Originally in the Parish of Stair
Farm Horse tax 1797-1798 Alexander Wallace, Craigbrae 4 horses 3 liable 6/9d
Craigbrae - A farm steading - dwelling house & offices slated and one storey high all in good repair. The property of Alexander Oswald.
The History of Ochiltree Village & Parish - Dane Love
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Craigbrae
185 acres in 1919.
-1854 Drongan Estate - William Mair (1781-1854)
1871-1907 Drongan Estate - Archibald Mair (1826-1907)
1914-1919 Drongan Estate - Agnes Knox Mair (1863-19 ) & Mary Mair
(1870-19 )
1925-1940 Agnes Knox Mair (1863-19 ) & Mary Mair (1870-19 )
The 1841 census for Craigbray, Stair shows farmer William Mair 60, wife Agnes (Knox) 55, sons William 26, Matthew 22, Robert 18, Archibald 12, daughter Mary 15, Mary Gibson 16, Christian Deens 50 and Ann Stevenson 65.
The 1851 census for Craigebray, Stair shows William Mair farmer of 135 acres employing 2 labourers. He is assisted by his wife Agnes 71, unmarried son Archibald Mair 25 who is a labourer, James Smith 25 farm servant and two house servants Jean Henderson 23 and Mary Henderson 15.
The 1861 census for Craigbray, Stair shows son Archibald 34 has taken over the running of the farm which has 130 acres. He is now married to Sarah (Murdoch) 30 and they have three children, William 5, David 3 and Ann Steel Mair age 1yr. His widowed mother Agnes Mair 82 lives with them and they are assisted by housemaid Agnes Green 18 and two ploughmen Charles Denlon 24 and Robert Bryan 44.
The 1871 census for Craigbrae, Stair shows Archibald Mair 44 now farming 124 acres assisted by his wife Sarah 41 and their sons William 15 & David 13 who are employed on the farm, Maggie Murdoch 38 dairymaid, Elizabeth Mair 18 a general domestic and John Stevenson 32 a farm servant. Their younger children are son John 9, daughters Annie S. Mair 11, Agnes Knox Mair 8, Maggie M. 6, Elizabeth 4 and Mary 1yr.
The 1881 census for Craigbrae, Stair shows Archibald Mair 54 farming 130 acres employing his own family. They are wife Sarah 51, son John 19 and six daughters Annie S. 21, Agnes K. 17, Elizabeth 14, Mary 11, Sarah 9 and Jessie J. age 7yrs.
The 1891 census for Craigbrae Farm House, Stair shows Archibald Mair 64 still farming there along with his wife Sarah M. 61, unmarried son Jon 25 and daughters Aggie K. 23, Mary 18 and Jessie J. 15 who is the housemaid.
By the 1901 census Craigbrae has been moved into the Parish of Ochiltree and still being farmed by Archibald Mair 70 and wife Sarah 68 assisted by their unmarried children John 32, Aggie 29, Mary 24 and Jessie J. 21. They have a granddaughter May M. Mair 3 living there who was born in Dalry.
The History of Ochiltree Village & Parish - Dane Love
p54
First World War
Private Archie Mair (43144), 1st Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). Born at St, John's Town of Dalry, Kirkcudbrightshire, lived at Craigbrae, Drongan. Died 26 September 1917 age 19. Buried at Sunken Road Cemetery, Boisleux-St Marc, Pas de Calais, France. Also commemorated on war memorial at St John's Town of Dalry.
Valuation Rolls
1855 Lands of Craigbrae, Stair Proprietor: Alexander Haldane Oswald
Tenant: William Mair
1865 Lands of Craigbrae, Stair Proprietor: Alexander Haldane Oswald
Tenant/Occ: Archibald Mair
1874/75 Lands of Craigbrae, Stair Tenant/Occ: Archibald Mair
1885/86 Proprietor: The Hon. John Manners Yorke
Commander Royal Navy
52 Rutland Gate, London & his
spouse Mrs Edith Mary Haldane Oswald
Joint Proprietors
Tenants: Archibald Mair farmer &
William Mair farmer
1895 House & Farm of Craigbrae
Ochiltree Proprietor: The Hon. John Manners York & spouse
Tenant: Archibald Mair farmer
