The Amuliganes of Glenshinnel
And their early History in Nithsdale
Section I (History)
The Origins of the Amuliganes of Nithsdale and of the southwest of Scotland are inextricable linked to the early history of the parish of Tynron in Dumfriesshire. The parish Kirk, which first appears on record in Bagimond’s Roll of 1275, had by this date been annexed to the Abbey of Holywood. The abbey was one of three monasteries founded in Dumfriesshire and Galloway by the Praemonstratensian order. It is believed, Holywood, also known as Dercongal, was founded in or before 1154, when an inscription on one of its old bells gives this year as the date of consecration. The other two were in Galloway at Saulseat (founded c. 1148) and Tongland (founded c. 1218). No Cartulary of the abbey of Holywood containing charters granted to or by the abbey is now known to exist. Its survival might well have provided new insights into the early history of the Amuliganes and provided more information about the lands, churches and chapels the abbey had been endowed with in Nithsdale. From Bagimond’s Roll it is known the abbey also held the parsonage of the churches of Dunscore and Kirkconnel, which the abbey’s canons appear to have normally served as a vicar. It would seem the Kirk of Tynron existed from an early date, and it is possible it was one of the ‘parishes’ either in Glencairn or Strathnith, which Pope Alexander III confirmed to Jocelyn, bishop of Glasgow, in 1179.
From the earliest times, it would appear the old Kirk of Tynron and its glebe lands were located on the edge of the small estate or feudal tenement of Ard, called the ‘lands of le Ard and Tynnroun’, which in 1400 belonged to Gilbert Grierson, bailie of George, tenth earl of Dunbar and lord of the whole barony of Tibbers. There was also a chapel at Kirkconnel (not to be confused with the Church of Kirkconnel in Upper Nithsdale) in Shinnel Glen, which points to the vicar of Tynron being assisted by a chaplain. The ruins of this chapel are still visible near the Dry Burn. The picture below shows the remains of a small rectangular building with stone walls some 80 centimetres thick. This chapel would have served the small community of farmers and peasants who lived in Shinnel Glen in pre-reformation times, including, the Amuliganes. The parish itself was divided between two medieval baronies, the baronies of Tibbers and Glencairn, both of which are also the subject of this history.
KIRKCONNEL CHAPEL (ruins)
The Barony of Tibbers
The barony of Tibbers is first mentioned in the second half of the thirteenth century, when it is believed Sir Richard Siward acquired the barony through his marriage to Maria, thought to be a daughter of Sir John Comyn I of Badenoch. A castle was certainly in existence by 1286, when Robert de Bruce the Competitor and his son Robert, earl of Carrick, captured it and Dalswinton Castle, a Comyn stronghold, during their military campaign in Nithsdale and Galloway. The district of Nithsdale had for sometime been a Comyn lordship, though, at what point it fell under their control is unclear. At the outbreak of the ‘wars of Scotland’ in 1296, when Richard and his son of the same name were both captured at Dunbar and interred in the Tower of London, the barony with its castle was forfeited. By 1298, we find Richard back home in Scotland with his barony restored, repairing his castle; it was probably damaged during William Wallace’s campaign in Nithsdale in 1297. The letter below, written by Richard’s cousin, John of Saint John, indicates Richard needed money to help complete his building programme.
Headed Letter from John de Saint John to Ralph de Manton respecting a Meeting at Roxburgh.
August 27, 1298: Text: A Son trescher amy sire Raufe de Mantone, Johan de Seint Johan, saluz e chers amisteez. Pur ceo que nous avoms estee taunte greve de maladie qe nous ne pooms en nule manere travailler de ester a Rokesburghe iceo Mekerdy prochein après la feste Seint Bertelmew, ausint come feust ordene, vous prioms especialment qe oveske monsieur Johan de Segrave, notre cosin, e monsieur William le Latymer, (a ky nous avous escrit,) ‘e ove monsieur Richard Siward, (qe nous enveyoms a vous,’) voillez ester en notre lieu a fere toutes les choses qe nous ferioms si nous feussoms mesmes, en la manere qe vous bien savez mesmes, e solonc ceo qe vous verrez qe plieus soit al honeur e al profit de nostre seignor le roy. E vous prioms pur monsieur Richard Siward, notre cosin, qe de ceo qe nostre seigneur le roy ly doit le voillez eider pour notre amour, issint qe il poet ore a Rokesburghe ester paye de ceo qe ly est due; qe sachez il ad graunt besoigne e pur sa mesone a Tibres quil comence a fere, e pur autres choses. Saluz. Escrit a Langham, le xxvij jour de Auguste.
Translation
To his very dear friend sir Ralph de Manton, John de Saint John sends greeting and dear friendship. Since we have been so grieved by sickness that we could not by any means travel so as to be at Roxburgh this Wednesday next after the feast of Saint Bartholomew, as was appointed, we pray you especially that, along with sir John de Segrave, our cousin, and sir William de Latymer (to whom we have written), and with sir Richard Siward (whom we send to you), you would have the goodness to be our representative to do whatever we could if we ourselves were there, in the manner which you yourself well know how to do, and according to what you shall see to be meet to the honour and the profit of our lord the king. And we pray you for sir Richard Siward, our cousin, that you would have the goodness to help him, out of love to us, to obtain what our lord the king owes him, so that he may be paid what is due to him at this present time at Roxburgh. For I have to inform you that he has great need, as well for his house at Tibres, which he has begun to make, as for other matters. Farewell. Written at Lanham, 27th August.
