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Messages - GR2

Pages: [1] 2 3 4 ... 536
1
The whole process of passing on the ownership of land went as follows.

1. The owner of the land had a disposition drawn up which stated who he was disponing or passing on the land to and the reason he was doing so. It might contain details of a marriage contract if the land was being passed to a child following their marriage. It also contained a precept of sasine, which was an instruction to the owner's representative, usually called his baillie, to give formal ownership to the person getting the land or their representative. The precept of sasine gave the baillie full power to act for the landowner. The disposition was signed before witnesses and given to the person receiving the land or their representative..

2. On an agreed day, the following people met on the land being transferred: the person passing on the land or more usually their baillie; the person receiving the land or their representative (baillie, attorney, procurator); witnesses specially called; a notary public.

3. The person receiving the land or their representative handed the disposition to the person passing on the land or their baillie, who accepted it and handed it to the notary public. The disposition was then read to all present, including the precept of sasine which appointed the baillie.

4. The person passing on the land or their baillie then picked up earth and stones from the ground and handed them to the person receiving the land or their representative. This symbolically transferred ownership and infeft/seised/gave sasine to the new owner.

5. The new owner or their representative at this point "asked instruments one or more". This means they asked the notary public to draw up an instrument of sasine, a document describing in detail what had happened. The instrument of sasine also named the witnesses present at the transfer of the land.

6. The instrument of sasine (written up from notes taken at the time) was then taken to be recorded in the Register of Sasines for the area. This is what you have here. The original was retained by the new owner.

2
If you look at the summaries of the Easter Glentore sasines which I posted, Andrew the wright in Airdrie appears in RS42.21.42 and RS42.21.182 (Numbers 7 and 8 in the summaries).

Again, if you go through those summaries and use them to make a family tree, you'll see that Andrew the wright was the son of James Thomson, grandson of Andrew Thomson, great grandson of James Thomson and Margaret Dick, and great great grandson of James Thomson in Bogside.


3
The disposition was made on 29th October 1644. Claud Ure, shoemaker, and his wife, Bessie Speir, have sold property in the town of Dalkeith to David Drysdaill, merchant there, and his wife Jonet Ronnald. There is no further genealogical information about the Drysdales in it.

4
Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition / Re: Sasines - Lanarkshire
« on: Tuesday 29 April 25 23:40 BST (UK)  »
What the sasines tell us about Easter Glentore.

The earliest Thomson mentioned, James Thomson in Bogside, appears in the 1694 Hearth Tax Roll for New Monkland, taxed for one hearth. In the roll, Bogside is listed under Glentore, so must be part of the lands of Glentore. https://scotlandsplaces.gov.uk/digital-volumes/historical-tax-rolls/hearth-tax-records-1691-1695/hearth-tax-records-lanarkshire-volume-1/48

This James Thomson was initially a tenant "in Bogside", but later must have acquired ownership of it, as he is later described as "of Bogside." He passed Bogside on to his son John.

James Thomson also acquired ownership of a part or portion of Easter Glentore, which he passed on to his son James. Owners of a part or portion like this are called portioners.

The Thomsons  acquired their part of Easter Glentore from The Earl of Wigton, Lord Fleming and Cumbernauld.  It is described as a fifteen shilling land of old extent. That means when the land was valued for the old "extent" or tax in the 13th century it was worth 15/- Scots a year. Even though there was a revaluation in the 15th century, it is normal for land to be described in terms of the 13th century valuation. By the 17th and 18th centuries it was worth considerably more.

The Thomsons held their land in feu ferm. The Earl was their feudal superior and they were his vassals. In return for him granting them the land, they had to pay the Earl £3 Scots feu duty each year, half at Whitsunday and half at Martinmas. This was doubled for the first year a new heir took possession of the land ("entry money") then reverted to £3.

As vassals the Thomsons were also thirled to the Mill of Fannyside. That means they had to have their corn ground there and not at any other mill. The Earl or his tenant in the mill received as "multure" a proportion of the corn taken to the mill - half a peck per boll of threshed and winnowed grain before grinding and quarter of a peck per boll of the ground oatmeal.

