship ‘Lord Stanley’ to Adelaide, South Australia. Died: 9th
Mar. 1878, at 6 Smith Street, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia – 82 years.
Buried: 11th Mar. 1878, at Boroondara Cemetery, Kew, Victoria,
Australia. Married: 4th May 1829, at Knockdolian Mansion House,
Ayrshire, Scotland.
Anne Mcilraith – Mcilwraith Born: 11th May 1797, at Knockdolian
Mansion House, Ayrshire, Scotland. Immigrated: 1852, on the
clipper ship ‘Lord Stanley’ to Adelaide, South Australia. Died: 19th
Aug. 1882, at 6 Smith Street, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia – 86
years. Buried: 21st Aug. 1882, at Boroondara Cemetery, Kew,
Victoria, Australia.
Issue:
Anne Haldane, born 14th Mar. 1830, at Truro, Cornwall, England.
Elizabeth A. Haldane, born 11th Mar. 1831 at Truro, Cornwall,
England
Mary Haldane, born 19th Jan. 1833, baptized 17th Feb. at Girvan,
Ayrshire, Scotland.
Jane Haldane, born 26th Feb. 1836, baptized 27th Mar. at Girvan,
Ayrshire, Scotland.
Robert Mcilraith Haldane, born 12th Nov. 1837, baptized 3rd Dec. at
Girvan, Ayrshire, Scotland.
Thomas Haldane, born 5th Nov. 1839, bapt. 24th Nov. at Girvan,
Ayrshire, Scotland.

The below Elizabeth Ann Haldane & William Dunn are the great
great grandparents of the author. The link from Elizabeth Ann
Haldane to her mother Ann Mcilwraith 1797 – 1882 has resulted in
my investigation of over 25 years research on the Mcilwraith
family. I am very proud to be connected to the Mcilwraith clan!

MARRIED. 26th Sept 1856

On the 24th inst., at 86 Dryburgh Street, North Melbourne, by
special license, by the Rev. Dr. Cairns, of Chalmers's Free Church,
William Dunn, Esq., of Fairy-hills, on the banks of the Yarra Yarra
and Darebin Creek, to Eliza Anne, second daughter of Thomas
Haldane, Esq., formerly Chief Magistrate of Girvan, Ayrshire,
Scotland.

65
The brother of Ann Mcilwraith, being James Mcilwraith of
Auchenflower, has many descendants, some of the data has been
listed below to help other researchers make a connection to this
family.

It is with much appreciation and thanks to my friend Colin McNally

in Carrick, Ayrshire, for much of the info on the New Zealand
Mcilwraith connection. Colin has helped me a great deal over the
past years, so it is thanks to him and my efforts combined this
book is able to be written.

Riccarton Bush

By the end of the 19th Century the scale of Mcilwraith’s interests in

farming within Ayrshire were coming to an end. There were many
issues facing British farming at that time. Imported meat was now
being sent from Australia and other places, reducing the price
farmers were getting for their stock. Investment was required in
both mechanisation and on the actual farms themselves. This
reduction in income would be impacting all farmers across Ayrshire
including the Mcilwraith's of Auchenflower. Ironically their distant
cousins John, Andrew and Thomas Mcilwraith were part of the
entrepreneurs who were exporting the meat from Australia in
Britain. James Mcilraith of Auchenflower 1793 - 1875 married
Agnes Caldwell and secondly Agnes Gillies.

Children from the first marriage of James Mcilwraith & Agnes

Caldwell;

1. Jane Mcilwraith bp 21st Apr 1823 at Knockdolian

2. Robert Mcilwraith bp 31st Aug 1824 at Knockdolian
3. Annie Mcilwraith bp 4th Feb 1826 at Knockdolian
4. Mary Mcilwraith bp 8th May 1828 at Knockdolian
5. William Mcilwraith bp 18th Dec 1829 at Knockdolian
6. John Mcilwraith bp 23rd Oct 1831 at Knockdolian

From the second marriage of James Mcilwraith & Agnes Gillies;

7. James Mcilwraith bp 19th Jan 1834 at Knockdolian
8. Hugh Mcilwraith bp 15th May 1836 at Knockdolian
9. Alexander Duncan Mcilwraith bp 20th May 1841 at Knockdolian

66
This would be the final family of Mcilwraith's to live at
Auchenflower. It is possible that indications of the end of living at
Auchenflower were on the horizon during the previous generation,
as Edward Wallace married James’ sister Jane (Jean) who
originally was in Balrazie, rented from Auchenflower, however the
farming of Balrazie didn't work as Balrazie was in disrepair.

To get an appreciation of the reason why this family would be the

last at Auchenflower it is best to look at what happened with
Robert Mcilwraith b 1824 as he was the beneficiary of James
Mcilwraith when he passed away 8.2.1875. Firstly Robert
Mcilwraith was sole beneficiary of all the money from the sale of
Auchenflower 9 months James Mcilwraith’s death in 1875. After
beneficiaries from the will were paid, it was sold to Walker of
Balrazie, who 12 years earlier had purchased Balrazie. As Jane
Deans writes “this should have kept him for the rest of his life in
comfort”.

An extract for the sale of Auchenflower was listed as follows;

“On the 5th August 1875 in the Kings Arms Hotel (Ballantrae) 3rd
Day of August the estate of Auchenflower. Containing 277 acres,
of which 238 are good arable land and the remainder plantations –
the mansion house is modern and commodious and commands a
fine view of the River Stinchar”. The starting price was £10,000.

Robert Mcilwraith born in 1824 never married and lived alone,

passing away in 1899, and with him was the knowledge that he
had protected the Mcilwraith family from what appears to be the
reality of the financial situation.

The farm of Auchenflower was sold for £12,310, and was used for
the following;

- Delivers the payments due per the will of James Mcilwraith –

which includes paying off the annuities left to other family
members.

- Buying an annuity for Mrs Haldane (Ann Mcilwraith) in

Melbourne

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 - He erects the monument to James Mcilwraith and family in
Ballantrae Old Kirkyard.

