On Bon Chester, Rule Water. By Walter Deans. 95 



Memories" omits mention of the Scotts of Bonchester, although 

 he glances at the Scotts of Wauchope, and dwells at length on 

 other branches of the name. 



At the time of the division of Bonchester, much of the Nether 

 estate would be clad with old forest relics, principally birch, hazel, 

 sloethorn, and 'hackberry'; while whin and briar, and broom 

 would monopolise the haughs ; for at that period most of the 

 cultivation was confined to the higher grounds. With the im- 

 provement of agriculture, Nether Bonchester would become much 

 enhanced in value. The Scotts of Bonchester were said to have 

 been descended from a branch of the Harden family. In 1 600, 

 James Scott of Bonchester is mentioned in a title-deed as having 

 been in possession. He was succeeded by Thomas Scott, who 

 had a number of transactions with John Kerr of Grange, in 

 Abbotrule, in the year 1631 to 1633, relative to feu duties. In 

 1643, Nether Bonchester was valued at £180 Scots. Thomas 

 Scott died in 1680, and was succeeded by his son, Walter Scott, 

 who was born in 1650. A brother of his, George Scott, appears 

 on the list of those proscribed in 1684 for Nonconformity. 

 Walter Scott died in 1733, at the age of 83 years. His remains 

 had the use of the Hoblcirlc Parish new mort-cloth. 



"1733, May 20th, </\ven in for ye use of ye moar cloth to Netherbon- 

 chesters corps, 17 shillings Scots/' 



Walter Scott left two sons, Walter and John. W f alter succeeded 

 to the estate, but unfortunately John took part in the Eebellion 

 of 1715, and was taken prisoner ; and being afterwards tried, was 

 sentenced among several others to banishment to America. On 

 landing, Scott, and his fellow convicts were sent to labour at 

 a Government building, when the following singular occurrence 

 and meeting took place. One day as Scott was heaving up stones 

 to the masons, the wife of the Governor, who happened to be 

 standing near recognised Scott, and slyly remarked ; " 7'hat stane 

 wad row easier doon Bunestir hill, than up there." The Governor 

 having recently been married, and no one knowing anything of 

 the antecedents of his wife, Scott was questioned on all hands as 

 to her former position, but his only remark was, that all he could 

 tell them was, that for every one at her back now, she had ten at 

 her tail when he last saw her ; the occasion being when she was 

 whipped at the tail of a cart through the streets of Hawick. 

 This politic reply of Scott soon brought a change for the better in 

 his condition and prospects. Tie was relieved from further 



