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

Chapter 19

WHYTBANK AND YAIR

DAVID

IN 1470 the stead or farm of Redhead, one of the eighteen constituting the Ward of Tweed in Ettrick Forest, was allotted to James Hoppringill of Smailholm, the Cursor or Factor of the Ward, in place of his yearly salary (E. R.). In 1485 it was occupied by his son David, and on 28th August 1505 it was feued to David (now of Smailholm) and his spouse Margaret Lundie, and their heirs male, at a yearly duty of £26 and a merk Scots, and the same sum for new infeftments (G, S.). In 1513 his eldest son, David, was killed at Flodden. In 1526 his sons John and James appear in the list of 148 Borderers pardoned for taking part in the raid of the Homes on Stirling (S. B.). In August 1534 David and his spouse and their son James got a charter of the lands of Lour and part of easter Dawick, in Peeblesshire, and in December following David " for love and favour '' granted them (Woodhouse) to the said James (G. S.).

JAMES 1

In 1541 Redhead, on Caddon Water, is possessed by Margaret Lundie widow of David Hoppringill of Smailholm and her son James ; also James of Woodhouse gets a charter of lands in Forfarshire alienated to him by John Erskine of Dun (T. A.). In 1550 James, now called of Whytbank, or Redhead, sits at Jedburgh on the return of John Gordon in the lands of Stitchill (S. W.).

In 1552 William Hoppringill, James's brother, gets an obligation from Michael Balfour to repay to him the £200 borrowed by James, Commendator of Kelso and Melrose Abbey (R. D.), also one from William Cairncross of Colmslie to repay of 21 days' notice the £500 borrowed by him (A. D.).
In 1554 James resigns the lands of Adinston, Langhope, and Soonhope alienated to him under reversion by Simon Preston of Craigmillar and now redeemed by him (P. B., Nicolson).

James died in November 1563. He is assumed by genealogists to have been James Hoppringill the Solway Moss prisoner. This is a mistake-the said prisoner having been James first of Buckholm.

James by his wife Margaret Ker of Linton had issue: -

1. Mr Robert, who predeceased him.

2. James, his heir.

3. George, latterly tenant of Netherton of Princado (see Gala Water).

4. 5. Alexander; William, burgess of Edinburgh.

6. 7. John; David.

8. Marion, marr. in 1568 William, brother of James Home of Cowdenknowes,

James's widow Margaret Ker marr. as her second husband Sir David Hume, 5th of Wedderburn, and died in 1589 leaving no children by him.

JAMES 2

In 1565 James points out with regard to the rights of the tenants of Langshaw that the lands with the mill and the astricted multures has been leased by the Abbey of Melrose to his father at Whitsunday 1556 for 19 years, and that since his father's death in 1563 they had been leased to his mother, now spouse of Sir David Hume, and to himself and his curators (A. D.).

In December 1566 James contracts to marry Marion, daughter of Andrew Murray of Blackbarony (Darnhall) (R. D.), and in February following with her and her father's consent they get the lands of Dechmont, Westlothian, in conjunct fee (G. S.).

In December 1569 the Lords remit the matter re Langshaw mill to the Bailie of Melrose, and bid him cast down Robert Cairncross's mill on the same water as James and his mother's, and set in again the water on their old water gang (A. D.).

In 1571 James is one of the 60 Border lairds who subscribed at Jedburgh the bond to rise against the King's enemies, especially the laird of Fernihirst (partisan of Queen Mary), and thieves of Liddlesdale and Annandale (P. C.). In 1573 he is mentioned as possessor of a tenement of land at the Netherbow, Edinburgh (G. S.). ln 1574 he is appointed a Commissioner for Selkirkshire for organising and reporting to the regent (Lennox) on the Wappenshaws, which were to be held throughout the kingdom twice a year (A. P.). ln 1575 he is one of the 12 Hoppringills summoned before the Regent Morton and Council anent the feud with the Elliots, and as one of those not compearing has to find security in £100 to attend at a later date (P. C.).

