I just wondered whether Jean was still around. Her booklet was very helpful in consolidating/validating information I too had gathered with reference to early THOMs in the that area of Ayrshire.
I recently came across a THOM (Tam) family living at Drumsuy in Coylton parish pre the OPR years and just wanted to tell her.
Dr. Jenny Blain transcribed some very difficult to read OPR records from neighbouring Ochiltree parish for me via the Ayrshire IO group on Google. I found a Charles Tam having a son Johne baptised on 14 June 1671 in Ochiltree and a son Archbald (9 January 1681) also baptised in Ochiltree but the father Charles Tam was listed as being of "Drwmswy of Coiltown" i.e. Drumsuy of neighbouring Coylton Parish. Although there may have been a later unrecorded generation this family, Archibald (1681) in particular, may well be linked to my earliest relations John Thom and Jean Fergusson of Coylton. A McLatchy family living in nearby Drongan may also be linked.
Charles Tam may have had a relation, called Johne Tam(e), who was living at Bardaroch very close by but in Ochiltree parish.Johne first married a Margrat Millikine in Ochiltree in 1669 and then a Jean Robb in 1773 also in Ochiltree. That Johne may be local to Ayrshire but I cannot locate information to prove that.
I doubt whether I will ever get further with the Drumsuy Thom(Tam) family but I haven't given up hope ! If anyone has contact details for Jean or recognises these names and can add more please get in touch.