140 On Armorial Searings, Sc. By Walter Laidlaw. 



are two roe bucks) and the motto " Forward." Lord Jedburgh 

 died on 4th August of the same year in which he presented the 

 bell, and is buried with his forefathers in the North Transept of 

 Jedburgh Abbey. As he died without issue, the title devolved 

 on AVilliam, eldest son of Robert, fourth Earl of Lothian. 



There is a stone of much interest still preserved at Ancrum 

 House built into the front north wing. Although the house has 

 been twice destroyed by fire — first on 2nd Deer. 1873, and again 

 on 21st Feby. 1885 — the arms are most complete. On the stone 

 are two shields, on which are the arms of Eobert Kerr and his wife. 

 The inscription is "Robert Kerr and Isobel Home founder 

 and completer anno 1558." Robert Kerr of Ancrum was the 

 third son of Sir Andrew Kerr of Fernieherst. The arms above 

 mentioned are referred to in a letter by Sir AVilliam Kerr to Sir 

 Robert Kerr, 5th November 1631. He writes, "I send wt him, 

 also the breadth and length of the stone wt the armes is over 

 Ancrame gate, and what is carved and written on itt." Between 

 the years 1660 and 1670, the propeiiy of Ancrum passed from 

 the Kerrs to the Scotts. It had been in possession of the Ken- 

 family for at least 1 30 years, and the title continues to be borne 

 by the Lothian family. 



Nisbet being the birth-place of Samuel Rutherford, the eminent 

 Scottish divine, I went to the Kirkyard to look for any inscription 

 that wonld give me information about his family, but I found 

 none. On the back of a stone erected to the memory of a family 

 of Rutherfords were the words, "The ancestors of those whose 

 names are recorded here were Tenants in Nether Nisbet, and lie 

 interred in this place for nearly 800 years." 



The arms of the Royal Burgh of Jedburgh are ' ' Gules on a 

 horse saliant argent furnished azure a Chevalier armed at all 

 points grasping in his right hand a Kynde of Launce, (called the 

 Jedburgh staff) proper, — the motto in ane Escroll, " Strenue et 

 prospere,' as registei'ed in the Lyon Office without date." Above 

 the arch leading to the Churchyard and facing the Market Place 

 of Jedburgh, are the arms of Jedburgh, date 1720. On the 

 opposite side is the date 1764. 



When taking a rubbing off the two bells for the meeting, -I 

 found the rubbing off the alarm bell rather difficult to 

 make out, and therefore I got a cast taken. The inscription 

 is "Campana: Beate : Margajiete : Yirginis." I have already 

 referred to the inscription on the other boll. 



