The research now turns to the James Murdoch (b.1780) and his wife Ann Fleming (b.1790) and their descendants, living and working on the Estate of Waterhead, and beyond.
Throughout this period, it is inevitable to encounter variations in the spelling of Proper Nouns. Examples of family names include – Murdoch & Murdock; Mathew & Matthew; Morison & Morrison and Hyslop, Hislop & Heslop. As for placenames the most common encounters are those containing the element Scots rigg, rig ‘ridge’ leading to names as Riggend & Rigend, Forerigg and Fore-Rig etc. The Murdoch family tenanted several farms on the Estate of Waterhead Estate and these are shown below.
N.B. Although there are other farms on the Waterhead Estate they were not tenanted by the Murdochs, to the best of my knowledge.
Knockburnie
James Murdoch and Ann Fleming were married in the parish of Dalmellington –
‘On March 25, 1809 James Murdock in the parish of New Cumnock and Ann Fleming in this parish give in their names in the Order for Banns to Marriage’.
Scotland’s People: Parish of Dalmellington, Banns & Marriages
.Understandably, as the Murdoch family were tenants in the Waterhead Estate, the village of Dalmellington was as close to them as the village of New Cumnock and perhaps it was there that James became acquainted with Ann Fleming.
Their first child Jane was born ca. 1810 followed soon after by another daughter Mary born ca. 1812. Neither of their births were recorded in the Old Parish Records of New Cumnock. However, the later Census Records confirm New Cumnock as their birthplaces. A third daughter, Agness was born at Knockburnie in 1813, probably at Knockburnie Cottage, rather than Knockburnie farm. It seems likely that this was also the birthplace of her elder sisters.
Lanehead Lime Works
Soon after, the family settled at Lanehead Cottage associated with the Lanehead Lime Works, a few hundred yards away. Here five more children – John, Mathew, Ann, William and Katrine were born in the period 1815-1823.
N.B. In the 1893 death certificate of his son William Murdoch, records his father as James Murdoch, farmer and quarry master.
In 1826, a ninth baby, Barbara, was born but sadly her mother Ann, died on 7th October 1826, perhaps through complications at childbirth, and she was laid to rest in the Auld Kirkyard, New Cumnock. It is not clear if Ann passed away at Lanehead Cottage or at Rigg, where her husband James was living at the time of the 1841 Census, and earlier.
(Courtesy of the late Phyll Parish nee Dimmock)
Rigg: New Cumnock, Ayrshire
Further analysis of the 1841 Census Records reveals that widower James Murdoch (60), farmer, lived at Rigg with his three of his children Matthew (22), Ann (20) and Barbara (15) suggesting he had leased the property for some unknown fixed period, prior to the 1841 Census.
Sir John Andrew Cathcart, Bart. of Carleton, the proprietor of the lands of the Waterhead Estate, was addressing problems of attracting tenants. He had reduced the rent of several properties, on the Estate by some 35%, and had adopted the process of letting some of his lands in divisions. This was the case in the letting announcement of 1844, with the lands of both Rigg and Nether Riggend described as follows –
RIGG, containing 804 Acres, or thereby Imperial measure, of which about 170 are arable and Meadow, and the remainder Good Green Pasture. This Farm will be let either entire or in three divisions, as now occupied by Messrs. Williamson, Lennox, and Murdoch.
NETHER RIGGEND, consisting of about 477 Acres Imperial, of good Arable and Pasture Land, which is to be Let in two divisions, as now possessed by Messrs Morrison and Lennox.
‘Johnston’s map of the county of Ayr’, illustrates well the above-named farms to be let by the Estate of Waterhead by Whitsunday 1845 (15th May), as well as showing the Limestone Quarry.
The ‘let period to be agreed’ seems to have been six years since the next letting of some farms on the Estate of Waterhead appears to be at the Public Roup at the Crown Inn, New Cumnock, Thursday 17th April 1851.
N.B. ‘William Gemmell now referred to as the Baron Officer on the Estate.
The names of the Three Divisions of Rigg are revealed as Rigghill & Flush, Fore-Rigg and Back-Rigg. It will become apparent soon that James Murdoch and his family were tenants of Fore-Rigg. As for Riggend (Nether Riggend), only one division is named, i.e. High Riggend which was tenanted by the Morrison family, of particular interest to this research as neighbours of the Murdochs. Four of the current six occupants did not make any offer for the Three Year let, including James Murdoch at Fore-Rigg.
Upper Pennyvennie, Dalmellington, Ayrshire
The 1851 Census has James Murdoch (71), no longer a tenant of the Estate of Waterhead, living at High Pennyvenie in the neighbouring parish of Dalmellington, about 3 miles along the road from Fore-Rigg. Here he worked as a bower, managing a herd of cows and was joined by his daughter Catherine (27), presumably to look after the house and help her father in the fields.
N.B. By coincidence the 1851 Census entries for James and his daughter Catherine (High Pennyvenie – i.e. Upper); his daughter Barbara and her family (Benbain) and his daughter Agnes and her family (Pennyvenie Cottage) appear consecutively.
Macnaught, New Cumnock, Ayrshire
By the 1861 Census James Murdoch (81), had returned to the Waterhead Estate to live with his son John Murdoch, now tenant at Macknayght. He passed away three years later at Manaeighy, on the 11th July 1864, aged 84 years. His death certificate noted that the occupation of his late father, John Murdoch, had been that of a stone-dyker. James lies with his wife in the Auld Kirkyard, New Cumnock.
He passed away three years later at Maneight, on the 11th July 1864, aged 84 years.
Children of James Murdoch and Ann Fleming & their Spouses
NEW CUMNOCK HERITAGE 