Mearns Table
Because data is scarcer in Mearns than for some parishes I have arranged this table a little differently. Normally my tables follow a rough geographical order. Here they follow the known estates – e.g. £20 Fingaltoun, £20 Over Pollock, 20m or 25m Hazelden etc.
A number of surviving assessments are in puzzling amounts, e.g. 8s 10⅔d or 22s 2d + ⅓ of 2d. These make more sense if we think of them as fractions of a larger unit. So, 8s 10⅔d is exactly two-thirds of 1 merk. 22s 2d + ⅓ of 2d is exactly one-third of 5 merks. The documents are recording the fractions of a property after it was divided between heirs. Worse still, documents sometimes omitted fractional parts of a penny, particularly where such coins did not exist. So, 8s 10⅔d might become 8s 10d. I suspect that this happened quite frequently and may help explain some arithmetic anomalies.
It may also be that 11s 2d units are actually one-sixths of 5 merks. 6 x 11s 2d = 67s which is 5m 4d. It is possible the slight arithmetic mismatch was just ignored.
| Name | Value | Date | Grid Ref | Map Sources | Other forms, comments etc |
| Archbishop of Glasgow’s lands | 25m | 1513 | Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollok, Vol I, No 89 1513. The properties in the following rows appear in RMS II (3339) 2 May 1509 and RSS I (1876) 8 May 1509. They are: Cartisbrig with mill, the Brume, Newtoun, Malascheuch, Schawhill, Mekil-schaw, Litill-schaw & Blakhouse, Kirkhill. The problem is that some of these also appear in other estate listings. So Schawhill and Kirkhill appear under Hazelden below. I do not know if Shaw should be distinguished from Shawhill. See below. | ||
| Cartsbridge
Cartisbridge |
31s |
1646 |
NS 5756 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew)
|
OS 6” 1st edition Renfrewshire Sheet XVII, 1856.
Karts Brig (Pont), Kartsbrig (Blaeu). The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell pp 367-8 No 9 1646 and p 22 No 8 1647 where it is AE. |
| Broom | £3 14s 4d | 1646 | NS 5456 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) |
Brom (Pont), Broom (Blaeu, Roy, Ainslie).
£3 14s 4d Broome in The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell pp 367-8 No 9 1646 & p 22 No 8 1647. Contained some temple-lands – see below under Temple-lands in Mearns. |
| Newton Mearns | NS 5355 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Richardson(1795) Ainslie(1796) |
The ‘new toun’ of Mearns in contrast to the ‘auld toun’ (Alton, Aldton etc. q.v.). | ||
| Malletsheugh | 21s 6d
20s 2d |
1642
1642 |
NS 5255 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) |
We have an early version of this place-name in RMP pp 103-4 (WW Scott’s No 98 with date of 1273 x 1316) where Gilbert de Malotishok is a witness. 21s 6d in RS53 ff 11r-11v 1642. Also in RS53 f 11v 1642 (a separate document). 20s 2d in RS53 f 12r 1642. See also under Flenders. |
| Blakhows
Blackhouse |
13s 4d | 1646 |
NS 5455/5555 |
Richardson(1795)
Ainslie(1796) NRAS761/29 |
The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell pp 367-8 No 9 1646 & p 22 No 8 1647. NRAS761/29 1847 is a plan of Blackhouse which I have not seen. Contained some temple-lands – see below under Temple-lands in Mearns. |
| Total Archbishop’s estate | 25m | 1513 | We are obviously missing large portions of this estate. | ||
| Fingaltoun estate | See below. | ||||
| Fingalton Mill
Fyngaltoun |
£20 AE |
1546 |
NS 5055 | OS 6” 1856 | OS 6” 1st edition Renfrewshire Sheet XVI, 1856.
£20 AE in RSS III (1824) 1546. See below. |
| Dodside | NS 5053 | Ainslie(1796) | |||
| Dod Hill
Doddhouse |
3s 4d |
1675 |
NS 4953 | Roy(PC) | GD1/341/2 1675 is a charter of the ‘possill’ of land in Doddhill called the Doddhouse, extending to 3s 4d, within the £20 land of Fingaltoune. See also following entry for Middleton. |
| Middleton
Nether Middiltoun Over Middiltoun Midletoun |
£5 (7½m)
33s 4d 33s 4d 33s 4d |
1680
1656 1656 1729 |
NS 4954 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Ainslie(1796) |
Midd(ay_lmur) in Pont. Middel in Blaeu. Middelton in Ainslie.
The documents are consistent in giving a total value of £5 for Middleton. Doddhouse was extra. See below.
|
| North Craigton
South Craigton |
(5m) | 1816 | NS 4955
NS 4954 |
Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) |
Probably = Craigtos (Pont) & Craintos (Blaeu).
See below. |
| Total Fingaltoun | 12¾m or £8 10s | Nominally this was a £20 estate. I find £8 10s. Other component farms may feature in the rows beneath but I am not sure if they should properly appear under Fingaltoun. | |||
| Over Pollock estate | See below. | ||||
| Pollok Castle
Polloktown Over-Pollock |
£20 AE |
1546 |
NS 5256
NS 5256 |
Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Richardson(1795) |
OS 6” 1st edition Renfrewshire Sheet XVI, 1856.
Pook in Pont & Blaeu, Pollock & Pollocktown in Roy. £20 AE in RSS III (1750) 1546. £20 in The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell p 231 No 9 1636. See below. |
| Pollokhouse | Contained some temple-lands – see below under Temple-lands in Mearns. | ||||
| Green of Over Pollok | 16s | 1678 | Roy(PC) | 16s AE in Renfrew Retours (178) 1678. 16s in The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell p 355 No 2 1777. Part of £20 Over Pollok.
Green and Little Green are found on Roy to E of Pollock. |
|
| Greenlaw |
40s |
1678 |
NS 5257 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Richardson(1795) Ainslie(1796) |
Greĕlawes (Pont), Greenlawood (Blaeu), Greenlaw (Roy), High & Laigh Greenlaw (Richardson), Mickle & Little Greenlaw (Ainslie). 40s AE Greenlaw in Renfrew Retours (178) 1678.
