Kilbarchan Table

Posted on January 20, 2025 by drixson — No Comments ↓

Kilbarchan Table

This table is arranged by estate groupings. To do this I have followed listings given by Robertson in 1818, MacKenzie in his parish history of 1902, as well as all those places contained in the Poll Tax Roll of 1695 (printed by MacKenzie in Chapter VIII, pp 118-141). However, we cannot assume that an estate listing given in 1695, 1818, or 1902, exactly matches the territory held under the same heading in mediaeval times. Accordingly, comparisons should be made with caution. For convenience, I have placed some estate listings in italics at the beginning of various sections of the table but also repeated the Poll Tax data and Robertson’s list below the table.

(PTR = Poll Tax Roll 1695. Repeated names are omitted. Walkmyllne = waulk-mill or fulling mill. Occasionally, the same place, e.g. Clochodrick, Linwood, Selvieland, appears under more than one heading. As time went on, so estates may have subdivided).

CSEP(1) refers to Castle Semple Estate Plan, probably drawn by Ainslie c. 1782 which can be viewed on the NLS digital map library. Also CSEP(2) & (3).

Name	Value	Date	Grid Ref	Map Sources	Other forms, comments etc
The Lands of Johnstone (PTR pp 119-121)					Tandelehill, Johnstoune Myllne, Watersyde, Rendyck, Upper Walkmyllne, Barnaich, Nether Walkmyllne, Mains, Yeardfoot, Johnstoune, Haningsyde, Clayfauld, Hillhead, Guliehouse, Pynsdaill, Crokedaiken, Barsbush, Barsyde, Brigesyde
The Lands of Over Johnstone (PTR pp 131-132)					Over Johnstone, Bordsyeard
Johnstone (Over & Nether) Over Johnstone	£6 (9m) 50s	1594-5 1509-10	NS 4163	Pont(33) Gordon(55) Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC)	Formerly West of Black Cart (Blaeu, Gordon). Now NS 4262/4362. Johnstone Bridge & Over Johnston (Roy). Nether Johnstone Holdings at NS 4163. See below.
Millikenpark			NS 4162	Roy(PC)
The Lands of Selvieland (PTR 1695 p 135)					Selviland
Selvieland Selveland	20s	1527-8	NS 4467	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	20s Selweland in GD148/114 1527-1528. RSS II (2190) 1536, 20s AE. ER XX pp 469-70 1574, 20s AE. Renfrew Retours (63) 1624 20s AE Selveland. RMS VIII (1046) 1627 – 20s AE Salvieland. See below.
Auchans	(4m)	1460	NS 4266/4366	Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	Ex Paisley Abbey. Aikens in Roy. Laigh & High Aitkins in Ainslie. Auchans is referred to in a marriage contract of 1794, given in The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell, pp 381-2. See below.
Boighous	2m	1676	NS 4164	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	Pont marks near Foulton. Roy marks N of Milliken. 2m AE in barony of Ramphorlie-Cunynghame, Renfrew Retours (175) 1676, (191) 1690. Part of Waterstone?
Sandholes			NS 4164	Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	OS 6” 1^st edition Renfrewshire Sheet XI, 1857.
Hilhead	20s	1642		Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew)	Pont marks near Foulton. RS53 ff 16r-17v 1642 gives 20s Hillheid as part of £7 13s 4d Waterstoune. See also under Waterstone.
Hayneingsyde	20s	1642			RS53 ff 16r-17v 1642 gives 20s Hayneingsyde as part of £7 13s 4d Waterstoune. See also under Waterstone.
Clay Slape/Claysloppe = Clayfauld	2s 6d	1642			RS53 ff 16r-17v 1642 gives 2s 6d Clay Slape/Claysloppe as part of £7 13s 4d Waterstoune. See also under Waterstone.
Paddockrow			NS 4364	Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) Thomson(1826)	Paddock Baw (Roy), by Muirfoot. Paddockrow (Ainslie & Thomson). Not in OS 6” 1^st edition.
Green			NS 4364	Roy(PC) Thomson(1826)	OS 6” 1^st edition Renfrewshire Sheet XI, 1857.

The Lands of Craigends (PTR 1695 pp 126-131)					Auchincloich, Auchinseal, Tore, Torehill, Hill, Butthall, Thriplee, Lintwheet, Hallhill, Mossyde, Coalboog, Beyond the Hill, Manswray, Hardgate, Lochersydemyllne, Kamehill, Lochersyde, Bootstoune, Mains of Craigends, Mains of Craigstoune, Nether Craigends, Aikens, Kilbarchane
Craigends Nether Craigends Mains	5m 5m (10m)	1578 1591-2	NS 4166 NS 4266	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	Probably L(ittle) & M(eikle) in Pont & Blaeu. 5m Neithercraigens in Dundonald (230) 1578. Despite the variety of names – Nether, Over, Mains, Wester – Craigends probably consisted of 2 units (only) of 5m each. See below.

The Lands of Fulltouns (PTR 1695 pp 137-138)					Little Fulltoune, Moorefoot, Meikle Fulltoune, Green
East Fulton West Fulton Foulton ‘Fultons’	12½m 9½m 19m	c. 1484 1572 1580	NS 4265 NS 4265	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	Ex Paisley Abbey. RSS VI (1788) 1572 gives a breakdown of 4 different parts of Foulton (each with named tenants) making a total of 9½m. RMS V (260) 1581, on original of 1580, gives £6 6s 8d lands (=9½m) but also refers to 19m ‘Foultounis’. See below.
‘Betwixt the hills’	2m	1676	NS 4164	Pont(33) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	GD148/227 1586 refers to James Cunynghame ‘betuix the Hillis’. 2m (AE) Renfrew Retours (175) 1676 & (191) 1690 in barony of Ramphorlie-Cunynghame. It was, plainly, between two hills! The name survives to this day as ‘Tweeniehills’. See below under Fulton and also under Waterstone.
Ryverees	20s	1558	NS 4364	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) Thomson(1826)	OS 6” 1^st edition Renfrewshire Sheet XI, 1857. Rywraes(Pont), Wray(o)reys(Roy). Ex Paisley Abbey. 20s AE Rywraithis in RMS VI (605) 1597 on original of 1558. GD148/322 1598 says Clippingis was part of Rywrayis. See below.
Bootstoun			c. NS 420647	Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) Thomson(1826)	See under Windyhill below but ‘Boot’s toun’ seems to be distinct from ‘Boot’s mailing’. See also under Leitchland in the Paisley table.
Darluth			NS 4264	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew)	OS 6” 1^st edition Renfrewshire Sheet XI, 1857. Dartouth B. (Pont), Dartguth (Blaeu).

Windiehill (PTR 1695 p 137)					Windiehill
Windyhill	20s	1558	NS 4264	Ainslie(1796) Thomson(1826)	20s AE Windiehill alias Butismeling in RMS VI (605) 1597 on original of 1558. Ex Paisley Abbey. See below.

Clippins (PTR 1695 p 132)					Clippins, Linwood
Clippens			NS 4364	Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) Thomson(1826)	= Clippingis. GD148/322 1598 says Clippingis was part of Rywrayis. See under Windyhill below.
Linwood	(40s) 40s (3m)	1460 1572	NS 4364/4464	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	Ex Paisley Abbey. Pont marks west of Black Cart. 40s Lynwod in RSS VI (1788) 1572. 40s AE Lynwode in RMS V (260) 1581 on original of 1580. See below.
Knowes			NS 4366	Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	The Nose(Roy). Know(Ainslie).

The Lands of Blackstoune (PTR 1695 pp 133-135)					Blackstoune/Blackston, Nether Blackstoune, Selvieland, Midletoune, Linwood, Myllne of Cart
Blackstone Mains Blackstoun	10s	1572	NS 4566 NS 4566	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	Ex Paisley Abbey. Originally 20s and then subdivided? 10s Blakstoun in RSS VI (1788) 1572. 10s AE Blakstoun in RMS V (260) 1581 on original of 1580. See below.
Middleton	10s 10s	>=1525 1572	NS 4565	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	Ex Paisley Abbey. Possibly a late subdivision of Blackstone? 10s Myddiltoun in RSS VI (1788) 1572. 10s AE Middiltoun in RMS V (260) 1581 on original of 1580. See below under Blackstone.
Birkenhead Farm			NS 4466	Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	See also under Houstoun parish.
Locherside	3½m	1616	NS 4165	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	3½m AE Waterstoun now called Lochersyd in Renfrew Retours (38) 1616. See below and under Waterstone.

The Lands of Watterstoune (PTR 1695 p 137)					Watterstoune, Between the Hills, Booghouse
Waterstone Valterston	£10	1558 1477	NS 4064	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	GD148/134 1534 gives 9m 20d (9⅛m) lands of Abyrnethestone within Walterstone. GD148/186 1556 gives 3½m of Wattirstoune. Laing Charters (685) 1558 gives £10 (15m) Watterstoun. This will include the 3½m Locherside above. Renfrew Retours (65) 1625 refers to 40s of Waterstone. See below.
Kaimhill Farm	4m	1583	NS 4065	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	Caymhill in GD148/24 1480-1481. 4m in GD148/312 1583. 4m Kemehill in GD148/313 1586. 4m Camehill in RMS VIII (732) 1621, RMS IX (640.1) 1637, on original of 1622, & Renfrew Retours (124) 1646. Kamehill in Renfrew Retours (38) 1616. 4m Caimhill in ‘Craigends’ p 134 c. 1690.

Netherpennell (PTR 1695 p 125)					Netherpennell
Major Hamiltoune’s Lands and William Craig’s. (PTR 1695 pp 125-126)					Pennell, Foresyde, Forehouse, Boarland, Monkland, Clockhodrick. (I know no Boarland in Kilbarchan and wonder if this might be a form of Bordland. See under Birdland).
Pannell Farm			NS 3964/4064	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	N: Pennel, Harspennel, Pennel Br(a??) in Pont. (N= Nether). N. Pennel, Hars Pennel, Pennelbrid in Blaeu. Pannel (to N) & Upper Pannel (to S) in Roy. Low Pennal (to N) & High Pennal (to S) in Ainslie. See below.

Hair’s Pennell (PTR 1695 p 138)					Craigwoodie, Hareswall, High Pennell
Hairis Pennell				Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew)	Presumably once part of Pannell/Pennell. Harspennel(Pont), Hars Pennel(Blaeu). Hamilton p 125 gives a source from 1634 which suggests the first element is actually a family name, Hair, i.e. this was Hair’s (part of) Pennell. James Hayr of Pennold was a witness to GD148/47 of 4 January 1495-6. James Hayr of the Pennald was a witness to NRAS4366/2 1497. Ellen Hair of Pinnel appears in Sir John Craufurd’s Protocol Book in December 1549 (see MacKenzie, Kilbarchan, p 277).

The Lands of Ramphorlie (PTR 1695 pp 135-136)					Barnbrock, Barnbeth, Barmufflock, Hatoune, Shillingworth, Broounocklie, Dubsyde, Priestoune, Burnsyde, Horsewood, Golkhall, Calsyde, Clevans
Ranfurly-Cuningham (MacKenzie, 1902)	40m	1614			MacKenzie (p 260) states that this included ‘Hallhill, Lochermill, Lintwhite, Coalbog, High and Low Auchinsale, East and West Auchincloich, Manswraes, Torr, Threeplie, and Craigbet’. See following entries and below. £26 13s 4d (40m) AE Ranfourlie-Cunynghame & mills in Renfrew Retours (34) 1614. This is an estate valuation and I am not sure precisely which properties were included. Renfrew Retours (38) 1616 reads ‘lands and barony of Rampherlie-Cunynghame, property and superiority, AE £18 6s 8d (27½m).
Halhill	33s 4d (2½m)	1640	c. NS 3965	Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	Pont has some erased writing here. Blaeu has Halhill to E of Auchensale and WSW of Kemhil. Roy has Hallhill to W of Ca(me)hill. Dundonald (115) 1640 gives 33s 4d Hallhill. It may be that Hallhill was part of the 6m Manswrae.
Lochermill		1497	NS 4064	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	NRAS4366/2 1497 refers to the miln of Lochyr in the barony of Ranfourly Cunninghame.
Auchincloigh	£4 (6m)	c. 1690			‘Craigends’ pp 134-136 c. 1690 gives £4 (6m) Auchincloigh. The breakdown shows this included Auchincloigh, Auchensales and Upper Auchinsale. See next two entries which total 6m.
High Auchensale (to W) Laigh Auchensale (to E)	40s	1572	NS 3764 NS 3764	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	GD148/95 1514 gives Auchinsell in lordship of Ranforle. GD148/138, 140-142 1535 give Auchinsaill in barony of Ranfurlie. 40s in GD39/5/60 1572. £4 (6m) AE with Auchincloich in RMS IX (640.1) 1637 on original of 1622.
High Auchencloich Laigh Auchencloich	40s	1577	NS 3663 NS 3663	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	40s in GD39/1/93 1577. £4 (6m) AE with Auchensaillis in RMS IX (640.1) 1637 on original of 1622.
Manswrae	6m	1496	NS 3964	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew)? Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	NRAS4366/1 1496 gives Mannyswra as 6m AE. (It is just possible this figure includes Knapps in Fynlastoun, Kilmacolm parish). Blaeu has ‘Mars’. See below.
Coalbeg			NS 3965/4065	Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	This will be Coilboig – see under Manswrae below. I have no assessment but it was part of the 6m Manswrae.
Lintwhite Lintyhill		1497	NS 3965	Pont(33)? Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	OS 6” 1^st edition Renfrewshire Sheet VII, 1857. NRAS4366/2 1497 refers to Lyntquhit in the barony of Ranfourly Cunninghame. Part of Manswrae (q.v.). Pont is hard to read but possibly Linsw(hy)t. Roy has Lint(??)hi(?).
East Torr Torr Hill Plantation Torr Hall Over Toir & Toirhill West Torrs (ruin) Toris	20s 40s	1589 1541(?)	NS 3665 NS 3665 NS 3666 c. NS 360658	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) OS 6” 1857	Torhil(Pont & Blaeu), Tor(Roy), East & West Torrs(Ainslie). Hall(Roy) 20s AE of Over Toir & Toirhill in RMS V (1822) 1590-1 on original of 1589. OS 6” 1^st edition, Renfrewshire, Sheet VII, 1857. MacKenzie p 276 from Sir John Craufurd’s Protocol Book. See below under Threeply.
Threeply Threeplands	20s	1590-1	NS 3766 NS 3765	Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	20s AE of Threiplie in RMS V (1822) 1590-1. The place-name indicates these were once disputed lands. See below.
Total Ranfurly-Cuningham	40m

