20-year-old William Murdoch at the time of the 1841 Census had found work at Macnaught farm, home of his elder sister Jane and her husband Ivie Campbell. He moved to Friarland farm, Ayr, on the Ayr to Cumnock Road, where he worked as a farm servant, bower of cows. He married Mary McCrone the daughter of the family in the neighbouring farm of Crofthead.
Ayr 17th November 1850, Quo die William Murdoch and Mary McCrone both in this parish gave in their names to be proclaimed for marriage, & after proclamation were married accordingly.
Scotland’s People: Parish of Ayr, Banns & Marriages
Their daughter Janet was born two months later; however, no mention of a Kirk Session reprimands could be found.
By the time of the 1861 Census William, farmer of 100 acres and Mary had settled at nearby Knocksoul farm with four children – Janet (10), James (8), William (6) and John (4). Also living at the farm was William’s niece Agnes Hyslop (16), the daughter of his late sister Agnes Murdoch and her husband the late George Hyslop. Meanwhile William’s sister Barbara, her husband Quintin Clark and their family had taken up the tenancy of Friarland farm.
Ten years later William, farmer 100 acres – 94 arable and Mary along with the addition of five more children – Matthew, Agnes, Jane, Mary and Annie were stilling living at Knocksoul. Also staying at the farm was William’s niece Margaret Clark, daughter of his sister Barbara and her husband Quinton Clark, who were now living back at Dalmellington. Two more children, Annie and Barbara, were born at Knocksoul before the family relocated to High Langmuir farm, in the parish of Kilmaurs, Ayrshire (1881 Census), some 15 miles due north, with William now a farmer of 130 arable acres.
By the 1891 census the family had moved to Hapland farm in the parish of Kilmaurs, Ayrshire about 6 miles north of Kilmaurs. Living with the family at that time was grandson William Murdoch (b. London, 1886), the son of William Murdoch junior. The 1891 Census (England) has William and his wife Mary living at Islington, London along with his siblings John and Agnes. Both William and John worked as drapers and tailors, while Agnes served as their housekeeper. Sadly, his wife Mary (*surname?) passed away.
To add to the grief, his mother Mary Murdoch (nee McCrone) passed away on 10th May 1892, aged 60 years, at Dunlop. William returned home for a brief period and married Rosina Elliot, the daughter of Thomas and May Elliot, living at the nearby Hapland Mill, Dunlop. The marriage bands had been called at Islington, London on 19th, 26th June and 3rd July 1892 before they were married on 21st July 1892 at Dunlop in after the Banns according to the Free Church of Scotland.
Within the year of his wife passing away William Murdoch, senior, died at Dunlop on 18th April 1893, aged 71 years, at Dunlop.
Children of James Murdoch and Ann Fleming & their Spouses
NEW CUMNOCK HERITAGE 