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The Lowland Clearances
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Birthplace of Many Scarborough
Scots
Attention Students:
Our pages on Lesmahagow are useful input information for the Essay Contest -- "Your Community in a World History
Context", where students will learn about the Lowland
Clearances, a profound disruption in the lives of ordinary people.
The Scarboro Heights Record V11
#5
With respect to
our research in Lesmahagow, Scotland,
we are very pleased to acknowledge the generous assistance of
Jim Hamilton, Jim Hamilton Senior, Ian Buchanan of Stockbriggs, Robert McLeish, Helen Walker,
Frank Hughes, Bobbie Graham
and many others.
James McCowan and his brothers and sisters moved from Old
Cumnock, Ayrshire to Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire in 1799. James took the lease of the
Auchanbeg Coalworks. The "clearances" in Lesmahagow
had already had a devastating effect on the local population -- almost a 25% decline
between 1755 and 1792. There was a 9% recovery over the next nine years. To help with his
coalworks, James, the "Coalmaster" brought several
other families from Cumnock.
These testaments for Lesmahagow may help us understand the agricultural revolution
in this Parish...
Sources in Scotland for the Agricultural
Revolution
Testaments
The Commissariot Record(s) of [County], Register of Testaments, 15xx-1800, were
published by the Scottish Record Society at the turn of the century. These publications
are indexes of names. Some of the testaments are loaded with details relating to moveable
property (particularly among the tenant and landed classes) while others can be just legal
jargon. The Testaments for the seventeenth century are very (to generally) difficult to
read, however, those for the eighteenth are fairly legible to very good.
Subject to payment, photocopies of these testaments (reference category "CC")
may generally be ordered from The Scottish Record Office, HM General Register House,
Edinburgh, EH1 3YY.
Commissariot Record of Lanark
Register of Testaments, 1595-1800
Scottish Record Society, 1903
The following are entries for people who lived in Lesmahagow Parish, Lanarkshire, in
the eighteenth century.
- Alison: Isobel Alison, sometime spouse to James Hamilton in Heathryband, Lesmahagow, 28
July 1735
- Alston: Thomas Alston, in Draffen, Lesmahagow, 15 Mar. 1746
- Barr: William Barr, in Kephall, Lesm. 19 Sept. 1720 and 14 Aug. 1721
- Broune: Elizabeth Broune, relict of James Weir, of Johnshill, Lesmahagow, 11 Nov. 1718
- Brouning: James Brouning, in Tounhead of Blackwood, Lesm. 1 Nov. 1756
- Brounlie: Elizabeth Brounlie, relict of John Lein in Borland, Les. 23 Jan. 1708
- Buchanan: Robert Buchanan, Minister at Lesmahagow, 14 Oct. 1796
- Campbell: John Campbell, servant to John Stewart, younger, in Moat, son to the deceased
George Campbell, in Lows, Parish of New Cumnock, who was brother-german to umquhile
Euphame Campbell, who was spouse to John Arthur of Borland Smithy, father to John Arthur
of Borland Smithy, Parish of Lesmahago, 22 June, 1733
- Carmichael: Rachaell Carmichael, spouse to Jas Vere of Stonebyres, Lesm, 27 Feb. 1712
- Carscallan: Andrew Carscallan, son to the deceased John C. in Nether Waterhead of Lesm.
25 Jan. 1739
- Couper: John Couper, in Blackwood-yeards, Lesm, 5 Apr. 1725
- Couper: Marion Couper.... Lesmahagow, 3 June, 1740
- Donald: John Donald, in Aughren, son to the deceased John D, in Tounhead of Blackwood,
Lesm, 23 Apr. 1724
- Fleming: William Fleming, in Eastertoune of Fockertoune, Lesm. 27 Apr. 1702
- Forrest: James Forrest, merchant in Abbeygreen, Lesm. 29 July 1793
- Forrest: William Forrest, in Willsheill, Lesm 22 Sept. 1707
- Gilkerson: James Gilkerson, in Fockertoun, Lesm, 5 Dec. 1720
- Gordon, William Gordon, of Harperfield, Lesm. 19 Oct. 1787
- Hamilton: Archibald Hamilton, only lawful son to John H. in Camminghill, Les. 27 July
1743
- Hamilton: George Hamilton, late of Dillars, Lesm 11 Oct. 1796
- Hamilton: James Hamilton, in Hole of Graystone, Lesm 22 Dec. 1730
- Hamilton: John Hamilton in Caminghill, Les. 5 July 1748 and 14 Nov. 1749
- Hamilton: William Hamilton, of Hill, Commissar of Lanark, 4 Nov. 1743
- Harperfield: John Harperfield, in Side of Fockertoune, Les, 7 Oct. 1702 and 18 Feb. 1703
- Hay: Mr. Andrew Hay, of Craignethan, Lesm, 3 July 1706
- Inglis: Grissell Inglis, in Syde of Fockertoun, Lesm, 30 July, 1716
- Jamiesone: John Jamiesone, in Auchlochanhill, Les. 18 Jan. 1712
