History of the Johnstones, 1191-1909, with ... - Electric Scotland

CHAPTER IX.
William, Laird of Graitney—The Barony of Newbie—Margaret Crichton—
Wamfray — Queen Mary — Johnstoun — Civil War — The Queen — Death of
John of Newbie—Johnstoun Wills—Feud between Maxwells and Johnstouns
—Battle of Dryfe Sands—Third Baron of Newbie—The King visits Newbie
—Union of the Crowns—Clan System Repressed—Note on Scotland.
THE
sons of William of Graitney and Newbie were grown men before
the Treaty of Peace. In the seclusion of his father, who was outlawed
for submitting to the English, the eldest lawful son, John, seems to have
signed it.
This William, mentioned as the young Laird of Graitney in 1513, appears
in Acta. Dom., June 19, 1531, as having, with Andro Roryson of Bardannoch, in
Nithsdale " spulzied " from the lands of Duncan Wilson in Bardannoch.
Andro's mother was a Crichton, and Graitney was one of his tutors. The
spoliation was probably a seizure of grain or cattle for unpaid rent. On July
27, 1532, William is described as occupying a 10 mark land in Arkilton, and
was on the assize with Grierson of Lag, William Carruthers of Orchardton, John
Maitland of Auchencastle, Gordon of Crauchton, Roger M'Briar of Almagill,
John Kirkpatrick, Scott of Wamfray, two Douglases, Gordon of Corhead,
Thomas Moffat of Knok, Walter Steward, Lindsay, Ralston of that Ilk, etc.
Two years before he witnessed a Charter for Mariot, widow of Lord Carlile.
Several actions not responded to were being carried on at that time with
regard to Graitney's occupation of Newbie by the Corries ; but on Jan. 24, 1535,
Graitney brought an action against Corrie, and another on March 6, 1535,
and at last, on Jan. 20, 1536, it is stated that Thomas Corrie of Kelwood and
William Cunninghame of Cunninghamehead were constituted procurators for
George Corrie, feuar of Newbie, especially for the contract between the said
George and William Johnstoun of Graitney. A former contract, dated Jan.
2, 1532, was referred to, as between George Corrie and Thomas Corrie,
his father, free holder of the said land. The price to be paid by William
Johnstoun was 23,000 marks. The witnesses are John Kirkpatrick, Ninian
Crichton, James Crichton and Andrew Rorison, who sign it in 1536.
Another record of the Acta. Dom. Cone, dated 1538, is to the effect that
Thomas Corrie and George Corrie, his son, show that Johnstoun of Graitney