Also spelled Polquairn.
It seems likely that the next property Old Polquhairn is where some of the farm workers lived, so these have been included in the census record. There is also a place called Burnton of Polquhairn. Think this is Burnton to the north east of Polquhairn.
Cumnock Kirk Session minutes mention Lady Polquhairn and her daughters Margaret Chalmers born about 1676 married first to George Simson then to Adam Samson and Sarah Chalmers in 1706 and 1714
OPR baptism
1790 Mary Wilson lawful daughter of John Wilson and Marion Wyllie in Old Polquhairn was born on 3 February and baptised14 February 1790
1811 This is to certify that William Macdougall, lawful son of John Macdougall Esquire of Polquhairn was baptised in the month of July 1811 by (signed) John W McKinnon D.D. The said William Macdougall was born in the 19th March 1811. A note in the margin says deceased December 9th 1812.
Wills: Lt Colonel John McDougall of Polquharin died 1814 and his widow Catherine Donaldson in 1840
1785 Carriage Tax - Adam Crauford Newall Esq Polquhairn, 1 carriage. (Adam Craufurd Newall of Polquhairn was the last in the long line of Craufurds of Dalleagles after selling the estate in 1763. from R Guthrie) His testament is on scotlandspeople 1794.
The house and lands of Polquhairn were sold on the death of Adam Crawford Newall in 1791. This is the description given:
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| Caledonian Mercury |
In 1806 this notice appeared in the Caledonian Mercury.....
1797-98 Horse Tax Mrs Crawford, Polquairn 2 horses, and one dog, while the clock and watch tax has Mr Crawford owning one clock and one gold watch.
x
Scotlands Places of 1855-57 describes Old Polquhairn as "Once a farmsteading but now merged into the farm of Polquhairn and occupied by cotters. One storey high thatched and in bad repair."
Polquhairn is "A farmsteading consisting of dwelling and out houses the former 2 storey, the latter one - all slated and in good repair"
Rig and Furrow and also possible sheiling huts, medieval and post medieval. From Canmore.
Census
The 1841 census has Robert Pettigrew Esq., 40, listed as 'independant' with his wife Margaret 40, and two servants, Ann Hodge 30 and Mary Wyllie 18, and John Shaw 25, Alexander Wilson 22 and James Muir 16.
1881 census James P. Wilson 50 farming 2800 acres 300 arable employing 3 shepherds, 3 men and 2 women. Sarah Muir 46 is his housekeeper, Marian McLean 22 is a general servant, William Lees 38 is ploughman, and Alexander Ferguson 20 is his farm servant.
At Old Polquhairn Andrew Gemmell 58, and wife Jane 57 have Jane 14 still with them, and she is a pupil teacher.
Rig and Furrow and also possible sheiling huts, medieval and post medieval. From Canmore.
Census
1841 census
Burnton of Polquhairn, Ochiltree - (could be Burnton, NE of Polquhairn)
John Mcclean 45 ag lab
Jennet Mcclean 45
Alexander Mcclean 11
Robert Mcclean 8
William Mcclean 8
Burnton of Polquhairn, Ochiltree - (could be Burnton, NE of Polquhairn)
John Mcclean 45 ag lab
Jennet Mcclean 45
Alexander Mcclean 11
Robert Mcclean 8
William Mcclean 8
The 1841 census has Robert Pettigrew Esq., 40, listed as 'independant' with his wife Margaret 40, and two servants, Ann Hodge 30 and Mary Wyllie 18, and John Shaw 25, Alexander Wilson 22 and James Muir 16.
An adjacent property is Old Polquhairn. with John 40, William 15, and Thomas Bryden 13, along with Francis Kennedy 19, and Andrew Cooper 19.
Also the Gibson family with William 25, Agness 20 Helen 4 and Ann 1.
and the Kirk family with Joseph 35, Agness 40, John 15, Thomas 13, Agness 12, James 10, Jane 7, Joseph 3 and Helen Gourlie 30.
1851 Polquhairn - James Pettigrew Wilson is 20, and farmer of 300 acres of arable land and 500 acres of hill pasture. Also at Polquhairn are David Roy 28 and wife Jane 28, son David 4, and daughters Elisabeth 2 and Janet under 1, and servant Janet Lees 13. David is a farm servant.
At Old Polquhairn, Andrew Gemmell 28, shepherd with wife Jane 27 and children Andrew 4, Jane 2, and Catherine under 1. Elisabeth Copeland is a house servant 16, Michael Aldereane 19 is a farm labourer lodger, and James Reid is a visitor, 29 1
John Blain 27 is a farm labourer and wife Ann24, with Rosanna under 1.
