196 The Iuvings of Hoddom, 



age, and died about 1708 oi- 1709. The late Charles Stewart of 

 Hillside, writing- in 1862, " said he had a shadowy remembrance 

 of the tall bent figure of the old cavalier, who was regarded with 

 a sort of romantic respect by our country people, among whom 

 passed many a story of these lairds of Knockhill. Said he had 

 heard especially fi'om old Colonel Carruthers of Denbie, who 

 personally knew the last laird, their extraordinary feats of per- 

 sonal bravery in battle, and also of the remarkable coolness and 

 even jocular hilarity of the last laird when under sentence of 

 death. His good and ladylike widow, who survived him a few 

 years and lived at Bankside, excited the talk of our more bigoted 

 Presbyterians at the scandal of having the burial service of the 

 Episcopal Church (to which she was strongly attached) read by a 

 most worthy Scotch clergyman at her burial in Hoddom Church- 

 yard. The only remnant of this old family that I know of is the 

 proprietrix of Catlinns in Dryfesdale, who is a descendant of the 

 Knockhill of 1715,. The family were distinguished for their fidelity 

 and devotion to the cause they thought right, and for the courage, 

 gallantry, and determination of characters of these Jobnstones of 

 Gimmenbie and Knockhill." 



In 17 94 Andrew Johnstone was entered in the list of 39 

 Volunteers from Hoddom. Charles Sharpe, D.L., signed the 

 declaration first and Johnstone second. The list was also signed 

 by Wm. Bell-Irving of Whitehill. Andrew Johnstone died in 

 1798 or 1799, and was interred in Hoddom Churchyard. I regret 

 I have not been able to find his tombstone. There is a very old 

 aisle called Knoc khill aisle on the south side of the church, which 

 appears to have been built against the wall of the old church 

 pulled down in 1816, and shewn upon the photograph which 

 accompanies this paper. The Jobnstones may have Ijeen interred 

 there, but there is no inscription of the name. The Scott family 

 is buried there. The masonry of the aisle indicates a much older 

 date than the beginning of the 1 9th century. It is probable that 

 the Johnstones' stones have been covered up. 



I have not been able to trace the history of John Brown (the 

 Frenchman) and Margaret Johnstone. There may be some of 

 their descendants living. 



After the death of Andrew Johnstone, Knockhill was sold to 

 Mr Lascelles, a member of a Yorkshire family, who appears to 

 have got possession at Martinmas, 1801. He does not appear to 



