John Reid of Wester Kittochside

JOHN REID OF WESTER KITTOCHSIDE (1760-1850)

John Reid of Wester Kittochside is the grandson, four times great, of John Reid of Kittochside (floruit 1574-1619), and the seventh member of his family, in direct line of succession, to hold that part of Wester Kittochside which his aforementioned ancestor gave to James Reid of Wester Kittochside (floruit 1600-41), that is a twenty-two shilling two penny halfpenny land of old extent which was an integral part of the ten merk land of Wester Kittochside in the Lanarkshire parish of East Kilbride.

HIS PARENTS

John Reid of Wester Kittochside (1760-1850) is the eldest son of William Reid of Wester Kittochside (1726-64) and his wife, Elizabeth Jamieson. He was born in 1760 and his baptism was registered at the Kirk of Kilbride on 18 May in that same year. According to the baptismal record his mother's name is Agnes Jamieson [Baptismal Register for East Kilbride, 1754-1820, Registrar General for Scotland, New Register House, Edinburgh, reference OPR.643/2] but her christian name is in fact Elizabeth. This is confirmed by her marriage contract dated 4 July 1753 wherein she is described as: "Elizabeth Jamieson lawfull daughter of the deceast John Jamieson, younger, portioner of Bogton." Because her father had died some time earlier her grandfather acted for her. He is identified as John Jamieson, senior, portioner of Bogton. [National Archives of Scotland, New Register House, Edinburgh, Particular Register of Sasines for the Sheriffdom of Lanark, reference RS42/16/ff.227r-28r]

HIS INHERITANCE (1): PARTS OF NETHER PHILIPSHILL

In 1753 John Reid of Wester Kittochside (floruit 1688-1771) gave three small mailings or portions of land, parts of the three pound fifteen shilling land of Nether Philipshill, together with a seat in the Kirk of Kilbride, to his only surviving son, William Reid of Wester Kittochside (1726-64). When William died the land passed to John Reid of Wester Kittochside (1760-1850): “eldest son procreat of the marriage between the sd Willm Reid & Elizabeth Jamieson & so nearest lawfull heir of his sd father in the sd lands”. John had a precept of clare constat or charter of confirmation on 3 May 1774 and took formal possession on the same day. [National Archives of Scotland, HM General Register House, Edinburgh, Particular Register of Sasines for the Sheriffdom of Lanark, reference RS42/20/ff. 344r—344v]

HIS INHERITANCE (2): PARTS OF WESTER KITTOCHSIDE

John Reid of Wester Kittochside (1760-1850) took possession of his grandfather's heritage land on 1 February 1774. The old man may have died late in 1773 or early on in 1774. The land in question was (1) a twenty-two shilling two penny halfpenny land of old extent and (2) an eleven shilling three penny land of old extent called Neuk, both of which were an integral part of the ten merk land of Wester Kittochside in East Kilbride. In 1755 his grandfather had given both of these lands to his father and so John should have been formally recognised as heir to his father, rather than his grandfather, before he was given possession, but the lawyers appear to have overlooked the necessity of this. It is difficult or impossible to say why this happend.The lawyers were certainly aware of the disposition his grandfather had made in favour of his father in 1755, for they applied for and received a clare constat in respect of another three small pieces of land which his grandfather had conveyed at the same time.These were (3) three small pieces of land which lay on the south side of the Kittoch Water and were an integral part of the three pound fifteen shilling land of old extent of Nether Philipshill.The clare constat for the Philipshill lands does mention the Wester Kittochside lands in the passing, which suggests that the original disposition had been presented to the feudal superior of Nether Philipshill, but the Wester Kittochside lands had a different feudal superior and it would appear that the necessity of informing him of the change of ownership that had taken place in 1755 was overlooked.

HIS INHERITANCE (3): WINDLESIDE (WESTER KITTOCHSIDE) AND BELLCRAIG

When his father died in 1764 John Reid of Wester Kittochside (1760-1850) inherited all the lands which his father had purchased. These were (4) a twelve shilling six penny land of old extent of Wester Kittochside and (5) the farmtoun that went with it (i.e. a farmhouse with its associated farm buildings which was known as Windleside or Wester Kittochside) and (6) one half of an eleven shilling one penny third part penny land of old extent of Wester Kittochside called Bellcraig. All three lands had been purchased by his father during the period 1753-57 and they too were part and parcel of the ten merk land of Wester Kittochside [National Archives of Scotland, New Register House, Edinburgh, Particular Register of Sasines for the Sheriffdom of Lanark, reference RS42/16/f.227r for the twelve shilling six penny land, reference RS42/16/ff.385v-386r for the eleven shilling one penny third part penny land and RS42/16/ff.144r-144v for the house called Windleside or Wester Kittochside]

