176 Memorials and Reminiscences of Hobkirk. 



Unthank was granted a remission, among others of the clan, 

 for their treasonable airt and pairt and assistance given to 

 Alexander Lord Home and his brothers. In 1-586, amongst 

 the roll of defaulters who refused to compear before the 

 justiciary courts, we fiad Archibald TurnbuU of Unthank. In 

 1643 Eobert and David TurnbuU were joint proprietors of 

 Unthank. 



At the commencement of the eighteenth century Gilbert 

 Elliot of Stonedge, a cadet of the house of Stobs, was in 

 possession of the estate, which was valued at £66 ISs. 4d. 

 Scots. Gilbert sold it to Thomas Scott, at that time proprietor 

 of Stonedge and tenant of Wauchope under Lord Cranstoun. 

 The lands of Unthank appear, like many other properties at 

 that period, to have been entirely uninclosed. Mr Scott, who 

 was a great improver, fenced the estate all round with a turf 

 dyke, on which was planted a double thorn hedge, with a 

 row of Beech trees at intervals between. Many of the Beeches 

 are now of a great size; one of them measures 10 feet in 

 girth, at 4 feet above the ground. 



Before 1778 the lands of Unthank were sold to the 

 proprietor of Wolflee ; at that period the tenant appears as 

 Andrew Oliver. He was succeeded as tenant by the Rev. 

 John Riccalton, minister of the parish, who for some time 

 farmed the lands. Unthank was afterwards advertised to 

 to let, along with Wester Soneshiell and some other places 

 in the neighbourhood. A person of the name of Thomas 

 Veitch became tenant of the lands. Unthank was subse- 

 quently divided between Hartshaugh Mill and the small 

 farm of Biacklie Mouth, and part of it was laid out in 

 strips of plantations. 



The old place of Unthank stood on a commanding situation 

 on the left bank of the Rule, a short way above the public 

 road, in the field which still goes by the name of Unthank. 

 Before the present road was formed, the old road to the 

 kirk and mill entered from the manse and passed a little 

 to the west of Unthank, traversing the upper parts of the 

 parish, and passing Appotside to the south-west. During 

 the last quarter of the eighteenth century there were four 

 indwellers at Unthank and also a 'smiddie,' and Thomas 

 Scott was blacksmith. A story used to be told, in relation 

 to Unthank smiddie, of a person named Hobbie Elliot, who 



