1 GALBRAITHS OF THE LENNOX
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PRIVATELY PRINTED
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1944
Reprinted 1994
A note about this reprinting:
The "last copy" of a small book,
author unknown, was trustingly loaned to me in the spring of 1994 by Arthur
Haslam, whose family owns and operates the ancestral Galbraith home, Culcreuch
Castle. I have scanned it into a Macintosh
computer, faithfully edited it, and tried to "reprint" it so other
may have copies as well.
The original "last copy" is back
at Culcreuch, as seems proper. I highly
recommend Culcreuch Castle Hotel for its pleasant atmosphere and exquisite
dining. (See: Scotland the best!, by Peter Irvine, Mainstream Publishing,
p. 50, which lists Culcreuch as one of the best hotels in the area surrounding
Glasgow.)
If you would like to communicate with another
Galbraith, please feel free to contact me. I will happily share a computer disc of this work, or add you to
my data base of Galbraiths.
Bruce
W. Galbraith
7200
N. College Ave.
Indianapolis,
Indiana, USA 46240-3016
Phone:
(317) 255-5126 Facsimile (317) 255-2394
Internet:
bgalbrai@parktudor.pvt.k12.in.us
Galbraith
Ab
Obice Suavior
GALBRAITHS
OF THE LENNOX.
INTRODUCTORY.
In many modern notices of the Galbraiths,
a great deal of ambiguity has crept in owing to inaccuracy in statements made
about the early members of the family, e.g. in the "Memoirs of the House
of Hamilton," by John Anderson, "Arthur, the father of William"
and "Arthur, the son of Maurice" seem to be taken as the same person,
and there are other misstatements in the same book.
The purpose of this inquiry is mainly to
try to place in proper order the ancient ancestors of the Galbraiths so far
as this can be done from the study of the charters in which the name appears,
particularly the "Cartularium Comitatus de Levenax."
Some attempt will also be made to bridge,
or at least to narrow, the gap separating the original families of Galbraith
from the Culcreuch family, whose head became the chief of the Galbraiths about
1400, when Galbraith of Gartconnel died without leaving any male heir to succeed
him. If this gap could be successfully
bridged it would appear that some Galbraiths of the present day could show
a line of generations, always bearing the same name, which few families in
Scotland could rival. This does not
mean that there are not other families who can show ancestors of greater antiquity,
but, owing to the early system of patronymics, very few can claim ancestors,
of the same surname, of greater antiquity.
It is strange that in more modern times the
Galbraiths have never been recognized as a separate clan. In lists of clans they are usually known as
septs or dependents of other clans, e.g. of the Macfarlanes and the Macdonalds.
But in the year 1489, Thomas Galbraith of Culcreuch, who was hanged
for taking part in a rising headed by the Earl of Lennox, Lord Lyle and others
is called "Chieffe of the Galbraiths" by Sir James Balfour in his
"Annals of Scotland." And in the Acts of the Scottish Parliament
of 1587 and 1594, the Galbraiths are mentioned as a clan, along with many
others, whose "brokin men" are accused of being "wickit thevis
and lyrnmaris." (Vide, Historical Geography of the Clans of Scotland,
by T. B. Johnston and Col. James R. Robertson, 3rd Edition 1899.) But they do not seem to have emerged as a later
clan, like the other numerous clans of Scotland, including the Colquhouns
and Buchanans, among whom they lived and with whom they intermarried.
It is not the place of a writer of a short
family history such as this to dwell at any length on the more general aspects
of Scottish history which can be found in other places. It is only necessary to indicate very briefly
the state of the country as it was when the first persons to be dealt with
appear upon the scene. For those who
are interested in the history of the Lennox and the origin of the first Earls
of that name it is only necessary for reference to be made to Sir William
Fraser's book, "The Lennox." There the story will be found of the
Lennox from Roman times and also details of the supposed origin of the Earls
of Lennox. Fraser traces them from
a Northumbrian noble, Archill by name, who was driven out from his country
by William the Conqueror, and took refuge with Malcolm Canmore, who received
him well, his descendant, Alwyn, becoming Earl of Lennox, about the middle
of the 12th century. Fraser is careful
to state that there were other opinions as to the descent of the first EarlÑSkene
holding that he had a Celtic and not a Saxon origin.
This Alwyn, the first Earl, is a very shadowy
figure, and the date when he received the Earldom is uncertain. It is known that David of Huntingdon, brother
of King William (the Lion), held the Earldom for some time about the year
1166, for at this date he granted the Church of Campsie to the Monks of Kelso.
Earl Akvyn II, at a later date, granted Campsie to the Church of Glasgow,
and these conflicting claims were the subject of an amicable settlement in
1221 (see Registrum Episc. Glas. p. 100). But whether Alwyn I held the Earldom before
David of Huntingdon is not known. It
is clear, however, that Alwyn, 2nd Earl, son and heir of Alwyn, 1st Earl,
was in possession before 1199, as will be shown later from a charter confirming
certain lands to the Church of Kilpatrick.
By the time of King Malcolm III (Canmore)
the Kingdom of the Picts, the Kingdom of the Scots, and the Cumbrian or Clydesdale
Kingdom had been more or less welded into a single Kingdom of Scotland.
Many English customs were brought to Scotland by Margaret, Malcolm's
English Queen, and the country was being divided up into feudal Earldoms governed
by feudal laws in place of old Celtic laws or customs.
But, of course, the central government was not omnipotent, and great
power was in the hands of the feudal Earls to use or misuse.
It was in the old Cumbrian, or Clydesdale
Kingdom, that the Earldom of Levenax was situated. Roughly, the boundaries were from the Clyde at Dumbarton to Arrochar
in the North, and from the shores of the Gareloch to Fintry, including Kilpatrick
and Baldernock. Loch Lomond and the
banks of the Leven may be taken as the centre of the Earldom. It is here, then, in this interesting and beautiful
part of Scotland that we can first trace the origin of the name "Galbraith."
The first Galbraiths who can be definitely
found mentioned in any charter were the brothers Gillespie and Roderick Galbraith.
As witnesses in several charters they are
called the nephews of Alwyn II, Earl of Lennox. Now, these brothers might be called nephews of Alwyn from various
circumstances. They might be the sons
of a brother of Alwyn. That Alwyn
the first Earl had another son, Eth, is indicated in an Ayrshire Charter,
dated 1193. (Liber de Melrose vol. I, p. 22.)
But it would seem unlikely that sons of this Eth would be named Galbraith,
and there is no evidence to show that he left any children.
Again the brothers might be sons of a daughter
of Alwyn I and sister of Alwyn II married to a Galbraith. Or, again, Alwyn II might have married a lady
of the Galbraith family, and Gillespie and Roderick be sons of a brother of
that Countess.
