PATON FAMILY RECORDS (Ayrshire, Scotland)

Contact:  Lyn Schwartz  - lynschwartz at comcast.net

PATON FAMILY RECORDS

            Sometime in 1985 Mr. William Campbell, Gate-end, Stenton, Dunbar, informed me that he was friendly with a Mr. Paton from Stow who was descended from the Paton’s of  Hareshawmuir, Fenwick, and there was every possibility that Mr. Paton would have a family tree.  If this was so Mr. Campbell felt that tree may help me in my search for Paton forebears.  I contacted Mr. J. R. Paton (John Michael Richmond Paton) at Hay Park Lodge, Stow, Galashiels and was informed that he had a large wooden box full of family tree matters which I was welcome to search through.  His grandfather, James Richmond Paton had done a great deal of research which had been continued by James’s son Edward Richmond Paton.  On the 16^th of October 1989 we motored through to Stow and were most warmly received by Mr. Paton who then lent me four books of information regarding Patons.  The following pages were written by James Richmond Paton with comments by his son Edward Richmond Paton in ( ) brackets.

                                                                                                signed  M. A. Templeton                                                                                                                    (Margaret A. Howie Templeton)

Additional information by Lyn Schwartz in italics.

Family Records

            We have always been told, like nearly all the Ayrshire Patons (but perhaps more circumstantially that we were descended from Captain John Paton the Covenanter.  My father’s own information did not go further back than the birthplace of his grandfather, the farm of

Blackbyres

adjoining the Captain’s farms of Meadowhead & Airtnoch, in the parish of Fenwick.  When my father endeavoured to collect more information he was stopped by a belief that had currently in Fenwick that the Captain had no sons.

            I find by the Fenwick Church Records (Session) that High Blackbyres was tenanted as late as 1703 by John Gemmill whose wife’s name was Agnes Paton.  I recovered a rent receipt book from a grandson of  ………….. [John? – see page 2] Picken in Airtnoch, who was barony officer to the Earl of Glasgow showing that

Alexander Paton

was in this farm in 1749 and that his widow & heirs continued to pay rent from 1754/7 to 1764.  The receipts are signed by George Paton (who died before 1772 & signed until 1756) & James Paton, factor at Kilburn, the Earl of Glasgow’s place.  (The registers show that George had both a son and a nephew called James).

            In the Fenwick register of burials are the following two entries

            1744 August 13 ‘James son of Alexander Paton in High Blackbyre was buried’.

            1749 Dec. 8 ‘William son of Alexander Paton in High Blackbyres who died of smallpox                                       was buried’.

            This is all about his family that a search has yielded.  Blackbyres and also Meadowhead belong to the Hairshawmure property of which Robertson in his History of Cunningham, 1820 page 351, says: -

            “It made part of the ancient Lordship of Kilmarnock, and as such, was part of the great    domains of John Balliol that was forfeited by Robert Bruce, and Conferred on his own        adherent.  Sir Robert Boyd  ……………. Of the succession of proprietors on this estate I         have no knowledge further than that it appears in 1687 among Returns of the Glasgow          family”.

            Blackbyres may have been, as Meadowhead was, according to Mr. Lindsay in Craigends, temporarily used as grazing land by the then Earl himself who died in 1775.  But the Calderwoods who were the tenants till this year (1889)  claim to have been there for over a hundred years. (This is correct).  It was sold in October 1886 with Low Blackbyres & Parkhead by the Earl of Glasgow for _____?____ GBP, to Mrs. Picken the tenant of Parkhead, who resold Blackbyres this year to the above Lindsay of Craigends.  Meadowhead was sold with the 2 Collaries; Airtnoch (formerly 3 farms); Tayburn; Dunton; Croilburn; Greenhill; Whytall & Whitelea; Craigend; Drumtee & Benthouse, for 32,000 GPB to Mr. White a Glasgow stockbroker.  Meadowhead has 75 acres and is rented for about 70 GPB per annum at present.  (Mrs Picken was the wife of John Picken, tenant in Parkhead and Barony officer to Lord Glasgow.  It was Mrs. Picken who, being more anxious to buy, made the purchase of the three farms which were put up in one lot.  The Pickens wanted Parkhead only.  The Capt. Picken who was  in Hillhouse was a son of Picken the innkeeper at Kingswell who was made the factor of Lord Glasgow’s estates and Captain Picken before becoming I/C of the first Company of Ayrshire Volunteers which was raised in the 1860s, was educated by Lord Glasgow.  Capt. Picken was also Factor of Pokelly & Hareshaw).

