Examination of the claim of John Lindsay Crawfurd

2 EXAMINATION OF THE CLAIM OF
Barclays of Kilbirnie were a branch. In 1357, in the reign of David
the Second, we find Sir Hugh Barclay of Kilbirnie bestowing his
lands of Haymore on his vassal John Mackmoran, and Margaret his
wife. 1 This Sir Hugh was succeeded by his son Hugh, who obtain-
ed the honour of knighthood from Bobert the Second. He had two
sons, David, his successor, and Archibald, the first of the branch of
Ladyland. The Ladyland branch of the family continued to flou-
rish for about two centuries.
The family of Kilbirnie was continued in the person of David
Barclay, who obtained from James the First a grant of the whole
lordship of Kilbirnie, with the half of Ladyland. He was succeeded
by his son John, who died without male issue in 1470, and was suc-
ceeded by his only daughter Marjory. This lady married Malcolm
Crawfurd of Greenock, a descendant of the house of Crawfurd of Lou-
The daw-don^ an( j w ho thus became the founder of the family of theCrawfurds
furds of u J
Kiibimie. of Kilbirnie ; which family has, ever since, continued in the possession
of that estate either through male or female succession. It is unne-
cessary in this narrative to trace the succession of the various mem-
bers of this family, who have possessed the estate, or of the different
collateral branches which have sprung from the parent stem. This
would lead into a wide field, and one altogether foreign from the chief
object we have at present in view. Beferring those, who are desirous
of tracing the minuter histories of the family, to the various genea-
logical accounts to be found in the Peerages and similar works, we
come down to John Crawfurd of Kilbirnie, who succeeded to the
estate in 1622. He was eldest son of John Crawfurd of Kilbirnie,
by his wife Margaret, daughter of John Blair of that Ilk. He mar-
ried Mary, daughter of James, Earl of Glencairn, and about 1627
rebuilt the house of Kilbirnie, in such a style of magnificence, that
though now in ruins, yet it still commands respect. He was succeed-
sir John ed by John, his eldest son, who obtained the honour of knighthood
o^KUMr- from King Charles the First, in 1642. 2 By his second wife Magda-
nie.
i Crawford's Peerage, p. 159.
2 In 1641, John Crawfurd of Kilbirnie procured a ratification by Parliament of the infeftment
in his favour, of all and haill the lands and baronie of Kilbirnie, with the fishing in the Loch there-
of. This loch is called Garnoth by Hollingshead, who takes notice of it in the following manner :