Annals of Colinsburgh Author:Robert Dick Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. TEbe jfounber. Balcarres branch of the Lindsay family was J. founded by John Lindsay, the second son of David, ninth Earl of Crawford. He was ... more »commonly known as "the Parson of Menmuir," as he possessed the revenues of the rectories of that and other parishes. Having studied law, he became one of the Lords of Session before he was thirty years of age, taking the title of Lord Menmuir; and having married the widow of the Lord Advocate, he obtained with her possession of the lands of Balcarres. In 1585 he purchased Bal- niel, which had belonged to the Ramsays of Lumbanny since 1484, which was then held under King James the Third for the payment of fourpence yearly or a pair of gloves.1 In the seventeenth century the lordship of Balcarres included the lands of Balniel, Balcarres, and Mill of Balcarres, Nether Cummerlands, Balboothie, Easter and Wester Pitcorthie, Balmakim and Nether Rires. At that time farm rents were generally paid in kind, with also in most cases a small money payment besides.For instance, in 1614 the rent paid by George Fleming for Balbuthie was 34 bolls of bear, 39 bolls oatmeal, 39 bolls oats, "but the chirritie,"1 and 40 poultry cocks and hens. A century later, when Alexander Symson was tenant of the same farm, he paid as rent 66 bolls of good and sufficient bear, 60 bolls oatmeal, 40 bolls oats, 30 threaves of bear straw, two dozen capons and six dozen poultry. The rents of the other farms about the year 1700 may also be given here. Wester Pitcorthie was 168 bolls of grain, 60 threaves of straw, twelve dozen poultry, and £20 Scots. Easter Pitcorthie was then let to two tenants, the rent of each half being 84 bolls of grain, five dozen capons and fowls, 30 threaves of straw, and £10 Scots money. Balniel was rented at 48 bolls grain, six doze...« less