MILLAR OF HIGH PLAID FARM, OCHILTREE, AYRSHIRE
John MILLAR, stone dyker, was born on the 11 August 1777 at Auchengibbert, Tynron in Dumfrieshire, the son of David MILLAR and Elizabeth GRACIE. Around 1800 he married Elizabeth ROBERTSON — John was possibly from High Plaid Farm, near Ochiltree, Ayrshire at this time.
John and Elizabeth had four known children;
William MILLAR born 1804 Maybole, Ayrshire. Married Jean COOPER and had a family of eight known children. Lived at Hillhead, Ochiltree where William was a joiner.
John MILLAR born 1806 Ochiltree, Ayrshire. Married Catherine - McQUARRIE in 1829 and had a family of 11 children. John was a stonedyker and later a curling stone maker. He and his family lived at High Plaid (High Plyde) Farm, Ochiltree. John died in 1889 and Catherine in 1894. See below for further information on this family.
Robert MILLAR born 1808 Ochiltree, Ayrshire. Nothing more is known.
Archibald MILLAR born 1810 Ochiltree, Ayrshire. Married 1st/Jean McADAM and 2nd/Agnes DONOUGHIE and 3rd/Janet BUCHANAN. Archibald and Jean had three known children. Archibald worked as a road surfaceman and lived at Newton, Catrine near Sorn in Ayrshire. He died in 1881.
John who married Catherine McQUARRIE in Ochiltree had eleven children who all appear to have been born at High Plaid Farm.
John born 1830.Possibly died young
Robert born 1831. Died 1834
David born 1833. Married Margaret BROWN. Lived Lugar, Ayrshire. Curling Stone Maker 1881. Died 1900
Robert born 1835. Married Annabella McGREGOR. Lived Glasgow. Lockkeeper at Maryhill 1881
Elizabeth born 1837. Married James JESS. Lived Laigh Plaid, Ochiltree. Died 1902
William born 1839. Married Margaret HILLHOUSE. Superintendent of Falkirk Cemetery 1881
Unamed female born 1842. Died 1842
Allan born 1844. Married Agnes NEILL. Lived Laigh Plaid, Ochiltree. Railwayman. Died 1917
James born 1844. Had an illegitimate son to Jane GUTHRIE. Married Isabella Sharp PURDIE. Lived Laigh Mains, Ochiltree. Curling stone maker. Died 1923 Glasgow Infirmary
George born 1847. Married Elizabeth HOPKINS. Curling stone maker of Rankinston, Ochiltree
Margaret born 1849. Married John McCULLOCH. Lived Laigh Mains 1881
James MILLAR was born on the 15 May 1844 at High Plaid Farm, Ochiltree. At the age of 19 he and a Jane (also known as Jessie and Janet) GUTHRIE, had a son Henry. He was born as Henry GUTHRIE but was brought up by his grandparents at High Plaid and became known as MILLAR.
James (1844-1923) was a curling-stone maker and in 1875 he married Isabella Sharp PURDIE from Muirston Farm, Ochiltree. James and Isabella had seven children, Mary Hastings (1876), Catherine McWharrie (1878), John (1880), Isabella (1882), Jessie Jane (1885), David (1887) and James (1890) all born Ochiltree.
David MILLAR (1887) wrote a book of poems entitled "Screed and Scribbles" which was published by The Ayrshire Post Ltd, Nile Court in 1920. In it there is a poem dedicated to "Harry" which is supposedly about Henry MILLAR, his half brother.
In 1887 Henry married Wilhelmina McCAIG from Crichton Row which was further along the road towards New Cumnock. Around 1892, Henry, Wilhelmina and their three eldest children moved to Terregles near Dumfries, Scotland where they had another seven children. Around 1917 Henry took up the lease of Curriestanes Farm at Troqueer and the family had this until after World War Two.
Henry (GUTHRIE) MILLAR and Wilhelmina nee McCAIG had the following children;
Margaret born 1887. Died unmarried 1903
Elizabeth born 1888. Married David Peebles BEATTIE. Died 1956
James born 1890. Married Margaret WOOD. Died 1957. Two daughters
Ivie McCaig born 1893. Married Margaret LINWOOD. Died 1931. No issue.
Mary born 1895. Married John McBeath SHAND. Died 1978. Five daughters (one dying young)
Christina McCaig born 1896. Married Thomas MILLIGAN. Died 1950. One son
Jane McCaig born 1898. Married Albert Maxwell McDAIRMANT. Died 1988. One daughter.
Henrietta born 1899. Married John Duncan SCOTT. Died 1988. Three sons.
Jessie Isabella born 1901. Died unmarried 1902
Thomas McCaig born 1904. Married Margaret WALKER. Died 1975. One son, one daughter.
For further genealogical information on these families please go to
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