Thk Ihvings of Hoddom. Id9 



of the Estate of Dornock, another debt due out of the lands of 

 Cocket Hill being- part of the Estate of Rumraerscales, another 

 due to me out of the Estate of Knockhill, another due to me out 

 of the Estate of Castlebank ; as also a debt due to me by John 

 Carruthers of Holmains. another due to me by Bonshaw, and 

 another due to me by Janet Knox of Kirkconnell." 



His heirs were also " to erect a handsome monument upon 

 " the graves of John Irving and Isobell Stark, my father and 

 mother." 



"After the death of Thomas Bell his son, William Bell, 

 assumed the name of Irving, and ever since the family name has 

 been Bell-Irving." 



The Bells, known as the Bells of Milk, were for generations 

 settled on the Water of Milk, and Will Bell, the son of Thomas 

 Bell and Mary Irving, who assumed the name of Bell-Irving, was 

 the grandson of George Bell of Stronds (now Milkbank), Skelly- 

 holme (now Glenholm). and Bankside. Agnes Irving- married 

 John Carruthers of Braes, her daughter married John Carruthers 

 of Denbie, and their son. Colonel Carruthers, afterwards succeeded 

 to their property. 



The close relationship between the Johnstoues and [rvings 

 led to a long law suit between the lairds of Knockhill and White- 

 hill as to the division of the property, Whitehill having a claim of 

 over £4000 on Knockhill. The matter was not finally arranged 

 until 1794. 



About the beginning of the 19th centurj' Knockhill was 

 occupied by a Captain William Ogle, son of Henry Ogle of Causey 

 Park, a scion of the ancient noble family of the Ogles of Ogle in 

 Northumberland. The then John Bell-Irv-ing, father of the 

 present laird, married Miss Margaretta Ogle, hence the introduc- 

 tion of the name Ogle into the Whitehill family. 



The following Genealogical Tree will illustrate the previous 

 notes : — 



