Porteous Research Project

A HISTORY OF PEEBLESSHIRE

Kilbucho

The name of this parish is said to be derived from St. Bega, the virgin, who is reputed to have lived in the seventh century and to have founded a nunnery in Cumberland. It is bounded on the south by the parish of Glenholm and on the north partly by the parishes of Broughton and Skirling, and partly by Lanarkshire. The railway from Glasgow to Peebles runs from Biggar along-side of the Biggar Water, which bounds the parish on the north. South of that is a range of hills, stretching from Hartree on the west to Goseland and Cleuch, which divides Biggar Water from one of its tributaries, Kilbucho burn. On the other side of this burn is another range of hills running parallel, and rising to the summit of Cardon (2,218 feet).

In the beginning of the thirteenth century Kilbucho was possessed by a family which took its surname from the lands. 'Adam of Kelebeuhoc' appears between 1202 and 1213 as a witness to a charter by Walter, the son of Alan, the son of Walter the Steward of Scotland. Between the years 1233 and 1249 Christiana, the granddaughter of William Comyn, Earl of Buchan, endowed a chapel at Spittalhaugh with her lands of Ingraston for the celebration of divine service therein for her soul and the souls of her relatives, and for amongst others, the souls of Gameline, parson of Kelbechoc, and Marion, his sister, and of Gilbert, parson of Kelbechoc. This grant is here referred to for one of the witnesses was Sir David of Graham, and it is not unlikely that he was then the owner of Kilbucho, as it is subsequently found as a possession of the Graham family. A century later (1341–2) John of Graham granted to William of Douglas, the knight of Liddesdale all his lands in the barony, of Kilbucho, and also the lands of Newlands. Thus Kilbucho, which was rated at Ł66 13s. 4d. of old extent, the largest sum for any barony in the county, passed into the hands of the Morton Douglases, and they have already been referred to in connection with their ownership of West Linton, Newlands, Kirkurd and Lochurd, and Eshiels.

From the Register of the Earldom of Morton the following particulars are taken of the rental of Kilbucho for the year 1376

Raw and Blandowyne (Blendewing) – to John, son of Adam and John Hyldsone Ł10 6s. 8d.

Town of Kilbucho – to John Muroksone, Thomas of Cauldlaw, Ralph, son of William, and Matilda, widow Ł8 and 12 hens.

Cottages-

4 to John of Tweeddale, John Walch, and Sir John. Ł1 6s. 8d.

1 to Eden Bondvyle 6s. 8d. with 4 days work.

1 to Matilda, widow do. do. do.

1 to Adam Lityll do. do. do.

2 to John Muroksone 13s. 4d. with 8 days work.

Gyldlande with two cottages to William Ker Ł1 6s. 8d. do. do.

Brewlands with two cottages to William Smith Ł1 6s. 8d.

Wetlande – to John, son of Adam and John Hyldsone 5s.

The Mill – to Adam, miller Ł3 6s. 8d. and the feeding of one porker for the larder of the lord.

Easterhouse of Kilbucho and the Orchards – to William Drouchilde and Adam, miller Ł13 16s. 8d.

Westerhouse of Kilbucho – to Robert Hyldsone, John Brown, and William Scharp Ł13 16s. 5d.

Sum of Kylbucho for the year, Ł54 5s.

In 1378 by a Crown charter from King Robert II to Sir James of Douglas, Kilbucho (and also Newlands) were erected into a regality.

The reddendo was a pair of gold spurs yearly, if asked, at the feast of St. John the Baptist, and the grant carried criminal jurisdiction, 'It excepting the three pleas of the Crown – murther, rape, and fire raising'. This jurisdiction was extended in 1386 (10th July) by another charter to include these three pleas, and also a fourth-robbery.

Kilbucho thereafter shares in general the history of West Linton, Newlands and Eshiels till the close of the sixteenth century, but with this difference, that for a short time the Flemings became proprietors. On 22nd July, 1535, James, Earl of Morton, sold to Malcolm, Lord Fleming, the lands of the barony of Kilbucho, with the patronage of the church, but under reservation of the right of regality and the service of the tenants at the justiciary courts. For about twenty years the barony was held by the Flemings, and then it was reacquired by the Morton family.

The position in the beginning of the seventeenth century was that the Morton family were still the overlords of the whole parish, but the lands themselves were in possession of vassals. In 1631 William, sixth Earl of Morton, sold the barony of Kilbucho (along with West Linton and Newlands) to John, Lord Stewart of Traquair, and in 1645 Traquair resigned his rights as overlord of Kilbucho in favour of John Dickson of Hartree, who was then the proprietor of all the lands in the barony.

Two families have been closely identified with the parish – the Browns of Hartree and the Dicksons of Kilbucho and Hartree – and of these some particulars will be given.

BROWN of HARTREE

In 1434 Sir James of Douglas granted the lands of Hartree to Richard Brown, to be held by him and the heirs of his marriage with Elizabeth of Tweedie, who was a niece of the granter.

