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Pioneers John Millikin and Janet Reid

‍Millikin has various spellings on different documents. Milliken seems to be an older version.

This is from Barbara Adler’s website:

‍”Many members of two Ayrshire families immigrated to Michigan during the 1830's and 1840's. They were the family of John Millikin and Jenette Reid of Craigie (KRAY‑gee) by Kilmarnock (kil‑MAR‑nuck) in Ayrshire, (AIR‑shur) Scotland, and several children of John Morton and Ann Wilson of the same village. These families were early settlers of "The Scotch Settlement" in Lapeer and Macomb Counties in Michigan.”

‍One account says that John Millikin was born about 1788 in Ayrshire, Scotland. Another account says he was born in County Antrim on Isle Magee, Ireland. He died April 20, 1867, in Almont Township, Lapeer County, Michigan and is buried in the Scottish Settlement cemetery. John was a quarryman in Ayr and a farmer in Almont.

‍John married Jenette (Janet) Reid, who was born on January 1, 1789, in Tarbolton, Ayr, Scotland. They were married February 10, 1811, in Craigie Parish, Ayrshire. Jenette died in 1877 in Almont and is buried in the Scotch Settlement Cemetery. Her religion was Presbyterian. John and Janet had eleven children, seven who lived to adulthood. Some of the seven came to Almont in 1841. John and Janet, along with the rest of the kids came, in 1844 on the ship Brilliant. [who were the Millikin kids who came in 1841 and where did they go.]

‍Notice that Jenette Reid was born in Tarbolton June 1, 1789. The Reid family was probably in Tarbolton for a long time. David Wallace (my ancestor) was also born in Tarbolton (tar‑BOLE‑tun) suggesting ties between the Reids, Wallaces, and Millikins, at least geographically.

‍John Millikin’s and Jenette (Reid’s) children and their husbands:

‍One

‍Marion Millikin was born April 10, 1812.

‍Two

‍Jean Millikin was born July 13, 1814, in Tarbolton, Ayrshire. She died in 1872 and is buried in the Scotch Settlement Cemetery. Jean married Thomas Morton, who was born April 12, 1804 in Craigie, Ayrshire (at the farm Hightree). They were married on August 28, 1837 in Riccarton (RIK‑er‑tun) Parish, Ayrshire. Thomas died August 15, 1870 in Lapeer. Jean and Thomas had these children:

‍ Anna Morton was born June 14, 1838, in Almont. She died December 14,1899 in Almont. Her religion was Presbyterian. Anna married William Rowan, who had been born December 22, 1832 in Paisley, Scotland. They were married December 30, 1858, in Almont. William died July 4, 1909 in Almont.

‍ Janette Reid Morton was born. March, 16 1840, in Almont: [the obituary for Janette Reid Morton Lamond is available]. She died March 19, 1910 in Lapeer. She married David Lamond Jr. who was born October 1, 1828 in Errol, Perthshire, Scotland. They were married October 19, 1859 in Almont. David died February 3, 1913. Their children.

‍ Elizabeth Morton born November 17, 1841 in Almont and died February 2, 1906 in Almont.

‍ John Morton born February 1844 in Almont. Died October 8, 1906 in Almont.

Marion Morton born 1846 in Almont. Married George W. Ives in about 1870.

Thomas (Tomas) Morton born October 26, 1847; died October 21, 1907. Married Estella L. Smith August 11, 1904, born 1858, died 1926.

Charlott Morton born July 3 1849 died June 14, 1850.

James Morton, born June 2, 1850, died January 20, 1858.

John Morton b 1852 died 1926.

George Morton born 1855 in Metamora died June 21, 1856 in Metamora.

‍Three

‍Catherine Millikin was born April 12, 1816, in Lochlinehill (Loch Linnhe Hill), Tarbolton, Ayrshire: She died about 1883 in Macomb County, Michigan. Catherine married Samuel Robb III on February 2, 1838 in Riccarton. He was born May 10, 1817, in Craigie by Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Samuel died July 16, 1867, in St. Clair County, Michigan. [West Berlin Cemetery]. They immigrated May 21, 1838.

