OPR - Andrew McWilliam and Elizabeth McHarg in Kilfilline were legally and
publically proclaimed before the congregation in order to marriage and no
objection being made to the contrary they were accordingly married 25Jan1732
by Mr.Tweddell,minister here before the witnesses John McHarg and Alexander
McWilliam in Kilfillin.OPR Old Luce - Register of Deaths:
Alexander McWilliam in Kilfilline died 12Jul1792,80yrs.Born 1711/12.Brother of Andrew?
Patrick McWilliam in Kilfilline died 27Jun1741,63yrs.Born 1677/78.Father of
Andrew?Janet McWilliam,relict of Andrew Fosborn,Kilfilline.Died 13Mar1740,72yrs.
Born 1667/8.Sister of Patrick?
Andrew McWilliam in Kilfilline died 31Jul1746,45yrs.Born 1700/1.Did he marry
Elizabeth McHarg?
Archibald McHarg in Kilfillan died 11Mar1739,78yrs.Born 1660/1.Father of
Elizabeth and John?
John McHarg in Kilfillin died 20Dec1779,68yrs.Born 1710/1.Brother of Elizabeth and son of Archibald?Wigtownshire Hearth Tax 1692
Payd out of Sir Charles Hays submitted list.
Patrick McWilliam in Kilfillan 1
Alexander McWilliam there 1
Alexander McWilliam,Elder,there 1 also a kiln 1OPR Old Luce.12Dec1731.Jannet McWilliam,daughter to Alexander McWilliam and
Jannet McGuffog in Kilfillin.Witnesses Andrew McWilliam and John McHarg in
Kilfillin.
OPR Old Luce.29Nov1732.Mary McWilliam born.Parents and witnesses as above.
OPR Old Luce.30Mar1735.Grizel McWilliam born.Parents and witnesses as above.
OPR Old Luce.30Oct1737.James McWilliam born.Parents and witnesses as above.OPR Old Luce.21Apr1734.Mary Reid,daughter to William Reid and Margaret
McWilliam in Kilfillin.Witnesses ?.
OPR Old Luce.4Apr1736.John Reid born.Parents as above.Witnesses John McHarg
and Andrew McWilliam in Kilfillin.
OPR Old Luce.11Feb1739.Andrew Reid born.Parents and witnesses as above.OPR Old Luce.17Apr1732,Agnes McHarg,daughter to John McHarg and Sarah Aisle?
in Little Barlochart.Witnesses John McHarg and Andrew McWilliam in Kilfillin.
John McHarg was married to Sarah Auld and had several children up to May1740,
his last child was born after his death.
Gilbert McHarg was also a tenant at Little Barlochart.His spouse was Mary
McGowan who was still having children in 1742.OPR Old Luce.17Dec1732.Agnes Gaichen,daughter to William Gaichen and Agnes
Morison in Kilfillin.Witnesses John McHarg and Alexander McWilliam.OPR Old Luce.30Mar1735.Elizabeth McGuffog,daughter of Patrick McGuffog and
and Agnes McKeachie in Blairdirrie(Blairderry) begot in uncleanness was
baptized.Witnesses John McHarg and Andrew McWilliam in Kilfillin.OPR Old Luce.3Apr1737.James Fosborn,son to Andrew Fosborn and Jannet McGuffog
in Cattlefin? Witnesses William Fosborn and John McHarg in Kilfillin.OPR Old Luce.20Dec1739.Alexander McWilliam in Kilfillin and Grizel McDowal,
daughter to James McDowall in Laigh Sinness.OPR Old Luce.31May1741.James McWilliam,son to Alexander McWilliam and Grizel
McDowal in Kilfillin.Witnesses John McHarg and William Fosborn in Kilfillin.
OPR Old Luce.9Oct1743.Son born.Parents as above.Witnesses William Fosborn and
Andrew McWilliam in Kilfillin.Sons name Peter.
OPR Old Luce.28Oct1743.Jannet Fosborn,daughter to William and Isabel Fosborn
in Kilfillin.Witnesses Alexander and Andrew McWilliam.OPR Old Luce.27Dec1741.Elizabeth Stenhouse,daughter to William Stenhouse and
Janet Skellie in Kilfillin.Witnesses William Fosborn and John McHarg in
Kilfillin.OPR Old Luce.24Nov1748.James McWilliam in Kilfillin to Margaret Hannay,
daughter of the deceased John Hannay in Grennan.Witnesses John McHarg and
Alexander McWilliam in Kilfillin.OPR Old Luce.8Mar1770.Patrick McWilliam in Kilfillin to Janet Kilpatrick.