[Stevenson, Rev. Joseph: Documents Illustrative of the History of Scotland, vol. II, p. 305]
The steps leading up to the ruined of Castle of Tibbers (1997)
With the defeat of the English at the battle of Bannockburn in 1314 by Robert the Bruce and the subsequent forfeitures of land from those nobles and barons who refused to submit to him as king of the Scots, the Siwards lost Tibbers. The barony of Tibbers appears to have passed into the hands of Sir Thomas Randolph, the famous earl of Moray and nephew of the king. He certainly appears to have held the lordship of Nithsdale, albeit temporarily, as earliest as 1309, when he is styled lord of Nithsdale in a letter sent by the magnates of Scotland to Philip IV, king of France . The barony, along with that of Morton, was firmly in Randolph’s hands by the end of the king’s reign in 1329. When the Randolph line ended with two co-heiress, Agnes and Isabella, who inherited the vast estate of John Randolph (their brother and second son of Sir Thomas Randolph) after he was killed at the battle of Neville’s Cross in 1346, the baronies of Tibbers and Morton passed into the hands of the Dunbars. Earl George came to inherit the baronies in two parts. He inherited one half of the baronies of Tibbers and Morton in 1363 from Patrick, ninth earl of Dunbar (d.1368), and Agnes Randolph his wife, and the other half sometime before 1374 from his late father, Sir Patrick Dunbar and his mother Isabella Randolph.
There are three charters and one rent roll surviving from the fourteenth century that related directly to the barony of Tibbers. All four documents, when taken together, provide a rare glimpse into the names of subtenants (and not just the grantor and grantee), the names of their ‘farms, mills and touns’ and how much they paid for their yearly rent. In 1369, Earl George granted to John Maitland of Thirlstane and Robert Maitland his son and heir, for their ‘homage and service, all his lands and tenements of his barony of Tybres with their whole pertinents, to wit, the town of Tybres with the dominical lands and mill, multures and sequels , Glengerrok, Auchyngasylle, Auchynawht, Auchbynbany, Dubillay, Klochyngare, Knokbaen, Penpont, with mill, multures and sequels, and all his lands lying between Scharre and Schynnylle with all their pertinents, excepting to the granter and his heirs, his messauge, the moat of the Castle of Tybris, with Dalgernok, and the lands of the free tenants lying within the foresaid lands’ . All the lands granted to John Maitland and Robert Maitland lay within the parish of Penpont.
The other part of the barony, extending into the parish of Tynron, was held by Walter Bisset of Clerkington in East Lothian, who in 1374 resigned and quitclaimed forever all the lands of ‘Dorsqwen, Glenkode, Croghelyn, Douwyn, Aghenbrekis, Bennan, Corforlyn’, or in all other lands with their pertinents, which he held from the earl of Dunbar . Walter’s division of the barony must represent that half inherited via Isabella Randolph and her late husband Sir Patrick Dunbar (died in the Holy Land in 1356-57), who together might well have granted the property to Sir John Bisset of Clerkington, Walter’s father, who died before 1356 . With the exception of Glenkode, which appears to be Clovyncude, all the rest are absent from the Rent Roll of 1376. Clovyncude, also spelt as Clonclugh, and Douwyn are both located in the parish of Penpont. Croghelyn (Croglin), Aghenbrekis (Auchenbrack), Bennan, Corforlyn (Corfardine) are all in the parish of Tynron. This leaves Dorsqwen a place-name that is not easily identified. The name Dorsqwen appears in two earlier fourteenth century documents, one of which potentially could be identified with the Dorsqwen of Walter’s charter. Sometime between 1315 and 1321, Robert I granted to John de Carrick, son of William called Russell, the whole land of ‘Dorsquene’ with its pertinents. It is not stated in what parish or barony this property was located, except that it lay within the sheriffdom of Dumfries, which covered the whole of Nithsdale and Annandale, and the eastern portion of Galloway.
In 1347, Thomas de Malton was served heir to his grandfather Henry de Malton, a landowner from Cumbria in England, who died in 1327. The panel of jurors found that Henry de Malton died seized in the ‘whole manor of Kircpatric juxta Traverglis, with the advowson of the church and services of freemen’ . He also held the lands of ‘Dorsqwen and Alisland in the valley of Nith’. Henry was one of a number of liegemen whose lands in Cumbria were forfeited for their adherence to John Balliol, late king of Scotland, in 1296. Henry held part of the lands of Levingston from the son and heir of ‘Patrick Trumppe’, a tenant of the Robert the Bruce, earl of Carrick, for nine marks yearly. In 1299, Henry was seneschal of Annandale. However, he was soon back in Edward I’s peace and by 1306 was fighting on the English side against Robert the Bruce. In that year, Henry submitted a claim for the lands of Thomas de Kirkconnel and Robert de Kirkconnel in the sheriffdom of Dumfries, which had been forfeited by Edward I for their part in Bruce’s rebellion. If it is accepted Henry was successful in his claim, it would seem the lands held by Thomas and Robert included the ‘whole manor of Kircpatric juxta Traverglis’ in Kirkcudbrightshire. ‘Dorsqwen and Alisland’ might also have been part of the Kirkconnel forfeiture in Dumfriesshire and although, there is no evidence to support this suggestion, it is also feasible this ‘Dorsqwen’ is the same ‘Dorsquene’ of John de Carrick’s charter.
Alisland is located in the parish of Dunscore, near the banks of the river Nith, and is the old medieval name for Ellisland. In his accounts of 1335-36, during the English occupation of Nithsdale, Sir Eustace Maxwell, sheriff of Dumfries, recorded in his Compotus a payment of 12d blench ferm for the lands of Alisland held by the late John de Felton (perhaps a mistake for Malton ) and now in the hands of Edward III, king of England. Maxwell’s account also notes the payments of 10s blench ferm paid on the lands of ‘Alynton’ and 12s blench ferm on the lands of ‘Barrendonan’. It is very likely ‘Alynton’ is to be identified with Allanton in the parish of Dunscore, a small property, which in 1356 belonged to ‘Alan of Alayntoun’. ‘Barrendonan’ is almost certainly Bardonan, a farmtoun, which is first mentioned c.1227, when ‘Johannes de Dufthauc of Bar .. Dunan’ witnessed a charter of Affrica daughter of Edgar, granting certain lands in the territory of Dunscore to Melrose Abbey. In 1286, Bardonan became the ward of Alexander III, after Adam son of Neson was killed in the king’s service in the Isle of Man. Thomas and Patrick de Bardonan both rendered homage to Edward I in 1296. By 1408, the whole of the lands of Bardonan had been sold by John McRath of Laught to Gilbert Grierson of Ard. Ellisland, Allanton and Bardonan are all located in that part of the parish of Dunscore that bounded the lands of monks of Melrose to the north of Laggan Burn.
