peeblesshire-1967-vol-1/03_045

Transcription

INTRODUCTION: GENERAL

side of the burgh of Peebles. The family property was considerably extended during the 16th
century, ultimately including, among other possessions, the lands formerly belonging to St.
Leonard's Hospital at Eshiels. In 1635 James Hay of Smithfield, who had been a member of
James VI's household in London, was created a baronet of Nova Scotia. Thereafter he fell
heavily into debt, leaving a burdened inheritance to his successor, and the estate was broken up
during the second half of the 17th century, some of the property passing to the Hays of Hays-
toun; in the absence of male heirs the baronetcy became dormant. Andrew Hay, Writer to the
Signet, the founder of the Haystoun line, was a grandson of John Hay, 1st of Smithfield; he
acquired the lands of Henderstoun, about a mile south of Peebles, and re-named them Hays-
toun. These lands, together with some neighbouring properties, were erected into a barony in
1643, but the estate went on expanding during the time of John Hay, 2nd of Haystoun, who
was also responsible for carrying out alterations to the mansion-house (No. 563). The family
continued to prosper during the 18th and 19th centuries, and in 1805 a successful claim to the
dormant baronetcy of Smithfield was made by James Hay, whose direct descendant, the pre-
sent holder of the title, now resides at Haystoun.
The most notable family in the eastern sector of the county were the Stewarts (or Stuarts)
of Traquair whose progenitor, James Stewart, a son of the 1st Earl of Buchan, received a grant
of the property from his father in 1492. During the 16th century the family played little part in
national affairs and their domestic history was uneventful, but they quickly rose to prominence
during the reign of Charles I. John, 7th of Traquair, an active supporter of the Crown, was
created Earl of Traquair in 1633 and became Lord High Treasurer of Scotland three years
later; his later political career was less successful, however, and he died in poverty. The 2nd
Earl made a Catholic marriage and thereafter the family maintained their allegiance to the
Roman church despite sporadic persecution, which culminated in the sacking of Traquair
House in 1688 (cf. p. 322). Their strong Jacobite sympathies brought further difficulties upon
them, during the 18th century and the later Earls lived for the most part in retirement, either
upon their estates or abroad. On the death of the 8th and last Earl in 1861 the estate passed to
the Maxwells of Terregles who assumed the name of Stuart by virtue of their descent from
Charles, 4th Earl of Traquair.
The Peeblesshire connections of the Douglases of Morton seem to have originated in the
early 14th century when they acquired rights and property in the parish of West Linton. Their
original holding was consolidated and extended by grants of lands in other parts of the county,
and in 1383 the West Linton properties, together with the lands of Newlands, Kirkurd and
Lochurd, were erected into a free regality in favour of Sir James Douglas, 1st Lord Dalkeith,
whose grandson was created Earl of Morton in 1458. The most notable member of the family
was James, 4th Earl of Morton, the builder of Drochil Castle (No. 498), who was successively
Chancellor, Regent and Lord High Admiral of Scotland before his sudden downfall, and
subsequent execution and attainder on a charge of high treason in 1581. After the reversion of
the attainder in 1586 the earldom passed to another branch of the Douglases, and the family
fortunes were temporarily restored by William, 7th Earl of Morton, a staunch supporter of
James VI and Charles I and Lord High Treasurer of Scotland from 1630 to 1636. In 1631 this
Earl sold all his Peeblesshire estates to Sir John Stewart, afterwards 1st Earl of Traquair, who
eventually succeeded Morton in the office of Treasurer.

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