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

Chapter 14

CLIFTON

MARK 1

MARK PRINGLE in Sprouston (on Tweed.) first appears in the records as a witness m 1623, in May and June, at the sasines of George Pringill of Sharpitlaw in the Eckfurd kirklands, and of Dand Pringill in £3 lands in the east part of Clifton (S. E.), and in 22nd July, as servitor of Robert, Earl of Roxburgh, to whom the King confirms the 11 merk lands on the east side of Clifton, resigned to him by Dand Pringill of eldest son, Dand, also the £5 lands in the Hounam, and barony of Clifton resigned to him by John Pringill, portioner of Clifton (G. S.). (See the Tofts and Bents.) Mark Pringill of Easter Clifton and his spouse, Jonet, daughter of Mr William Bennet, parson of Ancrum, had issue:-

1. Robert, his heir.

2. Andrew, apprenticed in 1642 to John Rutherford, merchant, Edinburgh.

3. Jonet, marr. Thomas Scott of Todrig.

ROBERT 1

In April 1644 Robert Pringle, portioner of Clifton, was retoured heir of his father Mark's lands in the eastern part thereof. In April 1648 he was appointed a Commissioner of War for Roxburghshire (during the Civil War) (A, P.). In 1656 Robert added to his lands in the east side of Clifton by acquiring from James Pringle his lands there and his two merk lands, and in warrandice his 8 merk lands in the west side of Clifton (S. E.). (See the Bents). In September 1662 Robert, in order to be included in the Act of Indemnity passed after the Restoration, 1660, had to pay a fine of £1200, In August 1662, he was one of eight persons commissioned to try eight confessed witches in the parish of Bowden (P. C.). In December the Privy Council appointed the Earls of Roxburgh and Haddington and 13 persons in Roxburghshire--including Robert-and 6 in Selkirkshire, to be a Commission, or any 5 of them, to apprehend the moss troopers, thieves, and lawless persons of the southern counties, with power to carry hackbuts and other arms for the purpose, constitute an assize, swear in officers of the court-to be held at Jedburgh or Selkirk, and pay escheats and unlaws to the Treasurer (P. C.). Robert reappears on this Commission in 1665 and 1669. In 1663 he was appointed a J.P. for Roxburghshire. In 1663 he adds to his Clifton property a 20s and 2 merk land, acquired from James Pringle. In 1674 John Ker, who owned 7 1/2 merk lands in Clifton, having questioned the boundary between his lands and Robert's as determined by the arbitrators, the Lords found it correct in all points (A. D., Durie). In August 1674 at Kelso Henry Ker of Linton resigned in favour of Robert various lands in Linton, including the Park, amounting to £ 22 land (S. Rox.). In 1676, as a member of the Commission anent the division of Selkirk Common, he signed their decree arbitral at Kelso. In 1679 Robert acquired 4 merk lands in Clifton, and was granted a royal charter of all and whole the lands thereof, which was ratified by Parliament on 6th September 1681.

In March 1683 was registered Robert's testament and inventory, showing lying money £ 2333, annual rents £1947, and rents and victual due by tenants, etc., total £7884; by his latter will, subscribed at Kelso on September 1682, before James Pringle, notary, etc., he appointed as Tutor to his son and heir Mark, his brother Andrew, and failing him, his nephew Walter Scott fear of Todrig, and as his advisors Sir William Bennet of Grubet, Thomas Scott of Todrig, and sons Walter and William; duplicates to be made of his writs, and the writs to be put in the charter chest (which contained his bond of provision to his daughter Janet for 15,000 merks), the chest to be kept by his brother Andrew, and the key by his nephew Walter Scott : he left legacies to Thomas, son of Walter Rutherford of Capehope, and two servants, and to James Pringle in Clifton and his wife, a pension of £15 and a certain amount of victual yearly for life (T., Peebles).

Robert and his spouse Christian, daughter of Sir Walter

Murray of Livingston (brother of Patrick, first Lord Elibank), whom he married in 1660, had issue:

1. Mark, his heir.

2. Janet, marr. her cousin Andrew Pringle.

3. Margaret, died in August 1683.

MARK 2

who succeeded, survived his father, Robert, a very short time, dying in August 1685, unmarried. His testament and inventory, made on behalf of his sister Janet by his uncle Andrew, was somewhat like his fathers, his estate being given as £6046.

ANDREW

succeeded his nephew Mark, as next heir male.

