It was a relief to take a breather near Corriecravie. Ian took this photo of me looking at the land which my ancestors once farmed.
Since at least 1710, when my great great great great great great grandfather Robert Black was born, the Black branch of the family were crofters in Corriecravie until 1936. The last known Black to be resident in Rowanpark croft, Corriecravie was my great grandfather's (John Black 1854-1929) nephew Robert (Bertie) Black but he was not contactable there in 1972 following my grandfather's sister's (Catherine Black) death.
Initially the family worked common land but when the Duke of Hamilton enclosed the land in the early years of the 19th century, Robert's son William became tenant farmer of approximately 24 acres. The croft extended to the boundaries of the green fields above the white houses in this photo.
In 1813 a wave of religious awakening passed over the people of south Arran and William's son Robert was one of those who came under its influence. After William's death in 1824, Robert neglected his farm and attended too many religious meetings. He was fined one guinea by the Estate Factor for failing to improve the land as required by his tenancy agreement. By the 1841 Census, his two sisters Mary and Isabella had taken over running half the croft but by the 1861 census Mary had died and Isabella had given up her half of the croft, which Robert then sublet to Mr John Stewart.
In 1868, some years after Finlay Black inherited the croft, he and his father in law, William Stewart, decided to formally split the croft into two parts. This was done by arrangement with James Paterson, the Duke of Hamilton's Factor and Dugald Crawford the Ground Officer. Interestingly, both my ancestors, Finlay Black and William Stewart (my brother's middle name is Stewart) can be found in a Google search! They were both fluent speakers of Arran Gaelic and were consulted by the Ordnance Survey on local place names.
Thank you for some interesting info on my own family history as I am descended from the Stewarts of Corriecravie.
ReplyDeleteHi Susan, I am glad you found the page. It is good to find things about where we have come from. Your ancestor William Stewart was my great great great grandfather so we must be distant cousins! Douglas. :o)
DeleteHi Douglas, I was fascinated to read this. My family comes from Corriecravie (Downies/Browns) and I knew Robert Black well, although always known as Bertie. He died in 1996 and is buried in Kilmory Churchyard, as is my father. Bertie was a lovely man. His gravestone reads:- "Erected by Robert Black in loving memory of his wife Annie Currie McKelvie died 17th November 1975 aged 63 years, his mother Ann Cook died 7th March 1909, his father Archibald Black died 13th November 1932. Also the above Robert Black died 31st January 1996 aged 87 years". Bertie and Annie suffered a devastating house fire in around 1972 and this may explain why your family was unsuccessful in making contact at that time. Regards, Isabel Clutton
ReplyDeleteHello Isobel, thank you very much for this most interesting information. Bertie Black was the son of Archibald Black who was my great grandfather John Black's brother. John Black was the oldest son but decided crofting was not for him so he moved to Glasgow where he got a job with Caledonian Railways. I understand when Finlay Black and his wife Catherine Black had died the Rowanpark croft was taken over by their daughter Ann Black and I have correspondence between my great grandfather and Ann relating to a dispute about water rights between the Blacks and the Stewarts. The map.of the divided croft was drawn by my great grandfather to try to resolve the dispute between his sister and their cousins. He had been 14 years old when he witnessed the land being divided in 1868. I also understood that when Ann Black (who had no children) gave up the croft it was taken over by her nephew Bertie whom you knew. It was again my understanding that Bertie also had a road haulier business on Arran. Do you know if this is correct? Was it Rowanpark that went in fire? Thank you again Douglas dr.d.e.wilcox@gmail.com
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