Name Change: Douglas to Drysdale

[Ronda231]

The 1593 skirmish at Biddes-burn between the Johnstones and the Crichtons was immortalised in the old Scottish poem "The Lads of Wamphray"

Ref: Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border by Scott

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/12742/12742-h/12742-h.htm#THE_LADS_OF_WAMPHRAY

Best regards

[Ronda231]

I'm pretty confident that the 1482 court case - see below - provides a basis for yet another fictional aspect of the 1503 Douglas/Drysdale story - i.e. the dispute over the water supply to the watermill.

Best regards

[Ronda231]

Hi all,

Links to three pdf wills are attached below from Drysdales in Dollar early 1600s - Scotlandspeople image & full summary transcription:

Testament of George Drysdaill, 1611, Stirling Commissary Court (National Records of Scotland, CC21/5/1 223-224)
Summary
The testament testamentar and inventory of George Drysdaill, in Dollour, within the parish of Dollour and diocese of Dunkeld, who died in May 1611, given up by himself before witnesses (Thomas Drysdaill in Maynes of Dollour, Walter Drysdaill in Schyrdaill, and unnamed others)....................
https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/13527782274?profile=original

Testament of Thomas Drysdaill, 1616, Stirling Commissary Court (National Records of Scotland, CC21/5/2 110-111)
Summary
The testament testamentar, letter will and inventory of Thomas Drysdaill in Nether Mains of Dollour, in the parish of Dollour and diocese of Dunkeld, who died in November 1615, given up by himself on 1 November 1615, before witnesses: James Foirgus, Johne Patoun of Hilfute, and John Drysdaill in Bank of Dollour.........
https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/13527782880?profile=original

Testament of John Drysdaill, elder, 1616, Stirling Commissary Court (National Records of Scotland, CC21/5/2 188-189)
Summary
The testament testamentar and inventory of Johne Drysdaill, elder, in Nether Meanis of Dollour, in the parish of Dollour and diocese of Dunkeld, who died on 22 August 1616. Executor: Issobel Duncansone, widow of the deceased (see under legacy below). Cautioner: Johne Drysdaill, portioner of the Maynis of Dollour.............
https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/13527783064?profile=original


Best regards

[Ronda231]

A joke from the past

In 1883 William Gibson of Tillicoultry produced the publication:

Reminiscences of Dollar, Tillicoultry and other Districts adjoining the Ochils with notes on Progress, Scientific Discovery, and Invention of New Spinning Machinery, during the last Hundred Years.

As far as the name Drysdale is concerned this was an important book as it contained an early version of the 1503 Douglas/Drysdale story that had been passed on to Mr Gibson from a Mr Robert Drysdale, who was a Yarn manufacturer in Tillicoultry at that time.

However, I don't think that Mr Gibson was totally sold on the '1503 story' and knew very well what he was doing when he called it a 'Romantic Story' and also made a very subtle pun when he set out the page and paragraph headings in his book - Reminiscences of Dollar etc.....

Instead of a paragraph heading entitled 'Manufacturing firms who didn't spin yarn' he wrote the heading entitled 'Manufacturing firms who didn't spin yarns' an oblique reference to Mr Robert Drysdale's firm & the story he had provided perhaps.

Check out the page layout below and see what you think: