Houstoun & Killallan Table
Under ‘Map Sources’ and ‘Other forms, comments etc’ there are references to Estate Plans available on the NLS online Digital Map Library.
See Estate Maps of Renfrewshire, 1730s-1950s – Map images – National Library of Scotland (nls.uk)
(See the accompanying text file for list of those I have used).
For Ordnance Survey Name Books (hereafter OSNB) consult: Renfrewshire OS Name Books, 1856-1857 | ScotlandsPlaces
| Name | Value | Date | Grid Ref | Map Sources | Other forms, comments etc |
| Parish of Killallan | |||||
| Barochan
Barochan House
|
£20 (30m) | 1506-7 | NS 4069
NS 4168 |
Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) |
£20 AE in RMS II (3058) 1506-7 but this is the assessment of the whole estate, Barochan being the main site. See below. |
| Calfhill | The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell pp 195-196 No 4 1726, on original of 1637, refers to the Calfhill (Killellan parish) in lists of temple-lands; similarly No 5 p 196 1726; pp 197-198 No 9 1816 refers to the temple lands of Barrochan, called Calfhill, in the parish of Killellan. | ||||
| Temple-lands | ½m | 1675 | Renfrew Retours (172) 1675 includes ‘half-merk temple lands, in the lordship of Baruchane and parish of Killellan’. OPS I p 81 suggests this may be Chapeltown. See Chapel Farm below and also under Calfhill above. | ||
| Chapel Farm | NS 4168 | Roy(PC)
Ainslie(1796) |
= The Temple-lands above? See OSNB OS1/26/10/51 on ScotlandsPlaces website. Human bones found here. | ||
| Hilles and Swynepark | 13s 4d | 1642 | c. NS 4068/4169 | ER XVI p 532 1531 gives ‘Barrochane hillis’ which may represent two different places: Barochan and Hills.
RMS IX (1226) 1642 gives ‘13s 4d of Hilles and the lands called Swynepark’ (parts of £20 Barochan). There is a Swanieston in NS 4068 and a Swines Glen in NS 4169. These seem to give the area. |
|
| Swanieston | 1573 | NS 4068 | Acc.4394, 4
Acc.4394, 7 |
Swanistoun in GD148/324 1573. Suanstown in NLS Acc.4394, 7, c. 1760. Swanstown is shown as part of North Piratholm in NLS Acc.4394, 4, c. 1760. Swanieston is close to Hogs Burn in OS Explorer 341. | |
| Swines Glen | NS 4169 | ||||
| Covenley
Comlie Cottage |
NS 4168 |
Pont(33)
Gordon(55) Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) OS 6” 1857 |
Covenley is listed in ER XVI p 532 1531 as part of Barrochane lands. Couarly (Pont(33)), Cowarly (Gordon(55)), Couanly (Blaeu(Renfrew)), Cru(??)ly (Roy(PC). I have identified it, very tentatively, with the position of Comlie Cottage (OS 6” 1st edition Renfrewshire Sheet VII, 1857). See below and under Houstoun parish for a similar place-name. | ||
| Borowstown | 1694-5 | c. NS 4168/4268 | Roy(PC) | Borowstown in Killellan Poll Tax Roll (Discharge) 1694-5.
Barestoun & Barrouston in Killellan Poll Tax Roll (Account) 1694-5. Bourastrau in Roy(PC). |
|
| Elphinstone Wood
Elphiston |
NS 3770/3870
NS 374697 |
Roy(PC)
Ainslie(1796) OS 6” 1857 |
Elphistown in Killellan Poll Tax Roll (Discharge) 1694-5.
OS 6” 1st edition Renfrewshire Sheet VII, 1857. |
||
| Muirhouse | NS 364693 | OS 6” 1857 | OS 6” 1st edition Renfrewshire Sheet VII, 1857.
Moorhouse in Killellan Poll Tax Roll 1694-5. |
||
| Barlogan | 40s (3m) | 1506-7 | NS 3767 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) NLS Acc.4394, 14 Ainslie(1796) |
40s AE in RMS II (3058) 1506-7, ER XVI p 615 1536, RMS IV (930) 1554, RMS IX (1226) 1642 (where it is part of £20 Barowchane). Barlogan, West Barlogan, East Barlogan in Ainslie(1796). NLS Acc.4394, 14 – Barlogan Scaarts c. 1760.
Part of £20 Barochan. See below. |
| High Lawfield
2 x Lawfield |
4m |
1642 |
NS 3769 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) |
Laffild in Pont & Blaeu. High & Laigh Lawfield in Roy. High & Low Lawfield in Ainslie. These are the Ovir & Nethir Loftfeild of ER XVI p 532 1531. Also the 33s 4d Nethir Loftfeild & 20s Loftfeild of RMS IX (1226) 1642. Part of Barochan. |
| Corsliehill (= Corslie in OS 6” 1857)
Corsliehills (ruin) – not on Explorer 341 |
NS 4069
NS 390695 |
Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) |
Corslohil(Pont), Corstohil(Blaeu), Crosely Hill(Roy), Corslie & Corsliehill(Ainslie).
OS 6” 1st edition Renfrewshire Sheet VII, 1857. |
||
| West Glen Farm
Mid Glen |
NS 3770
NS 3870 |
Roy(PC)
Ainslie(1796) |
See also under Erskine parish for other Glens. West Glen Farm was West Glen in Roy. Mid Glen was East Glen in Roy and Middle Glen in Ainslie. See below. | ||
| Nether Glen | See below. | ||||
| Yetston | NS 3970 | Roy(PC)
Ainslie(1796) |
George Yettis is mentioned in RMS V (389) 1582 on original of 1581 (concerning Boghall). Is such a personal name behind the place-name? Robertson(1818) p 380 gives Yeatstone. | ||
| Haddockston | 40d
(3s 4d or ¼m) AE |
1542 | NS 3970 | Roy(PC)
Ainslie(1796) |
Haddokstane in ER XVI p 532 1531 & RMS III (2742) 1542. In Killellan parish? Hudock & Huddocktown in Roy. High & Low Haddockstown in Ainslie. Part of Barochan in ER XVI p 532 1531. OS 6” 1st edition Renfrewshire Sheet VII, 1857. See below. |
| Gosshill | c. NS 4070 | Roy(PC) | Goshill in Killellan Poll Tax Roll 1694-5. | ||
| Boghall | £7 (10½m) | 1493 | NS 4170 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) ? Roy(PC) OS 6” 1857 |
OS 6” 1st edition Renfrewshire Sheet VII, 1857.
Boig Hall(Pont), ?=Bouch Mill(Blaeu), Bog Hall(very faint) & Bog Hall Mill in Roy. See below for components |
| Hardgate | Roy(PC) | Hardgate in Killellan Poll Tax Roll 1694-5. West of Boghall mill in Roy. ‘Hardgate TP’ (Turnpike) appears in OS 6” 1st edition Renfrewshire Sheet VII, 1857. | |||
| Reilly | 1531 | NS 4269 | Roy(PC) | Ryley was part of Barochan in ER XVI p 532 1531.
OS 6” 1st edition Renfrewshire Sheet VII, 1857. |
|
| Mossnuck | c. NS 4269 | Roy(PC) | Mosneuck in Killellan Poll Tax Roll 1694-5. | ||
| North Crooks
South Crooks |
2m | 1506-7 | NS 4369
NS 4368 |
OS 6” 1857 | N & S Crooks in OS 6” 1st edition Renfrewshire Sheet VII, 1857.
