Highland Host - Cumnock, Ayrshire

Name given to Highland soldiers who were quartered in the south of Scotland during the time of the Covenant. They were only in the district for a short period, and when they were recalled they stole many goods from the houses they had been quartered in. In Ayrshire, it was calculated that they took £36,000 worth of plunder. Each parish was asked to compile an account of the losses. The parishes of Cumnock and New Cumnock submitted a claim as follows:

Quartering two hundred and fifty Caithness men, fifteen nights,

with some officers                                                                                                                     £1093   6 8

Exacted by their officers and cleared off their quarters as appears

from their notes                                                                                                                            200   0 0

Item, dry quarters to some officers                                                                                             64   0 0

Free quarters to them                                                                                                                                   60   0 0

Plunder by these soldiers                                                                                                            958 17 4

By quartering ninety five Caithness men six nights                                                                171   0 0

By quartering three hundred and twenty Caithness men one night                                     96   0 0

Dry quarter and plunder by these                                                                                             372   2 4

       Extendeth to                                                                                                                         £3015   6 4