82 Old Hall of Ecclefechan. 



According to the above he would be 22^ years young-er. William 

 Irving (fourth) left a daughter Sarah, who married AVilliam Knox. 

 There is a curious coincidence in the names William and Sarah. 

 Washington Irving's father and mother were William and Sarah. 

 From William Knox and Sarah Irving have descended the 

 Arnotts, present owners of Ecclefechan Hall. We get some 

 interesting information as to the ownership of lands held by the 

 Irvings in Hoddom from an inquiry at Ecclefechan in May, 1743, 

 as to the enclosure of the commons of " Hoddom and Ecclefechan 

 by annexation " before John Goldie of Craigmuir and John Hynd, 

 Commissary Clerk of Dumfries, appointed by the Right Honble. 

 the Lords of Council and Session, whereat " compeared IVilUmn 

 Knox of Kirkconnell, aged fourty-five years or thereby solutus, who 

 being solemnly sworn purged and interrogat as above, Depones that 

 the deceased Sarah Irving, the deponent's Spouse, did in the year 

 1718 with consent of the Deponent dispone to James Douglas of 

 Dornock all and haill the fourty shilling laud of Woolcoats and the 

 fourty shilling land of Albielees, all lying in the parish of Hoddom 

 by annexation, and Depones that at the time forsd. the sd. lands 

 were set for the Rents following, viz., WooUcoats, comprehending 

 Burnswork, and Burnsworklees, three hundred merks Scots, and 

 beside the Tenant was bound to relieve the heretor of all publick 

 burthens, inquisition, and ces.ses Imposed or to be Imposed upon 

 the said lands, and to bring the Grindable corns of the said lands 

 to the Westgill Miln. Also Disponed by the Deponents Spouse and 

 him to Dornock and to pay the multure sequells and all oyr. dutys 

 used and wont to be payed forth of the sd. lands. Item. — The lands 

 of Clinthill, one hundred and thirty-fyve pounds Scots, and the 

 Tenant was obliged to pay the cess or supplie, and to bring his 

 corns to the said Westgill Miln and pay multures yrfore. ///. — 

 The lands of Thompsonstown, a pendicle of the lands so Disponed, 

 payed eighty -four pounds Scots yearly rent, and the tenant paid 

 the supplie and was thirled to the Westgill Miln in manner forsd. 

 That the heretor was bound to relieve the tenant of the lands of 

 Woolcoats and Burnswork of all Ministers and Schoolmasters 

 stipend, teynds, and oys due to them forth of the sd. lands ; but 

 believes that the Tenants of Clinthill and Thompsonstown payed 

 the sd. stipends themselves besides yr. rent, and being further 

 Interrogat Depones that at the date of the forsd. Disposition and for 

 several years afterwards the said Westgill Miln stood upon a part 