Whichever way we take it, this seems certain,
that the Galbraiths were of the old Lennox inhabitants and that they early
intermarried with the family of Alwyn the 1st Earl of Lennox.
At this early period in Scotland, not many
family names had become fixed and the system of patronymics was largely in
use. Thus we find Gillemichel Mac
Edolf, Malcolm Mac Absolon, and the like.
And so it is difficult to gather all the members of a family under
one family name. For example, in a
charter by the Earl of Lennox, Gillemichel, Gillemartin and Gillecondad, the
three sons of Gillemychel are granted the lands of Bannarad and others. These sons are presumed to have belonged to
the Galbraith family, but the relationship with Gillespie and Roderick Galbraith
has never been explained.
But whatever the origin or meaning of the
name may be, Galbraith seems to have early become a fixed family name. This would appear from a charter granting lands
to "Willielmus filius Arthuri filii Galbrat."
"Galbrat" was considered the head
or fountain of this line, and his immediate descendants became known as Galbraiths,
generally with the "de" prefixed, e.g. Arthurus de Galbraith, William
de Galbraith, and so on. It should
be borne in mind that the "de" does not denote that Galbraith was
a place name but only that the person using it was considered to belong to
the chief family descended from the original Galbraith.
In this connection, it may be interesting
to quote from the "House of Hamilton," by John Anderson, 1825, or
rather from a supplement to this book published in 1828 called a "Reply
to the Misstatements of Dr. Hamilton of Bardowie." On page 22 of this "Reply", it is stated:Ñ
"The Heads of the Galbraiths anciently,
are patronymically designed the sons of Galbrat from their first great and
well connected ancestor, yet Dr. Hamilton maintains that Galbrat here is not
a family appellation, or derived 'from an ancestor' but expressive of land,
while it is indisputable no such place has ever been discovered. Agreeably then to this argument, Arthur, 'son
of Galbrat,' with whom the Doctor is so eager to connect himself, must have
been even less than de plebe, and rather strangely indeed, though literally,
the son of a 'clod.' But his jarring
assertion at the same time, that the Galbraiths, if using a patronymic, would
have been designed, as they actually were, by the very epithet of 'filii Galbrat,'
precipitates the whole proposition into such a pitch of contradiction, as
well as absurdity, as cannot be equaled in any controversy."
(There
is a note suffixed.)Ñ
"He (the Doctor) indeed founds upon
'de' being eventually prefixed to Galbraith but this as is well known is immaterial.
De did not always imply territoriality, in support of which we may
only refer to the Scoto-Anglo Race of 'la Zouche' or 'la Souche' which surname
is quite personal, properly meaning the principal stock; yet on innumerable
occasions the Family are style ' De la Zouche.' "
BUTHERNOCK
(BALDERNOCK).
Let us now come to the old charters in which
Gillespie and Roderick Galbraith are mentioned.
The earliest is a charter by Alwyn II confirming
certain lands to the Church of Kilpatrick. This is undated but was executed some time about 1190, being sealed
in presence of Jocelyn, Bishop of Glasgow, who was dead by the year 1199.
The lands confirmed were as follows:Ñ Cochinach, Edenanernan, Baccan,
Finbealach, Drumcreue, Graguentalach, Monachkenneran, Drumtechglunan, Cuiltebut
and Dallenenach; with the lands at Cateconnan (Gartconnel) added as a new
gift from Alwyn II.
The original Charter, or at least a previous
confirmation, was granted probably about the year 1170, but by whom is not
clearÑperhaps by Alwyn, the 1st Earl, or by David of Huntingdon who is said
to have held the Earldom about this time.
With reference to this Charter, many years
later, in 1233, legal proceedings or inquisitions were conducted under Papal
authority to prove that the lands mentioned rightly belonged to the Church
of Kilpatrick. The number of witnesses
called and the evidence brought forward are matters of the greatest interest
in throwing light on early Scottish procedure (see Reg. de Passelet, p. 164,
et seq.).
The Charter of 1190 (Reg. de Passelet, p.
157) was sealed by "Alwyn, Earl of Lennox" before numerous witnesses,
including Maldoven and Malcolm, his sons, and Rodarcus, his nephew (nepos).1
Another Charter by Alwyn, Earl of Lennox,
conveying the Church of Campsie to Glasgow is witnessed by Gillescop Galbrad
(nepote nostro). This Charter is confirmed
at the same time by Maldoven, "son and heir of Alwyn, younger, Earl of
Levenax, son and heir of Alwyn, elder, Earl of Levanax," Gillespie Galbraith
again being a witness.2
Two other later Charters (Reg. de Passelet,
pp. 213, 217), by Maldoven, 3rd Earl, show Gillespie and Roderick Galbraith
to be brothers.
There is also another Charter (Cart. de Levenax,
p. 25), by Maldoven granting the lands of Colquhoun to Humphrey Kilpatrick
in which Gillespie Galbraith is a witness.
From the foregoing, it is clearly established
that Gillespie and Roderick were born about the year 1170, and that they were
closely related to the Earls of Lennox. It is not known whether Roderick had any descendants, but it will
be shown that Gillespie was the ancestor of a large and important clan which
held many lands in Lennox and later spread its branches over Scotland and
Ireland, and now has representatives all over the world.
There is no record of any lands being granted
to Gillespie and Roderick by Charter; in all likelihood they were in possession
of lands in the Lennox from of old.
But in the year 1238 (Cart. de Levenax, p.
30), Maldoven, 3rd Earl (cousin of Gillespie) granted a Charter of lands in
Buthernock (Baldernock) and Kyncath to William, son of Arthur, son of Galbrath3
one of the witnesses being Maurice, son of Galbrath. The same Earl somewhat later granted Cartonvenach to Maurice, son
of Galbraith, and also the lands of Auchincloich to Maurice, son of Gillespie
Galbrath, and to Arthur his (Maurice's) son and to the heirs of Arthur.
From these Charters we, therefore, gather
that Gillespie Galbraith had two sons, Arthur and MauriceÑthat Arthur had
a son, William of Buthernock, and that Maurice of Cartonvenach had a son,
Arthur.
We will first follow the senior branch of
Buthernock until we find these lands passing from Galbraith hands through
an heiress.
It seems probable that the Charter of 1238
only confirmed in William's hands the lands of Buthernock already held by
his father, Arthur, son of Gillespie Galbraith; but there is no further mention
of Arthur except in this Charter. He
was probably born about the year 1195, and his son, William, about 1215-20.