SRO GD72 Hay of Park Papers. Need to photocopy from originals.
376.Bond to Andrew Torban in Kilfillan for 230 merks.
382.23Oct1717.Bond by Thomas Hay of Park to Alexander WcWilliam,younger in
Kilfiland for #21 3s Scots.
398.30Apr1722.Precept of poinding at instance of Sir Charles Hay of Park
against John Torbane in Laigh Torrs,Andrew McCready,James Brown and John
Murchie there,for prices of boll of meal received by each from Patrick
McWilliams,elder and younger,in Kilfillan.(in dorso:execution 8May1722)
417.19Dec1732.Assignation by Janet McCulliam,relict of Andrew Torban in
Kilfillan of Bond 376.
Old Luce Parish Records of Kirk Session SRO CH2/1417/2
West Register House.Wigtownshire Parish Records
CO.4/31/1 1885/1906 Glenluce Parochial Board Minute Book
CO.4/31/2 1906/1918 as above
CO.4/39/6 1845/62 Letter book of New Luce Inspector of Poor
CO.4/39/1 1866/76 New Luce Parochial Board Minute Book
39/2 1877/1901 as above
39/3 1915/30 as above
CO.4/40/1 1848/59 Old Luce Parochial Board Minute Book Indexed
40/3 1845/91 Old Luce Parochial Board General Register of Poor Indexed
40/4 1891/1916 as above
1841 Census 2/7 Kilfillan.Four McWilliams at farm,Jean age 94,Archibald 60,James 58 and John 56.
OPR Old Luce - Register of Deaths:
Elizabeth McHarg in Genoch died 23Dec1776,76yrs.Born 1699/1700.Wife of Andrew?
John McHarg in Kilfilline died 20Dec1779,68yrs.Born 1710/11.Brother of
Elizabeth?
Archibald McHarg in Kilfilline died 11Mar1739,78yrs.Born 1660/61.Father or
uncle of Elizabeth?
OPR Old Luce.16May1734.Archibald McWilliam,son to Andrew McWilliam and
Elizabeth McHarg in Kilfillin.Witnesses John and William McQuistine in Devaid.
OPR - Alexander McWilliam son to Andrew McWilliam and Elizabeth McHarg in
Kilfilline was baptized the 2Dec1739 by Mr.John Dreghorn,minister in New
Luce before the witnesses John McHarg and Alexander McWilliam in Kilfilline.
OPR - Robert McWilliam son to Andrew McWilliam and Elizabeth McHarg in
Kilfilline was baptized the 30Oct1743 by Mr.Tweddell before the witnesses
John McHarg and William Forborn in Kilfilline.
OPR Dailly - John Welsh and Agnes White both in this parish gave in their
names in order to marriage 6th.Oct. were three times proclaimed and married
1st.Nov1733.
Occupation:Tailor.
OPR Dailly Death Records - Agnes Whyte,widow of John Welsh,taylor,died
27th.July1785.Pauper.
William White son to John White weaver in Maxwellton baptized 15Feb1713
John as above 31Dec1717
John White in this parroch and Jannet Campbell in the paroch of Girvan gave in their names 29th.March and were married 22Apr1712
OPR - Martha Welch lawful daughter to John Welch,taylor at the kirk was
baptized 27Jan1740.
OPR - Martha daughter to John Welch,taylor in Drummochreen born 01April and
baptized privately the 18Apr1750.
Occupation:1851 Census 894/2/7- Agricultural Labourer,Kilfillan Farm.Living with
his wife and his children John,Mary,Agnes,Alexander and Hugh.
1863 - From son Johns M/C - Farm overseer.Address not known
OPR Old Luce - Alexander Templeton,Borland and Margaret Reid,Corsehead were
thrice proclaimed before the congregation in order to marriage and no objection being offered were married 6Mar1837.
1851 Census-Kilfillam Farm,Old Luce.Living with husband and five children.
She gives her place of birth as Ireland.
1863 From son Johns M/C - Still alive.
Borland O.S.Map 82. M.R.175585 High or Low?
Gillespie O.S.Sheet 82, M.R.252520.
1861 Census - Dairymaid.Living at Corsehead with grandfather Hugh Reid.
Occupation:1851 Census - Agricultural Labourer,Mains of Park.Living with his
wife Esther Reid and his children Mary,David,James ,Agnes and Isabella.
On son Hughs Application for Relief,Glasgow 1900 No.9038 he is described as a
quarryman.
OPR Old Luce - William Lavery in Glenluce and Esther Reid,Corsehead were
proclaimed three times before the congregation in order to marriage and no
objection being offered to the contrary were married 7Jul1844.
