STOCKBRIGGS

STOCKBRIGGS
The residence of Mr Alston - (Click to see larger image)

The writer has not been able to ascertain when this property first came into possession of the family of Whyte, but the Whytes of Stockbriggs axe known to have been cadets of the very old family, the Whytes of Neuk.

About the middle of the seventeenth century, we find Thomas Whyte in possession of the 20s. land of Stockbridges. His eldest son James married Marion Cochran, eldest daughter of John Cochran of Struther, in 1715, and in the same year, his daughter Grizzel married John Brown of Auchlochan.

Thomas Whyte, minister of Libberton, near Edinburgh, was the heir of the former marriage. He was placed at Libberton in 1752, and so arbitrary were the Church courts in this case, that in 1757, he was tried before the General Assembly for going to see the play of "Douglas." In 1789 he died. Four years previously, the estate of Stockbriggs was sold to James Corbett of Kenmuir, near Glasgow, with the exception of Skellyhill, which had belonged to the mother of Mr. Whyte, and which was conveyed to James Whyte of Neuk, under reversion, which declared, that upon any of Mrs. Cochran's grandchildren arriving at the age of twenty-one complete, or their tutors or curators requiring him, he or his heirs should denude or re-convey the said land upon payment of the money advanced and paid. (" General Record of Sasines, Reversions, etc.," Edinburgh, 1768.)

The Rev. Thomas Whyte, minister of Libberton, had five children, who all died without issue. Douglas, the youngest son, a surgeon in the Royal Navy, fell a victim to the plague in Egypt, his intention in going thither being to discover the nature of, and if possible to find a cure for, that fearful malady. So intent was he in the investigation of this subject, that he inoculated himself with the disease, from which he recovered; but having attempted the experiment a second time in the cause of science, he died at Rozetta in 1802. David, his elder brother, was also educated for the medical profession, and having taken the degree of Doctor in Physic, he went to Prince of Wales' Island, and was afterwards garrison surgeon at Canamore, on the Malabar coast, East Indies. His will is dated in 1817, and he died not long after, leaving to the parish of Lesmahagow the sum of £2000, and to the parish of Rosskeen, the birth-place of his mother, an equal sum, the interest of which to be distributed annually in sums varying from £3 to .X5, for " the relief of the most indigent and modest poor; those bearing the name of Whyte or White to be preferred." (Vide Appendix, Note 0.)

After some litigation, Skellyhill and Waterhead became the property of John Brown, Esq. of Auchlochan, in virtue of the contract of marriage before referred to, being heir-at-law to his cousin, David Whyte, the last male representative of the Whytes of Stockbriggs. At an earlier period it is believed that John Cochran of Struther had married Janet Steel, heiress of Skellyhill, who afterwards became the wife of Mr. Whyte of Over Stockbriggs.

In the year 1828, the heirs of Corbett of Stockbriggs sold the estate to John Gibson, Esq., Procurator-Fiscal at Lanark, who soon after disposed of it to James W. Alston, Esq., merchant in Glasgow, the present proprietor. Mr. Alston has erected a. substantial mansion-house, and has very much beautified and improved the estate. The river Nethan intersects the property, and meets the Logan water in a picturesque valley near the house, which is distant about three miles from the village of Abbeygreen.