1841 Census In the 1841 Census Robert and Elizabeth were living with their son William McRae in the Castle area of New Cumnock. Robert McRae Male 60 Farm Servant Elizabeth McRae Female 60 William McRae Male 25 Labourer Sisters Marion and Jane were female servants at Muirfoot Farm, owned by John Hair. Jane’s son John was employed as a male servant. John Hair Male 70 Farmer Alexander Vallance Male 50 Joiner David Guthrie Male 40 MS John McRae Male 14 MS Marion McRae Female 35 FS Jane McRae Female 30 FS Catherine McKie Female 13 FS John Hair’s will states he is the brother-in-law of Robert McCrae which confirms he is Marion and Jane’s uncle.
Muirfoot farm sat on the west bank of the Muirfoot Burn near to where it flows under the Glasgow-Carlisle railway line and joins the River Nith at the ‘foot of the moor‘.
John Hair farmed Muirfoot for almost fifty years in the first half of the 19th century. He was descended from the Hair family of Glenwharry in the neighbouring parish of Kirkconnel who in the 17th century were strong supporters of the Covenants. In 1684, his namesake John Hair, one of five brothers of Glenwharry, while making his way home from a conventicle through the parish of New Cumnock, along with a companion George Corson, was captured and killed by Government dragoons near the farm of Over Cairn, overlooking the River Nith, two and half miles downstream from Muirfoot. John Hair died in 1848. At Moorfoot on the 23d. instant, Mr. John Hair at an advanced age. The deceased was a shrewd intelligent man, and took a warm interest in the affairs of the locality. He has occupied the farm of Moorfoot, in the vicinity of New Cumnock, for the long period of 43 years. Dumfries and Galloway Standard and Advertiser, November 29, 1848.