- Beatfrdu, Baitford or Boatford
- The writer of the article “Morton,” in
the Statistical Account, says: - “Douglas, Earl of Morton, was
proprietor of the whole parish, with the exception of the Mains of
Morton, lying north-west of the castle, which belonged to James Douglas,
Laird of Morton. The last of this family was Captain James Douglas, who
died at Baitford, Penpont, about the beginning of last century. The Earl
of Morton sold his whole property and interest in this parish to Sir
William Douglas of Cashoggle, who erected a house a little south of
Thornhill, where he sometimes resided; but the Earl of Queensberry
having obtained from Cashoggle all his lands, as well as the lands of
Morton Mains from the other family, and being lord of the regality of
Hawick, he obtained authority to translate that regality to Thornhill in
1610, and called it New Dalgarnock.” (Page 95.)]; he had acquired right
to another third from Margaret, her elder sister, with consent of her
husband, the Duke of Chatelherault; and he was also heir apparent of the
youngest and only other sister, who died childless.
- The following were recorded in the 1841 Census, Parish
of Penpont, County of Dumfries (Reg. 845):
[ 9] Hellen Christie, age
63, born Scotland - BAITFORD aka BOATFORD COTTAGE -
[10] David Douglas, age 20, (Agricultural Lab.) - BAITFORD COTTAGE -
[11] Mary Douglas, age 20 -BAITFORD COTTAGE -
[12] Catherine Martin, age 75 - BAITFORD COTTAGE -
[13] James Douglas, age 40, (Agricultural Lab.) - BAITFORD COTTAGE -
[14] Jean Douglas, age 40 - BAITFORD COTTAGE -
[15] Jean Douglas, age 05 - BAITFORD COTTAGE -
[16] Samuel Douglas, age 09 - BAITFORD COTTAGE -
[17] Sarah Douglas, age 13 - BAITFORD COTTAGE -
[18] Bartha Ross, age 85, born Scotland - BAITFORD COTTAGE -
[19] Margaret Kirkpatrick, age 15, (Servant) - BOATFORD [sic] -
- "The History the Douglas Family" by Adams mentions lots of this
dealing and includes an interesting snippet about William Douglas of
Baitford (Penpont), tried for killing James Douglas of Killevarren in
1603. He was convicted of other crimes in 1610, sentenced to be hung,
but somehow cheated the gibbet and still owned the Kirklands of Tynron
in 1660/8. This is typical of feuds amongst the large families of the
area.
In the same book, it is recorded that David Douglas of Baitford's
ancestry is unknown, though the family is said to be descended from George
Douglas, 3rd son of the Lord of Drumlanrig who was killed at
Lochmaben in 1484. But as
Robert Douglas, Provost of Lincluden, is recorded as being the grandfather
of William Douglas of Baitford, who is known to be the grandson of David
Douglas of Baitford, there is some confusion. David Douglas of Baitford is
known to have had a brother, James. David married Marion Maitland, sister
of John Maitland of Auchingassil, and had in addition to his eldest son
James, two sons Robert and John., and some un-named daughters.
??? Douglas of Baitford died in July 1574 and was succeeded by his son
and heir, James Douglas of Baitford, who has 3 brothers, Archibald, Robert
and George. Also perhaps John in or of Craigmoy. There was also a sister
who married John Maxwell. James was succeeded by William Douglas of
Baitford, the murderer, who married Agnes, daughter of 8th Lord Maxwell,
by Lady Elizabeth Douglas.
- in 1585, James Douglas of Baitford signed a charter, referring to
Robert Douglas, Provost of Lincluden
- In 1636, William Douglas of Baitford seems to have acquired lands
from James Douglas of Morton. An Alexander douglas, WS was involved.
- Robert Douglas of Baitford, married Marion MacGill, as her second
husband, the daughter of Reverend Francis MacGill, (d. 28 Feb 1664)
Minister of Kirkmichael and Garrel.
- Alexander Douglas of Baitford WS married 2ndly Agnes Laurie after
1641, having had three children by a previous marriage, Agnes, Robert
and William. His first wife was possibly Agnes Pringle.
- Extract from the History of Dumfries
* In the Scottish Nation,
vol. iii., p. 208, it is stated that the title was taken from the
lands of Mortoune, in the parish of East-Calder, Mid-Lothian ; but it
is far more probable that it was derived from the old Castle of
Morton (once the seat of Dunegal), in the parish of that name,
both of which were conferred on the Black Douglas when he married
the Princess Egidia. The writer of the article "Morton," in the
Statistical Account, says: — "Douglas, Earl of Morton, was
proprietor of the whole parish, with the exception of the Mains of
Morton, lying north-west of the castle, which belonged to James
Douglas, Laird of Morton. The last of this family was Captain
James Douglas, who died at Baitford, Penpont, about the beginning
of last century. The Earl of Morton sold his whole property and
interest in this parish to Sir William Douglas of Cashoggle, who
erected a house a little south of Thomhill, where he sometimes
resided; but the Earl of Queensberry having obtained from
Cashoggle all his lands, as well as the lands of Morton Mains from the
other family, and being lord of the regality of Hawick, he
obtained authority to translate that regality to Thomhill in 1610,
and called it New Dalgamock." (Page 95.)
