Ref:

"The Scottish Nation"- William Anderson, A. Fullarton & Co., Edinburgh 1880
"The Historie and Descent of the House of Rowallane"- Sir William Mure, Knight of Rowallan, c.1657- William Tough, Ed., William Blackwood & Sons, Edinburgh, 1898- Vol. II, p.235ff

2I. GILCHRIST (DAVID 1)

m. ISOBEL COMYN
d.c.1280

Rowallan Castle c.1876

"It is easily made out that the Mures... were possessors of the estate & liveing of Rowallane, being free, Barones yrof, holding in cheife of the crowne infeft cum furca et fossa, sock et sack, thole et theam, infang their et outfang theif, and that divers ages befor the usurpation of the Cumine."(4)

In the beginning of Alexander III's reign Sir Walter Comyn took over Rowallan and forced Gilchrist to flee to Polkelly castle. However, it seems more likely that Polkelly was his and that he obtained Rowallan by marrying Isabelle. Gilchrist was at the battle of Largs in 1263 and was knighted for his bravery. After the death of his father-in-law he received his old inheritance back (or Isabelle's) and also the Sheriffdom of Roxburgh. However, William seems to have his dates mixed up as during the reign of King David II, Maurice Murray had a charter "of the waird of Walter Cuming of Rowallan, in vic. de Roxburgh, with the lands thereof". So the lands of Rowallan were not in Gilchrist's possession at this time and it would be next to impossible for the Sir Gilchrist who fought at Largs to have been alive in the reign of King David II.(2)

Gilchrist gave to his relation Ranald who had come from Ireland, the lands of Polkelly which appear to have been the original property of the family. However, there is no evidence of this transaction. "He disponed to his kinsman Ranald More, who had come purposlie from Ireland for his assistance in time of his troubles, & tooke share wt him of the hazard of the battell, the lands of Pokellie wt the pertinents and wt priviledge of pasturage in his comone mure, the wch in the thride of ferd generation fell back againe, through the mariage of Jonet Mure, heretrix yrof, to Sr. Adame Mure, grandchild of Sr Gilchrist, and father in law to King Robert Second".(5) Reginald More had a charter from King Robert I of "the lands of Templestown and Scheills, given to him by Rodulphus Lindsay, dudum magister hospitalis St John Jerosolomitani". Ronald More, Chamberlain, had a charter of the "lands of Formerteine, Akintor, Aboyn, Meikle Morfey, Douny, and Caverays, whilk was Isabel Balliol's, heir to Thomas Balliol from David II".(3)

The "Historie" refers to a charter "extant, granted by him to his daughter Anicia, of the lands of Cuthsach, Gulmeth, Blaracharsan, with the woods thairof purchast from Molid, together with Garnegep and Calder, rowmes now not knowne by these names. The pasturage thairin specifyed being bounded upon the north side from Drumbuy dicth by Swinstie burne, maks evident that the lands of Pokellie have been at that time in the hands of the disponer, and a proper part of the mure of Rowallane..."(6) With his daughter Anicia, whom married Richard Boyle of Kelburne, he gave the lands of Polruskane "for payment of ane pound of Comine seed in name of blensch ferme yearlie from these times, till by God's good providence they are now brought in againe, to the house by lawfull purchase. He gifted likwise the lands of Ardoch [now Crawfurdland] to Johne Crawfurd and aires, for service of waird and reliefe, and to Edward Arnot the two finnicks for yearlie payment of ane pair of gloves at St. Lawrence Chapell, and of ane pair of spurs at St Michaell's Chapell, embleames of reddie service."(7) These chapels were situated at Bankend and Well, near Rowallan, but no trace of them exists. The "Historie" goes on to say that "Last it is recorded that he builded the Mures Ile at Kilmarnock, and decored the same with funerall monuments, and mortified for mantainance of the Preist who did officiat at the altar thairin, to the Abacie of Killwining, the lands of Skirnalland, for which reasone the nomination of the priest forsaid (a custome which constantlie continued till the restoring of religion) was proper to him and his successors."(8) Sir Gilchrist seems to have vastly increased the family estates, however, there is no evidence of his being in possession of Rowallan.

"But it is hie time now to close this part of the discourse, nothing remaining materiall but the closing of the course of Sr Gilchrist, wch was in peace, about the year 1280, neer the 80 yeer of his age... He was buried wt his forfayrs [forfathers] in his owne buriell place in the Mure's Isle at Kilmarnock".(9) Which begs the question, if "he builded the Mures Ile at Kilmarnock" who could his forefathers have been buried there as well? I suppose they could have been moved from their previous resting places within or outside of the Kilmarnock church.

The Devil visits Rowallan.

Tis said, one wintry night of yore
were met a happy throng
Within Rowallan's festive hall,
Where all was mirth and song;
When, crashing through the nestling trees,
Auld Nick came in a blue-shot bleeze,
By witch-wife conjured, to affright
For grave abuse or cutting spite.
But little ken'd that sinner warm
That in the castle lay a charm
Which Auld Nick's magic could dispel
And send him baffled hame. Ah! well,
Will he go in? He takes the road.
Avaunt thou, in the name of God!
The parson cried, and then brought down
His Bible whack on Auld Nick's crown.
As when the hunter's well-aimed dart
Strikes through the savage tiger's heart,
Sudden he leaped, and gave a roar
That rent the stair and burst the door,
Then, like a rocket through the night,
In flame of fire passed out of site.(1)

Issue-

Ref:

