Schaw, Ochiltree

Location OS six inch

Schaw was transferred from the parish of Ochiltree to the parish of Stair in 1889. (Hay Shennan)

also Shaw

OPR Ochiltree

1726 9 May James Hair in Sha a child baptised called John

Horse Tax 1797-98 James Hillhouse ( Shaw ) 3 horses, one taxed.

James Hillhouse was at Shaw until his death in 1834.   His wife was Jean Wallace.

Census

1841 Jane Wallace 75, Jennet Wallace 40, James Wallace 37, Robert Wallace 30, William Cuthbert 15, Jane Cuthbert 13, Jane Smith 15, David Mitchell 5.

1851 Robert Hillhouse 40 Farmer Of 60 Acres Employing 2 Lab, sister Janet 60 son Robert 2 brother James 52, and 2 servants Hugh Cocherty 16, and Mary Dunn 20. Robert is listed as unmarried, but has a son Robert 2.

1861 Robert Hillhouse 54 Farmer Of 80 Acres Employing Labourer, wife Jane (Gemmell) 31, son Robert 12 , Jane 6, James 5, and Agnes 2. Female servant Jane Kennedy 18

Robert died in 1867 after a kick from a horse and his widow suffered again 2 years later in a fire:-

Fire destroys Schaw farmhouse 1869  Ardrossan and Saltcoats  Herald

However in 1871 census Jane is still at Shaw. Jane Hillhouse 41 Farmer (of 56 Ac Arable 1 Man And 1 Boy), with her children Robert 22, Jane Lawson, a widow at 16, James 15, Agnes 12, Janet 9, and Margaret Jane Lawson grand daughter.

Jane married again in 1877 to Robert Dunsmuir from Riccarton. In the  Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald for June 1879 there is notice of dissolution of a co-partnership of coal masters R and A Dunsmuir, where Allan Dunsmuir bought out his partner Robert Dunsmuir.  It appears that Allan carried on the coal business on his own and Robert became a full time farmer.

Ayr Advertiser and West Country Journal for August 1879

1881 Robert Dunsmuir 50 Farmer Of 76 Acres Employing 1 Man And 1 Woman, Jane  51, Agnes Hillhouse 22, and a granddaughter Jane Nicol 2. and a female servant, Catherine McFadzean 13. Robert Hillhouse emigrated to Canada about 1882.

1891 Robt Dunsmuir 60 other family members and servants. Jane Ewing , niece 29, Robert Tait 20, servant, Sarah McKelvie 14 domestic, William Nielson 26, boarder, and visitors Allan Dunsmuir, 42, Margaret Dunsmuir 50, and John Parker 32. No entry for Jane

1901  Shaw (now in the parish of Stair) Robert 70 Jean 71 granddaughter Agnes Nicol 17,  2 servants John McClelland 28 and Helen McClelland 20, and a visiting shepherd David Cunningham 50

"... Bob Hillhouse, better known as "young Shaw." I have never heard a singer who could give a breezier or more spirited rendering of "The tinker's wedding," or "Nanny that Leeves next door." or throw more pathos into Archie McKay's "Be kind tae auld grannie."  (Applause).  Such an individuality was of course in great request at all our social parties, although, his language being sometimes too rough and ready - too frequent and too free - his invitation might perhaps be accompanied by a needful injunction to mind his P's and Q's." 

Matthew Mair Osborne at the Ochiltree Schoolfellow's Reunion 1895


VR 1855 tenant Robert Hillhouse.  

1875 prop. Rev Neil Livingston, tenant Mrs Jane Hillhouse.  

1885 prop. William J S Neill, tenant Robert Dunnsmuir.  

No further entries.