Thank you to Ian, Alistair, Betty and Diane for answers to CROFTS? I will now have to study these! Diana

Looking through my books on Scotland I came across a term I had forgotten - cottars - and then recalled a book I had about Australian farmers or smallholders who I seem to recall were known as cotters. Some (often ex service men) were given grants after World War 1 to start a tough life farming in the outbacks or backblocks (Australia and New Zealand). In the Scottish scene cottars were peasants (derived I believe from the use of a cot/hut or some sort of dwelling) and they were paid for working at a fixed sum when needed. In Scotland's earlier history, my books tell me, cottars were called upon to serve the Laird (or via him, the King) and to fight for them if necessary: they were not free men, were tied to the land and could be given severe physical punishment (such as an ear cut off) if they left. If they managed to get away and stay in a Burgh (such as Moffat) for a year and a day and had not been taken back, they could apply to become "free men". I suppose that there were a number of varieties of agricultural workers in Scotland, as elsewhere, farmers - who owned land (above them the Lairds and Estate owners), crofters who rented land to farm and cottars who had use of a dwelling, working as hired hands. I know that the Clearances eventually caused a rethink and crofters may own their land. I expect others will be able to give a more informed answer to the question. I know there are some folk musicians calling themselves Cottars or Cotters and those overseas I assume are from emigrants who took the old name with them. Betty ___________________________________________________________ Inbox full of unwanted email? Get leading protection and 1GB storage with All New Yahoo! Mail. http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html

Hi Diana, try http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croft_(land) Diane From: "DIANA HENRY" <dianahhenry@btinternet.com> To: "sct-wigtownshire@roots" <Sct-Wigtownshire@rootsweb.com> Subject: [WIG LIST] CROFT Date: Sat, 10 Feb 2007 19:15:24 -0000 >Dear List, does anyone know the EXACT definition of the word "Croft". Is >there a certain acreage perhaps.? or does it mean something else? Some of >the tenants in 19 Century Mark (Stoneykirk Parish) are "Crofters" while >others are not. >Diana > >------------------------------- >To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >SCT-WIGTOWNSHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without >the quotes in the subject and the body of the message _________________________________________________________________ MSN Hotmail is evolving – check out the new Windows Live Mail http://ideas.live.com

Dear List, does anyone know the EXACT definition of the word "Croft". Is there a certain acreage perhaps.? or does it mean something else? Some of the tenants in 19 Century Mark (Stoneykirk Parish) are "Crofters" while others are not. Diana

Regarding the "Marks" in Stoneykirk Parish in the 19th century. At present I have:- 3 Mark, South 3 Mark, North 3 Mark, South 2 Mark, North 2 Mark, Half Mark , Little Mark. Pity the poor researcher! Diana

A markland or merkland (Scottish Gaelic: Marg-fhearainn) is an old Scottish unit of land measurement. There was some local variation in the equivalences, for example, in some places eight ouncelands were equal to one markland, but in others, such as Islay, a markland was twelve ouncelands. The markland derived its name from the old coin the Merk Scots (cognate with German mark and various other European coinages, see Mark (money)), which was the annual rent paid on it, and so it was calculated by this, rather than its actual area. Originally a Scots mark or merk was 13s 4d (160 pence), but the Scottish coinage depreciated against the English, and by the 18th century a Scots merk was worth only 13 1/3d sterling - one-twelfth of its original value. Although such coins were abolished by the Acts of Union 1707, some stayed in circulation for decades, and the names themselves remained in common use for centuries. ___________________________________________________________ What kind of emailer are you? Find out today - get a free analysis of your email personality. Take the quiz at the Yahoo! Mail Championship. http://uk.rd.yahoo.com/evt=44106/*http://mail.yahoo.net/uk

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.britisles.scotland.wig.general/1859.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: There are a few farms to this day that carry the Mark name in Stoneykirk Parish, but the Mark referred to in the query is Mark farm in the Parish of Inch which is south east of Soulseat Loch. Today it is a large dairy unit, just off the A75 road and south of Castle Kennedy village.