2m AE ‘le Crukis’ in RMS II (3058) 1506-7, 2m Crukis in ER XVI p 615 1536. 26s 8d (2m) in RMS IX (1226) 1642. Part of Barochan. |
| Kilallan/Killallan | 5m | 1506-7 | NS 3868 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) |
5m AE ‘two Kilellanis’ in RMS II (3058) 1506-7. See also ER XVI p 615 1536, RMS IV (930) 1554.
Part of Barochan. |
| Kirkton Farm
(Kilallan) |
3½m | 1642 | Roy(PC)
Ainslie(1796) |
26s 8d (2m) Kirktoun de Killellane + 20s (1½m) Kirktoun de Killellane given in RMS IX (1226) 1642. | |
| Gryffe Castle
(Killellan parish) |
12½m | NS 3866 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Ainslie(1796) |
This appears to have been in 2 parts (5m) + (£5), owned by the Montfod (5m) or Knox (£5) families respectively.
See below. |
|
| Fodston | NS 3766 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Acc.4394, 15 Ainslie(1796) |
The early map spellings of this place-name are revealing. Pont has Monfadstõ, Blaeu has Monfadstoun. NLS Acc.4394, 15 – Fodstoun c. 1760 gives Fodstoun. Ainslie(1796) has Fodstone. The first element had been dropped by the mid 18th C. The derivation is likely from the surname Montfod – see also under Gryffe Castle above. | ||
| East Yonderton
West Yonderton |
NS 3866
NS 3866 |
Roy(PC)
Ainslie(1796) |
Yondertown in Killellan Poll Tax Roll 1694-5. | ||
| Subtotal | 57m | ||||
| Most of the following farms are given as part of Killallan in 1694-5 Poll Tax Roll | Most of these are towards the east end of the combined parish which might suggest that Killallan was formerly a much bigger parish, from which the 60m parish of Houstoun was carved out in the mid-twelfth century. | ||||
| Fulwood
Birkinheid Turninschaw Blakburn |
10m +
1½m
|
1506-7 | RMS II (3060) 1506-7 gives 10m AE of Fowlwod, Turnyngschaw & Blakburn, as well the 20s AE of Birkinhede (a total of 11½m).
RMS X (327) 1654 states that Meiklefulwood (Meikle Fulwood or Big Fulwood) lay ‘within the parish of Killellen’. See below. |
||
| Fulwood Mains
Wester Fulwood |
NS 4367
NS 4366 |
Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) |
Roy marks Fulwood and Little Fullwood.
For Little Fulwood see under Inchinnan parish. |
||
| Netherfield | NS 4467 | Ainslie(1796) | Roy(PC) has Fulwood East Field in the right position. | ||
| Birkenhead Farm | NS 4466 | Roy(PC)
Ainslie(1796) |
OS 6” 1st edition Renfrewshire Sheet VII, 1857.
Robertson’s Map (c. 1818) puts this in Kilbarchan parish. Now south of River Gryfe – was it always so? |
||
| Turningshaw Farm | NS 4267/4268 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) |
Burningshaw in Roy. | ||
| Blackburn | 2m | 1617 | NS 4368 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) |
26s 8d AE in Renfrew Retours (44) 1617.
OS 6” 1st edition Renfrewshire Sheet VII, 1857.
|
| Subtotal | 11½m | ||||
| Total Killellan parish | 68½m | ||||
| Houstoun Parish | Given as follows in the two sections of 28m & 32m. See below. | ||||
| The 28 merkland | |||||
| Newtoun
Meikle Newtoun (to W) Little Newtown (to E) |
9m | 1533-4 |
NS 4067/4068 NS 4068 |
Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Acc.4394, 7 Acc.4394, 8 |
9m AE in ER XVI p 576 1533-4, RSS IV (381) 1549.
NLS Acc.4394, 7 – Stabie-Lee, Little Newtoun c. 1760 NLS Acc.4394, 8 – Brunt Melin, Walley’s, Cliv’s & Meikle Newtoun c. 1760 See below. |
| Peratholme | 9m | 1533-4 | c. NS 4067 | Roy(PC)
Acc.4394, 4 |
9m AE in ER XVI p 576 1533-4, RSS IV (381) 1549.
Pirrattisholme in GD148/324 1573. Paroltholme in Houstoun Poll Tax Roll (Discharge) 1695. Piret Home in Roy. NLS Acc.4394, 4 – North & South Piratholm, Greenhil, Robinyard c. 1760. See below. |
| Covanlee | 10m | 1533-4 | c. NS 3968 | Covanlee is 10m AE in ER XVI p 576 1533-4 – in Houstoun parish. Covinlee is 10m 1s in RSS IV (381) 1549, which is probably a simple error for 10m. See below and also under Covenley (Killallan parish)
|
|
| Sub-total | 28m | 1533-4 | The three estates of Newtoun, Peratholme and Covanlee sum to 28m. | ||
| The 32 merkland | What follows is tentative. I have no definitive listing of these 32m. | ||||
| Henristoun | £10 | 1503 | Henristoun in RMS II (969) 1468. See below. | ||
| Houston House
Houston |
NS 4167
NS 4066 |
Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) |
Farm plans: NLS Acc.4394, 3 – Houstown Parks c. 1760.
NLS Acc.4394, 5 – Houstown Town with its Divisions c. 1760. See below. |
||
| Houstonhead | NS 3965 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Acc.4394, 10 Ainslie(1796) |
Houstounehedis in RMS II (969) 1468.
Houstownhead in Houstoun Poll Tax Roll (Discharge) 1695. Farm plan in NLS Acc.4394, 10 – Houstoun Head with Wester Barshegry c. 1760. See below. |
||
| Stabilee | NS 4068 | Roy(PC)
Acc.4394, 7 Ainslie(1796) |
Stobilei in Houstoun Poll Tax Roll (Discharge) 1695.
NLS Acc.4394, 7 – Stabie-Lee, Little Newtoun c. 1760
|
||
| Cleaves Farm | NS 4067/4068 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Acc.4394, 8 Ainslie(1796) |
Cleives in Houstoun Poll Tax Roll (Discharge) 1695.
NLS Acc.4394, 8 – Brunt Melin, Walley’s, Cliv’s & Meikle Newtoun c. 1760. (Cliv’s =Cleaves).
|
||
| Gryffe Wraes | NS 3966 | Pont(33) ?
Roy(PC) Acc.4394, 9 Ainslie(1796) |
Pont hasa very eroded name in about the right place Gryphs
(W?)r??? Blaeu doesn’t mark this Wraes. Grease Braes(Roy), Griefsureas(Ainslie, 1796). Gryfswrais in Houstoun Poll Tax Roll (Discharge) 1695. NLS Acc.4394, 9 – Raven’s haugh, Grief’s Vreas c. 1760. See below. |
||
| Knockhills | 1695 | c. NS 3866/3966 | See below. | ||
| Brierie Hill
Barshegrie |
NS 4065/4066 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Acc.4394, 6 Acc.4394, 10 Ainslie(1796) |
Barshaigrie in Houstoun Poll Tax Roll (Discharge) 1695.
