Records of the Pringles of the Scottish Border, by Alex Pringle

Chapter 24

LAUDERDALE

Channelkirk

UNDER the Hoppringills of that Ilk we saw how Mariotte, who inherited lands that stretched across country from the Gala to the Leader, first lost Glengelt at one end to Lord Borthwick in 1458, and then Hoppringill at the other, with the title of that Ilk, to Adam Hoppringill in 1480, retaining only Kirktonhill; and how she granted Kirktonhill to her son William Moubray in 1476, who with her consent sold it to Andrew Moubray, burgess of married as her third Edinburgh in 1486, when apparently she husband Robert Lauder of that Ilk.

In 1494 at the Justice Ayre in Selkirk Ralph Ainslie in Dolphinston is granted remission for the theft of 100 sheep and 10 cattle from John Smyth out of Glengelt; as is also William Chirden, Jedworth, for thefts from the tenant of Kelshope. In 1502 certain Olivers having raided Kelshope, killed Adam Bairnsfather and Robert Brig there, and stolen thence 33 oxen and cows, 200 sheep, 4 horses, and divers things worth £40, Robert and Matthew Oliver are ordered to be put in prison for 40 days, and at the end thereof, if they have not found sureties for satisfaction " to be hangit till they be deid."

In 1555 Alexander Oppringle in Channelkirk, brother german to Robert in Muircleugh, grants him of his own free will to be indebted to Isabel Bannatyne in Colmslie the of 160 merks, which he binds himself to pay to her sum (P. B., Harlaw).

In 1555 Simon Preston of that Ilk, son and heir of the late Isabella Hoppringill, relict of the late George of that Ilk, is granted by Michael Borthwick of Glengelt sasine of the 10-merk lands thereof (P. B., H.).

In 1575 in a precept addressed to him, David Hoppringle apparent of Channelkirk is instructed to give a sasine to a party in Melrose (MSS., R.).

In 1587 David Hoppringle in Over Hartside, tenant of Margaret Brown, relict of Robert Lawson of Humbie, and Alexander Hog in Nether Brotherstone, find David Hoppringle, apothecary, Edinburgh, cautioner for them in £100 (P. C.).

In 1589 Robert Hoppringill in Kelshope died intestate. His testament made by James Hoppringill in Mitchellston his father gave the inventory as 700 sheep, 6 cattle, etc., and the name of a servant James Freir - whence probably " Friarsknowes.'' Robert left an only son James, to whom his grandfather in Mitchellston who died in 1598 acted as curator (T. E., 1590).

In April 1617 Channelkirk as a parish is ordered to have ready at Berwick 13 horses for the conveyance of the King's luggage thence to Dunbar, on his way to Edinburgh, and Robert Pringill is appointed Constable for the occasion (P. C.). In 1626 James, son of Robert Pringill in Hartside, is apprenticed to James Heriot, litster, Edinburgh. Charged by decreet of the Commissioner of Lauder to pay a certain £100, Robert lodges the money in court to be given to who has the best right (A. D.). In 1630 Robert is one of the sub-commissioners that sat in Lauder tolbooth to adjust the teinds of the district.

In 1630 Andrew Edmonston of that Ilk is infefted in the lands of Glengelt, manorplace, mill and multures; as is also in 1687 John Sleigh only son of John, merchant, the late provost of Haddington (S. E.).

In 1688 Agnes Pringle, spouse to John Borthwick, gets sasine of 600 merks yearly furth of Hartside and its pendicle Longcleuch, by earth, stone, and a piece of money ; witnesses, William brother of the late George Pringle of that Ilk. Thomas and Samuel sons of John Inglis of Manorhead, and John Borthwick of Borthwickhall; the precept being directed to George Pringle, younger, of Halltree (S. E.).

