Newmills

   1) NEWMILLS, a village, in the parish of Keith, county of Banff, 1¼ mile (N. by E.) from Keith; containing 449 inhabitants. This is a thriving village on the estate of Lord Fife, by whose great-grandfather it was built, about the middle of the last century, and of whom it is held in feu. It is situated on the north side of the Isla, and contains about 100 feus, with five acres of land to each: most of the population are engaged in the cultivation of the ground. A well-frequented market for cattle, horses, and sheep is held annually in the month of October.

   2) NEWMILLS, a hamlet, in the parish of Fordyce, county of Banff, 3 miles (S.) from Portsoy; containing 46 inhabitants. It is a small place, situated on the west side of the Boyne burn, and a short distance east of the high road from Huntly to Portsoy.

   3) NEWMILLS, or Torry, in the county of Fife.

   See Torry.

   4) NEWMILNS, a village and a burgh of barony, in the parish of Loudoun, district of Cunninghame, county of Ayr, 8 miles (E.) from Kilmarnock, and 18 (N. E. by E.) from Ayr; containing 1988 inhabitants. This place was made a burgh of barony under a charter of James IV., dated the 9th January, 1490, and which vested the superiority in the earls of Loudoun. It is a thriving manufacturing village, situated on the river Irvine, and at about the middle of the south boundaryline of the parish: nearly the whole of the population are engaged in handloom and other weaving, of which that of muslin forms the principal branch. A machine called the "jacquard" has been lately introduced here, for the purpose of saving a great part of the labour previously performed by young children, and it has been so successful that upwards of £1300 have been expended in this description of article. There is a post-office for the convenience of the surrounding district, and carriers ply to Glasgow and Kilmarnock. The village is governed by two bailies, a chancellor, treasurer, fiscal, and thirteen councillors: the nomination of the magistrates and council is annual, the burgesses choosing the council, and these, again, appointing the bailies, chancellor, and other officers. Here is an excellent market; and four annual fairs take place in February, May, August, and October. The parish church is situated in the village, as is the school. A bequest of £60 per annum by Mr. John Smith, a native of the place, is appropriated to decayed burgesses, their widows, and children, not receiving parochial relief.