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

3 io YOUNGER SONS OF ELPHINSTONE
Home for seizing his house, which led to the scene described by the English
Warden {see p. 112). A year later Ryehill received a post in the Customs.
James Johnstoun of Elphinstone died Dec. 16, 1594. He married, first,
Margaret Ruthven, March 1550, and had two sons, Patrick and John. He
married, secondly, Janet Melvill, by whom he had James, Robert, and John.
The inventory of his goods and debts was given up by his son, John, and his
daughter, Martha. The witnesses, Patrick Johnstoun (his son), Allen Cubie in
Preston, Mr Robert Johnstoun (his son), Ninian Weir (notary), and others. His
wealth consisted of corn, cattle, and sheep ; and his tenants in Ballincrieff,
Cousland, and other places, Thos. Rae, Peter, William, Janet, and Thomas
Johnstoun, were in arrears with their rent. But he had many creditors and
owed part of a daughter's dowry (Lady Glenegiis) ; £130 to his brother, John ;
.£48 to his brother, Mr Adam Johnstoun ; £48 to Mr James Johnstoun, merchant;
£30 to Elspeth Johnstoun for her bridal gown £80 borrowed from his son,
;
Mr John Johnstoun ; and he owed his tenants of Cousland and others for malt,
fish, and necessary provisions. In his Will, written in Edinburgh, possibly in
George Haldin's house as he owes rent to him, the Laird of Elphinstone leaves
John and Martha his executors, " to be counselled by the advice of their mother
and of my brother John . . . Because," he adds, " my son, Mr James, has
behaved himself most proudly and rebelliously towards me, his father, and
offended me grievously as is notoriously known to all his friends ... I
declare that I will no ways have him to share any part or portion of my goods
and gear, but debar him simply therefrom and from the name of a son, and for
all benefits which he might have had through me." He had already made over
Leuchie and Ballincrieff to his son, Robert, and as John and Martha are the
only children he has not provided for they are to divide what is left when his
debts are paid. He empowers John to continue an action against Lord and
Lady Gowrie for the rent of the lands and Mains of Cousland, and he bequeaths
Cousland to John, and his daughter Marion to the guardianship of the Laird of
Wedderburn, that he may suffer her to get no wrong in her marriage with the
Laird of Cockburn.
There had been an action going on since 1591 between William Bonar of
Rossie and Elphinstone about a contract of marriage with Jean Johnstoun, the
latter's daughter, as apparently the Laird declined to give up the title-deeds of
Bonar's estate, which was settled on Jean and which Elphinstone had himself
obtained by escheat. But in his Will he states that Bonar is doing " his honest
duty to his wife and children," so that Robert, to whom he leaves the title-deeds
in trust, is not to use them for his own profit, and to have no power to do any-
thing with them without the advice of his brothers, Patrick and John, and of his
uncle, John. He constitutes Patrick his eldest son, but the disinherited James
was the eldest son of the second wife. In 1603, immediately after her death,
" Master James Johnstoun is returned
stoun of Elphinstone."
heir to his father, the late James John-
There was not much but land for any of them, and Bonar of Rossie continued
his suit against the trustees. In 1603 Elphinstone's widow, Janet