STONEBYRES, AUCHINLECK, GREENRIG, TAYTHES, AND MOSSMYNYNE.


The estate of Stonebyres, which anciently was one of the most extensive in the parish of Lesmahagow, is now but a skeleton of what it was, even at recent period. From the charters of Kelso it appears that the district, afterwards known as constituting part of Stonebyres Barony, was originally called Fincurrocks or Fincorrokys, although at no period did it comprise the whole of this property, which occupied the bank of the Clyde from the Kirkburn, as the northern boundary of Corehouse, to the junction of Nethan with Clyde, and extended westward until it met the lands which the monks retained in their own hands. In 1160-1180, Abbot John granted to Gilmagu and his heirs a certain portion of Fincurrock, bounded by the march between him and his brother Saludes, and by the swamp (lacum) between him and the monks, and so across from the march of Saludes to the burn Awenhath, and so by the burn Gregeref by the Naithen into Clyde. The yearly payment was twenty shillings, one half payable at the feast of the Holy St. John, and one half at the feast of St. Martin. He and his heirs were to grind at the monk's mill, and receive marriage tax from his people on the marriage of daughters, and to hold a court like William of Ardach, or James of Draffen, or Saludes. (L de Cal., 83, 114)

Abbot Henry in 1208-1218 granted to Gilemor, son of Gilconel, and his heirs, a charter of the lands of Fincurroc. The boundaries are identical, and Saludes is not styled the brother but grand-uncle of the grantee (avunculus patris sui). Gilemor is thirled to the mill of the monks, and has conveyed to him the marriage casualties of his sub-vassals. (Ibid., 79, 108.) Gilemor subsequently added half a silver merk to this yearly feu-duty, on condition that the Prior and monks received him into the brotherhood. (Ibid., 153, 187.)

Abbot Henry, in 1208-18, confirmed to Gilemor, son of Saludes, and his heirs, another portion of Fincurroc, from the point where Pollenoran falls into Clude, up Pollenoran until you arrive at the dry course between Gilbertstoun and Gilmehaguist, and so by the straight marches towards the dry course until you reach the burn, and so up the burn as far as the Black Ford which is in the bog; and by the dry course in the bog to Elwaldisgate; and from a dry course at Elwaldisgate descending to a small burn near Culnegaber; and so by that burn descending to the ditch above the croft of Esbert; and from that ditch by the small stream descending to the great burn of Duuelarg; and by the large burn of Duuelarg up to the ford which is on the road from Lesmahagow to Lanark; and up that road in Dularg to the Slender Cross, and thence to the nearest wall; and by the burn of Ancellet descending into Clyde. The reddendum was twenty shillings; sixteen for feu-duty, and four for perpetual brotherhood. He and his heirs were to grind at the monk's mill, were intitled to receive the marriage casualties of their sub-vassals, but to account for those of their own daughters. And with regard to small questions, such as blodewit and birthensake, to hold a court like James of Draffen or William of Ardach. (Lib. De Cal., 80, 109.) Although impossible to trace with accuracy, it is believed that some of these ancient boundaries do not differ much from the modern ones of the estates of Stonebyres and Verehills. And if "Pollenoran" be received as the burn of Kilbank, "Blackford" as Blackhall, the "dry course in the bog" as the gorge at Bogside between Dillar and Dumbraxhills, and "Ancillet" as the burn at Hallhill, some faint conception may be formed of the grant.

In 1290, Reginald de Corrokys was a sub-vassal of Sir William de St. Clair in the lands of Fincorrokys. In that year, Sir William, as overload, notified to his sub-vassal that he had resigned that lands of Fincorrokys, in the Barony of Lesmahagow, which Reginald held of him, for a feu-duty of three merks annually, until the expiry of the term mentioned in the agreement between him and his father. Reginald is authorised to pay this feu-duty to the Abbey, and not to him. (Lib. De Cal., 165, 198.) Sir Henry de St. Clair in 1315 grants warrant to his baillie in Fincurroc to deliver up these lands to the Abbey of Kelso or Prior of Lesmahagow. (Ibid., 166, 199.)

