Boundary changes meant that Lochhill (or part of Lochhill) was transferred from the Parish of Ochiltree into the Parish of Stair.
Glenstang Burn - Ochiltree
A small stream which rises from surface water about 1/2 mile North East of Lochhill Farm forming the boundary between Stair & Ochiltree in part of its course and falling into the Water of Ayr at Stair Bridge. Not rapid, low bank, gravelly bed.
There are two Lochhill Farms - one in Stair & one in Mauchline
Lochhill, Mauchline was farmed by the Mairs. The 1855 Valuation Roll for Mauchline for Lands of Lochhill show James Mair is the tenant farmer there and subsequent censuses back this up. The proprietor is Boyd Alexander Esq. (Ballochmyle Estate previously Loudoun Estate). Lochhill, Stair was farmed by John Hodge and the proprietor was Baronet Sir Thomas McDonald Miller.
Some of the Lands of Lochhill were in Ochiltree and rented by John Hodge. Sir Thomas Miller, Baronet, owner of Barskimming Estate, erected a new house on the southern side of Barskimming Old Bridge, within Stair Parish. Perhaps this is where John Hodge farmed. His censuses are also for Lochhill (but in Stair). On the Mauchline side of of the river, the estate extended as far as the village. A new stable block was created on the Mauchline side of the river around 1774 and a bridge was built across the River Ayr by Sir Thomas Miller in 1788 linking Barskimming House with the Stable Block.
(Source - Dane Love - The History of Mauchline Village & Parish (p91))
Farm Horse Tax 1797/98 - William Law, Lochhill, Stair - 5 horses liable in duty
Lochhill or Loch Hill, Stair - a large farm steading, dwelling house two storeys offices one, all slated and in good repair. Property of Sir William Millar, Barskimming.
John Sillar 45 is farming Lochhill, Stair in 1841 with his wife Jane 40. They have five children - John 9, Mary 7, Agnes 5, Thomas 4 and son Ralph who is 1 and are assisted by farm servants Janet Ferguson 20, Jean Roger 15 and Agnes Stevenson 15.
The 1851 census for Lochhill, Stair shows 56yr old farmer John Sillar farming 180 acres and employing 4 labourers along with his wife Janet 50, daughter Mary 17, son Thomas W. 13, son Ralph 11, daughter Agnes B. 9, two farm labourers Samuel Burns & Andrew Vallance and two house servants Agnes Brown & Catherine Sym.
By 1861 35yr old John Hodge is now at Lochhill, Stair farming 235 acres along with his wife Agnes (Reid) 39. They have four daughters, Elizabeth 8, Ann 5, Agnes 3 & Jane 2 months, and a son John 7 and are assisted 3 ploughmen, 3 general servants, 1 dairymaid and 1 female domestic servant.
The 1871 census shows that John Hodge 45 is now farming 270 acres at Lochhill, Stair and employing 6 labourers. Also living there is his wife Ann 50, sons John 17 & David, daughters Ann 15, Agnes 13, Jane 10 and Janet 8. They are assisted by William Campbell 50 who is a groom, ploughman James Murray 23, Robert Grouge who is a bullockman and John Halbert general servant. Jane Symington is visiting.
The 1881 census for Lochhill, Stair shows John Hodge 55 farmer of 250 acres employing 4 men & 1 boy. He is assisted by son John 27, son David D.R.J. 15, daughters Agnes 22, Jane 20 & Janet 18 and farm servants James Baird, Edward Larkin and John Davidson.
By 1891 65yr old John Hodge is still farming Lochhill, Stair along with his wife Agnes 60, daughter Agnes 32, son David 25 and 4 farm servants.
John Hodge died at Lochhill in 1895
Probate
John Hodge, Lochhill, Parish of Stair who died 26/8/1895 at Lochhill, aforesaid, testate. Conf. granted at Ayr 12 November to James Hodge, farmer, Friendlesshead, Mauchline, David Morrison, farmer, Meadowbank, Stair and John Hodge, farmer, Sloughhouse Essex, his son, executors.
In 1901 son David Hodge 35 is farming Lochhill. He is now married to Mary (Murchie) 26 and have four children - John 5, Jeanie 3, Alex 2 and 5 month old David. His mother Agnes is now 80 and lives with them. They employ Janet Lindsay 55 a sick nurse, dairymaid Martha Clark 20, Mary McLean 22 who is a general domestic and Mary Ann Money a 14yr old domestic nurse.
Valuation Rolls:
1865 Land Lochhill Ochiltree Tenant: John Hodge
Proprietor: Sir Thomas MacDonald Miller
1865 Land Lochhill Stair Tenant: John Hodge
Proprietor: Sir Thomas MacDonald Miller
1875 Lands Lochhill Ochiltree Tenant/occupier: John Hodge
1885 Farm of Lochhill part of Proprietor: Baronet John William Frederick Miller
& house Lochhill Ochiltree Tenant: John Hodge, farmer, Lochhill, Stair
1885 Farm of Lochhill part of
& house Barskimming Stair Tenant: John Hodge
1895 House Lochhill, Stair Tenant: John Hodge
1915 House & Farm of Lochhill Stair Proprietor: Trustees of the late John Meikle
Tenant/occupier: David Hodge, farmer, Stair
House Lochhill Stair Ten/occ: William Murray, ploughman
House Lochhill Empty
(The Valuation Roll for Lochhill, Mauchline is as follows:
1915 House & Farm of Lochhill, Mauchline Proprietor: Trustees of the late Claude Alexander
Tenant/Occ: James Taylor farmer Hill
House Lochhill Tenant/Occ: William Hose, overseer )