1861 Polquhairn James P Wilson is farmer of 800 acres employing 13 men and 1 boy. He has houskeeper Elizabeth Wilson 45, a widow, Jane Gibson 20, domestic, Robert Lammie 35, ploughman and James Montgomerie 18, ploughman
Old Polquhairn, Andrew Gemmell has added to his family with William 7, John 4, and Marion 1.
1871 Polquhairn ,James P Wilson is farmer of 3000 acres, 300 arable employing 5 men and boys.Servants are Janet Lees 33, Jane Mathieson 14, William Bradly 17 and visiting is John Carson 47, a shepherd.
At Old Polquhairn, Andrew 48 and Jane 47 have John 14, Marian 10, and Jane 4 at home. Andrew is a shepherd.
1881 census James P. Wilson 50 farming 2800 acres 300 arable employing 3 shepherds, 3 men and 2 women. Sarah Muir 46 is his housekeeper, Marian McLean 22 is a general servant, William Lees 38 is ploughman, and Alexander Ferguson 20 is his farm servant.
At Old Polquhairn Andrew Gemmell 58, and wife Jane 57 have Jane 14 still with them, and she is a pupil teacher.
Peter Kelly 25 is also a shepherd, with wife Marian 21 and baby James under 1.
1891 Polquhairn James P Wilson 60 farmer, with housekeeper Jane Macdonald 47, Maggie Limond 19, house maid, Jeanie Duncan 18, dairymaid, and John Gibb 27, and Hugh Watson 22 farm servants.
Old Polquhairn, the Armstrong family are James 35, shepherd, wife Christina 35 and children Andrew 11, Robert 8, Maggie S 6 , Mary D 4.
on 20th January 1899 James Pettigrew Wilson died. The new manager of the lands of Polquhairn seems to be William Jardine.
Census for 1901, Polquhairn Cottage, William Jardine 30, farm overseer, with wife Annie 23, and baby Malcolm under 1.
Jessie Brannan 17, general domestic, and James McGarva 24, farm labourer are at Polquhairn House.
Donald Murray 39, shepherd with wife Jessie 31, and daughters Mary 14 and Helen are at Old Polquhairn.
In the Valuation Roll of 1895 James Pettigrew Wilson was also proprietor of :
In the parish of Ochiltree,
House and farm Heidmark and Knockguldron
Woodlands (at Ochiltree)
House and farm of Steelpark
House and farm of Polquhairn
House and farm of Hayhill
House and farm of Elymains
House and farm of Piperhill
House and farm of Muirston
House of Sinclairston
House and land Laigh Elymains
House and garden South Elymains
Valuation Rolls
Obituary
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| Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald 27 January 1899 |
In the Valuation Roll of 1895 James Pettigrew Wilson was also proprietor of :
In the parish of Ochiltree,
House and farm Heidmark and Knockguldron
Woodlands (at Ochiltree)
House and farm of Steelpark
House and farm of Polquhairn
House and farm of Hayhill
House and farm of Elymains
House and farm of Piperhill
House and farm of Muirston
House of Sinclairston
House and land Laigh Elymains
House and garden South Elymains
Valuation Rolls
1855 J P Wilson Esquire Proprietor/occupier lands of Polguhavin (Polquhairn)
1865 Proprietor John Pettigrew Wilson, tenant James Pettigrew Wilson
1875 Proprietor John Pettigrew Wilson, tenant James Pettigrew Wilson
1885 Proprietor James Pettigrew Wilson, tenant of house Andrew Gemmell
1895 Proprietor James Pettigrew Wilson, tenant of house James Armstrong
1905 Proprietor/occupier of house and farm Polquhairn Thomas Pettigrew Wilson, House tenants William Jardine and Ronald Murray
1915 Proprietor John Walker tenant of house and farm James Macnae
1920 Proprietor John Walker tenant of house and farm Robert Sykes
1925 Proprietor John Walker tenants of houses Robert Sykes and William Watt.
1930 Tenants of houses Thomas MacMillan and Robert Sykes
1935 Proprietor Archibald Pyper tenants of houses Thomas Aird and Christian Richardson
1940 Proprietor Archibald Pyper tenants of houses Thomas Aird and John Brown
Adele Young
The sale of the Polquhairn Estate of 1600 acres from The Scotsman 22 March 1930
comprises 4 farms:Piperhill Elymains Muirston and Steelpark also Hayhill, Laigh Elymains
Polquhairn Home Farm house ( presumably pictured above)
The History of Ochiltree Village & Parish - Dane Love
pp330, 331
Polquhairn (Home Farm)
c 1,900 acres in 2021.
1797 William Crawford
1825 - Thomas Guthrie
1854-1875 Polquhairn Estate -
1914-1925 John Walker
-1930 Archibald Pyper (1859-1930)
1930-1961 Archibald Pyper (1904-1963)
1961-2011 Walter Young (1927-2011)
2011-2021 Grant Young (1961- )