Ramphorlie (Robertson (1818)) (= Ranfurly-Knox)					Ramphorlie, Barnbrock, feu of Ramphorlie Barmufflock, feu of Ramphorlie Barnbeth, feu of Ramphorlie Bridge of Weir, feu of Ramphorlie Clovens, Horsewood, feu of Ramphorlie
Ranfurly-Knox (MacKenzie, 1902)					MacKenzie (p 260) states that this included ‘Brannocklie, Prieston, Shillingworth, Haltoun, Horsewood, Horsewoodhead, Barmufflock, North and South Barnbeth, Barnbrock, Clevans, and Calside’. See following entries and below.
Ranfurly Castle (Knox family)	20m	1474	NS 3865	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) Ainslie(1796)	Banfurls Cuny(??) in Pont + another overwritten word. (R/B)amfurly(Blaeu) which will have been copied from a Pont draft. Ainslie has ‘Ramphurlie Castle in ruins, The Birth Place of John Knox’. 20m in RMS II (1166) 1474. 20m AE Ramfurlie Knokis in ER XVII p 735 1537. 20m in RSS IV (2251) 1553. I have preferred 20m to later valuations of £10 (15m).
Kirklands of St Mary’s Chapel, Ranfurly	6s 8d (½m)	1582			Dundonald (234) 1582 refers to 6s 8d Kirklands of Chapel of St Mary’s of Ramphurlie. Also Dundonald (235-6) 1614. Crawfurd, 1710, p 10, writes ‘At Ranfurly there was a Chappel founded by the Family of Ranfurly, and dedicated to St. Mary, to which the Lands of Kirkland were annexed’. See MacKenzie p 260.
Horsewood			NS 3865	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew)? Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	OS 6” 1^st edition Renfrewshire Sheet VII, 1857. Horfr in Blaeu.
Prieston (Just S of Horsewood)			NS 3865	Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) OS 6” 1857	Priestown (Roy). OS 6” 1^st edition Renfrewshire Sheet VII, 1857. Ordnance Survey Name Book (OS1/26/14/5) gives details of Chapel Site & Burial-ground. See MacKenzie p 260.
Shillingworth	(40s)	c. 1590	NS 3864	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	Pont names this ‘Fourty Shiling Worth’. Blaeu has (Fourtylm?). Roy & Ainslie just have Shillingsworth. The first element, a simple statement of its land-assessment value, has disappeared. Compare Penny Fern in Inverkip (q.v.).
Brannocklie			NS 3865	Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	OS 6” 1^st edition Renfrewshire Sheet XI, 1857.
Barmufflock (Dam)			c. NS 3664/3665	Roy(PC) OS 6” 1857	Only surviving as a dam in OS 6” 1^st edition Renfrewshire Sheet XI, 1857. Barn moflaic(?) in Roy.
Barnbeth South Barnbeth			NS 3664 NS 3664	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	RMS II (259) 1440-1, on original of 1440, is an interesting document in Scots – albeit with no valuation. It gives Barbethe/Barbeth in lordship of Ranferle. Dated at ‘Kilbrachtoun’. East & West in Ainslie.
Barnbrock			NS 3563/3564	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)
Clevans	£5	1569	NS 3765	Ainslie(1796)	Probably what looks like ‘Savans’ in Roy(PC). Clavens(Ainslie). £5 in Dundonald (338) 1569, (339) 1584, (341) 1605, (344) 1606.
Coldsid Cold Side Caldside				Pont(33) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)
Total Ranfurly-Knox

Lawmarnock	4m	1564	NS 3763	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	4m Lymmarnoch in RMS IV (1600) 1565 on original of 1564. I do not know whether the second element of the name is the same as in Kilmarnock. See below.
Lamernok, Glentran & Damptoune	7m	1668			Renfrew Retours (168) 1668. (Lawmarnock, Glentyan and Dampton).
Monkland			NS 3963	Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	MacKenzie, Kilbarchan, p 259, claims this name was a contraction for Mungo’s land and did not belong to the Abbey. (See also pp 125-6 fn 2).
Whinnerston			NS 3864	Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)

Clothodrick (PTR 1695 p 124)					Clothodrick, Greinsyde
Clochodrick	46s 8d	1642	NS 3761	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) CSEP(1) c. 1782 Ainslie(1796)	46s 8d AE in RS53 ff 5r-5v 1642 – also gives internal divisions. Clothhodd/rick (Pont), Clothoodrick (Blaeu), Clochodrick (Roy), Clothoderick (CSEP(1)). For discussion of this farm or estate as an early boundary see under Moniabrock in Lochwinnoch parish. See below.
Greenside			NS 3661	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) CSEP(1) c. 1782 Ainslie(1796)	Low and High Greenside, Greenside Hill and Greenside Moor in CSEP(1).
Bower			NS 3762		This is probably Littletoun in CSEP(1) c. 1782.
Crossflat Corslatt	part of 5m 40s (3m)	1544 1586	NS 3861	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) CSEP(1) c. 1782 Ainslie(1796)	Corslet in Pont & Blaeu. West and East Corslet in Ainslie(1796). Corseflatt in CSEP(1) c. 1782 – a large farm. There is another farm with the same name in Paisley parish. Linked with Shields in Lochwinnoch parish – which may have provided grazing. 5m Corsflat & Schelis in RSS III (854) 1544. 5m Corslat & Scheillis in RSS VI (1790) (1572), AHC Vol. 2 No 174 1572. (Corn teinds belonged to Paisley Abbey). 40s (3m) AE in AHC Volume II No 194 1586. Corsflat 40s land in AHC Volume II, Semple Rental 1644, p 175.
Tandlehill			NS 4062	Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	Blaeu has Candisl( ?) which is probably for Tandlehill since the letters ‘C’ & ‘T’ were often confused. Ainslie has High & Low Tannelhill.

The Lands of Auchinames (PTR 1695 pp 139-141)					Auchinames, Yeardfoote, Pishenlinne, Overtoune, Colliochant, Glentyane, Mains, Banks, Nivine Croft, Lochpen, Robbstoune, Laumarnock, Gladstoune, Wardend, Cartsyde, Kublestoune, Gentyane Myllne, Lawmarnock
Feuars of Achinames: (Robertson (1818))					Bankhead, Lawmarnock, Cartside, Killoochant, Huthead, Damton, Gladston, Roberton, Pissinlinn, Wardend, 13 Sundry small Lots.
Barony of Auchinames (MacKenzie, 1902)					MacKenzie (p 211) gives the following components of this barony: Auchinames, Bankhead, Rabston and Glentyan Hill, Glentyan, Houston’s Property, Minister’s Park, Honeyman’s Property, Nebannoy, Kibbleston, Craigton, Craig’s Plantation, Cartside, Wardend, Huthead, Langside, Callochant, North and South Overton, Gladstone, Burntshields Glebe and Mossfoul, Dampton and Passinglinn. See following entries and below.
Auchenames	18m	1545	NS 3962	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	Once the parent-estate for Thirdpart(above). Auchinnames in RMS II (1579) 1483-4 & RMS III (828) 1529. Auchinnamis in RMS III (928) 1529-30. Auchnamis in RSS III (534) 1543. RSS III (1229) 1545 gives 18m Auchnames – as also RSS V Part I (574) 1558-9. See below.
Mains of Auchinnames	£3	1642	c. NS 3962		RS53 ff 44r-45r 1642. Lands called ‘Donaldismailling’ (i.e. lands leased by Donald) are also mentioned.
Bankhead				Ainslie(1796)
Rabston & Glentyan Hill				Roy(PC)	(Robs)town in Roy?
Glentyan House	2m	1564	NS 3963	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) Ainslie(1796)	2m Glentyane & Dantoun in RMS IV (1600) 1565 on original of 1564. See below under Lawmarnock.
Houston’s Property
Minister’s Park
Honeyman’s Property
Abbanoy			NS 4062	CSEP(1) c. 1782 Ainslie(1796)	Nebenoy in CSEP(1) c. 1782. Nebanoy in Ainslie.
Roundtree Flatt	1m	1642	NS 4062	CSEP(1) c. 1782	A small farm, mostly in NS 4062. RS53 ff 44r-45r 1642 gives 1m Rononetrieflatt. Compare Rowntrehill in Kilmacolm parish.
Kibbleston			NS 3961	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) CSEP(1) c. 1782 Ainslie(1796)
Craigton			NS 3862	Roy(PC) CSEP(3) 1907	Craigtone in Roy (W of Auchenames). Marked ‘Craigton Wood’ in OS 6” 1^st edition Renfrewshire Sheet XI, 1857.
Craig’s Plantation
Cartside			NS 4061	Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)
Wardend			NS 4062	Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)
Mosside			NS 4062	Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)
Huthead			NS 3962	Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)
Langside
Callochant			NS 3961	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	See under Lawmarnock also.
N & S Overton			NS 3862	Ainslie(1796)	High & Low on OS Explorer 341.
Gladstone			NS 3962	Ainslie(1796)	In this case ‘-stone’ is exactly that, and not a form of ‘toun’.

The Lands of Burntsheills (PTR 1695 p 126)					(Belonging to the Earl of Dundonald) Bruntsheills ‘Brunt’ and ‘Burnt’ are alternative spellings.
Meikle Burntshields Little Burntshields Burntshields (E & W) Burntshields Glebe and Mossfoul	40s	1560	NS 3762/3862 NS 3761/3861 NS 3862	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	40s annual pension from Est & Vest Bryntschellis in parish of Kilberchan in REG II No 483 1504. 40s annual return from Estir & Wester Birntschelis in RMS II (3020) 1506. 40s Easter & Wester Brunsheills in Dundonald (307) 1560, (311) 1581, (319) 1619, (320) 1620, (321) 1637. 40s AE Bruntfeild (or Bruntscheills) in Renfrew Retours (189) 1690. 20s Wester Brunsheills in Dundonald (309) 1564. Wester & Easter were evidently each 20s. MacKenzie p 211. See below.
Dampton Farm			NS 3862/3863	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	2m Glentyane & Dantoun in RMS IV (1600) 1565 on original of 1564. See also under Glentyan and Lawmarnock.
Passinglinn			NS 3861	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC)	Pishin(g)styn(Pont), Pishingst.(Blaeu), Pissing Lin(?) Roy. MacKenzie (p 260) wrote, in 1902, ‘The present form was adopted in compliance with a daintier taste’! Perhaps we can now revert to the earthier interpretation?
Total Auchenames	18m

My Lord Semple’s Lands and Fewars. Third Pt. (Third Pt. = Thirdpart) (PTR 1695 pp 122-124).					Murdgeonhill, Drygate, Corbarr, Hill, Mains of Thirdpart, Hardgate, Mains, Faulds, Thirdpart, Walkmyllne, Wattersyde, Bridgeflatt, Shaws, Dyckhead, Plainlees, Brandscroft, Corslett, St Bryde’s Chappell, Craigneock, Auchindinnane Myllne, Bridge, Damptoune.
Thirdpart (MacKenzie, 1902)					MacKenzie (pp 231-232) gives the following components of this estate: Thirdpart – including Hall or proper Thirdpart, Watersyde, Faulds, Corbets, Drygate, Hardgait, Margonhill.
Thirdpart Hall	10m	1539-40	NS 3960/3961	Roy(PC) CSEP(1) c. 1782 Ainslie(1796)	RMS III (2124) 1539-40 gives 10m AE one-third Auchnames. See below.
Waterside			NS 4061	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) CSEP(1) c. 1782 Ainslie(1796)
Faulds			NS 4061	Roy(PC) CSEP(1) c. 1782 Ainslie(1796)
Corbets			NS 3961	Roy(PC) CSEP(1) c. 1782	MacKenzie (pp 231-232). West & East Corbar in CSEP(1) c. 1782. Corbet Hill on OS Explorer 341.
Drygate			NS 3961	Roy(PC) CSEP(1) c. 1782 Ainslie(1796)
Hardgait			NS 3961	CSEP(1) c. 1782	MacKenzie (pp 231-232).
Margonhill			NS 3860/3960	Roy(PC) CSEP(1) c. 1782	MacKenzie (pp 231-232).
Total Thirdpart	10m

Wardhouse Farm			NS 3963	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)
Kilbarchan			NS 4063	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	Renfrew Retours (123) 1646 refers to the churchlands of the vicarage of Kilbarchan.
Kirklands of Kilbarchan			c. NS 4063		See below.

