A
SELECTION OF 13 DEEDS RELATING TO SCOTLAND

1487 -
1798

Most of the following were in very poor, damaged condition, much of the
text faded, and on occasion lacking.

BEITH                                                                                          1620

WRIT TO DELIVER SEIZIN

Writing dated 11th
November 1620... compared Patrick
Johnston and Issobella Neil, his spouse, having and holding
in their hands a certain charter made, delivered and granting to Brasum Blair the lands written below.... 13/4
worth of land held of Mrynsumme (?), situated in the
parish of Beith, in the bailiwick of Cunningham and sheriffdom of Ayr ,and granting the land to Patrick Johnston and Issobella his
spouse and the heirs of their body lawfully begotten.... writ to Robert Blaire of Dalgorebarre,
bailiff of the said Brasum Blare, ordering him to deliver seisin of the said lands....

The witnesses are: William Hamilton of Brum—muis,
Patrick Cummel
of Granghill, Thomas,
clerk in Dehilband and John Lyll in Mershilland.   Robert
Peblis clerk.

STRATHARCHY                                                                           1516

GRANT

TO ALL   by whom this
charter may be seen or heard etc….. I, Colin
Campbell, Earl of  Egardine (?)
and Lord Campbell…… know ye…. that we have
given, granted and by this charter confirm….. to our beloved Joan McGille
and Kenneth McNeil and their heirs
male of their bodies lawfully begotten… all and entirely that inclosed land of turbary  with the appurtenances which William Kenneth McNeill, the father of
the said Joan, had while he lived……
and two enclosures with half a land of ---- lying in my domain of Stratharchy (?) and sheriffdom of
Argyle...

Dated: The last day of August 1516.

The witnesses are August
McGille,----------------,
Thomas McGille,-------------------

WILLIAMSTHORP                                                                       1564

GRANT

MARY  by the Grace of God Queen of the Scots
to all sober men of the whole earth.... greetings..... Know ye that we, after
we have completed lawfully and perfectly 21 years of age and intelligence,
which the Lord has granted us, have constituted and ordained in fee farm..... our beloved Thomas de
Ker of Marsingtonn  in the whole and entire said land of Williamsthorpe, lying in our domain of Ettzik
forest, in the sheriffdom of Selkirk..... to have and to hold the said lands of Williamsthorp
to the said Thomas Kerr and his
heirs male whasoever.....

The witnesses are: John,
Archbishop of St Andrews, James, Count
of Morton, Lord Dalkeith,
chancellor, William Count Marshall, Lord Keith, Richard Maitland de Lethington knight,
secret seal in custody of Master John Magkill of Raukelou and Johane Vellenden.

Dated: At the palace of Holyrood haus 16th January 1564.

A large portion of the seal in light brown wax remains, one
side depicting Mary seated on her throne, the other the royal arms.

Parish of TARNBIE, in FYFE                                                        1624

QUITCLAIM

On 25th  March 1624,
before Archibald Drummond of Gibleistoun Notary Public, came James Douglas, one of the ordinary masters before the Lords of his Majesty’s
Privy Council of the Kingdom of Scotland, as procurator for Helen Achesone,
spouse to the said Archibald Drummond... as also as procurator for William Marene,
sometime portreeve of Gibertstun,
and Issobel Forrester his spouse, by virtue of
write of procuration... made with the consent of Margaret Clark, mother of the said William Martene,
John Forrester his brother in law, Master Alexander, James and Robert Martenes, John
and Andrew Martenes,
brothers germain to the said William Martene, and of Thomas Abercrombie ... the said Alexander Drummond for himself and the said James Douglas as procurator... resigned, quitclaimed etc.... all ½
of the lands of Giblestoun underwritten..... to Thomas Forrester
of Strathdrurie and successor of Sir Robert Forester of Strathdrurie and
within the parish of Tarnbie amd
sheriffdom of Fyfe..... in favour of and for a new enfeofment to be made by his Majesty to the said Alexander Drummond and Helene Achesone
his spouse.

Notary Public:  Robert
Alexander, clerk, St Andrew’s Diocese, written by James Porteous, his servant.

