Boston Public Library - Electric Scotland

20 DESCENT OF THE ALISONS.
THE ALISONS IN NEWTON OF AYR.
Near to Prestwick, is Newton, although it is now a part of
Ayr Town, yet,
in the day of Bruce and of Baliol it was a
village containing forty-eight families. The well still known
as Bruces well was at that time very much in the centre
between Prestwick and Newton, so that Newton shared of the
same priyileges which Bruce conferred upon Prestwick. At
the present day there are still forty-eight freedoms that were
conferred upon the fort3'^-eight families then resident in
Newton. At that time there were several Alisons in this.
place, as well as in Prestwick, who had freedoms conferred
upon them, evidently the followers also of Alexander of
Loupe, who died in Dundonald Castle in 1309, a castle which
is nigh at hand. But such are the changes that are constantly
occurring in human society, that none are now left
remaining ; the onl}'- remembrance of the fact is the same
name given to a street, a quarry, and a park in the village.
The present inhabitants still remember Alison's Park and
Alison's Quarry, although the park and the quarry have
been gradually absorbed by that street which is still called
the name of Alison.
by
A recapitulation in tabular form is as follows :
Somerled (which is the same as the Gallic name Somhairle
and the Hebrew name Samuel), Thane of Argyle and Lord
of the Isles, married in 1135 a daughter of the King of Man,,
and had three sons ; namely :
Dugald, who obtained possession of the islands of Mull, Coll, and Jura,
From liim are the McDugalds of Lorn or Argyle. He had a son Ewen,
or John, but he died, and his isles went to his brother Ronald, or
Reginald, the second son of Somerled.
Ronald, or Reginald, got Isla and Cantyre. He had two sons, —
Donald.
Roderic.
AngusMore got Bute and Arran. For his descendants, see the History of
the Lords of the Isles.
Donald, son of Ronald or Reginald, and grandson of Somerled. From
him are the McDonalds. He had a son,—
AngusMore. ~~ ~
Roderick, son of Ronald or Reginald, and grandson of Somerled. From
him are the McCroyes of Scottish history.
AngusMore, son of Donald, son of Ronald or Reginald, sou of Sonieiled,
had two — sons,
Alexander or Alister, (see below.)
Angus. The latter in those troublous times remained faithful to
Robert the Bruce, .and on him wei"e conferred the lands of liis
brother which were conliscated. He became tlie head of the
MacAlisters, and his descendants arc often mentioned in Scottish
history.
' Allison
and Alison are often employed by families nearly related as
synonomous. In the Martyr's roll, Edinburgh, the name is sjielled Alisone.