- He purchases two small cottages in Ballantrae

- He rents the house of Poundland owned by Mr Hunter of

Poundland.

- He makes some American Investments (which were repaid

to him).

According to Jane Dean’s diary “he then lost all the family money
in some unknown way and had to give up Poundland and retired
to lodgings in Ballantrae”. I have found this Robert Mcilwraith
living at Poundland in the 1881 census in Ballantrae. According a
family tree Robert Mcilwraith died on the 3rd November 1889 aged
65. He was unmarried

Extract from 1881 Census

Name: Robert M McIlraith Age: 56 Birth Year: abt 1825
Relationship: Head Gender: Male Where born: Ballantrae, Ayrshire
Registration number: 582/1 Registration district: Colmonell Civil
parish: Colmonell County: Ayrshire Address: Poundland House
Occupation: Farmer Of 400 Acres Employ 1 Man

However the reality of Jane Deans confusion can be resolved

through reading available documents, as they provide record to
the debts being built up by James Mcilwraith;

1869 James Mcilwraith borrows from Peter Fergusson £1,671 +

5% per annum interest paid half yearly, secured on all land. This
debt sold to David Hayle by Peter Fergusson, and discharged to
Robert.

£4500 borrowed from Peter Walker of Balrazie - he would

eventually purchase Auchenflower. We can assume that as well as
the disrepair of Balrazie that 12 years prior James Mcilwraith had
to sell the farm for similar reasons. However there is a document
showing the purchase of Auchenflower by Peter Walker for £4500,
which I assume is the offer price less money owed and interest.
Robert Mcilwraith had no choice but sell the farm.

68
£500 bond Discharged to James Baird of Ayr in 1871

1875 - Discharge by Anne Haldane in favour of Robert Mcilwraith

for a few hundred pounds.

Plus one other debt of £500 owed.

What must be appreciated at this time is that James Mcilwraith

was not just trying to make Auchenflower work, and provide for
his own family but also continue the annuities which were due to
his sisters from his father’s estate. The financial burdens on the
income of Auchenflower must have been substantial.

There are hints through Jane Deans diary that all was not well at
Auchenflower even in earlier years, there are a number of
references to “money being lacking”, such as when she notes that
farmers would visit to discuss what methods were in vogue, there
is a mention of “pinching to make the two ends meet”, and
secondly that “the table was abundantly supplied with food, and
we children never knew how it was provided”.

Therefore by the time Jane moves to New Zealand the reality was
that it was best for James Mcilwraith to see his children developing
new lives for themselves. However sadly it was by “his hands”
writes Jane Deans that much of the paperwork surrounding
Auchenflower was destroyed by her father after most of the
children had left for New Zealand. Sadly the loss of this
information probably included a great deal of information on the
family history and is lost forever. Luckily the present owners of
Auchenflower Mr. D Stevenson do still have some original
documentation, which was copied for this publication.

The debts of James Mcilwraith are not resulting from a man who
squandered his farm away. What he appears to have done is spent
considerable funds trying to modernise the estate and surrounds
and over funded and backed some of the greatest improvements
known within the South Carrick area at the time, including;

- Building what is now Auchenflower farm house.

69
 - Continuous improvements to the cottage houses across the
Auchenflower estate to improve the dwellings of the crofters
who rented the land.

- The building of the harbour

- The building of the Auchenflower Schoolhouse.

- The continued work within the Free Church after he laid the
foundation stone

- The work on improving the road network.

No matter what the circumstances were at Auchenflower and

unknown to everyone at the time, the prosperity and the future of
the Mcilwraith’s of Auchenflower was determined 25 years before
the death of James Mcilwraith when Jane Mcilwraith married on
the 15th Sept 1852 in Ballantrae to a pioneer named John Deans.
With that marriage sealed the building of a larger and more
extensive farming dynasty across the other side of the world.
Jane’s relationship with John is well established. A young John
came to Auchenflower to learn the most up to date farming
methods, and stayed for two years before his first departure to
New Zealand in 1842. He is found at Auchenflower in the 1841
census.

Census Extract of 1841 showing John Dean’s at Auchenflower

Name: John Dean’s Age: 20 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1821

Gender: Male Where born: Ayrshire, Scotland Civil parish:
Ballantrae County: Ayrshire Address: Auchenflower Occupation:
Ind Parish Number: 579 Household Members:
Name Age
James Mcilraith 43
Agnes Mcilraith 30
Jane Mcilraith 15
Mary Mcilraith 10
James Mcilraith 7
George Mcilraith 3
N K Mole 2

70
 MO
John Deans 20
Elisabeth Gillies 25
Jennet Hart 20
Jennet Baird 20

When John decided to take up farming as a career his father

arranged for him to live in the household of James Mcilwraith. It
was at a picnic at Auchenflower where Jane first met John.
However the marriage was not under the most promising of
circumstances – Jane in her diary writes that the taking of such a
boarder “grieved me very much”, and that “her father must be
very badly off and it lowered him to take a border” – however as
she said other farms were doing similar.

Eventually John and Jane’s relationship developed and an

understanding was reached, and although at first Jane refused
marriage, however persistence prevailed and they sailed to New
Zealand a married couple on the ship Minerva. Jane refused to
marry in New Zealand. The home Jane would arrive at would be a
considerable distance in luxuries from the mansion she had left at
Auchenflower.

At Homebush she had an open hearth to cook on. It gives

testament to her tenacity and resourcefulness, that although being
educated at the Scottish Academy for Young Ladies in Edinburgh,
her family background of surviving and growing on harsh Ayrshire
farm land was truly in her blood. John Deans would be facing the
same difficulties as he was of a very established family.

However both he and his brother William had been trained as

lawyers and were more interested in emigrating to New Zealand
than following their profession. They initially had been given an
allocation at Wellington, however requested permission for a farm
at Puturingmotu, now Riccarton. On the 3rd December 1846 a 21
year lease was negotiated for land that was to run in 6 miles in
every direction. This initial lease grew to become 33,000 acres in
the North Island.

