110 Trmisactions. 



13th Nov., 1698. — That the officer have 14 pence for the grave- 

 making and ringing the bell at burials throughout the whole 

 parish, except at the Bridgend and Troquire, which shall j)ay but 

 10 pence. 



This hand-bell was rung through Troquire and Bridgend "each 

 Sabbath morning when there is sermon as usual." 



Then in 1716 it is called Troquier toun. 



26th August, 1716. — The Session, understanding that William 

 Edgar in Troquier toun did last Lord's day after sermon, at the 

 church door and toun of Troquier, warn shearers in Brigend and 

 toun of Troquier to repair to the Mains of Ter regies to begin 

 shearing on Monday and following days ; and considering that 

 this was no work of necessity, bat a breach of the Lord's day, 

 they appoint the officer to summon the said William Edgar to 

 compear before them the next day of Session. 



Then in 1754 here is an extract from a title deed for a small 

 bit of land on the Troqueer road, which reveals a busy village or 

 kirk town of which no vestige now remains, and the very 

 description of it is in the names of places that are completely 

 changed : — " Three roods of land called Clerk's Croft in parish of 

 Troquire, near to the church of the said parish at the south end 

 of the toun or village called Troquire, bounded betwixt the 

 King's High Street going from the Brigend of Dumfries to the 

 said kirk of Troquier, and on the south by lands called the Short 

 Butts." 



Here, then, along what is now called the Troqueer road was 

 the old village of Troqueer, with its Short Butts near to the Moat 

 hill for the practice of archery under old Scotch statutes, which 

 required them to be set up in every parish near to the Parish 

 Kirk. In the 18th century it would be as a mere pastime — to 

 recall old times, "short butts " for the young, and " long butts'' 

 for grown-up persons — and at a later period probably to practice 

 musketry for more serious purposes than mere pastime. 



Then there was tlie village green, still called the Pleasance- 

 There was a place called the Bilbow, with a park, houses, barns' 

 and barnyards, where the villa of Ashbank now stands. It was 

 a rural village or kirk town, with its population ploughing 

 sowing, reaping, and also gathering the produce of their orchards 

 and gardens. One may still have a faint glimpse of what it was 

 by standing in summer within tlie Troqueer road entrance to 

 Rotchell Park, and seeing the remains of old orchards and 



