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

Chapter 8

WRANGHOLM

IN 1459 Robert Pringill got sasine of Wrangholm and Smailholm, and was appointed Master Ranger of the King's Ward of Tweed (see above).

In 1493 Katherine, spouse of the late William Cranston, appeared before the Lords and protested that as Alice Hoppringill, spouse of the late Thomas Hoppringill, did not compear to follow her, the action was at an end (L. A.).

THOMAS 2

In 1502 at the Justice Ayre, Jedburgh, Thomas Hoppringill is. reported to have had a horse and four cattle stolen out of Wrangholm. In 1503 Adam Hoppringill of St John's Chapel, David of Smailholm, Thomas of Wrangholm, and David of Tynnes are on an Inquest together (L. C.). In 1505 Thomas witnesses at Edinburgh a lease granted by Alexander Lord Home to Sir David Home of Wedderburn. In 1510 he acts as bailie at the sasine of his cousin David Hoppringill of Smailholm in the annual rents from eleven places in Lauderdale. In the rent roll of Dryburgh Abbey about 1535 Wrangholm pays in victual 4 bolls beer and 14 bolls oats. Thomas and his spouse Margaret Sinclair had issue, George, John, Thomas, and James.

GEORGE 1

In 1550 George acts as Curator of Henry Haitlie, fear of Mellerstain, when he sells the south quarter thereof to John Hoppringill of Smailholm ; also in 1554 when he sells the west quarter to Alexander Wardlaw of Warriston and his spouse Mariota Hoppringill (P. B,, Corbett. In 1551 John Hoppringill on a precept from John Cranston gets sasine of Boyd's lands in Smailholm, as son and heir of Christina Boyd, his mother, and of lawful age (P. B,, Corbett. In 1555 the Commendator of Melrose Abbey appoints 4 persons, and Andrew Haig of Bemerside 4 (including George Hoppringill), to determine the Marches between Redpath and Craig (R, M.). In 1574 Andrew Hoppringill of Smailholm grants to George a feu charter of the lands of Smailholm Craigs (G. S., 1609) (see Smailholm). George died in May 1576. He left, according to his executors Margaret Haitlie his widow and James his brother, farm stock, corn, etc,, worth £695. In his latter Will he left the house at Wrangholm to his widow, and the Tower to his brother John, he to pay to their brother James six bolls victual annually (T. E.).

JOHN

John succeeded his brother George in Wrangholm and Smailholm Craig.

In July 1576 John, Andrew Haig of Bemerside, and Thomas Ramsay of Wylliecleuch, become cautioners in £5000 that the Haitlies of Lambden, Mellerstain, and Broomhill, and in Hurdlaw, the Sneip, and Haliburton shall keep good rule and not molest the Bromfields, and present any contravener before the Council on 10 days' charge ; John subscribing with his own hand, while Andrew and Thomas's were led by the notary (P. C.). In 1577 Andrew Hoppringill, the superior, gives John notice to quit the Tower, followed by the Lords charging him simpliciter to restore the place (A. D.).

The Testament of Margaret Gordon, relict of John Hoppringill of Smailholm and Galashiels, at the time of her decease on 1st January 1580, spouse to John Hoppringill of Smailholm Craig : inventory, farm stock, corn, etc.) on the lands of the Craig and Stitchill, and teinds of Sunderlandhall £1366 ; owing to her £802, together £2168 ; owing by her to relations and servants, and for rents, £ 1141, leaving free gear £1027 (T. E.). In February 1580 Sir John Gordon summons John to produce the books to show how much his spouse Margaret owed him at her decease for the Mains and Mill of Stitchill which he had given her in tack (A. D., 1582). John died on 5th December 1580 ; inventory, farm stock, corn, etc., at Smailholm Craig, Smailholm town, and Stitchill, £1091 ; owing to and by him various sums ; leaving free gear £797. John had issue, Thomas and James (T. E.).

THOMAS

In 1594 David Hoppringill of Bardarroch, son and heir of Margaret Gordon, spouse at the time of her decease of John Hoppringill of Wrangholm, summons Thomas son and heir of the late John to deliver to him his mother's goods, gear, jewels and others there and in Smailholm Craig (P. C.). Thomas died in February 1595 , inventory, farm stock, corn, etc., on Wrangholm and Smailholm Craig, £1612 ; owing to him £808, together £2420 free gear. He left his brother James as Tutor to his children Margaret, Agnes, Marion, John, Isabella, and Jane (T. E., 1598).

GEORGE 2

In 1603 George Pringill de Wrangholm gets a tack for 10 years of the teinds, and in 1605 he is retoured, as son and heir of the late Thomas, in the 5 husbandlands and 3 cotlands, with the hill and Tower towards the west, of Smailholm Craig.

In 1609 James Pringill of Smailholm refused as superior to infeft George, but was overruled by the Lords.

In January 1610 the said James granted George a fresh charter, in which it was provided that the non-payment of the feu duty of six bolls victual three times running on to the fourth should oblige him to double it so often as it should happen (A. D., Scott, 1635). In 1617 George gets from Home of Whitrig sasine of 4 1/2 husbandlands in Smailholm. In 1618 the seven tenants thereof having failed to pay their quotas of bear and hens, George gets an order of Council for their removal. In February 1622 George borrows 500 merks from an Edinburgh burgess, and in November, with consent of his wife ------ Bromfield, 2500 merks from John Dickson there, disposing to him the lands of Smailholm Craig, and, failing to pay the first year's interests (250 merks), the right of reversion as well, for a further loan and a backtack (A. D.). In July 1635 Sir James Pringill summons George Pringill for not paying him any feu duty for Smailholm Craig for four years past, so that according to the terms of the charter of 1610 he was now owing to him 36 bolls victual, 2 parts bear at £8 per boll : and 1 part meal at 10 merks per boll : the Lords having seen the charter, which was shown to them, ordain George's goods to be poinded and

apprised, and order letters to be directed to that effect (A. D., Scott). Thus the Pringills lost Wrangholm which they had held since at least 1459. The Earl of Home had granted George a lease of Fogorig near Duns, which on his death was transferred to his son Mr John Pringill, minister of Eglingham, Northumberland.

In 1565 George Trotter of Charterhall, who had granted the said Mr John a bond for £200 and £100 expenses, and taken over the lease, was sued for payment, and the Lords ordain Trotter to pay the £300 with annual rents from Whitsunday 1659, and Mr John to compensate him for repairs of the farm buildings (A. D.).