McTurk family in 18th century
Scotlands Places of 1855/57 gives reference to the name Polshiel in the estate books although they say there is no other reference to this spelling.
In old scots, according to the website Scots Words and Placenames, poll can mean "a slowmoving ditchlike stream flowing through carseland, a shallow pool, a marshy place, a sea pool, a creek or inlet or a marshy field". Sheil is a shepherds hut type building or a small cottage.
McKnight family on New Cumnock Heritage: George McKnight was born there in 1773
Horse Tax 1797-98 John McKnight three horses, 2 taxed.
Census
1841 Widower George McKnight 65 family members George 30, William 30, Jane 8, and 3 servants Isabella Currie 20, Helen Lockert 20, and Susanna Howatson 20.
1851 Thomas Hamilton 45, widower and farmer of 760 acres with 3 labourers. Sons Hugh 15, George 12, Andrew 8, William 8, and daughter Susanna 12. Servants are neice Ann Steele 19, cousin Anne Brown 25, cousin John Hamilton 21, ploughman, James Wight 19, shepherd, John Mills 15, and Elizabeth Kerr 20.
Click on the link for John Hamilton to read notes of his life from Eileen Brown in Cumnock Connections.
1861 Thomas Hamilton 55 with sons George 21, Andrew 17, and William 17. Servants are Margaret Lithgow 21, Janet Graham 18, and Agness Ferguson 12.
1871 Thomas Hamilton 65 farmer of 231 acres mostly arable. Son Hugh 35 with his wife Elizabeth 36 and their children Thomas 13, James 11, John 9, Hugh 7, Elizabeth 3 and Mary 1. Servants are Hugh Gibson 20, ploughman, Janet Russell 21, Margaret McRobert 22, and Mary Lambie 16.
1881 Thomas 75 and son Hugh 45 are joint tenants of 232 acres. Hugh and wife Elizabeth have Thomas 23, James 21, Hugh17, Elizabeth 13, and more children Andrew 9, William 6, and Robert 4. Servants are Margaret Douglas 19, byremaid, and Ann Graven 24, housemaid.
1891 Hugh 55 and wife Elizabeth have taken over the farm. James 31, Elizabeth 23, William 16, and Robert 14 are with them, and servants are Helen McGinn 21 housemaid, and Euphemia Clark 17, byrewoman.
1901 Hugh and Elizabeth with sons James 41, Andrew 29, and William 26. Their only servant is Jessie Wilson 20, housemaid.
Valuation Roll
1865 Tenant Thomas Hamilton
1875 prop Marquis of Bute
1915 Tenant William Hamilton
1920 Proprietor/Occupier William Hamilton
1940 John Todd is the tenant of Pollshill. No proprietor listed.
| Robert Guthrie |
By Stuart Brabbs on Geograph 2007
Water drawn from Pollshill - Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald 1878
1937
Aberdeen Press and Journal - Tuesday 23 March 1937
"Mr William Hamilton Polshill, New Cumnock, was waited on by a number of friends and presented with a gold watch and a wireless set on the occasion of his retirement from farming. Miss Hamilton was presented with a gold wristlet watch."
Andrew Howat current owner
Previously his parents Andrew Howat and Flora Todd
before them his grandparents John Todd and Christina Baird
mystery field name Sheila Green. Who was Sheila?
Mill
The mill lead starts away up the hill and is probaly about twice as long as the one at the Old Mill. Part of the mill pond has been reinstated as a feature; the lead ran under the Dumfries road to the mill.
Andy Howat: when I was young I remember the mill, there was a shaft came right through the barn with pulleys to drive the various machines and the mill wheel was there then but my dad got it taken away because my brothers and me used to get inside it and make it turn.
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| Robert Guthrie 2008 |
