The following five headstones have been selected for major repairs, with the challenges abundantly clear.
1. Reverend Thomas Hunter
- Minister of the parish of New Cumnock (1705-1757). The stone to the left that of Thomas Hunter, Polquhirter , his grandson.
Rev Thomas Hunter
2. Reverend James Young
- Minister of the parish of New Cumnock (1758-1796). ‘Jamie Goose’ is Robert Burns ‘The Kirk’s Alarm’.
Reverend James Young
3. William Arthur
- Farmer and great benefactor and remembered by the Arthur Memorial Church
William Arthur
4. Ivie Campbell
- The family tree of Ivie Campbell spreads to Canadian John McCrae of ‘In Flanders Field’ fame and to New Cumnock’s own Sir Tom Hunter
Ivie Campbell
5. Hyslop Lair
The Hyslops of Blackcraig were award winning farmers before moving to their grand Bank House from where John and later William were major driving forced in developing the New Cumnock Coalfield.
Hyslop Lair
Statutory Declaration
The New Cumnock Liaison Group is currently in the process of completing a Statutory Declaration to enable the remedial work to be carried out.
‘We, New Cumnock Liaison Group wish to have the above lairs transferred to us to allow for remedial works to be carried out on existing headstones on the above lairs and therefore desire that memorial rights are granted to allow this. If anyone with an equal or better claim become known to us then joint / full ownership will be granted to them. We hereby Indemnify East Ayrshire Council of any liability in this matter or arising therefrom.’
If you are a descendant of any of these families that have helped shaped the history of New Cumnock we would be delighted to hear from you.
