Location of Watsonburn
(In James Dorret's map of 1750 there is a Whatstounburn in the Glenmuirwater area east of Duncanziemere. Not found so far on any other map)
Photos by Bob Weir, 2022
In 1841 the only family recorded at Watsonburn is William Craig 40 ag lab with wife Jane (Weir) 30, 5 children under 10 and a female servant
The Craigs are there until and including the 1871 census. William is usually described asa shepherd. Soon after this they follow son Daniel to Middlefield farm in Muirkirk
The 1881 census has Hugh Vallance 43, wife Sarah 41, and seven of their children living at Watsonburn. His occupation is listed as shepherd, as is his son John 15. The other children are Hugh 12, Isabella 11, Elizabeth 7, Jane 5, Sarah 3, and Janet 2. They also have a visitor on the night of the census, John McDonald 54, an english teacher.
In 1891 it is shepherd James Jackson 52 with his daughter Jessie.
Valuation Roll
1905 prop Lady Jane Bailey or Stuart Menteith, tenant Thomas Craig.
1920 prop Lt Col Sir James Stuart Menteith.
In August 1919 the estate of Mansfield East was put up for let, including the farm of Watstonburn. (note spelling). The Thomas Craig of Mount Hope may or may not be the son of William Craig, but Mount Hope can be seen just down the road from Watsonburn on the location map linked above.
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The Scotsman 1919
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This advert from the Dumfries and Galloway Standard of February 1943 has an interesting sale entry for ferrets from Watsonburn. Rabbits can be very destructive among farmland (and gardens), and the method used to catch them with ferrets is to net over all the rabbit holes, then send in the ferrets to chase out the bunnies. As this was in the time of wartime rationing, they would be a welcome addition to the pot. The trick is for the ferret to actually come out of the rabbit burrows and not to sit in there having a very good time!
Note - they are said to make good pets if handled regularly and one gets walked on a lead up my local village street most days....
Elaine Corbett