!Wigtown Free Press.17Jul1844.Marriage.At Corsehead,Parish of Old Luce on the
8th.inst. by the Rev.Mr.McDowall,Mr.W.Lavery to Esther,daughter to Mr.Hugh
Reid, farmer.
1851 Census Mains of Park 894/3/3.Living with her husband William Lavery and her children Mary,David,James ,Agnes and Isabella.
1881 Census - Main St,Glenluce 894/8/12.Widow.Living with sons John and Hugh.
1891 Census-Glenburnie Cottage 894/8/17 Annuitant.Living with sons John and Hugh.Five rooms with windows.
!Wigtown Free Press.22Mar1900.Death.At Waverly Place,Stranraer on the
15th.inst.Esther Reid,relict of William Lavrie aged 78years.
She did not leave a will.
!Wigtown Free Press.02Feb1865.Death.At Kilncroft,Glenluce on the 26th.inst.
Esther,daughter of Mr.William Lavery,age 1yr.5months.
Gravestone in Glenluce kirkyard.
!Esther Hamilton in Canada has a photograph of Esther Reid.
1851 Census with parents.
Mary died of malignant scarlet fever.
1851 Census with parents
1851 Census with parents
1881 Census - Living in Glenluce with mother.Dairyman. 894/8/12
1891 Census living with mother.Labourer.
!From brother Hughs Application for Relief Glasgow 1900 No.9038 - Brother
John(older).Single.Stableman in George Hotel,Stranraer.Resides at 5 Waverley
Terrace,Stranraer.His mother Esther Reid died at this address 15Mar1900.
From D/C - Retired bus driver.Cause of death diabetes.His nephew James Laverie from Glenburnie,Glenluce registered his death.John had never married.
1881 Census - Living in Glenluce with mother.Joiner. 894/8/12
1891 Census living with mother.Joiner.
!Applied for Relief,Parish of Glasgow 7Apr1900.Application No.9038.Found in
Strathclyde Archives,Mitchell Library.
His application was made per letter No.5524 from Governor Barlinnie Prison.
He was sentenced to three days imprisonment at Southern Police Court on the
5th.inst.for being drunk.He was now suffering from delirium tremens.He was a
ships joiner with D.& W.Henderson,Anchor Line,Meadowside,Partick.Wages 38/3
weekly.Address 4 Church Street,Partick where he had been staying for the past
four years.A Miss Fletcher mentioned might be his landlady.On the 7th. an
order was granted to the City Poorhouse for observation and he was still there
on the 12th.He promised to repay advances
Occupation:Crofter.
Did she die about 1836.A John Pool married a Mary McNellie 16Mar1842 and had six children from 1842/54.
1881 Census - Not found in British Census.Might be in Ireland,abroad or dead.
1881 Census - In British Census only possible found in London at Saracens Head Hotel,St.Sepulchre,Middlesex
0374/17/7.Married.Commercial traveller earthenware.
Occupation: 1871 M/C - Ploughman.
OPR Old Luce - Robert lawful son of James Carlie and Ann Reid born in
Campbells Croft 24th. and baptized 28th.Jan1851 by Rev.John McDowall.
1851 and 1861 Census-Living with parents at Campbells Croft.
1871 Census-Living with parents at Whitecairn.
Wigtown Free Press - At Balmesh,Glenluce on the 3rd.inst.by the Rev.B.Frood,
Mr.Robert McKerlie,Whitecairn to Miss Mary Hannah,eldest Daughter of Mr.John
Hannah.Witnesses at wedding John McClelend and Jessie McCaw.
1879 Emigrated to Australia with wife and five children all born Glenluce..
Robert and Mary McKERLIE
1851-1934 1849-1943
From Glenluce, Scotland to Montacute, SA
Robert McKerlie was 28 years old and his wife
Mary was 30 years old when they left for Aus-
tralia.
Robert and Mary had four children—Annie 6
years, Mary 5 years, Christina 4 years, James 18
months. At the time Mary was also carrying the
next baby.
He was a very good builder, as well as a dairy
farmer. He ran a sixty cow dairy farm in Glenluce
on the South West side of Scotland called
"Whitecairn", which is now a caravan park. It
was in the Wigtown shire at the top of the bay
of Luce. Because they had the dairy and plenty
of milk, Mary went to Glasgow and learnt how
to make cheese. It was all done by hand.
Robert one day took his cows to market (walked
them to the market place) and sold them, then went
and bought the tickets for the family to go to
Australia by the sailing ship Loch Maree to sail
from Glasgow, Scotland. He did not tell Mary
until he had the tickets. I guess he wanted to
surprise her.
