Lesmahagow

In these distracted periods of Scottish history, when every man's hand was against his neighbour, such entries as the following are common in our criminal records; but the details and extenuating circumstances are always absent. "In 1524, William Were and his nephew, William Were, and two other parties, were 'denounced rebels' for the murder of Mr. James Haliburtone Burgess of Edinburgh." In this case, Weir of Stonebyres became surety for William, his son and heir-apparent, as well as for a younger son, that they should underly the law on fifteen day's warning, for intercommunting, i.e., holding intercourse with Thomas Hamyltoun and William Weir, rebels. ("Pitcairn," i. 126*.) Weir of Stonebyres was murdered by Lyndsay, Rector of Covington in the following year. (Ibid., i. 132*) On August 6, 1526, John Lindesay of Colbyntoune (Covington) was respited for "ye cruel slaughter of William Weir of Stanebyres, committed be way of murther, under silence of nycht, in ye Channonegate of Edinburgh." (Ibid., I 238*.)

A feud existed at one period between the families of Stonebyres and Blackwood. On the 30th April 1587, William Weir of Stonebyres granted his bond of "manrent to the Laird of Blackwood, agreeing to serve under is 'pensall' or banner. This deed has already been referred to under Poneil. The ratification of it by Parliament in 1592, of which the following is a copy, sufficiently indicates its nature. "Our Sovereign Lord the King, understanding that William Weir of Stanebyres, for the assythment and satisfaction of the slaughter of deceased John Weir of Poneill, lawful son to James Weir of Blackwode, and hurting of James Reid, son-in-law to the said James, to the great effusion of his blood, gave his special bond and obligation, obliging him, his heirs and successors in his lands and heritage, in manrent and service to the said James Weir of Blackwood his chief, his heirs and successors in his lands and living of Blackwode, perpetually in all times coming, so long as the house of Blackwood remains, and is enjoyed by the surname of Weir. And that the said William and his foresaids shall take plain part with the said James and foresaids in neighbourhood; as also take ane full, true, and plane part with him and his foresaids in all and sundry his and their actions, quarrels, causes, and criminal business, against whatever person or persons, so far as lies in their power (our said sovereign Lord and abbot of Kelso, his superiorm his own proper and peculiar causes, only excepted), and to await and attend upon the said James and his foresaids, with their servants and tennants, and come under his pensall in time of foreign or civil wars, when the same occur, and shall never 'ken' nor know their hurt of injury in body, goods, lands, gear, fame, and others whatsoever, but shall reveal the same to them, and stop hinder, and 'lett' the same as their own 'skaith' in all time coming, from age to age, during the period above specified as in the bond and obligation granted thereupon, of the date at Stanebyres, the last day of April, the year of God 1587 years, and acted and registered in the Books of Council, and a Decreet of the Lords interponed thereto, upon the 15th day of August 1589 years, is at greater length contained. And our said Sovereign Lord, considering that the foresaid bond of manrent is given for a necessary and good cause, viz., for keeping and holding of the parties therein named, being so near in blood, in perpetual quietness in all times coming. Therefore his Majesty, with the advice of the Estates of this present Parliament, and whole body thereof, ratifies and approves, and for his highness and his successors perpetually confirms the foresaid bond of manrent of service, made and granted by the said William Weir of Stonebyres, for him, his heirs, and successors, to the said James Weir of Blackwood, his heirs and successors, bond and obligation granted thereupon, whole clauses, circumstances, and conditions whatever, specified and contained therein, after the form and tenor thereof, and Lord's decreet above specified, interponed thereto in all points. And wills and grants, and for his Highness and his successors ordains and decerns that the foresaid bond and obligation, and decreet interponed thereto, is and shall be sufficient right and title to the said Lairds of Blackwood and Stonebyres, their successors and posterity, for keeping and observing of the same in all time coming, each one for his own part thereof to others, notwithstanding of any laws, acts, or constitutions previously made to the contrary, appearing to be derogative hereto, concerning which, and all that may follow thereupon, his Majesty, for his Highness and his successors, dispenses for ever" (Act Parl., iii. 624)

This deed demands a few words of explanation and remark. 1st, Weir of Stonebyres clearly admits that Weir of Blackwood was his chief, but whether he did so under compulsitor, and to give a sort of feudal satisfaction to a father, for the slaughter of is son, and as a politic measure to prevent further effusion of blood, or because he was really his chief, cannot now be ascertained. 2d, If, on his decease, Rothald Wer bequeathed his lands of Blackwood and Dermoundston to one of his sons, and the whole of Mossmynyne to another, it is easy to perceive how the parties should have been so "neir in bluid," as the deed affirms them to be. 3d, The recognition of the "King and the Abbot of Kelso," as superiors in 1587, and the ratification of this in 1592, would excite a smile, had not commendators, or laymen appointed to ecclesiastically benefices, been commonly called Abbots, long after the Reformation of 1560. The party here referred to as Abbot, was no doubt the Earl of Bothwell, in virtue of a grant of the barony of Lesmahagow. Bothwell was at same time commendator of the Abbey of Kelso.

