THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES glfflWlffilH si ,i HISTORY OF THE PARISH AND BURGH OF LAURENCEKIRK BY WILLIAM BUXTON FKASER, M.A. MINISTER OF MARYTON WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS EDINBURGH AND LONDON MDCCCLXXX TO PATRICK DICKSON, Esq. OF BARNHILL, WHO SUGGESTED THE WORK, AND LARGELY AIDED IN ITS PRODUCTION, THIS HISTORY OF THEIR NATIVE PARISH AND BURGH, IN HEART-PELT APPRECIATION OP A LIFE-LONG FRIENDSHIP, IS DEDICATED BY THE AUTHOR. 534791 USRAKT P E E F A C E. The writing of this ' History of the Parish and Burgh of Laurencekirk ' was first suggested to the mind of a friend by a short historical account of the Parish of Maryton, which had recently been printed. The suggestion, when conveyed to the writer, was not acted upon without hesitation. The diversity of interests to be dealt with was so great, entailing a corresponding amount of research, that the task appeared a somewhat formidable one. On the other hand, the suggestion was felt to be due to a kindly interest in the parish, and it touched a chord of sym- pathy which responded to the feeling. The research which had been needed for the brochure on Maryton gave some measure of preparation for the work, one or two of the leading families having in days of old been represented in both parishes. There was en- couragement, also, in the hope of receiving assistance from quarters in which the necessary information had to be sought, a hope which experience has more than justified. Vlll PREFACE. Under the influence of these considerations, the work was undertaken, and the issue is offered to the reader, with a claim for indulgence if it be found imperfect and unsatisfactory. Incomplete it must be, and inaccurate to some extent it may be. The difficulty of obtaining information of any kind, and especially reliable information on a series of events extending over centuries, renders completeness in such a subject impossible, and inaccuracy very prob- able. No credit is assumed for more than that care has been taken to make the History as full and correct as the available sources of information would permit. The benefits accruing from such a work are greater than on first thoughts may be conceived. On the lowest ground, it is a reasonable curiosity which desires acquaintance with the past history of the parish or neighbourhood to which nativity or resi- dence attaches importance. But, if fairly executed, these local expositions contribute to accuracy in that wider field of history, a knowledge of which is uni- versally regarded as one of the elements of intel- lectual culture. Scattered over the pages of such works as those of Balfour, Douglas, Chambers, and Jervise, are particles of information in regard to particular localities, which, gathered together, combine to throw no little light upon their respective histories. In the mass, those works may with some reason be pronounced dry and uninteresting ; but, if utilised as quarries of informa- PREFACE. IX tion, facts may be dug out to build a little fabric to interest and instruct the readers of the community to whose history they belong. The truth of this statement will appear more and more as these parish records are multiplied. The one will help to eluci- date the other; and, when several neighbouring- parishes have had this attention bestowed upon them, the result will be a knowledge of the district which cannot fail to be at once interesting and profitable. In preparing the ' History of Laurencekirk,' it has been found that ample sources of information exist for a similar treatise on all the surrounding parishes. There are few parishes in Scotland with such an abundance of interesting matter available as Fordoun possesses. Marykirk is rich in material for a parish history, and so in smaller measure is Garvock. It is to be hoped that some one, native or resident in these respective parishes, will be encouraged to make the necessary research, and give the result of his labour to the community in which he is interested, and to the public at large. No apology is offered for supplementing the strictly historical narrative with a short account of families and individuals connected with the parish. Nothing, it is hoped, will be found in those brief sketches calculated to offend surviving representatives in the parish or elsewhere ; and care has been taken to verify the statements which have been made. Many of the anecdotes which appear in the closing X PREFACE. chapter, or are interspersed in the narrative, may appear uninteresting to the general reader. It is to be borne in mind, however, that the work has been prepared, not for the general reader, but mainly for natives of Laurencekirk, and others specially inter- ested in the parish. For their sakes chiefly, it has been thought well to give permanent form to the quaint sayings and humorous anecdotes which have been floating about for more than half a century. The quaintness and humour may not be apparent altogether to those who can judge of them only apart from a knowledge of the persons or circum- stances to which they refer. But a hope is enter- tained that some, from early association or cherished tradition, will have pleasure in the perusal sufficient to justify their insertion. . Whatever diversity there may be among natives of Laurencekirk in other respects, they are all alike in cherishing a strongly sympathetic feeling in all that concerns the past and present of their native parish. The main purpose of the volume is to minister to this essential element of a truly patriotic spirit ; and the labour expended on it will be doubly rewarded if, from time to time, a stray copy find its way to some foreign land, and help the reader to recall the vision of his early " village home." Among the many who have contributed their own reminiscences and other information, only a few can be expressly mentioned, though all are gratefully re- membered. More than one of the chapters are PKEFACE. XI indebted to Mr James Cowie, whose acquaintance with the history of the parish for the last century and a half is probably unsurpassed. Part of the information connected with the burgh was supplied by Mr John Kinnear, the late Mr Alexander Bobert- son, Mr William Main, Mr David Glass, and Mr James Forbes, who has been unsparing in his friendly aid. Mr James Scott Hampton, S.S.C., has shown his kindly interest in the parish and burgh of which he is a native by his readiness in procuring extracts from the public registers, which would otherwise have been inaccessible. Old documents of consider- able interest have been furnished by Mr Eobert Crabb ; and useful information has been supplied by Mr William Alexander, Bent. Access at will has been given to all available writs in possession of the heritors of the parish ; and thanks are specially due to Mr Alexander Edmond commissioner for the Earl of Kintore Mr Pearson of Johnston Lodge, and Dr Johnston of Kair, for the interest which they have manifested, and the trouble which they have taken whenever applied to. The courtesy of Bailie Eae and Mr Craig, burgh- clerk, is also to be acknowledged in responding to repeated applications for liberty to consult the burgh records. A like acknowledgment is due to the Eev. Mr Morrison and Mr Keppie, for frequent opportunities Xll PREFACE. of consulting the records of the kirk-session ; and to the Eev. John Brown, clerk of the Presbytery of Fordoun, for access to the Presbytery records ; as well as to the Eev. H. D. Simpson and the Eev. James Gam mack, Drumlithie, for kindly according the same privilege in regard to the whole records of the Episcopal Church in their custody. In addition to the sources of information already noticed, the following works, among others, have been consulted : Douglas's ' Peerage and Baronage ; ' the works of Andrew Jervise, F.S.A. ; Scott's ' Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae ; ' History of the Carnegies ; ' Biscoe's ' Earls of Middleton ; ' Dr Eogers's ' Life of George Wishart ; ' Sir William Forbes's ' Life of Dr Beattie ; ' Chalmers's ' Life of Euddiman ; ' Duthie's ' Memoir of George Menzies,' prefixed to his poems ; ' Memoir of Eev. David Moir ; ' Balfour's f Annals of Scotland;' Chambers's ' Domestic Annals;' the 'Black- book of Kincardineshire ; ' Spalding's ' Memorialls of the Trubles in Scotland, &c. ; ' Wodrow's ' Correspon- dence ; ' the Kincardineshire Eetours. Maxse of Maryton, July 1880. CONTENTS. INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. Situation Extent and population Boundaries of the parish Largely a morass The ague Conversion into arable land Bogs of Bent Skeletons found Site of village The "Snowy Terminus" Castle of Kincardine Royal gifts and honours Claim to literary distinction Ancient name of the parish Modern name Statistics of popula- tion Manufactures Prospects of burgh, . PART FIRST. THE PARISH AND ITS LANDOWNERS. CHAPTER I. THE LAND AND ITS OWNERS. Scotland divided into parishes Subdivisions of Conveth The Berkeleys Falconers Middletons "Wisharts Frasers Keiths-Marischal Earl of Crawford Barons of Gray Meldrum Strachan of Thornton Allardice Irvine of Drum Stuarts Hamilton Livingstones Moncur Carnegies Lord Gardenstone Farquhar and successors Allardyce Crombie Dr Johnston, . . 12 XIV CONTENTS. CHAPTER II. DE BEEKELEYS. Their origin Humphrey receives grants of "Mernez" Grant to the monks Confirmed by Richenda The monks dispossessed Compromise made by John and concurred in by Robert Hugh receives charter of Westerton of Conveth Founder of Berkeleys of Mathers Successive Berkeleys Kaim of Mathers Name changed to Barclay A father's counsel Last Barclay of Mathers Inscription in Howff at Urie Founder of Barclays of Urie Author of ' Apology for the Quakers ' Robert the Strong New town of Stonehaven Last Barclay of Urie Barclays at Newton Supposed descent from Alexander Barclay Earliest known progenitor Balmaleedie Aisle of kirk of Aberluthnott Successive Barclays at Newton Remarkable longevity Represen- tative of the main line of Berkeleys of Mathers, . . 18 CHAPTER III. KEITHS-MARISCHAL. The Catti Emigrate to Scotland Battle of Barry Name changed to Keith Created heritable Great Marischal Distinguished services of Sir Robert Grant of lands in Aberdeenshire Sir "William builds Dunnottar Castle Acquires land in the parish Barony of Garvock Barn- hill Earls Marischal Extensive possessions Cease to own lands in the parish Successive earls Marischal College founded Ancestors of Robert Burns Marshal Keith The last Earl Marischal Estates forfeited Exiled Pardoned Succession to Kintore estates Death Earls of Kintore Preservation of the Regalia Rebellion of 1715 Sheriff Muir Duke of Argyll at Keithhall Death of the fourth Earl Title becomes dormant, and is revived by Lord Falconer, . . 27 CHAPTER IV. HAULKERTON. Origin of name William the Hawker Lands of Luthra Ranulph le Falconer Falconleys Robert le Falconer of Haulkerton The Falconers in favour at Court Successive CONTENTS. XV Falconers Tradition of Martin Luther Sir Alexander Falconer Founding of the old castle Lands of Middle- ton acquired The first Lord Falconer Addition to the castle A friend of the Marquis of Montrose Historical events Lord Falconer removed from office Sonnet by Drummond of Hawthornden Lord Falconer re-instated The second Lord Falconer The third Lord incompos mentis His death without issue Succession of Glen- farquhar family Last occupation of the castle Traces of it Demolition, ..... 36 CHAPTER V. HAULKERTON (continued). The fifth Lord Falconer Hume the philosopher His lord- ship's marriage to Lady Catherine M. Keith Character and death Successive Lord Falconers Succession to the estates and title of Kintore An eccentric nobleman Poultry-shooting Saved annoyance Death of Lord In- verurie Adventures in the village Competition for six- pences Hard-scrape Regret of the villagers The pres- ent peer and his family, . . . . .43 CHAPTER VI. LANDS OF MIDDLETON. Extent of original lands Earliest authentic notice Middle- ton of that Ilk A bold outlaw Successive Middletons Lord Gray Sheriff of Angus Temple lands Exchange of portion of lands Campbell of Lundie Lands united and forming part of the barony of Haulkerton Disponed to Falconer of Glenfarquhar Revert to Haulkerton Drumforber Wineford Luthermuir, . . .48 CHAPTER VII. KILNHILL AND BENT. Early possession Exchanged for portion of Middleton ** Middleton of Kilhill" Successive Middletons " Band anent the religioun " Middleton of Caldhame Robert Middleton killed by soldiers of Montrose Earl Middle- ton Livingston of Dunipace Lands reannexed to Haulkerton Clarkkill " Clericus regis" Latch, . 53 b xvi CONTENTS. CHAPTER VIII. BAEONY OF SCOTSTON, ALIAS POWBURN. Scots and Picts Early history of Scotston Of Powburn United and form a barony Meldrums Allardice of that Ilk Marquis of Hamilton Robert Keith Provost of Montrose Alarm in Montrose The last Scottish Parlia- ment held in the ancient form Sir James Keith of Pow- burn Lands disponed to Falconer of Balmakellie By him to Glenfarquhar Haddo Early possession Parlia- ment of 1560 Wapinschaws Keith of Craig and Drum- tochty Successive Keiths Resignation in favour of young Glenfarquhar Incorporated with Haulkerton Glenfarquhar bursaries, ..... 58 CHAPTER IX. BURNTON. Derivation of name Early possession Earls Marischal Patrick Falconer William Keith Kirklands of Aberluth- nott Lands acquired by Barclay of Johnston Disponed to David Falconer Lord Newton Barony of Newton Conjoined with Haulkerton Early history of Newton Denlethen, . . . . . .66 CHAPTER X. WESTERTON OF CONVETH. Blackiemuir and Kirkburn Chronological order of lands of Haulkerton Burgh of Haulkerton Original Laurence- muir Luthermuir Dira Croft Explanation of the name Situation Charters The ancient burgh Two burghs of barony Comparison between them Town- house of Laurencekirk, . . . . .70 CHAPTER XL CONVETH MILL AND LANDS. Family of Wishart Origin of name Early history " Johan- nes Wischard " the first of the family Sir John the first associated with Conveth In future charters the name Conveth restricted to mill and lands Successive Wish- arts " Schir David Wyschart," chaplain Temporary forfeiture of lands Justice-Clerk and King's Advocate CONTENTS. XV11 George "Wishart, the martyr Wishart of Cairnbeg Sir John Wishart's labours in the cause of the Eeformation Widespread possessions of the family ' Buik of the Policy of the Kirk' Ane combat at the Salt Tron Declining prosperity "Captain Craigengelt " Lands sold Present representatives of the family Evidence of the martyr's relation to the family, . . .77 CHAPTER XII. CONVETH MILL AND LANDS {continued). Carnegie family Earl of Southesk Carnegies of Craig Sir Alexander Carnegie Creation of baronetcy Incursions of Highlanders Lord Milton Sir David ordained an elder Forfeiture of Earl of Southesk Sir John Ap- pointed factor on Kinnaird estates Jurisdiction of the barons An assault A riot Sudden death of Sir John Sir James Carnegie His education Election as M.P Military service Purchase of Kinnaird the Earldom restored George Carnegie Battle of Culloden Escape to Sweden Purchase of Pittarrow Beneficence of Mrs Carnegie John Fullerton Carnegie Mansion at Pitt- arrow demolished Interesting paintings George Fuller- ton Carnegie Estates sold Pittarrow acquired by Alex- ander Crombie Author of ' The Gymnasium ' Recent proprietors, . . . . . .85 CHAPTER XIIL REDMYRE. Early possession Keiths-Marischal Irvine of Drum Stuarts of Inchbreck Battle of Corrichie David Stuart Visita- tion of the kirk of Conveth Successive Stuarts Captain James Stuart Professor John Stuart Estate sold Family of Allardyce Dr Johnston His maternal an- cestors, ....... 94 CHAPTER XIV. BARONY OF JOHNSTON. Original estate Present barony Early history Supposed derivation of the name Sir Alexander Fraser Captivity of Lady Mary Bruce Gift of land at " Auchincarny " Margaret Fraser Married to Sir William Keith Their family Chronicle of the siege of Fyvie Castle Sir xviii CONTENTS. Robert Keith Acquires barony of Troup First mention of Blackiemuir Sir David Lindsay Combat at London Bridge Created Earl of Crawford Moncur of Slains Successive Keiths Standard at the battle of Flodden The last of the Keiths owning Johnston Stuart of Morphie, ....... 99 CHAPTER XV. -BARCLAYS OF JOHNSTON. Successive Barclays Burnton acquired Minister at Kinnaird Accompanies army to England Translated to Moni- fleth A married man who was a bachelor with nine wives Henry Barclay, rout -master Connection with Earl Middleton Miss Barclay of London "My uncle Cadam" Earl of Northesk Supposed cause of Ruddi- man's appointment Lands of Burnton disposed of Barclays of Balmakewan Graham of Morphie A family of twenty-four children Dispute with the kirk- session respecting Sacramental cups Adherents of the race of Stewart Wood of Drumnagair Affairs embarrassed Estate sold, . . . . . .106 CHAPTER XVI. LORD GARDENSTONE. Early life In danger of being hanged as a spy Appointed Sheriff of Kincardineshire Promoted to the Bench Kay's portrait Character as a landlord Rector of Marischal College Publications An encounter with ' ' young bucks " Attachment to pigs Benefactions Death Major Garden succeeds Disposes of the estate, . . . 114 CHAPTER XVII. LATER PROPRIETORS OF JOHNSTON. James Farquhar Descent and marriage Elected M.P. Appointed to an office in the High Court of Admiralty Mansion-house erected Purchase of Hallgreen Charac- ter Anecdote Death Mortification to the poor Mrs Farquhar Annual examination of school Alexander Gibbon His character and death Mrs Gibbon Mrs Pearson A lineal descendant of the Berkeleys A gene- alogical fact, . . . . . .119 CONTENTS. XIX PART SECOND. HISTORY OF THE BURGH. CHAPTER XVIII. LAURENCEKIRK. Village not founded by Lord Gardenstone Laurencekirk in the seventeenth century Gives its name to the parish Situated on Haulkerton Two villages Population and extent Gradual extension of the village to Johnston estate Last relics of the original village Summons to deliver up arms in the town-house Population declines First start to prosperity Motives of Lord Gardenstone Settlers encouraged Visit of a hatter A satirical pro- fessor Principles on which the community was built up Notes on a tour to England Halifax Newcastle Erection of burgh Its limits Administration Privi- leges Masons' Lodge St John's Day Address of a Right Worshipful Master Johnston Street Garvock Street Alma Terrace, . . . . . .123 CHAPTER XIX. THE FIRST COUNCILS. Councillors first elected Clerk Letting church-pews Pre- caution in the interest of economy Anniversaries observed Council -room "Quorum or not" Judicial cases Tumultuous infestment Illegal enlistment Sentenced to pay the "drink" Provision for the poor Water- supply Persistent transgressor Hardened in his trans- gression The bailie applies "his own hand" Bowman- ville Lord Gardenstone's proposal to the people List of original feuars James Whitsunday Deference to Lord Gardenstone Sunday-schools Intelligence of Lord Gar- denstone's death His memory duly honoured Scarcity of work Dearth of provisions "We thought of better times, but worse came " " Maister " Milne, . . 