Maybole the twenty fifth day of August, Eighteen Hundred and thirty six. In the Presence of Thomas Lawrence Dundas and Hugh Crawford, Esquires, Magistrates of Maybole, Compeared, Thomas McRonald, Wright in Maybole, who on account of being the Son of a Burgess and having paid Ten Shillings and Six pence Sterling to the Treasurer of the Burgh of Maybole and the usual fees to the Clerk and Officers, and having also taken the oath as use is, was, and is hereby created a Burgess of the Burgh of Maybole with the privileges thereunto belonging. Extracted from the Minutes of the Council , By W. Andrews, Town Clerk.

I am researching my family history and pre 1863 my ancestors hailed from Maybole. My G G Grandfather, Thomas McRonald (1800-1870) was made a Burgess of Maybole on 25 Aug 1836. Thomas had a son, also named Thomas, born in 1832. According to my father, Charles McRonald, who had some correspondence about the subject--alas lost-- this Thomas met an untimely end. He was arrested for a Breach of the Peace, in Ayr. He was found guilty and sentenced to seven days' hard labour. He died, in prison, after three days. It is not known whether there was an inquest or where he was buried. It probably happened about 1852 because the whole family moved to Kirkliston in 1853. In 1862 the whole family moved to Birkenhead and never returned to Scotland. There were at least 4 Thomas McRonalds, with the earliest born ca 1725 who had a son Thomas born 1760. After 1832 there has been no other Thomas McRonalds. Thomas, born 1800, had about 13 children but only 11 survived to adulthood. If you have a connection to this line I would appreciate hearing from you. Richard McRonald