86 THE DONS OF SMAILHOLM. BY C. B. BALFOUR 



Barbara Ker of Frogdean, and was father of William 

 Scott Kerr of Sunlaws and Chatto, and ancestor of the 

 present Major Eobert Scott Kerr of Sunlaws and Chatto. 

 (ii.) Walter Scott. 

 II. Andrew Don, succeeded his father in the estate of 

 Smailholm. The statement in Erskine's Annals and Anti- 

 quities of Dryburgh, 1836, p. 216, that Alexander Dickson 

 built Smailholm House ; and that the letters a.d. 1706, over 

 the door, probably refer to him, must, I think, be incorrect. 

 Andrew Don appears in the old minute book of Freemason's 

 Lodge Kelso, No.58,in 1704, as Andrew Don " of Smalholm;" 

 another name in the list of the same date being his brother- 

 in-law, William Scott " of Thirlestone." Again, on St. 

 John's Day, 1705, when " Wm. Scott of Thirleston" was 

 elected master, and The Laird of "Smailholm" treasurer, 

 of the Lodge. On St. John's Day, 1706, Andrew Don of 

 Smailholm was continued treasurer. 



As Andrew Don did not die till 1720, it is clear that he was 

 owner of Smailholm at the time the initials were placed over 

 the door, and that they are therefore his, and not those of 

 Alexander Dickson. I believe the date to be 1707, not 1706. 

 He died s.p. leg. 1720, but left two natural daughters — 

 Elizabeth and Isobel Don — on whom he settled certain 

 sums of money. The former married about 1748, George 

 Pow, carpenter in London. 



IIb. Thomas Don succeeded his brother Andrew in the estate 

 of Smailholm, but sold it in 1731 to George Baillie of 

 Jerviswood. He was a Major in the Scots Fusiliers at the 

 time of his death, which took place at Drogheda, while 

 serving with his regiment, in December, 1736, or January, 

 1737. It appears from his papers that he was alive on 

 Dec. 27, and that the inventory of his effects was taken on 

 Jan. 6. He was buried at Drogheda, on Jan. 5. It is 

 evident from his papers that he was in financial difficulties 

 at the time of his death. 



Referring to the account of the Dons of Newton, above 

 alluded to, on p. 302, there is an obvious error as to the wife of 

 Alexander Don, first of Newton, which, by reference to page 295, 

 should be '* Isobel Smith," and not " Bessie Linn." 