133 XX CONTENTS. CHAPTER XX. CHIEF MAGISTRATES. George Murdoch Alexander Gairdyne Qualification of resi- dence Portrait of Lord Gardenstone Alexander Smart Mistaken for a priest John Scott Official ability A practical humourist Descendants John Scott, farmer Legacy to the burgh James Crabb Beneficial changes introduced Defeat of a baronet "William Crabb, artist David Dickson Early years A coincidence Residence in Edinburgh Sir "Walter Scott Settles in Laurencekirk The brewery Spurriehillock Improved steadings Aberdeen Town and County Bank Enterprise as a farmer Pert A model steading Public spirit Professional character Wholesome counsel Death Remark of a villager Peter Blacklaws Service to the burgh Death Family An omission in burgh charter James Fettes Early years Begins practice Public presenta- tion Interest in farming Mearns Farmers' Society Improvements on the burgh Gas Railway Clorty Banks The St Laurence Hall Naming of streets Dr Fettes retires His death Charles "William Fettes Last official appointment by East India Company Preferment in India Return home Death John Rae elected bailie, 145 CHAPTER XXL BURGH OFFICERS. Billet-master Constable Procurator-fiscal Successive burgh officers Lang thrums! "Firing musquets" Andrew "Watson A dummy tested Comparative opulence Ap- pointed officer Besetting weakness Office demitted Future career The first county policeman A follower of sport Sandy Mather Court days Snowballs Sandy and hi3 barrow A mystery never to be solved, . CONTEXTS. XXI PART THIRD. NOTEWORTHY FAMILIES AND PARISHIONERS. CHAPTER XXII. NOTEWORTHY FAMILIES. Carnegies at Mill of Conveth Relation to baronets of Pittar- row Ferrygate Ministers of lnverkeillor Author of "Johnnie Cope" Baldovie purchased Lairds of Red- hall Shank, of the Villa Castlerig Several members of the family ministers President of the East India Com- pany Benefactions of family Lady Sibbald Scott Mrs Taylor Beattie Lodge and the Beatties Erection of Beattie Lodge An artist's mistake "Rich" Beatties "Poor" Beatties Beatties at Mill of Haulkerton At Drumforber James Beattie's descendants Professor Beattie The poet's favourite sister Thomas Duirs Death in a French prison Alexander Beattie's descen- dants A remarkable watch Randell Courteney Epi- taph by Dr Beattie Beatties at Middleton John Watson Beattie at Bowtory Beattie at Spurriehillock, . 163 CHAPTER XXIII. NOTEWORTHY FAMILIES (continued). Cowies at Haulkerton First known progenitor The "tua cartowis " and troopers of Montrose Farmer at Mill of Haulkerton Lease of Mains Custody of Church pro- perty " Haulkerton's cow" Leaping-sticks Bridge of Haulkerton An English boxer at Laurence Fair Farm- house built Domestic comforts First sofa in the parish David Cowie at Dysart James Cowie College life Gold medals Removal from Mains Sundridge Hall Labours in the cause of anti-vivisection Publications Lawsons at Whitesauch and Keilburn Lawson of Hariggs William Lawson in Powburn Lawson Morti- fication David Lawson Rechert Lason James Lawson at Ravenshaw David Lawson at Whitesauch His de- scendants Crolls at Hills of Haulkerton. . .176 XX11 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XXIV. PORTRAITS BY A DUTCH ARTIST. The artist Subjects of portraits Reference Mr Badenach Family James Duncan James Graham Mr Dewar (Ewen?) John Rae John Silver Demand for wheaten bread Peter Ramsay Dr Niddrie William Rew Jane Rew Callum Mortifications John Charles James Hay Mrs Macintosh A surprise James Murray Robert Trail Tibbie Trail Lord Colvill Torryburn coal Col- vill House Cupid Dial Colvills of Ochiltree Votes at election of peers Title disallowed James Lawrence "Charters" A signboard Theory versus practice Mis- taken salute Tackles the minister, . . . 187 CHAPTER XXV. DR FORDYCE. His establishment His appearance His manner His prac- tice "A quiet beast" A curt prescription "Leein' Jamie" "The lang fiddler" The doctor as a preacher Burgh clerk An interpolation " A temporary stigma" A most deplorable issue Interesting authority for the common-sense of old women in the Mearns Club law and axe law A sensible last will and testament Death of Dr Fordyce, ....... 197 CHAPTER XXVI. LAURENCEKIRK SNUFF-BOXES. Charles Stiven and Son World-wide fame A "gryte Jacobite " A universal luxury A dozen noses Marriage- present The last pinch Laurencekirk snuff-box Various establishments The Franklin Expedition The Defiance Lord Panmure Box-makers to her Majesty Stiven's totums The totum of classical origin A Roman emperor His modern representatives John Thomson His claim to notice A good head An intelligent critic A clever chield, ...... 204 CONTENTS. XX111 PART FOURTH. CHURCH AND SCHOOL. CHAPTER XXVII. CHURCH AND CHURCHYARD. Site of church Dedication St Lawrence A Roman deacon Primate of England Queen Margaret's pilgrimage to the church Ecclesiastical superior Prior to Reformation The old church Present church built Situation of churchyard Memorials Inscriptions on old tombstones, 211 CHAPTER XXVIII. KIRK OFFICERS. Successive officers A model beadle Cinnamon- waters Shar- ing the counsels " He cheated me " A long sermon A missing child Avocations of a beadle, . . .219 CHAPTER XXIX. MINISTERS FROM THE REFORMATION. Patrick Ramsay, reader Patrick Boncle, first ordained minis- ter William Gray Lady Haulkerton's gift of land Alexander Symson Troublous years Robert Douglas Episcopacy established Consecrated Bishop of Brechin Translated to See of Dunblane Ejected Death Baron Glenbervie Douglas of Brigton Patrick Trum- bill Origin of name of Turnbull John Turnbull served heir to his father William Dunbar Appointed school- masterOrdained minister A keen Episcopalian Epis- copacy disestablished Administers an oath to the assem- bled parishioners Deprived of office Deposed Death Arthur Shepherd Called by the Presbytery His death Arthur Shepherd, Sheriff-depute The Wysse Mortifica- tion Records of the kirk-session Carrying water on bar- rows A protracted vacancy Probable cause Call not accepted, ....... 222 XXIV CONTENTS. CHAPTER XXX. MINISTERS (awiWnuai). David Archer Rebellion of 1715 The session's precaution Sacramental cups Ministers obliged to leave their churches Episcopal clergy "very uppish" Steps for their riddance Defections among the people Dissimu- lation of the gentry The Royal forces in quest of the rebels Summonses for the Episcopal clergy Death of Mr Archer Elders ordained during his ministry Andrew Thomson A distinguished scholar Dr Beattie's obligations to him Death Elders ordained David Forbes Settlement disputed His reputation Death Ordination of elders A clandestine marriage, . . 230 CHAPTER XXXI. MINISTERS (continued). Dr George Cook Distinction as an author and Church leader Call to the parish George Hampton 'Evidences of the Resurrection' Doctor of Divinity Discharge of ministerial duties 'History of the Reformation' ' History of the Church of Scotland ' Bias towards Episcopacy " Waur than the Chapel fouk" An intense frost A startling summons Remarkable case of impos- ture Moderator of General Assembly The Charles Be- quest Rev. John Charles of Garvock Resignation of Dr Cook Family Death Dr John Cook Scholarly acquire- ments Leader in Church Courts The Disruption Trans- lation to St Andrews Doctor of Divinity Moderator of General Assembly Death James MacGowan Reasons for his appointment Estimate of his character Transla- tion from Bonhill His influence in Church Courts Death Charles Morrison First charge Service in India Election as minister, ..... 237 CHAPTER XXXII. THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH. Circumstances favourable to Episcopacy Parish church utilised Hanoverian succession William Dunbar Mr Taylor Alexander Cheyne Rebellion of 1745 Episcopal church burned Disabilities Act Suppression of meeting-houses Services at Mill of Haulkerton Mis- CONTEXTS. XXV sion established at Bridge of Leppie John Strachan Eppie Bisset on the oath to Government Persons "cathe- cised" Mr Strachan called to Dundee Consecrated Bishop Death Robert Spark "No witnesses" Mission discontinued Congregation formed in the village The penal laws Lord Gardenstone and the parish minister Chapel built Dedication, . . . 245 CHAPTER XXXIII. EPISCOPAL CHURCH (continued). Conditions of endowment Rule of presentation Right of patronage Jonathan Watson Presented to the charge Elected Bishop of Dunkeld Family Character Rela- tions with the parish minister Inscription on tomb- stone Jus devolutum William Milne Altar-piece Monument Robert Spark Translated from Drumlithie The Misses Spark The Young Pretender Walter Mit- chell Goalen Appointed assistant Succeeds to full charge Removal to Trinity Recent incumbents The present chapel erected, ..... 254 CHAPTER XXXIV. OTHER CHURCHES. Bereans Origin John Barclay Church at Sauchieburn James Macrae Succeeded by a Congregationalist Meet in a private house Chapel erected Dr Robb Peter Brymer shows how he could preach Successive pastors Practical discourses Daylicht The last of the Bereans Congregationalists David Moir Early life A stu- dent A missionary Ordained Assiduous labours Re- moves to England The Edinburgh City Mission Death Successors Free Church ' ' Ten years' Conflict" Pub- lic meeting Charles Glass Churches School Baptists, 260 CHAPTER XXXV. SCHOOLMASTERS. William Dunbar Alexander Fularton Patrick Bellie Prob- able connections Thomas Ruddiman Patrick Falconer Rent of the school-chamber Dishonours his " testrfi- cat" A blank page Robert Mortimer Disturbing influ- ences of the Rebellion Carried off with the temptation for one day Makes acknowledgment James Milne XXVI CONTENTS. First teacher of Beattie The school of some reputation Dominie of the period Scholarship Deserts his literary labours Death John Scott An element of weakness in the old system A too sweeping denunciation The dominie's wig Proprietary school Paddock Pool In- genious pupils William Pyper Appointment Removal Master of the High School of Edinburgh Professor of Humanity LL.D. George Begg William Farquhar Character Appointed minister of Forglen Farewell sermon Death D. G. P. Smith Character Health Death Testimony of his great worth John Keppie Retrospect Prospect, ..... 268 CHAPTER XXXVI. VILLAGE TEACHERS. Margaret Croll James Menzies Dominie Robb A wonder- ful calculator A deliberate shopkeeper Imitative pupils Alexander Wood Familiar figure His "academy" Walter Napier Mr Wood long a successful teacher Lewis Strachan Passage -at -arms A blundering boy Street beggars Visit of the minister His den A pro- mised treat Ordering his dinner Familiarity of address The Cairn Wood and its "wasp-bykes" Opposition started A quandary Willie Hampton brings relief His prediction proved correct Blighted prospects Last years Death, . . . . .278 PART FIFTH. DISTINGUISHED MEN. CHAPTER XXXVII. JAMES BEATTIE, LL.D. House in which he was born Parents Boyhood Early habits Schoolboy impressions revived in ' The Minstrel ' First beholds the ocean Churchyard described in ' The Minstrel ' Enters college Schoolmaster of Fordoun Society there Lord Gardenstone his first patron Master CONTENTS. XXVH of Aberdeen Grammar - School First publication Pro- fessor of Moral Philosophy 'The Minstrel' Perfection of poetry Rank in literature ' Essay on Truth ' ' Evidences ' Oxford degree Conference with the King Sir Joshua Reynolds Allegorical painting of Beattie Characteristic letter of Sir Joshua Mrs Beattie Death of sons Loss of memory "Done with the world" Death 'The Hermit,' . . . .285 CHAPTER XXXVIII. THOMAS RUDDIMAN ALEX. ROSS. Thomas Ruddiman Affecting incident Education Fond- ness of dogs Competition for bursaries Band of gipsies The highest honours Lord Lovat Master of Arts First production Tutor at Auldbar Appointed schoolmaster Salary School Class-book Meets with Dr Pitcairne Removal to Edinburgh Advocates' Library Auctioneer Dundee Grammar - School 'Rudiments of the Latin Language' Printer to the University 'Caledonian Mer- cury' Death Lord Gardenstone Cenotaph Alexander Ross Assistant -schoolmaster Schoolmaster of Lochlee Quaint inscription Writings Opinion of Burns Beattie's friendship Visit to Gordon Castle Death, . 298 CHAPTER XXXIX. DR COOK AND OTHERS. John Cook, D.D. Early years Minister of Cults Hadding- ton Services to the Church Clerk of General Assembly Leader in the Church Education Bill Chairman of school boards Patronage Last speeches Moderator- ship Death George Menzies Early life Gardener Teacher Weaver First publication 'Village Poet' Keen politician "A humbug, beware of it" Emigrates Editor Death Advocacy of the British Constitution Church and school 'My Village Home' Edward Masson Distinguished student Schoolmaster of Far- nell Secretary to the Greek fleet Distinguished ap- pointments in Greece Literary work Professor Death William Duirs Appointment in the Navy Promo- tion Character Death Tribute to his memory James Henderson Charles Gibbon, .... 308 XXViii CONTENTS. PART SIXTH. MISCELLANEOUS. CHAPTER XL. AGRICULTURE IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. General depression Storms of the century The snowy har- vest Ruinous litigation Little security Presence of armies Incidents of the '45 Implements Wheeled vehicles Roads The first gig Plough Oxen Lease of 1710 Difficulty in procuring tenants A rent-list A roup-roll Wheaten bread, .... 320 CHAPTER XLL FAIRS. Ancient fair Willie Blacklaws' sweeties Origin of fairs St Anthony's Fair When established Stance St James's Fair, original site Origin of name St Laurence Fair established Site Tradition of a combat Katie's Mar- ketOrigin of name Unexpected canonisation Royal charter Halberts for disorderly people Burgh fair Custom Booths Escape of a prisoner Cattle and grain markets First site Railway Present site Importance, 326 CHAPTER XLIL HOSTELRIES. Ancient and modern Chance Inn Village inn of the seven- teenth century A discerning hostess Boar's Head Inn A capper Bleeder and blisterer Mrs Cruickshank Library Visit of Or Johnson and Boswell George Colman An offering to the Muse What it elicited William Cream Posting establishment Inn upon Haul- kerton A distinguished soldier The brewery estab- lished Walter Adam System of rotation The Sign of the Grapes Goskie and the Frenchman Royal Hotel Western Hotel Origin and management Swan Inn Downie and the Italian musician Downie Mortifications Smaller establishments, .... 332 CONTENTS. XXIX CHAPTER XLIIL OLD CUSTOMS. Spinning Farmers' wives Stamp - master Domestic ser- vants Competitive exhibitions Smuggling Pernicious effects Highland whisky Connivance of farmers Ac- quiescence of people Means for suppression A gauger's adventure Social visiting Strange custom Beneficial change Transition period Bachelors' party Bragging Englishman silenced Funerals Gratifying improvement Old practice James Spankie, . . . .341 CHAPTER XLIV. SOCIAL AND POLITICAL. deeply interesting chapter The first strike on record Public meeting Total abolition Butter and eggs Sit- ting near the door Public meeting Successful petition . Reform Bill passed Jubilee Juvenile Society First political election Bought and sold Tory vice Veteran elector Musicians Liberal entertainment Substitute provided March to the poll Return journey, . . 347 CHAPTER XLV. ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. Sheriff-court at Kincardine Removal to Stonehaven Curious reason for the transference First recorded criminal trial Alexander Gill Apprehended breaking into Mill of Conveth Banished the shire for ever Prosecution for selling meal by measure Capital punishment William Edmonstone "Breaking the victual - house " at Mill of Haulkerton Sentence to be hanged A woman hanged " Pyckine and small theft" Tied with ropes to a man on the way to the gallows A prisoner craves to be transported Sheriff-court divested of its awe 'Defender proposes to fine the prosecutor Annals of prison life An orthodox prisoner Liberty Hall Erection of a prison The first keeper A noisy prisoner, . . 355 XXX CONTEXTS. CHAPTER XLVI. -VAGABONDISM. Circumstances conducive to vagrancy Casuals Badges Knavish beggars Neil More Jock Gudefellow Novel means of defence Ned Macdonald Almanac vendors John Grant Marquis of Breadalbane Michael Cowie Singin' Willie Charles Stormont Tramps' lodging- house Burke and Hare Poor Law Act Gantin Dauvid Robbie Cathro Jeannie Gearie, . . . 362 CHAPTER XLVII. ANECDOTES. Scottish humour Sydney Smith A leg of mutton Frank confession "She's denyin't" Counsel and witness agree A way to deal with trespassers " Nee tamen con- sumebatur" A melting predicament Signing a bill The shepherd and his dog A voice of warning "Aye te' fore " A valuable cruizie A hopeless case Caught in the act A barrel of wigs Welcome home Village Mrs Partington Reward of laziness The dromedary No objections Service announced Black sheep Seditious pamphlets, ..... 