Kilmacolm Table
In 1695 Kilmacolm lost some properties to the new parish of Port Glasgow (q.v.).
The Danielston/Finlayston estate included properties in both Kilmacolm and Erskine parishes. This makes it particularly difficult to give total values by parish. It is also the case that the parish boundaries may have changed over time.
| Name | Value | Date | Grid Ref | Map Sources | Other forms, comments etc |
| Danyelstone & Fynlawstone | £40 | 1392-3 | RMS I (867) 1392-3
See below. Perhaps not including lands in Erskine? |
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| Finlayston-Maxwell or
Danielston-Maxwell |
£50 | 1539-40 | = Newark. See below.
This £50 figure included lands in Erskine parish. |
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| Finlaystoun, Maxwell | £2 10s | = 3¾m, Purves p 161. It is likely that this is a misreading of ‘l li’ for ‘l sh’ (i.e. £50 for 50 shillings, or £2 10s). | |||
| Findlastoun Maxwell | £50 | = 75m, Stewart f 50r. | |||
| Finlaystoun-Maxwell or Newark estate | £20? | But there is no statement to that effect.
See below. |
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| High Mathernock
Mathernock Bridge |
NS 3271
NS 3270 |
Pont(33) x 2
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) |
Pont has Macharn(i)ch and Macharna(y) beside each other.
Blaeu has Machernoc. |
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| Cloak | NS 3571 | Roy(PC)
Ainslie(1796) |
Probaby the Clook mentioned in Renfrew Retours (34) 1614. | ||
| Priestside | NS 3371 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) |
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| Auchentiber | NS 3172 | Roy(PC)
Ainslie(1796) |
Roy gives Achentibre & Little Achentibre. Ainslie has Little & Mickle Auchentiber. | ||
| Pennytersal | NS 3371 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) |
See below. | ||
| Park Farm
Parkhill |
NS 3473
NS 3573 |
Roy(PC & FC)
Ainslie(1796) |
Park(Roy)
Parkhill(Ainslie) |
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| Auchendores Cottages | NS 3572 | Roy(PC)
Ainslie(1796) |
Achindores(Roy)
Auchendoors(Ainslie) |
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| West Kilbride | NS 3371 | Roy(PC)
Ainslie(1796) |
Killbryde(Roy)
West Killbride(Ainslie) – see also under Craigmarloch below. |
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| Craigmarloch (see also under S. Craigmarloch) | NS 3471 | Roy(PC)
|
Craigmarlock(Roy) but Ainslie marks East Killbride here. Possibly the name Craigmarloch gradually usurped East Kilbride. | ||
| South Craigmarloch | NS 3471 | Roy(PC)
Ainslie(1796) |
Craigmarlock(Roy). The original Craigmarloch?
Craigmarloch(Ainslie |
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| Kilmacolm | £5 | 1539 | NS 3569/3669 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) |
See below. |
| Kirkland of Kilmacolm | 12s? | 1522 | The Paisley Rental printed by Cameron Lees includes 2 statements that suggest the Kirkland of Kilmacolm may have amounted to 12s. (Silver rents and land-valuations often match in this rental).
See below. |
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| Finlaystoun-Cuningham estate | £20 | 1498 | GD3/1/3/12/1 1498. ER XVIII p 523 1551 gives Gardnaristoun, Hietre, Bogsyde, the two Knokmontanis, Bardrany, Blaikstane, Nethir Auchinlek and Leperstoun. See below. | ||
| Finlaystone (Country Estate) | 5m
£5 |
1563
1566 |
NS 3673 | Blaeu(Renfrew)
Roy(PC & FC) Ainslie(1796) |
GD39/5/49 1563 gives 5m Finlayston. Parish not stated.
GD39/5/55 1566 gives £5 of Finlayston in Parish of Erskine. GD39/5/57 1567 refers to £5 lands of Finlayston and Bogside, in barony of Finlayston, parish not stated. |
| Bogside
(Erskine parish) |
1m | 1629 | NS 3672 | Roy(PC)
Ainslie(1796) |
GD39/1/250 1629. |
| Gardener’s Toun | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) |
Blaeu locates just south of Finlaystoun. |
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| Bardrainney | NS 3372 | Roy(PC)
Ainslie(1796) |
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| Blackstone | c. NS 3472/3473 | Roy(PC & FC) | ENE of Bardreny in Roy(PC). The spellings suggest it was a ‘stone’ and not a ‘-ton’. | ||
| Kirktoun | 35s | 1564 | This name appears in Renfrew Retours (34) 1614. GD112/25/27 1564 gives 35s AE Kirktoun with mill of Finlastoun. | ||
| Mid Auchinleck
High Auchinleck |
NS 3373
NS 3372 |
Roy(PC & FC) | Roy has Achinleck, Mid Achinleck & Upper Achinleck.
Ainslie has Auchenleck + Mid, High & Laigh |
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| Achinlein
Achinlem |
Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) |
These are probably Auchenleck. | |||
| Leperstone Reservoir
Leperstone |
NS 3571
NS 3571 |
Ainslie(1796) |
Libertston in Ainslie. Leperstone is marked by NE corner of later reservoir in OS 6” 1st edition, Renfrewshire, Sheet VII, 1857. | ||
| Also in barony of Fynlaystoun | £20 | 1551 | ER XVIII p 523 1551 gives another £20 land of Auchinbothy, Rowntrehill, Wester Lammeistoun, Wester Denneistoun and Myddill Denneistoun. | ||
| Auchenbothie Mains
Auchenbothie House |
4m | 1560 | NS 3470
NS 3470/3570 |
?Pont(33)
Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) |
Laing Charters (714) 1560
(A)chinbut(tiy) Pont – but not in Blaeu(Renfrew). See also Laing Charters (2197) c. 1636 |
| Rowntrehill
West Rowantreehill East Rowantreehill
(OS marks West to NW of East Rowantreehill) |
3½m | 1564 |
NS 3669 NS 3669 |
Roy(PC)
OS 6” 1857 OS 6” 1857 |
GD112/25/27 1564 gives 24s 2d AE Ronetrohill, 22s 6d AE Ronetrohill Eister. Total = 46s 8d AE or 3½m. Referred to in Laing Charters (2197) c. 1636. Laing Charters (2437) 1653 gives 16s 4d Rowntriehill and then another 11s 3d making 27s 7d in total. Laing Charters (2672) 1671 gives 16s 4d Rountrehill.
Roy locates W & E Roundtreehill to north of Denniston. OS 6” 1st edition, Renfrewshire, Sheet VII, 1857. East Rowantreehill is marked Knapps on Explorer 341. Compare Roundtree Flatt in Kilbarchan parish. |
| Lammistoun | 25s | 1564 | GD112/25/27 1564 gives 25s ‘of the Pecemuir [Pacemuir] & Lammistoun’. | ||
| (North) Denniston
South Denniston
Craigends Dennistoun =Nether Dennestoun |
4m £4 |
1589 1621 |
NS 3668
NS 3568
NS 3667
|
Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) OS 6” 1857 |
Pont & Blaeu each have Dennistoun twice. Ainslie has West, High & Laigh. South Denniston in OS 6” 1st edition Renfrewshire Sheet VII, 1857 – by Motte. See below.
GD148/25 1480-1481 gives Nether Danzestoun in lordship of Fynlostoun. GD148/314 1589 gives 4m Nether Dennestoun. Roy(PC) gives Craigens Denniston to S of Denniston. RMS VIII (732) 1621 gives to Cunynghame of Craiganes. |
| Also in barony of Finlaystoun | 1614 | Renfrew Retours (34) 1614 gives the lands of Turnerstoun, Paschmure, Corshills, Castlehill, Clook, Brounfeild, Langsyd and Mossyde in barony of Finlaystoun. | |||
| Pacemuir (Bridge) | 1614 | NS 3469 | Roy(PC)
Ainslie(1796) |
=Paschmure in the 1614 list above. See also under Lammistoun above. Pasche Muir in Laing Charters (2197) c. 1636. | |
| Turnerstown | Roy(PC) | Roy locates just S. of Kirk of Killmacolm. | |||
| Crosshill | NS 3372 | Roy(PC)
OS 6” (1857) |
OS 6” 1st Series Renfrewshire Sheet II, 1857.