71
Sadly on his way to Scotland to marry Jane Mcilwraith, John had
caught a chill and later developed tuberculosis and died at
Riccarton 23rd June 1854. Jane Deans, a newly married 31 year
old from Scotland was now left in charge of Riccarton.

(some of the above text is extracted from Jane Deans of Riccarton,

by John Deans of Riccarton and Kirkstyle)

There was possibly only one family member left behind in

Scotland, Mary Mcilwraith 1828 - 1892 married the Rev. John
Hunter. Possibly William and John also stayed however we have
no further record of them.

Annie Mcilwraith married her cousin Alexander Wallace and

emigrated to Australia rather than following her sister to New
Zealand.

Jane was eventually followed to Homebush by;

James Mcilwraith, he emigrated to Homebush in 1852 following on

from a period in the Australian gold fields. Initially taking charge
and was master at Homebush from 1859 - 95, this also included
the families coal mine and brick works which James Mcilwraith had
prospected, discovered and then mined in the Malvern Hills he
became the New Zealand family figurehead. He died 24th Feb
1903.

Hugh Mcilwraith emigrated to Homebush 1855, married Grace

Lyon. He started life in New Zealand as a shepherd in the Malvern
Hills, and acquired 26,000 acres and farmed that from 1876.
Sitting for the Electoral district of Cheviot, and sat on the House of
Representatives 1882-84, retiring in 1885.

Alexander Duncan Mcilwraith when in Ayrshire He reached the

Rank of Ensign of the Stinchar Rifles and was presented with a
sword. The sword is currently buried from an Earthquake in New
Zealand, we do however have the inscription: “Presented to ensign
D McIlraith of the Stinchar rifles by a few of his friends in Girvan
1860”.

The battalion Ayrshire Rifle Volunteers was formed in 1860 due to

72
rumours of an impending French invasion - the Stinchar Rifles in
which D McIlraith was a officer was part of this. Effectively this
was what would now be called a territorial force. An Ensign was
probably a very young man (around 16 or 17) and his role was to
carry the flag for the unit. It was at that time common practice to
present swords.

There is an article in the Ayr Advertiser, 12th July 1860, on the

"Presentation of Swords to the Officers of the Stinchar Rifle
Volunteer Corps". This states that one of the swords was
presented to Mr. Mcilwraith, younger of Auchenflower.

Alexander Duncan Mcilwraith emigrated on "Chariot of Flames” to

Homebush 1863, married 25th Oct 1894, Alice Douglas Milne. He
moved to Homebush, and then he then managed what was then
the 46,000 acre estate at Holden station.

Christchurch City Council Cemeteries Database

Has the following info

Surname: McIlraith

First name(s): Alexander Duncan

Date of death: Monday, 20 October 1913

Cemetery: Linwood

Date of burial: Wednesday, 22 October 1913

Block number: 21

Plot number: 192

Age: 72 years

Address: 15 Kilmore Street, ChCh

Occupation: Farmer

Place of birth: Scotland

Years in New Zealand: 54

73
Comments: Died: Cardiac failure.

Mr. A. D. McIlraith, J.P., of Auchenflower Estate, was born in

Ayrshire, Scotland. He came to New Zealand in the ship “Chariot of
Fame,” and passed about three years at Home Bush and
Culverden alternately. In 1865 he was appointed to the
management of Home Bush during his brother's two years
absence in the Old World. While he was at Home Bush he sold
three-year-old steers fat off tussock at £17 per head to the West
Coast dealers. In 1868 he spent three months in traveling in the
North Island, and in 1869 he was appointed to the management of
Haldon station, the property of Mr. Bealey. This was a run of
40,000 acres, and in addition to managing it, Mr. McIlraith had to
look after 2000 acres at Southbridge, and also, later on, 1000
acres on the river Styx, including the present site of the Belfast
freezing works. After twenty-three years in harness as manager of
these large properties, Mr. McIlraith took a well-earned holiday,
during which he visited Fiji, Australia and the Home Country,
where he spent nearly one year. Mr. McIlraith occupied a seat on
the Rakaia Road Board for twelve years, during which the board
acted for the Selwyn Council in helping to carry out the water-
races, which have done so much for settlement on the plains. He
was placed on the Commission of the Peace in 1882, and in 1894
he was married to Alice Douglas Milne, second daughter of the late
Mr. George Augustus Milne, of Exeter, England.

George Mcilwraith emigrated 1855 to Homebush

Followed by Elizabeth Mcilwraith who emigrated to Homebush to
look after James Mcilwraith. Jane Mcilwraith followed her pioneer
husband and became one of the founding families of modern New
Zealand through her work at Riccarton and the Canterbury plains.
She was active in promoting the establishment of a “Scottish
Church” and St Andrews opened in February 1857. She died at
Riccarton 19th January 1911.

Homebush was originally leased at 33,000 acres, 15,000 acres of

which was bought by James, brother of Jane. Future generations
of Deans followed and are still in the area today. In 1906 a
government edict went out to split Homebush into smaller units,

74
and divided into 6 and sold to the Dean's boys. In 2010 the basis
of that holding is as follows:

Sandown Sold
Kirkstyle Sold
Rowallan Deans still farm
Morven Deans still farm
Homebush Deans still farm
Auchenflower Deans still farm
Tara Deans still farm
In North Canterbury Bruce Deans farms Kilmarnock

Christchurch City Council Cemeteries Database

Result Detail
Surname: McIlraith

First name(s): George

Date of death: Friday, 26 November 1858

Cemetery: Addington

Date of burial: Monday, 29 November 1858

Block number: 0

Plot number: 52B

Age: 20 years

Address: Homebush

Occupation: Unknown

Place of birth: Ballantrae, Ayrshire, Scotland

Years in New
Zealand:

Comments: First interment in Addington Cemetery. 4th son of

James Seq. J.P. of Auchenflower, Ballantrae, Ayrshire,
Scotland.