‍Their children:

‍Janette Robb born about 1839

‍Annie Crystie Robb born about 1841

‍ Four

‍James Millikin was born on August 16, 1818 in Tarbolton, Ayrshire (another version says James was born in Kilmarnock). James died February 24, 1893, in Metamora. He married Charlott Beaulah Govan who was born on November 21, 1828, maybe in New York. They were married about 1844. Charlott died November 24, 1894, in Metamora.

‍Five

‍William Millikin was born April 1, 1820 in Tarboton; death unknown

‍Six

‍John Millikin born April 2, 1822 in Herst (Hirst), Ayr (was Hirst a farm near Ayr?)

‍Seven

‍Janet Milikin born March 19, 1824 in Hirst, Ayr. Unknown death.

‍Eight

‍Robert Millikin was born February 23 (28?), 1826, in Herst, Ayrshire. He died May 22, 1885, in Macomb County. Robert married Janet Smith who was born in 1820 in Ayrshire. They married May 12, 1844, in Irvine, Ayrshire. Robert died in 1847 in Almont. [here is a connection with the Smith clan]

‍Nine

‍Mary Millikin was born March 27, 1828, in Herst, Ayrshire. Mary died March 24, 1890, in Michigan. She married Alexander Harper Braidwood who was born January 19, 1818, Galston, Scotland. They married on March 5, 1847 in Romeo. Alexander died April 9, 1909, in Michigan.

‍Ten

‍John Millikin was born May 22, 1830 in Herst, Ayrshire. (another version has his birth February 1831 in Kilmarnock). He died January 21,1907, in Almont. John married Mary Ann Houghton, who was born March 5, 1836, in Lincolnshire, England. They married in 1856 in Michigan. Mary Ann died February 19, 1891 in Almont.

‍Eleven

‍William Millikin was born May 21, 1832 in Herst, Ayrshire. (another version gives his birth as May 8, 1832 in or near Kilmarnock). He died June 5, 1905 in Lum, Michigan. John married Christina Paton, who was born June 20, 1836 in Galston, Scotland. They married August 1, 1853 in Michigan. Christina died in October, 1868.

‍[Notice that the Millikin family intermarried with the Braidwood, Paton, Smith, Govan, Morton, and Robb families]

‍Loch Linnhe is a sea loch in the west of Scotland. About 35 kilometers (20 miles) long, it opens onto the Firth of Lorne at its southwestern end. The southern part of the loch is wider, and its branch southeast of the island of Lismore is known as the Lynn of Lorne. Loch Eil feeds into Loch Linnhe at the latter's northernmost point, while from the east Loch Leven feeds into the loch just downstream of Corran and Loch Creran feeds into the Lynn of Lorne. The town of Fort William lies at the northeast end of the loch, at the mouth of the River Lochy.

‍There is no place in Ayrshire called “Herst.” What you’re seeing is almost certainly a mis-transcription or misreading of Hirst, Hearst, or Hurst, all of which do appear in Ayrshire records — usually as farms, not villages. Because your research centers on Craigie, Tarbolton, Riccarton, and Kilmarnock, the most relevant match is: Hirst (not Herst). 

‍In Ayrshire historical documents, Hirst appears frequently as: Hirst Farm, Hirst Cottage, Hirst (small settlement), Hirst near Kilmarnock / Riccarton, Hirst in the old Barony of Haining / Caprington. The spelling Herst does not appear in any Ayrshire gazetteer, parish record, or Ordnance Survey map. This is a classic 18th–19th century handwriting issue:  Hirst → Herst when the long “i” stroke is faint.

‍Where Hirst actually is in Ayrshire. There are two historically important Hirst locations relevant to your Craigie / Tarbolton research: 1. Hirst, Riccarton parish (near Kilmarnock) Appears in 18th–19th century valuation rolls Listed as Hirst Farm and Hirst Cottage Associated with the Caprington estate Just south of Kilmarnock, near Riccarton village.  2. Hirst, Tarbolton parish Appears in agricultural tenancy records Often listed as a single farm, not a village   Sometimes spelled Hurst or Hirst. Both are farms, not villages. ‍Hirst Farm, Riccarton or Hirst Farm, Tarbolton. ‍Both lie within the same agricultural region as: Craigie, Tarbolton, Kilmarnock, Riccarton, Symington, - Mauchline. This is exactly the cluster your Morton / Borland / Robb research touches.

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