Thomas Ker

[stoop]

My great great great grandfather Thomas Ker died in 1829 at the Stoop where he farmed,can anyone throw any light on who the landowner or landowners were at that time.I have been trying to identify what particular farm he tenanted, thanks stoop.

[MonicaL]

Stoop, just adding this link from an older post for background to try to help further www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=650688.0

Monica 

[Iandj]

Hi Stoop

You posted just as I was in the middle of researching another Kerr (but with a double 'r') 

I have been looking at ScotlandsPlaces and come up with some names about 20 years either side of Thomas in 1829.

From the Cart Tax (1797-1798), which fell mainly on farmers and landowners in rural areas and on carters in the towns, I came up with the following at Stoop:

John Grierson
Joseph Tait
Robert McDowell

Then from Farm Horse Tax Rolls (also 1797-98), which lists the names of the owner and the number of horses and mules used, I found the following at Stoop:

Thomas Wilson
Joseph Tait
Robert Pagan
William Milligan

Finally, the OS Name Book for Dumfries gave the following ownerships in November 1849:

Fountainbleu – owned by John Allen
Ladypark – owned by James Grierson
Stoop – owned by Miss Carson, occupied by John Smart (my 3rd great-grandfather)
Parkvale – owned by James Jardine, occupied by David Morton Gillespie
Parkhead – owned and occupied by James Jardine
Greenbrae Cottages – owned by James Murray
Meadowbank Cottage – owned by James Johnston, occupied by John Richardson
Milldam Head PH – owned by Joseph Mitchel, occupied by Joseph Fingland
Saughtree House – owned by Miss Baxter, occupied by Dr Jamieson
Loaningfoot – owned by James Murray, occupied by William Patten
Towns Moss – owned by the town of Dumfries, feued to several persons
Clayknowe Farm – owned by Rev James Forsyth, occupied by William Coats
Noble Hill Farm – owned by Robert ‘Houstie’, occupied by William Sharp
Noble Hill Cottage – owned and occupied by William Martin
Noble Hill Villa – owned by Mrs Mitchell, occupied by William McKelvie

Oh yes, and as a fun fact afterthought, did you know that Bane Loaning (a semi-circular lane between Summervale and Greenbrae) was where suicides were interred?

Hope that adds a bit to your knowledge

Regards
Ian

[stoop]

Hi Monica, thanks for reminding of my previous post it has helped to refresh my memory, regards stoop.

[stoop]

HI Ian, thanks for providing me with the information regarding the local farms around the stoop,to reply with a fun fact I was born and brought up in Greenbrae Loaning 3and4 Lindsay Place to be precise, I am going to explore where your info. Takes me thanks again ,stoop.l

[Iandj]

Good luck with your research, Stoop. I'll be interested to see how you get on as I am keen to find out more about the Smart family's activity there.

I wonder who the late Miss Mary Carson was?  John Smart's will, proved in 1874, says he was the life-renter of her property at Stoop Farm and was answerable to her trustees. John Smart apparently didn't arrive at Stoop till sometime between 1826 and 1841, so he may possibly have succeeded Thomas Ker there.