hahaya2004 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 28, 2022 4:37 pm
Hi Cintra,
This is probably the link to the Meikle family:
According to his death certificate, Hugh's mother was Mary Weir,
previously Meikle, maiden surname Porter
This might interest you:
Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, Friday 29th April 1898
In Memoriam
Hugh Ferrie Weir of Kirkhall
The death of Mr Hugh Ferrie Weir of Kirkhall, on Tuesday afternoon, will take not a few of the community by surprise, and will be learned with regret not only by the natives at home and abroad, but by a number of correspondents, indebted to him for special information on folk lore, local antiquities, and old family history, in all of which subjects he was a specialist.
Although confined to the house for some weeks, it is only within these last two or three weeks his case became serious, and towards the end of his days he suffered not a little pain, borne with manly resignation.
Laird Weir – the designation by which he was familiarly known – was perhaps the most striking individuality in the district. It is doubtful if the community generally knew to the full extent his special claims to be regarded as such. He was the last male representative of the Weir family, who have occupied Kirkhall – a small estate about a mile north-east from Ardrossan, on the right bank of Stanley Burn – from 1719. Great-grandfather, grandfather, and father were in possession of it as owners from 1748 previous to the succession on 1838 of Hugh, now deceased. Within the grounds is the burial place of the family. It is a small enclosure formed by a thorn hedge and a stone wall, and sheltered by an encompassing row of ash and elm trees. There is a monument erected, composed of two Tuscan columns, surmounted by a pediment, and the inscription, which is cut in a small panel of black marble, is as follows:--
This burial place was erected by Hugh Weir of Kirkhall.—
DOROTHY HUNTER, his wife, died Sept. 26th, 1787, aged 67 years.--
HUGH WEIR died Jan. 9th, 1800, aged 72 years.—
HELEN FERRIE, wife of Robert Weir, died April 20th, 1814, aged 56 years.—
ROBERT WEIR died 31st July 1838, in the 81st year of his age
From the above it will be seen that the Weirs were long lived – a fact to which the Laird frequently referred when congratulating himself on his own long age; on his ability to undertake duties, and walk with ease to Ardrossan and back to Kirkhall without great inconvenience.
As an heritor of the parish, at one time he took an active interest in the fabric of the church and succeeded, if we mistake not, in preventing the old building from being condemned many years ago. In 1852-53 he was the most active leader in the opposition to the formation of Saltcoats into a burgh; and in recognition of his services, on 7th April 1854, he was presented with a handsome silver salver, beautifully chased, which bore the following inscription:--
Presented to Hugh Ferrie Weir Esq. of Kirkhall, by a number of
proprietors and others in Saltcoats and vicinity, as a token of
respect for his co-operation in resisting and defeating the Burgh
Act sought to be imposed on the town in 1852-3.—Saltcoats
7th April, 1854.
The Raise Street weavers were then an important body; and although the movement was in the right direction, there was an excuse for the opposition in that the Commission Board would have been appointed by a limited number of the inhabitants, not more than two-tenths being in possession of the franchise. For a time he was chairman of the Parochial Board; and took a deep interest in parochial matters. He was never married; and besides farming his small estate was an accomplished land surveyor, and showed great mechanical skill as an amateur turner in wood.
But it is as local historian, for his love of antiquities, his study of place names, his acquaintance with family genealogies, and his unique collection of old editions, and books, tracts, and sermons having a special relation to Ayrshire, he will be longest remembered. He inherited his tastes from his father – a careful and diligent annotator – who left copious notes of everything likely to interest in connection with the parish and neighbourhood. In the preface to the
History of Ardrossan due acknowledgement is made of the value of Mr Weir's researches, and of the MSS, placed at the writer's disposal. The file of the
Herald is also rich in local historical contributions from his pen. It was a great pleasure to him, and he never grudged the trouble to copy from old records, if thereby he could throw light upon the past for the benefit of the present generation. One of his latest papers was on the old stone in the graveyard on the hill, on which at one time could be traced the full-length figure of a man in baso-relievo in a recumbent position, with shields and quarterings on legs and arms; and we recall his papers on "The Eglinton Family"; on the "Walled Parks in the neighbourhood of Ardrossan, and the Wild Cattle"; Biographical Sketches of old Parish Ministers; and, not to mention others – "Ardrossan: its Early Barons, Castle, etc." Mr Weir's special studies brought him into contact with not a few like-minded; and of these correspondents there was no one he held in greater esteem than the late Sir William Fraser, of whose death it was deemed wise not to inform him. For years he was a familiar figure at book sales; and, although a careful man otherwise, he did not grudge the cost of a more perfect edition of an old book he already had; or a publication that would add to the value of his library of Ayrshire books. It is no commonplace to say that "we ne'er shall look upon his like again". He was the custodier of all that relates to the past of the district – the newspaper file has now taken his place; but our indebtedness to him can be measured by what we owe the father and son when there was no press to make note of passing occurrences, or parishioners with the taste for, or the patience to pursue, historical research in parish annals. He will be missed, for he filled a place all his own.
Mr Weir is survived by his sister, the widow of the late Mr Young of Milngarhome, Irvine; who has resided with him for sometime, and nursed him through his last illness. His remains will be interred to-day within the family enclosure, where rest his forebears. He was in his 83rd year.
Irene