Records of the Pringles of the Scottish Border, by Alex Pringle

Chapter 15

CRAIGLEITH OR NEWHALL

WILLIAM

IN 1484 several Kers and East Teviotdales had leases of steads in Ettrick Forest, and in 1485 and 1492 appear William Hoppringle and his son Alexander as paying for Craigleith £6, two marts, a bow cow, and 20 lambs, the usual rent at the time for a stead. In 1499, for ploughing and sowing in Craigleith, William has a fine of 10 sheep remitted to him.

William appears also to have been the Constable of Cessford Castle whose history as such is given under East Teviotdale (which see).

ROBERT 1

In April 1510 Robert, who had been associated with his late grandfather in the lease of Craigleith in 1499, was granted the lands in fen, for the yearly duty of £26, and the same sum for new infeftments (E. R.). As there is no further mention of Robert we conclude that, like so many of his relatives, he fell at Flodden three years later, 9th September 1513. He left issue: -

1. Alexander, his heir. 2. George.

ALEXANDER

In 1541, after probably a long minority, Craigleith is recorded as occupied by Alexander Hoppringill ; also William- hope in the Ward of Yarrow is claimed by him for £24 yearly (E. R.). In 1555 Craigleith, which was held by him in feu, is now let by him as to one half to Walter Riddell of that Ilk for £13 1/3 yearly, redeemable for 140 merks (E. R.). Also in 1555 Alexander and his son George are convicted of maltreating David, son of Alexander Hoppringill of Trinlyknowe tending his father's cattle in the plough of Caddon water, and as a fine have to pay £20 to the Controller (T. A.).

In 1563 Cranston of that Ilk and Alexander and his son George find caution to underlie the law at the next ayre at Selkirk, the former for slaying three cattle on Williamhope belonging to the latter; and the latter for convoking the lieges and slaying eleven cattle on Hawthorn adjoining, pertaining to the former, and mutilating John Scott of his right arm (P. C. T.). In 1565 the Controller summoned James, brother of John Cranston of that Ilk, and Alexander, whom he had warned to vacate Williamhope, and the Lords order both to remove (A. D.) Alexander had issue: -

1. George, his heir.

2. Robert, who had a son, George, legitimised in 1577.

3. Catherine, marr. Laurence Symson of Craighouse, near Edinburgh, whose initials, L. S. and C. P., 1565, are on the old doorway.

GEORGE 1

In 1569 John Scott in Catslack sued George Hoppringill of Craigleith for payment of the £60 awarded to him by the decreet arbitral in 1563 for his mutilation by him and the late Alexander his father, and the said George not having compeared at a time long bypast, nor now, the Lords direct officers of arms to pass, apprise, and poind his movable goods, and failing these, his lands, to the avail of the said £60 (A. D.). In 1577 Patrick Dods in Yair sues George for payment for the 18 cows at £9 per head of the 26 cattle taken by him from Williamhope in November 1559 ; the Lords grant Dods letters to summon witnesses. In 1581 George appears as. a cautioner, and in 1582 as a witness for James Hoppringill of that Ilk, and in 1586 sits at Selkirk on the detour of James Hoppringill of Smailholm.

1587 the King grants anew in feu to George the lands of Craigleith with the fortalice for a yearly duty of 40 merks (G.S.), .

1591 and 1594 George finds caution for himself, and becomes cautioner for others.

In 1597 George Pringill, younger, of Newhall, subscribes the bond of manrent between the Pringills (see Smailholm).

In 1597 the King grants to James Pringill of Smailholm and his heirs male bearing the cognomen and arms of Pringill the lands of Craigleith, then called Newhall, with fortalice, etc., which George Pringill, senior, with consent of George his son and heir-apparent, resigned, and which had become the King's because the said George convicted of offences was fugitive from the law (G. S.). In June 1601 a contract was made between the said James Pringill and George, younger, of Newhall whereby he binds him to set in feu to the said George, three years after the decease of his father, George, senior, on payment to him of 3000 merks, the lands of Craigleith, and enter him therein gratis : witnesses, Andrew Ker of Linton, etc. (S. W.).