Part of £20 Over Pollok. |
| Ryat Farm | 20s | 1678 | NS 5257 | Pont(33)
Richardson(1795) Ainslie(1796) |
By/y or Ry/y appears on Pont. Ryet in Richardson & Ainslie. 20s AE Ryart in Renfrew Retours (178) 1678. Ryot in The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell p 371 No 17 1686. Part of £20 Over Pollok. |
| Maynes | 13s 4d | 1678 | 13s 4d (1m) AE in Renfrew Retours (178) 1678. Part of £20 Over Pollok? | ||
| Potterhill | 8s | 1678 | 8s AE Potterhill in Renfrew Retours (178) 1678. Part of £20 Over Pollok? | ||
| Bankhead | 1686 | Bankhead is part of £20 Over Pollock in The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell p 371 No 17 1686. | |||
| Cornockhouse | 1686 | Cornockhouse is part of £20 Over Pollock in The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell p 371 No 17 1686. | |||
| Pilmuir | 6s | 1668 | NS 5154 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) |
6s Pilmure in Renfrew Retours (167) 1668. |
| Faulds | 18s | 1668 | NS 5154 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) |
Fals in Pont. Faulds in Roy & Ainslie.
18s in Renfrew Retours (167) 1668. Faulds is part of £20 Over Pollock in The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell p 371 No 17 1686. |
| Caldcoats
Ovir Cauldcoattis Nether Cauld-Coattis |
40s 36s |
1662 1662 |
NS 5155 | Roy(PC)
Ainslie(1796) |
Caldcoats (Roy). Laigh & High Cauldcots (Ainslie). 40s (Ovir) & 36s (Nether) in Renfrew Retours (162) 1662. 40s Over Caldcoats in The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell p 54 No 3 1785. Parts of £20 Over Pollock in The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell p 371 No 17 1686. |
| Par(tenteas)
Ovir Partitaes |
9s |
1662 |
Roy(PC) | A hard-to-read name which is probably Par(tenteas) is found on Roy to the W side of Pollock. 9s of Ovir Partitaes in Renfrew Retours (162) 1662. Nether Partetesse & Over Partataes are parts of £20 Over Pollock in The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell p 371 No 17 1686. | |
| Millhouse of Pollock
with its mill-lands |
9s
4s |
1662
1662 |
Renfrew Retours (162) 1662 refers to 9s called Millhouse of Pollock, 4s of its mill-lands. Also in The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell p 355 No 2 1777. Parts of £20 Over Pollok. The total is 13s which suggests it was probably 13s 4d or 1 merk. | ||
| Netherplace Farm | 23s | 1668 | NS 5155 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) |
23s in Renfrew Retours (167) 1668.
N. Place (Pont), N. Plaue (Blaeu), N & S Nether Place (Roy), Nether Place (Ainslie). |
| Corselet | 9s | 1668 | NS 5256 | Roy(PC) | OS 6” 1st edition Renfrewshire Sheet XVI, 1856. Corslet(Roy).
9s Corsflatt in Renfrew Retours (167) 1668.
|
| Lofts | 24s | 1668 | NS 5255 | Roy(PC)
Ainslie(1796) |
24s Loftis in Renfrew Retours (167) 1668.
Lafts (Roy), Lofts (Ainslie). |
| Polloktowne
other 10s Polloktowne |
10s
10s |
1668
1668 |
Renfrew Retours (167) 1668 gives 2 x 10s for Polloktowne. | ||
| Churchlands in Over Pollock | 8s | 1525 | See below. | ||
| Total for Over Pollock | £15 3s 4d | I am not certain all of the above were parts of Over Pollock. The nominal total should be £20. I find £15 3s 4d. | |||
| Stepends | NS 5055/5056 | OS 6” 1856 | OS 6” 1st edition Renfrewshire Sheet XVI, 1856. | ||
| Driffenbeg | NS 4851 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) |
|||
| Floak
Mid Floak Townhead of Floak Floak Bridge |
5m AE | 1546 | NS 4949
NS 4950 NS 4950 NS 5050 |
Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) |
5m AE in RSS III (1768) 1546. GD3/1/3/47/16 1702 refers to the lands of Floak & Cavine as parts of the barony of Menzies (Mearns). Flook in Pont & Blaeu, Flock in Roy, Floack in Ainslie.
Roy also has Flockside. Ainslie has Floackside. |
| North Walton
Low Walton South Walton High Walton West Walton |
NS 4855
NS 4855 NS 4954 NS 4854 NS 4854 |
Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) |
|||
| Duncarnock
Duncarnock Farm |
NS 5055
NS 5055 |
Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) |
Dunkarnok in Pont & Blaeu, Craig of Carnock in Roy & Ainslie. | ||
| Muirshield | NS 5252 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) |
Meershiles (Pont & Blaeu).
Muirshields (Roy). Muirshiels (Ainslie). |
||
| Broadlees | NS 5353 | Roy(PC)
Ainslie(1796) |
|||
| Hazelden Estate | 20m or 25m | See following entries and below. | |||
| Hazelden | 20m | 1456 | Including, probably, from a 1468 list: Hesyldene (Hazelden), Tytonte (Titwood?), Hundby (Humbie), Lytilschaw (Little Schaw), Quhithill (Whitehill), le Schaw hill (Schawhill) and 20s AE of Kirkhill. See below. | ||
| Hazelden | 25m AE | 1510 | Including Hessildene [Hazelden], Cruyk [Crook], Braidleyis [Broadlees], Tydwoddis [Titwood], Hundby [Humbie]. See Liber protocollorum M. Cuthberti Simonis (Cuthbert Simon), 1499-1513, No 491. See below. | ||
| Hazelden Mains
Hazeldean House |
10m | 1491-2 | NS 5353
NS 5353 |
Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) |
Hasilden in Pont & Blaeu. Hazletonhead (2x) & Harsletonhead in Roy. Hazeltonhead (2x) (Ainslie).
See below. |
| Southfield | 6m | 1491-2 | NS 5354 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Richardson(1795) |
OS 6” 1st edition Renfrewshire Sheet XVII, 1856.
Part of 20m Hazelden? See below under Hazelden. Contained some temple-lands – see below under Temple-lands in Mearns. |
| East Titwood
West Titwood |
4m | 1491-2 | NS 5454
NS 5453 |
Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) |
N: & O: in Pont & Blaeu (i.e. Nether & Over).
Part of 20m Hazelden? See below under Hazelden. |
| Humbie House | NS 5454 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Richardson(1795) |
Humby (l)tou (Pont), Humbyldtõ (Blaeu), Hum(b)y (Roy).
