Mellerstain and the Haitlies thereof. 123 



his father preceded him in the lands, the Haitleys' possession 

 of Mellerstain would be carried back at least to the close 

 of the 12th century. In an inventory of the charters, etc., 

 relating to Scotland, in the archives of Durham Cathedral, 

 concerning the Abbey of Coldinghara, circa 1270, there occurs 

 "Carta Eobert de Hatley de terris in Faunes et Melockstan. 

 William fiilii de ejusdem "—doubtless applying to a son and a 

 grandson of William abovenamed. From that time forward, 

 as far as history lifts the veil, the Haitlies and none others 

 were "of" Mellerstain until after 1625. 



Here it may be convenient to deal with other interests in 

 the barony, the bare narration of which might lead to 

 misconceptions as to the ownership of what we may call 

 Mellerstain proper. The interest of the Haliburtons doubtless 

 originated in the union of Christian de Faunes with Sir 

 William de Haliburton. Of limited extent, it seems to have 

 been partly one of superiority, as in the confirmation charter, 

 circa 1260, before alluded to, and partly one of proprietorship, 

 as when Lord Walter Haliburton {circa 1409) alienates one 

 third of Mellerstain under reversion. That interest shows 

 itself again in 1451, under the hands of John, 2nd Lord 

 Haliburton, and Patrick, his son, and finally in 1539-40, in 

 the person of Marion Haliburton, heir portioner of Patrick, 

 6th Lord Haliburton, and her husband, Lord George Home. 

 The overlords were, successively, the Earls of Dunbar, the 

 Gordons, and the Setons ; the last named, through the 

 marriage of Elizabeth Gordon, daughter and heiress of Sir 

 Adam de Gordon, with Alexander Seton, subsequently Lord 

 Gordon. On the 7th of October 1625, James Haitlie of 

 Mellerstain was served heir to his father in the lands, town, 

 and mains of Mellerstain, with the mills, also in the East 

 half of the town and lands of Faunes. He must have parted 

 with them soon afterwards, for in 1634 Mr William Napier 

 of Wrichthouses was served heir to his father, William 

 Napier, in these lands. 



The Napier's possession was of short duration, for we learn 

 from a retour, of the 3rd January 1665, that Mr Robert 

 Bailie was served heir of John Bailie, eldest son of George 

 Bailie of Jerviswood, his immediate elder brother, in these 

 same lands. In 1690 George Bailie, Mr Robert's son, succeeded 

 to the lands. George's youngest daughter, Rachel, by Lady 