=Corshills of Renfrew Retours (34) 1614 |
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| Laigh Castlehill
High Castlehill |
NS 3572
NS 3572 |
Roy(PC)
Ainslie(1796) |
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| Clook | 1614 | In Renfrew Retours (34) 1614. Clook will be Cloak (above). | |||
| Langsyd
(Erskine parish) |
1614 | NS 3571 | Roy(PC)
Ainslie(1796) |
In Renfrew Retours (34) 1614. Langside in Erskine parish (q.v.). | |
| Mossyde | 1614 | In Renfrew Retours (34) 1614. Unlocated. | |||
| Gemmillistoun | 22s 6d | 1564 | GD112/25/27 1564 gives 22s 6d AE but I do not know how it fits into the groups above. | ||
| Smythistoun | 20s | 1564 | ?Roy(PC) | GD112/25/27 1564 gives 20s AE but I do not know how it fits into the groups above. Roy locates Smiddyhill between Denniston & Craigens Denniston. | |
| Lockertistoun | 20s | 1564 | GD112/25/27 1564 gives 20s AE but I do not know how it fits into the groups above. | ||
| Knapps
Knappes Knapps Loch
|
19s 8d |
1653 |
c. NS 370683
NS 3668 |
Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) OS 6” (1857) |
NRAS4366/1 1496 gives Knappis and Mannyswra (Ranfurly, Kilbarchan parish) and it is not clear if the figure of 6m includes just the latter, or possibly both. (See also under Kilbarchan). Laing Charters (2437) 1653 gives 19s 8d of Knappes. I do not know how Knappes fits into the groups above. Also in NRAS4366/2 1497.
OS 6” 1st edition, Renfrewshire, Sheet VII, 1857 gives Knaps at c. NS 370683. Explorer 341 marks Knapps today on the former site of East Rowantreehill (in OS 6” 1857). |
| Broadfield | 1614 | NS 3473 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Gordon(55) Roy(PC & FC) Ainslie(1796) |
This is Plaidfild in Pont & Blaeu (SE of Newark).
Plaidfield in Gordon. Breadfield in Roy(PC), Brodfield in Roy(FC), Broadfield in Ainslie. The Brounfeild of Renfrew Retours (34) 1614 became Braidfeild in RMS IX (773) 1637. |
|
| Total
Kilmacolm Danielstoun/Finlaystoun estate |
£5 Min £40
|
1539 1551
|
Finlaystoun-Maxwell estate (?, including £5 Kilmacolm)
plus Finlaystoun-Cuningham estate (£20 in 1551) plus other lands in barony of Finlayston (£20 in 1551). |
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| Duchal estate | See below. | ||||
| Lordship of Douthquhell | £47 | Purves p 161, = 70½m. Precise components unknown. | |||
| Lordschip of Douthquheill wt (with) ye Over Manis | 47 land | Stewart f 50r, no indication of ‘pounds’ but this seems a fair assumption. = 70½m. Included Over Mains. | |||
| Uvirmaynis
Nethirmaynis Mynlntoun Auldtounerig Colruth |
£10 (15m)
AE |
1466 | RMS II (871), Over Mains
Nether Mains Milton Hawtanrig?/ Hattrick? Carruth/Corruth |
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| Ovir Mains of Douchale | 40s (3m) | 1505 | GD39/1/15 1505 refers to 40s Over Mains of Duchal.
40s AE in ER XVIII p 444 1548. 40s in GD39/1/69 1569, Laing Charters (937) 1576, (2388) 1649. Renfrew Retours (177) 1678. |
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| Duchal Mains | NS 3467 | Pont(33)
Roy(PC) |
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| Milton | 32s | 1676 | NS 3568 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) |
32s in Renfrew Retours (175) 1676, (191) 1690. See below for mistake in 1676. OS 6” 1st edition, Renfrewshire, Sheet VII, 1857, marks this close to what is now Milton Bridge. |
| Netherwood | 1489 | NS 3469 | Roy(PC)
Ainslie(1796) |
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| Netherwood & Bulrosse | 40s | 1678 | 40s AE in Renfrew Retours (177) 1678. Bulrosse cannot be the same as Wraes/Wreathis which appears separately in the same document. See under Maxwell part of Duchal estate (below). | ||
| Bulwrayis = Bulrosse of entry above
Bulwryis |
40s |
1489
1595 |
RMS II (1869) 1489 gives Myltoun, Brigend, Bulwrayis, Ovirwod, Nethirwod & Blakholme as parts of £10 3s 4d (15¼m) AE Mains of Duchell. Descriptions of the Sheriffdoms of Lanark and Renfrew, p 98, fn 3, mentions a Will of John Maxwell of Bulwryis, 1595, which refers to ‘the xl s. land of Bulwryis’ (40s or 3m land). This probably included Netherwood. | ||
| Overwood | 1489 | NS 3370 | Roy(PC) | W of Blackholm | |
| Bridgend Cottages
Bridgend
|
26s 8d |
1676 |
NS 3468 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) |
Brigend(Pont), Brighil(Blaeu), Bridgend + Mill in Roy(PC).
26s 8d in Renfrew Retours (175) 1676, (191) 1690. Named as early as RMS II (1869) 3 July 1489. |
| Blacksholm Bridge | 1489 | NS 3370 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) |
Bla(k)soom(Pont), Blarsoõ(Blaeu), Blackholm(Roy & Ainslie).
Blakholme in RMS II (1869) 1489. |
|
| Barnshake | NS 3266 | Roy(PC) | Burn Shank in Roy.
Eisterbarnschaik or Barnschaik in RS 53 ff 1r-1v 1641. |
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| Hattrick | NS 3567 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) |
= Hawtanrig?
Haltonrig mentioned in Lennox Vol II. No 130, 1516. |
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| Nittingshill
Nittonhill |
NS 3666 |
Roy(PC) |
OS 6” 1st edition, Renfrewshire, Sheet VII, 1857.
Between Hattrick & Craigbet in Roy. =Nutshill? |
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| Carruth House
Carruthmuir Corruth Caruth |
40s 40s |
1540-1 1686 |
NS 3566
NS 3564 |
Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) |
Kerruith and B.(urn) of Korruith in Pont. Carruth & Carruthmuir in Roy. Conreuth mentioned in Lennox Vol II. No 130, 1516.
40s AE in AHC Volume I No 115 1540-1. 40s AE in Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell p 372 No 1. |
| Mid Gibblaston
South Gibblaston |
NS 3466/3566
NS 3465/3565 |
Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Ainslie(1796) |
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| North Branchal
South Branchal High Branchal Estir Branchell Easter Branchal |
19s 26s 4d |
1540-1 1816 |
NS 3466
NS 3466 NS 3366 |
Roy(PC)
Ainslie(1796) |
19s AE in AHC Volume I No 115 1540-1. 4s 4d Retours Renfrew (175) 1676, (191) 1690. See below. |
| Killochries | NS 3467 | Roy(PC)
Ainslie(1796) |
Possibly Kellarkre(k) in Pont(33) & Kellar in Blaeu(Renfrew). | ||
| Woodend | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) |
S. of Duchal in Pont | |||
| Newton
Newtounwood |
10s |
1649 |
NS 3367 | Roy(PC)
Ainslie(1796) |
Laing Charters (2388) 1649. Renfrew Retours (177) 1678 |
| Craiglinscheoch | 30s | 1614 | NS 3268 | Roy(PC)
Ainslie(1796) |
?=Kra(g??)chach in Pont. 30s AE in Renfrew Retours (35) 1614.
Low & High in Ainslie. |
| Horseward
Horsward |
1543 |
NS 330685
|
Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) OS 6” 1857 |
Horswa(ir)d in Pont, Horsurad in Blaeu, Horse Wood in Roy(PC). Just E of Craiglinscheoch in Roy.
OS 6” 1st edition, Renfrewshire, Sheet VI, 1857. RMS III (3277) 1546. |
|
| Dippany
Dippenny Easter Dippennyis Midle Dippeny Westir Depanie |
22s 6d 13s 4d 20s |
1549 1549 1649 1543 |
NS 3169 | Pont(33)
Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) |
Dupeny in Pont. Probably a ‘dubh + peighinn’ (black pennyland) rather than a ‘dà + peighinn’ (two pennyland). RSS IV (364) 1549 gives Dippenny as 22s 6d, Easter Dippennyis as 13s 4d.