In March 1578 James, with consent of his wife Marion, encamped his lands of Over Dechmont for those of Nicholas Cornwel, fear of Bonhard, in Gala Water, viz., Westerton, Middleton, and Easterton, of Princado (R. D.).

In 1580 Jameson mother pays the widow of George Hume of Wedderburn for stopping her action against her before the Lords re certain jewellery (Milne Home); also in 1581 as liferenter of Langshaw mill she charges certain persons with abstention of their corn (A. D.).

In 1581 James, and Alexander Hoppringill in Yair, act as Curators of Andrew Ker of Yair (A. D).

In February 1583 William Ker Warden of the Middle March, and some 36 Border lairds, including the Hoppringills of Whytbank and Smailholm, are summoned to appear before the Council on the 10th March next to give their good counsel anent the quieting of the present disorders in Teviotdale and Liddesdale (P. C.). Also in 1583 at Whytbank James contracts with Bartholomew Hume of Simprin to lend him £1000 Scots on the security of his lands until redemption ; witnesses, George and William, James's brothers (A. D., 1584). In 1584 he grants letters of reversion of Meikle Catpair to William Cairncross and his spouse Marion Hoppringill (R. M.).

In May 1585 at Whytbank died James's wife Marion Murray, Her Testament, registered in 1592, showed farm stock £1244, owing to her brother-in-law William £260, etc.; free gear £ 844 Scots-made by James as father of their bairns John, Robert, Alexander, David, and Margaret, Jane, and Katrene (T. E., 1592).

On 6th July 1591 at Kelso the Hoppringills of that Ilk, Whytbank, and Buckholm and eleven other Border lairds appear before King James and Council, and give their oaths faithfully to serve the Wardens of the East and Middle Marches and the Keeper of Liddesdale, especially in pursuit of Francis sometime Earl of Bothwell, and lay aside all mutual feuds; and the said three Hoppringills become cautioners for one another in £2000 Scots that they shall keep the King's peace (P. C.). In 1592 George, James's brother, as assignee of his uncle William, summons Michael, grandson and heir of Michael Balfour of Burleigh, to pay the loan referred to above in 1552 (A. D.).

In 1592 James, younger, of Whytbank marries Christian daughter of William Lundie of that Ilk in Fife.

On 15th September 1595 Bailie MacMorran of Edinburgh was shot dead when forcing the door of the High School, which the boys had barricaded through being refused a holiday. Among the eight boys arrested was Robert, son of the Goodman of Whytbank. After much law debate the boys were set free after two and a half months' imprisonment in the tolbooth (P. C.).

In 1596 James and his son James subscribe the Mutual Bond of Manrent between the Hoppringills (see Smailholm). In 1600 he sold to William Barns and the two sons of John Burnet in Woodhouse his lands on Manor Water (G. S., 1601); and in 1601 he resigned the Eastraik of Westhousebyre to John Home of Cowdenknowes (G. S.).

In December 1601 James is on the jury that found Andrew Turnbull guilty of shooting on a market day in Jedburgh the Provost Thomas Ker of Cavers, kinsman of Sir Andrew Ker of Fernihirst. Turnbull was sentenced to be beheaded at the market cross of Edinburgh (P. C. T.).

On 19th July 1602 died the wife of James, younger. The inscription on her tombstone on the floor of the Whytbank aisle in Melrose Abbey reads, " Here lies ane honorable woman Christine Lundie spouse to James Hoppringill of Whytbank. She deceased 19th July 1602. Syn and still thou murn, for to the grave thou turn."