HIS INHERITANCE (4): CATGILL AND STEPENDS

In addition to the Wester Kittochside lands he also inherited (7) that part of the Kirklands of Carmunock which was called Catgill, together with the house and yard called Stepends, both of which had been detatched from the lands of Waterside at some time previous.The deed of sale for this land did not survive but the claire constat or charter of confirmation in favour of John Reid of Wester Kittochside (1760-1850) does [National Archives of Scotland, New Register House, Edinburgh, Particular Register of Sasines for the Sheriffdom of Lanark, reference RS42/20/ff.344rv-345r]. John also inherited (8) a five merk land called Tait's Thornton (which was afterwards known asThornton Hall) but his grandfather, acting as his tutor nominate and legal guardian, sold this land to a Glasgow merchant named John Brown on 7 February 1771 [National Archives of Scotland, New Register House, Edinburgh, Particular Register of Sasines for the Sheriffdom of Lanark, reference RS42/19/282v-284r]

HIS INHERITANCE (5): CROFT LAND IN EASTER KITTOCHSIDE CALLED LYONS PARK

John Reid of Wester Kittochside (1760-1850) also inherited a small piece of land in Easter Kittochside which had been held for a time by James Lyon and was afterwards known as Lyons Park. This land was probably in his grandfather's possession when he died, for he had held a wadset (mortgage) over it for a number of years previously and must eventually have taken formal possession, but the lawyers seem to have overlooked this land when the old man died in or post 1771. John Reid of Wester Kittochside (1760-1850) makes no mention of it in his trust disposition and settlement dated 17 June 1840 although it does appear to have passed to his son William in 1850.

HIS NEW HOUSE

According to the Wikipedia website devoted to Wester Kittochside Farm, and the Nation Museum of Rural Life, John Reid of Wester Kittochside (1760-1850) had his new house built during the years 1782-84 and It cost him £45.12.07. National Museum of Rural Life More research on the history of this site is called for but it does appear to be the case, from the work already undertaken, that the new house was built on the site of the farmtoun which his father purchased from John Taylor on 1 December 1753. John Taylor had inherited the house and the twelve shilling six penny land associated with it from his uncle Thomas on 5 August 1745, [National Archives of Scotland, formerly the Scottish Record Office, New Register House, Edinburgh, Particular Register of Sasines for the Sheriffdom of Lanark, reference RS42/15/28v] and afterwards sold it to William Reid of Wester Kittochside (1726-64) in two instalments, the house first and the land second. In the deed of sale for the house the property conveyed is described as being: "the toun and lands of Windleside or Wester Kittochside" and the deceased Thomas Taylor is described as the: "proprietor of Wester Kittochside" and as the "heritable proprietor of the lands underwritten" [National Archives of Scotland, formerly the Scottish Record Office, New Register House, Edinburgh, Particular Register of Sasines for the Sheriffdom of Lanark, reference RS42/XVI/ff.144r-144v]

THE NEW STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF SCOTLAND

In the East Kilbride portion of the New Statistical Account of Scotland [William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh and London, MDVIIIXLV, volume VI, page 890), the Reverend Henry Moncrieff, having identified the four largest landowners in East Kilbride parish as follows: "Miss Stuart of Torrance; Lady Montgomery; Sir William Alexander Maxwell of Calderwood; and William Kippen, Esq." went on to say that: "Property of considerable extent in point of valuation is also held in the parish of Kilbride by the Duke of Hamilton, Alexander Downie, Esq., of Crossbasket; and by John Reid, Esq., of Kittochside." It does not follow from this, however, that John Reid was: "one of the three largest landholders in the parish" [Herbert Reid, M.C., M.A., The Reids of Kittochside (Printed for private circulation, Aird & Coghill, Glasgow, 1943), page 17], or that he "became the third largest landholder in East Kilbride parish (after the Duke of Hamilton and Alexander Downie of Crossbasket)" British Listed Buildings Both of these statements are seriously misleading.

