Auld Ayr looking down Main Street. Taken about 1900.
FERGUSSONS IN DALMELLINGTON
(Other significant surnames : Hall Herron Murray Templeton Simpson Hall Johnston)
(Other significant surnames : Hall Herron Murray Templeton Simpson Hall Johnston)
What the Fergussons (later spelt with one "s") family tree lacks in depth compared to the Todds, it makes up in recorded details and photographs. They were a family of writers scribing letters diaries and books. Many letters have been kept and passed down through several generations.
I will begin this section with James Murray Ferguson who married Jessie Todd ( Todds in Galloway) and was the father of the John Todd Ferguson who came to Australia in 1909.
To the left is the pedigree or ancestor chart for James Murray Ferguson. As it shows, the family can be traced to a James Fergusson (the first of many) who was probably born in the mid 1700's in Dalmellington. He marries Jannett Hall and the only child I was able to find was Robert born in 1771.
He married Mary Herron in Dalmellington on April 20th 1806. Mary was born 1777 in Ireland. Her father was Thomas Herron and may well have been one of the many “strangers” who were brought to Scotland in the early to mid 1800’s to work the mines and blast furnaces. According to a local historian Robert Taylor :
“Soon the Doon Valley was alive with new industry, with blast furnaces, the iron company's railway system, and an influx of several hundred "strangers" settling into the new villages created by "The Company" at Waterside, Benquhat, Lethanhill and Craigmark. These "strangers" came mainly from Ireland to set-up and run the furnaces, mines, workshops and railway and also to manage the whole enterprise."
Dalmellington parish,as reported in the Statistical Account of the written in 1799 by Rev. Duncan McMyne “had a population 681, ...held a county fair 7 times a year and supported 5 or 6 Public Houses which were kept by people of good character.”
Robert Fergusson was a hotel keepers at the time of his son’s birth in 1813 so may well have been one of the characters referred to. He was also one of about 80 men in 1802 listed as a member of the Volunteers from Dalmellington, a reserve army, a description of the which can be found below.
McMyne reported that Dalmellington had an average number of poor of 27 who are well looked after (by the Parish). The inhabitants he says were “sober, industrious, regular and well informed”. He also stated that “Due to its suitability for sheep” – there were 8000 in the parish in 1792 - “ a few public spirited men propose to establish a woollen and cotton manufactory here” . The area became well known as a coal mining district and at this time had the “cheapest and best coal in the whole of Western Scotland.”
Take a look around Scotlands Statistical Accounts at edina.ac.uk/stat-acc-scot/
Robert Ferguson and Mary Herron had two sons
- James who was born in 1813,
- William Crawfurd who died at the age of 7 from consumption.
No more is known about Robert but in by 1841 his wife Mary resided at Main Street Newton upon Ayr with her son James and his family. Although the 1841 Census made no mention of her marital status, she went by her maiden name so it is very possible that she was by then a widow. (In Scotland women remain officially known by their maiden name even after marriage). Mary died in 1855 at age 78, and is buried in the Auld Kirk , Ayr.
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Above: Auld Kirk, Ayr
Left: Gravestone Mary Herron with her son James and his wife Elizabeth Murray. |
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Volunteers
by an Act of the 43d of George III. Cap. 96. [1803, Defence of the Realm etc.] enabling His Majesty more effectually to provide for the defence and security of the Realm during the present War, all persons, from the age of 17 to 55, are ordered to be called out, for the purpose of being trained to the exercise, and to learn the use of Arms, in the manner particularly directed by the said Act of Parliament; and that by the 53d Section of said Act it is provided, that where a sufficient number of Persons, between the age of 17 and 55, shall engage to serve as VOLUNTEERS, .....and to be trained, exercised, drawn out, and embodied, under the conditions therein mentioned; and to March to any part of Great Britain for the defence thereof, on any Invasion, or on the appearance of an Enemy in any force on the Coast; or to suppress any Rebellion or Insurrection arising, or existing, during such Invasion, whenever we shall be called out by the LORD LIEUTENANT of the County of AIR, in which County we are formed: His Majesty having been pleased, for our encouragement, to order that each VOLUNTEER shall receive Twenty Shillings in three years, for clothing, and One Shilling per day for 20 days in the year, besides the sums specified in the Act. And we Agree to furnish ourselves with Arms and Accoutrements, or the same shall be furnished to us by Government, as is particularly specified and annexed to our respective names, in the Columns in which we subscribe. www.ayrshirehistory.org.uk/Shorts/dalmellvols.htm |
youtu.be/McvsBOGApAI
Take a look at this youtube clip with some early photos of Dalmellington. They post date when Robert and Mary lived there but many will give you an idea of how the town might have been at the time. |