Ownership of farms or tenancy

And It Makes Me Shine · Post by **And It Makes Me Shine** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 12:34 pm

The only side of my maternal line that I am still working on is the Ballantine / Hamiltons.
They had farms in the 1800's in Hamilton/ Strathaven. My 5th Great Grandfather Andrew Ballantine and my 4th Great Grandfather John Hamilton both owned or were at least the main tenant of Muirmains farm and Shotlinn Farm. On one of the census returns it says "FARMER OF 95 ACRES OF WHICH 80 ARABLE EMPLOY 3 MEN 3 GIRLS 1 BOY"
Would this be owned by him and how would I take the omnership/tenancy vback from them to see who owned them before.

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 12:58 pm

Hi
You have a difficult one here. Land ownership/rental varied enormously the length and breadth of Scotland. Down in Galloway and Ayrshire ownership of small farms was more common than elsewhere.

If the farm was part of a larger estate then there may be estate records in the National Archive.
If he owned the farm transfer of ownership ie sale of the farm would be recorded in the Register of Sasines.
Do a search on the site here (the top bar) as quite a lot has been written on previous threads.
I wish you luck with this one though!!

Russell