134 A Covenanter's Narrative. 



James Grierson was married thrice. His first wife was 

 Ag-nes Johnston, by whom he had three children, WilUam, 

 James, and Rosina. His second wife was Agnes, daughter 

 of James Grierson of Penfillan, the second son of Thomas 

 Grierson of Barjarg,^ by Robina, daughter and heiress of John 

 Kirkpatrick of Braco,^ Agnes was the widow of John Kirko of 

 Sundaywell.^ The issue of this second marriage, which took 

 place about 1643, was a daughter — Helen. 



Dalgoner's third wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Robert 



7 Thomas Grierson of Barjarg is mentioned in 1557 (Fifteenth 

 Report of the Historical MSS. Commission, 1897, App. Pt. VIII., 

 p. 74: MSS. of the Duke of Buccleugh and Queensberry preserved 

 at Drumlanrig Castle), and again in 1585 (Folio Acts, iii., p. 370). 

 In 1587 the Earl of Morton granted a charter in his favour (Register 

 of Great Seal); and later we find notices of him (Pitcairn, op. cit., 

 i., Pt. II., p. 298; Beg. of P.C, v., p. 89) and of his sons, Thomas 

 and James (Beg. of P.C, v., pp. 74, 424, 768., viii., pp. 398, 446). 

 Thomas the elder's wife was Helen Crichton, as appears from her 

 son Thomas' service in 1617 (Inquis. Spec.). 



8 By charter, dated 24th February, 1543, WiUiam, Abbot of 

 Crossraguel and Perpetual Commendator of the Monastery of Holy- 

 wood ("■' sacri nemoris "), granted the six merk land of Bracoch to 

 John Kirkpatrick of Alisland and the heirs male begotten of him 

 and Egidia Grierson, his wife, deceased. A charter, dated 31st 

 August, 1555, of the same land was granted in favour of Robert, 

 son and heir male of John Kirkpatrick and Egidia, his wife, befoz'e- 

 mentioned. (See Fifteenth Report of Historical MSS. Commission, 

 sapr. cit., App. Pt. VIII., p. 73. This report at pp. 69-70 contains 

 an interesting account of the history of the Monastery.) From a 

 sasine in certain rights in the mill and multures of Closeburn in 

 1570 we learn that Robert had two sons — John and James. Lastly, 

 we find a tack of teind sheaves, dated 7tli July, 1602, in favour of 

 John Kirkpatrick of Braco. 



9 " There is a very general tradition that some centuries ago 

 three brothers named Kirk despatched one Culton, a notorious 

 robber who infested Gleneslin, which was then surrounded by forest, 

 and that, as reward for their action, the reigning monarch granted 

 to each of the brothers respectively the properties of Sunday well, 

 Bogrie, and Chapel. The spot where Culton was slain is still pointed 

 out, and called ' Culton's nook.' It is in the vicinity of the farm of 

 Chapel, but within the borders of Glencairn parish. . . There 

 are two old square towers still standing in the upper part of Glen- 

 eslin, and on opposite sides of the glen, at a part where it contracts 

 to a narrow pass. The names of the two towers are Bogrie and 

 Sunday well." (Neyi Statistical Account of Scotland, Edinburgh, 