Richard Brown was succeeded in 1436 by his son John, who married Christian Brown, and died about 1466, in which year his son William had a charter from the superior, James, first Earl of Morton. William Brown acquired in 1449 from William Porteous of Glenkirk the half of the lands of Mossfennan and Logan (or what is perhaps more likely, the Logan part of Mossfennan), which had belonged to his mother, Christian Brown, and the following year he exchanged these lands for the lands of Thriepland, another part of the barony of Kilbucho, which belonged to Thomas Anderson. This part will be dealt with later.

William Brown's elder son, John, married in 1452 Marion Inglis, daughter of Andrew Inglis, a son of Richard Inglis of Cormastoun, and received on that occasion from his grandfather the lands of Easter Hartree or Easterplace. William Brown was succeeded by his grandson, Robert (son of John), who married Janet Douglas, and received on the resignation of his grandfather, William Brown, a charter of confirmation from James, first Earl of Morton, of the lands of Hartree, dated 11th August, 1484. James Douglas of Auchinstoun acted as his attorney, which suggests that Robert Brown's wife may have been of that family.

Robert Brown's son and heir, Andrew, married in the beginning of 1513 Margaret Menzies, and was then infeft by his father in the lands of Wester Hartree (excepting the mansion house). He and his wife took possession by entering the principal dwelling-house, called Smallburne, and closing the door. Robert Brown, the father, was dead before the end of 1513, and Andrew was then infeft as his heir, and received two charters from the Earl of Morton, as superior, on 3rd November, 1513, and 27th August, 1516, the latter, which was applicable to the Ł5 land of the wester half of Wester Hartree, proceeding on his own resignation. He died about 1572, survived by three sons Richard (who succeeded), William (who acquired Thriepland by marriage), and Bernard.

Richard Brown, as heir to his father, had a precept of clare constat from James, fourth Earl of Morton (the Regent Morton), on 18th April, 1572, and was infeft in the lands of Hartree on 26th May. He married Janet Fleming, and granted to her on 2nd June, 1572, a liferent charter of the Ł5 lands of Easter Hartree. His eldest son, Gilbert predeceased him in May, 1576, leaving two daughters, Elizabeth and Margaret. He granted to his second son, William, on 18th January, 1576–7, a charter of all the lands of Hartree, under reservation of his own liferent, and the terce of his wife, Janet Fleming. This grant was renewed on 9th April 1579, but under reservation to Janet Fleming of her liferent of the Ł5 lands of Hartree commonly called Easterplace, and of Burnfoot and Blackbyres.

William Brown died in March 1585, without issue, and Hartree passed to his cousin, Andrew Brown, who owned the adjoining property of Thriepland. He was infeft in Hartree on 13th April, 1586, on a precept from the superior, John, Earl of Morton. He married Margaret Baillie, and died in January, 1592, leaving a son, Gilbert, to whom John Brown in Dolphinton, his uncle, acted as tutor.

Gilbert Brown was served as his father's heir in the lands of Hartree on 10th September, 1596, and as his grandfather's heir in the lands of Thriepland on 21st December, 1599. He married Jean Hay, apparently of the Smithfield family, and died before 1622, leaving three sons, Andrew, Malcolm and Alexander.

Andrew Brown, the eldest son, was infeft in Hartree and Thriepland on 14th April, 1622, on a precept of clare constat from William, sixth Earl of Morton. At the weaponshaw in 1627 at Peebles he was not present, but he sent ten of his men 'horsit, with lances and swords.' He married Margaret Lindsay, and, with her consent, on 1st November, 1633, he wadset Hartree to George Baillie, merchant burgess of Edinburgh, for 20,000 merks. The following year he sold both Hartree and Thriepland for 57,000 merks to John Dickson. John Dickson, who was the common ancestor of the Dicksons of Kilbucho, Hartree, and Whitslade, acquired the lands of Kilbucho in 1628, and the lands of Hartree and Thriepland, as we have seen, in 1634. He was bred to the law, became servitor to Mr. Alexander Gibson of Durie, one of the Clerks of Session, and prospered in his profession. He was MP for Peeblesshire 1649–50, and was appointed a senator of the College of Justice, with the title of Lord Hartree. In 1616 he married Bessie Barbour, and had two daughters and four sons. In 1632 he married his second wife, Susanna daughter of George Ramsay of the Kirkton of Balmerino, and by that marriage there were seven daughters and four sons. One of his daughters, Elizabeth, married Sir George Mackenzie of Rosehaugh (the Bluidy Mackenzie). Lord Hartree died in 1653, survived by four sons – two of the first marriage, Alexander, who succeeded to Kilbucho, and John, who became proprietor of Whitslade; and two of the second marriage, James and David, who succeeded in turn to Hartree. These two branches (Kilbucho and Hartree) will be treated separately.

