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Only so far as this History is
concerned, I have endeavoured to trace the family record and connections
of those of the Polloks, Gilmours, Ritchies, Rankins, and Fergusons who
have been mentioned in the foregoing pages. Perhaps later I may get
together a fuller set of genealogies. Unfortunately for my purpose, all
records of the Mearns Parish before 1829 were burnt, or are at any rate
missing. THE POLLOKS
Allan Pollok, of Craigton, married Margaret Warnock,
1666. He died about 1696.
Their son, Allan Pollok, of Craigton, married Elspeth Paton.
Their son, Allan Pollok, of Craig-ton, married
Margaret Anderson. He died at Faside about i800. They had of children—
Thomas Pollok, of Faside, and
James Pollok, of Craigton.
The former was the father of John and Arthur Pollok
(the Polloks of Pollok, Gilmour and Co.) and Allan Pollok, of Faside;
whilst James Pollok, of Craigton, was the father of Allan Pollok, of
Blackhouse, and William Pollok, of Titwood.
Arthur Pollok's daughter married her cousin, Allan
Pollok, of Lismany, &c., the son of Allan Pollok, of Faside.
Allan Pollok, Blackhouse, was the father of Jas.
Pollok, Blackhouse. William
Pollok, of Titwood, was the father of John and 'William Pollok, Calcutta,
and of Thomas Pollok of Liverpool.
THE GILMOURS
Allan Gilmour, of South Walton, married Elizabeth
Pollok. He died 8 March, 1793. They were the parents of :-
Allan Gilmour, ultimately of Hazelden, the original
A. G. senior, of the Firm.
Barbara, born 26 March, 1770, who married David
Ritchie of Auchintiber, Neilston. (See Ritchie History). John Gilmour, of
Craigton.
David Gilmour,
born 12 March, 1780, of Shotts, father of A. G. of Ottawa.
James Gilmour, born 14 October, 1782, who went with
A. Rankin to found G., R. & Co., Iliramichi, grandfather of Allan Gilmour
of Eaglesham, Renfrewshire.
Returning to— John Gilmour,
of Craigton: married Margaret Urie, (born 29 October, 1780) he died
1841-2; they had of children:—
Mary, wife of David Hutchison, Middleton, Mearns.
Born 22 October, 1803.
[Two sons after being in Glasgow
office went to Quebec, and thence to the Canadian saw mills of the fine.]
Allan Gilmour, who founded Allan Gilmour
& Co., Quebec, subsequently of Ardilamont, Lundin, and Montrave. Born 29
September, 1805. Died 18 November, 1884. [Father of Sir
John Gilmour, Ban., Montrave.]
Barbara, wife first of John Gilmour, South Walton;
secondly of Robert Hutchison, Liverpool. Born 14 July, 1810.
Died 4 April, 1884. [Mother of James Hutchison,
Liverpool Mother-in-law to Wm. Strang, of London. § One son still engaged
in lumber trade in Canada; one in the U.S.]
John Gilmour, of Quebec
firm. Born 31 October, 1812. Died 25 February, 1877.
[Father of Lady Gilmour, Moutrave.]
'David Gilmour, of Quebec firm. Born 20 August,
1815. Died 1856.
James
Gilmour, of Montreal firm. Born 22 July, 1818.
THE RITCHIES
David Ritchie, of Auchintiber, Neilston,
Renfrewshire, born 15 May, 1765, who died March, 1844, married Barbara
Gilmour, daughter of Allan Gilmour, of South Walton (see above), born 26
March, 1770, died 10 November, 1857.
They had issue among others :—
*David, born 2 April, 1800,
died 2 June, 1876. [Father of David and John Ritchie,
Liverpool.]
t William, born 17 August,
1804, died 17 January, 1856. [Who founded Win. Ritchie
& Co, Montreal, afterwards Gilmour & Co., Montreal, the father of William
Ritchie of Moffat, and Arthur Ritchie, Liverpool.]
Arthur, born
7 February, 1807. [Who founded Arthur Ritchie & Co.,
Dalhousie and Campbeltown.]
Robert, born 30 June, i8og, died 17 January, 1842.;
and several others. All being nephews of A. Gilmour senior.
[Who accompanied Arthur Ritchie to Dalhousie.]
THE RANKINS
James Rankin, of Mains House, Mearns, born 1752;
died io March, 1815, married 5 July, 1786 ; Helen Ferguson, of Auchintiber,
(Ayrshire), born June, 1764, died 29 January, 1838. They had issue:-
James, born 2 September,
1787, died 26 December, 1870.
[Married Marion Ferguson, of Old Hall, Dunlop --- of Francis and John
Ferguson. Father of Robert Rankin II and John Rankin, Liverpool.]
Alexander, born 31 December, 1788, died 3 April,
1852. [Who founded Gilmour, Rankin & Co., Miramichi.]
Arthur, born 23 September, 1790, died 4 January,
1838. [Father of James Rankin of Miramichi.]
Marion, born 30 June, 1792, died 16 July, 1856.
John, born 31 May,
1794, died 4 August, 1815. [Who was drowned at
Miramichi.]
