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

CHAPTER IV.
The Johnstouns of Westraw—Francis Johnstoun—Castlehill—Tundergarth—
halleaths—cowhill—australia—clauchrie and duchrae—america.
THE
parish of Peddinane, adjoining Carstairs in Clydesdale, is a picturesque
spot among the hills in Lanark, and was the residence of Johnstoun of
Westraw for 150 years. No evidence has been found to dispute the
theory that it was given to the Chief of Johnstoun as a reward for the services
of his clan in suppressing the Douglas rebellion, and by him bequeathed to one
of his sons, though no official document exists to confirm it. But Matthew
of Johnstoun, Armiger (Esq.), was granted a Charter in 1455 of "the lands
and house of Andrew Clercson, commonly called Westraw," and, as was
customary, summoned the tenants to confirm them in their occupation of the
lands.
A MS. preserved at Auchinleck of uncertain date, describing the Douglas
rebellion, states that "the laird of Johnstoun's two sons took the castle of
Lochmaben from the laird of Mouswald called Carruthers and his two sons,
and other two or three men, and all through treason of the porter and since then
the King gave them the keeping of the house to his profit." One of these
Johnstouns was Herbert, who received £40 as captain of the castle for the year
1455. That the other was Matthew, and that they were brothers, rests on conjecture,
but it appears that a Matthew Johnstoun received payment for twenty
lance staves (4s. 6d. each), besides gunpowder, and charcoal to make it, supplied
to the castle for its defence by John of Dalrymple in Flanders, by order of the
King, in 1456 ; and in the year ending July 1460 Matthew and Herbert
Johnstoun were fined for not producing Andrew Halliday at the criminal court
at Dumfries.
As to the tradition of the division of the £40 lands of Pettinane by the
Crown between Lord Carlile and Johnstoun in 1455, Carlile claimed the whole
as his heritage. There were several actions by the Carliles against the
Johnstouns. One in 1476, before the Lords in Council, when John Johnstoun
was fined ^40, and again in 1498, Pettinane being " wrongously laboured by
Adam of Johnstoun and others." A judgment against Symon Carruthers of
Mouswald (married to Adam's aunt), Gavin of Johnstoun, grandson to the late
Gavin of Esbie, and Adam of Johnstoun, grandson and heir of the late John of
Johnstoun of that Ilk, has reference to this, as William, Lord Carlile, grandson
and heir of the late John Carlile, claimed money due to his grandfather from
Carruthers and from the late Lairds of Johnstoun and Esbie. In 1503, in the