COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 3 



in the American War in General Burgoyne's division 

 in 1777, was taken prisoner and twice wounded. 

 When he retired from the army he sold his com- 

 mission for ^8,000, and bought the farm of Coates, 

 near Charleton, and during the latter part of his 

 life lived at Coates House with his two daughters, 

 Margaret and Catherine. Margaret married General 

 Durham of Largo. 



John Thomson of Charleton, not having given 

 his consent to his daughter's marriage, took care that 

 Colonel Anstruther should have no benefit, and left 

 the Charleton property to his grandson, my father. 

 He also put into his will that any one succeeding to 

 Balcaskie should forfeit Charleton, and that in case 

 of my father dying without an heir, Charleton should 

 go to the second son of John Spottiswoode of Spot- 

 tiswoode. 



My father was the eldest son of John Anstruther, 

 second son of Sir Robert Anstruther of Balcaskie, 

 and took the name of Thomson on succeeding to the 

 estate of Charleton on the death of his mother. He 

 was born in 1776, and succeeded to Charleton in 

 1797. He raised a troop of the Fife Fencible 

 Cavalry, of which regiment his father was Colonel. 

 When they were disbanded the colours were sent to 

 Charleton, where they now are. 



In 1800 he became Major of the Fife Yeomanry, 

 their Colonel being Morrison of Naughton, to whom 

 my father succeeded in command in 1807. He was 

 Master of Hounds for three years (1803-1806), the 

 kennels being at Charleton. He gave the hounds to 