William de Galbraith of Buthernock became
a man of some importance in Scotland. As
has been stated, he had his lands confirmed to him in 1238. He is said to have married a daughter of Sir
John Comyn, Justiciar of Galloway, who gave the lands of Dalserf to Sir William
de Galbrath in "frank marriage with his daughter."4
When Scotland was ruled by a Regency in 1255,
during the minority of Alexander III, King of Scotland, William Galbraith
was one of the fifteen barons appointed and given protection by Henry III
of England, the father of Margaret, King Alexander's wife. This is shown in Rymer's "Foedera Angliae
(quoted in Registrum de Panmure pp. 208-213). A.D. 1255; 39 Hen. III De
potestate admittendi quosdam barones Scotiae in protectionem Regis.
The following are the barons mentioned:Ñ"Patricius
Comes de Dunbar, Malis comes Straern, Nigellus comes de Karrike, Robertus
de Brus, Alexander Senescallus Scotiae, Alanus Hostiarius, David de Lindes,
Willielmus de Brethun, Walterus de Murrenya, Robertus de Mesneres, Hugo Giffard,
Walter le Senescallus, Johannis de Crauford, Hugo de Crauford, Willielmus
Kalebrath (or Calbrah)."
William de Galbraith was dead before 1280,
as is indicated in a Charter (Lennox Vol. II., p. 16), conveying the lands
of Drumloch in Buthernoc and Drumfode to Sir Patrick de Grahame, where Wilelmus
Galbrath is described as "defunctus."
There is another Charter ("Stirling
of Keir," by Fraser, p. 205) by Malcolm, 4th Earl, in the year 1278,
granting Kyrkmychell and Drummade to William de Galbrath, Knight; but he must
have died shortly after this leaving his son, William, who succeeded to Buthernock
and other estates. The year of this
William's birth, as so often is the case when treating of these early times,
is not accurately known, but it was probably about 1240. In "The Parish of Campsie," by John
Cameron (Kirkintilloch 1892) p. 186, there is mention of a Charter about the
year 1285 by William Galbraith to Sir Patrick de Grahame granting him the
mill of Kincade.
In the "Scots Peerage," under "Earl
of Douglas," it is stated that Willelma, daughter of Sir William Douglas
(Longleg) married William of Galbraith, son of Sir William Galbraithe by a
daughter of Sir John Comyn of Badenoch. They had issue, four daughters, of whom the
eldest, Joanna, marriedÑde Cathe (Kethe or Keith). It is not known whom the other three daughters married, but it is
clear that through one of these heiresses the lands of Buthernock descended
to David de Hamilton and Jonetta de Keith, who it will be seen later, confirmed
as feudal superiors a gift of certain lands in Buthernock and Kincaid by William
Galbraith of Gartconnel to his son James in 1381. From David de Hamilton and Jonetta Keith the superiorities of Buthernock
descended to their youngest son, John Hamilton of Bardowie.
William Galbraith of Buthernock was probably
dead before 1296, the year when so many of the Scottish nobles, clergy, landowners
and burgesses swore allegiance to Edward I of England. His name at least does not appear in the Ragman
Rolls. There is, however, a Gilbert
of Buthernock among the other landowners from the County of Stirling.
This Gilbert may have married one of William Galbraith's daughters
and may have held the lands of Buthernock in right of his wife.
However that may be, it is clear that the estates of Buthernock and
others passed from Galbraith hands owing to the failure of an heir-male to
William Galbraith and Willelma Douglas.
It seems possible that William Galbraith
may have had a younger brother, Arthur. In
the Ragman Rolls of 1296, there appears the name, Arthur de Galbraith from
the County of Wigtown. He is named
on the same roll with many well known names from the Lennox. The designation "from the County of Wigtown"
would definitely preclude Arthur de Galbraith, the son of Maurice Galbraith,
who held Cartonvenach, Auchincloich and other lands in the Lennox, although
it might be that Arthur Galbraith of the Ragman Rolls was a son of Arthur
Galbraith, the son of Maurice. But
it will he remembered that Sir William Galbraith of Buthernock had married
a daughter of John Comyn of Badenoch, who was Justiciar of Galloway.
John Comyn was a very active participator in the government of Scotland
during the middle of the 13th century. Sir
William Galbraith was also a man in public affairs and was one of the regency
commission of fifteen barons appointed in 1255.
It would, therefore, he very natural that a younger son of Sir William
Galbraith should be given land or a position in Wigtownshire, of which his
grandfather had been Justiciar and in which, presumably, he had many interests. But there is undoubtedly some dubiety as to the identity of this
Arthur Galbraith, from the County of Wigtown.
CARTONVENACH
(GARTCONNEL).
As already stated, Maurice, the second son
of Gillespie Galbraith, had a Charter of Cartonvenach from Maldoven, 3rd Earl
of Lennox. The date of this Charter
is placed about 1250. Cartonvenach
is granted to Maurice, son of Galbraith, and to his heirs begotten with his
wife Katherine, daughter of Colpatrick or Gillepatrick. (There is as a witness to this grant of Cartonvenach to Maurice
a person named Gillepatrick de Malbryde, and Katherine may possibly have been
his daughter.)
Maurice Galbraith was a witness in the Charter
of Buthernock and Kyncath to William de Galbraith, his nephew, in 1238.
That he also held certain lands in Kyncath is shown by a Charter to
David de Grahame in 1253. (Lennox Vol. II., p. 14.)
There "Mauricius Filius Galbrathe" is mentioned as having
made a gift of land in the territory of Kincathe to the said David.
In another Charter (Lennox Vol. II, p. 404)
by Malcolm, son of Maldoven, the Earl, about the year 1248, concerning the
lands of Dallenoter, Mauricius filius Galbraith is a witness. By a Charter granted by Maldoven, the Earl
of Lennox, "Mauritius filius Gillaspie Galbraith," along with his
son Arthur, received "one quarter of land" in Auchincloich in exchange
for the two lands of Thombethy and Letyrmolyn, which appear to have been granted
earlier to Maurice by the Earl without any legal right or title. This part of Auchencloich would seem to include
Balvey and Mains5 to the north of East Kilpatrick in Dumbartonshire, the other
parts of "Lower" Auchincloich,6 which were conveyed later to Sir
Patrick de Grahame, being rather to the south-west, near Edinbarnet.
Maurice, son of Galbraith is mentioned again in an Inquisition regarding
the lands (Killearn) of Stephen do Blantthyre, when he is called the "Seneshal";
and "for greater security" he, along with others, appended his seal.7
Sir Arthur Galbraith succeeded his father,
Maurice, and thereafter his name appears frequently in Charters. Malcolm, the 4th Earl of Lennox, granted him
the lands of Buchmonyn (Balfunning) and the lands of Gilgirinane near the
lands of Cartonewene, and, at the same date, he had a Charter relaxing certain
feudal services due from various lands he held.
