I left Scotland for Australia over forty years ago but
I can still remember going to the Mill dances - think it might have been
Ryeside and also going to the Roxy picture house on a Sunday evening. I
was born and grew up in Ardrossan and often used to cycle between the two
towns.
Some time ago whilst researching my family tree I came
across a Biggart connection to my family
at Dalry which I was unaware of. I know
there was a large Mill in Dalry owned by a Thomas Biggart which was before
my time, and I can remember the Biggart fountain in the town square.
Here's my connection:
Adam Biggart was born about 1760 and married Margaret
Thomson at Ardrossan 01-Jul-1782. The Marriage banns were called in both
Ardrossan and Dalry so this has led me to the assumption that Adam was a
native of Dalry. Unfortunately I've never been able to find who his
parents were.
The Biggart family of Beith have it stated in their family history that
the Dalry Biggart family has its origins in Beith:
William Biggart born C1688 is said to have arrived in
the Beith district in the early 1700's from Lochwinnoch. He was a dry
stane dyke builder, a soldier by profession and body servant to Captain
Ogilvie of Brigadier Breton's Regiment of Foot. He was discharged at
Edinburgh on 14th Nov 1712 after serving four years.
William Biggart
married Margaret Cochrane. They resided at Highgate Farm Beith and had the
following children:
Thomas, 1720 Succeeded to Highgate Farm in 1802
William, 1725 Succeeded to Auld Mill Farm
Margaret, 1727
Robert, 1729
Janet, 1732
David, 1735
John, 1741
"Thomas (Biggart) (1720), the oldest son, succeeded to Highgate (farm)
and William (1725), the second son, to Auld Mill (farm) but William
sold Auld Mill to his brother Tom, and, going over to the Largs hills
bought the farm of Whitehill, from whence the Dalry Biggart's took their
beginning".
My family research site is
hereContact me if you have information on the Dalry Biggart family
Hugh McCallum