Pilmuir

A charter of the lands of Pilmuir was granted by Archibald 4th Earl of Douglas, Lord of Lauderdale, to Robert Hoppringill his squire on 20th March 1408. With its pendicles of Blackchester, etc, it continued to be the property of the Pringles of Smailholm till 1632.

Lauder

In 1501 the King conceded to Jasper Lauder, son of the late Gilbert, in Whitslaid the 12s-land of Robert Hoppringill, the 10s-land of William Hoppringill, and the 6s-land of Robert Hoppringill, lying in the burgh territory of Lauder (G. S.).

In 1528 a tack of Castlehills for 9 years is granted by the King to James Hoppringill and his sub-tenants one or more. In 1531 William Hoppringill in Woodheads is on an inquest anent the lands of Bemersyde (G. S.).

On 8th April 1548 Lord Grey of Wilton, commanding the English forces in Scotland after the battle of Pinkie, writes to the Duke of Somerset: " Sir Robert Bowes is this inst,. arrived from Lauder, leaving it in his opinion and of the four captains there, and as Mr Pettit's letter and plan will show your Grace, of such strength that all Scotland with aid of any foreign Prince is not able to recover it. The Borthwicks and Pringles are to furnish beefs and muttons weekly, and three months aforehand if they list. There is no wheat there, and they doubt bringing it from Berwick with their weak cattle; but if they can they will serve them in bread from the Lothians '' (S. P. S.).

In 1561 the Queen grants in feu to Mr Andrew Hume, rector pensioner of Lauder, certain lands in the burgh, bounded by those of William Hoppringill and others.

In 1563 is registered the testament of George Hoppringill, burgess of Lauder, the sole executors being his spouse Elizabeth Inglis and his son Robert (T. Lauder).

In 1571 Alexander Hoppringill servitor to Alexander Hume of Manderston, has a gift under the Privy Seal of the escheat of John Romanes in Woodhead, and John Romanes in Blainslie and his son John, convicted in assize of absenting themselves from the army, and of assisting Thomas Ker of Fernihirst, with power to take up their goods and dispone, or let to tenants (P. C.).

In 1580 Robert Hoppringill and ten others are sued by Margaret, natural daughter of the late Andrew Hume, parson-feuar of Lauder, for violently succeeding to the use of certain lands of hers (A. D.).

In 1580, at an inquest in the tolbooth of Lauder, James Heriot is retoured heir of his father James in his Lauderdale including six merklands of the fourteen of Lauder, between the burns, then occupied by Alexander Hoppringill and 4 others (MS., R,).

In 1580 Robert Hoppringill, who was infefted in a tenement of land. in the Highgate in 1578, is ordered to pay the annual rents since of 10 merks (A. D.), In 1586 Robert, being cautioner for a defaulting Cairncross, complaining that he had been warded by the bailies in the tolbooth " this long time being ane puire Christian man," the Lords order them to set him free (A. D.).

WILLIAM HOPPRINGILL was Treasurer of the burgh from 1587 to 1600, also its M.P. in the Parliaments of 1587, 1593, 1600, and 1613. In 1590 he is sued for outputting a tenant during her tack from an acre or thereby of the Kirk lands pertaining to William Hoppringill, elder (A. D.). William's own lands were leased from James Hoppringill of Smailholm. In 1601 William Lauder in Whitslaid is cautioner for William and George Pringill, William Pringill sometime officer, and 8 others, in 300 merks each, that they will not harm Charles Cairncross in Birksneip; similarly Nicol Cairncross in Calfhill is cautioner in 300 merks that the said Charles will not harm Agnes, relict of William Lauder in Cauldshiels, or George Pringill now her spouse (P. C.). In 1606 Captain Edgar of Wederlie summons George Hume of Bassendean and other Humes, William Pringill in the West Port and others in Lauder, for coming, to the number of 40 persons, all armed, to his lands of Drydenlaws, assaulting his servants, and carting away to Bassendean a great quantity of corn; the Lords find the charge not proven, but ordain defenders to find caution not to harm pursuer: pursuer averred defenders had made a similar attack on his lands of Dirington in the previous month (P. C.). In 1609 Charles Lauder, bailie-depute of Lauderdale, complains that Ralph Erskine of Dryburgh, whose malice he had. incurred by serving on him in his house of Nether Shielfield letters of caption for not paying a debt, came on Sunday 30th July, accompanied by Francis Wilkieson, commissary clerk, William Pringill at the West Port, and others, to the kirk of Lauder, who, when conform to his office he laid hands on Erskine as he was walking braggingly about, assaulted him with drawn swords : the Lords and the charge against Wilkieson proven and ordain him to be warded in the tolbooth of Edinburgh, but absolve the others for want of proof (P. C.).

