Historical and genealogical account of the principal families of the name of Kennedy

130 NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS.
MURDER OF THE LAIRD OF COLZEANE. — P. 56.
The Editor, not being personally acquainted with many of the localities, to
which the tragical story of the Laird of Colzeane's Murder refer, applied to his
friend John Whiteford Mackenzie, Esquire, W.S., ] to furnish the information
which appeared to he requisite to make the matter intelligible to the general
reader. From the answers which have been kindly supplied by that gentleman
to the queries transmitted to him, the following brief notice is drawn up.
It would appear from the narrative given in the text, that it was Sir Thomas
Kennedie's intention, previous to setting off for Edinburgh, to have an interview
with the Laird of Auchindrayne (whose son, it must be remembered, was mar-
ried to the Laird of Culzean's second daughter, Helen) at the Duppill, and for
that purpose, he sent to advertise him of the place of meeting. When he left
home, he seems to have purposed, in his way, to call upon John Kennedy of
Baltersan, who then resided at Greenan Castle, which is situated on a rock over-
hanging the sea, about two miles from the town of Ayr. On his road, he must
have left Auchindrayne Castle at no great distance ; and from that circumstance,
it is probable he had some private reason for wishing not to have his interview
at that place. In leaving Greenan, therefore, when he proceeded on his journey
to Edinburgh, he must have crossed the water of Ayr at the Holmstone-ford, so
as to avoid passing through the town of Ayr, the inhabitants of which, as has
been seen, were pretty keenly attached to the Bargany faction. Both the Chapel
of St Leonard and the Duppill, mentioned in the History, lay in the direct line of
road from Greenan to Holmstone. St Leonard's Chapel stood at the south-west
corner of the present Race- ground, about half a mile from the town. 2 Duppill,
1 The Editor lias much pleasure in thus publicly returning his thanks to Mr Mackenzie for
much valuable information, relative to many of the localities, &c. connected with this work.
It is hoped that Mr Mackenzie's minute knowledge relative to the Shire of Ayr, and its prin-
cipal Families, and the valuable Collections he has formed upon these subjects, may eventually
be given to the public. Should that gentleman's professional avocations ever permit his
undertaking a regular County History, which must necessarily be attended with a sacrifice
of much time and labour, it would confer an important service towards elucidating the history
of this very interesting and important district of Scotland. 2 The ruins were pulled
down many years ago, and the materials employed in enclosing the Race-course.