(a) THE DICKSONS OF KILBUCHO

Alexander Dickson, the fourth but eldest surviving son of Lord Hartree's first marriage was born in 1624, married Isabel, daughter Lord William Sandilands of Hilderston, third son of the second Lord Torphichen. He fought for Montrose in 1644, and died in 1656, survived by his widow (who married in 1661 Alexander Menzies of Culterallers) and two sons, William, who succeeded and John who was tenant of Mitchelhill in 1702.

William Dickson was a minor when he inherited and had as his tutor his uncle, John Dickson of Whitslade. He died in 1680, survived by his wife, Margaret, daughter of Sir William Murray, first Baronet of Stanhope – she afterwards married Alexander Cochrane of Barbauchlaw – and one child, William, then aged four.

William Dickson was born in 1676, and although he inherited so young, he became known later as Old Kilbucho; for he lived till 1762. His father left debts behind him, and a process of adjudication was raised by the creditors, among whom were his uncle John, Sir David Murray of Stanhope, and Sir John Ramsay of Whitehill. The debts were paid, and William Dickson had a charter from Queen Anne on 10th July, 1702, in which the lands are detailed as Mitchellhill, Raw, Blendewing, Goseland, Cleuch, the Mains, Mill and Mill lands, and the lands called Calzeat Clibanum. He married (contract dated 5th October, 1705) Jean, daughter of Sir William Menzies of St. Germains, Gledstanes and Lethan, and his affairs prospered, for he purchased in 1733 the estate of Coulter from Alexander Menzies of Culterallers. He made an entail of Kilbucho in the same year. He does not seem to have taken any direct part during the '45, but on the abolition of heritable jurisdictions in 1747 he claimed Ł1000 as compensation for the loss of regality privileges. The claim was not sustained, perhaps because Kilbucho was originally part of the regality of West Linton and Newlands, for which the Earl of March received an award. William Dickson died on 6th March, 1762, and his wife in the following year. Both lie in the vault of Kilbucho church. He left four sons and three daughters; John and David, who succeeded in turn; Thomas, who married Grizel Rachel Baillie of Walston (she disponed to him her patrimony, and he was known as Thomas Dickson of Walston; died s.p. in 1747); Michael, of Taunton, Somerset, who married in 1745 Letitia Stodden and left issue; Margaret, who married James Somerville of Cochrane; Mary, who married George Muirhead of Whitecastle and Persielands, and after his death the Rev. J Noble, minister of Liberton and Isobel, who died unmarried.

Margaret and Isobel are buried at Kilbucho, and Mary in Biggar churchyard.

John Dickson, the eldest son, was an advocate, and was served heir to his father on 3rd July, 1766. He was MP for Peeblesshire from 1747 till his death, unmarried, in London on 2nd December, 1767. He was buried at Kilbucho, and was succeeded by his brother David, whom he tried to pass over in his will, as he considered him a quarrelsome fellow, although a minister of the Gospel.

The Rev. Dr. David Dickson was at first trained for the law, and was for some time a writer in Edinburgh. Later he entered the Church, and had rather a stormy career in it during his ministry at Newlands from 1755 to 1767. He was served heir to his father in 1768, and had a Crown charter of the lands on 7th August, 1769. He was twice married, first to Miss Hogg of Newliston, by whom there was no issue, and secondly, to Anne, daughter of Alexander Gillon of Wallhouse, by whom he had four sons and one daughter:

William, who succeeded;

John, who acquired Coulter from his father in 1783, and succeeded his brother William;

The Rev David, who inherited Persielands from his aunt Mary, married Christian Wardrope (his mother's niece), and was minister successively of Liberton, Bothkennar, and the New North Church, Edinburgh;

Captain James Ranaldson-Dickson, who married the heiress of Ranaldson of Blairhall, Perthshire; and

Elizabeth, who died unmarried.

Dr. Dickson died in 1780, and was buried in Kilbucho, where his wives also lie.

Brigadier-General William Dickson, the eldest son, was born in 1748, and had a distinguished military career, but he had the expensive tastes of a man of fashion of the period. In 1771 he served in the American War as a gentleman volunteer. He was back in the country in 1778, and visited Peebles to stimulate recruiting for the militia. He fell badly into debt, and was forced to sell much of the estate. In 1785, pressed by his creditors, he appointed Loch of Rachan his trustee. He fought with the 42nd Highlanders in the Egyptian Campaign against Napoleon, and returned in 1802 with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. His regiment was reviewed by King George III, and thereafter he marched with it to Scotland, and was received everywhere with acclamation. Peebles welcomed him with open arms, and he was made a burgess. It was the glitter of life which attracted him, and he spent much on fine clothes and good wine. In the days of the Regency he was a prominent figure with his high-coloured, good-humoured face. There is a story that the Prince of Wales (afterwards George IV) twitted him on the redness of his nose, and asked, with an effort at humour, how long he had taken to paint it. The reply was that the process was not yet completed. In 1808 he was sent to Cork as Lieutenant-Governor of that city, and died unmarried in 1815, succeeded by his brother John. All that then remained of the lands of Kilbucho were Kilbucho Place itself and the small adjoining property of Calzeat.

