Location Lessnessock and Lessnessock Cott Houses
Horse Tax 1797-98 George Muir , 6 horses.The History of Ochiltree Village & Parish - Dane Love
pp324,325
Lessnessock
Farmhouse burned down in 1806. 200 acres in 1851, 260 acres in 1863.
1619- Ochiltree Estate - William Colville
-1642 Ochiltree Estate - Robert Colville (d1642)
1642-1677 Ochiltree Estate - William Colville (d1677)
1677-1698 Ochiltree Estate - Robert Colville (d before 1698)
1698- Ochiltree Estate - William Colville (1662-1707)
-1792 Ochiltree Estate - Alexander Murdoch (d1792)
1797 Ochiltree Estate - George Muir
-1812 Ochiltree Estate -
1812- Dalblair Estate -
1841-1851 Alexander Ross - John Paterson
-1857 Alexander Ross heirs
1857-1863 Dumfries House Estate - Archibald MacConnell (1821-1898)
1863- Dumfries House Estate - Robert Montgomerie (1840-1904) &
John C. Montgomerie (c1845-1933)
1899-1904 Dumfries House Estate - Robert Montgomerie (1840-1904)
1904-1919 Dumfries House Estate - Adam Wilson Montgomerie
(1873-1955)
1919-1943 * Adam Wilson Montgomerie OBE (1873-1955)
1943-1974 Robert Wallace Montgomerie (1916-1990)
1974-2009 Adam Wilson Montgomerie (1944-2017)
2009- Adam Wallace Montgomerie & David Kay Montgomerie
*'At Lessnessock, Adam Wilson Montgomerie was awarded the OBE on 1 January 1945 for his services to the promotion and export of the Ayrshire breed of cattle. At one time Ayrshire cattle from Lessnessock held the world record price. His herd had been established in 1860. Montgomerie himself was born on 24 August 1873 at Hall of Caldwell, Neilston, and lived at Lessnessock with his parents. he died on 18 march 1955 at Maybole.'
Source: The History of Ochiltree Village & Parish by Dane Love p268
Census
1841 John Patterson 58 with James 15, Agness 58, Jane 22, Sarah 22, Mary 18, Agness 16 and Margaret Smith 24
1851 John Paterson 68 farming 200 acres and employing 4 agricultural labourers. Daughters Sarah 32 and Agnes 29, Elspa Hyslop 22, dairymaid, William Tait 19, and John Millar 14, agricultural servant complete the house hold.
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| Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald May 1857 |
1861 Archibald McConnell 38 and wife Agnes (Milroy) farming 250 acres employing 5 men and 5 women. Their eldest son aged 4 was named Primrose, and daughter Elisabeth 2. they had nine year old John Murdoch, a nephew and four servants. The servants were Ann McGill 23, Margaret Morland 15, John Fergusson 23, ploughman, and William McGeachie 17, also ploughman.
In 1871 in the farm of Sandhill, Coylton there was another McConnell family with a son named Primrose.
Lesnessock Cottages the Findlay family, John 35 is a ploughman.
Also Martin Kerr and family, also ploughman.
Also John Scott 73, agricultural labourer
1871 for Lessnessock Cottage, Robert Montgomerie 69 with wife Isabella 61, and Mary E 23 daughter. They have two domestic servants, Helen Carlisle 19 and Catherine Grey 26, and David Findlay 16, farm servant. Robert is the farmer of 260 acres arable employing 2 labourers.
In the 1881 census Robert Montgomerie 40 and wife Janet (Wilson) 37, along with three daughters and three sons all under eight are farming 250 acres arable employing 3 men and 4 women. Montgomerie family originally from Kingarth, Bute.
There are a total of fourteen people at Lessnessock on the night of the census. Children Robert 8, Adam Wilson. 7, John Alexander 3, Janet Stewart. 5, Isabella Macalister 2, and Mary E.W. 1 month. Janet Wilson 68, mother in law, Mary E. Montgomerie 33 sister, Elizabeth Lacey 19 general domestic, Margaret Nicol 21 housemaid, Elizabeth Miller 13 nurse, and Thomas Thomson 21 ploughman.
Adam Wilson Montgomerie b 1873 d 1955, and his wife Marion Wallace ( from S Auchenbrain ), b 1887.
In the 1881 census for Lessnessock Cottage Adam Drennan 44 is listed as a journeyman blacksmith. This is living there with his wife Agnes 41, son John 20, and daughter Margaret 15.
1901 Lessnessock cottages now house three families. the Brannan family, John is a coal pit roadman. The Clark family, Charles is a coal miner. The McKechan family, Robert is a ploughman
Also the Lawrie family Robert B 30, wife Margaret 28, and children Mary J 4, Elizabeth B 3, and Robert B under 1.
And the Rollo family, Alexander 35, farm servant and wife Agnes 32 with children William, Alexander, Daniel, Agnes and Isabella.
In the 1881 census Robert Montgomerie 40 and wife Janet (Wilson) 37, along with three daughters and three sons all under eight are farming 250 acres arable employing 3 men and 4 women. Montgomerie family originally from Kingarth, Bute.
There are a total of fourteen people at Lessnessock on the night of the census. Children Robert 8, Adam Wilson. 7, John Alexander 3, Janet Stewart. 5, Isabella Macalister 2, and Mary E.W. 1 month. Janet Wilson 68, mother in law, Mary E. Montgomerie 33 sister, Elizabeth Lacey 19 general domestic, Margaret Nicol 21 housemaid, Elizabeth Miller 13 nurse, and Thomas Thomson 21 ploughman.
In the 1881 census for Lessnessock Cottage Adam Drennan 44 is listed as a journeyman blacksmith. This is living there with his wife Agnes 41, son John 20, and daughter Margaret 15.
In 1891 the cottages associated are named as Lessnessock Cott Houses have two families. They have the Galloway family, William and Annie and five children, William is a farm worker. Also the McDowells. Andrew is a coal miner.
While in Lessnessock farm house the Montgomeries with four servants are resident. Only Robert, who would be 18 is not resident, while the servants are Thomas Graham Smith 12, Marion Y Miller 22, Elizabeth M Macculloch 19, and Sarah Halliday 15.
1901 Lessnessock cottages now house three families. the Brannan family, John is a coal pit roadman. The Clark family, Charles is a coal miner. The McKechan family, Robert is a ploughman
Robert Montgomerie is now 60 years old, living in the farmhouse with Janet 58, and daughters Isabella 22 and Mary 20. They have three servants, Margaret G Houston 18 domestic, Margaret Ward 18, byre maid, and Arthur Coleman 20, ploughman.
Valuation Rolls
Valuation Rolls
1855 prop. Alexander Ross, tenant Archibald McConnell.
1865 tenant Robert Montgomerie.
1875 prop. Marquis of Bute.
1905 tenant Adam Montgomery.
1920 - 40 prop. Adam Montgomery.
Adam Montgomerie leading cow, also Gordon Sloan, Martin McHarg, judge possibly Alex Kilpatrick from the Barr. Isabel Montgomerie at caravan door with John Templeton Holehouse and
William Dunlop Mill of Shield
