Hello LB
Thanks for your reply. How exciting to have found a relative of George Gilchrist. He was instrumental in establishing - with the Jardine family - my particular connection through Dunty Porteous the Ghost of Spedlins Tower. (A very long story!) This particular branch of the Porteous family is huge, the Scottish families being scattered (mainly) throughout Dumfriesshire.
I have several photo copies obtained from Lockerby library of MIs but by no means do the few I have cover this widely spread family.
Any of your grandfather's works that you may be able to guide me to would be very much appreciated.
I see this is your first post to Rootschat - welcome and thank you for replying to my query.
Regards
Ceeoh
Ceeoh~
I am a Jardine in California. At our annual Scottish Gathering and Games of San Francisco/Pleasanton, in perhaps 1998, we met a Porteous descendant and asked if he might bring other family members the following year, and he did! Perhaps 12 or Jardines and 8 Porteous got together. We offered our regrets and apologies for the injustice done to Dunty, which were accepted, then we shared a great many "wee drams" and family stories.
I edited the Jardine newsletters for the western U.S. and did much research under the tutelage of Jerry Jardine FSA Scot and came into posession of the "blueprint drawings" of the original Spedlins tower, reconstructed and generated partly from historical documents and partly by newer analysis by a government agency for the architect who rebuilt/remodeled it for modern living not too long ago.
What was interesting was the "dungeon". It was built under the staircase, just beneath the lower living quarters (which were on 2nd & 3rd stories) on the ground level where livestock and stores were kept. The awful thing was that it was only three feet wide, twelve feet long and 9 feet tall. Completely windowless, and the only access was a tiny "trap door" in the ceiling.
I have seen varying stories about why Dunty was imprisoned. What I was taught by Jerry Jardine was that Dunty was FALSLEY accused of setting the mill on fire. What are your views on this?
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