Lesmahagow

HARPERFIELD

This property is situated in the eastern district of the parish of Lesmabagow, at the junction of the rivers Clyde and Nethan. There is reason to believe that Harperfield once formed part of the Corehouse estate, but at what precise period it was disjoined has not been ascertained.

In 1662, John Menzies of Harperfield was excluded from the general Act of Indemnity until he paid a fine of £1000 Scots. (Act Parl., vii. 422.) John Menzies was served heir to his father in 1671, in the £4 land of old extent of Harperfield, in the lordship of Torhouse (Corhouse), in the barony of Lesmahagow. In 1692, decreet of constitution was obtained before the Commissioners of Edinburgh, at the instance of Sir James Carmichael of Bonniton, against John Menzies of Harperfield, and decreet of adjudication followed thereon in 1694. William Somerville of Corehouse, as superior of Harperfield, confirmed the foresaid adjudication in 1695. It is thought, however, that a difficulty had arisen with the Duke of Douglas about some portion of Harperfield, and a precept of clare constat by the tutors of that nobleman and other deeds having been lost, decreet of proving the tenor was obtained at the instance of the deceased John Hamilton, grandfather of John Hamilton, designated late of Allarshaw, against Archibald, Duke of Douglas, of the foresaid precept, sasine thereon, charter of adjudication, confirmation by William Somerville of Corehouse in favour of Sir James Carmichael, sasine thereon, and a disposition of the said lands, granted by Janet Cunningham, spouse of Alexander Macmillan, W.S., in favour of the said deceased William Hamilton of Allarshaw, dated 1722. Mrs. Henrietta Baillie was heiress to her father, Sir James Carmichael of Bonniton. She married Robert Dundas, Esq., and with consent of trustees, conveyed Harperfield in 1784 to John Hamilton, designated late of Allarshaw. A general retour in favour of John Hamilton followed in 1749, and subsequently instrument of resignation, novodamus by James Somerville of Corehouse, and other technical steps. In 1755, the property passed into the hands of Michael Cochrane, merchant in Lanark, by purchase. In 1766, he sold it to Robert Carmichael, youngest son of the then deceased Thomas Carmichael of Eastend. From him it was acquired by William Gordon of the Middle Temple, London, one of the family of Pitlurg, in Aberdeenshire, and from him it descended to his nephew, the late Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon, also of the Pitlurg family.

The estate of Harperfield is now in possession of Colonel Gordon's son, a colonel of the Royal Engineers, who earned for himself an European reputation by his skilful management of the " Gordon batteries" during the Crimean War. The library at Haxperfield is extensive, and contains many rare works. The Gordons of Harperfield were connected by marriage on the female side with the ancient and noble family of Hyndford, whose title is now extinct