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The McCords of Colmonell, Ayrshire1
In the DNA Project there is at least one genetic haplogroup, R-M222>A223>A1774>BY41464 with a paper trail going back to the parish of Colmonell in South Ayrshire, Scotland, which is traced from John McCord, who emigrated in 1774 directly from Scotland to North America, where he later settled at Shawangunk in Ulster County, New York. He was born on 29 December, 1747, in the parish of Colmonell and was almost certainly son of either Thomas McCord in Knockdaw or Thomas McCord in Cundry. He named his eldest son Thomas McCord. The McCords of Knockdaw and Cundry, were related to the McCords of Little Bennane and Barchlewan, and may well descend from Rodger McCord in Ardmillan, also located in the parish of Colmonell, who died in the month of May 1627. He left behind a widow, Katherine Inglis, and four sons, William, Thomas, Rodger and James McCord.
George F. Black, in his book Surnames of Scotland, offers an interesting explanation for the origin of the surname McCord in Scotland. He says it is an old surname in the parish of Ballantrae and cites Paterson’s History of Ayrshire as his source. Paterson, however, offers no examples to illustrate its antiquity in the parish2. From the earliest parish church records, which date from 1731, the names of a number of McCords appear in the baptismal, marriage and burial registers. On 8 November, 1734, John McCord and Margaret McNilly both of the parish of Ballantrae gave up their names to be married before the Kirk Session and after the calling of banns three Sabbaths, they were married on 28 November, 1734. Over the next ten years, John McCord and Margaret McNilly had at least six children3.
1. Thomas McCord bapt., February 12,1736.
2. John McCord bapt., February 22,1738.
3. Agnes McCord bapt., March 2, 1740.
4. Jean McCord bapt., June 23, 1742.
5. Unnamed child bapt., either June 12, 1745, or July 12, 1746.
6. Unnamed child bapt., May 30, 1749.
They lived for a time in the little hamlet of Carlefin, which is located south of the village of Ballantrae across the river Stinchar. It is very possible John McCord was either the son or grandson of another John McCord, who lived at Little Bennan to the north of Ballantrae in the parish of Colmonell. According to the 1691 Hearth Tax of Colmonell, John was liable for the one-off tax payment of 14 shillings at Candlemas (2 February)4. Interestingly, the McCords are not mentioned in the tax roll covering the parish of Ballantrae, where in 1691 the McNilly (sic. McNeillie) are listed in Garfer.
The earliest baptismal records for the parish of Colmonell begin in 1759; whilst the marriage records only start in 1838. Two Thomas McCords appear almost simultaneously in the parish of Colmonell in the 1760s: Thomas McCord in Knockdaw, who married Marion McCunn, and Thomas McCord in Cundry, who married Agnes McCunn5. Where these two McCunn sisters who had married to two McCord cousins? The names of their children born after 1759 are only known: Thomas and Marion had William (born in Cundry 11 March, 1761), Thomas (born in Almont 10 November, 1768), David (born in Barchlewan 7 July, 1770) and Sarah (born in Barchlewan 6 February, 1774). Thomas and Agnes had Sibylla (born in Knockdaw 29 May, 1763) and Mary (born in Knockdaw 14 May, 1765). It was from the parish of Colmonell and almost certainly, from this family of McCords that John McCord of Shawangunk in Ulster County, New York, America, emigrated from in 1774, and as noted above, he was probably the son of a Thomas McCord, as he named his eldest son Thomas.
The McCords of Little Bennane, Cundry, Barchlewan and Knockdaw may well descend from Rodger McCord in Ardmillan in the parish of Colmonell, who died in the month of May 1627, leaving a widow, Kathrine Inglis, and four sons, William, Thomas, Rodger and James, all minors at the time of his death. He died intestate, in other words, he died without leaving a last will and testament. Prior to 1824, if a deceased person had died intestate leaving a widow and children, the ‘deceased’s moveable goods, gear, sums of money and debts’ were divided into three parts; the widow’s, children and the decease’s third part, which had to be confirmed by the commissary court. A testament dative was drawn up by the court and it served to appoint and confirm an executor on the court’s behalf, to dispose of the decease’s third part, which was usually taken up by the deceased’s next of kin by confirmation.
