James Fullarton of Crosbie

WIlliam Fullarton of Crosbie

George Fullarton of Crosbie

The Fullarton family were the owners of Fullarton or Crosbie estate, which was located within the parish of Dundonald, Ayrshire. They owned Crosbie Castle, which stands in ruins near to Troon. James Fullarton of Crosbie was married to Barbara Cuninghame, daughter of John Cuninghame of Cuninghamehead. In 1634 he was appointed as a Bailie of the Bailiery of Kyle-Stewart. In 1643 the laird of Crosbie is listed as one of the two commissioners for Ayrshire in the Scottish parliament. He appears to have jumped sides with the Covenanters and royalists, denouncing the Remonstrance in 1651 but supporting the Covenanters in 1662, when he was fined £2,000 for this. James Fullarton had three sones and three daughters: William Fullarton, who succeeded; James Fullarton who was unmarried and who died before his father; George Fullarton who inherited the estate of Dreghorn and ultimately that of Fullarton; Elizabeth Fullarton, who married Robert Wallace of Carnell; Mary Fullarton who married Robert Alexander of Corseclays; and Barbara Fullarton, who married Patrick MacDowall of Freugh. James died in 1667.

                William Fullarton became the next laird of Crosbie. He is thought to have studied law. He was a staunch Covenanter, and both he and his brother are thought to have been active at the Battle of Bothwell Bridge on 22 June 1679. On 30 July 1683 both he and George were sent to prison on suspicion of their part in the battle. They were held until 2 April 1684 when they were indicted for trial, but for whatever reason the trial was abandoned and they were released. However, in the charge sheet, they were charged with harbouring their brother-in-law, Patrick MacDowall, himself a zealous Covenanter. At the Glorious Revolution William was back in favour with the monarchy and William III granted him a charter on 9 December 1698 to the lands of Crosbie, Fullarton, and others, erecting them into the Barony of Fullarton. This was renewed in 1707 when Queen Anne issued a further charter from Windsor Castle, adding the port of Troon as a free port and with the right to lift customs and creating a town called Fullarton which could hold two annual fairs.

                William Fullarton was married three times. His first wife was Elizabeth Wallace, daughter of William Wallace of Elintoun. They had one daughter, married to Sir William Wallace of Craigie. A second wedding was planned to take place in 1669, to Lady Elizabeth Cuninghame, sister of the Earl of Glencairn and widow of William Hailton of Orbiston, however she took ill and died before the ceremony. A second wife came about in 1670 when he married Anne Brisbane, daughter of John Brisbane of Bishopton. There were no surviving children from this marriage. A third marriage took place in 1707 when he tied the knot with Margaret Dunlop, daughter of Alexander Dunlop of that Ilk. There were no children from this marriage, and on William’s death in 1710 she subsequently married Sir Robert Denholm, Baronet of West Shiels.

Crosbie Castle 

Fullarton Park

Troon

KA10 7HF

NGR - NS 344301

The ruins are located within Fullarton Park, Troon. The stone with William Fullarton and Anne Brisbane's initials is located at the back of the car park to the side of Fullarton Courtyard.