The ‘Dorsquene’ of John de Carrick was held directly from the king in ‘fee and heritage’ for services due, probably in similar terms as Henry de Malton held ‘Dorsqwen’ of Edward I, before Robert the Bruce became king of Scotland. The Scots king had granted ‘Dorsquene’ to John de Carrick after he had successfully expelled the English from Nithsdale and had forfeited the lands of those men who had fought on the side of the English in 1314, including, no doubt, Richard Siward of Tibbers and Henry de Malton, who by now held Levington in Cumbria and other properties in Yorkshire in England. In all probability Henry de Malton’s land of Dorsqwen is the same ‘Dorsquen’ now called Dalscone, which lay in the parish of Dumfries, just north of the burgh. By 1426, the superiority of this property had been attached to the barony of Dalswinton and belonged to Maria Stewart daughter of the late Sir Walter Stewart of Dalswinton. Although, we can only infer the ownership of ‘Dorsquen’ in 1374, it is very likely it was the property of the Stewarts of Dalswinton. If Thomas de Malton ever fully possessed the property, it was probably lost to him after the English were finally driven out of Nithsdale by Sir Roger Kirkpatrick of Closeburn in 1356.
In 1374, the ‘Dorsqwen’ of Walter Bisset was clearly part of the barony of Tibbers and was held in 'fee and heritage' from the earls of Dunbar. Where exactly Walter’s Dorsqwen lay within the bounds of the barony of Tibbers is unclear; however, if Glenkode is taken to be Clovyncude, also spelt as Clonclugh, Dorsqwen could be ‘Ernhanane’, which is listed with Clovyncude in the rent roll of 1376, where they appear as ‘Ernhanane & Clovyncude’ and were leased to a MacClery. Clonclugh was located near Eccles farm and was still extant as dwelling place in 1804. The possibility that Walter’s ‘Dorsqwen’ represents the ‘Dorsquene’ of John de Carrick, is worthy of consideration if the land of ‘Dorsqwen’ formed the capite of the fee held in heritage by John de Carrick, and it had been carved out of the barony of Tibbers in much the same way John son of Lauchlan got his lands annexed from the barony of Glencairn. It might only be speculation, but if the lands of ‘Dorsqwen’ lay within the parish of Tynron, where perhaps at one time the name Glenkode existed, the possibility becomes plausible when it is realised, John de Carrick was only one of several men who benefitted from the post Bannockburn forfeitures. The king confirmed several other Nithsdale grants, which are all listed together with John’s, namely, Richard Edgar’s one half of the barony of Sanquhar; John de Soules’s grant of the barony of Torthorwald near Dumfries; William de Fawsyde’s grant of Brenglase; John son of Lachlan’s grant of the land of Snade and others in the barony of Glencairn; and finally, Alexander Menzies’s grant of the barony of Durrisdeer.
The Griersons of Ard and Lag
The Griersons of Ard appear to have been hereditary bailies of the barony of Tibbers in the fourteenth century and by the end of the century, they were armigerous. Gilbert Grierson’s seal bears a shield centred in tracery with a ‘lion rampant,’ gardant, and crowned’, and with a legend ‘Gilbert son of Duncan’ (see below). His seal is appended to a charter of renunciation to the Abbey of Melrose dated 1418. It is very probable, Duncan had also been hereditary bailie of the barony of Tibbers and held the lands of Ard and Tynron for services rendered to Earl George, but it is not clear if he should be identified as ‘Duncan son of Greer’. If Gilbert had indeed descend from a line of hereditary bailies and this family had been bailies in the barony of Tibbers for several generations, it is conceivable, his ancestor Greer could have been the first of the lineage to hold by title deed the lands of Ard and Tyrnon. The history of the Grierson family, therefore, and their relationship with the parish of Tynron is important to us, as Gilbert is known to have been a kinsman of Cuthbert Amuligane, who witnessed at least two charters granted by Gilbert’s son, Gilbert Grierson, 2nd of Lag, between 1437 and 1440.
By a charter of resignation, undated sometime before 1418, Earl George resigned in favour of ‘Gilbert Greresoun of le Lag’ ... ‘the lands of le Ard and Tynnroun formerly pertained to the said Gilbert’, and issued him with a new infeftment for his ‘services done and to be done’ as the Earl’s bailie of the barony of Tibbers . Although not stated, it is clear the lands of Ard and Tynron, already in Gilbert’s possession, were held by ‘fee and heritage’, as Gilbert was required to resign his heritable title by ‘staff and baton’ in order to take out a new infeftment, which also put him and his son, Gilbert, in possession of the lands of Over Holm of Dalgarnock and Collin Holm, then in the parish of Dalgarnock. Gilbert’s charter also included an important clause that restricted the right of succession and heritage to ‘Gilbert Grersoun and Gilbert Grersoun his son and heir and the heirs male of their body lawfully begotten, whom failing their nearest lawful heirs male whomsoever of the name of Grersoun’. Thus, we find the surname Grierson fixed by entailment, that is, through a prescribed line of heirs with the same lineage name, a feature typical of medieval Scotland and one, which would help shape this particular pattern of family surnames throughout the Lowlands of Scotland.