369 PARISH AND BURGH OF LAURENCEKIRK. INTEODUCTOEY CHAPTEE. The parish of Laurencekirk, anciently named on- veth, is in that district of Kincardineshire which is known as the Howe of the Mearns. It extends about four miles in length, and its greatest breadth is nearly three miles. The whole area of the parish amounts to 5617 acres. The population in 1871 was 2174, including 1521 resident in the village. The northern and north-eastern boundary of Lau- rencekirk is the parish of Fordoun, from which it is also separated on the east by the Burn of Leppie. Another small stream from the Hill of Garvock, familiarly known as the Gauger's Burn, divides it on the south-west from the parish of Marykirk. To the south-east lies Garvock. The boundary-line between the two parishes was of old the Deer Dyke, or northern enclosure of the ancient forest of Garvock. Eemains of this dyke are found on the lands of A 2 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. Johnston, and traces of it are still visible in the eastern part of the parish. The south-eastern division of the parish forms a gentle slope, intersected by several rivulets which fall into Luther Water a considerable stream, which flows nearly through the middle of the parish, to find its way, after a course of five miles through Mary- kirk, into the Northesk. Both sides of the Luther formed an entire morass in times not very remote. It abounded in wild fowl, such as herons, ducks, snipes, and the other species of birds which were regarded as the proper quarry of the hawk or falcon. This rendered it a fitting neigh- bourhood for the king's hawker or falconer, who received the lands at an early period. The alterna- tive titles of this official were both shortly utilised, one to form the designation of the lands, Haulker- ton, or Hawker's Town ; and the other, Falconer, to serve as the surname of the family who have been so long in possession of them. The inhabitants of these parts were subject for centuries to ague a disease common to dwellers on marshy ground. Tradition asserts that they were frequently driven in consequence from the lower grounds, to make a temporary abode in the more elevated parts of the parish, and on the adjoining lands of Garvock. Traces are still in existence of the huts which were erected in those times of emer- gency. Little more than a century ago, in the words of an old residenter, " the deuks were quackin' a' the wye frae Blackiemuir to Eedmyre." Still earlier, the Howe appeared to the eye of the youthful poet, when viewing it from the uplands in certain condi- INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 3 tions of the atmosphere, what he afterwards described in " The Minstrel " as " Lake, dim-gleaming on the smoky lawn." And the natives of the district, even at a compara- tively recent date, had difficulty in obtaining situa- tions as servants until they could furnish satisfactory evidence that they were free from ague. Happily, not a trace of the malady remains, now that agricul- tural skill and perseverance, characteristic of the " men of the Mearns," have been applied to good purpose. The process of converting these marshy grounds into arable land, which had gone on gradually for a lengthened period, was at last rewarded with com- plete success by the deepening and straightening of the channel of the Luther. In course of the drainage operations on the bogs of Bent, a remarkable discovery was made in the year 1862. A large accumulation of the bones of animals was found in one place. When subjected to scientific examination they were pronounced to be the bones of horses, cattle, deer, and, in one case at least, of a human skeleton, indicating the propor- tions of a man above the average size. The place in which those relics of many a speedy death were found had probably been a " wal-ee " (" well-eye "), the part of a quagmire most likely to prove fatal to unsuspecting man or beast. There is no tradition as to how or when the human life had been sacrificed. The lower animals had probably met their fate, at long intervals between, when on the way to quench their thirst at the neighbouring stream unless, in- 4 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. deed, the appearance of a spring at the spot had lured them off their course to an untimely end. A number of the bones were transferred to the Mon- trose Museum, and the following account of them is extracted from the records of that institution : " The bones were found beneath three or four feet of peat, lying in a quicksand, through which a strong spring of water arose, and belonged to man and the following inferior animals viz., the horse, the dog, the red-deer, and the roe-deer ; and three varieties of oxen viz., Bos primigenius, Bos longifrons, and a hornless animal resembling the existing Angus breed." It is added that within the memory of persons alive peat had been removed from the surface. The village of Laurencekirk covers an elevated and healthy site at the southern extremity of the parish, at an average height of 270 feet above the level of the sea. It is visible from different points at considerable distance, and, from whatever point of view, it presents a picturesque appearance, derived in no small measure from the trees with which the surrounding landscape is adorned. The village is distinguished for its salubrity ; and, though disap- pointed travellers by rail have conferred upon it the unenviable name of " Snowy Terminus," the frequent detention of railway trains, in the time of storms, arises from no special severity of a Laurencekirk winter, but from the peculiar construction of the line, which renders it specially liable to be blocked in the neighbourhood. The western boundary of the parish is within a mile of the ancient Castle of Kincardine, now a ruin, INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 5 but once a favourite residence of the Scottish kings. Old charters show that the early destination of many of the lands of the parish was the result of this proximity to the abode of royalty. Favourite ser- vants, and in one case a brother-in-law, were selected for gifts of land in possession of the Crown, and near the residence of the king. But the removal of the king's residence from the neighbourhood did not seal the fountain of honour and reward to the parish and parishioners of Lau- lencekirk. Many years after, the first Lord Haulker- ton, for his services to the two Charles's, was re- warded by his elevation to the peerage, and other marks of royal favour; and the erection of the first burgh in the parish had previously been granted by King James to him or his father. More than a cen- tury later still, when such privileges were no longer wont to be conferred for service to the reigning mon- arch in person, Lord Gardenstone had influence to procure the creation of the present burgh. The claim of the parish to literary distinction will not be denied by those who bear in mind that Thomas Euddiman was one of the earliest of its schoolmasters on record ; and that James Beattie, author of " The Minstrel," was a native of the parish, and received his whole elementary training at the parish school. The origin of Conveth, the ancient name of the parish, has never been satisfactorily accounted for. It has been defined by some as meaning " lands con- veyed;" and by others, "duty paid to an ecclesiastical superior." It has been suggested, too, that the word " Conva," implying " plain of the hounds," may indi- 6 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. cate a meeting-place for the sportsmen of the neigh- bourhood. But a more likely derivation is from two Celtic words signifying " the little head or promon- tory," which a slight modification would naturally merge into Conveth. This definition is character- istic of the situation of the church, and, in a less degree, of a site on the farm of Scotston still known as the Chapel Knap. It is a curious coincidence that Conveth was long the name of a parish in Banffshire and another in Inverness-shire, and in both cases was discarded for the respective names of Inverkeithny and Kiltarlity. The popular use of the name of Conveth, in de- signation of the parish, was probably discontinued before the end of the seventeenth century, though occasionally it is found in ecclesiastical records during the century which followed, and the sacra- mental tokens still in use bear the inscription, " Token for the Parish of Conveth. Dr Cook, Min. 1814." The derivation of the modern name of the parish is apparent, the kirk having been dedicated to St Lawrence. The date of its origin is more doubtful, and the earliest notice of it refers to Ruddiman's official connection with the school, in the last decade of the seventeenth century. It is reasonable, however, to presume that the name of Laurencekirk was familiar in the neighbourhood years before the century closed. There is no doubt that it was first assumed as the distinctive name of the burgh of Haulkerton, prob- ably to obviate confusion with the barony, of which it was a component part. The causes which led to its adoption by the parish at large are not apparent. INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 7 The first authentic account gives the population of the parish in 1755 as 757 souls; and all the available statistics seem to indicate that the num- ber had varied but little, if any, from the beginning of the century. In 1801 the population had risen to 1215, the increase being due chiefly, if not en- tirely, to the village. According to a census taken by the minister of the parish in 1835, the popula- tion amounted to 1938, of whom 1391 were in the burgh, leaving a rural population of 547. At the national census of 1871, it was found that, while the burgal population had been augmented by 130, the rural had been increased by 106, the respective numbers being 1521 and 653, making a gross population of 2174. During the larger part of the eighteenth century the people were wholly dependent upon agricultural labour for their subsistence, the few shopkeepers and tradesmen of course gaining a livelihood from those who were tillers of the soil. A change was gradually introduced by Lord Gardenstone. Various kinds of manufacture were attempted, and carried on for a time. A starch-work was in active operation for a number of years. Quarries were opened at different times on different parts of the estate of Johnston, but the encouragement found was not sufficient to insure their continuance. A few stocking-weavers were in- duced to settle ; but this branch of industry not succeeding, they mostly betook themselves to other employment. The craft which was earliest developed, and took firmest hold upon the community, was that of hand -loom weaving. This was not confined to the burgh in the earliest period of its existence, but 8 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. extended through the whole parish. Eeferriug to this period, a statistical account of the parish re- cords that "there was carried on an extensive do- mestic manufacture of linen, which was commonly known in the markets by the name of ' Mearns linen ; ' and the spinning of the yarn, and manufac- turing of the cloth, afforded employment to many hands in the families both of tenants and of croft- ers." The work executed was partly for family use ; but the surplus found its way to the markets, at which a day was specially appropriated for the sale of linen. By-and-by, weaving at home was practically dis- continued, and public weaving-shops became the rule. For a while the linen was prepared to order, or dis- posed of to private customers. But this practice also came to be exceptional. Agencies for distant weaving companies, mainly in Aberdeen, were estab- lished, the yarn being supplied from headquarters, the weavers receiving so much a-piece, and the re- sponsible agents deriving their profit as a kind of middle - men. According to the statistical account of 1836, "The number of pieces and yards made annually may on an average be as under: Pieces, 5812 ; yards, 416,440 ; value, 13,106. The aver- age sum obtained for weaving, being at the rate of l|d. per yard, is 2168, 19s. 2d. The weavers in general work about 15 hours a-day, and the more able and industrious seldom earn more than 7s. or 8s. a-week." At that date there were engaged in the parish at hand-loom weaving 68 heads of families, 44 unmarried men and boys, and 35 unmarried females and widows, in all, 147 persons, besides a few mar- INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 9 ried women. Of heads of families at the same time there were 46 day-labourers, 39 farm -servants, 16 shoemakers or cobblers, 8 wrights or carpenters, 8 masons, and 7 tailors. But another important manufacture remains to be noticed. A bleach-field was originated at Blackie- muir towards the close of last century by Colin Gillies, who was also tenant of Keilburn, and be- longed to a well-known family in Brechin, to whom Lord Gillies also belonged, and another of whose members was a laird of Balmakewan. It was con- tinued as a bleach-field until about 1813, when the work was converted into a spinning-mill. The mill was for some time tenanted by a family named Greig, also of Brechin ; and eventually it was leased by Alexander Walker, son of the farmer at Newlands. He was succeeded, at his death in 1 8 2 7, by a brother, George, who was followed by another brother, David. He retired from the concern in 1842, and, the dam- dyke having to give way to some necessary improve- ments, the work was discontinued. David Walker, who had come from a mercantile situation in Glasgow to take charge, removed to Laurencekirk, where he died in 1845. In 1827 there were seven spinning- frames in the mill, and before the close the number had increased to eleven. The number of hands em- ployed in 1835 were 7 men and 25 women; and the quantity and cost of the yarn manufactured at the same period were estimated as follows : 24,000 spindles, 3 lb. at 2s. Id., . . .2500 13,500 do. tow-yarn, 6 lb. at 2s. 3d., . 1518 15 i'4018 15 10 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. Coming to the present time, it is found that hand- loom weaving, once the staple occupation, has de- clined to less than a fourth of its extent in 1836, giving employment to 34 hands in all. These are composed of 16 married men and widowers, heads of families; 10 unmarried females and widows; 4 un- married men ; and 4 married women. With one or two exceptions, they work for an employer in Brechin, who has an agent in the village. While the wages vary much according to circumstances, there is a considerable increase on the whole. The average is estimated at about 12s. a- week, though one expert hand is said to be able, by working additional hours, to earn as much as 30s. The fabrics produced are sheeting, towelling, and winceys. It is estimated that about a hundred labourers reside in the village, a large proportion of whom are householders. They consist of farm-servants, drainers, road- workers, wood -cutters, hedgers, &c. The rail- way gives constant employment to 21 men and boys, besides occasional work to the labourers in the village. The brewery finds occupation for 8 hands. And, in addition to those enumerated, more than a score of females earn a livelihood by field -labour, or other occasional employment. The next census may show a slight increase of pop- ulation ; but the prosperity of the burgh during the last half-century is chiefly apparent in evident signs of improvement in the circumstances of the people. The large and well -replenished shops are a strik- ing contrast to the humble establishments of forty or fifty years ago, and indicate that the supply of all the varieties of merchandise has much exceeded the INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 11 demand which could have arisen from the mere in- crement of population. The full measure of this prosperity is not indeed derived from the burgh alone, or from the burgh and the parish combined, but from the whole district of which Laurencekirk is the cen- tre. But the transformation which has been effected is large enough to include all those sources of a grow- ing demand for the necessaries of life, some of which would have been regarded as its superfluities in years not very remote. And the satisfaction is greater in knowing that in the growing importance of the burgh is reflected not only the increasing prosperity of its inhabitants, but an evident token that, as time pro- gresses, it is coming to be recognised more and more as the central town of an industrious neighbourhood. PART FIRST. THE PARISH AND ITS LANDOWNERS. CHAPTEE I. THE LAND AND ITS OWNERS. Scotland is supposed to have been divided into parishes during the reign of David I. (1124-53). If the whole lands constituting the parish now called Laurencekirk had been separated longitudinally into three nearly equal parts, the district of Conveth, which gave its name to the parochial combination, would have formed the central division. The north- ern division would have been the lands lying mainly to the north of Luther "Water, which formed a district then named Luthra. The remaining division, which would have been more irregular in its conformation, would have consisted of the lands included in the parish from a district of which no mention is found at so early a period, but which comes into notice more than a century afterwards, under the name of the barony of Garuocis or Garvock. The lands of THE LAND AND ITS OWNERS. 13 this third division were probably those of Johnston as originally constituted, Burnton, part of Scotston, Powburn, and Eedmyre. Blackiemuir and Haddo, which may be regarded as the extremities of the Conveth district, belonged at a very early date to the Priory of St Andrews ; and Haddo is understood to have continued in its possession until shortly before the Reformation. The Abbey of Arbroath was founded by King "William the Lion in 1178 ; and, soon after the con- stitution of the parish, various grants of its lands were made to the abbot and his institution. It does not appear that the lands were long cultivated, if they ever were, directly in the interests of the ecclesias- tical superiors. Soon after the gift, they were proba- bly disposed of to the parties in whose favour the earlier charters are found. The lands which were thus placed at the disposal of the Abbey comprised the whole or part of Conveth, Scotston, and Haulk- erton. The rest of the parish seems to have been com- posed chiefly of royal lands, which were conferred by different monarchs, either in reward for service to the State, or as gifts to favourite servants of the king's person or household. The family of Berkeley, whose name was changed to Barclay, were the first known to be proprietors in the parish. They were probably in possession of th6 whole lands of Conveth, to begin with ; but from the beginning of the fourteenth century, down to the first quarter of the seventeenth century, the interest of the main line of the family was confined to Westerton of Conveth. A branch of the family had been estab- 14 THE PARISH AND ITS LANDOWNERS. lished in possession of the original lands of John- ston about the middle of the sixteenth century. This branch held Burnton also for a number of years, and their connection with Johnston ended in 1762. For many years of the present century the Barclays were represented among the farmers of good position in the parish ; and, after an interval of nearly a hundred years, their representatives were found again among the proprietors. The Falconers were probably the next family on record who owned lands in the parish. Their name is associated with Luthra in the reign of William the Lion, and with Haulkerton in 1296, though their actual interest in the parish for the next two cen- turies is not very clear. Their connection with Haulkerton can be clearly traced from the close of the fifteenth century to the present day. Once or twice a portion of it seems to have been temporarily out of their possession ; but they have never quitted their hold upon the main part of the estate, which has continued in the hands of successive chiefs of the family. Different branches also have been among the landowners. An uncle of the first peer owned Burnton. One brother was proprietor of the barony of Scotston and Powburn ; and another was the pro- genitor of the Glenfarquhar family, who held exten- sive possessions in the parish, and one of whom suc- ceeded eventually to the title of Lord Falconer and the estate of Haulkerton. The fifth Lord Falconer, marrying a daughter of Kintore, united the family with the Keiths-Marischal, and opened the way of succession to the earldom of Kintore. The next in point of time among the proprietors THE LAND AND ITS OWNERS. 