Kate’s notes: Here’s an interesting tale about a Gilleland family of the Dundonald area who, forced to flee to the north of Ireland, in turn offered protection to a Laird of the Fergussones when he was forced to flee his lands in Scotland after the battle of Bothwell. The Laird was eventually restored his lands and there was a happy marriage between the two families, Fergussone and Gilleland.

Source:
History of the County of Ayr: with a Genealogical Account of the Families of Ayrshire by James Paterson. Volume I, 1847. Published by John Dick, Ayr.

pg. 250

FERGUSSONES OF FINNART.

    This family have been settled at Glen-App for more than two hundred years, and at first occupied the estate, of which they subsequently became proprietors, as “kyndlie tenants” of the Kennedies of Ardmillan, who held the lands under the Lairds of Culzean, as their superiors. We find that James Kennedy of Culzean made over the lands, in 1609, to Thomas Kennedy of Armillan, who afterwards sold them to Thomas Fergussone. The disposition in his favor, by “Ardmyllane,” with consent of “James Crauford of Baidland,” is witnessed by his two relatives “Alexander Fergussone of Kilkerrane” and “James Fergussone of Millenderdale.”
    One of the Lairds of this family brought himself into serious trouble during the reign of Charles II. He had been heavily fined by General Middleton; and afterwards, although he did not, from his advanced age, appear in arms at Bothwell, having been suspected of supplying money to the insurgents, he was compelled to leave the country, and in his absence was forfeited. He took shelter in Ireland, and remained in the county of Antrim from 1683 till the Revolution. During all this time, the rents of the estate were kept from his family, his wife and children driven from their home, and his house occupied by a Captain Seton. The Laird was at first in considerable distress; and, being anxious to remain in concealment, he entered the service of Mr Gilleland of Collin, a gentleman who lived in a remote district in the north of Ireland, and whose grandfather had been himself forced, in the preceding reign, to flee from his property in the neighborhood of Dundonald. Finnart’s disguise was soon penetrated, and the greatest kindness shown to him by the family at Collin. After the Revolution, when Finnart had his lands restored to him, one of his daughters was married to Mr Gilleland’s eldest son, and ever since a warm friendship has existed between the descendants of these two families.
    I. Thomas Fergussone of Finnart had as his wife Helen Mure; but it is not known of what family, as the present proprietor cannot discover her marriage contract. He was succeeded by his son and heir,
    II. Hugh Fergussone of Finnart, who married Janet, daughter of David Kennedy of Bellimore, grandson of Gilbert Kennedy of Barclannochan, now Kilkerrane.
    III. David Fergussone of Finnart succeeded his father, and married Mary, daughter of Hew Kennedy of Bennane. Issue --
      1. Robert, who succeeded.
      2. Agnes, who married her cousin, Hew Kennedy of Bennane.
      3. Mary, married to John Forsyth of Balliston.
    IV. Robert Fergussone of Finnart succeeded his father. After a life of much vicissitude, he died at Glen-App, unmarried, in 1796, leaving his estate, by deed of settlement, to his sister’s son, David Kennedy, younger of Benane.