Barr of Kilbarchane (PTR 1695 pp 138-139)					Barr
Barr Hill	40s	1608	NS 4063	Roy(PC)	This is the Bar de Kilbarchan given as 40s AE in Renfrew Retours (26) 1608, (111) 1641 & (193) 1690.
Wester Wheatlands (see also under Weitlands below) Easter Weitlandis	13s 4d 5m	1607 1506	NS 4063	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	Witlands in Pont & Blaeu. Wheatlands in Roy – NNE of Kilbarchan, SE of Upper Pannel. Weetlands (Ainslie). 13s 4d Westerweetlands in Dundonald (314) 1607, (319) 1619; 13s 4d Weetlands (error for Westerweetlands?) (320) 1620. Estir Weitlandis is 5m in RMS II (3020) 1506. A split of 1m/5m between Wester & Easter is unlikely so we may be missing some of Wester.
Borlands (see also with Weitlands) Birdland	13s 4d	1519	NS 3963	Roy(PC)	13s 4d Dundonald (313) 1519, (319) 1619, (320) 1620; 13s in Dundonald (314) 1607 which is likely an error for 13s 4d. Borlands must originally have been bordland for a castle. Probably = Birdland in Roy.
Weitlands & Borlands	2m	1690			Renfrew Retours (189) 1690.
Kenmure Hill	3m	1544	NS 3860	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) CSEP(1) c. 1782	Kenmair/nen(Pont), Kennearnen(Blaeu). 40s (3m) ‘lie Caymuris Est et West’ in RSS III (854) 1544. 3m Kenmure Eistir & Westir in RSS VI (1790) 1572. Teinds belonged to Paisley Abbey. High & Laigh in CSEP(1) c. 1782. See below.
Auchindonane Auchendinning Hachindunan		1611 1283-1286	NS 3860/3960	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) CSEP(1) c. 1782	Auchindonane in RMS VII (672) 1612 on original of 1611. Likely part of Castlesempill barony (see Lochwinnoch table). The name is hard to read in Pont but is probably Achindu?_nen (with a gap between the letters). Blaeu has Achind to W of Brigend. CSEP(1) gives East and South Park of Auchendinning, as well as Auchendinning Farm-house, on north side of the river. This will be the Hachindunan mentioned as the site of a yar (yair or fish-trap) in RMP p 254 (WW Scott No 260 1283 x 1286). (See under Moniabrock, Lochwinnoch table). The yare of ‘Hathendonnam’ is mentioned in RMP pp 92-96 (WW Scott No 87, 1295). AHC Volume I No 44 1508 (= RMS II (3247)) refers to the corn-mill and waulk-mill of Auchindonane, mill-lands etc. See also under Elzeastoun & Howwood in Lochwinnoch parish.
St Bride’s Burn ‘Bryds B’(urn) in Pont			NS 3761/3860	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew)	West of Lawmarnock in Pont but Blaeu’s map clarifies that this is the St Bride’s Burn that joins the Black Cart near Kenmure. See below for St Bride’s
Chapel (St Bride’s) + chapel lands			NS 385609	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew)	Chapel (Pont), Chapell (Blaeu). This is the chapel of St Bride which appears to have been almost on the parish boundary. Canmore ID 42303. See below.
Branscroft (Brandscroft)		1505	NS 4063/4064	Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	Branscr(o)ft(Pont), Branscraft(Blaeu), Brandscroft(Roy). Brandiscroft in RMS II (2882) 1505. AHC Volume I No 48 1510-11 concerns an infeftment in ¼ of Brandiscroft. The footnote source reference is incorrect since it must refer to the Acts of the Lords of Council.

Law of Kilbarchane PTR 1695 (pp 132-133)					Lawland, Braes, Hairlawes, Goldenknows, Todholes, Wardhouse, Weitlands
Lands of Law: Roberston(1818)					Law, Goldenknolls, etc, Wardhouse, Four lesser Lots.
Harelaw			NS 3863	Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)
Goud Knows				Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796)	Just N of Monkland in Roy. Goldenknow (Ainslie). Goldenknolls – see Robertson 1818.

Dundonald’s Lands (PTR 1695 p 133)					Muirehead Roy marks Muirhead (twice) WSW of Linwood.

Total	170½m				This is a very tentative total since I do not have precise information about the composition of the different estates. It is arrived at largely by adding estate figures rather than those for individual farms.

The Semple family had a significant holding in this parish. For a breakdown of their estate see under Lochwinnoch Table.

MacKenzie, Kilbarchan – A Parish History, (hereafter ‘MacKenzie’); gives the Poll Tax Records for Kilbarchan in 1695. These list the lands in rather ideosyncratic groupings but I give them below for two reasons. Firstly because they help establish which smaller settlements belonged to which estates; secondly because they reveal the settlement pattern in 1695. They appear in Chapter VIII on pages 118-141:

Pp 119-121 The Lands of Johnstoune: Tandelehill, Johnstoune Myllne, Watersyde, Rendyck, Upper Walkmyllne, Barnaich, Nether Walkmyllne, Mains, Yeardfoot, Johnstoune, Haningsyde, Clayfauld, Hillhead, Mains, Guliehouse, Pynsdaill, Mains, Crokedaiken, Barsbush, Barsyde, Brigesyde.

(Walkmyllne = Waulk mill or fulling mill. There may have been more than farm called Mains; alternatively they were different parts of the same farm. Such considerations apply throughout the following entries also).

Pp 122-124 My Lord Semple’s Lands and Fewars. Third Pt (i.e Thirdpart): Murdgeonhill, Drygate, Corbarr, Hill, Mains of Thirdpart, Hardgate, Mains, Faulds, Thirdpart, Walkmyllne, Wattersyde, Bridgeflatt, Shaws, Dyckhead, Plainlees, Brandscroft, Corslett, St Bryde’s Chappell, Craigneock, Auchindinnane Myllne, Bridge, Damptoune.

P 124 Clothodrick: Greinsyde

P 125 Netherpennell: Netherpennell

Pp 125-126 Major Hamiltoune’s Lands and William Craig’s: Pennell, Foresyde, Forehouse, Boarland, Monkland, Clockhodrick

P 126 The Lands of Burntsheills – Belonging to the Earle of Dundonald: Bruntsheills

Pp 126-131 The Lands of Craigends: Auchincloich, Auchinseal, Tore, Torehill, Hill, Butthall, Thriplee, Lintwheet, Hallhill, Mossyde, Coalboog, Beyond the Hill, Manswray, Hardgate, Lochersydemyllne, Kamehill, Lochersyde, Bootstoune, Mains of Craigends, Mains of Craigstoune, Nether Craigends, Aikens, Manswray, Kilbarchane

Pp 131-132 The Lands of Over Johnstone: Bordsyeard

P 132 Clippins: Linwood

Pp 132-133 Law of Kilbarchane: Lawland, Braes, Hairlawes, Goldenknows, Todholes, Wardhouse, Weitlands

P 133 Dundonald’s Lands: Muirehead

Pp 133-135 The Lands of Blackstoune: Blackston, Nether Blackstoune, Selvieland, Midletoune, Linwood, Myllne of Cart

P 135 The Lands of Selvieland: Selviland

Pp 135-136 The Lands of Ramphorlie: Barnbrock, Barnbeth, Barmufflock, Hatoune, Shillingworth, Broounocklie, Dubsyde, Priestoune, Burnsyde, Horsewood, Golkhall, Calsyde, Clevans.

P 137 The Lands of Watterstoune: Between the Hills, Booghouse

P 137 Windiehill

Pp 137-138 The Lands of Fulltouns: Little Fulltoune, Moorefoot, Meikle Fulltoune, Green

P 138 Hair’s Pennell: Craigwoodie, Hareswall, High Pennell

Pp 138-139 Barr of Kilbarchane: Barr

Pp 139-141 The Lands of Auchinames: Yeardfoote, Pishenlinne, Overtoune, Colliochant, Glentyane, Mains, Banks, Mains, Glentyane, Mains, Nivine Croft, Lochpen, Robbstoune, Laumarnock, Gladstoune, Wardend, Mains, Cartsyde, Kublestoune, Glentyane Myllne, Lawmarnock, Cartsyde, Glentyane.

Robertson(1818) pp 362-3 comments on some changed names and gives a list of properties, proprietors and rents in the parish.

P 362 Johnstone became Milliken from 1733; whilst Easter Cochrane became Johnstone.

P 363 Properties:

Johnstone or Milliken,

Over Johnstone and Kilbarchan estate,

Weetlands,

Barr or Barrhill,

Thirdpart, Corseford, Corseflat, Clochadrich, Nebanny, etc

Craigends, Kaimhill, and Fulton’s Hallgreen,

Blackstoun, Selvielands, etc

Feuars of Achinames:

Bankhead,

Lawmarnock,

Cartside,

Killoochant,

Huthead,

Damton,

Gladston,

Roberton,

Pissinlinn,

Wardend,

13 Sundry small Lots,

Eight old feuars of Burntchells,

Three late feuars of Burntchells.

Lands of Law:

Law,

Goldenknolls, etc

Wardhouse,

Four lesser Lots,

Ramphorlie,

Barnbrock, feu of Ramphorlie

Barmufflock, feu of Ramphorlie

Barnbeth, feu of Ramphorlie

Bridge of Weir, feu of Ramphorlie

Clovens, Horsewood, feu of Ramphorlie

Tors,

Auchincloich and Auchinsales,

Manswary,

Littletown,

Plainlee,

Clippens,

Sandholes,

Burnfoot,

Moss-side,

Muirhead,

For a number of the above properties the valued rent was the same. This raises the possibility that their land-values were also equivalent. In the future we may be able to deduce more from such figures but I refrain from doing so at present.

From the Poll Tax Roll of 1695, Robertson’s list of 1818, and MacKenzie’s lists of 1902, we can construct a picture of the groupings of various estates within the parish. I have used these when constructing the table above – but there remain some anomalies. That is only to be expected given the time-span we are dealing with.

Dodds, p 24, 1695 mentions a 10s land of Auchinraith. I do not know where this is.

Johnstone

One of the most unusual charters concerns Ovir-Johnstone. RMS II (1901) 1489 refers to the lands of Ovir-Johnnestoun, extending to 5 ‘coronas’ AE. Almost all valuations according to the Scottish system are in merklands (mercatas terrarum). Merklands were a currency-based system and so land valuations were in libratas (poundlands), mercatas (merklands), solidatas (shilling-lands) and denariatas (pennylands), often in combination. In theory there is nothing untoward with introducing another currency-unit into the mix. We occasionally find half a pennyland expressed in terms of ‘obolus/obulus’ (halfpenny) or a farthing-land as a ‘quadrantem’. But ‘coronas’ or crowns is a complete departure from the norm and I only know of this example so far. A crown was probably thought to be 10 shillings-worth in 1489 so the definition is that Ovir-Johnston was 50s of land.

ER IX p 664 1456 gives a sasine to Andrew Galbraith of Ovir Johnestoun.

ER IX p 683 1484 gives a sasine to Thomas Galbraith of Ovirjohnstoun.

ER X p 765 1492 gives a sasine to James Galbraith of Ovirjohnstoun.

ER X p 766 1492 gives a sasine to James Schaw of Overjohnstoun.

RSS I (2013) 1509-10 gives Jhonestoun as 50s AE.

GD148/168-170 1547-8 give 50s Over Johnestoun.

GD148/305 1575 gives 50s Over Johnston.

ER XX pp 488-9 1575 gives 50s AE of Ovir Johnnestoun.

RMS VI (231) 1594-5 gives £6 Over & Nethir Johnestoun. (£6 = 120s).

ER XXIII p 422 1598-9 gives 50s AE of Over Johnestoun.

GD148/280 1598 gives 50s Over Johnstoun. GD148/281 1598 adds Boydisyaird. (See also GD148/81 1509-10, GD148/165 1544).

GD148/325-326 1598-9 give 50s Over Johnestone and Boyidisyaird.

Renfrew Retours (8) 1600 gives 50s AE of Over Jonstoune.

GD86/347 1602 gives 50s AE Over Johnestoun and Boyidiszaird.

Renfrew Retours (38) 1616 gives 50s AE called Ower Johnestoun & Boydsyaird

RMS VIII (732) 1621 gives 50s AE called Over Johnestoun and Boydisyaird.

RMS IX (640.1) 1637, on original of 1622, gives 50s AE called Over Johnestoun & Boidisyaird.

RS53 ff 16r-17v 1642 gives £6 Over and Nather Johnstoun.

RS53 ff 52v-53r 1642 gives 8s 4d AE of Overjohnstoun.

Renfrew Retours (124) 1646 gives 50s AE called Overjohnstoun & Bodiszairdis.