In October 1685 George Murray, Lieutenant of the King's Guard, who had an order from the Privy Council to apprehend the person of Janet Pringle on 21st September last, finding that she had retired out of the way, got an order against Andrew Pringle, her uncle, to produce her; but he cleared himself by oath of having being concerned in putting her away. Murray argued that she should be exhibited. As a relative he had an interest in seeing this done, and Andrew Pringle, who had not acted very well toward his deceased brother, was ill-fitted to take charge of the niece. Andrew was ordered on pain of 10,000 merks to bring his niece before the Council before the 5th November, and to make sure of him he was put in prison, It was however soon ascertained that the young lady (aged 20) had gone over the Border with her boy cousin, Andrew's eldest son (aged 13), and been married to him by a regular English clergyman. In these circumstances it became needless for Murray to proceed with his action, and he made a contract with Andrew whereby for 7000 merks he agreed to withdraw all opposition. All offence to the laws of the country by so improper a marriage was soon after effaced by a fine of 500 merks imposed on the young couple (Fountainhall's Hist. Notices).

In 1687 Andrew, his eldest son got sasine on a precept from Chancery Robert and. spouse Janet, of the lands of Clifton and the £22 lands of Linton, at the Park, the principal messuage, certain lands being reserved to Janet in liferent as heir of line of her father Robert (S. E.). In 1689 Andrew is appointed a Commissioner for ordering the Militia, then being called together; also for Supply, which office he held till 1704 (A. P.). In 1695 on a bond for 9000 merks granted by Andrew Ker, younger, of Linton, he got sasine of an annual rent furth of other lands of Linton ; and in 1699 a royal charter of the same on their resignation by the said Andrew (P. S.). In 1700 the heritors of Roxburghshire petitioned Parliament anent several matters, including the conferring of some special mark of favour upon the Company trading to Africa and the Indies, whereby they might be enabled to establish and support the Colony of Caledonia ; of the Pringles subscribing being Andrew of Clifton, John, Advocate, and George, bailie of Kelso (A. P.).

On 4th October 1701 Andrew bought for his second son John the estate of Haining, Selkirk, from Andrew Riddell for 63,000 merks (C. B.).

Andrew, who died before September 1710, and his wife Violet, daughter of John Rutherford of Edgerston, had issue : -

1. Robert, his heir.

2. John of Haining.

3. Mark, British Consul, and of Crichton.

4. Barbara, marr. in 1703, James Nasmyth of Dawick ; having by the contract a liferent of 2000 merks furth of the estate after his decease.

5. Jean, marr. Thomas Douglas of Cavers.

6. Margaret, unmarried, died at Edinburgh in 1749.

7 Christian, unmarried, died at Edinburgh in 1753.

ROBERT 2

In 1723 Robert Pringle of Clifton and his brother John of Haining, have sasine of an annual rent of £1000 sterling furth of the lands and barony of Cavers (S. E.). In 1727 and 1729 sasine of annual rents corresponding to 18,000 and 24,000 merks, respectively, are granted furth of the lands and barony of Clifton.

Robert died in June 1754. By his first wife, his cousin Janet Pringle, he had issue:-

1. Robert, only son and heir.

2. Elizabeth, eldest daughter, marr. in 1766 Robert, 4th son of William Elliot of Harwood (Tancred).

3. Margaret, unmarr., died at Jedburgh in 1771 (S. M.).

4. Barbara,, unmarr., died at Edinburgh in 1780 (S. M.).

Robert when upwards of fifty years of age, marr., 2nd, Margaret, eldest daughter of George Rutherfurd of Fairnington " clandestinely, and to the surprise of his children," says a relative.

ROBERT 3

In April 1755 Robert Pringle of Clifton was served heir to his father Robert in parts of the lands of Clifton and Linton.

In 1760 he made an entail of his lands of Clifton, Linton, and Prioraw, first on the heirs of his body, then on the several sons of his uncle Lord Haining, then on the heirs male of his uncle Mark Pringle of Crichton, and failing them on a series of substitutes, beginning with his eldest sister Mrs Elliot of Harwood (Burke).

In a dispute between Robert and his tenant in Linton mill and the Duke of Roxburgh and his tenant in Caverton mill anent the cauld and the two sluices on the Kale, the former appeal from the finding of the Court of Session to the House of Lords, 1767.

Robert, who was unmarried, died at the Park, Linton, on 5th August 1778 (S. M.). He was succeeded by his cousin John Pringle, second son of Lord Haining.