Laing Charters (2388) 1649. Renfrew Retours (177) 1678. RMS III (3277) 1546. |
| Burnbank
(= Easter Dippany) |
NS 3169 | Roy(PC)
Ainslie(1796) |
=Burn in Pont & Blaeu? Renfrew Retours (175) 1676 gives
Wester Dippanie and ‘Eister Dippanie alias Burnbank‘. There is another Burnbank at NS 3567. |
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| Horsecraig | 10s | 1676 | NS 3170 | ?Roy(PC)
Ainslie(1796) |
Pont marks Horsere, Blaeu marks Horsera to W of Cairncurran. 10s of Horscrags in Renfrew Retours (175) 1676. 10s de Horsecraigs in Renfrew Retours (191) 1690. |
| Cairncurran
Carnecurandhill |
2½m
16s 6d 5s 10d of 13s 4d 7s 6d of 13s 4d |
1641
1649 1676
1678 |
NS 3169 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) |
2½m AE Carcurrane in RS 53 ff 1r-1v 1641.
Laing Charters (2388) 1649. 5s 10d of 13s 4d (AE) of Cairncurran Hill in Renfrew Retours (175) 1676, (191) 1690. Wishaw p 124 gives some notes. 7s 6d of the merkland of Carncurranhill in Renfrew Retours (177) 1678. (5s 10d + 7s 6d = 13s 4d or 1 merkland). See Robertson (1818) pp 396 & 405 for relocation. |
| Auchenfoyle
Auchinquhyill |
6s 8d
11s |
1549
1550
1543 |
NS 3170/3171 | Pont(33)
Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) |
=Acha(a?…) Pont(33). Auchenfoil(Roy), Auchenwhile(Ainslie).
Auchinquhole in RSS II (3584) 1540. 6s 8d Auchinquheill in RSS IV (364) 1549. 11s Auchinquhoill in GD148/174 1550. 11s AE Auchinquhyll in RS 53 ff 1r-1v 1641. RMS III (3277) 1546. |
| Westsyde | 29s
30s |
1549
1676 |
NS 3269 | Pont(33)
Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) |
West Sid in Pont. ‘29s worth of the landis of Westirsyde’ in RSS IV (364) 1549. 30s in Renfrew Retours (175) 1676, (191) 1690.
See also Wishaw p 124 under Cairncurran. |
| Chapel | 1551 | NS 324695 | Pont(33)
Roy(PC) |
The chapel, and its lands, are mentioned in RMS IV (629) 1551. Pont maps ‘Chapel of Syd’. Canmore ID 42255. Crawfurd, 1710, p 10, writes ‘At the Side, in Kilmalcolm, there was also a Chappel Founded by the Lord Lyle: I have seen Magister David Stonyer designed, Hermita Capellae de Syde, Anno 1555’. | |
| East Side
Eistersyde alias Couperstoune |
20s |
1676 |
NS 3369 | Roy(PC) | Marked by Roy ESE of West Side, both on N side of the river.
20s in Renfrew Retours (175) 1676, (191) 1690. Couperstoune will be the same as Cowperside of RSS II (3584) 1540. |
| Laidtoune | 15s | 1676 | Renfrew Retours (175) 1676, (191) 1690. | ||
| Wraes
Wreathis
Wratchis |
22s
22s
20s |
1549
1678
1649 |
NS 3466 | Roy(PC)
Ainslie(1796) |
RSS IV (364) 1549 – but this may not be all of it.
Renfrew Retours (177) 1678 and The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell p 153 No 11 1816; p 56 No 13 1819. Laing Charters (2388) 1649. Cannot = Bulrosse. |
| Creuch Hill
Creuchhill |
13s 4d |
1649 |
NS 2668 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) |
Cryk Hil(Pont), Creuch (Moor(e)) Pont with overwriting.
Creuch Moore(Blaeu), Cruogh(Roy) Laing Charters (2388) 1649. Renfrew Retours (177) 1678 and The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell p 153 No 11 1816. |
| Craigbet
Craigbait & Kersmedo |
£5 |
1581 |
NS 3766 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) |
See also under Threeply (Kilbarchan parish).
Craigbait & Kersmedo £5 AE in ER XXI p 461 1581, pp 485 & 492 1583. See below under Craigbet. |
| Little Craigbet | 40s | 1553 | 40s AE Litilcragbait + ‘gers medo’ in RSS IV (2271) 1553.
See below under Craigbet. |
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| Carsemeadow | NS 3666 | OS 6” 1st edition, Renfrewshire, Sheet VII, 1857. | |||
| Total of Duchal estate
Mains etc Rest of estate Grand Total |
£10 (15m) 62m 77m |
1466 1551 |
There are only some individual valuations so we must rely on the summary figures given in the documents.
RMS IV (629) 1551 – 62m AE This is a minimum figure. See below for further discussion. |
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| Ladymuir | 20s AE | 1543 | NS 3464 | Roy(PC)
Ainslie(1796) |
This is at the south boundary of Kilmacolm parish. Although it does not feature within the Duchal estate it is described as in the Lordship of Duchal and it was in Kilmacolm parish. See below. |
| Total including Ladymuir | 78½m | ||||
| Gowkhouse | NS 363698 | OS 6” 1st edition, Renfrewshire, Sheet VII, 1857. This is by the eastern boundary of Kilmacolm. See Doccanlie (Lochwinnoch parish) for parallels. | |||
| Total Danielstoun & Finlaystoun (Minimum) | £45
or 67½m |
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| Total Duchal etc | 78½m | Including Ladymuir. | |||
| Total (Minimum) | 146m |
Our first analysis of the ownership situation in this parish is found in Crawfurd, 1710, p 67. He writes
Upon Greif lies the Barony of Denniestoun, of which the Castle of Finlastoun was the principal Messwage [Messuage or dwelling]: When the Denzelstouns obtained these Lands is not certain, but that from the proper Name of their Predecessor they assumed both Sirname and Designation, is without all doubt; for I have seen the Original Charter of the Barony of Houstoun, which is in the Reign of King Malcolm the IV, which is bounded with the Lands of Danziel (u); which by the Situation clearly appears to be the Lands of Denniestoun.
Footnote: (u) Carta penes D. Joh. Houstoun de Eodem, Baronet. (i.e. Charter in the possession of Sir John Houstoun of that Ilk, Baronet).
Crawfurd was a great man for looking at original documents and he refers to this early charter of the Houstoun family when talking about them also. I do not know if it survives anywhere in private hands, or in a lawyer’s archive, but it would be wonderful to see in the public domain. Malcolm IV reigned 1153-1165 so a charter from this period takes us right back to the early period of Stewart, and Norman, colonisation of Renfrew. It plainly included a ‘bounding’ which defined the boundaries of the land that was being granted. One of the boundaries was apparently the ‘Land of Danziel’ which Crawfurd judged to have become the land of Denniestoun, (i.e. a notional ‘Danziel’s toun’ becoming ‘Denniestoun’). A glance at the map supports his conclusion. North Denniston is at NS 3668, Craigends Dennistoun at NS 3667. Both lie at the eastern edge of Kilmacolm parish, neighbouring the western side of the combined parish of Killallan-Houstoun. (Pont’s map (33) shows exactly this at the end of the sixteenth century). We can infer that the charter of Malcolm IV described the Houstoun estate as bounded by ‘Danziel’s’ estate on the west side.
Further down p 67 Crawfurd states the following:
I have moreover seen a Charter (x) granted by King Robert II the 14th Year of his Reign, an[no] 1374, of the Lands of Mauldsly and Kilcadyow, to Sir Robert Denzelstoun, upon his own Resignation: As also he obtained a Charter of the Lands of Denzelstoun and Finlaystoun, in the Barony of Renfrew, from King Robert the II upon his own Resignation, the Third Year of his Reign, an[no] 1373. By Margaret and Elizabeth, Daughters of Sir Robert de Denzelstoun, that great Inheritance was shared betwixt Sir Robert Cuninghame of Kilmaures, and Sir Robert Maxwel of Calderwood; the First by Marriage of the said Margaret, had the Baronies of Denzelstoun, Finlaystoun, Kilmaronock in Dunbartoun-Shire, and the Barony of Glencairn in the Shire of Dumfries: And to the Last, in Right of Elizabeth de Denzelstoun, his Wife, came the Lands of Mauldsly, Kilcaydow, Stainly, etc. And so ended the Family of Denzelstoun.