Christchurch City Council Cemeteries Database

Result Detail
Surname: McILRAITH

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First name(s): HUGH

Date of death: Wednesday, 30 November 1904

Cemetery: Linwood

Date of burial: Friday, 2 December 1904

Block number: 30

Plot number: 98

Age: 68 years

Address: 37 ANTIGUA STREET

Occupation: Unknown

Place of birth: SCOTLAND

Years in New Zealand: 48

James McIlraith (1793 - 1875) was Jane Deans father. She was
his eldest daughter to his first wife. He also owned a farm called
Auchenflower, where the Deans brothers were cadets and boarded
with the McIlraith’s during the 1830's. He promised Jane that he
would send 3 of her half brothers to help her when her husband
John Deans died.

76
The above image of James Mcilwraith I is credited to the book
Pioneers of the Plains: The Deans of Canterbury by Gordon Ogilvie

Marriage of Jane Mcilwraith

M’ILWRAITH, Jane – Married 15/9/1852 - At Auchenflower
House, Ballantrae, on the 15th inst,. by the Rev. Dr Laing,
Colmonell, John Deans, Esq., New Zealand, to Jane, eldest
daughter of James M'Ilwraith, Esq., of Auchenflower.

Agnes McIlraith nee Gillies 1807 - 1874 was James McIlraith's

second wife, step-mother to Jane Deans and mother to James,
Hugh, George, Alick and Elizabeth McIlraith. She gave birth to nine
children, five of them making their lives in New Zealand.

James McIlraith II 1834 - 1903, son of James McIlraith I and

half brother to Jane Deans. He came to New Zealand with two of
his brothers, Hugh and George, to help Jane after the death of her
husband (John Deans I) in 1854. He went on to manage
Homebush even after his nephew John Deans II came of age and
became owner. He never married. He died in 1903 on his own

77
farm which he called Auchenflower(Rakaia) after his father's farm
back in Scotland.

Hugh McIlraith (1836 - 1904), son of James McIlraith I and half

brother to Jane Deans. He came to New Zealand with his brothers,
James and George, to help Jane Deans after the death of her
husband (John Deans I) in 1854. He worked Homebush's Sheep
Station on behalf of James Y. Deans, brother of William and John
Deans who lived in Scotland. He went on to marry Grace Lyons, a
daughter of one of the Deans Estate Trustees in 1864 and brought
land in Methven and called his farm Broom Park. When he sold the
farm to his nephew, John Deans II, it was renamed to
Waimarama. Hugh and Grace and their 9 children then moved to
Christchurch, first at Riccarton and then Opawa.

The above image of James Mcilwraith II & Hugh Mcilwraith his

brother taken from Pioneers of the Plains: The Deans of
Canterbury by Gordon Ogilvie

78
Jane Deans (nee McIlraith), daughter of James McIlraith I, half
sister to James, George, Hugh, Elizabeth and Alick McIlraith. A
head-strong, deeply religious young woman, she wasn't impressed
when her father let the cadets of Auchenflower farm actually live
there during their training. This was how she came to met the
Deans brothers and fell in love with the youngest, John Deans I.
Agreeing to wait for him as he went to New Zealand to carve a life
out for himself, she waited 10 years for him, only to have him die
less than 2 years into their marriage and leaving her a father-less
infant son to raise. She rose to the challenge and with the help of
loyal trustees and her half brothers, Jane delivered to her son at
the age of 21, a family dynasty of land and businesses. She
survived her husband and her only son to die at Riccarton an old
woman in 1911.

Jane Deans nee Mcilwraith

John Deans II (1853 - 1902) was the son of John and Jane
Deans. Conceived practically at the wedding, Jane not only had to
contend with sea and home sickness on the voyage to New
Zealand but was also had morning sickness. Born to an ill father,

79
John would never know his name sake. Being raised by his loyal
mother and his father's friends (known as the Deans Trustees),
John grew up along with the city of Christchurch. Also growing up
with him was a young lady called Catherine Edith Park who visited
Riccarton with her father, Robert Park. Robert had been a friend of
the Deans since the 1840’s and was a regular visitor to Riccarton.
Catherine Edith remembers being shoved off the verandah of
Riccarton House by John when they played as children. This was
one of the reasons she accepted his marriage proposal in 1879,
she wanted to even the odds and she was also very fond of
Riccarton House. Before the wedding and at the age of 21, John
took over the ownership of Riccarton and Homebush. Eventually
the stress of ownership of numerous estates/businesses and the
death of two of his daughters in 1901 led to his early death in
1902.

Alexander McIlraith (1841 - 1913) was son to James McIlraith I

and half brother to Jane Deans. Fondly called Alick by the family,
he joined his brothers in New Zealand in 1863 from Australia. He
did more travelling around New Zealand than the other
Mcilwraith’s but was always there for the family when he was
needed, such as to fill in as manager at either Riccarton or
Homebush. He also did the same for other farm managers who
wanted some leave. He married in 1894 and along with James
who had retired from Homebush, they ran a farm called Balrazie.
After James' death, Alick retired to Linwood, Christchurch where
he died in 1913.

Elizabeth McIlraith (1848 - 1890) was the half-sister to Jane

Deans and the sister of James, Hugh, George and Alick McIlraith.
She came out to New Zealand to be house-keeper and companion
to her brother James at Homebush as both of them were un-wed.
Her death grieved her brothers beyond measure.

Douglas Graham ( ?-1872) was the cousin of all the Mcilwraiths.

He came out to New Zealand in the company of the newlyweds,
John and Jane Deans (his cousin) in 1853. Like John, he left his
heart behind in Scotland, wanting to make his way in New Zealand
before a marriage took place. Douglas saw firsthand the quick
illness that would claim his cousin's husband and sitting beside
John's death bed, he listened to John's future plans of how he

80
wanted to see Riccarton develop and also, the plans of the
building of Riccarton House. John also advised Douglas not to put
off claiming a wife of his own, not to waste any time to start that
part of his life. From that time, Douglas took over the
management of Riccarton, doing so until his dying day. In 1857,
Douglas married his sweetheart, Helen Eaglesome in the parlour of
Riccarton House. In 1872 as the Graham's were headed home
from Homebush, Douglas lost the flesh from his little finger when
he tried to calm a startled horse. Returning to Christchurch, it was
decided to remove the finger and under chloroform, Douglas's
heart gave out. Douglas had managed Riccarton for 18 years
before taking on land of his own. Grahams Road in Ilam is named
after him. He is buried in Addington Cemetery - his grave beside
the Mcilwraith’s.

