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OCHILTREE

      Ayrshire Directory - 1837 - by Pigot & Co  

Is a small but pleasant village, in the parish of its name and district of Kyle; 54 miles sw from Edinburgh, 49 nw from Dumfries, 37 s of Glasgow, 28 n from Girvan, 22 nw from Sanquhar, 16 s from Kilmarnock, the like distance ne from Maybole, 11½ e from Ayr, and 4 from Cumnock; situate on the south side of the Lugar water, and on the high road from Ayr to Dumfries and Edinburgh. The country around is delightfully picturesque; and the face of the parish, which is pretty level, with some agreeable undulations, is well watered.  

The weaving of cotton goods for the Glasgow market gives employment to several hands; the making of snuff boxes, to a limited extent, is carried on here; and there is a considerable manufacturory for shearing hooks.  The great Scottish reformer, John Knox, married his second wife at this village; she was the daughter of Lord Ochiltree, who at that period resided at Ochiltree house, now the mansion of the Dowager Lady Boswell. 

The church, like most others in this part of the county, is a plain building, and the only place of worship.  The parochial school is well attended.  There is a subscription library, which was established in 1836.  There are no magistrates, and the village is almost proverbial for the honest character of its inhabitants.  Ochiltree formerly gave a baron's title to a branch of the family of Stewart.  Fairs are held on the second Wednesday in May and the first Tuesday in November, for cattle. Post Office, John Murray, Post Master - Letters arrive (by penny-post from Cumnock) at half past twelve at noon, and are despatched at the same time. 

      NOBILITY AND CLERGY

Boswell, Dowager Lady,  Ochiltree house

Boyd, Rev James,  Manse   

      PROFESSIONAL PERSONS

Morrison, John, surgeon

Simson, Patrick, master of the parochial school

Syme, John,   surgeon   

      INNKEEPERS AND VINTERS

Edgar, Andrew

Gemmel, Alexander

Haddow, Agnes

Lammie, John   

      SHOPKEEPERS AND TRADERS

Aitken, Hyndford, stocking manufr

Brown, James,  shearing hook manufacturer

Colville, Matthew, snuff box painter

Cuthbert, Thomas,  grocer, cheese factor, and spirit dealer

Duncan, John,  cooper

Fisher, James,  boot and shoe maker

Greenshields, John,  baker &c

Hamilton, Andrew,  tailor

Howartson, John,  grocer &c

Hutchinson, David,  snuff box painter

Kay, James,  joiner and cartwright

Kerr, James,  tailor

Kirkland, David,  grocer

McClure, William,  saddler

McDill,  William,  shoe maker

McGregor, Andrew,  flesher

McKennah, James,  cartwright

McMillan, David,  boot and shoe maker

Morton, Hugh,  mason and builder

Murdock, Alexander,  grocer, spirit dealer and snuff box maker

Murray, John,  grocer & spirit dealer

Pedden, Mungo,  fishing-rod maker

Reid, David,  dyer

Rowan, David,  slater

Sloan, William,  cartwright

Walker, Hector,  shearing hook manufacturer

Watson, Thos,  boot and shoe maker

Weir, John,  blacksmith   

      COACHES

To Ayr - the "independant" market coach (from Cumnock), calls at Andrew

Edgar's, every Tuesday and Friday morning at eight

To Cumnock - the "independant" market coach (from Ayr), calls at Andrew

Edgar's, every Tuesday and Friday evening at six   

      CARRIERS

To Ayr - John Lammie, every Tuesday and Thursday, and James McCrae, every

Tuesday and Friday

To Glasgow - Mary Bryan, every Mon

To Muirkirk - Jo, every Monday and Thursday

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