In addition The Thomsons had to attend three head courts (= main meetings of the barony court} a year. These dealt with estate business. They were also liable to be cited to attend any other court the Earl or his representatives held. They were also responsible for paying tithes or any other taxes that might be imposed on the land.

The lands of Easter Glentore are described as "with houses, biggings (= buildings, such as tenants' cottages), yards (= kitchen gardens), mosses (= boggy moorland where peats were cut for fuel), muirs (= moorland for rough grazing or cutting heather for thatch etc.), meadows (= grassland mown for hay), pasturage (= land for pasturing grazing livestock), grass, coal, limestone (= for breaking, burning in kilns and spreading on the land to improve it), parts (= any part of the land at all), pendicles (= parts of the property lying separate from it) and pertinents (= everything that goes with the land)."

Owning the land allowed you to be called "of Easter Glentore", but did not necessarily mean you lived there. The last of the Thomson owners, for example, was a carpenter living in Airdrie. The Thomsons had several tenants in different parts of their land, a number of whom are referred to in the sasines.


5
Moray (Elginshire) / Re: Newspaper Look Up
« on: Tuesday 29 April 25 00:13 BST (UK)  »
This is from the Banffshire Journal of Tuesday 7th February 1899.

                                 ABERLOUR
GOLDEN WEDDING. - A most interesting event
took place at Airngarrow, Aberlour, on Friday, when
Mr John Donald and his wife celebrated their
golden wedding. A large company of
neighbours and friends, together with a goodly
representation of their family, were present, and
after an excellent repast, the worthy couple were
presented with two easy chairs, a purse and
sovereigns, and two Bibles, the last from their
minister. Rev. Mr Boyd made the presentation,
and in doing so wished the worth couple many
happy days. Mr Donald is a native of Auchindoun,
Dufftown, while his wife was born in Aberlour on
the farm of Upperton. Mr Donald has now a snug
farm at Airngarrow, where he is assisted by his
youngest son. He was married on 3rd February
1849 by Mr Scholbraid, Dufftown, and had a family
of five sons and nine daughters, who are all alive
save one. There are forty-three grand-children
spread all over the country, and some in America.

6
Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition / Re: Sasines - Lanarkshire
« on: Monday 28 April 25 22:56 BST (UK)  »
6. RS42.14.334

Andrew Thomson, portioner of Easter Glentore married and had one son or one surviving son, James. The sasine does not mention the name of Andrew's wife. Andrew died before handing on his lands to his son, so again it was necessary to get a precept of clare constat from the Earl of Wigton. James Thomson ("only son and heir of the deceased Andrew Thomson portioner of Easter Glentore") was infeft in the lands of Easter Glentore on 15th March 1737. The precept of sasine was dated 5th November 1736. John Thomson of Bogside witnessed the signing of the precept of clare constat and represented James at the infeftment. Witnesses to the infeftment included John's sons John and Matthew Thomson.

7. RS42.21.42

James Thomson married and had a son Andrew who inherited the lands of Easter Glentore from his father. The sasine where he is infeft in Glentore is not amongst the ones here. Andrew was a wright, a carpenter or joiner, living in Airdrie ("Andrew Thomson, wright in Airdrie, eldest son and heir of the deceased James Thomson portioner of Easter Glentore").

Andrew must have borrowed £300 Sterling from the the minister and kirk session of Govan, for on 7th June 1779 they were infeft in an annualrent of £15 Sterling from the lands of Easter Glentore and infeft in the lands themselves as security. It was normal practice for a kirk session with spare money to lend it to landowners on security and get an annual payment or interest from the land, in this case £15. When the loan was repaid, the land given as security reverted to the ownership of the borrower.

8. RS42.21.182

Presumably Andrew Thomson redeemed his lands of Easter Glentore, because he sold them to Robert Wotherspoon, who was infeft in the lands on 22nd August 1780. They thus left the possession of the Thomsons.

