Horse Tax - George Paton Townhead 4 horses 8s.
Location 55 28 35N, 4 20 42W
Townhead - This farm steading is the property of Sir James Boswell at present occupied by William Sloan.
Barony Of Auchinleck - Rented Lands * p214
Townhead which included Burnhouse, Midhouse, Mosspark and Little Whirr, was let to George Paton in 1782 and 1794.
Treeshill 'Trees new farm' formed from parts of Knowe and Townhead, 1773. In 1808 it was let by James Pedin, formerly in Knowe.
* The Correspondence of James Boswell with James Bruce and Andrew Gibb,
Overseers of the Auchinleck Estate
Edited by Nellie Pottle Hankins and John Strawhorn
Edinburgh University Press and Yale University Press 1998
Auchinleck OPRs
Eupham Patoun (aka Rule) formerly residing in Townhead died 4/5/1782. Spouse of George Patoun. Cause of death: Asthma
The History of Auchinleck Village & Parish - Dane Love
p324
Tounheade in 1691
1706 Auchinleck Estate - Robert Pedine
1774-1791 Auchinleck Estate - George Paton
1798-1836 Auchinleck Estate - John Sloan (1773-1836) (buried Ochiltree)
1875 Auchinleck Estate - William Sloan (1811-1884)
Auchinleck Estate - Hugh Sloan (1860-1891)
1899 Auchinleck Estate - Mrs Sloan
-1915 Auchinleck Estate - Sloan
1915-1920 Auchinleck Estate - John Sloan (1851-1920)
1920-1921 Auchinleck Estate - Bryce Nairn Sloan (1885-1969)
1921-1954 Bryce Nairn Sloan (1885-1969)
1954-1993 Robert T. Sloan (1928-2019 )
1993-2015 Gordon Sloan (1965- )
Censuses
The 1851 census for Townhead shows William Sloan 39 farmer of 140 acres employing 2 labourers. He is assisted by his wife Margaret (Watson) 25, brother Mungo Sloan 37, 1 male farm servant and 1 female farm servant. His mother Jean Sloan a 77yr old widow annuitant is also living with them.
The 1861 census shows
William Sloan 48 is now farming 146 acres and employing 1 man. He and his wife Margaret 36 now have a large family - John 9, Sarah 7, William 4, Jean 2 and infant Hugh. They are assisted by his brother Mungo Sloan who is a domestic servant, 1 ploughman, 1 dairymaid and 1 female domestic servant.
The 1871 census shows that William Sloan now 58 is farming 140 acres arable and employing 1 man, 1 woman and 2 boys. Living there is his wife Margaret 44, sons John 19, William 14 and Hugh 10, daughters Sarah 17, Jane 12 and Margaret 8. He is assisted by his brother Mungo 56 and 1 female general servant.
1881 census shows William Sloan 68, and his wife Margaret 54, along with two sons John 29 and William 24 and two daughters Jane 22 and Margaret 18, farming 140 acres and employing 2 men and 2 women (the sons and daughters). also resident with them is Mungo Sloan, William's brother 64 with no occupation.
William Sloan died 5/10/1884
In 1891 Margaret is now a widow of 65. She is assisted by her farmer son Hugh 30 and daughter Maggie 24. Mungo Sloan her 77yr old brother-in-law still lives there his occupation given as formerly draper. She employs 2 male farm servants and 1 female farm servant.
Hugh Sloan died 22/12/1891
The 1901 census shows Margaret Sloan now 75 still living there with her daughter Margaret 38 who is the dairymaid, 1 female domestic servant, 1 ploughman and 1 male farm servant.
Auchinleck Churchyard - Lair Ref: 185
Er John, Wm. & Hugh Sloan IMO fa Wm Sloan d Townhead 5/10/1884 73, abv Hugh Sloan d Townhead 22/12/1891 31, mo Mgt Watson d Townhead 7/8/1904 78
One of the few farms with ownership remaining with the old family. Sloans here since the late 18th Century.
Valuation Roll
1855 prop Sir James Boswell, tenant William Sloan. 1865 prop Lady Boswell. 1895 tenant Mrs Sloan. 1905 tenant John Sloan. 1925 - 1940 prop Bryce Sloan.
Current Farmer - Gordon Sloan, grandson of above Bryce Sloan.