Robert,
born 31 May, 18oi, died 3 June, 1870. [Father of
Sir James Rankin, Bart., and Mrs. David Maclver. Founded Robert Rankin &
Co., St. John, and Rankin, Gilmour & Co., Liverpool.]
NOTE.—Re our
correspondents Borthwick, Wark & Co., London Alexander Wark was a nephew
of my grandfather Robert Ferguson, of Old Hall, and of my grandmother
Helen Rankin, as above. THE
FERGUSONS Robert Ferguson,
of Old Hall, Dunlop (a son of Auchintiber, Stewarton, Ayrshire), born
1772, died 1857. Married 4 June, 1802, Agnes Logan, of Dunlop, born 1783,
and had issue a large family, of which—
Marion, born 18 August, 1804, died 3 September,
1880. [Married James Rankin, father of Robert Rankin
II, Mrs. Jarvie, Alexander Rankin junior, London, and John Rankin.]
Francis, born 18 February, 18o8, died 9 September,
1875. [Who founded Ferguson, Rankin & Co., and
was afterwards of Robert Rankin & Co.. St. John.]
John, born 20 November, 1813, died about 1877.
[Of F., R. & Co., Bathurst—the Honourable John.]
Jean, born 25 December, 1816, died 27 December, 1897.
[Mother of Alexander Harvey, London, and of Andrew and Frank Harvey
(Harvey Bros., London). Managers of the Tinnevelly Mills.]
The Fergusons, who have been in possession of
Auchintiber, Stewarton, in continuous line from eldest son to eldest son
for over 400 years, furnish me with an interesting document. The name
changed from Fergushil to Ferguson about 1750. I mention this as I have
thought the following record too quaint to be omitted, with its allusion
to the 'sorrow kow ' and 'auld hors.'
The Testament Dative and Inventar of the guids geir
debts sowmes of money quhilkis pertenit to umquhile John Fergushill in
Achintibir quha deceist untestit in the Moneth of Februar In' VC four
scoir yeiris (1580) faythfullie maid and gevin up by Jonet Robesone his
relict, Robert Fergushill his onlie Iauchtfull sone executor dative
decernit to his guidis and geir be decreit of the Commissar of Glasgow the
day and dait of thir presentis. INVENTAR
Item the said umquhile Johne had perteining to him
and his spous the tynie of his deceis two tydie ky (cows) price of the
peice £10 summa XXii.
Item ane
The following document is a copy of an old
parchment, one of several that I have received from the present owner and
tenant of Auchintiber, Alexander Ferguson. It purports to be a certificate
of delivery of possession in accordance with the terms of the marriage
contract of one of my forbears. I only hope she
understood its purport better than I do. Some of the writing is almost
illegible, and the document has with difficulty been
transcribed for me by Mr. J. A. Twemlow, Lecturer in Palaeography in the
University of Liverpool. On the phrase 'Eleven shillings one penny
half-penny land of old extent 'Professor Hume Brown kindly supplies the
following note :-'The phrase means a piece of land valued at us. i4d. of
the old valuation (i.e. extent) of the whole lands of Nether Auchintiber.
The "old extent" is the old valuation taken probably in the reign of
Alexander III for the purpose of assessing the feudal casualties due by
the crown vassals, or of paying a contribution to a royal subsidy. For a
discussion of the Old and New Extent, see Lord Karnes, Historical Law
Tracts (Edin., 1792) No. XIV.'
Mr. J. Maitland Thomson adds :-'
Old extent means the valued rent in the time of King Alexander III. The
War of Independence greatly reduced the value of land, and it became
customary in Retours (Brieves of Mortancestor you would, I think, say in
England) to state that the lands are now worth so-and-so, and "in time of
peace" so-and-so. Gradually the fall in the value of money reversed
things, and the "new extent" became the higher—in the 17th century the
regular rule was that £1 land of old extent was £3 land of new extent. The
old extent used to be a fine thing for the lawyers, as the qualification
for a vote in a county was the possession of 40s. worth of land of old
extent held in caile of the crown. But that beastly Act of 1832 stopped
that. Cosmo Innes held, on the authority of a 17th century decision of the
Court of Exchequer, that a 405. land of old extent is the same thing as a
ploughgate. On the whole matter, see Cosmo Innes, Scotch Legal Antiquities
(1872), pp. 270 Seq.' *
* * * * *
In the name of God soe be it. Be it known to all men be
this present publick instrument that upon the twenty-first day of Aprill
one thousand seven hundered and twenty years, and of the reign of our
soveraign lord George king of Great Brittan, France and Ireland, defender
of the faith, the seventh year, in presence of me nottar publick and
witnesses underwritten, compeared personally John Fergushill, laufull son
to Alexander Fergushill of Netherauchintiber, for himself and in name and
behalf of Heliri Gilmour, laufull daughter to John Gilmour, portioner of
Grainge in the parochin of Dunlop, his futur spouse, and past to the
ground of the lands after specifit, haveing and in his hands holding a
certain contract of marriage past betuixt the said John Fergushifi with
consent of the said Alexander Fergushifi his father, and he as taking full
burden in and upon him for his said son, on the ane part, and the said
Helin Gilmour, with consent of the said John Gilmour her father, on the
other part; wherby, for the dote to her good and other causes therein
specified, the said Alexander Fergushifi band and oblidged him, his heirs
and successors, with all convenient diligence deuly and laufullie to
infeft and sease the said John Fergushil his son and the said Helm Gilmour
his futur spouse in her pure virginity, and longest liver of them tuo, in
conjunct fee and lyfrent, and the heirs to be procreat betuixt them,
whichs failreing sic], to the said John Fergushill his nearest and laufull
heirs and assigneyes whatsomever, heretably and irredeemably, but any
manner of reversion redemption or regress, in all and haul his elevin
shilling one penny half penny land of old extent of Netherauchintiber
lying in the parochin of Stewartoun, bailliary of Cunninghame, and
shirrefdome of Air, and bounded in manner mentioned in his originall
rights, reserving aliwayes to the said4 Alexander Fergushifi the lyfrent
of the just and equall half of the forsaids lands of Netherauchintiber
during all the dayes of hisi lyfe, and in case the said Helin Gilmour
should happen to survive the said John Fergushifi her futur husband, then
she is to lyfrent the just and equal half of the foresaid mailing all the
dayes o her lyfe, she being allwayes oblidged to pay the publick burdens.
