Barbeth had been leased by the Trustees of the Estate of Drongan to James Murdoch since 1819. Henry Murdoch and William Murdoch, sons of James Murdoch, took over the lease of Barbeth on Martinmas 1847 from their father.
William moved to Middlemuir and withdrew from the tenancy of Barbeth. His older brother Henry was a cheese dealer in Ayr and he sub leased the farm to his brother in law John Knox from Martinmas 1849.
Their father, James Murdoch, died on the 5th December 1850 at Barbeth, from inflamation.