CONCERNING THE FARMS CALLED LAWSIDE AND CRAIGHALL

It has been suggested that John Reid of Wester Kittochside (1760-1850) owned the farms called Lawside and Craighall, both of which were part of the lands of Jackton [For this suggestion see the New Statistical Account of Scotland (William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh and London, MDVIIIXLV), volume VI, page 890 and the website of Brittish Listed Buildings but in actual fact he purchased them for his son Colin and never had possession himself. This is proved by the settlement and trust disposition he executed on 17 June 1840, the relevantt part of which reads as follows: "Know all men by these presents that I John Reid of Wester Kittochside.....have already provided for my second son Colin by purchasing for him the lands of Lawside as also the lands of Craighall with the pertinents thereof the title to which subjects have been made out in the name of my said son Colin whom I have put in possession of the said lands and pertinents and have given him a stock thereon". To a casual observer, the inclusion of this information in his testamentary writing may seem unnecessary, after all these farms had never been in his possession, but John Reid of Wester Kittochside (1760-1850) was probably anxious to ensure that there would be no arguments after his death and so all of his sons were required to subscribe to this deed and by so doing were accepting: "in lieu and fall" that the provision he had already made for them was all that they could: "demand from me or my heirs, or from any estate and effects,or from the goods in communion between me and Lillias Rae, my wife, now deceased, as legitim, portion natural, marriage provision, or under any other denomination or under any other title whatsoever" [National Archives of Scotland, New Register House, Edinburgh, A Trust Disposition and Settlement made by John Reid of Wester Kittochside, which was registered at Glasgow Sheriff Court on 2 October 1850, Glasgow Sheriff Court Wills, reference SC36/51/29, p. 304]

CONCERNING THE CASTLEHILL ESTATE

In the website devoted to Brittish Listed Buildings, Castlehill House in Kittochside, together with the farm and other buildings formerly associated with it, is confused with Mains Castle, an L-shaped Tower House which is located near the Castle Hill on Mains Farm British Listed Buildings See paragraph two of the notes at the foot of the page and paragraph three in the same article, the contents of which are bewilderingly inaccurate.

The Kittochside estate takes its name from the Castlehill Quarter: "nixt adjacent to the myldam" on the Kittoch Water, a sixteen shilling eight penny land of old extent which was an integral part of the ten merk land of Wester Kittochside. In turn, this land took its name from a castle hill which is located near its southern boundry, the Kittoch Water. It is first noticed as the Castlhill Quarter in an agreement dated 11 November 1567 [Robert Renwick, Depute Town Clerk (editor), Abstracts of Protocols of the Town Clerks of Glasgow, volume v, Henry Gibsone’s Protocols, 1555-68 (Carson & Nicol, Glasgow, MDCCCXCVII), protocol number 1572 on pages 98-9]

It has been suggested that John Reid of Wester Kittochside (1760-1850) owned Castlehill. For this suggestion see the New Statistical Account of Scotland (William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh and London, MDVIIIXLV), volume VI, page 890 and the website of Brittish Listed Buildings http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/sc-26621-kittochside-road-c... ] but in actual fact he purchased Castlehill for his third son John and never had possession himself. He refers to this arrangement in his trust disposition and settlement dated 17 June 1840, the relevant part of which reads as follows: "Know all men by these presents that I John Reid of Wester Kittochside ..... have in like manner provided for my third son John by purchasing for him and taking the title in his name to the lands and estate of Castlehill and placing a stock thereon for his behalf and putting him in possession thereof" [National Archives of Scotland, New Register House, Edinburgh, A Trust Disposition and Settlement made by John Reid of Wester Kittochside, which was registered at Glasgow Sheriff Court on 2 October 1850, Glasgow Sheriff Court Wills, reference SC36/51/29, page 304]

CONCERNING PEELPARK FARM

It has similarly been suggested that John Reid of Wester Kittochside (1760-1850) owned Peelpark. For this suggestion see the New Statistical Account of Scotland (William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh and London, MDVIIIXLV), volume VI, page 890 and the website of Brittish Listed Buildings http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/sc-26621-kittochside-road-c... ] but this is not true. He purchased Peelpark for his son Robert and never did have possession himself. He mentions his gift in his settlement dated 17 June 1840, the relevant part of which reads follows: "Know all men by these presents that I John Reid of Wester Kittochside.....have also provided for my fourth son Robert by purchasing for him the lands of Peelpark the conveyance of which I have caused to be made out in his name and put him in possession thereof and have placed for him a stock upon the said lands" [National Archives of Scotland, New Register House, Edinburgh, A Trust Disposition and Settlement made by John Reid of Wester Kittochside, which was registered at Glasgow Sheriff Court on 2 October 1850, Glasgow Sheriff Court Wills, reference SC36/51/29, pp. 303-12]

HE GIVES CATGILL TO HIS YOUNGER BROTHER

John Reid of Wester Kittochside gave the lands called Catgill, together with the house and yard called Stepends, to his younger brother William. He also gave him an eleven acre field known as Waterlands Park, with an adjacent field of four acres, both of which fields were part of his twelve shilling six penny land of old extent of Wester Kittochside. He did so by means of a feu charter, the lands before mentioned to be held by William and his heirs or successors from John and his heirs or successors, in perpetuity, for the princely sum of one penny annually, which sum was to be paid upon the lands at Whitsunday but only if asked for. The farm which John Reid of Wester Kittochside (1760-1850) created for his younger brother was afterwards known as Waterbank.

