Traditional Porteous Coat-of-Arms


A HISTORY OF PEEBLESSHIRE

Glenholm

This old parish is bounded partly by Biggar Water and partly by the Tweed, and includes the valley of the Holms Water.

THE BARONY of GLENHOLM

The earliest record we have of Glenholm is about 1200, when Gillecrist, the son of Daniel at Glenwhym, appears as a witness to the perambulation of the marches of Stobo. The lands were rated at £30 of old extent, and for a time their name was the surname of the family who were in possession. About the year 1233 Sir Nicholas 'Glenynwim,' who was rector in the church at Yetholm was a witness to charters of the lands of Stobo.

Stephen of Glynwhym was appointed in 1293 by King Edward I of England to be guardian of Macduf the son of Malcolm sometime Earl of Fife pending that Earl's memorable appeal from the Court of King John Balliol and his barons to the justice of the Overlord of Scotland.

Estuene de Glenwhym of the county of Peebles signed the Ragman Roll in 1296. and he appears a few years afterwards as a witness to charters by Sir Simon Fraser dealing with the lands of Kingledoors, Hopcarton and Happrew. Later, in 1451 there was 'Robert of Glenquhym,' who had a grant of the lands of Wrae, and in 1466 'Dene James Glenquham, who was a monk of Kelso.

To what extent with the exception of Robert, these, members of the family of Glenholm held lands in the parish, there is no record to show, but it seems probable that such title as they had would be that of a sub-vassal. It is not unlikely that the barony was an early possession of the Fraser family, who were by far the largest proprietors of land in the county during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. In the year 1272 John Fraser of 'Glenwym,' clerk of the diocese of Glasgow, granted to the Augustinian canons of Scone the advowson of the church of St. Cuthbert at Glenholm, which he stated belonged to him of hereditary right. He was probably related to the Frasers of Oliver Castle, but the early history of that family is confused and fragmentary and the connection has not been traced. Nothing more is known of this John Fraser, and nothing at all of his descendants but it would appear that his family retained their rights as lords of the barony till the first half of the fifteenth century, for when a new owner of the barony then appears he gets his grant from a Fraser. On 22nd December, 1439, William Fresal (Fraser), Lord of Uvertoun, in return for 'manifold counsel and assistance rendered' granted to James of Douglas, Lord of Avondale, the barony of Glenholm, with the right of patronage of the church and the superiority of the barony and services of the free tenants thereof. The reference there to the superiority shows that part of the barony, if not the whole of it, had been feued to sub-vassals, a fact which makes the task of tracing the early proprietors very difficult and often impossible.

James of Douglas was seventh Earl of the great House of Douglas, and is well enough known in history as a man of violent and impetuous temperament. He murdered Sir David Fleming of Cumbernauld and Biggar in 1406, and the year before he burned the town of Berwick, perhaps a patriotic but undoubtedly a cruel act. In 1437 he was created Earl of Avondale, and made Justice-General of Scotland. His third daughter, Janet, married Robert, first Lord Fleming, which is interesting in view of the subsequent connection of that family with the parish.

Glenholm was still in possession of the Douglas family in 1451, in which year William, eighth Earl of Douglas, conveyed to Robert of Glenquhym the lands of Wra (Wrae). This Earl when a young man under thirty, was stabbed by King James II in 1452 at Stirling Castle, to which he had been invited under safe conduct. He was succeeded by his brother James, who after a futile protest against the King's broken vows lived to see his titles and all his possessions forfeited, and died broken and weary in the monastery of Lindores about 1484. He had no issue, and with him the main line of the Black Douglases came to an untimely end.

After them, there was no baron of Glenholm. But one family to a certain extent did take the place of the Earls of Douglas as overlords of the parish. On 9th July, 1527, William Porteous of Glenkirk sold to Malcolm, Lord Fleming, the superiority of the lands of Logan, Mossfennan, Quarter and Chapelgill. These lands were only a part of the whole barony, and how Porteous derived his right to that superiority there is no record to show. But in addition to that, the Flemings later obtained rights (principally of superiority) over other lands in the barony. In 1538 they had 'Urrisland' (Holmsmill) and Cardon. In 1541 they had right to the 40s. land of Smailhoppis (Smellhope), the 50s. land of Rachan (then occupied by John Berthram, Janet Porteous, and William Focart), and the 50s. land of Glenhigton and Glencotho (occupied by John Ramage and Michael Thomson). And by a Crown charter dated 31st January, 1595-6, there was bestowed on them the patronage of the church of Glenholm. These lands mentioned comprise all the properties in the parish, with the exception of Glenkirk, Whitslade, and the greater part of Rachan, which were probably by that time held direct of the Crown.