RMS IX (2081) 1649 refers to the £6 land of Over & Nather Maynes of Jonstoun.

RMS XI (538) 1663 refers to the £6 land of the Over & Nether Mains of Johnstoun. (Unfortunately the text of this charter is not wholly reliable).

‘Craigends’ p 128 c. 1690, gives 50s AE Over Johnston and Boyd’s Yard. It specifies Boyd’s Yard was 10s land, half of which was feued to the Kirk-session of Kilbarchan. On p 130 it also mentions a 12s 6d land of Over Johnston, (presumably part of the remaining 40s).

For more on Boydsyard or ‘The Boggard’ see MacKenzie p 163.

Over Johnstoun is pretty consistently 50s (3¾m). Over and Nether Johnstoun combined seems to have been £6 (9m or 120s). Nether Johnstoun would therefore appear to be 70s (5¼m).

Purves p 162 gives Authinbothie (sic) Wallace and Neather Johnstoun as £9 6s 8d (14m). Auchinbothie Wallace is in Lochwinnoch parish. This combined valuation implies Auchinbothie Wallace to be 8¾m. I don’t think this is correct. So either there have been errors in transcription, or extra unnamed properties are included, or there are arithmetic mistakes. I don’t think, therefore, we should accept these figures as they stand.

Stewart f 50r gives Auchinbothie Wallace and Nether Johnestoun as £9 6s 8d (14m).

Purves p 162 gives Over Johnstoun as £2 10s (3¾m).

Stewart f 50r gives Ower Jonstoun as 50s (£2 10s or 3¾m).

For the renaming of Johnstone as Milliken see S. Nisbet ‘A Map which changed History: Milliken Estate’ in Renfrewshire Local History Forum Journal Vol. 18 (2016) pp 54-59. Also GD148/402 1886/7 and Metcalfe(1905) p 420.

Selvieland

GD148/1 c. 1309, Walter the Steward gives the whole of his land of ‘Selvingland’ to Gilbert of Knok for half a knight’s fee. This document is a copy and there is one notable difference to another copy which is printed by MacKenzie on p 226. In the latter ‘Sewingland’ was given for the service of half a bowman.

ER IX p 669 1463 gives a sasine to Thomas Knox of Sewiland.

Renfrew Retours (150) 1656 20s AE Selviland.

Renfrew Retours (180) 1679 20s AE Selvieland.

GD437/158 1791 20s Silvreland.

Purves p 161 gives Selviland as £1 (1½m).

Stewart f 50r gives Selviland as £1 (1½m).

Auchans

Achinchoss/Achinchos was the subject of an early dispute between Paisley Abbey and Hugh (II) of Houstoun. See Houstoun and Killallan text file for full discussion. Paisley claimed it belonged to their church of Killallan. It was admitted to lie in Hugh’s ‘fee’.

RMP p 70 (Scott No 61 1424) concerns the resolution of a dispute between Geoffrey (Goldfridum) Nesbit and Paisley Abbey. The lands in question are spelled Auchinchos in the heading but Achinche in the text. Essentially, Geoffrey gives up any claim he thought he had to the lands.

These early spellings pose something of a dilemma when trying to establish the meaning of this place-name. The first element is undoubtedly from the Gaelic achadh (field) which is a settlement term widely used throughout Gaelic Scotland. But what does the second element mean? It appears to be innis which is the Gaelic term for an island or meadow – often anglicised to ‘inch’. (The Scots equivalent would be ‘haugh’). There are plenty of ‘Inch’ names in Renfrewshire so this should not surprise us. However it is difficult to square this with the earliest spellings. Furthermore, even as late as 1525 it appears as Auchinhufe (or Auchinhuse?) – see AHC Volume I, No 61 1525. It is of course possible that it went by both names, with Auchinch gradually becoming fixed.

Auchans appears in the Paisley Abbey Rental on pages lvii, lxxvii, lxxix-lxxx, cv, cxvii-cxix, cxxii, clii. Spellings are Auchinch, Auchynche and Auchinche. That this place is indeed Auchans is confirmed by the ordering of the farms in the Paisley Rental. Because it was a rolling rental, continually being updated with new leases for new tenants, it can be difficult to establish sequence. However the farms are generally listed in geographical order, within each lordship. Auchinch most commonly occurs alongside Linwood, Blackstone and Fulton – confirming it is the same as Auchans. Auchinch is marked as, or rented for 53s 4d (4m) in 1460, c. 1472, c. 1484, c. 1502, 1505 and 1539. There is one inconsistency. On p cv Auchinch was set to John Atkyn and John Knokis for £8, 4 wedders, a dozen geese (or 2 merks), at the Feast of Saint Thomas ‘minoris’ viz. Glasgow Fair, with other service, dated 8 February 1519. On p cxxii is what appears to be a repeat of this transaction, with one minor difference. It states Auchinch was set to John Atkyn and John Knok in 1519 paying p.a. £8, 4 wedders at Glasgow Fair, a dozen geese at St Mirren’s day (or 2 merks). These two entries are interesting for their payment terms but I cannot explain the sudden change in rent from 4m to £8 (12m). Moreover we are told the rent for Auchinch was 4m both before and after 1519. Although there is no defintive statement that Auchinch was a 4 merkland unit, the evidence points to it.

We have more evidence relating to Auchans in AHC Volume I No 57 1524, No 58 1525, No 59 1525-6, No 61 1525 – all to do with proceedings before the Lords of Council. There is nothing useful for land-assessment purposes but we are given names of both wrongdoers and tenants. For cross-referencing with the Paisley Rental see especially pp cv, cxvii-cxviii and cxxii of the printed version in Cameron Lees.

RMS IV (2411) 1575, on original of 1568, gives Auchynis, paying 4m for rent. The sasine for the original charter is GD148/295 1568. See also GD148/321 1597-1598 where the yearly duty of 53s is likely 53s 4d or 4m.

GD148/213 1583 gives 2m of Aichance giving 2m rent.

Craigends

GD148/19 1478-1479 gives Wester Craganys.

GD148/22 1479 gives Wester Craganis.

GD148/34 1488 gives Wester Craganys.

GD148/212 1583 gives 5m Cragence.

5m Over Cragenis in GD148/316 1591-2

GD148/317 1591-1592 gives 5m Craganis Manes (Mains).

GD148/244 1593 gives 5m Craganis.

Wester Craigends in Renfrew Retours (38) 1616

5m Nether Craigens in Renfrew Retours (48) 1617

5m Mains of Craiganes in RMS VIII (732) 1621.

5m Mains of Craigance in RMS IX (640.1) 1637 on original of 1622.

5m Neithercraigens in Dundonald (240) 1631 & 1632.

5m Mains of Craigance in Renfrew Retours (124) 1646

5m Nather Craigance in Renfrew Retours (124) 1646

Nether Craigends was often coupled with Ranfurly.

Fulton

The documents which follow are taken from the Register of Paisley Abbey (RMP). They are not in chronological order in the Register; nor are they numbered. For ease of identification I have added the numbers and possible dates which have been suggested by WW Scott (q.v.). It is important to note that the surviving Register is thought to date from the earlier part of the sixteenth century. It is a later copy of earlier records. It may even be a copy of a copy. As such we cannot take everything at face value. However I have dealt with the documents as they survive, without doubting their veracity.

We meet the name Fulton in a transumpt of a bull of Pope Clement IV. The transumpt is dated 1469 and is printed on pages 308-314 of RMP. The bull itself is dated 1265. It is also given (pp 8-11) and translated (pp 12-15) by Metcalfe in 1902. The document lists the churches, lands and privileges of Paisley Abbey. The relevant passage reads (RMP p 310):

Et totam terram de Penuld cum pertinentiis suis que dicitur Fulton, sicut eam quondam Henricus de Sancto Martino de assensu domini sui monasterio vestro dicitur contulisse.

Metcalfe (p 13):

And the whole land of Penuld with its pertinents which is called Fulton, as Henry de St. Martin, with the consent of his lord is said to have conferred it upon your Monastery.

We might assume that Penuld was renamed Fulton and passed to Paisley Abbey but I don’t think that is correct. The clue is to be found in RMP pp 48-9 (Scott No 42, 1173 x 1177) where Henry is allowed to give Paisley two carucates ‘in feuodo de Penuld’ (in the fee of Penuld). Penuld is evidently the name of the large estate or ‘fee’ which Walter Steward (Paisley Abbey’s founder) had given Henry de St Martin, who must have been one of his military supporters. In which case we can identify Penuld as the ‘caput’ or head, or lead residence of this military fee. It lies between Kilbarchan and Bridge of Weir. On Explorer 341 it appears as Penwold House and Pannell Farm (NS 3964/4064). In 1857 the latter was Penfield. In Pont (c. 1580-1595) it was Pennel.

Fulton is located in NS 4265 which is only a couple of kilometres away. I do not know if it was called Fulton when it was part of the fee of Penuld because it is not actually named in RMP pp 48-9 which dates between 1173 & 1177. It is just referred to as two carucates. It is also not named in RMP p 15 (1177 x 1204) – except in the title, which may be a later addition. However it is named by the time of the bull dated 1265. In later years Fulton appears regularly as a Paisley Abbey possession in the Paisley Rental book.

The first element in the place-name Penuld is a form of ‘Penny’ (or the Gaelic version peighinn). The same element is found in a number of Renfrewshire place-names, and throughout SW Scotland. The pennies in question were units of Hiberno-Norse currency which founded a land-assessment system which we find almost the full length of the west coast of Scotland. These coins first appeared c. 995 and, although their weight was progressively reduced, seem to have offered a stable currency unit until at least the 1060s. The many pennyland names in SW Scotland may have been established in the period 1000-1060. (See Place-names text file for further discussion).

It appears, from the subsequent documentation, that the gift of Fulton to Paisley Abbey was not quite as straightforward as it might seem. As with so many other properties in the old Lennox, north and south of the Clyde, it seems that a gift made by one generation, out of religiosity, repentance or fear, was then the object of attempted clawback by later generations of the same family. The following are documents related to Fulton which are printed in RMP. I have tried to arrange them in a probable chronological order.

RMP pp 48-9 (Scott No 42, 1173 x 1177) is a charter from Walter Stewart (Paisley Abbey’s founder) to Henry de St Martin, permitting him to gift to Paisley Abbey those two carucates which Walter gave him in the fee of Penuld. The boundaries are there described in detail. Firstly I give the translation offered by MacKenzie on p 32 of his History of Kilbarchan. After that, I have offered my own interpretation, line by line, with an explanation of the local geography.

MacKenzie: Beginning at the water of Grif and following the stream which is called Lochoc as far as the rill which falls into that stream; and along the said rill southwards between two hills [’Tween-ye-hills?] as far as the main road which goes to Penald, and from that main road in a straight line along the side of the great rising ground called Bar-Penald towards the site of a certain ancient chapel, as far as the adjacent burn, and along it until it falls into the water of Kert, and along the water of Kert until it meets the water of Grif, and along the water of Grif as far as the aforesaid stream of Lochoc.

In the following quotations the original Latin is underlined, followed by my interpretation:

Incipiendo scilicet ab aqua de Grif et assendendo per rivulum qui vocatur Lochoc – Beginning from the Water of Gryfe and going up by a stream called Lochoc. (The Locher descends roughly NE to join the Water of Gryfe in NS 4366. If we follow it upsteam we include the farm of Auchans which lies just SE of the Locher).

Usque ad parvum torrentem qui cadit in rivulum eundem – As far as a little burn which falls into that stream (i.e. into the Locher). (The hydrography of the area is difficult to trace on modern maps but Roy’s map shows quite clearly a small burn joining the Locher just to the east of Locherside (NS 4165).

Et sic per dictum torrentem versus austrum – And so by the said burn towards the south. (This little burn does, in its lower course at least, drain from south to north).

Inter duos colles usque ad magnam viam per quam itur apud Penuld – Between two hills as far as the big road by which you go towards Penuld. GD148/227 1586 refers to a James Cunynghame ‘betuix the Hillis’, plainly the name of his abode. There is an evocative little place-name in NS 4164 called, in Pont (c. 1580-95) ‘bet(ui)x the Hils’, in Roy (c. 1750) ‘Between hills’; in Ainslie (1796) ‘tween the Hills’ and in OS 6” 1^st Edition Renfrewshire Sheet XI (1857) ‘Tweeniehills’ – a placename which survives to this day. The Latin of 1173 x 1177 actually says ‘inter duos colles’ (literally: between two hills) of which ‘betwixt the hills’ seems a happy translation. In fact the phrase makes you wonder if the Latin is actually a twelfth-century monastic rendering of what was already a local place-name. (The monks of Paisley translated almost no local place-names into Latin – the most significant exception being Blackhall). Thus far, the boundary runs up the Locher, up a small burn just east of Locherside and past Tweeniehills to a big road. Roy’s map (c. 1750) only shows some roads but Ainslie’s (1796) shows many more, which can often be mapped to the modern road network. It is a big step from our document of 1173 x 1177 to Ainslie’s map of 1796 but it is entirely possible the road in question underlay some of what is now the A761 which runs past Penwold House & Pannell Farm to Bridge of Weir). The boundary then runs:

Et ab illa magna via in longum, per latus illius magni collis qui vocatur Barpennald, prope situm cujusdam antique capelle, – And from that big road, (going) along it, by the side of that big hill which is called Barpennald, near to the site of a certain old chapel. (The only hill which seems to fit is the Bar of Kilbarchan which lies on the east side of Kilbarchan. It is often mentioned in late mediaeval documents so it is perfectly comprehensible that it was also regarded as a significant landmark in the twelfth century. At first sight the suffix ‘-pennald’ seems puzzling but the modern Penwold House and Pannell Farm lie just NNW of Kilbarchan. Before the Bar was known as the Bar of Kilbarchan perhaps it was known as the Bar (of the fee) of Penuld.