In 1606 a remission was granted to Alexander Earl of Hume, Sir John Hume of Huttonhall, knight, and six other Humes, two brothers of the late Robert French of Thornydykes, and a son of John Cranston or Morriston, wherein the King pardons them all for the treasonable burning of the tollbooth in 1598, and killing William Lauder called William of the West Port. The Hoppringills were not involved in this affair; they and the Lauders being closely connected at the time by intermarriage (D. A.).

In 1603 Alexander Pringill appears as tenant of the kirk lands called the Halcroft, on the west side of the burgh, paying £40 to William Cairncross of Colmslie (A. D.). (In 1611 Margaret Kyle, spouse of James Pringill, burgess, while attempting to separate certain burgesses who were fighting at the cross with swords and whingers, is wounded in the hand. (P. C.).

In October 1627 Francis Wilkieson writes to the Privy Council that " having as bailie received at the cross, per their messenger, orders to apprehend John Cranston, William Ballantyne, John Robison, John Gotterson, and Charles Pringill, persons delated for going to the wars for supplying the King of Denmark, and deliver them to Lord Spynie or his captain Sir Patrick Cockburn within ten days, he had arrested. Cranston in the evening, but having gone with his own people and Andrew Pringill-the only assistance he could get-very quietly in the morning to the houses of the others he found they had fled, having been forewarned, except Robison, who getting intelligence, escaped, outran them all, and got over a slap in the wall round the laird's tower: and he declares that his term of office having expired, and two bailies been appointed in his place, he is not now responsible for the arrest of the said persons '' (P. C. papers). It was to meet the demand for Scottish mercenary soldiers by the King of Denmark, Count Mansfeldt, and Lord Reay, that James VI. and his Council resorted to the arbitrary measures indicated. ln the years 1626, 1627 some 12,000 Scotsmen were sent abroad - about a twentieth of the population.

In 1629 Andrew Pringill is present at the sasine of certain acres including that piece of land on the east side on Halcroft formerly occupied by the late Alexander Pringill (S. E.). In 1632 John Pringill, eldest son of the late James, merchant burgess of Edinburgh, refusing to enter heir to him, the Lords decern James's burghership of 2 acres, house biggings, kilns, yards, 8 soumes of grass, 1 horse's grass, and others, and part of the commonly of Lauder, to pertain to Ralph Ker, now in Redpath, in satisfaction of 880 merks owing to him by the said late James, who disponed the said heritages to him in 1615 (A. D.).

Muircleugh

In 1494 at the Justice Ayre, Selkirk, Peter Turnbull is granted remission for art and part in the importation of divers English to the depredation of Muircleugh and the theft of 4 horses and divers goods from Robert Lauder thereof, and the capture and retention of the said Robert in England in Newcastle till he redeemed himself. In 1505 Robert Lauder of that Ilk and Mariotte Hoppringill his spouse have their charter of Muircleugh confirmed by the King (G. S.).

1. In 1547 Robert Hoppringill occupies Muircleugh when the Queen grants the lands to James the second son of Robert Lauder of that Ilk. On 8th October 1548 Robert was among the Assured Scots who took part with the English in ravaging the lands of Scott of Buccleuch, and for this he received pardon in 1550 (P. S,). He afterwards was on inquests that retoured John Gordon in Stitchill and David Hume of Wedderburn in Blackhaugh. He died apparently in 1568.

