Alexander
Peden, the prophet, was born in the year 1626 in or near Sorn. Sorn Castle
was a place of eminence; in 1727 it belonged to the Dowager Countess of
Loudoun, and was sold to William Tennant of Poole in 1782; it was purchased
by Mr. Somerville, of a mercantile establishment in Glasgow, in 1795. His
daughter, Agnes Somerville, who was evidently given the usual Scottish
courtesy title of Mrs. although unmarried, succeeded after the death of
his son, William. She purchased Dalgain and became proprietress of about
two-fifths of the parish. Graham Somerville, who succeeded her, must have
been a relative, and was a man of considerable reputation. His son, James
Somerville, led what might be called a rather chequered career; he was
clever and might have done well, but he was quite unstable. The entail
was broken and the property sold to Mr. McIntyre, who made extensive improvements
to the castle and grounds and was succeeded by his son, Gordon McIntyre,
Lord Sorn, one of the Senators of the College of Justice. He served with
the Ayrshire Yeomanry in the 1914-18 war and was wounded.
Ayrshire 1745-1950, By James Edward Shaw
A Social And Industrial History Of The County