HE DIVIDES HIS TWELVE SHILLING SIX PENNY LAND

John Reid of Wester Kittochside (1760-1850) annexed part of his twelve shilling six penny land of old extent of Wester Kittochside to his younger brother William when he gave him Catgill Farm, namely an eleven acre field nown as Waterlands Park with an adjacent field of four acres. He retained the toun and lands of Wester Kittochside or Windleside, where he built his new house, and the remaining land he gave to his third son John. The location of John's share of the twelve shilling six penny land is not mentioned in his father's testamentary writing but he refers to the fact that he had given his third son more than his fair share of land: "but as the value of the said estate (Castlehill) and effects thus provided by me for my said son John is two thousand pounds Sterling over and above the due share and proportion of what I intend to give him as his share". It seems likely, therefore, that John junior's share of his father's twelve shilling six penny land became part of the Castlehill estate [National Archives of Scotland, New Register House, Edinburgh, A Trust Disposition and Settlement made by John Reid of Wester Kittochside, which was registered at Glasgow Sheriff Court on 2 October 1850, Glasgow Sheriff Court Wills, reference SC36/51/29, pp. 303-12]. As much is certainly suggested by John junior's own trust disposition which shows that he was in possession of: ".All and haill that dwelling house in the said Kittochside built by Robert Reid mason there with the yard adjacent thereto purchased by him from the deceased Thomas Taylour Portioner of Kittochside which is a part and pendicle of the said Thomas Taylour's twelve shilling six penny land of old extent of Wester Kittochside lying within the parish of Kilbride and Sheriffdom of Lanark". [National Archives of Scotland, HM General Register House, Edinburgh, Glasgow Sheriff Court Wills,reference SC36/51/66]

HE SELLS LAND TO JOHN GRAHAM OF KITTOCHSIDE

On 7 October 1817, John Reid of Wester Kittochside (1760-1850), with the consent of his eldest son William, sold parts of his twenty-two shilling two penny halfpenny land of old extent of Wester Kittochside to his neighbour, John Graham of Kittochside. In his disposition the land that he sold is described as follows: "that park called the Whitefauld Park containing 4 acres 1 rood 21 falls 25 els of ground, the Little Meadow Park with the road leading along the side of the same and with part of the Greenlaw Ford Park annexed thereto, all containing 1 acre 1 rood 36 falls 36 ells, the Calf Fauld Park containing 2 acres 2 roods 1 fall and 17 ells, and a plot or piece of ground called the Bee Yard containing 27 falls and 27 ells" [National Archives of Scotland, HM General Register House, Edinburgh, Particular Register of Sasines for the Sheriffdom of Lanark, reference RS42/84/153, Printed Sasine Abridgements for 1825 number 1624]

DAVID URE'S HISTORY

John Reid of Wester Kittochside (1760-1850) was one of the subscribers who ordered a copy of David Ure's History of Rutherglen and East Kilbride. His cousin, John Reid of Castlehill, is mentioned in this work and may have been a contributor. He certainly ordered four copies [David Ure, AM., Preacher of the Gospel, Corresp. Memb. of the Nat. Hist. Soc. Ed., The History of Rutherglen and East-Kilbride. Published with a View to Promote the Study of Antiquity and Natural History (Printed by David Niven, Glasgow, 1793), See Subscribers Names]

ELECTORS FOR 1839

John Reid of Wester Kittochside (1760-1850) and his sons Colin, Robert and William, are all noticed in a list of Electors for 1839. John as one of the proprietors of lands in Kittochside, Colin as one of the proprietors of lands in Jackton, Robert as the proprietor of lands called Peelpark, and William as the tenant of land called Westerfield. William was his father's eldest son and would eventually inherit Wester Kittochside but it would appear that he held this tenancy on his own account [List of Electors in East Kilbride for the year 1839, from a copy list held in East Kilbride Central Library]

HIS TRUST DISPOSITION AND SETTLEMENT

According to the author of an internet article written for British Listed Buildings, which deals with Castlehill in Kittochside and its farmhouse and associated buildings British Listed Buildings John Reid of Wester Kittochside (1760-1850) left the following farms or lands when he died in 1850: "Wester Kittochside, Nether Philipshall, Catgill, Waterlands Park, Lawside, Craighall, Castlehill, Peelpark, and Blackhouse". This is just plain wrong of course for it was not legally possible for him bequeath land and in any event he did not own Lawside, Craighall, Castlehill, Peelpark, or Blackhouse!