WRIT                                                                                           1624

WILLIAMSTHORP

JAMES by the grace of God King of
Britain, France and Ireland.... to the sheriff and bailiff of Selkirk, his beloved
Alexander Pringill.....
greetings..... Know ye that we, with the advise and consent of John
Earl of Mar, Lord Erskyn and Gareoth.....
and by the advise and consent of Sir
Archibald Napier of Merchingtonn, knight.... have
given granted and disposed to our beloved Sir
Patrick Murray of Elibank, knight, his heirs male
and assigns whatsoever, all and singular the place of Williamsthorpe
with its appurtenances, lying within our domain of Ettrickforrest
and in the sheriffdom of Selkirk..... We order you to
give the said Sir Patrick Murray seizin
to the said lands.....

Dated at Holyroodhaus
13th Junly 1624

Attached to the tongue of the
document is a fragment of a seal, in dark green wax.

DRUMLEY                                                                                   1628

Public instrument dated 7th
March 1628 before notary public Robert
Wallace of Galrigie holding a certain precept....
granting our well beloved Joan Hendersonn 8 marks of land of Drumley
.... by the writ of the King under the great seal
given at Halirodhouse dated 18th December
1627 viz Charles by the grace of God etc... to our
beloved John Henderson in Drumley... greetings....to our cousin Joan, countess of Mar, Lady Presbein and Garath... and also with the advice and consent of our
beloved cousin Archibald Lord Neper of Merchiston

(the
remainder of the deed is lacking)

AYR                                                                                             1654

GRANT

Instrument dated 7th
October 1654 in the presence of a notary public appeared William Cunningham, late
Baillie of Ayr..... specially constituted for Mathew Reid, merchant burgess..... by
his writ dated 10th October inst between the said Mathew Reid on the one part and Margaret Cunningham, relict of the William Blair, deceased, merchant burgess of the said burgh on the
other party, touching the marriage then contracted and shortly hereafter God
willing to be solemnized between Mathew
Reid and Margaret Cunningham.... in contemplation whereof
the said Mathew Reid infeofed and invested the said Margaret Cunningham his future spouse... of and in all that land
high and large within the burgh of Ayr , upon the east side of the street
between the tenement of  John Garsten
on the east, the tenement of John Cathart on the west, the tenement of William Dickie
on the north, the high street, on the south... and Mr David Cunningham brother of Margaret
accepted the land as her attorney....

Witnessed  by John
Montogomery, Baillie, Hew Thomsone the elder, Hew Thomsone
the younger, his son and James Aittone (?) officer.

Endorsed by Mr James Weir, notary public

JACKTOWN in KILBRIDE                                                             1708

INSTRUMENT OF SEISIN

Public instrument made 30th
April 1708 in the presence of a notary public ... compeared
John Sheils
in Sittwood, having and holding in his hands a grant
made to him to him and his heirs, between John
Fauls at the kirk of Mearns, portioner of Jacktoune, of all that his 32/6 worth of land in Jacktoune, with houses, biggings,
yards etc lying within the parishes of Kilburde and Serefedom of Lanerk, as in the
said disposition contained.... the said John
Sheils
presented and delivered to a discreet man John
Gibsone in New House of Jacktoune
Bayhem that part specially constituted by the said precept
of seisin requiring him to put the same into
execution.... I therefore require you John
Gibson ....
to give hereditable seisin....
of all and hail the foresaid 32/6 worth of land.... to the said John Sheils....

In witness John Penman, writer in Glasgow, and subscribed by me at the kirkhouse of Mearns 30th
April.... before Robert Paull, schoolmaster in Mearns,
William Cumming, mallman
in Gorbells of Glasgow and the said John Penman writer hereof, John Fals, Robert Paul.

INSTRUMENT OF SEISIN                                                             1708

By this public instrument may it
be evident .... that on 15th
May 1708 personally compeared James Bowie, son of Allan
Bowie..... having in his hands a charter being a grant by Joanne Cunningham of Enterkinde of lands to the
said James Bowie his heirs and
assigns of all and singular the 4 mercatis of land of
8 mercatis of land of Drumley
(by ancient extent called Drumley Wallace), with the
houses, edifices etc.... situated in the parish of Tarboltone
in the bailiwick of Kylstuart and within the sheriffdom of Ayr..... the said
charter being dated 17th November 1703..... and
was granted seisin in the presence of James Murray, scribe, and Master James Boswell of Auchenleck, advocate, bailiff of the said John Cunningham.

Charter Dated at Tarbolton 17th November ????

Witnessed by Mathew Hude in Tarboltone
and George Hepburn his servant and James Hunter, scribe in ASyr.