In 1603 the King confirms the charter, granted with the consent of James, by Nicholas Cornwel to Walter Scott of the lands of Princado (G. S.). See under 1578 above. In 1606 the King also confirms the charter in which James sold to Sir Gideon Murray of Elibank the lands of Langshaw, the mill and its lands, and the commons, in the lordship of Melrose (G. S.). Also in 1606 James, having been put to the horn for not paying to James Fairlie, merchant burgess of Edinburgh, £1000 principal and 700 merks expenses, and having had his goods escheated and the liferent of all his heritages gifted to John Johnston, burgess of Edinburgh, is now ordered by the Lords to deliver the same to him (A. D., Gibson). In September 1606 the Pringills of Torwoodlee and Buckholm became surety for James, younger, and for George, Robert, John, David, and Alexander, brothers of James, senior, not to harm Sir Robert Stewart of Shillinglaw (P. C.).

In December 1607 the King confirmed the charter in which James, senior, and James, junior, granted to Isabella Moffat, widow of James Stirling, Advocate, engaged spouse of the said James, junior, the lands of Redhead, alias Whytbank, with the mill, etc.; also another charter in which they sold the said lands to Gilbert Johnston, burgess of Edinburgh ,(G. S.). In December 1607 James, junior, was granted by the Archbishop a tack for life and three succeeding lives, of the teinds of Whytbank, Hoppringill, and others (S. W.).

In 1608 Isabel Moffat summons a merchant burgess of Edinburgh, at the horn for not paying her a debt, and he is ordered to be arrested by the Guard and his goods inventoried (P. C.). In 1609 a debtor to James, younger, and his spouse Isabella for 1600 merks, and expenses, is similarly ordered to be apprehended (P. C.).

In 1610 a brother of James of Whytbank, and others, bound to Orkney and Shetland on business, find caution that they will not take any victual, letters, armour, or passengers, except for their own use only, under the penalty of 500 merks (P. C.).

In March 1616 James Pringill son of the late James, younger, is detoured his heir, and in April he gets a royal charter of Redhead or Whytbank, Balshaw mill, manorplace, and fishings on Tweed, which his grandfather James resigned ; paying f27, 6s. 8d. (G. S.).

In December 1618 Juliane Home, sister of George Home of Wedderburn, James's spouse, having by her marriage contract in 1576 with her first husband Sir John Ker of Hirsel been infefted in an annual rent of 15 chalders of victual, first furth of Duddingston, and afterwards furth of Spylaw and others in Berwickshire, summons Sir John Edmonston occupier thereof, cautioner, to pay the same for the crop 1617 (A. D.).

In 1619 James, with consent of his brother George in Princado, having been repaid the 800 merks lent by him in 1583 to William Borthwick in Soutra, renounces to him the lands of Shiels (S. E.).

In July 1620 the Tutors of Thomas Pringill, only son of Isabella Moffat by her first husband the late James Pringill, younger, of Whytbank, having charged her to fulfil the contract made between them and her and her mother (the widow of John Moffat, burgess of Edinburgh) in 1615, and bestow 3000 merks for behoof of the said Thomas within ten days, and Isabella and James Douglas of Glaspen, Lanarkshire, now her husband, having produced a contract by James Pringill now younger of Whytbank infefting his brother the said Thomas in an annual rent of 300 merks furth of his lands of Whytbank, his mother to intromit with it till Thomas was 18 complete, always sustaining him in meat, drink, board and learning, according to his estate ; the Lords found, notwithstanding the clause as to redemption, that Isabella should have power to uplift the 300 merks till Thomas was 18 (A. D., Gibson).

In February 1622 James heir apparent and Sophia Schoneir his future spouse gets a royal confirmation of the lands of Whytbank (G. S.). On the same day the King confirmed a charter of the late Martin Schoneir, doctor to the Queen (Anne of Denmark).

In June 1624 at the instance of Juliane Home and her spouse James of Whytbank, Sir John Edmonstone was put to the horn for not paying for 1623 the victual referred to above under 1618 (A. D., Scott).

James died apparently in 1625. In 1571 we saw that he subscribed the bond to rise against Ker of Fernihirst, the partisan of Queen Mary. He was compelled no doubt to sell Woodhouse, Princado, Langshaw, and other properties, to meet the requirements of his widowed mother, seven brothers, etc.

