Little Riggend, New Cumnock

Location Little Rigend also "Low" Rigend

Farm Horse Tax 1797-1798    Hugh Mitchell, Riggend   1 horse 2s.

ScotlandsPlaces - Little Rigend - A sublet farmhouse occupied by Alexander Lennox. The property of Sir John Cathcart.

When Waterhead Castle in New Cumnock was abandoned there is every possibility that the stones from the castle would be used to build the nearby farms of Wee Riggend, which is now totally demolished, and the farm of Waterhead near to the site of the castle

Some Births & Baptisms in Rigend - New Cumnock OPRs

29/08/1708   Agnes daughter to George McKnight & Janet McMillan in Rigend

26/01/1737   Margaret daughter to George McErvail & Janet Brown in Rigend

08/10/1800   Margaret daughter to Hugh Mitchell & Jean Dunn in Rigend

born 28/08/1802   John son to Hugh Mitchell & Jean Dunn in Rigend

born 24/11/1821   Mary lawful daughter to Mathew Morrison & Mary Maxwell in Rigend  



Robert Guthrie

There are three1841 censuses for Riggend

Matthew Morrison 55, his wife Mary 50 (Maxwell), Rachael 25, Thomas 25, Matthew 23, Mary 19, Margaret 16, John 14, George 12 and Isabella 9 (all Morrisons)

James Morrison 35, Jane Morrison 20 and children Margaret 2 and infant daughter Christian.

(In 1851 James & Jane Morrison were in Little Burnockhead, Ochiltree)

Daniel Roxburgh 50, Euphamia 45, John 15, Helen 20, Euphemia 14, Alexander 12, David 10 and Jane 7.

                                                       North British Daily Mail 1/2/1848

                           Scotch Bankrupts (from The Edinburgh Gazette) - Sequestrations 

                                                  Aberdeen Press & Journal 19/11/1851

The 1851 census for Riggend shows Alexander Vallance 44 a farm labourer, wife Elizabeth 40 and sons Thomas 13, John 11, James 9, Hugh 7, Alexander 4 and Ebenezar 1.

The 1861 census shows Little Riggend  Alexander McKerrow 52 farmer of 180 acres, his wife Jane 32, son William 12, daughter Jane 9, son Alexander 7 and 14yr old domestic servant Agnes Arnott.

                                                    Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald 2/4/1870

1871 census shows John Murdoch 55 (previously Maneight) farmer of 317 acres arable employing 1 man at Low Riggend along with his wife Elizabeth 41(Kerr), daughter Jean 16, son James 14, daughter Ann 10, daughter Elizabeth 7, son William 1 & John Ferguson 31 a ploughman who in 1881 is a ploughman at High Riggend living there with his wife & son John.

1875 Valuation Roll shows John Murdoch as tenant/occupier, land Little Riggend

1881 census shows John Murdoch 65 farming Little Riggend with his wife Elizabeth 51, son James 24, son John 22, daughter Ann 20 and daughter Elizabeth 17.

John died 24/1/1888 at Little Riggend (Auld Kirkyard Lair Ref: 302)

                                             Ayr Advertiser or West Country Journal 27/1/1888

1891 census shows widow Elizabeth 61 farming Little Riggend with sons James 34 & John 32 and daughters Ann 30 & Elizabeth 27.

1901 census shows son James Murdoch 44 farming at Low Riggend along with brother John 42 , sisters Ann 40 and Elizabeth 37 (all are unmarried) and mother Elizabeth (age 71yrs). 

Elizabeth died 4/2/1903 at Riggend

Probate: 6/9/1918

John Murdoch Farmer Little Riggend New Cumnock died 5/8/1918 at Little Riggend aforesaid intestate. Inventory given up at Ayr by James Murdoch at Little Riggend  aforesaid his brother and next-of-kin.

VR 1865 prop Sir John Cathcart, tenant James Lennox.   1885 prop Sir Reginald Archibald Edward Cathcart, tenant John Murdoch.  1895 tenant James Murdoch.  1905 prop Ivo Heneage.  1935 prop George Cathcart-Walker-Heneage, tenant George Geddes.  1940 tenant John Young.


1923 - Register of Sheepmarks - Little Riggend - James Murdoch

Gone - see above Waterhead Castle link