PONEIL AND FOCKERTON

The superiors of Kelso, from time to time, granted portions of what is now the parish of Lesmahagow to various individuals, retaining other portions in the hands of the priory, to be cultivated by their own husbandmen.   A large portions of the lands was, however, granted to to vassals of the abbey.   Thus, Arnald, who became Abbot in 1147, granted to Theobald the Fleming, for two merks annually, certain lands belonging to them, called in the heading of the deed "of Duneglas", in the deed itself, "terran supra Dunelglas cum divisis," bounded as follows, viz, From the source of Polnell, as far as the water of Duglax; and from the source of Polnell beyond the broad moss to Longfau, from thence to Hirdelau, thence to Thievesford in Mosminin Elcorroc, and to the Long Blackford, as the road runs, even as far as Crossford.  The lands are to be heldin feu and heritage with mills, waters, and pools, in wood and open, in meadows and pastures, and all other easments. (L. de Cal. 78, 107).

The remarkable fact connected with this deed is, that Duneglas or Douglas should have found a place in it, the lands being all within the parish of Lesmahagow.

1st, from the source of Poneil to the water of Douglas, would make the stream or rivulet of Poneil the southern boundary; 2d, The source of Poneil when restricted to beyond the broad moss, would probably indicate that it was not meant to ascend Poneil water further than the source of  Sadlerhead burn, the "broad moss" being most probably Coalburn and Fauldhouse "flowemosses", 3d, Longfau has in all likelihood been the original name of the modern Fauldhouse, and Hirdlaw that of the pasture of Brokencross moor, a common which is now divided, but which was herded in common until within half a century.  There is a Hirdlaw on the outskirts of Moat property, which, it is known, was reclaimed from the Brokencross moor.   Thievesford, also called Shieldknowe, is a farm on the Corehouse estate, recently united to Wellshields, and is in Mossminin El Corroc (Corehouse), Mossminin being the name by which Hawksland or Tenpound-land was generally known until within a century.  The Long Blackford has been supposed by some to have been near to Blackhill of Stonebyres, and Crossford to be the modern Nethanfoot; but the writer, after careful and minute research, is inclined to think it not improbable that both places were on Douglas water, but within the parish of Lesmahagow.

Upon this charter, Chalmers, in his "Caledonia" (vol. i., p 579, and iii, 723), has founded the argument that the origin of the Douglas family is pointed out, although somewhat inconsistently, their possessions were not in Douglas, but in Lesmahagow barony.  The farm now know as Poneil, in Douglas parish, is not even included.  On the contrary, the stream of Poneil and its tributaries in the parish of Lesmahagow were the southern boundaries, and the land stretched northwards into the   interior of the parish of Lesmahagow for a considerable distance.  The subsequent charters throw some faint light upon this transaction; e.g., in 1160-1180, and eighth part of Corroc (Corehouse) is granted to Waldeve, son of Boidin, the reddendo being half a merk, and the increase of a   certain pendicle of the land called Cultersegill, "which lies between the territory of Duglas and Corroc". (L. de Cal., 81, 111.)  This is easily understood, in a rough way, on the supposition that the Douglas territory extended to the parish of Carmichael, or even to the lower part of the moden parish of Douglas.  That the grant to Theobald the Fleming did not appl to Folkarton, appears from a charter of date A.D. 1208-1218 (L. de Cal., 78, 106), by Henry, Abbot of Kelso, to Richard, son of Solph of "Folcardistune, which his father and his ancestors had possessed."    In 1269, William, styled of Folkardston, son and heir of Adam, styled of Folkardston, granted a charter to the Abbey of Kelso, proceeding on the narrative that Adam, his father, had unjustly detained that pendicle in the holding of Lesmahagow, which is called Pollenell, and which of right belonged to the Lord Abbot and Convent of Kelso, for which illicit detention and occupation, the said Adamlay under a sentence of excommunication before he left the ancient kingdom of Scotland; which sentence extended to all who held converse with him, and assisted in holding the lands of Pollenell; wherefore, the said William, wishing to avoid this sentence, and to free the soul of his father from the same, acknowledged and confessed that he had no title to these lands, which he renounced and resigned in the hands of Henry, Lord Abbot, for the use of the Monastery. (L. de Cal., 154, 189.)  It is here stated, that the lands of Pollenell belong not to the Douglas family as heirs of Theobald the Fleming, which the author of "Caledonia" would have desired, but to the Abbot of Kelso and Convent, and that William of Folkardston resigned them for the use of the Monastery.

