Searching for leads to my maternal line in Maybole, Crosshill, Kirkmichael, Kirkoswald, Irvine and Dundonald.
If you have people by these names, also Houston and Bell please contact me by private email. They were all either weavers or shoemakers.
McGiffen came from Johnstown, Renfrew. McCartney became an insurance agent in Irvine. He and the others seem to be "returns" from a generation or two in exile in Ireland.
Hope someone out there can help! Will trade information.
Dot Stutter

YES!! YES!!
She would be the daughter of Hendrie (Henry) McGIFFEN, and Sarah MILLS. Her brother, James McGIFFEN grandfather of Mary McGIFFEN, my maternal grandmother. My mother was Jane McGIFFEN MURRAY.
Please say you have some information on her parents???
Very excited! This is the first breakthrough for me on this line.
Dot Stutter

Hi Dot,
I have a Margaret Mills McGiffen who married George Ferguson in Maybole 1821. Any connection?
Best wishes
Paul

Hello ,
My grandfather was Samuel Bell born in Crosshill about 1883 or so. He married Mary McCulloch from Maybole approx. 1903 or so, and left for Canada approx 1905. There was a McGiffen name also, believe it may have been Agnes McGiffen, possibly Sameuel Bell's mother. Samuel died in Saskatchewan Canada in 1954 and Mary 1971.
I went to Crosshill and took pictures in the graveyard, but not sure how they fit together. Samuel had 6 brothers I believe all stayed in Scotland

You are quite right. Samuel Bell was the son of Agnes McGiffen and Samuel Bell, who married in Kirkmichael, Ayr on 11 Aug 1868.
Her father was James McGiffen, brother of Henry McGiffen. sons of Hendrie & Sarah McGifen of Crosshill.
Henry McGiffen was my mother's Grandfather.
I would love to exchange information. I have some birth/mar/death information on other members of this family.
Where are you? Saskatchewan? I am in Victoria, BC.
Please e-mail me directly at dstutter@shaw.ca.