The lands named in this Charter8 are Banchorane, Keangerloch, Fynnard,
Kilgerintyn, and Auchincloich. He
was also given the right of holding a court on his lands and punishing robbers.
He was witness to a Charter conveying "three quarters of a carucate"
of land in Auchincloich to Patrick de Grahame about the year 1271, and he
is also mentioned as a witness in a Charter by Walter of Ros to Sir Patrick
Grahame (Lennox Vol. II., p. 17).
He again appears in a Charter9 by Malcolm,
5th Earl of Lennox, to Sir John Colquhoun of Luss about 1308, and in several
other Charters. In a Charter of Resignation
by Simon Crok of the lands of Brengrouchan (Circa 1272), the seals of Arthur
Galbraith and Malcolm de Drinneth are affixed along with the seal of Simon
Crok, because Simon's seal "Non est notum." (Lennox Vol. II, p.
I6.)
From all these Charters it is seen that Arthur
de Galbraith had large possessions and was a man of considerable importance
in the Lennox. He was created a Knight,
as the title "miles" appears frequently after his name.
Though he was probably too old to fight at the battle of Bannockburn,
there is small doubt that he would be engaged during the troubled years leading
up to that battle on the side of Bruce, for his feudal superior, Malcolm the
5th Earl of Lennox, was one of Bruce's loyal supporters.
So far, the descents of the various Galbraiths
from Gillespie Galbraith have been quite clear and vouched for by Charters.
But now we come to a slight hitch, for although it appears certain
that William de Galbraith of Gartconnel, who died without male heirs about
1390, was a grandson of Arthur de Galbraith, and great grandson of Maurice,
there is some doubt as to who his father was.
Sir Arthur de Galbraith probably died about
1310-15. Now, about this time, there
were alive in the Lennox, two Galbraiths whose names appear frequently in
Charters either as receiving grants of land or as witnesses, viz., Maurice
Galbraith and Patrick Galbraith.
Maurice is a witness about 1316 to a grant
of the land of Glyne to Malcolm of Luss.
He is again a witness, this time along with Malcolm of Luss, to a grant
of Balecarrage in Kincaid, to Patrick Galbraith. In another Charter by Malcolm, 5th Earl of Lennox, to Patrick de
Lindsay, Maurice Galbraith and Patrick Galbraith both are present as witnesses.
Patrick Galbraith is witness in 1330 to a
Charter by Malcolm, 5th Earl, ratifying lands to the monks of Paisley.10 He was granted the lands of Camkell (or Camquhill)
and Balecarrage by the same Earl (Maurice Galbraith being a witness).
He is a witness along with Malcolm of Luss, to a grant to Gilbert de
Carric, by Malcolm, 5th Earl, and again he is a witness in a grant of Blarechos;
and, as already stated, he appears along with Maurice Galbraith in the Charter
to Patrick de Lindsay. He is called Patricius de Galbraith, Seneschallus
de Levenax in a Charter to John de Lany.11
From the close association of the names in
these Charters, it is apparent that Maurice Galbraith and Patrick Galbraith
were closely related, and it may be assumed they were brothers. That they were sons of Arthur de Galbraith
(Knight) and that one of them was father of William de Galbraith of Gartconnel
may also he assumed from the following evidence:
Mauritius (son of Gillespie) had from Maldoven,
the 3rd Earl, the lands of Cartonvenach. This has been identified as Gartconnel, near the church of East
Kilpatrick. The name appears in many
forms, owing to the misreading of the letters by transcribers of old deeds.
Some of the spellings are:ÑCateconnan, Cartonewene, Katconvall, Kachconnen,
and others.
Arthur de Galbraith succeeded his father,
Maurice, and, in addition became possessed of the lands of Banchorane (identified
as Bannachra), Keangerloch, Fynnard, Buchmonyn (Balfunning), Kilgerintyn (or
Gilgirinane) and part of Auchincloich.
Patrick Galbraith acquired the lands of Camquhill
(near Ballindalloch) and Balecarrage (in Kincath).
William de Galbraith of Gartconnel, as well
as inheriting estates, acquired in addition Achrefmoltoune in Strathblane,
which is presumed to be the modern Arlehaven (see Guthrie Smith's "Strathblane,"
p. 76). His lands were divided up
between his co-heiress, one of whom married a Douglas and became possessed
of Mains, and other lands; and the other heiress married a Logan and inherited
Gartconnel and other lands. What these other lands were may become apparent if we look at the
Retour in 1680 of Charles II as heir to the Earldom of Lennox. The following places are included in the Retour:ÑThe
20 mark land of Balvey, Fergustoune, Gartconnell, Ledcamroch, Bannochtoune,
Camron, Camquhill and Balquhinings Logans; and the 12 pound lands of Maynes,
Little Balvey, Ledcamroch, Camron, Camquhill, Balquhining and Harleheavin
Douglas. (Finnart also seems to have
passed to the Douglasses as, in 1501, William Douglas of Ledcamcroch sold
these lands to John Colquhoun of Luss.) From
these names we can gather that William Galbraith of Gartconnel, the father
of the co-heiresses, had inherited (i.) Gartconnel (Cartonvenach) from Maurice
(son of Gillespie); (ii.) Buchmonyn (Balfunning) from Arthur de Galbraith,
and (iii.) Camquhill from Patrick Galbraith.
All this evidence leads us to the fairly
safe conjecture that William Galbraith of Gartcolmel was the son of Patrick
Galbraith, the son of Arthur.
We may, therefore, with little hesitation,
continue the line and place Patrick and Maurice Galbraith as sons of Sir Arthur
de Galbraith, and William Galbraith of Gartconnel as son of Patrick Galbraith
the Senescallus of Levenax.
We have already given all the information
that can be gathered of Patrick and Maurice, and so now come to William Galbraith
of Gartconnel.
Born about 1310-15, he acquired Achrefmoltoune
in Strathblane from Donald, 6th Earl of Lennox. This must have been later than the year 1342,
as Malcolm, Earl of Wygtoun, is a witness, and he did not become Earl until
that year.
In the "Parish of Campsie," by
John Cameron, p. 213, mention is made of a marriage of a female Kincade to
a "Galbraith of Craigmaddie Castle," when "one fourth part
of Kyncade, which lies near the Kelvin," was her marriage portion. This may be meant to refer to William Galbraith
of Gartconnel, who is known to have gifted to his son James, in 1381, "one
fourth part of Kyncade which lies near the Kelvin" with other subjects.
However, no proof is given of the marriage, and the other reference
to the Galbraiths in this book are inaccurate.