2. George Hoppringill succeeded his father Robert as tenant.

In 1573, however, being sued by James Lauder, the proprietor, his cousin, for withholding the lands from Whitsunday 1568 without tack or tolerance, the Lords decern him to pay to James all the profits of the crops since to the avail or price thereof (A. D.). George apparently died shortly afterwards, and in 1575 the Hoppringills granted an acquittance to James Lauder of his obligation to his widow Catherine Gray and their children Alexander, Thomas, etc., now in Cortleferry (see Cortleferry).

3. Alexander Hoppringill succeeded his father George, and in 1584 he and his spouse Janet Hoppringill were granted by the Archbishop of St Andrews the half lands of Cortleferry in feu, paying 7 1/4 merks and 3 suits at his courts yearly (G. S.).

In 1608 like other Pringills he found surety not to harm the relict of James Hoppringill of that Ilk.

4. James Pringill succeeded to Cortleferry. His first wife having died in 1616 without children, 1000 merks tocher money fell to be returned to her brothers. His testament, made by his widow Jean Johnston on behalf of their children, Alexander, James, William, Jonet, and Jean, showed farm stock worth £981, and free gear £884 Scots. He died in 1632.

5. In 1636 Alexander Pringill of Cortleferry and his spouse Margaret, only child now in life of the late John Pringill of Kittyflat (who died in 1632), summon Francis Wilkinson, burgess of Lauder, and James Pringill of Mitchelston, executors to the said John, and Tutors testamentary to the said Margaret, to pay to her and her spouse the two-thirds of the goods and. gear confirmed in his testament amounting to £6047 Scots, and of the goods and gear unconfirmed, with annual rents thereon at 10 per cent since his decease: The Lords appoint Sir George Haliburton to be sole arbitrator. In 1636 Alexander gets from the Archbishop a precept of sasine in the half lands of Cortleferry as heir of his father James. In 1642 his brother William is apprenticed to William Johnston, skinner, Edinburgh.

Saint John's Chapel

1. Adam Hoppringill, the first of Chapel-on-Leader, was a son of David, and a brother of James, Keepers of the Ward of Tweed, and the three appear together as witnesses in 1476. Adam successfully resisted David Dewar, canon of Dryburgh, who claimed the tack in 1481 (L. A.). In 1503 he is on an inquest, along with Thomas of Wrangholm, David of Smailholm, and David of Tynnes (A. D.); and in 1505 appears as a witness. He was succeeded by -

2. George Pringill, who in 1483, along with William Lord Crichton and 39 others, was by Act of Parliament declared forfeited, for abetting Alexander Duke of Albany in sending James Liddell, late of Halkerston, on a treasonable mission to England, and fortifying and holding Crichton Castle against the King (James 111.) (A. P.). In 1510 the Hoppringills of Tynnes, Galashiels, Torwoodlee, Blindlee, and Trinlyknowe, pay compositions at the Justice Ayre, Selkirk, for receiving, assisting, and communicating with George, John, and Alexander Hoppringill (their cousins), rebels of the King, and at the horn. In 1512 George is on an Assize at Edinburgh. He probably died et Flodden. Between 1483 and 1519 his brother John apparently occurs once or twice as a witness, and latterly as resident in Linlithgow.