The ownership of Lawside and Craighall, Castlehill, and Peelpark, have already been mentioned in this article but it may be worth repeating here that John Reid of Wester Kittochside purchased these farms for his three younger sons but that he never did take possession for himself. Concerning the farm called Blackhouse. This is a hill farm in Mearns parish, Renfrewshire, which belonged to Alan Pollock of Blackhouse. Alan Pollock of Blackhouse married Margaret Stuart Reid, the eldest daughter of John Reid of Wester Kittochside (1760-1850), but his farm was never posessed by a Reid.

As for the other lands mentioned, he gave them to his oldest son William before his death, by means of a trust disposition dated 17 June 1840. He did of course reserve his own liferent but his oldest son William was in effective possession from that date onwards [National Archives of Scotland, New Register House, Edinburgh, A Trust Disposition and Settlement made by John Reid of Wester Kittochside, which was registered at Glasgow Sheriff Court on 2 October 1850, Glasgow Sheriff Court Wills, reference SC36/51/29, pp. 303-12]

A CENSUS IS TAKEN ON 7 JUNE 1841

John Reid of Wester Kittochside (1760-1850) was at home with three of his unmarried children when the census was taken on 7 June 1841. There is no mention of his wife Lillias and it seems reasonable to suppose, therefore, that she must have died sometime earlier. His second son, John Reid of Castlehill, was in his household, as was his daughters Lillias and Elizabeth. [Registrar General for Scotland, New Register House, Edinburgh, 1841 Census Return]

DEATH AND BURIAL

John Reid of Wester Kittochside is buried in the kirkyard of East Kilbride Old Parish Church. According to the family memorial stone he died on 27 March 1851 but this date is wrong [Memorial Inscription in the Kirkyard of East Kilbride Old Parish Church. From a typescript record held in East Kilbride Central Library]. The exact date of his death cannot be determined but the last entry he made in his Income and Expenses Ledger is dated 22 May 1850: "(Received) Mr Ritchie whisky £4" and his eldest son William made his first entry on 4 June 1850: "Paid Hugh McLachlan acct for brother & sister £4". [Income and Expenses Ledgers held in the National Museum of Rural Life at Wester Kittochside]

MARRIAGE

John Reid of Wester Kittochside (1760-1850) married Lillias Rae on 10 September 1786. The marriage record identifies Lillias Rae's home parish as Gladsmuir in East Lothian [Registrar General for Scotland, New Register House, Ednburgh, East Kilbride Marriages, 1754-1819, reference OPR.643/2]. On 6 February 1787 he gave her a restricted liferent annuity of £40 which was secured on parts of his land in Wester Kittochside, his land in Nether Philipshill, and the croftland which he held in East Kittochside [National Archives of Scotland, HM General Register House, Edinburgh, Particular Register of Sasines for the Sheriffdom of Lanark, Sasine in favour of Lillias Rae dated 7 February 1787, reference RS42/22/364, Sasine Abridgement for 1787, number 1071]

CHILDREN

John Reid of Wester Kittochside (1760-1850) and his wife, Lillias Rae, had nine children, seven of whom survived their parents. The name of the children's mother is not mentioned in any of their baptismal records but her motherly relationship is confirmed by her husband's trust disposition and settlement dated 17 June 1840. Lillas Rae was already dead by this time but she is referred to as: "Lillias Rae, their mother, now deceased" [National Archives of Scotland, New Register House, Edinburgh, A Trust Disposition and Settlement made by John Reid of Wester Kittochside, which was registered at Glasgow Sheriff Court on 2 October 1850, Glasgow Sheriff Court Wills, reference SC36/51/29, p. 309]. The children are:

1. William Reid of Wester Kittochside
2. Colin Reid of Lawside and Craighall
3. John Reid
4. Margaret Stuart Reid
5. Elizabeth Reid
6. John Reid of Castlehill
7. Robert Reid of Peelpark
8. Lillias Rae Reid
9. Elizabeth Reid