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

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THE JOHNSTOUNS OF ELPHINSTONE
King and Queen within their palace of Holyrood House in the month of
March last.
The Laird of Elphinstone was denounced in 1584 for supporting his Chief
against Maxwell.
In 1587 there is an action by the youthful Laird of Johnstoun against the
Earl of Angus, his uncle, Robert Johnstoun, parson of Lochmaben, and others, his
curators, he being now over fourteen, for the purpose of continuing the tutorship
during his minority, and adding James Johnstoun, Laird of Elphinstone, to the list.
During his father's lifetime Elphinstone had been granted the goods of
Edward Duncan of Cousland, escheated by the Queen on account of Duncan
having severely wounded Elphinstone's servant, George Wood. Duncan was
probably a tenant, as there had been a dispute between Lord Ruthven and
Laird Andrew in 1532 about the division of the lands of Cousland, near Elphin-
stone, which both claimed. There is a grant of them from William, Earl of
Gowrie, Lord Ruthven, with consent of Dorothy Stewart, his spouse, to Elphin-
stone in 1583.
There is no proof but the fact that Cousland was part of the Elphinstone
Barony to show any kinship with the occupants, but in 1620 there is a marriage
contract between William Johnstoun, indweller in Cousland, and Christian
Lindsay on behalf of Thomas Johnstoun, his eldest son, and Agnes, daughter
of the said Christian, and her late husband, James Hopkirk. Edward Johnstoun
is the witness. The Will of Edward Johnstoun of Cousland, in " Innerask
parish, Sheriffdom of Edinburgh," is dated July 24, 1627, when he was too
ill to write. His wife was Agnes Hunter, and his eldest son, William. His
brother, Thomas Johnstoun; Thomas Johnstoun, the elder; Sir Jerome Lindsay;
and James Wood sign it.
The value of the goods and money owed to the deceased was £22 16, 10s.;
his property, besides crops, included three staigs valued at ;£io each, six horses
and mares valued at £30 each, eleven oxen at 40 marks each, and sixteen sheep
with eight lambs.
In 1588 James, the elder of Elphinstone, was one of the witnesses to the
Laird of Johnstoun's retour. He died in 1594, having married, first, Margaret,
daughter of William, Lord Ruthven (1549-50), and had James, Patrick, John,
perhaps more ;
secondly, Janet, daughter of Sir James Melvill (1564), and had
James, Robert, and John. Leuchie was settled on Robert in 1575. He died
before 1620, as that year Archibald Douglas of Tofts proceeds against his
widow, Susanna Hamilton, and their son, John, as well as against " Samuel
Johnstone, oy and heir to the late James Johnstoun of Elphinstone, his guidsir,
anent right to the non-entres of the Lands of Leuchie."
Among the registered obligations is one by the Rt. Hon. James Johnestoun
of Elphinstone, Oct. 29, 16 13. He died, as appears from the above, before
1620; and in 1625 Samuel Johnestoun, his heir, borrowed money from Sir John
Hamilton of Preston, Kt. Perhaps it was to purchase the baronetcy of Nova
Scotia, which he obtained in 1627. Samuel's father, Patrick, whose Will was
proved in 1607, married Elizabeth Dundas, and left four younger children