1830

An Irish fishing smack was wrecked off Bennane Point with the loss of five lives

1831

Village population 456 in about 108 families. Parish population 1506 in about 290 families.

1832

Ballantrae got its first resident surgeon, after having no surgeon or physician within a dozen miles

Carleton Fishery built at Lendalfoot

Pleasure boat 'Harriet', owned by the Duke of Portland, lost off Ballantrae with all crew

1834

Windows inserted either side of pulpit in Ballantrae Parish Church

Subscription Library began with over 100 books plus newspapers and magazines

1835

Passenger steam ship 'Northern Yacht' began regular sailings, calling at Ballantrae every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday

Earl of Orkney laid down extensive plantations in Glenapp and on the ridge to the north of the glen

1836

Rev. John Milroy supplied the Parish of Ballantrae entry, dated April 1836, for the 'New Statistical Account of Scotland' which would be published some years later.   He reported "The air appears to be salubrious, for there is a number of very old people in the parish, and the inhabitants in general are of a robust make and hale florid complexion, quite free of any peculiar disease, and generally not much visited with the ordinary diseases that assail our nature".

The village had 84 houses.  Most families in the parish were employed in agriculture, and a few in weaving cottons for Glasgow manufacturers.  A good many were tradesmen in one season and fishermen in another.  Labourer wages averaged about one shilling and sixpence per day.  Women's wages for field labour were eightpence per day.  Joiners charged two shilling per day, and masons two shillings and sixpence.    About 5000 stones of sweet milk cheese was made every year in Ballantrae, and an experienced dairymaid earned about £5 per year compared with the £2 to £4 of a female servant.

An annual ploughing match was held with upwards of 30 ploughs competing.

An iron plough cost about £4, a cart about £8, and the shoeing of a horse about £1 per year.

Total acreage of the parish was between 24,000 and 25,000, of which 7,000 were arable and the rest moorland pasture.   The gross annual produce of the parish was £16,275, made up of oats, wheat, bere barley, potatoes, turnips, pease and beans, rye-grass hay, bog hay, cheese, the salmon fishery and white fishery, and the grazing of 863 black cattle, 8,360 sheep and 120 goats.

An annual livestock show begun in Ballantrae in 1832 had by this time extended to include Barr and Colmonell parishes under the name of 'The Stinchar Association', and the show was held by each parish in turn.

143 pupils (96 males, 47 females) attended the four parish schools.  Tuition was available in Latin, Greek, book-keeping, mensuration and geography in some of the schools.

Peat was still being cut for fuel by folks living in the hills, but coal was now the main fuel used by the other parishioners.  It was brought from Girvan in farmers' carts and sometimes by boat.    

The total population of the parish was now 1506, nearly double the number noted in the Old Statistical Account of Scotland of about 40 years previously.

One good inn and five public-houses were in Ballantrae village whose population was 456, and the minister noted yet a further public-house within the parish.

There was no constable or sheriff's officer, but there were two Justices of the Peace and a Court was held every two months in the village.   

1836 Roup at Corseclays

1837

Pigot's Directory, published in August 1837, gave a useful list of local names:

Post Master: John Millar

Gentry and Clergy:

Rev Robert Anderson DD of Glendrissaig

John Donaldson, Esq, of Auchairne

Captain Hew Ferguson Kennedy of Bennan

James McIlraith junior, Esq, (magistrate) of Auchenflower

Rev John Melroy, Manse

Innkeepers &  Vintners:

William Dickie

Peter Donnan

James Eglesham

John Ferguson

James McCredie

Shopkeepers & Traders:

Mary Aitkin, shopkeeper

Crawford Brown, tailor

William Clark, blacksmith

William Cumming, boatbuilder

Peter Donnan, shoemaker

James Eglesham, shoemaker

William Ferguson, tailor

Ann Hunter, shopkeeper

James McCredie, shopkeeper

Andrew McKissock, mason

James McKissock, mason

William McKissock, mason

John McLeod, shopkeeper

James McWhirter, tailor

Robert McWhirter, joiner & cartwright

John Millar, master of parochial school

John Millar junior, shoemaker

Janet Milroy, dressmaker

James Scott, shoemaker

Jane Scott, dressmaker

John Scott, shoemaker

William Scott, mason

John Sherar, blacksmith, South Luggan

William Small, cooper,

John Stavart, surgeon

John Tait, blacksmith

Andrew Wright, shopkeeper

1838

The Irish Mail Coach overturned two miles north of Ballantrae, severely injuring the driver James Johnston.  The guard was badly bruised, but two inside passengers, Mrs Oliver and Mr Main, were unhurt.  All involved were transported to Ballantrae.

1839

Birth of James Paterson Wason in Girvan parish, who died in Ballantrae at age 61 in 1901 having contributed greatly to the community

The sloop 'Plough' of Stranraer, heading to Glasgow with a cargo of barley, was wrecked off Ballantrae on 6th January