Easter in NLS Acc.4394, 6 – Easter Barshegrie, Back of ye Hill with Cross Lee c. 1760 Wester in NLS Acc.4394, 10 – Houstoun Head with Wester Barshegry c. 1760
|
||
| Goldenlee | NS 3965 | There is another Goldenlee in Cathcart. I find no early references to this Goldenlee in Houstoun. OSNB OS1/26/10/75. | |||
| Scart | NS 3766 | Roy(PC)
Acc.4394, 14 Ainslie(1796) |
NLS Acc.4394, 14 – Barlogan Scaarts c. 1760 marks Scaart’s to SW of Barlogan. Grief is W of Scaart’s, Fodstown is SSE, Hynaly (Ennelly) is E and Haplands Lands is N. Was Scart once part of Barlogan? | ||
| Mashington Wood
Mashington (ruin) |
NS 3968
NS 3968 |
Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Acc.4394, 12 |
Mashochs(Pont), Mashochtoun(Blaeu), Mashachy(Roy)
OS 6” 1st edition Renfrewshire Sheet VII, 1857. Mansintown in Houstoun Poll Tax Roll (Discharge) 1695. NLS Acc.4394, 12 – Mashington Vrea c. 1760. See below. |
||
| Wraes (=Vrea) | NS 3968 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Acc.4394, 12 Ainslie(1796) |
Wrayis in GD148/324 1573.
Wrais in Houstoun Poll Tax Roll (Discharge) 1695. NLS Acc.4394, 12 – Mashington Vrea c. 1760. Wraes(Pont & Blaeu). Wra(u)(Roy). Alrease(Ainslie). |
||
| Barfillan | NS 3968 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Acc.4394, 11 Acc.4394, 13 Ainslie(1796) |
Barfyllane in GD148/324 1573.
Barphillan in Houstoun Poll Tax Roll (Discharge) 1695. N, W, Mid & E in Ainslie(1796). NLS Acc.4394, 11 – Barfillan, Bodrick Field c. 1760 NLS Acc.4394, 13 – Little Barfilan c. 1760
|
||
| Botherickfield | NS 3867 | Roy(PC)
Acc.4394, 11 Ainslie(1796) |
N, S & W in Ainslie(1796).
NLS Acc.4394, 11 – Barfillan, Bodrick Field c. 1760. Markies Park is marked E of Bodrick Field. See below. |
||
| Waterlea Farm | NS 3967 | Ainslie(1796) | ‘Water Lei’ in Houstoun Poll Tax Roll (Discharge) 1695.
Waterlee(Ainslie, 1796). |
||
| Robertyard | NS 4167 | Roy(PC)
Acc.4394, 4 OS 6” 1857 |
‘Ruin’ in OS 6” 1st edition Renfrewshire Sheet VII, 1857.
Robertyaird in Houstoun Poll Tax Roll (Discharge) 1695. This was Robin Yard in Roy. Marked on NLS Acc.4394, 4 – North & South Piratholm, Greenhil, Robinyard c. 1760. |
||
| Ravenshaugh | NS 4067 | Acc.4394, 9
OS 6” 1857 |
NLS Acc.4394, 9 – Raven’s haugh, Grief’s Vreas c. 1760
OS 6” 1st edition Renfrewshire Sheet VII, 1857. |
||
| Bogston Hill
Bogston (ruin) |
NS 4066
NS 4066 |
Roy(PC)
Acc.4394, 6 OS 6” 1857 |
Bogstown in Houstoun Poll Tax Roll (Discharge) 1695.
‘Bogstown’? is hard to read in Roy since it lies on a join. Marked on NLS Acc.4394, 6 – Easter Barshegrie, Back of ye Hill with Cross Lee c. 1760. OS 6” 1st edition Renfrewshire Sheet VII, 1857. |
||
| Burnbrae | c. NS 4067 | Roy(PC)
Acc.4394, 6 |
Burnbrea in NLS Acc.4394, 6 c. 1760.
This may be different to the following entry. |
||
| Burnebrae | RMS X (327) 1654 gives this between Blackburne and Birkinhead. This may be the Burnbra listed in Killellan Poll Tax Roll (Discharge) 1694-5. | ||||
| Hallcraigs | 1468 | NS 4166 | Acc.4394.2
OS 6” 1857 |
‘The Halcraggis’ in RMS II (969) 1468.
Halcrigs in Houstoun Poll Tax Roll (Discharge) 1695. Hallcraig & Hallcraigs in NLS Acc.4394, 2 c. 1760. OS 6” 1st edition Renfrewshire Sheet VII, 1857. |
|
| Crosslee | NS 4065/4066 | Roy(PC)
Acc.4394, 6 Ainslie(1796) |
Separate to a similarly-named place in the N of the parish.
NLS Acc.4394, 6 – Easter Barshegrie, Back of ye Hill with Cross Lee c. 1760. Crosslee is N of river in OS 6” 1st edition Renfrewshire Sheet VII, 1857. Crosslee Farm is S of river in OS Explorer 341, while Crosslee is N of river. |
||
| Back O’ Hill | NS 4066 | Roy(PC)
Acc.4394, 6 Ainslie(1796) |
NLS Acc.4394, 6 – Easter Barshegrie, Back of ye Hill with Cross Lee c. 1760.
Backhill(Roy), Back O’ the Hill (Ainslie). |
||
| Crivs/Cruse
(probably for ‘cruives’ or ‘crooves’ which were fish-traps set in a river) |
NS 4166 | Roy(PC)
Acc.4394, 2 Acc.4394, 6 |
Croose is listed in Houstoun Poll Tax Roll (Discharge) 1695.
Roy gives Cruse just N of R. Gryfe, just W of Mains. Crivs appears in NLS Acc.4394, 2, c. 1760. Crives appears in NLS Acc.4394, 6, c. 1760. |
||
| Ennelly | NS 3867 | Roy(PC)
Acc.4394, 13 Acc.4394, 14 Ainslie(1796) |
Enyly (Roy). NLS Acc.4394, 13 – Little Barfilan c. 1760 gives Hynal. NLS Acc.4394, 14 – Barlogan Scaarts c. 1760 marks Hynaly (Ennelly).
Annalee (Ainslie, 1796). |
||
| Shovelboard
Scheippirheid |
1m |
1542 |
NS 3869 | Roy(PC) | RSS II (4627) 1542 refers to 1m Scheippirheid and this is the only name in Houstoun remotely like that. Sheipbraheads in Houstoun Poll Tax Roll (Discharge) 1695. Shoolbraids in Roy.
See place-names file for further discussion. |
| Wellees Farm | NS 3968 | Roy(PC)
Ainslie(1796) |
This is likely to be either Willangistoun or Wilewinstoun of RMS II (969) 1468. Walleys on NLS Acc.4394, 12. | ||
| Brunt Melin | Roy(PC)
Acc.4394, 8 |
Roy marks Brunt Mealing. The farm appears in NLS Acc.4394, 8 – Brunt Melin, Walley’s, Cliv’s & Meikle Newtoun c. 1760.