Footnote: (x) Carta in Publicis Archivis (i.e. Charter in the Public Archives). This is probably RMS I (493) 1374 (see also RMS I Appendix 2 Index A No 1738, Index B No 33).
Other members of the Danielston family at that time can be found in the index to RMS I. In the context of Renfrew the two most interesting documents are RMS I (867) 1392-3 (described below) which refers to the £40 barony of Danyelstone and Fynlawystone; and RMS I (837) 1391 which refers to the lands of Stanely in Paisley parish, unfortunately without valuation.
RMS I Appendix 2 Index A No 1144 (Index B No 10); Index A No 1190 (Index B No 10) are documents from the reign of David II (died 1371) which refer to this family in the context of Kilmaronock, which is a parish in Lennox, and Inchcailloch, which is an island in Loch Lomond.
The next analysis of the landholding in this parish is found in OPS (p 86) which identifies ‘two great manors or baronies – Duchal, to the south and inland; and the other called Danielstoun, between the Gryfe and the sea’.
The former estate belonged to the family of Lyle (also Lisle or ‘de Insula’), succeeded, in the sixteenth century, by the Porterfields.
The latter estate of Danielstoun (or Denniestoun) was held by a family of that name, who also possessed Finlaystoun – as described above by Crawfurd. This estate was divided between two heiresses some time after 1391 and from then belonged to the families of Cunningham and Maxwell.
The Cunningham family (Earls of Glencairn) had Finlaystoun Castle (NS 364737, Canmore ID 42414). The Maxwell family had Newark Castle (NS 328745, Canmore ID 42421).
Our earliest documentary source covers Danielstoun and Finlaystoun so I have addressed these estates first in this table. Secondly I have dealt with the Duchal estate.
Although we have some individual valuations for farms, these are woefully incomplete. Accordingly I have given ‘global’ valuations based on the larger figures revealed by the public authorities. This is less than ideal. There may have been other properties, outside these great estates, which have escaped my notice.
Danyelstone & Fynlawstone
REG I No 315, pp 289-292, (Shead & Cunningham No 315), 1378, is a charter of Sir John of Danyelston who is described as lord of ‘Fynlauistoun Danyelston and Kylmoloog’. He gives 10m of his rents from these estates towards maintaining a chaplain to minister at the altar of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Glasgow cathedral.
RMS I (867) 1392-3 gives us our first details of this important estate. The lands are described as ‘of Danyelstone and of Fynlawystone with pertinents, lying in the barony of Renfrw within the sheriffdom of Lanark’. (Renfrew had not yet been made a separate shire). Robert of Danyelstone had held these lands before but had resigned them for a regrant. They were to be held as one whole and free barony called the ‘barony of Danyelstone’. When describing the blench ferme payment of 1 penny the lands are given:
Viz., of the £40 [60m] lands of the said barony of Danyelstone, annually and in perpetuity, namely of the lands of Kylmeluge, of Seywode, of Bardrany, of Achinlek, of Dowaldlitil and of Dowaldmekill.
There are no valuations, and only some of these places bear the same name today. Kylmeluge and Seywode are lost to the map. The former probably represents Kilmoluag and is likely the name given to an Early Christian church site which survived into the fourteenth century. It might be lost, or the name replaced by that of another, perhaps Roman, saint. More probably, it could be the same as the Kylmoloog of Erskine parish which may be behind what is now known as Chapel Hill (NS 3672/3673). Seywode may include ‘-wood’ as its second element.
Finlayston-Maxwell or Danielston-Maxwell
This refers to that part of the Danielston-Finlayston estate which had passed to the Maxwell family after 1391. Not all of the Finlayston-Maxwell estate lies in Kilmacolm. Some properties such as ‘Parkis, [probably] Sleanmure, … Gledoche, Ester Langbank, Wester Langbank alias Hill, Glen, Myddilpenneyland’, now lie in Erskine. [Parkis is likely Park Erskine NS 3970. Sleanmure is lost. Auchendores is listed amongst these (see below) but now lies just inside Kilmacolm parish].
These Erskine properties may have accrued relatively recently because RMS II (2062) 1491 shows Robert, Lord Lile, (i.e. a completely separate family), granting his illegitimate son, Nicholas, two-thirds of Langbank, Myddil-pennyland, Slewane-Mure, Gliddach and an annual return from Stanely. The total annual rent from these lands was 14m 32d (i.e. 14m 2s 8d). ‘Gliddach’ (Gleddoch) was thought to be a £10 (15m) land in 1818 and may have been the estate-centre for this group of Erskine properties. What lay in Kilmacolm may have been only £40 (i.e. Finlayston-Maxwell estate of £50 less £10 Gleddoch). The boundaries between Kilmacolm and Erskine parishes may not have been quite the same then as they later became.
RMS II (404) 1450 gives the barony of Fynlaustoun and the lands of Stanle (Stanely in Paisley parish).
ER XI p 461 1497 gives a sasine to Patrick Maxvell of Finlawstoun (no valuation is listed).
RSS II (3359) 14 February 1539-40 gives us an early breakdown of the estate. It is given as a £50 land AE which had been resigned by Patrick Maxwell of Newwerk. The king united the lands into one whole and free barony to be called in future the barony of Finlastoun-Maxwell with the castle of Newwerk to be its principal messuage. The lands are as follows: [The parishes they are currently located in are shown in square brackets].
Dovaldisglen [Port Glasgow]
Eschintre
Dowglahill [Port Glasgow]
Mathirnok & Cloyik with their waulk and grain mills [Kilmacolm]
Preistisside [Kilmacolm]
Auchintebris [Kilmacolm]
Penneytersane [Kilmacolm]
Dovaldis and Braheid [Port Glasgow]
Half the fishery of the yair (fish-trap) of Finlastoun in the sea
Wester Stanelie alias Almochrie [Paisley]
Parkis [Erskine]
Sleanmure [Erskine?]
Auchindawris [Kilmacolm]
Gledoche [Erskine]
Ester Langbank [Erskine]
Wester Langbank alias Hill [Erskine]
Glen [Erskine?]
Myddilpenneyland [Erskine]
Kilbride [Kilmacolm]
Kilmacolmes [Kilmacolm]
Eschintre is unlocated but the place-name is unusual. For comparison see Eschend in Killearn parish, Lennox.
The integrity of this £50 estate is confirmed by numerous subsequent listings of the above lands. Spellings may differ but the following documents give the same lands:
ER XVIII p 384 1546, p 485 1549; ER XXI p 518 1586; RMS VI (179) 1594; Renfrew Retours (71) 1627, (177) 1678, (184) 1683, (196) 1694 (this with numerous corruptions), (201) 1700.
See table above for details and valuations of those lands I am able to identify.
Renfrew Retours (134) 1649 gives half of the western part of Stainlie, viz: Almochrie, Calseyend, Foxbar, Hoilhous, Dykis, extending to £5 AE in barony of Finlaystoun.
Dovaldisglen and Dovaldis are to be compared with the Dowaldlitil and Dowaldmekill of 1392-3. (See under Port Glasgow parish).
Pont(33) locates a ‘Wakmil’ just WSW of Penetersan (Pennytersal). This is a ‘waulk-mill’ or mill for fulling cloth.
Patrick died before RSS III (938) 1544 which is a gift of the non-entrance of the lands of Finlastoun-Maxwell, both property and tenandry (i.e. in the family’s own hands and in the hands of their tenants), which belonged to the late Patrik Maxwell of Newwerk (Newark).
Unfortunately we have little means of breaking down the overall £50 valuation of this estate. At least £10 was probably in Erskine. What became Port Glasgow parish was possibly another £10. Wester Stanely in Paisley parish was probably £5.
The last item on the above list is Kilmacolm but, as the following entry implies, this may have been a recent acquisition.