15 of the parish were the Middletons. Mr Jervise and others have attributed the origin of this family to Fettercairn, hut there is nothing to identify them with that parish until the seventeenth century. They were early in possession of the " Middle towns " of Conveth, and adopted the territorial name. For about three centuries they bore the designation of Middletons of that Ilk, though part of the estate had probably gone from their possession. Towards the middle of the sixteenth century they exchanged the remainder for Kilnhill and part of Bent, when they assumed the name of Middleton of " Kilnhill." Their interest as landowners in the parish terminated in 1606. The Wisharts were the next family to be classed among the proprietors of the parish. They obtained possession of Conveth, Haulkerton, and Scotston in 1246. The two last were held only for a few years, and the chief interest of the family was subsequently confined to the Mill and Mill-lands of Conveth, which were then, as now, joined to Pittarrow. They con- tinued in possession of the heads of the house until the beginning of the seventeenth century, when the necessities of Sir John Wishart led to their disposal. They were transferred to the possession of a younger brother, who sold them before 1631, and so termi- nated the immediate connection of the family with the parish. Early in the fourteenth century, probably the whole barony of Garvock, and certainly the lands of Johnston, were in possession of a family named Fraser, whose chief was designated Thane of Cowie. They soon passed, through marriage with the heiress, into 16 THE PARISH AND ITS LANDOWNERS. the hands of the Keiths -Marischal. Johnston and Burnton continued in possession of that family until the time of the fourth Earl Marischal, who disposed of them about the middle of the sixteenth century. Other portions of the barony, as well as Haddo, had in the meantime been acquired by Keiths, descendants of the second Earl Marischal, to be held by successive generations ; and one of the later members of the family was for some years in possession of Burnton. The last of the Keiths closed his connection as a proprietor in the parish in 1677. The Keiths-Mar- ischal are now represented in the parish by the Earl of Kintore. The lands of Blackiemuir came into the possession of Sir David Lindsay, first Earl of Crawford, towards the close of the fourteenth century ; but they continued only for a few years, and the connection of that noble family with the parish was a temporary one. Another family belonging to the peerage, whose chief estates lay in Perthshire, held possessions in the parish of Conveth for nearly a century and a half. Patrick, Master of Gray, who owned lands in Kinneff, died before 1464; and three years after that date, Annabella Eorbes, who is supposed to have been his relict, died; leaving to her heir, William Meldrum a child by a second marriage the barony of Scotston and Powburn, which was resigned by his son and successor in 1543. The third Lord Gray, another son of Annabella Forbes, acquired an interest in part of the lands of Middleton in 1481, and they were gifted to his granddaughter and her husband, Sir John Campbell, in 1539. They were afterwards, in 1593, joined to the Haulkerton estate by the mar- THE LAND AND ITS OWNERS. 17 riage of Sir Alexander Falconer with a daughter of the sixth Lord Gray. During the sixteenth century there were numerous changes in the parish, and several new families in- troduced. Strachan of Thornton was a short time in possession of Haddo. Scotston and Powburn fell into the hands of Allardice of that Ilk in 1543, and, with a short interruption, continued in the family until 1628. Irvine of Drum may then have ac- quired Eedmyre, which was certainly in the family's possession in the beginning of the next century. In the seventeenth century, Eedmyre passed from the Irvines to Stuart of Inchbreck, whose progenitor, according to Mr Jervise, was laird of Johnston in the middle of the sixteenth century. The Stuarts w T ere proprietors of Eedmyre until 1806. Early in the seventeenth century the Marquis of Hamilton appears in connection with Scotston and Powburn. Kilnhill was then in possession of James Livingstone, who was son of Sir John Livingstone of Dunipace, the head of a distinguished family. Blackiemuir was owned by Moncur of Slains. Later on in the century, Mill of Conveth was acquired by the Carnegies ; and it con- tinued in their possession until 1831, when it was purchased by Crombie of Thornton. The only new proprietor of the eighteenth century was Lord Gardenstone. His nephew disposed of Johnston in 1806 to James Farquhar, whose repre- sentatives are still in possession. And Eedmyre was owned by a family named Allardyce from 1806 to 1853, when it was acquired by the present proprie- tor, Dr Johnston of Kair. 18 THE PARISH AND ITS LANDOWNERS. CHAPTEE II. DE BERKELEYS. Umfrid or Humphrey de Berkeley was not only the first proprietor of lands in Conveth of whom information has come down, but he was the first person whose name is actually identified with the parish. He was descended from the noble English family of Berkeley, being the son of Theobold de Berkeley, who was born in 1110, and lived in the reigns of Alexander I. and David I. He came to Scotland with William the Lion, among whose followers also were his uncles Walter and William, and his nephew Eobert. These four Berkeleys were founders of families in Scotland ; and one of the most powerful and opulent in Kincardine- shire was that of which Humphrey was the ori- ginator. For various services, he received from the king a grant of the lands of Balfeith, Monboddo, Glenfarquhar, Fordoun, &c. The district, which in- cluded Conveth, was called " Mernez " or Mearns, which is said to denote "little hills." Donations from his extensive estates were granted to the monks of Aberbrothwick, or Arbroath. There is a charter without date, but supposed to belong to the years 1204-11, in which Umfrid de Berkeley grants the lands of Balfeith to the Abbey of Arbroath. Along with these lands it confers " conveniences of peatery and pasture from his fen of Kirkell and Cuneueth, so that the monks and their men may have grazing DE BEKKELEYS. 19 for one hundred beasts with their followers, and for as many swine, and as numerous a breed of horses, as the monks may choose to have on the foresaid land." For the maintenance of those beasts, they were also granted a right of shealing, from Pasch to the Feast of All-Saints, in Tuberlach, Crospath, or Glenferkaryn. Humphrey de Berkeley was succeeded by his only child, a daughter, named Eichenda, who, in the reign of Alexander II. (1214-49), renewed and con- firmed the donations which her father had made. She died without issue, and was succeeded by her uncle. John de Berkeley, on succeeding to the estates, dispossessed the monks of the gifts which they had received from his brother, and which had been con- firmed by his niece. The ecclesiastics, however, took measures in defence of their rights, the result of which was, that he was compelled to give them a portion of his lands of Conveth in lieu of those which he had taken. This transaction also occur- red in the time of Alexander II., by whom it was ratified. Eobert de Berkeley was the next representative of the family, and there is evidence that he concurred in the compromise which his father had made with the monks. It is nowhere specified what portion of Conveth was thus assigned to the Church, though it certainly included the lands attached to the Mill. Hugh de Berkeley was the son and successor of Eobert. He received from Eobert the Bruce (1306- 29) a charter over the lands of Westerton of Con- veth. This included the ancient St Lawrence, and 20 THE PARISH AND ITS LANDOWNERS. adjoining lands which now form part of Spume- hillock, the farm of Borrowmuirhills, and not impro- bably the northern division of the Johnston estate. Alexander de Berkeley succeeded his father, and became founder of the Berkeleys, or Barclays, of Mathers. " The Mearns " continued for many gen- erations in possession of the family, though there is no direct evidence of how long Westerton of Conveth formed part of their estates. Mathrys or Mathers was acquired by Alexander de Berkeley in 1351, through his marriage with Catherine Keith, sister of William de Keith, Marischal of Scotland. David de Berkeley of Mearns and Mathrys, who succeeded his father, married Catherine Seton ; and their son, Alexander de Berkeley, whose wife was Helen Graham of Morphie, followed in possession of the family estates in 1407. David de Berkeley succeeded in 1438, and married Elizabeth Strachan, daughter of the laird of Thorn- ton. It was this David who built the Kaim of Mathers, the remains of which are still visible. He was one of the barons engaged in the murder of the sheriff, who was " sodden and suppit in bree." His accomplices took refuge from the king's wrath in the Fife Sanctuary ; but the laird of Mathers pre- ferred to stay at home, and " Buyld a lordlie kaim All onne the stonie rock, Which mote dene the sovereign's arms, And eke the tempest's shock." The next laird was Alexander de Berkeley, who was the first to adopt the name of Barclay, which has continued to be the family surname. He mar- DE BEKKELEYS. 21 ried Catherine Wishart of Pittarrow, who was prob- ably a daughter of James Wishart. In 1480 he made over the estates to his eldest son, and present- ed him, on the occasion, with the following excellent advice in verse : " Giff tliou desires thy house lang stand, An' thy successors bruik thy land, Abive all things love God in feare, Intromit nought in wrangous geare, Nor conques' naething wrangouslie. With thy neibour keep charitie ; See that thou pass not thy estate, Obey duly thy magistrate. Oppress not but support the puir, To help the common weal tak' care ; Use nae deceit, mel na wi' treason, An' to all men doe richt and reason. Baith in word an' deed be true, All kind of wickedness eschew. Slay no man, nor thereto consent, Be naught cruel but patient, Ally'd aye in some guid place Wi' noble, honest, godly race ; Hate whoerdom, and all oathes flee. Be humble and haunt guid company, Help thy friend, an' doe nae wrang, An' God sail cause thy house stand lang." Alexander Barclay died in 1483. His son, David Barclay, married Janet Irvine of Drum ; and he was succeeded by their son, Alexander Barclay, whose wife was a daughter of Auchinleck of Glenbervie. In 1497 he disposed of the lands of Slains and Fal- side to Moncur of Knapp. His son, George Barclay, married a daughter of Sir James Auchterlony of Auchterlony and Kelly. He came into possession of the estates in 1520, and died in 1547. He was succeeded by his son, David Barclay, who 22 THE PARISH AND ITS LANDOWNERS. was the ninth laird of Mathers of the race of Barclay. He was twice married first to the daughter of Eait of Hallgreen, by whom he had a son, George, who succeeded to the family estates. His second wife was Catherine Home, for whose son, John, the estate of Johnston was purchnsed by his father. The branch of the family which he originated will be noticed in another chapter. The main line was continued by George Barclay, whose first wife was Mary, daughter of Sir Thomas Erskine of Brechin, Secretary to James V. His second wife, Isobel Wood, daughter of the laird of Bonnington, was probably a sister of David Wood of Craig, who filled the office of Comptroller in the service of that monarch. The son of this second marriage acquired the lands of Brigton and Jackston. George succeeded to the estates in 1560. Thomas Barclay, eldest son of the first marriage, was the next representative of the family. His wife was Janet Straiton, daughter of the laird of Lauriston. David Barclay, their son, was the twelfth and last of the Berkeley race in possession of " The Mearns and Mathrys." He was born in 1580. His first wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Livingstone of Dunipace. He has been described as a polite and accomplished man, but extravagant in his style of living. Partly as the result of this extravagance, and partly from becoming involved as security in the affairs of his wife's family, he was obliged to dispose of his chief estates. By his second wife, Margaret Keith, he had a son, James, who was a captain in the army, and fell at the battle of Philip- haugh and a daughter, Catherine, who married, first DE BEEKELEYS. 23 Douglas of Gilliewhillie, and then Bishop Strachan of Brechin. In the account given of the Barclays, within the Howff at Urie, the two eldest sons of David Barclay are represented as having " died young." The statement, however, is liable to excep- tion as regards one of the two, there being evidence, which will yet appear, that a son, Alexander, not ac- counted for in the Urie narrative, was one of the two eldest sons, and reached the years of maturity. The third son, David, was the progenitor of the Barclays of Urie ; and Robert, the fourth son, became rector of the Scots College at Paris. As the Urie family have been popularly regarded as the main line of the Barclays of Mathers, it may be interesting to trace it briefly, and the more that it leads by a female branch to one of the families now in possession of lands in the parish. David Barclay, born in 1610, became a distin- guished soldier under Gustavus Adolphus, and after- wards signalised himself in the unhappy civil wars. He purchased the estate of Urie from Earl Marischal in 1648; and his tombstone records that, "having religiously abdicated the world in 1666, he joyned the Quakers, and died 12 of October 1686." Robert Barclay, his son, born in 1648, was the author of the " Apology for the Quakers." He died in 1690, and was succeeded by his son, Robert Barclay, whose death in 1747 gave possession to his son, Robert Barclay, surnamed the Strong, who has been described as of a turbulent and quarrelsome disposition, and fond of travelling incognito. He married Une Cameron, daughter of Sir Evan Cameron of Lochiel, and died in 1760. 24 THE PARISH AND ITS LANDOWNERS. The next laird, Kobert Barclay, was born in 1751. He improved the estate, granting feus, from which the New Town of Stonehaven has arisen. He represented the county in three successive parliaments, and died in 1797. His wife was Sarah Ann, only child of James Allardice of Allardice, the last representative of an unbroken line of male proprietors from the time of King William the Lion. Through his mar- riage Eobert Barclay received the estate, and as- sumed the surname of Allardice. His wife was descended in the fifth generation from Lady Mary Graham, eldest daughter of Lord Kilpont, who was heir-apparent of the first Earl of Airth and Menteith. In 1785 Mrs Barclay- Allardice was served nearest and lawful eldest heir-portioner in general to the second Earl ; and the heads of the family have been successive claimants to the title. Une Cameron Barclay- Allardice, the second daughter, became the wife of John Innes of Cowie, and died in 1809, at the age of thirty-one. Her daughter, Margaret Allardice Innes, relict of Alexander Gibbon, is the mother of Mrs Pearson, proprietrix of Johnston. The last proprietor of Urie of the Barclay family was Eobert Barclay- Allardice, famous as an agricul- turist, and still more for his pedestrian feats, who was born in 1779, and died in 1854. Another family, closely related to the parish, may reasonably claim to be not only lineally descended from the Berkeleys, who so long occupied a prom- inent position in the parish and district, but to be the existing representatives of the main line of the Barclays of Mathers. While the Urie Barclays were descended from the third son of the last of the family DE BERKELEYS. 25 in possession of Mathers, the probability is that the eldest son was progenitor of the family at Newton. The statement, that David Barclay's two eldest sons died young, conflicts with the fact that, among the writs of Kirktonhill, there is a charter of resignation by him, with consent of his son Alexander, dated 1632. Alexander Barclay must have been one of the two sons referred to, but not named, in the Urie inscrip- tion, and therefore older than David, the founder of the Urie family, who was born in 1610. He was twenty-four years of age at least when he subscribed the charter. On the dissipation of the family estates, while the third son went forth to push his fortune as a soldier, the eldest may have been content to remain at home, at the cost of occupying a lower place in the social scale than his ancestors had done. Eobert Barclay, the earliest progenitor of the New- ton family of whom there is certain information, lived at Balmaleedie down to about 1680. It is not posi- tively affirmed that he was the son of Alexander Barclay, or the actual possessor of Balmaleedie, but there is presumptive evidence of both facts, in the certainty that he had the right of burial within the eastern aisle of the kirk of Aberluthnott, or Mary- kirk, which he could only have acquired as a heritor of the parish, and which has descended to the present generation of the family. It is suggestive also to find that, about the time of Balmaleedie's being included in the new barony of Newton, erected in 1682, Bobert Barclay and his family acquired an interest in the lands of Newton, which they farmed during a whole lease rent-free, the result evidently of an arrangement with Lord Newton having some reference to his new acqui- 26 THE PARISH AND ITS LANDOWNERS. sition. There is a tradition that this Robert was a very powerful man, and that, on occasion of one of the conflicts which were frequent in his day, he held the den of Balmaleedie or Canterland against the king's men. His wife was Catherine Erskine of Dalgety, and they had three sons, the youngest of whom, John, is supposed to have been tenant at Whitesauch about 1727. Robert Barclay, the eldest son, succeeded his father on the farm of Newton, which, from his time, was held by the family on the ordinary conditions. He died in 1701, and was survived by his wife, Jean Cloudesley, until 1743, when she died, aged ninety- four years. One of their daughters was married to a tenant of Bent named Alexander. Robert Barclay, the eldest son, was the next farmer of Newton. He married Mary Lyall, a daughter of the tenant at Carcary, in 1718. David Barclay, a twin-son of this marriage, born in 1733, was pro- genitor of the Barclays at North Water Bridge. He was the father of William Barclay, who was tenant, first at Kilnhill, and afterwards for a long period at Scotston, from which he removed to the village, and died there. One daughter of David Barclay was the wife of David Cowie, and another, Mrs Carnegie, still survives, a venerable lady who, when eighty -nine years of age, made a first visit to London, and viewed the wonders of the great metropolis with as much rel- ish and appreciation as if she had been still in her teens. Her father was thirteen years of age when the battle of Culloden was fought; and her great-grandmother, Jean Cloudesley, was born in 1649, the year which witnessed the execution of the unhappy King Charles. THE KEITHS-MARISCHAL. 