(Brunt Melin = Burnt Melin). |
|||
| Markins Park | Roy(PC)
Acc.4394, 4 Acc.4394, 8 Acc.4394, 11 |
Markies Park appears on NLS Acc.4394, 4 – North & South Piratholm, Greenhil, Robinyard c. 1760; NLS Acc.4394, 8 – Brunt Melin, Walley’s, Cliv’s & Meikle Newtoun c. 1760 and NLS Acc.4394, 11 – Barfillan, Bodrick Field c. 1760. | |||
| Wood Foot | Roy(PC)
Acc.4394, 4 |
Roy has Wood Foot E of Houstoun. NLS Acc.4394, 4 – North & South Piratholm, Greenhil, Robinyard c. 1760. | |||
| Greenhill | 10s | 1542 | NS 4067 | Roy(PC)
Acc.4394, 4 Ainslie(1796) |
10s in RSS II (4627) 1542. Greenhill in Houstoun Poll Tax Roll (Discharge) 1695. NLS Acc.4394, 4 – North & South Piratholm, Greenhil, Robinyard c. 1760. |
| North Mains
South Mains |
NS 4267
NS 4266 |
Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Acc.4394, 2 Ainslie(1796) |
Mains in Houstoun Poll Tax Roll (Discharge) 1695.
NLS Acc.4394, 2 – Southmains, Crivs, Hallcraigs c. 1760
|
||
| Subtotal (32 merkland) | 32m | I have almost no valuations for the components of this 32 merkland of Houstoun. | |||
| Total Houstoun | 60m | Composed of a 32m unit + a 28m unit. | |||
| Killallan + Houstoun | 128½m | Killallan (68½m) + Houstoun (28m + 32m = 60m) = 128½m |
In the Paisley Rental printed by Cameron Lees we have references on pp c & clv to an annual return of 6s 8d from Houston. This is discussed at the end of the accompanying text file. I have not included it above.
One difficulty is knowing the precise boundaries between Houstoun and Killellan. In the General Sources text file I have discussed the surviving Poll Tax Rolls from 1695. These can be viewed via the ‘ScotlandsPlaces’ website. The following are relevant here:
E70/12/1 & E70/12/2 deal with returns from Houstoun in 1694-5.
E70/12/7 & E70/12/8 deal with returns from Killellan in 1694-5.
These have not yet been transcribed and contain no land-assessment data. But they do give the names of tenants and properties in each parish. I list these names below since they are very useful in helping us distinguish between the two parishes. Most places can be readily identified but I have added alternative names in square brackets where there is any doubt. In general terms Killellan seems to have occupied the northern half of the parish, stretching as far east as Fulwood and Blackburn, and west to Elphinstone and Fodston. Houstoun covered the central and southern part of the parish. This pattern seems a little surprising.
We also have to accommodate the claim that Killellan included Auchans which is now in Kibarchan parish. This, like Birkenhead, is on the south side of the River Gryfe. The claim was made in 1225 in a document printed in the Paisley Register on pp 372-3. This concerns a dispute between the monks of Paisley and the Lord of Houstoun. The monks admitted that Auchans was in the fee of Houstoun, but claimed it belonged to their church of Killellan. The subsequent agreement was confirmed in 1306 by the Bishop of Glasgow (RMP pp 373-4, W.W. Scott No 328). (See also in OPS I p 82). At this distance it is impossible to be sure of the earliest parochial boundaries. But it may be that the oldest parish of Killellan was actually much bigger and contained the lands of both Killellan and Houstoun. Perhaps Houstoun parish was the new creation of the first Hugh, lord of Houstoun, a township with his name. Perhaps it was carved out of land that had formerly belonged to Killellan. It seems to have been a round 60m unit and instead of giving it the name of some unknown Irish saint he gave it the name of the ‘Roman’ saint with which he was more comfortable and more familiar.
This might explain what appears to the anomaly of the name Kilpeter. The prefix cille (church or cell) is a Gaelic place-name element which goes back centuries before the arrival of the Normans. It is common on the west coast of Scotland, and elsewhere in Renfrewshire: e.g. Kilbride, Kilmacolm, Kilbarchan, Kilmoluag. It often combines with the personal name of some early saint from Ireland. Roman saints, such as Peter, do appear, as, for example, in the parish of ‘Kilpedre’ (South Uist) in RMS I App I (9) of c. 1309. Peter also appears in the burn name Eas Pheadair on the south side of Paisley. The issue is, why hasn’t the name Peter been Gaelicised in Kilpeter? The answer may be that Kilpeter is a twelfth-century church-name, not one from the sixth or seventh century. Perhaps Hugh took a 60m portion of the old parish of Killellan for his new church, and parish, and gave it what he thought was a more appropriate name. (And because it was named by a new French or English speaking aristocracy, it does not have a Gaelic format. In fact it may mark the period when Gaelic was beginning to lose any grip that it might once have had in Renfrewshire). Old memories die hard though, and, in 1225, the monks of Paisley could still claim, probably with local support, that whatever Hugh’s feudal fee, the farm of Auchans was ex-Killellan.
(It is also possible that the course of the River Gryfe has changed over the centuries which would affect the boundary between Killellan/Houstoun and Kilbarchan).
Houstoun parish (from Poll Tax Roll ‘Discharge’): Houstoun, Kirk, Robertyaird, Gryfswrais, Wrais, Mains, Bogstown, Mille [probably ‘Mill’], Barshaigrie, Houstownhead, Water Lei [Waterlea], Paroltholme, Halcrigs [Hallcraigs], Stobilei [Stabilee], Mansintown [Mashington], Knockhills, Cleives [Cleaves], Greenhill, Sheipbraheads [Shovelboard], Barphillan, Croose, Town, (?)righ(?), Darnames of Garvock.
Killellan parish (from Poll Tax Roll ‘Discharge’): Barochan, Elphistown, Kirk, Carbihill, Kirktown, Hadogestaine [Haddockston], Corslyhill [Corsliehill], Gooslat, Moorhouse, Casiesyde, (R)eallie [Reilly?], Mosneuck, Kaple Wall, Hills, Lawfeild, Hairscraigs, Fodstown, Craigie Hall [Craighall, principal manor of Barochan, see below], Boghall, Goshill(?), Glen, Litlie Glen [Nether Glen?], Yondertown, Fulwood, Blackburn, Birkin Head, Borowstown, Turningshaw, Burnbra, Mille of Gryfe, Gryfscastle.
Killellan parish (extra names from Poll Tax Roll ‘Account’): Hardgate, Barrochanground, Cambley [Covenley?], Carsley.
Whilst most names on the above lists can still be located I have been unable to find Carbihil, Gooslat, Casiesyde, Kaple Wall and Hairscraigs. Roy(PC) marks a Goorlett to east of Shovelboard and north of Crosely. I am not sure if this is Gooslat.
Killellan parish
Barochan
ER X p 765 1492 gives a sasine to William Flemyng of Barachane.
RMS II (3058) 1506-7 gives £20 (30m) AE for the estate but then goes on to specify the properties in one-third of it viz:
5m AE of the two Kilellanis, 40s (3m) AE of Barlogane and 2m AE of The Crukis.
This is echoed in ER XVI p 615 1536 which refers to 40s AE Barlogan, 5m AE of Killelanis and 2m AE of Crukis.
ER XVI p 532 1531 gives us the names of lands that were regarded as parts of Barrochane. Craighall was the principal manor and the other lands were Overmanys [Over Mains], Covenley, Ryley [Reilly], Barrochane hillis [possibly 2 separate names?], Haddokstane, Ovir & Nethir Loftfeild [Lawfield] with pertinents.