Where was the old chapel? There was a chaplainry associated with St Catherine in the cemetery of Kilbarchan (see below under Lawmarnock) but it may not have been this since the church of Kilbarchan had been gifted to Paisley Abbey. However, when John, Lord Sympill founded the Collegiate Church of Lochwinnoch (RMS II (3020) 1506) he funded one chaplain from the lands of Nethir Pennell, with mill, and a second chaplain from the lands of Uvir Pennell (i.e. from the fee of Penuld). Why did he select these particular lands? Was it because they had once sustained a now abandoned chapel in the area? Once lands had served a religious function, the memory lingered in local consciousness and sometime we find them rededicated to a religious purpose in later times. John Sympill appropriated other church lands, (such as those supporting St Bryde’s Chapel, Kenmure), in the same document.

Usque ad torrentem propinquiorem qui cadit in aquam Kert – As far as the nearer burn which falls into the Water of Cart. (The Kilbarchan Burn runs south of the Barr Hill and then east to join the Black Cart Water at Johnstone Bridge. However it seems more likely that the burn in question is the one, marked clearly by Roy, which starts on the NE flank of the Barr Hill and then runs east to join the Black Cart Water a little east of Johnstone Bridge. (Just west of Barbush in OS 6” 1^st edition, 1857). It is not marked on Ainslie but on Roy it is shown with a source which is not very far south of ‘Between hills’. (In fact Roy also marks a road here which runs more or less north-south from one burn to the other). When the text uses the word propinquior (nearer, closer) perhaps the author is trying to stress that it is not the Kilbarchan burn.

Et per aquam de Kert usque in aquam de Grif, et per aquam de Grif usque ad predictum rivulum de Lochoc. – And by the Water of Cart as far as the Water of Gryfe, and by the water of Gryfe to the foresaid stream of Lochoc. (This completes the boundary circuit. The boundary follows the Black Cart roughly NE until it joins the Water of Gryfe in NS 4666. It then runs roughly west along the Gryfe back to the starting point in NS 4366 where the Locher joins the Gryfe.

The area thus described is actually quite large. Its western boundary is roughly Tweeniehills in NS 4164. Its eastern boundary lies in NS 4666. Its northern boundary is the Gryfe, its southern boundary is the Black Cart. It is up to 5 kilometres East-West and 3 kilometres North-South. It is unevenly shaped but we are talking of an area of up to 15 square kilometres. And yet the text of 1173 x 1177 refers to it as two carucates. If we accept that a carucate, as generally defined in south-eastern Scotland, was about 104 acres of arable then we have to grapple with the notion that there were only 208 arable acres in 15 square kilometres. (Scottish acres were slightly larger than English and it is very complicated comparing metrics over time – but today there are about 247 acres in one square kilometre). Two carucates just seems far too small. MacKenzie (p 33) was vexed by precisely the same concern.

The explanation may be that we should not be thinking in terms of carucates of 104 acres. Both bovates and carucates are scarce in Renfrew and when we do come across them I think they are imported terms. Perhaps it makes more sense to think of the Latin term carucata as a contemporary translation for whatever was the local land-assessment unit the FitzAlans, St Martins, etc first met in their new holdings. This area was part of the old Lennox so perhaps we should be looking for something like the arachors which are so common in Lennox north of the Clyde. In fact there is not a whiff of an arachor in Renfrewshire but we might have the presence of davachs.

Renfrewshire is not the only province where we may be misled by the terminology used in mediaeval Latin documents. In some parts of Scotland we come across the word quarterium used in the context of a large area of land. We might think that it just represents a quarter of some larger unit. For example we encounter them in Easter Ross. But we then have to explain why we meet with five of them. Also in Easter Ross we come across a word ‘maragium’ which seems to be Latin for a ‘mairdom’ (the area administered by a mair or local officer). Before now this has been confused with ‘maresium’ or area of marshland. It may be the case that the use of the word carucata in a Renfrew context is actually just an example of a contemporary scribe giving a Latin term, which he did know, to a local land-assessment unit which he was not familiar with – but thought might be equivalent.

There is a further complication in that the land defined in this charter includes far more than what is today found in Fulton. East and West Fulton are both located in one OS grid aquare (one square kilometre) labelled NS 4265. The rest of the land includes farms such as Selvieland, Birkenhead, Knows, Auchans, Windyhill, Mains, Clippens, Rywraes, Linwood, Middleton, and Blackstone. However there is a very large part of the bounded area (perhaps as much as one-third) which was useless for agriculture. Both Roy’s and Ainslie’s maps mark a large uncultivated bog or moss, some of which now goes as Linwood Moss. Many of the above-named farms skirt the edges of this bog. Moreover the Paisley rental shows that a number of them actually belonged to Paisley Abbey. These include Auchans, Linwood, Blackstone, Middleton and perhaps Knows. It is possible that the term Fulton covered a much wider area in the thirteenth century. It is also possible that not all of these names may have been developed farms at that period. Perhaps Paisley Abbey encouraged the economic development of the area surrounding the boggy wasteland.

It is also worth remembering that this area may not yet have been known as Fulton. We don’t meet that name in the text (as opposed to the headings) of any Paisley document until RMP pp 53-5 (Scott No 47 1219 x 1241). (I have accorded less weight to the headings of documents on the grounds that they may have been added later).

RMP p 49 (Scott No 43 1173 x 1177) is the charter to Paisley Abbey by Henry de St Martin of the two carucates in Penuld which his lord, Walter, son of Alan (i.e. the first Walter Stewart), gave him for his service. The boundaries were to be as set out in the charter to him by Walter Stewart i.e. as in RMP pp 48-9 (Scott No 42, 1173 x 1177) above. Fulton is not named and the lands are just described as being ‘in Penuld’ which we should interpret as being in the fee of Penuld. Witnesses included Walter Stewart’s son, Alan, and Henry’s own son and heir, Gilbert.

RMP p 15 (Scott No 16, 1177 x 1204) has a title which states it is a confirmation of Fultone by Alan, son of Walter Stewart (the abbey’s founder). (The document also deals with Kingarth in Bute). In the text the name Fultone is not used. Instead the text refers to all of Henry de St Martin’s land between Kert (Black Cart Water) and Grif (Gryfe Water). This land had been given to Henry by Alan’s father Walter Stewart. Henry had made this gift to Paisley on Alan’s advice and with the consent of Gilbert, Henry’s son and heir.

RMP pp 49-50 (Scott No 44 1208 x 1232) is a confirmation by Gilbert, son of Henry de St. Martin, of his father’s gift to Paisley Abbey; i.e. the 2 carucates in Penuld which Walter Stewart, lord of Henry and Gilbert, had given to Henry for his service. The document was probably drawn up by the monks because there are clauses against any sort of retraction. Again, Fulton is not named in the document, only in the heading – which may have been a later addition.

RMP pp 53-5 (Scott No 47 1219 x 1241) is a lease of the lands of Fulton to Master Antony Fisic. (What appears to be his surname may actually be a job-description – Fisic/Phisik/Physic – ie. a doctor. See also RMP pp 50-51 below). This is the first time the place-name Fulton is mentioned in the text of the document as well as in the title. It transpires that Thomas, son of Nicholas, and his father, had previously rented the land from the Abbot and convent of Paisley. The boundaries established by the charter of Henry de St Martin are also referred to.

RMP pp 308-314 (Scott No 283 1469 on papal bull of 1265) has been discussed at the beginning of this section.

RMP pp 50-51 (Scott No 45 1272) is a charter of quitclaim by Master Antony Lumbardus (Lombard), knight, of the whole land of Fulton. It appears Paisley Abbey had paid Antony some cash to settle his debts and the price was this quitclaim i.e. Antony would make no trouble over Paisley’s possession of Fulton. One of the witnesses was Thomas de Fulton. It seems likely that Master Antony Lumbardus was the same as (or perhaps son of) Master Antony Fisic of RMP pp 53-5. It seems plausible that Paisley Abbey would employ someone with medical knowledge and give them a farm for income.

RMP pp 51-53 (Scott No 46 c. 1272) is an advance agreement between Paisley Abbey and Thomas de Fulton (with his wife Matilda and their heirs). It appears Thomas and Matilda had paid over some money to the monastery. In return the Abbot and convent gave their ‘whole land of Fulton’ which Master Antony, knight, held from them. There was a qualification to the effect that this was to take place ‘post cessum vel decessum’ (after the withdrawal or death) of Master Antony, knight, and the boundaries were to be those by which Nicholas de Fulton held the land. (This is referring back to the Nicholas who rented the land before Master Antony (see RMP pp 53-5 (Scott No 47 1219 x 1241) above). Nicholas was the father of a Thomas – who may very well have been this Thomas). There was a further condition, that land at the Bridge of Cart, and other lands formerly held by Lawrence the Carpenter, and which Thomas, Matilda, or their heirs, hold from the monastery, should revert to the monastery after the withdrawal or death of Master Antony. Thomas, Matilda, and the three heirs who succeed them, will hold freely of the monastery, except for the fishery at Lincleve, which is retained. The rent for Fulton was to be 8 merks sterling, paid at two annual terms, Pentecost (Whitsun) and Martinmas. After the death of Thomas and Matilda’s three heirs the land was to revert to the monastery. Thomas must have been a man of some substance since his seal was appended. The document gives welcome evidence of a bridge over the Cart and the existence of a fishery at Lincleve (Linclive NS 4464 in Paisley parish. Roy marks Lin Cleav on the east side of the Black Cart). The fishery consisted of cruvis (a type of fish-trap) in the river which are mentioned in RSS Vol VI (1788) 1572 (English) or AHC Volume II No 176 (Latin).

RMP pp 55-56 (Scott No 48 c. 1272) is an acknowledgement, by Thomas de Fulton, to the Abbot and convent of Paisley, of a letter of lease from the Abbot. The lease acknowledes a payment by Thomas, which relieved the abbey’s debts, and grants him all the land at the Bridge of Cart which Stephen Marescall (Marshall) formerly held of the monastery. It also grants him ‘those two lands’ which Laurence the Carpenter held of the monastery whilst he lived. Thomas and Matilda (his wife), and their heirs, were to hold these lands of the monastery until the land of Fulton, currently held by Master Antony, knight, reverts to the Abbey on his withdrawal or death; which land of Fulton, Thomas, Matilda and their heirs will then hold, as set out more fully in the document between the two sides concerning this. (This indicates that RMP pp 51-53 above, was written earlier). And then, the land at the Bridge of Cart, and those which the aforesaid Lawrence held, will revert to the Abbey without any dispute from Thomas, Matilda or their heirs. This lease by the Abbey, of lands formerly held by Stephen Marshall and Lawrence the Carpenter, was to cost Thomas, Matilda and their heirs 20s silver per annum, paid at two terms, half at Martinmas, half at Pentecost (Whitsun). Perhaps we can see it as a sort of interim concession – the Abbey would lease these lands, which were less valuable (1½ merks worth as opposed to 8 merks worth), until Master Antony gave up Fulton and freed it for Thomas and his family to take on. Again the fishery of Lincleve was specifically retained for the Abbey.

Can we identify these lands at the Bridge of Cart or the lands which Lawrence the Carpenter held? We don’t have much to go on except that one of the three small parcels of land will have been beside the bridge. Cumulatively they were worth 20s. Of the Paisley properties in Kilbarchan perhaps the most likely are Linwood (worth 40s later), Middleton (10s) and Blackstone (10s). Part of Linwood seems the likelist location for the bridge. Blackstone and Middleton were on the edge of the large bog and probably not along a popular travel route.

If we look at these documents as a group (W.W. Scott No’s 45, 46 & 48), they are likely very close to each other in date. Perhaps we should view them rather like the entries in the Paisley Rental. The earliest entries in that document date from 1460. Those under discussion here, date about 190 years earlier. But they are similar. They are simply records of lease arrangements. It is also interesting that there is no indication of the size or value of the properties – beyond what they paid in rent. They are not described as bovates or carucates or davachs. All we know is that Stephen Marshall’s holding by the Cart, plus Lawrence the Carpenter’s two pieces of land, paid 20s (1½ merks) rent; whereas Fulton paid 8 merks. What this might suggest is that land-valuations at this time could be expressed as rents; that the assessed value of land in terms of merklands matched the silver rent it paid. So Fulton would have been an 8 merkland unit whilst the three properties held by Stephen Marshall and Lawrence the Carpenter amounted to a 20s unit or 1½ merklands. (It is possible that this 20s unit was divided into three 6s 8d units but we cannot prove this). If this proposal is correct it would chime with the argument that when Paisley monastery received land, it had already been accorded a merkland valuation. That will have taken place between the period when the currency, and the merkland system, were established, c. 1136, and the foundation of Paisley monastery in the 1160s.