When Mary's mother found out what they
intended to do, she persuaded Mary and Robert
to wait till the birth of the baby, and not have
it born during the journey out to Australia. This
advice they wisely took. So Margaret was born
11 March 1879, and they left Scotland when she
was three months old, to sail out to Australia.
This was early June 1879. The voyage to Aus-
tralia took them 93 days.
On 9 June 1879, just after they sailed it was
Annie, the eldest child's, birthday. She was 7
years old.
The ship was becalmed at the Canary Islands
(north west corner of Africa) for a week. Because
of this they became short of food. To overcome
this problem they caught a whale. When they
were to bring it aboard all the passengers were
told to stay below. But little Christina stayed
above, and as they brought it on board it
swished its tail and if it hadn't been for a man
who grabbed her she would have been washed
over board. Child-like, I guess she wanted to see
what was happening. So they all got to eat
whale meat for the first time. But I guess it saved
them all from starving.
They were allotted a cubical on the ship, and
it was each family's responsibility to keep it
washed each day with sea water. Mary, as usual,
was particular about this. But not so everyone.
One close neighbour instead of throwing the
dirty water overboard when finished, had left it
at Mary's doorway, and as the ship lurched so
all the dirty water was slushed back through
Mary's clean cubical. I bet there were a few
chosen words spoken to make sure it didn't
happen again.
As Mary had learnt to make cheese, they had
brought a whole one with them to eat on the
trip out to Australia. One day Robert com-
mented to Mary that the cheese was being eaten
too quickly, and she had better not eat so much
of it. But she had not been eating it at all. So the
next day when the cubical was cleaned, instead
of her going on deck as usual, she silently sat
and waited. Then over the top of the cubical
came a hand and knife and sliced off a piece of
the cheese. So I will let you guess what hap-
pened. But my guess is it was his last feed of
free cheese.
After the ship berthed at Melbourne, the family
sailed on to South Australia. It was during this
part of the journey, from Melbourne, Victoria, to
Adelaide South Australia, that seasickness caught
up with them, so it was just another experience
for them. Can you just imagine, coping with five
children, all under 7 years of age?
What a marvellous mother Mary must have
been—remember Margaret the baby, was by
now six months old.
After leaving the ship at Port Adelaide, they
proceeded up the Port Road by bullock waggon
on the dirt road way, with all their worldly
goods packed in packing cases, stacked also on
this waggon.
They first settled in a thatched cottage, with
hessian ceilings at Third Creek. Mary thought all
the houses in Australia were like this one.
One day a lump hung from the ceiling. Mary
got it out and chopped it up into many pieces,
only inches long, tied it into Annie's apron, and
sent her to the Post Office in Magill (she had to
walk) to have it identified. It was a snake—the
first they had seen. Also Opossums, were al-
ways getting in to the ceiling.
While at Third Creek Robert worked in
Aldana vineyards. Later the family shifted to a
house in Magill, and while there Mary had two
more children—John Robert (Jack) 1883; and
Elizabeth Adelaide (Bess) 1884.
A few years had passed since they came to
Australia, and once again they packed their
belongings. This time it included their furniture,
made by Robert from the very same packing
cases that contained their goods when they
came out to Australia.
With a family to feed Mary was very re-
sourceful and used the leaves of the wild tur-
nips, cut up and boiled.
Once again they loaded all their things onto
a bullock waggon and journeyed up the Fifth
Creek Road winding up the gully, back and forth
crossing the creek 22 times. The story told by
Annie, the eldest, was how they walked by the
wagon, her mother (Mary) carrying Bess the
baby, with Annie also taking a turn in carrying
Bess. This track was only a dirt waggon track
between the beautiful totally wooded hills of
our magnificent gum trees.
This was only 28 years after the first land was
surveyed and granted in the Fifth Creek area.
The first place they settled in Fifth Creek (now
called Montacute) was The Hut' belonging to
the George Lamer family. It was situated at the
junction of two gullies, Smiths and Coons.
Robert by trade was a builder and a very good
one. The buildings in the Montacute area that he
built were: The State school on Institute Road in
1884; The C.E. Church, St Paul's, right on top of
Constitution Hill in 1886; The Institute in 1907,
on Institute Road (next to the school).
Although St Paul's was burnt by fire in 1955,
it was again rebuilt.
There were many houses he built in the district
including, the next house he lived in after The
Hut'. 'Sunny Glen' was at the top of the Corkscrew
Road, on the right just below St Paul's Church.