James and his spouse Marion Murray (1566-1585) had issue: -

1. James, who predeceased his father. 2. George.

3. John. 4. Robert. 5. Alexander. 6. David.

7. Margaret, marr. John Hoppringill of that Ilk.

8, 9. Jane and Katrene.

By his second spouse Juliane Home he had no issue.

JAMES (FEAR)

by his first spouse Christian Lundie (1592-1602) had issue:-

1. James, the heir. 2. George, of Balmungo. 3. John.

4. Katrene, marr. William Penman, minister of Crichton.

By his second spouse Isabella Moffat, James, fear, had issue: -

5.Thomas. He also had a natural son Robert.

JAMES 3 (SHERIFF OF SELKIRKSHIRE)

was aged about 30 when he succeeded his grandfather. On the mother's side he was a nephew of Margaret Lundie, wife of Lord Balfour of Burleigh.

In 1626 he subscribed the report of the Selkirkshire J.P.'s to the Privy Council on the prices of wool, castle, and sheep in the county (P. C.).

In 1632 John Chisholm of Brockhouse grants James sasine of his lands.

In June 1633 James Pringill of Whytbank and James Murray, younger, of Philiphaugh are appointed M.P.'S for Selkirkshire (A. P.) ; and in July following James accepted the office of Sheriff Principal of the county and gave his oath before the Lords of Council for the faithful discharge thereof (P. C.).

In 1634 " Whytbank and Halltree are commissioned by the Kirk Session of Stow to buy a good and sufficient bell, which was ordained to be hung upon one of the trees in the churchyard which was fittest for that end '' (C. B.).

In 1635 James got Sasine of the middle stead of Windidoors or Blackhaugh, which Alexander Mitchelson resigned (G. S.).

In 1642 the Lord Chancellor produced before the Lords of Council Lord Ettrick's patent to the Earldom of Forth, which was received by Whytbank (P. C,) (see below).

In 1643 James was appointed a Commissioner of Defence for Selkirkshire, also a collector for the county for the loan for the relief of the Scottish army (10,000 men) in Ireland (A. P.).

In 1644 James acquired from Andrew Fisher the lands of Wester Langlee and Cellarershaugh (A. D., Balfour). In 1647 he got sasine of Buckholm and Williamlaw under reversion, by contract with James Pringill made at Billie and Torwoodlee (S. E.). Also in 1647 Patrick Earl of Forth granted to " his friend James Pringill of Whytbank '' under reversion the lands of Yair and its pendicle the Craig, with pasturage in the common of Selkirk; the lands of Friarscroft with the pasturage of 16 animals in the Shorthope in the parish of Melrose, with manorplace, mill, ferry, and cobbles (G. S.). Also in 1647 James apprised Sir James Hay's lands of Smeithfeild for payment of 2600 merks.

In 1648 James was appointed a Commissioner of War for Selkirkshire (A. P.)

In March 1649 in completion of the marriage contract of November 1646 between his only lawful son Alexander and Anna, daughter of James Pringill of Torwoodlee, James granted them sasine of Whytbank and the Knowes, Brockhouse, Blackhaugh, the Yair and its pendicle the Craig, and Shorthope (S. E.).

In January 1659 Clara, widow of the Earl of Forth, summons James to produce the contracts of the purchase of Yair, as they would show that her liferent was reserved (A. D., Scott). On 10th August 1661 she resigned the lands, the price, 18,000 merks, having been paid in full.

In 1659 John Clerk of Penicuik assigned to James, and James Pringle of Torwoodlee, equally between them, the bond for 10,000 merks and 800 merks annual rent granted him in 1647 by the Earl of Lothian, for which they were cautioners (R. D.).

In May 1660 Charles II returned as King; and in 1661 James was appointed a Commissioner of Supply, an annuity of £40,000 sterling having been voted to H.M. On 9th September 1662 the Act of Indemnity to " those whose guiltiness had rendered them obnoxious to the law was accompanied with fines; Greenknowe being fined £3000, Whytbank yr., £3000, and Newhall £600 (A. P.).