            In the Kilmarnock Register is the following;  “1740 May 23.  Alexander Paton, son of late John Paton in Finnick parish whence he produced a sufficient testimonial, and Jean Bordland daughter of James Bordland in Fosterhill, both their first marriages, were proclaimed three Sabbaths and married on Tuesday 8^th July 1740 by Mr. Nairn minister of the Gospel at Abbotshall”.

            (Henry Paton, genealogist, 1^st Aug. 1890, finds in Lord Glasgow’s papers at Kelburne an Alexander Paton in Tayburn from 1701 apparently to 1746.  In latter years in same papers another (our) Alexander Paton first appears as tenant of High Blackbyres).

            The above marriage entry is the only one found that can be ascribed to the Blackbyres Alexander.  (Fosterhill is a cot-farm in Grougar.  Mr. Nairn was a seceder in Fifeshire who in 1743 joined the Reformed Presbyterians.  I found the ruins of Fosterhill on 29^th Sept. 1930 and noted the old stumps of elders so planted at every farm:  the old road leads from Fairfield; the Fosterhill wood is cut.  The stones of the ruin are at the north end; I brought one back to Hareshawmuir for the  …………  of the house).

            The only birth that fits the above Alexander is found 4^th among the following entries found in the Galston Church Register:-  (The Bap. Record for John 1701, Andrew 1704 and Alexander 1707 can be viewed clearly on documents found at ScotlandsPeople.gov.uk) 

 1.   1698 Galston    John Paton in Bankhouse of Kilmarnock had a lawful son baptized called Andrew on 3^rd July.  (Comment – As John called his son ‘Andrew’ after his father, his father cannot have been Captain John Paton.  In any case I found there was an Andrew in Bankhouse before John)

2.    1701 Kilmarnock    John Patoun farmer in Grougar, and Marion Bordland had their second son born on Sabbath morning 27^th July and baptized John by Mr. William Wright on 24^th August.  (Bankhouse is a cot farm in Grougar just below Fosterhill)

3.    1704 Kilmarnock   John Patoun in Over Bankhouse in Grougar and Marion Bordland, both their first marriages, had their third son born on Monday 24^th July and baptized Andrew by Mr. William Wright on 13^th August.

4.  1707 Kilmarnock   John Patoun, farmer in Bankhouse and Marion Bordland, both their first marriages, had their fourth son born on Friday 1^st May and baptized Alexander on 25^th May.  (My 5th great grandfather - Lyn Schwartz)

            The discrepancy between the description of this John Paton as “of Grougar in Kilmarnock parish” and the “John Paton late of Fenwick” in the marriage of 1740 is explained by the following extract from the Kilmarnock Register which shows that probably the old John had returned to Fenwick and made way for his above mentioned son John.

                        1725    John Paton in Bankhouse and Mary Stevenson, daughter of Thomas                                        Stevenson in Uthank, both their first marriages booked 7^th May and married in the                                        Kirk of Kilmarnock Wed. 26^th May 1725.

            According to the pedigree printed by Mr. Chalmers J. Paton of Edinburgh these two Johns are his ancestors and the son and grandson of the Captain.  That the Captain had a son is vouched for by Howie of Lochgoin who in his own “Life” tells that the Captain’s bible was given to him by the Captains son’s daughter’s husband (in other words the husband of the Captains grand daughter).