- ...James Douglas of Baitford, now callit of Pinzerie ...
- William Douglas of Baitford, fl 1636, married Agnes Maxwell,
daughter of the 8th Lord Maxwell.
The story is told differently; this from "Chronicles of Lincluden, as
an abbey and as a college"
In the way just explained the family of Douglas of Baitford or
Pinzerie, descended from George, third son of Sir William Douglas of
Drumlanrig, became connected with Lincluden College. The relationship
brought about a melancholy episode in its annals, the particulars of
which we must now put on record. On the 2d of April 1603 a contract
of marriage was entered into between Agnes Maxwell and William
Douglas, heir-apparent of Baitford, with con- sent of her brother
John, the ninth Lord Maxwell, Provost Douglas, liferenter of Lincluden,
and James Douglas, feuar thereof, the father of the bridegroom ; they
obliging themselves to make over to him, and the heirs born of the
marriage, the " haill temporality " of the College. Young Douglas, or
Pinzerie as he was usually styled, was no fitting match for a daughter
of the house of Max- well. Though of high descent and with brilliant
worldly prospects before him, he degenerated into a thorough vagabond,
figuring at times as a common housebreaker, at others as a treasonable
emissary, and filling up his cup of guilt with sundry deeds of
blood that brought ruin in their train.
And in "A history of the house of Douglas from the earliest times down
to the legislative union of England and Scotland", Herbert Maxwell.
Of another Douglas who obtained an interest in Lincluden during
Provost Robert's lifetime it profits not to say much. William Douglas
younger of Baitford or Pinzerie was a grand-nephew, some accounts say
a son, of the provost. Anyhow, he proved an unmitigated ruffian,
though he married Agnes, sister of John, 9th Lord Maxwell, showing
that his position was such as should have saved him from bringing his
name into utter degradation.
In I610 this William Douglas, being feuar of Lincluden in right of his father, James Douglas of Pinzerie,
was arraigned before the High Court of Justiciary upon a " dittay
" containing many counts : first, that in company with John
Cunninghame his servant, and about a score of " deboischet " men, he
dragged out of his house at the Brigend of Dumfries one Thomas Softlaw,
a burgess, and slew him ; second, that at the same place, but on
another occasion, he set upon and slew Edward Maxwell of Cros-
toun ; third, that when Greir, a swordslipper, one of his accomplices
in the last-mentioned crime, had been " tane with the bludie hand "
and lodged in prison, Douglas broke the prison, released Greir, and
carried him off to his house of Lincluden ; fourth, that when Lord
Herries attempted to carry out the Council's order for the arrest of
Douglas on account of his association with a proclaimed rebel and
murderer, Robert Lord Maxwell, Douglas violently resisted, and with
his servants drove Herries and his men out of Lincluden ; and lastly,
he was charged not only with common and habitual theft, but, although
" ane landit gentilman," with housebreaking and theft in the place of
Greenlaw, the property of his cousin, William Douglas of
Drumlanrig, then Provost of Lincluden.
Provost Douglas was justly
indignant with his dis- reputable relative, and vowed he would have
young Pinzerie drowned, or at least driven out of the country.
Pinzerie, realising that he had gone too far, resolved to throw
himself on his kinsman's mercy, and a pretty picture has been
preserved of his going to Greenlaw so early in the morning that the
Provost was still " lyand in his bed, and Penzerie, pulling off his
breikis and schankis,i fell down upon his bair knees before the
Provost, craving God and him for pardoun and forgiveness." Perhaps the
Provost would have winked hard and let the culprit escape ; but the
arm of the law was stronger than of yore. Pinzerie was tried
before the Justice-depute, and, albeit there were two of the name of
Douglas among the jury of fifteen, he was con- victed on all the
counts. Thereafter he was taken to the Mercat Cross of Edinburgh,
where first his right hand was struck off as a penalty for theft, and
then this inglorious Douglas was hanged on a gibbet.-
The following may have been employed on the Dalgoner estate in 1851:
• David Douglas, age 20, (Agricultural Lab.) - BAITFORD COTTAGE -
• Mary Douglas, age 20 -BAITFORD COTTAGE - • Catherine
Martin, age 75 - BAITFORD COTTAGE - • James Douglas, age 40,
(Agricultural Lab.) - BAITFORD COTTAGE - • Jean Douglas, age 40 -
BAITFORD COTTAGE - • Jean Douglas, age 05 - BAITFORD COTTAGE -
• Samuel Douglas, age 09 - BAITFORD COTTAGE - • Sarah
Douglas, age 13 - BAITFORD COTTAGE • Bartha Ross, age 85, born
Scotland - BAITFORD COTTAGE - • Margaret Kirkpatrick, age 15,
(Servant) - BOATFORD [sic] - • Hellen Christie, age 63, born
Scotland - BAITFORD aka BOATFORD COTTAGE -
See also:
• Ratification to
John Murray of Lochmaben and [Sir Robert Gordon], laird of Lochinvar
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