27 How few of the persons then alive are represented now by the descendants of the third generation ! Eobert Barclay, the eldest son, was the next farmer at Newton. He married Ann Middleton, daughter of the tenant at Mains of Logie, supposed to be a cadet of the Middletons of Caldhame. They had two sons. Eobert Barclay and Charles Edward Barclay were successive farmers. Of the family of Charles there still survive Mrs Johnston of Kair and Eedmyre, and Eobert Barclay of Inchbrayock, who has been one of his father's successors in the Provostship of Montrose. Thomas Barclay, solicitor in Montrose, the eldest son of Charles, succeeded as tenant of Newton, and, in 1864, resigned connection with the lands, which had been held by his family for six generations. He died in 1879. Charles Edward Barclay is son of Thomas Barclay ; and it may be affirmed, with all but complete as- surance, that he is the living representative of the head of the Berkeleys of "Mernez and Mathrys," in the twenty-third generation in direct descent from John de Berkeley. CHAPTEE III. THE KEITHS-MARISCHAL. The family of Keith owned large territory, and ex- ercised much social and political influence for centu- 28 THE PARISH AND ITS LANDOWNERS. ries, in the Mearns and neighbouring counties. In the main line or its branches it was frequently repre- sented among the landed proprietors in the parish, and space may be set apart here for a brief summary of such parts of its history as bear on this connection. The Catti were a valiant tribe of the Germans, who have a prominent place in the history of the first four centuries of the Christian era. They inhabited what is now the Grand-Duchy of Hesse, a State con- secrated in the thoughts of every British patriot by the valuable life and lamented death of the Princess Alice of Great Britain and Ireland. Though consider- ably reduced, the tribe maintained its existence for several centuries more, and a section emigrated to Scotland about the beginning of the eleventh century. Their leader, named Eobert, distinguished himself at Barry in Forfarshire, where a signal victory was obtained over the Danes, under the command of Camus, in 1010. Camus was killed in the engage- ment by the leader of the Catti, who was rewarded by the king, Malcolm II., with a gift of certain lands in East Lothian, which took the name of Catti. The name was changed to Kethi ; thence it passed into Keycht ; and at last it assumed the form of Keith, which it has retained. Eobert Keith was also created heritable Great Marischal of Scotland, and many successive repre- sentatives of the family filled that high office. The family were settled in the south of Scotland for several generations. The eighth in succession, Sir Robert de Keith, served under the standard of Eobert Bruce, and received a grant of lands in Aberdeen- shire for a decisive victory obtained in battle at THE KEITHS-MARISCHAL. 29 Inverurie. He was also at Bannockburn by virtue of his hereditary office in command of the cavalry and his services contributed largely to the success of that eventful day. His signature was one of those attached to the famous letter to the Pope, written at Arbroath in 1320, asserting the independence of Scotland. He fell at the battle of Duplin, in 1332. Sir William Keith, his grandson, built the Castle of Dunnottar about 1394, selecting the site for safe retreat in times of danger. He was excommunicated for having approached too near consecrated ground in his operations, but the sentence was reduced on appeal to the Pope. Dunnottar continued from that date to be the chief seat _pf the family. A more detailed account of this knight, and one or two of his successors, will be found under the chapter on the Barony of Johnston. Sir "William Keith was probably the first of the family to rank among the proprietors of the parish. Johnston is expressly mentioned in the charters of lands which he received through his marriage with the granddaughter of Sir Alexander Fraser. But the barony of " Garuocis " was one of the gifts to Sir Alexander which had certainly been included in the marriage-portion. The barony of Garvock, as origin- ally constituted and held for many years by the Keith family, besides lands in the parish of Garvock, included these belonging to Conveth, Johnston, Burn- ton, Powburn, Scotston, and Eedmyre. There is substantial evidence that the whole of these lands were in possession of the family ; and, until disjoined as gifts to junior branches, they formed, along with the other component parts, a barony under jurisdiction 30 THE PARISH AND ITS LANDOWNERS. of the chief. Barnhill evidently a corruption for Baronhill was the centre at which justice was ad- ministered and councils were held, selected partly for its excellent position, and partly for the admirable facilities which it afforded for the precautions indis- pensable to such gatherings in those wild times. The first Earl Marischal, grandson of the founder of Dunnottar Castle, had a charter of the barony of Garvock in 1442. The lands of Scotston and Pow- burn were then, or had been soon after, disjoined, and in possession of a family named Meldrum. Sub- sequently, however, they reverted to the Keiths, and were owned for a number of years by descendants of the second Earl Marischal. The fourth Earl Marischal also had a charter of Garvock ; and it was in his time that Johnston was separated, as were Eedmyre and Burnton in all prob- ability too. It was the influence of this Earl that procured for Kincardine the honour of being " the principal and capital burgh of the county " a position which it held for about eighty years, when, at the re- quest of the local officials, the court was removed to Stonehaven. The fortunes of the family were at their greatest height in the lifetime of the fourth Earl. His landed property lay in so many counties, that it has been said "he could travel from Berwick to the northern extremity of Scotland, eating every meal, and sleeping every night, upon his own estates." He was present at the battle of Pinkie, and was a supporter of the Eeformation. He died in 1581, and was succeeded by his grandson, whose father, Lord Keith, had died the year before. The fourth Earl was the last of the main line of THE KEITHS-MARISCHAL. 31 the family who owned lands in the parish. But the Keiths' relation to the parish continued so close that it may be interesting to follow its representatives, with a brief notice of the successive chiefs, until they are found again in the noble proprietors of Haulkerton. George, fifth Earl Marischal, studied abroad, when he visited most of the Courts of Europe. At the Court of Hesse he was kindly received, as a descend- ant of the tribe, by the Landgrave, Chief of the Catti. He founded Marischal College of Aberdeen in 1593, and endowed it from his estates with sufficient main- tenance for a principal and four professors. The highest honour available to a subject was conferred upon him in 1609, when he was commissioned to represent the king in the Scottish Parliament. He died in 1623, and was buried in St Bride's Church, as the church of Dunnottar was then called. William, sixth Earl Marischal, was a privy councillor to King Charles I., in whose misfortunes, and those of his family, the Marischals were destined largely to share. Eobert Burns, the poet, who was descended from a Mearns family, claims for his own ancestors the honour of having shared their mis- fortunes : " My ancestors rented lands of the noble Keiths - Marischal, and had the honour of sharing their fate. I mention this, because it threw my father on the world at large. They followed boldly where their leaders led, and welcomed ruin, and shook hands with infamy, for what they believed to be the cause of their God and their king." The two eldest sons of the sixth Earl were suc- cessive Earls, and the fourth son was raised to the peerage with the title of Earl of Kintore. 32 THE PARISH AND ITS LANDOWNERS. William, seventh Earl Marischal, succeeded his father in 1635, and attached himself to the cause of the unfortunate King Charles, for whose rescue he raised a troop in 1648, but was unsuccessful in the attempt. He fought in the battle of Preston ; and when the Duke of Hamilton was taken prisoner, the thoughts of the nobles at once turned to him as the fittest successor in command. At a council of war, the Earl of Roxburgh said "he thought the first offer ought to be made to the Earl Marischal, whose family may be ranked among the first in Scotland, as having often distinguished itself by its loyalty and bravery; one who has a plentiful estate, in the flower of his age, not in the least suspected of fac- tion and disloyalty ; and which is of itself no small recommendation in the present case one who is not courting this preferment." But for the wilful ambi- tion of the Earl of Lanark, his election would have been sure. The Earl entertained Charles II. at his castle of Dunnottar in 1650; and the following year he was made prisoner at Alyth when engaged in the king's service. He was committed to the Tower of London, and is supposed to have been several years afterwards in England. At the Eestoration he was nominated one of the privy council, and constituted keeper of the privy seal, honours which he enjoyed a very short time, having died in 1661. He had four daughters, and his only son had died in infancy. George, eighth Earl Marischal, succeeded his bro- ther, and also distinguished himself in the royal service. He died in 1694, and was succeeded by his only son. William, ninth Earl Marischal, gave many proofs THE KEITHS-MARISCHAL. 33 of disaffection in the reign of "William. His second son was the illustrious Marshal Keith. The Hon. James Keith, having been implicated in the Kebellion of 1715, proceeded to the Continent, and was some time in the service of Spain. He also served in the Eussian army, in which he was promoted to the rank of general. Afterwards, entering the service of the King of Prussia, he distinguished himself in the war with Austria. Accomplishing deeds of heroism, he fell in a fierce conflict mortally wounded. His remains were interred at Hochkirchen, from which they were removed to Berlin with funereal honours of marked distinction. A eulogy published at Berlin closed in these terms : " Thus fell one of the great- est men of this age, worthy to be compared with those illustrious heroes who are the boast of Greece and Bome." George, tenth Earl Marischal, succeeded in 1712 to the remains of a once magnificent inheritance, diminished of much of its territory through the troubles of the times, and by gifts conferred on younger branches of the house. Instigated by his mother, Lady Mary Drummond, who was a Boman Catholic, he involved himself in the unhappy Re- bellion, and the family estates were forfeited. The net yearly rental in 1718 was 2384, and the whole lands were sold two years after to the York Build- ings Company for 41,172. After many years' residence abroad, he was pardoned in 1760, and relieved as far as possible, by Act of Parliament, from the consequences of his attainder. He suc- ceeded to the Kintore estates in 1761, and would C 34 THE PARISH AND ITS LANDOWNERS. have inherited the title as well, had he not refused to allow a clause to that effect to be inserted in the Act. Subsequently he purchased part of the family- estates, intending to reside in Scotland. But the King of Prussia, in whose favour he had long stood high, was urgent for his return to that country. He complied, and died at Potsdam, in the eighty-sixth year of his age, leaving behind him a most excellent reputation. His lordship was unmarried, and his death opened the succession to Lord Haulkerton, not only to the entailed estates, but to the title of Kintore. EARLS OF KINTORE. Sir John Keith, the fourth son of the sixth Earl Marischal, was created Earl of Kintore in 1677. The honour was conferred as a reward for distin- guished service, especially for the active part which he took in preserving the regalia from the hands of Cromwell. His share in this important service has been openly questioned ; but it seems evident that it was by his device the regalia were removed from Dunnottar, secreted in the church of Kinneff, and made appear to have been transported to France. To carry out the deception Sir John had sailed to France, and, on his return, was apprehended and ex- amined, with the result of stopping the search which had been in progress. He had a charter of the lands of Caskieben, now Keithhall, in 1661. The title and estates were confirmed by a new charter con- ferring them on him and his heirs-male, failing THE KEITHS-MARISCHAL. 35 whom, on the heirs-male of his brother George, Earl Marischal, failing whom, on his female heirs a provision which duly led to the promotion of the Falconers. He died in 1714. William, second Earl of Kintore, took part in the Rebellion the year after his succession. He was at the battle of Sheriff Muir, and never after the disas- ter shaved his beard. He was concealed in his own house when it was visited by the Duke of Argyll, who was in search of the rebels. The Duke court- eously ignored the fact, of which he was cognisant, and treated the Countess with great kindness. The Earl died in 1718. John, third Earl of Kintore, was appointed Knight- Marischal of Scotland in 1733. The office had been hereditary in the family, until his father was deprived of it as the only penalty exacted for his share in the Rebellion. The Earl died at Keithhall without issue in 1758, and was succeeded by his only brother. William, fourth Earl of Kintore, has been described as a promising young man, on whose spirits the mis- fortunes of his family had exercised a baneful influ- ence. He died at Keithhall in 1761, in the sixtieth year of his age. The estates passed to Earl Mari- schal, and the title remained dormant, until it was revived at the instance of Anthony Adrian, Lord Falconer of Haulkerton. 36 THE PARISH AND ITS LANDOWNERS. CHAPTER IV. HAULKERTON. One of the earliest names in the history of the par- ish is Haulkerton, or Hawker's town, the residence of the king's hawker or falconer. The earliest mention of this official is in the twelfth century, when Guli- elmus Auceps i.e., William the Hawker is named in a charter without date. He was probahly the founder of the family of Falconers, who have been in possession of the estate for many centuries, and are now lineally represented by the noble Earl who is the present pro- prietor. But the first duly authenticated is Walter de Lunkyir (Lumgair), whose son Eanulph was fal- coner to King William the Lion. He received from his royal master a charter of the lands of Luthra, supposed to be Haulkerton, Balbegno, and others in the county. Eanulph was the first to assume the name of Fal- coner ; and he performed the duties of the office implied in that name when the king was resident in the Castle of Kincardine. It is interesting in this connection to find that the Hill of Johnston was named Falconleys, in all probability from its having been the place on which the huntsmen on the lower grounds had been accustomed to see the falcon fasten on its quarry. A Walter de Falconer and de Lunkyir was wit- ness to a charter of Drumsleid in 1250. But there is no evidence that Luthra, under the new name HAULKEUTON. 37 of Haulkerton, was in possession of the family until some years later. The lands had meanwhile belonged to the Abbey of Arbroath, and about 1246 the abbot conferred them on Sir John Wishart, along with those of Conveth and Scotston. He had probably trans- ferred them to Eobert le Falconer of Haulkerton, the first to have his name associated with the estate, who swore fealty to Edward I. of England in 1296. The name of Falconer appeared in connection with other estates during the next century, but not direct- ly with Haulkerton, though it is probable that the family were in uninterrupted possession of it. The Falconers of the period seem to have been high in favour at Court. There is a charter, dated " at Munros, 2d April 1365," from King David II. to his godson, "David Fauconer," granting "filiolo nostro dilecto quern de sacro fonte levavimus " a yearly sum of 8 sterling for his support, when he chose to visit his royal godfather at his Court. The family name is again associated with the estate in 1448, when David Falconer of Haulkerton was one of a jury on an inquisition before the Sheriff of Kincardine. In 1473, Robert Falconer, son of Alexander Falconer of Lethens, had a charter of the lands of Newton, which he must have resigned to the Erskine family within a few years. Before the close of the fif- teenth century appears the first of the family of Falconer from whom the line of descent can be directly traced. Alexander Falconer of Haulkerton was defender in a civil cause before the Lords of Council in October 1490. His wife is supposed to have been a daugh- ter of Sir Patrick Arbuthnott, and he was succeeded 38 THE PARISH AND ITS LANDOWNERS. by his son, who appears as " son and heir-apparent of the Lord of Hawkerton " in a charter of February 1493-94. Sir George Falconer, a knight, married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Erskine of Dun. Her father and brother, father of the distinguished reformer, both fell at Elodden in 1513. There is a tradition that, at the instance of one of the Erskines, Luther Water was so named in honour of Martin Luther, the German Eeformer, whose fame was already being spread over Europe. The accuracy of the tradition, however, is to be questioned, inasmuch as Luthra was the original name of the lands conferred on the Falconers centuries before. Sir George died in 1511. David Falconer, his son, was the next proprietor. With his wife, Mariot Dunbar, he had a charter of the lands of Middleton in 1539-40, and another in 1546. His daughter Elizabeth, before her marriage, had a charter of the lands of Ballandro from her kinsman Eobert Falconer, grandson of Eobert Falconer of Newton, in 1552. She afterwards married Alex- ander Lindsay of Broadland and Phesdo. Isobel Falconer, wife of John Middleton, is supposed to have been another daughter. Janet and Marion were married to Wisharts. Sir Alexander Falconer, Knight, was his only son. While heir-apparent, in 1544, he had a charter of the Hill of Haulkerton, probably on the occasion of his. marriage with Elizabeth, only daughter- of Sir Archibald Douglas of Glenbervie. One of two stones which had done service on the castle walls, and are now prominent on the offices attached to the farm- house at Mains, bears the date of 1556, and has the HAULKERTON. 