            The Kilmarnock Register gives only the following items:

                        - Baptized 1671 Janet Paton, daughter of John Paton and AGNES Paton on 24^th                                       November.

                        - 1675 Agnes and Margaret Patoun, daughters of John Paton and AGNES Paton                                       baptized at Galston on 8^th May”

            These daughters Mr. Chalmers Paton gives to the Captain? (No connection with Meadowhead mentioned in the Register). 

             The Fenwick Kirk Records give the following: -

-          1679 February 3^rd, David son of John Paton and Janet Miller in Meadowhead              was baptized”.

            Mr. Chalmers Paton’s pedigree does not include this son, but, without naming his authority, he gives a son John born 1669, married 1693 to Sarah Patterson; and married secondly to the aforementioned Marion Bordland, who is registered distinctly as his first wife.  There is manifestly an error here but there is no doubt a John Paton did succeed the Captain in the tenancy of Meadowhead.  In 1695 occur the following entries:-  (Acccording to the birth records the sons of John Paton in Bankhouse and his wife Marion Borland - it was their first marriage)

            Burial “--------day of June, a child of John Pattown in Meadowhead”

                “     “ 38^th November, Agnes Pattown in Meadowhead”.

            The Bailie Court book of Cunningham gives the same year on 22^nd July, the item that Matthew Paton of Rushaw obtained a decree against John Patoun in Meadowhead.

            The same authority gives a “tack” dated Kilmarnock 10^th November 1698 by John Paton residing in Meadowhead, and Matthew Paton residing in Rushaw, principal tacksmen of Meadowhead subletting Meadowhead for 15 years to John Paton in Righill who is only to get the house at Meadowhead at Beltane[1] (Mayday) following, though he gets immediate access to the arable ground.  John Paton of Meadowhead takes powers to return in 6 years if he desires.  If he is the person of the same name who appears in 1698 in Bankhouse he did not return till after 1707 (over 11 years) but if he did return this explains the reference to “the late John Paton” as “of Fenwick” in the marriage in 1740, for Meadowhead is in Fenwick parish.  (Henry Paton, genealogist, in a letter dated 1^st Aug. 1890, says Lord Glasgow’s rental account books at Kelburne show that in 1702 that the lease per contra terminates and a family of Mitchells came in place of the Patons to Meadowhead, for how long is not apparent, but in 1747 a man named John Clerk has it and again in 1752 a man named John Steil..  This then makes it improbable that John Paton did return to Meadowhead from Bankhouse).

             A diligent search of the Parish Records has discovered no other Alexander born of John at this period except this child of Bankhouse.  There is therefore some reason to believe that the tradition in the family that we are descended from the Captain is correct, and that Alexander Paton in Blackbyres was Captain Paton’s grandson.  TO PROVE THIS POSITIVELY we require to show that “Blackbyres” was the son of “Bankhouse” and that “Bankhouse” was the son of the Captain and succeed him in Meadowhead.  (In other words, John Paton who married Sarah Patterson would have to have had a son born named Alexander however, no proof of this has been found.)

            Further slight proof of some connection between the people on these farms, which are about three miles apart, is found in the following: -

            Mary Paton (Kilmarnock Register) married 5^th January 1705 Andrew Brown servitor to James Gemmill in Blackwood, the first marriage of both.  They lived afterwards in Rawsmuir a small freehold near Fosterhill and Bankhouse, and she died there and was buried 23^rd October 1755 aged 78, making her birth year 1677.  She is the ancestress of the Orrs one of whom, Jean, married my uncle Alex Brown of Newmilns; and the Orrs assert very firmly on the authority of their great-grandmother that this Mary was a daughter of the Captain.  If so her brother John was her neighbour at Bankhouse.           (We must remember that there were two Andrew Patons (father and grandfather) living in Bankhouse prior to John Paton and Marion Bordland.  Also, that John and Marion’s first son was Andrew who died and their 3^rd son was Andrew.  Marion Bordland died in Over Blackbyres – apparently at the home of her son Alexander b. 1707)  

            A difficulty in proving anything about the Patons from the Registers is that they were probably all Cameronians who were without any ministers at all until 1708 when Mr. McMillen left the Established Church and joined them; and he had no colleague until 1743[2], when Mr. (Thomas) Nairn left the Seceders and became the Cameronians second minister.           

