The Irvings of Hoddom. 191 



JOHNSTONES OF KnoCKHILL — 1§65-1799. 



In 1665 the estate of Knockhill was sold by John Irving of 

 Whitehill to George Johnstone, a writer in Edinburgh, after 

 having been in the possession of the Irvings for 116 years. 

 George Johnstone was described as son to Andrew Johnstone of 

 Lockerbie, and said to be a descendant of the Johnstone, probably 

 a grandson, who fought so bravely at Dryfe Sands (6th Dec, 

 1593), Avhose wife was said to have killed Lord Maxwell. George 

 Johnstone, before he acquired Knockhill, appears to have been 

 the owner of Gimenbie. In Dryfesdale old churchyard there lies, 

 or did lie, a flat antique gravestone on which may or might be 

 deciphered the name " Johnstone of Gimenbie," dated about 1680, 

 and adjoining the old aisle belonging to the Johnstones of 

 Lockerbie. This William Johnstone acted as second to his chief, 

 Sir James Johnstone of Loch wood, on th§ occasion of a hostile 

 meeting between him and Lord Maxwell on the summit of Croch- 

 mede, a ridge between Annandale and Nithsdale, in 1608, when 

 Sir James fell by the hand of Lord Maxwell, who is said to have 

 shot Sir James in the back with a pistol while the preliminaries of 

 the duel were being arranged. Lord Maxwell fled from justice, 

 and was tracked by William Johnstone through Holland, Den- 

 mark, and Norway, and back to the North of Scotland, where he 

 was taken and subsequently tried and executed in the Grass 

 Market of Edinburgh for the crime. 



The stone containing mucli of the above was there in 1775, 

 but has long since disappeared. In some documents it is said the 

 Lord Maxwell who was killed at the battle of Dryfe Sands fell in 

 combat with this same William Johnstone, but this is not certain. 

 This same family of Johnstone subsequently lost Gimenbie and 

 Millantae, which they also had, and acquired Knockhill. 



George Johnstone was described in the disposition as a son 

 of Andrew Johnstone of Lockerbie. He married Isabel Weir, 

 daughter of Archibald Weir of Edinburgh and Elizabeth Hamilton, 

 in 1670. Issue of said marriage, Andrew Johnstone. 



George Johnstone died two years after his son was born, and 

 his widow Isabel Weir married John Stark of Killearmont. 

 Isabell Stark, a daughter of this second marriage, married John 

 Irving of White Hill. Aftdrew Johnstone was therefore her half 

 brother. 