RSS VI (1134) 1570-1 refers to the £4 (6m) AE of Barlogane & Nether Lostfeild as part of the £20 AE lands of Barrochane. Given that Barlogan is described in 1506-7 and 1536 as 40s (3m) AE the implication would be that Nether Lostfeild must also be 40s or 3m. Unfortunately things are not always that simple. (See next entry).
RMS IX (1226) 1642 gives us more detail in that it lists the following lands:
40s Barlogane
33s 4d (2½m) Nethir Loftfeild
26s 8d Kirktoun of Killellane
26s 8d Cruikes
13s 4d of Hilles and the lands called Swynepark
10s of Barrowchane and the pendicle called ‘the Cruik of the wall’ and the acre called ‘the Dame-aiker’
13s Barowchane and the pendicle called Lochethankert
20s of Kirktoun of Killellane
20s of Loftfeild
all parts of the £20 of Barowchane
What is listed here comes to 15m 3s (or £10 3s). The balance of lands is not specified.
It is not a wholly satisfactory list. The 13s of Barowchane and the pendicle called Lochethankert is more likely to be 13s 4d (1m) than 13s.
The total of Kirktoun of Killellan comes to 3½m whereas other sources tell us it was 5m. The lands of Nether Loftfeild are given as 2½m when RSS VI (1134) 1570-1 implies they should be 3m. These contradictions, however, are frequent in land-assessment research which is why we welcome every scrap of evidence to help pin down wayward values.
Hamilton p 96 fn 2 refers to the 40 merklands of Barruchane in 1606.
Renfrew Retours (172) 1675 gives £20 AE Baruchane.
Purves p 161 gives Barochan as £20 (30m).
Stewart f 50r gives Barruchane as £20 (30m).
‘Lochethankert’ is presumably for Loch Thankert or Tancard. This was also the old name for what is now Kilbirnie Loch in Ayrshire (to SW of Lochwinnoch parish). It seems more likely that the ‘Lochethankert’ by Barochan was a local lochan, perhaps since drained.
Covenley
Covenley appears as a Barochan property in ER XVI p 532 1531. Where was it?
Pont marks Couarly to W of Turningshaw and S of Boighall. Gordon & Blaeu mark Cowarly/Couanly NW of Turningshaw and S of Berachan/Baracham (Barrochan).
In the Killallan Poll Tax Roll of 1694-5 there is reference (in the ‘Account’ section) to a place which looks to be ‘Cambley’.
Roy(PC) has a place marked Cru(??)ly S of Burrachan Mill. (Because the place-name lies across a join it is difficult to be sure of the reading).
Ainslie (1796) has Cummulin W of Barrochan.
A ‘Comlie Cottage’ is located at NS 4168 in OS 6” 1st edition Renfrewshire Sheet VII, 1857. This may give us both the location and the modern form of this place-name.
However we also have references to a Covanlee in a Houstoun context (See below). Was this the same place; another portion of the same place; or a different place with either the same or a very similar name? It had a valuation of 10m, which is substantial. I cannot yet explain this conundrum but I think we are talking of two separate places.
Barlogan
Barlogan is problematic because it is one of the two places in this parish (Covenley being the other) which appears in both a Killallan context and a Houstoun context. This is not an insuperable problem – Murkle in Caithness appears in both Thurso and Olrig parishes – but it does make explanations more complex. We are told that Barlogan was part of Barochan (Killallan parish) but it also appears in a list of Houstoun properties in RMS II (969) 1468, and several later documents. There are plausible explanations for this. It may be that Barlogane was quite a valuable farm and was divided into two units, one to each parish. It is also conceivable there were two places called Barlogane – but I think this unlikely. NLS Acc.4394, 14 – Barlogan Scaarts c. 1760, is an estate map which does make me wonder if Scart (NS 3766) was originally a part of Barlogan which was later hived off.
RMS III (817) 1529 refers to £10 New Extent of Barlogan. Since New Extent is conspicuously scarce in Renfrew I have not followed through on this reference.
RSS VI (1134) 1570-1 gives £4 AE (6m) of Barlogane and Nethir Lostfeild (Lawfield), part of the £20 lands of Barrochane.
West Glen, East Glen
With a place-name as widely used as Glen it is difficult to be certain we are talking of the same location. Even within Renfrewshire there is a West Glen in Houstoun less than 1½ kilometres from another West Glen in Erskine. What follows therefore is tentative. See also under Boghall below.
In RMS II (1979) 19 October 1490 the king confirmed to John Fleming of Boghall, and Mariota Craufurd, his wife,
the lands of Estir-Glen extending yearly to 3m AE,
and also 16s AE of Boghall which James Kirly then occupied,
and 40d (i.e. 3s 4d) AE of Boghall which Mariota de Houstoun then occupied, (Haddockstane?)
in the sheriffdom of Renfrew.
(The use of the words annuatim ‘yearly’ and mercas ‘merks’ (not mercatas terrarum ‘merklands’) when talking of extent is problematic. In this case I am assuming the lands were merklands of old extent.).
This document matches with the Charter Chest of the Earldom of Dundonald No 176 below.
The Charter Chest of the Earldom of Dundonald, Section XXIII, lists writs of the Lands of Boghall belonging to the Flemings.
No 174 of 12 October 1490 is a Procuratory of Resignation of the lands of Easter Glen and others by John Fleming of Boghall to Robert, Lord Lyle.
No 175 of 19 October 1490 is an Instrument of Resignation, by virtue of the above procuratory, of the lands of Easter Glen and others in the hands of the prince.
No 176 of 19 October 1490 is a Charter of Resignation by the prince to John Fleming and Marion Crawford, his spouse, in liferent and their heirs in fee, of the lands of Easter Glen and others.
No 177 of 4 November 1490 is a Sasine for John Fleming and Marion Crawford in the said lands of Easter Glen.
No 178 of 11 April 1493 is a Charter of Resignation by the prince of the hail (whole) seven pound land of Boghall to the said John Fleming and Marion Crawford, his spouse, in liferent.
These documents support each other but some uncertainties remain. The estate of Boghall was £7 (10½m) but I am not sure of all the components. It will have included Boghall and Easter Glen – but what of other properties?
Nether Glen
We also have a record of a place called Nether Glen. RMS III (2742) 1542 is a royal confirmation to William Fleming of Boghall, and Elizabeth Brisbane, his wife, of 3m AE called Nethir Glene (occupied by Alexander and Robert Glen), 16s 8d of the lands of Nethir Glene (occupied by George Glen), and 40d (3s 4d) AE called Haddokstane occupied by Patrick Maschen, in the lordship of Boghall, sheriffdom of Renfrew. See also under Boghall below.
Boghall
RMS II (568) 1452 is a royal confirmation to Malcolm Flemyn (Fleming) of Boghal, of the lands of Boghal and of Haddokstane – which Malcolm had resigned. Malcolm’s wife was Issabelle of Houstoun.
ER X p 764 1492 shows a sasine to John Flemyng of Boghall.
The Charter Chest of the Earldom of Dundonald, Section XXIII, No 178 of 11 April 1493, is a Charter of Resignation by the prince of the hail (whole) seven pound land of Boghall to John Fleming and Marion Crawford, his spouse, in liferent.
