Ochiltree, Ayrshire, Scotland Genealogy

This account was written in

1837.

The name of this parish may signify the district of a country covered with trees of all kinds.

Ayr is the nearest town.

The major land owners were: the most Noble the Marquis of Bute; Sir James Boswell of Auchinleck; Dowager Lady Boswell; David Limond, Esq. of Dolblair; James Pettigrew Wilson, Esq. of Polquhairn; and

Robert Campbell, Esq. of Skerrington. The land was primarily used for, sheep, cattle, pigs, horses, peas, beans, potatoes, turnips, and hay.

The population in

1792 was 1144. The population in 1831 was 1562.

The registers of baptisms and marriages go back to the year 1641, but here was no register of deaths till about 40 years ago. For the last 50 years they have been kept in a most regular manner.

The first volume having been written in an old hand, and difficult to be made out, the present schoolmaster was induced to copy the whole thereof into a new book.

With the exception of 5 or 6 families all the parishioners belong to the Establishment.

source:New Statistical Account of Scotland (FHL book 941 B4sa, series 2 vol.5)