Tree of James Mcilwraith of Balcletchie

Martin Mcilwraith in Drummurchie alive 1572

Gilbert Mcilwraith in Drummurchie m Margaret McCouchie

John Mcilwraith in Drummurchie alive 1659

James Mcilwraith in Balcletchie m 1695 to Sara Shaw

Hugh Mcilwraith of Auchenflower m Elizabeth Ballantine

Mentioned earlier in this book was James Mcilwraith in Balcletchie.

BALCLETCHIE – “The steep hill ridge”; 4 miles E.S.E of Girvan

Now the OPR show that James Mcilwraith married Sara Shaw on
29th Nov 1695 at Barr, Ayrshire. This couple named several
children in the testament of Sara Shaw.

1. Andrew Mcilwraith alive 1735, no further info on Andrew

Mcilwraith, his half brother becomes the heir of Sarah Shaw.

81
2. Hugh Mcilwraith who was dead by 1735 and had married
Elizabeth Ballantine. To confuse matters even more this Hugh
Mcilwraith had purchased Auchenflower for a short time. He on
sold it to his cousin Mary Mcilwraith (daughter of Gilbert Mcilwraith
in Auchinflower). As shown Mary Mcilwraith married Hugh
Mcilwraith son of James Mcilwraith in Auchenflower. One needs to
be aware that James Mcilwraith in Auchenflower is again a
different person to James Mcilwraith in Balcletchie. This Hugh
Mcilwraith of Auchenflower is a different man to Hugh Mcilwraith
of Auchenflower who married Sarah Maxwell in 1748. We know
they are different as the Hugh Mcilwraith from the Balcletchie line
was deceased by 1735, the other Hugh was alive in 1748. The
overlapping names are extremely confusing. Adding fruit to this
the Hugh Mcilwraith & Elizabeth Ballantine did not have a son
named Hugh.

3. William Mcilwraith probably born around 1704 was a younger

son of James Mcilwraith and Sarah Shaw. William Mcilwraith died
5th March 1788 and is recoded as an old man of Brunston. William
Mcilwraith married twice; his first marriage was on 16th Feb 1731
to Jean Fergusson. Jean was the daughter of William Fergusson of
Auchenblain, Ayrshire. From this marriage there were two
daughters and a son. Descendants of them are to be found in
Dailly.

William Mcilwraith’s 2nd marriage was to a lady named Helen

McClure on 16th August 1744. At that time William was horse-
master in Balcletchie. Helen was a servant. Helen died 8th May
1786 in Brunston a nearby farm to Balcletchie that William
Mcilwraith had acquired. William and Helen Mcilwraith had one son
and three daughters.

I will hereby draw up brief family tree on William Mcilwraith, from

his first marriage, many Mcilwraith families today connect to this
man:

82
 William Mcilwraith in Brunston m 1 Jean Fergusson

Sarah bp 15th Nov 1731 William bp 13th Aug 1733 Agnes b 1734
m David Leggat m Janet McHarg d 1791
of Barlockhart

William 1763 James b 1764 William b 1767 Peter b 1770 Mary b 1774
died young m Elizabeth m Mary Forgie Mcilwrick
Galbraith

John Mcilwraith bp 29th Jul 1788 m 1809 Jean Gibson

James b 1810
st
William bp 21 Jan 1792
Agnes b 1818

Margaret bp 4th Mar 1794 David b 1821

Jean b 1823
th
Ann bp 11 Jan 1796

Robert b 1824

William Mcilwraith bp 25th Nov 1813

m Alison Steel

David Mcilwraith bp 14th April 1850 m Agnes McIntyre

William “MacLaren” Mcilraith

Licentiate of the Royal Colleges of Physicians & Surgeons, Edinburgh alive
1878.

William Mcilwraith born in 1733 seems to have followed his father,

as a tenant farmer in Balcletchie. William Mcilwraith senior and his

83
son William, could not hold onto Balcletchie and the farm passed
to his sister Sarah’s family. Both William Mcilwraith’s seem to have
been the victims of the subsequent bank ‘bust’. Those in the west
of Scotland seeking to borrow to improve their lands had difficulty
in getting favourable loans from the established Scottish banks,
and it was largely to overcome this that the Ayr Bank was set up in
the mid-1760s.

Dalreoch is in the lower Stinchar Valley, in Colmonell parish, near

Colmonell village. Paterson’s History states that William McIlwraith
bought it from the last of the branch of the McAlexander’s who
had for a very long time been in possession. William also got
possession of three other small properties which lay one beside
the other in a row along the River Stinchar in Barr parish,
downstream from Barr village. These were Minuntion, Bennan
(present-day Benan, not to be confused with the Kennedy
property of Bennan or Bennane in Ballantrae parish) and Kirkland
(which sometimes appears as Kirklands – according to Waterson
p106 it was around 1760 that William acquired it). According to
Paterson’s History Minuntion had belonged to the McAlexander’s of
Dalreoch. These properties seem to have been combined into
William’s estate of Kirkland – in the list of freeholders entitled to
vote in the October 1774 general election he appears as William
McIlwraith of Kirkland. Although in Paterson’s History William is at
one point described as ‘of Balcletchie and Dalreoch’, it appears to
me that Balcletchie always remained part of the Bargany estate,
with William and William junior as tenants.

Douglas, Heron & Company, with its head office at Ayr, was
opened in 1769. It traded as the Ayr bank. Soon afterwards,
branches were opened in Edinburgh and Dumfries, and agencies
were established in Glasgow, Inverness, Kelso, Montrose and
Campbeltown, among other places. The branches operated
separately under their own boards. The original shareholders
included eminent men like the Governor, the Duke of
Queensberry, the Duke of Buccleuch, the Earl of Dumfries, the Earl
of March, Sir Adam Fergusson of Kilkerran, Patrick Heron of Heron
and the Honourable Archibald Douglas. But there were no bankers
on any of the boards.