7
Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition / Re: Sasines - Lanarkshire
« on: Monday 28 April 25 21:46 BST (UK)  »
The following is a summary of the sasines related to Easter Glentore.

1. RS42.9.384

James Thomson, eldest son to James Thomson in Bogside is to marry Margaret Dick, second daughter to John Dick in Middle Quarter. The marriage contract was drawn up on 1st December 1691 and signed at Glentore by James Thomson, his father James Thomson in Bogside, and the future bride's father John Dick on 2nd December. Margaret Dick signed it at Middle Quarter on 3rd December.

As part of the marriage contract, James Thomson in Bogside undertakes to have his son and future wife infeft in his lands of Easter Glentore. This was done on 2nd December 1691, one of the witnesses being John Thomson, son to James Thomson in Bogside and brother to the future bridegroom James Thomson.

[The following children's baptisms are recorded to James Thomson and Margaret Dick in the East Monkland register: John, 22-4-1694; Andrew, 29-11-1696; Matthew, 29-5-1698. The baptism of their oldest son James was not recorded.]

2. RS42.11.475

James Thomson who was designated as "in Bogside" in the previous sasine, but is called "of Bogside" in this one, showing he owned it and was not merely a tenant, has died. It appears that when he gave his son James his lands of Easter Glentore in 1691, the latter agreed to pay a sum of money to his brothers, Andrew and Ludovick Thomson as their settlement. He now makes provision for this and gives them an annual sum from part of Easter Glentore in the meantime. The precept of sasine for this was signed by James Thomson on 20th June 1709 and witnessed by his brother John Thomson of Bogside. John has obviously inherited his late father's lands of Bogside, which is why he is not due any share of the money his brothers Andrew and Matthew are to receive. The infeftment of Andrew and Matthew in the annualrent from part of Easter Glentore took place the same day, the witnesses including their brother John Thomson of Bogside, Matthew Thomson of Airdriehill and William Thomson in Easter Glentore. There is no indication what relation the latter two are, if any, to the brothers James, John, Andrew and Ludovick.

3. RS42.12.369

James Thomson and Margaret Dick's eldest son James is to marry Anna Stone, fourth daughter of Henry Stone in Middlebre[ ]e. The marriage contract was drawn up on 31st July 1714, with "James" Thomson of Bogside as a witness. This must be a mistake for John Thomson of Bogside, the future groom's uncle.

As part of the contract James Thomson and Anna Stone are to be jointly infeft in his father's lands of Easter Glentore "presently possessed by James Thomson elder and younger." This took place on 8th October 1714.

4. RS42,13.426

James Thomson and Anna Stone must have had no children or no surviving children, because when James died Easter Glentore was inherited by his brother John Thomson ("brother german to the deceased James Thomson portioner of Easter Glentore"). As James was dead, it was necessary to get a precept of clare constat from the Earl of Wigton, feudal superior of the lands confirming that he was the true heir and there were no impediments to his inheriting. John Thomson was infeft in the lands of Easter Glentore on 7th April 1726.

5. RS42.14.5

John Thomson was portioner of Easter Glentore for three years, then he died. If he were married, he certainly had no living children, because Glentore was inherited by his brother Andrew ("son of James Thomson in Easter Glentore and heir to the deceased John Thomson portioner there his brother german"). This also tells us that The brothers' father, James Thomson, was still alive and living in Glentore. Again it was necessary to get a precept of clare constat from the Earl of Wigton. Andrew was infeft in the lands of Easter Glentore on 16th August 1729. The precept of clare constat is dated 31st July 1729.