THE DICKSONS OF HARTREE

Little is known of James Dickson, who was the eldest son of Lord Hartree's second marriage; he had a charter of Hartree from his father in 1657, and he transferred these lands in 1663 to his younger and only surviving brother, David.

David Dickson was born in 1644, and married (contract dated 30th May, 1665) Helen, third daughter of Sir Alexander Wedderburn of Blackness, and died in or before February, 1668, leaving two sons, John (who succeeded) and David. He acquired in 1665 from his uncle, James Dickson, the lands of Stane.

John Dickson was born in 1666, and married (contract dated 13th December, 1692) Anna daughter of Sir William Murray, first Baronet of Stanhope. Her toucher was 3,000 merks. He entailed the lands in 1695, and died in 1706, survived by a son, John, and four daughters, Henrietta, Helen, Anne and Agnes. The son, John, succeeded, and was infeft in Hartree on 15th May, 1707, on a precept of clare constat from the superior, William Dickson of Kilbucho. He also succeeded to Stane, and increased his possessions in 1722 by the purchase of the lands of Anniestoun, in the parish of Symington, from George Lockhart of Carnwath for 15,100 merks. He also acquired about the same time the lands of Eastfield in the same parish. There does not appear to have been any issue of his marriage (post-nuptial contract dated 31st October, 1727) with Susanna Lockhart, daughter of William Lockhart of Wygateshaw, and he was succeeded by his three surviving sisters, Helen, Anne, and Agnes, who were served his heirs portioners of line and provision on 13th June 1744.

A few months before 'the Ladies of Hartree,' as they were called, entered into possession, a clamant of the estates appeared on the scene. This was David Dickson, grandson of their uncle, David, the younger brother of their father, John Dickson of Hartree. David, the uncle, had married out of his class and disappeared; he had a son, John, who was an officer of Excise, and the claiment, John's only son, was a footman in the service of William Robertson, writer, Edinburgh. While he was waiting one day at dinner, he heard one of the guests say that the Ladies of Hartree knew of no heir to the property, although it was not unlikely that their uncle might have left descendants. After dinner the footmen went to his employer and told his story, and the guest, who proved to be his relative, David Dickson, afterwards the Rev. David Dickson of Kilbucho, lent him money wherewith to purchase a commission and prove his claim. In security of this loan David, the footmen, assigned his rights to Hartree by a disposition dateed 2nd April, 1744. Later in the same month he was served as heir to David Dickson of Hartree, his great-grandfather, and on 10th November of the same year he had a of clare constat from his superior, William Dickson of Kilbucho. He did not however, attempt to disposses the ladies, but they paid off the loan he had contracted to David of Kilbucho, who trabsferred to them the disposition in his favour.

The ex-footman became an ensign in Lieutenant-General Handysides's Regiment of Foot, and rose to the rank of Captain. He made his home at Hartree, and after his retirement acted as factor to the ladies there, with whom he was on the friendliest of terms. His wife was Jean Bell, a housemaid, whon he had married when he was a footman, and of this marriage there was one son, Alexander. In 1753 the 'Ladies of Hartree' executed a disposition of their lands – Hartree, Thriepland, Anniestoun, Stane and Eastfield – to themselves and their issue, whom failing to Ensign David and his heirs. The ladies never married. Helen seems to have died in 1756; Anne's name disappears after 1759. Agnes, the remaining sister, on 20th March, 1779, bought the mid-superiority of Hartree and Thriepland from the Laird of Kilbucho for Ł329 11s 10 and 2/12d. stg, and thereafter these lands were held direct of the Crown. Agnes Dickson died in 1794, and was succeeded by Alexander Dickson, the only son of Captain David Dickson, who died in 1791.

Alexander Dickson, who became Colonel of the 16th Regiment of Foot, was born in 1743, and was served heir to his three cousins, the ladies foresaid, on 11th July, 1794. He married Susanna Jane, daughter of Sir Henry Moore, Governor of New York, and afterwards divorced her. The old tower of Hartree was demolished by him, and he built the older part of the present house on an adjoining site. As he had no children, he intended a cousin, Major Andrew Douglas, who lived with him at Hartree, to be his heir, but he outlived him, and died in 1817, leaving his lands in Kilbucho to his relative, John Dickson of Kilbucho and Coulter, subject to a liferent in favour of Euphemia Helen Smeaton, the widow of Major Andrew Douglas.

