Andrew Hepburn of Aird

James T. O. Hepburn's family tree for the Hepburn family goes back to John Hepburn "born at Galston, Ayshire, 1781 & died at Lanark, Scotland. He was married about 1809, (name unknown per JTOH) and at the battle of Waterloo in 1815, in Scots Grey Regiment." This page documents further research by David E. Williams up to March 2026.

John Hepburn's discharge papers from the Scots Greys in 1817 lists him as enlisting the 2nd of December 1803 at the age of twenty-two. The document further shows that he was born in Galston. This corresponds with the information we had from the old family tree and corresponds with the family information from parish records shown below.

Records obtained from the General Registry of Scotland website "Scotlands People" from Old Parish Records (OPRs) revealed John's parents as Andrew Hepburn and Elesabeth Baird who were married 2 Feb1777 in Old Cumnock. Andrew was born about 1755 at Aeirdmill, Scotland, while Elesabeth was born about 1759 at Galston, Ayrshire.
Their children were listed as follows:
Name Birth Place Christening Parish
Mary 4/12/1777 Shield, Ayr 14/12/1777 Old Cumnock
John 28/7/1781 Aird, Ayr 29/7/1781 Galston
Adam 9/7/1784 Airdmill, Ayr 18/7/1784 Galston
Elizabeth 31/10/1786 Airdmiln, Ayr 05/11/1786 Galston
Janet 14/2/1796 Netherlands, Ayr 06/03/1796 Riccarton


These entries read as follows;

Old Cumnock OPR

- Andrew Hepburn and Elisabeth Baird both in this parish were proclaimed first time Feb. 23rd, second and third time March 2nd 1777

- Mary, lawful daughter to Andrew Hepburn and Elisa Baird in Shield Quarry, born 4th and baptised 14th December(1777)

Galston OPR

- John, lawful son to Andrew Hebron at Aird born on Saturday 28th July 1781 about 4 o'clock forenoon baptised 29th July

- Adam, lawful son to Andrew Hepburn in Airdmill was born 9th July 1784 and baptised 18th; Mother's name is Elizabeth Baird

- Elizabeth, lawful daughter of Andrew Hepburn and Elizabeth Baird in Aird Miln born 31st October 1786 and baptised 5th November

Riccarton OPR

- February 14th (1796) was baptised Janet Hepburn daughter of Andrew Hepburn and Elizabeth Baird, spouses in Netherlands,
baptised the 6th current

This research was considered to be complete until a number of family trees on Ancestry.com were found that showed another child, George, born around 1808. This did not seem right due to Elizabeth's age so it was ignored until recently. DNA testing however confirmed that there was in fact a link between John's branch and Georges. Further study of the OPR's did reveal that Elizabeth died in 1802 and Andrew remarried in Mar of 1806 to Agnes Mair in Loudoun Ayr. George was born 5 Jan 1807 in Galston. Copies of the OPR's for Elizabeth's death, the marriage and George's birth have all been obtained.

Where was Aird Mill?
Aird Mill is located in Ayr near Muirkirk owned for generations by the Aird family. The Mill was a lumber mill on the Ayr river and not far away was a building called Airdsmill Cottage. One would presume that this cottage was the home of the Hepburn family where three of the children were born. The cottage may, however, have been a multi-family dwelling for other mill employees as well.
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