(See also under Burntshields in this parish for another good example of valuation matching rent).

RMP pp 56-8 (Scott No 49 1410) is an instrument of resignation by William Urry (Urri in the document), of a lease of Fulton back to the Abbey and convent. (The date in the text is actually 9 January 1409 but in that era the new year began on 25 March so, by our reckoning, 9 January 1409 would be 9 January 1410. These dating differences are sometimes referred to as ‘Old Style’ and ‘New Style’). The Abbot and convent then leased the lands of Fulton back to William Urri for life. The rent was to be 8 merks Scots, paying at two annual terms of Pentecost (Whitsun) and Martinmas. It is interesting that the rent was still 8 merks in 1410. RMP pp 51-53 (Scott No 46 c. 1272) gives it as 8 merks sterling. By 1410 it was just 8 merks of the usual money of Scotland. The fourteenth century had seen considerable depreciation of the Scottish currency so although the rent was nominally unchanged between c. 1272 and 1410 the currency itself was much debased. Nevertheless the nominal equivalence is important when we come to consider issues of ‘Auld Extent’.

The above-quoted documents give us good evidence that Fulton was an 8-merkland unit. However, as we shall see below, we also meet evidence that Fulton was worth considerably more than that. I cannot easily resolve this conundrum. However, we should consider that Fulton may have served as both a farm-name and also as an estate-name. In the latter case it may also have been held to contain some additional neighbouring properties.

Fulton appears in the Paisley Rental on pages lvi-lvii, lxxviii-lxxix, civ, cxviii, cli-clii and clxxvii. Spellings are Foulton, Foultoun, Ffultone, Ffulton, Ffowlton and Fowlton.

Fulton was a large and important unit, with a mill, so the entries are extensive. In the first two sets of entries (1460 and c. 1472) we are given the various subdivisions by which the farm was rented out. These subdivisions were set for 20s (1½m), 13s 4d (1m), 40s (3m), 10s (¾m) and contain much interesting detail about customary gifts and services due from the tenants. For example, le cane (cain) is mentioned on p lxxix. Unfortunately, because the rental was a working document which was continually updated, with former leases scored out and new ones entered, it is difficult to arrive at a total rent unless one is specifically mentioned.

That doesn’t happen until c. 1484 (p civ) when we have a sub-heading below the name Ffultone which states £8 6s 8d and 150 poultry. The rents given actually come to £10 13s 4d (i.e. £2 6s 8d more) but this quite possibly means that some redundant leases had not been scored out when new tenants were entered.

The total rent due is confirmed c. 1502 (p cxviii) when the heading ‘Ffulton’ is followed by a statement of £8 6s 8d, 150 poultry. Better still, the six rental entries which follow add up to £8 6s 8d and 150 poultry. (The subdivisions were 4m with 48 poultry, 1m with 12 poultry, 20s (1½m) with 18 poultry, another 20s (1½m) with 18 poultry, 40s (3m) with 36 poultry and two 10s (¾m) units (i.e. making a total of 20s) with 18 poultry. This displays a regular system whereby each merkland was responsible for producing a dozen poultry). The whole of Fulton came to 12½m (£8 6s 8d).

Unfortunately the next rental (pp cli-clii c. 1525) introduces new complications. The title gives Ffowlton, with mill, Auchinch, Blackstone and Middleton £37 16s 8d, 4 long carriages (an obligation to undertake a journey, perhaps carrying freight, for the landlord), 186 poultry. This presents questions. Firstly, Fulton, Auchinch, Blackstone and Middleton, did not have land-assessments which together came anywhere near £37 16s 8d. Secondly, the leases which feature on pages cli-clii do not cumulatively amount to anything like £37 16s 8d. In fact they amount to 14 merks – which may include some duplication. Fortunately the answers to these anomalies appear in some post-Reformation documents given below.

The Mill of Fulton appears on p clii and was set to Gibbert Cummyn (Gilbert Cumming?) for £6 13d (probably a mistake for £6 13s 4d or 10 merks). It appears it was then set to John Cwmyng (Cumming), son to the late Gibbert, in June 1511, paying ‘teme’ (ten?) merks.

The very first lease mentioned on p cli (c. 1525) concerns John Brown’s ‘Sted’ which was 4 merkland set for 53s 4d (4m) – which is useful confirmation that merklands of valuation then returned a matching amount of silver rent. This farmstead was set to Robert Brown, probably son to John Brown. It turns out this family were well-rooted locally. If we look back through the Fulton leases we find that both a Henry Broune and a William Broune were tenants in 1460; a Peter Brown was a tenant in 1475. Peter Brone was a tenant paying 4m c. 1484, as was a John Broun also paying 4m. Finally, a John Brone tenanted another part of Fulton for 13s 4d (1m) in the same 1484 rental. However since his guarantor was also called John Brone I have given up trying to work out which John Brown was which! (When the rental uses the word plegio it refers to another tenant who was prepared to stand security. Brone, Broun, Broune etc are all variants of Brown). In the rental c. 1502 (p cxviii) we come across a John Brown senior, a John Brown junior and a Robert Brown. In the rental c. 1525 (pages cli-clii) we find Robert Brown renting John Brown’s ‘Sted’ and, in 1543, the land was set to Robert’s son, John. One, or two, John Brown’s appear again as tenants on p clii.

The last rental given, from 1550, appears on p clxxvii and is for Fulton with mill. No detail is given but the summary total is £37 16s 8d, as we already met on p cli c. 1525. Obviously this figure meant something but it is not a land-assessment. There is good evidence that Fulton was assessed by Paisley Abbey as £8 6s 8d land or 12½ merklands.

Fortunately, post-Reformation we have documents which help clear up some of the unanswered questions.

RSS VI (1788) 1572 refers to 53s 4d (4m) AE Ovir Foultoun occupied by John Broun and his mother, 40s (3m) AE Over Foultoun occupied by John & Robert Symsoun, 1 merkland occupied by John Hall and his mother, 20s lands occupied by John Adame (a total of 9½m). The document goes on to list 40s of Lynwod, 10s of Myddiltoun and 10s of Blakstoun – extending in total to ‘14 merk lands of old extent’ (which total is correct). Also found in AHC Volume II, No 176.

RMS V (260) 1581, on original of 1580, is a royal confirmation of a charter from the commendator of Paisley, who had set in feufarm, 10s Blakstoun, 10s Middiltoun, 40s Lynwode and £6 6s 8d lands (unnamed in the printed RMS but plainly Fulton) – which latter lands were occupied by Jo. Broun, Jo. Hall, Gabriel Symsoun, the late Jo. Adam and Jo. Cumyng. The document states that these came to 14m AE (which they do), and with them went the mill of Fulton and mill-lands – along with the astricted multures and sequels of 19 merklands of Auld Extent called ‘Foultounis’, and the teinds of the foresaid 14 merklands. The scope of the astricted multures shows that there were (at least) 19 merklands thirled to Fulton Mill and that collectively these 19 merklands went under the generic name of Fultons. What this suggests is that Fulton was once an even larger estate of at least 19 merklands but had fragmented over the centuries.

The document then goes on to define the Reddendo, or what was rendered annually, by the 14 merkland estate:

£25 10s for teinds

18 bolls oatmeal and 2½ bolls barley (or 6s 8d for each boll). Commuted, this gives £6 16s 8d (20½ bolls x 6s 8d (½ merk) = 10¼ merks = £6 16s 8d)

150 ‘pultrie fowlis’ (i.e. poultry) at 4d each gives £2 10s (150 x 4d = 600d = 50s or £2 10s)

30s (£1 10s) for 6 carriages (i.e. the obligation to undertake a carriage was commuted at 5s for each carriage)

6s for ‘lie bone silver’ (boon silver which was a customary gift of a small amount of money)

13s 4d in augmentation of the rental – i.e. a rent-rise.

The document gives the total Reddendo at £37 6s (which is correct for £25 10s + £6 16s 8d + £2 10s + £1 10s + 6s + 13s 4d).

We now have an explanation for the apparent anomalies, on p cli (c. 1525) and p clxxvii (1550) of the Paisley Rental, where the figure given was £37 16s 8d. There are slight differences with the number and type of carriages, and the number of poultry, but the main difference must be that these figures in the Paisley Rental include the teinds.

RMS V (2070) 1591-2 is a royal confirmation of Paisley Abbey properties to Claud Hammyltoun. Included are payments to ministers of the various parishes. The minister of Kilbarchan is to be paid the same as the minister of Cathcart, with the exception of the vicarage teinds of the 19 merklands of ‘Fultounis’. Just as in 1580 it appears there was a larger unit called ‘the Fultons’ which was still recognisable, albeit breaking up into its component units. Nineteen merklands seems an unlikely total but we lack further detail.

4m Meikle Fultoun, 40s Little Fultoun, 1m Foultoun, called Hallgreen, are given in a marriage contract of 1794, (The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell, pp 381-2).

Ryverees

GD148/189 2 February 1558-1559 is a feu charter by the Abbot of Paisley of the lands of Rivraythis and Wyndhill. This shows the two properties to have been monastic property but these place-names do not appear in the Paisley Rental. It is likely they were classed as parts of Fulton (see above).

GD148/204 1577 gives Rywrayis and Windehill. GD148/221 1585 gives 20s Ryvras. Rywrayis in GD148/222 1585.

GD148/223 & 224 20 December 1585 deal with an excambion, or exchange, of 20s Rywrayis for 20s Windihill.

GD148/322 & 323 1598 give 20s Rywrayis (except a part called the Clippingis). (See also under Windyhill below).

20s AE Rywraithes in Renfrew Retours (123) 1646. Ryewraiths is referred to in a marriage contract of 1794, given in The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell, pp 381-2. There is another place of the same name in Renfrew parish, north of the Clyde.

Windyhill

GD148/204 1577 gives Rywrayis and Windehill.

GD148/223 & 224 20 December 1585 deal with an excambion, or exchange, of 20s Rywrayis for 20s Windihill. (‘Windihill alias Buittismaling and Muirheid’).

Renfrew Retours (100) 1637 gives 20s AE de Windiehill, alias Buttismealling, Muirheid & Clippingis. It adds, after Clippingis, nunc vocatis (now called) which suggests the property was originally just known as Windiehill – but now composed of these three distinct parts. I have no valuations for the subdivisions but 20s divided by 3 would give 3 x half-merk properties. For Clippingis see also GD148/322 & 323 1598 under Ryverees above.

RS53 ff 49v-50r 1642 gives lands called Mureheid, part of 20s of Windiehill, otherwise called Butismailling, Mureheid and Clippingis.

There is also 6s 8d AE Boutistoune in RMS XI (688) 1664 or 8s AE Bulistoune in RMS XI (953) 1666 – which appear to be connected to Leitchland. (See Paisley table). Bootsmailing is separate to Boutistoune (which is probably the same as Bulistoune), but Leitchland is not that far away and, to complicate matters further, there is also a Windyhill close to Leitchland. It would help if we could locate Boutistoune.

Bootstoun in ‘Craigends’ pp 120 & 122, c. 1690; Bootsmailen, Clippens and Windyhill on p 122.

The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell, pp 381-2, in a marriage contract of 1794, mentions Bootstoun and the superiority of the lands of Clippens, Windyhill, and Bootsmailing.

Linwood

Linwood appears in the Paisley Rental on pages lvii, lxxix, civ-cv, cxviii, clii. Spellings are Lymbede, Ye Lenwode, Lynwode, Llynwode and Lynwod. No valuation is given but it is set for, or marked as, 40s in 1460, c. 1472, c. 1484, c. 1502 although it was often divided in two halves of 20s each. On the basis of the rental and the general rule that Paisley properties paid a silver rent that matched their valuation it must have been a 40s land. This is substantiated by the post-Reformation documents.

Blackstone

Blackstone appears in the Paisley Rental on pages lvii, lxxix-lxxx, cv, cxviii and clii. Spellings are Blaxton, Claxton, Blaxtoun, Blakston and Blaxstone.

The first entry (p lvii, 1460) states that it was ‘in manibus abbatis pro grange’ – i.e. ‘in the hands of the abbot as a grange’ or store for the grain rendered by the abbey’s farms. However the property still produced 20s cash along with poultry and service ‘debito et consueto’ – which coupling approximates to the old Scots phrases ‘aucht and wont’ or ‘used and wont’. After this the term ‘grange’ is not employed again but c. 1484 and c. 1502 the property is said to be ‘in manibus domini’ (in the hands of the lord – i.e. the abbot) so it was quite probably still functioning as a grange. In 1460, c. 1472, c. 1484, c. 1502 it either returned, or is marked as, 20s.

On p cv, c. 1484, we are told that part of the property, ‘fra the wod wast’ (from the wood west) was set to John Syme and James Erskyn paying £10 p.a. free from all other service. This may be resolved by the entry on p clii (probably post 1525) which states that one part of Blakston ‘viz. Myddilton x s land’ was set to James Erskyn and John Symmyr for £10. These two were either the same as, or sons of, the two tenants mentioned c. 1484. It appears that half of Blackstone – 10s worth – was called Middleton.