(1) Rambles Round Kilmarnock- Archibald Adamson, T. Stevenson, Kilmarnock, 1875- p. 138
(2) History of the County of Ayr: with a Genealogical Account of the Families of Ayrshire- James Paterson, Thomas George Stevenson, Bookseller, Ayr, 1852- Vol. II, p. 183
(3) Ibid
(4) "The Historie and Descent of the House of Rowallane"- Sir William Mure, Knight of Rowallan, c.1657- William Tough, Ed., William Blackwood & Sons, Edinburgh, 1898- Vol. II, p.241
(5) Ibid- p. 242
(6) Ibid
(7) Ibid- p. 243
(8) Ibid
(9) Ibid

"The Scottish Nation"- William Anderson, A. Fullarton & Co., Edinburgh 1880

3I. ARCHIBALD (DAVID 1, GILCHRIST 2)

m. MARGARET MONTGOMERY, daughter of Sir John Montgomerie of Eastwood/Eaglesham
killed at battle of Berwick in 1297

"Archibald, Sone & air to Sr Gilchrist, a man who appeares to have managed his affaires wt much discreation & judgement, who unless he had been both stout, warrie, & provident in the turbulent times qrin he lived, he could hardlie have mantained qt his fayr had recovered."(1)

Archibald was killed at Berwick when the city was taken by the English and the army under John Baliol was defeated in 1297. "Archibald... wt. divers of his freinds & children, died in battell, neer Barwick, qr the flowre of the younth of Scotland wer almost cut of, the towne being taken & Johne Baliole that unfortunat prince defate, & his armie wholly routted".(2)

Issue-

Ref:

(1) "The Historie and Descent of the House of Rowallane"- Sir William Mure, Knight of Rowallan, c.1657- William Tough, Ed., William Blackwood & Sons, Edinburgh, 1898- Vol. II, p.244
(2) Ibid-

History of the County of Ayr: with a Genealogical Account of the Families of Ayrshire- James Paterson, Thomas George Stevenson, Bookseller, Ayr, 1852- Vol. II, p. 184
"The Scottish Nation"- William Anderson, A. Fullarton & Co., Edinburgh 1880

4III. WILLIAM (DAVID 1, GILCHRIST 2, ARCHIBALD 3)

m. ______ LINDSAY, d. of William Lindsay of Craigie
d.c.1346

Sir William is mentioned in an indenture of truce with England during the minority of King David, however, this may refer to Sir William of Abercorn.(1) He is probably the same person mentioned in the charter of King Robert the Bruce to "Robert Boyd, of the lands of Kilmarnock, Bondingtoun, Hertschaw, &c.- que fuerunt Johannis de Balliolo, Godfridi de Ros, filii quondam Reginaldi de Ros, Willielmi de Mora, et Roberti de Ros."(2) As the Mures were connected with the Comyns they were probably opposed to Robert the Bruce's claim to the throne and this would explain the acquisition of their lands by the followers of King Robert.

The "Historie" states that Sir William died about the time of the battle of Durham, 17 Oct. 1346, however, there is mention of a Willielmus More in 1363. Reynold, son and heir of Sir William More was one of the hostages left in England on King David's release in 1357. However, there was a William More who had a charter of "the barony of Abercorn, by the resignation of John Graham" from King David II. So the William mentioned in 1363 and Reynold may have been of the Abercorn family.(3)

Ref:

(1) History of the County of Ayr: with a Genealogical Account of the Families of Ayrshire- James Paterson, Thomas George Stevenson, Bookseller, Ayr, 1852- Vol. II, p. 184; "The Historie and Descent of the House of Rowallane"- Sir William Mure, Knight of Rowallan, c.1657- William Tough, Ed., William Blackwood & Sons, Edinburgh, 1898- Vol. II, p.245
(2) History of the County of Ayr: with a Genealogical Account of the Families of Ayrshire- James Paterson, Thomas George Stevenson, Bookseller, Ayr, 1852- Vol. II, p. 184
(3) Ibid

"The Scottish Nation"- William Anderson, A. Fullarton & Co., Edinburgh 1880
"Officers of State"- Crawford, Vol.I, p.290

5IV. ADAM (DAVID 1, GILCHRIST 2, ARCHIBALD 3, WILLIAM 4)

m. JANET MURE, heiress of Polkelly, grand-daughter of Ranald
d.c.1332

The "Historie" states that Sir Adam "who having been bred a long time in his father's auld age with the management and weight of all his affaires both private & more publick, in these rougher times, found the less difficultie, to applye himself by a more easie method to mantaine the lott & fortoune left by his predecessours, now in the his own hand." It seems that the family had suffered during the war of independence and Sir Adam improved and enlarged their dilapidated inheritence. "He proved a man both worthie and fortunat, & by the meane forsd. having made up againe his estate enteir & bettered the condition of his house, was also happie in his succession, his eldest sone being lykwise Sr Adame, and Elizabeth made choyce of (for her excellent buetie and rare vertues) by king Robert to be queen of Scotland."(2)

"In the days of Sr Adame first of that name, who quartered wt his owne the armes of the Cumning (Azure) three Cumine garbs, or wt qm his predessor had matched and whose inheretance he enjoyed. Conforme qrunto Queen Elizabethe Mure's coat was marshalled, the just perogative of hereditarie coats by mariage, schewing that as the inheretance of the possessiones, so the coat armoures of the inheretors wer to be invested upon yr airs & posteritie wch wer to beare both hereditarie coats, quarterlie, in all times hereafter..."(1)

Ref:

(1) "The Historie and Descent of the House of Rowallane"- Sir William Mure, Knight of Rowallan, c.1657- William Tough, Ed., William Blackwood & Sons, Edinburgh, 1898- Vol. II, pp.239-40
(2) Ibid- p. 246

"The Scottish Nation"- William Anderson, A. Fullarton & Co., Edinburgh 1880