            This may account for our finding few traces of the Captain and his ancestors in the Registers.  The following items have not been published:

            In 1647 John Paton in Meadowhead married Janet Paton.  (This was too late to have been the parents of Captain John Paton b. bet. 1607 – 1614).  In a minute book of the Bailiary of Cunningham a bond is stated to have been handed in in 1686 in favour of Agnes Patton and her children dated 1671.  This is the name of the wife of John Paton, in Chalmers Paton’s pedigree, whose children are given already as baptized in 1671 (Janet) and 1675 (twins Agnes and Margaret), but it is not the name of Captain Patons wives as given by Howie, viz. (1) Jane (Jean) Lindsay and (2) Janet Miller.  These two names are confirmed by the Lochgoin Register.

            Extract from Bailie – Court Book of Cunningham:-

            “Court of the Bailiary of Cunningham holden within the Tolbooth of the Burg:

            of Irving upon the 8^th day of August 1672 by Thomas Nivin of Monkrydding

            def….  Decreit, Janet, Marion, Agnes, Helein, Marie, Jean and Sara Pattounes

            lawfull bairnes of deceased John Patoune in Meadowheid and their relative husbands for their interesses against Hugh Patoun in Bruntland Executor Testamentar nominat and        confirmit to deceased Agnes Patoun, daughter to deceased Thomas Patoun in Middle       Airtnoch”.

            On 22^nd July 1695 Matthew Patoun in Rushaw obtained a decree against John Paton in     Meadowhead in the Bailie Court.

         

            In 1632 The Sherriff Clerk of Ayr’s records show that Captain William Boyle with his relation of Kelburn and others obliged themselves to Sir George Cunninghame, Colonel, to raise a Company of soldiers for his regiment, and ship them to ……sland.  This is no doubt the Company that Captain John Paton fought with under Gustavus Adolphus during the 30 years war.

Mr Henry Paton, 15 Myrtle Terrace, Edinburgh, who has searched the records and found the above items, says he finds few Patons in Fenwick during the last 100 years but he finds traces of many of them as far back as the beginning of the 16^th century, when the name was spelt variously Pawton, Paulton, and Palton.

            I now return to my grandfather’s grandfather Alexander Paton in Blackbyres.  Uncle William Paton told me this Alexander had 10 children, the eldest of whom called John, went to India as a soldier and died there.  I have only been able to trace 3 children distinctly and 1 indirectly.   (He continues for several paragraphs to give a review of “The Descendants of Alexander, tenant of ………………Blackbyres” which we already have so I will not type this again).

 ____________________________________________________

The following are extracts from Henry Patons letters:-

1889    October 26.  Among the Edinburgh wills I found one which may interest you as it is of     Blackbyres.  It is the testament dative of Christian Foulis sometime spouse of Florie Gemmill in Blackbyre.  She died in 1596 leaving two children – John and Margaret Gemmill.  She was formerly married to Bryce Gemmill and had children to him but their names are not given.

                        The farm stock of Florie Gemmill and his wife consisted of a horse, a mare, a staig (stallion), 17 ky (cattle), 35 sheep, which, with the grain in the barn and other effects made them worth at the wife’s death, about 200 GBP, that is about 16 GBP  sterling…  There were due a few small sums of money and one of their creditors was James Harper   in Blackbyre.  This shows that length of time these families of Gemmill      and Harper had these two farms of Blackbyres.  The Gemmills were still in High Blackbyres in 1644 – 1703.

1889    February 25.  There was a John Paton in Middle Airtnoch (adjoining Meadowhead) but it             could not be he (the father of Alexander married in 1740) as he died only in 1742 aged 80.  Then in 1696 there is a mention of a John Paton in Righill who had a child buried in that year….. These are all the Johns mentioned in the register at that date.