JOHN, LORD HAINING

John Pringle, second son of Andrew of Clifton and Violet Rutherford, was called to the bar in 1698, and got early into good practice. In 1701 his father bought for him the lands of Haining, with the place, lake, woods, and pertinents, resigned by Andrew Riddell. In May 1702 he succeeded Sir James Murray of Philiphaugh as M.P. for Selkirkshire. He voted 28 times in Parliament on motions relating to the Act of Union with England. After the Union he represented Selkirkshire in the British Parliament till July 1729, when he was raised to the bench of the Court of Session as Lord Haining.

Lord Haining's relations with the neighbouring burgh of Selkirk was not very amicable through his asserting the Duke of Douglas's rights to a jurisdiction of Regality within the burgh, in order to control the elections to the Council and the Magistracy. In 1741 his son Andrew was a Candidate for the Council, but failed to get in. On one occasion the lairds' partisans with Andrew seized some of the opposite faction as they were going home at night, detained them in neighbours' houses, and, deriding the bailies who came to set them free, refused to disperse though the Riot Act was read. The Council, sensible that such practices were designed to destroy freedom of election, took action at law, resulting in the Duke being ordered to cease troubling the burgh (C. B.).

Lord Haining died in Edinburgh on 19th August 1754 in the eightieth year of his age. His testament dative and inventory were given up by his widow, only executrix, as by her marriage contract he invested 12,000 merks and her tocher of 18,000 merks in lands or other securities, so that she should have 2000 merks in liferent, the right thereof to descend to their sons, failing whom to their daughters in succession, the eldest to marry a gentleman of the name of Pringle (T. E.).

Lord Haining, who died at Hawkhill, Edinburgh, in May 1764, and his spouse Anne (daughter of Sir James Murray of Philiphaugh), had issue :

1. Andrew, Lord Alemoor.

2. John of Haining.

3. Robert, Doctor, Jamaica, died in October 1775 at Philadelphia (S. M.). .

4. Anne, marr Robert Rutherford of Fairnilee.

5. Helen, unmarr., died at Edinburgh in September 1808 (S. M.).

6. Violet, unmarr., died in George Square, Edinburgh, in April 1821, aged 95 (S. M.).

ANDREW, LORD ALEMOOR

Andrew Pringle, eldest son of Lord Haining, did not take up his father's succession to Haining, as the affairs were embarrassed, but allowed it to pass by purchase to his younger brother John. In 1740 he was admitted advocate at the Bar In 1751, after a short term as Sheriff-depute in Wigtownshire, he was transferred to the same office in Selkirkshire. In 1757 as a lay elder of the General Assembly he defended the Rev. John Home, the author of Douglas, and also the Rev. Dr Carlyle before the Synod of Lothian and Tweeddale when arraigned for his attendance at the performance of that play in an Edinburgh theatre. In June 1759 he was raised to the Bench as Lord Alemoor, the title being taken from an estate he had acquired in Selkirkshire.

In October 1769 he retired from the bench and was granted a yearly pension.

Dr Somerville in his Life and Times, says that Lord Alemoor was the most admired speaker at the Scottish Bar in the middle of the last century, and that he had never been surpassed by any at the Bar or on the Bench since that period; and other testimonies are to the same effect.

Lord Alemoor married his cousin Violante, daughter of Mark Pringle, British Consul in Spain. She died in 1753 leaving no children. He did not marry again, his sisters Helen and Violet, whom he nominated executors of his will, apparently keeping house for him at Hawkhill, east Edinburgh, where he died in January 1776. " When the funeral went up," wrote Mrs Cockburn, " the whole Canongate was lined with people in the attitude of sorrow, and not a word but deepest silence."

Among the MSS. in the British Museum are several of his letters, and a marble bust of him among those surrounding the Hall in the Court of Session, Edinburgh.

JOHN OF HAINING AND CLIFTON

John Pringle, second son of John Lord Haining, having made an ample fortune as a merchant in Madeira, succeeded to Haining on his father's death in 1754, and relieved it of its embarrassments. After he had retired from business he lived many years on his property, where he was a most useful and public spirited county gentleman. On the death of his cousin Robert Pringle of Clifton he was served heir to him in 1780, and assumed the designation of Pringle of Clifton with the arms of the elder branch of the family undifferenced. He was M.P. for Selkirkshire from 1765 till 1786. John died in July 1792, unmarried, and was buried in Morebattle churchyard.

