John, the eldest son of Peter McColm and Agnes McCreath, married Agnes Alexander Donald.
In the 1841 Census he is designated an Agricultural Labourer (at Cockhill – the farm his father was working at the time). In the 1851 Census he is described as a Cattle Dealer. By the time of the 1861 Census he has risen in status to become ‘a farmer of 101 acres employing 5 labourers’.
The details of the household at Crawfordston Farm, Tarbolton are :
John McColm Head 60 Married Farmer Born Maybole
Agnes McColm Wife 33 Married Born Galston
Margaret McColm Dau. 5 Unmarried Born Tarbolton
Agnes McColm Dau. Un. 3 Born Tarbolton
Martha McColm Dau. Un. 1 Born Tarbolton
Agnes Malcolm Mother Widow 92 Retired Farmer’s Wife Born Maybole
George Chrystal Nephew Un. 29 Ploughman Born Ayr
Isabella McColm Niece Un. 22 Dressmaker Born Ayr
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Elizabeth Aird Servant Un. 25 Dairymaid Born Coylton
Margaret Campbell Servant Un. 19 Housemaid Born Stair?
William Blackwood Servant Un. 22 Ploughman Born Tarbolton
John Stewart Servant Un. 18 Agricultural Labourer Born Tarbolton
John McColm married late in life. His young wife, Agnes, bore him four children – all daughters. Margaret, Agnes, and Martha (as above) and Mary (born 1864, after the Census). According to Tom Brown, for some reason, John McColm only shaved one side of his face. He died aged 92 and is buried in Alloway. The inscription on his tombstone reads: “Well done good and faithful servant. Enter thou into the joy of the Lord.” His death was registered by his nephew, George Chrystal.