Entries from Kilmarnock Register: -

1725    John Patoun in Bankhouse & Mary Stevenson, both their first marriage booked 7^th  May and married in the Kirk of Kilmarnock 26^th May 1725.  Mary was daughter to    Thomas Stevenson in Unthank.

1726    John Patoun in Bankouse & Mary Stevenson both their 1^st marriage had their first child born 18^th April and bapt. Marion 1^st May.

1735    John Patoun in Fleminghill & Mary Stevenson had their fourth child born on 19^th and bapt. Elizabeth on 28^th January.

1738    John Patoun in East Fleminghill & Mary Stevenson had their fifth child born on 29^th and   bapt. Margaret on 28 January.

1889    August 1^st.  There is what is given in the Bailie-Court book of Cunningham… ‘In 1648     January 6.   John Paton younger of Meadowhead formed one of a jury for serving the           wife of Archibald Patoune in Hareshaw (Isobel Hog) heir to her two brothers there.  No        doubt this was the Captain himself, his father being then alive, though dead in 1672.

           August 13.  It was not the Captain but his father who was an elder under Mr. Guthrie (the            well known minister of Fenwick). 

            September 9.  With reference to Tam (Thomas) Paton of Kilmaurs, I obtained from himself the information that his father Robert Paton was born in Bankhouse and brought up at Fleminghill and that his grandfather was William Paton who married Elizabeth Walker. Robert died before Tam was married 63 years ago and as he was 62 at his death he must have been born in or before 1764.  I find this Robert and his wife Janet Reid in   the Kilmaurs Register from 1797 to 1805 when they lived in Garrier.  Tam corroborated this and the name of his mother.  The Register show they (Robert & Janet) had by 1805 ten children equally divided between the sexes but of these only the last four are registered, Robert 1797; Thomas 1799; Jean 1801; and John 1805.  Perhaps these were the only survivors.  I can find no trace of his grandfather William Paton in any of my   notes nor of his Aunt Mary.  (This Tam is an old man still alive in Kilmaurs – in 1889).

Extract from letters of JOHN CLELLAND, Grougar (a cousin).  (John Clelland’s daughter Ethel married Lenox Paton Figgis who was the son of Caroline Mary Paton)

1889    September 4.  I went to see John Mason of Hemphill (a farm near Moscow).  As he is 82   years of age I expected to get information about Bankhouse, Grougar, and strange to say I found he was brought up with his grandmother a Mary Paton of Bankhouse, aunt to Thomas (TAM) Paton of Kilmaurs.  Mary Paton had two brothers and four or five sisters. One brother lived near Kilmaurs, and the other was a blacksmith, but he became a soldier and expected to rise to be a “ferrier” in the army.  He was unsuccessful however and left the army after three years.  He lived and died in London.  He had a family but the old  man knew nothing of them.  He did not think Tam Paton of Kilmaurs was born in Bankhouse but his father was.  There were two Bankhouses then, High and Low,  The Patons lived in High Bankhouse.  I have passed the ruins.  They are hardly distinguishable.  It lay nearly opposite the Holmes Mansion about 1 or ¾ of a mile from    the Irvine water….  It lies between the farms of Castlehill and Fleminghill… He did not think the Galston Patons were any friends.  He has seen your grandfather talk with his grandfather for half a day.  (his grandfather at Hemphill).

            And now for Walston… Mr. Stewart…  Well he is a grandson of Anne Paton who married Stewart of Langdyke.  He has often heard his Grannie crack about the brother who went abroad.  Anne Paton’s father’s name was John and he lived for sometime at Wee Nether Raith near Craufurdland Bridge.  He left there and went to Darkparh Toll near Kilmarnock where he died.  Anne Paton died about 30 years ago in a small cottage which Lord Glasgow gave her for life.  The cottage is near Hareshawhill… Mr. Stewart remembers his Grannie saying they were connected with Captain Paton.  (This paragraph seems to relate to the one above because of the brother who went abroad, however it says Anne’s father was John – was this typed in error?  Her father would have been William if this is the same family as the one in the above paragraph).