In the following year, 1270, Henry, Abbot of Kelso, granted to William de Douglas, knight of Douglas, the lands of Poneil, in life-rent, with the pertinents, for his faithful counsel and assistanc and fatherly protection, he paying to the Priory of Lesmahagow two pounds of wax annually, on the feast-day of St. Machutus, in winter, in name of reddendo and recognition.   The charter was granted at Glasgow on the morning of the feast of the purification of the Blessed Virgin, in full Justiciary Court.   In it we recognise a grant to one of the Douglas familly, but there is not the vestige of proof that he was a descendant of Theobald the Fleming.  Had he been in hereditary possession, how differently would the charter have been expressed.

(Lib. de Cal., 168, 202.)

We have already seen that Abbot Henry granted to Richard, son of Solph, the lands of Folkardistoun (Folkarton), as they had been held by his father and ancestors from the Monastery of Kelso.  In 1240, Adam de Folkarton was witness to a charter granted by Richard Bard ( Baird ?), in favour of the Priory of Lesmahgow. (Lib. de Cal., 149, 181)  He was succeeded by a son William, before A.D. 1269, who still laid claim to Folkarton; and in 1295, a litigation was going on between him and the Abbot of Kelso, before the Rector of Yetham, as commissary for the Abbot of Dumfermline, in the church of St. James at Roxburgh.  On that occassion, Brother John of Roxburgh, the procurator for the monks, made oath, but William, although often requested by the judge, expressly refused to do so; therefore, the judge, to proceed regularly, fixed a day on which he should appear and make oath, otherwise the course and order of the law would be followed.  (Ibid., 169, 203.)  The litigation probably terminated in his favour, for Sir Alexander Folkard, who is presumed to have been his descendant, attested one of the charters of the Priory about 1311. ( Ibid., 163, 195)  In 1315, there was exhibited to Robert, Bishop of Glasgow, by the Prior and monks of Lesmahagow, an affirmation by Sir Alexander Folkard, that they are bound to deliver to him 10 chaldrons of oatmeal, which he asserted were sold to him by Thomas de Durram, and Englishman, formerly Prior of that place, and paid for.  It was stated that in the agreement there are penalties for non-delivery, applicable to the fabric of the church of Glasgow.  The Bishop, considering that the said Englishman bore the name of the Prior of Lesmahagow, and of the goods of Kelso by usurpation, remits the said penalties, and declares that they shall never be demanded at the suggestion or on the assignation of the said Knight, his executors and heirs, or of anyone else.  (Lib de Cal., 154, 188)  In 1316, the deed already quoted, 1270, was exhibited to the Abbot of Melrose, and declared to be neither cancelled, recalled, abolished, or vitiated.

In that year (1316), there was a dispute between Kelso and Sir Alexander Folkard, as to the tenement of Polnell, in the barony of Lesmahagow, which Sir Alexander claimed as his inheritance.  It was arranged at Mossemynyn, on the Monday after the feast of St. mark the Evangelist, same year, " by the intervention of discreet and faithful men", on the following terms : Sir Alexander acknowledges that the only right he had to the lands was one of life-rent ; 2d, The reddendo was nine merks yearly, which had not been paid for nine years, and the convent claimed the arrears, but for the sake of peace, and at the instance of Sir Alexander's friends, they remitted the same graciously, with the exception of twenty merks; 3d, Sir Alexander having alleged that the land was destroyed by war, and that he could not pay nor even raise the full feu-duty of nine merks, the Abbot agreed, during the five following years, to remit three merks yearly.  (Ibid., 158, 191.)