Sometime between 1408 and 1412, Gilbert Grierson moved from Ard to Lag Bardonan in the parish of Dunscore, but continued to hold in heritage his lands of Ard and Tynron and it would seem, continued in office as barony bailie. The bailie played an important part in local administration and in dispensing justice at the baron’s court, which usually had powers of ‘pit and gallows, sake and soke, toll, team and infangthief’. It is not known when Gilbert became bailie of the barony of Tibbers or when he was infeft of the lands of Ard and Tynron, which evidently formed part of ‘the lands of the free tenants lying within the barony of Tibbers’, which in 1369, were not granted by Earl George to John Maitland of Thirlstane and his spouse, Agnes Dunbar, the Earl’s sister, and Robert Maitland, their son and heir. As a free tenant, holding his feudal tenement directly from the Earl, Gilbert would have rendered his due service as bailie at the barony court, and any other obligations including military service, demanded by the Earl, in return for the lands held for the ‘payment of one pair of gloves at Christmas, as blench ferm’, that is, the reddendo or nominal payment rendered to his superior.
Section II (Charters & Documents)
[2] William Hauwyse of Penport
1297-1303: Letter of John del Breetut(?) the King's sergeant in the county of Dumfries, prays his grace and remedy. The K. gave him by charter the land of the late Aleyn le Cleirk of Dumfries, who died the K.'s enemy. One William of Penpont comes calling himself Aleyn's cousin and heir, and has a writ of seisin to inherit his land. Learn-ing that Aleyn is bastard, so that he could not inherit, he waives his writ, and brings another in the name of one William Hauwyse who died 30 years before the war began, and claims as his cousin and heir, making no mention of Aleyn le Cleirk who was in seisin for more than 20 years. And as the writ of seisin is for people who were seised before the war, of lands then taken in the K.’s hand, and not to hinder (forbarrer) the writ of mortancestre concerning the death of people 30 or 40 years ago, and the people of these parts dislike any English disinheritor among them by the K.’s gift, so he prays the K.'s grace that be may take the land as the K.'s escheat by reason of the bastardy of the last ‘fefi’. {Endorsed) To be spoken of with the K.'s council. The K. does not intend that lands be restored by a writ of seisin of this sort, but only lands of which ancestors were seised in the beginning of the war, and occupied by reason of the war.
[Calendar of Documents related to Scotland 1272-1307, Vol. II, p. 273]
[3] Alan of Allantoun
[January 5], 1355-6: Charter by John of Grame, son and heir of Sir John de Grame, knight, sometime laird of Maskessewra, narrating that he had wadset to Roger de Kirkpatrik, laird of Thorthorald, the whole annual rent of 40 shilling due to him from the land of Over Dryfe, in the tenement of Hotoun, within Annandale, for £200 sterling paid to the granter in his necessity; the said annual rent to be held to Roger and his heirs, of the granter and his heirs until the granter can pay the £200 within the chapel of Kyrkbride, in the tenement of Kyrkpatrik juxta (near) Moffet, in Annandale, upon the a green cloth before the high alter. Further, the annual rent is granted with its arrears as a free gift, without compensation, to be made to the granter. Dated at Carlaverock, the Monday after Epiphany (5th January) 1355-6. Witnesses, Thomas, abbot of Sweetheart, Walter, abbot of Holywood, John Stewart, laird of Dalswinton, Thomas Kirkpatrik, laird of Kylosberne, and Alan of Alayntoun.
[Manuscripts of His Grace the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry, Historical Manuscript Commission (HMC), 15th Report, appendix, pt. VIII, no. 78]
[4] Charter of George tenth Earl of Dunbar
June 28, 1363: Headed Carta Georgii de Dunbar. David, etc. Sciatis nos dedisse, etc, dilecto consanguineo nostro Georgio de Dunbare, medietates terrarum baroniarum de Tybris et de Mortona cum pertinenciis, infra vicecomitatum de Drumfres quas Patricius comes Marchie et Morvie et Agnes sponsa sua nobis per fustum et baculum sursum reddiderunt, etc. Tenendas et habendas dicto Georgio et heredibus suis de nobis et heredibus nostris in feodo et hereditate, etc., adeo libere sicut dicti comes et Agnes sponsa sua dictas medietates baroniarum aliquo tempore liberius, etc., possederunt Faciendo inde servicium debitum et consuetum. In cujus rei, etc. Apud Edynburgche, vicesimo octavo die Junii anno regni nostri tricesimo quarto.
[Thomson, John M. (Editor): The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland 1306-1424, p. no. 149]
Comment
George, tenth earl of Dunbar and fifth earl of March, was the eldest son of Sir Patrick Dunbar, cousin to the ninth earl, and Isabella Randolph. Through his mother, George inherited the other half the said baronies sometime before 1369.
[5] Charter to John Maitland of Thirlestane
August 23, 1369: Charter by George of Dunbarre, Earl of March, by which he grants to John Mautalent, for his homage and service, all his lands and tenements of his barony of Tybres with their whole pertinents, to wit, the town (villam) of Tybres with the dominical lands and mill, multures and sequels, Glengerrok, Auchyngasylle, Auchynawht, Auchbynbany, Dubillay, Klochyngare, Knokbaen, Penpont, with mill, multures and sequels, and all his lands lying between Scharre and Schynnylle with all their pertinents, excepting to the granter and his heirs, his messauge, the moat (monte) of the Castle of Tybris, with Dalgernok, and the lands of the free tenants lying within the foresaid lands; to be holden by the said John and Robert, his son, born of the granter’s sister Agnes, and the heir or heirs proceeding from the said Robert, of the granter and his heirs whomsoever, for rendering three suits yearly at the granter’s court of Tybres, and to the King forensic service, so much as belonged to the lands. A clause of warrandice engages to defend the lands “contra omnes exules tam hominess quam feminas nunc ad fidem et pacem Regis Anglie existents”. Seal appended at the granter’s Castle of Dunbarre, 23 August 1369; witnesses, David, dean of the granter’s collegiate church of Dunbarre, Masters Thomas of Harcars, Patrick of Hebburne, canons of thereof, Sir John of Crumby, Sir John of Futheneuyn, Sir Alan of Borthewyk, Sir Robert of Fenwyk, canons thereof; Sirs Walter and Alexander of Halyburton, Patrick of Polword, Patrick of Hebburne, knights, Alexander of Ryclyngtoun, John of Lyle, Hugh Adamson, Robert Lethe, and Thomas, the granter’s clerk. [Seal remaining]
[Historical Manuscript Commission: The Manuscripts of His Grace The Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry, Fifteenth Report, Appendix, Part VII, p. 32, no. 54]
August 23, 1369: Note of an inspection of a charter of George Dunbar Earl of March to John Maitland and Robert son of John Maitland and Agnes sister of the Earl of March and the heirs of the said Robert, of the lands and tenements of the barony of Tibbers ‘faciendo tres sectas curie de Tybers ad tria placita capitalia et domino regi forinsecum servitium quantum ad dictas terras pertinet de warrandice contra omnes exules tam homines quam feminas nunc ad fidem et pacem regis Anglie existentes. Apud catrum de Dunbar 23 August 1369’. The inspection was dated a.r.40.