                                                             ______________________

Extract from John Howie’ Life:-

            “I arose and took my Bible which was that which Captain John Paton gave to his wife off the scaffold which I had lately got in a compliment from my wife’s mother, my wife’s father having got it from the said Captain’s son’s daughter’s husband after her death”.

Extract from "A Cloud of Witnesses for the Royal Prerogatives of Jesus Christ":

"CAPTAIN JOHN PATON'S BIBLE WHICH HE GAVE TO HIS WIFE FROM OFF THE SCAFFOLD WHEN HE WAS EXECUTED FOR THE CAUSE OF JESUS CHRIST AT EDINBURGH ON THE 8TH OF MAY 1684 JAMES HOWIE RECEIVED IT FROM THE CAPTAIN'S SON'S DAUGHTER'S HUSBAND AND GAVE IT TO JOHN HOWIE HIS NEPHEW At Lochgoin a sword 27 inches in length is shown as his but it is light and small and much rusted His granddaughter Annabella Paton married Gavin Rowatt a much esteemed elder in connection with the Reformed Presbytery during the latter half of last century Gavin's eldest son was the Rev Thomas Rowatt a faithful and diligent minister of the Gospel in Penpont from 1796 to 1832 In the possession of the minister's nephew Thomas Rowatt Esq of Bonnan hill Strathaven is a sword that has been handed down in the family from generation to generation as the Captain's."

As I see it, according to John Howie and the “A Cloud of Witnesses for the Royal Prerogatives of Jesus Christ”:

    1   Captain John Paton  b: Bet. 1604 - 1614 in Meadowhead Farm, Fenwick, Ayrshire,                                             d: 09 May 1684 in Grassmarket, Edinburgh, Scotland (Covenanter Execution)           

         +Janet Millar d: 29 November 1695 in Fenwick, Ayrshire, Scotland   

            2  John Paton  b: 1661 in Fenwick, Ayrshire, Scotland d: June 1742 in Mid Artnock,                                               Fenwick, Ayrshire, Scotland (John Patton age 80)    

                 +Sarah Patterson   b: in Ayrshire, Scotland d: August 1738 in Mid(le?) Artnock,                                                Fenwick, Ayrshire, Scotland (wife of John Paton)     

                        3  Annabella Paton  b: Bef. 1718 in Scotland d: Unknown  

                                    +Gavin Rowatt  b: Abt. 1714 in <Stonehouse, Lanark,> Scotland d:  (?) 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       (Lyn Schwartz)

                                                                                ___________________________________

Note of Mr. McMillan the minister who joined the Cameronians in 1708 – 

    His daughter (should be granddaughter) Margaret married Thomas Rowat, Reformed Presbyterian Minister at Penpont, second son of the Gavin Rowat and Annabella Paton who is said (Cloud of Witnesses 1871) to have been the granddaughter of the Captain who gave his bible to the Howies of Lochgoin.

1    John McMillan  b: 1669 in Barncauchlaw, Minnigaff, Balmaghie, Kirkcudbright, Scotland       d: 01 December 1753 in Broomhill, Bothwell, Scotland (at his brother's house), age 84        

      +Grace Russell                            

            2  John McMillan II     b: 04 July 1729 in Eastforth, Carnwath Parish, Scotland d: 06                                             February 1808 in Shettleston (Glasgow), Scotland

                    + second wife – name unknown 

                        3  Margaret McMillan b: Abt. 1775 in Barony Parish, Lanark, Scotland      

                              + Thomas Rowatt bap. 29 Oct 1744  Reformed Presbyterian, Carwfordjohn,                                                                            Lanark, Scotland (father Gavin Rowatt, no mother’s                                                                                                 name given)

                                                                                                                                    (Lyn Schwartz)

************************** 

1890 March 4.  The entry from Edinburgh Register of Marriages, sent by Henry Paton.

            “17^th August 1787.  John Paton, wright at Gabriels Road, and Elizabeth Paterson residing             at Antiqua Street, daughter of the deceased John Paterson, late Inn Keeper at Kirkwall,          were booked for marriage.”