James died on 14th May 1667, aged 73. By his wife Sophia Schoneir of the court of Queen Anne, consort of James V1,, who died in November 1626 at the early age of 22, he had an only lawful son Alexander.

There was also a natural son William who appears in the Register of Deeds under the date 17th October 1663, ancestor of Thomas Pringle, poet and reformer. (See the Encyclopœdias, especially the Dictionary of National Biography; also the article by A. Pringle in the Border Magazine of 21st December 1921.)

ALEXANDER 1

In 1655 Alexander Pringle of Whytbank was appointed a Commissioner for raising the Cromwellian assessment of £10,000 a month on Scotland, and in the following year a J.P. for Edinburgh and Selkirk shires (A. P.).

In 1672 Alexander and George Pringle of Torwoodlee paid off the lien of 15,000 merks that John Clerk of Penicuik had on the lands of Whytbank and Torwoodlee, and he renounced his annual rent of 900 merks furth of the same (S. E.). In 1682 Alexander, whose first wife Anna Pringle died in September 1680, married as his second Anna Murray, sister of James of' Philiphaugh (S. Rox.), who after his decease married Robert Rutherford, younger, of Edgerston. As by neither Alexander, who died on 25th April 1689, aged 66, had issue, the succession fell to John Pringle, a, minor, grandson of his uncle George Pringle of Balmungo.

GEORGE OF BALMUNGO, FIFE

George, brother of the late James of Whytbank, appears first in 1625 as witness to a charter re an annual rent furth of the lands of Lundie, Fife (G. S.). In August 1626 he gets from the Archbishop of St Andrews a charter with precept of sasine of the lands of Balmungo in the Regality of St Andrews (S. E.). In 1632 he gets a royal grant of the lands of Plaine with tower, mill, fishings, and tenants, apprised from James Somerville for 3675 merks (G.S.). In 1633 George is charged by two daughters of the Principal of St Leonard's College, St Andrews, to pay them 12 bolls oats, or £10 per boll, for the feu duty of Balmungo for 1630 (.A. D., Scott). In December 1635 George, his uncle Alexander, and Sir James Lundie resign the lands of Plaine in Stirlingshire (S. E.).

George married Elizabeth Ruthven, daughter of Patrick Ruthven, who was recalled from the service of Gustavus Adolphus in 1636, got the lands of Yair in Ettrick Forest, was appointed Field-Marshal of the royalist army, won the battle of Edgehill, and was by Charles I created Earl of Forth. The Earl accompanied Charles II to Scotland in 1650, and died at Dundee in 1651. Elizabeth Ruthven had been previously married to William Lundie of that Ilk, who died in 1600; and by him she had issue, John of that Ilk, Sir James Lundie, etc.

George died in 1655, apparently from heart failure. His death is recorded in Lamont's Diary (1649-71), under the date 24th August 1655, " George Pringell of Balmungo, neare St Andrews, the night before, going from St Andrews to his own house, was found dead the next morning laying by the high way syde. He was interred at St Andrews the 25th August."

The Records afford no ground for the allegation that George ever served under Gustavus Adolphus, or even under his father- in-law. Though often mentioned, it is never as Lieutenant, Captain, or Major.

George by his wife Elisabeth Ruthven had issue: -

1. George, who is mentioned along with his father in 1654.

2. John, who graduated M.A. at St Andrews in 1645, and on the Restoration, having conformed to Episcopacy, was appointed minister of Fogo, Berwickshire. He died there in February 1682, aged 54. He left estate worth £7348 Scots, his widow to have 400 merks yearly (T. Lauder). By his wife Jean, daughter of John Shaw, minister of Selkirk, whom he married in 1662, he had issue: -

1. 2. James, Alexander.

3. John, his heir, called eldest son in 1687.

4. George, apprenticed for 5 years to James Dunlop, surgeon apothecary, Edinburgh.

5, 6. Elizabeth and Ann, both unmarried.