[Webster, Bruce (ed): Regesta Regum Scotorum, Acts of David II 1329-71, p. 523, no. 509]
Comment
John Maitland of Thirlestane (died c.1395) married Agnes Dunbar, sister of George, tenth Earl of Dunbar. Their eldest son, Sir Robert Maitland, knight, Lord Lethington, inherited the barony of Tibbers, which after his death prior to 1471, passed to his second son and heir, Sir William Maitland of Thirlestane. In 1450, Sir William granted the barony of Tibbers to his brother, James Maitland and his spouse, Egidia Scrymgeour, daughter of Sir James Scrymgeour of Dudhope, Constable of Dundee.
[6] Resignation of Walter Bisset of Clerkington
April 14, 1374: Resignation by Walter Beset (Bisset), son and heir of the late John Beset, knight, lord of Clerkyntoun, in the hands of a great and magnific lord, and his lord, George of Dunbarre, Earl of March, lord of Annandale and Man, all right or claim which he had or might have in the lands with their pertinents whatsoever of Dorsqwen, Glenkode, Croghelyn, Douwyn, Aghenbrekis, Bennan, Corforlyn, or in all other lands with their pertinents, if he held any in capite of his said Lord, within the barony of Tybris; so that neither he nor his heirs, nor any other person in his name, could challenge any right or claim to the said lands in time to come. Witnesses, John Synclere, Vmfrid of Gardin, John, son of Walter, Thomas of Wardlaw, Philip of Nesbit, John of Jonystoun, John of Caldcotis. Seal appended at Lowhgmaben, 14 April 1374.
[Seal attached, legend, “Walteri Beset”]
[Historical Manuscript Commission: The Manuscripts of His Grace The Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry, Fifteenth Report, Appendix, Part VII, p. 32, no. 55]
Comment
The Bisset family of Clerkington in Mid Lothian descend from Walter Bisset, lord of Aboyne, and were Earl Dunbar’s vassals. It is evident the above charter represents the other half of the barony of Tibbers, granted probably to John Bisset of Clerkington sometime prior to 1369.
[7] The Rental of Tibbers and Morton
March 15, 1376: Rentale De Tybris De Mortoun Facta Apud Drumfries.
Link to separate webpage - Tibbers and Morton
[8] Charter to Sir Robert Mautalent of Thirlestane
October 11, 1401: Charter by Robert the Third, King of Scots, granting to his beloved and faithful Robert Mautalent, knight, the, lands of Tybrys with the pertinents, in the sheriffdom of Dromfres, falling to the King by reason of forfeiture or escheat, without any other royal right, to be held to the said Robert and his heirs, of us and our heirs, in fee and heritage, for ever, in the same way, and by the same services us George of Dunbarre, sometime Earl of March, freely held the lands of the King in times bypast. The King commands his seal to be affixed. Witnessed by Matthew, bishop of Glasgow, Gilbert, bishop of Aberdeen, chancellor, Robert, Duke of Albany, Earl of Fife and Meneteth, the King’s brother german, Archibald Earl of Douglas, lord of Galloway (Galwidie), James of Douglas, lord of Dalketh, and Thomas of Erskyne, the King's cousins, knights, at Renfrew, 11th October 1401.
[Historical Manuscript Commission: The Manuscripts of His Grace The Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry, Fifteenth Report, Appendix, Part VII, p. 33, no. 56]
[9] Gilbert Grierson of Ard, armiger
February 2, 1406: Archebaldus comes de Douglas dominu galwidie, dilecetis nostris Willelmo de Cokburne de Scralyne Fergussio Mcdowel militbus Gilberto grerson et thome forman armigeris Salutem. Quia concessimus hereditary dilecto consanguineo nostro domino Jacobo de Douglas domino de Dalketh omnes et singles terras de buthyl prestoun et de borge in galwidia in albam firman et liberam Regaliam et Regalitatem, Vobis et cuilibet vestrum coniuncetim et diuisim ad quos vel ad quem presents litere nostre peruenerint precepimus et mandamus quatinus eidem domino Jacbo vel suo certo acetornato latori presencium iustam et hereditariam saysinam dictarum terrarium in albam firman et liberam Regliam et Regalitatem secundum tenorem carte nostre sibi inde consecte indilate et diuisim per presents plenariam vobis et cuilibet vestrum coniunctim et diuisim per presents plenariam committimus potestatem. Data sub sigillo nostro secundo die mensis Februarii Anno domini Millesimo quadringentesimo sexton.
[Bannatyne Club: Registrum Honoris de Morton, Vol. I, Original Papers, p. 204, no. 216]
[10] Charter to Gilbert Greresoun of Lag
Undated [before 1418]: Charter of Resignation by George de Dunbarre, Earl of March, to Gilbert Greresoun of le Lag, for service done and to be done, of all his lands of le Ard and Tynnroun, with the pertinents, and the lands of Owyrholme of Dalgarnok, with the lands of Colynholme, lying in the barony of Tybris, sheriffdom of Dumfres; which said lands of le Ard and Tynnroun formerly pertained to the said Gilbert and which said lands of le Owyrholme of Dalgarnok and Colynholme formerly pertained to Edward de Crauford, son and heir of John de Crauford, and were resigned severally by the said Gilbert and Edward by staff and baton; to be held by the said Gilbert Grersoun and Gilbert Grersoun, his son and heir, and the heirs male of their body lawfully begotten, whom failing their nearest lawful heirs male whomsoever of the name of Grersoun, for payment of one pair of gloves at Christmas, as blench ferm. At Dunbar. Witnessed by George Dunbarre, the granter’s eldest son and heir, Gavin de Dunbarre, knight and Patrick de Dunbarre, the granter’s sons.