In 1793 John's Will and inventory was given up by Mark Pringle of Fairnilee and Thomas Tod, W.S., the only accepting executors: " In the first place I bequeath to my reputed natural son John Pringle, now in India as a Writer in the Hon. East India Co.'s service, and to his children or assigns, whom failing, to Mark Pringle of Fairnilee my grand-nephew and his heirs or assigns, £500 sterling. .. which I leave to my said natural son as a remembrance of me, besides the £2000 advanced by me to him, and over and above the £10,000 sterling lately remitted by me to him in India by the hands of David Scott in London, and over and above my advances for his education and outfit ; and I bequeath to Anne Gunter alias Williamson, now at Peatheath near Uxbridge, Middlesex, £100 sterling, over and above the £200 sterling yearly for life out of my estate of Haining ; to my principal servant. Robert Simpson £300, to my late servant Margaret Rossendale an annuity of £40 sterling, to my executors 20 guineas each for a ring, and all the rest of my estate within Gt. Britain, Madeira, or elsewhere to the said Mark Pringle of Fairnilee and his heirs or assigns '' (T. E.). Subscribed at Edinburgh on 25th December 1790. Two days afterwards he added a codicil bequeathing to Colonel Robert Pringle £3000, and in April 1791 a second revoking the bequest, the Colonel refusing to be an executor. For the Colonel's career, see The Army; and for John the natural son's, see the East India Co.

MARK OF CRICHTON (CONSUL IN SPAIN)

Mark was the youngest son of Andrew Pringle of Clifton, and brother of Lord Haining. On 3rd October 1707 was fought the duel between him and Walter Scott of Raeburn. His brother had just been returned for Selkirkshire to the first British Parliament. It is said that on 2nd October a meeting for the transaction of county business had been followed by a dinner at which there was the usual amount of heavy drinking. It was at a time when party feeling ran high in Scotland, there being deep and bitter differences as to the treaty of union just then coming into operation. So that there was material enough for an outburst of antagonism between two hotheads of opposite parties. Both men were young, Scott being only 24, although already married and a father. The contest was fought with swords in a field near the town, and Raeburn was killed; the scene of the tragedy being ever since known as Raeburn's Meadow. Mark Pringle escaped abroad, and became a merchant in Spain. Before 1736 he had become British Consul at Seville and San Lucar (Chambers).

In 1737 Mark bought from James, son and heir of James Justice, Clerk of the Scottish Parliament, the estate of Crichton with its famous Castle. This James, following a fancy of the time, being a great tulip grower, for a rare specimen of which he would give £50 and more, retired in reduced circumstances to Oxton, Lauderdale, where he built the house Justice Hall (Kay's Portraits, vol. 1).

In 1758 Mark left Spain and lived in London the rest of his days, and there he died in June 1761 (S. M.). He had issue:-

By his first wife, Miss Strachan of Thornton, Kincardine –

1. John, his heir.

2. Margaret.

3. Violante, marr. her cousin Lord Alemoor.

By his second wife, Veronica Rennie –

4. Robert, Lieut.-Colonel (see The Army).

5. Andrew, Captain, Indian Army (see The Army).

6. Mark.

JOHN OF CRICHTON

John of Crichton continued to be extensively engaged in mercantile transactions till the house with which he was connected failed. He was then forced to part with his lands, and his father-in-law Robert Rutherford of Fairnilee, whose eldest daughter he had married in 1752, being involved along with him, had to sell some of his estate. Hence the lyric, " I've seen the smiling of Fortune beguiling," by John's sister-in-law Mrs Cockburn.

John, late of Crichton, died in Fairnilee in April 1782. He had issue: -

1. Mark, Advocate. 2. Anne.

MARK OF FAIRNILEE, HAINING AND CLIFTON

Mark, son of John of Crichton and Anne Rutherford, was trained to the bar, and was admitted Advocate in 1777, but did not practise long. In 1782 he was appointed deputy Judge Advocate, and Clerk of the Courts Martial, Scotland. In 1786 he was served heir to his maternal grandfather in Fairnilee, and in 1792 succeeded his grand-uncle John in Clifton and Haining. He was M.P. for Selkirkshire from 1786 till 1802.