JOHN

succeeded his father's cousin Alexander Pringle in Whytbank in April 1689. In June 1690 his Tutors are appointed by Parliament Commissioners of Supply for Selkirkshire, and in July 1698 John himself (A. P.).

John, who was born in Edinburgh in 1678, died at the Yair in 1702, aged 24. By Margaret daughter of Sir Patrick Scott of Ancrum, whom he married in 1699, and who died in 1770, aged 89, he had issue: -

1. Alexander, his heir, born in February 1701.

2. Margaret, died young.

3. Joanna, unmarried, died in 1779.

ALEXANDER 2,

married in 1739 Susanna eldest daughter of Sir John Rutherford of that llk and Edgerston and his wife Elizabeth Cairncross of Langlee (S. M.). In 1744 he got a royal grant of the teind sheaves and other teinds great and small of the lands of Whytbank, Hoppringill, Burnhouse, Middleton, Torquhan, Fernihirst, Nethershiels, Plenploth and Nettliflat, in the parish of Stow, now pertaining to the King by the abolition of Episcopacy in Scotland ; the tack to commence at Lammas and endure for 19 years ; paying therefor £44 yearly, and the minister's stipend and uphold of the choir pro rata, (P. C.).

In 1567 Michael commendator of Melrose Abbey granted one half of Ladhopemoor, which became known a Calfhill or Hislop, to Charles Cairncross and Marion Hoppringill his spouse. It was held by the Cairncrosses for many generations, ending with Elizabeth and Jane, sisters of the deceased Hugh Cairncross. They left movable property worth £ 12,260 Scots, the former her half to John Rutherford of Edgerton, and the latter to Alexander Pringle of Whytbank and his children (R. M.).

Alexander died in Edinburgh in February 1773, aged 71 (S. M.). His wife Susanna Rutherford, whom he married in 1739, died there at Whitehouse in April 1791, aged 72 years (S. M.). They had issue: -

1. John, his heir.

2. Alexander, afterwards of Whytbank.

3. Patrick, surgeon, E.I.C.S., Madras; died at Arcot, November 1788 (S, M.).

4. William, in the Navy; died on his passage home from India June 1781 (S. M.).

5. Elizabeth, died young; 6. Eleanor, died 1807; 7. Susanna, died 1807; 8. Cairncross-Mary, died 1782; all dieing in Edinburgh.

9. Christian, marr. in 1766, Robert Pasley of Craig and Mountannan, Dumfriesshire (S. M.).

10. Joanna, marr. Alexander Hay of Mordington, Berwickshire; died 1821.

11. Charlotte, marr. Thomas Payne, a merchant in Lisbon; died there 1821.

JOHN (LIEUTENANT 84TH REGIMENT)

succeeded his father Alexander in Whytbank in 1773. In 1776 he appears as one of the six Ensigns of the Royal High- land Regiment, Clinton's, which was raised from the Highland emigrants then arriving in Canada. In 1778 this Regiment was numbered the 84^th.

On 17th January 1783 John wrote to General Haldimand, Commander-in-chief in Canada, the following letter, addressed to Captain Matthews, Secretary to his Excellency: .* Sir . . .I am one of those unlucky Ensigns who after a service of almost seven years, and never a month absent from the regiment to which I belong, have no other satisfaction than that of being at present the senior of my rank in the army in which l serve, a want of the means to purchase having already subjected me to the necessity of suffering junior officers to go over my head in the regiment. I beg permission to request your minute attention to this letter, and also to solicit for your friendly exertions for my interests. . . . The date of my commission is 16th July 1776, the date of which will I presume entitle me to his Excellency's attention to it, and plead an excuse for the liberty I now take in addressing you. I have the honour to be, Sir, your very humble servant, John Pringle, Ensign, 84th Regiment, Carleton Island '' (British Museum MSS.). This letter had effect, for on 5th September following John was promoted to be Lieutenant in his Regiment.