[Hamilton-Grierson, Sir Philip: The Lag Charters (1958), p. 9, no. 3]
Comment
Gilbert Grierson first of Ard, purchased the lands of Lag Bardonan from his kinsman John McRath of Laucht sometime between 1405 and 1408. Gilbert is described in one charter, as Earl Dunbar’s baillie of Tibbers.
[11] Renunciation of Gilbert Grereson of Lag
January 8, 1418: [Dunscore] Translation: ‘To all sons and faithful present and in the future at the church of the sacred Mother Gilbert Grerisson Lord of Lag (sends) Greetings in the everlasting Lord. Know that since from information of certain people I moved the question and protected my right to have and the common right within the land of Dunscor, and on this point was the question between me and the religious men the lords the Abbot and Convent of Melrose who owned the said land of Dunscor. Finally at the request of the said Abbot and Convent I for me and my heirs with the consent and assent of Gilbert my first born and heir, have renounced all right and claim and by the presents I renounce what I would say that I and my heirs have or could have within the said land of Dunscor by reason of the common right or common pasture rights pertaining to me and my heirs whomsoever, by claim of law. And so neither I nor my heirs as determiners executors or assignees will protect any right or claim we have or may have within the foresaid land in any way in the future. And moreover on behalf of me and my heirs and for the salvation of our souls, we renounce by all the mention of laws of charters instruments and proofs made by whomsoever and we quitclaim for ever our right whatsoever or claim we have to the above said land with pertinents or we are about to have, in whatsoever presents they exist in tenor or statement of tenor. In witness whereof I have appended my seal to this present renunciation of me and my heirs at the said Monastery of Melrose the eighth of January the year of our Lord 1418.'
[Liber Sancte Marie de Melros (Bannatyne Club, 1837), p. 498, no. 511]
Comment
Sir Gilbert Grereson of Lag affixed his seal to the above Instrument of Resignation, which was produced in the Munimenta of the Liber Sancte Marie de Melros in Plate XV. The same plate is reproduced in Henry Laing's Descriptive Catalogue of Impressions from Ancient Scottish Seals (Edinburgh, MDCCCL), embracing a period from AD. 1094 to the Commonwealth. The Seal is catalogued as:
No. 391. Greirson Gilbert, of Lag. Plate X. fig. 15.
A lion rampant, gardant, crowned. The shield in centre of tracery. "S' Gilberti ........" - Appended to Renunciation to the Abbey of Melros of the Lands of Dunscore, in Dumfriesshire. A.D. 1418.
[12] Resignation of Edward de Crawford of Kirkandrews
March 31, 1423: Procuratory of Resignation by Edward of Crauford of the lands of Dalgarnok.
“Be yt kenyt tyl al be thire present letteris, me, Edward of Craufurd, sun and ayre of John of Craufurd, lord of Kyrkanderis in Portoum, tyl haf mad, stabylysyt arnd ordanyt my lufyt frendis Adanm of Dalzell, Steuyn of Kyrkpatrick, and Hu of Spens, togeder and syndery, my procuraturis and special mesangerris; gyfand and grantand my ful and playn pouere to tha ilkis, Adam, Steuyn, and Hu, togeder or syndery, my landis of the toun of Dalgarnok, wyth thaire pertinens, lyand in the barony of the Tyberis in the sherafdoum of Dumfres, wyth staf and bastoun tyl vpgyf and purly and symply resyng in the handis of ane he and mychty lord, George of Dunbare, Erl of the March and lord of Man, my oure lord of the sayd landis. Hafand and for to haf ferm and stabyl quat thyng so euer the saydis Adam, Steuyn or Hu, togeder or syndery, as my procuraturis and special mesangerris in my nan [sic, nam] in thaire ofis of procurature ledis to be doun. In the wytnes of the quhilk thyng to thire my present letteris of procurature, I haf hyngyt my sel, at Kylosbern, the lust day of March, the yere of oure Lord M'ccccxx1' iij.”
[Historical Manuscript Commission: The Manuscripts of His Grace The Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry, Fifteenth Report, Appendix, Part VII, p. 33, no. 57]
[13] Gilbert Greresoun, baillie of Tibbers
August 20, 1423: Precept of Sasine issued by George of Dunbarre, styled Earl of March only, directed to Gilbert, Greresoun, his bailie of Tybris, on the resignation of Craufurd, and before the date of the charter. It is given under the Earl’s seal at Dunbarre, 20th August 1423. Seal remaining—Shield, a lion rampant; crest, a horse's head.
[Historical Manuscript Commission: The Manuscripts of His Grace The Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry, Fifteenth Report, Appendix, Part VII, p. 33, 57]
[14] Charter to George de Kirkpatrick of Closeburn
October 10, 1423: Charter given by George of Dunbarre, Earl of March and lord of Man, to his beloved cousin, George of Kyrkpatrick son of Thomas of Kyrkpatrick, knight, lord of Kylosbern, of his whole lands of the town of Dalgarnok, in the barony of Tybris, &c. for his service, resigned by Edward of Craufurd: to be held by him and the heirs male of his body, whom failing the said Thomas, knight, and the heirs male of his body, whom failing the lawful heirs of the said Thomas whomsoever, of the Earl and his heirs, in fee and heritage, for paying a silver penny at Michaelmas in the church of St. Michael of Dalgarnok, in name of blenchferm, if asked only. Sealed at Dunbarre, October 10, 1423. Witnessed by Patrik of Dunbarre, the Earl’s son and heir, Columba of Dunbarre, the Earl’s brother, bishop of Moray, Patrik Dunbarre, knight, lord of Bele, Patrik of Dunbarre, his son, Gilbert Grersoun, the Earl’s bailie of Tyb[r]is, and Hugh of Spens, the Earl’s esquire.