This Section 835 was first owned by Nicholas
Woolcock, then sold to Thomas Trebilcock, who
rented it to Robert and Mary, on a 99 year lease.
So Robert built a stone home and a men's room,
which was separate from the main house. They
lived there for about forty-odd years.
Other homes he built were Thomas Trebil-
cock's 'Hillview' (where later Stan Ross lived), to
the right of St Paul's, John Trebilcock's (well
known as The Poplars'), William Thomas
McKerlie's home (opposite Orange Vale), at the
bottom of the Corkscrew Road about 1917, the
two rooms built on the front of 'Orange Vale'
and a laundry and bathroom on the back, be-
tween 1879 and 1901 and Kearly's house at the
top of Fifth Creek. In this house when he built
it, he placed a clear piece of glass in the middle
of the chimney. He then told the owner to throw
a brick down the chimney before he lit it, but
the owner didn't! and so got smoked out the
first time he lit up the fire.
About 1901 Robert built'Briar Glen', the two
storey home at the junction of Top Road and
Bottom Road (now Institute Road) for A.J. Tre-
bilcock who was the owner of 'Orange Vale'.
While Robert and Mary were living at 'Sunny
Glen' they were blessed with two more
sons—William Thomas 1886, and Robert jnr
1894. They then had a family of nine children.
As well as his building, Robert also was a very
good gardener, and at 'Sunny Glen', planted a
good supply of many fruit trees. On this section
was an ever running spring of beautiful water.
The McKerlie family stayed there for several
years, and because Mary had a large family to
care for she always needed help in the house.
Vera Woolcock (daughter of William Henry
and Annie), grand-daughter of Mary, helped her
for many years. Our sincere thanks must go to
Vera Holliday (nee Woolcock) for her vivid
memories of the stories Mary had told her.
The last home for Robert and Mary was to be
the home he built on Valley Road, Sixth Creek.
They named this home 'Glenluce', built about
1925, after the town they came from in Scotland.
At this time Vera was married and her sister Beat
Woolcock, went to work for her grandmother. It
was built from stone out of the quarry up in
Charles Smith's gully (Mary McKerlie jnr's hus-
band). It was federation style. The home was to
the right of 'Orange Vale', and on the opposite
side of the road to William Thomas McKerlie's
home, and is still in use today, as are all the
buildings he built. At this home Robert again
built up a garden of fruit trees, and Mary also
loved her garden, so the house was surrounded
with roses. They also grew vegies for their own
use.
Other houses in the district are also to his
credit and, because it was very labour intensive,
he had his sons, William and James, to help.
Robert Lamer, his son-in-law (married Chris
McKerlie) also helped with the building.
The Cherryville district also was to benefit
from Robert's building skills. In this district he
help build the Baptist Church in 1899, Vera and
Gilbert Holliday's home, Millie and Laurie
Spargo's home, both built in the late 1800s,
Spargo's was totally burnt in the fire of Black
Sunday 1955. He also did extensions to Arthur
and Bess Bungay's home, Channing's home and
many more.
Robert and his sons built houses at My-
polonga as well. All of these homes are still in
use today with exception of the Spargo's.
Robert also played the violin, as heard by his
neighbour Mr Barnett, especially when Robert
was feeling merry. He was a member of the SA
Caledonian Society, No. 141. His date of election
was 1902 and continued till his death in 1934.
After Robert died Mary lived on in the home,
'Glenluce' on Valley Road, for many years. As her
many daughters and grand-daughters also lived at
Montacute and Cherryville, they took it in turns
in staying with her for a week or two at a time.
Alick Trebilcock from 'Orange Vale' used to
deliver Mary McKerlie her milk each day and he
remembers being given "these little round bis-
cuits, with the shiny icing". They were cockles.
I still make them today. I was told Mary was a
very good cook.
I can remember the walk up to St Paul's at
the top of the hill from our house on Institute
Road, just behind the Institute—then straight
down over Constitution Hill (not taking the
windy road of the Corkscrew), then just a few
yards down the road past 'Orange Vale'—to the
McKerlie Home on Valley Road, Sixth Creek,
always with a basket in hand, with my grand-
mother Annie Woolcock.
Because of failing eyesight, Mary would get
me to take out of her hands the rose thorns,
that had embedded in her fingers after garden-
ing.
Mary also loved her porridge, and would put
half an inch of sugar all over the top before she
ate it. Annie would say that was where she got
her energy, (memories of Norma)
Mary also liked a sprinkling of Eau de Co-
logne, I was told by Jean McKerlie.
All the above from Norma Edwards book.Norma is the great grand-daughter of Robert and Mary.
From M/C - Address Balmesh.