- Kennedy: Gilbert Kennedy, of Aughtefardell, Les. 9 Dec. 1746
- Lawrie: Robert Lawrie, lawful son of John Gavin L. wright in Abbay Green, and Isobel
Loudon, spouses, Les. 9 July 1745
- Lawson: Robert Lawson, in Aughrobert, Lesm, 14 Aug, 1721
- Lean: James Lean, younger, in Borland, Lesm 13 June, 1738
- Lean: James Lean, in Borland, Lesm 10 June, 1743
- Leiper: Andrew Leiper, in Abbaygreen, Les. 19 June 1724
- Linn: Janet Linn, in Greenfoolds, Lesm. 7 Feb. 1701
- Linning: Mr. Thomas Linning, Minister at Lesmahagow, 1 Oct. 1770
- McGie: John McGie, son lawful of the deceased Robert McG, tenant in Draffen, and
Catherine Cleland, spouses, Les. 4 Feb, 1745
- McGie: Robert McGie, in Draffan, Lesm. 10 Aug. 1733
- McWharrie: Thomas McWharrie, of Scorrieholm, Lesm. 10 Apr. 1722
- Meikle: Thomas Meikle, in Kellielees, 14 Jan. 1725
- Miller: James Miller, younger, merchant in Abbey-green of Les... 28 Sept, 1736
- Miller: John Miller, younger, in Netherhall of Fockertoune, Les, 3 Jan, 1704
- Muir: Isobel Muir, in Corrow-miln, Lesm. 23 Jan. 1728
- Muir: James Muir, elder of Lesmahago-Pouneill, 9 Mar. 1702
- Muir: Mary Muir, in Kilnhills of Les, 19 June 1733
- Paitt: Janet Paitt, dau to John P. in Clanockyett, Les, 28 Feb. 1722
- Peacock: William Peacock, late tenant in Skellyhill, Les, 25 May, 1789
- Pender: Thomas Pender, bellman in Lesm. 13 June 1740
- Prett: George Prett in Bourtrees, Lesm. 27 Feb. 1727
- Purdie: James Purdie, in Ardoch, Les. 29 July 1706
- Purdie: Thomas Purdie, in Sconeholme, [Scorrieholm] Les. 15 Feb. 1698
- Smith: Gabriell Smith, in Hallhill Lesm. 26 May 1753 see also Stoddart, Agnes
- Somervell: Samuell Somervell, in Wyndihills of Corhouse, Lesm, 7 Oct. 1701
- Somervell: William Somervell, of Corhouse, Lesm. 4 Jan. 1729
- Steele: James Steele, of Netherhouse, Les. 30 May 1744
- Steele: Robert Steele, of Woodhead, Les. 11 Jan, 1712
- Stevenson: William Stevenson, travelling drover at Stockbridges, Les. 16 Apr. 1771
- Stewart: Robert Stewart, tailor in Abbeygreen and Janet S., his sister, T. 9 June, 1780
- Stoddart: Agnes Stoddart, spouse to the deceased Gabriell Smith in Hallhill, Lesm. 8
Mar. 1658 [see Smith: 1753]
- Templetoun: Robert Templetoun, in Burn of Stonbyers Lesm. 18 Nov. 1720
- Thomson: Alexander Thomson, in Netherford, Les. T. 30 June 1760
- Thomson: George Thomson, in Connel-Holm, Lesm. 20 Dec. 1750
- Thomson: James Thomson, tenant in South Brekenridge, par. of Lesm. 6 Feb. 1733
- Thomson: James Thomson, in Blair, Les. 28 Apr. 1747
- Torrence: Abraham Torrence, in Milnton of Lesmahago, 15 Apr. 1738
- Torrence: Margaret Torrence, relict of James Semple, in Moorburn, par of Glasford, and
residenter in Brekenridge, Les. 26 Feb. 1734
- Tweddell: Catherine Tweddell, servitrix to William Greenshields, in Reedshead of
Fockertoun, Lesm 16 Jan. 1727
- Tweddell: David Tweddell, elder, in Greenhead of Corhouse, Les. 13 Nov. 1733
- Tweddell: John Tweddell, son to the deceased James T. in Langlands, and sometime servant
to James Thomson, of Commerhead, Les. 3 Mar. 1732
- Waddell: James Waddell, in Nether Affleck Les. 16 Aug. 1748
- Walker: Andrew Walker, in Henrybads of Lesm 9 Nov. 1716
- Wallace: Mrs. Jean Wallace, daughter of John W., merchant in Glasgow, at Kirkfield, Lesm
23 July 1800
- Weir: George Weir, in Coultershogell, Les. 14 Dec. 1713
- Weir: Sir George Weir, of Blackwood, baronet, Les. 6 Feb. 1718
- Weir: George Weir, son to John W. in Kirkfield-burn Les. 8 Jan. 1734
- Weir: George Weir, of Kerse, Les. 14 Nov. 1751
- Weir: Major James Weir, of Kirkfield, Les. 2 Feb and 3 Mar, 1702 and 12 Jan. 1709
- Weir: James Weir, in Priestholme, Les. 4 Jan. 1716 and 9 Nov. 1728
- Weir: James Weir, of Kerse, Les. 11 Sept. 1721
- Weir: Captain John Weir, sometime in Tounhead of Hardrig, par. of Douglas, thereafter in
Blackwood, Les. 2 Nov. 1724
- Weir: John Weir, late of Kerse, Les. 23 Jan. 1787
- Weir: Thomas Weir, portioner of Auchlochen, Les. 3 Nov. 1706
- Weir: Thomas Weir, sometime in Greenrig, thereafter merchant in Lanark, 25 Feb 1723
- Weir: William Weir, younger, of Birkwood, 10 Aug, 1705 and 11 Mar. 1712
- Weir: William Weir, elder, of Birkwood, 2 Mar. 1716
- Weir: Sir William Weir, of Blackwood, Baronet, Les. 28 May 1722 and 23 Apr. 1723
- Weir: William Weir, of Birkwood, Les. 22 Oct. 1785, 9 Jan. 1787, and 25 Aug. 1794
From Croft to Clearing V1 #2
The Scarboro Heights Record V11 #1
More About the
Agricultural Revolution
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