The Flemings, who became Earls of Wigtown, continued to hold superiority rights in the parish till the middle of the eighteenth century. In 1742 the trustees of John Fleming, Earl of Wigtown, sold to Major Thomas Cochrane, one of the Commissioners of Excise (afterwards eighth Earl of Dundonald), the superiority of Logan, Mossfennan, Quarter, Chapelgill and Cardon. He in 1753 sold the superiority of Chapelgill and one-half of Logan to John Naesmyth, Clerk to the Admission of Notaries, and the same year he sold the superiority of Mossfennan, Cardon, and the other half of Logan to Andrew Pringle, advocate, in liferent, and Robert Naesmyth, son of the deceased Sir James Naesmyth, in fee. John and Robert Naesmyth were succeeded by their brother, Sir James Naesmyth, who was served as heir in that capacity in 1775, and who was succeeded in 1779 by his son, Sir James. He sold in 1792 the superiority of Mossfennan, Logan and Chapelgill to John Welsh: the superiority of Cardon he retained, as he was then proprietor of the property. The Quarter superiority remained with the Cochrane family and is now dormant and the superiority of Mossfennan and Logan was consolidated with the property by John Welsh. The Chapelgill superiority is also now extinguished.


It is not easy with the records available to give a full or accurate account of the successive ownership of the lands in the parish. There are at present five separate estates:

Mossfennan (which includes Logan)

Rachan (which includes Quarter, Whitslade, Wrae, Duckpool, and Kirkhall)

Cardon (which includes Cardon itself, Smellhope, Uriesland, part of Glencotho and Glenhigton, three-fourths of Glenkirk, Chapelgill, one-eighth of Glenkirk, Glenacca, Taylorlee, Kirkmeadow, etc, and part of Leesk)

One-eighth of Glenkirk and

Glencotho (which includes the greater part of Leesk). These will be taken in their order.

MOSSFENNAN

This estate, which includes the lands of Logan, lies at the south end of the parish. On the property is the Wormal Hill (1776 feet). The house is beautifully situated, amid trees, above the highroad, and the lands extend for about two miles along the Tweed. Mossfennan, and Logan which adjoins it on the south, were for many years separate properties.

(a) MOSSFENNAN

This was a 50s. land of old extent, and goes back a long way in history.

The original name was Mospennoc (Cymric; meadow by the hill), and the lands in the reign of Alexander II (1214–49) were owned by William Purveys who granted to the monks of Melrose a way-leave through them to their lands of Hopcarton on the opposite side of the Tweed. In 1296 there is record of 'John Eyr of Messfennon' who swore fealty to Edward I of England on 23rd August of that year.

After that, two centuries pass before there is any clear trace of the proprietors, but it is probable that the lands were held either in property or superiority by the barons of Glenholm – the Frasers and the Earls of Douglas. After the forfeiture of the Douglas estates the superiority of Mossfennan (and also Logan) passed to the family of Porteous of Whitslade, afterwards of Glenkirk, and then, as already narrated to Lord Fleming in 1727, to Thomas Cochrane in 1742, to the Naesrnyths in 1753, and to John Welsh in 1792.

William Fraser of Fruid, on 19th May, 1498, was infeft Mossfennan – his predecessors may have held it before that – on a precept from George Porteous of Glenkirk, and as it is called a £4 10s land – it is evident that what the Frasers acquired was not only the property of Mossfennan itself (a 50s. land). but also the mid-superiority of the Logan part (a 40s. land), which was then held in property by the Browns of Hartree.

The estate passed to Katherine Fraser, and she in 1511, with consent of her husband, James Tweedie, conveyed it to Malcolm, third Lord Fleming in accordance with, the directions of the Privy Council.

In 1647, John (Fleming), second Earl of Wigtown, and his eldest son John, Lord Fleming conveyed Mossfennan for 900 merks and a feu duty of £10 to Henry Scott. brother of Malcolm Scott of Glentour. The following year Henry Scott (who died in 1669) resigned the lands for new infeftment to himself and his wife Katherine Abercrombie, in liferent, and their daughter Jean in fee. Jean Scott married Mr. John Muirhead of Persilands, advocate, and in 1671 the property was sold to Walter Scott in Talla and William Scott his eldest son. This William Scott had two sisters, Janet and Grizel, who in 1685 were served as heiresses portioners, and in 1698 Janet, with consent of her husband, John Scott in Daich (Dawyck), conveyed her share (which also included one-quarter of Logan) to Grizel who married prior to 1688 John Laidlaw, and who in 1718 transferred Mossfennan and Logan to her eldest son William.


(b) LOGAN

This was a 40s. land, and is referred to in early writs as half of Mossfennan and Logan: it belonged in property in the beginning of the fifteenth century to the branch of a Porteous family which settled in Glenholm. In 1439 William Porteous of Glenkirk, son and heir of John Porteous of Whitslade, conveyed it to William Brown of Hartree, the superior then being William, Earl of Douglas, who confirmed the transaction in 1449. The following year Brown exchanged the property for the lands of Thriepland in Kilbucho, which belonged to Thomas Anderson. There is a reference to Thomas Anderson of Logan in 1466, who witnessed the sasine of John Brown of Hartree and after that there is no further record of Anderson's ownership. The property was divided and in 1517 William Brown was one of the portioners, and witnessed a sasine by John Porteous of Glenkirk of one-half (or as it is called, one-fourth part of Mossfennan and Logan) to Umfra Harlaw. This half, it was stated, had previously belonged to Andrew Brown of Hartree. William Brown, whose wife was Janet Crichton of the Quarter family; and Walter Harlaw are referred to as portioners in 1558 and 1562. In 1561 James Tweedie of Drumelzier gave sasine of six acres of his lands of Logan, with twelve soums of grazing, to Thomas Tweedie, his servitor. There is no other record of the Tweedies connection with the lands as owners, and by the seventeenth century Logan belonged entirely to the Browns, and was held in two parts, a separate account of which can be given.


