Location OS One inch 1885 to 1900 - Cowhillan
Photos from Russell McNab who farmed there in the 1960s
Cawhillan on left Barony steam rising on distant right and the start of the Pill Pad behind the bench
The Pill Pad which leads to Ochiltree
1686 will of Wiliam Cochrane
the two merk land of Cawhillan,
In 1905 there was an event held to mark the leaving from the parish of Mr Sloan from Plotcock. He recounted in his vote of thanks that the Sloans had moved to Plotcock from Cawhillan in the 16th century.
Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald December 1905
OPRs Ochiltree Parish
Jean Murdoch formerly resident in Cowhillan buried 24/10/1786
Alexander Murdoch born 10/10/1789 in Calquhallan (father John mother Janet)
James Murdoch formerly resident in Cowhillan buried 25/3/1789
James Murdoch born 21/11/1801 in Calquhallan (father George)
The History of Ochiltree Village & Parish - Dane Love
p313
Cowquhallane in 1619. 56 acres in 1851. Cowhallan in 1875. 165 acres in 1871.
1619 Ochiltree Estate
1686 Ochiltree Estate - William Cochrane
Ochiltree Estate - John Sloan (1673-17 )
c1780 Ochiltree Estate - William Campbell
1786-1789 Ochiltree Estate - James Murdoch (d1789)
-1812 Ochiltree Estate
1812-
1828 - John Calderwood (1784-1828)
1838-1841 - David Ross
1851-1861 John Douglas Boswell - John Smith (1812-18 )
1865-1875 Belmont Estate - Robert Watson (1842- )
1881-1891 - William Watson (1846- )
1901-1921 Andrew Kirkwood MacCosh - John Neill Watson (1876-1958)
-1922 - William Watson (1879-1943)
1922-1943 William Watson (1879-1943)
1947 William Watson
c1970 Robert Patterson
=2018
2018-
1841 David Ross, labourer with Marion Ross 45 and Mary McMeeken 15, servant
1851 John Smith 39 and wife Grace (Bryden) 26,- farmer of 56 acres. They have two sons William 5 and David 1, Janet Bryden 20 and Agnes Bryden 27 sisters in law and both annuitants, and three servants Jessie Russel 19, Charlotte Millar 17, and James Smith 17.
1861 John Smith 49 and Grace 34 - farmer of 511 acres emp 5 labourers 1 boy. they have David 12, Mary Jane 9, Robert 4, John 1, and servants Alexander Rowan 19, sheepherd, David Ruecastle 18, ploughman, and Thomas Dickie 22 and John Clemit 13, ag. labourers, Margaret Moir 23, dairymaid, Catherine O'Hair 29 and Agnes Kerr 14, domestics.
1871 Robert Watson 29 and wife Annie 28 - farmer of 165 acres arable employing 1 man 1 boy. They have a daughter Margaret 1. Employed are John Scott 22, ploughman, John Alexander 13, ag labourer, Janet Mitchell 26 and Agnes Lapraik 19, general domestic, and Martha Mitchell 11, nurse.
Robert and Annie Watson (nee Stevenson of Ladyyard) moved to Upper Porterbelly, Kirkgunzeon , Kirkcudbrightshire. They were followed into Cawhillan by Robert's cousin William Watson and wife Anne.
1881 William 34 and Anne Watson (Neill) and their young family Hugh 7, John Neil 4, William 2, and Robert under 1. William is a farm manager of 65 acres employing 1 girl and 1 boy. They are Janet Johnston 16, and Robert Wilson 18.
1891 William Watson 45 and wife Annie 28-farmer. They have John N 14, William 12, James A 8, Annie K 5, and Mary J 1. Janet Liddle 15 is their general domestic, and Alexander Rorison 18 is a farm servant.
Deaths are recorded in the Ayr newspapers for two children belonging to William and Annie.
They were Robert age 4 in 1884 and Jane Drummond 1 year and 8 months who was accidentally drowned 1889.
1901 John N (Neil) Watson 24, farmer, and wife Maggie 24 with daughter Christina 1. They have John Neice 41, farm servant, Sarah Mossie 17, and Eppie Kirkwood 12, nurse domestic.
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| Kilmarnock Herald and North Ayrshire Gazette August 1910 |
Valuation Rolls
1865 Tenant Robert Watson
1874/5 Proprietor John Morton, Tenant Robert Watson
1915 Proprietor Andrew MacCosh, Tenant John Neill Watson
1920 Proprietor Andrew MacCosh, Tenant John Neill Watson
1925 to 1940 Proprietor/Occupier William Watson
Memories of Cawhillan by Russell McNab
The McNabs owned Cawhillan for a few years back in the early 1960s.
At that time, the lands extended to around 70 acres and it was a small dairy unit with about 30 milking cows.
We bought Cawhillan from Jim Shankland who had bought Knaigshill Farm near Auchinleck and was moving there to the larger farm.
Jim Shankland had previously bought Cawhillan from the Watson Family.
Going by the Valuation Roles mentioned here, Willie Watson had farmed Cawhillan from 1925 to 1940 when he had given up the farm. I think that we can safely assume that 1940 was when Jim Shankland had bought Cawhillan.
After Willie Watson left Cawhillan, he went on to be employed by West Cumberland Farmers Ltd as a travelling salesman.
In later years when I farmed Garlaff, I well remember Willie coming in regularly and buying feeds and fertilisers from him. Always easy going, Willie seemed happy to blether all day!
Willie Watson died not that very many years ago, and was well up in his 90’s. I am guessing that he would have been born around 1910-1915. So, with the 1901 Census showing John N (Neil) Watson 24, farmer, and wife Maggie 24, at Cawhillan, I think it is safe to assume that Willie was their son.
Robert ‘Bob’ Patterson bought Cawhillan from the McNab’s around 1964 and he and his wife Cathie spent many years there. Bob was an Adviser, connected to Auchincruive. When he bought Cawhillan, that ended its days as a Dairy Farm, with Bob buying and selling cattle from then on. At Cawhillan he started and erected many buildings of many varying types and dimensions. One of the largest buildings was ‘Clyde-built’ from many old electric poles, with much more than adequate timber trusses. Some of the locals used to joke that if Bob’s shed ever went on fire, it would be seen as far away as the Heads of Ayr!
In later years, as age caught up with the Pattersons, Cawhillan was sold again but this time, to private buyers. As happens in the farming world, much of the 70 acres of land had been sold to neighbours. To my knowledge the small field (8 or 9 acres) to the south-west of the farmhouse which runs up to the ‘Pill Pad’ is all the land which now remains with Cawhillan
The Pill Pad (a narrow walking path) starts at the top of the Cawhillan road and runs from the junction south eastwards to the village of Ochiltree along the lands of Watston Farm on the south west and Hill of Ochiltree on the north east, passing Pill Cottage, and into Broom Crescent in the village. The Pill Pad is about 1.25 Km in length.