39 head of a female carved upon it indicating, perhaps, that Sir Alexander and Lady Falconer had founded the first part of the old castle of Haulkerton. They had four sons and a daughter. The second son, Archibald, was progenitor of the Falconers of Phesdo, the last of whom was an advocate, and died at Leith in 1764, leaving his estate to a member of the Falconer family. Sir Alexander Falconer, Knight, the eldest son and successor on the estate, married Isabel, fourth daughter of Patrick, sixth Lord Gray, relict of David Strachan of Carmylie. Lady Falconer's family had been long connected with the lands of Middleton, of which she and her husband received a charter in 1593. Their second son was Patrick Falconer, pro- prietor of Burnton, afterwards of Newton. Sir Alex- ander had probably died the same year as the above charter was conferred. Sir Alexander Falconer, the eldest son, with his wife, Agnes Carnegie, sister of the first Earl of South - esk, had a charter of the barony of Haulkerton in January 1594-95. Lady Falconer had died before 1612, when a charter of the same barony is in favour of Sir Alexander alone. They had four sons. The second, David, was founder of the family of Glen- farquhar, who were possessed of extensive lands in the parish, and to whose line the Haulkerton title and estate subsequently came. The third son, Sir John Falconer of Balmakellie, who for a short time owned the barony of Scotston and Powburn, was Master of the Mint in the reign of King Charles II. Sir Alexander was alive in 1619, when his eldest son had a charter of the barony of Haulkerton. 40 THE PARISH AND ITS LANDOWNERS. Sir Alexander Falconer, who was afterwards the first Lord Falconer of Haulkerton, married Anne, only child of the ninth Lord Lindsay of Byres. He was appointed one of the Lords of Session in 1639. The date of his peerage is 1647. A stone on the offices at Mains bears the initials L. A. F. and the date 1648, when an addition may have been made to the castle. Lord Falconer was on terms of friendship with the Marquis of Montrose, who paid him a visit at Haul- kerton about 1630, when on his way from Aberdeen, shortly before his marriage to Magdalene Carnegie, who was a cousin of Lord Falconer. Whatever similarity may have been between their political sentiments then, they were both stanch promoters of the Eoyal cause before the year preceding the execution of the Marquis, when Lord Falconer was superseded from the office of Lord of Session for malignancy. The only historical events connected with the castle or lands had some relation to the* Earl as soldier of the Parliament, or the Marquis as an ardent Royalist. Spalding mentions that " tuo cartowis, or quarter canons, haueing the bullet about 24 pund wecht," were ordered to be sent to Aberdeen after Mon- trose's army in 1639, and that subsequent " directioun wes given to stay the tua cartowis, quhilk wes cum no forder nor Halkertoun, on cum farrer northe." The same old writer relates the following incident of the army of the Marquis in 1645 : "He cumis to Fet- tercarne vpone Sonday [Frydday], the day of Marche, quarteris his foot army, and sendis out quarter maisteris to quarter sum trovperis in the HAULKERTON. 41 countrie, and about the brughe of Montroiss. Bot Generall Maior Hurry, lying in ambush within the planting of Halkertoun, by [without] thair knouledge, issues out suddantlie, with ane gryte cry and ane schout, vpone thir trovperis, who returnit bak to Montroiss camp schortlie. And he directlie sendis out ane better number of trovperis. Bot how sone Hurry seis thame he takis intil ane vther buss hard besyd ; bot he is rousit out, and routit throw the north water, who fled with gryter skaith nor he gave to Livetennant Generall Major Baillie, lying nar hand with his army. Montroiss trovperis returnis bak to the camp, quhair Mr James Strathauchin's [the min- ister's] hous in Fettercarne wes brynt." Only a few days before this incident, Hurry had captured Lord Graham, son of the Marquis, who was at school in Montrose, and sent him a prisoner to Edinburgh. Lord Falconer's removal from office in 1649 was not the only sacrifice he had to make in the interests of the king. The following sonnet, by Drummond of Hawthornden, portrays his character, and laments his misfortunes : " I feare to me such fortune be assign'd As was to thee, who did so well deserue, Braue Halkertone ! even suffred here to sterue Amidst base-minded freinds, nor true, nor kind. Why were the Fates and Furies thus combined Such worths for such disasters to reserue ? Yet all those euills neuer made thee swerue From what became a well resolued mind : For swelling greatnesse neuer made thee smyle, Despising greatnesse in extreames of want ; happy thrice whom no distresse could dant ! Yet thou exclaimed, Time ! O age ! Isle ! Where flatterers, fooles, baudes, fidlers are rewarded, Whilst Vertue sterues vnpitied, vnregarded ! " 42 THE PARISH AND ITS LANDOWNERS. The poet was spared from the fate which he thus bewailed of his friend, by his death, which took place on the 4th of December 1649. Lord Falconer sur- vived the days of his adversity, and was reinstated in office at the Restoration in 1660. He died on the 1st October 1671. Alexander, second Lord Falconer, married Lady Margaret Ogilvy, daughter of the second Earl of Airlie, the head of another family long distinguished for their adherence to the Royal cause. In 1675 he disposed of the lands of Middleton to his cousin, Sir Alexander Falconer of Glenfarquhar, who had been created a baronet four years before. His lordship died in 1684. David, third Lord Falconer, was served heir to his father in 1685. In 1710 he was declared to have been incompos mentis for the previous twenty years. He died unmarried in 1724, and the title and estate passed to the next heir, the baronet of Glenfarquhar, son of the above-mentioned Sir Alex- ander Falconer. Alexander, fourth Lord Falconer, enjoyed the posi- tion of a peer only three years. He died in 1727 without issue, and the last of the main line of the Glenfarquhar family. The succession thus fell to the son of Lord Newton, who was the second son of Sir David, the progenitor of the Falconers of Glen- farquhar ; and the next three Lord Falconers were in possession of the baronies of Inglismaldie, Glen- farquhar, and Haulkerton. The fourth Lord Falconer was the last who occu- pied the Castle of Haulkerton as a residence. Traces of it are still found in the Wood of Haulkerton ; and HAULKERTOX. 43 the traveller by the public road may observe, along the margin of the wood, what in schoolboy legend, if not on better authority, was part of the carriage- drive. The building itself gradually fell into ruins until about 1790, when the walls were thrown down, and the stones utilised, partly in building dikes round the plantation, and partly in erecting the parish church. The fruit-trees continued to bear until that date ; and the last remnant of the fine old trees which adorned the grounds was cut down not many years ago. It was a beech, said to be the largest in the county, and to overspread nearly half an acre of land. CHAPTER V. haulkerton {continued). David Falconer, who by the death of his cousin became fifth Lord Falconer of Haulkerton (the son of Sir David Falconer, Lord Newton, and Mary Norvell, daughter of the laird of Boghall, in Linlithgowshire), was' born in 1681. His sister Catherine, who was two years younger, became the wife of Joseph Hume of Nine wells, in Berwickshire, and she was the mother of David Hume, the distinguished philosopher and historian. His father having died in 1685, David Falconer succeeded to the barony of Newton when he was four years of age. He married Lady 44 THE PARISH AND ITS LANDOWNERS. Catherine Margaret Keith, eldest daughter of the second Earl of Kintore. The marriage took place in 1703, when the lady was only thirteen years and five months old. Through this marriage the Falconers were subsequently raised to the higher place in the peerage, the Earldom of Kintore, and inherited the larger possessions which accompanied the exalted title. He succeeded as Lord Falconer in 1727. He has been described as " a man of great honour, probity, and integrity." He died at Inglismaldie in 1751, in the seventy-first year of his age. Lady Falconer died at Edinburgh in 17G2, a few months before the death of her eldest son. They had a family of five sons and four daughters. Alexander, sixth Lord Falconer, was born in 1707. He went abroad when a young man, to serve under his distinguished kinsmen, Earl Marischal and Field- Marshal Keith. At his father's death he returned to Scotland, and succeeded to the title and estates. He married Frances, daughter of Herbert Mackworth of the Gnoll, Glamorganshire, but had no family. He is said to have been a nobleman of humane and benevolent disposition. He died at Edinburgh in November 1762, and was succeeded by his eldest brother. William, seventh Lord Falconer, was the second son of the fifth lord. He had settled at Groningen, in Holland, and married a Dutch lady. He had three sons, the second of whom, Hon. William Fal- coner, was killed in battle at Quebec. Lord Fal- coner died at Groningen in December 1776. Anthony Adrian, eighth Lord Falconer, succeeded his father in 1776. On the death of George, Earl HAULKERTOX. 45 Marischal, in 1778, Lord Falconer succeeded to the estate of Kintore, as well as the title which Earl Marischal had never assumed, and became the fifth Earl of Kintore, the family surname being also changed to Keith-Falconer. His countess was Chris- tina Elizabeth Sighterman of Groningen. They had an only son and seven daughters, several of whom died young. The Earl spent many years at Inglis- maldie, and some of his eccentricities were long re- membered in the district. He had a peculiar craze for the use of firearms, and delighted especially in barn-fowl shooting. Whenever an opportunity pre- sented itself he fired at the poultry of his tenants, though it must be recorded that he never failed to render a strict account in money-value for the victims of his gun. But his propensity for shooting was manifested at still more inconvenient times. On one occasion, when he was in the family pew during divine service in the church of Logie-Pert, a bird had entered by an open window, and was fluttering about, to the amusement of the more youthful of the congregation, and keenly watched by his lordship. At length it settled not far from the head of the officiating clergyman, when the Earl took a pistol from his pocket, deliberately aimed it, and brought down the bird, much apparently to his satisfaction. He spoke of it afterwards as the only thing he could do, " because it annoyed the parson and congrega- tion" as if a ball whizzing over their heads had been a small annoyance in comparison ! But notwith- standing his eccentricities he had many excellent qualities, for which he was highly esteemed in the neighbourhood, and which were duly appreciated by 46 THE PARISH AND ITS LANDOWNERS.. his tenantry and retainers. He died at Keithhall in 1804. William, sixth Earl of Kintore, was born at Inglis- maldie in 1766. After extensive travels in Europe, he entered the army as an officer in the Boyal Scots Greys. He was married at Aberdeen, in 1793, to Maria, daughter of Sir Alexander Bannerman of Kirkhill, Baronet, and their family consisted of three sons and a daughter. He died at Keithhall in 1812. Anthony Adrian, seventh Earl of Kintore, though usually styled the eighth Earl as if Earl Marischal had actually assumed the title, was born in 1794, and was eighteen years of age when he succeeded his father. His first countess, who died without issue, was a daughter of E. Kenny of Borrowfield. The Earl next married a daughter of Francis Hawkins, by whom he had two sons and two daughters. He was created a peer of the United Kingdom, under the title of Baron Kintore, in 1838. The loss of his eldest son by a melancholy accident, is supposed to have hastened his death, which took place at Keith- hall in July 1844. William Adrian, Lord Inverurie, while in the hunting-field in England, was in the act of leaping over a gate, when his horse fell back upon him, and caused his immediate death. The sad occurrence took place in December 1843, three months after he had entered upon his twenty-second year. Shortly before, the young lord, accompanied by one or two sporting companions, spent a few weeks, and afforded a little variety to, the calm which usually prevailed, in the village of Laurencekirk. All the available boys were HAULKERTOX. 47 enlisted to accompany the youths in the pursuit of sport ; to beat the woods for game ; or, when there was lack of fitter occupation, to compete for six- pences conferred on the boldest adventurers in the crossing of streams, running to the neck in mill- dams, or ministering in sundry ingenious ways to their own discomfort and the amusement of the young lord and his companions. The evening was devoted to frolic, the outflow of which was the staple conversation of the village next morning. Doors were locked and windows fastened, with an atten- tion to security from midnight marauders which was totally unprecedented in the history of the burgh, but not effective in all cases against a visit of sur- prise. Satisfaction had occasionally to be demanded for injury to the person, resulting from the discharge of pea - guns while the young men were driving- through the village. His lordship's demeanour was not remarked for its gravity even in church. A child was baptized, whose father he learned was the tenant of Scrapehard. Next forenoon found him a visitor at the house, expressing his regret that he had not received the honour of the name, in which case the tenant would have sat on " Hard-scrape " free all the days of his life. But in spite of his eccentricities, and the dissatisfaction which was nat- urally expressed at some of his exploits, his genial nature commended him to favour. When intelli- gence of his death arrived so unexpectedly, " Poor young fellow ! " was the first expression on the lips of many, and genuine sympathy was the predomi- nant feeling among the villagers. Francis Alexander, eighth (or, as he is otherwise 48 THE PARISH AND ITS LANDOWNERS. styled, ninth) Earl of Kintore, was born in 1828. He married his cousin Louisa Madeleine, second daughter of Captain F. Hawkins. He acted as Lord- Lieutenant of Kincardineshire from 1856 to 1863, when he resigned the office on his appointment to the Lord-Lieutenancy in the county of Aberdeen. The eldest son and heir - apparent is Algernon Hawkins Thomond, Lord Inverurie, who was born in 1852. He married, in 1873, Lady Sidney Charlotte Montague, daughter of George, sixth Duke of Man- chester. A son of this marriage, Ian - Douglas Montague, was born in 1877. CHAPTEE VI. LANDS OF MIDDLETON. For upwards of a century the name of Middleton has been restricted to a very small portion of the orig- inal estate, which was properly designated Midtown of Whitesauch. The similarity between the names of Midtown and Middleton may account for the fact that those comparatively few acres have retained so long what was for centuries an important territorial designation, and gave its name to a family of consid- erable influence in the Mearns, several members of which have left their mark on Scottish history. The lands of Middleton formed part of the Church pos- sessions and derived their name from their central position, to distinguish them from Conveth Mill and LANDS OF MIDDLETON. 