84
Almost from the beginning, the bank emptied their coffers by
giving privileged customers excessive loans, later striving to make
good the position by making paper money.
In May 1772, the directors, realising their error, tried to retrench:
but in June of that year, the London Banking House of Neale,
James, Fordyce and Doune failed, putting several Scottish Banks in
difficulties. The Ayr Bank struggled for just over a year to retain
confidence, but the Bank of Scotland, the Royal and the British
Linen Company refused to accept the Ayr Bank's notes. In August
1773 a general meeting of the partners resolved on liquidation.
The total loss to the partners, of whom there were 225, was
£663,396 18s. 6d., and the shock was felt throughout Scotland.
According to Kerr's History of Banking, the downfall of the Ayr
bank was brought about by 'trading beyond their means; divided
control by permitting branches to act independently; forcing the
circulation of their notes; giving credit too easily; ignorance of the
principles of business; and carelessness or inquity of officers.'

Large landowners like the Bargany family had the resources to

survive, but many small Ayrshire landowners who had borrowed
heavily were ruined, and although they put off selling as long as
they could, many small estates ended up being sold off around the
end of the century. They were often snapped up by professional
people with available funds. All the signs are that this is what
happened to the Balcletchie McIlwraiths.

Sarah Mcilwraith and her husband, David Leggatt of Barlockhart

had a son named William Leggett of Barlockhart. From him,
Barlockhart and Dalreoch passed to his relatives, the Ayr banking
brothers Primrose and James Kennedy, Jocobina’s McIlwraith’s
grandsons.

Jacobina Mcilwraith, lawful daughter of William Mcilwraith and

Helen McClure (William Mcilwraith’s 2nd wife). Jocobina was
baptised 30th Nov 1748 and married Captain Primrose Kennedy.
Their son Quintin Kennedy has sons; Primrose Kennedy and James
Kennedy of Dalreoch. There are many descendants of the
Balcletchie Mcilwraith lines around the world today. Most of them
do not know their connection to William Mcilwraith of Balcletchie.

85
This book was put together to help Mcilwraith descendants find
their true ancestry. I hope I have done some of the early
Mcilwraith family some justice, in properly identifying them. I now
find I need to retire from this research, it has kept me going for
over 25 years.

I see more opportunity to find more documentations for any other

researcher who should wish to continue this work. Deeds for
Ayrshire is one place to look. Also further large estates that still
survive today in Ayrshire including castles may hold documents,
for instance Maybole Castle. These documents if they exist, would
be worth obtaining.

A proper investigation into what Ayrshire Archives hold also needs

to be done. National Records Of Scotland, there are probably
many more documents to be found, especially in Latin. I
recommend the research have every Latin document fully
transcribed. That is the only way to find connections. And finally
possibly looking into other families in Ayrshire pre 1750 may give
some further Mcilwraith names.

I acknowledge the research help received from Mr. Colin McNally

in Carrick over the past years. His advice has been invaluable. I
also want to thank him for his help on the New Zealand
Mcilwraiths, he contributed parts of the New Zealand text in this
publication. I also acknowledge that a lot of the work such as the
Kilkerran papers have come from his efforts. This has been a joint
project between the two of us.

With a big huge thanks many times to Dr. Kirsteen Mulhern in

Edinburgh for her research assistance and for the wonderful
documents she found. Also thanks to her editing and extremely
valuable research advice for this book. I recommend her
genealogical service to anyone researching their Scottish ancestry.
Contact her at kirsteen@findmyscottishancestors.com if you wish
to trace your Scottish ancestors.

A very big part of research is documents transcriptions either from

Auld Scots or Latin I must also specially thank Brooke Westcott in

86
UK for his expert transcription help to get the documents into
modern English.

With thanks to my mother for her help with further editing.

Many documents come from the archives called the NRS (National
records Of Scotland). I give the relevant reference numbers of
documents used in this publication. The reader should consult with
NRS should they wish to view the original documentation.

Scotlands People (http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/) have

access to all the Old Parish Registers. The reader can check Old
Parish records for birth, marriage, death & testaments of Scotland
on their website. One should be aware the spelling of some
surnames maybe vastly different to the spellings I used in this
book. I wanted to save myself the headache of spelling every
different surname variation I came across. And there are many!

Copies of this work for private researchers can be purchased from

the author, payments via paypal preferred to
lillyduncanr@yahoo.com.au

I also accept checks in Australian dollars as payment.

It is strictly forbidden to place the information in this publication

on the Internet, or to copy the information and share it to others
via email or other methods. By purchasing this publication you
agree that the information in this publication will be used only for
your own private research. The buyer may print one copy for their
own research. Original PDF book can be supplied be me via email
or on Cd (with a postage charge for the CD).

The information in this book is meant to help with private

genealogy research, where a connection to the Mcilwraith surname
has been made. Also the book is to give clear direction for other
researches to expand their own Mcilwraith family trees. All sources
are included to enable private researchers to obtain copies of
documents from the respected archives.

87
Should you be in contact with someone else interested in this
publication, you should advise that person to buy their own copy
from this author. By buying this publication, you are under
contract with the author not to copy the information to anyone.

This research has taken years of work to complete. Not only that,
it also was a lot of money to undertake the research. I would not
like to find this publication in someone’s hands who did not
purchase a copy from me.

Sources

Books
George F Black, The Surnames Of Scotland, new edition, (Edinburgh, 2007).

Protocol Book of Mr. James Colvill, 1545 – 1578, published by Ayrshire

Archaeological and Natural History Society (1972).

History of the County of Ayr with a genealogical account of the families of Ayrshire by
James Patterson, published in Edinburgh by Thomas George Stevenson, historical
book seller.

The Mcilraith’s of Auchinflower by Jane Deans. This is her personal diary and it is
unknown when she wrote it. Jane Deans died in 1911.