Instrument witnesses  by J A Boswell and Jo Boswell.

JACKTOWN                                                                                 1711

Dated 20th December 1711 the
reverend master John Stewart, protestant pastor at Eglesholme....granted
by John Sheills
in Sittwood with the consent of Isobelle Sheills his wife... in favour of the
said John Stewart his heirs and
assigns whatsoever.... the whole and singlular of
those 32/6 worth of land by ancient extent in Jacktown...
lately acquired by the said John Sheills and John
Faulds at the church of Mairns,
lying and situated in the parish of Kilbryde, and sheriffdom of Lanark and owned by John Gibson and John Reid.....
which Master John Stewart accepted
and presented to a discreet man Allan
Stewart, late of Kirktown, bailiff in that part,
by precept of seisin specially constituted to the
effect that the said Mr John Stewart
may be forthwith enfeoffed and seised
in the lands disposed ... we the said John
and Isobelle Shiells do
make you Allan Stewart our Baillie
in that part and give hereditable estate and seisin
to the said Mr John Stewart....
written at Glasgow att Gorballs
9th November 1711 before William
Cumming the younger, maltman in Gorballs, William
Brye, Mr John Hunter, student of Theology in
Glasgow and the said Charles Stewart
and John Robertson.....

Charles Stewart clerk of diocese of
Glasgow Notary public.

Witnesses John Robertson, John Bryston, James Bryston, John
----.

DRUMLEY WALLACE                                                                  1725

INSTRUMENT OF SEISIN

On 11th June 1725 in
presence of me Notary Public and witnesses subscribing, compeared
personally Helen Gilmour, spouse of Andrew Gilmour of Newhouse of Jacktown together with John
Hamilton, hammerman, in the said Jacktown, bailiff in that part... and there the said Helen having in her hand a contract of marriage of
the date of these presents betwixt her said husband and herself, with the
special advice and consent of Robert
Gilmour, portioner of grains, her father, whereby
the said Andrew Gilmour her husband
bound himself etc,,,, to enfeof and sease her in all and hail an annuity of £50 scots money yearly...during her life time after his decease of 32/6 land of old extent.....it lying within the
parish of Kilbryd and sheriffdome
of Lanark... providing always that it should be in the power of the heirs and
successors of the said Andrew Gilmour.....
to redeem the foresaid annuity by repayment to her of
the sum of 120 marks being her portion ... humbly beseeching the precept of seisin to be put into execution...

The precept was written by William Boyle, son of Mr William Boyle writer of Kir----lost of Kilbryde.

Witnesses by Robert Garner, weaver, in Jackstown, the
said Mr William and William Boyles, Andrew Gilmor, Robert Gilmor, Robert Garner.

N sig n

Witnessed by James ----- and Robert Garden.

DRUMLEY WALLACE                                                                  1729

Grant dated 13th August
1729.... discrete man John Muire of Bennels,
in this part bailee of Kylestewart....
Charles by the Grace of God to our beloved bailiff of Kylestewart
greetings... to our beloved steward of Stoland John Count of Mar, Lord of Erskene and Garioche... to our beloved
master William Wallace, son and heir
apparent of Robert Wallace of Gabinges and Mary Fullertonne, sister of Dandie Fullertonne.. grant
of ½ the lands in Dromley otherwise Drumeley Wallace to the said Robert.... extending to 8 marks land by ancient extent.... in the
bailiwick of Kylestewart and sheriffdom
of Ayr....

Witnessed Gevardo Stewart and John Bon
and Allan Cathwit,
son of Thomas ,
John Gotray.
(imperfect deed)

GRANT                                                                                        1798

Admittance by the Royal Society of
Physicians of Edinburgh of Patrick Mudie into their society.... Dated at
Edinburgh 18th April 1798. Signed and witnessed by:

James Hulme, president and David O’Callaghan, Arthur Edmondton, Thomas Coul MD, James Hamilton, Andrew
Coventry MD, James Russell, Benjamin Bell, Charles Stuart MD, F Dewar,
Thomas Hay, James Bryce, Andrew Warhopp MD, John
R Archer, Frederick T Lynch, Peter McTaggart,
David Aird,
Anthony T Thomson, John Murray, John Murray, Robert Dovie, John Cox,
John Bill, Donatus McCarthy, James S Stringham, William
Ward, Thomas Atkin.