Mark died at Bath in April 1812, aged 58 (S. M.). By his wife Anne Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Chalmers of Larbert, whom he married in 1795 (G. M), he had issue: -

1. John, his heir.

2. Robert of Fairnilee. -

3. Margaret-Violet, marr. Archibald Douglas of Adderston.

JOHN OF HAINING AND CLIFTON

John Pringle succeeded his father Mark as a minor in 1812. In October 1813 he matriculated at Christchurch College, Oxford. In 1813 he was served heir in the baronies of Haining and Clifton, and in 1822 heir general to his remote cousins Lord Alemoor and John Pringle of Haining. In February 1817 he entered the army as a Cornet in the 7th Dragoons, and after 2 1/4 years' service as Lieut. retired at the reduction in 1819 on half pay. In 1819-20 he was M.P. for the Selkirk group of burghs.

He died, unmarried, on 6th May 1831 and was buried in Morebattle churchyard. He had gone on 4th May along with his brother Robert to fish in Headshaw Loch, a distance of three or four miles from the Haining. His brother preferred to walk home, so he returned with a servant in his gig. On coming to a gate close to the house the boy alighted to open it, and on doing so Mr Pringle touched the pony with his whip, which caused it to give a bound forward, which threw him violently against a stone wall, rendering him insensible. He remained in that state until the second day thereafter when he died. " His funeral was the largest ever seen in Selkirk up to that time. Having made use of his abilities to further the public weal, and of his wealth to help the poor, he was greatly lamented'' (C. B.).

In 1794 Mark Pringle had set about building the mansion which overlooks the loch. Originally it was built of the dull local whinstone; but when John came home from the Continent he had it encased in white freestone, and added architectural features to give it the appearance of an Italian villa. The daring experiment was successful.

"During Mr Pringle's time the people of Selkirk were admitted freely to the Haining grounds, where they revelled in the attractions not only of scenery and art, but of an extensive menagerie of wild animals '' (C. B.).

Sir Walter Scott in his Journal makes several references to John- " 12 Oct. 1825. Young Pringle of Haining has brought a bear to teach us manners, and a wolf to instruct us in moderation. 6 Oct. 1826, Clifton and young Whytbank dined with us. 8 Jan. 1827, the Scotts of Harden and John Pringle of Clifton dined here, and we got on very well. On 20 April 1829 went to Haining. Time has at last touched the beautiful Mrs Pringle. I wonder he was not ashamed of himself for spoiling so fine a form. But what cares he."

ROBERT OF HAINING AND CLIFTON

Robert Pringle of Fairnilee succeeded his brother John in the estates of Haining and Clifton. Like his brother he joined the 7th Hussars, appearing as Cornet in July 1819, and Captain 1826 till 1834. He represented Selkirkshire in the first Parliament after the Reform Act, but at the general election in 1835 failed to hold the seat against his former opponent Alexander Pringle of Whytbank.

Robert died at the Haining on 15th December 1842, aged 44, unmarried. He was the last male Pringle of Haining and Clifton. It was written of him during life, " this gentleman maintains the same high reputation for public spirit, generosity, and interest in the welfare of his tenants which have distinguished his ancestors."

On the walls in Morebattle Church there are memorials to the last four Pringles of Clifton and Haining and Violet daughter of Lord Haining.

MARGARET-VIOLET,

only sister of the last two lairds, succeeded to the two estates of Haining and Fairnilee.

According to the entail made by Robert Pringle of Clifton in 1760 and 1776 the estate of Clifton was, after litigation, in the beginning of 1845, adjudged to R. K. Elliot of Harwood, as descendant and heir of the entailer's sister, Elizabeth Pringle.

Margaret-Violet married Archibald Douglas of Adderston, near Hawick. He died in 1860, and she in 1868, leaving an only daughter Anna-.Elizabeth Douglas, who married John Pattison in Melrose, and died in March 1898, having by her Will, made in 1875, nominated him as her successor in the lands and baronies of Fairnilee and Haining, whom failing, Andrew Seth, son of Smith K. Seth and Margaret Little, his wife, Edinburgh, who, on succeeding to the estates in 1898 assumed the name Andrew Seth Pringle-Pattison, a name which, as Professor of Logic and Metaphysics in Edinburgh University 1891 to 1919, LL.D., D.C.L., and by his Philosophical writings, he has since rendered famous.

MOREBATTLE PARISH

In the 18th century the Pringles continued numerous on Bowmont Water. The parish registers show some ten families of the surname: including Andrew, tenant in Attonburn; John, tenant in Cliftoncote; and William, tenant in Sourhope, " an eminent stock farmer," to whom his son Andrew, tenant in Kersmains, was served heir in 1817.