Houstoun and Killallan
Principal Sources
Although I have attempted to divide the two parishes within the table there remain uncertainties. Accordingly, this list of sources covers both parishes.
Houstoun/Houston in Renfrewshire must be distinguished from places with the same name in both East and West Lothian. RRS IV Part I (80) 1272 conflates the Houston in East Lothian, where there was a house of Trinitarian Friars, with Houstoun in Renfrewshire.
OSA Vol 1 No 33 Houstoun & Killallan 1791
The New Statistical Account of Scotland, Vol VII, Edinburgh, 1845:
Houston and Killallan pp 46-56, dated 1836
OPS I pp 81-2, Killallan; pp 82-3 Houston.
RMS II (568) 1452, (969) 1468, (1166) 1474, (1979) 1490, (3058, 3060) 1506-7
RMS III (817) 1529, (2742) 1542
RMS IV (930) 1554, (2134) 1573
RMS V (389) 1582 on original of 1581
RMS VI (230) 1594-5 on original of 1593
RMS VIII (1126) 1627
RMS IX (1226) 1642
RMS X (326-7) 1654
RMS XI (538) 1663, (1189) 1668
RSS II (4627, 4810, 4811) 1542
RSS IV (381) 1549, (2251) 1553
RSS VI (1134, 1138) 1570-1
ER XIV p 534 1513-14
ER XV p 664 1528
ER XVI p 532, 1531, p 576 1533-4, p 615 1536
ER XVIII p 424 1547-8, p 472 1549, p 527 1551, p 562 1553
ER XIX pp 449-450 1559, p 472 1561
ER XXIII pp 378-9, 384 1596
GD1/447/18 1623
GD1/447/19 1648
GD1/447/21 1799
GD148/20 1479
GD148/118 1531-1532
GD148/324 1598 (on original of 1573)
Renfrew Retours (10) 1600, (26) 1608, (32-33) 1610, (42) 1616, (44) 1617, (61) 1623, (111) 1641, (126) 1646, (133) 1648, (166) 1667, (170) 1672, (172) 1675, (189) 1690
Estate Plans
NLS Acc.4394, 2 – Southmains, Crivs, Hallcraigs c. 1760
NLS Acc.4394, 3 – Houstown Parks c. 1760
NLS Acc.4394, 4 – North & South Piratholm, Greenhil, Robinyard c. 1760
NLS Acc.4394, 5 – Houstown Town with its Divisions c. 1760
NLS Acc.4394, 6 – Easter Barshegrie, Back of ye Hill with Cross Lee c. 1760
NLS Acc.4394, 7 – Stabie-Lee, Little Newtoun c. 1760
NLS Acc.4394, 8 – Brunt Melin, Walley’s, Cliv’s & Meikle Newtoun c. 1760
NLS Acc.4394, 9 – Raven’s haugh, Grief’s Vreas c. 1760
NLS Acc.4394, 10 – Houstoun Head with Wester Barshegry c. 1760
NLS Acc.4394, 11 – Barfillan, Bodrick Field c. 1760
NLS Acc.4394, 12 – Mashingtown Vrea c. 1760
NLS Acc.4394, 13 – Little Barfilan c. 1760
NLS Acc.4394, 14 – Barlogan Scaarts c. 1760
NLS Acc.4394, 15 – Fodstoun c. 1760
These are a particularly valuable source because not only are the named farms mapped – but also the neighbouring properties.
Maps
Pont (33)
Gordon (55)
Blaeu (Renfrew)
Roy (PC & FC)
Ainslie (1796)
Thomson(1826)
Crawfurd, G., A Genealogical History of the Royal and Illustrious Family of the Stewarts, from the year 1034 to the Year 1710 …, Edinburgh, 1710. (Hereafter ‘Crawfurd, 1710’).
Robertson, G., A general description of the Shire of Renfrew …, Paisley, 1818, p 380, Houstoun & Killallan, Table of Property. (Hereafter ‘Robertson(1818)’)
(This is a continuation of Crawfurd above).
Descriptions of the Sheriffdoms of Lanark and Renfrew, compiled about 1710 by William Hamilton of Wishaw, Maitland Club, Glasgow, 1831 pp 96-97 (Kilallen) pp 99-101(Houstoun).