Part of 20m Hazelden? See below under Hazelden. |
||
| Shaw (to N)
Shawhill (to S) |
1468 | NS 5455
NS 5455 |
OS 6” 1856
OS 6” 1856 Pont(33) Blaeu(Renfrew) Richardson(1795) |
OS 6” 1st edition Renfrewshire Sheet XVII, 1856.
OS 6” 1st edition Renfrewshire Sheet XVII, 1856. Schawes in Pont & Blaeu. S of Kingharies (i.e. King Henry’s Knowe). Lytilschaw (Little Schaw) & le Schaw hill (Schawhill) in Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollok Vol I pp 181-3 No 48 1468. Part of 20m Hazelden? See below under Hazelden. |
|
| Whitehill | NS 5156/5256 | Roy(PC) | Quhithill (Whitehill) in Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollok Vol I pp 181-3 No 48 1468. Whitehills in Roy.
Part of 20m Hazelden? See below under Hazelden. |
||
| Kirkhill
Kirkhill |
20s
8s 10⅔d |
1468
1639 |
NS 5555 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Richardson(1795) Ainslie(1796) |
20s AE of Kirkhill in Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollok Vol I pp 181-3 No 48 1468. Part of 20m Hazelden? 6m NE Kirkhill in RMS II (3339) 1509. 8s 10⅔d in Renfrew Retours (109) 1639 (this figure is ⅔ of 1 merk). 8s 10d Kirkhyll in RS53 f 8v 1642. See below under Hazelden. |
| Crook | 40s | 1512 | NS 5253 | Pont(33)
Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) |
Cruk (Pont), Crook (Roy), Crooks (Ainslie).
40s Cruyk in Liber protocollorum M. Cuthberti Simonis (Cuthbert Simon), 1499-1513, No 573 1512.
|
| Total Hazelden estate | 20m
25m |
1456
1510 |
I have opted for the earlier estate definition rather than trying to add the individual valuations. | ||
| Faside House | NS 5254 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) |
Fasyd in Pont & Blaeu. (Pont marks it twice).
Fallside in Roy & Ainslie. |
||
| Maidenhill | NS 5254 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) |
|||
| Cumnock House Farm | NS 5055 | Ainslie(1796) | |||
| Waterside | NS 5156 | Roy(PC)
Ainslie(1796) |
|||
| Balgray House
Mains of Balgray |
1413 | NS 5156
NS 5056
|
Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) |
Bagraw in Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollok, I, p 147 No 25 1413. N. Balgr(o) & O. Balgr(a) in Pont, N. & O. Balgra in Blaeu, (i.e. Nether & Over). Bagrie (Roy), Bagraw & Over Bagraw (Ainslie). See Hamilton of Wishaw pp 112-113 for notes on the Balgray family. | |
| Balgraystone | NS 5056 | Roy(PC)
Ainslie(1796) |
Possibly a ‘stane/stone’ rather than a ‘toun’? | ||
| Greenbank House | NS 5656 | Richardson(1795)
Ainslie(1796) |
|||
| Busby | NS 5856 | Roy(PC)
Ainslie(1796) |
Roy also has Busbymill, | ||
| Letham | NS 5655 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Ainslie(1796) |
Lettham(e) in Pont, Lethem in Roy & Ainslie. | ||
| Flenders
|
11s 2d | 1639 | NS 5656 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Richardson(1795) Ainslie(1796) |
Fl(a)rdir (Pont), Flerdir (Blaeu), Flaindir (Roy), Flender (Richardson & Ainslie).
11s 2d Renfrew Retours (109) 1639. 11s 2d Fflender in RS53 f 8v 1642. See below.
|
| Flender and Mallatisheuche | £10 | 1607 | RMS VI (2007) 1608, on original of 1607, refers to the lands of Cartisbrig, with mill, mill-lands etc, the lands of Flender and Mallatisheuche extending to £10 AE or thereabouts. See below.
For Malletsheugh see under Archbishop of Glasgow’s lands. |
||
| King Henry’s Knowe | NS 5555 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Richardson(1795) Ainslie(1796) |
This curious name is ‘King Haries Know’ in Pont, ‘Kingharies’ in Blaeu, ‘King Harrys Know’ in Roy & Ainslie, ‘King Henrysknow’ in Richardson. It has a parallel in ‘King Harry’, Cumberland, (see Cumb. I p 79). The latter can be documented back to 1268 and the editors suggest that the first element is actually for Gaelic ‘ceann’ (head). See also text file on Place-names. | ||
| Castle Farm
Tower |
NS 5555
NS 5555 |
Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Richardson(1795) Ainslie(1796) |
Meirns C. in Pont & Blaeu.
Castle of Mearns (Roy). Mearns Castle (Ainslie & Richardson). |
||
| Mearns | NS 5455 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Ainslie(1796) |
In both Pont & Blaeu there is a church symbol to the W of the castle. Mearns Kirk in Ainslie. | ||
| Churchlands of Mearns
Vicar’s lands in Mearns |
20s
13s 4d |
1522
1629 |
Held by Paisley Abbey.
See below. |
||
| Aikinbank | 33s 4d | 1617 | See below. | ||
| Crookfur | NS 5456 | Blaeu(Renfrew) ?
|
Blaeu marks ‘Cruk’ in a position that might be Crookfur rather than Crook. | ||
| Bannerbank | NS 4952 | Roy(PC)
Ainslie(1796) |
Bennerbank (Roy).
Bannerbank (Ainslie). |
||
| Barrance | NS 5655 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Roy(PC) Richardson(1795) |
Borrens (Pont & Blaeu).
Barrans (Roy). |
||
| Burnhouse
Burnhows |
8s 4d |
1646 |
NS 5554 | Ainslie(1796) | The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell pp 367-8 No 9 1646 & p 22 No 8 1647. |
| Mains of Mearns | £5 | 1646 | £5 AE Meikil and Little Maynes of Mearnes in The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell pp 367-8 No 9 1646 and p 22 No 8 1647. £5 AE of the Maynes of Mearnes, with castle etc., in The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell p 349 No 13 1653. Is this Castle Farm above? | ||
| Aldton/Auldtown/Alton
(i.e. the ‘Auld’ or old town of Mearns in contrast to the ‘New toun’). |
NS 5555 | Ainslie(1796)
OS 6” 1856 |
This is the Aldton of Herbert Maxwell’s charter of 1273 x 1316. (See below under Churchlands of Mearns). Auldtown in Ainslie. Alton & East Alton in OS 6” 1st edition Renfrewshire Sheet XVII, 1856. Neither appear on OS Explorer 342 or 334. East Alton was marked (in 1856) on what is now labelled King Henry’s Knowe. Alton was a little WSW. See next entry. | ||
| East Alton
Alton |
NS 557553
NS 553551 |
OS 6” 1856
OS 6” 1856 |
OS 6” 1st edition Renfrewshire Sheet XVII, 1856.