(c) THE DICKSONS OF KILBUCHO AND HARTREE

John Dickson, who thus united the two branches of the family, was an advocate, and a Deputy-Lieutenant of the county. He was born in 1752. In 1781 he married Mary, daughter of the Rev. J Gibson, minister of St. Cuthbert's, Edinburgh, and of this marriage there were six sons and six daughters. Kilbucho he inherited in 1815, and to Hartree he was served heir on 17th November, 1517. Kilbucho Place he turned into a farm, and lived himself at Coulter House. He died on 25th May, 1835, and was buried in Coulter. He was succeeded by David, his second but eldest surviving son.

David Dickson of Kilbucho and Hartree, also an advocate, was born in 1793, and married in 1826 Jemima, daughter of the Rev. D Pyper, minister of Pencaitland. He had a family of four sons and three daughters, and died on 25th December, 1866, survived by his widow, who died at Hartree in 1894, aged 93. He was succeeded by his third son, Alexander.

Alexander Dickson of Kilbucho and Hartree, LLD (Glasgow) and FRS (Edinburgh), was a Deputy-Lieutenant of the county, and became successively Professor of Botany at the Universities of Dublin, Glasgow, and Edinburgh (1879). He built most of the present house at Hartree, and died unmarried on 30th December, 1887, succeeded by his younger brother, Archibald.

Archibald Dickson, M.D., was born in 1837, and died unmarried in 1901. Hartree (which had been disentailed by his father) he bequeathed to his younger sister, Elizabeth: Kilbucho passed under the entail to his eldest sister, Mary, and the properties were thus again separated.

THE HARTREE BRANCH

Elizabeth Dickson of Hartree was the third but second surviving daughter of David Dickson, who died in 1887. She was born in 1841, and died unmarried at Hartree in 1911, succeeded by John Gordon Wilson-Dickson, to whom she bequeathed the estate.

This Laird was a great-grandson of John Dickson of Kilbucho, Hartree, and Coulter, who died in 1835, and whose daughter, Margaret Nimmo Dickson, married in 1804 at Coulter House, William, fourth son of John Wilson of Wilsontown. Their eldest son, John, had by his wife, Georgina, daughter and co-heiress of George Shepley, an only son, William, who married Sophia Susanna, sister of Sir Charles Edward Gordon, seventh Baronet of Earlston, and of this marriage the eldest son was John Gordon Wilson, who assumed the additional surname of Dickson on his succession to Hartree. He married in 1907 Mary Glen Davidson, and died in 1913, survived by three sons – William Gordon (born 1908), Richard Glen (1909), and Philip Shepley (1911).

THE KILBUCHO BRANCH

Mary Dickson of Kilbucho (eldest daughter of David Dickson, who died in 1887) married William Francis Hunter-Arundell of Barjarg, Dumfriesshire, and died without issue in 1913. The property then passed to the present proprietrix, Mary Esther Wynne Gibson, a granddaughter of John Dickson of Hartree, Kilbucho, and Coulter, who died in 1835. Her descent is through John Dickson's youngest son, Dr. Archibald, whose only child, Janet Christina Anne, married Captain Posnitt. Of that marriage Mary Esther Wynne is the elder daughter. She married Robert Gibson, and has one child, Richard.

The lands in the parish may be dealt with under three headings – (1) the lands of Hartree and Thriepland, (2) the lands of Kilbucho, comprising all the remainder with the exception of Kilbucho manse and ground attached, and (3) Kilbucho manse.

(1) HARTREE AND THRIEPLAND

(a) HARTREE

Hartree – a Ł20 land of old extent (1040 acres) – lies at the west end of the parish, and extends from Biggar along the side of Biggar Water to the farm of Bamflat; it then crosses the ridge to the Kilbucho burn and takes in the farms of Goseland, Howslack, and South Side. It was always a part of the barony of Kilbucho, but it was in the possession of a sub-vassal as early as 1389. In that year Janet Graham, designed lady of 'Walchtone,' and probably kin to the Grahams of Dalkeith, surrendered Hartree to her overlord, Sir James of Douglas, and it thereafter remained with him and his son, Sir James, till 1434, when it was granted to Richard Brown.

[Reg. Morton, 11. No. 189. James of Tuedy acted as her deputy and attorney]

(b) THRIEPLAND

Thriepland is a smaller property than Hartree, and adjoins it on the west. It was also a part of the barony of Kilbucho, and there is still a farm of that name. 'Robert of Threpeland' swore fealty to King Edward 1. of England on 28th August, 1296, and for a time the lands gave a surname to the family in possession. Prior to 1374 there was a Henry of Thriepland, who had a daughter, Alice, and she, with her husband, Thomas of Forest, gave back the lands to the overlord, James of Douglas, on payment of 'one hundred good and lawful sterling shillings,' but on condition that if Alice had any heirs, male or female, of her body, the lands were to be restored to them. Subject to that condition, Sir James Douglas in August, 1377, granted the property to Andrew, son of John. There is no trace of further proprietors till 1450–1, when William Brown of Hartree acquired Thriepland by excambion from Thomas Anderson, and had a charter of confirmation on 12th March from the superior, Sir James Douglas of Dalkeith, who calls him his cousin.