Kilmacolm
RMS III (2073) 21 January 1539-40 on an original of 21 October 1539 – King confirmed £5 AE sold by James Lile to Patrick Maxwell of Newwerk. RSS II (3302) 21 January 1539-40 (i.e. the same day as the preceding document quoted) is a letter giving the non-entrance of £5 AE Kilmacolm to John Maxwell of Dargavel as a result of the death of Robert, Lord Lile. RH6/2101 1567 gives the 5 merkland of Kilmacolme held of George Maxwell of Newwerk. Renfrew Retours (70) 1627 gives 5m AE Kilmacolme. Laing Charters (2388) 1649 gives 33s 4d (2½m) of Over Kilmacolme in the barony of Newark. Renfrew Retours (193) 1690 gives 2½m of Over Maynes of Over Kilmacolme. At first glance these pieces of evidence contradict each other but it is quite possible they are consistent. If Kilmacolm was £5 or 7½m then it may be that it was subsequently divided into 2 sections, one of 5m and one of 2½m – perhaps this last was called ‘Over Kilmacolm’.
Kirkland of Kilmacolm
Paisley Rental p cxxxiii gives ‘the kyrkland of kilmacolme 12s’ c. 1522. It pays 12s p.a. with a responsibility to receive and preserve the teinds. The entry on p cxlviii c. 1525 is more ambiguous but the annual payment and the responsibility are unchanged.
Pennytersal
All the map sources I have given, end the name in ‘n’ so it looks as if the modern ending is a departure. The first element undoubtedly refers to a Norse pennyland. The second element is probably the Gaelic tarsuinn which means ‘across’ or ‘transversely’. It is quite common in place-names. The English parallel might be ‘athwart’.
Finlayston-Cunningham or Danielston-Cunningham
ER X p 771 1496 gives a sasine to Cuthbert, Lord Kilmaurs, of Finlastoun Cuningham and Ranforthy (Ranfurly) Cuninghame (Kilbarchan parish).
Laing Charters (236) 1498 is an instrument of sasine narrating that Andrew Conynghame gave sasine to Cuthbert, Lord Kilmaurs, and his wife (Mariota Douglas) in terms of a precept by James IV to expede a charter under the Great Seal, (granting the lands below), with a corresponding precept of sasine, both dated 1 June 1495. In addition we have RSS I (213) 1498 which is a precept for a charter of conjunct infeftment to Cuthert, Lord Kilmaurs and his wife Marion Douglas. GD3/1/3/12/1 6 June 1498 refers to this conjunct infeftment as the £20 lands of Finlawstoune, which gives us an overall value. (GD39/5/7 1498 does likewise).
The lists in the two documents match pretty well. Below left are the lands given in Laing Charters (236). In square brackets to the right are those in RSS I (213). I have added, in italics, the parish where they are currently located, if known.
Mains of Fynlastoun Cuningham with tower [The Manys of Finlawstoun Cunynghaim with the tour (tower)]
Gardnerstoun [Gardnaristoun]
Bogsyde [Bogsyde] Erskine
Hectre [Hietre] Erskine
Two Knok Montanys [Two Clochmontanys] Erskine
Auchinbothy nether – I think ‘nether’ belongs with Bardrane [Auchinbothy] Kilmacolm
(Nether) Bardrane – see line above [Nethir-Bardrany] Kilmacolm
Blakstane [Blakstane] Kilmacolm?
Nether Auchinlek [Nethir-Auchinlek] Kilmacolm
East Rowntrehill [Est Rountrehill] Kilmacolm
West Rowntrehill [West Rountrehill] Kilmacolm
15s land adjacent [15s land nearest thereto (i.e. West Rountrehill)] Kilmacolm
West Danestoun (or Dennestoun) [Wester Dannestoun] Kilmacolm
Leperstoun (or Two Leperstounis) [not present] Kilmacolm
Mossyd This is in square brackets in the Laing inventory [not present] Kilmacolm?
Middle Daneston [not present] Kilmacolm
(Bardrany and Nether Auchinlek were part of the Danielstoun estate mentioned in RMS I (867) 1392-3).
We have further lists of this estate. ER XVIII p 379 1543 gives a sasine to William, Earl of Glencairn, of the lands of Finlaiistoun Cuninghame, Gardinerstoun, Hietre, Bogside, Knokmontanis, Bardrany, Nethir Auchinlek, Blakstane, Leparistoun, Auchinbothe, Rewintrehill Estir & Vestir, Lauystoun, Vestir & Middill Denestoun.
ER XVIII p 523 28 October 1551 helpfully separates these lands into two groups, each with an assessment of £20 AE. This makes a total assessment of £40 (60m). The first group is classed as the £20 dominical lands of Finlaistoun Cunynghame plus tower etc. (The ‘Mains’ are implied because that is what the ‘dominical lands’ were generally called). The other lands in this group were Gardnaristoun, Hietre, Bogsyde, the two Knokmontanis, Bardrany, Blaikstane, Nethir Auchinlek and Leperstoun. The second group of £20 lands were not named as a unit but included Auchinbothy, Rowntrehill, Wester Lammeistoun, Wester Denneistoun and Myddill Denneistoun, lying in the barony of Fynlaistoun.
Laing Charters (586) 29 October 1551 refers to these as the lands of Ranfurlie Cuningham (which I think may be a mistake for Finlaystoun-Cuningham) and gives both groups in one list as follows:
Mains of Finlayston, Conyngham (these first two should be run together), Gardnerstoun, Hiltre, Bogsyid, two ‘Knok Montanis’, Bardrany, Blakstane, Nether Auchinlek, Leperstoun, Auchinbothy, Rowntriehill, Wester Lameistoun, Wester Dennestoun and Middle Dennestoun. See also Laing Charters (3324) 1747.
(This reference to Ranfurlie-Cuningham is compounded by an entry in the Taxt Rolls compiled by Purves and Stewart.
Purves, p 162, has Ramforlie, Coningham, Waterstoun and Finlaystoun as £61 6s 8d (92m).
Stewart f 50r has Ranfourlie Conighame Wattirstoun Findlistoun as £61 6s 8d (92m).
Ranfurly and Waterstone are in Kilbarchan parish. The estate of Ranfurly-Cuningham was that part of Ranfurly which was held by the Cuningham family. Finlaystone is in Kilmacolm parish. The entries in Purves and Stewart suggest some part of Finlaystone was included in the very large estate of 92m which they refer to. I am at a loss as to how to disentangle this mix of properties).
Laing Charters (593) 1552 refers to the 20m Davidstoun, in the lordship of Fyndlaistoun. This probably refers to Dennestoun but I do not know the components of the 20 merkland unit.
Renfrew Retours (34) 1614 gives first the lands of Ranfourlie-Cunynghame which had an extent of £26 13s 4d (40m) and second the dominical lands of Finlaystoun-Cunynghame (i.e. read ‘The Mains of …’) viz. Gardenerstoun, Heichtrie, Boigsyde, the two Knok Montanes, Bardraynes, Blakstane, Kirktoun [which is an addition to the list], Auchinleck, Leperstoun, Auchinbothie, Rownetriehill, Wester Denneston (or Lamestoun), Eister, Wester, & Midle Dennestoun + mill; and then as extra the lands of Turnerstoun, Paschmure, Corshills, Castlehill, Clook, Brounfeild, Langsyd and Mossyde in barony of Finlaystoun at a grand total of £40 AE (60m). Given that the first two groups (without Turnerstoun etc) came to £40 in 1551 I am uncertain how to account for this third set of properties in land-assessment terms. Laing Charters (2197) c. 1636 refers to Auchinbothie, Corsehill, Rowntreehill, Moss-syde and Pasche Muir – but without valuations.
Renfrew Retours (38) 1616 states that the lands and barony of Finlaystoun had an AE of £36 (54m).
RMS VIII (732) 1621 gives £4 Nether Dennestoun with mill, in barony of Fynlastoun, to Cunynghame of Craiganes.