----- Original Message ----- From: "DIANA HENRY" <dianahhenry@btinternet.com> To: <gc-gateway@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, February 10, 2007 2:58 PM Subject: Re: [WIG LIST] Mark > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <gc-gateway@rootsweb.com> > To: <SCT-WIGTOWNSHIRE-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Friday, February 09, 2007 2:00 AM > Subject: [WIG LIST] Mark > > Dear List, regarding this "Mark" - from the description I think it is the > "Mark" which is at Castle Kennedy, parish of Inch, it is a farm, but there > could have been a hamlet there. Perhaps Fiona at Gallahill or other local > Listers may know more about it. > Diana > > >> This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. >> >> Surnames: Mark >> Classification: queries >> >> Message Board URL: >> >> http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.britisles.scotland.wig.general/1859/mb.ashx >> >> Message Board Post: >> >> Does anyone know the origin of the name of the Hamlet of Mark described >> in the gazetteer of Scotland as: >> >> A hamlet in The Rhins of Galloway, Dumfries and Galloway, Mark lies to >> the south east of Soulseat Loch, nearly 4 miles (6½ km) south east of >> Stranraer. >> >> >> >> > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> SCT-WIGTOWNSHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without >> the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Hello I am looking for any information on the Birch/Burch family from Wigtown. James COULTER married Margaret BIRCH on 3 June 1864 Kirkcolm, Wigtown. Margaret was the daughter of John Birch and Ann Neilson. There is a baptism entry for Margaret BURCH on 8 Dec 1839 Stoneykirk, Wigtown. Is anyone else researching this family ? Deborah Robertson

----- Original Message ----- From: "DIANA HENRY" <dianahhenry@btinternet.com> To: "Jennifer Gibson" <celticj@icr.com.au> Cc: "sct-wigtownshire@roots" <Sct-Wigtownshire@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, February 10, 2007 1:04 PM Subject: Re: [WIG LIST] Death Notice/Obituary for Leslie Osborne JORDAN > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Jennifer Gibson" <celticj@icr.com.au> > To: "WIGTOWNSHIRE Mailing List" <SCT-WIGTOWNSHIRE@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2007 6:21 AM > Subject: [WIG LIST] Death Notice/Obituary for Leslie Osborne JORDAN > > Dear Jenny, here is the death entry for Leslie Osborne JORDAN From the > WFP. I also enclose the entry from the acknowledgements column from the > following week. > I printed off the copy and now I discover there is a (partial) Obituary in > the next colum so I will hve to check it again - sorry. > 1/7/1971 > "JORDAN - At 95 Sheuchan Street, Stranraer, suddenly on 28th June, 1971, > Leslie Osborne Jordan, aged 67 years, beloved husband of Margaret Smith. > Funeral on Thursday, 1st July, 1971 at 12.15 p.m. to Glebe Cemetery. All > friends respectfully invited. Place of meeting, St. John's Church, London > Road." > > 8/7/1971 > "JORDAN - Mrs Margaret Jordan desires to thank all friends and neighbours > for their kind expressions of sympathy and floral tributes received in her > recent sad bereavement, doctors for unfailing attention, and Rev. A. E. > Kerrin, MA, for kind ministrations - 95 Sheuchan Street, Stranraer." > I can scan the copies if you would like. > From what I can glean from the partial obit he was an Englishman by birth, > his father coming to Portpatrick as a Coastguard. Leslie became a Manager > and Director at Messrs McHarrie in Stranraer and had joined as an > apprentice in 1921. During the war he worked with the Dept of Agriculture > in tractor servicing. He was a life-member at Dunskey Golf club. > I will send the full obit next week. > My husband remembers their son Percy, who married Nan Campbell and went to > Perth, Western Australia. She is believed to be deceased but he is > believed to be still living. > Diana > > >> G'day All, >> >> Could sks please check the WFP for a few days following 28 June 1971 for >> a death notice and/or obituary for Leslie Osborne JORDAN. He died on >> that date at 95 Sheuchan Street, Stranraer. he was the husband of >> Margaret Gibson SMITH. >> >> Many thanks. >> >> Jenny Gibson, >> Toowoomba, Australia. >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> SCT-WIGTOWNSHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without >> the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> >

Apologies for cross-posting. Members of the list outside of Scotland may particularly appreciate the website, Scotland on TV, at http://www.scotlandontv.tv/ I couldn't find much about southwestern Scotland during a quick surf, although there is a series on Robbie Burns. But the content changes and future programs may focus more on our area of interest. The channel offers a wide variety of programs, and includes shows that have some stunning aerial photography of other parts of Scotland. I had some difficulty in viewing the TV programs with my Opera and Firefox web browsers, but was successful when I put the URL into the "open file" of Realplayer. I also imagine that a broadband connection of some sort is necessary to watch the programs. Cheers. Dan MacMeekin Silver Spring, Maryland, USA

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.britisles.scotland.wig.general/1859.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: On my map of the County of Wigtown, the hamlet of Two Mark is in the area. Draw a line from Port Spittal to Stonykirk and Two Mark is half way on the line. I got my map from Jonathan Sheppard Books and it is an 1885 version. Great little map if your researching the D&G area. Hope this helps. You can get great films from FHL or the D&G Society.

The question was raised of the meaning of the name "Mark" for a farm. It seems to have mainly been used in regard to a boundary point. Maybe the farm was at one end or corner of an estate, or had in its lands an old boundary stone, for example. But there's another possibility too, more usually spelled "Merk" and that would refer to land for which a rent of one Mark was owed. There is also at least one "Halfmark" in Galloway (in Carsphairn), and that's pretty clearly related to the rental. Crawford.