Reports on the State of Certain Parishes in Scotland, 1627, Maitland Club, Edinburgh, 1835 – Parish of Houstone pp 193-194.
Fraser, W., Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollok Vol I, Edinburgh, 1863, No’s 52, 70, 80.
Fraser, W., The Lennox, II, Edinburgh, 1874, No’s 48, 111.
Mackinlay, J.M., The Pre-Reformation Church in Scottish Place-Names, Edinburgh, 1904
Mackinlay, J.M., ‘Traces of the Cultus of St Fillan at Killallan, Renfrewshire’. PSAS Vol 29 (1894-5) (pp 251-5).
Cooper, J., Killallan and S. Fillan’s Chair, Transactions of the Scottish Ecclesiological Society, 1910-1911, pp 167-178.
Macfarlane’s Genealogical Collections Vol. II, Scottish History Society, Edinburgh 1900.
Charter Chest of the Earldom of Dundonald, F.J. Grant, (ed.), Scottish Record Society. Edinburgh, 1910 (hereafter ‘Dundonald’), No’s 173-180, 186, 197, 204, 219, 227, 238-9, 241, 245
The ScotlandsPlaces website gives details of the Renfrewshire Poll Tax Records here:
Poll tax rolls, 1694-1698 | ScotlandsPlaces
Specifically:
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.
Crawfurd’s book of 1710 is one of our most valuable sources. Quite apart from his knowledge of local family history, Crawfurd took pains to research original documents then held in the private charter chests of Renfrewshire’s heritors. Some of the most significant documents he came across were charters in the possession of Sir John Houstoun of that Ilk, Baronet. He references them on a number of occasions. Since these charters, if they survive, are not in the public domain, it is worth trying to reconstruct them from the various snippets which Crawfurd leaves us.
Crawfurd, 1710, p 1, writes:
As also, in the same Reign [Malcolm IV], the Lands of Kilpeter, in Strath-grief, are given by Balduin de Bigres, Vicecomes Regis, to Hugh de Padvinan; from which Hugh, these Lands were called Hugh’s-Town; of whom is Lineally Descended Sir John Houstoun of that Ilk, Baronet (b).
Footnote: (b) Carta penes D. Johan. Houstoun de Eodem. Bar.; (i.e. Charter in the possession of Sir John Houstoun of that Ilk, Baronet).
Crawfurd has here given us an origin for Houstoun, the name of a family, a settlement and a parish. He has given us a date-range (the reign of Malcolm IV, 1153-1165), and the name of an estate – Kilpeter. This is interesting because the first-element ‘Kil-‘ is from the word ‘cille’ (cell or chapel/church) which is found as a prefix for ecclesiastical sites throughout Gaelic Scotland. The second element ‘Peter’ is the saint of that name but given in an anglicised form. We do meet Peter, in Gaelic guise, used in another place-name in Renfrewshire as in ‘Eas Pheadair’ which is the name of a burn which runs into the White Cart on the SE side of Paisley. This also survives as Espedair Street. The name occurs in a number of early documents in the Paisley Register with a variety of spellings such as Espdayr and Espedare. The first element is Gaelic ‘eas’ (waterfall) so the meaning of the whole name is ‘(St) Peter’s waterfall’, or perhaps a more general ‘(St) Peter’s water-course’. We do come across Peter’s name in dedications in Gaelic Scotland but it is not that common. Cille Pheadair is a parish in South Uist. Kilphedir is a settlement in Kildonan parish, Sutherland. But the name Kilpeter is slightly at odds with the the other Kil- names in Renfrewshire such as Kilbarchan, Kilmacolm, Killallan, Kilbride (at least twice) and Kilmoluag – all of which have a Gaelic complexion. It firmly suggests a ‘Romanising’ influence which was probably the result of the Norman influx into Renfrewshire. ‘Padvinan’ is now Pettinain in Lanarkshire.
On p 67 Crawfurd writes:
Upon Greif lies the Barony of Denniestoun, of which the Castle of Finlastoun was the principal Messwage: When the Denzelstouns obtained these Lands is not certain, but that from the proper Name of their Predecessor they assumed both Sirname and Designation, is without all doubt; for I have seen the Original Charter of the Barony of Houstoun, which is in the Reign of King Malcolm the IV, which is bounded with the Lands of Danziel (u); which by the Situation clearly appears to be the Lands of Denniestoun.
Footnote: (u) Carta penes D. Joh. Houstoun de Eodem, Baronet; (i.e. Charter in the possession of Sir John Houstoun of that Ilk, Baronet).
This document is discussed beneath the table for Kilmacolm but in the context of the barony of Houstoun it is important to note the geographical implications in the above statements. The barony bordered Dennistoun (Kilmacolm) on the west. The current parish of Houstoun is composed of two former parishes, Killallan and Houstoun. I am not certain of the precise boundaries between the parishes but it seems that Killallan was more to the west, north and east; Houstoun to the centre and south. So it appears that the ‘barony’ of Houstoun included some or all of the ‘parish’ of Killallan. Crawfurd clearly states that he has seen this original charter ‘which is in the Reign of King Malcolm the IV’. We can infer that in about 1710 there survived a charter of Houstoun dating from 1153-1165. This is probably the same charter as that described by Crawfurd p 1.
Dodds, J. (ed.), The Diary and General Expenditure Book of William Cunningham of Craigends, Edinburgh, 1887, p 29, has a table of the ‘Stipend of Killillane’ in 1675; which must refer to how the salary of the minister of Killallan was made up. Payments were in ‘Meall’ (oatmeal), ‘Bear’ (barley) and ‘Silver’ (cash). Five properties or farms contributed: Boig Hall, Gryifs Castle, Mountfodd, Barochane and Fullwood. Mountfodd likely refers to Fodston since the Montfod family owned Gryffe Castle and probably gave their name to this property as well. Boghall, Barochan and Fullwood are all found in the northern half of the combined parish; Fodston and Gryffe Castle in the west. This supports the geographical distribution suggested in the previous paragraph.
Crawfurd, 1710, pp 70-71 writes:
Upon the opposite side of the River stands the Castle and Barony of Houstoun, situate upon an Eminence, which affords a very agreeable Prospect of most of this Shire; …
That the Family of Houstoun, originally assuming their Sirname from a Place long since called Kilpeter, has been a great Antiquity in those Parts, doth appear from unquestionable Documents, and derive their Descent from Hugo de Padvinan, who obtained a Grant of the Barony of Kilpeter from Balduin de Bigres, Vicecomes de Lanerk, in the Reign of King Malcolm the IV whereupon his Descendents assumed Appellation from three [read ‘these’?] Hereditary Lands; which Barony, continueth with them in the Male Line to this Day; for it is a received Observation by Antiquaries, that when Sirnames became fixt and Hereditary, these are the most Ancient, which were derived from Baronies and Lands; and when these Lands have only been Injoyed by the same Family, it’s a manifest Proof, that That Name and Family is of great Antiquity. But of this Hugh de Padvinan I have found nothing more on Record, but that he was one of these Witnesses to Walter High Steward of Scotland’s Foundation Charter of the Abby of Pasly, about the Year 1160 (h).
Footnote: (h) Chartulary of Pasly (Paisey Register – see RMP pp 5-6, W.W. Scott No 8, 1165 x 1173).
This statement reinforces what Crawfurd told us on p 1.
Crawfurd continues, p 71:
To Hugh, formerly mentioned, succeeded Sir Reginald his Son, who obtained a Charter from Robert the Son of Walden Son of Balduin of Biger, of the Lands of Kilpeter in Strathgreif, Ratifying a former Grant by the said Balduin his Grandfather, Reginaldo filio Hugonis de Padvinan (i) Terrarum de Kilpeter cum terrâ illâ quam Bodricus & Arkenbaldus, fratres ejus tenuere. His Testibus Allano Dapifero Regis Scotiae, Waltero Filio suo, Roberto Croc, Reginaldo de Cathcart, & multis aliis.
Footnote: (i) Carta penes D. Joan. Houst. de Eodem Bar.; (i.e. Charter in the possession of Sir John Houstoun of that Ilk, Baronet).
Crawfurd is here referring to another charter, one also in the possession of Sir John Houstoun of that Ilk. This charter was from Robert, son of Walden who, in turn, was son of Baldwin of Biggar (= Bigres above). The lands in question are still called Kilpeter. It appears that Baldwin of Biggar had made a grant to Reginald, son of Hugh of Padvinan, and Robert (grandson of Baldwin) was now ratifying or confirming that grant. But then there comes an additional clause. It wasn’t just the lands of Kilpeter but also that land which Bodricus (Boderick) and Arkenbaldus (Archibald), his (i.e. Reginald’s) brothers, held.
The first witness is Alan Stewart so this charter must date to the period between the death of Alan’s father, Walter Stewart, in 1177, and Alan’s own death in 1204. Professor Barrow (Barrow, 1973, p 329) made the inspired connection between Bodricus and Botherickfield, still the name of a farm in Houstoun parish. We are given an outline of this farm in an estate map of 1760 which is viewable within the National Library of Scotland’s Digital Map Library. It may be that what is there depicted as ‘Bodrick Field’ is what was granted to Bodricus in the period 1177-1204. This must have been a separate charter to the one described above. It didn’t date from Malcolm IV’s reign, but that of William I, his successor.
Crawfurd continues, p 71. He is talking about Reginald, son of Hugh of Padvinan (who was the first Hugh [Hugh I] of ‘Hugh’s toun’ or Houstoun.
To Reginald succeeded Hugh his Son, who obtained from Walter High Steward of Scotland, then Lord of the Country of Strathgrief, a Charter of Confirmation of the Lands quod Hugo Avus ejus tenuit de Balduino de Bigres Vicecomes Regis & postea de Waldeno Filio ejus & postea de Roberto filio Waldeni, sciz. [i.e. ‘scilicet’, (‘namely’)] Terras de Kilpeter.
Here Crawfurd tells us that Reginald of Houstoun had a son, Hugh (II, i.e. second of that name, grandson of Hugh I). This Hugh (II) received a charter of Confirmation of the lands of Kilpeter from Walter the Steward. (This would be Walter II, son of Alan Stewart and grandson of the first Walter Stewart. Alan Stewart died in 1204, Walter II died in 1241 so this charter of confirmation must date between 1204-1241). The land is again named as ‘of Kilpeter’ and there is what appears to be a quote from the original Latin charter which states that the lands are ‘what Hugh his grandfather [i.e. Hugh I] held from Baldwin of Bigres [Biggar], the King’s Sheriff, and afterwards from Walden his son [i.e. Baldwin’s son] and afterwards from Robert, Walden’s son’. So we now have a third charter, this one dating from 1204-1241, which confirms the lands of Kilpeter to Hugh II, grandson of Hugh I. (The implication is that there may once have been other charters of Kilpeter, from Walden to Hugh I and from Robert to Hugh I).
There is one significant difference to this third charter. The first two (or more) were from the family of Baldwin of Biggar who must have been the feudal superiors at the times they made their grants. This third charter is from the Stewarts, and is a charter of confirmation of the grants made by Baldwin’s family. Walter Stewart is described as ‘Lord of the Country of Strathgrief’ and had apparently now become the feudal superior of the Houstoun family.
I have suggested three separate charters so far. This seems the most logical solution. However it is possible that charters two and three were run together into a ‘pancarte’. What happens then is that the last charter in a series rehearses and repeats the full text of earlier charters which are in effect engrossed within it. In this particular case, certainty eludes us.
Crawfurd continues (p 71):
He [i.e. Hugh II of Houstoun] was also a Benefactor to the Monks of Pasly, by bestowing upon them an Annuity of half a Merk out of his Lands of Achnhoss in the Year 1225 (k).
Footnote: (k) Cartulary of Pasly, & penes D. Joan. Houst.; (i.e. Crawfurd gives two sources here, a document in the Paisley Register and what was presumably a matching document in the possession of Sir John Houstoun).
Fortunately we can see this document in RMP pp 372-3 (W.W. Scott No 327) where it is specifically stated that the document is made in the form of a chirograph (a document written in duplicate and then divided), whereby the part bearing the seal of the Chapter of Paisley will remain in the possession of Sir Hugh and the part bearing Sir Hugh’s seal will remain in the possession of the Abbot and Chapter of Paisley. It is dated 1225. It is confirmed by Robert, Bishop of Glasgow, in 1305/6. (RMP pp 373-374; W.W. Scott No 328, 1306). Robert had obviously inspected the Abbey copy since he mentions Sir Hugh’s seal. It appears from his footnote that Crawfurd had seen both the Paisley Abbey Register and Sir Hugh’s half of the 1225 version which we can assume to have survived in the Houstoun charter chest.