Towards the end of the fifteenth century, the lands of Folkarton appear to have been held by two brothers and their respective spouses.   On the 27th October 1484, the Lords of Council order John Symonton of that Ilk, to deliver to Robert Folkart, and Katharine his spouse, and to Adam Folkart, and Beatrix his spouse, the letters of tack and bailyery, which they previously made to him, of the lands of Folkartown, because it is proved before the Lords, that he promised to deliver the same for the sum of £5, which they paid to Margaret Bait for him, and at his command.  (Act of the Lords of Council.)  Robert Folkart died previous to October 23d, 1488, for on that day a decreet from the same tribunal was obtained by Adam Folkart, and Beatrix his spouse, against Alexander Folkart, for the wrongous occupation and manuring of the lands of Netherhal (near Harperfield), during the preceeding six years, and uplifting the rents thereof during the aforesaid period extending yearly to 20 merks, and for the wrongous occupation of Eastertown of Folkartown, and the uptaking of the profits thereof during the six years previously extending to 40 bolls of meal, and for withholding the profits and grist of the mill of Folkartown for the space of six years, extending yearly to 24 bolls of meal.  Against William Folkart, for the wrongous occupation of 40 shillings worth of the said lands, for six years bygone.  Against John Inglis and his son, for the wrongous occupation of 6 merks worth of the said lands, called the Rhyill, during the preceding three years.  Against Patrick Folkart, for the occupation of the town of Folkartown, and uplifting the mails thereof for three years, extending yearly to 40 shillings yearly.  (Ibid., 91.)  It is probable that Katharine either had disposed, or was on the point of disposing of these lands, as the name of Sir William Knollis, commander of Torphichen, has been originally inserted among the pursuers, but afterwards erased.  From certain proceedings before the Council in 1495, it would appear that Sir William had about that time acquired a title to the other half.  On the 19t October in that year, William Murray, advocate for Beatrix Folkart, who appears by this time to have become a widow, presented himself before the Lords of Council, and protested, that seeing the said Beatrix required a venerable father in God, Robert, Abbot of Kelso, overlord of the lands of Folkartown, that he should receive no resignation, nor give infeftment of the half of the lands of Folkartown to no manner of persons, and if he did, that it should not affect her right or that of her heirs.  On the same day, William, Lord of St John's (i.e. Sir William Knollis, who was entitled to this designation as commander of the preceptory of Torphichen, the highest office among teh knight's templars in Scotland), protested that seeing Beatrix Folkhart admitted that she would raise impediments against him anent that half land of Folkartown, that he might have her condemned in the penalties she was under to him, and asked a note, which my Lord of Kelso admitted he had received a resignation of the said lands.  (Ibid., 393.)    An arrangement between parties was subsequently made, as Abbot Robert of Kelso confrimed to James Carmichael of Balmady, and Elizabeth Folkart his spouse, the lands of Folkartown, which had been resigned in their favour by Robert de Knollis de Torphin (Torphichen), having been held by him in heritage, with the right of hawking, fishing, hunting, peats, stone, and lime, manufactories, malt-kilns, breweries, and broom (or breweries of broom), for payment of 2 silver merks.  (Lib de Kelso, 426-533.)  This deed bears date 20th October 1495.  All trace of the Folkharts is lost after this, and in 1628, by special inquisition (159), John Menzies of Castlehill, was served heir to his father in the lands of Folkartown.  In 1680, they were valued in the Earl of Roxburgh's relief roll at 7 chalders, 8 bolls of victual.  William Menzies was served heir to John, his father, in 1650.  In the Session Records of the parish there appears the following entry : July 30, 1651 :- "The whilk day, the ministers and elders being convended, divers citations of the gentlemen did unanimously design to William Menzies, tutor of Fokartoun, in name of his pupil the Laird of Castlehill, and the cadents, 20 foot of the churchyard, in lenght and breadth on the south side, to be a burial place to them, giving them full power to separate it with a dyke from the rest".  He was succeeded by his son William, about 1688, who became Captain Menzies, but dying without issue, was, circa 1697, succeeded by his paternal uncle, William Menzies, Esq., Writer to the Signet.  The Poll-tax Records of Lesmahagow, date 1696, refer to the roll of the deceased William Menzies.  His possessions were Hallhill, Barnhill, Eastertown, Blacklandyet, Tower, Ridshead, Netherhall, Hillhouse, Mitchland, and Brocketshole.  At that period, Mr Kennedy of Auchtyfardle was proprietor of the following farms in Fockartown :- Fockarton Miln, Ryhills, Seggiholm, Bellieshole, Dindiving, Blackhouse, Syde, and Raw.  After this period the whole of Folkardtown was acquired by the Duke of Douglas, and is now possessed by his representative the Countess of Home.