[Historical Manuscript Commission: The Manuscripts of His Grace The Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry, Fifteenth Report, Appendix, Part VII, p. 33, 57]
[15] Resignation of Edward de Crawford of Terringzean
November 21, 1433: Letters of Quitclaim by Edward of Craufurd, son and heir of “lone” of Craufurd, lord of Trarinzan, by which he renounces for him and his heirs “till a worschipfull lord,” Sir Thomas of Kyrkpatrik, lord of Killosbern, “and to George of Kyrkpatrik, his sone natural!,” all right he had to the “landis of the town of Dalgarnok,” the Lang Croft, in the barony of Teberis and sheriffdom of Drumfres, and all other conditions and bands betwixt Sir Thomas and his son and him, which the said Thomas and George had in possession at the making hereof. If Crawfurd, or his heirs, should do or suffer to be done anything contrary to this obligation, the penalty to be paid to Kyrkpatrik, &c., was to be £200 Scots, in the Friars of Drumfres, on the high altar, “on a day be twix the rysing and the ganging to rest of the sone,” before he or his heirs could be heard in judgment making any claim, &c. Sealed at Drumfres, 21 November 1433, before William of Carlell, lord of Torthorwald, John Mur, lord of the Keldwod, Morys of Dalrympill, Audrow of Hamiltoun, Patrik Fergussoun, and Schir Michall of Byrkmyr, notary public, Michaell Ramsay and Rob Walch.
[Historical Manuscript Commission: The Manuscripts of His Grace The Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry, Fifteenth Report, Appendix, Part VII, p. 52, no. 104]
In 1434 George Dunbar, 11th earl of March and his son Patrick were arrested on their return from England, having fallen foul of King James's favour. In a parliament which assembled at Perth on January 10, 1435, the Earl of March., was accused, not for any treason committed by himself, but for holding his earldoms and estates which were claimed to have been forfeited by his father. "In vain did he plead," says Sir Robert Douglas, "that his father had been pardoned and restored by Albany", and it was answered "that a forfeiture incurred for treason could not be pardoned by a Regent". His lands were forfeited and he left Scotland to live in England.
[16] Charter by William Mauteland of Thirlstane
January 3, 1451: Charter by William Mavteland of Thirlstane, whereby for zeal of fraternal affection, he grants to his dearest brother german. James Mavteland and Giles (Egidia) Skrymgeoure, his spouse, jointly and severally, all and sundry his lands of Auchinbrek, Dunvyn, Quhithill, Clongare, Firdenalane, Clauehane, Auchinach, Brawnkevyll, Capilryg, and le Bagrav, in the barony of Tibbris, and sheriffdom of Dunfrese ; to be held to James and Giles, his spouse, the longer liver of them and the heirs of their bodies, whom failing to return to the granter and his lawful and nearest heirs whomsoever, of the granter and his heirs, in fee and heritage, for ever, in one whole and free lordship by all their right meaths and old marches, &e., for an annual payment of one penny of silver at the town (villam) of Tibbris, at Whitsunday, if asked only. With clause of warrandice. Dated at Dunde, (Dundee) 3 January 1450 [1451].
[Historical Manuscript Commission: The Manuscripts of His Grace The Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry, Fifteenth Report, Appendix, Part VII, p. 33, no. 58]
[17] Disposition of Edward de Crawford of Terringzean
February 10, 1456: Letter of Disposition by Edward of Craufurd, son of the late John of Crauford, lord of Trewrenaane, granting and renouncing in favour of George of Kyrkpatrik, lord of Pennersex, his heirs and assignees, for benefits, counsel and help, find a sum of money, all right and property he had to the lands of the town of Dalgamok and of Langcroft, in the barony of Tiberis and sheriffdom of Drumfres. With an obligation that if he, his heirs or assignee, should move question, or attempt anything against this disposition, he or they should pay 200 merks Scots to the fabric of the church of Glasgow in name of penalty, 200 merks to the said George, his heirs and assignees, in name of damage, &., without judicial proceedings, to be paid at the tower of' Killosberne before they were heard before any judge, ecclesiastic, or secular, &c. And he quitclaims the said George, his heirs, &c, of all conditions and obligations of marriage made and appointed between him and Sir Thomas Kirkpatrik, knight, of Killosbern, and the foresaid George at any time before the making hereof, and binds himself by oath on the holy evangels. Sealed at the Tower of Killosberne, 10th February 1456. Witnessed by Robert of Crechtoun of Sanchar, knight, sheriff of Drumfres, Thomas Fergusson of Cragdarach and others.
[Historical Manuscript Commission: The Manuscripts of His Grace The Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry, Fifteenth Report, Appendix, Part VII, p. 52]
[18] Lands of Over Holm of Dalgarnock, le Bog and Colynholm
April 9, 1457: Ratification by Edward de Craufurde, son and heir of the deceased John de Craufurde of Trarynzane, of the gift made by the deceased George, earl of March, to Gilbert Greresone, grandfather of Vedast Greresone of Lag, of the lands of le Ouerholme of Dalgarnow and 2 merkland of le Bog and Colynholme, with the superiority of the lands of Schawis and Fyscharelandis, in the barony of Tybberis, sheriffdom of Drumfres, which lands and superiority were resigned into the hands of the said earl by the deceased Sir John, his father; and that in consideration of a certain sum of money which Vedast has paid to him in his great urgent necessity, of which he acknowledges the receipt and quit-claims the said Vedast; to be held the said lands and superiority by the heirs and assignees of the said Gilbert from the said Edward and his heirs in fee and heritage with all their pertinents, as the said earl's charter, made and delivered to the said Gilbert more fully contains; And the said Edward renounces all right to the property or possession of the said lands, which he has or may have in the future, so that neither he, nor his heirs, nor his assignees, nor any other in their name may claim any right to the same; furthermore binds himself and his foresaids to bring no suit against the heirs and assignees of the said Gilbert, and if he does so, he is hereby bound to pay 1000 merks to the said Vedast for the sum paid to him as aforesaid and for his damages and expenses, £100 Scots to the King and £100 Scots to be applied towards the fabric of Glasgow Cathedral, before entering upon such litigation. In witness whereof he has appended his seal, together with that of Patrick Cant burgess of Edinburgh. At Edinburgh. Witnessed by Roger de Kyrkpatrik of Knoke, George de Falow, Walter Yhung, elder, William Vernoure, Andrew Greresone, Eustace Lorane and David Rede.