ONE-HALF OF LOGAN

In 1627 William Brown was proprietor, and was present at the weaponshaw in Peebles 'well horsed, with lance and sword: and a horseman with nothing.' The same year he wadset the property for £1000 Scots to James Douglas of Cowthropple (Callands) in life rent, and William Douglas his second son, in fee, In 1632 Brown granted another wadset to James Douglas for 1200 merks, and the following year he discharged his right of reversion.

[Alexander Tweedie in Logan in 1654 was decreed to pay James Douglas £100 as rent (Sheriff Court Books)]

In 1634 the property was sold outright by Brown to James Douglas 6 in liferent, and Thomas Douglas, his son, in fee. This was followed by a charter from the Earl of Wigtown as superior. Thomas Douglas, who was a writer in Edinburgh, and was designated 'of Logan,' in 1662 married Helen Geddes, and in 1676, with consent of his wife, sold this half to Walter Scott in liferent, and William Scott, his son, in fee, who by that time had also the lands of Mossfennan.


THE OTHER HALF of LOGAN

On 6th November, 1624, John Brown, eldest son and heir of William Brown of Townhead of Logan, was infeft in this half on a charter by Andrew Brown of Hartree, and in 1636 he had a charter from the superior, John, Earl of Wigtown. He fell into debt, like his kinsman, and between 1642 and 1645 granted two wadsets for £2000 each, and four bonds for 1423 merks in all, to William Brown in Biggar. In 1645 William Brown received a conveyance of the property from his debtor, and had a charter from the Earl of Wigtown two years later. He was succeeded by his eldest son John, who received a precept of clare constat from the superior in 1659. In 1691 John Brown, merchant in Edinburgh (perhaps a son of the previous John), with consent of Elizabeth Tweedie, his wife, and William, his brother, sold the property to George Kello in Carwood. A number of debts had been contracted affecting the lands, and these were paid off by Kello, who thereafter in 1712 sold this half for 6800 merks to Grizel Scott ('Lady Mossfennan') in liferent, and William Scott, alias 'Laidly' of Mossfennan, her eldest son, in fee.


(c) MOSSFENNAN AND LOGAN

The lands being thus united in the person of Grizel Scott, passed to her son William in 1718, who had a charter of confirmation from the Earl of Wigtown as superior. In 1736 he conveyed the property to Robert, his eldest son, who in 1752 sold it to Robert Welsh, who was then tenant of Mossfennan, for £2600.

The improvements which Robert Welsh carried out were, according to Armstrong, 'not less useful than ornamental.' He was succeeded by his son John prior to 1790, and the lands in 1792 were stated to be worth between £140 and £150 per annum, as attested by a certificate signed by the Rev. William Welsh, minister of Drumelzier; William Welsh, tenant in Cardon; and Alexander Tweedie, tenant in Dreva. In the same year John Welsh purchased the superiority of Mossfennan, Logan and Chapelgill from Sir James Naesmyth for £500.

In 1798 William Welsh, tenant in Cardon, who married Christian, daughter of Alexander Welsh, tenant of Patervan, was served as heir to his brother John. He consolidated the property with the mid-superiority, and in 1823 (the year of his death) conveyed Mossfennan and Logan to Robert Welsh, his eldest son, who was in possession till his death in 1856. He was succeeded by his nephew, the Rev. William-Welsh, D.D., [Son of Alexander Welsh, tenant of Cardon, Chapelgill and Glenkirk, who married Mary Tweedie, Dreva] who became minister of Broughton Free Church and married Christina Guthrie, daughter of the Rev. Thomas Guthrie, D.D., and sister of the late Charles John Guthrie (Lord Guthrie). Dr. Welsh, who was highly respected and esteemed in the district, died in 1892, survived by his wife. He had no children. Under his will his wife had the liferent of Mossfennan, and after her death in 1895 his brother Alexander had the liferent. Alexander Welsh, who married Janet Thomson, a descendant of James Thomson, author of The Seasons, died in 1901, and the property passed to his son Alexander, who is now in possession.

Mr. Welsh married Miss Dale of Scoughal, North Berwick, and he is tenant of Spittal, Longniddry.

The present rental is £530 15s.




Reproduced from 'A History of Peeblesshire' by JW Buchan and Rev H Paton, 1925–27, Jackson, Wylie and Co of Glasgow



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