Thus John received his commission in the army twelve days after the Declaration of Independence by the U.S.A. and served through the war till it was terminated by the Treaty of Versailles in 1783. General Haldimand was Governor of Canada from 1776 till 1784, not, as the genealogists allege, the Hon. James Murray, who was recalled from Canada in 1766 became Lieut.-General in 1772, and Governor of Minorca in 1774. How long John survived the end of the war is not apparent, He was succeeded by his next brother Alexander.

ALEXANDER 3

was born at the Yair in November 1747. In 1766 he entered the service of the E.I.Co. as a, Writer, in 1771 became a factor, in 1774 a junior merchant and assistant at Masulipatam, in 1778 senior merchant, and in 1790 was out of the service, having apparently returned home on learning of the death of his brother John, whom he succeeded in Whytbank. He bought back the estate of Yair which had been sold to the Duke of Buccleuch, and there built a new mansion house.

In 1797 during the war, corps of Yeomanry Cavalry and of Volunteer Infantry were formed in the different counties, and in July 1799 Alexander was gazetted Captain commandant of the latter corps for Selkirkshire. In 1802, on the institution of the office, he was appointed Vice-Lieutenant of the county.

In June 1806 it is told that he and his family met the magistrates of Selkirk when " riding the marches '' on the top of Three-Brethren hill-where from the cairn he had erected on its summit floated the British Union Flag-and entertained them and their retinue with much good cheer and drinking of toasts (C. B.).

In 1808 appeared Scott's poem Marmion, in the Introduction to Canto 2 of which the poet sings of Yair and Tweed -

Her long-descended lord is gone,

And left us by the stream alone.

And much I miss those sportive boys,

Companions of my mountain joys,

Just at the age twixt boy and youth,

When thought is speech, and speech is truth.

-and Lockhart quotes the laird's letter to Sir Walter in which he feelingly acknowledges the compliment.

In 1812 Alexander obtained the patent office of Chamberlain of Ettrick Forest.

On 15th July 1815 Sir Walter Scott wrote in his Diary, " I have determined to take a trip to Paris. My companions are young Alexander Pringle of Whytbank, and Robert Bruce, advocate. I understand we shall want passports. . '' " lf descriptions are necessary, Bruce is tall, say 5 ft 11 in. . . . Pringle about 5 ft. 6 in., light hair and eyes, round face, and slightly made." Accompanied by John Scott of Gala the party left Edinburgh on 28th July by stage coach via Cambridge for Harwich, and landed at Helvoetsluys on 4th August. After visiting the field of Waterloo they arrived at Paris on the 15th Lockhart relates their experiences among the crowned heads and notables then assembled there after Napoleon's overthrow. From Paris Mr Pringle and Mr Bruce went on to Switzerland, leaving the poet and Gala to return home together via Dieppe, Brighton, and London.

We find Alexander inspecting, as Vice-Lieut. of the county, the Yeomanry at their annual trainings, in 1821 at Carterhaugh, in 1823 at Selkirk, when his son Alexander was their Captain, and in 1826 at Rinkhaugh, Fairnilee, while in 1824 the troop dined with their Captain at Yair. Sir Walter notes in his Journal occasions on which he had young Whytbank to dinner at Abbotsford.

Alexander died at Yair in February 1827. By his wife Mary, daughter of Sir Alexander Dick of Prestonfield, Edinburgh, whom he married in 1789 at Salisbury Green there, and who died in 1849, he had issue, 5 sons and 5 daughters: -

1. Alexander, his heir.

2. John-Alexander, in July 1807 appointed a writer in Bengal Civil Service, July 1827 to November 1829 at home on absentee allowance, marr. his cousin Christian- Ann, daughter of Lieut.-General Dirom and Magdalen, daughter and heiress of Robert Pasley of Mountannan, in 1836 retired, and in January 1839 died at his property of Castledykes near Dumfries, without issue. His Select Remains (poetical effusions), with drawings of Yair House in 1823 and old Whytbank Tower in 1828, were published by his sister Mary in 1841.