             The above couple are the parents of William Patrick Paton who was the father of Jessie, wife of my brother John Brown Paton. (Came from Bogwood farm, Mauchline).

1  James Paton  b: Abt. 1745             

    +Mary Swan                                  

            2  John Paton  b: 01 December 1767 in St. Cuthbert's, Edinburgh, Midlothian,

                        d: 20 May 1839 in St. Cuthbert's, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland (age 71)           
               +Elizabeth Paterson d: 28 March 1829 in St. Cuthbert's, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scot.                  
                           3  William Patrick Paton b: 20 May 1794 in St. Cuthbert's, Edinburgh,                                                           Midlothian, Scotland  d: 06 January 1867 in Glasgow, Scotland     
                              +Caroline Mercy Ann Evans (known as Mary)  d: Bef. 1841 at an early age

                                    4  Jessie Paton  b: 02 August 1831 in Barony, Lanark, Scotland 

                                                            d: 25  December 1910  Nottingham, England
                                        +  John Brown Paton b. 17 December 1830 Galston, Ayrshire, Scotland                                                                         d. 26 January 1911  Nottingham, England    
                                                __________________________

1892 October 3, Edinburgh, 15 Myrtle Terrace.  (This is from Henry Paton, genealogist)

 My Dear Sir,

            Last Tuesday I was at Loudoun Castle and had the usual ill fortune to find nothing of importance to our quest.  I was cautioned before hand that I would not find Mr. Hendrie, the factor, very helpful, but he was civil and put no hindrance in my way, if he took no interest in the search.  He does not seem to care for that sort of thing.  In themselves the papers were of an interesting nature historically, and that in respect of more than one important period in our national history; but I only found a few, very few, Rowallan papers at Loudoun Castle, and as remarked already, neither they nor the Loudoun papers contained anything for us.  Curiously enough, however, almost the very first paper I picked up was an Agreement between the Earl of Loudoun’s predecessor and John Pedein of Meadowhead about 1687 or so.  We have come across this chap before.  It is the Meadowhead in the parish of Sorn.

            The weather was bad, (as it always seems to be about Kilmarnock) and I did not get to Mr. Muir’s at Tourhill, Kilmaurs.  Mr and Mrs Clelland pressed me to pass the night with them at Grougar, and a portion of it Mr. Clelland and I spent at Burnhouses with Mr. and Mrs. Howie[3].  They, however, were not aware of the relationship of Mr. Muir, and there was no new information elicited.  As during the day it would not have been of any use calling on Mr. Muir, who would be busy with his harvest I walked next day over Ballegioch hill to Eaglesham, and interviewed the “provost”.  I just managed to be there before the rain set in for the day.  Mr. Robert Paton is a somewhat slender gentleman of apparently middle age (he is just turned 50) and is the Convener of the Committee of feuars who manage its affairs – Eaglesham being merely a burgh of barony held from the Eglinton family.  He is taking an active part with the County Council for the welfare of his burgh, and has been instrumental in getting a new bridge built over the Cart River, and is introducing telegraphic communication, improving drainage, etc. etc.  He has also a literary turn, and is compiling a history of the feuars, or the principal of them, through he does not seem inclined to print it, but only to prepare it for the benefit of posterity.

