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

32
THE JOHNSTOUNS OF ELSIESHIELDS
for divers bloods standing unreconciled between the names of Maxwell and
Johnstoun, went to the town of Dalfibble, in the Sheriffdom of Dumfries, and
there cruelly slew the said William, at the same time setting fire to his dwellinghouse
and biggings therein." Another account says he was with a Johnstoun
of Hesilbrae in the house of James Johnstoun of Briggs, who was ninety years
old, and perished in the flames. Maxwell was outlawed. William Maxwell of
Kirkhous, whose brother was created Earl of Dirleton, assisted at it.
In 1608 there is a complaint by Sir Robert M'Clellan of Bomby that
David, son of Willie of Reidhall, and another Johnstoun, his brother, and
George Johnstoun, his brother's son, who for these twenty-four years past have
been outlawed for the murder of John Maxwell, Provost of Dumfries, the complainer's
(wife's) uncle, have been frequently received by Gilbert Brown in Land,
nephew to the Johnstouns of Newbie and to the ex-Abbot of Sweetheart, but
the defendant declared on oath that the complaint was not true, and was
acquitted.
The next Laird of Elsieshields, another William or Wilkin, was Provost of
Lochmaben in 1616, when he had four sons— James, who predeceased him,
Archibald, William, and Adam. His brother, Robert, and Robert's son, John,
were also living at that time. William or Wilkin was dead in 1626, and,
as his eldest grandson died the next year, Archibald, his son, was returned
his heir in 1630 to Elsieshields and to Howes (copyhold), in Newbie. The third
brother, William, owned Templand, and was probably dead when another
brother, Adam, obtained the Charter of it in 1636. Archibald carried on a
suit against Lord Herries for several years in defence of his claim to his
estate.
The Will of John Johnstoun of Elsieshields, grandson of Wilkin or William,
was proved Jan. 1 1, i683. He was Provost of Lochmaben and M.P. for
the Dumfries Burghs (Chapter XIV.) (1665-82). His son, Alexander, was M.P.
for the same (1693-1702). The younger Elsieshields married, first, Marion
Grierson in 1684, by whom he had a daughter, Marion. His second wife, Janet
Carruthers, was the mother of his two sons, and after his death in 1703 she
married James Maxwell of Barncleuch. Gavin Johnstoun was served heir to
his father in the lands of Elsieshields and Esbie, and of Newton in Kirkcudbright,
and in 1707 he and his infant half-brother, James of Barncleuch
were served heirs to his mother, Janet. Gavin's brother and heir, Alexander
died childless in 1738, when the lands of Esbie went to James Maxwell, and
Elsieshields to the heir of his half-sister, Marion, who had married Robert
Edgar, a Writer in Dumfries. Their son, Theodore, who married Esther
Pearson, was returned heir to his grandfather, Alexander, in 1738, and died in
1784. His sister's daughter, Marion, married John Dickson, of London, and
their daughter, Marion, married William Byrne, also of London.
Their grandson, Theodore Edgar Dickson Byrne of Elsieshields, a J. P. for
Dumfriesshire and Kirkcudbright (1833-82), was a medical officer in the Navy
during the Crimean War, and eldest son of John William Byrne of Elsieshields
and of Eleanor Mac Alpine, his wife, who died in 1876. Mr Byrne died in 1882,