On May 27, 1628, we find John McPedan in Lanragane, on behalf of William, Thomas, Rodger and James McCord, present at the Commissary Court in Glasgow, where a decree was issued in favour of Kathrine Inglis and William McCord, appointed executors. I have had Rodger’s testament dative abstracted below. It will be noted that Rodger was a tenant of Thomas Kennedy of Ardmillan and paid annual rent of £18 for his farm.
Testament Dative of Rodger McCord in Ardmillan
Testament dative and Inventar of the ‘guids geir debtis and sowmes of money’ which pertained to the late Rodger McCord in Ardmillane within the parish of Colmonell at the time of his death who died in the month of May 1627, faithfully made and given up by Kathrine Inglis his relict in name and behalf of William, Thomas, Rodger and James McCorde(s) bairnes lawful to the defunct and executors dative duly decerned to his goods and gear by decree of the Commissary of Glasgow on 27 May 1628.
Inventory
The sewing of 4 bolls of oats estimated to the 3rd corn price of the boll with the fodder at 13s 4d, total £32.
The sewing of ½ boll bear estimated to the 4th corn price of the boll with the fodder at £4 13s 4d,total £9 6s 8d.
Two Ky (cow), one pregnant, and one farrow (young pig), price of the first £12 and the farrow £10, total £22
Five yew and five lambs, price of the yew and the lamb £3, total £15.
Two steers, price of both £4
The insight of the house in utencills and domicills with the clothes of the deceased estimated to £13 6s 8d.
Sum of the Inventory .... £95 13s 14d.
Debts owing out
To Thomas Kennedy of Ardmillane of mail (rent) the said year £18.
Rest offrie geir debts deducted £77 13s 4d.
Deceased part is £29 13s 4d
The which day compeared personally Johnne McPedane in Lannragane and of his own consent acted himself as cautioner and surety for William, Thomas, Rodger and James McCordes bairnes lawful and executors confirmed to deceased Rodger McCord that the goods and gear contained in his confirmed testament shall be forth coming to all parties having interest as Law will and the said Kathrine Inglis relict of the defunct and William McCord, one of the executors acted themselves to warrant free relieve and skaithless keep the forenamed cautioner of the premises and of all damages there anent. Whereupon they asked acts.
The testament is ratified and approved and confirmed by the Commissary of Glasgow who gives and commits full power of intromission with the guids and geir above mentioned to the said executors dative above specified only with power to them to call and pursue therefore because the up giver has made faith as use is in respect of the executor minorities and has found caution as Law will as an act there upon bears at Glasgow 27 day of May 1628.
In the Hearth tax roll for the parish of Girvan, we find a William McCord in 'Craigance' near Girvan, who was liable to pay 14 shillings Hearth tax in 16917. As William McCord in 'Craigens', he and James McIllwraith in Brockloch renounced the 20 shillings land of Craigens in favour of John Hamilton, lord of Bargany, on 13 March, 16938. To the northeast of Girvan lies Barneil, where the ancestors of these McCords lived from as early as 1514. The name first appears in Barneil in 1514, when a 'Thomas M'Cordzane' witnessed a sasine infefting Donald McClune in the four merkland of Barneil and two merkland of Drummurthy9. Thomas appears to have been the father of 'John McCord and George M'Cord' occupiers of the 5 merkland of Nether Barneil and one merkland of old extent confirmed to James McCrindle (sic. M'Crynnell) of Barneil on 2 November, 154410.
Another family is known to have lived in the parish of Barr, where the Kirk session records a payment made to ‘Ion McCord’ £2 Scots for the help in burying his mother in 1657. The parish of Barr was created in 1653 from parts of the parishes of Girvan, Colmonell and Dailly. It has Kirk session minutes dating between 1653 and 1654, and from 1733 onwards with gaps. The earliest baptismal and marriage records date 1689, predating the parishes of Girvan and Colmonell. However, there are no baptismal or marriage entries in the Church of Scotland parish records. During the seventeenth century, many Scots from Ayrshire settled in Ulster and there is every reason to believe the McCords, who lived in the parishes of Ballantrae, Colmonell, Girvan and Barr were amongst them. The names of the McCords appear in the seventeenth century records of Ulster and of these, some were probably the ancestors of other branches of the A1774 clade, whose descendants emigrated to America from the north of Ireland in eighteenth century and later.