See also ER XIX pp 449-50 1559, RMS V (389) 1582.
Renfrew Retours (126) 1646 refers to the lands of Boighall extending to 10m 6s 8d (£7) AE, comprehending the ‘terras dominicales’ (Mains lands) of Boighall; the lands of Over, Nather and Litle Glennis and Haddokstane with mill, in the barony of Renfrew. This is repeated in Renfrew Retours (166) 1667 & (189) 1690. See also RMS XI (1189) 1668.
Charter Chest of the Earldom of Dundonald, No 219, 1672, gives 7m Boghall.
RSS VI (1138) 1570-71 gives £10 Boghall. This may have included other properties.
Purves p 161 gives Boighall as £10 (15m).
Stewart f 50r gives Boghall as £10 (15m).
Haddockston
This is one of the most interesting place-names in Renfrew. The earliest references are Haddokstane from RMS II (568) 1452, ER XVI p 532 1531 & RMS III (2742) 1542. Renfrew Retours (126) 1646 gives it as Haddokstane; Renfrew Retours (166) 1667 has Haddockstane; RMS XI (1189) 1668 has Hoddockstane. Renfrew Retours (189) 1690 has Haddockstain. The Killellan Poll Tax Roll of 1694-5 has Hadogestaine. By the time of Roy’s map it had become ‘Huddocktown’. Ainslie marked it ‘Haddockstown’.
The early spellings suggest a ‘stone’ – presumably of some local significance, perhaps a memorial, a stone associated with ritual, or possibly a boundary marker. The first element is ‘haddock’ – but has nothing to do with fish. Roy(PC) marks Hudock as well as Huddocktown. Haddock does feature as a surname in the medieval period. The Protocol Book of Cuthbert Simon gives some examples of Glasgow folk with this name in the 16th century. It is plausible that such a family had a connection with this stone.
There is another possibility. In North-East Scotland if we came across the word Haddock we might wonder if it was for ‘haddoch’ or half-a-davach. Such a compound is found in the ‘Haddock Circle’, Rothiemay, Cairnie parish, Aberdeenshire. There is a recumbent stone here known as ‘The Ringing Stone’ and the name is spelled both Haddock or Haddoch. Is it possible that here in Houstoun parish there was once a stone associated with a half-davach – perhaps even served as its boundary marker? Besides, this is not the only Haddoch in Renfrewshire. There are also Cornhaddock/Cornhaddoch and Goldinhaddok – both in Greenock parish. In reality such scant evidence is not proof – but it is suggestive.
By coincidence, there is also a Ringing Stone in the parish of Inchinnan which appears to have also served as a boundary marker. See Fraser, Lennox Vol II. No 144, 1530 – quoted under the Inchinnan table.
There is a Haddockston House at NS 396705 – Canmore ID 195496.
Gryffe Castle
ER IX p 667 1459 shows a sasine to Luci (Luca/Luke?) Flemyng of an annual return from the lands of Greiffis Castell.
GD148/20 18 June 1479 is an assignation by Luke Flemyng of an annual rent of 20s from Over and Nether Griffiscastale.
Montfod family ownership:
ER XVIII p 424 1547-8 gives 5m AE
ER XXIII pp 378-9 & p 384 1596 give 5m AE
GD1/447/18 gives 5m AE on 29 April 1623. Also in Renfrew Retours (61) of the same date.
GD1/447/19 gives 5m AE on 26 May 1648. Also in Renfrew Retours (133) of the same date.
Renfrew Retours (170) 1672 gives 5m AE – in parish of Killelane.
Purves p 161 gives Griffiscastell Monfyde as £3 6s 8d (5m).
Stewart f 50r gives Gryffiscastell Monfyed as £3 6s 8d (5m).
Knox family ownership:
RMS II (1166) 1474 100s (£5)
Dundonald (227) 1537 gives 5m – a mistake?
RSS IV (2251) 1553 7½m (£5)
ER XVIII p 562 1553. No valuation but Knox family.
RMS VI (230) 1594-5 on original of 1593, gives £5 AE.
Dundonald (238) 1631, (239, 241) 1632, (245) 1665 – all give £5
RMS X (326) 1654 £5 – in parish of Killelen.
Renfrew Retours (189) 1690 gives £5 AE – in parish of Killellan.
GD1/447/21 1799 £5 AE – in parish of Killellan.
See also Macfarlane’s Genealogical Collections Vol. II, Scottish History Society, Edinburgh 1900, p 277 & fn 1.
Purves p 161 gives Ramforlie, Knox & Griffiscastell as £18 13s 4d (28m). Ranfurly-Knox is in Kilbarchan parish (q.v.).
Stewart f 50r gives Ranfourlie Knox and Gryffchastell as £18 13s 4d (28m).
Fulwood, Birkinheid, Turninschaw, Blakburn
ER IX p 678 1477 gives a sasine to John Sempill of Brekinheid.
ER IX p 678 1477 gives a sasine to John Maxvell of Meikleblakburne.
ER XI p 462 1498 gives a sasine to Richard Maxvell of Mekleblakburne.
ER XI p 465 1500 gives a sasine to Robert Simpill of Birkinhed.
RMS II (3060) 1506-7 gives 10m AE of Fowlwod, Turnyngschaw & Blakburn, as well the 20s AE of Birkinhede (a total of 11½m). The 10m were held of William Flemyng of Barrochene, the 20s of Birkinhede were held of the king.
All 4 farms are grouped together as 10m in ER XVIII p 472 1549. This is repeated on p 527 1551. Renfrew Retours (26) 1608 specifies Fulwood is actually Meikle Fulwod and gives the same group an AE of £7 13s 8d (11m 7s which is 11½m + 4d extra – probably just a mistake). Renfrew Retours (111) 1641 gives the same group with the same AE as in Retours (26) 1608.
RMS IV (2134) 1573, on original of 1572, gives the following:
Mekill Fulwod, Birkinheid, Blakburne, Turnyngschaw, Littill Fulwode, Eist Subar, Commonesyde, Newwaird & Calderhaich. 23s AE of Mekill Fulwode are specifically mentioned. I am going to ignore Eist Subar, Commonesyde, Newwaird & Calderhaich on the grounds that the first three were in Inchinnan parish and the fourth in Lochwinnoch parish.
RMS X (327) 1654 adds a lot of detail but, unfortunately, no clarity:
The Protector [Cromwell] grants to Johne Sempill, eldest lawful son to William Sempill of Fulwood, … these parts and portions of the lands of Meiklefulwood pertaining to the said William, lying within the parish of Killellen, … viz., – the lands called the Toune-head Mailling of Fulwood, extending to a 30s. land thereof, possessed by Johne Park elder and younger and their tenants; that part of the lands of Fulwood called Blackburne with the pertinents; the equal half of that 20s. land of the said lands of Fulwood possessed by John Neilsone; that cottar roum in Turningshaw possessed by Michael Pirie; that cottar roum and land in Turningshaw possessed by Johne Speir there; the principal place, mansion-house, dwelling, and yards of the said lands of Fulwood, and green adjacent to the said place; the mill of Fulwood, mill-lands, etc., thereof, with the dry multures used and wont furth of the whole lands of Fulwood, Turningshaw, Blackburne, Burnebrae, and Birkinhead; … and also grants to the said Johne Sempill … the remanent of the said lands of Meikle Fulwood, and lands of Turningshaw, Blackburne, and Birkinhead.