But it is known that William Galbraith was
married and had one son and at least two daughters. In 1381 he granted a Charter to his son, James, of the lands of
Easterbuthernock and Westerbuthernock and one fourth part of Kyncade. But it was only as a vassal that he held those
lands, the superiority (or rather the mid-superiority) being in the hands
of David de Hamilton and Jonetta Keith, who, in accordance with feudal custom,
confirmed this Charter of 1381. These
lands had come into the possession of David de Hamilton through one of the
heiresses of William Galbraith of Buthernock.
William Galbraith of Gartconnel's son, James,
did not survive long, but died before his father. The two daughters thus became co-heiresses.
Janet Galbraith married Nicolas Douglas in 1373, and so founded the
family of Douglas of Mains. The other daughter married Alexander Logan
and succeeded to Gartconnel. James,
the son of William Galbraith of Gartconnel, may have left a daughter, who
would thus be a co-heiress along with her aunts.
This may be the Galbraith heiress who is said to have married Patrick
Buchanan, the 14th Laird of Buchanan.
In this way the lands of Cartonvenach passed
out of the hands of the Galbraiths through heiresses of William of Gartconnel,
even as the Buthernock lands had been carried away by the heiresses of William
of Buthernock and Willelma Douglas.
CULCREUCH. Section I.
No attempt will be made here to follow all
the various scions of the Galbraiths family who left the Lennox and at an
early date spread over Scotland.
There is, for example, an entry in the Chamberlain's
Rolls for 1342 referring to a Hugo de Galbraith in Aberdeen, but of what family
he came it is not known.
Again, there is a Malcolm Galbraith, who
is said to have founded the family of Galbraith of Greenock about the end
of the 14th century. Then there is
the Galbraith, who, about 1425, fled to Ireland with Lord James Stuart, and
is said to be the ancestor of the Galbraiths of Gigha and Kintyre. All these, and many others, are obviously of
the old Lennox Clan, but evidence is lacking to place them accurately.
Mr. Guthrie Smith, in his book "Strathendrick,"
passes over the early Galbraiths of Culcreuch very briefly.
Unfortunately, this most interesting and useful book was not ready
for the press when the author died, and so there are several inaccuracies
and errors which would have probably been amended on revisal.
One of these errors is on page 165, where Bannerad, which was granted
to the three sons of Gilmychel, is confused with Bannachra.
It is then stated that "owing to the sale of Culcreuch, now nearly
three hundred years ago, and the loss of Charters or other family writs, it
is impossible to make a connected pedigree of the earlier Galbraiths,"
and Andrew Galbraith (1472) is the first-mentioned member of this family.
In spite of this, an effort will now be made
to throw some light on the origin of the family of Culcreuch, which after
1400 seems to have become the chief of the name and continued to reside in
the Lennox for many years.
When there is no direct evidence as to the
descent of a familyÑ no actual writ stating that "B" was the son
of "A"Ñit is necessary to look for other secondary evidence from
which inferences call be drawn. In
this respect much valuable information can be gathered by following the descent
of ownership of land. Certain lands
may early appear in the hands of a family and then, for a period of a generation
or two, there may be no notices regarding these lands. If later they re-appear as belonging to persons of the same original
name there is a strong presumption that the later family is descended from
the older. We have in this way already
seen that the lands of Cartonvenach (Gartconnel), Buchmonyn, Auchincloich
and Camquhill, which had belonged to Maurice, Sir Arthur and Patrick Galbraith
all descended to William Galbraith of Gartconnel, and so to the families of
his daughters.
Other sources of information are Topography
and the noting of witnesses to Charters. The transference of lands in the olden days was a much more elaborate
ceremony than it is now. There were
no registers of Sasines kept in Edinburgh, and the Charter itself was of great
importance as showing a right to land. Charters were, therefore, witnessed by numerous
people, relatives of the granter, friends or relatives of the person to whom
the lands were being conveyed, and usually by owners of contiguous lands,
as it was to their interests to see what was actually being transferred and
also because they would likely be available on the spot to attend as witnesses.
And so, if we see a witness repeatedly appearing in Charters affecting
lands in a certain part of a county, we may often reasonably draw an inference
that this witness also has land bordering on the lands in question, or, at
least, near at hand.
To revert to the Charter (Cart. de Levenax,
p. 29) naming some of the possessions of Arthur de Galbraith, viz., Banchorane,
Keangerloch, Fynnard, Buchmonyn, Kilgerintyn (or Gilgirinane) and Auchincloich,
it was seen that most of these lands descended to the heiresses of William
Galbraith of Gartconnel.
But there is one estate appearing in Arthur
de Galbraith's Charter which does not appear ever to have descended either
to the Logans of Gartconnel or to the Douglases of Mains, and that is Banchorane,
or Bannachra. These lands lay near
Glenfruin, contiguous to the lands of the Kilbrides in Dumbartonshire.
Now, there is a name on record at this time
which may be an aid to us in solving the mystery of the origin of the Culcreuch
family.
Appearing in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, is
the name Dovenal Galbraith of Kilbride, from the County of Dumbarton. His name is in the midst of many well known
Lennox names from Dumbartonshire and Stirlingshire, evidently all submitting
to Edward I at the same time.
Donald is also seen as a witness in a Charter
by Malcolm, 5th Earl, to the daughters of John de Drummond (before 1315),
Arthur de Galbraith, Knight, being present as first witness.12 The mere fact that Sir Arthur de Galbraith
and Donald Galbraith appear as witnesses in the same charter may seem too
slight evidence for the assumption that Donald was the son of Arthur de Galbraith,
but when it is shown that the lands of Bannachra and Kilbride are at a later
date in the hands of the Galbraiths of Culcreuch the evidence for this assumption
becomes stronger; for Bannachra and the Kilbrides are known to have belonged
to Andrew Galbraith of Culcreuch about 1456.
The argument put forward is this:ÑAfter the
failure of an heir to carry on the line of Baldernock, the line of Gartconnel
became the chief of the Galbraiths, and after the failure of an heir to carry
on the Gartconnel branch, another cadet family became the chief of the name,13
namely Culcreuch, who possessed (i.) the lands of Bannachra which had belonged
to Sir Arthur de Galbraith, and (ii.), the lands of Kilbride, which belonged
to Donald Galbraith in 1296, thus indicating that these lands had descended
to Andrew Galbraith by inheritance from Arthur de Galbraith and Donald Galbraith
of Kilbride.
We have thus shown the probability of Maurice,
Patrick and Donald Galbraith being the sons of Sir Arthur Galbraith.