Abbot John, 1160-1180, granted to Waldeve, son of Boydin, and Abbey vassal, the third part of Auchynlock, with lands, water, and mill, in feu and heritage, paying two shillings and three pence annually, and the increase of a certain pendicle called Cultensegle, which lay between the territory of Douglas and Currock. He was to have easements of wood, like those of the township of Greenrig. He and his heirs were to pay two shillings for a heriot, but no marriage casualties. (Ibid., 84, 115.) Patrick de Auchnlec was witness to a charter in favour of the Abbey, during the period that Walran was Abbot of Kelso, circa 1311. (Ibid., 163, 195.)

In 1266, William, son of Philip de Grenerige, resigned to Kelso his right in the third part of Hautillet, one of he witnesses being Pet, styled "of Grenrig". (Ibid., 166, 200.) In 1311, at the feast of the Passover, Adam de Dowan, senior, resigned to Kelso the whole of Greneryg, on condition that the Abbey should find him maintenance within their house of Lesmahagow, with victuals for one servant, or a certain sum of money. The said Adam undertook to attend the Sheriff-court at Lanark on behoof of the Abbey, and render them all the aid in his power, for which he should receive a robe annually, and a sum of money. When he should no longer be able to attend in court, he should not receive his robe annually, nor a half merk, nor a garment. (Ibid., 164, 196.) Adam de Aghynlek resigned to William of Bolden, Abbot of Kelso, in 1370, the lands of Greynrig and the Taythes. (Ibid., 407, 514), and in 1372 they were re-granted to himself and Margaret, his spouse, on payment of 8s. 9d. sterling annually, payable at the feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist and of St. Martin. (Ibid., 408, 515.)

The first time that the name of Weir appears in the Kelso Chartulary is in a charter above noticed, granted the year 1266, when on Wednesday after the feast of St. Machutus, in the full court of my Lords the Abbot and convent of Kelso, at "Curroc Symonis", (the corehouse of Symon), Philip de Grenrigs resigned to them the right he had in the third part of Hautillet. Witnesses, Thomas, styled Wer, and others. (Lib de Kelso, 166, 200.) Thomas Weir is a witness to the resignation of the same lands in 1307-1311, Walran being Abbot. (Ibid., 163, 195.) Rotaldus or Rothald Wer was seneschal or baillie of Lesmahagow in 1398-1400 (Ibid., 409-517, 413-523); and in 1400, Abbot Patrick executed a charter of resignation in his favour (wherein he is styled "well-beloved and faithful," for his services to the Abbey) of the half of the lands of Blakwodd and Dermoundystoun, with the whole land of Mossmynyne. (L de Kelso, 413, 524.) Rothald Weir appears to the author to have been ancestor of the Weirs or Veres of Blackwood and of Stonebyres. The annual payment to the monks for the lands of Blackwood was 3s. 4d. and for Mossmynyne (Hawksland) 13s. 4d; and although the reddendaor annual or payments are not absolute proofs of original value, as values may have changed, portions of land been sold or acquired, and titles consolidated, yet the fact remains, that in 1696, when the Poll Tax Record was made up, the Weirs of Stonebyres were in possession of Mossmynyne or Hawksland, as well as the original Fincorrokys, Auchinlec or Affleck, Greenrig and Taythes, also, portions of Dowan or Devon, to be afterwards referred to (See "Poll Tax Record") Unfortunately that record is defective, inasmuch as it wants Blackwood barony. Without assuming confidently that Rothald Weir of Blackwood and Mossmineon left one of these properties, viz, Blackwood an Dormiston, to one of his sons, and the other to a younger one, the author may be permitted to state his belief that such was the fact, and thus were founded two great families.

The Weirs took the style of "Stonebyres", most probably when the mansion house was built.