MARION ARNCORS,
Wife of Robert Jamieson, Gardener.
Left £50 Scots.
Died May l0th, 1711.
Dame RACHEL NICHOLSON,
Lady Preston.
Left £5 sterling.
Died March 1716.
Given for
Mr JOHN STODART,
of Cammisten, £6 sterling.
He died November 28, 1717.
Mr Gilbert Burnet
Gave for his Lady,
Miss ANNA HAMELTON,
£5 sterling.
She died November 3rd, 1718.
The 9th panel intimates itself a "private press. " The loth
informs us that the above panels were all renewed in the year
1850.
The 1st panel to the left, and the oldest, Janet Swan, is
curious as forming a grand connecting link with the most ancient
name on the great original estate. Swan of Tranent (1124)
is the earliest possessor of these lands we have any historical
account of. He flourished in the 12th century, she in the
17th century, and our local Swans of the 20th century are
for too numerous to mention, unless, indeed, we note " Willie
" of Tranent, and his brother John, who happen to be old schoolfellows
of the writer. They were born in Tranent, worked as miners
in Prestongrange, Willie getting a wife down that quarter.
He went out to Queensland, took to tree felling in the great
forests, and retired a few years ago quite independent. We
see notes occasionally from his far away home, and for several
sessions running we observe he has carried, amid great opposition,
the chief seat in the council of his chosen home, and is Provost
Swan of Dunedin. Since writing the above we are sorry to hear
of his decease. He is succeeded in business by his brother
John, who paid a lengthened visit to his old home a couple
of years ago. The one brother is fully as practical in his
way as the other, and where the one succeeded the other will
scarcely fail.
2nd panel, " Dame Rachel Burnet, Lady Preston. " This was
evidently a daughter of Sir James de Preston, who had
died without male issue, for we see that Thomas Hamilton succeeded
in 1667 his uncle Sir James de Preston. This was the family
who occupied the old tower when, in 1663, it was accidentally
but finally put beyond occupation.
3rd panel, " Margret Tail, " was spouse to Thomas Cubic, a
sailor. She had been a very benevolent lady. She died eight
months later than Lady Preston. Cubie was one of Davidson's
elders.
4th panel, " Mrs Rachel Hamelton, " daughter of Sir William
Hamilton of Preston. This daughter of Sir William had evidently
predeceased her father, dying in 1694. He is supposed to have
died about 1696, leaving no male issue.
5th panel, " Marion Arncors. " She was wife to Robert Jamieson,
gardener, and a very benevolent lady.
6th panel, "Dame Rachel Nicholson, Lady Preston. " This seems
to have been another married daughter of Sir William Hamilton.
She died in 1716.
7th panel, " Given for Mr John Stodart, of Cammisten. " Stodart,
though of Cammiston, had evidently belonged to the parish,
and had not ceased to remember the poor.
8th panel, " Mr Gilbert Burnet gave for his lady, Miss Anna
Hamelton, " &c. This is evidently another married daughter
of Sir William. She died in 1718.
We have tried to get to the bottom of that curious document,
* to which Dr Oswald was privy, when subsequent to Sir Robert
Hamilton's decease he took possession of the estate. The document
refers to a "private arrangement" with Oswald for the " redemption
of the estate should a covenanting king succeed to the throne.
" These panels seem to give a clue to the mystery. It is well
known that Sir Robert was " outlawed, banished, and his estates
confiscated for his covenanting principles, " but this could
not refer to Preston, because his brother Sir William was
proprietor then. Robert returned previous to Sir William's
decease. He was no further persecuted, but he never sought
pardon of the king, nor had the edict of outlawry against
him removed, neither did he ever claim the baronetcy nor seek
the estate of Preston after the decease of his brother.
The document does not say for whom, or by whom, the estate
was to be " redeemed, " but it is evident these daughters
of Sir William, who remained in the background, though nearer
heirs to the estate than the Oswalds, were afraid to take
possession as "Hamiltons, " but allowed Dr Oswald, their near
rela-
See also Chapters XIX. and XXII. |