In the Roxburgh tax relief roll of 1630, the estates of Blackwood and Stonebyres were nearly of equal value; the former being valued at 21 chalders 14 bolls yearly, and Stonebyres at 21 chalders 8 bolls. In 1631, William Weir of Stonebyres contributed seven dollars to the library of the University of Glasgow.
George Weir of Blackwood's contribution was forty merks Scots. (Mun. Univer. Glas., iii. 470.)

Sir William Weir of Stonebyres was one of the Committee of War for the county of Lanark in 1644, 1647 and 1648. (Act Parl.) IN 1650, he received a testimonial from the Presbystery of Lanark for "his constancy and faithfulness in the Convenant during the time of the unlawful engagement." (Presbytery Records.)

James Weir of Stonebyres was a Commissioner of Supply in 1678. In 1690, the bailie for the time being of Stonebyres had that honour conferred upon him, probably during the minority of the chief of the house. In 1696 and 1704, the "Laird" of Stonebyres was a Commissioner. (Scots Acts of Parl.) He was succeeded by his son, William Weir, in the estates of Stonebyres, which then comprehended, besides what is now known as Stonebyres Estate, Verehills, Greenrig, Taithes, Over Auchinleck or Affeck (now know by the name of Gillbank or Kilbank), Darnfillan, Boreland, Auldton, Hill, Cultershogle, Leelaw, Neuk of Leelaw, Mossminion, Brae, Moat, and Moatyett. (Lesmahgow "Poll Tax Record".) At an earlier period it had embraced Boghill and Bog, Auchren, and other farms. William Weir was succeeded by his brother Daniel, whose successor was his son James. In 1727, James sold Auldton, with consent of his mother (Mrs. Elizabeth Hamilton) and of his guardians, Sir James Lockhart of Carstairs, Bart; Sir W. Gordon of Invergordon, Bart; Mr. William Carmichael of Skirling, advocate; Mr Alexander Menzies of Coulteraws; and Mr William Law of Elvingstone.

James Weir changed the name to Vere. He had two sons, James and John. James, the elder of the two, was a member of Parliament, and by his extravagance involved the estate in debt. He sold Coultershogle to a Mr. Howison. Dying unmarried, he was succeeded by his only child, Daniel, then a minor of between one and two years of age, who was called to the Scotch bar in 1803, and for many years was Sheriff Substitute for the Upper Ward of Lanarkshire. In 1808, he sold Gillbank, including East Taithes, to John Thomson, Esq., merchant in Bristol, who had been born at Gillbank; and in 1810, the estate now known as Verehills was purchased from Mr. Vere by John Inglis, Esq., a native of Lanark, then a merchant in London, in partnership with the late Edward Ellice, M.P. In 1842, the last portion of this once magnificent estate was sold to James Monteath, Esq., of Glasgow, whose representative, Lieut-General Thomas Monteath Douglas, C.B., of Douglas Support, a distinguished Indian officer, now enjoys it.

On the decease of Daniel Vere, Esq., in 1852, it was found by his will that he recognised the Veres of Blackwood as his kinsmen, by bequeathing his vault in the churchyard of Lesmahagow to William Edward Hope Vere, Esq., of Blackwood and Craighall. The tombstone of this deeply respected magistrate and county gentleman bears the following inscription: -

Vero Nihil Verius
DANIEL VERE, ESQ. OF STONEBYRES,
ADVOCATE,
Died in the Faith of the Lord Jesus Christ,
7th February 1852.
INVITA VERUS, VERORUM SANGUINIS ALTI ULTIMUS, HIC VERO
NUNC JACET IN TUMULO : HEC MONUMENTA TIBI,
VERO VIDUATA MARITO CONJUX, HEU VERO
VICTA DOLORE, DEDIT.

The mansion of Stonebyres has frequently been styled the oldest inhabited house in the country of Lanark. It is embraced in the modern arrangements of a superb dwelling-house, erected by the late James Monteath, Esq., from designs by Mr. Baird, architect of Glasgow. The original walls are from eight to ten feet thick, and the ancient banquet