Rulewater and its People p287-288

Rulewater and its People - p287-288

THOMAS USHER, FEUAR OF EILDON

A family of Usher have for many generations been feuars or portioners of Eildon, and the property is still held by the widow and daughters of the late Thomas Usher. Thomas was a shepherd and was born at Byrecleuch. As a young man he followed his calling on the pastoral farm of Corsehope, at the head of Gala Water, where he remained for ten years. He took for a wife Ann, daughter of William Murray, who was employed by Sir James Russell of Ashiesteel. The wedding took place at Melrose 22^nd December 1854, the ceremony being performed by the Rev. Thomas Williamson, of the United Presbyterian Church. Of this marriage there are three daughters – Elizabeth Colcleuch, who married Thomas Carruthers, at one time shepheard at Cleuchhead; Ellen Ann; and Margaret Murray, born at Weensmoor.

The Ushers married into the Bowar family, also feuars of Eildon, and by this marriage, which took place in 1714, some additional house property thus became possessed by the family. Thomas Usher was born in 1696, and is described as a feuar of Eildon. He married Janet Mercer and had two children, their eldest son, John, born in 1748; and Robert, born in 1757. John married Jane Wanles, and Robert’s wife was Betty Scott. Robert in a deed dated 1814 is described as heritable proprietor of lands.

Thomas, son of the above-named John, died at their house at Eildon in 1863, aged eighty years. Brought up as shepheard on the Lammermuirs at Byrecleuch, in his youth he was famous for his great strength. He was a contemporary of the ‘Ettrick Shepherd,’ with whom he was very intimate. His wife was Helen Ewart, who died at the age of seventy-eight. One of their children was a son, Thomas, and another John, both of whom were brought up as shepherds. John, however, prevailed upon his father to allow him to attend the University of Edinburgh, where he soon astonished the professors by his aptitude in acquiring the different subjects of study which he approached. Before being licensed for the ministry he returned home to Byrecleuch on a stormy winter day, caught cold, and never recovered. He died at the age of nineteen in the year 1829, and was buried in the family burial-place in the Abbey churchyard, Melrose. After Thomas Usher’s death their little property was advertised for sale by the trustees, and Thomas Usher, then shepherd at Hawthornside, wishing to retain it in the family, purchased it for something over £1200. Thomas came to the parish to assist his sister Mrs. Renwick and her son in the management of the farm. At that time Weensmoor was let to the Renwicks, and Thomas Usher resided and eventually died there. He told me himself that he was the thirteenth Usher who had owned the family property of a house and land at Eildon.

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