Muirs of Argyll

The Muirs of Argyll

The Muirs first appeared in and around the area of Southend and initially worked the surrounding farms. In the early 1700's they migrated northward to Campbeltown. The Muirs worked in three main sectors of the workplace being, labourers, merchants and sailors.

The first available records I have sighted of the Muir family in Argyll refer to a family at the beginning of the seventeenth century (approx. 1625). They appear to have been landed gentry. The reference is to William Ralston marrying Ursula Mure, daughter of William Mure of Glanderstone. William Mure was both a tutor and guardian to William Ralston and his sisters after the death of both their parents in 1623. The eldest of Ursula's sisters Margaret married the principal and Vice-Chancellor of Glasgow University. Janet's husband became principal and Vice-Chancellor of Edinburgh University. Elizabeth married a minister and had a son who became Vice-Chancellor of Glasgow University and Historiographer for Scotland.

(Refer Ralston.G.A. - William Ralston of that Ilk, The Kintyre Antiquarian & Natural History Society Magazine, Dec. 1997)

The next recorded data is from the Campbeltown Parish records and that of the birth of Jane Muir to Captain David Muir and Margaret Drummond of Drummore on 10/7/1659, and the marriage of James Bell and Jenat Mure on 28/10/1660. The parish records commenced in 1648 and registrations were not common in the early years.

On the 23/10/1670, Jane Muir was born to Hugh Muir and Betty Andersone of Rannachan. This was followed by the baptism of Barbra Muir to the same couple in Upper Gartlosean on 30/3/1673. On 15/7/1673 Grizel was born to William Muir and Mary Melville at Craigs.

There is confusion with the next family as the father Captain Robert Muir was listed twice as David in the registration of his second and third children. On 19/12/1678, Margaret was born to Captain Robert Muir and Agnes Montgomerie of Drummore. This was followed by Agnes (registered as son) baptised 3/10/1680, Robert registered as David and Agnes and Archibald born on 30/7/1682 to David??? and Agnes.

My ancestors first appear in the records with the marriage of John Muir and Orsla Wallace on 27 April, 1696 in Southend. This was followed by the marriage of Daniel Muir and Jenat Weer on 27 May, 1701 in Campbeltown and the marriage of Samuel Muir and Janet Stuart on 3 December, 1702 in Campbeltown.

The assumption is that the above three men were brothers although apart from the commonality in their children's names there is no proof that this is the case. It is presumed that as their birth records do not exist in the Campbeltown parish records that all three migrated to Argyll from possibly Ayrshire. I would be grateful if anyone can shed light on this issue as it has been a stumbling block since 1996.

My Family Tree

Home Top Back