The safest conclusion is that the 4 properties together extended to 11½m.
Purves p 161 gives Fulwood (&) Birkenheid as £7 (10½m).
Stewart f 50r gives Fulwod (&) Birkinhead as £7 13s 4d (11½m). This may be more accurate than Purves.
Houstoun Parish
We have two fifteenth-century lists of the lands of Houstoun. The first is contained in RMS II (969) and gives us the lands granted to Sir John Houstoun in 1468. These are printed in the left column below. The second comes from ER IX p 683 and is a summary of a sasine given to Sir Peter Houstoun in 1484. These lands are shown in the right-hand column below.
RMS II (969) 1468 ER IX p 683 1484
The dominical lands of Houstoun called the Nethir-Maynis Houstoun, Nethirmanys
with castle, woods and parks of Houstoun castro
Houston-crofftis Houstoun croftis
Henristoun Henrystoun
Bodrikfeild Bothrigfeild
Grivis Gruis
Wrais Wrais
Houstounehedis Houstounhedis
Balschagre Bulschargour
Willangistoun Willanegstoun
Wilewinstoun Willevinstoun
The Halcraggis Hawcragis
Bullokistoun
Barlogane Barlogan
The 1468 list is repeated in ER XV p 664 1528, RMS III (817) 1529, Renfrew Retours (10) 1600, (32 & 33) 1610, RMS VIII (1126) 1627, RMS XI (538) 1663. One bonus of these repeats is to show that Grivis and Wrais should be run together to read as a single place-name ‘Gryffe Wraes’. Renfrew Retours (10) 1600 gives them all a total valuation of £21 6s 8d AE (32m). The same document adds (without naming them) the ward lands of Houstoun, both property and tenandry, at a total of £18 13s 4d (28m). The two parts of Houstoun therefore total £40 or 60m. The same distinction between the two groups of lands, with the same totals, is given in RMS VIII (1126) 1627.
ER XIV p 534 1513-14 gives support for these totals. Firstly it gives 28m AE of Houstoun and then a further 32m AE of Houstoun.
ER XIX p 472 1561 also refers to the bloc of 28m AE of Houstoun.
Purves p 161 gives Houstoun as £40 (60m).
Stewart f 50r gives Houstoun as £40 (60m).
ER XVI p 576 1533-4 gives more details about the bloc of 28m. It refers to:
9m AE of Newtoun
9m AE Peratholme
10m AE Covanlee
extending in the whole to 28m AE lying within the parish of Houstoun.
This data is supported by RSS IV (381) 1549 which refers to the:
£6 14s 4d AE called Covinlee (I assume this is a simple error for £6 13s 4d which would be 10m)
£6 (i.e. 9m) AE called Perotholme
£6 (i.e. 9m) AE called the Newtoun
lying in the barony of Renfrew, lordship of Houstoun.
RSS II (4810) 1542 refers to the ‘ten merk land and tenandrie of auld extent of Covayle … liand [lying] in the lordschip of Houstoun’. This will be Covanlee.
The 28m section in detail:
Newtoun and Peratholme
We learn of a Johnne Merschell (Marshall) in Paratholme in AHC Volume I No 57 1524 and No 61 1525.
We have a few more details for Newtoun and Peratholme in Reports on the State of Certain Parishes in Scotland, 1627, Maitland Club, Edinburgh, 1835, (Parish of Houstone pp 193-194). Whatever the ambitions behind this scheme it is certain that not much information was forthcoming from Renfrewshire. Only two reports survive from this county, Greenock and Houstone. Greenock is discussed under that parish, here we look at what was said about Houston.
It purports to be a ‘true valuation of the kirk and parish of Houston’. The lands are summarised in three groups, those pertaining to the Laird of Houstone, who evidently still owned most of the parish, the lands of Pirratholme belonging to the Laird of Noblestoune and the lands of Newtowne belonging to Thomas Craufuird.
The Laird of Houston’s lands paid, on average 19 chalders of victual (here meaning grain – principally barley or oats).
The lands of Garvock belonged to the Laird of Houstoun but paid in cheese, butter, stirks, wedders and ropes made of (animal) hair. It was ‘ane murish rowme’ (i.e. a hill farm) and had the unusual distinction of not having paid teinds in the past.
Pirratholme (named in a side-heading to the text) paid on average 3 chalders 12 bolls victual.
Newtowne (named in a side-heading to the text) paid on average 3 chalders 12 bolls.
There was also a piece of land reputed to be prebendary land – i.e. it had supported a church prebend. I do not know if this was connected to the ½m annual return to Paisley monastery (see Cameron Lees pp c & clv).
The document was signed by Sir L Howstoun, R. of Nobilstoun and Thomas Craufurd of Newtoune.
We have seen above that Houstoun seems to have been divided into two blocs of 32m and 28m. This applied at least as early as ER XIV p 534 1513-14. From ER XVI p 576 1533-4 we know that the section of 28m was broken down into 9m AE of Newtoun, 9m AE Peratholme and 10m AE Covanlee. The whole of Houstoun seems to have been £40 or 60m. Since Newtoune and Peratholme are given the same extent in 1533-4 it should not surprise us that they paid the same rent in 1627. They probably still had the same extent. The consistency, and conservatism, of rural society, is a great help in deducing land-assessments.
Newtoun
Newtoun is mapped by Pont, Blaeu and Roy. It also appears on 2 farm-plans from c. 1760.
NLS Acc.4394, 7 – Stabie-Lee, Little Newtoun c. 1760 gives Little Newton immediately S of Stabilee and part of the then farm-unit. Meikle Newtoun is to W, Stabilee is N of Little Newton and Walleys is N of Stabilee. Suanstown is E of Little Newtown and North Piratholm is to the S. Greenhill lies SW of Little Newtown. Suanstown will be today’s Swanieston in NS 4068. Little Newtown will have also been in NS 4068.
NLS Acc.4394, 8 – Brunt Melin, Walley’s, Cliv’s & Meikle Newtoun c. 1760 is a composite farm-plan showing units that were once distinct joined as a unit. Burnt-Melin, Walley’s, Cliv’s and Meikle Newtown are the components. Little Newton lies on the E side of Meikle Newtoun. Greenhill lies to the S of Meikle Newtoun which must have lain in NS 4067/4068.
What is obvious from these plans is that units could break apart and then recombine – perhaps in different ways. This is to be expected given division through the generations, new combinations by marriage, purchase etc. It is in this context that we should read RSS II (4811) of 1542 which gifted to William Craufurd of Newtoun:
the ward of all and haile the tennandry of vii merkis and xl pennyworth of the landis of Newtoun of auld extent, … liand in the lordschip of Houstoun … quhilkis pertenit to umquhill Johne Houstoun of that ilk in tennandry, and now throw his deces beand in the quenis handis as stewart of Scotland.
The ward of all and whole the tenandry of 7m 40d (i.e. 7¼m) of the lands of Newtoun of old extent, … lying in the lordship of Houstoun …
which pertained to the late John Houstoun of that ilk in tenandry, and now through his decease being in the queen’s hands as Steward of Scotland.
