I^HE bOifS OF SMAILHOLM. BY C. B. BALFOtJR 85 



Mammalia, frequenting the marginal thickets of these lakes, 

 and hunted by Neolithic man, or wolves, frequently found a 

 tomb beneath their water-logged moss, and yielding marly 

 alluvium. 



The Dons of Smailholm. By C. B. Balfour, Esq. 



On page 302 of Vol. xiv. of the Transactions of the Berwick- 

 shire Naturalists Club, I gave an account of the Dons of Newton 

 Don, incidentally mentioning the Dons of Smailholm. 



Through the courtesy of Major Scott Kerr, Grenadier Guards, 

 of Sunlaws, I have recently had access to the papers of Major 

 Don of Smailholm, which are in his possession, as the represen- 

 tative of Alexander Scott, the nephew and heir of Major Thomas 

 Don. 



These papers enable me to give a somewhat fuller account of 

 this branch of the Don family. 



I. James Don, of Smailholm, brother of Alexander Don, the 

 first baronet of Newton had issue. 



(i.) Alexander Don, described as " fatuous" in the decreet 

 of ranking of the creditors of the deceased Major Thomas 

 Don in 1742. He was left by his father an annual income 

 of 800 merks, secured on Smailholm. From the same 

 decreet it appears that he died in 1738, at which time 3^ 

 years annuity, from Whitsunday, 1735, to Martinmas, 

 1738, was due, and was claimed by, and adjudged to, Dr 

 Alexander Scott, and Walter Scott, his nephews, and next 

 of kin ; also, from the same papers, it appears that he left 

 a will, confirmed at Kelso, March 28, 1741. 

 (ii.) Andrew Don, who succeeded his father, 

 (iii.) Thomas Don, who succeeded his brother Andrew. 

 (iv.) Margaret ob. s.p. 1731. 



(v.) Christian, who is correctly stated in the Don pedigree 

 to have married William Scott of Thirlestain. The 

 marriage took place in 1684, and William Scott and 

 Christian Don had issue. 



(i.) Alexander Scott, M.D., who succeeded to the estate 

 of Thirlstain, and, along with his brother Walter, to 

 whatever of their uncle's, Major Thomas Don's property 

 was not swallowed up by his creditors. He married 



