knockshinnoch

ROBERT BURNS

Logans of Knockshinnoch

Thomas Logan (1647-1720) and his second wife Jean Thompson acquired the lands of Knockshinnoch in 1708 and so began the relatively brief but influential dynasty the 'Logans of Knockshinnoch'. This branch of the Logan family are said to descend from Logganes in Ireland and are not to be confused with the Logans of that Ilk which were already well established in the parish of Cumnock (Old and New), including the Logans at the Cumnock Castle. Thomas and his new wife Jean, the widow of William Campbell of Wellwood, held several properties throughout Ayrshire and chose not to stay at Knockshinnoch. Together they had six children, including their eldest son James Logan (born 1708) and Agnes Logan (born 1713) - she would later marry Hugh Campbell of Whitehill, and their son Thomas Campbell of Pencloe would make a big impression on Robert Burns.

James Logan (1708-1790) inherited Knockshinnoch on his father's death in 1720. The fine words on his tombstone in the Auld Kirkyard describe him as ' an intelligent and honest man who on a small fortune brought up a numerous family lived independently, faithfully disharged the duties he owed society'. It is unclear when he moved into the property of Knockshinnoch, other than some time before 1743. James married Margaret Begg of Dornel, Auchinleck in 1745, the year of the last Jacobite Uprising. As a Jacobite Supporter he would spend some of his early wedded years in prison. Together they had several children including their eldest son John Logan. James Logan passed away in 1790 and Margaret died ten years later.

John Logan of Knockshinnoch and Laight

John Logan (1746-1816) was born 2 months after his Jacobite father mourned the defeat at Culloden. Like his grandfather before him, John married into the McAdam family of Waterhead, Dalmellington. (Thomas Logan's first wife was Margaret McAdam, daughter of Quentin McAdam of Craigengillan - a branch of the Waterhead family). John's marriage to Martha McAdam was not without controversy for it was conducted by an Episcopalian minister out with the authority of the Established Church. No young pretender, but the young Logan had already singled himself out for the attention of the Reverend James Young, the 'Auld Licht' minister in the parish kirk. Ironically, John Logan would share the tag of Dissenter with the small band of Cameronians in the parish that hankered for their Covenanting heritage and the days when they disowned the Stuart monarchy.

Martha McAdam was the daughter of Captain Gilbert McAdam or Gilbert of Merkland as he was also known. The Captain could trace his lineage back to Andrew McAdam and his spouse Janet Campbell in 'the land of Overgrief in Cumnock in 1512', that is Over Garrieve in the parish of New Cumnock. Gilbert too would hold property in the parish, at Laight, Carcow and Ashmark, a cluster of farms on the west bank of the Afton Water, in the lower reaches of Glen Afton. However, he fell on hard times and John Logan acquired all these properties in 1781 and moved his wife and his young family from Knockshinnoch to the newly built house at Laight.

Following his father's death in 1790, John Logan became Logan of Knockshinnoch, but he and his family remained at Laight, eventually relinquishing Knockshinnoch and closing the short but eventful chapter of the 'Logans of Knockshinnoch'. His story continues at Laight .