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Some Historical Notes on the Church and Barony 

 of Linton in Teviotdale. By Rev. James Fleming 

 Leishman, M.A. 



The Church and Barony of Linton in Teviotdale, to revive 

 an ancient and picturesque title, first emerge into the clear 

 light of history in the reign of William the Lion, when 

 William de Somerville conveys three acres of land, "in villa 

 de Lintan,"''^ tithe free, to the church of St. Kentigern in 

 Glasgow, with consent of Edward, the then Rector. 



This ancient Norman race of Somervilles, whose peerage is 

 now extinct, played an important part in our early annals. 

 According to Chalmers, the original immigrant from Nor- 

 mandy to England was Walter de Somerville, who came with 

 the Conqueror ; while his son, William, was the first to settle 

 in Scotland. In 1297, Walter de Somerville of Linton and 

 Newbigging, along with his son David, knighted by Robert 

 the Bruce, appears in command of the third brigade of 

 horse, at the battle of Biggar. For near two and a half 

 centuries they dwelt in their moated keep on the neigli- 

 bouring knoll, and dying, were buried in this church. 

 So late as 1426 we find Thomas, Lord Somerville, causing 

 "repair the kirk and quier of Linton, and the tower," 

 but by the end of the 15th century the Somervilles have 

 vanished from the Borders, and must be sought at their 

 Lanarkshire estates and castle of Cowthally. The superiority 

 of the barony, and the patronage of the living they seem, 

 however, to have retained to a later date. Witness in evidence 

 a sasine.f "given at the cross, upon the green in Lyntoun, 



* Reg. Episc. Glasg. 



fFor this information I am indebted to the Rev. John Anderson, M.A., 

 Assistant Curator of the Historical Department, General Register House, 

 Edinburgh. The sasine in question occurs in a MS. Protocol Book of 

 Sir William Corbet, Notary Public, 1529—1555. 



