James McCreath appears to have been a farmer, who after the family moved to Mauchline, became a Messenger to the Lord Lyon of Scotland. The Court of the Lord Lyon is a standing court of law which regulates heraldry in Scotland.  Messengers-at- arms are judicial officers responsible for serving documents and enforcing legal orders of the Lyon Court.

Largely through identifying the two sons, James and Alexander, and showing that Alexander was a Slater in Kilmarnock, Keith Percy equated James McCreath with the “farmer near Kilmarnock” in the Old Tree (OT5).   Keith believes that Parish Register evidence points strongly to James McCreath having married twice, first to Janet Kennedy, by whom he had a son, James, and then to Margaret Gemmell by whom he had seven children.

The identification of James is a prime example of the nature of the detailed and meticulous research undertaken by Keith  in his sterling endeavours to verify the Old Tree. Amongst other records, to reach his conclusions about James, Keith perused bonds, deed, records of the Lyon Office and several sasines. (An instrument of sasine (pronounced ‘say-zin’) is a legal document that records the transfer of ownership (usually a sale or an inheritance) of a piece of land or of a building). 

Children of James McCreath and Janet Kennedy:

(1st) James Mackraith born 27 January 1772, Mauchline. Died 18 April 1772.

Alexander Mackraith born 9 December 1773, Maybole. Married Elizabeth Tait.

Children of James McCreath and Margaret Gemmell

John McCreath born 18 April 1775, Mauchline

Ann Menzies McCreath born 17 November 1776, Mauchline

Janet McCreath born 9 February 1779, Mauchline

Christian (Female) McCreath born 4 November 1781, Mauchline

Isobel McCreath born 13 May 1783, Mauchline. Married William Watson

(2nd) James McCreath born 16 October 1785, Mauchline

Margagret McCreath 18 October 1789, Mauchline