The Boundary Changes for 1889-92 moved Auldbyres, The Parish of Stair into The Parish of Ochiltree.
Auld Byres - Ochiltree Parish - a farm steading - dwelling-house & offices - one story - slated and in good repair. The property of Alexander Oswald Esqr.
Various spelling: Auldbyre, Auld Byres, Old Byre, Ouldbyres, Oldbyer
John Murdoch, Oldbyre - 2 horses - 2 liable - 4s
Births & Baptisms - OPRs Stair
1802 - Mar 15 - Jean Murdoch lawful daughter to John Murdoch in Old Byre was baptized by Dr Shaw, Minister of Coylton.
1806 - James Murdoch lawful son to John Murdoch in Oldbyer was baptized by Mr Alexander Small before the Congregation.
1814 - John Murdoch lawful son to John Murdoch farmer OldByre and Isabella Arthur his spouse was born July 29th & baptized Augt 2nd at his own house by the Revd Mr Small.
The History of Ochiltree Village & Parish - Dane Love
pp305,306
Auldbyres
84 acres in 1871. 100 acres in 1881
1855 Drongan Estate -
1871 Drongan Estate - Robert Steele (1798-18--)
1878 Drongan Estate - John Smith FEIS (d1909)
1881 Drongan Estate - Thomas Beattie (1830- )
1891 Drongan Estate - James Cameron (1835- )
1899-1914 Drongan Estate - James & David Mair
1925 James Mair (1865- )
1930 Helen M Mair (1875- )
1940 James Mair (1901- )
The 1841 census shows unmarried John Murdoch 25 farming Ouldbyres, Stair. Also living their is his 60yr old mother Isabella, Marion Cunningham 20, John Galt 20, Jean McDonald 30 and an infant Jean McDonald.
The 1851 for Auld Byres, Stair, shows John Murdoch 38 and still unmarried, farming 76 acres and employing 1 labourer. His aunt Susan Murdoch who is 77 and unmarried is living there and they are assisted by servant Jane Roy 24 and farm servant James Roy 21.
James Murdoch married Jane Campbell 5/6/1854 at Stair and they moved to Kirklands, Maybole where John was the innkeeper. He died there 4/6/1861 and is buried in Maybole Parish Churchyard.
The 1861 census for Old Byre, Stair shows Robert Steele 64 farming 100 acres assisted by his wife Janet (Howat) 44, son Robert 19 who is a ploughman, daughter Janet Manson Steele 17 who works as the dairymaid and sons Mungo Howat Steele 11 and Alexander Peden Steele 7.
Robert Steele and his family were previously at Orchardton, Old Cumnock
The 1871 census for Auldbyre, Stair, shows Robert Steele 73 farming 84 acres arable assisted by his wife Janet 54, son Robert 28 and daughter Janet 26 who are employed on the farm and 17yr old son Alexander.
The 1881 census shows Auldbyre, Stair, now being farmed by Thomas Beattie. He is a farmer of 100 acres employing his own family who are his wife Jane 51, daughter Rebecca 27, son Thomas 19 and his niece and nephew Jane Stevenson 13 and John Stevenson 12.
The 1891 census shows James Cameron 56 now farming Auldbyre, Stair assisted by his wife Annie 34. They have six children - John 13, Robert 11, Maggie 9, Mary 7, Annie 5 and Agness 1 and are assisted by farm servants John Jack 25 and Martha Keers 16.
By the 1901 census the boundary changes had come into operation and Auld Byre had moved into the Parish of Ochiltree.
The 1901 census shows Auld Byre now being farmed by 36yr old James Mair and his wife Helen 26. They have two children Robert 2 and infant James. Sister-in-law Jane G Shields 19 is the dairymaid, Elizabeth McKie 13 is a nurse and John Duncan 18 is the ploughman.
Valuation Rolls
1885 - Farm of Auldbyres & house, Parish of Stair
Joint Proprietors - The Hon. John Manners Yorke (Commander Royal Navy) & spouse
Edith Mary Haldane Oswald
Tenants - John Smith, teacher, Coylton and Thomas Beattie, farmer, Auldbyres
1915 - House & farm of Auldbyres, Ochiltree
Proprietor - The Countess of Hardwicke & others
Tenants - James and David Mair, farmers
The Veitch family from Greenside, Cumnock farmed Oldbyre more recently.