OS 6” 1st edition Renfrewshire Sheet XVII, 1856. |
||
| Langton Farm | NS 5054 | Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Ainslie(1796) |
Lang (Pont & Blaeu), Langtown (Ainslie). | ||
| Waterfoot
Waterfoot Bridge |
11s 2d | 1639 | NS 5654
NS 5655 |
Pont(33)
Roy(PC) |
Waterfood (Pont), Waterfoot (Roy).
11s 2d Waterfutt in Renfrew Retours (109) 1639. 11s 2d Waterfitt in RS53 f 8v 1642. |
| Barcapel
Barcapel Holm Farm Capelrig (East part) Holm |
10m
5m |
1541 |
NS 5457
NS 5457 NS 5457 NS 5457 |
Pont(33)
Blaeu(Renfrew) Richardson(1795)
|
Capelrig (Pont & Blaeu), Kaplerig (Richardson). 10m in Purves & Stewart.
OS 6” 1st edition Renfrewshire Sheet XVII, 1856. OS 6” 1st edition Renfrewshire Sheet XVII, 1856. See below. |
| Capelrig temple lands | 6s 8d | 1655 | See below under Barcapel/Capelrig. | ||
| Temple lands in Mearns. | See below. | ||||
| Roddinghead Hill | NS 5557 | Richardson(1795)
OS 6” 1856 |
Roddenhead (Richardson).
OS 6” 1st edition Renfrewshire Sheet XVII, 1856. |
||
| Rysland | NS 5456 | Richardson(1795)
OS 6” 1856 |
Riseland (Richardson 1795).
OS 6” 1st edition Renfrewshire Sheet XVII, 1856. |
||
| Total | 146m + | This is a minimum figure and includes the valuations in bold in the table above. | |||
| Purves p 161 | £160 | = 240m for ‘The Mernis pertaining to Lord Maxwell’. | |||
| Stewart f 49v | £160 | = 240m for ‘The Mernes ptening to my lord Maxwell’. |
Hamilton of Wishaw, p 111, tells us that a great part of Mearns belonged to the Maxwell family. See, for example, RMS II (1362) 1477-8, Memorials of the Montgomeries II No 79 1506, RMS III (1402) 1534, RSS IV (35) 1548-9, Renfrew Retours (5) 1550, ER XIX p 425 1558, ER XX p 419 1571, RMS IV (2012) 1571-2, RMS VII (520) 1611, Renfrew Retours (51) 1619, RMS VIII (228) 1621, RMS IX (1274) 1642. Unfortunately there is no data about the land-valuation of Mearns, or its constituent farms, in any of these documents except RMS VIII (228) 1621 which mentions churchlands called the ‘Ladylandis’ of Mearns, and that Newtoun was to become a burgh of barony.
Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollok, pp 1-2, tells us that the Polloks of Upper Pollok became vassals of the Maxwells of Mearns – see footnotes 1-2 for further details.
We have a list of properties from the late mediaeval period. RSS VIII (1801)1583-4 is about the teind meal owed to the commendator of Paisley Abbey from lands in the parish of Mearns. This list is given again in The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell p 229 No 2 1583. Where there is any material difference I have added names from the latter in square brackets below. The farms were:
Cartisbrig
Kirkhill
Humbie
Tytwodis
Hasildane
Braidleyis
Cruyk
Pilmure
Falsyde
Mallatisheuch
Southfeild
Newtoun
Rysland
Schaw
Blakhous
Bromehous [Brownehous – actually Burnhouse?]
Aikinbank
Litilschaw
Quhithillis
Schawhillis
Brume [Brwm Tempill land – possibly a single place, i.e. the templeland of Broom]
Tempilland [see Brume immediately above]
Maynis of Meurous [Maynis of Mearnis – the RSS entry is probably just misspelt]
Kirklandhill
The full list in The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell p 229 No 2 reads:
Cartisbrige, Kirkhill, Humbie, Titwodis, Hasildane, Braidleis, Cruyk, Pilmure, Falside, Mallatisheuch, Southfield, Newtoun, Rysland, Schaw, Blakhous, Brownehous [Burnhouse?], Aikinbank, Littil Schaw, Quhithillis, Schawhilles, Brwm Tempill land, Maynis of Mearnis, and Kirklandhill.
Robertson pp 287-8 gives a Table of Property in Mearns. This is useful in establishing the farms extant in 1818. It also gives the names of proprietors, Valued Rent Scots and English acres. I have not included these columns but the Valued Rent figures are potentially useful if we think closely equivalent rents indicates equal land valuations. I am always wary of using indirect evidence but it can possibly be used to support other data. Here follow Robertson’s list of estates:
Upper Pollok barony
Mearns Castle etc
Southfield
Capelrig
Shaw, etc
Langton, and part of Walton
Greenbank, and part of Flenders
Netherhouse, Bissland, and Broom [Bissland may be Riseland (Richardson 1795), which is Rysland (OS 6” 1856) at NS 5456]
Middleton
Craigton, Blackhouse, and Titwood
Hazelton and Crofthead
Walton, Duncarnock, etc
Malletsheugh, and part of Walton,
Burnhouse, Waterford, and part of Newton
Townhead of Newton and Pidmire
Newton
Humbie
Rabshill
Broadlees
Kirkhill and part of Broom
Hazleton
North Walton
Malletsheugh, part of
Craig of Carnock
Carsebridge
Malletsheugh, part of
Malletsheugh, part of
Flenders
Carsebridge
Craigton
Craigton
Knaprock, or Broom
Broom, part of
Hillhead, South,
Broom, part of
Fawside
Cairn
Titwood
Floak
Maidenhill
Floak
Kirkhill
Newmill
Flenders, Renwick’s
Hillhead, North
Hillhead, South
Bonnyhouse
Wilson’s Newton
Rodinhead or Ritchie’s Broom
Floak Titwood, Norris’s
Kirkhouses, or Kirkland
Little Greenlaw
Commonty, appropriated (5 parts)
Glebe.