Paisley Rental p clxvii refers to the fishing of the Water of Blaxton, with the ‘crewis’ (cruives or fish-traps).

On 14 January 1553 James Erskyn’s share was set to John Aitkyn, with the agreement of (?) Brown (her forename is not given), wife of the said James and mother of the said John. However, James and his wife were to enjoy the liferent whilst they survived.

Further entries tell us that 10s land with mansura (dwelling-house) and meadow were in the abbot’s hands; that ‘The ward above the place x s’ – which probably means the ‘ward’ paid 10s rather than had a valuation of 10s; and ‘The zard of Blaxstone xx s to pay at mertymess’ – which probably also means that the yard of Blackstone paid 20s at Martinmas (November) rather than had a valuation of 20s.

In sum, although it looks at first sight as if Blackstone was worth 20s, it is more probable that it was worth 10s with Middleton worth another 10s. However, I do not know if Middleton was a relatively late creation or subdivision of Blackstone.

Macfarlane’s Geographical Collections Vol. II, p 206, states:

‘Blackstoun the summer duelling of the Abbots of Paslay built by George Shaw Abbot of Paslay, where his armes are to be seen’.

Crawfurd, 1710, p 64, writes

Lower, upon the River of Black-Cart stands the House of Blackstoun, adorned with large Orchards, and beautified with Planting. This Place was the Summer-dwelling (or the Country-house) of the Abbot of Pasly, and was built by George Shaw, Abbot of that Monastery, in the Reign of King James IV.

Locherside

3½m AE of Waterstoun now called Lochersyd in Renfrew Retours (38) 1616.

3½m of Watterstoun called Lochersyde in RMS VIII (732) 1621

3½m of Watterstoun called Lochersyde in RMS IX (640.1) 1637 on original of 1622

3½m of Waterstoun called Lochersyid in Renfrew Retours (124) 1646

20s de Lochersyde in barony of Ramphorlie-Cunynghame, Renfrew Retours (175) 1676 & (191) 1690.

‘Craigends’ p 134 c. 1690 gives 3½m Locherside. In the breakdown of lands it mentions Hairhill, Brokstoun, Meadow-Brow, Littletoun, Milside, Lochermill, Locherlip, Clayfaulds, Hardgate, and Bankend. I am not sure if these should all be regarded as parts of Locherside. For Meddow-brow see also p 25. Roy marks Meadowbrow E of ‘Betweenhills’.

Waterstone

Early spellings of this place-name suggest it is more likely derived from the personal name Walter. For earliest history see OPS I p 85 & fn 3.

RMS II (1406) 1478, on original of 1458, is a royal confirmation of a charter by Alexander Cunynghame, lord of Kilmaweris, who had granted his brother, Archibald, the lands of Walterstoun, saving an acre in a place called Perdovingishill.

GD148/16 1477 gives a charter by Alexander, Lord Kylmawris of an annual rent of 15m from Valterston.

ER X p 771 1495 gives a sasine to Cuthbert, Lord Kilmaurs, of Walterstoun.

GD148/100 1520 gives Walterstone.

GD148/124 1533 gives Valterston and Walterston. It included the Mains, Boghous and an acre of meadow called the ‘Yell of Man’.

GD148/125 1533 gives Abyrnythyston, Brouston, Sympylston and Darrochston in Kilbarchan. The first of these 4 units was definitely part of Walterston and the latter 3 probably were. The place-names likely derive from the surnames of the tenants of parts of Walterston who may have been called Abernethy, Brouster, Semple and Darroch respectively. In each case the ending ‘-ston’ just implies ‘Abernethy’s toun’ etc.

GD148/130 1533 gives Walterstone.

GD148/134 1534 gives 9m 20d (9⅛m) lands of Abyrnethestone within Walterstone.

GD148/166 1547 gives Watterstoun.

GD148/185 1556 gives Watterstone.

GD148/186 1556 gives 3½m of Wattirstoune.

GD148/296 1568 gives 3½m of Watterstoun.

There are references to £7 10s AE Waterstoun, part of Ramferlie-Cunynghame in Renfrew Retours (96) 1635, GD39/5/104 1635 and Renfrew Retours (165) 1666. In GD39/1/316 1671 it is £6 Waterston, part of Ranfurly Cunningham and in Renfrew Retours (169) 1670 it is both £6 and £7 10s which suggests things are becoming muddled in transition.

RS53 ff 16r-17v 1642 gives £7 13s 4d Waterstoune, as well as 3 named units within that which amount to 42s 6d (20s Hayneingsyde, 20s Hillheid, 2s 6d Clay Slape. This last name also appears as Claysloppe or Cleysloppe).

Laing Charters (2456) 1654 gives the Mains of Watterstoun, with tower, etc., as 30s land. See also (2458) 1654 and (2515) 1657. 30s again in (2659) 1670.

RMS IX (2081) 1649 gives Hayningsyd, Hilheid & Cleystoppe as parts of Watterstoun. RMS XI (538) 1663 is similar but muddled.

There are references to 6s 8d of the Mains of Waterstoun, in barony of Ramphorlie-Cunynghame, in Renfrew Retours (175) 1676 and (191) 1690.

I don’t think we can give a definitive picture of quite how Waterstone was divided up – and that division may have varied over the centuries. Nevertheless, the overall valuation of £10 (15m) given in 1558 seems reasonable.

Purves p 162 gives Ramforlie, Coningham, Waterstoun and Finlaystoun as £61 6s 8d (92m). (The first two names should read Ramforlie-Cuningham).

Stewart f 50r gives Ranfourlie Conighame(,) Wattirstoun(,) Findlistoun as £61 6s 8d (92m). (The bracketed commas are my suggestions).

Unfortunately, we do not know the precise components of this very large estate given by Purves and Stewart. Ranfurly-Cuningham and Waterstoun are in Kilbarchan parish, Finlaystone is in Kilmacolm parish.

Pannell

GD148/61 1503 records that a sheriff court of Renfrew was held at the Cross of Pennold in Kilbarchan.

RMS II (3020) 1506 concerns the establishment of the Collegiate Church of Lochwinnoch by John, Lord Sympill. He funded 1 chaplain from the lands of Nethir Pennell with mill; a second chaplain from the lands of Uvir Pennell plus an annual return of 40s from the lands of Estir and Wester Birntschelis (Burntshields).

GD148/161 1543 includes a reference to Over Pennall.

MacKenzie p 276 1549 gives Pennall-brais from Sir John Craufurd’s Protocol Book.

MacKenzie p 277 1549 gives Pinnel from Sir John Craufurd’s Protocol Book.

Ranfurly

MacKenzie, p 260, describes this, firstly, as a district name: ‘bounded on the North by the Gryffe, on the east by Craigends, on the south and south-east by the Locher, and on the west and north-west by the Carruth Burn and the Gotter Water’. He quotes a document from the reign of Robert III which can be found in RMS I Appendix 2, Index A No 1873 (dated 1399) and Index B No 27. (Index B spells it Rainfarnly). This can also be found in the NRS online catalogue under GD39/1/14. These lands of Ranfurly were owned by the Cuninghams so it appears any division of Ranfurly between the families of Knox and Cuningham may have occurred before 1399.

There is another document from the time of Robert, Duke of Albany (Governor of Scotland), given at RMS I Appendix 2, Index A No 1975 (dated 1413) and Index B No 8. (Index B spells it Ranfarnele). This can be found under Laing Charters No 94. (The spelling is Ranfarule – read Ranfarnle?). This also concerns the Cuningham portion of Ranfurly.

Ranfurly-Cuningham

MacKenzie (p 260) states that this included ‘Hallhill, Lochermill, Lintwhite, Coalbog, High and Low Auchinsale, East and West Auchincloich, Manswraes, Torr, Threeplie, and Craigbet’.

ER X p 771 1496 gives a sasine to Cuthbert, Lord Kilmaurs, of Finlastoun Cuningham (Kilmacolm parish) and Ranforthy (Ranfurly) Cuninghame.

Purves p 162 gives Ramforlie, Coningham, Waterstoun and Finlaystoun as £61 6s 8d (92m). (The first two names should read Ramforlie-Cuningham).

Stewart f 50r gives Ranfourlie Conighame(,) Wattirstoun(,) Findlistoun as £61 6s 8d (92m). (The bracketed commas are my suggestions).

Unfortunately, we do not know the precise components of this very large estate given by Purves and Stewart. Waterstoun is also in Kilbarchan parish, Finlaystone is in Kilmacolm parish.

Manswrae

NRAS4366/2 1497 refers to Manniswray, Lyntquhit, the Knappis and the miln of Lochyr in the barony of Ranfourly Cunninghame.

GD148/200 1575 refers to Maniswray and Lyntquhytte.

RMS VIII (732) 1621 refers to Manswray, mill, mill-lands, Halhill, Lochermylne, Lintquhyte, Coilboig, Auchensaillis & Auchencloich extending to £8 AE in barony of Ramfurlie-Cunnynghame.

Renfrew Retours (124) 1646 refers to £8 AE of Manswray + mill, Halhill, Lochermylne, Lintquhyt, Coilboges, Auchinseillis & Auchincloiche.

RMS IX (640.2) 1637 refers to £4 AE Manswray + mill, Halhill, Lochermylne, Lintquhyt & Coilboig in barony of Ramferlie-Cunynghame.

The second and third documents above are essentially the same, the fourth excludes Auchensale & Auchencloich and reduces the extent by £4 (6m). The £4 (6m) Manswray of 1637 may be the same as the 6m referred to in 1496 but it is not possible to prove that. Early documents often just included the name of the head of an estate – the other components sometimes emerge in later centuries but it is hard to demonstrate continuity with the scarcity of early data.

‘Craigends’ pp 134-136, c. 1690, gives 19½m including £4 (6m) Manswray. From the breakdown given it may be that this included Coalbog, Lintwhite and Hallhill. For Hall-hill see also p 26.

Threeply (with Craigbat & Torr)

AHC Volume I No 80 24 January 1530-1531 refers to £5 land of Cragbait, Tor and Thraiplie.

AHC Volume I No 81 26 January 1530-1531 refers to £5 land of Cragbat, Tor and Threiply.

GD148/119 16 March 1531-1532 is a charter of sale by Lord Lyill to Gabriel Sympill (Semple) of £5 Craigbait, Tor & Threple. See also GD148/120.

AHC Volume I No106 20 December 1538 refers to £5 AE land of Cragbait, Tor and Threiplie – albeit divided into two sections of £4 and 20s (£1).

RSS II (2586) 1538 refers to £5 AE of Cragbait, Torr and Threply in the parish of Kilbarchan.

RSS II (3467) 1540 refers to £5 land of Cragbait, Tor and Threiple.

RSS II (3676) 1540 refers to the lands of Cragbait, Tor and Threiplie.

MacKenzie p 276 1541(?) gives 40s Toris from Sir John Craufurd’s Protocol Book.

RMS IV (586) 1550-1 gives £5 AE of Craigbait, Tor and Threiply in the parish of Kilbarchan.

ER XX p 480 1575 gives £5 AE of Craigbait, Thoir and Threiplie.

RMS VII (1841) 1618 gives £5 AE of Craigbeat, Toir and Threiplaw with fortalice and manor-place.

GD148/121 1531-1532 to 1627 (An Inventory of Semple Writs to Craigbaitt, Toiris & Threiplie). See also: GD148/122 1531-1532, GD148/123 1532, GD148/148 1538, GD148/154-156 1540, GD148/157-158 1540-1541, GD148/160 1541, GD148/175-177 1550-1551, GD148/304 1575.

Renfrew Retours (143) 1653 gives £4 (AE) Craigbatt & Threiplie, and 20s (AE) Toir, in parish of Kilbarchane.

RMS XI (1152) 1668 gives £4 lands of Craigbait and Threplies, and 20s of Easter Toirs, with tower etc., in parish of Kilbarchan.

‘Craigends’ pp 132-4, c. 1690, gives a £5 land comprising ‘Torrs, Craigbait, Butts and Threeplies’. In the detailed breakdown are mentioned: Torr, Torrhill, Middle-Torry, Torry, Hall of Craigbate, Butts and Threeplies. For Toirhill see also pp 24-25.

Unscrambling these properties is a puzzle. In the documents quoted they tend to be located in Kilbarchan. On maps which show parish boundaries it looks as if Craigbet was actually in Kilmacolm, in a little triangle of land between the River Gryffe and Carruth Burn. Threeply, Torr Hall, East Torr, Torr Hill and a now-lost West Torrs were all in Kilbarchan. RMS V (1822) 1590-1 gives us 20s AE Craigbait, 20s AE of Threiplie and 20s AE Over Toir & Toirhill.

Craigbet under Kilmacolm parish gives references to £5 AE of Craigbait & Kersmedo. There are also references to 40s Little Craigbait.

It is difficult to be certain but perhaps we are dealing with 3 different sets of properties here. The main part of Craigbet and its pertinents in Kilmacolm parish was worth £5 AE. There was also another part of Craigbet referred to as ‘Little’ which, with its pertinents, was worth 40s AE – also in Kilmacolm. There was a neighbouring property in Kilbarchan which may have included some of Craigbet, but certainly included Torr and Threeply and which was worth £5. The Kilmacolm-Kilbarchan parish boundary may have been slightly different in earlier times. The total valuation, as I have outlined it, would be £5 + 40s + £5 = £12 or 18m.

