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

THE CARLILES 155
held in Edinburgh in 1704. William Johnston of Corhead, William Johnstoun
of Granton, Andrew Johnstoun of Newton, Johnston of Selkirth, Robert
Johnston of Wamfray, William Johnston of Beirholme, George Johnstoun
of Girthead (Sheriff-Depute), and John Johnston of Persbiehall or Craighous
were also members of the same Parliament.
NOTE TO THE CARLILES.
There was no more loyal family on the Borders than the Carliles, who owned lands in the
city of Carlisle when it belonged to Scotland, and one of whom, Sir Adam, received a Charter
of Kinmount from the second Bruce of Annandale between 1 170 and 1180. His descendant,
Sir William, married Marjory, sister to King Robert I., and, according to Hume, the victory
at Arkinholme in 1455 was wholly due to the Lords Carlile and Johnstoun. In 1470 the first
was made a peer— Lord Carlile of Torthorald. His brother, Adam, inherited Bridekirk. But
reverses began when the Master of Carlile, married to a daughter of the Master of Johnstoun,
predeceased his father, leaving an infant daughter, Elizabeth. She inherited her grandfather's
Barony, and the Regent Angus insisted on her marrying his relative, James Douglas, who
thereupon called himself Lord Carlile. The male heir, Michael, who died in 1585, had lent
money to his father, and claimed the estates. The case dragged on for fourteen years and
was decided against him, and the expense impoverished all the family, who had hitherto
benefited by many legal processes.
Herbert Carlile of Bridekirk and Edward Carlile of Limekilns, his brother, were
living on the Newbie estate in 1605 and following years, and, with Edward's son, Adam Carlile
of Murraythwaite, were summoned to quit it by the mortgagee, and to pay tithes by Murray
of Cockpool. Herbert, as one of the next of kin, took out Letters of Slain against the assassin
of James Douglas. After the battle of Langside Johnstoun was pledge for Alexander Carlile,
while Drumlanrig was pledge for John and Thomas, brothers to Adam of Bridekirk. This
Alexander was probably Alexander Carlile of Souplebank who was living on the Newbie estate
in 1607, and married to a Carlile. Alexander Carlile rescued Dame Elizabeth of Torthorald
from the hands of the Sheriff-Depute's officers at Dumfries in 161 5, and conveyed her to a safe
retreat in the Newbie Barony. There were also two Carliles, Andrew and John, living in
Annan in 1591. As no Annan registers exist in the seventeenth century, the number of a
man's sons cannot always be ascertained ; but the tradition of the descendants of Adam Carlile
of Annan and Ruthwell, that he was a Bridekirk, is probably true. All the families intermarried
closely, as well as with Carruthers, Johnstoun, and Murray.
The identity is also shown by the ancient coat of arms—four Greek crosses charged with
a shield bearing a saltire, and the motto " Humilitate." The Carliles are mentioned as a
decayed family in 1595.
The wife of Edward Carlile of Limekilns (Bridekirk) was Margaret Young, one of the
thirty-one children of Gavin Young, minister of Ruthwell, and Janet Steuart, his wife.
Margaret is buried at Ruthwell, with the inscription that she died May 24, 1665, aged 48.
" Of virtue, wit, grace, truth, love, pietie
This woman in her tyme had store ;
On small means she upheld grit honestie,
And in reward has endless glore."
She left several sons. Her father protected the ancient Runic Cross from total destruction
at the hands of the Government iconoclasts by burying it in the churchyard. John Carlile,
son to Alexander Carlile, was minister of Cummertrees in 1598 ; and William Carlile, son of a
feuar in Kelhead, descended from Bridekirk, was the minister (1720-24).
The younger son of Edward Johnstoun and Isobelle Carlile in 1726 bought a house in
Annan, close to the ancient churchyard, from his first cousin, Thomas Carlile, who is buried
in the churchyard under an existing monument. John, elder son of Baillie James Carlile,
removed to Paisley, where he married Janet Birkmyre. He died in 1772. His descendants
are represented in England by the Rev. Canon Wilson Carlile, founder of the Church Army,
while those
and Edward Hildred Carlile, Esq., M.P., of the Manor House, Ponsbourne, Herts ;
of his brother, Thomas, are represented in Scotland by the Carliles of Waterbeck.
James Douglas's son, Robert, never called himself Lord Carlile ; and his cousin, John
Carlile, did not assume the title when deprived of the estates, so it remains in abeyance.