8
Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition / Re: Sasines - Lanarkshire
« on: Sunday 27 April 25 13:14 BST (UK)  »
RS 18.140-141 Part 2

the (repeated from end of previous page) premisses the s[ai]d John Brownlee as Attorney fors[ai]d
                                                                                 Asked and took In[strument]s one or more
needfull in the hands of me Nottary (= notary) pub[lic]k Sub[scrib]ing These things were done upon
                                                                                                                               the Ground
of the s[ai]d lands bet[wixt] the hours of four & five in the afternoon day month year of God & year
of his Ma[jes]ties Reign a[bove]writen Before and in presence of John Steele Innkeeper in
Lanark and Rob[er]t Heart my Appr[entice] witensses Specially Called & Required to the
premisses (= the foregoing). Et Ego vero Gulielmus Brown Clericus Glasguensis Diocesios Ac
Notarius publicus Authoritate Regali ac per dominos Concilij et Sessionis secundum
tenorem Acti parliamenti admissus Quia praemissis omnibus et singulis dum sic
ut premittitur dicerentur Agerentur et fierent una Cum praenominatis testibus
praesens personaliter interfui Eaq[ue] omnia et singula praemissa sic fieri et dici vidi
Scivi et audivi Ac in notam Cepi ideoq[ue] hoc praesens publicum Instrumentum
manu aliena fideliter scriptum Exinde Confeci et in hanc publici Instrumenti formam
Redegi Signoq[ue] Nomine et Cognomine meis Solitis et Consuetis signavi et Subscripsi
Rogatus et Requisitus Res vera Gesta Will[iam] Brown N[ottary] P[ublick] John Steele
witness Robert Heart witness

(The Latin at the end is more or less like that at the end of RS42.9.384 with minor differences.)

9
Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition / Re: Sasines - Lanarkshire
« on: Sunday 27 April 25 11:47 BST (UK)  »
RS 18.140-141 Part 1 - second section

ye pass to the ground of the s[ai]d lands Called Hillhead and Gladeinghead muir
thereto belonging before disponed lying and possesst (= possessed) as s[ai]d is And there Give &
                                                                                                                                     deliver
heretable (= heritable) State and Sasine Reall Actuall & Corporall possession of the same to the
                                                                                                                                    s[ai]d
Ja[me]s Gilkerson and his fors[ai]d (= foresaid) And that by Delivery to him or them his or their
Certain Attorney or attorneys in their Names bearers hereof of Earth and stone of
and upon the ground of the fors[ai]d lands as use is The which to do I hereby Commit to
you my full power by this my precept of Sasine direct (= directed/addressed) to you for that effect
In witness whereof these presents wrote upon this and the Two preceeding pages
off Stampt (= stamped) paper by Rob[er]t Heart apprentice to W[illia]m Brown writer (= lawyer) in
                                                                                                                                  Lanark
are Sub[scribe]d by me w(i)t(h) the marginall Note on the first page hereof at orchyard the
Eighteenth day of Aprile Jaivij & Sixty Seven years (= 1767) before these witnesses John
Steele of orchyeard the s[ai]d W[illia]m Brown and the s[ai]d Rob[er]t Heart (Signed) Will[iam]
                                                                                                                                  Steele
John Steele witness Will[iam] Brown witness Robert Heart witness After Reading &
publishing of which Disposition and Precept of sasine hereinCont[aine]d a[bove]insert the s[ai]d
Simon Pillans Baillie in that part fors[ai]d by virtue y[e]rof (= thereof) And of his office of Bailliary
hereby Committed to him Gave & delivered here[tab]l[e] (= heritable) state and sasine Reall actuall
                                                                                                                                         &
Corporall possession of All and Haill (= whole) the s[ai]d lands of Hillhead & Gladeing hill
muir thereto belonging possesst (= possessed) as s[ai]d is w(i)t(h) houses biggings (= buildings)
                                                                                       yeards (= yards) and haill pert[inent]s
of the same lying w(i)t(h)in the Barrony of Braidwood parish of Carluke and shire of Lanark
to the s[ai]d Ja[me]s Gilkerson and that by deliverance to the s[ai]d John Brownlee as attorney
for him of Earth & Stone of and upon the Ground of the fors[ai]d lands as s[ai]d is
after the form and tenor of the s[ai]d Disposition and precept of Sasine y[e]rin (= therein)
Cont[aine]d & aboveinsert (= above-inserted) in all points Whereupon and [attorney*] the

(* The writer has made a mistake here. Where he has written "attorney" he should have written "and upon all & sundry".)

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