From the Paisley Register it appears there had been a dispute over the ownership of Achinchoss, with the Abbot and Convent of Paisley claiming it belonged to their church of Kilhelan (i.e. Killallan). The upshot of the controversy was that Sir Hugh and his heirs would hold the land, in perpetuity, from the house of Paisley. In return Sir Hugh would pay half a merk per year to the monks for lighting.
Crawfurd’s Achnhoss, (Achinchoss or Achinchos in RMP pp 372-3), later became Auchinch (Auchans today) and passed into the possession of Paisley Abbey. (See under Kilbarchan table). In 1225 it is described as being ‘in feudo’ (‘in the fee’) of Sir Hugh. However, there is evidence in the Paisley Rental that the owners of Houstoun continued to pay their half-merk even when they no longer held Auchnhoss. On page c there is a reference to an annual return of 6s 8d (½m) from the lord of Houstone. On page clv there is an annual return from Houston of 6s 8d. If these returns from 1460-1550 were the same as that imposed in 1225 they would have been worth a lot less in terms of purchasing power.
(See accompanying Houstoun and Killallan table for discussion of how Houstoun parish may have been carved out of a formerly much larger parish of Killallan).
Crawfurd continues (p 71):
His Successor, Sir Finlay de Houstoun, Knight, lived in the Reign of King Alexander III. I have found him frequently mentioned Witness to Charters granted by James High Steward of Scotland; and is one of those Scots Barons, mentioned by Prin [Prynne], Subscribing that Bond of Submission to King Edward the First of England, commonly called Ragman Roll in Anno 1296. (l) Designed Finlay de Houstoun Chevalier.
Footnote: (l) Prinns History; (i.e. Prynne’s ‘History’).
For the reference to Finlay de Houstoun see ‘Ragman Rolls’ p 143 (and for references to Prynne’s work see p xiii of the same volume). ‘Finlau de Hustoñ Chiualer’ is the first name in his section of the text. Some of the following names suggest that his homage was made in company with that of other significant landowners in Renfrewshire. We come across Sir Huwe de Danielstoñ, Sir Johan le Seneschal [i.e. Steward or Stewart], Thomas de Raulfestoñ [Ralston], Wauter Spreul, Gyles del Estwode [Eastwood], Patrik de Seluenlend [i.e. Selvieland, Kilbarchan parish].
Crawfurd, 1710, p 71, finishes with some comments on the effigies left in Houstoun parish church:
But, from these ancient Barons of Houstoun, descending to the Reign of King James the II that Sir Patrick Houstoun of That-Ilk, departing this Life Anno 1450 was buried in the Chapel of Houstoun, where there is a Fair Monument errected to the Memory of him and his Wife, with this Inscription,
Hic jacet Johannes Houstoun, de Eodem, Miles, qui obiit Anno MCCCCL.
Et D. Maria Colquhoun, Sponsa dicti Domini Johannis qua obiit MCCCCLVI.
Leaving Issue, Sir John his Son and Heir, who Died Anno Dom. 1456, and was Interred in the Paroch Church of Houstoun, under a Canopy of Free Stone, with the Effigies himself and his Lady, as big as the Life; about the Verge of which Tomb, I find this Inscription in Saxon Capitals.
Here lyes Patrick of Houstoun Lord of That-Ilk, and Annes Campbel his Spouse, who Died Anno 1456.
These effigies are very fine. See under Historic Environment Scotland Canmore ID 43104.
Houstoun parish also included the property of Garvock which became divided between Greenock and Inverkip in 1650. (See under Greenock parish and Inverkip parish for further discussion). I have not included it in the Houstoun table since I suspect it was only annexed to Houstoun parish because it was owned by the family of Houstoun. We do not know when this acquisition took place. Physically it was separated from Houstoun by the parish of Kilmacolm.
The total valuation for Houstoun and Killallan is 128½m.
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