James Smith Parentage (Kilmaurs/Newton-on-Ayr)

[Maiden Stone]

There was some movement of miners around Britain and between Britain and Ireland, e.g. when looking into my family history, I noticed an Irish -born miner in Ayrshire who later moved to county Durham. When one type of mining was in serious, long-term decline in a region, some miners might move hundreds of miles, e.g. some Cornish tin-miners became coal miners in Northern England.

[Creasegirl]

It would make sense if he moved to newton on ayr in 1811 as that was a mining centre at that time and there were lots of other mines around that people went to work in.  Sometimes the best workers were moved to new or temporary mines.

[Maiden Stone]

The bonded labour system continued to operate in the Scottish mining industry until the end of 18th century. Children might be bound to their father's employer from birth. Mine owners could move miners around and lend them to other owners. Some Scottish miners escaped to England where they had more freedom which pit they worked at. 

[kjmck]

Thanks so much for the information, very interesting to read as I have many miner ancestors.
I think it will be very difficult to go any further back than John Smith/Margaret Sedgewick & James Walker/Margaret Porter, I will try but I think it will be a needle in a haystack situation.

Very grateful to you all for your time & help!