A number of names are repeated and it is clear that by 1818 the landscape of family estates was much broken. Some families rose, others fell. There was intermarriage, fusion, fission and sale. The valued rent column does allow us to estimate land values in a broad sense. Malletsheugh had been divided 4 ways but two of the parts had the same valued rent so it is likely they had the same extent. North and South Hillhead had the same valued rent – but there was also another part called South Hillhead. (Possibly the farm split and then one half divided again). Nevertheless the list is useful in showing the farms that had survived from the mediaeval period.
Archbishop of Glasgow’s estate
Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollok, Vol I, No 89 1513 is an instrument of sasine which refers to 25 merklands of Mearns in which the Archbishop of Glasgow was enfeoffed. (Also The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell p 11 No 1). This may refer back to documents from 1509 which appear in RMS II (3339) 2 May 1509 and RSS I (1876) 8 May 1509. In RMS II (3339) it appears that John, Lord Maxwell, had sold and alienated a number of properties in the lordship of Mearns to James, Archbishop of Glasgow. Unfortunately the valuations are not given in Auld Extent – but in New. RSS I (1876) concerns Lord Maxwell’s right of reversion. The properties match exactly.
For such a list to be of any practical use we would need to know the Auld Extents of some of the properties for which we are given New Extents. We might then be able to establish a multiplier between Old and New Extent – if indeed, such ever existed. I have given the 1509 list at left below. In square brackets to the right I have added any Auld Extent valuations we know, and the date of that valuation’s first occurrence.
Cartisbrig with mill, extending annually to 20m, [31s – 1646]
the Brume to 20m [£3 14s 4d – 1646]
Newtoun to £21 14s 8d,
Malascheuch to 10m
Schawhill to 24s
Mekil-schaw to 5m
Litill-schaw & Blakhouse to 4m [Blakhows 13s 4d – 1646]
Kirkhill to 6m [8s 10⅔d – 1639]
Extending in the whole to £66 5s 4d New Extent (which total is correct).
The lack of correspondence between valuations in Auld and New Extent does not look promising. The only thing we might say is that 25m AE (1513) may have matched with £66 5s 4d NE in 1509. £66 13s 4d would be 100m which gives us a ratio of roughly 1:4, AE:NE, – which is a ratio often found in the Retours.
RSS I (1876) 8 May 1509 adds no further detail but lists the lands as:
Cartisbrig with mill, the Brume, Newtoun, Malasheuch, Schawhill, Mekle Schaw, Litill Schaw, Blakhous, Kirkhill. This matches exactly with RMS II (3339).
See also The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell pp 367-8 No 9 1646 and p 22 No 8 1647 for valuations of some of these properties.
Fingalton estate
This is consistently given as a £20 land AE – see RSS IV (1737) 1552, Renfrew Retours (206) 1591, (86) 1632, (128) 1647, (156) 1659, RMS XI (416) 1663. (RMS X (512) 1656 calls it a £21 land but this is probably a mistake). Hamilton of Wishaw states that ‘Fingertoun’ belonged to Hamiltoun, Laird of Prestoun, – a reward for recovering Caerlaverock Castle in the Wars of Independence.
Middleton
GD1/341/1 1656 refers to 33s 4d (2½m) AE Nether Middiltoun and 33s 4d (2½m) AE Over Middiltoun.
GD1/341/4 1680 refers to 33s 4d (2½m) AE Nether Middeltoun.
GD86/706 1680 refers to the £5 (7½m) lands of Over and Nether Midletouns, Dodend and Dodhous in the barony of Fingaltoun.
GD1/341/5 1729 refers to 33s 4d (2½m) AE in Nether Midletoun, 33s 4d (2½m) AE in Over Midletoun, 33s 4d (2½m) AE of Midletoun, ‘possle’ of land in Dodhill called the Dodhouse extending to 3s 4d lying within £20 land of Fingaltoun.
Middleton totals 7½m or £5. Dodhouse was extra to this. Both were parts of £20 Fingaltoun.
Craigton
The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell pp 217-218 No 6 1816 refers to two units of 22s 2d ‘and one-third of a two-penny’ land of Craigton, in the barony of Fingalton. The explanation for these rather unusual fractions is that 66s 8d (5 merks) does not divide exactly by 3, but into 22s 2d (+ ⅓ of 2d).
((3 x 22s 2d = 66s 6d) + (3 x (⅓ of 2d) = 2d) = 66s 8d).
We have two such units so it is almost certain Craigton was originally 5m – divided three ways.
See also The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell p 218 No 8 1835.
Pollok or Over Pollock estate
This Pollok is to be distinguished from Nether Pollock in Eastwood parish (q.v.). At £20 (30m) it was a large unit and over the years we have references to some of its components. The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell p 371 No 17 is a marriage-contract of 1686 which refers to the £20 Over Pollock, comprehending the Litle Greenlaw, with the mansion-house of Pollock etc. It then goes on to mention the lands of Ryot, Nether Partetesse, Bankhead, Over Partataes, Caldcoats, Cornockhouse, Faulds and the mansion-house of Pollock.
Renfrew Retours (162) 1662 refers to the 40s Ovir-Cauldcoattis, 36s Nether Cauld-Coattis, 9s called Millhouse of Pollock, 4s of its mill-lands, 9s of Ovir Partitaes, rectory and vicarage teinds of the aforesaid lands, the corn-mill of Over Pollok, and ‘communitate in mora de Mearnes’ which meant a right of common on the moor of Mearns, perhaps including peat as well as grazing. The lands came to £4 18s AE in total.
Renfrew Retours (167) 1668 gives 6s Pilmure, 18s Faulds, 24s Loftis, 23s Natherplace, 10s Polloktowne, other 10s of Polloktowne, 9s of Corsflatt, rectory and vicarage teinds of the aforesaid lands, and ‘communitate de Mearns mure’. The total extent was £5 but it is not stated as AE.
Renfrew Retours (178) 1678 gives 16s Green of Over Pollok, 40s Greenlaw, 20s Ryart, 13s 4d Maynes, 8s Potterhill with ‘communitate mori vocati the Mearnes mure’ (‘common on the moor called the Mearns muir’), with a total AE of £5 1s 4d (the sums actually come to £4 17s 4d).
The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell p 355 No 2 1777 gives £20 Over Pollok, namely 16s Green of Over Pollok, 9s called the Milnhouse of Pollok and 4s called the Milnland of Pollok.
I am not sure all of the above-named properties were parts of the £20 Over Pollock but it seems a reasonable basis for this table.
