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| Bello Mill July 2021 Morag Gordon |
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| Bello Mill July 2021 Morag Gordon |
Bellow Mill, which included a part of Burnside, was let to John Murdoch (father of William Murdoch the inventor of gas lighting) from 1752 until his death in 1806 (to Bruce, 29 July 1784)
Source: Jointure Lands, Barony of Auchinleck p227
Location: 55 28 4N 4 13 10W
We now come to the Murdochs of Bellomill, whose name has put a hallo of lustre around our native village. Bellomill is situated at the junction of the Bello-water with the Lugar, and quite contiguous to the Lugar Iron Works. How long they were in the mill we have no means of knowing. In 1745 one of them left a staff to be always kept by the oldest Murdoch in the parish, and it appears he was the oldest at that time. The inscription is as follows;-"This staff I leave in pedigree to the oldest Murdoch after me in the parish of Auchinleck, 1745."The staff at the present time is in the possession of Mrs Rankin, Lugar, who is a niece of the celebrated Wm. Murdoch.We may mention a few of those who have had the staff in our day - we think the first was James Murdoch, Commondyke; next Hugh Murdoch, Common; next Robert Murdoch, High Park; next James Murdoch, Raw; John Murdoch, Pin; John Murdoch, Raw; Jean Murdoch, and now Ann Murdoch or Rankin, Bellomill. The whole of these, with one exception, lived from 80 to 90 years. Old Bellomill was a millwright. He had several sons. He also carried on the mill.
John Murdoch born 17/10/1725 Skerrington Mill, Old Cumnock died 1806 Bello Mill married Ann Bruce 5/12/1747 in Auchinleck Kirk. William Murdoch the inventor of gas lighting was born at Bello Mill 21/8/1754. Also born at Bello Mill - Robert Murdoch b30/8/1757, Mungo Murdoch 23/9/1759, Euphemia Murdoch b15/1/1762, no name Murdoch b 16/11/1764 and James Murdoch b 4/10/1768.
The History of Auchinleck Village & Parish by Dane Love - p308
Bellowmilne in 1691
1728 Craigston Estate -
c1758- Auchinleck Estate - John Murdoch
-1848 Auchinleck Estate - George Mearns (1755-1848)
1848- Auchinleck Estate -William Stewart
1875 Auchinleck Estate - Thomas Stewart & John Stewart
c1880s-1922 Auchinleck Estate - David Millar
1922-1952 Thomas Laird (d1955)
1952-1955 Thomas Laird (d1955) - Alexander Robertson
1955-1972 William Laird (1911-1978) - Alexander Robertson
1972-1978 William Laird (1911-1978)
1978-1995 Sarah Laird (1995)
1995-2015 William & Sadie Craig
1841 Census - unavailable
1851 Census - Bellowmill, Auchinleck William Stewart - miller emp 1 son, wife Mary, 5 sons & 2 daughters
1861 Census - Bellowmill William Stewart - corn miller, wife Mary B Stewart, 3 sons who are corn millers, + another 3 sons & 3 daughters supported by father
then his widow
1871 Census - Bellow Mill Farm Mary Stewart 60 Farmer (Of 60 Acres) All Arable Employs 3 Men 1 Boy Farmer with 5 children and 1 male servant
Mary died in 1880
then their son Thomas
Mary died in 1880
then their son Thomas
1881 Census - Bellow Mill
Thomas Stewart - meal miller and his sisters Jane and Williamina, niece Jane Keith, 1 blacksmith, 1 iron miner
1891 Census - Bello Mill
David Miller - miller & wife Margaret (Brown), son John (pony driver), 2 more sons (scholars), 3 daughters age 7yrs and under
1901 Census - Bellow Mill
Margaret Miller (h), son Andrew ( occ miller), daughter Ruth & son David (scholars)
My great granny, Margaret Brown, lived at Bellowmill, was a widow, would work like a man. She attended the threshing mills too. One day at a threshing mill she went into labour, went home and had the wean. Next day she was out and turned the kiln. I have a photo of her; she had hands like shovels. Morag Gordon
Valuation Roll
1935 house and mill Bellowmill Lugar
Thomas Laird Proprietor William Laird tenant (Thomas Laird was the son in law of David and Ruth Millar, married to their daughter Catherine.)
