On Bonchester, Rule Water. By Walter Deans. 97 



Mr Scott left a family of four sons and one daughter, some of 

 whose descendants still survive. 



During Mr Scott's incumbency at Southdean, he is said to 

 have had an encounter with a ghost, the circumstances of which 

 are still handed down by his descendants in truth and verity. 

 One evening as Mr Scott was riding home from a meeting of 

 Presbytery accompanied by two other reverend brethren, on 

 nearing the manse, there passed close by them, a figure on horse- 

 back, so real yet unearthly, that they felt in a manner paralysed 

 and unable to speak. They had not gone far, when the figure 

 and horse were seen coming towards them the second time, and 

 repassing so close as to be distinctly visible to all the three. Mr 

 Scutt then remarked, " did I not know that he was tying on his 

 death-bed, I would say that was the Abbot (meaning Mr Kerr 

 of Abbotrule), if he comes again I shall strike him with my 

 whip." Very soon the figure passed for the third time ; but when 

 Mr Scott raised his whip to strike, he felt his arm fall powerless 

 by his side. On reaching the manse, they related the occur- 

 rence ; but so much were they unnerved and terror-stricken, that 

 it was sometime before they could speak. The death of Mr Kerr 

 was intimated at the manse next morning ; it having taken place 

 as near as they could judge at that very moment his wraith 



The old house of Nether Bonchester was situated in a wet 

 hollow, above the bank, a few yards below the garden of the 

 present farm-house. A portion of it was standing about 50 years 

 ago. It was two stories in height, and appeared to have been 

 built with clay mortar. When taken down about a hundred 

 years since, the doors and flooring were partly utilised for one of 

 the cottages at Bridge-end. The doors were of red Memel and 

 heavily panelled. 



After the estate had been acquired by Mr Oliver, great improve- 

 ments were initiated; a stone bridge was thrown across the Rule, 

 and the new road conducting to Newcastle was formed through 

 the vale ; the cottages at Bridge-end were also erected, with the 

 exception of the public-house, which had been built some years 

 before by Mr Chisholm of Hobsburn. This had been originally 

 intended for a house and joiner's shop, but was subsequently 

 converted into a public-house, and was tenanted by Robert 

 Turnbull, one of the old Turnbulls of the Rule. The well culti- 

 vated haugh of the indwellers of Bridge- end was at the time when 



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