The descent of Camquhill to the heiresses of William Galbraith of Gartconnel
points to Patrick being of the Gartconnel line, while the descent of Kilbride
to Andrew Galbraith of Culcreuch (1456) points to Donald (1296) being an ancestor
of the Culcreuch family. The position of Maurice is not clear, but he
would seem to have been connected with the Culcreuch lands. These lands lay near Fintry in the easter part
of Strathendrick. Fintry was, at an
early date, one of the strong holds of the Earls of Lennox, and some early
charters were granted there. Bordering
on Culcreuch, to the north-east, lay the lands of Glyne (Glins). When Glyne was granted by Malcolm, 5th Earl
of Lennox, to Malcolm of Luss (circa 1320) Maurice Galbraith was one of the
witnesses, in this way indicating he had some association with lands in the
immediate neighbourhood.
Also bordering on Culcreuch, this time to
the north-west, are the lands of Balgair, Kilfassets and Ballindalloch, stretching
along the Endrick to Balfron. These
lands were in the possession of the Cunninghams until l613, having been erected
into a free barony in 1599. Now, when
the lands of Kilfassets and Ballindalloch (which had been forfeited by Duncan
of Luss) were first granted to Andrew Cunningham by Malcolm Fleming about
1342, there appears an Arthur de Galbraith as one of the witnesses to the
charter; from which fact the inference is drawn that he was connected with
some neighbouring lands. This Arthur
de Galbraith appears also as a witness in a charter to Nigel Macblare of the
lands of Finnick, which is also in the district, a little to the South-west
of Ballindalloch.
Although Glyne belonged to the Colquhouns,
and Balgair, Kilfassets and Ballindalloch to the Cunninghams, yet from an
early date these lands were occupied by Galbraith families, cadets of Culcreuch. The earliest date at which they were so occupied
is not known, but at least before 1534, Balgair was tenanted by a John Galbraith,
and during that century there were Galbraiths in Glyne (or Glins), Kilfassets,
Ballocharne, and many other places around.
And so, although we can find no original
charter of Culcreuch, yet from all these premises, we are led to infer that
from an early time the lands of Culcreuch were in the possession of the Galbraiths,
Maurice Galbraith (circa 1320) being interested in the transference of some
lands (Glyne) marching with Culcreuch on the north-east and Arthur Galbraith
(circa 1342) being interested in the transference of lands (Kilfassets, etc.),
bordering Culcreuch on the north-west. It would appear that Arthur Galbraith was of
a younger generation and inherited Culcreuch, Bannachra and Kilbride from
Maurice and Donald Galbraith (one being father and the other an uncle), the
rest of the Galbraith estates devolving on William Galbraith of Gartconnel,
through Patrick, the other son of Sir Arthur Galbraith.
Let us refer again to Andrew Galbraith of
Culcreuch, who is mentioned in 1456 and died in 1476, and try to work backwards
to join up with Maurice and Donald Galbraith.
Andrew Galbraith succeeded to the lands of
Culcreuch, Milligs, Bannachra, Kilbrides, etc.
Now, in the Dundonald Charter Chest, under the date 1453, there is
mention made of James Galbraith of Kilcreuch.
This was the predecessor of Andrew Galbraith in the lands of Culcreuch,
but whether he was Andrew's father is not clear. There is a Thomas Galbraith of Millig on record in 1441. As it is known that Andrew Galbraith succeeded
to Millig as well as to the Culcreuch estates it is quite probable that Andrew
was the son of this Thomas, and was heir to his uncle's estate of Culcreuch
as well as to his father's lands of Millig. One slight bit of evidence in favour of this is that Andrew's eldest
son was called Thomas and his second son James; for there is often a presumption
that the eldest son was called after his grandfather. It is, at least, a safe conjecture that James
Galbraith of Culcreuch and Thomas Galbraith of Millig were brothers, and that
Andrew was the son of one of them and inherited the property of both.
The next mention of Culcreuch in a retrograde
order, is of an Alexander Galbraith of Culcreuch; but here the evidence is
not contemporaneous. This Alexander
only appears in a Memoir by Robert Colquhoun of Camstraddon, written in 1760
(see Fraser's "Chiefs of Colquhoun," vol. 2, p. 181). Mary Galbraith, who was wife of John Colquhoun
of Camstraddon, is said in the Memoir to have been daughter of Alexander Galbraith
of Culcreuch. As this John Colquhoun
lived about 1380-1441, it would seem that Alexander Galbraith's daughter,
Mary, would be born about 1390, and that Alexander Galbraith himself would
be born about 1350. But it must be
remembered that the designation "of Culcreuch" might be used in
the Memoir in a loose sense, and Alexander may only have been "of the
family of Culcreuch." However,
it can be used as evidence that there were Galbraiths known as "of Culcreuch,"
at least towards the end of the 14th century.
One more step backwards brings us to Arthur
Galbraith, whom we have placed as heir of Maurice (presumably of Culcreuch)
and of Donald of Kilbride; and in this way a direct line of descent from the
original Gillespie Galbraith has been indicated for the Culcreuch family.
It is necessary here to mention a William
de Galbraith, who was alive about the same time as William Galbraith of Gartconnel
(circa 1310-90). This William de Galbraith,
in David II's reign (circa 1360), had a Charter of the lands of Portnellan
in Dumbartonshire, and Buchany in Strathearn. There are several charters in the "Cartularium
de Levenax" witnessed by "William Galbraith," and this is confusing,
as it is impossible to be certain whether William of Gartconnell or William
of Portnellan is referred to.
Gilbert Galbraith14 succeeded William Galbraith
to the lands of Portnellan, appearing frequently in charters between 1393
and 1429; and the family of Portnellan survived for many generations (see
"The Cartulary of Colquhoun," by Wm. Fraser, 1873). That they were cadets of the Culcreuch line
is indicated by a deed before the year 1478, which shows that John Galbraith
of Portnellan held the lands of Kilbride from Andrew Galbraith of Culcreuch
as superior. It is probable that William
Galbraith, who had the Charter of Portnellan in 1350, was a brother of Arthur
Galbraith (circa 1342), and son of Maurice or Donald Galbraith. If it can he taken that this William de Galbraith
was the witness appearing in the Charter by Donald, Earl of Lennox, granting
Ballinkinrain to Cilestine MacAlowne between 1333 and 1364 (see Guthrie Smith's
"Strathendrick," p. 191), and that it was the same William who was
witness in the Charter to Andrew Cunningham (circa 1345)15, of the lands of
Eschend, Garcher and others around Balfron, this, from the situation of these
lands, would support the supposition that he was brother of Arthur Galbraith,
who had witnessed the Charter to Andrew Cunningham of the lands of Kilfasset
and Ballindalloch (circa 1342).
Perhaps this pedigree of the Culcreuch family
between Sir Arthur de Galbraith (circa 1250-1315) and James Galbraith of Kilcreuch
(Dundonald Charter Chest, 1453) may be criticised as being insufficiently
supported by evidence; but it is claimed that a reasonable structure has been
formed which may call for criticism indeed, but which is at least better than
a complete blank against which criticism cannot even be made.