Let us now return to Polnele or Poniel, which is so much mixed up with Folkarton in early times.  It is probable that on the forfeiture of the estates of the Douglas family in 1455, the monks of Lesmahagow would claim possession of their ancient land of Polnele within the parish, and when the barony of Douglas was restored to George, fourth Earl of Angus, in 1457, the farm of poniel, on the south side of Douglas water, would pass with it, while Poniel quarter, being within the parish of Lesmahagow, would not be included in the restoration.  All traces of the monk's possession are lost, but the Weirs of Blackwood had obtained possession of it towards the close of the sixteenth century.

In 1587, William Weir of Stonebyres gave his bond of man-rent "anent the slaughter of the deceased John Weir of Poneill, son lawful of James Weir of Blakwode, and hurting of James Reid, son-in-law to the said James, to the great effusion of his blude."  In 1636, Master Walter Weir was served heir to his father, Master William of Poniel.  Poniel, which was a five merk land, was afterwards acquired by the adjoining proprietor, Lockhart of Birkhill.  In what precise year Birkhill was acquired by him is not known, but in 1644 John Douglas of Birkhill was on of the committee of war for the country.  (Act Parl., vi 132.)  And in 1656, William Douglas of Birkhill's name appears in the Session Records.  There is extant a charter by the superior, George Weir of Blakwode, with consent of William Lawrie, his father in favour of Robert Lockhart of Birkhill, "of the lands of Pouneill, Birkhill, and Grafthill", dated 1665.  (Kerse Charter Chest.)  He was a younger son Stevin Lockhart of Wicketshaw, in Carluke parish, and a zealous Covenanter.  He fought at Bothwell Bridge, where he had a horse shot under him, and avoided capture by concealing himself among the branches of a tree.   His friends, who were debating about singing a psalm, were taken prisoners.   Lockhart was forfeited, but the attainder was annulled by the general Act of 1690.   In 1696, his son William was served heir to him in the 40s. land of Birkhill, the 6s. 8d. land of Grafthill, and two merk land of Fauldhouse and Helsbyk, part of the £20 land of Fockertoune.  (Spec. Inquis., 430.)  Mr Lockhart built a house at Fauldhouse but took his style from Birkhill.  In 1764, during the minority of William Lockhart, afterwards General Lockhart, and John Lockhart, afterwards the Rev. Dr Lockhart of Glasgow, there was a discreet of sale of the land of Birkhill, and the 6s. 8d. land of Grasshill, in favour of Thomas Tod, writer in Lanark, acting for creditors.   The lands of Birkhill were almost immediately afterwards sold to Mr Fullarton of Carstairs and subsequently to Mr Marshall of Chapelton.  The lands of Fauldhouse were purchased by John Smith, Esq., the grandfather of the present proprietor, and the lands of Westown of Poniel, by James Greenshields, Esq. of Auchinhestening, in Dumfriesshire, a native of Lesmahagow, whose representatives is John Greenshields of Kerse.