Knowe, 30th Sept., 1840
My father Alex M’Nairn was born in Barskeoch in this parish 1739 Feb., and died
Feb. 27th 1821 aged 82 years. His father William M’Nairn purchased the farm of Know,
to which he entered at the expiry of the lease in the year 1788. I built the dwelling house in 1812. and the
barn and. stable in 1820, and the rest of the office in a few years thereafter, put up a
threshing mill in l8.."
- from a record book
kept by William the the 3rd Laird of Knowe
William the 1st Laird of Knowe was the third son of his father Alexander who was a tenant farmer in Barskeoch how William got the money for Knowe is suggested in an excerpt from a letter from Miss Sarah McNairn to Professor Harvey McNairn in 1913.
"My father never spoke much of his fore folks. My Aunt Forsyth got quite cross if I tried to question her if she knew any details that would help you know more of our race. They would have heard the story my Aunt told me, "That they engaged In the contraband trade" and hence set them down as not to be talked about.
Also anotherr letter from Sarah to Professor Harvey about the same subject In 1907.
"I had a chat with my old aunt at Beoch one night when all her family were out. The little I got from her was a funny story, and I will tell you it. The truth of it I can hardly credit. She said her father told her that this country at one time was much given over to smuggling, and that it was considered no wrong but cleverness on the part of those who carried. it on successfully, and that the money made for the purchase of the Knowe was got that way."
This could very easily be true as l&th century Galloway was A the scene of widespread smuggling. A novel written about that time could very well be true with little exageration.
"The Raiders" by S.R. Crockett