William Brown gave Thriepland in 1483 to his younger son, Andrew, who had a charter of confirmation on 31st July from James, first Earl of Morton. In that charter the lands are described, but the description is of little use in identifying the original boundaries, as the names are strange, viz. – Crannoboge, Smalburne, Chesterburn, Kowfurde, Farhornfurde, Langrydyke, and Wodgylburne. Andrew Brown died about 1513 – he may have fallen at Flodden – as on 22nd November of that year his son, Gilbert, had it precept of clare constat from James, Earl of Morton.

Gilbert Brown in December, 1534, resigned the lands for new infeftment to his niece and heir, Margaret Brown, on her marriage to William Brown, the second son of Andrew Brown, the sixth Laird of Hartree, and in February following letters of reversion were granted by William Brown, who refers to his wife as his 'handfast spouse,' undertaking that his wife died without lawful issue the lands would revert to his father-in-law on condition that he paid to him or his heirs 200 merks upon the high altar of St. Bege's Kirk. However, there were four sons of the marriage, Andrew, John, Robert, and William and Margaret Brown survived her husband (who died about 1583), and is styled thereafter 'of Thriepland.' Her eldest son, Andrew, succeeded to Thriepland, and on the death of his cousin, William Brown, he also succeeded to Hartree as heir to his uncles, Richard and William.

(c) THE WHOLE PROPERTY

Hartree and Thriepland remained in the possession of the Browns, of whom an account has been given, until 1634, when they were sold for 57,000 merks to John Dickson, who afterwards became Lord Hartree. Thereafter the properties were possessed by a branch of the Dicksons, as before stated, and ultimately descended to John Gordon Wilson-Dickson, who died in 1913. His executors now hold only the farms of Knowehead (rental Ł213 10s.) and Howslack (rental Ł197).

The rest of the estate they sold –

Hartree House and policies to Mr Charles Atha, managing director of the tube works of Stewart & Lloyd, Coatbridge (rental Ł352).

The farms of Bamflat, to Mr. John Masterton (rental Ł140). Burnfoot and Easterplace, to Mr. James Steel (rental Ł213 13s 9d.).

Pyetknowe, to Mr. John Scott (rental Ł300).

Southside, to Mr. William Home (rental Ł158).

Thriepland, to Mr. William Jackson (rental Ł393).

(2) THE LANDS OF KILBUCHO

These lands, which we are now dealing with, consist of the farms of Kilbucho Place and Calzeat, Kilbucho Mains, Blendewing and Raw, Mitchellhill, Cleuch, Goseland, and Parkgatestone (or New Mains). Being part of the barony, their general history has already been outlined up to the end of the fifteenth century. Prior to that Mitchellhill, Kilbucho Mains, Cleuch and Goseland, and perhaps other parts, were in the possession of sub-vassals, and in the early years of the sixteenth century most, if not all, of the remainder was disposed of and only the superiority retained. About 1614 the lands themselves (with the exception of Mitchellhill and Kilbucho Mains) became the property of Mr. John Douglas, who was styled 'of Kilbucho,' and were held by him under the Earl of Morton. He was the son of Mr. Archibald Douglas, Archdeacon of Glasgow, and Margaret Tweedie, and was related to the Cavers family. He married Margaret Douglas, and they were both concerned in a number of transactions concerning the lands of the barony. In 1618 his brother, Mr. Robert Douglas, had a wadset from him of the lands, and was infeft in an annual rent of 200 merks from them. John Douglas died about 1624, when his son, Archibald, was charged at the instance of creditors to enter as heir to his father and grandfather.

The greater part of the lands became the property – the links have not been traced – of Sir Archibald Murray of Blackbarony, and in the weaponshaw of 1627 at Peebles he appeared with forty-two horsemen from his properties in Kilbucho and Eddleston. By charter dated 18th January, 1628, he granted his lands of Kilbucho to John Dickson (Lord Hartree), and this was ratified by William, Earl of Morton, on 13th August, 1630. The lands are described as the town and lands of Kilbucho, the mill lands and multures thereof, the lands of Moitt or Mains of Kilbucho, Raw, Blendewing, Cleuch and Goseland, with the patronage of the Kirk. The superiority of the barony passed in 1631 from the Earl of Morton to the Earl of Traquair, who in 1645 resigned his rights to John Dickson, thus enabling him to hold Kilbucho (which also included the superiority of Hartree and Thriepland) direct of the Crown. In 1646 John Dickson acquired Mitchellhill, and as he had also acquired Hartree and Thriepland in 1634, he thereby became proprietor of the whole parish. He was succeeded in 1653 by Alexander, the eldest surviving son of his first marriage.

