Publications of the Clan Lindsay Society - Electric Scotland

^be Xairbe of IDowbill.
By The Editor.
''iN days before the dawn of the fourteenth century
"^ Crainbeth, or Cramby, was the collective desiprna-
tion of a number of separate tenements of land, each
of which, in later times at least, had its own distinctive
name. Of old these lands were situated within the
sheritfdom of Fife, which then included Kinrosshire ;
for not until about 1426 were the parishes of Kinross,
Orwell, and Portmoak erected into a separate county,
and not until 1685 did that county acquire its present
dimensions.
Almost certainly the lauds collectively called
Crambeth were not all contiguous to one
another, but for administrative piu'posed they were
united into what was known as a barony. The
barony, as was usual, would no doubt take its name
from the principal messuage, the chief place ol
residence of the laird or baron. As to where that
was situated we have no direct information, but,
indirectly, the locality may bo indicated with a fair
degree of probability.
In 1471 William de Winton, styled ''portiouer of
the barony of Cleisch," but who was also owner of
parts of Crambeth, in granting a charter of lands to
Robert Lowrisoune, required of the vassal, his heirs,
and assignees, that they should give "three suits
annually at three capital pleas at Cramby in the said