Publications of the Clan Lindsay Society - Electric Scotland

192 THE LINDSAYS OF
Also with consent of his tutor he jihenated Ueidspittal
to Mr David Hortliwick, 14th Ahucli 15r)3.* He
never had legal entry into the family estate, and died
probably before he came of age ; but he was married,
and his widow, a Gordon, was living in 15G3.t
In 15G1 Meikle Dalton had been in non-entry for
three years and one term when James Lindsay, who
had been retoured heir to his brother,! was seized in
the same as well as in the other j)ropertie3 which had
been in ward for 18 years. § From this it may be
inferred that John had died about 1558, and that
James was at that time a minor, and did
his majority until 1561.
not attain to
James Lindsay, Fourteenth Laird, soon after
coming into his inheritance was concei-ned in a case
the record of which throws an interesting light on the
strenuous life of the Borderers before the Union of the
Crowns. In a complaint to the Privy Council, John
Carruthers of Holmains states that he and his pre-
decessors had been native and kindly tenants of the
lands of Meikle Dalton for a length of time j)ast the
memory of man, but since the purchase of the superiority
by the Lindsays of Barcloy, he and his sons and
servants have been waiiied to remove therefrom ; and
he pleads that if the Laird of Barcloy is permitted to
evict them, encouragement will be given for the eviction
of kindly tenants in the Border district generally, and
this will be against public polity. The inhabitants of
these parts have a claim to special consideration.
* Acts and Decreets MS., XXIV, 28U, per W. A. Lindsay, Esq.
+ Fide, W. A. Lindsay, K.C.
X 21st March Ibdi, fide W. A. Lindsay, Esq.
5^ Excheq. Rolls, Vol. XIX., pp. 4(i8, 474, 475.