Location 55 23 40N, 4 11 13W
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| Photo courtesy of Alex Jess |
Horse Tax 1797-98 John McNeight, Old Miln, 2 horses.
The 1841 census for Oldmills shows James Wilson 30 farmer and his wife Rebecca (Rankin) 25 with baby Margaret, Alexander Liveston and Violet Wilson 55.
The 1851 census for Old Mill shows James Wilson 42 farmer employing 2 labourers, wife Rebecca 39, daughter Margaret 10, son William 2, Violet Wilson his widowed 69yr old mother-in-law, 2 male farm labourers, Sarah Rankine 27yr old servant and Jane Gilmour a 14yr old farm servant.
The 1861 census for Old Mill shows James Wilson 53 is a farmer of 120 acres. He is assisted by his wife Rebecca 50, son William 12, daughter Violet 9, daughter Crichton 6, domestic servant Agnes Smith and ploughman David Smith. His 83yr old widowed mother-in-law Violet Rankin is still living with them.
NEW CUMNOCK FRIENDLY DAY'S PLOUGHING Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald - Saturday 19 March 1870
Saturday last, a number of the friends and neighbours of Mr Wilson, Oldmill, turned out and gave him a day's ploughing. Owing to the illness of Mr Wilson's horses during the greater part of the winter, he was unable to get his !and ploughed before the usual seed time. Accordingly, the neighbours having kindly consented to give him a lift, ploughs to the number of 25 came forward at an early hour. Notwithstanding the severe frost of the previous night. all the lots were finished in admirable style. Throughout the day the wants of the ploughmen were carefully attended to, and when the work was completed, they repaired to the farm house, where an excellent tea was prepared for them.
The 1871 census for Old Mill shows James Wilson 63 farming 150 acres arable assisted by his wife rebecca 66, daughters Violet 19 and Crichton 16 and 3 male farm servants. His 90yr old mother-in-law Violet Rankine is still living there with them.
The 1881 census for Old Mill, Mossmark shows James Wilson 73, and his wife Rebecca 70, with two daughters Violet 29 and Crichton 26 farming 150 acres arable employing 4 men and 1 girl.
James Wilson died at Mossmark farm on 15 February 1882
The 1891 census for Mossmark of Old Mill shows widow Rebecca 79 now farming with the assistance of her daughter Crichton Wilson 34 and Sarah Farquhar an 18yr old general domestic servant.
Rebecca Wilson died at Mossmark in 1892
The 1901 census for Old Mill Farm shows daughter Crichton Wilson 41 as farmer assisted by 19yr old cattleman James Shankland and Agnes Kelly an 18yr old general domestic servant.
1855 tenants Thomas Goudie (Old Mill and 4 acres of Mossmark), James Wilson (Mossmark of Old Mill).
1865 prop Marquis of Bute, tenant James Wilson.
