Saltpan owners in Torryburn in the 1780s

[Margow]

In your original posting you state that John Muir is named as the owner of a saltpan.  Where did you find this reference?

John Muir's burial dated 19 January 1782 (Old Parish Registers Deaths 685/2 St Cuthbert's) and his testament dative dated 13 June 1782 ((Wills and testaments Reference CC8/8/125, Edinburgh Commissary Court), as well as the Torryburn KS reference given above, all give his occupation as cowfeeder.

Incidentally, only the daughter of John Muir and Hannah Somerville was baptised in Carnwath (1776).  Their son was baptised in St Cuthbert's in 1779 ((Old Parish Registers Births 685/ 2 St Cuthbert's).  Here John Muir's occupation is again given as cowfeeder.

[Revolution]

On John and Margaret Drysdales daughters death certificate. Her son stated it.

I cant find a reference to what a Cow Feeder is. Any ideas?

They had 4 children that I could find:

James baptised 6 Jun 1773 • Carnwath, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Samuel 28 Aug 1775 • Carnwath, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Margaret 15 Dec 1776 • Carnwath, Lanarkshire, Scotland
John born Monday 7 June 1779. Father John Muir cow feeder in Toll Crofs. Witnesses James Muir labourer in Carnwath and Alex Gardener session clerk St Cuthberts

[GR2]

A cow-feeder is a (usually very) small-scale dairy farmer.

[Margow]

John Muir's daughter (born 1776) would have been only a small child when her father died in 1782 and would barely have known him.  Her son and his grandson would not have known him at all nor would he have had any first hand knowledge of his grandfather's occupation, so any statement from him (the grandson) must be treated with a pinch of salt. (No pun intended!)

All the evidence points to John Muir being a cow feeder.  As GR2 indicates, this is a common term for the tenant of a small dairy farm.  My great-grandfather was a cow feeder in Lanarkshire.

[Revolution]

Thank you GR2 and Margow!

Looking at Johns Will he was a reasonably successful cow feeder.

I wonder if James Muir was a sibling to John as he was the witness to the baptism. I wish all the baptisms were in that Church that John Jr was baptised in.