64 Transactions. 



Dumfries, as the said Seasine of the 26th day of October, 1629 

 years bears. 



" Ane Disposition made and granted be John Maxwell of 

 Gribtoun, heritable proprietor of the Malt INIilne and others 

 therein specified, and Jean Richardson, his spouse, to and in 

 favors the Provost, Baillies, Councill, and Community of tlie 

 burgh of Dumfries, &c., All and hail the malt milne per- 

 taining heritably to the said John Maxwell, bigged and con- 

 structed upon the Sandbeds at the east end of the bi'idge of 

 Dumfries, witli the milne houses, waters, water-gangs, damms, 

 with the tliirled and astricted multures, sucken sequels, and hail 

 pertinents thereof whatsomever, ifec, as the said Disposition, 

 of the date the 25th day of October, 1630 years beai-s." 



There is anotlier Deed among tlie Town's papers, which, so far 

 as I am aware, has not been before referred to, and it supplies 

 the link which directly connects the Mill and the Church. It is 

 in Latin, and is endorsed in an old hand on the back — " William, 

 Lord Hereis, instrument of Seasing the Sandbed Mill of Dumfries," 

 and dated 10th November, 1589. From this document we learn 

 that Lord Herries acquired the Mill from the Rev. Thomas 

 Maxwell, who was the last Vicar of Dumfries. 



The following is a full outline of the text : — "Herbert Raining, 

 one of the Bailies of the Burgh of Dumfries, as representing the 

 Superiors of the burgh-lands — the Provo.st, Bailies, Council, &c., 

 of Dumfries — grants Seisin to the Reverend Maister Thomas 

 Maxwell, Vicar of Dumfries, and his heirs and assignees, All 

 and whole the under written portion of the said foreshore, or 

 river bank, which forms an integral portion of the common lands 

 of the Burgh of Dumfries. The date of the Charter granted 

 Maister Thomas being at Dumfries, 20th March, 1588, granting 

 him Seisin of a portion of those burgh-lands, commonly known 

 and described as the Over Sandbed, upon the water shore or 

 bank of the river Nith there adjoining, &c., and hard upon the 

 stone bridge of the same river, &c., extending longitudinally as 

 far as the contiguous gable wall of the house, which has been 

 built upon the same river-shore, or bank, and which is the pi-o- 

 perty of Maister Homer Maxwell [Here the pertinents are 

 described in terms similar to those before quoted from Sir John 

 Maxwell's Disposition] in feu and heritage, the said Thomas to 

 pay merks, usual money of Scotland, by equal portions, 



at two terms of the year, at the Feast of Pentecost and Martin- 

 mas, in name of feu-farme. 