And in addition, should any further evidence come to light in the future,
there is now a plan to which this new evidence can be referred either to support
or to alter.
CULCREUCH. Section II.
As previously stated, James Galbraith of
Kilcreuch is mentioned in the Dundonald Charter Chest (1453), and Thomas Galbraith
of Millig was probably his brother. This
Thomas appears in a deed dated 1441 by Alexander Napar of Edinburgh. In this deed, John Napar of Kilmahew and Thomas
Galbraith are called "dearest kinsmen," (consanguineos meos carissimos)
by Alexander, but what the exact relationship was is not known. This is all the information that call be found
regarding James Galbraith of Kilcreuch and Thomas Galbraith of Millig, but
Andrew Galbraith succeeded to both Culcreuch and Millig, and was evidently
the son of one of them and the heir of both.
We now come to surer ground, for Andrew Galbraith
of Culcreuch appears frequently in writs between 1456 and 1476. Guthrie Smith in his book "Strathendrick"
gives a good sketch of the Culcreuch family from Andrew Galbraith until Robert
Galbraith sold Culcreuch in 1630, and it is not proposed to repeat all that
can be found there. There are, however, one or two omissions which may he filled in.
In 1456, Andrew Galbraith had a Charter from
the Crown of Over Johnstone in Renfrewshire (Exchequer Rolls of Scotland).
In 1466, he is mentioned as one of the heirs of entail in Lord Lyle's
Entail, on the condition of taking the name and arms of Lyle.
As in this deed he comes immediately after Lord Lyle's various children,
it is presumed that the relationship must have been close.
It seems probable that Lord Lyle's mother and Andrew Galbraith's mother
were sisters; and it may be from this connection that Over Johnstone in Renfrewshire
came into the family.
Andrew, before the year 1478, confirmed as
superior a Charter of the lands of Kilbride in Dumbartonshire to John Galbraith
of Portnellan (Cartulary of Colquhoun). He
was still alive in 1475-76. (Protocol Book of Stirling.)
The next laird of Culcreuch was Thomas Galbraith,
who was almost certainly son of the abovementioned Andrew. He appears along with Andrew Galbraith, of
Culcreuch, in the Retour of John, Lord Darnley, in 1473. Then, in 1484, he had sasine from the Crown
of Over Johnstone. He took part in
the rising headed by the Earl of Lennox and Robert, 2nd Lord Lyle, in 1489,
and was taken at Talla Moss in Stirlingshire and hanged. Sir James Balfour, in his "Annals of Scotland," calls
him "Chieffe of the Galbraiths."
His lands of Culcreuch, Mulig, Bannachar and others were forfeited,
but were soon restored to his successor, James Galbraith, who was without
doubt his brother. James Galbraith
had evidently taken part in the rising which had such serious consequences
for Thomas Galbraith; but he escaped, and his name appears in the Remission,
dated 12th February, 1489-90, to Matthew Stewart, son of John, Earl of Lennox,
and many others; and in the following June, 1490, he appears as James Galbraith
of Culcreuch in a sasine to Matthew Stewart of the Earldom of Lennox, the
Lordship of Darnley, and the lands of Galston;
and, again, in a sasine to the same Matthew in the year 1511. He is included as one of the heirs of entail
in a Royal Charter to Robert, 3rd Lord Lyle, in 1495, which would seem to
prove that he was son of Andrew Galbraith, who was in the entail of Robert,
1st Lord Lyle, and, therefore, brother of Thomas Galbraith, who was hanged
in 1489.
James Galbraith had legal proceedings with
Agnes Cunningham, widow of Thomas Galbraith, in 1493. She claimed certain rents from the lands of Over Johnstone, but
the matter seems to have been amicably settled (Act. Dom. Concil). In 1501, he had a fine remitted for not entering
suit for Over Johnstone. He is said
to have married Agnes Colquhoun, daughter of Humrhrey Colquhoun of Luss; this
Agnes marrying secondly the 4th Lord Somerville. ("The Chiefs of Colquhoun."
vol. I., p. 70.)
James Galbraith's eldest son was Andrew,
and, in 1509, there was an infeftment of Andrew Galbraith and Margaret Stirling,
his spouse, in the lands of Johnstone in Renfrewshire, which belonged to James
Galbraith, father of the said Andrew.
This must have been given to Andrew on his
marriage, and when his father was living, since we know that James Galbraith
was alive after 1512.
James
Galbraith had other children-Ñ
Humphrey,
who was at Glasgow University in 1513. He
appears to have been guilty of the slaughter of William Stirling of Glorat
in 1534. He is called "Tutor
of Culcreuch."
Walter
(Reg. Sec. Sig. 1542).
Robert,
married Janet Seyton, 1548, said to be the ancestor of Galbraith of Balgair.
Janet,
who had a charter from Humphrey Colquhoun of Luss in 1536 of the lands of
Garshake.
Andrew Galbraith succeeded his father, James.
He took part in the Battle of Linlithgow in 1526, but had a "respett"
in 1527 for his actions. His son was James, but Guthrie Smith (p. 167)
is in error in stating that John and Andrew were also his sons. Andrew Galbraith of Culcreuch died before 1534,
as in that year his brother Humphrey is called "Tutor," or legal
guardian, to James Galbraith, who was a minor when his father Andrew died.
James Galbraith of Culcreuch married Katherine
Barclay and had a Charter of Confirmation in 1547 of the lands of Over Johnston
to himself and his spouse, having previously had sasine of the same lands
in 1545.
Guthrie Smith ("Strathendrick."
p. 168) is mistaken in stating that this James married secondly Margaret Crawford.
He describes the early life of James as being violent but that a transformation
took place in his later yearÑthat the leopard changed his spots.
Actually, this James was dead before 1573, as is shown by a deed of
that date concerning the lands of Kilbride (Cartulary of Colquhoun, p. 259). It is his son, James Galbraith of Culcreuch,
who married Margaret Crawford and had sasine of Over Johnston in 1575. John Galbraith in Boquhan and Andrew Galbraith
in Gonachan were brothers of this younger James of Culcreuch.
James Galbraith died about 1590 and left
a successor, Robert Galbraith, whose rather turbulent life is described in
"Strathendrick." He was
always in financial difficulties, and, finally, in 1630, had to part with
his paternal estates and sold Culcreuch to Alexander Seton of Gargunnock. He is said to have gone to Ireland, where he
died. He left a very large family,
but it is not known who is the senior representative of this old race.
BALGAIR.