49 lands on the one side, and Westerton of Conveth on the other. They comprised the original farms of White- sauch (including Whitesauch proper, Midtown, and Upperton), Honeyhive, Spurriehillock (exclusive of Bonetoun), Keilburn, and Midstanes. A list of the rent of certain lands in the parish embraces these farms under the designation of " Midletouns," show- ing that they retained this distinctive name until near the close of last century. If the whole lands of Conveth were included in the gift to Humphrey de Berkeley, the Middleton portion must have been resigned at an early date. The earliest authentic notice of it is in the reign of William the Lion, by whom the donation to Berkeley had been made. There is a charter of his reign (1165- 1214) conferring the lands of Middleton, though some assert it only confirmed the donation of a former reign on Malcolm, the son of Kenneth, who at once assumed the surname of Middleton. Constance of Middleton, and her son Ada, made a donation to the convent at Aberbrothwick between the years 1261 and 1267. She was probably the daughter of Humfridus de Middleton, who was witness to a char- ter in the time of King Alexander II. (1214-49). Humphrey of Middleton, who may have been the son and successor of Constance, witnessed a grant to the Church of St Thomas the Martyr at Aberbrothwick in 1272-73. In 1296, either he or another of the same name swore fealty to King Edward of England, and renewed the oath in 1306. About this time there appears in history a Gilbert Middleton, who was probably one of the family, Gil- bert being a family name. He had been a soldier in D 50 THE PARISH AND ITS LANDOWNERS. his youth, but about 1317 he had developed into a bold outlaw at the head of a band of robbers. He was not afraid to strike at high game, for that year he attacked the Bishop-elect of Durham on the way to be consecrated. The dignitary had two of the Pope's nuncios in his train, who had letters from his Holiness to the King of Scotland enjoining a two years' truce with England. Middleton, with a com- panion named Selby, relieved them of all their money, and allowed the nuncios to go on their way, detaining the Bishop for further profit in the shape of ransom. Nor was he easily satisfied in his demands. The plate and jewels of the cathedral had to be sold to effect the Bishop's ransom. For the next century the history of the family is unrecorded. Coming down to 1430, "William of Mid- dleton had that year a charter of the lands of Inner- kany; and in 1460 there is evidence that Gilbert of Middleton was one of an inquest concerning lands of the Arbroath Abbey. Soon after the latter date, the noble family of Gray appears in close relation to the Middleton family and estate. Laurence of Middleton is designed laird in an instrument of sasine to Andrew, third Lord Gray, in 1481. Lord Gray was the son of Annabella Forbes, supposed to be the mother, by a second marriage, of the laird of the barony of Scotston and Powburn. He may have been related to Laurence of Middle- ton ; and it was probably in his time that a portion of the Middleton estate was resigned in favour of the Gray family. His first wife was a granddaughter of the first Earl Marischal, and he held the office of Sheriff of the county of Forfar. He died in March 1513-14. LANDS OF MIDDLETON. 51 Gilbert of Middleton was one of the inquest on the service of Patrick, fourth Lord Gray, as heir to his father in the estates and the office of Sheriff. It appears that the following year the office was re- signed in his favour, as Gilbert of Middleton is declared to have been Sheriff of Angus in 1516. He married Marjory Wishart of Pittarrow, whose brother's estates were forfeited in 1499. In the "Acta auditorum" of 1493 there is a decree respecting the settlement of her dowry. Along with his second wife, Agnes Lauder, he is mentioned in connection with the Temple lands of Middleton, a name suggestive of ecclesiastical possession, as is that also of Chapel Knap which has survived to the present day. John Middleton is the next proprietor whose name appears. He may have been the son, but more prob- ably was the grandson, of the Sheriff. He was the last of the family in possession of Middleton. His first wife was Isobel Falconer, who was of the Haul- kerton family, and is supposed to have been the daughter of David Falconer, who acquired from her husband a portion of the lands of Middleton in ex- change for the lands of Kilnhill, or Netherseat of Haulkerton, and two -thirds of the lands of Bent. In 1539-40, the lands of Middleton, Husbandtown of Middleton, and Drumquharbir were conveyed by John Middleton to David Falconer. The Middleton family will be further traced in connection with Kiln- hill, the probability being, as already indicated, that the remainder of the estate of Middleton had pre- viously passed into the hands of the family of Lord Gray. Isabel Gray and her second husband, Sir John 52 THE PARISH AND ITS LANDOWNERS. Campbell of Lundie, " had a charter of the dominical lands of Middletoun, in the county of Kincardine, 8th November 1539." Isabel Gray was the second daugh- ter of Patrick, fourth Lord Gray, and aunt of Elizabeth Keith, wife of the fourth Earl Marischal who was the last Earl in possession of Johnston. The Campbells of Lundie were descended from Thomas, second son of the first Earl of Argyll ; and Sir John, who acquired this interest in the parish of Conveth, was at the time High Treasurer of Scotland. The probability is, that during the next half-century this portion of the estate continued in possession of one or other of the branches of the Gray family, while the remainder was still annexed to Haulkerton. The lands of Middleton were again united in the possession of Sir Alexander Falconer, David's grand- son, who married Isabel Gray, fourth daughter of the sixth Lord Gray, and relict of David Strachan of Car- mylie. The barony of Middleton was conveyed to him and his son by charter in 1593. The whole lands of Middleton formed a part of the Haulkerton barony from that date until 19th June 1695, when there was a disposition by Alexander, second Lord Falconer of Haulkerton, to Sir Alexander Falconer of Glenfarquhar, of " all and haill the town and lands of Middleton, including Whitesaugh, as also the town and lands of Henston, the town and lands of Barnhill of Garvock, as well sun as shadow half thereof, as for principes and the lands and barony of Haulkerton in special warrandice." From this extract it appears that during the separation of the lands the portion conveyed to the Haulkerton estate had taken the name of Whitesauch, while the orig- KILNHILL AND BENT. 53 inal name of Middleton had designated the other possession. From 1675 to 1724, when they re- verted to Haulkerton, the lands of Middleton, like the barony of Scotston and Powbnrn and the lands of Haddo, formed part of the estate of Glenfarquhar. DRTJMFORBER. The earliest notice of Drumforber is its convey- ance, along with part of Middleton, to David Fal- coner in 1539-40. Drumquharbir had probably con- sisted then of the lands on the present farm, with the " onssett called Waineyford " (Wineford), and the muir called Luthermnir, or Muir of Drumquharbir, now Laurencemuir. It had probably been part of the original Mernez, owned by the Berkeleys ; but nothing is known as to when it came into the pos- session of the Middletons. Since passing from their hands it has continued to be a part of the Haulker- ton estate. CHAPTER VII. KILNHILL AND BENT. Next to the Mains, the Mill-lands, and Hills of Haulkerton, a portion of the lands of Bent has been the longest of any in continuous possession of the Falconers. When the exchange was made with John Middleton, one - third of Bent was retained. 51 THE PARISH AND ITS LANDOWNERS. There is no authentic record of how or when the two possessions were acquired by the laird of Haulkerton. They had probably been Royal lands, and conferred to mark the Eoyal sense of special service done by one of the hereditary keepers of his Majesty's hawks. Their history, so far as known, begins with their temporary alienation from the family's possession iu 1539-40. John Middleton, on entering on his new pos- session, adopted the territorial name ; and the desig- nation of the family for more than half a century was "Middleton of Kilhill." Along with his wife, Isobel Falconer, he received in 1552 a charter of the lands of New Tibber and Davidston, in Forfar- shire. It may be regarded as in some degree con- firming the relationship which, it has been said, existed between the Middleton and Gray families, that Gilbert Gray, a son of Patrick, sixth Lord Gray, afterwards (in 1591) obtained possession of Davidston and the neighbouring estate of Couston. Isobel Falconer died before 1557, and he married as his second wife Catherine Strathauchin (Strachan), a daughter of Strachan of Thornton, who was as- sociated with him in a charter of Bent and Nether- seat of Halkerton (Kilnhill), dated March 1557-58. He had two sons, both by the first wife, the younger of whom, Alexander, is noticed in connection with lands and fishings on Donside. John Middleton, the elder son, had a charter of Kilnhill and Bent in March 1564-65, which re- served the liferent of his father and step-mother. The name of this laird appears in Calderwood's list of those "that subscribed the band anent the KILNHILL AND BENT. 55 religioun at Aberdeene, March 1592." The names of " Alexander Straquhan " of Thornton and Wishart of Pittarrow are also in the list. He had three sons John, Eobert, and Francis. John Middleton, the eldest son, had a charter of resignation of the lands by his father, dated 20th December 1595. He was the last of the family to be numbered among the proprietors of the parish, having disposed of the lands of Kilnhill and Bent on the 3d November 1606, and the same day re- ceived the lands of " Murton, Cauldhame, Eoishill, and others." From that date the family took the designation of Middleton of Caldhame. The his- tory of the family was thus removed from the limits of the parish, but their close relationship to some of its proprietors may give interest to a few sentences on their future. John was succeeded on Caldhame by his brother, Eobert Middleton, who, when sitting in his own house, was killed by soldiers of the Marquis of Montrose in 1645. He was the father of the first Earl of Middleton, who, by distinguished service, raised himself to rank and power, though he failed to dignify the position which his undoubted ability had acquired. John Middleton, son of Eobert Middleton and Catherine Strachan (who was of the family of Thornton), was born about the year 1619. He entered the army as a " pikeman," but was a cap- tain under the leadership of Montrose as early as 1639. About that time he married Grissel Dur- ham, daughter of the laird of Pitkerrow, who must have been considerably older than himself. She 56 THE PARISH AND ITS LANDOWNERS. had been twice previously married. Her first hus- band was Alexander Fotheringham of Ballindrone. In 1630 she was married to Sir Gilbert Ramsay, fiar of Balmain ; but her union with him must have been dissolved in the lifetime of the parties, as Sir Gilbert subsequently married a daughter of Auchin- leck of Ballandro, and lived many years afterwards. When Montrose espoused the side of the king, General Middleton was his most resolute opponent and the chief instrument of his defeat. After a few years he became a zealous Royalist, and accompanied Charles II. in his exile to France. He was created Earl of Middleton, Lord Clermont and Fettercairn, in 1656, and the patent of his earldom is dated after the Restoration, 1st October 1660. His subsequent life was one first of great splendour, and then of comparative disgrace. His brilliant talents had to contend with a degrading habit of drunkenness, which reduced him in a few years from the position of the most influential subject in Scotland to the unim- portant office of Governor of Tangiers in Africa, where he died in 1673. The estates and titles were forfeited in 1695, in the person of Charles, the second Earl, who was a warm adherent of the exiled King James. Returning to the lands of Kilnhill and Bent, John Middleton conveyed them in 1606 to " John Living- ston of Donypace, James Livingston of Cauldhame, his brother, and David Barclay, fiar of Matheris," his brother - in - law. He had resigned the lands without receiving the king's consent, and they were forfeited to the Crown in consequence. The for- feiture was soon recalled ; and there is a charter of the following year, bestowing the lands upon " James K1LNHILL AND BENT. 57 Livingston, lawful son of John Livingston of Dony- pace." The Livingstones of Dunipace were descended from a brother of the first Lord Livingstone, a title afterwards exchanged for Earl of Linlithgow. There is no record of how long Livingstone was in posses- sion of Kilnhill and Bent. It was probably he who in 1613 acquired the barony of Inglismaldie, then known as the barony of Craigs, which was obtained that year by a Livingstone, and disponed in 1635 by one of the name to Sir John Carnegie. It is certain, however, that during these years the lands were reunited to the Haulkerton estate. CLARKHILL AND LATCH. These were the names of two holdings which, for a lengthened period, formed separate possessions, and were incorporated with Haulkerton about the same time as the lands of Bent, of which they are now a part. They were probably part of the possessions of the Middletons and James Livingstone, and may at a much earlier period have been in the hands of the Falconers. Clarkhill may have been originally the residence of an official in the Royal household, when the king was at Kincardine. In an old charter " Peter le Faukener " is designated " clericus regis " (the king's clerk) under Alexander II., who reigned from 1214 to 1249. The name survived in the parish at least until 1763, when James Blacklaws, shoemaker in " Clerkhill," lodged a petition with the kirk-session. Latch has transmitted its name to the present day, indicating a ditch on the farm of Bent. 58 THE PARISH AND ITS LANDOWNERS. CHAPTER VIII. BARONY OF SCOTSTON, ALIAS POWBURX. The origin of the name of Scotston will probably suggest itself to any one who bears the history of those earlier centuries in mind. The inhabitants of these parts were not Scots, but Picts. The Scots were originally from Ireland ; and they established themselves in Argyll during the sixth century. They gradually extended their dominion northwards, but it was only after the lapse of centuries that they penetrated into the north-eastern part of the country. Individuals and families, from time to time, came and settled in Pictland ; and the hold- ings which they acquired, by right or might, were called by the aborigines the " Scottistowns." Who the stranger may have been who thus settled in the immediate vicinity of the lands of Conveth, cannot of course be known. Perhaps he may at once have become a vassal of the Kirk, for the earliest record shows that Scottistown was the property of the Abbey of Arbroath, and was conferred, along with Conveth and Haulkerton, on Sir John Wishart of Pittarrow about 1246. It probably found its way before long into the possession of the Keith family ; but the earliest certain notice of it after that date is in the second half of the fifteenth century, when it formed a constituent part of the barony of Scotston, alias Powburn, which included Over Scotston, Cal- sayend (Bowtory ?), and Powburn. The formation of BARONY OF SCOTSTON, ALIAS POWBUSN. 59 the name of Powburn is somewhat peculiar, the latter syllable being but a translation of the former, " Pow " meaning " burn." It is probable that Pow- burn had formed, at a very early period, one of the extensive estates of the Marischal family ; but it is in this combination also that the earliest record of it exists. The first notice of the barony is a precept for infefting William Meldrum as heir to his mother, Annabella Forbes, 7th November 1467. He was probably related through his father to the Meldrums of that Ilk, an old baronial family of Aberdeenshire, the male line of which had failed in 1417 on the death of William de Meldrum, when the family estate passed to the husband of his heiress, William Seton, the first of the Setons of Meldrum. Annabella Forbes may have been the daughter of the first Lord Forbes, the widow of Patrick, Master of Gray, who owned the lands of Kinneff, and died before 1st September 1464. If so, she was an ancestress of the noble family of Gray, and her union with a second husband must have been of short duration. It is certain, at all events, that William Meldrum was a mere child when he succeeded his mother. His son, George Meldrum, who followed in possession, granted, 31st July 1543, a bond to John Allardes of that Ilk, relative to contract of excambion between them. The family of Allardice traced its founder to the time of William the Lion, who gave charters of the lands of Alrethes, or Allardice, to the first of the name. Cardinal Beaton, in 1544, granted to John Allardice a charter of resignation of the lands and 60 THE PARISH AND ITS LANDOWNERS. barony of Scotston, alias Powburn. His son John Allardice, as heir to his father, obtained a precept by John, Commendator of Aberbrothoc, for infefting him in the said lands, 20th December 1556; and Queen Mary granted a procuratory to James Keith for receiving infeftment in name of John Allardes. Allardice, who married Lady Beatrix Keith, a daughter of the fourth Earl Marischal, was a member of the memorable Parliament which abolished the jurisdic- tion of the Papacy in Scotland. The family were in possession of the lands in 1628, when John Allardes and his spouse conveyed them to Ptobert Keith of Bredieston. It appears, however, that in the interval a family of more noble rank had a proprietorial interest in the barony. In a retour of 5th May 1625, "Jacobus Marchio De Harnmiltoun, Comes Arranise," &c, made a return " terris de Scottistoun, Powburn," &c. This was the Marquis of Hamilton, afterwards the personal enemy of the Marquis of Montrose, and the date is that of his succession to his father, who died in March of the same year. He was then in his twentieth year. His father, while heir-apparent, had a charter of the abbacy of Aberbrothwick, 11th November 1600, of which the transference of the lands in question may have formed a part. The young Mar- quis must have disposed of them, or whatever interest he had in them, very soon to the Allardice family, from whom they passed in the way already men- tioned. Robert Keith, who thus became possessor of the barony, was descended from the second Earl Mari- schal, whose fourth son, John, was the founder of the BARONY OF SCOTSTON, ALIAS POWBTJRX. 