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| Robert Guthrie 2021 |
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| Afton Ford and Stepping Stones looking towards Castlemains Farm May 2018 from Wikimedia Commons |
The Pagan family seems to have been associated with Castle Mains for many years
Will of William Pagan 1786:
7/2/1786
in Castlemains, parish of New Cumnock
Testament Dative and Inventory
Glasgow Commissary Court
CC9/7/73
His unmarried grandchildren George and Ronald were there in 1861 census.
Scotlands Places of 1855/57 describes it as a good house and offices, occupied by Mr Carmichael.
There is an excellent modern day picture on the New Cumnock History website, and details of the life of the owner Mary McQueen Thomson Carmichael. (Miss Honyman)
Census
1841 There are several entries for Mains, New Cumnock, all for agricultural labourers. No indication of who they were working for.
1851 John Carmichael 53, born in Beith, farmer of 100 acres employing 3 labourers. Jean Gibb 60, is a widowed servant, and Jean McNaught 17.
1861 Jane McPherson 49 and Mary Douglas 18 domestic servants.
1871 Archibald McConnell 48 farming 177 acres with wife Agnes 40, and daughter Elizabeth 12. Servants are Catherine Park 26, Rosina Gardner 24, and Agnes Kennedy 20. Also at Castlemains, samuel and Elizabeth McCurdie 46 and 43, both farm servants.
1881 Archibald McConnell 59 and wife Agnes 51 are farming 190 acres arable employing 4 men and 2 women. Also resident are daughter Elizabeth 21 and servants, Elizabeth Campbell 18, Helen McCormick 22, George Nichol 39, Robert B Mark 22, William Colthart 26, William Cleland 28.
1891 John Galbraith 67, and wife Catherine 61 are farming with servants Jane Dempster 23, David Cowan 20, and Andrew Kirkpatrick 21.
1901 census William Sloan 60 farmer wife Jane (Harvey) son Mungo 22 daughter Sarah 17 and 3 servants, Jane Findlay 27, Lizzie Findlay 22, dairymaid, and Charles Kilpatrick 19, ploughman.
Valuation Rolls
1865 Proprietor Michael Thomson of land Castlemain, and several tenants of land at Castlemain. Alexander McConnell, George Milligan, George Pogan, and James Young.
1875 Proprietor Mrs Mary MacQueen Thomson Carmichael, tenent Archibald McConnell
1885 Owner - Mary McQueen Thomson Carmichael, tenant John Galbraith.
1895 tenant William Sloan.
1925 prop Mrs Alice Carmichael.
1930 prop Mrs Edith Hamilton.
1935 tenant Adam Cunningham.