effeiring to the equall half of the mailing she is to lyfrent. And ther
the said John Fergushill for himself and in name and behalf of the said
Helin Gilmour his futur spouse presented and delyvered the foresaid
contract of marriage containing therein the precept of seasin above and
after mentioned to a discreit man Robert Fergushill, portioner of
Netherauchjntjber, bailie in that part specially constitut be the said
precept of seasin, humbly requyring and desyring him to execute his office
of baillie in that part incumbent to him therby, which contract and
precept of seasin therein the said Robert Fergushil, baillie in that part
foresaid, received in his hands and delivered the same to me nottar
publick undersubscrybing, to be read by me in audience of the witnesses
underwritten standing about, of the which precept of seasin the tenor
followes attour To my lovit *Robert Fergushill portioner of
Netherauchintiber *and ich ane of them conjunctly and severally my
bailhies in that part specially constitut greeting. It is my will and I
charge you straitly and command that, incontinent thir presents sein, ye
passe to the ground of the said elevin shilling one penny half penny land
of old extent of Netherauchintiber, and ther give heretable state and
seasin to the said John Fergushill my son of the saids hail lands, and to
the said Helin Gilmour lyfrent state and seasin of the equal] half of the
saids lands for her lyfrent use allenerly, with real! actuall and
corporall possession in manner above mentioned, with houses biggings
yeards parts pendicles and pertinents thereof, be deliverance to them or
ther certain attumeyes in ther names, bearers hereof, of earth and stone
of the ground of the saids lands as use it, reserving to myself the lyf
rent of the equall half of the saids lands during my lyfetyme in manner
above mentioned, and this on noe wayes ye leave undone, the doing wherof I
committ to you my baillies in that part foresaid my full frie plain power
expresse bidding mandament and charge be ther presents, in witnes wherof
this with the tuo preceeding pages wherof thir presents consist and the
other just double hereof are written be Ninian Bannatyne chamberland to
the earle of Glasgow on stampt paper, and subscrybed be the saids parties
at place day moneth and year of God above written, befor these witnesses
James Robertson in Nether house of Auchintiber and James Robertson his
son, and the said Ninian Bannatyne sic subscribitur, John Ferguson, ,'
Alexander Fergushil, John Gilmor, James Robison, witnes, James Robertson
witnes, Ninian Bannatyne witnes. After reading of the which precept of
seasin in audience of the witnesses underwritten standing about,, the said
Robert Fergushil bailhie in that part foresaid, be vertew wherof and of
his office of baillie incumbent to him therby, gave heretable state and
seasin reaii actuall and corporall possession of all and haffi the said
elevin shilling one penny half penny land of Netherauchintiber to the said
John Fergushill, and lyfrent state and seasin actuall reall and corporall
possession of the equall half of the saids lands to the said Helin
Gilmour, for her lyf rent use allenerly, with houses biggings yeards parts
pendicles and pertinents thereof, be deliverance to the said John
Fergushil, for himself and in name and behalf of the said Helin Gilmor his
futur spouse, of earth and stone of the ground of the saids lands
respective and successive, according to the tenor of the said contract of
marriage and precept of seasin therin contained in all points. Wherupon
the said John Fergushill, for himself and in name and behalf of the said
Helin Gilmor his futur spouse, asked and took instruments ane or mae in
the hands of me nottar publick undersubscrybing. Thir things were acted
and done betuixt the hours of elevin and twelve in the forenoon day moneth
and year of God abovewritten, and of his majestie's reign above exprest,
befor James Robertson in Netherhouse of Auchintiber and James Robertson
his son, and Andrew Fergushill brother to Robert Fergushill portioner of
Netherauchintiber, witnesses specially called and requyred to the
premisses.
Here follows a long document of witness, beginning "Christus
est spes mea ........."
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