Duncan Waterson, An Ayrshire Family, the McIlwraiths of Auchenflower, Ayr and

Australia (Ayr, 1978)

Gordon Ogilvie, Pioneers of the Plains: The Deans of Canterbury, (Christchurch,

1996)

Article

Alloway and Southern Ayrshire Family History Society, An Ayrshire Sword, by Paul
Leadley. In 2011 Paul stated that the sword had been sold to Louise Deans in New
Zealand. Sadly from the earthquakes in 2011 the sword was buried underground by
the earthquake. Ensign D Mcilraith of Auchenflower 1860 was inscribed on it.

Family Tree
Copy of a Family tree arranged by Robert Mcilraith of Poundland

Ayrshire Archives and Library

Ayrshire Archives, 60/1/5/1, Marriage contract between John McMertein & Janet
Mcilwraith, 14th May 1664.

Southern Ayrshire Library, Notes on Balcletchie Mcilwraith from Tom Barclay 2009

88
Private Collections

Kilkerran Papers, Kilkerran House, Ayrshire, Bond: Gilbert Mcilwraith of

Drummurchie, 8th June 1691, from a private collection.

Kilkerran Papers, Kilkerran House, Ayrshire, Testament of John Mcilwraith of Darlae

Oct 1707, from a private collection

Auchenflower Estate, Ayrshire, documents found in old filing cabinet

Documents Consulted at the National records Of Scotland

1. NRS, CC9/7/41, Glasgow Commissary Court, Testament of Andrew Mcilwraith of

Auchenflower, Feb 1674.

2. NRS, CC9/7/41, Glasgow Commissary Court, Testament of David Kennedy, 1680

3. NRS, CC8/8/6, Edinburgh Commissary Court, Testament of Sir Hew Kennedy of

Girvanmains, 1577

4 NRS, CC8/8/35, Edinburgh Commissary Court, Testament of Mathew Makilwraith,

who died in May 1597, and his testament dated 23rd Jan 1601

5. NRS, CC8/8/13, Edinburgh Commissary Court, Testament of Gilbert McIlwrayth,

1584

7. NRS, CC8/8/3, Edinburgh Commissary Court, Testament of Adam Boyd of Penkill,

1572: we find Adam Boyd has died in 1572. In the long list of names is found Martin
Mcilwraith in Drummurchie

8. NRS, SC6/87/2/50/1, Ayr Sheriff Court, Boyd of Penkill Papers, 1544: in 1544
Rodger Mcylwrath was witness to a charter at Drummurchie.

9. NRS, SC6/87/1/28, Ayr Sheriff Court, Boyd of Penkill Papers, 1537: In 1537 one
Duncan Mcilwraith witnessed a charter. The charter was done in Farden, the charter
concerned Thomas Boyd and John Kennedy of Culzean.

10. NRS, SC6/87/1/24, Ayr Sheriff Court, Boyd of Penkill Papers, 1534 A few years
earlier in 1534 another Sasine was witnessed again by Duncan Mcilwraith. This
Sasine was done at Penkill a stronghold of the Boyd family.

11. NRS, SC6/87/1/29, Ayr Sheriff Court, Boyd of Penkill Papers, 1537: Done In
October 1537 at Dalquharran, Andrew Mcilwraith appears as witness

12. NRS, SC6/87/1/35, Ayr Sheriff Court, Boyd of Penkill Papers, 1538: The said
Andrew Mcilwraith appears to be a farmer in Pynannot around the 1530s. ‘All and
singular my lands (Adam Boyd of Penkill) underwritten, that is to say, the 20s-land of
Pynannot, now inhabited by Andrew Makylwraith, the 16s-8d-land of Ferdingreouth
and Little Fording’, dated Oct 1538 at Bargany.

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13. NRS, SC6/87/2/75, Ayr Sheriff Court, Boyd of Penkill Papers, 1553: dated
November 1553 shows Gilbert Mcilwraith in Trolorg, appearing as a witness.

14. NRS, RS2/5/187, General Register of Sasines, Sasine to Patrick Mcilwraith,

1653; NRS, RS13/3/457, Particular Register of Sasines etc. for the Shire of Ayr and
Bailiaries of Kyle, Carrick and Cunninghame, Sasine to Dorothy Rosse, 1659.

15. NRS, RS14/1/561, Particular Register of Sasines etc. for the Shire of Ayr and
Bailiaries of Kyle, Carrick and Cunninghame, Sasine to Andrew Mcilwraith, 1665;
NRS, RS2/14/68, General Register of Sasines, Sasine to Andrew Mcilwraith, 1667;
NRS RS14/2/206, Particular Register of Sasines etc. for the Shire of Ayr and
Bailiaries of Kyle, Carrick and Cunninghame, Sasine to Andrew Mcilwraith, 1668.

16. NRS, RS14/11/187, Particular Register of Sasines etc. for the Shire of Ayr and
Bailiaries of Kyle, Carrick and Cunninghame, Sasine to Hugh Mcilwraith, 1746.

17. NRS, RS14/6 page 390, Particular Register of Sasines etc. for the Shire of Ayr
and Bailiaries of Kyle, Carrick and Cunninghame, Seasing of Hugh Mcilwraith of
Auchinflour, the lands of Clashlochan and Balrassie, mentions Gilbert Mcilwraith
1700.

18. NRS, RS14/5/394, Particular Register of Sasines etc. for the Shire of Ayr and
Bailiaries of Kyle, Carrick and Cunninghame, Sasine reserving the life rent of
Daljarrock to Margaret Shaw, 1691.

19. NRS, GD33/65/69, Papers of the Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair, Privy
council paper endorsed thus - "Petition for the poor prisoner Hugh McIlwraith, 1682".
It is addressed "To His Royal Highness his Majesties High Commissioner for this
Kingdome and the Lords of his Majesties Privy Council The Petition of Hugh
McIlwraith", 1682

20. NRS, GD109/193, Papers of the Dalrymple Hamilton family of Bargany, Ayrshire,
Extract bond by John, lord Bargany, to Archibald Shaw of Kilmore, 1712

21. NRS, GD180/170, Papers of the Cathcart family of Genoch and Knockdolian,
Tack of Knockdolian by Hugh Mcilwraith, 1779.