3. William-Alexander, in 1810 appointed a writer in Bengal Civil Service; died in 1855. Married Ann-Elizabeth, daughter of John Dawnay of Aylesbury, Buckingham, by whom he had 5 sons and 5 daughters : 1. Alexander, Ensign Madras Native Infantry, born 1828, died at Portobello 1854. 2. George Stewart, Ensign Bengal Native Infantry born 1834, killed at Allahabad during the Sepoy Mutiny 4th June 1857. 3. David, Captain Bengal Native Infantry, born 1835, died at Portobello 1874. 4. William-John, born 1837, died at Craiglockhart, Edinburgh, January 1883. 5, Robert, M.D., Bengal Army, born 1832, died at Blackheath 1899 (see the Army). Daughters - Mary-Ann, marr. Archibald Speirs, Bengal Native Infantry. 2. Anna-Charlotte, marr. Edward Samuells, Bengal Civil Service. 3.Susanna; 4. Elizabeth; 5. Jane.

4. Robert-Keith (see the E.I.C.S.).

5. David, educated, like his brothers, first at school in Selkirk, afterwards at the Grammar School of Durham, and then at Haileyburgh College, where he won the Gold Medal, in 1824 appointed a writer in the Bengal Civil Service. The Kent, on which he sailed for India, went on fire in the Bay of Biscay on 1st March 1825. Of 700 persons on board nearly 100 perished in the wreck. The survivors were rescued by the Cambrian and landed at Falmouth. David marr. Frances, daughter of Alexander Tod of Alderston. Issue :Alexander-David, Amp and Frances. David died at his property of Wilton Lodge, Hawick, in December 1889, aged 83.

6. to 11. Mary-Agnes, unmarried. Susanna, marr. R. S. Moncrieff younger; of Fossaway. Jane, unmarried. Elizabeth, marr. C. M. Christie of Durie. Charlotte, Margaret-Janet, marr. W. Emsley, Chancery barrister.

ALEXANDER 4

succeeded his father at the age of 36. His previous career is given above. Also in 1820 he was with the Midlothian Yeomanry Cavalry sent to Glasgow to quell the feared political uprisings, and was lodged with the Lord Provost.

In 1830 he was elected M.P. for Selkirkshire. In March 1831 Sir Walter Scott writes that he was asked by Whytbank, Torwoodlee, and the Duke of Buccleuch to assist the party in an address against the Reform Bill, which menaced them with blending Selkirk and Peebles shires, and that he had promised it to give them a cast of his calling, fall-back, fall-edge.'' In the election of 1832 Alexander lost his seat to the Whig candidate Robert Pringle of Haining, but regained it in 1835 ; and in 1841, Sir Robert Peel the Premier appointed him Scottish Lord of the Treasury. In 1845 he resigned this office, feeling unable to support the Government measure for the better endowment of the Roman Catholic College of Maynooth; and in December of that year he was appointed Keeper of the Register of Sasines in Scotland (G. M.).

Alexander, who was born in January 1794, died at Yair in September 1857. By his wife Agnes-Joanna, his cousin, daughter and heir-portioner of Sir Wilham Dick of Prestonfield, Edinburgh (whom he married in 1830, and who died in 1878), he had issue, an only son-

ALEXANDER 5,

born in March 1837, marr. in 1870 his cousin Mary-Arbuthnot, daughter of Robert Keith Pringle, E.I.C.S., and died in September 1898 without issue, leaving his estate to his widow, who died in July 1908, and was succeeds by her brother

WILLIAM,

5th and youngest son of Robert Keith Pringle, born October 1868, marr. October 1910 Gladys, daughter of T. F, Baylis.

The estate of Yair, so long associated with Whytbank, recently, like many others of the time, changed proprietor, and was bought by Sir Kenneth Anderson, shipowner, Aberdeen,