61 Keiths of Craig, in Aberdeenshire. He was the younger son of James Keith of Craig, and was bred a merchant. He acquired considerable property ; and he was Provost of Montrose, the charters bearing " Roberto Keith, prseposito burgi de Montrose terra- rum de Breadiestoun, Powburn," &c. For a year or two he seems to have been but a joint-occupant, as, on 19th October 1632, "William Keith disponed to the said Robert Keith his just and equal half of the said lands and barony of Scotston and others." In the month of March 1639, commissioners from the Marquis of Huntly had an interview at Old Montrose with the Earl, afterwards Marquis, of Montrose, and were, lodged with Robert Keith at his residence in Montrose. During the night, fire was seen in the distance towards Edzell Castle ; and the people were in alarm, thinking it was Huntly and his forces mak- ing havoc in the country. They would have fallen upon the commissioners in their fury but for the Provost, who " interposed his authority to pacify the multitude, and caused shut his gates against them." Fortunately for the strangers, the break of day dis- covered the error of the townsmen, in mistaking the burning of heather on the hills for the devastating presence of a dreaded enemy. What was the Keith family mansion in Montrose may yet be seen in a court leading from Shore Wynd. The Parliament of that year, which met on the 31st of August, was the last Scottish Parliament " held in this kingdome after the ancient forme," and Robert Keith was a member of it, as commissioner from the burgh of Montrose. It was " solemlie riddin " on the opening day. First the commissioners of burghs 62 THE PARISH AND ITS LANDOWNERS. rode two and two in order, Eobert Keith having as his associate David Anderson, commissioner from Cupar. Then the commissioners of shires rode two and two, Kincardineshire being represented by the lairds of Morphie and Balmain. Next followed the lords : " the eldest in place and dignity had the right hand, and one his lefte did the youngeste ryde." After them were the respective bearers of the privy seal, the sword, the sceptre, and the crown. " The Earle Marischall did not ryde upe, bot in the doune coming he did ryde one the left hand of the sword." Trumpeters, pursuivants, and heralds were in attend- ance, and last of all was his Majesty's Commissioner, Lord Traquair, environed with sixteen gentlemen, his friends, bareheaded. " In this order did they ryde from the palace of Holyrudhousse to the corner of St Geilles Churche, quher they dismounted from their horsses, and in order entred the Parliament Closse towardes the Housse." The initials and date E. 1666. K. on a funeral monument in the old church of Garvock, if they refer to Eobert Keith, as they probably do, indicate that as the year of his death. It is certain that he had died before 4th April 1677, as at that date "Sir James Keith of Powburn, eldest son and apparent heir male and of taillie of the deceased Eobert Keith of Powburn, disponed to Sir John Falconer of Balmakelly, Master of his Majesty's Mint, the lands and barony of Scotston." Sir James had shown all the loyalty for which the Keiths were distinguished, and adhered to the Eoyal cause, suf- fering many hardships on its account. His services were rewarded by Charles II., who created him a BARONY OF SCOTSTON, ALIAS POWBUEN. G3 baronet, with the title of Sir James Keith of Pow- burn. This honour was conferred in 1663. He married a daughter of Lammie of Dunkennie ; but, according to Douglas's Baronage, in which his Chris- tian name is incorrectly given as George, he had no surviving issue. It may be stated, however, that in Chamberlayne's List of Baronets, published in 1741, there appears the name of Sir James Keith of Powburn ; and it is worthy of remark that in this list the older and more recent spelling of the name is adopted, and not the corrupt form of Poll- burn, which prevails in parochial documents of the eighteenth century. Sir John Falconer, who was a brother of the first Lord Falconer, retained possession of the lands only for a few years. On the 24th of December 1684, he disponed to his nephew, Sir Alexander Fal- coner of Glenfarquhar, the lands and barony of Scotston and the lands of Shiells. Sir Alexander, who was the eldest son of Sir David Falconer of Glenfarquhar, was created a baronet, 20th March 1670-71. During his possession there was a new erection of the barony of Scotston, with the lands of Haddo and Shiells thereto united. It will be neces- sary, therefore, to go back to the earlier records of the lands of HADDO. The first name identified with its possession is that of John Strachan of Thornton, who is said to have re- ceived, in 1560, the lands of Haddo from the Priory of St Andrews, to which they had previously belonged. 64 THE PARISH AND ITS LANDOWNERS. He was a member of the famous Parliament of 1560. It is interesting to find that the small parish of Con- veth had thus sent three of its adjacent proprietors (Wishart and Allardice being the other two) to a Parliament to whose counsels the blessings of the Eeformation are due. In 1574 John Strachan was appointed Commissioner for Kincardineshire for the wapinschaws, which were ordered to be held twice a -year throughout the country. But he had pre- viously severed his connection with Haddo, having, on the 21st of September 1561, granted a charter of its lands to James Keith, designated of Drum- tochtie, grandfather of Robert Keith of Powburn. James Keith was the great-grandson of the second Earl Marischal, and head of the family of Craig. Though proprietor of the lands of " Drumtochtie, Harviestoun, Woodstoun," &c, he had received a lease of the lands of Shiells on favourable conditions from his chief, and made his residence there. The date of his obtaining those possessions in Kincardine- shire was 1559, and in 1570 he obtained a charter of half of the lands of Glenskenno, and part of the lands of Balnely in Forfarshire. It is recorded that " he, being a man of parts and merits, and sincerely attached to the interests of the unfortunate Queen Mary, and also a mighty favourite of his chief, the Earl Marischal, was appointed captain of his castle of Dunnottar." His wife was daughter of William Fullerton of Cragoe, and he was succeeded on the family estates by his son. James Keith, who also is variously designated as of Craig and Drumtochtie, was infefted heir of his father in possession of Haddo in 1575. He had BARONY OF SCOTSTON, ALIAS POWBURX. G5 three sons George who was knighted, William, and Robert; and probably a daughter, Margaret, who became the wife, first, of Guthrie of Lunan, and, secondly, of David Barclay of Mathers. Sir George Keith, designated of Drumtochtie, was infefted heir of his father in possession of Haddo in 1618, and disposed of it in 1623 to "John Al- lardes of that Ilk." Allardice, with consent of his lady, resigned Haddo, probably in 1628, along with the barony of Scotston and Powburn, to Robert Keith of Bredieston and William Keith of Burnton. Wil- liam disponed his share of Haddo, along with his interest in Scotston, to Robert in 1632, and it came in due course to be included in the disposition of lands by Sir James Keith to Sir John Falconer, who disponed it in turn to his nephew, Sir Alexander Falconer. There is an instrument of resignation, dated Jan- uary 1686, in favour of Sir Alexander Falconer, younger of Glenfarquhar, on the recurrences in the disposition of the barony of Scotston with the lands of Haddo of 1684, and disposition of Shiells by George, Earl of Marischal (July 8, 1685). And that is followed by a charter, of date September 3, 1686, of resignation under the great seal, to Sir Alexander Falconer of Glenfarquhar, of the said lands all united into one barony, to be called the barony of Scotston. The lands in question con- tinued in possession of the Glenfarquhar family until his son, Sir Alexander Falconer, succeeded to the title of Lord Falconer, when they were incorpor- ated with the Haulkerton estate in 1724. It was this Sir Alexander who, in 1716, founded E 66 THE PAKISH AND ITS LANDOWNERS. two bursaries at King's College, Aberdeen, of the annual value of sixteen guineas, tenable for four years, with preference to (1) boys of the name of Falconer ; (2) boys born or educated at the school of Conveth ; (3) boys born or educated at the school of Fordoun ; and (4) any other boys presented by the patron. CHAPTEE IX. BURNTON. The name by which the lands of Burnton are designated has shared the fate of much of the proprium-nomenclature of Scotland. In what may be called genteel conversation, it occurs now only in a corrupt form, which unconsciously begets an idea that it had once been so intimately connected with water as to have become distinguished as " the town of the burn or stream." The fact, however, is, that any distinction conferred by its name is due rather to fire ; and what is regarded as the more vulgar pronunciation is the correct one, marking it out as " the brunt toun " (the burned town). In twj? early charters it appears under the forms of Brunstoun and Brynttown respectively ; and as the earlier one belongs to the beginning of the sixteenth century, it must have been before that date that the casualty occurred which has given it the name. Whether it had been the act of an enemy, or only the result of an accident, does not appear on record. BURNTON. 67 The probability is, that Burnton and Johnston were long joint possessions of the Frasers and Keiths successively. The third Earl Marischal had a charter " of the lands of Brunstoun and Johnstoun, in the county of Kincardine, 2d February 1506-7." His grandson, the fourth Earl, had a charter, while heir- apparent, " of the lands of Cowie, Strathauchin, Cul- presso, Owres (Uras), Brynttown, and Johnston, in the county of Kincardine," dated 22d April 1525. In the beginning of the next century the lands were in possession of Patrick Falconer of Newton, uncle of the first Lord Falconer of Haulkerton ; and the proprietor of Burnton in 1626 was William Keith. That year David Barclay of Mathers married, as his second wife, Margaret Keith, alleged to have been sister of William Keith of Burnton, and relict of Guthrie of Lunan. In the Urie records she is described as granddaughter of the Earl Marischal ; but it is more likely that she was a daughter of James Keith of Craig. It must be stated, however, that in a retour, April 30, 1633, "Margaretta Keith, sponsa Davidis Barclay de Matheris," is described as " hseres portionarum Magistri Alexandri Keith de Benholme (vel Phaisdo) patris." The Hon. James Keith of Benholm, a younger son of the fifth Earl Marischal, left three daughters, co-heiresses, one of whom was Margaret Keith, who is represented in the " Peerage " as having died unmarried. These conflicting statements make it impossible to pro- nounce with confidence to which of the families Margaret Keith actually belonged. The inter- relations of William Keith with Eobert Keith, in regard to the barony of Scotston and lands of 68 THE PARISH AND ITS LANDOWNERS. Haddo, imply that they were of the same family. In 1632, David Barclay, the last of the Barclays of Mathers, with consent of his son Alexander, resigned a portion of the Kirklands of Aberluthnott (Mary- kirk) in favour of John Barclay of Johnston, who contracted to dispone them in turn to William Keith of Burnton. These lands passed from him in 1637, in liferent to Patrick Leighton of Dunninald, and in fee to his son, Alexander Keith, whose relict, Catherine Leighton, disposed of them to Sir James Keith of Glaswell. The next proprietor of Burnton was John Barclay of Johnston, who had probably received possession of it in 1632, or soon after. His grandson, John Barclay, along with Earl Marischal, disponed the lands of Burnton to another Barclay, whose Christian name does not appear in the contract which was made 29th March 1666, and implemented by charter the following year. Again, on May 14, 1670, the lands were disponed by John Barclay and his son to David Falconer of Newton. David Falconer, the second son of Sir David Fal- coner of Glenfarquhar, was born in 1639. Having qualified for the legal profession, he was appointed a Lord of Session, June 11, 1676, and promoted to the President's chair, July 5, 1682. He was highly distinguished as a lawyer and judge. He died at Edinburgh, December 15, 1685, in the forty-sixth year of his age. The whole lands in possession of Sir David, in- cluding Burnton, were in 1678 united and erected into a barony, to be called the barony of Newton, with a dispensation for taking sasine at the manor- BURNTON. 69 place of Newton. In 1681 lie acquired, from the Earl of Northesk and others, possession of the bar- onies of Dunlappie and Inglismaldie. The follow- ing year . (February 25, 1682) there was a charter of resignation, novodamus, and erection under the great seal to Sir David Falconer, Newton, of lands of Barns and Newton ; Smiddiehill, Clettans, and Unthanks ; Burnton, barony of Dunlappie, barony of Inglismaldie, lands of Capo, lands of Balmaleedie, barony of Morphie Fraser, lands of Canterland, erect- ing these whole lands into the barony of Newton, the manor - place of Inglismaldie to be principal messuage. When Sir David's eldest son succeeded his cousin as fifth Lord Falconer, the lands of Burnton, with the lands above named, were conjoined with the estate of Haulkerton. The lands of Newton lying so near and having been so long connected with the parish, it may be interesting to give a short account of their earlier history. " Balmacalye " and Newton may be traced back to the possession of Thomas, first Lord Erskine, and second Earl of Mar of the name of Erskine, who resigned them to Alexander, his son and heir-ap- parent, August 12, 1489. Alexander's son Eobert, third Lord Erskine and fourth Earl, &c, in exchange for the lands of Cambusbarron, in Stirlingshire, granted to John Lamby, son and heir of Alexander Lamby of Duncany, a charter of all and whole the lands of Newton, with the pertinents lying in the barony of Balmakelly and sheriffdom of Kincardine, August 10, 1511. The Lamby family seem to have held the estate of Newton until 1613, when it passed 70 THE PARISH AND ITS LANDOWNERS. from the Right Honourable George Lamby of Dun- cany to the possession of Patrick Falconer, who had probably then, or soon after, disposed of Burnton to William Keith. Denlethen that resort, from time immemorial, of the youth of Laurencekirk in the blaeberry season may have derived its name from Lethens, in the county of Nairn, which was many years in posses- sion of different branches of the Falconer family. The lands of Newton were conferred by charter on Eobert Falconer, son of the proprietor of Lethens, in 1473. CHAPTER X. WESTERTON OF CONVETH. The first mention of Westerton of Conveth is in a charter by Robert the Bruce in favour of Hugh de Berkeley. The lands may have been in possession of the Berkeleys from the time of their first settlement in the parish. And it is not unlikely that they continued in their possession until the time of the last Barclay of Mathers. It was during his lifetime that the various portions into which they were broken up come first under notice. Blackiemuir and Kirk- burn (which latter was probably the eastern portion of the land leased with the Inn) were in the hands of Moncur of Slains early in the seventeenth cen- tury. The remainder of the estate seems to have been added about the same time to the barony of WESTERTON OF CONVETH. 71 Haulkerton. The order in which the various annexa- tions were made to the original estate of Haulkerton may be given in short compass in the following designation from the family writs : " Precept from Chancery on retour of service of Alexander, Lord Falconer of Haulkerton, as nearest heir-male of Alexander, Lord Falconer of Haulkerton, his father, for infefting him in the lands and barony of Haulkerton, comprehending therein the lands and Mains of Haulkerton, Mill and Mill-lands, the lands of Hills of Haulkerton, the lands of Bent, the lands of Middleton, Easter Middleton, Husbandtown and the onsset called Waineyford (the Muir of Cammock), the muir called Luthermuir, or Muir of Drumquhar- ber, the lands called Netherseat of Haulkerton, alias Killhill, and the corn-mill of Killhill and mill-lands (the lands and barony of Glensauch), the lands of Clarkhill and Latch, the burgh of barony of Haulker- ton, the lands called Dira Croft or Bellakers (the lands of Henstown and Barnhill, and the lands of Wester Cowlargo), 8th May 1672." From this it appears that the last of the lands in the parish to be annexed were the burgh of barony of Haulkerton and the lands called Dira Croft. BURGH OF BARONY OF HAULKERTON. The burgh of Haulkerton comprehended the lands constituting the original farm of Borrowmuirhills, a small portion of Spurriehillock, formerly named Bone- toun, and the other lands immediately adjoining the village, which were on the Haulkerton estate until 72 THE PARISH AND ITS LANDOWNERS. the excambion in connection with improvements at Blackiemuir. It was incorporated with Haulkerton prior to the 21st April 1619, when it appears in a charter, by King James I., of confirmation to Alex- ander Falconer, eldest son of Sir Alexander Falconer of Haulkerton, Knight : " Et totum et integrum burgum baron ise, nuncupa- tum lie burgum de halkertoun cum omnibus mundinis, privileges liberatione eidem burgo baroniae liberisque mundinis et foris eiusd. spectan. et pertin. et pre- sertim ilia mundina et fora super lie Lauren [muram ?] annuatim tertio die mensis Augusti et continuatim inclusive." In another writ there is allusion to " the burgh of barony of Haulkerton, with the sundry markets and fairs thereof, and specially the yearly fair and market held upon Laurencemuir." It is thus evident that the original stance of Laurence fair was within the burgh of Haulkerton, upon the Burgh Muir, now Borrowmuirhill, which was at that early date named Laurencemuir. The muir on which it was afterwards held, and from which it was recently transferred to near its original site, was then called Luthermuir, or Muir of Drumquharber. The name of St Laurence had been carried along with the fair when it was removed to that part of the barony, which accounts satisfactorily for its find- ing the way to such a distance from the church, with which it was immediately connected. WESTERTON OF CONVETII. 73 DIRA CROFT OR BELLAKERS. The Dira Croft was an unfailing appendage to the church-lands of a parish, being allotted to the sexton or officer of the church. A retour of 1607 connects the name of Sir John Wishart with " crofta jacente prope templum de Fordoun vocato Diray croft." In another, of date 1636, there is reference to "crofta terras nuncupata Paroche Croft et Diraland de Fet- tercairn." The word Dira is said to have origin- ally meant " vagabond." It came to be applied to mercenaries in the service of the barons and others who had need of hired followers. It was adopted ecclesiastically to designate a church official. The family name of Dewar is said to have sprung from Dira. The lands of Diracroft, or Bellakers, situated a little to the north of the railway station, and now on the estate of Haulkerton, belonged originally to the Eectory of Conveth. There is no record of how or when it passed from the hands of the ecclesiastics. In a charter, of date 24th June 1646, it is declared to have been in possession of the Falconers from time immemorial " ultra hominum memoriam ante nunc." It had previously been conceded, with consent of " Master Patrick Falconer," son of Sir Alexander Falconer, who may have been the same as was in possession, first of Burnton, and afterwards of Newton. In the charter referred to, it was " united and annexed to the lands of the barony of Halkertoun, and the burgh of barony of the same." This charter includes in the annexation to the bur