22. NRS GD109/2582 Papers of the Dalrymple Hamilton family of Bargany, Ayrshire,
Disposition by James Edmonstoune of Broich to David Fergusson in Barbae, of
moveable goods and gear belonging to Andrew Mcilwrath in Barbae, as a fugitive
after battle of Bothwell Bridge, 9 June 1680

23. NRS, RD1/8/345, Register of Deeds, 1st Series [Books of Council and Session],
27 May 1567. Sir James McWerarthe, of Kyngarth, witnessed a charter dated 27 May
1567, he was probably another chaplain

24. NRS, RD4/22/58, Register of Deeds, Second Series, [Books of Council and
Session] Dalrymple’s Office 1665 Bond, Andrew Mcneillie to Andrew Mcilwreath and
1665 Bond, Fergusone to Andrew Mcilwrath

25. NRS, RD2/36/619, Register of Deeds, Second Series, [Books of Council and

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Session] Dalrymple’s Office, 1674, Tacks, Andrew Mcilwraith of Auchenflower, &
1674 Tack, Mcilwraith to Mcconnell

26. NRS, RD2/36/621, Register of Deeds, Second Series, [Books of Council and
Session] Dalrymple’s Office, 1674, Tack, Andrew Mcilwreath to Fergus Mcconnell

27. NRS RD2/163, Register of Deeds, Second Series, [Books of Council and
Session] Dalrymple’s Office, marriage contract of Hugh Mcilwraith and Mary
Mcilwraith at Ballantray 28th Nov 1729

28. JH Burton and others (eds.), Register of the Privy Council of Scotland [1545-
1691], 16 vols. (Edinburgh, 1877-1970)

29. NRS, RH6/309 & RH6/332, Register House Charters, 1444 & 1454: both mention
Finlay McGilhauch [burgess of Dumfries].

30. NRS, RH6/354, Register House Charters, 1459: shows John and Sir Walter
McGilhauch, in Dumfries; both are chaplains and witnesses and John is the notary of
the document.

31. NRS, RH6/388, Register House Charters, 1465: Patrick McKylwayn and Martin
McMwlayn, witnesses to charter at Sanquhar. These two men are obviously brothers.
The two brothers even have a different spelling of their surname.

32. NRS, RH6/1216, Register House Charters, 1539/40: Sir Archibald McIlwray –
witness to a charter at Linlithgow – definitely the same man shown in 1548 but the
spelling has then changed to McGillewray.

33. NRS, RH6/1687-1689, Register House Charters, 1556: William Makkraicht,

witness to charters at Kirkbean, Kirkcudbright in 1556

34. NRS, PS1/13/20, Privy Seal: Latin and English Register, Old Series, 1539:
Duncan Makwrarty and Katherine Leninaux his spouse, marriage confirmation 10th
August 1539.

35. NRS, PS1/3/115, Privy Seal: Latin and English Register, Old Series, 20th Aug
1505 Duncan McGillereach in Fardenroch [Fandownyach] alive on 3rd July 1503
(Privy Seal Register). Two years later also found in the privy seal reference is
Malcolm Macklerach in Garden 20th August 1505.

36. NRS, PS1/24/5, Privy Seal: Latin and English Register, Old Series, 28 Jul 1550
Lasaryn McIlraith, in Kirkcudbright, who was respited for treasonable actions.

37. NRS, PS1/8/140, Privy Seal: Latin and English Register, Old Series, 18 June
1525, Duncan, Thomas and Neil Makilwraith – respited for the murder of Cornelius
de Machtema, Ducheman and for ‘all crime and action that may follow thereupon;
and also for the slaughter of umquhile (deceased) Martyne Kennedy and Gilbert
Makilwraith…’

38. NRS, PS1/6/10, PS1/7/9 Privy Seal: Latin and English Register, Old Series,
March 1525-26 James Kennedy of Blairquhan gets the goods of Thomas Corry of
Kelwood and Patrick Mure of Cloancard who were fugitives after slaughtering Gilbert
Makilwraith

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39. NRS, PS1/11/55, Privy Seal: Latin and English Register, Old Series, March 1537-
38 Patrick McIlwrick at Cragneil ‘has been crewly slain’ at Craigneil by the now
deceased James Kennedy in Schallauch of Glentig and his servant Neil Boyd.

40. NRS, PS1/22/38 Privy Seal: Latin and English Register, Old Series, Donald
McGillerewich denounced as a rebel with others, 4 Sep 1547 /48,. Donald seems to
have been part of the battle of Pinkie.

41. NRS, PS1/27/12, Privy Seal: Latin and English Register, Old Series, Gilbert
Mcilwraith who in 1550 was slain by Robert Grahame of Knockdolian and Duncan 50.
McIlwryk, who there is a reference as being alive 27th Aug. 1550 in Colmonell.
Duncan McKilleway, is listed as murdered by 15th Mar. 1553

42. NRS, PS1/18/6, Privy Seal: Latin and English Register, Old Series, Donald
McGilliwe and Duncan McGilliwe – both referring to the slaughter of Duncan by
Morris McCawis and Donald Dow McWeyr, dated 31 Oct 1543 .

43. NRS, PS1/22/75, Latin and English Register, Old Series, Sir Archibald
McGillewray, rector of Kildalton, Islay [iv, 28] 8th Jan. 1548/9. The Sir indicates he
was a Chaplain.

44. NRS, PS1/38/5, Latin and English Register, Old Series, Gilbert Makilwrayth in
Trolorg, fugitive for slaughter of James Ballany, 2nd Aug. 1568

45. NRS, PS1/37/92, Latin and English Register, Old Series, Donald and Malcolm
Makilwreid respited, 12th May 1568.

46. NRS, Great Seal Register, (Registrum Magni Sigilli) C2/11/24, 1471, Malcolm
Makgilhauch, bailie, Wigtown

47. NRS, Great Seal Register, (Registrum Magni Sigilli), C2/13/522, 1497, Malcolm
Makgilhauch, bailie, Wigtown

48. NRS, Great Seal Register, (Registrum Magni Sigilli), C2/13/309, 1490, John
Makgilhauch, a chaplain Wigtown

92