loo REPORT OF MEETINGS FOR 1901 



Frenchland, in Dumfriesshire, a descendant of the third laird. In 

 1633 he conveyed the estates to George Brown, and the Frenches 

 ceased to be connected with Thornydykes. 



" On 17th August 1403, King Henry IV. of England grants Alexander 

 Franche some tolls of Berwick ; and in 1407 Alexander Franche and 

 his retainer, Herteramus, were both retainers of George, Earl of Dunbar, 

 while in England. This same Alejcandar Franche is evidently referred 

 to by King James I., in a charter of the 18th February 1426, as the 

 grandfather of James Franche. In this charter the king grants to 

 James Franche the land at Ayton, in the barony of Coldingham and 

 county of Berwick, which his grandfather Alexander had forfeited, 

 probably at the same time as the forfeiture of George, Earl of 

 March." 



Robert French, seventh Laird of Thornydykes, succeeded his father 

 Adam. Came into possession of the estates, according to Chancery 

 Books, in 1526 ; found among the barons and lairds of Berwickshire 

 in 1530 ; on 20th May 1538, he is on an assize in apprising lands in 

 Graden, in Berwickshire ; and appears to have died before the 25th 

 January 1548. 



Robert French married Annie Hume, a member of the patriotic, 

 poetical, and religious family living at Polwarfch, near by in the same 

 shire. Her aunt, Margaret Hume, was lady abbess of North Berwick. 

 Her brother Patrick, the 5th baron of Polwarth, left specimens of 

 poetry which seem to have been popular in the court of James VI., 

 to which he was attached. Adam Hume, a younger brother, distinguished 

 by his virtue and probity, was the first Protestant rector of the church 

 of Polwarth. Margaret Home, her sister, married John Baillie of St. 

 John's Kirk, in county Lanark. Her father was Patrick, fourth baron 

 of Polwarth, and her mother Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Patrick 

 Hepburn of Wauchtoun, in county Haddington. 



Among the contemporaries of Adam French (8th laird) in Berwick- 

 shire, in the year 1565, weue the following persons : — 



John Home of Blacater. 

 David Home of Wedderburn. 

 John Lumisden of Blanerne. 

 George Home of Ayton. 

 Patrick Coekburn of Langtone. 

 John Swinton of that Ilk. 

 Alexander Coekburn of that Ilk. 

 John Rantoune of Billie. 

 Pat. Lleigh of Cnmledge. 

 William Chyrnside of East Nesbitt. 

 John Sinclair of Longformacus. 

 Thomas Ridpath of that Ilk. 

 John Haitlie of Mellerstaines. 

 James Ker of Mersington. 