The place-name ‘Threeply’ itself indicates lands that were disputed. Roy marks a ‘Gouk hill’ just SE and such names are sometimes associated with early boundaries. Compare another Gowk Hill/Gowkstane at the northern edge of Lochwinnoch parish.

Purves p 161 gives Craigbett, Tar and Threiplie as £5 (7½m).

Stewart f 50r gives Craigbet Toir and Threplie as £5 (7½m).

Ranfurly-Knox

MacKenzie (p 260) states that this included ‘Brannocklie, Prieston, Shillingworth, Haltoun, Horsewood, Horsewoodhead, Barmufflock, North and South Barnbeth, Barnbrock, Clevans, and Calside’.

20m Ramphurlie in Dundonald (227) 1537. (Knox).

£13 AE Ranferlie-Knox & Nethir Craganis in RMS VI (230) 1594-5 on original of 1593. Since Nether Craigends was 5m in 1578 this would make Ranfurly-Knox 14½m (£13 = 19½m less 5m = 14½m).

£10 AE Ranfurlie-Knox in Renfrew Retours (14) 1603.

£10 Rampherlie in RMS X (326) 1654.

£10 Ramphurlie in Dundonald (245) 1665.

£10 AE Ramforlie in Renfrew Retours (189) 1690.

See also Macfarlane’s Genealogical Collections Vol. II, Scottish History Society, Edinburgh 1900, p 277 & footnote 1.

Purves p 161 gives Ramforlie, Knox & Griffiscastell as £18 13s 4d (28m). Gryffe Castle is in Houstoun parish (q.v.).

Stewart f 50r gives Ranfurlie Knox and Gryffchastell as £18 13s 4d (28m).

Lawmarnock

RMS IV (1600) 1565, on original of 1564, describes these 4m as part of the chaplainry lands of the blessed Catherine within the cemetery of Kilbarchan. (See also MacKenzie p 49). (RMS IV (1600) gives Lymmarnoch, Glentyane & Dantoun as 6m in total). Renfrew Retours (168) 1668 refers to 13s 4d (1m) AE of Lamernok, as a part of the 7m lands of Lamernok, Glentran & Damptoune within the parish of Kilbarchane. (I cannot yet explain this increase from 6m to 7m). This chaplainry goes back to the time of Thomas Crawfurd of Auchinames who mentions it in a grant dated to the period between c. 1387 & 1401. Nisbet, ‘A System of Heraldry’ Appendix p 88, gives a transcript of the document. (See also MacKenzie pp 48-49). Thomas grants:

“my whole land of Lynnernocht, and two merklands of Glentayne … and three merks [text actually says mercatas not mercas] annual return … from my lands of Calzachant [Callochant], from Corbar, and from the whole lands of Auchinamys, to maintain a chaplain … to celebrate divine office … at the altar of Saint Mary the Virgin, in the parish church of Kilbarchan, or in the chapel to be constructed in the cemetery of that church”.

The document then goes on to set out conditions concerning the chaplain’s residence, his non-pluralism, and his appointment, – all of which suggest a thorough knowledge of the clerical abuses of the time. The date limits for the charter are set by the consecration of Matthew, Bishop of Glasgow (c. 1387), who was a witness, and a royal confirmation of 24 October 1401, which Nisbet also mentions. The document does not actually specify the value of Lawmarnock, nor does it give the dedication of the chapel. The dedication to Saint ‘Katrine’ (Catherine) is given in RMS II (1579) of 1483-4, RMS III (828) 1529, RSS III (1229) 1545, RSS V Part I (574) 1558-9. The valuation appears in RMS IV (1600) 1565, on original of 1564.

Renfrew Retours (174) 1676 refers to the £12 AE of Auchnames ‘with the advowson of the chaplainry of St Catherine situated within the cemetery of Kilbarchan – also the glebe and chaplainry lands called the Chappelland of St. Catharine, situated within the forsaid cemetery, viz. the lands of Lawmarnok, Glentyne and Demptoune, within the barony of Renfrew; an annual return of 3m belonging to the said chaplainry from the lands of Colliochamit, Corbar, and Auchnames. E(xtent) £10 3s 4d’ (i.e. 15m 3s 4d). This evidence from 1676 is essentially what was granted in the document of c. 1387-1401 quoted by Nisbet above. It is repeated again in Renfrew Retours (197) 1695 – with the addition of a mill.

Clochodrick

RMP pp 189-190 (W.W. Scott No 187, 1270) is a document with Finlay of ‘Clochotrich clerico’ (clerk), as a witness. RMP p 233 (W.W. Scott No 237, probably 1272) is a charter which has a Finlay of ‘Clouchrocherg’ as a witness. These two documents probably refer to the same man, who was either born in, or had tenancy of, Clochodrick.

RS53 ff 5r-5v 1642 refers to the ‘magnum lapidem’ (great stone) which gives the farm its name. ‘Clach’ or ‘Cloch’ is from the Gaelic for a stone, in this case with a personal name as a suffix. A ‘Stakzaird’ is also mentioned, and a place, worth 6s 8d, which is probably ‘Overtoun’.

As well as being a farm-name Clochodrick may once have been the name given to a larger estate. To west lies Greenside and to north lies Marshall Moor. MacKenzie, p 277, gives an entry from Sir John Craufurd’s Protocol Book in 1547: ‘John Merschell … passed to Merschell Muir together with the ward and iij folds lying upon it, viz. – Murfauld, Lytill Fauld, Robert Lufe’s fauld’.

See also under Moniabrock in Lochwinnoch parish.

Auchenames

See also Thirdpart (entry immediately below).

ER X p 772 1496 gives a sasine to Archibald Craufurd of Achnamys.

GD148/117 1529 is RMS III (828).

£12 (18m) AE in ER XXI p 433 1580, p 498 1583-4, p 505 1584-5.

£12 (18m) Auchinnames in RS53 ff 44r-45r 1642. This has references to £3 Mains of Auchinnames, lands called Donaldismailling and 1m Rononetrieflatt. I know nothing further of ‘Donald’s mailing’ (i.e. the tenancy of Donald) but Rononetrieflatt is Roundtree Flatt (q.v).

£12 (18m) AE Auchnames in Renfrew Retours (140) 1649, (174) 1676.

See H. Calcluth, ‘The Barony of Auchinames’, Renfrewshire Local History Forum Journal Vol. 19, 2021, pp 4-12.

NSA, Kilbarchan, p 354, claims the name means Butterfield, (< achadh (field) + ìm (butter)).

Purves p 162 gives Auchnemes as £13 6s 8d (20m).

Stewart f 50r gives Auchnems as £13 6s 8d (20m).

Purves and Stewart give figures that are 2m higher than other records. Since Thirdpart is normally given as 10m we might expect the balance of Auchenames to be 20m. For some reason 2m is often missing.

Thirdpart

This is noticed by Nisbet (Appendix p 89) which refers to a charter of the third part of Auchinames in 1427.

RMS III (2991) 1543-4 gives 10m AE called the Thrid-part of Auchnamis.

RSS IV (2271) 1553 gives 10m AE called the thridpart of Auchinnameis.

GD3/1/3/16/1 1572 gives 10m AE third Part of Auchennanes.

RMS IV (2104) 1572 gives 10m AE called the Thrid-Pairt of Auchynnemmis.

10m Thirdpart in Dundonald (311) 1581.

10m AE Thridpart in AHC Volume II, No 191 1584.

GD148/228 1586 refers to the third of Auchinnames and Auldmuir.

RMS IX (41) 1634 gives 10m AE the Thrid-pairt of Auchnames.

Renfrew Retours (183) 1680 gives 10m called the third part of Auchnames.

See also GD237/12/34 No 6 of 1750 & No 19 of 1803.

If Third-part was 10m we can infer that the whole of Auchnames had once been 30m. However the balance is often referred to as £12 (18m) so 2m may have gone astray somewhere.

Burntshields

This property gives us some additional evidence that valuations originally matched annual rent. Our first two references to this farm occur in the early sixteenth century and inform us it gave an annual return of 40s. From 1560 we learn that its valuation was 40s. Much of the other evidence for this argument comes from the Paisley Abbey rental. Here we have a lay property behaving in the same way.

Kirklands of Kilbarchan

Kilbarchan seems to have been rather unusual in that the vicar had lands that were of value. The parish had been appropriated to Paisley and in the agreement of 1227 it appears that the vicar was only entitled to the altarage dues (RMP p 321). However we have a number of documents in the Cuninghame of Craiends papers which make it clear that the vicar also had some kirklands in Kilbarchan. The vicars surrendered these to the Cuninghames but they may not have had much choice in the matter.

GD148/136 1535 is a tack from the vicar of Kilbarchan to Gabriel Cunygham of Craganis.

GD148/294 1568 is a feu charter from the vicar of Kilbarchan to Alexander Conyghame of Craganis.

RMS IV (2412) 1575 on original of 1568 is a royal confirmation of GD148/294 1568.

GD148/298 1568 is an instrument of sasine following the above.

See also GD148/300 & 301 1570; GD148/197 1573; GD148/198 & 199 1574; GD148/201 1575; GD148/247 1594-1595; GD148/255 1595-1596; GD148/257 1596.

‘Craigends’ p 124 c. 1690, gives details of the ‘Vicar Lands of Kilbarchan’.

Kenmure

This lies at the southern edge of Kilbarchan parish, at the boundary with Lochwinnoch parish. It seems to have consisted of two parts (Easter & Wester) and its corn teinds belonged to Paisley Abbey. These lands were granted as fee and stipend to the Semples for acting as baillies for the Abbey. It appears in RSS III (854) 1544, RSS VI (1790) 1572, AHC Vol. 2, p 102, No 174, 1572 – each time as 3m. Spellings are ‘Caymuris’ (1544) and ‘Kenmure’ (1572). Eister and Wester Kenmure with waulk-mill (fulling-mill) and mill-lands in RMS VII (672) 1612 on original of 1611.

I am uncertain as to how big Kenmure originally was, and to the precise nature of its link with St Bride’s (see next entry).

AHC Volume II, Semple Rental 1644 p 174 gives Craiginfeoch 5 mk land in Paisley parish. The rental then gives a mill, two 40d (i.e. 3s 4d or ¼m) holdings, a house and yard in a place called ‘brig’ with a cow’s grass in the Kenmure, 6s 8d land in Easter Kenmure with the ‘walk’ mill, and finally somewhere called Glenbrae. ‘Brig’ is likely to be Bridgend in Lochwinnoch which lies on the south side of the Black Cart immediately opposite Kenmure. A cow’s grass means the right to pasture one cow (probably with calves or followers) on Kenmure. The ‘walk’ maill is the waulking or fulling mill – probably the one we have evidence for in Auchendinning (Auchindonane) which is just beside Kenmure on the north side of the Black Cart. Auchendinning and Kenmure are both in Kilbarchan parish. I am unsure of the location of the two ¼ merk units or Glenbrae.

Heidhous, 2s 6d land, appears under the heading of Castelsemple in the Semple Rental of 1644 (AHC Volume II, p 177). Under the same heading are ‘Lavenderfauld £60, The kenmure [Kenmure] and meidow, £200’. The last two seem to go together and would both be in Kilbarchan parish. Lavenderfauld may be in Lochwinnoch.

In CSEP(1) c. 1782 the buildings that make up St Bride’s are actually in a separate farm-unit called Burnbrae which lies adjacent to High Kenmure. Burnbrae is a Scots name whereas Kenmure is Gaelic so I do not know if it represents a later subsidiary unit, once part of Kenmure. By the time of CSEP(2) 1808 the name Burnbrae has disappeared, as indeed has Kenmure. CSEP(3) 1907 has no Burnbrae, but Kenmure is restored. If we now turn to Historic Environment Scotland’s online database ‘Canmore’ there are two relevant entries. Canmore ID 42313 states that St Bride’s Chapel stood in the ancient village of Kenmuir, which has now disappeared. The source for this statement is a paragraph on p 84 of OPS Vol I. Canmore ID 42303 deals specifically with St Bride’s Chapel and quotes a tradition from 1885 that its site was marked by an ash tree growing on the north side of the public road, a short distance west of the gate leading to St Bryde’s Mill House. This complicates matters because some local roads are comparatively recent so the description from 1885, modern maps, and the location offered by the Canmore map almost imply the chapel actually sat on Crossflat farm. Short of an archaeological survey to establish the chapel site there are, at present, too many variables to reach a conclusion.

St Bride’s Burn and St Bride’s Chapel (See also above under Kenmure)

There are a number of local place-names (St Bride’s Burn, Bride’s Mill Bridge & St Brydes) – variously spelled. It was an important burn, marked by Pont, and for some of its course served as the parish boundary between Kilbarchan and Lochwinnoch. Its location, at the boundary, is possibly significant. It is one of several dedications to St Bride in Renfrewshire (see text file of Early Christian sites in Renfrewshire).

St Bride’s Chapel was originally maintained from lands, in Kilbarchan parish, which were later given by the Semples to support their new collegiate church, founded in 1504, (see REG II No 483 p 511). Unfortunately I am unsure which these lands were.

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