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52. Sir John WHITEFOORD 3rd
Baronette of Blairquahan (photo)
was born in 1734. He owned Ballochmyle in 1766 in Ayrshire. Succeded to Ballochmyle
(A Georgian House, now a hospital) on the death of his uncle, Allan Whitefoord.
He was owner of Whitefoord House in Cannongate was built in 1769 in Edinburgh.
Whitefoord House - Canongate
A bland, three story block unrelieved by later accretions, Whitefoord House in
the Canongate was designed by Robert Mylne in 1769 for Sir John Whitefoord of
Ballochmyle, Ayrshire, a patron of Robert Burns. Gutted in 1850 for industry,
became in 1909 the Scottish Naval, Military, and Air Force Veteran's Residence.
Appropriatley named: "The Whitefoord." He owned between 1800 and 1810.
Sold mansion house to the Blair family who demolished it to build Blairquhan
CAstle in he Scots Colonial Style He died on 8 Apr 1803. without living hiers.
He was a Major of the 11th Foot Regiment. Sir John Whitefoord, was the third,
and last, baronet. He acquired the estate of "Ballochmyle", near Ayr,
and was among those who were early to recognize the poetical genius of Robert
Burns. He, in company with a near neighbor, the Earl of Glencairn, assisted
Burns on getting the first publication of his poems, the "Kilmarnock Edition"
(1786). Upon the death of the Earl, a few years later, Burns gave full expression
of his gratitude for the assistance rendered in his "Lament for James, Earl
of Glencairn."
James Forbes Whiteford, "The Whiteford Family" (c 1950)
The connection of Sir John Whitefoord, 3rd Baronet, with Robert Burns is highly
significant. Although it could be argued that Burns would no doubt have been
eventually "discovered" and would most likely also to have been just
as successful without the help of Sir John Whitefoord and James, the Earl of
Glencairn, it cannot, however, be disputed that their connection and influence
helped Burn's first book of poems, the "Kilmarnock Edition" (1786)
to be published.
Sir John was a notable agricultural reformer, a friend of the Earl of Glencairn,
and Master of St. James's Masonic Lodge, Tarlbolton. Ballochmyle, the mansion
house and estate, were situated on the west side of the Mauchline/Catrine Road
(now the B705), one mile south of Mauchline.
When Burns moved into Mossgiel Farm, Mauchline, in 1784, Ballochmyle was owned
by Sir John Whitefoord. The men had met as fellow-masons and continued to do
so. In fact, Sir John was the Master of St. James Masonic Lodge in nearby Tarbolton.
Sir John suffered financially by the collapse of the Ayr bank in 1772 and was
eventually forced to sell Ballochmyle (1785). When the family moved out, Burns
composed the song, "Farewell to Ballochmyle," also called "The
Braes of Ballochmyle."
Burns added the following footnote to the song: "I composed the verses on
the amiable and excellent family of Whitefoord leaving Ballochmyle. The 'Maria'
referred to in the song was Sir John's daughter, Mary Anne Whitefoord."
The Braes of Ballochmyle is the wooded north bank of the River Ayr between Catrine
and the Howford bridge.
(now the A76 Mauchline/Auchinleck Road).
The Burns-Lore of Ayrshire: Ballochmyle
On July 27th, 1784, Robert Burns was elected Deputy Master of St. James Masonic
Lodge, at Manson's Inn to where it had moved only the previous month. The Master
of the lodge was Sir John Whitefoord (1734-1803). third Baronet of Blairquhan
and a noted agricutural improver. He was served heir of the Ballochmyle estate
but, in the collapse of Douglas, Heron (bank) he was forced to sell to Claud(e)
Alexander who had made his fortune as paymaster-general of the Bengal Army.
John Kay, in his Edinburgh Portraits, described Sir John as "a remarkably
smart, active little man."
Sir John Whitefoord was the first member of the landed gentry that Robert was
to know personally and his connections were later to stand the poet in good stead.
After selling Ballochmyle to Claud(e) Alexander, Sir John moves to a house in
the Anchor Close in Edinburgh. Dr. John Mackenzie, a friend of Burns, had advised
the young poet to go to Edinburgh and look up Sir John. Mackenzie had told Burns
that Sir John would be pleased to do what he could for him, so Robert took the
bull by the horns. It appears that Robert had many enemies in Edinburgh and
were only too ready to spread malicious gossip about him, just as they had in
Ayrshire. Burns learned from Mackenzie that Sir John Whitefoord had stoutly
defended him. In a letter to Sir John, Burns replied:
"With a tear of gratitude, I thank you, Sir, for the warmth with which you
intersposed in behalf of my conduct. I am, I acknowledge, too frequently the
sport of whim, caprice, and passion - but reverence to GOD, and integrity to
my fellow-creatures, I hope I shall ever preserve."
James MacKay, Burns, A Biography of Robert Burns (1992)
Letter To Sir John Whitefoord Edinburgh, 1st December, 1786
"Sir: ... I have no return Sir, to make you for your goodness, but one
-- a return which, I am persuaded, will not be unacceptable -- the honest, warm
wishes of a grateful heart for your happiness, and everyone of that lovely flock
who stand to you in a filial relation. If ever calumny aim the poisoned shaft
at them, may friendship be by to ward the blow!" Robert Burns
He was married to Anne CARTWRIGHT. Sir John WHITEFOORD
3rd Baronette of Blairquahan and Anne CARTWRIGHT had the following children:
57 i.
Allan WHITEFOORD died in 1776.
58 ii.
John WHITEFOORD died on 9 Oct 1788. He was a Midshipman in the Royal Navy.
59 iii.
James WHITEFOORD died. as an infant.
60 iv.
James WHITEFORD died on 30 Aug 1795.
61 v.
Charles WHITEFOORD died on 6 Jun 1787.
+62 vi.
Mary Jane WHITEFOORD.
+63 vii.
Allice Lucy WHITEFOORD.
64 viii.
Anne WHITEFOORD died on 23 Feb 1805. unmarried.
+65 ix.
Jane WHITEFOORD.
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