George, who died apparently in 1602, had issue :-

1. George, his heir.

2, Robert, first of Stitchill.

3. John, who died before 1627, when his son James was apprenticed with T. Paterson, Tailor, Edinburgh.

4, Thomas.

GEORGE 2

In July 1605 a feu charter of the lands of Craigleith, in implement of the above-mentioned contract, was granted to George by the said James Pringill, for payment to him of a yearly duty of 41 merks (S. E.) In 1606 the said James Pringill is surety for George in 1000 merks, and for his brother John in 400, and conversely George is surety for him and three other Pringills in similar amounts, not to harm Robert Tait in Stitchill (P. C.). ln 1609 George Young, who in 1600 had sold to George for £100 a horse which was afterwards found to have been stolen from Friarshiel, was ordained by the Lords to pay to John Pringill, George's brother and assignee, the price of the horse, with £100 in satisfaction of the theft, and half a merk per day, since the first challenge, for profit and hiregang (A. D.). In 1623 George subscribes the Report on the poor and on sturdy beggars sent by Sir James Pringill, Sheriff of Selkirkshire, to the Privy Council.

In 1628 William, George's son, witnesses the contract between John Gordon of Lochinvar and Robert Pringill of Baitingbush whereby the former sold to latter the lands of Stitchill (S.W.).

In 1631 James, eldest son of George, and Mariota daughter of James Pringill of Muirhouse, Stow, now his spouse, get sasine of Craigleith, alias Newhall-the Knowes excepted-to hold in feu from Sir James Pringle for a yearly duty of 23 merks, and in 1646 John Pringill, son of the late Sir James, disponed the lands to him (S. W.).

In 1649 George of Newhall and Walter Pringle of Greenknowe, as nearest of kin on the father's side to Robert Pringle second of Stitchill, take part in choosing curators for him (A. D.). Also in 1649 in the Act of Parliament for putting the kingdom in a state of defence, James, younger, of Newhall is nominated a Commissioner of war for Selkirkshire: and Isabella Walker, now spouse of James, gets sasine of certain lands (S. E.). In 1653 George, as father and heir of his son the late James, is ordained to pay a, certain bond granted by him in 1640 (A. D.).

George and his spouse Margaret Ker (of Linton) had issue: -

1. James, fear, who predeceased him.

2. Robert, in Caverton.

3. George, in 1629 apprenticed with David Pringill, Surgeon, Edinburgh.

4. William, and his spouse Marion Currie, had a son James, born 1642.

5. Thomas.

JAMES (FEAR)

who probably died at the battle of Dunbar or Worcester, had issue by his first spouse, Mariota : -

1. Robert, his heir, born 1644.

2. Margaret, born 1635.

3. Christian, born 1642.

4. By his second spouse Isabella, a daughter Agnes.

ROBERT 2

In 1665 Robert Pringle of Newhall appears in the list of parishioners of Stow summoned to pay the teinds to the Archbishop (A. D.). an 1666 he was infefted by Sir William Scott of Harden, now the superior, in Craigleith and Newhall as heir of his grandfather the late George; the instrument of sasine being registered by John Walker, writer, Edinburgh.

In March 1667 he granted a proxy for resigning Newhall and Hutt in Caverton in the hands of his superior in favour of himself and his heirs male, whom failing, in favour of Robert Pringle of Stitchill and his heirs male (S. W.). Dying a few weeks later at the age of 23, he was succeeded by his uncle Robert.

ROBERT 3

On 1st June 1667 Robert Pringle in Caverton, now of Newhall, heir of his late brother James, fear thereof, with consent of his son and heir apparent Robert, dispones the lands of Newhall and his rights to the teinds thereof, to Robert Pringle of Stitchill ; which disposition he and Margaret, Christian, and Agnes Pringle, daughters of the said late James, and nearest heirs to the lands, with their husbands' consent, ratify in August 1672 (S. W.).

In 1673 Sir William Scott grants Robert Pringle of Stitchill to pay the feu duty of Newhall directly to the Crown instead of to himself (S. W.).