KILBUCHO PLACE AND CALZEAT

From the date of the purchase of the Kilbucho lands by John Dickson in 1628, these two farms have been in the possession of the Dickson family. Kilbucho Place was their dwelling-house until 1815, when John Dickson brother of Brigadier-General William Dickson, succeeded. He lived at Coulter, and since then the house has been let along with the farm. The earliest part of the building is said to date back to the sixteenth century, and there is a number of old tablets on the walls with mottoes on the brevity of life and the need of wisdom.

The present proprietor is Mary Esther Wynne Posnitt, who married Robert Gibson.

The rental (excluding superiorities from the lands of Calzeat) is Ł626 6s. 8d.

(b) KILBUCHO MAINS

The 'Moitt' or Mains of Kilbucho is included in the lands purchased by John Dickson in 1628, but that could only be a mid-superiority, as the property was then possessed by a branch of the Tweedie family. Later – the link has not been traced – the property passed to the Dicksons, and was held by them until 1809. In that year Kilbucho Mains was feued by John Loch of Rachan, as trustee for Brigadier General William Dickson and his creditors to John Hay Forbes, advocate (afterwards Lord Medwyn). It is not possible to say whether the land then transferred was greater or less in extent than the original 'Moitt' but it included the mill, and part of Parkgatestone, and extended in the direction of Glenholm between the farms of Kilbucho Place and Blendewing.

Lord Medwyn conveyed the property in 1836 to George Turnbull, WS, of Abbey St. Bathans, who a few days later transferred it to Alexander Gibson Carmichael, younger of Skirling. He sold it in 1846 to John Cuninghame of La'nshaw by whom it was entailed. His son, Richard Dunning Barre Cuninghame, disentailed Kilbucho Mains in 1898, and the following year sold it for Ł9800 to Mr. Duncan Macdonald, Motherwell.

Mr. Macdonald built a residence there and planted the policy grounds round it. He has recently sold it to Mr. James Haddow, Springbank, Falkirk.

The present rental is Ł440.

(c) BLENDEWING AND RAW

This farm – the Raw was originally a separate holding – lies between Kilbucho Mains and Mitchellhill, and is beautifully situated, with Cardon for a background. In 1586 there were three occupiers in 'Blandewne'. Patrick Porteous, who had four oxgangs; Rolland Porteous, who had two oxgangs; and Patrick Thomson, who had also two oxgangs. They were dispossessed by George Geddes acting as chamberlain of John, Lord Fleming, who was the principal tenant of the lands; and thereafter, it is recorded, they agreed to become tenants of Lord Fleming at a rent of seven merks for each oxgang. John Porteous was in Blendewing in 1603, but whether as proprietor or tenant is not clear. Malcolm Fleming became proprietor of both Blendewing and Raw in 1620, and from him they passed in 1623 to William Fleming, and to John Dickson in 1626. Mr. John Douglas apparently held a mid-superiority, and this also passed to John Dickson.

Thereafter the property remained a possession of the Dicksons of Kilbucho until 1786, in which year, along with Mitchellhill, Goseland, Cleuch and Parkgatestone, it was acquired from Brigadier-General (then Captain) William Dickson by William Cuninghame of Lainshaw, Ayrshire, who was descended from a younger branch of the Cuninghames of Caprington.

William Cuninghame married in 1780 Margaret Nicholson, eldest daughter of the Hon. George Cranstoun (son of James, sixth Lord Cranstoun, and Jane, his wife, daughter of William Ker, second Marquis of Lothian), and in 1794 entailed his properties to Alexander, his second son and his heirs, whom failing to John, his fourth son, and his heirs, and other substitutes. Under this entail John Cuninghame of Lainshaw and Duchrae, the fourth son, succeeded, and was served as heir of tailzie and provision on 19th August, 1801. He had a Crown charter of the Kilbucho lands on 3rd February, 1802, the feu-duty being 1d. Scots at the feast of Pentecost yearly, if asked.

John Cuninghame was a Justice of the Peace and a Deputy Lieutenant of Kirkcudbrightshire, and married in 1831 Eliza Mary, daughter of Captain Upton, RN. He extended his possessions in the parish by the purchase in 1846 from Alexander Gibson Carmichael, younger of Skirling, of the lands of Kilbucho Mains, and died in 1864, succeeded by his second son, Richard Dunning Barre, who had a Crown writ of clare constat dated 30th March of that year.

Richard DB Cunninghame was succeeded by his nephew, Richard John Cuninghame (son of his elder brother, John William Herbert Cuninghame, JP, DL, late Captain, 2nd Life Guards), who was served as heir of provision on 16th February, 1916. He disentailed his lands in 1918, after which they were sold.

Blendewing and Raw were purchased in 1921 by Mr. A Thomas S Todd, a former tenant of Mitchellhill.

The present rental is Ł210 12s. 3d.