Renfrew Retours (96) 29 September 1635 gives the lands of Finleystoun-Cunynghame as Gairnerstoun, Heichtrie, Bogsyde, 2 Knokmontaynes, Bardranies, Blakstoun, Kirktoun, Auchinleck, Leiperstoun, Auchinbothie, Rownetriehill, Wester Lamistoun, Eister, Wester, & Midle Dennestounes with mill, Turnerstoun, Paschemure, Corshill, Castlehill, Clooke, Brounfeild, Langsyde & Mossyde, within the barony of Finlaystoun, at £36 AE. This implies that the last group of lands, beginning with Turnerstoun, should be viewed as part of the £36 total. The £40 total of 1551 (above) is now reduced to £36.
GD39/5/104 1635 gives the lands of Finlayston-Cunninghame viz: Gairnerstoun, Heichtrie, Bogside, two Knokmontaynes, Bardrainis, Blackstoun, Kirkton, Auchinleck, Lepperstoun, Auchinbothie, Rowntreehill, Wester Lamistoun, Easter Wester and Middle Dennistoun + mill etc. It then adds Turnerstoun, Paschmure, Corshill, Castlehill, Clook, Brounfield, Langside and Mosside in the barony of Finlayston. GD39/1/316 1671 gives the same list, with more spelling variants and more corruption of the names. Lamiston is probably the place-name which suffers most. It is probably the Lauystoun of ER XVIII p 379 1543.
RMS IX (773) 1637 gives the same list except that Lamistoun becomes Daviestoun, Pashmure’s mill is named as Brigendmylne, and Brounfield becomes Braidfeild. (This is entirely normal. Copying through the years introduced mistakes and anomalies). This document does state that the barony of Finlaystoun covered properties in both Kilmacolm and Erskine parishes.
Renfrew Retours (165) 1666 repeats Renfrew Retours (96) 1635 in the essentials concerning £36 AE Finleystoun-Cunynghame. So does Renfrew Retours (169) 1670 except that it gives the total extent as £32 AE. There are no apparent differences in the list of properties so it is probably just an arithmetic error.
Denniston
NRAS4366/2 1497 refers to the lands of Uwer Danyston (Over Denniston) and Myddill Danyston (Middle Denniston) in the barony of Fynlaston (Finlayston).
Laing Charters (593) 1552 refers to 20m Davidstoun in lordship of Fyndlaistoun. I do not know a Davidstoun here and wonder if this is a mistake for Dennistoun.
GD112/25/27 1564 gives 45s AE of Over Dennastoun. GD39/5/63 1574 gives £5 lands of Overdennistoun.
Renfrew Retours (38) 1616 gives Nether Dennestoun.
RMS VIII (732) 1621 gives £4 Nether Dennestoun + mill in the barony of Fynlastoun.
RMS IX (640.1) 1637 on original of 1622 gives £4 Nether Dennystoun + mill, barony of Finlastoun.
Renfrew Retours (124) 1646 gives £4 Nether Denneistoune + mill, barony of Finlaystoun.
Laing Charters (2437) 1653 gives:
10s Dennestoun occupied by Alexander Lockhart
14s 2d Dennestoun occupied by Robert Mudie
7s 6d Dennestoun occupied by Patrick Corruthe
7s 6d Dennestoun occupied by William Tinklar
7s 6d Dennestoun occupied by James Laird
7s 6d Dennestoun occupied by William Fleming
all lying in the barony of Finlaystoun Conynghame. The lands of Dennestoun specified here come to 54s 2d (4m 10d).
See also Laing Charters (2672) 1671.
‘Craigends’ p 142 c. 1690, refers to £4 (6m) AE of ‘Craigends, Deniston’. (Which I take to mean that part of Dennistoun which belonged to the Cuningham family of Craigends). The breakdown includes references to ‘Easter Craigends, Denistoun’, ‘Nether Denistoun’, ‘Corn-mill of Denistoun and Mill-lands’.
Laing Charters (2986) 1700 refer to a 40s 2d land of Dennastoun plus another 10s land, which were part of the £4 (80s) lands of Dennastoun. Perhaps this was Nether Dennistoun.
Duchal
Duchal belonged to the family of Lile (also Lisle, de Insula etc).
RMS II (871) 1466 is a grant of £10 land AE to Robert, Lord Lile. The lands were Uvirmaynis & Nethirmaynis (i.e. Over & Nether Mains), Mynlntoun with mill, the Auldtounerig and Colruth.
RMS II (1868-1869) 3 July 1489. These should be taken together. In No 1868 the Nethirmanys of Duchell, with its mill, is given as £10 AE. In No 1869 the lands of Ovir & Nethir Manys of Duchell, the Myltoun with its mill, the lands of Brigend, Bulwrayis, Ovirwod & Nethirwod, & Blakholme are said to extend to £10 3s 4d AE. No 1868 does not really match with No 1869. The latter involves a different mix of lands to those normally held with the Mains of Duchal. Both are to Archibald Campbell, son of the Earl of Argyll. I cannot yet explain this anomaly. See also NRAS1209/1111/49 1489.
GD39/1/15 1505 refers to 40s Over Mains of Duchal.
ER XIII p 664 1512 is a notice, in the Books of Responses, of a sasine to John Lile of the lands of Over & Nethir Manys de Myltoun Lile, Hiltoun, Colruth, Castelhill, Hortisyard, Kingismedo, Lile with the particular lands thereof.
GD77/311/1 1539 refers to Wodend (Woodend), Cairncurran, Auchenfoil, part of Barnschallik (Barnshake) in the parish of Kilmacolm.
RSS II (3584) 12 July 1540 and (3966) 6 April 1541 gives two long lists of the lands and barony of Douchale-Lile (i.e. the estate of Duchal belonging to the family of Lile). I give them here in two columns since comparisons of names and spelling are often revealing:
RSS II (3584) 1540 RSS II (3966) 1541
Douchale Douchale
Corroucht Corruth
Gibbastoun Geblestoun
Wrayis Wrachis
Ester & Wester Bronekhall Ester & Wester Branchill
South Bornthak, North Bornthak Barneschawik
Newtownis Newtoun
Craglochscheoch Craigluncho
Dippanneis Dyputis
Carrowturan Carnecurane with the hill of the same
Auchinquhole Auchinquhoile
Ester & Wester Side Sidis Ester & Westir
Cowperside Cowperside
Blakisholme Blakisholme
Neyther Wod & Bulros Netherwod & Bukos
Brigend Brigend
Mylntoun Mylntoun with mill thereof
Nethermanis Nether Manis
Haltanrig Halconrig
Newtingishill Nwtingishill
Mekle & Litill Cragbait Mekle & Litill Cragbat
Kellokrayis Kellowais
Wodend Wodend
Nethermanis with mill thereof Nether Mains with mill thereof
Cragfauld Craigfald
Carnturanhill Carnturanhill (Carncuranhill?)
Crewch Coenche
Gordwalschaw Gordwalschaw
Lordis Ward Castelhill
Kers Medo Kingis Orchard and meadow
£5 lands of Kilmacolme
Ovir Manis with the wards and yards thereof
The lists obviously derive from the same original. Only the last four items in the list show any material differences. Nether Mains is repeated but it is possible that this huge estate incorporated two places called the Nether Mains. Carncurran hill looks to be repeated.
GD39/5/34 29 August 1541 gives £10 Over Mains, Nether Mains, Milton & mill, Auldtonrig and Colruth. =RMS III (2429) 29 August 1541, £10 AE. The contents are repeated in GD39/5/36 1542, GD39/5/38 1545, RMS III (3262) 1546 on original of 1545, & Laing Charters (520) 1546.
RMS III (3277) 1546 gives 40s AE Ovir Manys de Douchell which, along with Nethir Manis, Myltoun, Brigend, Westir Depanie, Horsward, Auchinquhyill and the mill of Douchale, were apprised on 12 February 1543.
GD77/311/2 1545 refers to Easter Barnshanks (Barnshake) in the parish of Kilmacolm.
Laing Charters (525) March 1546-7 refers to the lands of Newtonwood, Horsward and Cragfald in the barony of Duchal.
RSS III (2647) 1547-8 deals with the non-entrance of the lands and barony of Duchell-Lyle.
RSS IV (364) 20 July 1549 gives us some individual assessments for some of these lands. Wester Syde is 29s, Auchinquheill is 6s 8d, Dippenny is 22s 6d, Wrathis is 22s, Easter Dippennyis is 13s 4d, in the barony of Duchell, which lands total £4 13s 6d or 7m 2d. (It is not necessarily the case that what is here given was the whole of each property).