Some place-names can be found on old maps. Green and Little Green are found on Roy to E of Pollock. A hard-to-read name which is probably Par(tenteas) is found on Roy to the W side of Pollock.
AHC Volume I No106 20 December 1538 refers to ‘xj merkis worth land of Ovir Pollok’ (11 merks worth of land of Over Pollok). Further on in the document is a reference to ‘xl merkis worth of land of Ovir Pollok’ (40 merks worth of land of Ovir Pollok). The latter figure is likely a mistake.
AHC Volume I No 118, 1541 refers to David Pollok’s land of Farnyneis (Fereneze, Neilston parish) or Pollok. At issue was compensation for the ejection of one John Smyth from his ‘maling’ (‘mailing’ or piece of rented ground) called ‘Litle Prettycais’. Prettycais, Partetesse, Partataes, Partitaes and Par(tenteas) are probably all variants of the same name beside Pollock. My reading of this document is that John should be compensated with an acre plus grazing etc. in either Fereneze or Pollok.
Churchlands in Over Pollock
In Cameron Lees is printed the rental for Paisley Abbey from 1460. The following are the references to the churchlands of Over Pollock which are found in the text. I have abbreviated and modernised the entries:
p lxi Kirkland of Over Pollock – paying yearly 8s (1460)
p lxxxiii The Kirkhill in Pollock 8s – paying yearly 8s (1472)
p cxxxiii The kirk in Pollock in Mearns – set for 8s (1522)
p cxlviii In feu. Kirkland of Pollock 8s land – paying yearly 8s (1525).
The last entry makes clear that this kirkland was reckoned an 8s land – and paid a corresponding rent of 8s. This may be a rent which was set down when the land was first assessed in merkland terms – perhaps in the first half of the twelfth century. This happens with a lot of Paisley properties and makes one wonder if abbey tenants had terms that were easier than their countrymen with lay proprietors. Cameron Lees took the view that monks made more charitable landlords. I am not sure I share his optimism but with regard to Paisley Abbey he may have had a point.
Hazelden Estate
The 20 merkland definition
Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollok Vol I pp 177-9 No 46 1456 is an instrument of sasine to Lady Katherine Setoune of the lands of Hessildene. The notary, William Bonar, describes how sasine was given, on the lands of Hessildene in the lordship of Mearns, of ‘viginti mercatarum terrarum antiqui extentus per estimacionem et deliberacionem fidelium husbandorum in predicto dominio’ (‘20 merklands of auld extent by the judgement and deliberation of faithful husbandmen in the foresaid lordship’). ‘Faithful husbandmen’ has here the sense of local tenant farmers who could be relied upon to give an accurate assessment of the value of lands. (This call on the judgement of local worthies is something found again and again in early land-grants). It is interesting that these 20 merklands are not named. Either Lord Maxwell did not know their values, or values had not yet been assigned to every location. Or, perhaps, Lord Maxwell just wanted to make over an estate of 20m and was leaving it to his local agents to determine precisely how it should be made up. It is difficult to believe that, as late as 1456, there were farms without formal valuations. (This document is also summarised in The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell p 343 No 7).
Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollok Vol I pp 181-3 No 48 1468 is an instrument of resignation of the lands of Hesyldene, and others, by the same Katherine Setoun who had received the sasine in 1456. This time the lands are listed and although we are not specifically told they were worth 20m that seems a reasonable assumption. The lands were Hesyldene (Hazelden), Tytonte (Titwood?), Hundby (Humbie), Lytilschaw (Little Schaw), Quhithill (Whitehill), le Schaw hill (Schawhill) and 20s AE of Kirkhill. (This document is also summarised in The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell pp 343-4 No’s 8 & 9. See also p 344 No 10 1473). A difficulty here is that Schawhill/Shawhill and Kirkhill are also mentioned as parts of the Archbishop of Glasgow’s holding in Mearns. At present I cannot explain this.
In 1491-2 we meet RMS II (2087) which refers to Hesildene, extending yearly to 10m AE, Southfield to 6m AE and Tidwod to 4m AE. I am going to ignore the phrase ‘extending yearly’ for the present and just accept these 3 properties as worth a total of 20m AE. The problem is that Southfield is a new addition and several other farm-names (Humbie, Little Schaw etc) have dropped out. The only explanation I can offer is that Southfield is the new name for a cluster of other units.
The 25 merkland definition
In addition to the 25m which John, Lord Maxwell, passed to the Archbishop of Glasgow (see above) we have notice, about the same time, of another 25m estate which he gave to Robert Maxwell and Janet Dowgles, his spouse, in conjunct fee. The lands are specified as AE and included
Hessildene [Hazelden]
Cruyk [Crook]
Braidleyis [Broadlees]
Tydwoddis [Titwood]
Hundby [Humbie]
in the barony of Mearns, 22 October 1510. See Liber protocollorum M. Cuthberti Simonis (Cuthbert Simon), 1499-1513, No 491.
The principal difference between this and the earlier estate definition of Hazelden is the inclusion of Crook (3m) and Braidleyis (Broadlees).
RMS III (956) 1530 refers to half of each of 10m AE Hesildene, 6m AE Southfeild, 4m AE Titwod.
The above documents stretch over 74 years and it is quite possible the same group of farms is being referred to each time.
Flenders
We have an early version of this place-name in RMP pp 103-4 (WW Scott’s No 98 with date of 1273 x 1316) where Matthew of Flandre is a witness.
RMS VI (2007) 1608, on original of 1607, refers to the lands of Cartisbrig, with mill, mill-lands etc; the lands of Flender and Mallatisheuche extending to £10 AE or thereabouts. The document has a curious proviso that if the lands are found to exceed £10 then the surplus should be resigned, if they did not make £10 then the donor should supplement them to that amount. Just as with Hazelden above there seems to have been some uncertainty as to values in Mearns. Renfrew Retours (109) 1639 refers to 11s 2d Flender, along with a proportionate amount of the common grazing.
Churchlands of Mearns
We have a lot of rather disparate detail about churchlands in Mearns. Some of this data comes from the Register of the Monastery of Paisley (see text file – abbreviated here to RMP). The documents in this register are not numbered and some of them are undated although the Tabula following the Preface attempts to supply dates. WW Scott has now refined these in a document which is available online at
https://scottishmedievalcharters.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/paisley.pdf
I have followed WW Scott’s dates and use his numbering to aid identification.
