Horse Tax 1797-98 James Tennant, 2 horses, one taxed. The roll just says Miln, amid the Ochiltree Parish listings. Other mills are listed, so taken as Ochiltree Mill itself.
from Robert Walker
James Stevenson from about 1804 - 1817
The History of Ochiltree Village & Parish - Dane Love
pp327, 328
Ochiltree Mill
1700 Ochiltree Estate - John MacRae
1792 Ochiltree Estate - Andrew Murdoch
Ochiltree Estate - Samson*
-1812 Ochiltree Estate -
1812-
- William Tennant
-1835 - James Tennant (1754-1835)
1838-1847 Alexander Ross - David Reid
1851-1855 Alexander Ross - John Murdoch (1788-1859)
-1857 Alexander Ross heirs - John Murdoch (1788-1859)
1857- Thomas Cuthbert - John Murdoch (1788-1859)
1859-1869 - Andrew Murdoch (1829-1869)
1871 Dumfries House Estate - Jane Murdoch
1895-1899 Dumfries House Estate - David Murdoch
1911 Dumfries House Estate - John Gemmell
1925 Dumfries House Estate - MacGill & Smith Ltd
1940 - Robert Martin
*On her Ochiltree estate, Lady Glencairn apparently intended to apply the principles of organisational reform to an extreme:
‘Some of the poorer and less industrious tenants ought to be rouped and turned out as examples to their neighbours - particularly Miller Sampson.’
Scottish Record Office Ex GD39/6/2 http://mccowan.org/improvem.htm
The History of Ochiltree Village & Parish - Dane Love
pp223,224
'The present Ochiltree Mill building dates from the early nineteenth century. It comprised of a four- storey building with machinery driven by a breast paddle wheel. There was a large kiln. The mill had four pairs of stones, one for shelling, one for oatmeal finishing and two for grinding *provender.
Ochiltree Mill was rebuilt in 1859, when the low-breasted waterwheel was used to power four or five pairs of millstones. It had recently become the property of Andrew Paterson (1803-1876) of Carston. He was born in Dalleagles, New Cumnock, and trained as a land surveyor. He also served as Provost of Ayr from 1861-1863. Also in 1859 a new Sawmill was erected, downstream from the main mill.'
* provender is animal fodder
1851 census John Murdoch 63 is described as a farmer of 26 acres and a corn miller employing 1 labourer. With wife and 3 adult children
John Murdoch died at Ochiltree Mill in November 1859
His son Andrew takes over in 1861 census. Andrew Murdoch 30 Miller & Farmer Of 22 Acres Employing 3 Men wife his mother 2 sister a young niece and a miller. Andrew died in 1869 at the mill.
In 1871 sister Jane Murdoch is the tenant of Mill And Farm Of 20 Acres Arables Employing 3 Man with a niece and a miller
The 1891 census for Ochiltree Mill shows David Murdoch 29 (previously Burnockmill) farmer & grain merchant, wife Sarah 25 (Wilson Kirkland), their son John age 1yr and two servants Annie Blair 19 and George Gordon 17.
David Murdoch has moved to Crofthead by 1901 census
The 1901 census for Ochiltree Mill shows Agnes Murdoch (Somerville Wilson) 74 year old widow of John Murdoch (Burnockmill then Low Carston) is head of the family and living on her own means. She is assisted by her unmarried daughter 45yr old Sarah Murdoch who is a dairymaid, her unmarried daughter Mary who is 33yrs old and also a dairymaid and John Gemmell 20 her grandson (his mother is daughter Sarah) who is a miller.
1911 census for Ochiltree Mill and Farm has John Gemmell head 30 farmer and miller Sarah Murdoch 56 single mother, Mary Murdoch aunt and George Hillhouse 52 single assistant miller
Valuation Roll
1855 prop. Alexander Ross, tenant John Murdoch.
1865 prop. Andrew Paterson.
1875 prop. Marquis of Bute, tenant William Wallace.
1895 tenant David Murdoch.
1905 prop. William Marr, tenant Mrs Sarah Murdoch.
1915 & 20 prop. Marquis of Bute, tenant John Jameson. 1940 tenant Robert Martin.
