... and probably the builder of an earlier Castle than the Tower. From him it is possible to trace the family in an unbroken line. If earlier records were available, it is certain that the family would have shown in posession much earlier. He is presumed to have had four brothers; Walter, John, Charles, who died in 1448, and Thomas. The latter is thought to have succeeded to the property at Powstown and had sasine of the property at Clounturk Carsby and Capletown in 1499. On March 1490 he is again mentioned in a case concerning Alexander Halyburton. Either he or more likely his son came to a sticky end in a feud of 1543, when on the 2nd of May, Thomas of Powston was murdered by Gilbert McGowan. Odo was dead by 1485 Issue three sons and one daughter: Ethe Hannay the eldest son, was the first quoted Laird of Sorbie. Gilbert Hannay was a Burgess and Provost of Wigtown 1469. Dougal Hannay ( the Hannays of Knockglass ) Mariote Hannay married Patrick Dickinson of Clontis.
(second generation)
Ethe Hannay the first quoted Laird of Sorbie. In March 1459 he with Geborne O`Harnan of Wigton and others witnessed an obligation of George Douglas of Leswalt, Lord of Barquhane in an assize with William Hannay of Kippinach and others. He was baillie on the 5th of February 1484 in a crown precept, the charter being preserved amongst the Lochnaw papers. He had issue six sons as follows:
(third generations)
Robert Hannay also known as Robert of Boghous, succeeded to Sorbie. He first appears in 1482 on Feb 26th., as a witness in a Barnbarrock Charter, and again in 1490 as a witness to a deed of his uncle by marriage Patrick Dickinson of Clontis. Robert appears to have been concerned in a number of land disputes about this time. On 26th October 1493 he summoned his uncle Dougall Hannay of Knockglass for the wrong deliction and withholding from him the sum of 200 merks. In 1494 the boot was on the other foot, Robert and others were summoned to appear before the Kings Councilors at Edinburgh on Oct 8 1494 for unlawful occupation and labouring of lands belonging to George Grierson. Robert married a daughter of Sir Andrew Agnew of Lochanaw. 2nd. Hereditary Sheriff of Galloway mentioned in Feb 1484. Robert was a man of considerable influence in the County of Wigtown. In 1498-9 he acted as Curator for the Sheriff of Wigtown, Quintin Agnew, who was "non compos mentis" He shared the Curatorship with Nevin Agnew, the son of William Agnew of Creich. Robert was still alive in 1500 for he appears as a witness to a Saulret Charter, he was certainly dead by July 1503, when the ward of the lands of Sorbie and the marriage of his son and heir Patrick was granted to Alexander Hannay and William Stewart, the Parson of Powtown. Alexander was Particks uncle, and burgess of Wigtown. He subsequently acquired the lands of Kirkdale. Robert must have died fairly young (1505) about 30 years of age, for his brothers all lived some considerable number of years longer. Robert had 2 sons, John and Patrick.
Alexander Hannay of Kirkdale. The Estate of Kirkdale, in the Parish of Kirkinner, was formally held by Duncan Murray of Whithorn. On Nov 1 1532 Alexander, second son of Ethie Hannay of Sorbie, bought the property of Kirkdale, consisting of 4 merkland, and 2 merkland of Browich, and supplimented these lands with 4 1/2 merkland of Killantraine, the merkland of Craiginche and the merkland of Auchinrae in the parish of Inch, for which there is a charter extant dated 1539, giving sasine of these lands to Alexander Hannay by Patrick Hannay of Sorbie, his nephew. ( Alexander was tutor for Patrick till he became of age.) As many of the younger sons of the landed gentry did this period, he went into business in his local town (Wigtown). As the result of his assiduous efforts he made a considerable fortune. He was Burgess in 1501 and delivered up the accounts in 1505 as treasurer of the Burgh. He appears with Marion or Mariote Hannay in a case of wrongful occupation of certain land in Lubreck in 1519. He seems to have acted in the usual highhanded manner of his time, for in 1513 there is recorded in Pitcairns Criminal Trails the following case -- "Alexander Hannay the brother of the Laird of Sorbie (Robert Hannay) and Uthred McDowell" are haled before the courts "for raiding forth of the burgh of Wigtown in a warlike manner in rioting and thereby breaking the Acts of Parlaiment" What was the result of this case is unknown, but Alexander`s future prospects do not appear to have suffered from it. Alexander apparently did not marry and died in 1610, or at least had no children, and his property passed to his nephew John, the son of his brother William, Provost of Wigtown.
William Hannay was third son of Ethie Hannay and was Provost of Wigtown. William married Janet McILhanche, who on his death, married Patrick Blain. He (William) had sasine of four merkland of Kerkdale and some lands in Killantraine in 1550, and in 1554 he is shown purchasing six merkland of Kirkdale from Alexander Vaus. In 1540 he rendered the accounts of the Ballies of Wigtown, and in 1543, as Customs Officer of the Burg, he rendered the Customs accounts. In 1549 "William Hannay, burgess of Wigtown was licensed to raise the roof of his house and also embellish it with battlements" In fact to raise the roof to make a two story house, was a sign of wealth and position. In 1556 he was again Provost, and also held the Clerkship of Langcastell till his death that year. William had four children, John, Patrick, Isobel, and Grizzel.
Donald Hannay, son of Ethe, known as "Donald of the Sword" was Sherriff in "Hac Parte" to a Carswell Charter on Feb 2 1505. He fought at the disasterous Battle of Flodden on Sept 9 1513 in the Army of King James IV of Scotland, when Scotland`s King and the flower of her nobility and gentry were killed. Tradition has it that this Donald was killed in the battle. There is a puzzlement here, the records show a Donald (no doubt another Donald) a witness in a case of Isabella Hepburn, Prioress of Haddington in 1525 and again on 15th of June 1555, there is a statement in the "Acta Dominorum" that he was murdered by John Lepreich while sleeping in bed. This elder Donald had a grandson. Patrick Hannay the poet, but there is no record who Donald`s son is, or who Patrick`s father is, so it could be this second Donald. That he was a doughty fighter, and a soldier of some note is certain. His reputation was well known, for some years later John Marshall wrote a dedicatory Poem as a preface to one of Patrick`s book of poems. Donald is presuned to have had a son Patrick Hannay.
John Hannay of Sorbie, although he never possessed Sorbie, was the fifth son of Ethie. John married the renowned daughter of Sir Alexander Stewart of Garlies, by Elizabeth, the daughter of Sir Archibald Douglas of Culrow. This Elizabeth or Isobel married John in approximatelly 1500, having all ready had five husbands: Thomas, son of Uthred McDowell of Gartland, Towers of Inerbith, Douglas of Pompertown, Moultry of Seafield and Lundy of Balgony. Nothing daunted she bore John four more sons. John was a man of considerable consiquence in Galloway, and a baillie of Wigtown. He was a signatory of "Charter of Monuments of Holywood in Glasgow Diocese" on 17th of October 1522. He appears in several documents from 1504, when he is baillie to the Abbott of Saulset until 1533. He died about 1544. His four sons were Andrew, Gilbert, George, and John.
George Hannay was "Vice Comite Deputans de Wigtown" and deputy Lieutenant in April 1502. He appears as witness to deads written by Alexander Mure and John Dunbar of Mochrum between 1497 and 1512.