The Book of Dumbartonshire Volume 2; A History of the County Burghs, Parishes, and Lands, Memoirs of Families, and Notices of Industries Carried on in (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1879 Excerpt: ...purpose of clearing up this point the duke illustrative of this subject will be found in caused the wreck to be examined by several the memoir of the letter published by the divers, who found the hull of the vessel still Surtees' Society, p. 118. ton, resigned his lands of Glen, with certain tenements in the burgh of Dumbarton, in favour of his cousin, Tobias, and his heirs male, whom failing, to himself and his heirs male. Soon afterwards, however, Cunningham of Gilbertfield instituted proceedings, showing that John, Tobias, and William, the persons specified in the destination, had all died without male heirs; and that the estate, in consequence, lapsed to the Crown. It was thereupon bestowed by the King upon Captain Robert Cunningham of Gilbertfield, who was infeft on a Crown precept, 26th March, 1603. The only known interest Cunningham had in instituting the proceedings which led to this grant, arose from the circumstance that his relative, Elizabeth, was married to John Smollett, a natural son of James of Over-Kirkton. Upon the acquisition of the property referred to in the deed executed by John Smollett in 1600, Cunningham of Gilbertfield gave infeftment to this natural son John, and Elizabeth his wife. On the death of Tobias Smollett at Glenfruin, the five pound land of Kirkton and Clerkhill fell into the hands of Margaret Smollett, and her husband, James Bontine of Succoth. The Crown precept in favour of Gilbertfield narrates that neither John, Tobias, nor William left male heirs; and, considering the nature of the plea set up, it is certainly singular that any son of John, who executed the conveyance, should be overlooked. Yet this appears to have been done. In the Council Records of the burgh of Dumbarton, 7th August, 1638, there is created a burg...