            He does not think that his family was ever connected with Captain John Paton, but that it moved in a rather higher rank of society – this from the silver buckles worn by his great-grandfather, and the property which he appears to have possessed, especially at so early a period after the Captain’s death.  His line of only sons, however, does not go back to the fourth generation.  I got his pedigree amended as follows: - His great-grandfather Thomas Paton in Southhillhead of Mearns, married Margaret Pollock.  their children were – Thomas Paton; William Paton; & Agnes Paton.  Agnes married James Gilmour portioner of Southhillhead & had issue: William Paton in Blackhouse of Eaglesham, married Marion Shaw.  Thomas Paton married Agnes Gilmour & both died 1843, their children were (1) John Paton b. 1801 – d 1860 married Jean Sim b. 1802 – d. 1891, they were the parents of the above Robert “provost” & his sister. (2) Mary Paton married to Andrew Baird. (3) Margaret married Robert Baird, farmer, Meikle Ernoch (bro. of Andrew), had issue. (4) Agnes married James Rankine, of the family of Rankine & Gilmour, shippers, Glasgow. (5) Janet Paton married Gavin Howie, Lochgoin, uncle of the present occupier.  No family.  Mr. Robert Paton thus knows Mr. Howie of Burnhouses well.

             The George Paton in Kansas, husband of the deceased Helen Morton, is uncle to Mrs. Arthur & Mrs. Howie.  Mrs Howie confirmed this – but she does not seem nearly so well up in the history of her family as her sister.  I shall be very glad to see you if you come to Scotland, and I hope you will get better weather than at present exists. 

Yours very sincerely, Henry Paton.         To J. R. Paton.  (James Richmond Paton)

James Paton b. 1775 in Blackbyres and Margaret Bryson were the parents of nine (9) children. One was  John b. 1808 who married Margaret Morton, one of their daughters was Helen Paton who married James Arthur, Inn Keeper of the Kings Arms in Fenwick.  After James died Helen kept the Inn.  Their son James b. 1857 moved to Silverdale, Kansas not far from his gr. uncle George..

John and Margaret Morton also had another daughter Jean b. abt 1840 and she married James Howie who farmed Burnhouses in Kilmarnock.

George Paton b. abt 1820 who married Helen Morton and immigrated to Cowley, Kansas was the younger brother of John b. 1808 who married Margaret Morton and is therefore the uncle of Mrs. Arthur and Mrs. Howie.  (in the above paragraph)

                                     __________________________________

1892 September 9.  A letter from Henry Paton –

    The Boyd papers at Kilmarnock – “one paper – a decreet against the tenants of William Earl of Kilmarnock in Kilmarnock and Grougar, on the 4^th Sept. 1679 – gives the following Patons in the list of tenants: -

Daniel Paton in Fosterhill                               John Paton in Meadowhead

John Paton in Bankhouse                                Matthew Paton in Airtneoch

John Paton in Tayburn                                    Thomas Paton in Berryhill

Andrew Paton in Tayburn                              Matthew Paton in Rushaw

Another occurs in a similar increet in 1683, viz.

                                                Thomas Paton in Hairshaw

                                      ______________________________

[1] Beltane is an ancient celtic festival and was when the herds were taken to their summer pastures. In Limerick, in the Republic of Ireland, an annual bonfire night is held on Beltane. This is a cultural remnant of the great Bealtane fire which was lit on the central hill of Uisneach 'the navel of Ireland' (in modern day County Westmeath).

When is Beltane?  Beltane marks the day when the sun is equidistant between its vernal equinox and summer solstice.

[2] In the spring of 1743, however, one of the Associate ministers, the Rev. Thomas Nairn,

did embrace the principles and joined himself to the Covenanters. He and the Rev. John

McMillan now constituted the REFORMED PRESBYTERY, at Braehead, Parish of Carnwath,

Scotland, August 1, 1743. Accession of ministers and increase of members soon

followed, and the persecuted and despised Covenanter Church of Scotland began to exert

an influence.

[3]  James Howie  b: 24 February 1833 in Burnhouses, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland  d: 28 February 1895 in Burnhouses,

                                              Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland (age 65) 

    +Jean Paton  b: Abt. 1840 in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland d: 09 October 1905 in Linwood, Castlehill Rd., Ayr, Ayrshire,                                                        Scotland (age 65)  (daughter of John Paton and Margaret Morton)