McElvain sites

Attiquin Farm Rich farmland at Attiquin Farm.
 Copyright Mary and Angus Hogg and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Attiquin Farm near Maybole, Ayrshire, Scotland: One of the original lands granted to the family.  On the left, approximately one mile southeast of Maybole (south of Ayr on the A77), toward Crosshill on the B7203.  (Occasionally open as a B&B)
 

Ballykeel, Island Magee, County Antrim, Ireland:  Home to the descendants of the McElvains, Lairds of Grimmet, after emigrating from Scotland in approximately 1693.  Head south from the town of Larne on the A2.  Turn left on the B90 toward Ballylumford and Island Magee.  You will pass the Ballycarry railway station and go across a short bridge, then up a hill to an intersection.  Muldersley Hill, a local landmark, will be to your right as you head up to the intersection.  B90 will continue to the left.  A short distance ahead on the right will be the graveyard and former church site where some McElvain ancestors were buried.   

 

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A depiction of the Battle of Bannockburn from a 1440s manuscript of Walter Bower‘s Scotichronicon. This is the earliest known depiction of the battle.

Bannockburn (Battle of), near Stirling, Scotland:  A father and son teamed to win the family their Coat-of-Arms at this famous battle for Scottish Independence.  Just off the A9 south of Stirling.  There are plenty off signs off the M9 and A9.

 

Crossraguel Abbey in Ayrshire, Scotland prior to the dissolution of the monasteries – conjectural drawing, 1864. James Howie. Scots Worthies. Blackie & Son. Author Roger Griffith

Crossraguel Abbey near Maybole, Ayrshire:  A McElvain was designated the baillie or administrator for the abbey in 1523.  On the left, approximately one and a half miles southwest of Maybole toward Kirkoswald on the A77

View from Grimmet
Looking across the Doon Valley from above Grimmet Farm. In the background, from the left, are Burnton, an old coal bing and Dalmellington. Copyright Mary and Angus Hogg and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

 
Grimmet Farms
Grimmet near Dalmellington: The original land granted to the family along with Attiquin.  On the right, two miles west of Dalmellington toward Straiton on the B 741

Grimmet near Maybole:  Possibly a minor holding of the family.  On the north edge of Maybole on the A77, go east on the road to Kirkmichael.  Continue east until you hit the B7405 at Harkieston Bridge (may or not be marked).  Go left (north) on the B7405.  There will be a curve to the right where the road continues in somewhat of a half circle.  When the half circle stops and resumes going fairly north, Grimmet will be the group of buildings on your right.    There was what may have been a private airfield runway off to the right on the property.

 

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Harold Godwinson falls at Hastings. Harold was struck in the eye with an arrow (left), slain by a mounted Norman knight (right) or both.

Hastings (Battle of ): A McElvain ancestor led a significant force that took part in this battle on the side of the Normans.  The town of Battle and Battle Abbey are on the A2100, just northwest of the southern coastal town of Hastings.

The Chapel Royal at Holyrood Abbey in the reign of James VII of Scotland.

 
Holyrood Abbey, Edinburgh, Scotland:  The first Abbot of the abbey was a possible ancestor of the family given special dispensation to marry after his only brother died without heirs.  On the east end of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.
 

Lady Cross/Gorse (Battle of), near Maybole (south of Ayr on the A77), Ayrshire, Scotland: Scene of a battle between factions of the Kennedy family.  The McElvains took part on the side of the faction that set up the successful ambush.  Go west out of Maybole on the road to Culzean Castle.  After passing West Enoch Farm, turn right.  On the left after you clear the trees and on the other side of the stream will be the Trees Farm.  Halfway between the West Enoch Farm and Trees Farm is the approximate location of the battle/ambush.

Detail from William Hole’s painting The Battle of Largs. William Brassey Hole – mural in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh

Largs (Battle of), Ayrshire, Scotland:  The Battle of Largs in 1263 marked the end of Viking interest in the west coast of Scotland.  For his part in the victory, a McElvain was granted lands in Ayrshire.  Largs is on the coast north of Ayr on the A78, or west of Lochwinnoch and Kilbirnie on the A760.

Near Dalrymple, Ayrshire; South Ayrshire Council William Drummond Bone 1907–1979 artist.

MacIlveenston, near Dalrymple, Ayrshire, Scotland:  A group of ruined farm buildings is all that’s left of MacIlveenston,  a village that had been in that location for several hundred years.    As you travel south out of Dalrymple on the B742, you will cross a bridge over the River Doon.  Disregard the first left on the south side of the river and continue to the next left.  There will be two roads intersecting from the left, one hard left and another that continues almost straight up a hill.  Take the hard left.  After a short roller coaster ride up and down, the road will turn right then left.  Continue straight past the settlement of Netherton (on the left).  There will be a farm road off the main road to the right that may have piles of hay covered with tires and turns into a path.  Up this path and on the right are the ruined buildings.  

Maybole Collegiate Church, South Ayrshire, Scotland. 1789. Source Francis Grose. The Antiquities of Scotland. 1797.

Maybole Collegiate Church Cemetery: site of 1618 grave marker mentioning ancestor Agnes McIlven.  The marker, like a table with two slab legs, is on the far end of the cemetery, straight across the cemetery from the entrance.  Maybole is south of Ayr on the A77.  


More details
Battle of Pinkie, woodcut illustration from William Patten, (1548)

Pinkie/Musselburgh/Fawside (Battle of):  A McElvain, Laird of Grimmet, was killed in this Scots disaster in 1547.  Musselburgh is a suburb on the coast just east of Edinburgh.  The battle took place in a large area around the River Esk and community of Inveresk.

 

Sea Rock Mhic Chomhain (McElvain in Gaelic):  Off Craignure, Isle of Mull, Scotland: The nearest island off the golf course north of Craignure.  As you travel north of Craignure on the main road, the road will cut across land for a short distance.  As you come back by the shore, the golf course will be on your right.  There may appear to be three islands. The closest will actually be a peninsula from the golf course.

 

Thomaston Castle

Thomaston Castle, near Culzean Castle, Ayrshire, Scotland:  A castle the McElvains gained through marriage to the Corries in the 1600s.  On the west side of the A719, approximately a quarter mile south of the entrance to Culzean Castle.  Take the road to Culzean Castle from Maybole and continue past the entrance to Culzean Castle.

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