[Hamilton-Grierson, Sir Philip: The Lag Charters (1958), p. 10, no. 7]
[19] Disposition of Edward de Crawford of Terringzean
May 9, 1457: Writ granted by Edwarde of Crawfurde, confirming and ratifying the gift and grant formerly made to George of Kyrkpatrik. It mentions that he had resigned the lands in the hands of George Earl of March, as to his lord superior ('domino superiori). They are granted to be held a me, herdibus mies et assignatis, in fee and heritage. The penalty is 1000 merks Scots, the sum paid to the granter, £100 Scots to the King, and £100 Scots to be applied to the fabric of the Cathedral Church of Glasgu. The grantor’s seal is appended and that of Roger of Kirkpatrik of Knok, at the Kirk of Dalgarnok 9th May 1457. Witnesses as in letters of Disposition, with Roger of Kirkpatrik of Knok, John Steile, vicar of Dalgarnok and others. Edward of Kyrkpatrik receives sasine of the lands as son and heir of the late George on 16th March 1470/1, on precept from chancery, the lands being held of the King in chief.
[Historical Manuscript Commission: The Manuscripts of His Grace The Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry, Fifteenth Report, Appendix, Part VII, p. 35]
[20] Disposition of Edward de Crawford of Terringzean
May 4, 1459: Notarial Instrument certifying, that in presence of Thomas of Galhagi, depute of Masters William Heris and Thomas Tyndine, commissioners of Andrew, Bishop of Glasgow, sitting in judgment, the notary and witnesses, a noble man George of Kyrkpatrik, lord of Penersex, compeared personally and craved that Fergus Duncansoun, Thomas Grersoun*, Thomas Androwsoun, Thomas Goldsmyth, Thomas McCalane, Patrick Ahowran, John Goldsmyth, younger, summoned by the said judge should he examined as to what they knew of a sasine formerly delivered by Fergus McRei, serjeant to a certain Edward of Craufurd, son and heir of the late John of Craufurd, lord of Trarinzan; who being sworn declared that they were present, heard and saw, when the late Fergus McRei, serjeant, at command of Sir William of Douglas, sheriff of Drumfres, as he averred, by authority of a noble lord, the lord Earl of March, delivered heritable sasine of all the lands of Dalgarnok, with the pertinents, to Edward of Craufurd, son and heir of John of Craufurd, lord of Trarinzan, sixty years before the date of the present instrument, and declared that the sasine was given at Ravin Hill in the house of John McCalay, and a sasine ox was taken by Patrick Ahowran, and the deponents declared that at that time they were of age, some 17 years, some 18, some 20. Done in judgment in the Friars Church of Drumfres 10th hour before noon, 4 May 1459. Witnessed by Sirs Walter McGilhauch, William Ahanna, John McGilhauch, chaplains, Eliseus McWrerk and Ranald Smyth, Michael of Byrkmyre, notary, after whose docquet is a sentence importing that for more evident witnessing the seal of the denconry is affixed.
[Historical Manuscript Commission: The Manuscripts of His Grace The Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry, Fifteenth Report, Appendix, Part VII, p. 35, no. 61]
[21] Notarial Instrument of Vedast Greirson of Lag
May 4, 1459: Instrument setting forth that in presence of Sir Thomas de Gilhagy, depute of Masters William Heris and Thomas Tynding, commissaries of Andrew, bishop of Glasgow, sitting in judgement, there appeared Vedast de Greyrsone, lord of Lag, who demanded that the following persons who had been cited by the said judge should be examined as to what they knew concerning the sasine given by Fergus Mccrey, serjeand, to a certain Edward de Craufurd, son and heir of the deceased John de Craufurd, lord of Trarinzane, viz. : — Fergus Duncanson, Thomas Grerson, Thomas Androson, Thomas Goldsmycht, Thomas Mccallan, Patrick Ahowran and John Goldsmycbt, younger, who being sworn said that they were present and heard and saw when the late Fergus Mccrey, serjeand, on the precept and command of Sir William de Douglas, sheriff of Dumfries, as he asserted by the authority of the Earl of March, gave to the said Edward de Craufurd sasine of the lands of Dalgarnok by delivery of earth and stone, about nine* years before the date of the presents, that sasine was given at Ravinhill in the house of John Mccallan, that the sasine ox was taken from Patrick Ahowran and that they were at that time, some of the age of 17, some of 18 and of 20 years.
[Hamilton-Grierson, Sir Philip: The Lag Charters (1958), Appendix, p. 52, no. 12]
Note: * The figure of nine years cannot be correct. According to the Notarial Instrument (see no. 16) Fergus McRai infeft Edward Crauford in the lands of Dalgarnock some 60 years earlier. This figure appears to be more accurate, as Sir William Douglas, sheriff of Dumfries, would be the same Sir William Douglas, lord of Nithsdale and sheriff of Dumfries, who died in 1419. The earl of March was George, 10th Earl of Dunbar who died in 1420. If correct, Fergus McRai appears to have been the son of Patrick McRai listed in the ‘Rentale De Tybris De Mortoun’ of 1376.
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