Newtoun is here 7¼m (not 9m) so we must assume 1¾m had been hived off and was now going under a different name.
Peratholme
NLS Acc.4394, 4 – North & South Piratholm, Greenhil, Robinyard c. 1760. This farm plan marks Swanstown to the N of North Piratholm; Robinyard to the SE of South Piratholm. Wood Foot and N Mains are yet further SE whilst Houstoun Parks lies to S. Greenhill is to the WSW. Meikle Newton is to the W, Little Newton slightly N of W. Markies Park and Burnt Melin lie further W still. NS 4067 probably contained most of the farm.
Covanlee
See also under Covenley (Killallan parish). Was this the same place; part of the same place; or completely separate? I am inclined to the last explanation but I cannot locate it. The different forms are: Covanlee (1533-4), Covayle (1542) and Covinlee (1549).
RSS II (4810) 1542 is a letter to William Flemyng of Barrochane:
‘off the gift of the warde of the ten merk land and tenandrie of auld extent of Covayle, with the pertinentis, liand in the lordschip of Houstoun … quhilk pertenit to umquhill [i.e. the late] Johne Houstoun of that ilk in superiorite, haldin of him be the said William Flemyng in tenandry, and now throw deces of the said umquhill Johne Houstoun’ being in the sovereign’s hands ‘be resoun of ward’.
Covayle lay in the lordship of Houstoun. It had been held by the Flemings of Barochan from the Houstoun family, who were the feudal superiors. However, because the Laird of Houstoun had died it fell back into the sovereign’s hands during the period of wardship. The sovereign granted the ward to the Fleming tenants. I think this must be a different piece of land to the Covenley which is described as part of Barrochane in ER XVI p 532 1531.
In Roy(PC) there is a settlement marked just SE of Wraes (NS 3968). It reads Crownli(ft?) but the last two letters are hard to decipher because they run into another place-name. Was this the same as Covanlee? In favour would be the location because this is not far from Newtoun and Peratholme which were the other two components of the 28m unit of Houstoun. It may be that this name Covanlee just fell out of use.
If we turn our attention to the estate maps of Houstoun drawn about 1760 we can see what name is attached to land in this part of the parish. NLS Acc.4394, 8, shows that the farm to west of ‘Stabbie Lee’ was called ‘Barrochans Ground’. NLS Acc.4394, 12, marks ‘Barrochans Growd’ on the boundary with ‘Vrea’ (Wraes), almost exactly where Roy marked ‘Crownli(ft?)’ just a few years before. NLS Acc.4394, 7 shows ‘Barochans Grounds’ immediately north of Stabilee. ‘Barochans Grounds’ may mean nothing more than ‘this land is held by the Laird of Barochan’. It suggests any older formal name had fallen from use. In fact it may have started to fall from use many years before. In the Killellan Poll Tax Rolls for 1694-5 (‘Account’ section) we find ‘Barrochanground’ is one of the places identified. So, as a tentative conclusion, I suggest there was a second Covanlee (or similar), just SE of Wraes. Its name fell out of use and it was just called Barochan’s Grounds. If this was Covayle it may have been tenanted by the Barochan family for over 200 years.
The 32m section in detail:
Henristoun
Henristoun has some interesting early references. W Fraser, The Lennox, Vol II No 48 1446 is a charter by James of Crechtoun of the lands of Henristoune in Renfrew. W Fraser, Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollok, Vol I No 52 1477 refers to 8m AE of the west part of Henryistoun. ER X p 771 1495 shows a sasine to the Earl of Lennox of Henristoun. In Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollok, Vol I No 70 1495 it is referred to as the west half of Henristoun – resigned by the Earl of Lennox in favour of John Maxwell of Nether Pollok. No 80, 1503, of the same volume shows it was then wadset by John Maxwell of Pollok to Lord Simpill. However, this west half of Henristoune is now described as £5 AE. The Lennox, Vol II No 111 1506 refers to the lands of Henristoune as well as the lands of Howsill, which belonged to the Earl of Lennox.
I lack later data but think it more likely that the two halves of Henristoun were £5 (7½m) each than that they were 8m each.
Henristoun drops from view after about 1663 (RMS XI (538)) but it may simply be that the name Henristoun fell from favour and was replaced by other names which continued in the land-assessment record. At £10 (15m) it would have been a large unit.
Houston
The Farm Plans available on the National Library of Scotland Digital Map Library show the components, and neighbours, of the respective farms.
NLS Acc. 4394, 3 – Houstown Parks includes Houstown Wood, Langdale, South Mains and Hallcraig Park. It is bordered to NW by Greenhill, to N by Robin-Yard, to NE by Wood Foot, to S by Crives and to SSW by Hallcraigs.
Hallcraigs is mentioned in RMS II (969) 1468.
NLS Acc.4394, 5 – Houstown Town includes Wester Dryburgh, Easter Dryburgh, Burnside and Bogstoun. Its neighbours are Burnt Melin to NW, Greenhill to N, Houstown Parks to E, Hallcraigs to SSE, Back of the Hill to S, Barshegrie to SW and Ravenshaugh to W.
GD148/118 12 March 1531-1532 refers to an exchange of 1 acre 50 falls called the Paythmedow on the south side of the Water of Gryf.
Lenie Holm appears as a tiny extension – to south of the R. Gryfe – in NLS Acc.4394, 6, c. 1760.
Houstonhead
NLS Acc.4394, 10 – Houstoun Head has Griefs Vreas to N; Ravenshaugh and W. Barshegry to NE; E. Barshegrie and Crosslee to East.
RMS II (969) 1468 gives Grivis Wrais (= Griefs Vreas c. 1760, now Gryffe Wraes).
Gryffe Wraes
NLS Acc.4394, 9 – Raven’s haugh, Grief’s Vreas c. 1760 marks Grief’s Vrea’s just W of S from Bodrick Field – with a farmhouse called Knockhills between them. Houstoun Head is S of Grief’s Vrea’s, Wester Barshegrie to E and NE. Raven’s Haugh is to NNE with Burn Melin and We’r (Wester) Dryburgh beyond.
Knockhills
See Gryffe Wraes immediately above. Knockhills is marked as a farmhouse on NLS Acc.4394, 9, c. 1760. It there appears as part of ‘Grief’s Vreas’ but perhaps it was once a separate unit. Knockhills is listed in Houstoun Poll Tax Roll (Discharge) 1695.
Mashington
NLS Acc.4394, 12 – Mashingtown Vrea c. 1760. The title is a little misleading since the farm-plan shows two neighbouring but separate units – Mashingtown to SW of Vrea. The NE section of Mashingtown is claimed to be 1107 foot above the level of the sea. Since nowhere in this area is above c. 190m a.s.l. it appears some calculations have gone awry.
Many of the Renfrew place-names which end in -ton appear to be the fermtouns established by, or associated with, particular individuals or families. Sometimes, as with Botherickfield, we can trace these back to the earliest Norman settlers. The first element in Mashington appears unusual. RMS III (2742) 1542 has a reference to 40d (3s 4d) AE called Haddokstane occupied by Patrick Maschen, in the lordship of Boghall. Was Patrick one of the family who settled Mashington?
Botherickfield
Botherickfield is one of the few names we can trace directly back to the incoming Norman settlers of the twelfth century. See accompanying text file.
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