ER XVIII pp 486-7 December 1549 gives £10 AE for the properties of Ovir Manys de Duchell, Nedir Manys de Duchell, Myltoun + mill, Hawtanrig, Corrutht.
RSS IV (685) 1550 Refers to the £10 land of Dochall with castle etc.
Laing Charters (583) 20 July 1551 is an instrument of resignation, by Lord Lile and his son, of the lands and barony of Duchale-Lyill. See also Laing Charters (3324) 1747.
RMS IV (629) 20 July 1551 gives a list of the same lands, extending to 62m AE, which had been resigned by Lord Lyle and his son, and which the queen now granted to Alexander, Earl of Glencairn. The two lists are basically the same but in a slightly different order. I have reordered the RMS list below in order to match like with like:
Laing Charters (583) 1551 RMS IV (629) 1551
Little Cragbait Craigbait
Kersmedo Kersmedo
Nutishill Nwttishill
Giblestoun Giblestoun
Branquellis, Branquhellis Eister & Wester*,
Easter & Wester Newtoun Newtoun with wood called Newtoun-wod
Barneschawikis Barnschawikkis
Kellocryst Kelloryis with mills and multures
Wodend,with Newtoun wod Wodend
Craglunschoght Craglunschoc
Dippenneis Easter, Wester & Middle Dippenneis Eister, Myddill & Wester
Cayrnecurach with hill** Carcuran with hill
Crewth Crewch
Auchinquhoill Auchinquhoill
Overwood Ovir-Wod
Netherwood Nethir-Wod & Bulwrais***
Bulwrais
Blakisholme Blakisholme
Brigend Brigend
Jurdaneschaw Jurdaneschaw
Easter Syid, Wester Syid Estir & Westir Syiddis with chapel and its lands
*the documents differ as to whether ‘Easter & Wester’ should attach to Branquellis or Newtoun.
**the document says ‘cum monte et crewth’ but I think ‘crewth’ is actually a place-name.
***Netherwood and Bulwrais will be separate places but seem to have been coupled as 40s for assessment purposes.
It is clear that this 62m matches well with that listed in 1540-1. There are a few omissions such as Corruth, Wrayis, Cowperside, Cragfauld and Haltanrig.
Laing Charters (636) 1555 refers to Westersyde (Wester Syde), Wrayis, Myddipenneis and Auchinquholl in barony of Douchal.
ER XX pp 478-9 30 March 1575 refers to the tower, place and fortalice of Douchall, Nethir Manis of Douchall, Miltoun with mill, Hautanrig and Corruth, extending in the whole to £8 lands AE in the barony of Douchall, also the 40s (£2) AE of Ovir Manis de Douchall. Accordingly, Douchal, including both parts of the Mains, Miltoun, Haltanrig and Corruth, came to £10 AE. This is similar to what appeared in RMS II (871) 1466, ER XIII p 664 1512 and ER XVIII pp 486-7 1549 above. Laing Charters (916) 21 April 1575 is to the same effect. ER XXI pp 460-1 1581 is similar to, but less clear than, ER XX pp 478-9 1575.
RSS VII (204) 4 June 1575 refers to the £30 (45m) lands of Duchall with tower etc.
ER XX p 484 28 June 1575 refers to the lands of Nuttishill, Giblestoun, Eister & Wester Bronquhillis, Kellocres, with mill and multures, Wodend, Borneschawikis, Newtoun with its wood called Newtounwod, Craiglunscheouch, Dippenneis, Estir, Middill, & Westir, Carnecurane with its hill, Trenich, Auchinquheill, Estir & Westir Syidis with chapel and its chapel-lands, Ovirwod & Nethirwod, Blaikisholme and Bulwrayis, Brigend and Jurdaneschaw extending in the whole to 54m 6s 8d (£36 6s 8d) lands in property and tenandry in the barony of Douchall. (Trenich will be a mis-reading of Creuch – the letters ‘t’ and ‘c’ were often confused, as were ‘n’ and ‘u’). This list is repeated, with spelling variants, in ER XXI pp 460-1 1581; the lands extending to £36 6s 8d AE. (Crewth is the reading of Creuch in this document).
GD39/5/85 27 June 1613 gives Nutshill, Giblestoun, Easter & Wester Branchellis, Kellotrees, Woodend, Bornschawikis, Newton with Newton Wood, Craiglumskeech, Dippenneis Easter, Middle and Wester, Cairncurrane, Coruich (Creuch), Auchinquhoill, Easter & Wester Sydes, Overwood & Netherwood, Blakisholme & Bulwrayis, Bridgend & Jordaneschaw, manor place of Duchal, Nether Mains of Duchal, Milton, Hautanrig, Corruthe, Craigbait and Kersmedow, all in the barony of Duchal.
Renfrew Retours (96) 29 September 1635 gives the same list again (Creuch being omitted) with an Auld Extent of 54m 6s 8d. It then adds the lands of Craigbat and Kersemedow extending to £5 (AE) in the same barony of Duchell. It adds, again, the tower, fortalice and manor-place of Duchele, the Nether Maynis of Duchele, Mylnetoun and its mill, Haltaneridge, Over Maynis and Colruith extending to £10 AE. These various parts of the barony of Duchal have now been expressed often enough for us to draw some conclusions. There was a 54m 6s 8d estate as listed in ER XX p 484 1575. If we add to this the £5 or 7½m of Craigbat and Kersemedow we arrive at a total of 62m which is exactly what is stated in RMS IV (629) 1551. This seems NOT to have included the £10 (15m) estate which included both parts of the Mains of Duchal, Miltoun, Haltanrig and Corruth. If we add these we come to a total of 77m. This still does not seem to account for properties named in 1540 such as Cowperside and Cragfauld but we learn from later documents that Couperstoune was an alias for Easter Syde while Cragfauld was close to, and perhaps reckoned part of, the manor-place of Duchal.
I am not sure I have completely ironed out the anomalies and ambiguities surrounding the total value of the Duchal estate. In particular it is unclear exactly what was included in the £10 unit of the Mains of Duchal. However, we can take some comfort from comparing our total of 77m with the 70½m which Purves and Stewart offered in their copies of the Taxt Rolls.
GD39/5/104 4 November 1635 gives Nitshill, Gibblastoune, Easter & Wester Branchels, Kellotrees with mill and multures, Woodend, Borneschaikes, Newton and Newtonwood, Craiglinscheoch, Dippenies Easter, Middle and Wester, Carncourane, Auchinquhoill, Easter & Wester Sides, Over & Netherwood, Blacksholme, Bulwrayis, Bridgend & Jordanhill, Craigbait & Kersmedow, manor-place of Duchall, Nether Mains of Duchall, Milneton and mill, Halkanridge, Overmains and Colruith, all in the barony of Duchall. GD39/1/316 1671 is similar and gives a total of 54m 6s 8d before adding £5 Craybait and Kersemeadow. A number of the place-names are now quite corrupt.
GD77/311/3 1665 refers to Carruth and East Branchal in the parish of Kilmacolm.
Renfrew Retours (165) 1666 repeats Renfrew Retours (96) 1635 in the essentials. So does Renfrew Retours (169) 1670.
Renfrew Retours (175) 1676 breaks the mould in that we have new Porterfeild owners. The lands are listed as follows:
Giblastoune
Wester Branchill
4s 4d of Eister Branchill
Newtounes
Barnshawicks
Kellostryes
Neather Maynes with its two islands
Woodend
Craiglunshock
Wester Dippanie
Eister Dippanie alias Burnbank
Overwood with 2 acres of meadow of Chappellboige and Carsemedow
Auchinfoill
Within the barony of Duchall extending to 37m 8s 11d lands AE.
The next section lists:
10s Horscrags
32s Mylnetoun
15s Mylnetoun
15s Laidtoune
26s 8d (i.e. 2m) Brigend
30s Westersyd
20s Eistersyde alias Couperstoune
5s 10d lands of the 13s 4d lands of Cairncurranhill
half the mill of Duchall called the Mylnetoun mylne
in the barony of Duchall AE £6 19s 6d. (The values actually add to £7 14s 6d which suggests that one of the figures of 15s has been added by mistake).