(d) MITCHELLHILL This property, adjoining Blendewing, lies on the south side of Kilbucho burn, opposite to Goseland and Howslack, and is bounded by Thriepland and Southside, at the head of the glen. It is not unlikely that Thriepland originally included Mitchellhill, as the family of that name were connected with part of the lands till the beginning of the seventeenth century. It was a Ł5 land of old extent, and by the middle of the fifteenth century had been divided into two.

THRIEPLAND OF MITCHELLHILL

One-half belonged to the Thriepland. Robert Thriepland of 'Mychelhill' in 1466 was a witness to the sasine of William Brown of Hartree, and in May, 1467, was on the jury for the service of John Geddes at Thankerton. On 13th July, 1513, John Thriepland had a charter of the lands from James, Earl of Morton. David Thriepland of Mitchellhill is in evidence from 1559 to 1566, in which year his son and heir, Richard, married Agnes Brown. In 1591 John Thriepland was infeft in the lands as heir of David Thriepland, his grandfather, on a precept of John, Earl of Fleming, and he had also a precept of clare constat from the Earl of Morton in 1616, in which year he wadset his half to William Bertram of Nisbet. Of this wadset he renounced the reversion in 1620. Both Thriepland and Nisbet were called for their interests in 1634 in the action of reduction and improbation at the instance of Traquair.

NEWTON OF MITCHELLHILL

The other half belonged in 1465 to John Newton, who had a charter, as heir of his father, from the Earl of Morton. In 1514 David Newton had a precept of clare constat as son and heir of his father, Patrick, who may have fallen at Flodden. In 1555 there was still a David Newton, who was succeeded in 1563 by John (presumably his son), and in 1591 Walter Newton was served as heir to his grandfather, David, on a precept by John, Lord Fleming. William Newton in 1634 was called in the action by Traquair, and produced a precept of clare constat in his favour as son and heir of David, his father.

These two shares were acquired in 1646 by John Dickson from William Bertram and William Newton, and thereafter the property shares the story of Blendewing. It was sold in 1920 to Mr. James Forrester, and by him sold in 1925 to Mr. Herbert Smith.

The present rental is Ł357 3s.

(e) CLEUCH AND GOSELAND

These two farms adjoin, but Cleuch is in the valley of Biggar Water, while Goseland is in the glen of Kilbucho burn. There was a John Brown in Goseland in 1570, and also a William Brown who in 1569 married Helen Baillie, and bestowed on her six oxgangs of land, four of them in the Goseland and two in the Cleuch. These Browns were no doubt related to the Browns of Hartree. A William Brown in 'Goisland' died there on 20th March, 1583 among those attending on him being William Brown of Hartree and Andrew Brown of Thriepland. He had brothers, David and Bernard, and he left a widow, Helen Tweedie, and a son and daughter, John and Marion. John Brown of Goseland (probably William's son) is referred to in 1598.

The lands were acquired by Mr. John Douglas and sold by him in 1618 to William Brown, who sold them in 1621 to Sir Archibald Murray of Blackbarony. They were acquired in 1628 by John Dickson after which they share the story of Blendewing and Mitchellhill. In 1921 they were sold to Messrs. John, James, and Ebenezer Braidwood Masterton.

The present rental is Ł260.

(f) PARKGATESTONE (OR NEW MAINS)

This farm lies on Biggar Water, between Cleuch and Kilbucho Mains. The name is comparatively recent, and is obviously a 'made' one. Perhaps the farm was formed partly from the lands of Cleuch and partly from Kilbucho Mains. Like the rest of the Kilbucho lands, it became the property of John Dickson in 1628, and after that it shares the story of Blendewing, Mitchellhill, Cleuch and Goseland. It was purchased in 1922 by Mr. Henry Corrie, by whose widow it was sold in 1926 to Mr. James Cunningham.

The present rental is Ł358 19s.1d.

(3) KILBUCHO MANSE AND GLEBE

This small property lies at the junction of the Raw and Mitchellhill burns, and extends to about fourteen acres. Adjoining it is the churchyard with the ruins of the old Kilbucho church. When the three parishes were united, the manse and glebe came into possession of the heritors, and were sold by them in 1811 for Ł720 to James Richardson, in Heughbrae, Glenholm. From him the property passed to his brother, Rev. John Richardson minister of the United Secession congregation at Freuchie, in liferent, and to the latter's eldest son, John, in fee.

John Richardson, the son, sold the property in 1870 – he was then the Honourable John Richardson, of Sydney, New South Wales – to James Hope and James Hope, junior, at Hartree, Knowehead, Biggar. The price was Ł830.

James Hope, junior, sold his share in 1889 for Ł400 to James Hope, who died in 1901, and his trustees in 1903 sold the property to John Thomson, farmer, Talla, Tweedsmuir.

In 1918 John Thomson sold it to his sister Grace, who in 1926 sold it to Major Percy Douglas Saxton, late of the 20th Duke of Cambridge's Own Infantry (Brownlow's Punjabis), India. The present rental is Ł31 5s.

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

Next page
Back to Porteous Research