3. George, who succeeded to Chapel, was one of the 9 Hoppringills included among the Borderers coming under the Humes against the Earl of Arran in 1520, and pardoned by King James V. in 1526 (S. B.), In 1540 George Oppryngill pays to Dryburgh Abbey as the mail of St John's Chapel and Kedslie £32, and 5 dozen poultry and capons. In 1535 he is on an Assize and also in 1541. In 1543 the Lords summon George and his daughter Margaret to take their oath that they have no other evidence pertaining to Gilbert son and heir to the late Gilbert Lauder of Balbardies than they have already produced (A.. D.). In 1543 an inquest is held in Lauder court- house under George as Sheriff-depute of Berwick (the jury including Richard Maitland of Lethington, Robert Lauder of that Ilk, etc.) at which Richard Spens was retoured heir of his father the late Richard in the lands of Hardens, Duns, and of lawful age by virtue of a decree of the late King James V., of 19th October 1542 in favour of the heirs of those who were slain or the wounded in defence of the Kingdom against English that they should have their ward and other crown casualties free, their minority being also dispensed with (MSS., Campbell). In 1544 George, whose daughter Agnes had married Patrick Hepburn of Fairnington (nephew of Adam 2nd Earl of Bothwell) and been left with an only child Margaret Hepburn, obtained a gift under the Privy Seal of the marriage of his granddaughter and the ward of her lands (P. S.). In October 1544 the Lord High Treasurer "pays 5s. to ane boy sent furth of Edinburgh with closed writings to my Lord Hume, the Humes of Ayton and Cowdenknows, and George Hoppringill of St John's Chapel. In 1547, on George's death, his widow Elizabeth Ker became tutrix to Marion, who was heir to certain lands of her father's in Bolton, but Patrick Hepburn of Bolton having claimed the tutory the Lords order Elizabeth to hand Marion to him (A. D.). In 1551 Marion married James Hamilton of Sprouston, brother of John Arch- bishop of St Andrews (S. P.). George left no sons, and through the marriages of his daughters, Agnes, Elizabeth, and Margaret, Ninian Spottiswood of that Ilk, Gilbert Lauder, and the late Alexander son of James Hamilton, as nearest of kin, were retoured his heirs in a third each of his lands of Kedslie and Haggs; but the retour was challenged in 1570.

Earlston

In 1582 on Andrew Ker of Lindean complaining that Andrew Haitlie of Sneip, drawing to him Adam Hoppringill of Fans and his son John and some 20 others, had come and broken open the yett and door of Lindean Tower, and still kept it with men, munition, and victual, the Lords order Haitlie to restore it within 48 hours (P. C.).

In 1619 Sir George Home of Manderston complaining that at the instigation of Sir John Home of Cowdenknowes some 20 persons, all of Earlston, came armed to his barnyards at Greenlaw, pulled his stacks about, and broke open his barn doors and carried of his whole victual, the Lords fed George Pringill of Earlston and two others guilty of breach of the peace, commit them to ward in the tolbooth of Edinburgh, absolve five, and denounce rebels those not compearing (P. C.).

In 1633 Charles I came north to Edinburgh for his coronation as King of Scotland, and in April the Sheriff of Berwick ordered the parish of Earlston to provide 50 horses for the conveyance of his luggage from Berwick to Dunglass, and nominated George Pringill to be Constable, who undertook to have them ready at Berwick early on the morning of the 12th June (P. C.).

During this century the records show that one generation after another of Pringles succeeded in Earlston as portioners. In the 18th century or between 1694 and 1816, the surname is credited in the parish register with 160 births, of which 43 were in Fans.

Blainslie

In 1547 there were in the Overtoun village 12 tenants, and in the Nethertoun 10 - including Robert and Andrew Hoppringill. The lands were held by a number of kindly tenants of Melrose Abbey. These tacksmen afterwards became feuars of the Earl of Haddington. About 1620 there were 25 feuars and possessors in Blainslie, including John, Charles, and George Prickle (of Blindlee). Their descendants succeeded generation after generation until they were gradually bought out, and the holdings united into one or more large farms. In 1682 there were 23 friars in Blainslie liable to give suit at the bailie court of Melrose. . . . Old and New Roan lie east of Blainslie. They were in possession of the Pringles of Blindlee prior to 1659 when Robert sold the lands (R, M.).