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

RYEHILL'S DEATH 125
In 1632 Edward of Ryehill "accepted upon him," to quote the Privy
Council Record, "the Stewardship of Annandaill, and Robert Crichton of
Raehills the Sheriffship of Dumfries." In 1633 he again represented Dumfries
in Parliament. In 1634 he was appointed a judge with the Lord Treasurer,
the Lord Privy Seal, the Archbishop of Glasgow, the Earl of Queensberry,
Lord Hereis, Lord Johnstoun, Robert Maxwell of Dunwiddie, Robert Charteris,
the parsons of Hoddam and Kirkpatrick, and Mr Samuel Kirkpatrick, and was
made Convener of the Session. The same year he parted with Ryehill and
Cummertrees to Murray, Earl of Annandale, with the consent of the Earl and
Countess of Wigton, who had a mortgage on it of .£2000. The deed is
witnessed in the Canongate by Thomas Maxwell, Adam Johnstoun, tutor of
Elsieshields, and Robert Johnstoun of Gotterbraes.
Ryehill lived chiefly in Edinburgh after 1630, but in 1636 he witnessed a
Carlile Charter, and mortgaged nearly all his remaining land to Sara, Countess
of Wigton, for 1000 marks. She died the same year, and Ryehill attended her
splendid funeral in Edinburgh, where the deed was signed. It secured kindlie
rights to his younger sons in lands bordering on Galabank. He was in Annan
in 1640, when, with Almagill and Grierson of Lag, he witnessed a bond for his
Chief with Sir John Charteris of Amisfield. He died before June 2, 1643, when
John Johnstoun, "callit of Mylnfield," made a fresh settlement of his property,
and was in possession of Stank and Closehead. In a bond signed by John, his
wife, Gaylies Rig, and their son, George, John paid 2500 marks to Mr John
Corsane, Provost of Dumfries, to redeem lands formerly owned by Edward of
Ryehill, including the stone house in Annan.
The best known member of the Newbie family is " Robert Johnstoune, Esq.,
LL.D.," 1 who died 1640. His father was probably James, a merchant in Edinburgh
(died 1595). In 161 2 he sued Lord Hereis as principal, and Robert
Hereis as cautioner, for a debt of 3500 marks. His monument stood in Trinity
Church, Edinburgh, till the church was removed (1848) for the railway. He
was one of the three executors of George Heriot's Will, where he is styled
Gentleman ; and in his own Will he calls himself of the parish of St. Anne's,
Blackfriars, London, where he filled a Government post. He left 18,000 marks
to Heriot's Hospital, besides £12,000 for charitable purposes; also money to
found a school at Moffat and for charities at Dumfries and to build a bridge
at Annan. He left legacies to his cousins, the sons, son-in-law (Sir John Hay),
and two grandchildren of John Johnstoun of Newbie (the Edinburgh merchant)
(died 1601) ; but his principal trustee was "his Chief," the Lord Johnstoun who
had visited him in London not long before Robert's death.
He was the author of a Latin History of English and Scottish Affairs from
1572 to 1628, published in folio at Amsterdam after his death. The book is
1 " Dr Robert Johnstoune, of the House of Newbie in Annandale, an eminent lawier, among
several sums left by him in Anno 1640 to be improven into certain pious and charitable uses
in this city, did bequeathe 18,000 marks, which, according to the laudable intention of this
munificent benefactor, the good town applied for advancing the charitable and religious ends
of this Hospital. By which donary as by many other acts of his liberality this great donator
hath propagated a lasting monument of his piety to posterity."