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

YOUNG GALABANK 135
took that step for their first child, William. The witnesses are John Ffareis
and Adam Johnstoun (June 2, 1621); and, as no minister is mentioned, the
service was probably taken by a Roman priest. George died the next year,
immediately after assisting Raecleuch to regain possession of Newbie Castle by
force.
His brother, John, had a narrow escape about this time. Edward of
Seafield was charged with assaulting him, and the case was tried before the
Privy Council in 1623. In the words of the indictment—Edward "having
conceived a private hatred and malice in his heart against the said complainer,
without any just cause, very craftily drew him out to the Kirkyard of the
said burgh, under cover of friendship, to confer on some of their private affairs,
and there, before the said complainer was aware, gave him a cruel and deadly
stroke and wound through the shoulders with a long dirk, to the effusion
of his blood in great quantities, and to the peril of his life." It was judged
that Edward had done it, "only because the said John, as baillie of the burgh
of Annan, craved the said Edward for some of the burgh mails (rates) owed by
him." He was ordered to pay a fine of 100 marks to the Treasurer, the same to
the Baillie, and £4 to every witness for his trouble. An earlier grievance,
in 161 5, was John's refusal to appear with John Irving, called the Laird, as
a witness against Raecleuch and Douglas of Torthorald when they were
defendants in an action brought by Seafield for spoliation of cattle— probably
for rent claimed. But two actions were pending by Seafield against Ryehill
for delivering up the writs of the Newbie Barony to the tutor of Johnstoun,
and also about Howmedo, which explains the attitude of Ryehill's grandson.
The previous year John of Mylnfield was one of the twelve witnesses to
Seafield's retour as heir to his father, Robert of Newbie.
John of Mylnfield was a careful man, for his son, George, was only a
few months old when he made a deed of his property (April 21, 1623) in favour
of this infant, with as much of his wife's settlement as she could bequeath
without prejudice to the rights of her son, Mark Loch. It was signed by
Abraham Johnstoun of Milnbie and his son, William. In a deed of 1643,
property that had belonged to Edward of Ryehill, as well as to Marion Rig
(Mrs Irving), sister to Gaylies, was included. It is signed by Robert Graham,
son of Simon Graham of Blaatwood, merchant burgess of Dumfries, by Mark
Loch, 1 by Homer Murray (the Provost), and by Wilds, Raes, Littles, Richardsons,
Halidays, Tyndings, Hairs, and Galloway, burgesses of Annan, and
by two grandsons of Abraham Johnstoun of Milnbie. Galabank had already
been settled on George and his heirs, and in the future gave the name to
this branch of the Johnstone family.
In 163 1 the King's Advocate summoned John Johnstoun, "callit of Newbie,"
the Laird of Johnstoun, the Earl of Nithsdale, John Murray (Earl of Annandale),
Barbara Johnstoun, Lady Gribton, Edward Johnstoun of Seafield, Edward
Johnstoun of Ryehill, James Johnstoun of Westraw, James, his son, Viscount
1 Mark was dead before 1678, when his daughter, Margaret, was married to James Irving
of Eastrigs.