Milliken House
In January 1741, the Lord Lyon allowed the Mullikine Coat of Arms to Major James Milliken of that Ilk. He built the first Milliken manor house, near the town of Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire, shortly after he acquired part of the old Johnston estate, which he purchased from George Houston of Johnston in 1733. From the description given by William Semple in his book "The History of the Shire of Renfrew", it seems to have been an elegant house, built much to the same plan as the second house. On his death in February 1741, the Major's only son and heir, James Milliken of Milliken Esq., succeeded to his entire estate both in Scotland and the Island of St Kitt in the West Indies. His sons, James and Alexander, died unmarried leaving two sisters, Jean and Mary, the latter predeceased her father in 1774. To ensure that the name and estate of Milliken passed intact, James left a ‘deed of tailize’, that is, a deed prescribing a line of heirs, guarded by prohibitions and forfeitures, chosen by the deceased to succeed to his heritable lands. On his death in 1776, James Milliken left his estate in trust to his grandson, Col. Robert Napier [born in 1765], by his daughter Jean Milliken and her spouse Sir William Napier of Culcreuch.In compliance with his maternal grandfather's will, Col. Robert Napier took the surname of Milliken-Napier as heir tailize and successor to the estate and arms of Milliken. He married Anne daughter of Robert Campbell Esq. of Downie in Argyleshire. Unfortunately, a fire destroyed the old house of Milliken in 1801, and six years later, Robert died leaving his son and heir, Sir William Milliken-Napier, to re-build the house of Milliken in 1826. Several photographs of Milliken House still exist and one has been included below – it is understood this photograph was taken about 1920. It is just possible to make out the Milliken-Napier arms, which protrude above the upper floor window in the portico, that over looks the main entrance with its four great columns. By the time this photograph was taken, Milliken House had lay uninhabited for sometime.
In 1886, Sir Archibald Lennox Milliken-Napier, eldest son and heir of Sir William Milliken-Napier, sold the estate of Milliken along with its elegant mansion house to Archibald McKenzie Esq., a man, who during his time as laird of Milliken, would sell off the old estate piecemeal. It had in 1886 comprised the town of Kilbarchan and eleven farms, known as Mains and Barbush, Windyhill, Boghouse, Tweeniehills, Sandholes, Waterstone and Wheatlands, Panneld, Todholes, Milliken Mill, Over Johnstone and Nether Johnstone extending to about 1564 acres, but by 1921, when McKenzie finally sold what was left of the old estate, it comprised a mere 447 acres. McKenzie sold the property to the famous Scottish architect, James Boswell, who subsequently demolished the old house in 1923. He used much of the masonry to expand the factor’s house, which become Boswell’s home and is called the White House of Milliken. This fine Georgian House now comprises the small estate of Milliken, which extends to about 132 acres set in rich parkland.
Quarterly, 1st and 4th Argent., a Saltire, engrailed gules, cantoned with four Roses, gules [Napier of Merchiston]; 2nd, Azure, a Lion rampant, argent., crowned, Or [Macdowall of Garthland]; 3rd, Argent, a fesse azure, voided of the field, between three demi-lions, crowned gules [Milliken], with the Badge of Nova Scotia surrounding the shield. Crests:- 1st, an arm grasping an eagle’s leg, ppr. [Napier]; 2nd, a demi-lion, rampant, gu., holding in his dexter fore paw a dagger or. Milliken; Supporters: - Two eagles with their wings closed, ppr. Mottoes: - Sans tache; Regarde bien.
This beautifully preserved stone edifice of the Milliken-Napier arms is all that remains of that grand old mansion house built by Sir William Milliken-Napier in 1826, and today, is now located near the entrance to the main drive way leading to the third house. In 1817, Sir William as heir of Archibald, third Lord Napier of Merchiston and Baronet of Nova Scotia, was created knight baronet, with the distinct title of Sir William John Milliken-Napier of Napier, baronet of Milliken. He had the arms of Milliken and Napier quartered along with those of Macdowall and engraved in stone above the main entrance of his new mansion. The quartering of James Milliken’s arms with that of Napier indicates that the Chief line of Milliken ended with an heiress, who in right of her own arms was entitled to have them quartered with those of her husband, Sir William Napier of Culcreuch. The Milliken motto “Regarde Bien” means Look Well, whilst the Napier motto ‘Sans tache’, means Without Stain, and is borne by the Chief of the Family of Napier to this day.