110 Transactions. 
13th Nov., 1698.—That the officer have 14 pence for the grave- 
making and ringing the bell at burials throughout the whole 
parish, except at the Bridgend and Troquire, which shall pay but 
10 pence. 
This hand-bell was rung through Troquire and Bridgend ‘each 
Sabbath morning when there is sermon as usual.” 
Then in 1716 it is called Troquier toun. 
26th August, 1716.—The Session, understanding that William 
Edgar in Troquier toun did last Lord’s day after sermon, at the 
church door and toun of Troquier, warn shearers in Brigend and 
toun of Troquier to repair to the Mains of Terregles to begin 
shearing on Monday and following days ; and considering that 
this was no work of necessity, but a breach of the Lord’s day, 
they appoint the officer to summon the said William Edgar to 
compear before them the next day of Session. 
Then in 1754 here is an extract from a title deed for a small 
bit of land on the Troqueer road, which reveals a busy village or 
kirk town of which no vestige now remains, and the very 
description of it is in the names of places that are completely 
changed :—‘“ Three roods of land called Clerk’s Croft in parish of 
Troquire, near to the church of the said parish at the south end 
of the toun or village called Troquire, bounded betwixt the 
King’s High Street going from the Brigend of Dumfries to the 
said kirk of Troquier, and on the south by lands called the Short 
Butts.” 
Here, then, along what is now called the Troqueer road was 
the old village of Troqueer, with its Short Butts near to the Moat 
hill for the practice of archery under old Scotch statutes, which 
required them to be set up in every parish near to the Parish 
Kirk. In the 18th century it would be as a mere pastime—to 
recall old times, ‘short butts” for the young, and “long butts Y 
for grown-up persons 
and at a later period probably to practice 
musketry for more serious purposes than mere pastime. 
Then there was the village green, still called the Pleasance- 
There was a place called the Bilbow, with a park, houses, barns’ 
and barnyards, where the villa of Ashbank now stands. It was 
a rural village or kirk town, with its population ploughing, 
sowing, reaping, and also gathering the produce of their orchards 
and gardens. One may still have a faint glimpse of what it was 
by standing in summer within the Troqueer road entrance to 
Rotchell Park, and seeing the remains of old orchards and 