RMP p 100 No 94 – The church of Mearns was given to Paisley Abbey by Helias, son of Fulbert. (WW Scott dates to 1177 x 1195)
RMP p 98 No 90 – The gift of Mearns church was confirmed by Peter of Pulloc, brother to Helias. (WW Scott dates to 1177 x 1195)
RMP pp 100-101 No 95 – The gift of Mearns church was confirmed by King William. See also RRS II (310). (WW Scott dates to 1189 x 1195)
RMP p 101 No 96 – The gift of Mearns church was confirmed by Jocelyn, bishop of Glasgow. (WW Scott dates 1179 x 1196 – probably 1188 x 1195)
Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollok Vol I pp 121-2 No 2 [1219] is a confirmation by Pope Honorius III of a grant to the Prior & Convent of Paisley of several churches, including those of Mernes and Polloc. (This Polloc will be Nether Pollock by Eastwood).
RMP pp 318-323 (W.W. Scott No 287) is a transumpt of the taxation of the churches or vicarages of Paisley. The transumpt was made in 1469 but is based on an indenture between Walter, bishop of Glasgow, and William, abbot of Paisley, following an agreement made in November 1227. The section concerning the vicar of Mearns reads:
vicarius de Mernes habeat centum solidos vel alteragium cum duabus bovatis terre juxta ecclesiam, residuum vero terre cedat in usus monachorum;
(the vicar of Mearns has 100s or the ‘altarage’ with 2 bovates next to the church, the rest of (the church’s) land falls to the use of the monks).
The ‘altarage’ refers to the offerings made at the altar of the church. The churchlands must have extended to more than 2 bovates, or there would be no need for the clause which specifies that the monks were to have the balance. It is not the only reference to bovates among the lands of Paisley but they are sufficiently uncommon to suspect that they are a lexical intrusion by someone who may have been familiar with bovates elsewhere and perhaps didn’t know that they weren’t much used in Renfrewshire. It is perhaps relevant that the agreement was made in Peebles, where bovates were much better known.
We will see below from later evidence that Paisley’s kirklands in Mearns were worth 20s (1½m). The 2 bovates which were the vicar’s portion may have been worth 1 mark – see Renfrew Retours (80) 1629. If we assume 1 bovate = ½m then the original endowment of Mearns church may have been 5 bovates or ⅝ carucate, worth 2½m.
Scott’s No 97, (RMP pp 101-3) is an exchange between Herbert de Maxwell and Paisley Abbey. Scott dates this 1273 x 1316. Maxwell gives the monks 8½ acres and 28 perches of land in Newton of Mearns, in return for an exactly matching quantity of land in Aldton. (Aldton = Auldtoun or ‘old-town’). It appears as Auldtown to the east of Mearns as late as Ainslie’s map of Renfrew in 1796. By the time of the Ordnance Survey 6” map, 1st edition, Sheet No 17, 1856, it had become Alton. Maxwell had caused the 8½ acres and 28 perches in Newtoun to be measured, and he sets out the precise boundaries:
Octo acras et dimidiam et viginti octo perticatas terre in nova villa de Mernes, quas mensurari feci, et que jacent inter has divisas, videlicet sicut rivulus ecclesie transversatur altam viam que tendit de ecclesia de Mernes ad novam villam, et sic ascendendo per illum rivulum ex parte aquilonali usque ad quendam lapidem stantem qui est in quodam viridi radio terre in le Crosteflatt, et sic per illum viridem radium terre versus aquilonem usque in quendam sicum qui extendit se versus occidentem usque ad quendam lapidem stantem, et ab illo lapide directe versus aquilonem usque in decursum sub capite unius fontis, et sic per decursum illius fontis usque in Poddocford, et abinde per altam viam usque ad rivulum prescriptum ecclesie transversantem altam viam; Excepta terra ad domum de Thorphichin pertinenti infra prescriptas divisas …
The editors of OPS I p 98 give a summary translation of the underlined section as below:
As the kirk burn crosses the highway leading from the church to the Newton, and so up that burn northwards to a standing stone in a green furrow in the Crosteflatt, and so by that green furrow northwards to a syke [ditch] leading westward to another standing stone, and from it directly northwards to a rill at a well head, and so by that rill to Poddocford, and thence by the highway to the place where the kirk burn crosses it, excepting the land which belongs to the House of Torphichin
Maxwell then sets out the monastery’s lands in Aldton which have been exchanged. 5½ acres and 28 perches lay in one location, the other 3 acres lay east of Aldton loch – a loch which has long since disappeared but might still be traced via the land contours.
Propter octo acras et dimidiam et viginti octo particatas terre quas habuerunt in territorio de Aldton, quarum quinque acre et dimidia et viginti octo particate terre jacent inter sicum qui est ad fines croftorum ex orientali parte ville de Aldton, et inter sicum qui est ex occidentali parte de le Thorniflat descendendo in Kirkilgat et abinde in altam viam, et tres acre jacent juxta lacum de Aldton ex parte orientali, que vocantur Spragunflat; quas mihi dederunt in permutatione octo acrarum et dimidie et viginti octo particatarum terre prescriptarum
OPS I p 98 gives a translation of the underlined section above:
5½ acres and 28 perches lay between the syke [ditch] which bounds the crofts on the east side of the Aldton, and the syke on the west of Thorny Flat, descending into Kirkhilgat, and from thence to the highway; and three acres lay on the east bank of the lake of Aldton, and were called Spragunflat.
The editors of OPS have, I think, rightly surmised that ‘Kirkilgat’ is likely ‘Kirkhilgat’ where the first and middle elements read ‘Kirkhill’. This charter is also noticed in The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell p 2 No 3 where it is dated c. 1300. See also Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollok I pp 125-6 No 6. It is printed a second time in The Register of Paisley at pages 379-380 (WW Scott No 336). The document is almost exactly the same but there are some minor spelling variations in the place-names. This second set of place-names is as follows: Crostflat, Paddocford, Torphechin, Alton and Aldton, Thorniflat, Kirkilgat, Spraginisflat.
