There are 2 farms called Muirston/Muirstone - one within the Parish of Stair the other within the Parish of Ochiltree. In 1851 the Stair Muirston was being farmed by John Murdoch farmer of 140 acres (including Bogside). To further confuse things in the Commissariot of Glasgow Andrew Murdoch was in Muirstoune Parish of Ochiltree 1/11/1617
1828 WILL William Gemmell
4/1/1828 date of will
Farmer in Muirston, parish of Ochiltree
1796 baptised Ivie Gemmel lawful son of William Gemmel and Margaret Smith in Muirston was born 2 Jul and baptised 10 Jul 1796
4/1/1828 date of will
Farmer in Muirston, parish of Ochiltree
1796 baptised Ivie Gemmel lawful son of William Gemmel and Margaret Smith in Muirston was born 2 Jul and baptised 10 Jul 1796
The History of Ochiltree Village & Parish - Dane Love
p326
Muirston
125 acres in 1851. 196 acres in 1921.
1626 Polquhairn Estate
-1786 Polquhairn Estate - Alexander Murdoch (d1786)
1796-1827 Polquhairn Estate - William Gemmell (1760-1827)
1827-1841 Polquhairn Estate - David Gemmell
1851-1860 Polquhairn Estate - Mungo Howat (d1860)
1860-1861 Polquhairn Estate - John Howat
1865 Polquhairn Estate - John Purdie
1871-1893 Polquhairn Estate - David Purdie (1819-1893)
1893-1901 Polquhairn Estate - Hugh Purdie (1869-1949)
1914-1922 Polquhairn Estate - John Purdie
1922- Polquhairn Estate
1925 Polquhairn Estate - Hugh Sloan (1895-19 )
1930 Bellsbank Estate - Hugh Sloan
1940 Polquhairn Coal Co. - Hugh Sloan
1992 Robert Wyllie (1939-2020)
2002-2015 Robert William Wyllie
1841 Census - Muirston, Ochiltree
David Gemmell (son Of William Gemmell and Margaret Smith)- farmer 49 yrs old)
his wife Jennet (Murdoch) 27, four Gemmell children ages 2-7, William Gemmell age 18yrs, 2 FS (f), 1 AL ( m), Elizabeth Coner age 52yrs b Ireland , mendicant (sic)
On 28 August 1844 a boy of around one year of age, son of David Gemmell, Muirston, was drowned when he fell into a horse pond.
(The History of Ochiltree Village & Parish - Dane Love p46
Mungo Howat 72 - Farmer Of 125 Acres Employing 2 Men And 1 Woman As Farm-labourers,
wife Janet (Manson), son John, daughter-in-law Agnes Conner, 2 grandsons,
Mungo died at Muirston in 1860. His son John took over
1861 census - Muirston
Mungo died at Muirston in 1860. His son John took over
1861 census - Muirston
John Howat - farmer of 130 acres, wife Agnes (Connell), 4 sons and 2 daughters
They moved to Whitehill farm
They moved to Whitehill farm
1871 Census - Muirston
David Purdie - farmer of 147 acres of arable emp 4 labourers 1 boy
his wife Mary (Hastings), 6 sons, 5 daughters, 3 lodgers (all masons)
1881 Census -Muirston
David Purdie - farmer of 100 acres arable
his wife Mary, 3 daughters, 4 sons,1 grandson (John Purdie)
1891 Census - Muirston
David Pardie - farmer
his wife Mary,1 daughter and 3 sons
David Purdie died at Muirston in 1893 and his son Hugh took over
David Purdie died at Muirston in 1893 and his son Hugh took over
1901 Census - Muirston
Hugh Purdie - farmer
his sister Elspeth, nephew John Purdie (ploughman), sister Jessie Carnochan and her daughter, 2 GS (domestic females), 1 farm labourer (m)
Probate: 27/3/1893 Ayr
Inventory of David Purdie, farmer, Muirston, Parish of Ochiltree who died 8/2/1893 at Muirston aforesaid intestate. Given up at Ayr by Mary Hastings or Purdie relict.
Valuation Roll 1865 prop. J P Wilson, tenant John Purdie. 1905 prop. T P Wilson. 1915 prop. John Walker. 1925 tenant Hugh Sloan.
Valuation Roll 1865 prop. J P Wilson, tenant John Purdie. 1905 prop. T P Wilson. 1915 prop. John Walker. 1925 tenant Hugh Sloan.
In 1930 the farm was put up for sale along with the others remaining in the Polquhairn estate. It was advertised with the rental income of £200.
Willie Watson in his interview says, the tenant in 1848 was tenant in both Muirston and Bogside and he was also paying £44 rent for part of what was Lochhill Lands at that time. So that’s how Muirston came to be. It’s made up of 3 different farms that have been amalgamated and that’s away back before 1848. He has the documents that show this.
