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

HIS DESCENDANTS 123
title to the £10 land of Annan and Seafield, but always reserving to Ryehill
and his heirs their right to the lands acquired by Ryehill from Jeffrey Irving
of Bonshaw."
He must have been discouraged on this subject, for in 1623 he brought an
action against Ryehill for delivering up the title-deeds of the Newbie estate
and other lands to their purchasers, and for witnessing the contract between
his father, Robert, and Sir James Johnstoun of Dunskellie in 1605. Two
years before he was attacked by James Lyndsay in Dumfries and left for
dead, covered with wounds. A passer-by seeing that he was still alive brought
Patrick Young, a " chirurgeon," to assist him, and he was carried into a house,
and revived.
The next year John Broun of the Land acted as Edward of Seafield's
security at Jedburgh that he would appear at six days' notice to answer for any
"ryot" laid to his charge (an aggressive attitude towards the Reformed clergy).
John Bell of Castlebank acted as his security, and John Galloway for Mr Symon
Johnstoun, the parson of Annan, that they should both keep the peace, "and
not injure each other, their property, or their relatives." There were also actions
against the Laird of Johnstoun, the Maxwells, Ryehill, Seafield, and others for
damaging the property of recently appointed ministers, as a protest against the
Reformation. The Reformers acted with a high hand in Dumfries. In 1628
there were trials for " Papistry," chiefly of priests, but two laymen were included
for sheltering them. Sir William Grierson and Sir John Charteris, Sheriff and
Sheriff-Depute, arrested the priests, and the populace attacked the Protestant
minister of New Abbey and his family in reprisal. In 1639 James, Lord Johnstoun,
was bound over before the Privy Council not to hinder, discharge, or
stop any of his tenants from selling fuel and necessaries to Mr George Buchanan,
the parson of Moffat.
In 1624 Edward Johnstoun parted with Seafield to his brother-in-law, John
Geddes, and a little later was a witness to the transfer of the property at
Arkilton to an Eliot. In 163 1 he was among those occupying or claiming parts
of the Newbie estate summoned by Maxwell, Earl of Nithsdale, as Sheriff, to
show their title-deeds. He bought lands in Ireland, but, being a Romanist, was
not allowed to settle there. He does not seem to have married, and this is the
last time his name occurs.
Raecleuch was dead in 1626. His lawful children were Robert, Archibald,
William, Francis, Sara, Grizel, and Dorothie. Robert, junr., signs a document
from the Hospital of Annan in 1624. Robert and John are in various documents
called his natural sons— possibly the two Johnstouns of that name, her
tenants, who were defended in a spirited manner by Barbara Douglas, Raecleuch's
widow, when accused of horse-stealing. She died in 1628. Raecleuch's
brothers, Mungo, 1 Symon, William, John, and James, 2 are also mentioned.
Symon, parson of Annan for fifty-five years, had a son, George, who left a son,
1 Mungo's son, Robert, died about 1630 s.p. His daughter, Rachel, married Robert
Graham of Blaatwood.
2 The three younger are called natural sons.