[2] The Kerslands proper sat on a bank shelving towards the River Garnock, comprising the properties of Kersehead, the Coalheugh-glen, the Tod-hills, the Brown-hills, the Davids-hills, and Auchengree, amounting to about 700 acres of arable land.

[5] The remaining two barrel vaulted chambers, later used as a dairy and stable, with walls 8 ft thick, until recently formed part of the offices attached to East Kersland.

[6] Karrisland (sic) is recorded on Timothy Pont's map c. 1604, as are the placenames Karshead, Todsle, Dysil, and Achingry.

Most baronies had a water mill which was under the control of the laird or lord and to which the tenants were thirled or obliged to go to have their grain ground into flour.

Thirlage ended in the late 18th century and resulted in a number of mills being abandoned once market forces took a hold.

Originally the mill was fed by water from the old Kersloch near Kerselochmuir, carried to the site in an underground culvert and later by the muir alone.

[5] A local tradition suggests that two sons of Kersland were found guilty of, or at least being involved in the slaughter of a Laird of the Blair; they at first took refuge in England, but afterwards settled on the Border.

[citation needed] Robert Ker of Kersland, succeeded his father and married Agnes Montgomerie, daughter of Hugh of Hessilhead in 1556.

Janet Ker married the famous Captain Thomas Crawford of Jordanhill[14] who captured Dumbarton Castle from Mary Queen of Scots supporters during the minority of James VI.

Robert visited Glasgow to collect his wife and their five children and was to be detained in the tolbooth overnight, however a fire broke out and after a refusal of the magistrates to open the doors the citizens of the city released them using ladders.

Fearing further confinement he took refuge with a group of persecuted ministers and attended a conventicle at Maybole before returning to Utrecht in 1678 where he remained until his death in 1680.

[18] Robert Ker was indicted with treason during the Covenanting 'Killing Times' and his lands were given to Lieutenant-General William Drummond of Cromlix in the 1680s.

[21] He was unmarried and his sister, Jean Ker, married Major William Borthwick of Johnstonburn, and inherited Kersland.

He assumed the name and title John Ker of Kersland, dying on 8 July 1726 in Debtor's Prison, London,[citation needed] having first written his "Memoirs and Negotiations" which were later published.

His daughter Elizabeth married John Campbell "of Ellengreig", also 'Ellan-Dheirrig' or 'Ellan-Gheirrig', a small island in Loch Riddan, in the parish of Inverchaolain, Argyllshire.

[23] Anna and Jean, sisters to Elizabeth, sold the barony and property to William Scot of Bavelaw in 1736.

[citation needed] William Scot of Bavelaw purchased the barony and his son Lawrence divided the Mains of Kersland into two farms, Easter and Wester Kersland, feuing Easter to Robert Ker and Wester to James Kirkwood.

[5] The Church of Scotland school at Barkip, also known as The Den, had an average attendance of 137 pupils in 1891; it was named for the old barony.

[25] An Irish connection exists as John Roche of Ballickmahon, in the parish of Crossmolina, barony of Tyrawley, married Janet, daughter of Robert Kerr of Kersland.

[26] Margaret Blair married a Kerr of Kersland and obtained a charter of the lands of Trearne for herself and her son Robert in January 1594.

[27] Smith records that the sword of Kerr of Kersland was preserved "in Dr. Grierson's museum at Thornhill", and was one of the longest and heaviest in the collection.