When Robert Galbraith sold Culcreuch in 1630
and departed to Ireland, the Lennox, which had for so many centuries seen
the Galbraiths as possessors of large tracts of land, was now bereft of any
landowner of that name. This does
not mean that there were no Galbraiths left in the district; there were many
cadets of the old family, but they were tacksmen or long lease holders, or
else small proprietors. And so it
remained for nearly fifty years, until in 1687 James Galbraith, "writer
in Edinburgh," bought the lands of Balgair, adjacent to Culcreuch and
part of the old barony of Ballindalloch, which had belonged for so long to
the Cunninghams.
It will, therefore, be interesting to inquire
how this James Galbraith was connected with the old Galbraiths of the district.
In doing this it will, unfortunately, be
necessary to differ in some respects from the views of the author of "Strathendrick."
Guthrie Smith, when writing of the Culcreuch
family, states that the Galbraiths of Balgair probably had as ancestor Robert
Galbraith, a brother of Andrew Galbraith of Culcreuch, and who, in 1548, made
a contract of marriage with Janet Seyton. But in the Chapter relating to Balgair the
Galbraiths in Hill of Balgair are taken as being descended from this Robert,
and no clear descent is deduced for James Galbraith who bought Balgair in
1687. The view now taken is that James Galbraith
of Balgair (1687) was descended from Robert Galbraith, brother of Andrew Galbraith
of Culcreuch, and that the Galbraiths in Hill of Balgair were descended from
John Galbraith in Balgair before 1534, who was an earlier cadet of Culcreuch
(probably a son of Humphrey, a younger brother of Thomas who was hanged in
1489, and of James Galbraith of Culcreuch, 1490).
James Galbraith, writer in Edinburgh, having
bought the lands of Balgair, proceeded to make an entail of these lands.
The substitutes of entail were eight in number, beginning with the
two sons of his cousin, George Galbraith, merchant in Edinburgh, and ending
with his far-out kinsmen, John and George Galbraith, who had a joint lease
for 133 years from 1693 of the Hill of Balgair, or Middle Balgair.
The deed of entail was registered in the Register of Entails in 1706.
George Galbraith, merchant in Edinburgh,
was a son of Mr. John Galbraith, minister in Bothkennar. Mr. John Galbraith and his wife, Katherine
Norvell, had a large family, viz.:ÑJames (also "writer in Edinburgh,''
before 1670 when he died),16 John,
George, Michael, Humphrey (minister at Dollar), and two daughters; but, by
the time of the entail, only the children of George survived. And so we see that James Galbraith, the entailer,
had an uncle, Mr. John Galbraith. He
had also another uncle, Andrew Galbraith, a half-brother of Mr. John, and
father of Hugh Galbraith, the third substitute of entail.
Now, in 1654, Mr. John Galbraith and his
spouse had a tack of Balgair from John Buchanan for all the years of their
lives. The tack was registered in
the Register of Deeds in 1663, after the death of John Galbraith. It is gathered from this lease that Balgair
had been the home of himself and his predecessors for many years.
Since we know that Balgair was occupied by
James Galbraith from before 1593 till 1628 and as we see John Galbraith in
1654 getting a new tack of his old family home for the rest of his life, there
seems to be little doubt that John Galbraith was the son of James Galbraith
in Balgair (1593). And it therefore
follows that the father of James Galbraith, the entailer, was also a son of
James Galbraith in Balgair (1593), and was, evidently, the Robert Galbraith
in Hilton of Balgair, mentioned indeed on page 231 of "Strathendrick"
as a son of James Galbraith in Balgair, but there given, erroneously, as an
ancestor of the Galbraiths in Hill of Balgair.
(It should be noted that Hilton, or Haltoun, was a part of Easter Balgair
and not to be confused with Hill of Balgair. "Strathendrick," p.
30.)
James Galbraith in Balgair (1593) is said,
probably, to be a son of Robert Galbraith, "brother german of the late
Andrew Galbraith of Gylcruuch." This
is evidently correct, and is supported by the following evidence.
James Galbraith in Balgair and Andrew Galbraith in Tomdarroch are mentioned
many times together. They both appear as being implicated along
with others in the slaughter of Robert Lindsay (1533-94) (vide, "Strathendrick,"
p. 232); and again in the Register of the Privy Council there is this entry:ÑCaution
in £2,000 by Robert Galbraith of Culcreuch as principal and Alexander Seyton
of Gargunnok as surety for him (that he would not intercommune with any of
the surname of Buchanan, Macgregor or Macfarlane, fugitives from the laws
for criminal causes). The bond was
presented for registration by Francis Galbraith, "Panniter" to his
Majesty, as procurator for the parties and subscribed at Gargunnok, 18th May,
1593, before James Galbraith in Bolgair, Andro Galbraith in Tomdarroch, William
Galbraith, Steward in Culcreuch, and George Auld, minister and notary public.
Andrew Galbraith married Isabell Cunningham,17
widow of Humphrey Galbraith in Balgair, who had died in 1578 (Testament).
Humphrey Galbraith left a brother, William,
in Wester Balgair, but his own two sons, James and John, were minors, and
when his widow married Andrew Galbraith in Tomdarroch, the occupancy of Balgair
(or Easter Balgair) was given to James Galbraith, who for many years after
was known as James Galbraith in Balgair.
All this points to the fact that James and
Andrew were brothers. But Andrew was
son of Robert Galbraith in Tomdarroch, the brother of Andrew Galbraith, the
laird of Culcreuch, and, therefore, James Galbraith in Balgair was also son
of Robert Galbraith.
To sum up the evidence, it seems clear that
the beneficial occupancy of Balgair, which from before 1534 had been with
John Galbraith in Balgair, and thereafter with his son Humphrey Galbraith
until 1578, passed after that date to James Galbraith, the brother of Andrew
Galbraith in Tomdarroch who married Humphrey's widow, and who was a son of
Robert Galbraith, a brother of the laird of Culcreuch.
Andrew in Tomdarroch and James in Balgair
had probably at least one other brotherÑWilliam Galbraith in Frew. In 1614, there is a summons at the instance
of William Galbraith in Frew against James Galbraith in Balgair for debt.18
James Galbraith was alive on 11th January,
1628, as, on that date, there is a summons by James Galbraith in Balgair against
Andrew Cunningham and others.19 But,
in 1629, in the Register of Sasines for Stirlingshire, there is mentioned
a William Galbraith in Frew, son and heir of William Galbraith in Balgair.
So it seems that James Galbraith in Balgair must have died about this
time, and that his brother William took over the occupation of Balgair.
It is not known exactly when Mr. John Galbraith
had his first tack of Balgair but as noted above he had his tack renewed in
1654.
It is clear, therefore, that James Galbraith, writer in Edinburgh, was closely connected with the lands of Balgair, and was a descendant of the Galbraiths of Culcreuch, and that when he bought this portion