The next section gives:
Manor-place and fortalice of Duchall with garden called Leikieyaird, lands close to the said place called Horsewaird and Craigfauld, within the aforesaid barony (of Duchall). Extent 8m. (This is not described as Auld Extent).
Renfrew Retours (191) 1690 is another Porterfeild retour and the first section is the same, albeit with spelling variants. The second section runs:
10s Horsecraigs
32s Milntoun
15s Laidtoun
26s 8d Bridgend
30s Westersyde
20s Eastersyde alias Couperstoun
5s 10d of the 13s 4d of Cairncurrenhill
half the mill of Duchell commonly called the Milntoun Milne
in the said barony of Duchell. AE £6 9s 6d.
Fortunately this sorts out the mistake in Renfrew Retours (175) since Mylnetoun has been repeated there in error. Deducting 15s the sums should now add correctly to the total of of £6 19s 6d. Unfortunately another error has crept in and the printed figure is £6 9s 6d. Errors are not uncommon in the Retours. The next section about the manor-place of Duchall adds some minor details. The name of the (orchard and) garden is now given as Leekyeard. Then we come across the 40s AE of Little-craigbaitt and the merkland (13s 4d) AE of Carsemeadow, in the parish of Kilmacolm, which is then said to be £1 AE!
Branchal
The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell p 216 No 1 1816 refers to the lands of Easter Branchills, including therein the 22s land of Easter or South Branchills, and the 4s 4d land of Easter or Mid Branchills, called Netherton. (This appears rather garbled but it seems Easter Branchills was at least 26s 4d).
The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell p 216 No 4 1844 refers to 40s Carruth and 19s Easter Branchills.
Craigbet
Craigbet is puzzling. It was frequently linked with Torr and Threeply – for which see under Kilbarchan parish. For instance:
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.
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).
However Craigbet may have been divided because we also have several references to £5 AE of Craigbait & Kersmedo. See table above plus £5 AE Craigbat & Kersemedow in Renfrew Retours (96) 1635. Also in Renfrew Retours (165) 1666, (169) 1670; GD39/1/316 1671 – in barony of Duchal.
And there was certainly a settlement site called Little Craigbet. This was originally part of the Lyle estate of Duchal, before passing to the Semples in the middle of the sixteenth century:
AHC Volume I No 114 1540 has references to Litle Craigbait, Carsmedow, Litle Craigbait and Gersmedo (3 times). The tenants of Little Craigbait were Steven Stile, John Logane, John Lindesay and John Kelso. The lands were part of the Lyle estate of Duchal but were subject to a legal process over nonentry.
Laing Charters (583) 20 July 1551, is a resignation, by Lord Lile, of the Duchale-Lyill estate, in favour of the Earl of Glencairn. This estate included Little Cragbait and Kersmedo.
RMS IV (629) 20 July 1551, (i.e. the same day as the resignation immediately above), is a grant by the Queen, to the Earl of Glencairn, of this Lyle estate. The listing begins with Craigbait and Kersmedo. No individual valuations are given but the total was 62m AE. See also GD148/178 1551.
We have a reference to 40s AE Litilcragbait and ‘gers medo’ in RSS IV (2271) 1553 (see table above). These were now Semple lands.
RMS IX (1854) 1647 on original of 1638, has Litle Craigbat & Kersmedow. (Semple lands).
The Semple Rental of 1644 (AHC Volume II p 174) gives a ‘Rentall of Craigbait’ which must be Little Craigbait. There are 7 tenants, including a John Kelso who was probably from the same family as the John Kelso of 1540 above. Robert Steill (elder) held a 13s 5d land; John Kelso had 6s 8d land; Issobell Toftis, and her son Allex(ande)r Steill, had 6s 8d land; Walter Bar had 6s 8d land; and Richard Allasoune had 6s 8d land. (13s 5d will be a simple error for 13s 4d since the total value of the lands then comes to 40s exactly. The money rents are consistent with the land values; a 6s 8d land (½m) paid £20, a 13s 4d land (1m) paid £40). The last of the 7 tenants was a Mathew Toftis in ‘Halrig’ who had 2 acres of land called ‘Corsmeidow’ for which he paid the high rent of £53 6s 8d. There is also reference to the ‘kaf meidow’ (calf meadow?).
Renfrew Retours (191) 1690 gives 40s AE Little-craigbaitt and 1m AE Carsemeadow (total 4m) in the parish of Kilmacolm.
It is not difficult to imagine that a place called Craigbat could be split into two components (Big & Little) and that an accomapnying meadow might also be split in two to accommodate both portions (assuming that Kersmedow and ‘gers medo’ approximate to each other). Roy(PC) marks a ‘C…Meadow(s)’ immediately W of Craigbeat but unfortunately a large ink-blot obscures some letters in the name. I am just not sure if Craigbet was split into three parts.
To further confuse matters RMS V (1822) 1590-1 has 20s AE Craigbait, 20s AE Threiplie, 20s AE Over Toir & Toirhill in parish of Kilbarchan. Now Threeply and Torr Hill are in Kilbarchan but Craigbet is in Kilmacolm. Is this document only talking of part of Craigbet?
Finally, Renfrew Retours (193) 1690 refers to ‘2 acres of land commonly (called the) Ministers or Viccars aikers of Kilmacolm in Carsemeadow, within the parish of Kilmacolm. Ancient Extent 1d’.
Purves p 161 gives Craigbett, Tar and Threiplie as £5 (7½m).
Stewart f 50r gives Craigbet Toir and Threplie as £5 (7½m).
Ladymuir
In RMS III (2981) 1543 it is described as being in the lordship of Douchell. It belonged to Gabriel Simple (Semple) who sold it, in 1543, to John Spreull. (See also precept of sasine for 20s Ladymwr under GD148/164 25 April 1544. Also RMS IV (153) 1547). It features again in RMS IV (1160) 1556-7, NRAS859/Box 203/Bundle 2 (Great seal charter of confirmation of 20s AE Ladymure) 1588, Renfrew Retours (211) 1614, (129) 1647, RMS IX (1975) 1648.
‘Craigends’ p 140 c. 1690, refers to 20s Ladymuir.
It is consistently 20s AE.
Purves p 161 gives Ladmure as £1 (1½m).
Stewart f 50r gives Ladmu(re) as 20s (1½m).
Maxwell part of the Duchal estate
The Maxwell family of Newark (i.e. the Finlaystone Maxwells) later held parts of the Duchal estate and a list of these properties appears in Renfrew Retours (177) 1678, (184) 1683 and (201) 1700. We also have some references in Laing Charters (2388) 1649 which is a charter by Patrick Maxwell of Newark the (feudal) superior. This data is nearly the same but there are a few differences so I have added it in square brackets below.
The Duchal lands given in Renfrew Retours (177) 1678 are: Laing Charters (2388) 1649
40s called the Over Maynes of Duchall [ditto to left]
10s Newtounwood [ditto to left]
22s Wreathis [20s]
20s Midle Dippeny [ditto to left]
13s 4d Creuchill [ditto to left]
7s 6d of the merkland of Carncurranhill [16s 6d Carnecurandhill]
Half the mill of Duchall called the Milnetounmylne [ditto to left]
Annual return of 3 firlots oatmeal from the other half of the mill [ditto to left]
40s AE Netherwood & Bulrosse [not present in Laing Charters (2388)]
within the barony of Duchall and parish of Kilmacolme
AE £7 12s 10d (which is the correct total); NE £30 11s 4d which is AE multiplied by 4.
Although spellings differ the details are the same in Renfrew Retours (184) 1683 and (201) 1700.
Laing Charters (2388) 1649 adds 33s 4d (2½m) of Over Kilmacolme in the barony of Newark.
Descriptions of the Sheriffdoms of Lanark and Renfrew, p 98, footnote 3, mentions a Will of John Maxwell of Bulwryis, 1595, which refers to ‘the xl s. land of Bulwryis’ (40s or 3m land). This will be the Bulrosse of the list above – presumably including Netherwood.
The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell p 153 No 11 1816 gives 22s Wreathes or Wraes and 13s 4d Creuchill.
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