: David Ross, head of the Society of William Wallace, has
: written about whether Wallace was born in Renfrewshire
: or Ayrshire.
: www.braveheart.co.uk/macbrave/history/wallace/elder01.htm
: - 13k. He favors Elderslie, near Paisley,
: Renfrewshire.
Thanks for the information - it will be debated forever - the balance of opinion from all sources on the web seems to run pretty heavily in favour of Ellersle near Kilmarnock although Elderslie near Paisley is given its due. His father's family held property in both areas but his mother's family ran Kilmarnock - Ayr area. His early exploits were all in the region of the River Irvine which favours the Kilmarnock site. If he had been born in the Renfrew area he would have most likely have been born at his father's property of Auchenbothie. Ellerslie near Kilmarnock is is on the 1815 Government Ordinance Survey Map. The book "William Wallace Brave Heart" by James Mackay (Mainstream Publishing 1995) canvasses the place of his birth at grat length quoting sources and comes to a conclusion in favour of the Kilmarnock property. Wallace's mother was the daughter of the Sherriff or Ayrshire, Sir Ranald Craufoord of Corsbie. The name Corsbie has disappeared and is now replaced by the modern Crosshouse.
If you leave Kilmarnock on the Irvine road you first pass by Annanhill on the outskirts of the town, beyond Annanhill slightly further to the west is Ellerslie. About two miles down the same road you will come to Crosshouse. Strangely enough the road to Ellerslie cuts off from the main road near Crosshouse and runs back in the south-east direction to Ellerslie making a convenient connection Crosshouse - Ellerslie.
Nothing should be read into this other than the facts that I have been given and have read and the seemingly majority view in favour of Ayrshire.
I do not wish to enter into the great debate on where Wallace was born - that is for the Wallace family researchers unless we find that a Caldwell was a relation and involved in the Wars of Independence. I have found no mention of this and it appears that no one else has either.