(The reference to Torphichin is interesting because this was the preceptory of the Hospitallers in Scotland. The proposed dates for Herbert Maxwell’s charter are 1273 x 1316 which covers the period when the Templars were facing extinction in Scotland and their properties passed to the Hospitallers. Does the reference to Torphichin suggest land that was originally ‘temple’ land and was now being passed to a different order. Or had it always belonged to the Hospitallers? The absence of a place-name in either ‘Spittal’ or ‘Temple’ in the immediate vicinity of Mearns makes this more difficult to answer. However we have later confirmation that some land in Newtoun of Mearns belonged to the Hospitallers. ‘The Knights of St John of Jerusalem in Scotland’ p 21 gives the Renfrew section of Hospitaller properties which are listed in a rental of 1539-40. ‘Neutount in lie mernis’ (Newton in Mearns) paid 13s. Of the 8 properties shown paying rent in Renfrewshire this was substantially the highest. It was also higher than a great many other Hospitaller properties in other counties).
There are other documents in RMP which concern Mearns. RMP pp 103-4, (W.W. Scott No 98, 1273 x 1316), refers to an annual return from mills.
RMP p 104, (W.W. Scott No 99, 1273 x 1316), refers to finding a chaplain for Mearns church.
In Cameron Lees is printed the rental for Paisley Abbey from 1460. The following are the references to the churchlands of Mearns which are found in the text. I have abbreviated and modernised the entries:
p lx Mearns with the Kirkhill – paying annually 20s (1460)
p lxxxiii 20s The Mearns (c. 1472)
p cxxxiii the kirkland of the Mearns 20s land – set for 20s (c. 1522)
p cxlviii Kirkland of the Mearns 20s land – set for 20s rent annually (c. 1525)
We can fairly conclude that Paisley Abbey held 20s of the kirklands of Mearns.
RMS V (1858) 1591 – the king placed in feufarm – to Archibald Eglintoun, notary public and burgess of Glasgow, 12s land in the parish of Mearns. This 12s consisted of 4s in Newtoun of Mearns occupied by Jo. Rankein in Newtoun, 4s of the same occupied by Jo. Beggart in Newtoun and 4s in Kilhill occupied by Tho. Patersoune in Kilhill. These 12s lands formerly paid 12s to the lights of the Blessed Mary in the parish church of Mearns, and had now fallen to the king. (Kilhill is probably Kirkhill. Payment for lighting was a common feature of church endowments).
RMS VI (188) 1594 – the king set in feufarm – to Archibald Eglingtoun, notary public and burgess of Glasgow, the churchlands of the vicarage of Mearns – occupied by Jo. Rauf. The reddendo (payment) is 20s.
Renfrew Retours (28) 1609 – the retour of John Rankene, heir to his father John Rankene in Newtoun of Mernis – gives 4s churchlands of Mernis, in the ‘villa’ (toun) of Newtoun of Mernis. But the numeric summary at the end of the printed retour gives 4s 6d. (In light of the 1591 evidence given above, 4s is probably correct).
Renfrew Retours (80) 1629 is the retour of Master Hugh Eglintoune, heir to his father, Archilbald Eglintone, in the churchlands of the vicarage of Mearnes extending to 13s 4d AE.
Renfrew Retours (91) 1634 is another retour to Master Hugh Eglintoun, of the churchlands of the vicarage of Mearns. The only evidence of extent is the numeric figure at the end which gives 20s.
RMS XI (288) 1662 is a confirmation of Letters of Alienation, dated 1635, from Agnes Young, widow of the late Alexander Ralff in Actoun of Mernes, and Alexander Ralff, his son, to Andrew Fowlis, of the two ecclesiastical lands of Mernes with pertinents. (Actoun is possibly Aldton and Ralff is probably the same family name as Rauf, one of whom occupied churchlands in Mearns in 1594 (see above). The reference to the ‘two’ ecclesiastical lands of Mearns may be a reference to the 20s which were ex-Paisley and the 13s 4d which was the vicar’s portion).
The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell p 350 No 15 1657 refers to the 20s AE of kirkland of Mearns – sold by Sir George Maxwell to the Stewarts of Blackhall.
The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell p 350 No 16 1658 is a Decreet of Apprising transferring the 25s of the Kirkmailing of Mearnes from John Symme at the kirk of Mearnes to Thomas Crawfurd, merchant burgess of Glasgow, for a debt of £1761.
Confusingly, there seems to be a Kirkhill in both Upper Pollock & Mearns.
Aikinbank
The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell pp 364-5 No 5 1617 refers to the 33s 4d land of Aikinbank, called the Quhathill (Whitehill?) and Schawhillis, at the Kirk of Mernis.
Barcapel/Capelrig
The name Barcapel seems to be the modern version of the old Capelrig. GD3/1/7/5 1541 concerns a sale by John Muir of Caldwell to George Montgomery of Skelmorlie of 5m AE of the east part of his lands of Capelrig. (This might imply there was a west part, also worth 5m. This would then match with the 10m Capelrig in the Copy Taxt Roll of Sir Lewis Stewart).
Renfrew Retours (146) 1655 is the retour of William Muire of Caldwall, heir of James Muire of Caldwall, his brother, ‘in the tempill landis off Capilrige, comone pasturage and libertie of casting turffes etc in the common muire of Mearnis’. The Extent given is 6s 8d but it is not stated whether it is Old or New. These were separate to the Templar/Hospitaller lands in Newton Mearns.
Renfrew Retours Q (No 4) 1676 (see text file) refers to William Mure of Caldwall and ‘Keplerig’, formerly called templeland.
Purves p 162, under the heading ‘The Temple Lands’, gives ‘The chapel Rig’ as £6 13s 4d (10m).
Stewart f 50r, under the heading ‘The tempillands’, gives ‘The capilrig’ as £6 13s 4d (10m).
It is unclear but I am inclined to believe the full 10m of Capelrig were temple lands.
The are some interesting parallels with the same placename in Westmorland. See Westmorland Volume I, pp 104, 132 and II, p 152.
Temple lands in Mearns
The Cartulary of Pollok-Maxwell gives documents which refer to temple-lands in Mearns but, unfortunately, without much specific detail. Page 229 No 2 1583 gives ‘Brwm Tempill land’ (i.e. Broom); page 193 No 7 1673 refers to temple lands in the parish of Mairns; pp 195-6 No 4 1726, on original of 1637, repeats this and adds ‘particularly the lands of Caplerig’; pp 197-198 No 9 1816 refers to ‘the temple lands of Capelrig, Broom, Blackhouse, and others, held in feu by James Douglas of Maidenhill, and the temple lands of Southfield, all in the parish of Mearns; the temple lands called Templebank, Guildacre, Pollokhouse, and others, in the said parish of Mearns, held in feu by the deceased Sir Robert Pollok of Pollok’.
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