Deborah. The IGI shows the following: John BURCH married Ann NEILSON 09 Jun 1829 Stoneykirk Parish. Source Information: M118984 Children: Margaret BURCH chr 08 Dec 1839 Stoneykirk Parish Sarah BURTCH chr 14 Nov 1841 Kirkmaiden By Drummore Agnes BURCH chr 19 Sep 1851 Kirkmaiden By Drummore Elizabeth BIRCH birth 02 Jun 1855 Kirkmaiden By Drummore. Hope this is of some interest. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: "deborah robertson" <**> To: <SCT-WIGTOWNSHIRE@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, February 10, 2007 6:58 AM Subject: [WIG LIST] BIRCH/BURCH ancestor's > Hello > > I am looking for any information on the Birch/Burch family from Wigtown. > > James COULTER married Margaret BIRCH on 3 June 1864 Kirkcolm, Wigtown. > > Margaret was the daughter of John Birch and Ann Neilson. > > There is a baptism entry for Margaret BURCH on 8 Dec 1839 Stoneykirk, > Wigtown. > > Is anyone else researching this family ? > > Deborah Robertson >

Hi Bill Your Janet could possibly be my Marion Morrison's sister. The 1841 census has John and Marion (Morrison) Dodds and family living at Drumrae, Glasserton. The 1861 census has Rabenno (Robinna) Dodds daughter of John and Marion (Morrison) Dodds living at Drumrae Farm House, Glasserton with an elderly William Mikie, recorded as aged 70. Also present is Agnes Broadfoot, aged 45 and Charles Thompson, aged 22. Deborah billmellsworth@comcast.net wrote: I am interested in a Janet Morrison of Whithorn married to William Mckie in 1800. Bill Ellsworth, Virginia

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Mark Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.britisles.scotland.wig.general/1859/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Does anyone know the origin of the name of the Hamlet of Mark described in the gazetteer of Scotland as: A hamlet in The Rhins of Galloway, Dumfries and Galloway, Mark lies to the south east of Soulseat Loch, nearly 4 miles (6½ km) south east of Stranraer.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Mark Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.britisles.scotland.wig.general/1858/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Could you please advise if there is any way of finding the names of families who may have moved from Wigtownshire to Ballymena as part of Sir William Adair's settlement.

Is anyone else on the list researching the DODDS, MORRISON, HANDLEY, McEARLIE family's originally from Wigtown ? I have John Dodds married to Marion Morrison about 1808. John died 1858, aged 73, disease of heart. Informant was grandson John Handley. John Handley was living with his grandparents in 1841, aged 9. Marion died 1867, aged 71, bronchitis. Informant was grand daughter Mary McEarlie. (Though McEarlie could be her married name) Apology's to anyone who receives this twice. Thank you Deborah Robertson

In article <Pine.SOL.4.60L.0702072127410.3026@copland.udel.edu>, Crawford MacKeand <jcbmck@udel.edu> wrote: > There have been a few questions from time to time about the railways > that operated in Wigtownshire, and the following are a few notes that I > put together a couple of years ago. <large snip> > References. > An Historical Geography of the Railways of the British Isles, E. Carter, > Cassell, London 1959. > The Industrial Archaeology of Galloway, Ian Donnachie, David & Charles, > Newton Abbot, Devon, England 1971 > Discovering Galloway, I. McLeod, John Donald Ltd, Edinburgh, 1986 To which I would add the following monographs by CEJ Fryer and published by The Oakwood Press: The Portpatrick and Wigtonshire Railways. 1991. ISBN 0-85361-408-3 The Girvan & Portpatrick Junction Railway. 1994. ISBN 0-85316-448-2 Typical for the current editions from this publisher, in addition to the railway history itself you get reproductions of historic Ordinance Survey maps for the stations, details of the passenger and freight traffic including the typical rolling stock used, and a selection of historic photographs. Alex. -- o-+-+-o alexbell@argonet.co.uk /'o'\ The Acorn StrongArm RiscPC '---' - a real windows computer.

You might want to send this query to irelandgenweb-request@rootsweb.com Maisie ----- Original Message ----- From: <gc-gateway@rootsweb.com> To: <SCT-WIGTOWNSHIRE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2007 5:56 PM Subject: [WIG LIST] Settlers in Ballymena > This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. > > Surnames: Mark > Classification: queries > > Message Board URL: > > http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.britisles.scotland.wig.general/1858/mb.ashx > > Message Board Post: > > Could you please advise if there is any way of finding the names of > families who may have moved from Wigtownshire to Ballymena as part of Sir > William Adair's settlement. > > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > SCT-WIGTOWNSHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >